I paid for two of my three daughters to attend UTK. Attacks on “Sex Week” and diversity began during my youngest daughter’s time at UT and we both contacted the administration about supporting the program. We also donated money to replace public funding for the event. As I told the dean at that time, ignorance and intolerance is never the answer.

I’m ashamed that our state has become synonymous with intolerance against anyone who doesn’t fit into a conservative Christian framework. I’m disgusted that Republican legislators are trying to limit the information to which our young adult children have access at a time in their lives when they are supposed to be learning as much as they can. And I am doubtful that Tennessee will ever overcome its reputation as a state that doesn’t value education if state legislators continue to put politics before governance when making decisions about what our children will learn..