Flood Warning expires at 7:00 AM on 5/24, issued at 10:04 AM Belen, MS | Darling, MS | Falcon, MS | Lambert, MS

'Don't Say Gay' Bill Once Again before TN Lawmakers

Reported by: Associated Press
Set Text Size SmallSet Text Size MediumSet Text Size LargeSet Text Size X-Large
Share
Updated: 1/18/2012 8:39 pm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP, abc24.com) - A measure that seeks to ban Tennessee public schools from teaching about gay issues is once again before lawmakers.

The proposal, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, is sponsored by Republican Rep. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald and is scheduled to be heard Wednesday in the House Education Subcommittee.

The companion bill passed the Senate last year. It limits all sexually related instruction to "natural human reproduction science" in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Hensley said he plans to amend the House version to say the same, and believes it will pass.

Opponents of the legislation fear it would prevent teachers and others from speaking out against the bullying of gay teens.

---

Online:

Read HB0229 at http://capitol.tn.gov
Share
3 Comment(s)
Comments: Show | Hide

Here are the most recent story comments.View All

The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of abc24 News

Frayserboi - 1/18/2012 1:53 PM
1 Vote
Shouldn't even NEED a law about it.....whatever happened to common sense???

novarese - 1/18/2012 12:35 PM
0 Votes
"it's ok to be Takei" . . . The issue isn't about not teaching young children about gay sexual relations, it's about not letting teachers acknowledge that "gay" exists. Like the article points out, the law could prevent teachers from addressing bullying of children b/c they are perceived as gay.

Golden Taint - 1/18/2012 12:24 PM
1 Vote
who cares? It's not the government's place to teach our children about sex in the 1st place. I personally don't understand why prepubescent children even need to know anyting about sex, other than to not do it and that there are enormous consquences to it. I certainly don't think that teachers should be resticted from acknowleding that homosexuality exists, but they damn sure shouldn't be teaching 5th graders that it is a viable option that they might want to check out. If that door were to open up, then where would the line be drawn? There are all kinds of people in the world who would claim that they were born with endless and bizarre sexual appetites and that there's nothing wrong with their lifestyles either. It's basic science/biology that males are biologically designed to mate with females. As I recall, phsychology isn't taught in elementary schools.

Memphis Current Conditions
79°
High: 79° | Low: 63°
Partly Cloudy
Inergize Digital This site is hosted and managed by Inergize Digital.
Mobile advertising for this site is available on Local Ad Buy.