Anti-gay bill and Rep. Richard Floyd's remarks draw fire in Nashville [View all]

[d_r]

Chattanooga Times Free Press-

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/25/anti-gay-bill-and-rep-richard-floyds-remarks-draw-/?breakingnews
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NASHVILLE — The father of a young gay college student, whose 1998 murder in Wyoming spurred national discussion about hate crimes, said today that Tennessee and several other states have “become a bully pulpit in more ways than one.”

Dennis Shepard, who son was killed in Wyoming due to, according to court testimony, his sexual orientation, said two pending bills dealing with gay issues “disturb me” and he urged state lawmakers to work instead “toward an all-inclusive law toward hate crimes.”

Shepard’s comments came at a news conference at Legislative Plaza where he spoke out specifically against a bill that seeks to create a religious exemption in the state’s anti-school bullying law and another measure known as the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The amended bill says teachers can only discuss “natural reproduction” with students in grades K-8.

On another front, Shepard was critical of recent remarks made by Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, who has introduced legislation barring transgender persons from using public restrooms and store dressing rooms if they do not fit the gender listed on their original birth certificate.

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My comment:
In Tennessee there is a bill being considered that would grant a "religious exemption" to the anti-bullying law, making it possible for students to bully gay students and say that it was their "religious belief" and therefore avoid prosecution under the law. Another bill would prevent teachers from discussing homosexual relationships.

There is a poll on the linked page relating to the story if you want to give a little DU love.