Celebrate, Reach out: Two weeks of great events
Even in turbulent political times, we can celebrate the strength of Tennessee's LGBTQ community and we can reach out. We are a vibrant part of the fabric of our state. It's our Tennessee, too!
Join us at these events in Martin, Dickson, Murfreesboro, Kingsport, Memphis, Knoxville, and Nashville over the next two weeks. And if you would like to volunteer, contact us at volunteer@tnep.org . We could use some help with our outreach at these festivals.
September 5, 6, 7 in Martin. Tennessee Soybean Festival. Visit the TEP table at this event.
September 5 in Dickson. TEP Dickson County meeting.
September 7 in Murfreesboro: Boro Pride 2019. This is a TEP Foundation program and event.
September 7 in Kingsport: TriPride. Visit the TEP table.
September 7 in Memphis: Memphis Public Libraries Pride Kickoff. Visit the TEP table at this event.
September 10 in Memphis: LGBTQ+ Town Hall with Tami Sawyer. Presented with OUTMemphis.
September 12 in Knoxville: Queer the Vote: Silent Disco.
September 12 in Martin: TEP Northwest TN Committee meeting.
September 12 in Memphis: LGBTQ+ Town Hall with Lemichael Wilson. Presented with OUTMemphis.
September 14 in Nashville: Outloud Music Festival. Visit the TEP table at this event.
September 14 in Memphis: Cooper-Young Festival. Visit the TEP table at this event.
One of the busiest weeks of the Summer: Jump in
Our movement can't just be reactive. We have to build structure and channel our energy. That's what we're spending our time doing this summer. Please, join us at these events taking place the week of August 18, 2019.
August 19 in Morristown: TEP Lakeway Committee monthly social.
August 21 in Knoxville: Donation Day at West Hills Flats & Taps.
August 21 in Memphis: Update on Ranked Choice Voting.
August 22 in Nashville: Event with Nashville Pride--What's Next for LGBTQ+ Nashville?
August 23 in Memphis: The People's Happy Hour hosted by Planned Parenthood. TEP is part of the panel.
August 24 in Maryville: Blount Pride. Visit the TEP table at this event.
Connect, advocate around the state
Advocacy doesn't take a summer break in a state like Tennessee. Connect in person with old friends and new at these events around the state in August and September.
August 1 in Martin: TEP Northwest Tennessee Committee meeting.
August 1 in Dickson: TEP Dickson County exploratory meeting.
August 1 in Nashville: Metro Nashville/Davidson County Election.
August 7 in Knoxville: TEP Knox, Anderson, and Blount Counties Committee meeting.
August 13 in Murfreesboro: TEP Rutherford County Committee meeting.
August 19 in Morristown: TEP Lakeway Committee monthly social.
August 21 in Knoxville: Donation Day at West Hills Flats & Taps.
August 21 in Memphis: Update on Ranked Choice Voting.
August 22 in Nashville: Event with Nashville Pride--What's Next for LGBTQ+ Nashville?
August 23 in Memphis: The People's Happy Hour. This event is hosted by Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood. TEP will be part of the panel.
August 24 in Maryville: Blount Pride. Visit the TEP table at this event.
August 28 in Johnson City: Ice Cream Social.
September 5, 6, 7 in Martin. Tennessee Soybean Festival. Visit the TEP table at this event.
September 5 in Dickson. TEP Dickson County meeting.
September 7 in Murfreesboro: Boro Pride 2019. This is a TEP Foundation program and event.
September 7 in Kingsport: TriPride. Visit the TEP table.
September 7 in Memphis: Memphis Public Libraries Pride Kickoff. Visit the TEP table at this event.
September 10 in Memphis: LGBTQ+ Town Hall with Tami Sawyer. Presented with OUTMemphis.
September 12 in Knoxville: Queer the Vote: Silent Disco.
September 12 in Martin: TEP Northwest TN meeting.
September 12 in Memphis: LGBTQ+ Town Hall with Lemichael Wilson. Presented with OUTMemphis.
September 14 in Nashville: Outloud Music Festival. Visit the TEP table at this event.
September 14 in Memphis: Cooper-Young Festival. Visit the TEP table at this event.
September 17 in Johnson City: Coffee + Equality.
September 23 in Memphis: LGBTQ+ Town Hall with Steven Bradley. Presented with OUTMemphis.
September 24 in Memphis: LGBTQ+ Town Hall with Jim Strickland. Presented with OUTMemphis.
September 25 in Nashville: Metro Non-discrimination Ordinance Tenth Anniversary Celebration.
September 26 in Maryville: Discriminatory Legislation in Tennessee. Hosted by Maryville Huddle.
September 28 in Morristown: Morristown Craft Beer Festival. Visit the TEP table at this event.
September 28 in Memphis: Memphis Pride Fest. Visit the TEP table at this event.
Upcoming TEP meetings and events around the state
Please, join us for upcoming events throughout Tennessee. Click the links to RSVP and learn more.
July 10 in Knoxville: TEP Knox, Anderson, and Blount Counties Committee meeting.
July 11 in Martin: TEP Northwest TN Committee meeting.
July 15 in Morristown: TEP Lakeway Area Committee Social and Meeting.
July 21 in Memphis: Ice Cream Social.
September 7 in Murfreesboro: Boro Pride.
Nashville Fire PRIDE shirts: You can still get Nashville Fire PRIDE shirts at the link. Please, make sure you enter the correct size AND shipping address (especially if it is different from the billing address) before you finalize your order. https://tep-nashville-fire-pride-shirts.myshopify.com/ .
Kroger Community Rewards: If you shop at Kroger, you can link your Kroger PLUS card to the TEP Foundation through the community rewards program. Go to this link and log in. If you're in West TN, search for "TN Equality." If you're in East or Middle TN, search for "Tennessee Equality" and link us to your card. We do not receive your personal information, but every purchase benefits our work.
AmazonSmile: If you shop Amazon, you can use our AmazonSmile link and every purchase benefits the TEP Foundation.
Thank you for your support.
Ways to fight back on April 29 + 30
Discriminatory bills are rapidly moving forward in Tennessee. We have listed email campaigns and events where you can show up to help.
April 29: The anti-transgender student bathroom bill is up in House Calendar and Rules and could be on the House floor soon.
April 30: The amended indecent exposure bill, the adoption/foster care discrimination bill, and the anti-transgender student bathroom bill are on the Senate floor.
-Use this NEW campaign to contact your state senator to oppose all three bills.
-Join us in the Senate gallery at 8:00 a.m. The floor session starts at 8:30. Note: The bills are late on the calendar.
*Do you own a small business and want to speak out? If so, go to this link and add your company's name.
If you would like to support our work, you can make a contribution at this link. Thank you for fighting so hard this legislative session.
Still in the Fight: What to do by Tuesday at 1pm
Tennessee's LGBTQ community faces another critical week. Tuesday may be decisive for two bills--the anti-transgender student bathroom bill (SB1499) and the adoption discrimination bill (SB1304). They are both up for consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 23 at 1:00 p.m. Central Time in Senate Hearing Room 1 of the Cordell Hull Building.
1. Use this form to email the Senate Judiciary Committee and urge them to vote NO on both bills. If you have already used the form, share it with friends.
2. Consider attending the committee hearing. Whether your focus is SB1499 or SB1304, RSVP at one of the links. They are both up for consideration in the same hearing in the same room so you have double the reasons to attend.
Note: If the anti-transgender student bathroom bill passes in the Senate Judiciary Committee, we will be well into the danger zone on the bill because it is back up in House Finance Subcommittee on Thursday. So take defensive action and use this form to contact your member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
If you would like support our work, consider making your contribution at this link.
Thank you for fighting so hard against discrimination this year!
Tell the Legislature, "We've had enough."
The very existence of anti-LGBTQ bills is disgusting. It's well past time for the Tennessee General Assembly to stop acting as if it is business as usual to attack people whose rights they swear an oath to uphold.
Here are some ways you can tell them, "Enough!"
Tuesday, April 16:
-At 10:00 a.m., the Business License to Discriminate bill is up in the Senate State & Local Government Committee.
*Tell them to vote NO with this easy form.
*Wear RED to the committee meeting.
-At 1:00 p.m., the bill directing the TN Attorney General to defend school districts with anti-transgender student policies is up in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
*Tell them to vote NO with this easy form.
*Wear RED to the committee meeting.
You can support our work with a contribution at this link.
More ways to raise your voices against the Slate of Hate
Here are the bills up for votes the week of April 7 and ways you can take action:
April 8: HB1151, the heavily amended anti-transgender locker room bill, is up for a vote in the House. The amendment takes out the portions directly targeting the transgender community, but the amendment could be stripped or other amendments could be added on the House floor. Fears remain about how the bill could be used against transgender people if it became law. It would be best if it were just dropped!
*Use this form to contact your member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
(Updated) April 9: HB1274, the bill that forces the State of Tennessee to support public school districts that develop anti-transgender policies, is up for a vote in the House Civil Justice Committee. It is amended, but the amendment is still focused on "biological sex" and makes the state help school districts that develop bad policies. In other words, the amendment is not helpful.
*Use this form to contact the full House Judiciary Committee.
*Make phone calls/leave messages about the bill with the office phone numbers and scripts at this link. You can easily print that list and make copies to take to gatherings. Leaving messages at any hour over the weekend is really helpful!
*Attend the House Judiciary Committee in RED. The event at 1:30 p.m. Central Time in House Hearing Room of the Cordell Hull Building in Nashville. RSVP here.
Other Recent Legislative Action:
SB1304/HB836, the adoption discrimination bill, passed on the House floor on April 1. It was due for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 2, but was reset to the final calendar in that committee.
SB364/HB563, the Business License to Discriminate bill, has passed the full House, but it is still not on notice in the Senate State & Local Government Committee.
SB1282/HB1282, the Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act, is still not on notice in Senate and House committees.
Thanks for all you do to fight back!
Take action by 3pm on Tuesday, March 26
There is still time for you to fight back against SB1297 (the unamended anti-transgender locker room bill) and SB134 (one of the adoption discrimination bills). But take action before 3:00 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, March 26.
1. Use this email campaign to send a message to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
2. Make calls or leave messages to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Here's a script with office phone numbers for each senator.
3. Attend the committee meeting in RED on March 26 at 3pm Central Time in Senate Hearing Room 1 of the Cordell Hull Building in Nashville. RSVP at the link.
We are grateful for all you do to fight discrimination in Tennessee. You can make a financial contribution at this link.
Moving, amended, delayed: What to do this week to fight the Slate of Hate in TN
Your resistance to the Slate of Hate in Tennessee IS having an effect, but we can't stop yet. Here's where the bills are and what you can do.
1. Moving. HB836, the discriminatory adoption bill, advanced from a House subcommittee and is up in the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
-Be a presence against the bill and Wear RED to the committee hearing. RSVP and learn more at the link.
-Make calls to the committee members who will vote on the bill and urge them to vote NO. Use this list and script.
-Email the whole House Judiciary Committee with this easy form.
2. Amended. HB1151, the anti-transgender locker room bill, was amended in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee last week to remove everything after the enacting clause in the bill, which means the portions of the bill targeting the transgender community. We need to monitor the amended bill throughout the process to make sure the amendment sticks. It is up for discussion in the same House Judiciary Committee meeting at 12:30 on Wednesday where the adoption discrimination bill is up for a vote. RSVP at the link.
3. Delayed. HB563, the Business License to Discriminate bill, was delayed last week after discussion on the House floor. We expect it to be up for a vote on Thursday.
-Find your State Representative by giving your street address at this link and then call your representative and say, "My name is ______________ from ______________. I am calling to ask Representative ________________ to vote NO on HB563 on the House floor. It takes important tools away from local governments and results in taxpayer funded discrimination. Thank you."
Your financial support of work at this link helps us sustain our work against these bills.