The 'Don't Say Gay' bill moves forward

They are really losing in my home state. Yesterday, the Don't Say Gay bill passed in the House education committee by a 8 to 7 vote. It will now, head to the House for a vote.

This is a mess, because it has drawn a lot of attention that negatively paints the Tennessee education system as ridiculous. Here's what the bill's supporters had to say:

Bill sponsor Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, and others argued that outside groups and some teachers slip those conversations in, and the bill serves as an accountability reminder.

“I have two children — in the third- and fourth-grade — and don’t want them to be exposed to things I don’t agree with,” Hensley said. “... Even though the state board disallows this now, I’m afraid it does happen, and sex education is talked about in a way that it is acceptable.”

Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, who voted for the bill, said he’s seen documentation that outside groups are entering classrooms at the invitation of principals and teachers and not staying within the curriculum guidelines.

“And they should,” he said after the vote.

Schools caught in violation of the state’s sex education policies can have state money withheld, and teachers face a $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail, according to state law. The bill passed the Senate last year.

Well, Hensley, if you don't like mustard should all the schools ban mustard? Plus this ain't about you, this is about education.

Wow, are they really scared of gays?And do they want their kids to be blind to reality?

source

The 'Don't Say Gay' Bill is losing Support

Lawmakers are backing away from the 'Don't Say Gay' Bill. In fact, it looks like it's dead for now.

The sponsors of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill agreed Tuesday to put off debating the measure until the end of the legislative session — a procedural move that usually signals they do not intend to pursue it. Backers said they would instead shift their focus to an abstinence education measure that is favored by social conservatives.

Sponsors had been under pressure to amend the original bill, which would have banned any teaching about homosexuality apart from “natural human reproduction” before eighth grade. The measure was meant to keep schools and teachers from initiating discussions about gays and lesbians, but even its backers conceded Tuesday that it might have brought unintended consequences.

I hope this is dead. It was a dumb idea in the first place. Please let this die.

source

George Takei takes on the Anti-Gay Tennessee Lawmakers - WATCH

School Counselors Worry over the 'Don't Say Gay' bill

School counselors have major concerns over the 'Don't Say Gay' bill. They fear that questioning students will lose one of their only places to go for support.
USA Today reports:

"We have a lot of students who are kind of coming to terms with who they are, whether it's sexual orientation-related or not," said Leigh Bagwell, coordinator of school counseling services for Metro Nashville Public Schools. "I think you'd be hard pressed to find a counselor that hasn't dealt with that at one time or another."


Counselors wonder if the bill, for example, would ban:


• Suicide prevention posters that reference sexual orientation.


• Gay teachers from displaying or discussing photos of their partners.


• Discussions of sexuality with parents who ask about their children.


• Thoughtful exploration of episodes in which students are targeted with homosexual epithets.

Brad Palmertree, a spokesman for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, also wonders how his organization would support students who might be bullied about their perceived sexual orientation.

"I think we would be limited in our resources," said Bagwell, whose group offers training to counselors.

This bill was never a well thought out plan. It was set from the start to be problematic. I wish these foolish people would realize how harmful this bill really is.

In Tennessee: House panel votes for the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill

Tennessee State House voted to advance the “Don’t Say Gay” bill yesterday. Why this is going anywhere, I don't know.

The legislation limits all sexually related instruction to “natural human reproduction science” in kindergarten through the eighth grades, and cleared its first hurdle in the state House on a voice vote of the House Education subcommittee.

The panel accepted the version of the bill that passed the state Senate late in last year’s session.

During the hearing, Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) stated the amended version of the bill is in line with current curriculum and is consistent with what is already written in Title 49 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. 

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley), was the only member of the subcommittee to speak against the measure, calling it “a solution in search of a problem.”

It's mess, pure and simple. I hope the LGBT community raise some Hell over this.

source

In Tennessee: The 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Returns

Continuing the foolishness against the LGBT community, Tennessee's GOP will present the 'Don't Say Gay' bill to the General Assembly's Education Subcommittee tomorrow.

This will be very interesting to see where this will go. The bill also could include the loophole to allow religious folks the right to hate. This bill has drew a huge amount of attention from LGBT activists and civil rights group. So, it's going to be something to talk about for the rest of the week.

I will be watching and posting the decision here.

source

In Tennessee: The 'Don't Say Gay' Bill passes Senate

Oh, my home state! Yesterday, their Senate approved that silly DSG bill.

Senators voted 20-10 Friday morning to pass Senate Bill 49, known by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, after accepting a new amendment that says the measure would only ban discussion in prepared materials and instruction. Democrats opposed to the measure argued it would muddy state laws that already restrict sex education in middle and elementary school.

What really happening down there?

Tennesseans Rally against the "Don't Say Gay' Bill

The 'Don't Say Gay' Bill has fired up some Tennesseans to take action. Over 70 people rallied against the bill, hoping to drum up more support to stop it.

Thursday's half-hour rally was held a few feet away from the Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of the Civic Center and across the street from Oak Ridge High School. Teachers, students, parents, clergy, and community leaders gave short speeches and held signs with slogans such as "Stand on the Side of Love" and "It's okay to say gay."

Passing motorists showed their support by honking or giving thumbs-up signals.

"Gay doesn't mean bad," said Alesha Hicks, an Oak Ridge High School senior and GSA president. She said Campfield's legislation would tell children that bullying because of sexual orientation is OK.

Those who spoke at the rally, organized by the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church and the GSA at ORHS and Karns High School, said gay students have to endure ignorance, intolerance, and regular name-calling -- and they sometimes live in fear of brutality.

There are more rallies planned. Maybe this will spread throughout my home state.

source

WATCH: The Drama surrounding the "Don't Say Gay" Bill In Tennessee

Rep. Stacey Campfield, the man responsible for this mess

Man, Tennessee is clowing when it comes to LGBT issues. Here MSNBC's coverage of the story

Tennessee's State Rep and Idiot, Stacey Campfield introduces "Don't Say Gay" Bill

A friend let me know there were some foolishness going on in my home state of Tennessee. Apparently, there are some folks who want to ban the word "gay" from schools.

Now when I heard this, I laughed because I thought, 'who would think of such a thing?'. Then it hit me that it's Tennessee and I knew it was possible. I mean, I love my home state, but I also know there's some weeds in our rose garden.

So I surfed the nets and found out what was happening...They're trying to start a "Don't Say Gay" bill in the schools.

This fool, State Rep. Stacey Campfield filled this mess before and failed, but he's trying again. Stacey wants this bill to prevent public elementary and middle school teachers from providing info about any type of sexual orientation, only heterosexuality should be the ideal identity. He believes that homosexuality will confuse and cause unsettled emotions in children.

Now this infringes on free speech, but I don't think Stacey is aware of that. However, he's well known in Tennessee for his malarkey.

He once introduce a bill that required death certificates for aborted fetuses. He's also created a "Baby Daddy" bill,which would allow a mechanism for paternity be disestablished in the event that a conclusive DNA test proves a previously assumed parent is not the biological father.

But he is elected, so somebody thought he was doing something good.