Public education is already one of the main political and cultural battlegrounds in the United States. In recent weeks, Republican lawmakers in Congress and across various states have introduced bills aimed at restricting content related to gender identity, racial diversity, and sexual orientation in the classroom. Many of these initiatives are linked to the political legacy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and one of the most influential figures on the American right before his assassination in 2025. His name now appears directly in legislative proposals seeking to reform public education under a more conservative vision of history, religion, and social values.
While their proponents claim the measures aim to combat “ideological indoctrination,” civil society organizations and educational groups warn that they could lead to censorship and restrictions on academic freedom.
Bills targeting “gender ideology”
In Washington, Republicans in the House of Representatives recently introduced two bills related to education and school curricula.
The first is the Civics and History Advancement to Restore Learning, Integrity, and Education Act, known as the CHARLIE Act or H.R. 8705. The bill would prevent federal history and civics programs from using funds to promote what it defines as “discriminatory equity ideology or gender ideology.” The bill advanced through the House Education and Workforce Committee and was sent to the full House for consideration, but it has not yet been approved by the Senate, so it remains in the early stages of the legislative process in Congress.
The second bill, known as the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act (H.R. 2616), would require public schools to obtain parental consent before changing a student’s gender on school forms or altering their “sex-based accommodations.” The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is now awaiting review by the Senate before it can become law.
Republican Representative Burgess Owens of Utah defended the bill with a statement that reflects the conservative rhetoric behind these proposals: “There are only two sexes: male and female. Sex is a biological fact, not an ideological whim.”
The White House expressed support for H.R. 2616 and noted that Donald Trump would be willing to sign it into law if it passes both chambers of Congress.
Lawsuits
The Republican proposals are in line with several executive orders issued by Trump to restrict diversity policies and gender identity issues in schools and federal agencies. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is pursuing litigation against Executive Orders 14168, 14185, and 14190, arguing that they violate rights protected by the First Amendment.
According to the organization, some schools have already removed books and modified programs related to slavery, Indigenous history, LGBTQ+ identity, and sexual abuse prevention out of fear of violating the new federal policies.
A federal judge in Virginia has temporarily suspended part of the measures while the legal proceedings continue.
Ohio
In Ohio, Republican lawmaker and Baptist pastor Gary Click is sponsoring the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, a bill aimed at strengthening the teaching of “Judeo-Christian” values within American history. The lawmaker argues that Kirk was attacked for promoting Christian principles and for defending a conservative view of American history.
The proposal would allow for the teaching of religion’s positive impact on the founding of the United States and includes references to the Declaration of Independence, religious figures, and evangelical leaders such as Billy Graham.
However, critics believe the bill presents a biased and exclusionary historical narrative. Sarah Kaka, president of the Ohio Council for the Social Studies, told NPR that the legislation could undermine critical thinking in schools.
The bill has already passed the state House of Representatives and is currently under consideration in the Ohio Senate.
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, Republicans also amended a bill inspired by Charlie Kirk, initially known as the Countering Hate And Revolutionary Leftist Indoctrination in Education (CHARLIE) Act.
The original version sought to ban content related to critical race theory, LGBTQ+ ideology, and intersectionality. But following legal criticism, the state Senate removed some of the most controversial language and renamed the bill the Prohibition on Teaching Discrimination.
The bill prohibits teachers from promoting ideas such as “that people of a protected characteristic such as race, gender, or sexual orientation are inherently racist, sexist or oppressive.”
Additionally, it would prevent teachers from encouraging students to use names other than those officially registered without parental consent.
The amended version of the bill has already advanced in the state Senate and will be put to a vote following the changes made by Republican lawmakers.
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