Governor Kay Ivey signed a proclamation Friday declaring June “Strong Families Month” in Alabama.
In the proclamation, Ivey declared that “strong families build a strong Alabama” and that “Alabama families remain the foundation of healthy communities across our state, responsible citizenship and a prosperous future.”
Notably, Ivey’s proclamation appears to discredit same-sex marriages, declaring that “homes led by a father and mother provide children with the structure and discipline necessary to succeed through life.”
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to APR’s request for comment on whether Ivey believes homes led by same-sex couples fail to provide children with the same structure and discipline.
Ivey’s proclamation also extols traditional gender roles, declaring fathers “the head of the household” and noting that “Strong Families Month” will coincide with Father’s Day in June.
The proclamation advocates for stable household environments as a means to guide a child’s “academic and moral development,” specifically noting that almost one-third of Alabama children live in a single-parent or “non-married-couple” household, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Ivey’s proclamation also highlights policies she said have “demonstrated support for families,” including the expansion of “educational choice” through the controversial CHOOSE Act program and Alabama’s participation in the Trump administration’s “A Home for Every Child” foster care initiative.
“Strong families build a strong Alabama,” Ivey said. “Homes led by stable parents, a father and a mother, provide children with the structure and discipline necessary to succeed. In Alabama, we celebrate these hardworking parents that strive for an even better future for their children.”
