WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Dave Farwell has three kids in the Wauwatosa School District. They're going into fourth grade, seventh grade, and 11th grade. 

They and dozens of other parents and students rallied outside of the District Administration building before the school board met Monday night to support the updated Human Growth and Development curriculum — also known as sexual education.  

Farwell said there are several reasons why he supported the proposal. 

"Support of their right to learn, to learn science, to be exposed to knowledge and understanding and really just for liberty," Farwell said.

The proposal adds aspects of sexual health and education to all grade levels — from senior kindergarten through high school. 

For example, kindergartners would learn the medical names for body parts and where they’re located. They’ll also learn about safe and unsafe touching, bullying and abuse. 

That education would continue through elementary school, getting more in-depth with gender stereotypes, what it means to be transgender or nonbinary, and other topics like relationship abuse in high school. 

Supporters said it helps more than just the students who identify as LGBTQ+. 

“When they have that space to know and to grow and to learn about who they are, that’s just going to make for a better community and a better everyone all around," said Deanna Strasse, who lives in Milwaukee but attended the meeting in Wauwatosa on Monday. 

Many students, parents and others who live both in and outside of Wauwatosa spoke at the meeting, including a 15-year-old student named Joe. He said he knew he was transgender when he was six years old.

Joe said this education is needed in schools. 

"This is needed for our community to be safe and inclusive as a whole and teach children to be nice no matter who anyone is, gay, straight, trans, or not," he said. 

Not everyone agreed. Several parents spoke against the proposal at the meeting in person, online, and in the online survey — including members of the group Moms for Liberty. 

Scarlett Johnson from Mequon voiced her opposition before the vote. 

“This kind of curriculum is just not age appropriate," she said. 

After hearing from the community, the board voted 6-1 to pass the proposed changes to the curriculum. 

Parents are able to opt their children out of the program. 

Farwell said he was glad to see so many students, including his kids, fighting for what he felt was right. 

"It’s never too early to understand and fight for civil rights and to fight for equality and inclusivity, and I’m proud of them," Farwell said. 

The curriculum goes into effect this upcoming 2022-2023 school year. 

Click here for the proposal slideshow presented to the board Monday night.