Two of the most radical bills we’ve ever seen were introduced in the Hawaii legislature this past January. Quickly gaining momentum, both quietly passed in the House in early March. They needed to be stopped in the State Senate!

Bill HB 1697 would have required public schools to teach children that homosexuality, transgenderism, etc., are normal and positive behaviors. Schools must “destigmatize” and include “positive representations” of “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, other sexual orientation and gender identities.”

It would also have required the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) to train teachers how to instruct children on LGBT topics.

Bill HB 2125 would have criminalized parents who complain to teachers or their School Board. Its intent was to silence parents who object to Critical Race Theory, graphic LGBT topics, Covid mask requirements for children, etc. It would have created a new criminal offense: “Harassment of an education worker” with punishments of fines and jail time.

It would have dovetailed with existing statutes to include “harassing or insulting electronic communications.” Thus, sending “insulting” emails to your School Board member (or posting criticisms on social media) could get a parent in legal trouble.