Bill to expand sex education in Wisconsin schools delayed in Assembly

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A bill to expand sex education in Wisconsin schools was delayed Tuesday in the state Assembly.

Republicans blocked passage at least until Thursday, which is the final day that lawmakers will meet this year.

Under the bill, the 60 percent of schools which offer sex education would have to teach kids how to use contraceptives.

Supporters say it’s not to teach abstinence.

But if that’s the case, Cascade Republican Dan LeMahieu said students should also learn about the development of a fetus and that it’s a crime in Wisconsin to have sex with anyone under 16.

He said it’s appropriate to teach kids about the criminal penalties.

But Democrats rejected to changes.

And GOP lawmakers then used a procedural move to block immediate passage. Planned Parenthood says a dozen schools teach only abstinence in their sex education.

And they say it’s not good enough, because teen births and sexually-transmitted diseases are on the rise.

Tags: sex education, wisconsin