Joey Hensley | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 28th[1] district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Kyle |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 70th district | |
| In office January 2003 – January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | John White |
| Succeeded by | Barry Doss |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 28, 1955 Hohenwald, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Hohenwald, Tennessee |
| Alma mater | Columbia State Community College University of Memphis University of Tennessee |
| Profession | Physician |
Joey Hensley[2] (born July 28, 1955) is an American politician and a Republican member of the Tennessee Senate representing District 28 since January 8, 2013. Hensley served consecutively in the Tennessee General Assembly from January 2003 until January 8, 2013, in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 70 seat.
Hensley earned his AS from Columbia State Community College, his BS from the University of Memphis and his MD from the University of Tennessee.
In 2012 and 2013, Hensley introduced a bill, nicknamed "Don't Say Gay", to ban schools from discussing LGBT issues;[3] the bill eventually failed.
For several years, Hensley cosponsored a bill allowing counselors and therapists "to refuse to counsel a client as to goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief of the counselor or therapist," such as LGBT clients. This bill was eventually passed and signed into law on April 27, 2016.[4][5][6]
In February 2017, Hensley introduced a bill that would classify children born through artificial insemination as illegitimate, even if both parents are married and consent to the insemination.[7] He also sponsored a bill (known as the "Milo bill" after right-wing pundit Milo Yiannopoulos) requiring public universities "be open to any speaker whom students, student groups, or members of the faculty have invited."[8]
In February 2020, Hensley argued against including female hygiene products such as tampons in a state sales-tax holiday because people could purchase too many if not given a limit. "I don't know how you would limit the number of items someone could purchase."[9][10]
In 2021, after a historical commission voted to remove the bust of Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan member Nathan Bedford Forrest from the Tennessee state capitol, Hensley called for the firing of everyone on the historical commission.[11]
In February 2022, Hensley introduced a bill, SB 2523, that would designate "a person who has been issued an enhanced handgun carry permit" as a member of law enforcement. A similar bill, HB 254, was introduced in the state house by Chris Hurt. A Hensley spokesperson said the bill would only allow someone to carry a gun where the police can. The Tennessee State Lodge for the Fraternal Order of Police said that it is "adamantly opposed" to the bill.[12] Both bills were assigned to subcommittees which took no action, effectively defeating them.[13]
Hensley is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.[26]
Hensley has been married four times and is divorced from his fourth wife, Gina.[27] They have three children.[2]
In 2015, Hensley introduced a bill to change the distribution of property in divorce cases,[28] saying that he was prompted to do so by his own divorce proceedings. Shortly thereafter, Hensley's wife took out an order of protection against him for alleged abuse,[29] but later asked to have it dismissed.[30]
According to sworn family court testimony, Hensley carried on an affair with Lori Barber, a part-time nurse in his medical practice and his second cousin. Hensley also allegedly illegally prescribed opioids for Barber.[27]