this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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United States | News & Politics

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Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is already beginning to implement the law.


A city in Tennessee is using a recently passed ordinance essentially prohibiting homosexuality in public to try to ban library books that might violate the new rules.

Murfreesboro passed an ordinance in June banning “indecent behavior,” including “indecent exposure, public indecency, lewd behavior, nudity or sexual conduct.” As journalist Erin Reed first reported, this ordinance specifically mentions Section 21-72 of the city code. The city code states that sexual conduct includes homosexuality.

Anyone who violates the new ordinance is barred from hosting public events or selling goods and services at public events for two years. Anyone who violates the ordinance “in the presence of minors” is barred for five years.

An ACLU-backed challenge to the ordinance has already been launched, but that hasn’t stopped city officials from implementing the measure. Last Monday, the Rutherford County steering committee met to discuss removing all books that might potentially violate the ordinance from the public library. The resolution was met with widespread outcry from city residents.

“When have the people who ban books ever been the good guys?” local activist Keri Lambert demanded during the Monday county meeting.

Murfreesboro city officials have already used the ordinance to ban four books that discuss LGBTQ themes. In August, the county library board pulled the books Flamer, Let’s Talk About It, Queerfully and Wonderfully Made, and This Book Is Gay.

The board also implemented a new library card system that categorizes books into certain age groups. When it takes effect next year, children and teenagers will only be able to check out books that correspond to their age group; they will need permission from a parent or guardian to check out “adult” books.

Library director Rita Shacklett worried in August that the new rules would prevent students from accessing books they need for a class. She explained that many classic high school books, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, are now classified as “adult.”

It’s unclear if the county steering committee plans to pull books such as the A Song of Ice and Fire series, which includes multiple depictions of heterosexual sexual conduct.

Murfreesboro’s new ordinance is part of a much larger wave of attacks on LGBTQ rights in Tennessee and the rest of the country. In the past year, the so-called Volunteer State became the first state to try to ban drag performances. That law was overturned in court.

In March, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow people to refuse to perform a marriage if they disagree with it, essentially gutting marriage equality. The bill was introduced in the Senate but deferred until next year.

link: https://newrepublic.com/post/176915/tennessee-town-ban-public-homosexuality

archive link: https://archive.ph/LFMMK

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[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If people had the ability to control their own bodies, we wouldn't need a state. Unfortunately there's people like you who think it's okay to do gay stuff with or in front of children, and refuse to be reasoned out of it.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I love how you just make up psychotic delusions like "with or in front of children". Is it because you have already been convicted of this that you think everyone else is like you?

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, it's because the city found it necessary to pass a statue prohibiting it that makes me believe it has probably happened before.

Unlike what you seem to think, passing a law is actually a fairly complex and time consuming process. Not to mention costly, since enforcement isn't free. City councils don't just wake up one day and decide to pass some random laws because it's a Tuesday and they got nothing better to do.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thats not even what the fucking law says. You are literally just making shit up and parroting InfoWars, a known fascist fake news and propaganda generator.

And yes, they do pass laws like this easily because its a show and has nothing at all to do with dealing with an actual problem. There has always been indecent exposure laws everywhere; this was nothing but pure vitue signaling for authoritarian fascists and their cucks.

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Did you actually read the law? Here's the link in case you missed it in the article.

About the only thing that really seems to be offensive here is that it explicitly mentions homosexuality. But as you have correctly said, the majority of it actually deals with things like indecent exposure and sexual activity in public, and yes, this includes heterosexual activity as well.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Are you telling me that indecent exposure and public sexual activity was not illegal before now?

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

No, I'm telling you that the thing that everyone is getting their panties in a twist about is the simple inclusion of the word "homosexuality" in this text when it already makes fairly clear that ANY display of sexual acts or genitals, no matter the gender or orientation is considered inappropriate in the presence of minors.

The are by no means singling out gay people here or discriminating against homosexuality in any way.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seems like you couldve said that instead of pulling the usual InfoWars bullshit of calling everyone groomer and pedophile and forced dicksucking and whatever other osychotically delusional rants you've made along the way. No point you make now will ever be considered because you already showed your cards

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I didn't say any of those things.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Well I have just answered again all the posts in which you did, in fact, say all of those things.

You lying sack of shit.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Gotta ask though, if you insist that the law against ANY already existed, why did it have to be re-written to specify a particular group? Does it imply that the local leaders dont want to see anyone who is gay? If two guys or two girls are standing too close in the mall will they be arrested? Will the law apply to women? How do you intend to enforce it? Is holding hands a display of homosexuality?

WHY DID YOU NEED THE LAW CHANGED?

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago

I did not say that. I just gave my opinions on the article.

As for why they felt that they needed a new law, you gotta ask the city of Murfreesboro. I’m sure they have a PR department of some sort that’ll be happy to answer your questions.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Here in this psychotic post, you claim that we all "think it's okay to do gay stuff with children".

You -being an obviously evil amd possibly satanic psychopath- should have your skull busted open for that one. People like you do not deserve to breathe.

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, I claimed that YOU think it’s okay to do gay stuff with children, because you told me that passing laws about this sort of stuff is fascism and it’s nobody’s business how people live their lives.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Again: you're a lying sack of fascist dog shit. Proof is right there in your post.

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh, sure, your childish insults are totally going to convince me.

Nooo I’ve been insulted on the Internet! I must immediately change all my opinions and rethink my life!

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh I'd never expect to do that. Sociopathic fascists can't be reasoned with and are unable to process empathetic behavior, which is the basis of all morality. The bible is worthless because it has no moral center and is unable to process empathy. The Ten Commandments themselves are proof of that. This is probably why fascists love to refer to them so often.

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, the Ten Commandments are bullshit because who would enjoy living in a world where people don't steal, kill, cheat on or lie about each other? Clearly, it's far preferable to simply insult people whom you disagree with until they change their minds. At least that seems to be your approach to moral philosophy as far as I can tell.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hey, DIPSHIT!!....EVERY CULTURE has rules against that!! It's basic societal structure common sense!! What they dont do is buttress it with "I am a weak and shitty god that only has power over this small tribe but worship me above all others or else I will cry!" "tEh bIbLeZ" is NOT a moral authority! Judaism does not have a monopoly on moral living!

I totally KNEW you try that pussy-assed whiny rebuttal...you idiots do it every single time and it ALWAYS backfires.

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, your insults are very convincing indeed. I can literally feel the empathy oozing out of every word you say. Wonderful philosophy you have there, truly a Godsend.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I dont need a god. I know better then to kill, rape, steal, etc because I have empathy. Only the evil need a book and a god to stop them.

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As if evil people would let a God stop them from doing evil... if anything, they'll invent one who approves of their evil. Wasn't that exactly your problem with Christianity earlier?

Either way, I remain unconvinced of your supposed empathy. We've been arguing for an entire day now and I've never once called you any insults, yet you keep calling me a fascist, a liar, evil, and so on, seemingly expecting that any of that is going to intimidate me or convince me of your opinions. Which it won't. In fact, it's achieving quite the opposite. That doesn't exactly show a great capacity for empathy if you ask me.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have nicely put up with exactly that from "your side of the aisle" for decades and I am done with it. We know who and what you are, and you have demonstrated it repeatedly with your blatant lies and fascist dog whistles. You do not get to take any high roads...you lost that ability very early on in this conversation.

[–] PepeLivesMatter 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ah yes, that makes sense – because other people abused you and I didn't, you get to take your anger out on me. Is that how superior empathy works?

Isn't that exactly the same behavior that you are criticizing about this new law, that it is abusive towards gay people who aren't intending to harm children, just because others may have not had that much restraint?

Sorry, but I remain utterly unconvinced that you are in any way, shape, or form morally superior to the people you are criticizing. You're doing exactly the same thing you're criticizing them for. You are a hypocrite, nothing else.

[–] IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

As I said and have pointed out repeatedly already: you showed your cards at the beginning. Your attempt at sea lioning now that you have been publicly humiliated here will not work.