Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is already beginning to implement the law.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is already beginning to implement the law.

A city in Tennessee is using a recently passed ordinance essentially prohibiting homosexuality in public to try to ban library books that might violate the new rules.

Murfreesboro passed an ordinance in June banning “indecent behavior,” including “indecent exposure, public indecency, lewd behavior, nudity or sexual conduct.” As journalist Erin Reed first reported, this ordinance specifically mentions Section 21-72 of the city code. The city code states that sexual conduct includes homosexuality.

Anyone who violates the new ordinance is barred from hosting public events or selling goods and services at public events for two years. Anyone who violates the ordinance “in the presence of minors” is barred for five years.

An ACLU-backed challenge to the ordinance has already been launched, but that hasn’t stopped city officials from implementing the measure. Last Monday, the Rutherford County steering committee met to discuss removing all books that might potentially violate the ordinance from the public library. The resolution was met with widespread outcry from city residents.

“When have the people who ban books ever been the good guys?” local activist Keri Lambert demanded during the Monday county meeting.

Murfreesboro city officials have already used the ordinance to ban four books that discuss LGBTQ themes. In August, the county library board pulled the books Flamer, Let’s Talk About It, Queerfully and Wonderfully Made, and This Book Is Gay.

The board also implemented a new library card system that categorizes books into certain age groups. When it takes effect next year, children and teenagers will only be able to check out books that correspond to their age group; they will need permission from a parent or guardian to check out “adult” books.

Library director Rita Shacklett worried in August that the new rules would prevent students from accessing books they need for a class. She explained that many classic high school books, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, are now classified as “adult.”

It’s unclear if the county steering committee plans to pull books such as the A Song of Ice and Fire series, which includes multiple depictions of heterosexual sexual conduct.

Murfreesboro’s new ordinance is part of a much larger wave of attacks on LGBTQ rights in Tennessee and the rest of the country. In the past year, the so-called Volunteer State became the first state to try to ban drag performances. That law was overturned in court.

In March, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow people to refuse to perform a marriage if they disagree with it, essentially gutting marriage equality. The bill was introduced in the Senate but deferred until next year.

link: https://newrepublic.com/post/176915/tennessee-town-ban-public-homosexuality

archive link: https://archive.ph/LFMMK

  • IHadTwoCows
    1·
    1 year ago

    It IS for the benefit of the teens who are struggling with their sexual feelings because psychopathic fascist shitheads like you think it’s okay to beat the shit out of them and drive them to suicide just for their feelings. Lots and lots of “children’s” 🙄 deaths are on your hands and the hands of those who push fascist rewrites of “common sense” laws.

    But you wouldnt understand that because you’re a psychopath. And probably an incel at that, based on how you have presented so far.

    • PepeLivesMatter@lemmy.today
      1·
      1 year ago

      Okay, so by your definition they’re no different from fascists, because both claim what they’re doing is in the interest of children.

      You don’t happen do have any data to prove that what LGBT educators are doing leads to better outcomes and improved mental health in the long run, do you?

      Also, I have never advocated for using violence against children and I definitely do not support beating them for any reason. You’re just making shit up again and projecting your own issues on me.

        • PepeLivesMatter@lemmy.today
          1·
          1 year ago

          Well, then how do you propose to tell the difference between people who claim to work for the benefit of children and those who actually DO?

          What evidence is there that children are better off knowing how to have same sex romantic relationships vs. knowing about the dangers of sex, especially to a developing brain, and possibly abstaining from sexual activity altogether until they’re fully grown?

        • PepeLivesMatter@lemmy.today
          1·
          1 year ago

          Hard data. Peer reviewed, long term studies would be best. Got any of those? Otherwise we’re just arguing opinions. Clearly you already know what I think would work best: not seducing or enticing them to engage in any premarital sex, gay or or otherwise. Also, again, I do not and have not advocated for using violence or letting them live in fear, although a certain amount of fear is likely unavoidable because like you said there ARE dangerous people out there who seek to corrupt them, although we probably disagree on who exactly those people are.

            • PepeLivesMatter@lemmy.today
              1·
              1 year ago

              Okay, where is the proof? Show me the data. Peer reviewed studies, please.

              Also, for the record, I don’t support marrying 14 year old girls, and you won’t find me arguing for that anywhere. You’re just making stuff up again because you don’t have any actual arguments.

                • PepeLivesMatter@lemmy.today
                  1·
                  1 year ago

                  You realize none of these answers the question I asked, which was about the long mental health outcomes of people in abstinence-only programs vs. sex positive ones which specifically include homosexuality in it as well, right?

                  You’re making an a priori assumption that teen pregnancies lead to worse long term mental health outcomes than homosexuality does. Also, what does abortion have to do with any of it? Is there any data that shows that women who have abortions are happier in the long run than those who don’t?

                  The best data that I found from abortion advocates shows that abortion has no impact on mental health, in which case it would be irrelevant to the question we’re trying to answer here.

                  Meanwhile, there is data that LGBT people have worse mental health and higher rates of substance abuse than straight people. And yes, I am aware you’re just going to say “that’s because they are being discriminated against by society for being who they are” but once again, that is simply an assumption and remains to be proven.

                  As I have said before, society has made huge steps in the past 20 years towards accepting homosexuality, with gay marriage being legal and many states allowing adoption, yet somehow people still feel persecuted because some states won’t allow them access to other people’s kids in order to teach them about homosexuality.

                  At some point, you have to ask yourself whether perhaps the Bible is right about homosexuality, and perhaps a permanent feeling of victimhood and oppression is part and parcel of being gay, and a manifestation of God’s punishment for violating the natural law.