Tennessee Senate Passes Bill Amending Pronoun Law To Protect Individuals From Being Forced To Use Preferred Honorifics

Image Credit: TN General Assembly

Tennessee Conservative News Staff –

The Tennessee State Senate voted on Monday in favor of amending the state’s current pronoun law to protect individuals from being forced to use preferred honorifics along with preferred names and pronouns.

Senate Bill 1665 (SB1665), sponsored by State Senator Paul Rose (R-Lauderdale/Shelby/Tipton-D32), aims to protect the rights of individuals to refuse to call a biological male “Miss,” “Ma’am” or “Mrs.” or a biological female “Mr.” or “Sir.”

Senator Rose introduced the bill, and the floor opened for discussion.

The only comment on the legislation came from State Senator Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis-D29) who stated that she did not support the legislation because she felt it encouraged “bullying” by allowing people to “deliberately dishonor someone in that way.”

With no further comment, a vote was taken. SB1665 passed in the Senate with 26 ayes and 5 nayes.

The votes against the legislation came from Democratic Senators Akbari, Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville-D20), Sara Kyle (D-Memphis-D30), London Lamar (D-Memphis-D33), and Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville-D21).

Companion House Bill 1666 (HB1666), sponsored by State Representative Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville-D68), will be heard next in the House State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday, March 11.

House State and Local Government Committee – HB1666 to be heard Wednesday, March 11

HB1666 amends the state’s current pronoun law to protect individuals from being forced to use preferred honorifics along with preferred names and pronoun.

Tennessee Senate Passes Bill Amending Pronoun Law To Protect Individuals From Being Forced To Use Preferred Honorifics