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Feb 16
thedailywhat: Think Of The Children of the Day: As Tennessee’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill — which bans elementary and middle-school teachers from discussing homosexuality with students — made its way out of the House Education subcommittee today, a moment of sad levity was had when Rep. Joey Hensley (R), the subcommittee chairman, concurred with the testimony of a Nashville preacher who expressed concern that prohibiting discussion of homosexuality wouldn’t prevent children from learning about it by watching Modern Family. “I don’t think Modern Family is appropriate for children to watch,” Hensley is quoted as saying. A subsequent witness, Rev. Thomas Kleinert, interpreted the exposure a bit differently. Our children have to deal with that complexity long before they’ve reached sufficient maturity. Silence in the classroom only adds to the cloak of pain and shame, whereas open, age-appropriate conversation may give them a chance and the courage to talk to an adult they trust. Good point aside, the bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives. It was adopted by the state Senate last year, but has since been amended to allow the teaching of “natural human reproduction science.” [scene / usatoday / wonkette.]  I don’t think you’re fit to govern or parent, Rep. Hensley, but I’m not out there trying to make a law about it.

thedailywhat:

Think Of The Children of the Day: As Tennessee’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill — which bans elementary and middle-school teachers from discussing homosexuality with students — made its way out of the House Education subcommittee today, a moment of sad levity was had when Rep. Joey Hensley (R), the subcommittee chairman, concurred with the testimony of a Nashville preacher who expressed concern that prohibiting discussion of homosexuality wouldn’t prevent children from learning about it by watching Modern Family.

“I don’t think Modern Family is appropriate for children to watch,” Hensley is quoted as saying.

A subsequent witness, Rev. Thomas Kleinert, interpreted the exposure a bit differently.

Our children have to deal with that complexity long before they’ve reached sufficient maturity. Silence in the classroom only adds to the cloak of pain and shame, whereas open, age-appropriate conversation may give them a chance and the courage to talk to an adult they trust.

Good point aside, the bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives.

It was adopted by the state Senate last year, but has since been amended to allow the teaching of “natural human reproduction science.”

[scene / usatoday / wonkette.] 

I don’t think you’re fit to govern or parent, Rep. Hensley, but I’m not out there trying to make a law about it.

Reblogged 3 months ago from thedailywhat

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