To the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education and Director of Schools Dr. Battle,

We condemn HB800/SSB1216, HB1535/SB659, HB529/SB1229, and HB1233/SB1367. These dangerous bills violate the human rights of students, teachers, and community members.These bills are summarized below:

HB1535/SB659: No supplemental materials may be used in the classroom unless they have been approved by the State Board of Education.

HB800/SSB1216: Textbooks/instructional materials used in classrooms cannot approve, promote, normalize, support or address lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) “issues or lifestyles.”

HB529/SB1229: Parental/guardian notice must be given if materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity are used; parents must also be given the option to opt out.

HB1233/SB1367: Schools must make accommodations for students who do NOT want to share space with trans students and forbids schools from making accommodations for trans students.

We call on the Board to denounce these bills and take action to defend the safety and rights of LGBTQ+ students and teachers. You must take steps to ensure that all MNPS students can access a curriculum that affirms LGBTQ+ identities and to guarantee LGBTQ+ students have their names and pronouns respected, access to safe facilities, and access to responsive mental health services.

If trans students are denied safe facilities this will undoubtedly lead to bullying and violence against them, as well as compounding on the mental health struggles our trans students are already experiencing at a higher rate than their cis peers.

An inclusive curriculum is vital to the wellbeing of all students for both creating representation and developing empathy. You must deny attempts from the state to censure LGBTQ+ history and stories; do not allow homophobic and transphobic prejudice to guide teachers’ instruction or remove cis-straight students from being in learning community with their LGBTQ+ peers and teachers.

It is our duty to keep our students safe and to prepare all of our students to live in a multicultural world. We, the signers of this petition, call on the MNPS Board of Education and Dr. Battle to take action against the anti-LGBTQ+ bills and ensure a safe and affirming school environment for all students and staff.