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
If people had the ability to control their own bodies, we wouldn’t need a state. Unfortunately there’s people like you who think it’s okay to do gay stuff with or in front of children, and refuse to be reasoned out of it.
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No, it’s because the city found it necessary to pass a statue prohibiting it that makes me believe it has probably happened before.
Unlike what you seem to think, passing a law is actually a fairly complex and time consuming process. Not to mention costly, since enforcement isn’t free. City councils don’t just wake up one day and decide to pass some random laws because it’s a Tuesday and they got nothing better to do.
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Did you actually read the law? Here’s the link in case you missed it in the article.
About the only thing that really seems to be offensive here is that it explicitly mentions homosexuality. But as you have correctly said, the majority of it actually deals with things like indecent exposure and sexual activity in public, and yes, this includes heterosexual activity as well.
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No, I’m telling you that the thing that everyone is getting their panties in a twist about is the simple inclusion of the word “homosexuality” in this text when it already makes fairly clear that ANY display of sexual acts or genitals, no matter the gender or orientation is considered inappropriate in the presence of minors.
The are by no means singling out gay people here or discriminating against homosexuality in any way.
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I didn’t say any of those things.
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I did not say that. I just gave my opinions on the article.
As for why they felt that they needed a new law, you gotta ask the city of Murfreesboro. I’m sure they have a PR department of some sort that’ll be happy to answer your questions.
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No, I claimed that YOU think it’s okay to do gay stuff with children, because you told me that passing laws about this sort of stuff is fascism and it’s nobody’s business how people live their lives.
Again: you’re a lying sack of fascist dog shit. Proof is right there in your post.
Oh, sure, your childish insults are totally going to convince me.
Nooo I’ve been insulted on the Internet! I must immediately change all my opinions and rethink my life!
Oh I’d never expect to do that. Sociopathic fascists can’t be reasoned with and are unable to process empathetic behavior, which is the basis of all morality. The bible is worthless because it has no moral center and is unable to process empathy. The Ten Commandments themselves are proof of that. This is probably why fascists love to refer to them so often.
Yes, the Ten Commandments are bullshit because who would enjoy living in a world where people don’t steal, kill, cheat on or lie about each other? Clearly, it’s far preferable to simply insult people whom you disagree with until they change their minds. At least that seems to be your approach to moral philosophy as far as I can tell.
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Yes, your insults are very convincing indeed. I can literally feel the empathy oozing out of every word you say. Wonderful philosophy you have there, truly a Godsend.