Two bills recently approved in Tennessee are significantly altering the responsibilities of teachers in schools.
The governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, signed a bill today mandating schools to disclose if students are transgender to their parents, despite warnings from LGBTQ+ advocates about the potential harm it may cause. They argue that transgender individuals are more likely to face abuse and rejection from their families, potentially leading them to end up in foster care or homeless.
However, state Rep. Mary Littleton stated that parents have the right to mistreat their transgender kids, such as by subjecting them to conversion therapy.
Littleton also suggested that parents could provide therapy for their transgender children to help them navigate school and address their issues.
Democrats emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe environment for students in schools. They cited a 2022 survey by the Trevor Project which revealed that only 32% of transgender and nonbinary youths felt supported and affirmed in their homes.
State Rep. Justin Pearson, a Democrat, asserted that it is the responsibility of schools to create a safe and supportive environment for children, including welcoming and supporting their identities.
On the topic of school safety, Republicans in Tennessee have different proposals. Governor Lee signed a bill allowing public school teachers to carry concealed weapons, describing it as a measure to protect children.
During the final vote on the bill in the Tennessee General Assembly, protesters chanted “Blood on your hands,” expressing concerns that increasing the presence of guns in schools would reduce student safety.
Tennessee House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons cautioned that the new law could lead to tragic incidents if personal responsibility is not ensured.
Republicans argued that armed teachers could prevent school shootings. The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Ryan Williams, went as far as suggesting that the absence of armed teachers is an incentive for school shooters, saying that gun-free zones make it easier for attackers.
As of now, the law allows school districts, principals, and law enforcement to approve teachers carrying concealed weapons, with no obligation to inform parents, students, or other teachers about which educators are armed.
During this legislative session, Tennessee passed several other anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including a measure permitting foster parents with anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs to care for LGBTQ+ children, as well as a bill preventing non-parental adults from taking transgender children out of state for gender-affirming care. Parents have the right to be informed if their child is using different restrooms at school but are not entitled to know if their child's teachers are carrying guns. if they claim their religion is the reason for their homophobia or transphobia, and a bill banning non-parental adults from taking trans kids out of state for gender-affirming care, based on the myth that teachers and other adults are turning kids transgender. if they assert that their religious beliefs are the cause of their discrimination, and a bill prohibiting non-parental adults from taking transgender kids out of state for gender-affirming care, based on the false notion that teachers and other adults are influencing kids to become transgender. Parents now have the right to know if their child is using different bathrooms at school but do not have the right to know if their child's teachers are carrying firearms.
