Tennessee schools would have to out transgender students to parents...

[Jessica_Rose]

Tennessee schools would have to out transgender students to parents under bill heading to governor

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/tennessee-schools-would-have-to-out-transgender-students-to-parents-under-bill-heading-to-governor/ar-BB1lG2X6?ocid=windirect&cvid=ceda0d9c41df4752a53c8a531c828292&ei=28

Story by JONATHAN MATTISE and KIMBERLEE KRUESI (15 April 2024)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee would join the ranks of states where public school employees have to out transgender students to their parents under a bill advancing in the Republican-supermajority Legislature.

During Monday's limited but heated House floor hearing, Democrats took turns alleging that their Republican colleagues were constantly finding new ways to bully LGBTQ+ kids.

"These are the most vulnerable kids in our state who are just trying to make it out of middle school alive," said Democratic Rep. Aftyn Behn. "And we are weaponizing their identities instead of actually passing bills that help Tennesseans."

Audible gasps could be heard from the public galleries when the bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Mary Littleton, argued that the legislation was needed so parents could know if their student would need therapy.

"I feel like the parents, they have the right to know what's happening in the school with their children," Littleton said. "And I also think that possibly they could get that child some therapy that could help them solve their problems and make their way through school."

Littleton also confirmed she did not speak to any transgender students before introducing the proposal but said some teachers had told her that they did not want the responsibility of having such information.