A year ago, “Don’t Say Gay” laws that had passed in the 1980s were considered archaic, LGBTQ+ advocates said, with many of them repealed over the years. Ivey did not issue public statements when she signed the repeal, which was first passed by the legislature, but her signature seemed in step with the times.
Since 1992, Alabama’s education code stipulated that teachers emphasize “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.” READ MORE: Florida Legislature votes to strip Disney of self-government after opposition to ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill But in a handful of states, versions of the legislation have existed for decades.
But more significantly, Ivey had just signed a repeal of a similar law the previous year.Īt least 20 states have introduced “Don’t Say Gay” laws this year, which have made waves around the country. It stood out for two reasons: Alabama was just the second state to pass such a law in 21 years, after Florida passed a similar measure in March. Kay Ivey signed into law House Bill 322, colloquially dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, restricting public school teachers from discussing LGBTQ+ history or people in public elementary schools. This story was originally published by The 19th on April 20, 2022.Įarlier this month, Alabama Gov.