Don't Say Gay, the destructive taboo

"Don't Say Gay," the latest anti-gay legislation soon to be introduced to the senate floor, would bar public school teachers k-8 from discussing anything related to homosexuality what so ever. The bill has already been passed in a Senate education panel, but I don't think we have anything to worry about... hopefully.

Sen. Campfield (R-TN)

The bill is being proposed by republican Tennessee senator Stacey Campfield who says "My bill is neutral. It doesn’t say anybody can speak for it or against it. So, I’m sure people wouldn’t want someone coming out and saying, you know, there are some people who say, you know, we should be preaching against it and saying it’s evil, dirty and wrong, or some people say hey, it’s great, wonderful thing. I don't think it's appropriate."

This is blatant prejudice at work in our legal system. The bill states "No public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality."  If the bill were to be titled "Don't Say Black" and barred educators from speaking about anything to do with African Americans, people would label Campfield as a complete racist and he would probably be forced to resign.  

There is a ridiculous double standard towards the gay community in our legal system. I find it utterly disgusting that Campfield has actually found a shred of support for this complete abomination of wasted tax dollars spent on discriminatory legislation. 

The simple fact is, pretending that a group of people does not exist dehumanizes them. Creating a taboo around this subject would be sending a clear message to impressionable youth that being gay is wrong, that gay individuals are less than that of anyone else, and if a child may in fact be gay then they are unacceptable to our society. It would encourage bullying and intolerance, and would ultimately open a doorway for other forms of discrimination to follow.