Tennessee Bill Would Require School Employees to Out Transgender Students to Parents
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee is on the brink of passing a controversial bill that would require public school employees to disclose information about transgender students to their parents. The bill, which has received near-final approval from GOP House lawmakers, is just a few steps away from becoming law.
If passed, Tennessee would join a handful of states with similar laws, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, and North Carolina. The bill, which is set to go back for another vote in the Senate before reaching Gov. Bill Lee’s desk, has sparked heated debates in the state legislature.
During a recent House floor hearing, Democratic lawmakers accused their Republican counterparts of targeting LGBTQ+ youth. Democratic Rep. Aftyn Behn expressed concern for the well-being of transgender students, calling them “the most vulnerable kids in our state.”
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Mary Littleton, defended the legislation by arguing that parents have a right to know if their child needs therapy. Littleton’s remarks drew audible gasps from the public galleries, highlighting the contentious nature of the proposed law.
Under the bill, school employees would be required to report any actions taken by a student to affirm their gender identity, such as using a different name or pronoun, to school administrators, who would then inform the parents. Additionally, the bill would allow parents or the state’s attorney general to sue school districts for non-compliance.
Critics of the bill view it as a form of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and another attempt to infringe on the rights of transgender individuals. The passage of this legislation would mark another chapter in the ongoing debate over LGBTQ+ rights in Tennessee and beyond.