A law which stops teachers from “portraying homosexuality as a positive alternative lifestyle” could be repealed soon in Alabama.
Currently, seven states in the U.S. have so-called “no promo homo” laws in place in schools, which forbids teachers from discussing LGBTQ issues in the classroom, unless it is “in the context of instruction concerning sexually transmitted diseases.”
These seven states are Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
But now, Republican lawmakers in the state are planning to repeal the measure, which was introduced in 1992.
The current law reads: “Course materials and instruction that relate to sexual education or sexually transmitted diseases should include … an emphasis, in a factual manner and from a public health perspective, that homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense under the laws of the state.”
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Homosexuality used to illegal in Alabama, but in 2003 the Supreme Court struck down anti-sodomy laws in all 50 states.
Sen. Tom Whatley is behind this new push, however, he wants to keep in provisions that sexual education lessons are “abstinence-only.”
If he is successful, part of the new measure will read: “Abstinence from sex is the only completely effective protection against unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when transmitted sexually.”
The bill is currently being debated the Senate, after passing the Senate Education Policy Committee earlier this week. The Senate is currently dominated by the Republicans, and previous attempts to repeal the law have failed.
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