Anti-gay group pays top dollar to be heard, but is anyone listening?

Today's Commercial Appeal features a column written by Councilman Lee Harris about the Memphis Employment Non-Discrimination Ordinance (ENDO) he sponsored which added workplace protections for age, disability, national origin, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

"The ordinance forces the City of Memphis to focus on talent, ability and merit. This idea is hardly controversial" writes Harris.

The councilman goes on to explain the mainstream support for the LGBT-inclusive protections in the ordinance:

But, the ordinance also generated support from all corners of our community, from the clergy to congregants, from firefighters to police officers, from gay to straight.

The NAACP supports the ordinance. Its local head nicely crystallized the issue, saying, "Every American must be allowed to contribute to society without facing unfair discrimination on account of race, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Our fight for social justice will continue until all can be protected in the work place."

Mid-South Peace and Justice Center supports the ordinance. The Shelby County Democratic Party supports the ordinance.

The ordinance received support from many city employees. AFSCME, one of the largest public unions in town, supports the ordinance. The Memphis Police Association supports the ordinance. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers supports the ordinance. This isn't the radical element of our community. The city employees, our city unions that support the ordinance are not controversial.

Memphis is in good company in adopting LGBT-inclusive workplace protections when compared to other local employers:

According to the Human Rights Campaign, many Memphians work for employers who have workplace policies in place similar to this one, including First Tennessee; State Farm; SunTrust Banks; AT&T; University of Memphis; Memphis Urban League; Federal Express; Service Master; Hilton Hotels; Harrah's Entertainment; Baker, Donelson law firm; International Paper; Medtronic; Nike; Smith & Nephew and Pinnacle Airlines.  

These companies are hardly a redoubt for fringe liberalism. These companies are not the controversial type.

Despite the broad support for Councilman Harris's ordinance, anti-LGBT opponents of the ordinance are still grumbling that all City of Memphis workers will be treated with fairness and dignity. They are not going away quietly. They continue to believe that workers who want to earn a living, provide for their families and contribute to their community is a radical notion that contradicts G_d and nature. They will say anything to get that point across, and they are willing to pay any price to say it.

An anonymous organization named "Memphis City Churches" placed a full-page advertisement on page A10 in same edition of today's Commercial Appeal. Click here to see the full ad. 

Memphis City Churches must have paid around $4000* to place this ad in Sunday's newspaper. In fact, I recall them placing anti-gay ads in the Commercial Appeal several times over the years - usually during election season. I remember seeing them in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.  That's at least $20,000 over 8 years. What a waste!

While the content of today's ad is deeply offensive to most people, I am a firm believer in the First Amendment right to free speech. I used to worry such speech might persuade those who didn't know any better. Not anymore. Most of the ads contain the same content each year. The group regurgitates Scripture onto the page to justify bias and prejudice and cites "prominent authors" without names or recognizable authority of public policy. This brand of patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia and heterosexism is losing its appeal. The 9 to 4 vote of the Memphis City Council approving the LGBT-inclusive workplace ordinance is the latest demonstration of where the mainstream is on this issue.

I don't worry about these ads anymore because they offend the common mainstream values that most people share: inclusion, fairness, decency, equality and diversity. The more vociferous they become, the more willing the mainstream is to accept and include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families in society.

This anonymous group is so desperate to be heard they are willing to spend thousands of dollars to reach an audience - an audience who has stopped listening to them. I predict that in coming years, the governing boards of churches and other religious organizations will re-examine the wasteful spending of tithes and church offerings on hateful advertising and actually seek to benefit their church members or those living in poverty in our city. Let's hope they become better stewards of their resources.

- Jonathan Cole

UPDATE (10/30/2012): The same full-page advertisement from Memphis City Churches appeared again in the Oct. 30, 2012 edition of the Commercial Appeal. That's $8000 spent on anti-gay ads in less than a week. Imagine what could be done with the tithes and church offerings used to pay for both ads. How would you use $8000 in Memphis?

*Previous estimates of the ad ranged from $5000 to $15,000, but a better estimate from a knowledgeable source confirmed on 10/29/12 that $3800-4000 was the actual cost range for the ad.

Why LGBT involvement in election campaigns matters

I will never forget the date of November 23, 2010 ---  the day that the Memphis City Council failed to pass an employment non-discrimination ordinance by one vote.

I knew back then that we would have to wait until the next term of City Council before we could introduce an LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance again. We needed at least one more vote to ensure passage.

Memphis City Councilman
Lee Harris of District 7

The opportunity for that one vote came with the 2011 municipal election. Barbara Swearengen Ware of District 7 who voted against the ordinance declined to run again.  TEP PAC had a chance to support an equality advocate for the open seat. The field of candidates was large, but TEP PAC made the strategic decision to place our hopes in Lee Harris to represent the neighborhoods of North Memphis, Frayser, Uptown, and Mud Island.

TEP PAC's endorsement of Harris motivated LGBT people and their allies to contribute their time, talent and treasure to Harris's campaign. We made phone calls, canvassed neighborhoods, and held fundraising drives to support Lee's election. While many other groups and organizations supported his candidacy, TEP PAC and volunteers helped make a difference in his campaign. Lee won a majority in the first election and then won the runoff election.

Fast forward to the summer of 2012. President Obama and the Shelby County Democratic Party announced their support for marriage equality and full equality for LGBT people. And freshman Councilman Lee Harris approached TEP about re-introducing a non-discrimination ordinance. The rest is history.

I share this story to emphasize the importance of supporting equality advocates running for elected office. One day that candidate will be the elected official who champions equality.

November 6 is a national election. More people turn out to vote for or support a candidate for President, US Congress or the US Senate. But I am here to argue that State and Local elections matter more than most people appreciate. It's hard for one person or a small group to make a noticeable difference in campaigns for President, Congress or Senate. But the example of our support for an equality advocate in a North Memphis City Council district proves that your voice, your volunteer hours, and your financial support make a huge impact in a local election.

Margaret Mead said it best: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Are you ready to make an impact? TEP PAC will be engaged in a statewide Day of Action on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. We'll be supporting equality advocates for elected office knowing that our work is vital to promoting pro-equality public policy in State and local government. We invite you to join us! Visit TEP PAC's Facebook Fan Event Page for the opportunity closest to you. 

TEP applauds Memphis City Council support for inclusion and equality

Memphis, TN, October 16, 2012 — Tennessee Equality Project applauds the Memphis City Council for voting to amend the municipal non-discrimination ordinance to include age, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity as factors that may not be used in city employment decisions. Memphis now joins Nashville and Knoxville as Tennessee cities that officially recognize and practice the American values of inclusion, equality and fairness in employment.

On Wednesday morning, City of Memphis employees will wake up to the news that the Memphis City Council values their hard work and ability to do the job. City employees who protect our neighborhoods, fight our fires, remove and recycle our waste, and lend us library books are on their way to being solely judged by their job performance without harmful prejudice. TEP calls on Mayor AC Wharton to sign this ordinance and celebrate the council’s decision.

We thank Councilman Lee Harris for his leadership in sponsoring the non-discrimination ordinance. We are deeply grateful to the council members, community groups, city employees, leaders of the faith community, and the many other advocates who supported equality for City of Memphis employees. Their dream for equality and fairness is now realized in a more inclusive Memphis where workers may earn a living, provide for their families and contribute to their communities without fear of losing or never being hired for a job because of who they are. 

We invite equality advocates to give thanks to Memphis City Council members who voted in favor of a fully inclusive ordinance. Copy and paste these email addresses into an email message:

Wanda.Halbert@memphistn.gov, Jim.Strickland@memphistn.gov, Harold.Collins@memphistn.gov, Shea.Flinn@memphistn.gov, Edmund.Fordjr@memphistn.gov, Janis.Fullilove@memphistn.gov, Lee.Harris@memphistn.gov, Reid.Hedgepeth@memphistn.gov, Myron.Lowery@memphistn.gov 

Knoxville City Attorney Ok’s Non-Discrimination Ordinance; Opinion Instructive for Memphis Non-Discrimination Ordinance

From the desk of Councilman Lee Harris:

"There is nothing in [the Knoxville] Charter
which we find to be a definitive and
exclusive list of discriminatory practices."
- Deputy Law Director Ronald E. Mills 

Other Tennessee cities have begun to voice opinions regarding Non-Discrimination. Specifically, in response to inquiry from elected officials in Memphis, the Knoxville City Attorney has opined that their city’s non-discrimination ordinance does not conflict with their Charter. According to the attorney’s opinion, “revisions to various sections of the Knoxville City Code regarding discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and other factors…do not in any way violate the Knoxville City Charter”. The opinion goes on to say that “there is nothing in [the Knoxville] Charter which we find to be a definitive and exclusive list of discriminatory practices.” A copy of the Knoxville Opinion is attached to this release.

Said County Commissioner Steve Mulroy: “I thought it prudent to check with another big Tennessee city and see how they were able to do it.  Their opinion is instructive.  Their charter and ordinance are virtually identical.  Indeed, the argument that the City Council has authority under the charter is even stronger in Memphis."  Said Councilman Lee Harris: “Knoxville, which is hardly a redoubt of the liberal fringe, is way out in front of Memphis. This city has some serious catching up to do. The Knoxville opinion reminds us that there is nothing serious standing in our way. It’s hard to move city government.  But, other cities have done it and, with any luck, this opinion helps resolve that is no serious reason why we can’t.” Said Jonathan Cole, a leader of the Tennessee Equality Project: “Given the willingness of sister cities to go out a limb and get involved, I’m increasingly confident that nothing can stop us. I am increasingly confident that there are no barriers to adding non-merit factors to the City of Memphis non-discrimination ordinance.”

Councilman Lee Harris: "The Knoxville opinion reminds us
that there is nothing serious standing in our way."

For background, on Tuesday, September 18, Memphis City Councilmen Lee Harris and Shea Flinn sponsored a non-discrimination ordinance that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Discussion ensued over whether the ordinance was permissible under the City of Memphis Charter. Final approval of the ordinance was delayed until Oct. 16. The ordinance, if approved on Oct. 16, provides as follows: “There shall be no discrimination in city employment of personnel because of religion, race, sex, creed, political affiliation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors, nor shall there by any discrimination in the promotion or demotion of city employees because of religion, race, sex, creed, political affiliation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability or other non-merit factors.” A copy of the Non-Discrimination Ordinance is attached. The Knoxville City Charter provides: “No elected official administrator, director, or employee of Knox County shall discriminate against any person in employment or provision of services based upon race, sex, religion, age or nationality without due process of law.” The Memphis City Charter provides: “[T]here shall be no discrimination in the city employment of personnel because of religion, race, sex, creed, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors, nor shall be there any discrimination in the promotion or demotion of city employees because of religion, race, sex creed, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors.” A copy of the relevant portions of the Knoxville Ordinance is attached to this release.

Councilman Lee Harris can be reached at 901-210-4429. Commissioner Steve Mulroy can be reached at 901-603-8779. TEP representative Jonathan Cole can be reached at 901-301-3306.

Including gender identity or expression in anti-discrimination policies is common among Memphis-area employers

FedEx is the largest employer in
Memphis to protect workers
from discrimination based
on gender identity.

Tennessee Equality Project and other allies in the community call on the Memphis City Council to amend the proposed non-discrimination ordinance one more time to add gender identity or expression. These additional non-merit factors are also included in the anti-discrimination policies of several Memphis-area employers. 

The number of Fortune 500 companies and other employers that include gender identity or expression in the anti-discrimination policies increases each year. 80% of CEI-rated employers provide employment protections on the basis of gender identity or expression — the highest figure to date. The proportion of employers offering these protections has increased dramatically since the first CEI 2002 when just 5 percent of rated businesses included gender identity in their non-discrimination policies. Now eight in ten rated businesses afford workplace protections on the basis of gender identity.

This list of employers comes from HRC's Corporate Equality Index (CEI), company websites, and reliable employees of  these companies. A large number of Memphis-area companies include gender identity or expression in employment non-discrimination policies (this list is not exhaustive): 

AFLAC; AT&T; Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC; Bank of America; Best Buy; Burger King; Caesar’s Entertainment; Cargill; Coca-Cola; Comcast; Costco; Delloitte & Touche; Delta Airlines; Ernst & Young; Family Dollar Store;  FedEx; First Horizon National; Harrah’s Entertainment; Hilton Hotel; Home Depot; Humana; Hyatt Hotels; J.C. Penny; Kellogg; Kroger; Macy’s; Marriott; Medtronic; Merck; Nike; Office Depot; OfficeMax; Pepsi Beverages Co.; PetSmart; Pfizer; Raymond James; Sears; ServiceMaster; Staples; Starbucks; State Farm; SunTrust Banks; Target; UnitedHealth Group; Wachovia Bank; Walgreens; Whole Foods Market; Wells Fargo Bank; Wal-Mart; Williams-Sonoma; and United Parcel Service.

In addition, most employees of Federal Government agencies are also protected from discrimination based on gender identity or expression. See http://www.opm.gov/diversity/Transgender/Guidance.asp for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management  policy guidance regarding the employment of transgender individuals in the Federal workplace. Some of the Federal Agencies that protect their transgender employees from discrimination in the workplace include the US Postal Service, the Social Security Administration, the IRS, Secret Service, the FBI, and the VA Hospital . 

It's hard to drive through any part of the City of Memphis without running across an employer that offers LGBT-inclusive workplace protections. The City of Memphis would be in good company to add these protections to its employment non-discrimination ordinance.

- Jonathan Cole

Do you work for a fully LGBT-inclusive employer in Memphis?

Send a message in support of
LGBT-inclusive workplace protections
to the Memphis City Council.

You may be able to advocate for a fully inclusive employment non-discrimination ordinance for City of Memphis employees

You may be working for an employer which fully protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination on the job in Memphis?

Here's a partial list of companies in the Memphis area which offer anti-discrimination policies which provide equal opportunity in employment without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression: Best Buy; Costco; Comcast;  FedEx;  First Horizon;  Harrah’s Entertainment;  Hilton; J.C. Penny; Kroger; Macy’s; Medtronic; Merck;  Nike; Office Depot; Sears;  Starbucks; State Farm; SunTrust Banks; Target; United Parcel Service;  Wachovia Bank; Walgreens; Wal-Mart; and Williams-Sonoma.

If you work for any of the above companies, send the following message to the Memphis City Council at http://bit.ly/ContactCityCouncil. Copy and paste this message to "ALL" council members in the link provided and be sure to add your company name:

Dear Memphis City Council,

I am writing to thank the Memphis City Council for voting to add national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation to the Memphis employment non-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

While I am grateful for the inclusion of the above non-merit factors, I am deeply concerned that gender identity and gender expression were omitted from this ordinance. I work for [insert company name], a company in the Memphis area, which offers LGBT-inclusive workplace protections in its anti-discrimination policy. In other words, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in my workplace are protected from discrimination in hiring, promotion or job retention.

Many large Memphis-area businesses like FedEx, Medtronic, Comcast, Harrah’s Entertainment, Hilton, Starbucks, First Horizon, Kroger, Delta, Nike and Merck also provide LGBT inclusive anti-discrimination policies. It’s simply good business to protect all employees on the job. While I can’t speak officially on behalf of my employer, I feel that my company has learned that fully inclusive employment policies help to recruit and retain the most talented and qualified people to the workforce.

Memphis would be in good company if city government were to follow the lead of these employers in providing these same protections. To ensure a fully inclusive ordinance, I urge you to vote to add gender identity and gender expression to the proposed ordinance on Oct. 16.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

Allow me to dispel the rumors

I am hearing rumors that I want to dispel once and for all.

On behalf of TEP Shelby County Committee and all of TEP, I want to make crystal clear that we consider the City of Memphis Non-Discrimination Ordinance to be incomplete and unacceptable without the inclusion of gender identity and expression.

We are taking steps to build on the success we have made thusfar to make sure that the ordinance is amended to include gender identity and expression. In my remarks before the Memphis City Council, I stated that they should not abandon my transgender brothers and sisters:

I meant what I said, and we will fight to make this flawed ordinance whole.

 - Jonathan Cole

You CAN be Republican and pro-equality in Memphis

Reid Hedgepeth

Yesterday's hearing on amending the Memphis Employment Non-Discrimination Ordinance brought lots of surprises. While TEP was excited that a pro-equality amendment passed, TEP was disturbed by the unacceptable omission of gender identity from the proposed amendment and that the sudden announcement that the addition of sexual orientation as a non-merit factor amendment somehow conflicts with the City of Memphis charter. 

But not all the surprises were disappointing. For the first time on the Memphis City Council, a Republican voted pro-equality: Reid Hedgepeth of Superdistrict 9, Position 3. Hedgepeth voted to add sexual orientation to the proposed ordinance yesterday after voting against previous non-discrimination ordinances presented to the Memphis City Council. So his change in position is significant. 

Councilman Hedgepeth is receiving lots of criticism for his vote from anti-gay opponents of the amended ordinance. Hedgepeth responded with this letter to critics:

I supported the ordinance to prevent discrimination against city employees based upon their sexual identity or preference [sic] for one primary reason: it’s the right thing to do.  This is a group that is not a federally protected class, and yet they are only asking for the same protection that everyone else is afforded under the law.  The right to not be discriminated against in the workplace seems like a perfectly reasonable request to me, especially considering the fact that it wasn’t all that long ago that African-Americans in this city were fighting for the same protections.  And decades before that it was women. My conscience told me that this was the right way to vote, despite what a few Old Testament passages might say about homosexuality.  The Old Testament says a lot of other things too, as we all heard in Council today.  I prefer to take my values from the New Testament as well as leaders I admire.  Men like Fred Smith, for example.  I have long held the view that government in many ways should be run more like a business.  And if businesses like FedEx are progressive enough in their views to have anti-discrimination policies which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation (as well as gender, race, religion, etc.), then I think the government should follow suit and at least provide those same protections. In my view the City of Memphis has more pressing matters to focus on, such as our current budget woes and economic development, and we need to stop fighting about whether we should be allowed to openly and legally discriminate against some of our employees.  It is petty and counter-productive. Reid Hedgepeth

Hedgepeth explains in his response that he is pro-equality and pro-business. He essentially argues that he is pro-equality because he IS a Republican. At a time when the Republican Party wrote discrimination against LGBT people in their national platform and Republican elected officials at the national, state and local level regularly target LGBT people in their rhetoric and legislation, it's refreshing to hear a fresh perspective.

Equality is not a partisan issue. It's an American value we should all share. Thanks Councilman Hedgepeth! 

Let's all take this opportunity to say thanks to Councilman Hedgepeth. Send him a message of support for his pro-equality vote at Reid.Hedgepeth@memphistn.gov.

Memphis City Council Vote Count

The Commercial Appeal has the vote count from yesterday's debate on the non-discrimination ordinance.

Vote on including sexual orientation in the ordinance

Aye: Shea Flinn, Edmund Ford Jr., Janis Fullilove, Lee Harris, Reid Hedgepeth, Myron Lowery and Jim Strickland.

No: Bill Boyd, Joe Brown, Harold Collins, Kemp Conrad and Bill Morrison.

Abstain: Wanda Halbert

Vote to delay the measure for 30 days 

Aye: Boyd, Brown, Collins, Conrad, Flinn, Ford, Halbert, Morrison and Strickland.

No: Fullilove, Harris and Lowery voted against the delay.

Abstain: Hedgepeth

Watch the debate over the Memphis Non-Discrimination Ordinance

The video of yesterday's hearing on amending the Memphis Non-Discrimination Ordinance is divided into two parts. The first segment includes public input from both sides of the ordinance. The second segment includes debate among members of the Memphis City Council, the vote on the amendment, and the vote on delaying a final vote on the proposed ordinance for 30 days.

Memphis City Council makes progress but not enough

Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

The Memphis City Council made history yesterday in amending Councilman Lee Harris's employment non-discrimination ordinance by adding new non-merit factors which are not covered in the current municipal ordinance: age, disability, and sexual orientation. Seven council members, including 6 Democrats and 1 Republican, voted for the amendment - real progress.

Council members supported the amendment of the ordinance because of support from city employees and employee unions, faith leaders and other mainstream organizations. Tennessee Equality Project is grateful to  many who spoke or came prepared to speak on behalf of the amended ordinance.

But yesterday's victory is bittersweet for two reasons.

First, the council failed to include gender identity or expression in the amendment. At every step in this campaign, TEP has advocated for a fully inclusive ordinance. To exclude gender identity and expression ignores the very real hardships that transgender people face in Memphis. Because of the workplace discrimination they encounter, many transgender people face poverty, homelessness and violence. I reminded the council of this fact in my comments during public input. This ordinance is incomplete and unacceptable without gender identity and expression. We cannot abandon our transgender brothers and sisters and we will continue to push the council to amend the proposed ordinance again.

Second, City Attorney Herman Morris sabotaged immediate passage of the amended proposal by casting doubts on its compatibility with the City of Memphis Charter. Morris and Council Attorney Alan Wade  stated that the ordinance may make the city vulnerable to a lawsuit since sexual orientation is not mentioned in the charter or other state or federal law. Both attorneys suggested that a ballot referendum may be necessary to add such language to the charter to avoid court battles. The council voted to hold the amended ordinance for 30 days until the charter questions could be fully analyzed.

Since versions of this ordinance were introduced twice in 2010, the announcement of a charter conflict two years later is suspicious.

The charter conflict question is a farce. City employees deserve
to know why the administration is standing in the way of equality.

When Tennessee Equality Project worked with original council sponsor Janis Fullilove on the first version of an LGBT-inclusive ordinance, we met extensively with the City Attorney's office and Human Resources Attorney. TEP engaged in this process in good faith to ensure that the proposed LGBT-inclusive ordinance fit within the existing framework of municipal, state and federal law - including the City of Memphis charter.

Many council members and advocates at the meeting suspected foul play. The City of Memphis Charter states the following in Article 34, Section 249:

There shall be no discrimination in the City employment of personnel because of religion, race, sex, creed, political affiliation, or other nonmerit factors, nor shall there be any discrimination in the promotion or demotion of City employees because of religion, race, sex, creed, political affiliation, or other nonmerit factors.

I am not an attorney, but attorneys with whom I've consulted believe that the charter language is expansive in its scope with regard to prohibited factors in employment discrimination. "Other nonmerit factors" provides a floor, not a ceiling, for the recognition of additional forms of prohibited discrimination. Opponents of the ordinance are attempting to use the City of Memphis Charter in the same way that state lawmakers use HB600/SB632 to limit the ability of local government to prohibit discrimination of employees of contractors and other private employers.

To suggest that the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people be subject to a popular vote is a stalling tactic. The Wharton Administration deliberately intervened yesterday to prevent this ordinance from moving forward. City of Memphis employees who deserve to be treated equally on the job deserve to know why.

- Jonathan Cole

A quick post about today's result at Memphis City Council

Be steadfast in your advocacy my friends. We are moving closer to realizing inclusive workplace protections in Memphis. Today's result was a partial victory. While sexual orientation was added to the proposed non-discrimination ordinance, we must continue to press our Memphis City Council to add gender identity and expression to the proposed non-discrimination ordinance. We must also expose the City of Memphis Charter diversion for what it is - an attempt to stall. Plans are in motion to address today's events. I beg your indulgence as TEP and our allies move to address today's mixed results. Please stay tuned for a more in-depth account of what happened today.

-Jonathan Cole

Clergy support inclusive workplace protection for City of Memphis employees

Memphis, TN, September 13, 2012 — Several weeks ago, many of us declared our support for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people on the steps of the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center. As leaders of our faith communities, we join voices in support of an opportunity to advance workplace equality in the City of Memphis.

On September 18, the Memphis City Council will consider an employment non-discrimination ordinance. Clergy Defending Rights for All supports expansion of this ordinance to include age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Many of our sacred texts and scriptures speak to the importance and sacred nature of work and call on us to protect all workers as a matter of justice. As faith leaders in our communities we often hear of lost jobs and the difficulties of finding work in this difficult economy. We share the concern for the health of our economy in Memphis and find it inexcusable that some workers live in fear of job security because of prejudice.

We support an inclusive employment non-discrimination ordinance for the City of Memphis which protects its employees from discrimination in the workplace based on religion, race, sex, creed, political affiliation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or other non-merit factors.

Rabbi Micah Greenstein - Temple Israel

Pastor Stephen R. Montgomery - Idlewild Presbyterian Church

Fr. Joseph Wallace Williams - Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Rev. Richard Lawson - Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Rev. Rebekah Jordan Gienapp - St. John’s United Methodist Church

Pastor Paul Ecknes-Tucker - Holy Trinity Community Church

The Rev. Cheryl Cornish - First Congregational Church

Minister Davin Clemons - Cathedral of Praise Church of Memphis

Rev. Beth Lynley Lefever - Neshoba Church

Rev. Bill Murray - St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church

Pastor Rosalyn Nichols - Freedom's Chapel Christian Church

Rev. Jarad Bingham - Shady Grove Presbyterian Church

Minister John Gilmore - Open Heart Spiritual Community

Rev. Randall Mullins, retired (Congregational) United Church of Christ

Rev. Gayle McCarty -Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Rev. Joseph Pfeiffer, First Congregational Church

Rev. Walt Tennyson - Rhodes College Chaplain

Reverend Anne H.K. Apple - Idlewild Presbyterian Church
Rev. Carla Meisterman, Balmoral Presbyterian Church

Rev. Elaine Blanchard, United Church of Christ
Rev. Bindy Snyder, All Saints Episcopal Church

If you are a pastor, minister, rabbi, imam, or other spiritual leader who supports the above statement, contact Jonathan Cole at JMCole1970@gmail.com to add your name.

City of Memphis would be in good company with inclusive workplace protections

Memphis, TN, September 12, 2012 — An ordinance introduced by Lee Harris on the Memphis City Council would add age and disability to the non-merits factors which may not be used in employment decisions for city workers. To truly promote equal opportunity for all, the ordinance must be amended by the Memphis City Council on Sep. 18 to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Currently, no federal, state or municipal law prohibits discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) workers.

If the Memphis City Council enacts a non-discrimination ordinance which includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, Memphis will find itself in line with most Fortune 500 companies. Eighty-six percent of the Fortune 500 include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination policies and 50 percent include gender identity. These employers know that LGBT-inclusive policies help them attract and retain talented professionals to the workplace. Many of these companies include various sectors of the economy and conduct business in the Memphis area:

Banking, Finance & Insurance: AFLAC*, Delloitte & Touche*, Ernst & Young*, First Horizon National*, Humana*, State Farm*, SunTrust Banks*, Wachovia Bank*
Communications & Technology: AT&T*, Comcast*, IBM*, Verizon Communications
Education & Non-Profit: Rhodes College, Southwest Tennessee Community College*, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee, Memphis Urban League, Tennessee Community Services Agency
Home Improvement: Servicemaster
Hospitality & Lodging: Caesar’s Entertainment*, Harrah’s Entertainment*, Hilton Hotels*, Marriott*
Legal: Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC

Manufacturing: Cargill*, Coca-Cola*, Kellogg*, International Paper, Medtronic*, Merck & Co.*, Nike*, Pepsi Beverages Co.*, Pfizer*, Smith & Nephew, Thomas & Betts
Restaurant and Grocery: KFC, Kroger*, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Starbucks*, Taco Bell
Retailers and Wholesalers: AutoZone, Best Buy*, Costco*, Home Depot, J.C. Penny*, Lowe’s, Macy’s*, Office Depot*, Sears*, Target*, Walgreens*, Wal-Mart*, Williams-Sonoma*,
Transportation & Shipping: Delta Airlines*, FedEx*, Pinnacle Airlines, United Parcel Service*
It’s time for the City of Memphis to catch up with the private sector by offering LGBT-inclusive workplace protections for city workers and job applicants.
*Indicates Equal Opportunity Employment policies that also include gender identity or expression. List compiled from HRC’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index: A Report Card on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equality in Corporate America and individual employers.

Contact Jonathan Cole, Vice President, Tennessee Equality Project, JMCole1970@gmail.com, 901-301-3306 for more information.

Planned Parenthood supports LGBT-inclusive workplace protections in Memphis

Another organization has joined the chorus of voices supporting equal opportunity for all in Memphis. Tennessee Equality Project is grateful to Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region for supporting inclusive workplace protections. Here is their Statement:

“Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR) supports the civil rights of everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. PPGMR supports the expansion of the current non-discrimination ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender expression.

Workers should be judged solely on the basis of their ability to do the job. Our city should not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation any more than it tolerates discrimination on the basis of race, gender, creed, color or national origin. Gay, lesbian and transgender employees should have all the protections that other employees enjoy in the workplace. Government should lead the way in expanding workplace protections to include everyone. To do less is an injustice to us all.”

The Memphis City Council is scheduled to vote on an employment non-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday, September 18 at 3:30 PM. 

City of Memphis employees and advocates support an inclusive non-discrimination ordinance

Memphis, TN, September 6, 2012 — Tennessee Equality Project joins a chorus of voices calling for equal opportunity in employment for City of Memphis job applicants and workers. Memphis City Councilman Lee Harris is sponsoring an employment non-discrimination ordinance which would expand current workplace protections to include age and disability.

A coalition of City of Memphis employees, employee associations, unions and community advocates supports expansion of the current ordinance to include age and disability as well as sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to ensure unbiased decisions for these non-merit factors in city employment. Coalition leaders believe that the ordinance must be amended at the third reading of the ordinance to include the above non-merit factors as prohibited forms of bias in the workplace. The Memphis City Council will vote on this ordinance on Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

Here’s what coalition leaders are saying:

"The American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has led the way among unions demanding equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers," said Chad Johnson, Executive Director of AFSCME Local 1733. "AFSCME has long believed that employment decisions should be made on the basis of an individual's ability to perform a job. Workers should not live in fear of losing their jobs or being denied promotions because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age or disability.  AFSCME Local 1733 supports adding age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the non-discrimination ordinance for the City of Memphis."

Memphis Police officers work in a department that reflects the diverse characteristics of race, ethnicity, religious belief, political affiliation, age, ability, and sexual orientation in the community they serve. According to Officer Michael Williams, “the Memphis Police Association supports an employment non-discrimination ordinance which reflects this diversity and protects city employees. We believe that officers who are protected from unfair employment discrimination on the job will do better at protecting the safety of all people in the community they serve.”

As a Lieutenant for the Memphis Fire Department with 18 years as firefighter, Gordon Ginsberg believes in treating the firefighters in his company fairly and equally on the job: "No one should have to fear losing their job or being passed over for advancement because of who they are. It's always about who can get the job done. Non-merits factors like race, religion, sex, ethnicity, national origin, political affiliation, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status should never play a part in employment decisions or workplace practices. I believe we Memphians need a clear specific ordinance for a few reasons. One, I believe it will help me execute my duties within the chain-of-command by underscoring the City of Memphis' commitment to our values. Another is to assure and reassure beyond any doubt that the rights of workers under my supervision will be protected. A third is to reinforce the seriousness among all employees of respecting workplace rights. I support an inclusive non-discrimination ordinance for City of Memphis employees.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) supported previous efforts to expand the list of non-merit factors in the City of Memphis non-discrimination ordinance. IBEW Local 474 Business Manager Paul Shaffer recently confirmed IBEW’s continued support for a comprehensive ordinance that includes age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

“Employment discrimination strips away the right of workers to be judged on their merits and abilities,” said Madeleine C. Taylor, Executive Director of the Memphis Branch of the NAACP. “Every American must be allowed to contribute to society without facing unfair discrimination on account of race, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Our fight for social justice will continue until all can be protected in the work place. The NAACP supports an inclusive employment non-discrimination ordinance for the city of Memphis that includes the above factors to protect city workers. Other Tennessee cities have assumed their responsibility in protecting the rights of city

workers and Memphis should do the same.”

ADAPT of Tennessee is a chapter of National ADAPT, a grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.  Americans with disabilities have not enjoyed equal access to transportation, housing, and employment. Josue Rodriguez of ADAPT of Tennessee recognizes other marginalized groups in our society who have not enjoyed equal opportunity in Memphis: "ADAPT fully supports an inclusive employment non-discrimination ordinance that expands current protections for City of Memphis workers to include age, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity."

The Shelby County Democratic Party has supported LGBT-inclusive initiatives for equality along with  President Barack Obama. Van Turner, Shelby County Democratic Party Chair, states that “the party wholeheartedly supports an inclusive employment non-discrimination ordinance for City of Memphis employees. Considering that Nashville, Knoxville and Oak Ridge have already enacted similar measures, Memphis must move swiftly to demonstrate our commitment to equality and inclusion for all.”

“The members of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center wholeheartedly support the passage of an inclusive non-discrimination ordinance for employees of the City of Memphis,” states Executive Director Jacob Flowers. “We know first-hand that workers suffer from discrimination in a variety of workplaces. It is important that our city show the way forward for other entities in our region by passing such an ordinance. Plus, it puts us on par with other municipalities in Tennessee that have passed similar laws to protect its workers. As elected representatives of the citizens of Memphis, it is our hope, that you would seek to lessen the chances of discrimination by any means, this is one simple step that can be taken.”

“Work is an essential part of who we are as Americans, as Mid-Southerners, and as human beings,” says Will Batts, Executive Director of the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC). “It is no longer acceptable that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees must live in fear in their own workplace. Justice demands that each employee be judged simply by their ability to do the job. City government, especially, must lead the way in treating each of our citizens with the dignity, respect and fairness that we all deserve. MGLCC absolutely supports an inclusive employment non-discrimination ordinance that expands current protections for City of Memphis workers to include age, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.”

The Tennessee Equality Project joins the coalition of support for equal opportunity in the workplace and an inclusive non-discrimination ordinance for City of Memphis employees. It’s time for Memphis to join other cities of comparable size and larger as well as Tennessee cities like Nashville and Knoxville which already prohibit employment discrimination based on age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. TEP calls on the Memphis City Council to amend the current ordinance by including the above non-merits factors on Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2012.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Cole

Tennessee Equality Project

JMCole1970@gmail.com

901-301-3306

tnep.org

Zombie Walk for Equality seeks to reanimate government

In just three days, zombies shall descend upon historic Beale Street in Memphis in search of tasty brains.

At first glance, this might appear to be an apocalypse of the undead, but it's really a protest of the lack of delicious brains in those elected to govern the State of Tennessee, Shelby County and the City of Memphis. With the passage of the Special Access to Discriminate Act (HB600/SB632) and the advance of the Don’t Say Gay bill (SB049) in 2011, there is little evidence of intelligent governance at the state level. At the local level, Memphis and Shelby County governments can’t seem to understand the importance of enacting ordinances that offer simple workplace protections for government employees. 

Will the Tennessee General Assembly continue to take away the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families in 2012? Will Memphis or Shelby County ever pass ordinances that prohibit discrimination against government employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity?

Tennessee Equality Project calls on all zombies to join our search for intelligent brains in state and local government. Help us call attention to the fact that brains that value inclusion, diversity and equality not only taste better, but improve the lives of all people in our community. 

Join TEP’s Zombie Walk for Equality in the Midsouth Pride Parade on October 15, 2011. Dress up like a zombie and make a clever sign. The lineup for the walking dead starts at 1 PM at 4th and Beale Street. Step off is a 2 PM. This peaceful walking group in the pride parade is designed to be fun and find some humor in the tragedy of bad governance.

To join TEP's Zombie Walk for Equality in the Midsouth Pride Parade on October 15, 2011, here's what you need to do:

1. Tell us you plan to attend the Zombie Walk for Equality at this link.
2. Invite your friends and family to participate by sharing this post with your friends.
3. Make a clever sign with a zombie and equality theme (Keep it civil - this is a family-friendly event).
4. Dress up like a zombie (see below).
5. Line up with the other walking dead at 1 PM at 4th and Beale Street on Oct. 15. Step off is a 2 PM.

Need some help on Zombie makeup?

 

During the Midsouth Pride Festival which begins at 10 AM at Robert Church Park, the Haus of Masquerade will be painting zombie makeup from 10 AM until 1:45 PM for $20 a head (with $5 going to TEP. This is a great option for folks without makeup experience who would like to participate.

YouTube offers a number of video tutorials to help you create the perfect zombie look for those who want to create their own look. Party City at Poplar Plaza Shopping Mall has great makeup supplies for would-be zombies. Take a look at these creative examples for makeup ideas or search for your own on YouTube:

Memphis City Council Election Guide for Oct. 6, 2011

Today is election day in Memphis. TEP PAC is proud to endorse in every competitive race for Memphis City Council elections. 

We urge you to support the following candidates to create a pro-equality consensus on the Memphis City Council. Pools are open until 7 PM today.

Districts

1. Kendrick Sneed

2. Sylvia Cox
3. No endorsement

4. Wanda Halbert

5. Jim Strickland
6. Edmund Ford, Jr.

7. Lee Harris

Superdistricts

8-1. Tammy Warren

8-2. Janis Fullilove
8-3. Myron Lowery

9-1. Paul Shaffer

9-2. Shea Flinn
9-3. No endorsement

All of the above candidates in italics are incumbents and they voted pro-equality in the last term. Council members Harold Collins (3), Jim Strickland (5), Myron Lowery (8-3) and Reid Hedgepeth (9-3) face no opponents in the October 6 election.

Additionally, TEP PAC recognizes the follow candidates as equality advocates: Scott Banbury (7), David Vinciarelli (7) and Rosalyn Nichols (8-2).

TEP PAC is a state political action committee registered in Tennessee, Joyce Peacock, treasurer. The endorsements of TEP PAC do not necessarily represent the views of the board of the Tennessee Equality Project.