A Senate education panel in Tennessee has approved a bill to prevent students from learning about homosexuality in public elementary and middle schools. The legislation, known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, was introduced by Republican Senator Stacey Campfield, who has been pushing for the law for several years. As introduced by Mr Campfield, it would have banned all teachers up to the eighth grade from discussing homosexuality in class.
Another Republican Senator, Jim Tracy, argued that current law already prohibits this, as teachers may not teach any sex education that is not part of the state Board of Education’s “family life curriculum”. Instead, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Mr Tracy proposed an amendment to the bill to require the Board of Education to investigate whether any teaching on homosexuality is taking place and to make recommendations on what should be done. Another amendment, tabled by Republican Brian Kelsey, sought to place an explicit ban on teaching about homosexuality in the Board of Education’s standards once the review is completed next year. Both amendments were approved and the revised bill passed by 6-3 votes. It will now go to the Senate floor.
The bill states: “No public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.”
