NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill that would prohibit public universities and colleges from implementing non-discrimination policies for student groups.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Mark Pody of Lebanon, passed by a vote of 75-21. The measure would allow student groups to discriminate in their policies and membership, and exclude anyone not committed to the organization’s mission.
The bill does not apply to private institutions, such as Vanderbilt University — a provision that caused Republican Gov. Bill Haslam to veto last year’s version.
Pody said the measure is aimed at preventing colleges from creating policies requiring student groups to open membership to all students and allow all members to seek leadership posts.
Christian groups have protested a non-discrimination policy at Vanderbilt, saying it forces them to allow nonbelievers and gay students to join.
Officials say about 15 student groups have refused to comply with the policy, while 480 have accepted it.
A similar bill was approved last month in the Virginia state legislature.
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wait what?…
What the what??
Woooooooow.
Disgusting.
well that means you can have satanist clubs on the university grounds bashing idiotic christian singles clubs :) cannot wait to see that happening :P
UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!! get lawyers contact ACLU get cracking before the rest of these haters get ideas
Ugh! As if there isn’t already enough discrimination, now there’s a ruling for college kids saying it’s okay to discriminate against the LGBTQ community! Horrible!
This is disrespectful and disgusting
wow hateful bastards
This disgusts me from being a country music singer. Totally disgusts me.
I lived in Tennessee for 5 years. I miss it like I miss the scorching case of scabies I caught once in college. Nashville is a fine city. Tennessee is a national embarrassment.
Backwardassed morons. Our legislature is about as smart as pondscum.
you go tennessee- stay current
Backwards hillbillies…uuufffff :(!!
What an embarrassment to the US!
i would not expect any less from tennessee
Then Federal funding should be pulled from ALL Tennessee colleges and universities.
This is what the Tea Bag legislature is spending its time on. The City of Nashville passed a reasonable, overdue non-discrimination ordnance. The legislature took the extraordinary step of overturning that ordinance AND forbidding future ordinances of that kind. Some private TN universities, notably my beloved Vanderbilt, have anti-discrimination policies with teeth in them. The legislature can’t stop that, so they go after the public schools.
These clowns ran on fixing the state economy and fiscal crisis. But since 2010 it’s all “Don’t Say Gay” etc.
The logic behind this is probably akin to how other Christian institutions work; Christian schools and churches, legally, do not have to accept the LGBT community because of the 1st amendment. Just like how churches are exempt from discrimination charges if they refuse to marry a gay couple or can fire a woman for getting pregnant out of wedlock. It is legal. What isn’t is expanding the rule to other organizations, like an equestrian group, for example. The real issue of constitutionality, to me, is the bias of religion and how the government caters to them and allows religion to guide laws. At least atheist groups and gay groups can form without having disruptive Christians allowed in…
Two Words: Supreme Court. Don’t fuck with them… the time has come for true change and you will all be soon both vetoed and put on the wrong side of history in many a book.
They should look at a calendar its 2013 not 1961.
Against the Law. FBI, and AG on this FAST!!!
Fine no more Campus Crusades for Christ either.
Can’t fix stupid !
OF COURSE, they did….. it’s Tennessee. Need, I say anymore??¿¿?
So I guess they can now open a campus KKK Chapter? (As if anyone in university would actually want one.) The Tennessee Leg is in the running for the Guinness Book Record for Reddest Necks!
Well, I don’t see TN abandoning it’s ways any time soon. So sad for they LGBT citizens in that state.
I love when the constitution gets thrown out the window… *sarcasm*