Senators Stacey Campfield and Brian Kelsey to elope to Massachusetts

Senators Stacey Campfield
& Brian Kelsey to tie the knot.

(4.1.2014) Qweerty.com reports that Tennessee Senators Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) and Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) plan to marry after the 108th Tennessee General Assembly session adjourns this spring.

Capitol insiders revealed their secret plan to elope to the State of Massachusetts late yesterday. The couple plans to marry in a closed ceremony over Memorial Day weekend at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury in Martha’s Vineyard. A West Tisbury office clerk, who grew up with Senator Kelsey at MUS High School in Memphis accidentally leaked the clandestine arrangements when confirming the wedding date with Senator Kelsey’s legislative assistant.

When asked about the wedding, Senator Kelsey stated, “Stacey and I just couldn’t wait any longer for full marriage equality to arrive in Tennessee.”

The happy couple plans to honeymoon in Provincetown following the ceremony.

A Nashville area realtor confirmed Tuesday morning that Kelsey and Campfield recently signed a contract on a quaint little bungalow in East Nashville. The couple looks forward to filling their home with arts and crafts furniture and hosting hot tub parties on the deck of their back yard this summer.

Registry listings for Campfield and Kelsey appear on the websites of Crate & Barrel, IKEA and Restoration Hardware. When asked about possible wedding gift options for the couple, Campfield stated that their “gift registries are really for close family and friends. I encourage marriage equality supporters to donate gifts in our honor to Tennessee Equality Project at http://tnequalityproject.org/donatetotep.”

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, leader of the State Senate, promised to host a wedding reception for the couple at the beginning of the 109th Tennessee General Assembly in Senate Chambers.

Virtual "Don't Say Pizza" Party with Sen. Campfield: Get your two slices of equality!

Lately Sen. Stacey Campfield has been making the news for having trouble finding a place to host a pizza party fundraiser for his campaign.  He's had trouble with restaurants before, as we know. 

Well, according to The Nashville Scene, his problems have been solved.  His event is rescheduled for TODAY at Mafiosa's in the 12 South area of Nashville.  Yes, that's right--Nashville!

The Scene reports it's a reservation for 12 people.  But we think that's not nearly a big enough pizza party to honor the work of the legislator who brought us the Don't Say Gay bill.

School pizza from Anchorage, Alaska

So we're hosting a virtual pizza party around the state today with (or without) Sen. Campfield and we invite you all to join us.  It looks as if a slice is about $3, so why not have two? 

Consider donating $6 to the TEP Foundation at this link so we can provide more education about equality and inclusion around the state at our virtual pizza party.

Let's make it the biggest pizza party the state has ever seen!

*Hat tip to Eric P. for letting us know about the event.

Renewing his License to Bully, Rep. John Ragan picks up House companion to Don't Say Gay bill

Rep. John Ragan of Anderson County filed the House companion bill (HB1332)  to Sen. Stacey Campfield's Don't Say Gay bill today. 

Rep. Ragan is well known for his condescending comments to citizens about last year's License to Bully bill, most famously to Kristin Johnson.  So few people who have been following these issues over the last year will be surprised that Rep. Ragan has signed on as the House sponsor.

Even though the Associated Press reported a few weeks ago that Governor Bill Haslam, Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, and Speaker of the House Beth Harwell have all distanced themselves from the bill, Rep. Ragan is either oblivious to or indifferent to the bill's harm to children and to the image of the state.

TEP is urging citizens to call on Rep. Ragan to withdraw the House companion bill.  You can do so at this Change.org petition that sends a message to Rep. Ragan.  You may also call Rep. Ragan's office and leave a message asking him to withdraw the bill at 615-741-4400.  State your name and address and ask him to withdraw HB1332.

Let's preserve the confidential relationship of trust between counselors and students and not give in to this hateful bill that hurts real people and hurts the image of Tennessee.

Sen. Campfield refiles Don't Say Gay bill. Is it any better?

Sen. Stacey Campfield has refiled the infamous Don't Say Gay bill.  He calls SB234 the "Classroom Protection Act," although on the summary page it is called the "Child Protection Act."

Rally at the Capitol in 2012

Protect children and classrooms from what or whom?  That's the obvious question. 

The real answer is "the gays," of course.  The language in the bill indicates it's to protect children and classrooms from anything that is "inconsistent with natural human reproduction," which "shall be classified as inappropriate for the intended student audience and, therefore, shall be prohibited." 

The bill's language represents an effort by Sen. Campfield to respond to the objections that frequently arose over the last few years, viz., that it directly showed bias to any sexuality other than heterosexuality, that it had a chilling effect on children's conversations with teachers and counselors (we'll get to that in a minute), and that it paradoxically required the teaching of sex education and nothing but sex education in grades K-8. 

Sen. Campfield has attempted to take care of these objections with various clauses in the new bill.  But did he succeed?

Required Sex Ed:  I'll give him credit on one point.  He dealt with the last objection in the language of the new bill with his last clause:  "Nothing in this section shall be construed to require instruction relative to natural reproduction in grades pre-K though 8."  The amendment to the old bill seemed to require teaching sex education in these grades, which conflicted with existing policy.  He's dealt with that.  Fair enough.

Bias Persists:  But the bill still shows bias and animus to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people by labeling us "inconsistent with natural human reproduction" and "inappropriate for the intended student audience."  The purpose of the bill is clear--to erase our community in grades K-8. 

Counselors become informers:  What about the chilling effect on counseling when a student has personal questions of identity that need to be explored with care and discretion?  Here's where the bill may fool a lot of people. 

(c) LEA policies and procedures adopted pursuant to this section shall
not prohibit:
(1) Any instructor from answering in good faith any question or
series of questions, germane and material to the course, asked of the
instructor and initiated by a student or students enrolled in the course;
SB0234
001988
-2-
(2) A school counselor, nurse, principal or assistant principal from
counseling a student who is engaging in, or who may be at risk of
engaging in, behavior injurious to the physical or mental health and wellbeing
of the student or another person; provided, that wherever possible
such counseling shall be done in consultation with the student's parents
or legal guardians. Parents or legal guardians of students who receive
such counseling shall be notified as soon as practicable that such
counseling has occurred; or
(3) Any school counselor, nurse, principal or assistant principal
from responding appropriately to a student whose circumstances present
immediate and urgent safety issues involving human sexuality. Parents
or legal guardians of such students shall be notified as soon as
practicable of the circumstances requiring intervention; provided, notice
shall not be given to any parent or legal guardian if there is reasonable
cause to believe that the parent or legal guardian may be the perpetrator
or in any way responsible for sexual abuse of the student.

Sounds good, right?  Counselors can address these questions with students.  The bill doesn't prohibit the discussion. 

BUT...

...the bill actually seems to force counselors to become tattletales.  They have to inform the parents after counseling takes place.  That requirement will erode the trust between students and counselors and leave students without any confidential resource in a place where they might be enduring bullying or other issues related to their sexuality, gender, or other factors. 

Students and school personnel are not well served by this dangerous bill.

Thanks Speaker Harwell, Rep. Maggart and Gov. Haslam

House Speaker Beth Harwell, Republican Caucus Chair Rep. Debra Maggart and Governor Bill Haslam

Tennessee Equality Project was one of the last organizations to formally declare the defeat of the Don't Say Gay bill (HB0229/SB0049). After fighting many bills in the legislature over the years, we've learned that anything can happen in the last days of the legislative session - especially when the rules of the House or Senate are suspended to facilitate the legislative process. Until a motion to adjourn is approved and the final gavel is heard, every bill is technically still alive.

We've fought the Don't Say Gay bill for six long years. This year, the bill met its surest defeat in the 107th Tennessee General Assembly. After enduring years of negative media attention, the ire of constituents and the sobering incidents of two gay Tennessee students completing suicide after being bullied, no sensible person wanted to see this legislation advance. We also realize that Senate sponsor Stacey Campfield or House sponsor Joey Hensley could reintroduce the bill when the 108th Tennessee General Assembly convenes. We will be ready if they do.

In yesterday's message to our supporters, we thanked many people for their vigilance in opposing this anti-LGBT legislation. But also owe thanks to three leaders in State Government who took a stand against extremism in their own party.

We give special thanks House Speaker Beth Harwell, Republican House Caucus Chair Rep. Debra Maggart and Governor Bill Haslam. Each of these individuals did their part in preventing a mean-spirited bill from marginalizing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and families in Tennessee schools.

Take a moment to send a thank you note to these leaders. Without them, we would not have defeated this bill.

Speaker.Beth.Harwell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.Debra.Maggart@capitol.tn.gov

Bill.Haslam@tn.gov

Send thanks to the Senators who supported equality

Sen. Jim Kyle (D-Memphis)

Sen. Jim Kyle's bill (SB2762) that would have repealed HB600/SB632 failed by a vote of 2 to 6 in the Senate State and Local Government Committee today. Senators Thelma Harper (D) and Joe Haynes (D) voted yes. Senators Stacey Campfield (R), Mike Faulk (R), Jack Johnson (R), Bill Ketron (R), Mark Norris (R) and Ken Yager (R) voted against. Senator Lowe Finney (D) was absent.

B2762 would have restored the Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance which extended LGBT-inclusive workplace protections to employees of Metro Nashville contractors. The legislation would have affirmed the right of all local governments in Tennessee to act in their communities best interest in protecting its citizens from unfair workplace practices.

Thanks to all of you for writing to the committee and to Sen. Kyle for his work.  This vote is one stepping stone in the path full equality in the workplace for Tennesseans. Tennessee Equality Project will continue to fight for equality in the workplace for LGBT people in our state.

Take a moment to write a thank you note to Senator Jim Kyle at sen.jim.kyle@capitol.tn.gov for his courage and conviction in seeking to repeal the "Special Access to the Discriminate Act" (HB600/SB632). Be sure to thank Senator Thelma Harper  at sen.thelma.harper@capitol.tn.gov and Joe Haynes at sen.joe.haynes@capitol.tn.gov for their votes.

- Jonathan Cole

State lawmakers lack credibility on anti-gay legislation

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 107^th 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:

Jonathan Cole | Tennessee Equality Project | jonathan@tnequalityproject.com | 615-669-8057

Inspiring letter from a Tennessee teacher

A teacher from rural Tennessee recently sent this letter to Tennessee Equality Project. His dedication to educating students and confronting bullying in his school inspires us to keep up the fight for safe schools and equality in our state:

I am a high school teacher in a small Tennessee town. I signed this petition because it is so important for our glbtq youth and it is important to me on a personal level as well. I am a gay educator and have been discriminated against in several positions where I did not get tenured as a teacher. Its hard to prove of course because a bigoted administration, or central office staff will not admit discriminating in writing, but I know it has happened to me. I believe many students at my high school think I am gay already and my administration knows that I have attended safe schools workshops in Alabama and South Florida to advocate for our glbtq youth.So far, nothing has ever been said to me by any administrator, or staff. The school has had four Spanish teachers in the last four years so maybe this time I have job security even though its not my ideal town to live and teach in. However, I am thankful that I have a job. We do have several students that I believe are glbtq. So hopefully they know that I am a support system and role model for them.  

Well, I appreciate your time reading my message. I hope this bill does not pass because I let my students know in high school not to make fun, or bully any students that may be glbtq, or perceived as glbtq as well as not to make fun of any student regardless of one's background, or appearance. I do my job, relate well to my students, and make sure its a safe learning environment.

Will you help this teacher continue his good work with students in Tennessee? 


Please sign TEP's petition against the "Don't Say G_y" bill and participate in our phone campaign to the House Education Committee before Tuesday at 12 Noon. Then invite your friends to do the same. 

- Jonathan Cole

Don't Say G_y bill passes to House Education Committee

Rep. Joey Hensley is the sponsor of the "Don't Say G_y" bill (HB0229).

The House Education Subcommitee voted in favor of an amended version of the "Don't Say G_y" bill (HB0229). The bill now heads to the House Education Committee.

Despite warnings of the message such a bill sends to students in Tennessee public schools, the subcommittee voted to silence a teacher's ability to have age-appropriate discussions with K-8 students when that discussion falls outside "natural human reproduction science." Even in its amended form, HB0229 and SB0049  marginalizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning students or their families.

During the hearing, Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) stated the amended version of the bill is in line with current curriculum and is consistent with what is already written in Title 49 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. If that is the case, then why would anyone advance this divisive legislation?

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley) said it best: this bill does not improve education and is a solution in search of a problem. It is unnecessary and has the potential to do harm. 

If you live in the district of a member of the House Education Committee, we encourage you to urge them to vote no on this bill. Click here to send a message to the full committee.

- Jonathan Cole

TEP launches GAYATHON in response to Don't Say Gay Bill

Say GAY to
Stacey Campfield
in TEP's GAYATHON

The Tennessee Equality Project is pleased to launch a GAYATHON in response to the Senate passing the Don't Say Gay Bill (SB0049). During this GAYATHON, we at TEP encourage you to tell Stacey Campfield that you plan to say GAY and keep fighting for equality no matter what happens to his Don't Say Gay Bill. 

 Here's how the GAYATHON works . . . . 

1. Make a $10, $25, $50 or larger donation to Tennessee Equality Project by clicking HERE. 
2. Copy and paste Sen. Stacey Campfield's address into an email message: sen.stacey.campfield@capitol.tn.gov.
3. Enter the word "GAY" in all capital letters in the subject line of your email. 
4. In the body of your email write: "Because of you, I donated $___ to Tennessee Equality Project to fight for equality in Tennessee." 

Your participation in TEP's GAYATHON will help us prepare to fight the House version of this bill (HB0229) when the Tennessee House of Representatives opens session in January of 2012.

So donate, participate and share the news of this GAYATHON with your friends and fellow equality advocates by email, Facebook and Twitter.

Be respectful and civil in your message to Campfield. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. 

Tennessee Senate Passes SB0049

The Senate voted to approve an amended version of SB0049 by a vote of 19 to 11. Often described as the "Don't Say Gay" Bill by opponents, the bill including its amendment in purple now reads:

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10, relative to education. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: 

SECTION 1.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-1005, is amended by adding the following as new subsection (c) and by relettering the existing subsection (c) accordingly: 

(c) 

(1) The general assembly recognizes the sensitivity of particular subjects that are best explained and discussed in the home.  Human sexuality is a complex subject with societal, scientific, psychological, and historical implications; those implications are best understood by children with sufficient maturity to grasp their complexity. 

(2)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any instruction or materials made available or provided at or to a public elementary or middle school shall be limited exclusively to natural human reproduction science.  The provisions of this subdivision shall also apply to a group or organization that provides instruction in natural human reproduction science in public elementary or middle schools   

SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

Tennessee Equality Project observes that the amended version of SB0049 no longer makes direct reference to sexual orientation. However, SB0049 and its House companion (HB0229) remain a threat to safe schools in Tennessee. The State House of Representatives is expected to review HB0229 as early as January of 2012. TEP will continue to advocate against both versions of the Don't Say Gay Bill. 

Senator Campfield targets LGBT youth with potentially anti-GSA bill

Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville appears obsessed with LGBT people in Tennessee. Early in the session, he filed the "Don't Say Gay in School" bill that would prohibit discussion or instruction in grades K-8 about homosexuality in the classroom. Now, the Senator and Rep. Matthew Hill of Jonesborough have introduced a bill that may discourage student participation in Gay Straight Alliances in Tennessee schools. The bill specifies that:

Each school shall notify the parents or legal guardians of all clubs and organizations available to students attending such school by prominently displaying the information in the school's student handbook, or other standard or policy guidebook that contains the policies and procedures of the school and is distributed annually.

Without directly saying so, this bill potentially targets lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning students looking for support, information and resources. The bill goes on to require that:

No school shall permit a student to become a member or participate in any activities of a club or organization if the parent or legal guardian of such student has tendered a written communication prohibiting such student from such membership or participation. In order to be valid, the written communication shall be signed and dated by the parent or legal guardian.

What does this mean? If a parent reviews published information about clubs and organizations from their child's school , it's up to the parent to express to the school in writing that they don't want their child to participate in certain clubs and organizations. The legislation does not require students to obtain a permission slip signed by the parent in order to participate in school clubs and organizations.

However, there is a risk that school administrators could interpret this law to mean that permission slips are a preferred avenue to adhere to this proposed law.

Imagine, if you will, a young gay student whose parents have expressed hostility toward LGBT people going to those same parents to ask them to sign a permission slip to join his school's Gay Straight Alliance. A permission slip system for school clubs could increase the isolation that many LGBT students experience.

Students who are LGBT or questioning may need a safe space in a school-sponsored Gay Straight Alliance to ask questions about human sexuality. It would be wrong to create unnecessary road blocks for students seeking information and resources. The proposed legislation could be strengthened with language explicitly stating that students are not required to obtain prior parental permission to participate in student clubs and organizations.
A permission slip system for school clubs and organizations could create an atmosphere of hostility in schools and in our community. With all the completed suicides among LGBT youth we heard about in 2010, we don't want this legislation to become life-threatening to the young people of Tennessee.

It's vital that each of us make a commitment to encourage our legislators to make schools safer for all students on March 1 during Advancing Equality Day on the Hill. Follow these easy steps to participate:

1. Call your legislators' offices to schedule your appointment (Find contact information here). Your legislator may not know his or her schedule when you call, so keep calling for an appointment up until the week before March 1.
2. When your appointment is made, enter your appointment details at Tennessee Equality Project's Legislator Appointment Tracker. Contact Michelle Bliss at Michelle@tnequalityproject.com with questions.

- Jonathan Cole

This post was edited after its original posting.

Breaking: Campfield files Don't Say Gay bill

Everything old is new again. Senator Stacey Campfield has filed his Don't Say Gay bill again. It's SB0049 just filed today.

Here's a review:



Please, join us on March 1 for Advancing Equality Day on the Hill to work against this unneeded, discriminatory legislation. The legislation sounds a particularly tone deaf note in light of so many youth suicides last year (and years before) across the country due to bullying.

-Chris Sanders

The Leadership Vacuum and "Trickle Down" violence against GLBT people

I'm noticing that more commentators are starting to explore the connection between anti-equality rhetoric in the political sphere and the notable cases of GLBT youth suicides due to bullying.

Take this passage from a post at Americablog by Gabriel Arana:

"The real charge is that anti-gay rhetoric in politics has a trickle-down effect that reinforces the type of anti-gay attitudes that make life tough for gay teens. The connection between the work of the National Organization for Marriage and the culture of homophobia that prevails in schools is much less direct, but it exists."

In other words, the aim of anti-equality rhetoric in politics is directly to impede law and policy that would advance civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people; it is not to promote physical violence against us. But physical violence against our community exists and it is worthy of asking whether anti-equality rhetoric in politics is one cause.

So let's look at the situation in Tennessee.

*Vonore, TN fire: I'm not aware of any high-ranking elected official in Tennessee who either uttered words of comfort to Stutte family who recently lost their home to anti-gay arson or made any public condemnation of this violent act. As far as I know, the last time any public official condemned violence that involved our community was when Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam made these remarks about the shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church:

"It is often easy to make these tragic events, which are far too frequent, about the community in which they occur. Knoxville is a caring, compassionate city where diverse viewpoints are shared and respected. Every person, regardless of race, religion, age, sex, or sexual orientation is a person of human dignity and a valued member of our community."

He was prompted to do that, but at least he did it. Others condemned the shooting, but didn't mention our community.

*Lack of positive discourse: Apart from some members of the Memphis City Council, the Shelby County Commission, members of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, a few state legislators and local school board members, you won't find many elected officials having anything positive to say about legislation that promotes equality in our state. With the exception of Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, you won't find anyone in the executive branch of government who is openly supportive.

Instead what you're more likely to find are remarks like these from Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey:

“Tennessee has a direct interest in the outcome of this case,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “If upheld, it will be used to allow same-sex marriage in Tennessee. Over 80% of Tennessee voters chose to define marriage in our constitution as the union of one man and one woman. Tennessee has an important interest in protecting the ability of our state to define marriage and I strongly urge Attorney General Cooper to join other states fighting for that same right.”

I'd say that Tennessee GLBT and questioning youth are at particular risk because most of the public discussion they hear about themselves from leaders in their communities is of a very similar negative variety. It means their straight peers are absorbing it with the idea that there's something wrong with the GLBT kids. That's a short leap to bullying. We need more community and political leaders to speak out in specific ways for our state's GLBT community.

With particular attention to the Don't Say Gay bill: I shouldn't have to mention it, but I'm going to because it bears most directly upon the issue of bullying GLBT youth--Rep. Stacey Campfield's Don't Say Gay bill. Do I think Rep. Campfield wants youth to take their lives or to be bullied? No, I don't. But I do think his ideology about sexuality and gender makes him utterly and dangerously oblivous to the situation youth find themselves in. And it blinds him to the need for specific protections against the violence they face as well as the specific affirmation they need to overcome the despair that can drive them to take their lives.

Watch these videos again and reflect upon them in light of the youth who have taken their lives. Do I have to hit you over the head with the question: "How long are we going to tolerate legislation like this? When are we going to put this awful bill out of its misery and move on to take positive steps to address bullying and its very specific victims?"

-Chris Sanders

Don't Say Gay bill up in Senate Mon or Wed, in House on Wed

HB0821/SB1250, commonly known as the Don't Say Gay bill, is up in the Senate Education Committee on Monday and/or Wednesday and the House K-12 Education Subcommittee on Wednesday. This action campaign will allow you to contact both the Senate Education Committee and the House K-12 Subcommittee to let them know you oppose the bill. Here is video of the House K-12 Education Subcommittee from Wednesday of this week. You're not going to like what you see. Special thanks to Speak to Power's Steve Ross in Memphis for the video in two parts:





Rep. Campfield may be confused about what counts as curriculum. He mentioned examples that relate to professional associations, not the curriculum of Tennessee schools. Let's hope the House and Senate education committees will see the truth.

Sen. Bunch not running "Don't Say Gay" bill

I just got word that Sen. Bunch is not running SB 1250 or the Don't Say Gay bill this afternoon in the Senate Education Committee. It is the companion bill to Rep. Campfield's HB 0821. What may have happened is that Sen. Bunch put all his bills on notice just to make sure he could get to any of them he needed to. But in this particular case, since the House bill has been sent to the Board of Education for study until March 2010, it doesn't make sense to run it in the Senate right now. Another day of good news if this proves to be true!

Campfield's Don't Say Gay bill to be heard Wednesday

Rep. Stacey Campfield's (R-Knoxville) bill that would prohibit the furnishing of materials on sexuality other than heterosexuality will be heard in the House K-12 subcommittee on Wednesday.

The language of the fiscal note takes a little swipe at the bill pointing out, "Local education agencies teach what they consider to be 'age appropriate' topics, as based on the Department of Education’s
Healthful Living curriculum, which does not include homosexuality as a topic. No fiscal impact on state or local government."

It's really hard to know what is worse, bills desperately in search of ways to discriminate or the fact that we have a repressed curriculum.

Campfield vs. Williams

Rep. Kent Williams (R-Elizabethton) is supporting Ron Leadbetter in the Republican primary against Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) with a check and quotation that appeared in a Leadbetter mailer, according to Tom Humphrey. There's been plenty of name-calling back and forth (in print and online, at least) between Williams and Campfield. Campfield attacks the conservative credentials of Williams, while Williams considers Campfield's legislative moves juvenile.

Rep. Campfield believes that the support of Williams for Leadbetter will actually help him:

"It just shows you who the conservative is in this race and who is going to support conservative ideals," said Campfield in an interview.

Ron Leadbetter isn't having any of that, though:

"Stacey and I don't have any major differences on big issues," Leadbetter said, but "the way we deal with people is dramatically different."

Leadbetter's website, which is basically a resume and a donation portal, doesn't mention his opponents in the race. Rep. Campfield's blog discusses the article and the controversy.

Holding the line another year

The 105th Tennessee General Assembly has adjourned for the year. The state's GLBT community is perhaps not the most relieved of all constituencies, but we're certainly not the least. For us, the session began, not in January, but in October 2007 when Attorney General Bob Cooper gave the opinion that there is no legal barrier to same-sex couples adopting. Some legislators immediately gave notice that they would attempt to ban same-sex adoption in 2008.

Instead, what we got was SB3910/HB3713 , which sought to ban all unmarried cohabiting couples (straight and gay) from adopting. Thankfully, this fiscal note of more than $4.5 Million in impact to the state appeared. In a tight budget year, a revelation like that began the bill's death march. But we think opposition to the substance of the bill also mattered. Our webmaster just told me today that members of the Tennessee Equality Project sent almost 13,000 emails through our system to legislators this session. We know that one of our allies generated at least 2000 emails on the adoption bill alone. So the level of citizen contact with lawmakers on GLBT issues spiked this year.

Of course, there was also SB3733/HB2997. No doubt many consituencies have a piece of legislation that they call the "Campfield bill." This one was ours. It attempted to prohibit discussion of any sexuality other than heterosexuality in grades K-8 of our public schools. After unconvincing attempts to prove that homosexuality is part of the state mandated curriculum in these grades (proving that it is sometimes part of curriculum used to train teachers is not the same thing as proving it is part of the curriculum from which children are instructed!) and an unfortunate incident in which the House K-12 subcommittee chair failed to take a roll call vote, the bill meandered into the oblivion of study by the Department of Education from which it hasn't reemerged. Some seemed outraged about the lack of roll call vote. For us, the most significant issue was not whether he had received his roll call vote, but rather the sad state of discourse about GLBT people in Tennessee. But it's up to us to improve that. So on it goes.

No anti-GLBT bill has been adopted by the General Assembly since 2005 when the marriage amendment passed both houses for a second time to head to the ballot where the voters approved it in 2006. There have been various attempts to pass bans on adoption, foster care, civil unions, and so on. Nothing has gone very far. At the same time, the few pieces of positive legislation that we have worked on have fizzled as well. It's a bit of stalemate.

We're already getting started on next year. TEP-PAC held a small fundraising reception last night. We hope to play a larger role in legislative races this summer and fall than we have before. That will be a critical piece in shifting from fighting negative legislation to advancing positive legislation.

Premarital sex and adultery shake the House

The Tennessean has posted this video of last week's House Judiciary Committee debate on Rep. Stacey Campfield's (R-Knoxville) paternity bill. Rep. Rob Briley (D-Nashville) peppered Rep. Campfield with questions about whether he believes premarital sex and adultery are wrong. Rep. Campfield replied that he didn't know what those questions had to do with the bill. He didn't directly answer the question about premarital sex, but finally did say that adultery is wrong.

Most commentators seem to be focusing on the testiness of the exchange and Briley's comment that the bill is one of the most "anti-child" bills he's ever seen.

What I think will be of interest to the GLBT community and what may be of interest to conservatives is the pass that premarital (straight) sex gets while some legislators on the Right continue to look for ways to draw bills limiting GLBT rights. Consider Rep. Campfield's HB2997 which would prohibit instruction in human sexuality other than heterosexuality in grades K-8.

How does this pass for premarital sex fit with the cluster of family values and abstinence only education?

Sen. Paul Stanley's bill banning adoption by unmarried cohabiting couples in a sexual relationship is at least more consistent with family values discourse, though no more palatable.