Bill Would Ban Teaching Sexual Diversity

Ban on Teaching Sexual Diversity Before House Subcommittee

This Wednesday, March 11, the House K-12 Subcommittee will hear HB0821 by Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville), which would prevent teachers from discussing any sexual diversity and would limit academic freedom and intellectual curiosity. The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition opposed this bill in 2008 and remains opposed to this bill in 2009.

The K-12 Subcommittee meets Wednesday, March 11, at 10:00 am, in Legislative Plaza, Room 16.

This past week, the Senate State and Local Government Committee passed SB0150 by Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), which would establish new requirements for Voter ID's in Tennessee. The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition was one of several organizations which opposed this legislation because it could disfranchise thousands of Tennesseans. Our concern was this could lead to new requirements for gender markers which would present new challenges to transgender people who transition, thus, leading to the disfranchisement of transgender voters in Tennessee. The vote on SB0150 was along strict party lines with all 6 Republicans voting in favor, and all 3 Democrats voting against. The bill now moves to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. The remaining six Voter ID bills were all taken Off Notice due to redundancy.

Marisa Richmond
President, TTPAC

And don't forget, the National Center for Transgender Equality's Congressional Lobby Days, April 26 to 28. Among the priorities are to secure passage of the fully inclusive Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA), and the fully inclusive Federal Hate Crimes bill. For more information, visit the NCTE Lobby Days webpage.