Welcoming Family Action to Nashville

Dear Members of the Family Action Council of Tennessee:

On behalf of equality loving citizens throughout Nashville, I want to welcome you to Music City today for your Stand for Truth event. 

I think you’ll find Nashville a welcoming city for everyone.  In case you forgot just how welcoming we are, I’d like to take a moment to remind you: 

• In 2008 the Metropolitan Board of Public Education unanimously adopted non-discrimination policies for teachers and students protecting them from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Voters overwhelmingly rejected an English Only charter amendment in 2009.
• That same year the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County adopted a non-discrimination ordinance protecting government employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• This year, with the support of over 70 congregations, businesses, and community and labor organizations, the Metropolitan Government adopted another non-discrimination ordinance protecting employees of government contractors from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• In August the Council passed a resolution honoring high school students protesting the Don’t Say Gay bill.
• When the Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging them to do so, the Metropolitan Law Department announced that it will file an amicus brief in the court challenge to HB600, the Special Access to Discriminate law, that nullified our contractor non-discrimination ordinance.

I know that your events end on Saturday afternoon, but I invite you to stay longer and join us for some pre-Halloween bar hopping on Church Street tonight. The costumes are going to be FABULOUS!  And if you’ve got a little more time, visit one of our many affirming congregations for worship on Sunday morning.  

WELCOME TO NASHVILLE!

-Chris Sanders