Tennessee Equality Project

State and Local Endorsements

Tennessee Equality Project lobbies the Tennessee General Assembly and local governments around the state on behalf of the LGBTQ community.  We are pleased to endorse a strong group of candidates for state and local government this year, including a number of LGBTQ candidates who can significantly change the conversation about our issues in Tennessee.  The Slate of Hate, which is a set of vicious anti-LGBTQ bills, looms as a threat when the Legislature reconvenes in January. On the other hand, we have important opportunities to advance equality in many of our cities.  The candidates we have endorsed can play a vital role in fighting discrimination and making life better for LGBTQ Tennesseans.  

TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDORSEMENTS

TN Senate District 6-Knox County

Jane George

TN Senate District 10-Bradley and Hamilton Counties

Glenn Scruggs

TN Senate District 14-Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, and Rutherford Counties

Chase Clemmons

TN Senate District 22-Houston, Montgomery, and Stewart Counties

Ronnie Glynn

TN House District 4-Unicoi and Carter Counties

Bobby Harrell

TN House District 6-Washington County

Brad Batt

TN House District 13-Knox County

Rep. Gloria Johnson

TN House District 18-Knox County

Eddie Mannis-LGBTQ candidate

TN House District 25-Cumberland, Putnam, and Van Buren Counties

Robyn Deck

TN House District 37-Rutherford County

Mariah Phillips

TN House District 38-Clay, Fentress, Macon, Pickett, and Scott Counties

Carol Abney

TN House District 40-DeKalb, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale Counties

Paddy Sizemore

TN House District 48-Rutherford County

Matt Ferry

TN House District 49-Rutherford County

Brandon Thomas-LGBTQ candidate

TN House District 56-Davidson County

Bob Freeman

TN House District 63-Williamson County

Elizabeth Madeira

Our endorsement goes to Elizabeth Madeira for her strong outreach to the LGBTQ community. We also wish to commend candidate Brad Fiscus for his clear expressions of support for our community.

TN House District 82-Crockett, Haywood, and Lauderdale Counties

Andrea Bond Johnson

TN House District 83-Shelby County

Jerri Green

TN House District 89-Knox County

Keri Keeling (Write-in candidate)

TN House District 90-Shelby County

Torrey Harris-LGBTQ candidate

TN House District 96-Shelby County

Dwayne Thompson

TN House District 97-Shelby County

Gabby Salinas

CITY GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENTS

Clarksville 

City Council Ward 4

Margaret Thompson-LGBTQ candidate

City Council Ward 5

Melissa Eldridge

City Council Ward 9

Karen Reynolds

City Council Ward 11

Ashlee Evans-LGBTQ candidate

City Council Ward 12

Joe Shakeenab

Our endorsement goes to Joe Shakeenab for his demonstrated willingness to take action to address discrimination. We are also grateful to candidate Trisha Butler for her expressions of support for the LGBTQ community.

Johnson City

City Commission

Kyle Beagle-LGBTQ candidate

Jeffrey Clark-LGBTQ candidate

Debbie Harley-McClaskey

Maryville

City Council

Sarah Herron

Portland

Board of Aldermen

Lloyd Dunn-LGBTQ candidate