New Tennessee law aims to curb teaching 'gateway sexual activity'

[HAL]

Tennessee teachers can no longer condone so-called "gateway sexual activity" such as touching genitals under a new law that critics say is too vague and could hamper discussion about safe sexual behavior.

Gov. Bill Haslam's office Friday confirmed to Reuters that Haslam had signed the bill, which stirred up controversy nationwide and even was lampooned by comedian Stephen Colbert.

"Kissing and hugging are the last stop before reaching Groin Central Station, so it's important to ban all the things that lead to the things that lead to sex," he said on the "Colbert Report" television show.

But proponents say the new law helps define the existing abstinence-only sex-education policy.
Under the law, Tennessee teachers could be disciplined and speakers from outside groups like Planned Parenthood could face fines of up to $500 for promoting or condoning "gateway sexual activities."

Gov. Bill Haslam signed the "gateway sexual activity" bill. Parents could sue outside sexual education instructors, according to the Tennessean newspaper, while school district employees would be exempt from prosecution.

David Fowler, president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, which pushed the bill, told Reuters the law does not ban kissing or holding hands from discussion in sex education classes. But he said it addresses the touching of certain "gateway body parts," including genitals, buttocks, breasts and the inner thigh.

On Thursday, State Rep. Jon Lundberg told NBC station WCYB-TV that a focus on abstinence is needed because Tennessee has the seventh-highest teen birth rate in the nation and the 11th-highest HIV infection rate in the nation.

"The shift is that the main core needs to be an abstinence-based approach. Not, 'hey, I know everybody's having sex, so when you have sex do this, do this, [and] do this.’ That's not it,'" Lundberg told the station.

The bill sailed through the legislative session, passing the Senate 28-1 and the House 68-23.

Opponents, which include Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee and the state teachers' union, say that before they can begin fighting the new law, they have to be able to figure it out. They worry that discussion of sexual behavior could be interpreted as condoning it.

"The very ambiguous language in this bill certainly puts teachers in a very difficult situation" when it comes to knowing what to teach, said Jerry Winters, spokesman for the Tennessee Education Association.

Fowler said the new law was authored in part because of incidents in which teachers were instructing about alternate sexual practices as ways to have gratification without risking pregnancy.

He said one such incident involved a Nashville high school teacher who was encouraging girls to give boys oral sex in order to get a condom on them.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/12/11668279-new-tennessee-law-aims-to-curb-teaching-gateway-sexual-activity?lite

[Nick]

Man, we are going to have to start a poll or something for which state is the craziest.  Lots are trying for the title but Tenn is really going beyond the call.

[Chronos]

People are stupid. The few who aren't stupid are too busy doing important things to notice just how stupid the remaining people are.

[HAL]

I love this -

"Groin Central Station".

I think that state is Stupid Central Station. Course I live in Texas. Never mind, I take that back.

[One Above All]

*Two generations later*
Breaking news! Tennessee's population has finally been reduced to zero after that really old woman died from her broken leg, since there was nobody there to treat her and universal healthcare was not approved.

[Chronos]

As a parent member on the local school boards sexual education committee, this Tennessee law is absolutely a killer. We couldn't imagine trying to do anything under a law that is so restrictive. I'm glad I live in a more progressive place. We're even scheduled to get gay marriage as long as too many religionists don't turn out to vote in November.

[Brakeman]

I think we should empower Tennessee teachers to enforce the biblical gluttony and unruly child provisions by implementing playground stoning sessions.

Come to think of it, why don't schools all have alters to offer burnt sacrifices to god before classes? Doesn't it seem that this "praying around the flagpole" shit is idolatrous?
Kids should bring their "pick of the litter" puppies to be slaughtered for god every morning. That's what I'd expect my kids to learn when I send them off to school.

Dumb shits!

[Frank]

Fowler said the new law was authored in part because of incidents in which teachers were instructing about alternate sexual practices as ways to have gratification without risking pregnancy.

He said one such incident involved a Nashville high school teacher who was encouraging girls to give boys oral sex in order to get a condom on them.

I don't think the incident cited actually exists. I tried googling the incident but there was nothing besides the law citing it. What's the betting they just made it up in a lame attempt to justify this ridiculous law. One of many ridiculous laws that fundies are trying to pass across southern states.

One thing though. I have yet to hear of anyone being prosecuted for transgressing one of these absurd laws. It's as though they pass the law but are afraid to enforce it for fear of looking foolish in court. I'm sure this one will be exactly the same. A law that never gets used and teachers will simply ignore it and go about their business as usual.

[Death over Life]

I love this -

"Groin Central Station".

I think that state is Stupid Central Station. Course I live in Texas. Never mind, I take that back.

Which part of Texas? If close enough, might be cool to meet somebody from here and hang out!

[Kimberly]

SOB! I really need to move! My eldest daughters Kindergarten teacher thought a secular Christmas meant only including Judeo Theology[1].... I'm pretty sure they banned talking about being gay in school... Then they decided being gay is an okay reason to be bullied as long as you are doing it in god's name... and now this one?!?! WTF is in the water here; I think yall Texans shipped some of your tainted water up this way!?!?

1.	She threw out her lesson plan due a letter I sent to the superintendent; she came up with a true secular lesson plan... then school got shut down the entire week for snow! But my point was proven never the less.

[Chronos]

Just remember .... Jesus loves you![1]

1.	Unless you are a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, long-haired, pot-smoker, prostitute, Democrat, liberal, progressive, socialist, anti-gun, anti-hunting, communist, pansy, fascist, environmentalist, cosmopolitan, French-fry lover with a limp wrist or a soft heart.

[DumpsterFire]

Yeah, Kimberly, I get more and more embarrassed every time there's a new thread posted on WWGHA about the latest asinine thing happening here in the buckle-o-the belt. Thankfully, I am not a native Tennessean, so I haven't been subjected to its idiocy my whole life. Unfortunately, however, I grew up in AZ, which seems to be the only other state to receive such a high number of scathing posts pointing out so much political/religious dumbassery. So I'm screwed coming and going. Great.

[ParkingPlaces]

Tennessee is trying to frickin' hard. If the goal is ignorance, close the schools.

[Kimberly]

I've been against moving out of state for personal reasons but they are making it harder to stay with all these laws.

[jetson]

All you people here complaining who don't live in Texas, you've got a long way to go to catch up to us!  I kid...

But seriously, the bible belt is in serious need of a good flood to get things started off in a better direction, what say you, God?

[Alzael]

Can't condone "gateway sexual activity" huh?

Oh yeah, because we all know that teenagers are eager to do everything they're told to do/not do by authority figures and would never do the exact opposite out of rebellion. Yup, the surest way to get kids to do not do something is to tell them you don't condone it.......

Ok What the fuck, seriously? Have these guys never had children or been kids themselves?

This just furthers my theory that right-wing Christians aren't actually born. They're grown. Mark my words, somewhere in the bible belt is a secret church facility where they have large tubes full of holy water and amino acids where these guys are formed by genetically splicing communion wafers with the DNA of a really stupid monkey. And these guys emerge from their pods already, aged fifty years and cantankerous, ready to carry out the evil Christian agenda of their dark Christian overlords.

[kin hell]

I'm reading a scifi novel at the moment set in 2090s?  and there has been a secession in the usa

The central fundamentalist states (I haven't read enough to know if there is definitive list) have formed what they call The Republic, and the rim states refer to them as jesusland

scifi yes, but it rings so true, it seems very possible that the inevitably diverging political/religious philosophies of the red vs blue could well cause such a split.

[Chronos]

Let's go ahead and pass laws to segregate classrooms, buses, subways, hotels, banks, restaurants ... all women must wear a head dress covering them from head to toe, allowing only exposure of the eyes ...

[HAL]

I'm reading a scifi novel at the moment set in 2090s?  and there has been a secession in the usa

If Obama wins a second term they may very well want to secede. I can't imagine how much farther right they will move, but I suppose they'll try.

[ParkingPlaces]

I'm wondering if this will ever happen in Tennessee.

"Hello, 911? I'd like to report a crime. My friend Jeff is 15, and he just told me got to second base with his girlfriend Amy, who is 14..."

[DumpsterFire]

But seriously, the bible belt is in serious need of a good flood to get things started off in a better direction, what say you, God?

We actually had a flood here about 2 years ago that does not seem to have made much of a difference, obviously. I guess the big guy's out of ideas.

[Nick]

How about the New Madrin Earthquake.  That will rock the bible belt.

[Chronos]

I can't imagine how much farther right they will move ...

If you move far enough to the right, you actually end up on the left.

[ParkingPlaces]

I can't imagine how much farther right they will move ...

If you move far enough to the right, you actually end up on the left.

I don't think thats how circular reasoning works 

[Nick]

I can't imagine how much farther right they will move ...

If you move far enough to the right, you actually end up on the left.

I don't think thats how circular reasoning works 

Tailban come to mind?

[stuffin]

Gateway sexual activity starts with looking, so I suggest they gouge out the eyes of all the teenagers. I'm certain god would approve of this method.

[ParkingPlaces]

On the bright side, nobody in Tennessee will ever have to listen to the Beatles sing "I wanna hold your hand" ever again.

[Nick]

Why is God so hung up on sex?

[ParkingPlaces]

Well, he hasn't had a date since Mary, you know...

So I'm guessing he wants us to suffer too.