Parents More Dangerous Than Strangers According to Dem Senator
Last night the VA Senate debated a critical budget amendment (Item 299 #2s), introduced by Sen. Steve Newman (R-Bedford), to protect vulnerable children and restore parental authority. The budget amendment was defeated on a party-line vote, but had it been agreed to it would have voided the Virginia Department of Health’s contract with the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA), and effectively stopped Governor Northam's “BrdsNBz” (anonymous) Sex Text Hotline for teens.
While Delegate Kathy Byron (R-Forest) was only given two minutes to present a similar budget amendment in the House, the Senate actually engaged in a full-on debate! And man was it insightful! I highly encourage you to watch the entire floor debate so you can see and hear for yourself the contrast in views legislators have regarding sex education and parental rights. (Debate begins at 3:41:00 and ends at 4:27:46)
Maybe the most alarming statement came from Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), when he argued against stopping the program (at least until the legislature could take a closer look at it and authorize it themselves) by stating that sexual abuse occurs in the home by parents and family members. He actually argued that it’s safer for a teen to send text messages about sex to a complete stranger, without their parents’ knowledge, than to talk to their parent! (Go to 4:23:23)
Several other Democrat Senators - Janet Howell (D-Reston), Barbara Favola (D-Arlington), Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond), and Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon) – who seemed to dismiss the seriousness of the issue, acted as though they were unaware of the BrdsNBz teen Sex Text line. But given how outspoken Sen. Newman has been on the issue and the outrage from constituents as a result of The Family Foundation’s petition and targeted Action Alerts, they surely must have known exactly what this was, yet still made the deliberate choice to keep it going.
In contrast, here’s a sampling of noteworthy and encouraging statements made by Senators who supported the measure:
“We never authorized the funding for this. VDH determined to use Title V funding…which is a grant program dedicated specifically to abstinence.” - Sen. Steve Newman (R-Bedford)
“When I was in the Navy, I spent a little time with [NCIS] and I dealt with these horrible child sexual predators…I can tell you every single one of them would love to have a job like this.” - Sen. Bill DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach)
“I mean, can the government please stay out of my life and my children’s life?…Can you just allow me and my wife, the mother of our children, to be the ones to instill the values necessary so they make the right decisions when it comes to sexual health, reproductive health, and not some text line that’s going to teach my children about the birds and the bees.” - Sen. Bill Stanley (R – Franklin)
“The discernment of the parents was taken from them and given not only to a state agency, but instead to another organization that has no regulation or responsibility to Virginia.” - Sen. Dunnavant (R-Henrico)
Unfortunately, this budget amendment was the only way for the legislature to stop the BrdsNBz teen sex text line so that the General Assembly could at least evaluate the program during regular session next year. This means your child’s safety and privacy will be in danger through this program until at least July 1, 2021, which is all the more reason to continue to pressure the Governor to stop this dangerous text line now.
A special thank you also goes to Senators Steve Newman (R-Bedford), Bill DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach), Richard Stuart (R- Montross), Bill Stanley (R-Franklin), Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico), Amanda Chase (R-Midlothian), John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake) or Ben Chafin (R-Lebanon), and Delegate Kathy Byron (R-Bedford), who spoke strongly on the floor in favor of these budget amendments.
Rest assured that this battle is not over!
