Haslam to Legislators: Drop ‘Don’t Say Gay’

Gov. Bill Haslam just wants “Don’t Say ‘Gay’” to go away.

Talking to reporters Wednesday morning, he reiterated comments he made last month when he said that the controversial bill and several others dealing with sexual orientation should not be a priority for legislators this session.

“It’s no secret we’ve been part of talks there, and I’ve said from the beginning I think there’s better things for the Legislature to occupy themselves with right now,” he said. “We’d love to see the Legislature focus on some other issues right now.”

Haslam’s comments came a day after the House Education Committee delayed action on the bill. The committee’s Republican members arrived 15 minutes late, after reportedly meeting with a member of the Haslam administration, who relayed the governor’s concerns.

On Wednesday, Haslam was asked whether the negative attention the state has garnered as a result of the proposal was part of the reason he’s asking legislators to drop it.

“It’s an issue that we’ve encouraged people to lay aside,” he said. “I think in the end you have to look at any bill, what it actually says, as well as the perception of it. Both of those things are issues here.”