At a recent Michigan State Board of Education meeting, State Superintendent Sue Carnell appeared unsure when asked, “How many genders are there?”
Caught off guard, Carnell paused and smiled before responding, “Different people have different beliefs on them.” The questioner pressed, saying, “You can believe all you want, but science says there’s two.” A video of the exchange, shared by Libs of TikTok, highlighted her hesitation and sparked criticism online.
UNREAL. Michigan State Superintendent Sue Carnell doesn’t know how many genders there are. Watch as she draws a complete blank then refuses to answer when asked this simple question.
This is the person responsible for Michigan kids’ education.
Crazy as hell https://t.co/oGpHsiCn1L pic.twitter.com/fSULtbrxcE
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 16, 2025
Meanwhile, the Michigan State Board of Education has approved a revised K-12 sex education curriculum despite objections from some parents. The updated standards introduce concepts related to gender identity, teaching that children may experience a mismatch between their assigned sex at birth and their gender identity.
According to the Associated Press, the standards outline what students should know by each grade level. By the end of eighth grade, for example, students are expected to “define gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, and explain that they are distinct components of every individual’s identity.”
State education officials say parents may still opt their children out of sex education without penalty. The revised proposal also includes language clarifying state law regarding health and sex education, local school control, and parental choice.