Tennessee needs to stop letting people have a fear of coming out the closet.

The “Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act” was given to Tennessee’s governor Bill Haslam on March 24, which allows students to use religion in any manner they choose, even if it leads to attacks against those part of the LGBT community. Bullies who target those in this community are automatically protected under this bill. This state is offering the anti-gay students a silver platter of homosexuals.

Under this bill, they are offering anti-gay students a state-sponsored license to bully. For example, telling a homosexual student that they are going to hell because the Bible tells them so is seen as acceptable. Tennessee seems to be trying to close the door on those who want to come out. 

However, the “Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act” violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” While this bill offers expression of any religion, it eventually cuts down other religions and it promotes bullying. This isn’t what religion stands for, so why is Tennessee making it that way?

There is another obvious problem with this. The separation of church and state seems non-existent in this case. Why should students be coerced to another student’s religious expressions and exercises?  It’s like the state is becoming a theocracy— where are they going with this? The last time that happened, there were witches burned at the stake.

While students should feel like they aren’t being discriminated because of their religion, homosexual students or those with same-sex parents shouldn’t face bigotry either.

Hopefully Haslam will veto this bill so these students don’t feel coerced to other religious beliefs. Also, with this, offensive language and attacks against homosexuals will increase. Vetoing the bill seems like the best idea.

The Tennessee Senate passed this bill on a 32-0 vote, and the House passed it 90-2. Unfortunately, with these numbers, a veto by Haslam might be overridden.

Even though Georgia might not be facing this problem, we should help revoke this bill by signing the petition on whitehouse.gov before April 26.