My name is Barbara Colt. I am a Board Member and the volunteer registered lobbyist of The Womxn Project. I am testifying in vehement opposition to H. 6070. This bill would restrain the speech of our educators to the detriment of our society.
The Womxn Project is a statewide organization focused on leveraging the power of art, activism, advocacy, and education to advance the principles of reproductive justice, which demands that we all have the right to determine when and how we build our relationships, families, and futures, and that we have the ability to live and raise our children with dignity.
Part of raising our children with dignity involves providing our children with comprehensive educational opportunities. H. 6070 would greatly limit the ability of teachers to speak freely about systemic racism and sexism. We do not want to live in a state that prevents our educators from using anti-racist and anti-sexist frameworks in their educational programming. Education is the key to understanding the issues and plotting change. In order to create a more just and equitable society, Rhode Islanders, including our children, need to learn more, not less, about the causes and disastrous effects of systemic racism and sexism.
We urge you to vote no on this bill.
Thank you.
Contact: Barbara Colt ([email protected] or 401-400-0061)