Arizona Republican Governor Doug Ducey (Screenshot via KPNX NBC 12)
PHOENIX, Ariz. | Arizona’s Republican Governor Doug Ducey vetoed a controversial legislative measure, Senate Bill 1456 which had been backed by Cathi Herrod, president of Center for Arizona Policy, a vehemently anti-LGBTQ policy think-tank and advocacy group.
The Arizona Republic reported April 20 that although Ducey vetoed the measure he instead issued an executive order requiring public notice of any such curriculum before it can be used in Arizona classrooms.
The measure would have required schools to get parents’ permission for discussions about gender identity, sexual orientation or HIV/AIDS in sex education classes and also restricted curriculum teaching students about historical events involving sexual orientation, such as a discussion of the modern gay rights movement that sprang from the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York as well.
The dual actions appeared to be a compromise between the provisions of Senate Bill 1456 and critics who said it would marginalize LGBTQ children by, among other things, banning discussion of issues related to gay and trans history.
Ducey called the bill “broad and overly vague” as he issued only his second veto of the legislative session.
Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, had introduced SB 1456 in February where it was passed out of the Senate Education Committee along party lines.
“Parents shouldn’t have to worry about what schools are teaching their children about human sexuality and gender identity,” Barto said during a committee hearing on the measure.
The Governor said that his executive order “would give parents a “meaningful opportunity” to have a say in the creation and review of any sex-education curriculum.” He added that it would provide stronger protections for parental rights on curriculum development than SB 1456 would have allowed.
Those provisions include requirements that any school board crafting sex-education curriculum must make materials available for public review for at least 60 days before any vote on the matter; be the subject of at least two public hearings; and make the curriculum available for parents to review both in person and online a least two weeks before the course is taught.
In a press release, the Center for Arizona Policy denounced the Governor’s action labeling it as ‘the veto disregards parents’ rights.’ The group also cautioned; “Make no mistake, the need to advocate for the parents’ ability to guide the education of their children, especially with regard to matters of human sexuality, will continue to be a key priority for us, and the many Arizonans who supported SB 1456.”
During the House debate last week, Openly gay Representative Daniel Hernandez, (D- District 2, South Tucson-Pima) angrily took to the House Floor, blasting the bill saying that it was little more than a vehicle for Herrod and the Center for Arizona Policy to fund raise from and that it was unnecessary.
Hernandez blasted opposition lawmakers for wasting resources and time instead of addressing the fact that over 17,000 Arizonans have died because of the coronavirus pandemic.
