Under current Alabama law, “course materials and instruction that relate to sexual education or sexually transmitted diseases should include an emphasis... that homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense under the laws of the state.”                  (Alabama Code § 16-40A-2(c)(8))

Alabama is one of the only states in the nation requiring its students to receive negative messages about homosexuality.  This language encourages bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teens by cultivating an unhealthy
environment of shame and discrimination.

• One in four students from elementary age through high school is the victim of bullying and harassment while on school property because of his or her race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion or sexual orientation.
  
• LGBT teens are two to three times more likely than other youth to commit suicide.
  
• LGBT teens are five times more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe after being bullied due to their sexual orientation.
  
• 28% of these LGBT teens will drop out of school altogether.  This is more than three times the national average for heterosexual students. 
  

We, the undersigned parents, students, and concerned community members, support an inclusive learning environment where all teens feel safe and protected.  We strongly urge Alabama legislators to support HB 444, removing from the minimum contents the emphasis that homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle and the emphasis that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense.