”Įssentially, the bill ensures that school counselors do not encourage discussion of sexual or gender identity or provide supportive materials without informing parents. It’s when they bring them in to elicit a response and they hand them a material of some kind, they have to have it open for. David Bullard argues that some schools have gotten around this requirement by having school counselors provide the materials instead, as they are not required to inform parents.īullard has clarified that the bill does not break confidentiality between students and counselors: “If the student comes in, voluntarily talks to the counselor about whatever they are struggling with, then that is a discussion between the counselor and the student. Oklahoma state law requires teachers and administrators to disclose materials on sexual education to parents. However, supporters argue the bill aligns with state law and is designed to balance the needs of both students and parents. LGBT activists have gone farther, alleging the bill will endanger the lives of LGBT students if their parents are told of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Now they won’t because they don’t want their parents where they are at. Casey Murdock agreed, saying, “So, you do not see that it may stifle a 15- to 16-year-old that may have some questions and they may have some issues they want to talk to somebody about.