May 24, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT)--They want to defeat the so called "Don't Say Gay bill, but organizers of the "It's OK to Say Gay" rally are also working on their grassroots campaign to promote safety in schools. And not just for homosexuals, but for any student who feels bullied or harassed. "Bullying isn't acceptable and tolerance is something that should be practiced from kindergarten all the way up," said campaign chairman Devon Hicks.
A message that these activists say is threatened by the "Don't Say Gay" bill. Which would forbid teachers from discussing homosexuality in the classroom.
Activist Gary Elgin said, "to preclude them from teaching the biology, the sociological aspects, the economics, the science behind GLBT lives, the history behind GLBT lives is not right. It's unfair. It's bigotry."
Elgin has been working for gay rights in East Tennessee since 1992.
He said, "we've come so long, so far, and yet we still have people in our Senate who would rather us not be visible, not be defended, and not be recognized as citizens."
And he's angry with the bill's sponsor. Elgin said, "Stacey Campfield has reduced Tennessee to a national punchline."
But these students aren't laughing. Hicks said, "I empathize so much with all of these GLBT students. I've had plenty of gay friends, and seeing the pain they go through day in and day out is unbearable for me."
So they're taking action. "The goals of this campaign are, of course, to create safe schools, but we want to do that by empowering the students themselves to lead campaigns within their schools to make that change," Hicks said.
Change that, he added, will be peaceful. "Why should we meet hatred with hatred? Why should we be name calling and bashing on the same people that we're accusing of name calling and bashing?"
And it's message strong. He said, "we're not just trying to push homosexuality on people. All we're looking for is tolerance."
