The Biden administration is under fire for funding a program that pays students to skip class and participate in LGBTQ+ activism training—without requiring parental consent. Backed by a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the experimental initiative targets middle and high school students, raising concerns among parents and education advocates nationwide.
The program, titled Proud & Empowered (P&E), operates in 24 Los Angeles-area high schools and invites LGBTQ-identifying students to partake in a 10-week intervention designed to help them “cope with the effects of minority stress.” Students are offered a $75 gift card for their participation, while schools receive $4,000 in funding, which the program encourages them to reinvest in LGBTQ+ resources and programming.
Sample sessions from the program include:
- “Coming Out, Disclosure, and Decision Making”
- “Families of Origin and the Families We Create”
- LGBTQ+ history lessons and activities, such as a “queer history” Jeopardy game.
One lesson even highlights stories of LGBTQ+ youth leading school walkouts and marches, encouraging students to engage in activism.
A major point of contention is the researchers’ decision to waive parental consent requirements. According to the program’s documentation, parental involvement might pose a risk to students, potentially exposing them to “harassment, abuse, or expulsion from the parental home” if their sexual orientation or gender identity is disclosed.
Critics argue that bypassing parental permission undermines families’ rights and prevents parents from being involved in their children’s education on sensitive topics.
The program’s reach is extensive, with participation open to students as young as 12 years old. Each school is responsible for recruiting 8-12 LGBTQ+ students to attend weekly sessions during school hours, such as during homeroom or lunch breaks. In addition to student incentives, school staff who assist the program are offered $1,000 stipends.
This latest phase of P&E follows a smaller trial conducted in 2019 across four schools. The expanded study is set to continue through 2026, with half of the schools serving as control groups and the other half implementing the intervention.
The NIH grant outlines “goals” for the program, including:
- Reducing minority stress among LGBTQ+ youth.
- Improving behavioral health and coping mechanisms.
- Creating sustainable changes in school climates to support LGBTQ+ students.
The researchers argue that the program is vital, citing studies that link the absence of LGBTQ+-specific policies and resources—such as gender and sexuality alliances (GSAs) and anti-bullying guidelines—to higher rates of victimization and suicidality among LGBTQ+ students.
Jeremy Goldbach, a Washington University professor leading the study, has emphasized that the intervention is the product of extensive input from thousands of students over the years. Goldbach’s work, which focuses on the impact of discrimination and stress on LGBTQ+ youth, has been funded by federal agencies since 2012.
The program has sparked intense backlash from parents and advocacy groups who believe it infringes on parental rights and prioritizes ideological training over academics.
Critics have raised several concerns:
- Lack of Parental Oversight: By waiving parental consent, the program excludes parents from crucial conversations about their children’s participation in LGBTQ+ topics.
- Incentivized Absenteeism: Paying students to attend the program during school hours could disrupt their education and send a message that activism takes precedence over academics.
- Ideological Bias: The program’s focus on activism, including walkouts and protests, has led some to question whether it promotes a specific political agenda rather than addressing mental health needs.
“Parents have a right to know what their children are being taught, especially on topics as sensitive as gender and sexuality,” said one education advocate. “This program seems to deliberately exclude them, and that’s unacceptable.”
Proponents of P&E argue that the initiative addresses a critical gap in support for LGBTQ+ students, many of whom face bullying, discrimination, and mental health challenges.
“When schools lack protective policies, LGBTQ+ students are more likely to report suicidality and victimization,” the program’s grant description states. By equipping students with coping mechanisms and fostering supportive environments, advocates believe the program can make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Goldbach himself has described the intervention as a labor of love, shaped by years of feedback from LGBTQ+ youth.
The controversy surrounding P&E underscores a broader debate about the role of schools in addressing social issues and the extent to which parents should be involved.
As the program continues, questions about transparency, accountability, and the balance between education and activism are likely to persist. For now, the Biden administration’s investment in P&E has thrust it into the spotlight, sparking a national conversation about the intersection of education, government funding, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
