Tennessee Republicans introduced a bill that would prohibit LGBT content from being included in the textbooks and teaching material used in public schools.
The bill, H.B. 800, was introduced by state Rep. Bruce Griffey last month and is set to be considered by the state’s Education Instruction Subcommittee next week, according to KENS-5.
If it passes, the bill would prevent “local education agencies and public charter schools … from locally adopting or using in the public schools of this state, textbooks and instructional materials or supplemental instructional materials that promote, normalize, support, or address lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender issues or lifestyles.”
This new rule would apply for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year, lawmakers said.
“Textbooks… that promote, normalize, support or address controversial social issues, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lifestyles are inappropriate,” Griffey said. “LGBTQ issues and lifestyles should be subject to the same restrictions and limitations placed on the teaching of religion in public schools.”
Public schools should only focus on material that is important for student success, Griffey added, such as “reading, science and mathematics.”
Griffey also argued the bill is necessary because LGBT content “offends a significant portion of students, parents, and Tennessee residents with Christian values,” the bill states.
This bill is one of the latest efforts led by Republicans to push back against leftists who are forcing LGBT material upon children.
Eight of the 10 children’s books challenged by state legislators in 2019 included LGBT content.
At least one of the books was about a transgender character who made several sexual references.
Tennessee Republicans are also working to pass legislation that would prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports.
Griffey was one of several lawmakers who voted for a bill protecting women’s sports earlier this month.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is expected to sign it.
“I do believe that transgenders participating in women’s sports will destroy women’s sports,” Lee said. “It will ruin the opportunity for girls to earn scholarships. It will put a glass ceiling back over women that hasn’t been there for some time. I think it’s bad for women and for women’s sports.”
