Tenn says "Hear no Gays See no Gays teach no Gays!"

[Crossroads Inc.]

Showing that Texas is not the only place full of bigoted backwards rednecks... Tennessee Senate is in the middle of proposing a bill that bans the use of the word "Gay" IN all schools for the state

The Tennessee Senate is set to vote next week on a bill that would criminalize teaching about homosexuality in schools enrolling students from kindergarten through the eighth grade
Teachers could be charged with a misdemeanor if they talked about homosexuality. There's already a law in the state forbidding teachers from straying at all from the state's abstinence-focused curriculum governing family-life instruction in the classroom.

The bill's sponsor, GOP Sen. Stacey Campfield, has been pushing the measure for six years without success-- the legislation cleared the education panel in the Senate. Campfield told CNN he thinks discussions of homosexuality should be left to parents, and that he doesn't approve of young children being taught that some people are gay. "Schools shouldn't be advocating for or against homosexuality," he told Fox News.

A gay rights group in Tennessee told Fox the bill also prevents guidance counselors from talking about homosexuality--a move that would effectively prevent kids with questions about their sexuality from talking to any authority figures in school. Gay-rights opponents of the measure have dubbed it the "Don't say gay" bill. Campfield counters that the bill only prevents teachers from integrating discussions of homosexuality into their curricula, not from saying the word altogether. (Campfield has also recently faced controversy for asking for a $1,000 retainer for debating the bill in Texas, which critics said was inappropriate.)

There have been some signs of protest against the move. Today, teachers, students, parents and other members of the community announced they would rally against the bill in Oak Ridge. Another woman wrote in to the Tennessean about her own experience growing up gay in a small town.

"Sexual orientation is one thing that can't be legislated out of anyone, not even state Sen. Stacey Campfield," she wrote. "Even with laws, even with the threat of a misdemeanor, there will still be gay people, gay kids, gay siblings, gay friends, gay parents and gay celebrities. Kids will talk about it, even if they don't tell their teachers."
There's also an online petition against the bill organized by high school students (via BoingBoing).

Now we have had stupid or bigoted bills across the country in the past, but usually they are from some lone nut, or don't have a chance of actually passing. This is being pushed not by one person, but by the whole of the state senate.

[Knife]

Isn't this the thing that George Takei made a web video about?

Ah yes it is; http://www.georgetakei.com/

Pretty muck if you can't say Gay, say Takei.

Kind of funny and a snub at morons who don't want you to say gay.

[Mr. Coffee]

Yeah, TN does shitlike this once every other year. To me the part that caught my eye is the guy who's wanting to ban the G-word is named "Stacey". I bet he got teased a lot in high school about his girly name and now he's being all righteous homophobe to show the guys he's totally not a "fag" like they probably called him right before giving him a vicious wedgie and shoving his head into a toilet. Seriously, take a look at the guy, he's got "overcompensating bitch" like tattoo'd on his forehead.

[kaeneth]

Yeah, TN does shitlike this once every other year. To me the part that caught my eye is the guy who's wanting to ban the G-word is named "Stacey". I bet he got teased a lot in high school about his girly name and now he's being all righteous homophobe to show the guys he's totally not a "fag" like they probably called him right before giving him a vicious wedgie and shoving his head into a toilet. Seriously, take a look at the guy, he's got "overcompensating bitch" like tattoo'd on his forehead.

This is probably true. That and the simple fact it probably will help him get re-elected.

[someone_else]

Kids will talk about it, even if they don't tell their teachers.

The point is that without a reputable source of info (which a teacher should theoretically be), what they will say and believe is much more likely to be homophobic religion-induced nonsense.

[Knife]

Meh, can't see how this won't get challenged in Fed court.

[The Spartan]

Kids will talk about it, even if they don't tell their teachers.

The point is that without a reputable source of info (which a teacher should theoretically be), what they will say and believe is much more likely to be homophobic religion-induced nonsense.

Which is exactly what they want. "It's a lifestyle choice and up to parents not a teacher to decide whether or not a child should be taught it's acceptable." That's not an exaggeration, that's exactly how I've heard this sort of nonsense defended.

[Zaune]

Which is exactly what they want. "It's a lifestyle choice and up to parents not a teacher to decide whether or not a child should be taught it's acceptable." That's not an exaggeration, that's exactly how I've heard this sort of nonsense defended.

I suggest asking whoever said that if they'd be happy to let members of the American Renaissance or similar group of extremist fucknuts decide whether or not their child should be taught that inter-racial marriage is acceptable.

Actually, on second thoughts, don't. You might not like the answer.

[Elheru Aran]

Stacey Campfield... I remember that particular fucknugget. Big fundie. This is no surprise coming from him, he's tried to run pro-life and anti-gay bills before, I think. So far the rest of the Tennessee legislature has managed to shoot most of his bills down, but sooner or later one of them is bound to get through...

[The Spartan]

I suggest asking whoever said that if they'd be happy to let members of the American Renaissance or similar group of extremist fucknuts decide whether or not their child should be taught that inter-racial marriage is acceptable.

Actually, on second thoughts, don't. You might not like the answer.

It's a revolving door of arguments. "That's not the same, race isn't a choice, etc., blah blah blah." Unless I'm a good ways outside the cities or talking to an admitted "old fashion" kind of person.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Looks as if this has much more support then his attemps in the past, the bill has Already passed the Senate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A bill passed Friday by the Tennessee Senate would forbid public school teachers and students in grades kindergarten through eight from discussing the fact that some people are gay.

Opponents deride the measure as the "don't say gay bill." They say it's unfair to the children of gay parents and could lead to more bullying. Supporters say it is intended to give teachers clear guidance for dealing with younger children on a potentially explosive topic.

The bill isn't likely to be taken up by the House before lawmakers adjourn this spring, but the sponsor there has said he would push it forward in 2012 when the General Assembly comes back for the second year of the session.

Passage would make Tennessee the first state to enact such legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 2003, Washington defeated a proposal similar to Tennessee's, as did California in 2005 and 2006. A Louisiana law forbids the use of sexually explicit materials depicting homosexuality in sex education classes.

Under the proposal, any instruction or materials at a public elementary or middle school would be limited to age-appropriate lessons about the science of human reproduction.

The legislation was amended from the original version, which said no elementary or middle schools will "provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality." Republican Senate sponsor Stacey Campfield of Knoxville said some of his colleagues were uncomfortable with that language.

"There's more than one way to skin a cat," Campfield said after the vote. "I got what I wanted."

He said the language is appropriate because "homosexuals don't naturally reproduce," and he said it's necessary because the state's curriculum is unclear on what can be taught.

However, a critic said the new wording could create other problems.

Sen. Roy Herron, D- Dresden, said it "may inadvertently prevent the teaching of ethics, morality and abstinence."

Stephen Smith, assistant commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education, also said he's unaware of homosexuality being taught anywhere in the state. He said there is nothing in the state's curriculum standards that allows students to be taught about homosexuality.

Just remember that "Homosexuals don't reproduce" This guys is such a bigoted fucknap, He must have really got his jollies off on this

Also I have this to say...
We teach about Slavery in school and about bigotry and the hatered of the civil war and of Nazis and the Holocaust. Yet none of these people are concered that teach such things could make a kid into a Slaver owner or the next Hitler? Yet some how teach "Teh Gay" can corrupt our kids into becoming flamming Queers?