Several anti-LGBT education bills rolled until next week

Wednesday was a busy day for education legislation that affects lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning students and their families in Tennessee in the State House Subcommittee on Education and the Senate Education Committee. The following anti-LGBT bills were rolled until next week:

• HB0229 ("Don't Say G_y" bill): Placed on s/c cal Education Subcommittee for 2/15/2012
• HB3266 ("Teacher, Don't Preach" bill) Placed on s/c cal Education Subcommittee for 2/15/2012
• SB0426 (Anti-GSA bill) Placed on S. Ed. Comm. cal. for 2/15/2012. 

While it's preferable to see anti-LGBT legislation voted down, keeping bad bills from advancing out of committee for another week is also a welcomed outcome.

The power of purple people demonstrated on Feb. 8th at the
House Education Subcommittee. Plaza security counted 250 people
who came to attend the hearing. (Photo from Shayne Wesley Bilbrey)

An acceptable education bill advanced in the House yesterday. The House Education Subcommittee voted in favor of a pro-parenting school club bill (HB2548 advances to the House Education Committee calendar scheduled for 2/14/2012). The important thing to note here is that HB2548 (sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hill) and SB2488 (sponsored by Sen. Gresham) are better school club bills than the amended version of Sen. Stacey Campfield's SB0426. Campfield is apparently trying to reinsert an anti-Gay Straight Alliance provision into law that requires parents to "opt-in" students for every school club. TEP supports the "opt-out" version of the bill (HB2548/SB2488). An opt-in bill may compel students to come out to parents before they are ready to do so.

TEP encourages everyone to return to the House Education Subcommittee meeting on Feb. 15, 2012 at 3:30 pm to demonstrate the power of purple.