A bill up for a vote in the State Senate Thursday is drawing strong opposition and concern from a number of Republican lawmakers at the Jersey Shore and beyond.
The A4454/S2781 measure seeks to add diversity and inclusion education grades K-12 in schools across the state which would also include lessons on equity, tolerance and belonging while encouraging safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for all students regardless of race or ethnicity, sexual and gender identities, mental and physical disabilities, and religious beliefs ,
The bill went through the Assembly once and is now at the Senate level.
Ocean County 10th District (which covers northern Ocean County) Senator Jim Holzapfel said in a statement that he will vote “no” on the bill which would mandate public schools incorporate sexual and gender identity into the curriculum.