The Tennessee House Education Subcommittee will consider the controversial asinine “Don’t Say Gay” bill today. More than 100 people are expected to express their silent protest by attending the subcommittee meeting while wearing purple. The Senate passed a modified version of the bill last year.
The Tennessee legislature has already become the butt of comedians and commentators all over the country, including that of Star Trek actor George Takei, who “offered the use of his name for the cause.” He suggests replacing “gay” with “Takei.”
“Let’s have Takei pride parades,” he said during a radio interview I had with him last year. “During Christmas, we’ll have a Takei old time.”
Despite his jovial humor on the topic, Takei knows full well how damaging that this legislation can cause. He started a Facebook page to spread the news, which has more than 36,000 members.
A bill now pending in Tennessee would prohibit teachers in that state from using the word “Gay”, or even discussing homosexuality in the classroom. The so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law is premised on the misguided belief that, by not talking about Gay people, they can simply make Gay People Disappear.
News of HB0229/SB0049 has gone nationwide, and attracted the attention of high-profile bloggers including Andy Towle of Towleroad. He quotes Nashville’s Out & About Newspaper:
“The very existence of this bill sends a bad message about Tennessee at a time when we should look at constructive proposals to make schools safe, welcoming places for all students,” according to TEP Nashville Committee Chair Chris Sanders. “The fact that this is the one of the first bills debated this year makes the citizens of Tennessee wonder how serious our Legislature is about improving our schools.”
It’s absolutely critical that we voice our abject opposition to this bill. Contact your representatives today, and tell them to vote NO on HB0229.
For more information, visit the Tennessee Equality Project.
Visit the protest page here. Sign the online petition opposing the bill here.
UPDATE: TEP reported this morning that the bill will not be heard today. I’ll keep you posted.
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[...] so vocal about the “Don’t Say Gay” bill (which has brought our state plenty of well-deserved ridicule) or the “License to Bully” bill, both working their way through the state legislature [...]