LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans

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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.

Who's signing

667 SIGNATURES
1,000 signatures

Will you sign?

  • Kristen Chapman
    signed 2016-12-17 15:41:48 -0600
  • Zachary Carey
    signed via 2016-12-17 15:41:40 -0600
  • Deborah Babb
    signed 2016-12-17 15:39:16 -0600
  • Chadwick Poole
    signed via 2016-12-17 15:31:11 -0600
  • Amy Stanford
    signed via 2016-12-17 15:27:35 -0600
  • Ashley Oh
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-12-17 15:19:30 -0600
    Sign the petition: LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans
  • Darlene Neal
    signed 2016-12-17 15:18:39 -0600
    Stand with Tennessee’s LGBTQIA community, human rights must be protected and expanded!
  • Melissa Villaflor
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-12-17 15:08:41 -0600
    Sign the petition: LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans
  • Melissa Villaflor
    signed 2016-12-17 15:07:57 -0600
  • Vida K.Khavar
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-12-17 15:05:48 -0600
    Sign the petition: LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans
  • Don Brangers
    signed 2016-12-17 14:57:00 -0600
  • Jerry Winnett
    signed 2016-12-17 14:45:24 -0600
  • Rebecca & Michael Swanson
    signed via 2016-12-17 14:38:35 -0600
  • Teresa Gaddy
    signed 2016-12-17 14:17:26 -0600
    The evil that turnip/pimple have opened in the deplorable population will harm everyone.
  • Jeannie Haman
    signed 2016-12-17 14:04:02 -0600
    Ally here. Inclusivity and good will will bring us greatness far more than discrimination and hatred.
  • Gregory Gibbs
    signed 2016-12-17 14:01:26 -0600
    ‘Together’ we can accomplish anything as an inclusive community in both city and state! Let us finally work together in Unity!
  • Suzanne Elston
    signed 2016-12-17 13:50:35 -0600
  • Morgan Miller
    signed via 2016-12-17 13:41:22 -0600
  • Kristen Block
    signed 2016-12-17 13:40:26 -0600
  • Daniel Dixon
    signed via 2016-12-17 13:33:32 -0600
    Daniel Dixon
  • Fontaine Pearson
    signed 2016-12-17 13:30:32 -0600
    Our success should be measured by our inclusivity not our financial wealth.
  • Zachary Perkins
    signed via 2016-12-17 13:29:34 -0600
  • Greg Moats
    signed 2016-12-17 13:27:02 -0600
  • Anne McGraw
    signed via 2016-12-17 13:25:36 -0600
  • Damon Rogers
    signed via 2016-12-17 13:14:29 -0600
  • Rae A Schomburg-Hall
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-12-17 13:08:42 -0600
    Sign the petition: LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans
  • Rachel Schomburg-Hall
    signed 2016-12-17 13:08:27 -0600
  • Mark Pafford
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-12-17 12:58:49 -0600
    Sign the petition: LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans
  • mark pafford
    signed 2016-12-17 12:58:14 -0600
  • Joseph Rhymer
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-12-17 12:51:36 -0600
    Sign the petition: LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans

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