-
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.
-
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
-
Leonard Assante signed Urge Gov. Haslam to protect LGBTQ state government employees 2018-12-21 14:57:48 -0600Proud TN state employee here. 25 years with state government. Would love too see this happen!
Urge Gov. Haslam to protect LGBTQ state government employees
Outgoing Ohio Governor John Kasich recently signed an executive order barring discrimination against state government employees on the basis of gender identity. Discrimination based on sexual orientation was already banned.
Outgoing Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam could do the same for our state government employees. Sign the petition and urge him to protect LGBTQ state government employees by executive order. If we get 1000+ signatures, we will deliver them to the Governor's office.
Dear Governor Haslam,
We urge you to sign an executive order protecting Tennessee state government employees from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the same protections that Ohio state government employees enjoy thanks to the recent executive order signed by outgoing Ohio Governor John Kasich.
Employees of our public colleges and universities already enjoy these projections as do the public employees in Metro Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and Knox County. Everyone deserves the opportunity to work without the fear of discrimination.
Thank you for considering our views.
-
Leonard Assante posted about LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans on Facebook 2016-12-18 09:27:43 -0600Sign 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.
-
Leonard Assante signed No special legislative session for bathroom discrimination! 2016-05-18 10:40:56 -0500What a waste of resources for no reason.
No special legislative session for bathroom discrimination!
On the evening of May 17, The Tennessean and The Commercial Appeal reported that legislators are considering a special legislative session to take up a new effort to pass a statewide anti-transgender bathroom discrimination law. Sign YOUR name to the statement below and we'll deliver your signatures to legislative leaders:
Dear Speaker Ramsey and Speaker Harwell:
We oppose a special legislative session to consider an anti-transgender bathroom discrimination law. It is never justified to spend the state's time and money to advance discrimination. Thank you for considering our views.
-
Stop using religion to discriminate in Tennessee
On April 18, 2016 about 30 pastors shamefully stood in Legislative Plaza and spoke in favor of the anti-transgender student bathroom bill. And religion was used to advance the counseling discrimination bill. Many more clergy across Tennessee publicly opposed both bills.
Whether you're religious or not, aren't you tired of religion being used to support discrimination in our laws? If so, endorse this statement:
We oppose the use of religion to justify discrimination in Tennessee law. To use religion to divide us in our public life violates the spirit of the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions, does harm to the people of Tennessee, and brings scandal to religion.
Endorse
-
Leonard Assante posted about Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912 on Facebook 2016-04-22 08:33:16 -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.
-
Leonard Assante posted about I asked Governor Haslam to veto HB1840, the counseling discrimination bill on Facebook 2016-04-12 14:53:47 -0500I contacted Governor Haslam and urged him to #VetoHB1840. Will you?
I asked Governor Haslam to veto HB1840, the counseling discrimination bill
Take a minute to contact Governor Bill Haslam by phone message or on Twitter and then let us know you did it using this form. Let's get to 500 or more!
I called or Tweeted Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and urged him to veto HB1840, the counseling discrimination bill. I'm asking you to do the same this week.
Endorse
Leonard Assante
Experienced manager, communicator, educator, aviator