No Turn the Gays Away bill! Tennessee is still open for business!
Based on our reading of all bills filed this year, there is no Turn the Gays Away/RFRA/religion carve out/religious exemption bill related to businesses this year. We caution that at some point a bill could be amended to include such provisions, but our assessment is that no direct bill in that category has been filed.
Many of you remember that the battle over the bill was intense last year. Huffington Post details the fight from February last year. Indeed, many states have waged renewed battles over these bills this year, as The Washington Blade details at this link.
We are tracking many other bills this year. We believe that the Counseling Discrimination bill is the worst of them.
We need your help to defeat it. RSVP for TEP's 11th annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill at this link. And consider signing up for a monthly contribution to TEP to support our lobbying efforts at this link.
Soon we will brief you on the positive bills that our community should try to advance this session. But for now we are celebrating a reprieve from the Turn the Gays Away bill.
District Captains--Advancing Equality Day on the Hill
District Captains for Appointments During Advancing Equality Day on the Hill on March 10. To RSVP for the event, go to this link.
In the Senate
Senator District Captain Room Number Time
Bailey Shayne Bilbrey 304WMB 9:00 a.m.
Briggs Isaac Sherman 317WMB 10:15 a.m.
Dickerson Chris Sanders 310WMB 1:00 p.m.
Haile H.G. Stovall 10A-LP 11:00 a.m.
Harris Jonathan Cole 318WMB 2:15 p.m.
Harper Wes Aull
Hensley Caleb Banks 309WMB 11:30 a.m.
Jackson Drew Baker
Kelsey Jeff Kirwan 7LP 9:50 a.m.
Ketron Christie Crowell
Kyle Ginger Leonard 305WMB 9:30 a.m.
Massey Ryan Hood
Norris Anne Gullick
Overbey Gwen Schablik 306WMB 10:30 a.m.
Ramsey Cindi Huss 1LP 10:45 a.m.
Roberts Susan Brown 321WMB 9:00 a.m.
Stevens Buster Whitfill 302WMB 2:15 p.m.
Yarbro Will Fuson 312WMB 1:15 p.m.
In the House
Representative District Captain Room Number Time
Beck Chris Sanders 24LP 10:45 a.m.
Butt Caleb Banks 106WMB 2:00 p.m.
Clemmons Marisa Richmond 38LP 11:00 a.m.
Cooper Skip Ledbetter 38LP 2:15 p.m.
Daniel Isaac Sherman
DeBerry Jonathan Cole 26LP 10:00 a.m.
Eldridge Drew Baker 208WMB 11:00 a.m.
Gilmore Michael Reding
Harwell Roger Schecter 19LP 10:30 a.m.
Hulsey Cindi Huss 204WMB 9:00 a.m.
Jernigan H.G. Stovall 24LP 10:00 a.m.
Jones Dakerri Barber-Rhone 26LP 11:30 a.m.
Kumar Susan Brown G-28 WMB 11:15 a.m.
Love Wes Aull
McManus Kristine Evenson 20LP 1:45 p.m.
Mitchell Chris Sanders 37LP 1:30 p.m.
Powell Eric Patton 34LP 10:00 a.m.
Sexton Shayne Bilbrey 113WMB 10:30 a.m.
Ramsey Rebecca Lucas
Rogers Pam Simmons 110A WMB 10:30 a.m.
Shaw Drew Baker 36C-LP 10:15 a.m.
Smith, E. Ryan Hood
Swann Gwen Schablik G19A in WMB 11:00 a.m.
Todd Anne Gullick 209WMB 2:45 p.m.
Turner Jeff Kirwan 38LP 1:00 p.m.
White BJ Cook 217WMB 1:30 p.m.
Wirgau Buster Whitfill G-2 WMB 1:30 p.m.
Womick Christie Crowell
Read more
Counseling Discrimination bill is back
The Counseling Discrimination bill (SB397) by Senator Hensley is back. We saw the bill last session where it advanced in the Senate.
*Equality advocates will on the Hill in Nashville on Tuesday, March 10 working against the bill. An impressive list of district captains from around the state is leading the charge with great coverage in the Legislature, as you can see at this link.
Why is it so important to FIGHT BACK?
The bill basically lets students in the counseling, psychology, and social work programs at Tennessee universities opt out of serving certain clients because of their "sincerely held religious beliefs."
As last time, we believe the target for the bill is the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. It may also affect student interaction with atheist clients, clients who are members of religious minorities, clients who are straight whose sexuality is objectionable to students in these programs.
Clients should not experience stigma from counselors, psychologists, or social workers. Students in these programs should learn to serve the whole public, regardless of their personal views. It's just part of good education and good practice.
TEP will join others in opposing this bill.
As the bill moves in committee, we will provide more information.
Tennessee Equality Voice: Today's coverage in East, West, and Middle TN
It's been a good day for coverage of equality in Tennessee.
In Chattanooga, TEP Hamilton and Bradley Counties Committee Co-Chair Kat Cooper talks with the Times Free Press about preparations for DAY ONE of marriage equality in our state. You can find the story here.
In Memphis, TEP Chair Jonathan Cole talks with the Commercial Appeal about the politics and the flavors that will be on display at this coming Sunday's TEP Gumbo Contest. You can find the story here.
Tonight on Nashville's WKRN/Channel 2, we will discuss Grace Pointe Church's announcement of welcome to the LGBT community. We will post the link when it is available. The segment should air on the 10:00 p.m. broadcast. UPDATE: Here is the link to the WKRN story.
Resistance to equality is intensifying in the South
Dear friends,
I've been watching two sets of headlines for months. The first set chronicles victories in marriage equality. We all see those and "like" them on social media. The other sort is more troubling, though. If you look closely there are many headlines about the destructive ways that our opponents are resisting victories in marriage equality, job discrimination protections, etc., especially in the South.
Here's a sampling:
*Three bills in Oklahoma designed to deprive the LGBT community of victory.
*A Kentucky bill giving a cash reward to students outing transgender students in restrooms.
*Alabama probate judges trying to find ways to avoid issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
*So-called Religious Freedom/Turn the Gays Away bills in Virginia, North Carolina, and other states.
*Starkville, Mississippi repeals its nondiscrimination measures.
*A Texas bill to nullify the non-discrimination ordinances of its cities and counties.
I think you get the point. Advancing equality in the South is not easy because you have to continue to fight to consolidate the gains you've made. We have some advantages in Tennessee that help us when these situations come up. This Huffington Post piece from last year listed some of them. We also organize in every region of the state. We have a great lobbyist. We have one-of-a-kind programs like Tennessee Ready for Marriage on DAY ONE. And we have a strong media presence. But we will not escape the efforts of the far Right to roll back progress.
To make it all work, we need your help. 1. Can you attend TEP's 11th annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill this year? RSVP here. 2. Can you encourage businesses to join Equality Means Business free of charge at this link? This program helps grow a network of affirming spaces in our state. 3. And would you consider signing up to give a few dollars a month to help our legislative efforts at this link?
Good lobbying and good organizing are worth the investment in Tennessee. They help us defend ourselves and move equality forward in our state. More attacks will surely come. Please, help us prepare!
Gratefully yours,
Chris Sanders
Executive Director
http://tnep.nationbuilder.com/
Your Guide to the Bad Arguments Used in the Davidson Academy Discrimination Case
By now many of you have heard of the case of Brian Copeland and Greg Bullard of Nashville, whose family had applied for a spot at Davidson Academy, a private Christian school. If not, you can get caught at this story from USA Today originally posted by The Tennessean.
The case has generated a lot of discussion and that's great. Sadly, there are many bad arguments floating around in the comments sections of stories about it. Let's go through some of them.
Read moreEvents in Jackson, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville coming up!
Are you looking for ways to get involved? We've got lots of events around the state coming up for you.
January 20--Jackson--TEP Madison County meeting. 5:30 at Woodstock Bake Shop. To RSVP and learn more, go to this link.
February 1--Collegedale/outside Chattanooga--TEP Hamilton & Bradley Counties Committee meeting. 2:00 at Collegedale City Hall. To RSVP and learn more, go to this link.
February 8--Knoxville--SAFE Tennessee meeting. 1:00 at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist. To RSVP and learn more, go to this link.
February 8--Memphis--TEP Gumbo Contest. 4:30 at Bridges Center. To get tickets and learn more, go to this link.
February 16--Nashville--Panel discussion on domestic violence in the LGBT community. 6:15 at OutCentral. To learn more and RSVP, go to this link.
February 20--Knoxville--Legislative Update and Advocacy with special guest former State Rep. Gloria Johnson. 1:00 at Hodges Library/UT-K. To learn more and RSVP, go to this link.
March 10--Nashville--TEP's 11th annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill. 9:00 a.m. at Legislative Place. To learn more and to RSVP, go to this link.
We hope that we'll see you soon at an event near you. If you would like to support our work with a small monthly donation, you can do so at this link.
Marriage events media roundup
Here's a roundup of the media coverage of last night's marriage equality events in Knoxville and Nashville.
Knoxville: The Knoxville rally took place at the Sunsphere and was covered by WATE at this link. Here are some photos of the event linked from Twitter. For more Twitter posts, look for the tag #NotDoneTilDayOne .
via @jimmy2fix
via@latinachica26
via @KnoxYoungDems
Nashville: Nashville advocates met at OutCentral and heard from Abby Rubenfeld, one of the attorneys in the Tennessee marriage case. Channel 5's coverage can be found at this link. Fox 17's coverage can be found at this link.
An image of Abby speaking to the group
It was a great evening around Tennessee. Even though the Supreme Court has not yet decided to take up our state's case, we are hopeful it will happen next week. We are ready for DAY ONE.
Tennesseans gather in hope as Supreme Court considers Tennessee marriage case
For immediate release
Contact: Chris Sanders
Phone: (615) 390-5252
Email: [email protected]
Tennesseans gather in hope as Supreme Court conference considers state's marriage case
Nashville, TN: The Tennessee and other same-sex marriage cases will be considered during Friday's Supreme Court conference. Marriage equality advocates will gather at Knoxville and Nashville events to express their hope that the high court takes up the Tennessee case.
The Knoxville event takes place at the Sunsphere at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. For more information about the event, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1526864450905906/ .The Nashville event takes place at 6:30 p.m. Central Time at OutCentral located at 1709 Church Street. For more information about the Nashville event, go to http://tnep.nationbuilder.com/nashville_marriage_update_after_the_supreme_court_conference .
"Thousands of people across Tennessee are ready to enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as other married couples," notes Tennessee Equality Project executive director Chris Sanders. "We hope 2015 is the year that finally happens. These gatherings are a way to provide information to our community about the Supreme Court's conference and to show the public that we still live with discrimination."
Both events are free and open to the public.
For more information about the Tennessee Equality Project, go to TNEP.org .
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Tennessee businesses don't want to Turn the Gays Away
Businesses all over Tennessee are signing up for Equality Means Business. In fact, so far almost 80 have and you can find their names at this link. That means they don't want to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender employees and customers. And that means that they're not looking for a license to do so from the Legislature.
Still, there's a strong possibility that the bill that plagued us this year will be back in 2015. To prepare, we hope you'll RSVP for TEP's 11th annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill. You can do that here.
If it comes back, we'll fight the bill with everything we have. But if it passes, we're going to continue to expand Equality Means Business because we want to know where our business and where our job applications are welcome.
If your business would like to join the program, you can do so at this link.