On January 27, Slate reported that the EEOC may withdraw from a case involving job discrimination against Amiee Stephens, a transgender woman.  New Commission chair Victoria Lipnic said "Administration-related changes" were the reason. 

TAKE ACTION!

1. Send your own email to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at [email protected] and urge the Commission to continue pursuing cases of LGBT job discrimination.

2. Sign the petition.  If we reach or exceed 1000 signatures, we will deliver them to the Nashville EEOC office.

Target's trans-inclusive policies are under attack in Tennessee.  A Mt Juliet pastor's rant went viral and this week at a Hendersonville Target, protesters shouted religious wrath at employees and customers.  But we know that Tennessee loves Target and it's time to show it!

As former TEP Board member Ellyahnna Hall (pictured) notes:  

"I support Target for trying to provide a safe space for all people. I'm a trans woman and I've faced the dangers of not having access to restrooms that corespond to my gender identity. If opponents are really concerned with safety then let's focus on tougher rape laws and enforcing those, not creating a fake danger that doesn't exist."

Sign the petition statement and show Target some love.  We'll deliver hard copies of the petition to select Target locations in Tennessee.

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.

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.

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.

Please, add your voice and urge Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to veto this discriminatory bill.

Please, join us in encouraging Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to fight against this attack on transgender students.

The Summer of Love tour is coming to Tennessee starting in June and running through mid-September.  We want to connect LGBT people and allies to one another, to the statewide movement, and to resources that help them advance equality in their hometowns across the state.

We're looking for volunteers to serve as tour stop organizers.  What do these key volunteers do?  They help us schedule a tour stop in your town and find a location for the meeting.  If you have questions, contact us at [email protected] .

***Note:  We are NOT looking for tour stop organizers for Memphis, Jackson, Nashville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Cookeville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, or Johnson City YET.  You can still sign up, but we're focusing on smaller cities where we don't currently have regional committees.  We especially encourage you sign up if you're in a smaller town.  Thanks!