CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The North Carolina Values Coalition urged parents to keep their child home Monday to protest what it calls "graphic, gender-bending, promiscuity-promoting sex education" in public schools.

• School districts in NC required to teach certain sex education standards but can choose own material
• Similar movements in Texas, West Virginia and Indiana
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg School officials say concerns about curriculum should be brought to the attention of teachers and principals first

In North Carolina, school districts are required to teach certain sex education standards but can pick their own materials.

During the protests, members of the NC Values Coalition said they have concerns about the Welcoming Schools program which Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools uses to help with acceptance of LGBT students.

CMS states that Welcoming Schools is a set of developmental resources that can be used by staff and teachers whenever necessary, but it is not required curriculum.

One CMS parent said her daughter was removed from class after expressing concerns about an assignment which included reading a book about a murder of a gay college student. The parent believes it was inappropriate.

"Welcoming Schools will teach and promote a sexual agenda to our children and violate our parental rights, giving permission to more of what is happening and what happened to my daughter," said the mother activist.

CMS officials sent a statement saying if parents have concerns about the resources or curriculum then they should reach out to teachers and principals first.