Rep. Romero says diverse communities 'exhausted' of bills challenging diversity, inclusion efforts

SALT LAKE CITY — Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, says diverse communities are tired of bills challenging diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Romero's comments came during a House Education Committee meeting during discussion on HB427, which the committee voted to move forward. The bill would ban public schools from instruction that is "inconsistent with the principles of inalienable rights, equal opportunity and individual merit."

"Many of us from diverse backgrounds are exhausted right now of all these bills attacking diversity, equity and inclusion," Romero said. "And we're just done."

She pointed to a recent incident at Roy High School where students allegedly barked at Hunter High basketball players.

"There's a problem in our schools — and it's not taught in the schools; it's taught at home. Because we're trying to not talk about diversity, inclusion and equity, we'll continue to see those kinds of things happen in our schools," Romero said. "I'm really frustrated. I feel like we've been moving forward, and I feel like this last legislative session we've taken steps back. I don't feel like we're doing what we're saying we're doing. For me, this is a message bill and it really doesn't tackle the real issue."

A number of individuals spoke in favor of and against HB427, expressing both hope that the bill would protect students' beliefs and concern the bill's vague language would lead to censorship.

"I still have no idea how, but they're reading things into this that aren't there," the bill's sponsor, Rep. Tim Jimenez, R-Tooele, said. "I still have no idea how people are reading this and thinking that it does not allow these open discussions."

HB427 now moves to the House for a vote. It has yet to be introduced into the Senate.

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