Should teachers be forbidden to discuss homosexuality before 9th grade?

Lawmakers in Tennessee are considering a bill that has been dubbed "don't say gay."

A report in Time Magazine says that the measure would mandate that before the ninth grade, teachers could not "provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality."

Supporters of the bill say it is simply neutral. Gay-rights activists see it as a form of discrimination.

There are plenty of parents and community leaders who believe that decisions about what is taught in schools should be made at the local level, not by the state. And there are plenty of states whose lawmakers seem to believe that they know best about what should and should not be taught in schools.

Statistics vary widely on what percentage of people are gay. Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported that a study released by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law said that 3.5 percent of Americans identify themselves in surveys as gay or bisexual. That's about 9 million people.

But even the headline added that, "solid figures are elusive."

Are Tennessee lawmakers ignoring something that is a part of life? Do you think not talking about homosexuality in schools is a workable approach?

Source: StlToday.com

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