Republican Glenn Grotham, of the Wisconsin State Senate, recently proposed a bill that would classify unmarried parents as child abusers.
The bill would amend a law related to a state organization, called the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board. The Board’s job is to conduct a number of activities related to child abuse, including promoting public awareness.
Language in the bill that would be added, includes the following excerpts:
“In disseminating that information, the board shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect . . . . [The Board will p]rovide, for use by the board in its statewide projects . . . educational and public awareness materials and programming that emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect . . . .”
Grotham pointed to statistics indicating that 41% of children in the U.S. are born to unmarried parents. He said,
“I guess as long as this state is going to fund a group called the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, at least that group could use the money that they have to publicize something that’s politically incorrect, but I think has to be said in our society.”