NASHVILLE — Legislators have sent the governor a bill, drafted by a conservative Christian organization, that makes classroom instructors who promote or condone "gateway sexual activity" subject to a $500 fine.
The phrase in SB3310, which was given final approval Friday when the Senate signed off on a minor House amendment, was the subject of much legislative debate. On the House floor it ranged from joking to impassioned oratory and a reference to the phrase being lampooned by Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert and subject to criticism in The New York Times.
"Gateway sexual activity is so vaguely defined it could be holding hands, hugging, anything that teenagers do like that," said Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville.
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kpierson writes:
April 30, 2012
10:00 AM
Further proof Lord Ramsey and his ilk in Nashville are clueless about what is really going on in Tennessee. They're doing a great job at turning Tenn into the national joke it half was before.
Remove Money from Politics writes:
April 30, 2012
7:16 PM
There is a heavily negative social stigma associated with being from Tennessee, and the people that get elected here are entirely responsible for that.
Banning hand holding in school? Get a grip!