Attacks on the Governor's diverse hires could threaten economic development, says Williamson Co official

Last week's Republican county party attacks on Governor Bill Haslam for employing or retaining Muslims, gays, and Democrats are dividing Republicans in Williamson County, according to today's Tennessean.

Image from Equality Florida

What's more, a top economic development official in Williamson County, when pressed, admits he is worried these attacks on diversity could hurt the area's ability to attract companies seeking to relocate:

Matt Largen, director of Williamson County Economic Development, often works with the state office in which Ali is employed. He described it as “one of the most important relationships” his office has cultivated. That the dominant political party in his community is accusing an employee in that office of subverting the very economy she was hired to promote could become embarrassing, Largen said.

Moreover, employers looking to relocate here often have preconceived notions about the level of diversity in Tennessee, said Largen, and are anxious to see an inclusive community. Largen said he does not know whether these criticisms of the governor will hurt the county’s reputation, but acknowledged there is reason to be concerned.

Let's focus on one phrase:  "anxious to see an inclusive community."  Most of the larger companies have realized diversity and inclusion = good business.  Let's hope these extremist attacks don't get Tennessee off course.

Upper Cumberland Pride brings celebratory end to the 107th Tennessee General Assembly

"Your eyes don't deceive you. That's a pride celebration in Cookeville, TN with lots of people." said  Nashville Committee Chair Chris Sanders who reposted this picture on Facebook on Saturday. At least one observer from Cookeville beleieved that as many as 1000 people attended the event over the course of the day. 

The Upper Cumberland Committee provided an absolutely amazing LGBT Pride celebration in Cookeville, Tennessee on Saturday - a perfect end to a week of victories and positive news for LGBT people, their families and their allies in Tennessee. Upper Cumberland Pride which was sponsored by TEP Foundation also brought an inspiring end to the legislative session. Traveling back and forth on the road to Cookeville from my home in Memphis gave me some time to reflect on Tennessee Equality Project's efforts to advance and protect the rights of LGBT people and their families in state government. I'm pleased to share that with few exceptions we've done well for Tennessee during the last 5 months of the legislative session

Several members of the 107th Tennessee General Assembly promoted legislation with a far-right social agenda that attacked LGBT people and contradicted conservative ideals of smaller government. Much of that legislation focused "below the belt."

Police the Potty Bill Flushed!

The session began with the "Police the Potty" bill (HB2279) which would have criminalized the use of public restrooms and dressing rooms by transgender people. Rep. Richard Floyd threatened to "stomp a mudhole" through any transgender person he found in a restroom. Public pressure compelled the Senate sponsor to withdraw his version of the bill (SB2282). I can’t remember a lawmaker having this much concern about what’s happening in the stall next to him since Idaho Senator Larry Craig’s infamous troubles in a Minneapolis Airport men’s room. Tennessee Equality Project quickly responded against this bill along with Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition and other allies. No other Senator was willing to file a companion bill, so the legislation could not advance. The death of this bill was our first victory of the session but other lawmakers continued to obsess over what happens below the belt until the end of the session.

It's Still Okay to Say GAY! in Tennessee

Two bills with a rather prurient interest in sex education in public schools advanced this session, but only one passed both houses of the legislature. The "No Hand Holding" bill (HB3621/SB3310) which prohibited the teaching of something called "gateway sexual activity" in public education sought to leave Tennessee's youth with no information about how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases should they become sexually active. By shifting the emphasis of sex education to "abstinence only," students and parents will now have to go outside public schools for accurate information about vital, life-saving strategies for good health. Tennessee parents deserve more sex education options to choose from in public schools for their children. While the "No Hand Holding" bill became law, other efforts to redefine sex education failed. 

Stacey Campfield's "Don't Say Gay" bill (HB0229/SB0049) passed in the Senate last year and re-appeared on the agenda in the State House this year. In its amended form, the bill would have banned "classroom instruction, course materials or other informational resources that are inconsistent with natural human reproduction" in grades K-8. Tennessee Equality Project fought hard against this bill with a multi-pronged approach that included professional lobbying, mass media, and YouTube videos made by students, parents and educators, visits with lawmakers, attendance at House committee hearings, phone calls, emails, and letters. Our lobbying strategy significantly reduced lawmakers' desire to vote on this bill. But they were also affected, as we all were, by the news of two gay students in Tennessee who completed suicided after enduring anti-gay bullying in school. Many conservative lawmakers began to realize that marginalizing LGBT students with anti-gay and anti-trans legislation would only increase the incidence of bullying in public schools. 

Despite opposition from Governor Bill Haslam, House Speaker Beth Harwell and other House leadership, Rep. Joey Hensley (HB0229's sponsor) continued to push his bill forward in the House. HB0229 advanced with close margins in the House Education Subcommittee and House Education Committee before landing in the House Calendar and Rules Committee. Lawmakers who wanted no part in voting on this legislation never scheduled HB0229 for a floor vote before the House of Representatives adjourned for the year. This victory was hard to win and would not have been possible without the efforts of people like you.

Special Rights for Bullies Defeated!

Many of our supporters will recall the  "License to Bully" bill that appeared early in the session with the full backing of Family Action Council of Tennessee. David Fowler sought to write special protections into state law for students who harassed, intimidated or bullied fellow students based on their "expression of religious, philosophical, or political views." Early in the session, Tennessee Equality Project observed that lawmakers were attempting to place students in double jeopardy with the License to Bully and Don't Say Gay bills. "Students with an anti-gay bias would be free and encouraged to bully LGBTQ students, and teachers and other school staff would be prohibited from speaking about the issue."  The same TEP lobbying strategy used against the Don't Say Gay bill helped keep the License to Bully bill from advancing in the legislature.  Another victory for safe schools and equality in Tennessee!

Gay-Straight Alliances are Here to Stay in Tennessee

Tennessee Equality Project can also declare a victory in protecting the status of Gay-Straight Alliances in public schools throughout the state. In a past legislative session, Sen. Stacey Campfield targeted GSAs by introducing a bill requiring all students to obtain permission to participate in school clubs and activities. The bill would have placed many LGBT or questioning students at risk by forcing them to "come out" to their parents before participating in their school's Gay-Straight Alliance. Schools faced a potential nightmare in trying to manage all the permission slips for students participating in Spanish Club, the Thespian Society, the football team, cheer leading squad. etc. Tennessee Equality Project intervened by persuading the House sponsor to amend the language of the bill (HB2548/SB2488). Rather than require parents to "opt in" their children for school activities and clubs, the bill would give parents the opportunity to "opt out" their children from participating in school activities and clubs. The bill which passed into law essentially maintains the status quo by reinforcing the right of parents to balance their children's extracurricular activities with academic achievement.

Governor Bill Haslam Stands Up to Bullies in His Own Party

We can declare another victory with an education bill vetoed by Governor Bill Haslam. Your calls to the Governor helped give him the extra push he needed. The Governor announced last Wednesday that he would veto the "Anti-All Comers" bill that targeted Vanderbilt University's inclusive non-discrimination policy:

Although I disagree with Vanderbilt’s policy, as someone who strongly believes in limited government, I think it is inappropriate for government to mandate the policies of a private institution.

Supporters of the bill feared that Christian student organizations might elect someone into a leadership position who didn't hold the same beliefs as their group (e.g., LGBT people, Muslims, Jews, atheists, etc.). In reality, Haslam had to veto the amended form of HB3576/SB3597. Last year, he signed HB600/SB632 into law which forbade local governments from enacting laws which extended nondiscrimination provisions to private businesses that exceeded protections defined in state or federal law. The bill overturned a Nashville ordinance protecting LGBT employees of private contractors doing business with local government. Signing HB3576/SB3597 into law would have been a clear argument that Tennessee State Government was not concerned with preventing government interference in private business. Haslam really had no choice but to veto this bill in order to maintain the facade that the his party is the protector of private business' ability to make their own policies.

While Haslam can claim a consistent political philosophy, David Fowler and the Family Action Council of Tennessee cannot. Isn't it interesting that Family Action Council of Tennessee pushed the state legislature to enact HB600/SB632 with a pro-business argument, but pushed HB3576/SB3597 with a pro-religious arguments? With these two bills and the License to Bully bill (HB2548/SB2488), FACT tried to create special rights to discriminate against LGBT for people of faith. We can expect FACT to keep trying this "pro-business" approach in the 108th Tennessee General Assembly.

Knoxville Sends a Clear Message to Stacey Campfield

The prize for most inspiring good news last week goes to the City of Knoxville for enacting an ordinance protecting city employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity or disability (characteristics missing from the previous law on the books). Senator Stacey Campfield can't get a break. His Don't Say Gay bill lost, he can't find a restaurant that will serve him in his home town, and he won't find anyone in Knoxville City Government who agrees with his bigotry toward LGBT people (The Knoxville City Council enacted the nondiscrimination ordinance with a unanimous vote). Time to take a hint Senator.

Tennesseans Value Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The movement for equality and inclusion of LGBT people and their families is gaining ground in Tennessee. It's hard to realize sometimes when you consider the forces of opposition inside and outside our current government. I am persuaded that Tennesseans in the not-so-distant future will look back on the 107th General Assembly and shake their heads in wonderment. "What were they thinking?" they'll ask.

I am confident in my optimism after attending last Saturday's pride event in Cookeville.  Knowing the organizers of the Upper Cumberland Committee as I do, I fully expected to see a good turnout at Dogwood Park for Upper Cumberland Pride. What I encountered was a groundswell of people hungry for change in the rural Upper Cumberland Region of our state. Equality, diversity and inclusion aren't just big city values; they are Tennessee values that are here to stay.

- Jonathan Cole

Thanks Speaker Harwell, Rep. Maggart and Gov. Haslam

House Speaker Beth Harwell, Republican Caucus Chair Rep. Debra Maggart and Governor Bill Haslam

Tennessee Equality Project was one of the last organizations to formally declare the defeat of the Don't Say Gay bill (HB0229/SB0049). After fighting many bills in the legislature over the years, we've learned that anything can happen in the last days of the legislative session - especially when the rules of the House or Senate are suspended to facilitate the legislative process. Until a motion to adjourn is approved and the final gavel is heard, every bill is technically still alive.

We've fought the Don't Say Gay bill for six long years. This year, the bill met its surest defeat in the 107th Tennessee General Assembly. After enduring years of negative media attention, the ire of constituents and the sobering incidents of two gay Tennessee students completing suicide after being bullied, no sensible person wanted to see this legislation advance. We also realize that Senate sponsor Stacey Campfield or House sponsor Joey Hensley could reintroduce the bill when the 108th Tennessee General Assembly convenes. We will be ready if they do.

In yesterday's message to our supporters, we thanked many people for their vigilance in opposing this anti-LGBT legislation. But also owe thanks to three leaders in State Government who took a stand against extremism in their own party.

We give special thanks House Speaker Beth Harwell, Republican House Caucus Chair Rep. Debra Maggart and Governor Bill Haslam. Each of these individuals did their part in preventing a mean-spirited bill from marginalizing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and families in Tennessee schools.

Take a moment to send a thank you note to these leaders. Without them, we would not have defeated this bill.

Speaker.Beth.Harwell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.Debra.Maggart@capitol.tn.gov

Bill.Haslam@tn.gov

Will Governor Haslam stand up to the bullies in his own party?

In this week's issue of the Memphis Flyer, Copy Editor Joe Brown calls Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to task for whining about the media's coverage of embarassing legislation proposed by his party's government. Haslam recently complained that state and local media favor reporting on the bad bills moving through the Tennessee General Assembly over the "good" legislation supported by his administration. I urge you to read the entire column, but I'll quote some of the best passages.

First of all, the legislature is objectively embarrassing. There is no positive way to spin hate. The party mantra of "job creation" not only rings hollow but plainly stinks when compared to the slate of social laws that are pitched every session. What sort of jobs are you people after? Inquisitors?

A man of your privilege should know that educated people who can be depended upon to solve critical problems in medical research, logistics, and higher management don't respond well to xenophobia and witch-hunt politics. If you want the media to stop reporting this tomfoolery, then stand up for educated, well-mannered people who live here and who are horrified and ashamed by the backward and hateful agenda that apparently equates to success in our General Assembly.

The list of legislation with a conservative social agenda in the 107th Tennessee General Assembly is a long one. TEP has actively opposed a number of these bills that directly affect the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families in Tennessee: the "Special Access to Discriminate Act," the "Police the Potty" bill, the "License to Bully" bill, the Anti-GSA School Clubs bill, and the "Don't Say Gay" bill . . . . the list goes on.

Brown later illustrates in his column how anti-LGBT legislation will harm our state's employers:

Anyone who has worked in management in white-collar industry knows that women and gay people are indispensable. This was once made very real to me when I was starting a business here. The potential partner in the concern was an older man, Southern and brusque. He asked me one day in talks, "What do you think of the gays?" As an open-minded child of the New South, I stalled and stuttered wondering what on earth was coming next, when he added, "If I could hire only gays, that's what I would do. They are the best people I can find." He employed many Tennesseans.

Brown understands that businesses cannot afford for the State of Tennessee to create a hostile environment for women and LGBT people without losing valuable employees. The Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Haslam are providing no incentive for talented LGBT professionals or others who want to live in vibrant, diverse communities to remain in or move into the state. Shouldn't the goal of government be to make our state a more attractive place to live and work for all people?

Brown finally warns Governor Haslam of potential consequences if he fails to keep the legislature in check:

Until you stand up to it or openly acknowledge that your party's agenda has become that of seeking lobbying money and riling up hatred, I will fail to take you or your party seriously. I sure as hell won't become a Democrat, but I will hound superstition and political avarice at every turn, because educated people read this paper and others. Their voice deserves a place in our state. Tennessee is becoming a place where educated entrepreneurs and doctors of international renown would feel unwelcome.

The final outcome of the "Don't Say Gay" bill (HB229/SB049) in the House of Representative is still unknown at this writing. HB229 may represent the Governor's last chance during this legislative session to show some backbone as an executive prepared to lead his party and the State of Tennessee. I hope he is up to the task.

- Jonathan Cole

Governor Haslam on Don't Say Gay bill

The City Paper's Jeff Woods has done it again. He has managed to get Governor Bill Haslam on the record about the Don't Say Gay bill. And while I'm giving credit, I should say that the administration is not and was not a fan of the bill during the legislative session. That was evident in some of the committee debate on the nationally despised legislation. Here are the Governor's words:

“The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill didn’t pass and probably is never going to pass. At the same time, we hired Chris Barbic to run the Achievement School District, which is a huge deal. That got this much attention,” the governor said, holding his fingers an inch apart. “ ‘Don’t Say Gay’ got 100 articles. Well, something’s wrong with that picture.

“ ‘Don’t Say Gay’ is real sexy and yada yada yada. It’s not going anywhere. Who runs the Student Achievement District is huge. But you’d be lucky to find two paragraphs on that.

First, it's good to know the Governor doesn't think the bill will pass. It did, however, pass in a modified form in the Senate. I hope the Governor shares his views with Rep. Bill Dunn in the House. Second, the Governor's right when he says that "somethings wrong with that picture." But it's not the media coverage. It is a public outrage when Tennessee lawmakers try to disappear an entire group of people in our public schools and make life more difficult for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students. The media is naturally going to cover that. What's wrong with the picture is legislative leadership that won't rein in their extreme members who push such bills. Third, it's kind of cool that the Governor calls the bill the same thing that we call it.

-Chris Sanders

Woods interview with Haslam exposes lack of public justification for HB600

As I mentioned in the previous post, Jeff Woods of the City Paper has conducted one of the most important interviews on equality in our state's history--a lengthy conservation with Governor Bill Haslam that includes lots of follow up. If you think that's an exaggeration, do you recall any reporter getting a previous governor of Tennessee on the record on this topic at such length?

Jeff Woods's relentless pressure exposes the lack of real public justification for job discrimination and HB600, the new law that protects such discrimination. I want to underline that word "public." By it, I mean, what can be articulated in some kind of justifying way to the whole citizenry of the state. I would contrast that with private and communal sorts of justifications. The private kind is what bigots say to themselves when they think no one else is listening. Communal sorts of justification are often based in some (but not all) religious strictures. Base bigotry and appeals to a particular faith community's understanding won't do in the public sphere. Woods knows that, and, if you read carefully, the Governor knows that, too. He resists trying to get into Rep. Glen Casada's mindset, for example.

The Governor's approach in the interview is really three-fold:

*Marriage: For the Governor, and probably for many, the phrase "gay rights" means marriage and one can understand Haslam reaching for that issue because he knows that most Tennesseans are unfortunately opposed to marriage equality. But talking about marriage is not the same thing as talking about job discrimination, and Woods continues to pull him back to the workplace.

*Regulation: The Governor attempts to frame the discussion as one about regulation of business. The Metro ordinance that inspired HB600 was a contracting standard, not a regulation on all businesses in Davidson County. But even if it were, why is it a burden to prevent discrimination? Woods reminds the Governor where the bill came from--Family Action Council of Tennessee--and that HB600 was never about business, but the Governor seems to cling to the idea.

*Business self-interest: The Governor tries to escape the dilemmas posed by Woods's questions by making an argument that companies ought to hire the best people:

I think this. I’ve said a hundred times, I think the people who hire the best team are going to win. If you take any part of the population and say I’m not going to hire those people willfully, I don’t think that’s a really smart business plan. I think businesses should have diverse hiring practices.

We agree, but why not put it in writing? At the very least, why not put it in writing for state government employees? That doesn't affect businesses at all. What is it about sexual orientation and gender identity that really defy the Governor's ability to include those categories explicitly in the law?

Woods tries to tease the answer out of the Governor. He tries to find out, for example, whether he thinks sexual orientation is a choice. The Governor won't say and, sadly, we may never know.

But if we didn't already know it, the interview has made it blisteringly clear. There is no solid, public justification for HB600.

-Chris Sanders

Woods and Haslam: Historic interview on equality in Tennessee

It's not Frost-Nixon, but it is historic nonetheless. The City Paper's Jeff Woods (who sometimes uses a picture of President John Adams at right for himself) has conducted, as far as I know, the most extensive interview ever on equality issues with a sitting governor of Tennessee.

If you're wondering where the link is, there's not one. The online edition comes out Monday morning. If you're in Nashville, you can pick up a hard copy tonight. I'm not going to post quotations from the interview because the City Paper obviously didn't intend for it to be online at this point, but I'll link to it on Monday.

Woods is relentless in questioning Governor Bill Haslam about HB600, the Special Access to Discriminate law, that the Governor signed. It includes more follow up than I've ever seen on the issue.

Here are a few observations on the piece:

• Governor Haslam dodges to the marriage issue a few times, but Woods brings the discussion back to job discrimination.
• The Governor appears resigned to whatever harsh judgment history has in store for his role in letting the bill become law.
• The interview confirms what we've seen hinted at, namely, that a veto was considered.

The only place where I take issue with the flow of the interview is when the Governor characterizes the Metro Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance as regulation. That's not what the ordinance does, er, um, did before it was nullified. It was a condition for having a contract with Metro, not a requirement for all businesses in Davidson County. Woods could have called him on that distinction, but he, in some ways, does better than addressing that distinction because he continually puts in front of the Governor the issue of discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. He comes as close as anyone has to making a governor of Tennessee confront and weigh that issue against other considerations, like the imaginary business considerations used to justify HB600.

We see the phrase "must read" a great deal these days, and this interview definitely deserves that accolade.

I should also note that this interview, taken together with the "redneck burrito" interview by Tom Humphrey, so many weeks after the Legislature adjourned means that the issue is hanging around. Let the discussion continue!

-Chris Sanders

TN newspapers knock Governor, Legislature over discriminatory law for 2nd week

If Tennessee Republican leaders were expecting a quiet Memorial Day weekend, they woke up to Sunday papers around the state filled with criticism of their work on SB632/HB600, the Special Access to Discriminate law. The measure nullifies the Nashville Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance passed in April, prevents any city or county from adopting a similar law, and redefines "sex" in the Tennessee Code to the detriment of transgender people.

Under the Influence: The Commercial Appeal's Wendi Thomas bestowed her first "On the Pipe," as in crack pipe, awards for a number of bills, but the Special Access to Discriminate law was first in her list:

"The Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce law, which forbids local governments from ensuring that their contractors don't discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered employees. Yep, the legislature has decided that it should be up to businesses to decide who they discriminate against. Sounds like a lovely idea."

Nimble Lobbying: Letting businesses decide may prove tricky, as the Knoxville News Sentinel's Tom Humphrey, noted in his own awards presentation when he took a swipe at the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce for changing their position on the law:

Most Remarkable Lobbying Acrobatic Performance: To the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry for its amazing backflip on HB600, the bill that overrode a Nashville city ordinance prohibiting discrimination by city contractors based on sexual orientation. The chamber backed the bill as business friendly, then - after it had passed - reversed its position and declared its opposition "because (the bill) has turned into a debate on diversity and inclusiveness, principles which we support."

Governor Unmoved: Despite the reversal of the TN Chamber, Governor Haslam nevertheless signed the bill, as noted by The Tennessean's Chas Sisk, leaving the new act without much rationale other than putting discrimination into the law:

But since the General Assembly adjourned, Haslam and the legislature have been criticized by major businesses and gay rights groups from across the country for a law that reverses a Nashville ordinance requiring city contractors to follow the city’s anti-discrimination rules, which protect gay, lesbian and transgendered people. Haslam signed the measure nonetheless, saying the campaign against the bill came too late. “You had a chance to engage in this during the legislative process,” Haslam said of a public push to see him veto the bill. “To kind of change tracks on Monday felt a little late to me.”

Well, you're not the only one, Governor Haslam. The problem is that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community got stuck with the effects of the law, and you're stuck going down in history as supporting it. It's no fun being left holding the bag, is it?

The Impact: Perhaps the most trenchant criticism came in Josh Flory's piece in the Knoxville News Sentinel in which he quotes a Scripps Network Interactive executive saying the law will scare away the talented workforce he needs:

"Its passage will impede our ability to recruit and retain the best possible work force," company President John Lansing said in a statement. "Most significantly, this legislation sends a signal that Tennessee is unwilling to take a stand against an intolerant employment environment."

Dang! Can it get any worse? Yes, it can.

Hometown paper pounds final nail: When the Governor's hometown paper uses the Scripps story as the basis for yet another editorial (the Knoxville News Sentinel had already editorialized about the bill last week in addition to Pam Strickland's biting column), then you know it's bad. "Codifying intolerance hurts state business" is a title that tells the whole tale. The last paragraph of today's editorial is the best:

"Haslam needs to show more leadership by condemning, rather than signing, such narrow-minded legislation. Passing laws that codify intolerance - and run counter to the policies of many Tennessee companies - could chase away jobs, talented workers and tourists. Tennessee isn't an island; the state participates in the global economy, one that offers as much diversity as it does opportunity. The state's leaders must promote tolerance of that diversity to compete for 21st century jobs and succeed in the marketplace."

What does that kind of leadership look like?: Leadership from the Governor and the Legislature could take a number of constructive paths. Examples include (a) heading off discriminatory legislation in the coming year, (b) backing Sen. Jim Kyle's appropriately numbered SB2121 (as in 21st century!) to repeal the Special Access to Discriminate law, or even (c) backing a bill to amend Tennessee human rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in employment. These are all good options that would concretely help people who experience discrimination and more broadly do much to repair Tennessee's severely tarnished image.

-Chris Sanders

Finally! A statewide conversation about job discrimination

We had to wait until 2011, but Tennessee is finally having a statewide conversation about job discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

Rough week for the Governor: Every day this week the national and local media have hit Governor Bill Haslam hard for signing SB632/HB600, the Special Access to Discriminate law that overturns Metro's Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance, prevents any city or county from adopting a similar law, and redefines "sex" in the Tennessee code to the detriment of transgender people. The number of national stories is staggering--Forbes, Business Week, and the Wall Street Journal included. But the real zingers have come out of Tennessee. Yesterday's Nashville Scene was blistering. This piece in today's Knoxville News Sentinel hits many of the same notes.

Conversation continues: Senator Jim Kyle's revelation that he has filed a bill to repeal SB632/HB600 guarantees that the conversation will continue over the summer. In fact, that seems to have been his idea, according to the Tennessean: “It keeps the discussion going,” he said. “It seems like the business community was late to the party. To me, it merits a second look.”

And then there's the court challenge. Abby Rubenfeld confirmed on Monday that there's going to be one. There will be coverage once it gets filed and each step of the way.

What kind of conversation?: So it's pretty clear that some kind of conversation is going to continue for at least the near future, but what kind? It's important that we don't lose the fact that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity occurs in Tennessee, affects real people, and is unjust. The remedies of Sen. Kyle's bill and the lawsuit are designed to address real wrongs. The loss of local control in our cities and counties is one of them. But the original point was and is that people endure discrimination that hurts them and their families and serves no business purpose. Maybe now that the business community has done a 180-degree turn, we can end the pretend debate about the "burdens" to business and focus on the real burdens to people trying to make a living.

-Chris Sanders

Let's thank those who voted for equality

House vote on the Special Access to Discriminate Act

While last night's House vote on the Special Access to Discriminate Act (HB600) was a disappointment, we do have many members of the House to thank for their support for equality. Many of those voting with against HB600 engaged in spirited debate on our behalf including (click here for video): Mike Turner, Brenda Gilmore, Mike Stewart, Jeanne Richardson, Craig Fitzhugh, Mike Kernell and Sherry Jones.

Please take a moment to send a thank you message to each one of the them:

Armstrong, Joe E. | District 15 | rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov 

Brown, Tommie F. | District 28 | rep.tommie.brown@capitol.tn.gov

Camper, Karen D. | District 87 | rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov

Favors, Joanne | District 29 | rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov

Fitzhugh, Craig | District 82 | rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov

Gilmore, Brenda | District 54 | rep.brenda.gilmore@capitol.tn.gov

Hardaway, G. A. | District 92 | rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov

Jones, Sherry | District 59 | rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov

Kernell, Mike | District 93 | rep.mike.kernell@capitol.tn.gov

Miller, Larry J. | District 88 | rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov

Moore, Gary W. | District 50 | rep.gary.moore@capitol.tn.gov

Naifeh, Jimmy | District 81 | spk.eme.jimmy.naifeh@capitol.tn.gov

Odom, Gary | District 55 | rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov

Parkinson, Antonio | District 98 | rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov

Richardson, Jeanne | District 89 | rep.jeanne.richardson@capitol.tn.gov

Shaw, Johnny | District 80 | rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov

Sontany, Janis Baird | District 53 | rep.janis.sontany@capitol.tn.gov

Stewart, Mike | District 52 | rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov

Tindell, Harry J. | District 13 | rep.harry.tindell@capitol.tn.gov

Towns, Joe , Jr. | District 84 | rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov

Turner, Johnnie | District 85 | rep.johnnie.turner@capitol.tn.gov

Turner, Mike | District 51 | rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov

Cooper, Barbara | District 86 | rep.barbara.cooper@capitol.tn.gov

If you would like to send a message to all of them at once, copy and paste their addresses from below:

rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tommie.brown@capitol.tn.gov, rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov, rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov, rep.brenda.gilmore@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.kernell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gary.moore@capitol.tn.gov, spk.eme.jimmy.naifeh@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov, rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeanne.richardson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov, rep.janis.sontany@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov, rep.harry.tindell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnnie.turner@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov, rep.barbara.cooper@capitol.tn.gov  

The Senate version of the Special Access to Discriminate Act (SB632) will be debated in the Senate this week. Lastly, be sure that you tell Governor Haslam to oppose and veto this bill using this change.org petition:

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

House Commerce Committee passes anti-LGBT Special Access to Discriminate Act

Rep. Glen Casada of Williamson Co.

In this morning's House Commerce Committee, Rep. Glen Casada presented his Special Access to Discriminate Act (HB600) for a vote. Full video coverage is available HERE (click the HB600 agenda item to advance to that part of the video). As introduced, Casada's legislation would prohibit municipalities, counties and school boards in Tennessee from extending non-discrimination provisions to employees of contractors beyond the floor level provided by current State and Federal law. Translated, local governments could not extend LGBT-inclusive workplace protections to employees of contractors.

The SAD Act passed along mostly partisan lines, but the sponsor endured some intensive questioning and remarks from Representatives G.A. Hardaway of Memphis and Brenda Gilmore of Nashville. Take a moment to thank them at rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov and rep.brenda.gilmore@capitol.tn.gov.

Rep. Hardaway asked the bill's sponsor to explain why the bill was needed:

There has been no substantial ..... or barrage of complaints from business? Nobody's done a study indicating that we're losing businesses out of Tennessee, businesses that are unable to do business with certain cities, or unwilling to do business?

Rep. G.A. Hardaway of Shelby Co.

Casada had no evidence, complaints, or studies to present as support for the SAD Act. He could only say he was hoping to be proactive in addressing "problems" with intrastate commerce. Casada speculated that municipalities that say you "got to hire Baptists who have two kids or you got to have someone who has red hair" would make conducting business chaotic. The sponsor, of course, had no evidence to present that Baptists with two children or red heads are at increased risk of discrimination in the workplace or that any local or state governments had legislated workplace protections for them.

Rep. Brenda Gilmore of Davidson Co.

Rep.Gilmore rose in defense of her city's recently passed Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance. She acted on behalf of her community by offering an amendment to exempt Nashville Metro/Davidson County from HB600. Her amendment was tabled by a partisan vote of 21 to 7. Most importantly, she made sure that the legislative record reflected that voting for HB600 would clearly target lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees of Nashville Metro contractors.

Committee debate leaves no doubt that there is simply no rational basis for HB600. There is no compelling state interest in prohibiting local governments from extending LGBT-inclusive workplace protections to employees of tax payer funded contractors. Bias against LGBT people is the sole motivation behind voting for the SAD Act.

The SAD Act is headed to the House Calendar and Rules Committee after today's recommendation for passsage. Tennessee Equality Project will continue to fight this legislation in the House and Senate. At this time, we ask you to take action in two ways:

1. CONTACT Governor Haslam and his administration to encourage the Governor to oppose and ultimately veto this harmful legislation. 
2. Make a DONATION in support of TEP's work to defend the equal rights of LGBT people and their families link.

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »
 

Haslam and Casada: Contrasting philosophies on government, business, and discrimination

According to Tennessee Report, Governor Bill Haslam has issued an executive order about job discrimination directed at companies considering locating in Tennessee:

Executive Order No. 2011-03 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, and political affiliation or against otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development also is directed to inform and instruct all companies considering Tennessee as a business location that the prevailing policy of non-discrimination must be reflected in their employment practices and workforces in Tennessee.

Conflicting Philosophies: We obviously wish that the order included sexual orientation and gender identity, but there's another point here worth noting. The Governor obviously doesn't see his order as a barrier to job creation. What a contrast to another member of his party!

Commenting about Metro's proposed Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance that would only require businesses contracting with Metro to change their policies, Rep. Glen Casada told the Tennessean:

"We’re putting so many require­ments on busi­nesses that we’re mak­ing them be the social police of the com­mu­nity,” he said. “That’s not their role.”

It's pretty clear that there's a philosophical difference at work here in the understanding of the relationship of government and business when it comes to discrimination. Let's hope the Haslam model prevails and can be expanded to be even more inclusive.

-Chris Sanders

The Leadership Vacuum and "Trickle Down" violence against GLBT people

I'm noticing that more commentators are starting to explore the connection between anti-equality rhetoric in the political sphere and the notable cases of GLBT youth suicides due to bullying.

Take this passage from a post at Americablog by Gabriel Arana:

"The real charge is that anti-gay rhetoric in politics has a trickle-down effect that reinforces the type of anti-gay attitudes that make life tough for gay teens. The connection between the work of the National Organization for Marriage and the culture of homophobia that prevails in schools is much less direct, but it exists."

In other words, the aim of anti-equality rhetoric in politics is directly to impede law and policy that would advance civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people; it is not to promote physical violence against us. But physical violence against our community exists and it is worthy of asking whether anti-equality rhetoric in politics is one cause.

So let's look at the situation in Tennessee.

*Vonore, TN fire: I'm not aware of any high-ranking elected official in Tennessee who either uttered words of comfort to Stutte family who recently lost their home to anti-gay arson or made any public condemnation of this violent act. As far as I know, the last time any public official condemned violence that involved our community was when Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam made these remarks about the shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church:

"It is often easy to make these tragic events, which are far too frequent, about the community in which they occur. Knoxville is a caring, compassionate city where diverse viewpoints are shared and respected. Every person, regardless of race, religion, age, sex, or sexual orientation is a person of human dignity and a valued member of our community."

He was prompted to do that, but at least he did it. Others condemned the shooting, but didn't mention our community.

*Lack of positive discourse: Apart from some members of the Memphis City Council, the Shelby County Commission, members of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, a few state legislators and local school board members, you won't find many elected officials having anything positive to say about legislation that promotes equality in our state. With the exception of Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, you won't find anyone in the executive branch of government who is openly supportive.

Instead what you're more likely to find are remarks like these from Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey:

“Tennessee has a direct interest in the outcome of this case,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “If upheld, it will be used to allow same-sex marriage in Tennessee. Over 80% of Tennessee voters chose to define marriage in our constitution as the union of one man and one woman. Tennessee has an important interest in protecting the ability of our state to define marriage and I strongly urge Attorney General Cooper to join other states fighting for that same right.”

I'd say that Tennessee GLBT and questioning youth are at particular risk because most of the public discussion they hear about themselves from leaders in their communities is of a very similar negative variety. It means their straight peers are absorbing it with the idea that there's something wrong with the GLBT kids. That's a short leap to bullying. We need more community and political leaders to speak out in specific ways for our state's GLBT community.

With particular attention to the Don't Say Gay bill: I shouldn't have to mention it, but I'm going to because it bears most directly upon the issue of bullying GLBT youth--Rep. Stacey Campfield's Don't Say Gay bill. Do I think Rep. Campfield wants youth to take their lives or to be bullied? No, I don't. But I do think his ideology about sexuality and gender makes him utterly and dangerously oblivous to the situation youth find themselves in. And it blinds him to the need for specific protections against the violence they face as well as the specific affirmation they need to overcome the despair that can drive them to take their lives.

Watch these videos again and reflect upon them in light of the youth who have taken their lives. Do I have to hit you over the head with the question: "How long are we going to tolerate legislation like this? When are we going to put this awful bill out of its misery and move on to take positive steps to address bullying and its very specific victims?"

-Chris Sanders

Gubernatorial candidates on the adoption issue

The Tennessee Newspaper Network, made up of the dailies serving Tennessee's four largest cities, is out with its latest segment on the positions of the candidates running for governor--social issues. Unfortunately it's not possible to link directly to the adoption question with the answers of the four remaining major candidates. You have to build it by clicking on their names and the feature adds each one.

Regardless, the answers are revealing, even when they aren't. Congressman Zach Wamp and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey give largely similar answers. They both oppose adoption by same-sex couples. Wamp probably through oversight leaves out opposite-sex unmarried couples, but says he sees a role for singles to adopt children.

The answers of businessman Mike McWherter (the only Democrat) and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam contain a bit more nuance. McWherter prefers married couples, but respects the status quo that in some cases allows unmarried couples to adopt. Haslam also prefers married couples, but pivots to his support of singles who provide good adoptive homes based upon people he knows at Church. He doesn't directly answer the question about unmarried couples. It's pretty clear that the adoption ban bill wouldn't be a focus of a McWherter or Haslam administration.

But would it be a focus of a Wamp or Ramsey administration? Wamp hasn't been tested on the issue, even though he has expressed hositility to homosexuality in the past. Ramsey presides over a State Senate that has not moved SB0078, although that's probably in large part because of the high fiscal note on the bill.

And that brings up the question of what role a governor really plays in an issue like adoption. The governor chooses department heads that help set a tone and the administration's lobbying posture on the issue. But governors in Tennessee typically leave these matters to the Legislature to work out. The question for equality-minded voters in Tennessee is whether we want to take that kind of chance. Quotations from the candidates are reproduced below:

Mike McWherter: “My personal preference is to see children placed in the care of loving, traditional families, but I do respect our current system that allows for judges and other authorities to make the final determination on what’s in the best interest of a child.”

Bill Haslam: “I believe that we should work to find a stable, loving home with two married parents for every child. However, I also recognize — through personal relationships with several single members of my church in Knoxville who have adopted — that there are many single, qualified individuals out there who could also provide the love and support needed to raise a child right and give that child opportunities he or she might not otherwise be afforded.”

Ron Ramsey: “I do not support allowing unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, to adopt children. Adoption is not an arena political correctness should be allowed to invade. It is a very serious matter and requires the highest level of commitment. Adoption is not an abstract policy issue. It is the most critical moment in the life of a child looking for a permanent home. When married couples wish to adopt, the adoption process should include a very high degree of scrutiny to ensure a positive environment for the child’s future.”

Zach Wamp: “As a father, I believe the best environment to raise children is one in which a married mother and father cares for and raises a child, and this is true for adopted children as well. While I do recognize the efforts of single parents to adopt, I do not support allowing same-sex couples to adopt.”

More reactions to the Knoxville Church Shooting

The responses to the shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church continue to roll in.

Out & About Newspaper features this moving account by Carla Lewis of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, who was present during the shooting. Pam's House Blend, a national GLBT blog based in North Carolina, analyzed the media's lack of clarity on what exactly is liberal or progressive about the congregation and reads the hints of an anti-gay motive. Mr. Kleinheider finds links to comments about the tragedy made by First Lady Laura Bush as she was visiting Nashville.

A Knoxville activist asked and received when he wrote Mayor Bill Haslam about acknowledging Knoxville's GLBT community. Haslam wasn't the only elected official to comment. Governor Phil Bredesen issued this statement:

Our prayers are with those who have been affected by this horrible event. We extend our sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and hope those who were injured make a full and quick recovery," Bredesen said.