Disclaimer: This article was originally written in December 2025.
For the first time since 2007, the Michigan Board of Education has revised the health education curriculum standards, including a new, inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly sex education program —raising concerns from parents across the state.
The Michigan Board of Education issued a statement on Nov. 14, revealing the motivations behind this change.
“Much has changed in the world, and our students will benefit from the updated health standards given that the previous standards were nearly 20 years old,” Representative Dr. Sue C. Carnell explains.
This new revision was put into place to address major modern -day health concerns, such as the legalization of marijuana, underage vaping and the negative impact of social media use in teens. As LGBTQ+ youth representation has increased considerably since 2007, the revision was made to accommodate the growing population.
The vote to approve the revision was 6-2 by political party.
Notably, republican board members Tom McMillin of Auburn Hills and Nikki Snyder of Goodrich dissented. McMillin and Snyder claimed that the new standards “encourage pedophilia” and “are designed to groom the public.”
“I don’t know what the obsession with sex is among you people,” McMillin said. “It is a true grooming that’s going on that is really sad, and people understand that’s the intent of what’s going on here.”
Alternately, democratic board member Dr. Pamela Pugh of Saginaw loudly backed the decision.
“I am proud of what we just did,” Pugh said, following the vote. “We [made] safer spaces for students, for all students.”
The discourse caused parents and conservative groups to push back against this change, some claiming the standards undermine parental choice and religious liberties protections.
The revision does not create any new requirements — parents still retain the right to opt their child out of sex education if they choose. While aiming to “provide guidance to local school districts in determining health curriculum for their districts”, the Michigan Board of Education still allows flexibility to school districts whether they want to accept this change.
As Michigan residents stay divided over the efficacy of this change, school districts across the state have accommodated their curriculums to either accept or reject the review.
“If the district decides to offer sex ed— [it must be] reviewed by local sex education advisory boards that must include 50% parent representation,” according to the Board of Education.
