‘Don’t Say Gay’ One Step Closer In Tennessee
House lawmakers this week [April 19, 2012] advanced the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill, moving it forward from a House Education committee on a 8-7 vote.
Reports The Tennessean:
Bill sponsor Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, and others argued that outside groups and some teachers slip those conversations in, and the bill serves as an accountability reminder.
“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,” Hensley said. “… Even though the state board disallows this now, I’m afraid it does happen, and sex education is talked about in a way that it is acceptable.”
Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, who voted for the bill, said he’s seen documentation that outside groups are entering classrooms at the invitation of principals and teachers and not staying within the curriculum guidelines.
“And they should,” he said after the vote.
Schools caught in violation of the state’s sex education policies can have state money withheld, and teachers face a $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail, according to state law. The bill passed the Senate last year.
Supporters of the bill have not so far been able to produce proof that the bill is needed, they’ve simply made accusations that teachers are flouting the rules.
Interestingly, not all Republican lawmakers voted in favor, highlighting that there are still deep concerns about the bill and specifically over whether it will actually serve to inadvertently introduce sex education to K-8 in a state that has vigorously opposed such moves.
The legislation would originally have banned all mention of sexuality in K-8. The amended bill as passed by the Senate last year aims to reduce that reach, confining teachers to talking about sexuality only in terms of “natural human reproduction science.”
However, the bill has offered no explanation of what that should mean. Does it, for instance, ban mention of IVF treatment? And does it effectively allow for sex education for K-8 students?
Due to these concerns, the bill had been held back with another measure requiring so-called “family life education” with an abstinence only bent being a focus, but now it seems the bill’s chief supporter, Rep. Hensley, wants one last chance at making “Don’t Say Gay” the law of the land before the end of the session.
As for the Republican governor Bill Haslam, he has spoken out three times to remind lawmakers they should be concentrating on issues like the economy.
Critics have said the legislation, even in its modified form, will have a chilling effect on how teachers deal with anti-LGBT bullying, that it is entirely unnecessary given that Tennessee already has a strict no sex education before highschool policy, and that it is simply about pushing a conservative religious agenda.
The bill now goes to a calendar committee before a full floor vote.
Tennessee of course recently passed a bill to allow teachers to instruct on Creationism as an alternative to scientific fact and advanced a bill describing hand-holding as gateway sexual activity. –Care2
Catholic Bishops Call For Civil Disobedience Against Obama Mandate
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has taken a bold stand for religious freedom. In a recent statement, titled “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty,” the bishops call for repeal of contraception coverage mandated by the Department of Health and Human Services. The clarified position sets up a dramatic confrontation with the Obama administration—and would, if the bishops prevail, help preserve the religious liberty of all Americans.
The HHS mandate requires employers to provide insurance coverage for contraception and sterilization services. It is, according to the bishops, an “unjust law.” They write: “It cannot be obeyed and therefore one does not seek relief from it, but rather its repeal.”
The statement is a rebuke of President Obama and the so-called accommodation his administration proposed in February. It also raises the stakes between the president and the leaders of America’s Catholic Church.
The bishops call on Catholics in America, “in solidarity with our fellow citizens,” not to obey the law. They implicitly compare the HHS regulation to a segregation-era statute, and even cite Martin Luther Kind Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” In a not-so-subtle manner, the bishops tell the Obama administration that they are willing to go to prison rather than comply with the mandate’s provisions. –American Vision News
Court In Rio De Janeiro Recognizes Right To Gay Marriage
A Rio De Janerio judge, in a first for the region, has granted a same-sex couple the right to have their civil union upgraded to a marriage.
Reports On Top Magazine:
Judge Luiz Felipe Francisco said Brazilian law does not prohibit marriage between members of the same sex.
“As there is no explicit barrier to marriage between two people of the same sex, it would be contrary to principles enshrined in the Constitution, such as equality, human dignity and pluralism [to deny the request,]” a statement reads.
The couple asked the court last October to recognize their civil union — referred to as a “stable union” in Brazil — as a marriage. It is the first such decision in the state of Rio de Janeiro and the latest victory in recent months for gay marriage advocates in Latin America’s most populous nation.
Previously, other couples have successfully petitioned to have their unions recognized as marriages but not all judges have interpreted the country’s laws to include equal access to marriage.
Currently only Mexico City and Alagoas officially allow for same-sex marriages. However, due to a high court ruling, all states must recognize legal same-sex marriages that were carried out in other regions so as to ensure that same-sex couples’ partnership and parental rights are upheld when travelling through the country.—Care2
House lawmakers this week [April 19, 2012] advanced the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill, moving it forward from a House Education committee on a 8-7 vote.
Reports The Tennessean:
Bill sponsor Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, and others argued that outside groups and some teachers slip those conversations in, and the bill serves as an accountability reminder.
“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,” Hensley said. “… Even though the state board disallows this now, I’m afraid it does happen, and sex education is talked about in a way that it is acceptable.”
Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, who voted for the bill, said he’s seen documentation that outside groups are entering classrooms at the invitation of principals and teachers and not staying within the curriculum guidelines.
“And they should,” he said after the vote.
Schools caught in violation of the state’s sex education policies can have state money withheld, and teachers face a $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail, according to state law. The bill passed the Senate last year.
Supporters of the bill have not so far been able to produce proof that the bill is needed, they’ve simply made accusations that teachers are flouting the rules.
Interestingly, not all Republican lawmakers voted in favor, highlighting that there are still deep concerns about the bill and specifically over whether it will actually serve to inadvertently introduce sex education to K-8 in a state that has vigorously opposed such moves.
The legislation would originally have banned all mention of sexuality in K-8. The amended bill as passed by the Senate last year aims to reduce that reach, confining teachers to talking about sexuality only in terms of “natural human reproduction science.”
However, the bill has offered no explanation of what that should mean. Does it, for instance, ban mention of IVF treatment? And does it effectively allow for sex education for K-8 students?
Due to these concerns, the bill had been held back with another measure requiring so-called “family life education” with an abstinence only bent being a focus, but now it seems the bill’s chief supporter, Rep. Hensley, wants one last chance at making “Don’t Say Gay” the law of the land before the end of the session.
As for the Republican governor Bill Haslam, he has spoken out three times to remind lawmakers they should be concentrating on issues like the economy.
Critics have said the legislation, even in its modified form, will have a chilling effect on how teachers deal with anti-LGBT bullying, that it is entirely unnecessary given that Tennessee already has a strict no sex education before highschool policy, and that it is simply about pushing a conservative religious agenda.
The bill now goes to a calendar committee before a full floor vote.
Tennessee of course recently passed a bill to allow teachers to instruct on Creationism as an alternative to scientific fact and advanced a bill describing hand-holding as gateway sexual activity. –Care2
<><><>*<><><>
Catholic Bishops Call For Civil Disobedience Against Obama Mandate
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has taken a bold stand for religious freedom. In a recent statement, titled “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty,” the bishops call for repeal of contraception coverage mandated by the Department of Health and Human Services. The clarified position sets up a dramatic confrontation with the Obama administration—and would, if the bishops prevail, help preserve the religious liberty of all Americans.
The HHS mandate requires employers to provide insurance coverage for contraception and sterilization services. It is, according to the bishops, an “unjust law.” They write: “It cannot be obeyed and therefore one does not seek relief from it, but rather its repeal.”
The statement is a rebuke of President Obama and the so-called accommodation his administration proposed in February. It also raises the stakes between the president and the leaders of America’s Catholic Church.
The bishops call on Catholics in America, “in solidarity with our fellow citizens,” not to obey the law. They implicitly compare the HHS regulation to a segregation-era statute, and even cite Martin Luther Kind Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” In a not-so-subtle manner, the bishops tell the Obama administration that they are willing to go to prison rather than comply with the mandate’s provisions. –American Vision News
<><><>*<><><>
Court In Rio De Janeiro Recognizes Right To Gay Marriage
A Rio De Janerio judge, in a first for the region, has granted a same-sex couple the right to have their civil union upgraded to a marriage.
Reports On Top Magazine:
Judge Luiz Felipe Francisco said Brazilian law does not prohibit marriage between members of the same sex.
“As there is no explicit barrier to marriage between two people of the same sex, it would be contrary to principles enshrined in the Constitution, such as equality, human dignity and pluralism [to deny the request,]” a statement reads.
The couple asked the court last October to recognize their civil union — referred to as a “stable union” in Brazil — as a marriage. It is the first such decision in the state of Rio de Janeiro and the latest victory in recent months for gay marriage advocates in Latin America’s most populous nation.
Previously, other couples have successfully petitioned to have their unions recognized as marriages but not all judges have interpreted the country’s laws to include equal access to marriage.
Currently only Mexico City and Alagoas officially allow for same-sex marriages. However, due to a high court ruling, all states must recognize legal same-sex marriages that were carried out in other regions so as to ensure that same-sex couples’ partnership and parental rights are upheld when travelling through the country.—Care2
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