Republicans in the Arizona state legislature have passed a bill that would allow parents to opt their children out of educational classes which would include LGBTQ history, or sex education topics including HIV prevention.
If passed, SB 1456 would mandate the “school governing board to develop procedures by which parents will be notified in advance, and given the opportunity to opt their children into, any instruction regarding sexuality, gender identity or gender expression.” It would further require parental permission for students to attend any sex education classes. Sex ed classes for students in the fifth grade or below would be totally prohibited.
Tuscon.com reports that the bill passed the State House on a 31-28 party-line vote. Supporters of the proposed law claim it would ensure parents know what their children are learning in the classroom. Opponents, however, fear that the bill would allow for suppression of queer people and their history, as well as open the door to higher rates of STDs.
Related: This Arizona state senator wants to make the word “homosexuality” illegal
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“It’s clearly meant to highlight that there is something different about gender identity and gender expression,” said Rep. Diego Rodriguez. “And that difference is something that should be feared.” He also pointed out that the proposed law would prohibit discussion of the LGBTQ rights movement, including the Stonewall Uprising and history of marriage equality or the AIDS crisis. The bill would also bar teachers from acknowledging the sexuality of historical figures.
Rep. Jennifer Jermaine also criticized SB 1456, fearing that a ban on the discussion of sexuality and the body in younger children would also lead to higher rates of sexual abuse.
“The fifth grade is absolutely too late for a lot of these children,” Jermaine said. “It is too late for them to learn good touch/bad touch because they have already been molested, they have already been abused. And, more than likely, it was from somebody within their own household.”
At the time of this writing, it remains unclear if Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, will sign the bill into law. The passage of SB 1456 comes just two years after the repeal of a law which prohibited teachers from discussing LGBTQ people as leading a “healthy lifestyle,” or saying that homosexuals could have safe sex. Voting on the bill also comes just weeks after the Alabama legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto of a bill that will prohibit doctors from treating transgender youth with hormone or surgical therapy.
Fahd
The Republican party in Arizona seems to have more than its fair share of bad guys (people). They seem to be into playing the wedge issue/polarizing game. Arizona may now have two Democratic US Senators and Biden may have won the state, but Arizona’s Republican party (at least some of its more prominent operatives) is not going down without a fight. Danger Will Robinson!
Jim
How long has Arizona been part of the Soviet Union?
GayEGO
We will prevail, if the bill passes it will be overturned.
Walking the Dog
I ask my friends, how can you live in a state like Arizona (or other equally homophobic right wing states), and I always laugh when they say, Oh, the blah blah blah metro area is really liberal, we’re not like the rest of the state. Whatever . . .
Heywood Jablowme
Arizona is genuinely in the process of flipping to Democrats. Note that the “party-line vote” is 31-28: just three more districts and the House will be D. Virginia went thru similar demographic changes and now the legislature is controlled by Democrats.
Of course this can work the other way too, see Florida (uck!).
missvamp
this is just disgusting. just act like we don’t exist. wipe out our history. ugh.
Kangol2
Sounds like right-wing cancel culture in full effect!
Karlis
One thing I’ve never understood about this. Presumably classes about human sexuality and HIV prevention are not being taught to kindergarteners. Presumably they are being taught to high schoolers, who are mentally equipped to think about these matters logically. Where is their voice in this? Why aren’t they asked whether to opt out or not? Why bring parents into this. I understand that a high school student is still a minor, but he or she should not be subject to the possible bigotry of their elders.
James
REPUBLICANS NEVER FAIL TO PROVE THEMSELVES AS HATE FILLED NAZI BIGOTS.