Growing up, I was taught to eat healthy, nutritious foods because as we all know, you are what you eat. Well, it seems as though a bunch of Tennessee lawmakers have twisted that age-old adage and instead adhere to the idea, “You are what you say.” Or what teachers in your K-8 classes say…

In order to prohibit the discussion of homosexuality and LGBT-related issues in public schools, they’ve been trying to pass a “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The Tennessee bill states, "[N]o public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.”

Thankfully, it was deemed dead for now after the bill’s House sponsor dropped the legislation before it could head to a vote. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Rep. Joey Hensley said, “With that assurance and the opposition of some people who didn’t want to vote on it, I’ve decided simply not to bring it up.” “That assurance” being the state Board of Education’s promise to send a letter to all Tennessee schools telling them not to teach the subject of homosexuality in grades kindergarten through eight.

Ohhh so that’s how you turn out gay, by being taught homosexuality right alongside english, history, and science. Silly me, I thought people were simply born loving who they love…my bad.

While the controversial bill remains null for the moment, it’s only one push in a larger effort on the part of conservative lawmakers to silence educators when it comes to the oh-so-terrifying subject of S-E-X and sexuality. Missouri legislators are currently conjuring up a “Don’t Say Gay” bill of their own which would work to keep the discussion of sexual orientation outside schools’ walls. The bill’s author, Rep. Steve Cookson, ensures that it isn’t discriminatory in nature yet Republican Dwight Scharnhorst, backs the bill saying that the discussion of LGBT issues could lead to other discussions and “There is no need to talk about Billy wanting to marry a goat,” he said.

Yes. That’s right. He did in fact suggest that homosexuality can lead to bestiality. Feel free to simultaneously laugh and cry at the devastatingly ludicrous nature of this comment. Stephen Colbert opted for the former reaction.