California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom mischaracterized a Tennessee city ordinance that passed a ban on indecent exposure, lewd behavior, and nudity in front of minors, claiming it had “banned being gay in public.”
The ordinance Newsom was referring to was passed by the Murfreesboro City Council in June and amended in October to eliminate the term “homosexuality” from the code’s definition banning inappropriate sexual conduct.
Yet Newsom tweeted, “A city in Tennessee has banned being gay in public. This is just the beginning. We have to call this out.”
A city in Tennessee has banned being gay in public.
This is just the beginning. We have to call this out. https://t.co/0G1i7dKTgp
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 16, 2023
Newsom was taken to task on social media:
Commiefornia Governor @GavinNewsom is spreading the lie that "being gay in public" has been banned in the state of Tennessee. That is NOT true.
The Tennessee law regulates against indecent exposure and lewd behavior in public, in the presence of minors, for ALL people —… https://t.co/6xguRHFrzL
— Gays Against Groomers (@againstgrmrs) November 17, 2023
Gavin Newsom thinks being gay means exposing yourself in public. https://t.co/5xZ8Wuuqow pic.twitter.com/Wu2ohUM6lX
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) November 17, 2023
Ok, Groomer
— Abby Libby (@abbythelibb_) November 17, 2023
The ordinance passed in June stated:
This ordinance shall be implemented and interpreted to promote public decency and maintain a family-friendly environment in public places and protect against potential harm to minors from public expressions that appeal to prurient interests and are patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors.
“No person shall knowingly while in a public space engage in indecent behavior, display, distribute, or broadcast indecent material, conduct indecent events, or facilitate any of the foregoing prohibited acts, or otherwise subject minors to a prurient interest or to behaviors, materials, or events that are patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors,” it added.
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Newsom has been accused of lying before; in April 2023 he said, “Last week, I went to New College in Florida – ground zero for what the [Republicans] are trying to do to education in this country. … Take a moment to watch this. Books are banned. Speech is limited. Faculty are scared. Students are bullied. This is just a small dose of what’s to come.”
Last week, I went to New College in Florida — ground zero for what the @GOP are trying to do to education in this country.
Take a moment to watch this.
Books are banned. Speech is limited. Faculty are scared. Students are bullied.
This is just a small dose of what's to come. pic.twitter.com/UZjlm5XIsk
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 12, 2023
Fox News noted, “Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office asking them to provide a list of the alleged banned books at the institution.”
Newsom got slammed immediately. Christopher Rufo, one of the college’s trustees, fired back, “Gavin Newsom is spreading lies and falsely claiming that ‘books are banned’ at New College of Florida. He wants to put all Americans under the boot of DEI commissars and California’s failed policies.”
Gavin Newsom is spreading lies and falsely claiming that "books are banned" at New College of Florida. He wants to put all Americans under the boot of DEI commissars and California's failed policies.
Thankfully, @GovRonDeSantis represents a better way forward. https://t.co/eoRlTjzepo
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) April 12, 2023
Name one book that is banned
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) April 12, 2023
Can I have a copy of the banned book list, please?
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) April 12, 2023