SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah lawmakers took the first step Tuesday to get rid of a state law that bans the "advocacy of homosexuality" in schools, a move driven by a court challenge from gay rights groups.

The Senate Education Committee voted unanimously in favor of a Republican bill cutting the phrase from sex education law. The National Center for Lesbian Rights and Equality Utah sued last fall, saying the law creates a "chilling culture of silence that stigmatizes LGBTQ students" and exists only to express disapproval of being gay.

A number of states have similar laws, but few others are movi...