"Don't Say Gay" Bill Stalled in House

A bill proposed in Tennessee to prevent teachers from talking about homosexuality in elementary and middle schools has been tabled by the state house of representatives for the rest of the year.

State representative Bill Dunn, who is supportive of the bill, said the process started too late in the year, since the house education subcommittee has closed until 2012, he told the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Still, the bill's senate sponsor, Stacey, Campfield said he is optimistic about the bill's prospects in a full senate vote next week.

The "don't say gay" bill, as it has become known, was approved by a senate committee last week, with an amendment calling for a study on whether children are taught about LGBT people, history, or issues from kindergarten through high school. Once the study is complete, the state board of education will then adopt sexual education standards that bar elementary and middle schools from teaching any topic that has to do with any sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.