PRESS RELEASE FROM TENNESSEE EQUALITY
PROJECT
(Monday, Feb. 20,
2012) Last Wednesday, the House Education Subcommittee approved an amended
version of HB0229, a bill historically called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill which
amends curriculum guidelines for grades K-8. The original version of the bill
stated that “no public elementary or middle school shall provide any
instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than
heterosexuality.”
Instead of explicitly prohibiting discussion of
homosexuality, the amended version of HB0229 exclusively limits “any
instruction or materials made available or provided at or to a public
elementary or middle school” to something called “natural human reproduction
science.”
Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) arrived late to Wednesday’s
hearing with
assurances
that the amended bill does not “prohibit the use of the word gay, change the
state’s anti-bullying statute, or prohibit a school guidance counselor from
discussing issues of sexuality with a student.” He made the case that HB0229,
as amended, clarifies current curriculum practice and is consistent with Title
49 as written.
But those assurances don’t agree with statements made by the
Senate sponsor of the same bill (SB0049) before and after it was amended.
Sen. Stacey Campfield
claimed
last April that he had proof that teachers were talking about homosexuality in
the schools, even though the State Board of Education stated there was no
evidence it was happening. When asked
directly, Sen. Campfield could not and would not provide specific instances of
teachers talking about homosexuality in grades K-8. He made vague references to one alleged
incident by a teacher, but could not even say what grade this teacher taught or
what subject.
When asked about the amended SB0049 after it passed last May,
Sen. Campfield
admitted
that many of his colleagues were uncomfortable with the language. "There's
more than one way to skin a cat," he said and went on to say, "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.
With the explicit reference to sexual orientation removed, H.G.
Stovall, Board member of the Tennessee Equality Project said “Rep. Dunn wants
Tennesseans to forget that Sen. Campfield’s original intent is preserved in the
amended bill. It’s a clever ploy that
has become all too familiar in the 107th Tennessee General Assembly.”
Last year, the state government enacted HB600 which set
current state law as the ceiling for employment discrimination for all local
governments. The sponsor and supporters of the bill claimed the new state law
merely provided a uniform set of statewide standards for workplace protections.
HB600 made no explicit reference to sexual orientation or gender identity. But
HB600 was introduced in direct response to a Nashville ordinance protecting the
employees of local government contractors from discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity.
“Don’t say gay” became a defining label for Sen. Campfield’s
anti-gay bill many years ago and has evolved into an adopted motto and tactic of
the state legislature. The House Education Committee has a chance to redefine
the anti-LGBT reputation of state government.
Tennessee Equality Project calls on the House Education
Committee to memorialize the words of Rep. Dunn by adding a new amendment to
HB0229. Amend the bill to explicitly state that:
Nothing in Tennessee Code Annotated
§ 49-6-1005 shall prohibit any person in public elementary, junior high or high
schools from confronting bullying, intimidation or harassment of students based
on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
The above amendment will send a clear message that state lawmakers
care for all students in Tennessee. Without such an amendment, Rep. Dunn’s
assurances mean nothing. In its current form, passage of HB0229 will mean House leadership has turned a deaf
ear toward those young students calling for help who endure years of anti-gay
bullying. If HB0229 advances in its current form, the House Education Committee
will confirm its animus toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in
Tennessee.
For more information
contact:
