NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Republican lawmaker has again proposed legislation that would stop teachers from discussing sexuality with their students, and it has a controversial new provision.
Sen. Stacey Campfield's so–called "Don't Say Gay" bill passed the Senate in 2011, but was not put to a final vote last year. The officially titled "Classroom Protection Act" would "prohibit teachers from discussing of any sexuality except heterosexuality in grades K-8."
Now, an amendment has been added that has been interpreted as requiring schools to inform a student's parents if the child has engaged in homosexual activity.
Under the measure, a school counselor, nurse or principal could talk to students about sexuality if a student is "engaging in, or may be at risk of engaging in, behavior injurious to the physical or mental health and well- being of the student or another person."
Campfield told reporters that he considers the "act of homosexuality" to be dangerous to a child's health and safety.
