'Don't Say Gay' Bill Lawmaker Stacey Campfield Will Be Our Next President, Says Stephen Colbert: VIDEO

Stephen Colbert believes he has found the next U.S. president in Tennessee state senator Stacey Campfield, the author of the draconian "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

'Don't Say Gay' Bill Author Stacey Campfield Tells Concerned Constituents They Need Meds and Therapy: VIDEO

Here's how Tennessee Senator Stacey Campfield, the author of the resurrected "Don't Say Gay" bill (which not only forbids teachers to discuss homosexuality in the class room but forces them to out gay students to their parents), responds to his concerned constituents.

See screenshot above, via Imgur.

TMZ posts a similar letter, from a different citizen:

"I am appalled at your thought of [the bill] and how it will protect children. I [used] to be proud to call Tennessee my home but after this I am not so sure. Your mind set is pathetic as well as this bill. I encourage you to change your mind or you will make a bunch of people very upset. Imagine, if you have kids and one was gay, how this bill would affect them and you."

Replies Campfield to both people:

"You seem to have some serious, deep anger issues. Have you ever thought about therapy? I hear they are doing some wonderful things with medications these days.

Yours in service, Sen. Stacey Campfield

Watch Campfield talk about the 'Classroom Protection Act', AFTER THE JUMP...

Man Suspects His Dog is 'Gay', Turns it Over to be Euthanized

In news related to the last post, Jackson, Tennessee shelter reports that a dog owner turned his dog over to be euthanized because he suspected the dog was gay.

Writes the shelter:

"This guy was signed over to RC, not bc he's mean or bc he tears things up, but because... His owner says he's gay! He hunched another male dog so his owner threw him away bc he refuses to have a "gay" dog! Even if that weren't the most assinine thing I've ever heard, its still discrimination! Don't let this gorgeous dog die bc his owner is ignorant of normal dog behavior! He's in kennel 10L and he WILL be put down tomorrow bc there is no room at the inn!"

No update on the dog's fate, but if you're in Tennessee there are plenty of others at the same shelter that need attention as well.

(examiner via pam spaulding)

Tennessee's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill is Back, and Now Requires Schools to Out Gay Kids to Their Parents

Think Progress reports that SB234, Tennessee's 'Don't Say Gay' bill is back ,and more harmful than ever. It also contains language indicating that teachers or counselors would be required to out LGBT students to their parents.

Here's the language:

The general assembly recognizes that certain subjects are particularly sensitive and are, therefore, best explained and discussed within the home. Because of its complex societal, scientific, psychological, and historical implications, human sexuality is one such subject. Human sexuality is best understood by children with sufficient maturity to grasp its complexity and implications [...]

A school counselor, nurse, principal or assistant principal from counseling a student who is engaging in, or who may be at risk of engaging in, behavior injurious to the physical or mental health and well-being of the student or another person; provided, that wherever possible such counseling shall be done in consultation with the student’s parents or legal guardians. Parents or legal guardians of students who receive such counseling shall be notified as soon as practicable that such counseling has occurred

Gay Man Beaten Unconscious in Homophobic Assault at Camp for the Homeless: VIDEO

Glen Ortmann, a homeless man in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, says he was beaten unconscious in a homophobic assault in a homeless camp in the woods referred to as Tent City, NBC 4 reports:

"It makes it 10 times harder when you're gay and homeless at the same time," Ortmann said. Ortmann said over the weekend he walked right into a trap after recently revealing he's gay. "It was a big crowd, and all I remembered really is being hit once or twice and being knocked out cold," Ortmann said.

His right eye was swollen shut. He also suffered a busted lip and a badly bruised nose. His entire body was filled with pain. "I was sore," he said. "My head was mainly sore from the beating I took."

The homeless man said he has no doubt in his mind he was targeted by the other homeless people at the camp because of his alternative lifestyle. "I was beat up because I was gay," Ortmann said. "It's considered a hate crime. It's against the law to put your hands on someone to begin with."

Ortmann has been homeless for two months, and must remain at Tent City because he has nowhere to go, fearing for his life, he says, and constantly having to look over his shoulder. Police are supposedly investigating a couple names as possible leads in the case.

Watch NBC4's report, AFTER THE JUMP...

Memphis, TN Approves LGBT Workplace Protections in 9-4 Vote

The Memphis City Council voted 9-4 to add sexual orientation and gender identity to a list of city workplace protections, the Memphis Flyer reports:

Councilman Reid Hedgepeth, a conservative who voted in favor of the ordinance last time, told the audience that harassment and robo-calls from the amendment's opposition had only strengthened his resolve to vote in favor of the amendment again.

"One e-mail said 'I hope you and your family burn in hell together.' How is that for Christianity?" Hedgepeth asked.

Additionally, councilwoman Janis Fullilove proposed an amendment to the ordinance that added protections on the basis of "gender identity." That amendment passed 9 to 4, as well. The only "no" votes on the "gender identity" amendment and the main motion to amend the city's nondiscrimination ordinance came from council people Wanda Halbert, Bill Boyd, Kemp Conrad, and Joe Brown.

The council chambers were lively before the vote. Speaking for the opposition, a representative from the Family Action Council said the amendment's passage would lead to protections for "grown men attracted to 12-year-old boys." That elicited boos and gasps from the audience. Pastor Larry Hunter, who wore a Taekwondo uniform, said he didn't "want to walk nowhere and see two mens [sic] kissing or two mens [sic] hugging."