StudentsFirst Stands with 11-Year-Old Marcel Neergaard Against 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Author

The other day we told you about 11-year-old Tennessee student Marcel Neergaard and his MoveOn.org petition to have StudentsFirst rescind their award to Rep. John Ragan. Today, StudentsFirst responded, and they stand with Marcel. In a statement on their blog, Michelle Rhee wrote:

Protecting our children is a top priority. Without safe learning environments, children can not realize their full potential. At StudentsFirst we believe that strongly, which is why, today, we stand with Marcel in support of the federal Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act and will support similar measures in our active states. We encourage legislators across the country to support these measures to protect kids from bullying and discrimination as well.

In addition to giving Marcel their explicit support, StudentsFirst has stated that they are supporting the TN Dignity for All Students Act and have rescinded their "Education Reformer of the Year" award from Rep. Ragan, co-sponsor of the "Don't Say Gay" bill and "Classroom Protection Act," which would require teachers to out LGBTQ students to their parents and refer them to a psychologist.

(image and story via GLAAD)

11-Year-Old Gay Tennessee Student Speaks Out Against 'Don't Say Gay' Bill and Its Creator: VIDEO

Marcel Neergard, an 11-year-old gay student from Oak Ridge, Tennessee is speaking out in a powerful video against his state's 'Don't Say Gay' bill, and one of its proponents, Oak Ridge Representative John Ragan.

In the video, accompanied by his parents, Neergard talks about realizing when he was gay and the dangers of the bill, and the dangers kids face when other kids aren't educated:

"You have parents who don't want to talk about gays and dont want to teach their children about gays, then they don't know anything about it and they don't get the education about what being gay is."

Neergard has set up a petition asking StudentsFirst to rescind their honor of educational "Reformer of the Year" bestowed upon John Ragan.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Neergard has also published an accompanying op-ed in the Huff Post.

He writes:

During my first year in middle school, I experienced severe bullying. I was called terrible names that were quite hurtful. At that time, I had just realized that I'm gay, and the bullies used the word "gay" as an insult. This made me feel like being gay was horrible, but my parents told me otherwise. Their support was tremendous. But as powerful as their love was, it couldn't fight off all the bullying. I don't want anyone else to feel the way I did. No one deserves that much pain, no matter who they are. This was my reason for writing the petition.

Poll: 49 Percent of Tennesseans Support Gay Marriage or Civil Unions

A new poll shows progress on gay rights in Tennessee, the Tennessean reports:

A poll conducted this month for Vanderbilt University found that 49 percent of Tennesseans support gay marriage or civil unions while 46 percent are opposed to both, suggesting the state is now evenly divided on whether to extend legal recognition to same-sex couples.

Meanwhile, 62 percent of Tennesseans say health insurance and other employee benefits should be extended to the domestic partners or spouses of gays and lesbians. Thirty-one percent oppose the idea.

Views have changed significantly in seven years:

The poll results suggest a marked shift in Tennesseans’ views since 2006, when 81 percent of voters approved an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage between one man and one woman as “the only legally recognized marital contract” in the state.

That amendment remains a substantial hurdle to proponents of same-sex marriage in Tennessee, casting doubt on any legislation that attempts to extend the benefits of marriage to gays and lesbians in the state.

Its repeal also appears unlikely in the near future.

50-Year Scouting Veteran Resigns Over Gay Ban: VIDEO

The Boy Scouts of America is losing some of its most loyal members over its policies against gay scouts and leaders. Members like Bill Moser, a Clarksville Boy Scout leader who has been involved in scouting for more than 50 years.

Said Moser in a letter of resignation:

“I have been actively involved with Scouting for over 50 years, and my personal experience with Scouting has reinforced my belief that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible and productive society. Teaching or practicing intolerance IS NOT in the Scout Oath or Law. The Scouting Trail begins in the 1st Grade with the Tiger Cub program and ends at age 18 for youth participation.

I personally do not believe a 6-year-old boy has a clue about sexuality. I also believe the policy advocated by the Middle Tennessee Council which would require Scouts who discover they are gay to either resign or violate the 1st Scout Law (Trustworthy) is WRONG.”

Watch Moser speak out, AFTER THE JUMP...

'Don't Say Gay' Bill Dies Again in Tennessee House

This bit of news passed me by during this week's marriage melee, but Tennessee's 'Don't Say Gay' bill, which would have prohibited discussion of homosexuality in the classroom, has died again, the AP reports:

The House sponsor, Republican Rep. John Ragan of Oak Ridge, had planned to amend the legislation to require principals or counselors to identify students who might be a potential threat, but he never got a chance to do so.

The amended version would have been quite different than the Senate proposal, which sought to give schools the authority to inform parents about children who talk to school officials about their sexuality.

"I'm disappointed," Ragan said. "I thought it was a good bill. It was about school safety."

Ragan plans to reintroduce the bill next year.

In Tennessee, the 'Don't Say Gay' Bill is Almost as Unpopular as Gay Marriage

The Nashville Scene makes note of a new poll:

The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports:

Only 28 percent of those polled said they were in favor of gay marriage, with 62 percent opposed and the rest either undecided or refusing to answer. The result compares to 43 percent opposition in some national polls and 56 percent opposition in other Southern states.

On the other hand, 57 percent said they oppose “a law forbidding any instruction or discussion of homosexuality in eighth grade and lower classes in Tennessee public schools,” a premise of a so-called “don’t say gay” bill pending in the Legislature. Only 31 percent support such a law, 8 percent are undecided and the rest declined to answer, MTSU said.

So, take heart, gay Tennesseans! Tennessee is today where the country was back in 1996 — at 28-percent support of gay marriage, governed by a dude named Bill, and desperately missing The Ramones.