LGBT group sues Arizona over law barring HIV, AIDS instruction in schools

by Rachel Frazin - 03/30/19 10:26 AM ET

An LGBT rights group filed a lawsuit against Arizona this week over the state’s prevention on HIV and AIDS education that “promotes a homosexual life-style.”

Equality Arizona and an unnamed student argue in court that the state’s 1991 law discriminates against LGBT students and puts their health at risk.

“By classifying on the basis of ‘homosexuality,’ the challenged statute…discriminates against non-heterosexual students on the basis of sexual orientation and places them in an expressly disfavored class,” the lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday states.{mosads}

It argues that forbidding medical information that is “critical for the health and safety of LGBTQ students” while not putting equal restrictions on education for heterosexual students “deprives LGBTQ students of equal educational opportunities and exacerbates the heightened health risks LGBTQ students already face, including the risk of HIV.”

The Associated Press noted that Arizona is one of seven states that have laws against promoting homosexuality.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman (D), who is one of the suit’s defendants, said in a statement that she is opposed to the law.

“I welcome the opportunity this lawsuit brings to educate the public and bring visibility to the issues as we continue the march toward equality,” she said.