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Calling on Councilman Travis Holleman to resign
Clarksville City Councilman Travis Holleman has used his platform to demean the LGBTQ community during public meetings. Incidents are recounted at this link and at this link. Public officials must represent all their constituents and should never disparage groups of people based on race, sex, religion, creed, color, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic.
If you agree with the statement below, please add your name to this petition.
In solidarity with the LGBTQ community in Clarksville, we join their call for Councilman Travis Holleman to resign his office immediately.
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NO to Adoption Discrimination in Congress
A foster care and adoption license to discriminate measure was recently put into a health and human services funding bill in the House Appropriations Committee.
The “Aderholt Amendment” allows foster care and adoption service providers across the country to discriminate against children and prospective parents based on sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and marital status.
We need your help to tell Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker: NO ADOPTION DISCRIMINATION in the 2019 Appropriations bill! We will deliver hard copies to their offices.
Dear Senators Alexander and Corker:
We urge you to act to oppose the Aderholt amendment allowing discrimination in foster care and adoption services in the FY19 House Labor-HHS appropriations bill and ensure that the measure is NOT included in any Senate or final appropriations bill.
It would allow taxpayer-funded foster care and adoption service providers to discriminate against children in care and against prospective parents, based on sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and marital status.
The measure breaks the cardinal rule of child welfare services: to act in the best interest of the child. This amendment would actually HARM CHILDREN.
This amendment would greatly harm the 440,000 children in foster care, particularly the 117,000 who are waiting to be adopted into loving, forever homes. There is a crisis in foster care due to the huge shortage of available families for children. Each year, over half the children waiting to be adopted do not find a loving home, and most devastatingly, over 17,000 foster youth age out of care without a forever family. Those youth are at greater risk of involvement with the criminal justice system, homelessness, unemployment, and being trafficked.
Speak out against this poison pill amendment,; let your leadership know you will not support a funding bill with the measure included, and vote against any appropriations measure that includes such discriminatory provisions. Thank you for considering our views.
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Rebecca Terrell signed Urge Senators Alexander and Corker to speak up for LGBTQ people when the next Supreme Court justice is appointed 2018-06-28 08:28:55 -0500
Urge Senators Alexander and Corker to speak up for LGBTQ people when the next Supreme Court justice is appointed
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring so the President will name a successor who must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Sign to urge Senator Alexander and Senator Corker to speak up for the LGBTQ community during the confirmation process. TEP will deliver a hard copy of the signatures to their offices.
Senator Alexander and Senator Corker:
When the President announces his choice to replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, we urge you to speak up for the rights of LGBTQ people. It is vitally important that members of the Supreme Court support the principle of "equal protection" and that Justice Kennedy's successor uphold the existing rights of LGBTQ people and oppose discrimination against LGBTQ people. We respectfully ask you to raise these concerns publicly and not to vote for any nominee who supports discrimination.
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Support the Work of Tennessee Equality Project with a One Time Donation
As a supporter of Tennessee Equality Project, your contribution funds the advancement of policies through direct and grass roots lobbying which protect the rights of LGBT people and their families here at home in Tennessee. Contributions to TEP (a 501(c)(4) organization) are not tax deductible.
If you would prefer to make a tax-deductible contribution to Tennessee Equality Project Foundation, click here.Other Giving Options
Some supporters prefer to write a check or make monthly donations to Tennessee Equality Project through ActBlue at this link.
Checks may be mailed to the following address:
Tennessee Equality Project | P.O. Box 330875 | Nashville, TN 37203
Thank you for supporting Tennessee Equality Project.
Donate
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Rebecca Terrell posted about LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans on Facebook 2016-12-17 10:05:22 -0600No to laws that promote discrimination and hate in TN! Sign the petition: LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans
LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans
An open letter from Tennessee's LGBTQ community to our fellow Tennesseans
As members of the LGBTQ community, we write to our fellow Tennesseans a month after the election and a month before the upcoming state legislative session.
In recent weeks members of our community have experienced grave assaults on our safety and dignity. A gay, gender nonconforming man was murdered. A transgender woman’s car was burned. The signs and doors of a church that affirms our community have been vandalized. A gay couple received a package with a knife sticking out and a message attached urging them to leave the state.
These attacks upon individuals and institutions have put our lives and safety at even greater risk than usual. They contravene the welcoming traditions of hospitality for which Tennessee is known.
The time we have entered is critical. Many are calling for healing in the wake of a divisive election. Healing is difficult while fresh wounds are being inflicted such as discriminatory state legislation.
So we are speaking out for our safety, dignity, and equal rights under the law.
Our struggle is not against your values, unless you value discrimination. LGBTQ Tennesseans are your neighbors, your family members, your health care providers, firefighters, grocery clerks, teachers, elected officials, and we fill many other roles vital to the life of small towns and large cities. Many of us grew up and continue to be active in the same faith communities as you.
In the long story of our community’s struggles, we have relied on our own strength to sustain us. We have also experienced the joy of working with countless allies. Now is a time for allies to speak out with us and we invite people of good will throughout the state to build a stronger, inclusive, welcoming Tennessee to meet our state’s common challenges together.
If you share these values and priorities, we invite you to add your name to this letter.
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Rebecca Terrell posted about National Coming Out Day Challenge on Facebook 2016-10-11 10:25:40 -0500Help us meet the National Coming Out Day challenge!
National Coming Out Day Challenge
An anonymous donor has offered us a $2000 challenge. Make your tax deductible investment in any amount to help us meet the challenge for National Coming Out Day. We will run the challenge until October 18.
Regardless of whether you can give, consider posting a National Coming Out Day video and tag us on Facebook or on Twitter. Let's show Tennessee the vibrancy and diversity of our community and allies.
Your contribution helps fund educational programs around the state. For example, in November we are offering training sessions for clergy throughout Tennessee to help them advocate more effectively for the LGBT community.
Donate
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Rebecca Terrell posted about No Discrimination in Federal Contracts! on Facebook 2016-05-20 10:02:09 -0500The U.S. House of Representatives is trying to gut President Obama's non-discrimination executive order. Fight back!
No Discrimination in Federal Contracts!
In late April the U.S. House Armed Services Committee voted to undo President Obama's non-discrimination executive orders for federal contracts via the Russell amendment. This amendment is part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
Removal of the President's executive orders on non-discrimination would be a disaster for LGBT people in states like Tennessee that lack employment protections covering sexual orientation and gender identity.
Please, sign this petition to Tennessee's two U.S. Senators and nine members of the U.S. House of Representatives and we will make sure copies are sent to their offices.
Dear Senators Alexander and Corker and Representatives Roe, Duncan, Fleischmann, Desjarlais, Cooper, Black, Blackburn, Fincher, and Cohen:
We oppose the Russell amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act and similar efforts to reverse President Obama's executive orders on employment non-discrimination for federal contractors. Protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is important to Tennesseans. Thank you for considering our views.
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Rebecca Terrell posted about Counseling Unconditionally on Facebook 2016-04-27 12:10:22 -0500I support Counseling Unconditionally for clients seeking counseling in Tennessee.
Counseling Unconditionally
The map shown above represents mental health providers in Tennessee who provide affirmative services, especially in regards to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Please click on the top right of the map to make it larger so you can search your address/location to find counselors close to you and more information about them (e.g., website, e-mail address, insurance options, etc.).
The "Counseling Discrimination Law" (formerly HB1840) passed in 2016 highlights the need for counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other mental health providers to speak out for inclusive and affirmative practices. We urge any mental health provider to endorse the statement at the bottom of the page.
As counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers serving clients in Tennessee, we affirm that we do not discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity and we will not use our own sincerely held principles as a reason to turn clients away.
Note: The Tennessee Equality Project and the Tennessee Equality Project Foundation reserve the right to refuse membership to any provider or revoke a provider's listing.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to [email protected].
Endorse
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Rebecca Terrell posted about Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912 on Facebook 2016-04-23 11:37:57 -0500Sign the petition: Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912
Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912
The Legislature passed SB1912/HB2248 that removes funding from the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Sign this petition that we will deliver to Governor Haslam asking him to veto the bill.
Governor Haslam, we call on you to veto SB1912/HB2248 and protect the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Office for Diversity and Inclusion. The office plays a vital role in making the university competitive for the best students, faculty, and staff and it makes campus life welcoming for all. Thank you for considering our views.
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Rebecca Terrell posted about Governor Haslam, Keep listening and oppose HB2414 on Facebook 2016-04-16 08:03:54 -0500Sign the petition: Governor Haslam, Keep listening and oppose HB2414. Will you help us get more signatures?
Governor Haslam, Keep listening and oppose HB2414
Sign this NEW petition urging Governor Bill Haslam to keep listening to the voices opposed to the anti-transgender student bathroom bill!
Governor Haslam, please continue to oppose HB2414 and listen to the voices of transgender students and the business community speaking out against the bill. Thank you for considering our views.
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Rebecca Terrell signed VETO Hate Bill 1840, the Counseling Discrimination bill 2016-04-06 12:30:20 -0500
VETO Hate Bill 1840, the Counseling Discrimination bill
Please, add your voice and urge Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to veto this discriminatory bill.
Dear Governor Haslam,
We urge you to veto HB1840, which allows counselors to turn away clients based on the counselor's biases and values. This bill puts the focus on the desires of counselors rather than on the needs of clients, damaging the counseling profession and putting clients at risk.
An anti-bullying amendment was stripped from the bill in the House Health Committee leaving youth vulnerable in areas where mental health services are not widely available.
Thank you for considering our views.
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Rebecca Terrell posted about 2016GumboAds on Facebook 2016-01-04 12:55:24 -0600Just supported Tennessee Equality Project by purchasing an ad in the event program of the TEP Gumbo Contest on Jan. 24
Support the TEP Gumbo Contest with a Program Ad
Tennessee Equality Project invites you to support equality by placing an ad in the event program of the TEP Gumbo Contest scheduled for Sunday, January 24, 2016. Half-page and quarter-page ads are available for $75 and $40, respectively.
Event program Ads are a perfect way for individuals, businesses, organizations and gumbo teams to support TEP and celebrate Mardi Gras. Event programs which contain gumbo team information will be distributed to hundreds of participants at the TEP Gumbo Contest.
After finalizing your ad purchase, submit your half or quarter page ad to Jeff Harwood at [email protected] by January 6, 2016 to guarantee ad placement. Ads purchased and submitted after January 6 cannot be included in the event program. Follow these specifications:
Ad Size Cost File Type Specifications Half Page $75 EPS
PDF
JPG
TIF
Inches: 5.5” W x 4.25” H.
Pixels: 1650 W x 1275 H.
DPI: 300.
Colors: CMYK
Quarter Page $40 EPS
PDF
JPG
TIF
Inches: 2.75” W x 4.25” H.
Pixels: 825 W x 1275 H.
DPI: 300.
Colors: CMYK
RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE FOR THE TEP GUMBO CONTEST
Donate
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Rebecca Terrell posted about Tennessee Open For Business on Facebook 2015-07-28 11:22:19 -0500I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me!
Tennessee Open For Business
Tennessee Open For Business is a free program for Tennessee small businesses that pledge not to discriminate against their employees or customers on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. That means that member businesses do not discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender individuals or couples or do harm to the LGBTQ community. Members will get a listing on our website, a post on Facebook, and a window cling suitable for display in their storefront. The program is made possible through generous support of the Brooks Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
The Tennessee Equality Project reserves the right to refuse membership in this program to any applicant and to revoke the membership of any business.
You can see a list of some of the current members of Tennessee Open For Business at this link.
For questions, contact us at [email protected].
Endorse
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Rebecca Terrell signed Urge Yoke Ministries to Stop Discriminating via Jonathan Cole 2014-11-21 10:06:30 -0600
Urge Yoke Ministries to Stop Discriminating
Cassie Hopkins, a young bisexual woman, had volunteered at Yoke Youth Ministries in Jefferson County. The program is interdenominational and draws on the work of young adults to mentor middle-school students. She had gone through the screening process and there were no complaints about her work as a volunteer. After disclosing her sexual orientation on Facebook, her supervisor told her that she would no longer be allowed to volunteer, even though there is nothing in Yoke's written policies about sexual orientation. Her supervisor compared bisexuality to alcoholism and drug addiction.
Let's show support for Cassie and remind our fellow Tennesseans and especially Yoke that people can serve and contribute to enriching the lives of youth in our state regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is a message Yoke and many others need to hear. Please, add your voice.
We are glad to partner with the LGBT Alumni of Carson-Newman on this project. They first brought the case to our attention.
Note: We are not arguing about whether anyone has the legal ability to discriminate in Tennessee. What we are contesting is whether it is right to exclude talented people from helping youth simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Rebecca Terrell
Executive Director, CHOICES / Memphis Center for Reproductive Health Working to create more love, joy, justice and choices for our community. Views my own.