On the morning of September 15, a bill titled “Sex Education with a Biological Approach” was formally introduced in the Congress of the Republic of Colombia; it seeks to ban gender ideology in schools across the South American nation.

In a conversation with Liliana Castañeda — who contributed to the bill’s educational and scientific aspects — it became clear that the measure aims to “establish guidelines for sex education with a biological approach within the Colombian education system, grounded in verifiable scientific criteria and tailored to the age, educational level, and neurobiological development of children and adolescents.”

The goal is to provide students with “knowledge that enables them to understand their bodies, sexual development, and biological differences; and to recognize and understand their sexual identity — understood as the way each person identifies as male or female in relation to their biological sex and as part of their developmental process and self-concept.”

Additionally, the bill seeks to foster self-care and build the capacity to prevent risks associated with sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, sexual violence, and more.

Castañeda added that it is essential to ensure this education is grounded in science and does not induce, pressure, persuade, or encourage students to deny, reject, reinterpret, or redefine their sexual identity.

Likewise, Castañeda — who also serves as a congressional advisor—rejected the implementation of programs or pedagogical practices aimed at the so-called “social affirmation” of gender identity. “When a student expresses discomfort regarding their sexual identity, the aim is to prioritize support from their parents or legal guardians and ensure appropriate care,” she noted.

Concern regarding the infiltration of gender ideology into Colombia’s public school curriculum is not new. Former Education Minister Viviane Morales warned last month that an “ideologization” was being imposed in classrooms following the implementation of guidelines established by former President Gustavo Petro’s administration in Joint Resolution 1350 of 2026. This resolution adopted the country’s so-called National Intersectoral Policy on Sexuality, Sexual Rights, and Reproductive Rights.

In July, during a large gathering of women, the new First Lady, Ana Lucía Pineda, stated that it was imperative to “remove gender ideology so that our children grow up protected.”

Falling into this same category is the bill for “Sex Education with a biological focus,” work on which began well before the last presidential election — won by the conservative Abelardo de la Espriella.

According to Castañeda, the legislative initiative stems from concerns regarding the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and cases of children and adolescents expressing dissatisfaction with their biological sex. “This makes it necessary to review the content and approaches used to address sexuality during childhood and adolescence, particularly regarding ‘social affirmation’ processes for gender identity, which can subsequently lead to medical gender-affirming treatments,” he said.

David Cote, a member of the House of Representatives for the Democratic Center party, will be responsible for introducing the bill in the Congress of the Republic.

Speaking with the author of this article, the politician emphasized the high relevance of the current debate in Colombia regarding issues rooted in gender ideology — such as medical treatments related to gender identity for minors.

“From our perspective, clear limits must be set for irreversible interventions on children and adolescents, prioritizing their comprehensive protection and the precautionary principle until they reach the age of majority,” he remarked.

Mexican YouTuber Samuel Adrián — director of the influential documentary “Colombia: Fábrica de niños trans” (Colombia: Factory of Trans Children) — was scheduled to accompany the bill’s sponsors when it was formally submitted. However, the independent communicator was arrested this Sunday in Bogotá due to the release of the film.

For Castañeda, Samuel Adrián’s presence is significant because his documentary exposed millions of people to an issue that had remained little known for years.

“This visibility has fostered a political climate that is more receptive to the initiative,” he said. “Had the project been presented years ago, few would have listened; today, there is greater awareness and a willingness to debate the need for science-based sex education aimed at the protection and holistic development” of children and adolescents.