The Trump administration says it will pull millions in teen pregnancy and disease prevention grants to Maryland unless the state removes “all mention of gender ideology” in the educational materials it provides to residents.
Maryland was among 40 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia to receive the warning about funding through the federal Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). The program provides grants to states and local jurisdictions to help fund programs for teens and children at risk of pregnancy and contracting sexually transmitted infections.
“This action reflects the Trump administration’s ongoing commitment to protecting children from attempts to indoctrinate them with delusional ideology,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release this week.
The department specifically takes issue with instructional materials that urge caution in the use of certain pronouns, depending on a person’s personal preference; information that notes that people can’t choose what genders they’re attracted to; and a section encouraging people to “respect diversity.”
One example of the language cited by the Trump administration: “Some young people have already had romantic relationships; others aren’t even thinking about it. Some have had sexual intercourse. Some have had sex because they choose to; others may have had sex against their will. Some may identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight. Some may identify as male, female or transgender.”
Maryland’s grant has more than $2.4 million in funds remaining, according to the federal Health and Human Services Department.
David McCallister, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Health, declined to comment in detail on Wednesday about the federal warning letter, stating in an email to The Baltimore Sun only that the department is “reviewing the letter to assess any programmatic implications for Maryland’s program.” He did not respond to questions about how many programs might be affected by the loss of the grant money.
The notified states have 60 days to comply.
California saw its own $12.3 million PREP funding canceled last week after the state refused to accept the Trump administration’s terms. The department said its supporting materials for the PREP grant, which serves 13,000 young people annually, are “medically accurate, comprehensive, and age-appropriate.”
“California’s students deserve access to educational information and materials that help them make healthy decisions about sexual activity, including the decision to delay sexual activity, while honoring and respecting their dignity including gender identity,” the California Department of Public Health said in a statement to The Sun.
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