Utah repeals "don't say gay" propaganda law

Utah is the first Republican state to repeal historic anti-gay propaganda laws.
On Monday (20 March), Governor Gary Herbert signed SB 196, a bill repealing anti-LGBTI state law.
It was passed on 8 March, with massive support in both the Senate and the House – who voted 27-1 and 68-1.

Dubbed the ‘no promo homo’ law, it is a series of laws prohibiting the ‘advocacy of homosexuality’ in schools.
The original law as outlined in the Utah Code does not specify what exactly constitutes advocacy of homosexuality.
‘[T]he materials adopted by a local school board… shall be based upon recommendations of the school district’s Curriculum Materials Review Committee that comply with state law and state board rules,’ it reads.
‘[It shall be] emphasizing abstinence before marriage and fidelity after marriage, and prohibiting instruction in: the advocacy of homosexuality.’

But in Utah, which is heavily influenced by the Mormon religion, the definition was applied broadly by school boards across the state, according to Equality Utah.
In theory, they were supposed to only apply to sexual education courses.
But effectively, the Utah law was used to ban teachers from speaking about LGBTI issues, including sexual health and HIV/AIDS awareness, in any part of the curriculum.
It also allowed school board to ban LGBTI-friendly student clubs like Gay-Straight Alliances.
Last year, Equality Utah filed a lawsuit challenging these regulations, arguing they created a negative environment for LGBTI students and contributed to high anti-LGBTI harassment.
They also argued it violated the US Constitution, as well as federal law, by discriminating against LGBTI people.
Seven other states still employ similar laws: Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.
North Carolina repealed its no promo homo law in 2006, under Democratic Governor Mike Easley.