Tennessee 'Don't Say Gay' Bill To Get Axed

A controversial bill in Tennessee meant to restrict public school discussion of sexuality and LGBT issues is set to die without a vote after the key GOP sponsor announced on Monday that he simply wouldn't bring it up.

"With that assurance and the opposition of some people who didn't want to vote on it, I've decided simply not to bring it up," Republican sponsor state Rep. Joey Hensley said, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

The legislation, which had earlier been approved by a state House committee, was straightforward in its wording.

"[N]o public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality," it read.

Last year, a similar measure passed a state Senate vote, only to fail a final approval by the state House.

Missouri is also in the midst of fierce debate over broader "don't say gay" legislation that extends across public schools and into extracurricular activities.

While opposition to the measure appears to have coalesced, many of its supporters are high-profile state lawmakers.

Last month, co-sponsoring GOP state Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst enraged opponents when he compared homosexuality to bestiality while speaking in favor of the bill.

"There is no need to talk about Billy wanting to marry a goat," he said.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[queequag]

09:04 PM on 05/06/2012

Either I'm still in shock or I misheard--Tennessee has also passed an "anti-gateway sex" bill that makes it unlawful to hug, kiss, hold hands or show any kind of affection in public. This is aimed at students in particular. If so, wait until the high schools have their graduation ceremonies--try to enforce it then. Maybe the legislature will promulgate laws against graduating high school since it promotes "gateway sex".

[Wanda Glass]

09:52 AM on 05/06/2012

Great Job Tennessee Legislators!! A complete waste of time on taxpayer money, because here in Tennessee jobs are in abundance, the budget is balanced, and education is #1 in the nation....no need for you to focus in any of those areas!! No sireee! Great Job! I'll give you my signature of approval on election day!

[lynninny]

12:35 PM on 05/05/2012

This is all becoming so obvious as a campaign to deflect from big issues, and fire up people's emotional buttons. I was born in Tennessee (northerner now), and I know plenty of compassionate, southern, religious people who practice their beliefs and also practice what they preach: treating others the way they would want to be treated, helping those who need it, telling the truth, and living lives of dignity and integrity. They do not practice hate speech. They do not bully, and they are not hypocrites.

These legislators are using religion and "values" as a weapon and as a distraction. They spread fear and hate. They do not walk a mile in someone else's shoes before pronouncing judgment. They are not truly religious. They are not looking out for the moral health of our society. They do not really care about the individual, about children without educations or health care, about old people whose hot water heater has stopped working and can't afford their medication. Throwing a bill like this out there reminds me of running up and throwing a grenade, then running to hide again. Keep it up, clowns. Cowards. Maybe someday, before it is too late, your constituents will wake up and vote you out of office.

[ColleenHarper]

03:45 PM on 05/07/2012

So much truth, Lyn! As an atheist, I have also known so many good Christians as you mention. I've never had to have them tell me they were Christians, I could tell by their actions! With them not only do I NOT have a quarrel, with them I have common ground to work for the good of all.

But as you also said, there are so many politicians who feel they Must bring up these divisive and unhelpful bills to divide the public into extremely polarized camps, rather than looking for the common ground on which we can all agree.

[Activist Annie]

12:23 PM on 05/03/2012

Thank goodness someone has a head, a heart and common sense to axe the Bill.

This is nature and they can't fight nature.

[TJ25]

05:50 PM on 05/02/2012

What you are doing is trying to bully people into excepting your sexual preference and demanding it to be thrust upon us. Something that the MAJORITY of people don’t agree with. That’s a long stretch from not having civil rights because of your race.

[Blaze Burton]

06:25 PM on 05/02/2012

Actually I dont want my sexual preferance to be 'excepted', I dont even care if you ACCEPT it or not.
None of it is up to you.

How is anything being thrust upon you, is someone trying to 'convert' you? Or are you a minister and someone maybe trying to force to to marry two gay people? Maybe some one is forcing you marry someone of the same sex? Is someone trying to outlaw heterosexuality or stop heterosexuals from procreating?

You have nothing to back up anything you claim.

[TJ25]

05:20 PM on 05/07/2012

Then why do YOU PEOPLE continue to WHINE about it.

[cable1977]

06:45 PM on 05/02/2012

It is sexual orientation, not sexual preference.

"demanding it to be thrust upon us"

No, no one is demanding that anything is thrust upon you. If same-sex marriage were to become legal, no one would force you to attend a same-sex wedding nor marry a person of the same-sex.

"That’s a long stretch from not having civil rights because of your race. "

No it isn't. Multiple major medical institutions including the AMA and the APA consider sexual orientation to be just like race in that they are immutable characteristics.

"Something that the MAJORITY of people don’t agree with. "

The MAJORITY of people once thought slavery was acceptable and that neither women nor black people deserve to vote. So, by your logic, support of slavery was an acceptable moral position simply because, at the time, a majority of people viewed it as accepted. Whether the majority of people believe something or not is irrelevant in this country because we have a constitution that protects the rights of ALL people, no matter what a majority may "agree with".

[TJ25]

05:41 PM on 05/02/2012

You dare to compare your sexual appetite to real racial concerns? A real minority should be offended and outraged by this comparison. Like not being able to force your sexuality on others is the same as slavery or genocide? Like I said before, you don't want equality you want special rights.

[TXanimal]

11:18 AM on 05/03/2012

Sexual orientation and race are innate and unchangeable. Deal with it.

"A real minority should be offended and outraged by this comparison."

Since only about 4-10% of the population is gay, depending on which study you read, gays are indeed a REAL minority.

"Like not being able to force your sexuality on others is the same as slavery or genocide?"

Well, since nobody's trying to force their sexuality on others (aside from militant religious straight/closeted people), I have no idea what you're yammering on about. We're talking about injustices and inequality under the law, which DO exist for various minorities, including gay people. When you're honest with yourself about this, you will be able to have an intelligent conversation about this topic.

"Like I said before, you don't want equality you want special rights."

Nope, equality. Unless of course you can list all the "special rights" we've asked for. Go on. Dare ya.

[TBJ]

01:17 PM on 05/03/2012

Sexual orientation, not sexual appetite. It's just which gender(s) you are immutably attracted to. Unless you wish to show us how you can stop being attracted to women, and become solely attracted to men.

And, no matter how irrationally obsessed with homosexuality you are, no one is forcing anyone to do anything when gay Americans are treated fairly under the law. There are tens of thousands of married same-sex couples here already, and you've clearly not been forced to do anything.

[bfrjds1981]

02:17 PM on 05/02/2012

Remember, don't say the word Illegal anymore. It is a racist word now. I really miss being a kid in the 70's.

[Blaze Burton]

06:29 PM on 05/02/2012

calling some one an 'Illegal' is offensive because its not illegal to be a person. Saying Illegal immigrant or that someone is here illegally is ok. Its about NOT dehumanizing each other by giving out blanket labels

[bfrjds1981]

08:41 AM on 05/03/2012

It can be illegal to be in this country if you don't enter the correct way.

[bfrjds1981]

12:21 PM on 05/04/2012

On the news there is a group that wants to make the word illegal from being said at all when it comes to them. They say it is the same as using the N word. The word, illegal is a racist word anyone you use it when talking about immigrants.

[TJ25]

12:19 PM on 05/02/2012

The problem is that you don't want equality, you want special rights and for people to have to change their principles about what they consider normal sexuality. You can hump a stump if that's what you want, but that doesn't mean everyone else has to except it, like it, respect it, or have to pay for it because of some incurable disease that was created because of your sexual preference.

[FabulousPoodle]

12:49 PM on 05/02/2012

Ah, the "hump a stump" argument. There was a time when people embraced slavery because of their principles and what they considered normal. What is the objection to people being in love? How are you harmed by love between consenting adults anywhere in the world? And newsflash, if you're talking about sexual morality: Gays and lesbians aren't the ones having all the abortions. That's straight people. And you need to do some googling and get the facts on HIV stats.

[TJ25]

01:51 PM on 05/02/2012

RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cameron Drake]

01:52 PM on 05/02/2012

AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN

[Blaze Burton]

12:59 PM on 05/02/2012

1. What special rights are you are specifically talking about?
2. Were you aware that normal is subjective and a completely different concept from harmful
3. No one is asking to 'except' anything.
4. No one is asking for your respect, frankly it doesn't mean anything to me
6. We are asking for equal treatment in all sectors of public life
7. HIV and AIDs is treatable now and was not created 'because of our sexual preference' if your going to make accusations like that there needs to be something to back it up.

[HotBaritoneMess]

11:27 AM on 05/02/2012

Nonsense like this is EXACTLY why I'm glad to be moving up North.

[AdamWest1313]

04:27 PM on 05/02/2012

So are you always this incapable of dealing with people who are different?

[tonytonmsn]

01:11 PM on 05/02/2012

They don't have HP up north?

[Blaze Burton]

10:12 AM on 05/03/2012

YUCK YUCK YUCK YOU ARE IGNORANT

[TXanimal]

11:04 AM on 05/03/2012

Now give mommy back her laptop...

[Patti Swiderski]

10:42 AM on 05/02/2012

Seriously don't we have more pressing issues than this? Your beating a dead horse already, your like the Kardashians you wont go away no matter how badly we want you to!

[truth be told again]

11:14 AM on 05/02/2012

Here's an idea: Treat us equally and the issue goes away.

How simple is that?

[Patti Swiderski]

12:34 PM on 05/02/2012

Your preaching to the choir here

[Bahoogas]

02:30 PM on 05/02/2012

Done!..................................We may have to wait for the others to catch up.

[SingularityPoint]

10:24 AM on 05/02/2012

I really just don't understand these people. It's disheartening.

[ninthraphael]

10:01 AM on 05/02/2012

i hate to bash these eedjits by questioning their religiosity! but i have one word for them! zoloft!

[truth be told again]

11:15 AM on 05/02/2012

Nice bumper sticker theolgy: 'Zoloft for zealots.'

[marind]

09:57 AM on 05/02/2012

I'm sure Tennessee must have a balance budget, high employment, excellent environmental regulation, and schools producing well-educated young adults. Otherwise their legislature wouldn't have time to spend on social issues like prohibiting teachers and students from acknowledging that gay people exist.

Right?

[chefacree]

09:55 AM on 05/02/2012

Can anyone say why the republicans are against everything American. Life evolves, ebbs and flows, people change, unless you are a republican. They seem to caught in a time warp, wanting this to be 1940 again. With their head in the sand mentality and being afraid of their shadows they are against ANY progress. This country can not survive with such small men with such small minds. After this election this country can again move FORWARD without so many republicans.

[anon004]

09:20 PM on 05/02/2012

Actually, more like 1890, but I take your point.