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‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill will wait a year in Tennessee House; Senate vote this week

‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill will wait a year in Tennessee House; Senate vote this week

Tennessee State Rep. Bill Dunn said it’s too late in the year for the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill to be approved in the state House, and that he will not pursue passage this year.

Bill Dunn (left) and Stacey Campfield

The bill would prohibit teachers from discussing homosexuality in kindergarten through 8th grade classrooms. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville), says the bill is necessary because homosexuality is a “learned behavior.”

Dunn, also a Knoxville Republican, said he is supportive of the legislation, but it is too late in the legislative session to launch a push for passage of the measure while he is sponsoring several other controversial bills. In the House, the first step toward passage would have been an approval by the House Education Subcommittee, which has closed for the year.

“Stacey waited awfully late to get started,” said Dunn.

The bill could come up for a vote on the Senate floor as early as Thursday.

On Sunday, more than 100 people rallied in Nashville to protest the bill.

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