Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A bill that would protect public school employees from being forced to use students’ preferred pronouns has passed the Tennessee Senate.
State Senator Paul Rose (R-Lauderdale, Tipton, Shelby County-District 32) sponsored Senate Bill 0466 (SB0466) which would specify that teachers and other employees of public school systems would not be required to refer to students using their preferred pronouns if those pronouns do not match their biological sex.
The legislation would also protect those employees from civil liability or adverse actions if they use the pronoun that is consistent with the student’s biological sex.
When speaking on the bill, Rose stated that the bill would protect the First Amendment rights of teachers if they choose to establish a pronoun policy in their classrooms. He noted that the bill did not force teachers to create those policies but gave them permission to do so if they chose to.
Senator Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis-District 29) referred to the legislation as essentially giving teachers the right to “bully a student.”
Senator Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville-District 21) followed her remarks, stating, “With all the challenges facing our students…we should not be sitting here this morning taking up a bill about pronouns.”
Following those comments, Senator John Stevens (R-Huntingdon-District 24) stood in support of the bill. He noted that this would prevent teachers from having to lie and would protect their First Amendment rights to freedom of expression and religion.
Senator Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville-District 19) argued that a teacher’s first amendment rights should not override those of a student.
Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston-District 12) reiterated the fact that the bill was a permissive bill and did not force teachers to establish those policies. He also stated, “I stoutly disagree that it is a vehicle to allow people to bully people.”
In a roll call vote, the legislation passed with 25 ayes and 7 noes.
Those voting against the bill were Akbari, Yarbro, and Oliver, along with Senators Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville-District 20), Sara Kyle (D-Memphis-District 30), London Lamar (D-Memphis-District 33), and Speaker Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge-District 5).
Senator Art Swann (R-Maryville-District 2) was present but did not vote.
The companion House Bill 1269 (HB1269) was placed behind the budget on March 15th. This does not necessarily mean that the legislation will not continue, however. Some bills that are placed behind the budget can still become law if there is enough funding remaining in the Governor’s budget to cover the cost in the fiscal note that is tied to the bill. If money is not found in the budget to cover the bill’s projected fiscal note, the bill will have to be reintroduced in the next session – which would be the third year in a row.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
3 Responses
Fellow conservatives, I’m afraid McNally “just ain’t right” if you know what I mean. Might this be his last year to serve as an embarrassment to this state?
A teachers right almost always overrule a students. A teachers job is to teach, a students job is to teach. If you came to school with a birth certificate that says your name it “Tom”, your name is Tom. End of discussion.
McNally needs removed.