A Democrat running for Congress in Nebraska is tied to a leftist organization that pushes for “universal sex education” and wants elementary school kids to learn about “gender identity” and “sexual orientation.”
Denise Powell, running in the highly competitive race for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, has been a board member for EducateUS, an activist organization critical of parental rights that wants to push so-called “progressive” sex education into classrooms across the country, including for kindergartners. Powell’s LinkedIn and candidate disclosure form lists her as a board member of the organization, which says it is for people who want to “dance at the revolution.”
While Powell’s LinkedIn lists her as a current board member and treasurer of EducateUS, the organization currently does not list her on its list of board members. Tax forms show Powell was the treasurer of the organization for the fiscal year ending in September 2024. A different treasurer is listed on the next available tax form. The Daily Wire reached out to Powell and EducateUS for clarification.
Powell is running against Republican candidate Brinker Harding in the race to succeed outgoing GOP Rep. Don Bacon. She does not mention sex education in her platform which focuses on attacking President Donald Trump and not being beholden to special interest groups. She does highlight her support for abortion and calls to codify Roe v. Wade.
The sex ed standards pushed by EducateUS include ensuring that 5th graders learn about “gender identity and expression” and “the basics of sexual orientation” and teaching high schoolers about “abortion access,” how racism impacts their views of sexuality, and proper condom use.
“If you care about LGBTQ+ liberation, about ending gender-based violence, child abuse, and white supremacy, if you want to dance at the revolution, the fight for sex ed is for you,” EducateUS says on its website.
The group says that it believes “universal sex education” can “change the world” and wants a “complete transformation” of K-12 public sex education. It says it is working with “anti-racist, feminist, and pro-LGBTQ liberation organizing forces” because “our causes are one and the same at the root.”
EducateUS advocates for “trans rights” and called the recent Supreme Court decision allowing states to keep gender-confused boys out of girls sports a “devastating” decision. The group also claims that polling shows that Americans want “trans inclusive sex ed” and calls for boycotting companies that don’t implement DEI policies.
The group accuses conservatives of trying to “undermine” sex education.
“But right-wing extremist organizations are pouring money into a campaign to undermine public school sex education. These are the same people that are trying to erase Black history from the curriculum, banning books they don’t like, and targeting the rights of trans students,” the organization says. “They’re willing to throw an entire generation under the bus in order to consolidate their own power.”
The group offers free training for candidates who “supports sex education, LGBTQ+ student rights, and inclusive, affirming schools for all students” and who are being attacked as a “groomer or indoctrinator.” The consulting gives candidates guidance on topics like “opposing book bans,” “stopping ‘parental rights’ overreach,” and “bathroom access.”
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Zach Bannon said the ties to EducateUS were troubling.
“Democrat Denise Powell’s record of pushing radical sex conversations on Nebraska children is disgusting and disqualifying,” he told The Daily Wire. “Dark-Money Denise continues to prove that she is out of touch with Nebraska values.”
Powell’s candidate disclosure also revealed that she has done consultant work for leftist dark money groups like the 1630 Fund and the New Venture Fund.
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