Posts tagged Don't Say Gay Bill

Our illustrious governor here in Tennessee, Bill Haslam, signed the bill legalizing the “Special Access to Discriminate bill, therefore overturning Nashville-Davidson County Metro’s non-discrimination ordinance.  I wanted to wait until there was an official statement, not just spread rumor, and it seems that official confirmation has been released.  This is a truly sad day for Tennessee.  I really thought that as a conservative, in favor of small and locally run government, Haslam would veto this bill, but apparently equal treatment of Tennessee citizens isn’t part of his agenda as governor.  There is much work to be done, but we will get this overturned.  We have no choice.

Edited to Add: I just read that Nashville-based attorney Abby Rubenfeld is planning  lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of this law.  An unnamed NYC-based law firm is supposed to be aiding her. 

Well, it happened.  Our wonderful state senate in Nashville passed SB049 today, or the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill brought forward by the hate-mongering Stacey Campfield (R - Knoxville).  This is a sad day for Tennessee.  I honestly think this is one of the only times, if not the only, that I have even been ashamed to be form Tennessee. And I know I’m not the only one. 

But we won’t give up.  We WILL fight this.  I’ve had current and former teachers tell me that they’ll just have to go to jail because if a student comes to them and needs to talk about their sexual orientation ,their questions, their confusion, that these teachers will not turn a cold shoulder.  As teachers, it is not only their responsibility to educate scholastically, but also to nurture and to educate socially in the concepts of peace, love, tolerance, and acceptance.  How many more suicides does this country need to see before it realizes what it is doing to its children?

I would also like to point out that the Memphis media has yet to cover this in any detail, as far as I know.  My home city is the progressive capitol of this red state, yet Knoxville, in the heart of the mountains, already has articles across multiple platforms.  There’s just something odd about that. 

Today is a sad day in my home state of Tennessee.  The Senate Education Committee approved SB49 with a vote of 6-3, banning any teacher in grades K-8 from saying the word “gay” or “homosexual” in the classroom. 

Your first thought may be, “why would an elementary school teacher need to discuss these topics in the classroom?”  But it’s not just about discussing the topic.  The supposed reason for the bill, sponsored by Sen. Stacey Campfield (R - Knoxville), was to prevent homosexuality being discussed in a sex ed setting for young students.  I don’t necessarily agree with that thought, but I can see someone’s point.  One problem: no curriculum in the state has sex ed that mentions homosexuality.  The spokesman for the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education both say that they have no knowledge of anything like this going on.  But the language of the bill prohibits the words from being used at all. 

What about all the kids who need to speak to a guidance counselor and can’t, but need someone to talk to about their thoughts on sexuality.  Kids today seem to become aware of their sexual orientation at earlier and earlier ages.  Even in the late 90’s and coming from a militantly conservative Christian family, I knew at 12 years old that I was gay, although I was too afraid to even admit it to myself.  This can do nothing but exacerbate the issues that LGBTQ teens face today and further stigmatize and already stigmatized group.  I attempted suicide three times from 1998 until 2002 and I never felt I had anyone to talk to about it.  But if a child is told that they’re not even allowed to use the word, what does that do to their self-esteem to not be allowed to use a word to describe themselves. 

No good can come from this.  And, unfortunately, in our currently Republican controlled house, it likely to pass when it comes in front of the full floor.  I only pray that something can be done to stop it.