PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have made state sex education laws the strictest in the country when it comes to teaching on LGBTQ issues.
The governor called the legislation too broad and vague and said it would have unintended consequences. He also said he was concerned about banning sex education before 5th grade could endanger vulnerable children by restricting education about sexual abuse prevention.
At the same time, the Republican issued an executive order adopting some of the transparency parts of the measure.
The proposed law would have ruled out all discussions of gender identity, sexual orientation or HIV / AIDS in sex education courses unless the parents have been informed in advance and specifically opt for the instruction.
The proposal also applies outside of sex classes, requiring parents to agree that their children learn about historical events, such as a discussion of the modern gay rights movement that grew out of the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969.
It also banned all sex classes before 5th grade, which detractors have said put young students now learning about “good touch-bad touch” at greater risk of avoiding being abused.
Socially conservative groups that supported the measure called it a necessary issue of parental rights, arguing that parents deserve to know and approve of what their children are learning at school. Arizona currently allows parents to view all learning materials and already requires an opt-in for sex lessons.
The bill dealt with Republican-controlled legislation on unified opposition from Democrats, who called it an attack on LGBTQ students who are already marginalized and dangerous to young students.
The legislation comes two years after the Republican governor signed a repeal of a 1991 law banning HIV / AIDS instruction that “promotes a homosexual lifestyle.” The head of the democratic schools refused to fight.
Arizona is one of several Republican-led states where lawmakers have been considering similar changes to sex education this year.
It’s new to give parents more control over what their kids can learn about LGBTQ issues. It comes amid other efforts to push back social change, including legislation in some states to ban transgender athletes from joining school teams of their identified gender, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights group that follows such legislation.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Arizona is one of five states that already require parental consent before children can receive sex education.
The proposal Ducey declined Tuesday would essentially require a double opt-in for HIV / AIDS instruction pertaining to sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ discussions in a different class would have required additional permission.
Legislation under consideration in Idaho requires notices and opt-ins, including for the discussion of sexual orientation outside of sex education classes. It has passed the House and is awaiting action from the Senate.
Tennessee lawmakers have issued a measure that the governor promised to sign, and the Missouri legislature is considering a measure that would require parents to be notified before receiving instructions on sexual orientation or gender identity, but would exclude historical references.
In Montana, the legislature passed a bill originally intended to require parents to sign up for sex education earlier this month. But the legislation was changed after criticism from educational groups. It now allows parents to dispense with their children from sex edition and awaits action from Republican Government Greg Gianforte.
Proponents of comprehensive sex education say such legislation could have far-reaching negative effects under the guise of parental rights by limiting the evidence-based education that young people need to stay safe.
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