TENNESSEE: "Don't Say Gay" Bill Dies

Tennessee's infamous "Don't Say Gay" education bill has been pulled by its sponsor and will die without passage as the current legislative session ends. But there's a catch.

The decision by Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, means that SB49 will die with the adjournment of the 107th General Assembly. Legislative leaders hope that will be today. Hensley said the officials of the Department of Education and the state Board of Education have pledged to send a letter to all Tennessee schools "telling them they cannot teach this subject in grades kindergarten through eight." "With that assurance and the opposition of some people who didn't want to vote on it, I've decided simply not to bring it up," said Hensley. The bill passed the Senate last year and recently won approval in modified form from the House Education Committee on an 8-7 vote. It needed only the approval of the Calendar Committee, usually a routine matter, to be set for a floor vote.

The bill may be back in the next session.