Arizona repeals law banning ‘promotion of homosexual lifestyles’ in schools

Arizona has rapidly repealed a law that bans the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools after a lawsuit was filed by LGBT+ campaigners.

The state’s Republican governor Doug Ducey signed a bill on Thursday (April 11) to repeal the state’s law that prohibited teachers from “promoting a homosexual life-style,” depicting homosexuality “as a positive alternative life-style,” or teaching about “safe methods of homosexual sex.”

Arizona ‘No Promo Homo’ law repealed after lawsuit

The repeal measure was fast-tracked into law, just weeks after a legal challenge was filed by Equality Arizona, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Lambda Legal.

The measure to repeal the law cleared the Arizona House of Representatives by a vote of 55-5 on Wednesday (April 10), and passed the state senate by a vote of 19-10 a day later, before being immediately signed by Ducey.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (Chip Somodevilla/Getty)

The repeal likely ends the looming threat of the legal challenge against the 28-year-old law, which was one of just seven remaining ‘No Promo Homo’ laws on the books in the US.

Arizona Republicans had previously resisted efforts to repeal the law for years, but GOP leaders joined with Democrats in supporting the bipartisan push to repeal the law.

Lawmakers praise bipartisan push to swiftly repeal ‘No Promo Homo’ law

Arizona state representative Daniel Hernandez, one of the few out lawmakers in the state, said: “The repeal of No Promo Homo is not a victory for one person or for one group.

“This is something that all of us share in because we were able to come together in a bipartisan way to ensure that Arizona students never have to feel like they stigmatized for who they are.”

Republican representative TJ Shope said, “I was proud to be a part of a positive effort to change Arizona law in order to make all students feel more welcomed in Arizona’s classrooms.

“We have not only moved our state forward, we have also saved our state’s taxpayers countless amounts of dollars defending the indefensible.