The US state of Tennessee has passed a bill prohibiting the mention of gays or lesbians in lower and middle public schools. Bill 49, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” by the opposition, limits sex education to discussion of acts that lead to reproduction.
Republican Senator Campfield, author of the Bill, claims that high school is the right place to begin discussions around homosexuality and that the Bill will return the decision as to how to discuss such issues back to the parents. Opponents say it will censor teachers and make it unlawful for teachers to discuss issues with gay and lesbian pupils. Some have called it the Suicide Promotion Bill.
The original Bill was reworded because of some concerns over the language used, but it has now been passed in Tennessee by 19 votes to 11.