Despite parental objections and protests, the California Department of Education approved controversial sex education guidelines for the state’s public schools, which include teaching gender identity concepts to children as early as kindergarten and explicit sexual content to older elementary-schoolers.

During last Wednesday’s public hearing at the state Capitol in Sacramento, more than 120 people registered to speak, while nearly 200 protestors rallied outside.

An earlier draft of the framework included books that several organizations deemed “sexually explicit, offensive, reckless and immoral.” One such book, titled, “Changing You,” shows cartoon illustrations of male and female genitalia and describes what “having sex is.” It was originally recommended for children as young as 5.

“Parents did not sign up for this type of sexual indoctrination,” said Jonathan Keller, president of the California Family Council. “The state of California should not force moms and dads to choose between participating in public school and protecting their children’s innocence. No student needs to be exposed to this graphic and explicit material. It’s child abuse.”

After much pushback, the board decided to drop five books from the curriculum, but did not ban the books from classrooms.

“How are they helping kids find themselves when they are confusing them about who they are, or [suggesting] they could possibly be nothing at all?” asked Stephanie Yates of Informed Parents of California.

Patricia Reyes, a mother of six, traveled more than 400 miles to attend Wednesday’s hearing. “It’s just scary what they are going to be teaching. It’s pornography.”

Students are permitted to opt out of lessons about sexual health, but are obligated to attend classes on LGBTQ issues, including gender identity and discrimination, as well as same-sex marriage.

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