UPDATE: Grindr Child Exploitation Bill Moves to Full Senate. Stop it NOW!
Sen Andrew Zwicker sponsor of the Grindr Act.
On Monday, September 30, the State Senate Education Committee met to hear S2421, which we label The Grindr Act. In a strange turn of events, State Sen. Vin Gopal, Senate Education Chair, became ill and was unable to attend. Vice-chair of the committee Sen. Shirley Turner's husband passed away that weekend. Senate President Nicholas Scutari appointed himself to substitute for Sen. Turner. He also appointed the sponsor of the dangerous child exploitation bill, State Sen Andrew Zwicker, as presiding Chair of the committee that day. The fix was in!
The bill was passed as a substitute to match the assembly bill passed earlier in September. It was then referred to the State Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Although to us at the Center for Garden State Families this seemed strange as there was no cost associated with the function of this proposed law, we were glad to see it happen. Then sometime on Friday, October 11, the bill was no longer referred to any committee. This dangerous sexually exploitive legislation could be heard on the Senate floor at any time! The State Senate Is Scheduled for a Voting Session on Monday, October 28, 2024. This is why it is so important for you to take action now!
This identical bill is also on the Gov.'s desk in California.
A3446/S2421 protects the dissemination of instructions on how to access controversial sex Apps like Grindr. Grindr is a predominately gay sex hook-up that includes male prostitutes.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has documented that users of such sex apps were nearly twice as likely to test positive for sexually transmitted diseases than were non-users. National Public Radio (NPR) has warned against children's access to such sex apps, as have law enforcement agencies across the country, noting the increased risks of child pornography, sexual assault, rape, and even murder.
The sponsors of A3446/S2421 have attempted to hide the dangers inherent in this legislation by fraudulently naming it the "Freedom to Read Act".
A3446/S2421 allows librarians and staff in public schools and public libraries to provide children with material that gives instruction on how to access controversial sex Apps. Parents and concerned citizens have even testified that the bill provides children with access to what is defined as pornographic material under current law.
A3446/S2421 gives sweeping powers to the Commissioner of Education and other parties with an ideological agenda - such as the New Jersey Association of School Libraries and the New Jersey School Board Association - to develop a model policy regarding media content in libraries. This includes material giving children instructions on how to access sex apps like Grindr. The above-listed organizations are explicitly ANTI-PARENT.
Regardless of its allowance for local school boards to participate in the vetting of materials and libraries, the process outlined by A3446/S2421 gives the Commissioner of Education the final say and the ability to amend the model policy at any time. If librarians are not breaking the law, why do they need an exemption from state obscenity laws? This is destroying local control over your school and guidance over your child.
A3446/S2421 makes the state government a partner in the promotion and distribution of sex Apps to children. The same state government has issued repeated warnings to parents about the dangers sex apps pose to their children. What will the state's legal position be after children are harmed because they were provided access to these sex apps through the classroom or school library?
Urge your legislators to please consider the health and safety of children before voting on A3446/S2421. If children are harmed because they were given access to dangerous sex apps in the classroom or school library, those who support this legislation will bear some of that guilt. Please vote NO on A3446/ S2421!