Talking Points on Academic Freedom & Student Safety- Oppose HB821 (Campfield) and SB1250 (Bunch)

What do HB821/SB1250 do? HB 821, sponsored by Representative Stacey Campfield, and SB1250, sponsored by Senator Dwayne Bunch, would prevent teachers, school counselors, and other school administrators from providing “any instruction or materials discussing sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.”

HB821/SB1250 places a blanket prohibition on any materials or instruction on "sexual orientation other than heterosexuality," regardless of whether local educators believe that such instruction is necessary to combat bullying or to teach about historical events and figures.

ACLU of Tennessee opposes HB821/SB1250 because:

• Teachers, school counselors, and other school administrators are the most qualified to decide what is the best way to responsibly teach about diversity and other current events affecting students today.

• Anti-gay bullying against both gay and straight students is one of the biggest problems in our public schools.  Teachers, school counselors and administrators should not be hamstrung in their efforts to address all forms of discrimination and harassment.

• This blanket ban violates the First Amendment prohibition against viewpoint discrimination by favoring speech about "heterosexuality" and banning speech about gay issues regardless of the educational purpose.  

• HB821/SB1250 infringes upon academic freedom by arbitrarily suppressing ideas and dictating to educators and students that only "heterosexuality" may be discussed.

• HB821/SB1250 may be used to prohibit students from forming Gay-Straight Alliance clubs and from encouraging tolerance and respect for all students regardless of sexual orientation.