A bill that would make it illegal to talk about anything gay in grades below nine within schools in the US state of Tennessee has progressed further, and is now heading to the House for consideration. The House Education Committee voted 8-7 to advance the bill, the Tennessean reports. The Advocate says Republican governor Bill Haslam has repeatedly said he wishes lawmakers would move on to more important issues, but hasn't gone so far as to say he would veto the measure if it comes to him. Known as the "don't say gay" bill, the legislation would bar teachers and administrators from any gay related talk before high school and violators would face fines and jail time. “I have two children - in the third- and fourth-grade - and don’t want them to be exposed to things I don’t agree with,” said the bill's sponsor, Republican representative Joey Hensley, according to the Tennessean.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 19th April 2012 - 11:58am