Anti-gay legislation could censor teachers, critics say
The bill s sponsors say it gives parents a choice, but experts argue it will limit discussions on everything from civil rights to Romeo and Juliet. Author: Cole Sullivan Updated: 5:11 PM CDT April 9, 2021
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. A controversial anti-gay bill scheduled for a final vote in the Tennessee Legislature could censor teachers and erase history, critics argue.
HB529, part of a slate of recent legislation considered hostile by the LGBTQ community, would require school districts to give a month s notice and let students opt-out before learning curriculum related to sexual orientation.
Experts said that could apply to history lessons on Supreme Court civil rights cases or the AIDS epidemic.
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In February, Rep. Bruce Griffey (R-District 75) filed a bill in the Tennessee House of Representatives that would prohibit the use in public and charter schools of any educational materials that, in the language of the bill, âpromote, normalize, support or address lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender (LGBT) issues or lifestyles.â
On March 30, the bill was introduced before the Educational Instruction Subcommittee, which voted in favor of passing it onto the Education Instruction Committee, where it will be presented on April 7. In his presentation before the subcommittee, Rep. Griffey argued that education involving LGBTQ issues is inherently sexual and inappropriate for classroom instruction, and advocated for a more limited approach to sex education.