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Alabama Lawmakers Vote To Strike Anti-Gay Language From Sex Education

Currently students are taught homosexuality "is not... acceptable to the general public" and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense.

Alabama doesn't have the best track record when it comes to the LGBT community, but state legislators are moving to strike homophobic language from a law covering sex education in public schools.

Currently the law state that students are to be taught that homosexuality is "a lifestyle" that's both illegal and unacceptable to the general public. On Wednesday the Senate Education Policy Committee voted to remove that phrasing, and sent the bill to the full Senate for a vote.

Sex education

The measure was actually authored by a Republican, state Senator Tom Whatley.

"It clears up some of the language in the act right now that declares homosexuality a criminal offense," Whatley told the AP. "It also changes some of the language to be medically accurate."

Sex ed is optional in Alabama public schools, but a 1992 law sets parameters that programs should encourage abstinence and put an emphasis, "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 this state."

The emphasis on abstinence will remain, despite numerous studies proving abstinence-only education results in more unwanted pregnancies.

Alabama is one of seven states with so-called "no promo homo" laws, according to HRC.

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