Tennessee Republicans advance bill targeting what students can call transgender educators

"The reason I brought it up is there is a teacher in our district that is wanting to become called by the wrong honorific. I think it's important that in our education system that we teach objective truth, and your biological sex is important is part of that objective truth. So to confuse a child in a classroom or to ask someone in authority to ask a child to call them something that they are not is problematic to me."

"It is a matter of human rights that this legislation expand the number of ways the faculty and staff of t[ransition]... The legislation authorizes and encourages harassment. As a parent, I encourage my own child to always be considerate of others at school, but this bill teaches the opposite message."

Tennessee Republican Rep. Aron Maberry introduced legislation to prevent schools from mandating that students use transgender teachers' preferred honorifics, such as "Mx." instead of "Mr." The bill expands on existing state law allowing individuals to sue teachers who request they/them pronoun usage. Maberry argues the measure protects objective truth and prevents confusion about biological sex. LGBTQ+ advocates oppose the legislation, contending it authorizes harassment and deadnaming of transgender individuals. Trans rights advocate Dahron Anneliese Johnson states the bill contradicts values of consideration and respect, teaching harmful messages to students about how to treat others.

Read at Advocate.com