More than a dozen stat propose so-lled 'Don't Say Gay' bills : NPR

Contents:

• TENNSEE'S ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE BILL SPARKS BIPARTISAN CRICISM
• NOT JT FLORIDA. MORE THAN A DOZEN STAT PROPOSE SO-LLED 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILLS
• ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ IS BACK: 5 THGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE TENNSEE BILLCHEAT SHEETA STATE LAWMAKER WANTS TO BLOCK THE WORD OM SCHOOLS. FIVE THGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BILL.KEV FALLONSENR EDOR, OBSSEDUPDATED JUL. 12, 2017 1:50AM EDT / PUBLISHED JAN. 31, 2013 3:31PM EST AP (2)LIKE AN IRKSOME ZOMBIE, TENNSEE’S “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL, WHICH SO MANY OPPONENTS HAD THOUGHT WAS AD, IS ALIVE ONCE AGA—AND THIS TIME THERE’S A TWIST. THE FAMO MEASURE WAS FIRST TRODUCED 2011 AND PROHIBED ANY STCTN OR DISCSN OF HOMOSEXUALY CLASSROOMS OM KRGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRA. AFTER PASSG THE STATE SENATE BUT DYG THE HOE, THE BILL WAS RETRODUCED WEDNDAY WH A NEW PROVISN: TEACHERS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OUT THEIR GAY STUNTS TO THEIR PARENTS.COULD PASS THIS TIME? AND WHO’S PHG THIS THG, ANYWAY? HERE ARE FIVE THGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TENNEE’S “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL. 1. LAST TIME AROUND, IT DIED FOR A GOOD REASONTHE “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL FIRST CLEARED A TENNSEE SENATE PANEL APRIL 2011. OFFICIALLY LLED S.B. 49, THE BILL WAS SPONSORED BY REPUBLIN STATE SEN. STACEY CAMPFIELD—WHO HAD PREVLY TRIED UNSUCCSFULLY TO PH THE IA AS A MEMBER OF THE STATE HOE FOR SIX YEARS. PROHIBG THE DISCSN OF ANY SEXUALY EXCEPT FOR HETEROSEXUALY KRGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRA, “EVEN WH STUNTS WHO MAY BE GAY OR HAVE GAY FAY,” THE MEASURE QUICKLY EARNED S NOW WISPREAD NICKNAME. EVEN SO, THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE, ULTIMATELY DYG AN EXPENSIVE AND EMBARRASSG ATH THE HOE AFTER TWO YEARS OF BATE. “WE FOUND OUT THERE REALLY IS NOT SEX TN CURRICULUM K-8 RIGHT NOW,” GOP REP. BILL DUNN SAID AT THE TIME, POTG OUT THAT SEXUALY ISN’T DISCSED AT ALL TENNSEE SCHOOLS UNTIL NTH GRA, RENRG THE BILL ELS.IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO REALIZE THIS.BUT WA, THERE’S MORE. CAMPFIELD RETRODUCED THE LEGISLATN WEDNDAY WH A NEW VEAT: NOT ONLY WOULD DISCSG HOMOSEXUALY BE BANNED, BUT TEACHERS WOULD HAVE TO TELL PARENTS WHEN STUNTS ARE—OR EVEN JT MIGHT BE—GAY.2. IT’S REALLY CALLED THE CLASSROOM PROTECTN ACTTHE NEW, AND CAMPFIELD THKS IMPROVED, MEASURE IS S.B. 0234, OR THE CLASSROOM PROTECTN ACT. IT BEGS BY STATG THAT “CERTA SUBJECTS ARE PARTICULARLY SENSIVE AND ARE, THEREFORE, BT EXPLAED AND DISCSED WH THE HOME.” THE BILL STAT THAT “HUMAN SEXUALY” IS AMONG THOSE SUBJECTS.THE KEY LANGUAGE—AND THE WORDG THAT EARNS THE “DON’T SAY GAY” NOMENCLATURE—IS THE REFERENCE TO “NATURAL HUMAN REPRODUCTN” THIS PASSAGE: 3. EVEN IF A KID ‘MIGHT BE GAY,’ TEACHERS HAVE TO REPORT ITTHE BILL DO NOT PROHIB SCHOOL OFFICIALS OM UNSELG STUNTS WHO ARE ENGAGG —OR “WHO MAY BE AT RISK OF ENGAGG ”—ACTIVY “NSISTENT WH NATURAL HUMAN REPRODUCTN,” BUT DO REQUIRE THAT THEY NOTIFY PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS OF THE UNSELG. IN OTHER WORDS, IF STUNTS SEEK ADVICE OR UNSELG ABOUT BEG GAY, QUTN BEG GAY, OR ARE TREATED BY PEERS A WAY THAT DIT THEY ARE SPECTED OF BEG GAY, SCHOOL OFFICIALS MT OUT THEM TO THEIR PARENTS.IT GO A STEP FURTHER, REQUIRG THAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS NOTIFY PARENTS IF THEY NOTICE A STUNT “WHOSE CIRCUMSTANC PRENT IMMEDIATE AND URGENT SAFETY ISSU VOLVG HUMAN SEXUALY.” SO IF A TEACHER EVEN SPECTS A CHILD MIGHT BE GAY, HE OR SHE MT OUT THE STUNT TO PARENTS. HOW N WE BE SURE THAT CAMPFIELD THKS HOMOSEXUALY IS ONE OF THOSE “IMMEDIATE AND URGENT SAFETY ISSU”? HE FLAT OUT SAID : “THE ACT OF HOMOSEXUALY IS VERY DANGERO TO SOMEONE’S HEALTH AND SAFETY.”CHRIS SANRS OF THE TENNSEE EQUALY PROJECT SAYS THAT THE PROVISN “SEEMS TO FORCE UNSELORS TO BEE TATTLETAL.” REQUIRG THAT THEY RM PARENTS ABOUT ANY UNSELG RELATED TO LGBT ISSU OR QUTNG WILL “ERO THE TST BETWEEN STUNTS AND UNSELORS AND LEAVE STUNTS WHOUT ANY NFINTIAL ROURCE A PLACE WHERE THEY MIGHT BE ENDURG BULLYG OR OTHER ISSU RELATED TO THEIR SEXUALY, GENR, OR OTHER FACTORS."4. THE BILL’S SPONSOR IS CONFED ABOUT AIDSTHAT CAMPFIELD NST GAYNS TO BE A DANGERO ACT MAY BE ROOTED HIS FLTY UNRSTANDG OF HIV AND AIDS. “MY UNRSTANDG IS THAT IS VIRTUALLY—NOT PLETELY, BUT VIRTUALLY—IMPOSSIBLE TO NTRACT AIDS THROUGH HETEROSEXUAL SEX,” HE SAID DURG A RAD TERVIEW LAST YEAR. “MOST PEOPLE REALIZE THAT AIDS ME OM THE HOMOSEXUAL MUNY— WAS ONE GUY SCREWG A MONKEY, IF I RELL RRECTLY, AND THEN HAVG SEX WH MEN. IT WAS AN AIRLE PILOT, I BELIEVE.”(RENOWNED SCIENTIST JACQU PEP’S BOOK THE ORIG OF AIDS DIFFERS GREATLY OM CAMPFIELD’S ACUNT.)TE TO THE WORDG OF HIS BILLS, CAMPFIELD DO FD HOMOSEXUALY UNNATURAL. HOMOSEXUALS “DO NOT NATURALLY REPRODUCE,” HE SAYS. “IT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN THAT IS NATURE. IT HAPPENS NATURE, BUT SO DO BTIALY. THAT DO NOT MAKE RIGHT OR SOMETHG WE SHOULD TEACH SCHOOLS.” AND HE DO FD HOMOSEXUALY DANGERO: “WHAT’S THE AVERAGE LIFPAN OF A HOMOSEXUAL? IT’S VERY SHORT. GOOGLE .”IN THE PAST, CAMPFIELD HAS PROPOSED BILLS REQUIRG ABORTED THAT FET RECEIVE ATH CERTIFIT (TH PUBLICLY INTIFYG WOMEN WHO HAVE ABORTNS); FORCG VOTERS TO REGISTER FOR THE POLIL PARTY THAT MOST CLOSELY REPRENTS THEIR VIEWS; AND, RECENTLY, CUTTG WELFARE TO FAI WH CHILDREN WHO ARE PERFORMG POORLY SCHOOL.5. IT COULD ACTUALLY PASSACRDG TO CAMPFIELD, THE BILL ALREADY HAS A HOE SPONSOR, AND HE SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC THAT WILL PASS. AFTER ALL, THE EARLIER VERSN DID PASS THE SENATE, AND ONLY EXPIRED BEE WASN’T NECSARY—NOT BEE LOST A VOTE. IT ACTUALLY PASSED THROUGH SEVERAL HOE MTE BEFORE DYG, AND RETRODUCG THE MEASURE WH A SPONSOR ATTACHED CREAS S CHANC OF APPROVAL.LAST YEAR, A BILL PROPOSED BY REPUBLINS THE MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALSO EARNED A “DON’T SAY GAY” LABEL, AS PROHIBED THE TEACHG OF SEXUAL ORIENTATN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT STIRRED SUCH NTROVERSY AND FACED SUCH STNCH OPPOSN THAT WAS EVENTUALLY BURIED. (THOUGH , TOO, ULD FD A NEW LIFE THIS YEAR. THE LEGISLATOR WHO TRODUCED , STEVE COOKSON, WAS RECENTLY NAMED THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSOURI HOE MTEE THAT EVENTUALLY SQUASHED .)WH NEAR-STANT OUTRAGE OM LIBERAL-LEANG BLOGS WHEN CAMPFIELD’S BILL WAS RETRODUCED WEDNDAY, THE TENNSEE SENATOR N PROBABLY EXPECT A SIARLY STRONG MOVEMENT TO MOVE THE MEASURE OFF THE DOCKET. AS THKPROGRS POTS OUT, “FAY REJECTN IS A SER RISK FOR LGBT YOUTH. KIDS WHO ARE LGBT OFTEN FACE ALIENATN, IF NOT OUTRIGHT ABANDONMENT, BEE THEY E OUT.”BUT FOR MANY OF CAMPFIELD’S SUPPORTERS, THE NEW RALLYG CRY MIGHT JT BE “DON’T SAY NAY.” KEV FALLON
• TENNESSEE’S “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL REVIVED
• TENNSEE LAWMAKERS CONSIR BILL THAT WOULD SEPARATE GAY AND STRAIGHT MARRIAG
• TENN.'S 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL BACK AND IT COULD OUT STUNTS TO THEIR PARENTS
• 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL PASS TENN. SENATE
• OVER 140 PANI TELL TENNSEE S ANTI-GAY BILLS ARE BAD FOR BS

TENNSEE'S ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE BILL SPARKS BIPARTISAN CRICISM

Nashville, Tennsee – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – the natn’s largt lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights anizatn – nmns the Tennsee Senate for passg SB 1440, a bill that attempts to discrimate agast LGBTQ+ Tennseans by difyg “sex” as “a person’s immutable blogil sex as termed by anatomy and geics existg at the time of birth and evince of a person’s blogil sex” throughout state . The Human Rights Campaign is Ameri’s largt civil rights anizatn workg to achieve equaly for lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer people. Supporters argue the measure is need to give relig officials, upl and others opposed to gay marriage an optn that wouldn’t nflict wh their beliefs.

NOT JT FLORIDA. MORE THAN A DOZEN STAT PROPOSE SO-LLED 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILLS

Crics say ’s a liberate effort to circumvent the Supreme Court’s 2015 lg legalizg gay marriage and uld lead to stly legal battl. “This argument that is gog to set up two separate paths to marriage is blatantly unnstutnal vlatn of the Obergefell cisn, which is the law of the land, ” said attorney Abby Rubenfeld, who 2013 helped lead the challenge to Tennsee’s ban on same-sex su, which was filed by Rubenfeld, was clud the SCOTUS se that eventually legalized gay marriage 2015.

Lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT) people, sgle parents, and relig mori have faced problems tryg to adopt or foster children the US bee some agenci will only place kids wh heterosexual parents of a particular fah – a discrimatory practice.

‘DON’T SAY GAY’ IS BACK: 5 THGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE TENNSEE BILLCHEAT SHEETA STATE LAWMAKER WANTS TO BLOCK THE WORD OM SCHOOLS. FIVE THGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BILL.KEV FALLONSENR EDOR, OBSSEDUPDATED JUL. 12, 2017 1:50AM EDT / PUBLISHED JAN. 31, 2013 3:31PM EST AP (2)LIKE AN IRKSOME ZOMBIE, TENNSEE’S “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL, WHICH SO MANY OPPONENTS HAD THOUGHT WAS AD, IS ALIVE ONCE AGA—AND THIS TIME THERE’S A TWIST. THE FAMO MEASURE WAS FIRST TRODUCED 2011 AND PROHIBED ANY STCTN OR DISCSN OF HOMOSEXUALY CLASSROOMS OM KRGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRA. AFTER PASSG THE STATE SENATE BUT DYG THE HOE, THE BILL WAS RETRODUCED WEDNDAY WH A NEW PROVISN: TEACHERS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OUT THEIR GAY STUNTS TO THEIR PARENTS.COULD PASS THIS TIME? AND WHO’S PHG THIS THG, ANYWAY? HERE ARE FIVE THGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TENNEE’S “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL. 1. LAST TIME AROUND, IT DIED FOR A GOOD REASONTHE “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL FIRST CLEARED A TENNSEE SENATE PANEL APRIL 2011. OFFICIALLY LLED S.B. 49, THE BILL WAS SPONSORED BY REPUBLIN STATE SEN. STACEY CAMPFIELD—WHO HAD PREVLY TRIED UNSUCCSFULLY TO PH THE IA AS A MEMBER OF THE STATE HOE FOR SIX YEARS. PROHIBG THE DISCSN OF ANY SEXUALY EXCEPT FOR HETEROSEXUALY KRGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRA, “EVEN WH STUNTS WHO MAY BE GAY OR HAVE GAY FAY,” THE MEASURE QUICKLY EARNED S NOW WISPREAD NICKNAME. EVEN SO, THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE, ULTIMATELY DYG AN EXPENSIVE AND EMBARRASSG ATH THE HOE AFTER TWO YEARS OF BATE. “WE FOUND OUT THERE REALLY IS NOT SEX TN CURRICULUM K-8 RIGHT NOW,” GOP REP. BILL DUNN SAID AT THE TIME, POTG OUT THAT SEXUALY ISN’T DISCSED AT ALL TENNSEE SCHOOLS UNTIL NTH GRA, RENRG THE BILL ELS.IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO REALIZE THIS.BUT WA, THERE’S MORE. CAMPFIELD RETRODUCED THE LEGISLATN WEDNDAY WH A NEW VEAT: NOT ONLY WOULD DISCSG HOMOSEXUALY BE BANNED, BUT TEACHERS WOULD HAVE TO TELL PARENTS WHEN STUNTS ARE—OR EVEN JT MIGHT BE—GAY.2. IT’S REALLY CALLED THE CLASSROOM PROTECTN ACTTHE NEW, AND CAMPFIELD THKS IMPROVED, MEASURE IS S.B. 0234, OR THE CLASSROOM PROTECTN ACT. IT BEGS BY STATG THAT “CERTA SUBJECTS ARE PARTICULARLY SENSIVE AND ARE, THEREFORE, BT EXPLAED AND DISCSED WH THE HOME.” THE BILL STAT THAT “HUMAN SEXUALY” IS AMONG THOSE SUBJECTS.THE KEY LANGUAGE—AND THE WORDG THAT EARNS THE “DON’T SAY GAY” NOMENCLATURE—IS THE REFERENCE TO “NATURAL HUMAN REPRODUCTN” THIS PASSAGE: 3. EVEN IF A KID ‘MIGHT BE GAY,’ TEACHERS HAVE TO REPORT ITTHE BILL DO NOT PROHIB SCHOOL OFFICIALS OM UNSELG STUNTS WHO ARE ENGAGG —OR “WHO MAY BE AT RISK OF ENGAGG ”—ACTIVY “NSISTENT WH NATURAL HUMAN REPRODUCTN,” BUT DO REQUIRE THAT THEY NOTIFY PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS OF THE UNSELG. IN OTHER WORDS, IF STUNTS SEEK ADVICE OR UNSELG ABOUT BEG GAY, QUTN BEG GAY, OR ARE TREATED BY PEERS A WAY THAT DIT THEY ARE SPECTED OF BEG GAY, SCHOOL OFFICIALS MT OUT THEM TO THEIR PARENTS.IT GO A STEP FURTHER, REQUIRG THAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS NOTIFY PARENTS IF THEY NOTICE A STUNT “WHOSE CIRCUMSTANC PRENT IMMEDIATE AND URGENT SAFETY ISSU VOLVG HUMAN SEXUALY.” SO IF A TEACHER EVEN SPECTS A CHILD MIGHT BE GAY, HE OR SHE MT OUT THE STUNT TO PARENTS. HOW N WE BE SURE THAT CAMPFIELD THKS HOMOSEXUALY IS ONE OF THOSE “IMMEDIATE AND URGENT SAFETY ISSU”? HE FLAT OUT SAID : “THE ACT OF HOMOSEXUALY IS VERY DANGERO TO SOMEONE’S HEALTH AND SAFETY.”CHRIS SANRS OF THE TENNSEE EQUALY PROJECT SAYS THAT THE PROVISN “SEEMS TO FORCE UNSELORS TO BEE TATTLETAL.” REQUIRG THAT THEY RM PARENTS ABOUT ANY UNSELG RELATED TO LGBT ISSU OR QUTNG WILL “ERO THE TST BETWEEN STUNTS AND UNSELORS AND LEAVE STUNTS WHOUT ANY NFINTIAL ROURCE A PLACE WHERE THEY MIGHT BE ENDURG BULLYG OR OTHER ISSU RELATED TO THEIR SEXUALY, GENR, OR OTHER FACTORS."4. THE BILL’S SPONSOR IS CONFED ABOUT AIDSTHAT CAMPFIELD NST GAYNS TO BE A DANGERO ACT MAY BE ROOTED HIS FLTY UNRSTANDG OF HIV AND AIDS. “MY UNRSTANDG IS THAT IS VIRTUALLY—NOT PLETELY, BUT VIRTUALLY—IMPOSSIBLE TO NTRACT AIDS THROUGH HETEROSEXUAL SEX,” HE SAID DURG A RAD TERVIEW LAST YEAR. “MOST PEOPLE REALIZE THAT AIDS ME OM THE HOMOSEXUAL MUNY— WAS ONE GUY SCREWG A MONKEY, IF I RELL RRECTLY, AND THEN HAVG SEX WH MEN. IT WAS AN AIRLE PILOT, I BELIEVE.”(RENOWNED SCIENTIST JACQU PEP’S BOOK THE ORIG OF AIDS DIFFERS GREATLY OM CAMPFIELD’S ACUNT.)TE TO THE WORDG OF HIS BILLS, CAMPFIELD DO FD HOMOSEXUALY UNNATURAL. HOMOSEXUALS “DO NOT NATURALLY REPRODUCE,” HE SAYS. “IT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN THAT IS NATURE. IT HAPPENS NATURE, BUT SO DO BTIALY. THAT DO NOT MAKE RIGHT OR SOMETHG WE SHOULD TEACH SCHOOLS.” AND HE DO FD HOMOSEXUALY DANGERO: “WHAT’S THE AVERAGE LIFPAN OF A HOMOSEXUAL? IT’S VERY SHORT. GOOGLE .”IN THE PAST, CAMPFIELD HAS PROPOSED BILLS REQUIRG ABORTED THAT FET RECEIVE ATH CERTIFIT (TH PUBLICLY INTIFYG WOMEN WHO HAVE ABORTNS); FORCG VOTERS TO REGISTER FOR THE POLIL PARTY THAT MOST CLOSELY REPRENTS THEIR VIEWS; AND, RECENTLY, CUTTG WELFARE TO FAI WH CHILDREN WHO ARE PERFORMG POORLY SCHOOL.5. IT COULD ACTUALLY PASSACRDG TO CAMPFIELD, THE BILL ALREADY HAS A HOE SPONSOR, AND HE SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC THAT WILL PASS. AFTER ALL, THE EARLIER VERSN DID PASS THE SENATE, AND ONLY EXPIRED BEE WASN’T NECSARY—NOT BEE LOST A VOTE. IT ACTUALLY PASSED THROUGH SEVERAL HOE MTE BEFORE DYG, AND RETRODUCG THE MEASURE WH A SPONSOR ATTACHED CREAS S CHANC OF APPROVAL.LAST YEAR, A BILL PROPOSED BY REPUBLINS THE MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALSO EARNED A “DON’T SAY GAY” LABEL, AS PROHIBED THE TEACHG OF SEXUAL ORIENTATN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT STIRRED SUCH NTROVERSY AND FACED SUCH STNCH OPPOSN THAT WAS EVENTUALLY BURIED. (THOUGH , TOO, ULD FD A NEW LIFE THIS YEAR. THE LEGISLATOR WHO TRODUCED , STEVE COOKSON, WAS RECENTLY NAMED THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSOURI HOE MTEE THAT EVENTUALLY SQUASHED .)WH NEAR-STANT OUTRAGE OM LIBERAL-LEANG BLOGS WHEN CAMPFIELD’S BILL WAS RETRODUCED WEDNDAY, THE TENNSEE SENATOR N PROBABLY EXPECT A SIARLY STRONG MOVEMENT TO MOVE THE MEASURE OFF THE DOCKET. AS THKPROGRS POTS OUT, “FAY REJECTN IS A SER RISK FOR LGBT YOUTH. KIDS WHO ARE LGBT OFTEN FACE ALIENATN, IF NOT OUTRIGHT ABANDONMENT, BEE THEY E OUT.”BUT FOR MANY OF CAMPFIELD’S SUPPORTERS, THE NEW RALLYG CRY MIGHT JT BE “DON’T SAY NAY.” KEV FALLON

Across the Uned Stat, at least a dozen stat are nsirg new legislatn that several ways will mirror Florida's new ntroversial law, referred to by some opponents as "Don't Say Gay. "The stutnalizatn of the bills is an overt form of stctural transphobia and homophobia, and go agast all public health evince creatg a safe and supportive environment for transgenr, nonbary, queer, gay and lbian youths and teachers to thrive, " Arjee Rtar, assistant profsor of epimlogy at the Universy of Washgton, told NPR.

TENNESSEE’S “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL REVIVED

Rtar, a social epimlogist and health equy advote, said the ntroversial bills will lim all youths to live to their fullt potential, addg "there should be no room for transphobia and homophobia — pecially the classroom. " Tennsee's HB 800 bans books and stctnal materials "that promote, normalize, support, or addrs lbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgenr issu or liftyle.

Two years after Arizona lawmakers repealed a law barrg any stctn on HIV or AIDS that that "promot a homosexual liftyle, " they are close to enactg a broad remake of the state's sex tn laws wh a particular foc on LGBTQ issu. "Florida may be the first this wave, but there have been other laws the past that were lled 'no promo homo' laws, which forbid sayg posive thgs about lbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people classrooms, " Simmons told NPR.

TENNSEE LAWMAKERS CONSIR BILL THAT WOULD SEPARATE GAY AND STRAIGHT MARRIAG

New York Cy is lnchg a digal billboard mpaign, supportg LGBTQ visibily that will be displayed five major markets Florida for eight weeks, to lure Floridians unhappy wh their state's "Don't Say Gay" law to the Big Apple, Adams announced.

‘Don’t Say Gay’.

Bce Griffey (R – Paris) that would ban “textbooks and stctnal materials or supplemental stctnal materials that promote, normalize, support, or addrs lbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgenr issu or liftyl. The State(s) of 'Don't Say Gay' and Other School Censorship Efforts. Ron DeSantis signed the state's "don't say gay" bill to law Monday, but the Sunshe State isn't alone the efforts -- 's actually part of a natnal other stat are nsirg legislatn that would ban or rtrict classroom (or unselg office) discsn of LGBTQ+ issu and inty or books and other tnal materials that have LGBTQ+ ntent.

TENN.'S 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL BACK AND IT COULD OUT STUNTS TO THEIR PARENTS

The bills aren't surfacg only ral stat or the Deep South -- they've also e up such reliably blue stat as Illois, New Jersey, and Rho Island, although they have ltle chance of passg, The Advote looks at the history of "don't say gay" bills analyz the current state of the and other censorship attempts -- and the legislators behd them. What Is a 'Don't Say Gay' Bill and What's the History?

"Don't say gay" bills have gotten much publicy this year, but they're really nothg new.

'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL PASS TENN. SENATE

Stacey Campfield troduced a bill that would ban any lsons related to homosexualy through eighth gra. Campfield is no longer office, but other Tennsee lawmakers are tryg there was "don't say gay, " there was "no promo homo" -- bills that proliferated the 1980s and '90s as nservative legislators rpond to the AIDS crisis by seekg to ban what they nsired "promotn of homosexualy" schools, pecially sex tn urs.

What's the Difference Between "Don't Say Gay" and "No Promo Homo" Bills? A major difference between "no promo homo" bills and "don't say gay" bills is that the latter often have a "heavy-hand mandate on parent and fay volvement, " says Melanie Willgham-Jaggers, GLSEN's executive director.

"The mandat are harmful and risk relsly outg LGBTQ+ young people to fai who do not affirm their children's inti, " Willgham-Jaggers when "don't say gay" bills don't pass, the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric that up the bat over them do harm, pots out Cathryn Oakley, state legislative director and senr unsel at the Human Rights Campaign.

OVER 140 PANI TELL TENNSEE S ANTI-GAY BILLS ARE BAD FOR BS

She also not that the bills are more accurately scribed as "don't say gay or trans" bills, as they target transgenr people along wh everyone else unr the LGBTQ+ umbrella.

Those who support "don't say gay or trans" bills across all stat are virtually all chief sponsor of Florida's bill is Sen. Louisiana's versn of a "don't say gay or trans" bill, Hoe Bill 837, is pretty drastic. "Chris Kaiser, advocy director for the Amerin Civil Liberti Unn's Louisiana affiliate, noted to the paper that the bill "seems to be part of a trend to file a lot of different typ of legislatn that is jt aimed at villaizg gay and transgenr people and basilly removg them om public life.

It's not hard to image homophobic or transphobic parents not wantg their kids exposed to the "liftyl. "No public school district, public charter school, or public school library shall mata s ventory or e s curriculum books that make as their primary subject the study of lbian, gay, bisexual, or transgenr issu or recreatnal sexualizatn, " reads.