Strike the fear : Alabama Teens Rally for Equality

By Foster Noone (Alabama)

On March 18th, the Alabama Alliance for Healthy Youth will bring young people from around the state to Montgomery to show their support for HB139. AA4HY is a statewide group of diverse youth and young adults working together to influence policies and programs that support sexual health.

In Alabama, no schools are required by law to teach any form of sex education. If public schools do chose to offer sex education, the state has nine minimum content requirements. Many of these minimums, such as HIV/AIDS education, are considered important parts of comprehensive, age-appropriate, sex education. However, the eighth minimum states that it should be taught 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.”

The AAHY and young people across the state are supporting HB139 because it mandates that“all material taught be done in a culturally sensitive manner.” The bill removes the eighth minimum completely, and minor words in the law are changed to reflect current phrasing.

In addition to making minimum content more affirming, HB139 is correcting false information. It is incorrect to say that “homosexual conduct” is a crime in the state of Alabama. The decision of the 2003 Supreme Court case, Lawrence v. Texas, overrides all laws of that nature in the United States.

LGBT identities are not crimes, and students should not be taught that their existence is invalid and shameful. No student in Alabama should be devalued in the classroom, and HB139 is an important step towards celebrating the diversity of cultures and identities in our state. These changes are making schools safer and more affirming.

Young people organized around a similar bill last year, and we are supporting HB139 because we believe in education and because we believe in Alabama. We want the strongest futures for our peers, for our communities, and for our families, and to do that, we need to strike the fear and shame from our education system. We need to pass HB139.

Show your support by joining us at our rally on March 18, find more information and sign-up to attend by clicking here.