NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP, abc24.com) - The House sponsor of a proposal to ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students has delayed the measure to allow lawmakers to consider a more comprehensive bill.
The legislation, known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, would limit all sexually related instruction to "natural human reproduction science" in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Republican Rep. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald acknowledged there are problems with the measure and said he wanted lawmakers to instead review another proposal that would place restrictions on "family life education" curricula taught in schools.
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam said there are already rules governing what schools may teach and he doesn't think the "Don't Say Gay" proposal is needed.
