HRC reacted to Arizona’s bipartisan repeal of decades-long ban on LGBTQ-inclusive education.

“All young people need and deserve curriculum that validates their identities and prepares them for health and success,” said HRC Arizona State Director Justin Unga. “We applaud the Arizona legislature for repealing this damaging ban on LGBTQ-inclusive education in our public schools and thank the LGBTQ Caucus for its leadership in ensuring a bipartisan solution. This victory should serve as a reminder of what we can accomplish when we put Arizona students’ success ahead of politics.”

Far too many LGBTQ youth sit in classrooms where their teachers and textbooks fail to appropriately address their identities, behaviors and experiences. Yet six other states still have bans on LGBTQ-inclusive education in public schools. Only four states and the District of Columbia, have state laws that require LGBTQ inclusive sex education including California, Iowa, Colorado and Washington.

In 2018, the HRC Foundation partnered with the University of Connecticut to release the  2018 LGBTQ Youth Report, which found only 26 percent of LGBTQ youth always feel safe in their school classrooms and just five percent say all of their teachers and school staff are supportive of LGBTQ people. The entire report can be found here. To learn more about HRC’s work surrounding children and youth, please visit https://www.hrc.org/explore/topic/children-youth.