There is a new law trying to be passed in the Tennessee state government that would prohibit teaching about homosexuality in public school. George Takei has an unusual solution if this bill does pass.
The so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill has been getting a lot of attention in the press lately. This bill would prevent teachers from teaching about homosexuality in public schools. The reason for this, as stated by Republican Senate sponsor Stacey Campfield of Knoxville is because “homosexuals don’t naturally reproduce.” As of May 20, 2011, this bill has passed the TN Senate and will be going on the House.
George Takei, who is best known as Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek series has started a web campaign urging that if the word ‘gay’ is going to be outlawed, that all people need to do is just say Takei instead. This web campaign has gotten a large following on many social networking sites, especially with the new “It’s OK to be Takei!” logo.
On my Facebook, so many of my friends have added the logo to their user pictures as support of George Takei. There is also a new webstore where you can buy products, such as t-shirts and buttons with the logo on it.
I do think it should be noted that the actual word ‘gay’ is not going to be made against the law, which is really a misconception with the bill. Gay does also mean happy, so if you used it in this way you wouldn’t be breaking the law, if it passes.
What do you think about this bill and George Takei’s response?
It is not the governments job to each my kids about sex. They can’t teach religion why should they teach my kids about sex? When for so many of us the two are related. The government has no business teaching it.
This is what our public schools have come down to: teachings of homosexuality, transgender tollerance, etc. It has become nothing more than a platform to promote what they call “civil rights” activist’s agendas. What happened to reading, math, music, science, geography? These are things I would expect my tax dollars to go towards. NOT the subjects which should be taught at home by the parents. The schools are trying to teach world-view subject matter. Perhaps they should stick to the basics and let the parents instill moral values based on what is important to them as a family! The government has no right to impose such things on children…for so many reasons…but let’s just start with age-appropirate material. My children DO NOT need to be exposed to every sinful way of the world at age 5, or 7 or 12. I know that it is out there and cannot be avoided, but it needs to be taught in context at the right time by the right people. Since when does the government or school teachers have more authority over my children than I do?! No wonder more and more people are home-schooling. The public school system has become a disgrace!
Yes, yes it is.
They are not teaching any moral point of view towards sex – they are simply teaching safe sex.
And that is, in fact, a community issue:
1) If your children have kids they cannot support or raise well, that becomes my problem paid with my tax dollars either for enhanced child, public, or police services.
2) If your children get sick and spread an illness, that becomes my problem that is paid with my tax dollars either for enhanced public services.
So, yes, your child’s behavior effects my life, the life of my children, and how that effects how our tax monies are spent. Irrespective of your religious beliefs, this is fundamentally a social issue – and I prefer that your children understand the full consequences of their actions.
As a second issue (that’s equally important) – why exactly is that you take umbrage with your children understanding how their bodies work and how to protect themselves? I think one of the largest and silliest failures of our education system was to remove critical, core classes like health and home ec (in the sense that we learn about the economy of house hold) in favor of boosting test scores for No Child Left Behind. I think if anything, our children have a right to understand their live and threats to it (from any disease or illness) or livelihood…
I think satire is one of the only ways to respond to this kind of thing– or, well that & legitimate outrage. Takei is a great spokesperson for equality, & if making jokes can raise awareness & acceptance, so much the better.
With the economy in the can, THIS is what the government chooses to waste taxpayers money on???
My thoughts exactly. We have so much else in our country to focus on, but instead they focus on prejudism (and not alleviating it, which is the only focus it SHOULD have). Oy vey.
If we’re going to teach about sex in school, all kinds of sex should be taught. My school never told us about homosexual sex, so if I had been gay I might not have known how to protect myself.
I think sex ed in general is important. Kids are going to have sex. We need to educate them in how to do so without spreading disease. Yeah, homosexual sex won’t cause unwanted pregnancies but it can spread AIDS, herpes and many other incurable STD’s.
I think it is FANTASTIC the he IS sticking up for gay rights, Besides lets be honest! Most parents aren’t going to teach their kids about sex let alone talk about it. The schools job is to teach. I plan on teaching my daughter but you can never have enough info on safe sex, Gay or straight!
Gay rights is the new civil rights. Years from now sane people will look back and wonder how we could have oppressed members of our own population. I’m glad George is using his star power to point out the absurdity of bigots.