Reactionaries in the State Legislature Want to take us Back to the Dark Ages Again on Sex Education

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Here we go again.

Fringe reactionaries in the Arizona State Legislature have in essence, as Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman stated, codified state-sanctioned bigotry and scientific-medical ignorance by formalizing, through the passage of the Nancy Barto sponsored SB1456, the option for parents to not enroll or withdraw their children from sex education classes that provide instruction on sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression.

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The legislation also provides guidance for HIV/AIDS instruction.

This bill has passed two years after Arizona repealed its ill-considered and bigoted “no promo homo” law.

While parents have always had the right whether or not to enroll their children in a sex education course, this legislation promotes blatant divisiveness, reinforces cultural and reactionary tribalism, and blinds children to the reality of the world they live in.

How can children enroll in a sex education class in 2021 and not learn about sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression?

It is impossible and the SB1456 supporters and parents thinking they can hide their children from these realities are misguided and will do irreparable harm to them as well as members of the LGBTQ Community.

The reaction to this reactionary legislation has been swift.

Calls for Governor Ducey to veto this legislation have been immediate.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman released a statement and tweeted:

Democratic House Leader Reginald Bolding also issued a statement that read:

“If our Republican colleagues truly cared about preventing childhood sexual abuse – which they frequently profess – then they should have rejected this bill. Age-appropriate comprehensive sex education helps children when they are most vulnerable to distinguish between – for example – a good touch and a bad touch and gives them the language to tell a responsible adult if they have been abused. Parents can already opt-out of this instruction if they choose, but if the legislature erects so many barriers that this instruction disappears altogether it will only allow and cause more harm.”

“Two years ago, by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, the Legislature repealed the discriminatory so-called ‘No Promo Homo’ law that for decades led to stigmatization and bullying of LGBTQ students. The passage of SB1456 effectively puts those restrictions on discussion of public health issues like HIV-AIDS – or even the history and contributions of the LGBTQ community – back into place. The same governor who repealed that stain on our state’s history should not sign this one.”

Democratic Legislative District (LD) 30 State Representative (and chair of the Arizona Democratic Party) Raquel Teran also tweeted hers and LD 18 Representative Jennifer Jermaines views:

Progress Arizona also released a statement:

This is 2021.

This Dark Age approach to sex education was repulsive even when I was in high school in the 1980s or even in the Leave it to Beaver generation the supporters of this legislation would like everyone to live in.

Governor Ducey should veto SB1456 at the first opportunity and issue a statement condemning the bigoted narrow-mindedness of the bill’s champions.

 

 

 

 

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2 thoughts on “Reactionaries in the State Legislature Want to take us Back to the Dark Ages Again on Sex Education”

  1. This is the fantasyland legislative session. How incredibly naive these legislators are, they think if they outlawing talking about a gender spectrum, that students aren’t talking about at the picnic tables. There is not one Republican legislator with any courage whatsoever. Shame shame on them. As Attorney Welsh said, “have you no shame, sir?” Nope.

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