Tenn. bill delayed that would gag gay students, teachers

[ccharles000]

(Nashville, Tennessee) Tennessee lawmakers have put off voting on a bill that would bar elementary schools from “any instruction or materials discussing sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.”

The House of Representatives K-12 Subcommittee took up the bill this week, deciding Wednesday to send the measure for more study.

A similar bill died in committee last year.

“Teachers should neither be promoting nor speaking against homosexuality,” said Rep. Stacey Campfield (R), the bill’s sponsor.

“They should not talk about it all,” Campfield said. “Leave it up to families to talk about it.”

The Tennessee Equality Project, the Tennessee Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union all oppose the bill. Critics say it would stifle free speech.

“The problem with this bill is it would have a chilling effect on even being able to discuss the bill itself, and both sides of the bill, in an 8th grade class where you are learning to write essays,” said Chris Sanders of the Tennessee Equality Project.

If the law were to pass, opponents say that teachers could be prohibited from even mentioning the fact that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people exist. But it is not clear what would happen if a student asked a question about homosexuality or gay issues in class.


http://www.365gay.com/news/tenn-bill-delayed-that-would-gag-gay-students-teachers/

[joeybee12]

1. FUCKERS!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

That sums it up, IMHO.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. What happens if a child has two moms or two dads?

If it is so, that child has to be made to feel that his family is ok--not sure how this could be done if teachers are banned from saying anything about it.

[noamnety]

9. I guess it would be illegal for them to attend parent/teacher conferences.

Seems like a simple introduction could get a person arrested. (which sounds like a challenge)

[Arugula Latte]

3. Why is it that certain states seem determined to stay in the Dark Ages?

Yeah, I know ... not everybody in Tennessee agrees with this, etc.

Still ... :banghead:

[FLAprogressive]

4. Only in a state like Tennessee!

Where the Democrats are Republicans and the Republicans are Klansmen.

[originalpckelly]

5. I don't do deepthroat, especially with stuffy Republican jerks.

Fuck them and the horse they fucked last night, the inbred motherfuckers.

[Touchdown]

6. Gag with what?

:evilgrin:

Seriously though, when are these people going to get thrown out of office. Their time is up, and has been up since 2006. They're like athlete's foot. If you don't keep spraying them away, they come back.

[donheld]

7. “They should not talk about it all,” “Leave it up to families to talk about it.”

If they'll include any reference to religion in that then I'm all for it. We'll stop talking orientation, in schools, if they'll never EVER mention religion of any kind in schools

[surrealAmerican]

8. Surely, even raving homophobes ought to realize that this is unconstitutional.