The Christo-Facsists Are Alive and Well in Tennessee

As yet another example of the Christianists endeavor to re-write history to comform with their agenda, a bill has been introduced into the Tennessee Legislature according to the Memphis Flyer (http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A38592) that would prohibit any references to any sexual orientation other than heterosexual in elementary and middle schools. Apparently, Christo-facsist Stacey Campfield of Knoxville doesn't care how ignorant students are so long as they do not know that many important figures throughout history have been - OMG, God forbid - GAY!! The level of ignorance by these people (who generally do not want evolution tought either) is simply incredible. Who elected this nitwit to the legislature?? Here are some story highlights:

Playwright Tennessee Williams was gay. Poet Lord Byron had several homosexual affairs in his day. And artist Leonardo da Vinci was charged with sodomy at the age of 24. But public school students in Tennessee won't learn that information if a bill passes barring teachers from discussing homosexuality. Representative Stacey Campfield of Knoxville filed a bill last week that would prevent public elementary and middle schools from allowing "any instruction or materials discussing sexual orientation other than heterosexuality."

Over the years, Campfield has proposed other controversial legislation, such as replacing the state's food tax with a tax on pornography and requiring the state to issue death certificates for aborted fetuses. In 2005, Campfield compared the state's Black Caucus to the Ku Klux Klan when they refused to let him join because he is white.

Though Campfield's bill is intended to deal with instruction, opponents worry that it would have a chilling effect on students' free speech. "Let's say you have an eighth-grade writing class with an open-ended essay assignment. What if a student chooses to write about a current issue on sexuality?" says Chris Sanders, president of the Tennessee Equality Project. "This bill could be misinterpreted. It's overly vague and far-reaching." Wiman worries the bill could lead to further alienation of gay students or students of gay parents.

"We have such a high adolescent suicide rate, and a large number of those killing themselves are struggling with sexual orientation," Wiman says. "It's a real concern for us that we be able to help boys and girls without some kind of arbitrary restrictions."

As one online comment on the article said, "Maybe Campfield should look in his own closet." Only an extreme closet case would be this obsessed with not even having the word gay spoken. He looks like a queen to me in his official website photo (see above left)!!