Much
has changed since I was last president of TEP. New times call for a
more aggressive approach to protect and advance equal rights in our
state. It's in that spirit that I share these thoughts with you.
Starting with Local Governments
We
will be in touch with county and city leaders throughout Tennessee
informing them of existing rights and protections held by our community
and advising them to do more to extend protections to gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender people in their jurisdictions.
Additionally,
we are currently at work on plans to advance non-discrimination
ordinances for municipal employees in all three grand divisions of
Tennessee. Most notably, we have some unfinished business in Memphis and
our Shelby County Committee will lead the way.
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September is Advancing Equality Month at the School Board across Tennessee
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Outrageous
mistreatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied
students has occurred countless times in Tennessee public schools in the
last twelve months-principals harassing students for wearing pro-GSA
shirts, a principal telling gay students they are going to Hell,
students bullied to the point that it is a contributing factor in them
taking their own lives, and the list goes on.
We
ask citizens across the state to appear at their local school board
meetings in September to speak out for GSAs and inclusive
non-discrimination policies during the open forum time on the agenda.
Citizens in Cheatham County and Sumner County have led the way in this
effort. We have provided links to their videos here.
If you are interested in appearing before your school board, let us
know at chris@tnequalityproject.com and we will help you with talking
points for your remarks. We have to open the conversation in school
districts throughout our state and we can only do that with your help.
We owe it to the students of Tennessee.
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October 27 Day of Action for a Better Legislature
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The
107th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee was the worst in
decades. The attacks were demeaning and constant. We have to help good
candidates win. October 27 is a Day of Action for a Better Legislature.
We are recruiting volunteers for TEP PAC who will help good candidates
in important races for 2 hours that day. We will meet in Oak Ridge,
Knoxville, Cookeville, Nashville, Jackson, and Memphis to get our
assignments, pair up, and get to work. Find out more here.
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Results Matter
This
plan's purpose is to yield more non-discrimination ordinances to
protect our employment, better policies and structures to protect our
youth, and better lawmakers to help us stop attack legislation. In our
view this is a viable, possibility-laden plan for Tennessee.
It depends on you!
Equality will not drop out of the sky or leak over from some other
state. It's up to us to make it happen. There are volunteer
opportunities for people in every part of Tennessee in this plan.
Rise up and advance equal rights in Tennessee!
Chris Sanders
Chairman of the Board and President
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