US: ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill would force teachers to send gay students to psychiatrists
The newly revised ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which has been proposed for the US state of Tennessee, includes a clause which would mean teachers would be made to send gay students to a psychiatrist.
Now a new revision to the bill includes a clause which would make it compulsory for educators to send gay or lesbian students to a psychiatrist, and hand them a referral note.
According to WBIR: “A measure in the works in the Tennessee legislature would bar school personnel from advising students on “mental health” issues, ‘lifestyle’ choices or other conditions or activities outside career and educational counseling” unless they have been licensed as a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
“Teachers, counselors and principals instead would be asked to give students a referral for psychiatric care if they bring up mental health or lifestyle issues.”
The amendment goes on to label homosexuality “a lifestyle issue, reports Queerty.
The controversial bill in its original form prohibited any discussion around homosexuality, particularly during sex education classes, between kindergarten and grade eight.
It passed in the state Senate, however died in the House, once lawmakers realised there was no sex education classes in Tennessee schools until grade nine.
Campfield’s previous track record on LGBT issues includes comparing homosexuality to bestiality, and claiming that it is “virtually impossible” to contract HIV through heterosexual sex.
In February, he compared being gay to “shooting heroin”.
