Alabama governor signs law banning school diversity programs

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed a law banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public schools, making the state one of the few states to take sweeping steps against what she and other Republicans say is a leftward shift in American education. one of the states.

The bill, which passed Alabama’s Republican-led Legislature on Tuesday, prohibits public schools from maintaining offices of diversity, equity and inclusion or teaching what the bill calls “divisive concepts” about race and identity, such as having a certain People of race are responsible for race and identity. Acts committed by the same racial group in the past.

It would also require public higher education institutions to designate restrooms only for men or women, a move that runs counter to the push by transgender rights advocates for gender-neutral restrooms.

“My administration has and will continue to value Alabama’s rich diversity,” Ivey said in a statement. “However, I refuse to allow a few bad actors … to use taxpayer funds to promote the acronym for DEI. their liberal political movement.”

The law will take effect in October.

Republicans have united against DEI initiatives in America’s schools, claiming diversity-centered curriculum and hiring practices are part of a liberal agenda designed to sow division and, in some cases, discriminate against white people. Supporters of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives say their goal is to promote equality for underrepresented groups.

“This is more than just a form of classroom censorship,” the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama said in a statement opposing the legislation. “This is an anti-truth bill that limits scrutiny of systemic inequality, racial violence education, and historic efforts in our nation’s history to fight for civil rights and civil liberties for marginalized communities.”

Last year, Texas pioneered anti-DEI legislation by forcing public schools to close their diversity offices. Utah’s governor signed similar legislation earlier this year, and several other states have introduced anti-DEI bills in the current legislative session.