Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
The Tennessee House approved legislation that would prevent schools from teaching students about sexual orientation or gender identity without parental consent in their Wednesday session.
House Bill 0727 (HB0727) is sponsored by Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston-District 32). At the start of the bill’s discussion, the House moved to substitute and conform to the companion Senate Bill 1443 (SB1443).
Fritts began by going over the four main objectives of the bill:
1. Parents would have access to all surveys and evaluations and would provide informed written consent before minor students would be allowed to participate.
2. Parents would provide written informed consent for all programs from coordinated school health, with the exception of vision, hearing, dental, and blood pressure screenings.
3. Parents would provide written informed consent for any gender identity or sexual orientation curriculum, and students’ grades would not be penalized for not participating in those topics.
4. Parents would provide written consent before students were allowed to participate in clubs or activities.
It is worth noting that the original bill stated that parents would provide consent for all family life curriculum; that was amended to specifically state “sexual orientation or gender identity curriculum.”
The original bill was also amended to add the requirement that parents would opt-in to allow students to participate in school clubs and organizations. A final amendment updated wording of the bill to apply for “minor students,” meaning those students 18 or older could opt-in for themselves.
Fritts noted that this legislation was in keeping with several other bills that the House had passed that were “increasing expectations in the educational realm.”
Several Democrats spoke in opposition of the legislation, claiming that it was “trying to censor education” and that it was giving the appearance that talking about sexuality is wrong.
In response to one such remark, Fritts responded that the bill is “written on the foundation that God gave the children to the parents, not the state of Tennessee…and it is the parents’ incumbent responsibility to play an active role in that education.”
Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville-District 90) stated that she felt it would be easier for teachers and schools to track parents who opt out than to have to require an opt-in from every parent.
Fritts responded, “The path of ease is not the path of excellence.”
The bill was ultimately passed with 74 votes in favor and 24 votes against. No Republican representatives voted against the bill.
This legislation, having been passed in both the House and Senate, will soon be sent over to Gov. Lee, who has the option to veto the bill, sign it, or allow it to become law without his signature.
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
