Clergy wishing to add their names to this letter should contact us at [email protected]
As clergy serving the people of Tennessee, we oppose six pieces of legislation under consideration in the Tennessee General Assembly that attack the LGBT community.
The values of justice and hospitality compel us to speak out for the dignity of LGBT people and to oppose any effort to enshrine discrimination in the laws of our state.
We urge all people of goodwill to join us in seeking fairness for all residents of Tennessee and to consider the unacceptable ramifications of the following bills:
SB30/HB33. The LGBT Erasure Bill. By requiring that the words “father,” “mother,” “husband,” and “wife” be given their natural and ordinary meaning, this bill interferes with the identities and families of LGBT people.
SB127/HB54. The Business License to Discriminate Bill. This subtly worded piece of legislation actually opens the door to allowing businesses and nonprofits to discriminate in their HR and benefit policies while using taxpayer dollars.
SB752/HB892. The Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act states the policy of Tennessee to defend marriage as only between one man and one woman regardless of what the courts say.
SB771/HB888. The Anti-Transgender Student Bathroom Bill. This bill requires students to use restrooms according to the sex designation on their birth certificates and not according to their gender identity.
SB1085/HB1111. The Sneaky LGBT Erasure Bill. This bill does everything that SB30/HB33 does while trying to hide the effects upon the LGBT community from the public.
SB1153/HB1406. The Attack on Parenthood Bill. This bill repeals statute that deems a child born to a married woman as a result of artificial insemination, with consent of the married woman's husband, to be the legitimate child of the husband and wife. This bill is directed at lesbian couples and could affect other couples.
Rev. Ken Edwards, Old Hickory, Wilson County
Rev. Gordon Gibson, Knoxville
Rev. Dr. Diana L. Hynson, Nashville
Rev. Jake Morrill, Oak Ridge
Rev. L. Susan Bond, Jackson
Rev. Joe-d DowlingSoka, Chattanooga
Rev. Steve Wolf, Clarksville
Rev. Jeff Briere, Johnson City
Rev. Judi Hoffman, Nashville
Rev. Elaine Blanchard, Memphis
Rev. Brandon Gilvin, Chattanooga
Rev. Pamela Hawkins, Nashville
Rev. Rik Rouquie, Nashville
Rev. Annie McClure, Nashville
Rev. Paul Slentz, Nashville
Rev. Beth A. Richardson, Nashville
Rev. Tim Kobler, Knoxville
Rev. Emily Reeves Grammer, Madison
Rev. John Feldhacker, Nashville
Rev. Kevin Mitchell, Murfreesboro
Rev. Christine Grace, Chattanooga
Rev. Susan Gray, Nashville
Rev. Anna Golladay, Chattanooga
Rev. Steven Sherman Oak Ridge
Rev. Laura Bogle, Maryville
Rev. J. Peter van Eys, Nashville
Rev. David McIntyre, Normandy
Rev. Greg Bullard, Madison
Rev. Heather Harriss, Nashville
Rev. Jim Hughes, Nashville
Rev. Tim Bath, Murfreesboro
Rev. Cynthia Andrews-Looper, Memphis
Rev. Andrew Ward, Nashville
Rev. Dr. Patricia J. Pickett, Ashland City
Rev. Jim Sessions, Knoxville
Rev. Susan Crawford, Cordova
Rev. Karen Kastler, Hendersonville
Rev. Norman Cunningham, Crossville
Rev. Slade Kyle, Memphis
Rev. Terri Weaver, Memphis
Rev. Tommy Sheppard, Memphis
Rev. Sarah Osborne, Memphis
Rev. Buddy Stallings Memphis
Rev. Kira Schlesinger, Nashville
Rev. Eric L. Murray, Knoxville
Rev. Ginger Isom, Chattanooga
Rev. Dr. Bindy Snyder, Memphis
Rev. Jeffrey Radcliff, Kingston Springs
Rev. Wolf Cole, Savannah
Rev. Ken Carroll, Chattanooga
Rev. Michael Alford, Goodlettsville
Rev. Carolyn Dipboye, Oak Ridge
Rev. Larry Dipboye, Oak Ridge
Rev. Aimee Moiso, Nashville
Rev. James Pappas, Sewanee
Rev. Kimberly Rodrigue, Nashville
Rev. Rachel Pence
Rev. Leonard Curry, Hermitage
Rev. Jeannie M. Hunter, Madison
Rev. Debra Dickerson, Hixson
Rev. Katherine H. Smith, Nashville
Rev. Bryan Curie, Nashville
Rev. Dr. Dale P. Andrews, Nashville
Rev. Leyla K. King, Chattanooga
Rev. C. Nolan Huizenga, Nashville
Rev. John S. McClure, Nashville
Rev. Karen Neely, Norris
Rev. Taylor W. Dinsmore, Chattanooga
Rev. RJ Powell, Knoxville
Rev. April Baker, Nashville
Rev. Thomas Artist, Jr., Elizabethton
Rev. John Mark Wiggers, Knoxville
Rev. Deven Hazelwood Johnson City
Rev. Margaret K. Zeller, Kingsport
Bishop Patrick Potts, Johnson City
Rev. Shane Smith, Kingsport
Rev. Canon Dr. James F. Turrell, Sewanee
Rev. Neil K. Raman, Memphis
Rev. Cal Calhoun, Knoxville
Rev. Chris Harpster, Kingsport
Rev. Lee M. Ragsdale III, Knoxville
Rev. Isaac Blevins, Chattanooga
Chaplain Jon Coffee, Knoxville
Rev. Dr. James Hudnut-Beumler, Nashville
Rev. Jason Bennett, Murfreesboro
Rev. Joy Warren, Murfreesboro
Rev. Shirley Bowman, Murfreesboro.
Rev. Brian Merritt, Chattanooga
Rev. Sandy Prigmore Lewis, Joelton
Rev. Keith Caldwell, Nashville
Rev. Canon William A. Kolb, Memphis
Rev. Ingrid McIntyre, Nashville
Rev. Beth Lefever, Cordova
Rev. Andrew B. Ward
Rev. Jason Shelton, Nashville
Rev. Carmen Emerson
Rev. Sam Teitel, Memphis
Rev. Chris Buice, Knoxville
Rev. Carol Bodeau, Knoxville
Rev. Denise Gyauch, Nashville
Showing 9 reactions
Sign in with