GLAAD will offer Media Essentials Workshop in Tennessee

Tennessee Equality Project invites you to participate in GLAAD Media Essentials training on Saturday, August, 20, 2011.  Daryl Hannah of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is coming to Nashville, TN to provide training to leaders of LGBT organizations from all over the state of Tennessee. TEP is excited to bring GLAAD back to Tennessee for such training for first time since 2007.

GLAAD Media Essentials is designed to provide individuals and organizations the tools necessary to meet their communications goals through effective media work. The training on August 20 will help LGBT leaders in Tennessee with some of the following:

• Learn about media opportunities you or your organization can use to expand your base and get your message to your target audience
• Create a communications plan you can use to move public opinion about your issues
• Develop a media vocabulary so you can speak clearly and effectively with journalists
• Build relationships with media professionals
• Become a resource for media outlets
• Learn simple, consistent ways to develop talking points you can shape for different media outlets
• Learn how to write press releases, op-eds, letters to the editor and other kinds of communication with the media
• Get comfortable with print, television and radio interviews

WHO IS THIS TRAINING FOR? TEP invites leaders of LGBT-friendy organizations like PFLAG, Gay-Straight Alliances, Pride organizations, community centers, chambers of commerce, churches - any organizations that promotes the welfare of LGBT people and their families in Tennessee.

Space for the training is limited. Please register online by August 10 to ensure that we can accommodate everyone.

DATE: Saturday, August 20, 2011
START TIME: 10 AM
END TIME: 12 Noon
PLACE: St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 419 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37206-4207


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Justice for All Rally in Memphis

Local Progressive Groups Join Together to Speak Out for Equal Rights

Sunday, June 12 at 3 PM

Memphis, TN, June 10, 2011: During the 2011 legislative session, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a number of laws that infringe on the rights of women; lesbian, Gay, bisexual and transgender citizens; immigrants; students; the poor; religious and racial minorities; and organized labor.

Socially conservative lawmakers think they can chip away at individual liberties by targeting groups that represent minority interests in Tennessee. Individually, our various groups are small. But united, we represent the silent majority of Memphis.

This Sunday we will come together to send Nashville the message that we are united in our opposition to legislation that attacks the liberty and well-being of any minority. “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us!” said Will Batts, Director of Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center.

A coalition of progressive groups including Tennessee Equality Project, Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region, Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center, and Mid-South Peace and Justice Center and many others will hold a rally this Sunday, June 12th at 3pm on the steps of First Congregational Church (First Congo), 1000 South Cooper Street.

WHAT: Justice for All Rally

DATE: Sunday, June 12, 2011

TIME: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

PLACE: First Congregational Church, 1000 So. Cooper Street

PROGRAM: The rally is being put together by a coalition of progressive political activists and minority rights groups.

Line up of Speakers includes:

• Rev. Cheryl Cornish, First Congregational Church 
• Michelle Bliss, Tennessee Equality Project 
• Will Batts, Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center 
• Katie Smith, Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region
• Brad Watkins, Mid-South Peace & Justice Center
• Marion Bacon – Memphis Center for Independent Living Shelly Seeburg AFSCME
• Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition- Gaby Benitiz

PURPOSE: The purpose of the rally is to build a permanent coalition of progressive organizations that united will oppose legislation that infringes on individual liberties and harms the interests of the poor, the working class and minority groups of all stripes.


For more information, visit the Facebook event.

- Jonathan Cole

Memphis City Council fails to provide LGBT-inclusive workplace protections for city employees

The Memphis City Council welcomes visitors to its home page with these words: 

Our Fellow Memphians: This is an exciting time to be a Memphian. Our city is on the move. Building on our heritage, working together, we've made great strides in recent years. From Downtown to Midtown to East Memphis, from Frayser to Whitehaven, Memphians share a pride in our past and a faith in our future.

The above words ring hollow after last night’s second reading of the Employment Non-Discrimination Ordinance (See Item #7 in this video). The ENDO fell one vote short of the seven needed due to the withdrawal of support from Chairman Harold Collins.

The ENDO appeared as the only item in the Council’s Consent Agenda for second reading. The vote occurred as follows:

Yes: Halbert, Strickland, Ford, Lowery, Fullilove, and Flinn.

No: Boyd, Conrad, Hedgepeth

Abstained: None

No vote recorded: Brown, Collins, Morrison

Suspended: Swearengen Ware

Chairman Harold Collins

 Collins’ reversal ensured that the ENDO cannot return to the council’s agenda for six months. Council Chairman Collins and Councilors Boyd, Conrad, Hedgepeth, Brown, Collins, and Morrison have essentially voted that discrimination against City employees based on SOGIE should remain legal in Memphis. They reached this conclusion before a Council-authorized study of discrimination in city employment based on SOGIE had even begun.

The media and other organizations often saddle Memphis with poor ratings for quality of life and business friendly environment indices. Forbes Magazine ranked Memphis #3 on its “America’s Most Miserable Cities” index. Just hours before the ENDO vote, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research ranked Memphis last among the state's 50 largest communities in a list of business-friendly cities. Rather than stem the tide of bad news, the Memphis City Council added yet another heavy yoke to the shoulders of Memphis.

Our City Government has made it official: inequality in the workplace is acceptable and legal. This message will resonate outside City Hall. The decision will affect employee recruitment and retention in City Hall and private businesses in Memphis. Who wants to live in a community that does not value diversity in its workforce and community?

Despite yesterday’s vote, the City of Memphis Department of Human Resources will complete a study of discrimination in employment in every division of the city to include mistreatment based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression (SOGIE). If the study is fairly designed and implemented, the results will shed light on the problem that many of our City Council members have chosen to ignore. How will they respond to internal employee data that demonstrates LGBT discrimination? We’ll have to wait at least 6 months to find out.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I am particularly grateful to everyone who wrote letters and emails, made phone calls, attended hearings, marched for equality, donated to the cause, and recruited more advocates in support of the ENDO.

I also encourage everyone to take a moment to give thanks for the equality advocates on the Memphis City Council who supported equality without fail: Janis Fullilove, Shea Flinn, Wanda Halbert, Jim Strickland, Edmund Ford, Jr., and Myron Lowery. Send them a message at this link.

It’s also appropriate to tell the remaining members of the Memphis City Council that you will remember their failure to support equality in Memphis.

The next six months will not be a vacation from equality activism in Memphis. In addition to ensuring that the city's discrimination study is conducted fairly, TEP (and TEP PAC) will be laying the groundwork to ensure that the Memphis City Council represents the mainstream values of equality that most cities our size already demonstrate. As we prepare, be ready to contribute your time, talent and treasure to advance equality in the political and electoral process. We must support equality advocates in our government and in next year's city government elections.

-Jonathan Cole, TEP Board Chair

Misconceptions In Memphis

As you know, today we brought the NonDiscrimination Ordinance and Resolution before the Memphis City Council with the support of Councilwoman Janice Fullilove. Jonathan Cole of TEP and Dr. Steve Gaines of Bellevue Baptist Church were chosen to speak for each side of the discussion. After each spoke, there was further discussion that neither side was able to address given the time constraints of the meeting. These are my observations as to the issues that TEP needs to address further as we go forward through this process.

First, it would appear that Dr. Gaines and his colleagues are unclear on the difference between the Ordinance and the Resolution. The Ordinance protects only City employees, as Councilman Flinn tried to make clear.

Second, there seems to be some confusion about the term "gender expression". Dr. Gaines seemed to indicate that his understanding was related to flamboyant behavior, or some perceived stereotype of what gays and lesbians act like in a professional environment. The use of this term is commonly associated with transgender employees, but applies to all employees. It denotes how a person's gender identity is communicated to others, through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, voice, and emphasizing, de-emphasizing or changing physical characteristics.

For example, a heterosexual female employee who wears her hair short, little or no makeup, and never wears skirts to work might be perceived as being 'masculine' and assumed to be a lesbian based solely on her appearance. Such a perception by coworkers or managers may lead to the heterosexual employee being discriminated against on the basis of a perceived homosexuality where such perception is false.

Third, this Ordinance is being portrayed as being discriminatory to people of faith. While Dr. Gaines asserted that he did not speak for all Christians, he proceeded to present a decidedly Evangelical Christian point of view in which he claimed that Christians were being discriminated against because of their personal beliefs if they had to abide by this Ordinance. He spoke at length about Christian businessmen not being able to perform contracts with the City. Once again, Dr. Gaines was confusing the Ordinance and the Resolution.

This Ordinance requires that employees and managers refrain from discriminatory behavior in the workplace. Current federal law (Title VII) places a similar burden on a variety of faiths besides Christianity. For example, in some world religions such as Islam, women are forbidden to associate with single males without being chaperoned by a male relative. In the United States, however, a Muslim male manager could not discriminate against a female employee in hiring, promotion, or discharge based on his personal religious beliefs about the role of women in society.

Finally, there was a discussion about whether or not such discrimination has actually occurred in City employment. Some of the Council seemed to feel that, because no discrimination had been reported to Human Resources, that no discrimination exists. As someone about to enter the field of Labor and Employment Law, I receive inquiries from people who feel they are being discriminated against on a regular basis by private employers.

Unfortunately, neither federal or state law offers them any recourse with the EEOC, so there is no record of their complaints. City employees have no current recourse either, and to complain without protections in place is to invite retaliation in the workplace by those committing the offense. To conclude, that since no one is filing complaints that will not be heard, a lack of official complaints is equivalent to no discrimination occurring is disingenuous and illogical.

--

Michelle L. Bliss

Vice Chair, Tennessee Equality Project Shelby County Committee

Board Member, Tennessee Equality Project Statewide Board

Help TEP fight the lies and propaganda of the right wing

A Non-Discrimination Ordinance has not even been filed in the Memphis City Council, but a group called "Memphis City Churches" is already organizing against fairness and equality in the workplace.

Memphis City Churches has posted a petition on its website directed toward the Memphis City Council. The petition relies on erroneous propaganda and opposes any ordinance that establishes workplace equality for gay people.

When I look at their website, I notice that Memphis City Churches lists no one they claim to represent - individuals, pastors or churches. This "faceless" organization is spreading lies to the Memphis City Council without having the guts to step forward into the light. The devil quotes Scripture too.

Who's lurking in the shadows plotting against freedom in Jesus' name? A website of this sort costs money, but who is funding Memphis City Churches? If I were a pastor, priest, or church council member, I'd sure want to know.

In this fight for fairness and equality, we often don't know who we are up against. But we know they have deep pockets. Which is why it's so critical to support TEP's efforts to fight them. Consider making a contribution to support the work of TEP so that we'll always be ready to win legislative battles at the state and local level.

Family Action Council of TN raises funds to promote LGBT equality

By TEP’s count, 37 followers of David Fowler’s Family Action Council of Tennessee met earlier today at a local Memphis restaurant to plot against equal opportunity and fairness in Memphis and the State of Tennessee. Specifically, they gathered behind locked doors to review their legislative “accomplishments” in the Tennessee General Assembly and spread lies about the grass roots movement in Memphis for a Non-Discrimination Ordinance. The Memphis NDO will establish workplace protections for LGBT employees of the city and city contractors.

Little did they know that they were also doing their part to promote equal rights for the LGBT citizens of Tennessee. When Tennessee Equality Project learned that David Fowler and FACT were coming to Memphis, TEP’s Shelby County Committee issued a call for pledges of support. Supporters pledged to give a $1 or other amount to TEP for every person who attended the meeting. The Shelby County Committee of TEP wishes to thank everyone who made a pledge of support to TEP for this event. But we’d like to give special thanks to David Fowler for doing his part to promote LGBT equality in Tennessee.

If you missed your chance to pledge to TEP, it’s not too late. You can donate online at http://tnep.org/.

Family Action of TN turns its gaze toward Memphis

After Shelby County Government established workplace protections for LGBT county employees, the Family Action Council of Tennessee has turned it gaze to Memphis.

In an e-mail message this week, FAC President David Fowler issued an invitation to a July 10 lunch meeting at a Memphis restaurant to debrief followers about FAC’s activities in the Tennessee General Assembly. Fowler plans to share the “legislative victories, and challenges, that relate to our core values: the institution of marriage, family values, the sanctity of life, and religious liberty.” Fowler continued:

Also, everyone in Shelby County needs to know about looming local attempts to further the national gay rights agenda that could affect employees of Memphis City government as well as businesses, churches and other private employers.

Fowler must have missed that the movement to establish fairness and equality in Memphis and Shelby County is a local grass roots movement led by local leaders like you. FAC will also be in town to promote “The Truth Project”, a program designed by the national anti-gay industry’s Focus on the Family to misrepresent American history and culture and establish special rights and privileges for the far-right.

If hearing about these outside groups meddling in local affairs bothers you, you can take a stand against them.

Representatives of TEP plan to observe how many people attend Fowler's luncheon on July 10 without interfering (their meeting room can hold up to 75 people). FAC is free to meet and organize however they want, but we don’t have to sit back and do nothing.

Would you be willing to contribute $1, $5, or $10 to the Tennessee Equality Project for each adult who attends Fowler’s meeting? You decide the amount. Your contribution will further the grass roots movement to promote fairness and equality in Memphis, Shelby County and Tennessee.

Make a pledge today by emailing TEP’s Shelby County Committee at ShelbyCounty@tnequalityproject.com.

Support the Memphis Non-Discrimination Ordinance by making a contribution to TEP here. The Tennessee Equality Project is a 501c4 organization. Gifts to TEP are not deductible for purposes of federal income tax.

Let's build on our success

It's nothing new for TEP to offer comment on the news of the day. But for the first time in Memphis (perhaps all of Tennessee?), a major print publication makes TEP the main subject in the news.

The Commercial Appeal reporter paid us a key compliment in this story:

The TEP was founded only four years ago and reported about $37,000 in spending on its 2008 tax return. But it outmaneuvered opponents by mobilizing hundreds of people in favor of an ordinance meant to block job discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in Shelby County.

Think of what TEP could accomplish with an even bigger budget with contributions from you. Make a commitment to TEP now by making a contribution.

Let's do our part for fairness and equality in Shelby County

The Shelby County Commission is currently considering adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its non-discrmination ordinance.

We need your help to ensure that this historic and powerful measure passes.While action on the legislation will be deferred for three weeks, the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) and MGLCC have set a goal of collecting and sending 250 handwritten letters expressing support for the Non-Discrimination Ordinance to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

TEP and MGLCC invite you to become an active participant in the NDO Campaign with a kickoff that begins on Sunday, May 10, at 2 p.m. when you can learn how to advocate effectively for the NDO at upcoming Commission hearings.

Come by MGLCC at 892 South Cooper at the following times to write or drop off a personal letter to send to your Commissioners. Every single letter can make an impact.

Sunday May 10, 2:00-6:00 pm

Monday May 11 - Friday May 15, 6:00-9:00pm

Saturday/Sunday May 16/17, 2:00-6:00pm

Letter-writing materials and talking points will be provided at MGLCC for those who want to write personal letters to their Commissioners. You can also deliver your letter to MGLCC if you're in a rush. If you write it, we'll make sure your letter is delivered. Nothing beats a handwritten letter to get your message across.

Please contact Jonathan Cole from TEP or Will Batts from MGLCC for more information.

PLEASE HELP US REACH (OR SURPASS) OUR GOAL OF 250 LETTERS BY MAY 17. PASS THE MESSAGE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

The Shelby County Committee of Tennessee Equality Project invites you to celebrate Mardi Gras at Pearl's Oyster House and promote LGBT equality in our local community and state.

Enjoy fun, merriment and the tasty flavors of New Orleans cuisine while promoting a worthy cause. TEP will provide a spread of tasty treats with cash bar. Mardi Gras beads and attire are encouraged. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 299 South Main Street in Downtown Memphis.

TEP is moving forward with plans to promote Non-Discrimination Ordinances in Memphis and Nashville and fight anti-LGBT legislation at the state and local level. Citizens from Shelby County and all over Tennessee just completed another successful Advancing Equality Day on the Hill in Nashville. We engaged lawmakers on several bills affecting the LGBT community including an adoption ban bill that would "prohibit any individual who is cohabitating in a sexual relationship outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state from adopting a minor."

Help us fight this bill and other anti-LGBT legislation! Your support is needed to advance and protect LGBT rights in our state ($25 to $50 suggested donation). If you can't attend the party but want to support TEP's efforts in Memphis and elsewhere in the state, take a moment to donate online.

Contributions to TEP's 501(c)(4) lobbying organization are not tax-deductible.

For more information contact TEP at 901.301.3306 or shelbycounty@tnequalityproject.com.

Let the good times roll!

MGLCC supports Duanna Johnson and Community

A chorus of many speaks with one voice. The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center issued this statement today:

The MGLCC board of directors has been following the events surrounding the brutal beating of a transgender woman by two Memphis police officers. We find these events unacceptable and we hope the police department will continue taking appropriate corrective action beyond the firing of the police officers involved. This kind of behavior can never be tolerated and must be addressed in a comprehensive way.

We have been in contact with and support the lead of local organizations such as Tennessee Equality Project, Women's Action Coalition, and the Midsouth Peace and Justice Center, who've made and continue working on several requests for change and accountability.

On Monday, June 23 these groups along with many people from the community met at First Congregational Church to discuss a plan for action. Many of our board members were in attendance.

MGLCC plans to be actively involved in helping formulate the next steps by having representatives attend and be supportive at the next meeting.

The 2nd Community Assembly will be held next Monday, June 30th at 6PM at the First Congregational Church. We strongly encourage our community to come show their support for this GLBT and civil rights injustice.

The Old Testament Prophet Amos said it best: "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." - Amos 5:24 NRSV

Triangle Journal Movers and Shakers

The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center held a kickoff for its HOME membership campaign at the Center for Southernn Folklore last night. During the reception the community center recognized the 2008 Triangle Journal Movers and Shakers which included a few of Tennessee's legislators and the two Co-Chairs of the Shelby County Committee:

Dr. Marty Acree

Sean Alexander

Terryl Buckner

Jeff Childress & Rick Johns

Congressman Steve Cohen

Jonathan Cole & Tommy Simmons

Allen Cook

Casey

Susan Mackenzie

State Senator Bevery Marrero

The Rev. Tim Meadows

Carmen Mills

Bianca Phillips

Darian Porter

State Representative Jeanne Richardson

Wendi C. Thomas

Shane Trice

Dr. Herb Zeman

Felipe Zuvichaux

Learn more about the 2008 Movers and Shakers in the April 2008 issue of Triangle Journal.

Letter to Memphis City Council

The Shelby County Committee of TEP sent the following letter to Memphis City Council Chairman Scott McCormick regarding the police beating of Duanna Johnson.

June 21, 2008

Councilman Scott McCormick
Memphis City Council
125 North Main Street, Room 514
Memphis, TN 38103

Dear Council Chairman McCormick,

I write to you on behalf of the Shelby County Committee of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), a statewide organization dedicated to promoting and sustaining the equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens (GLBT).

The members of TEP share the concern of many in the community over the brutal Feb. 12 attack on Duanna Johnson, a transgender African American female who was beaten by officers while in the custody of Memphis Police Department.

TEP is pleased to learn that the Memphis Police Department has begun an investigation of the incident and pursued action against the two officers involved.

We understand that the behavior of these two officers is not representative of the Memphis Police Department and recognize the important and difficult work that Memphis police officers perform every day in our city. We want to make sure, however, that the MPD has done all it can to prevent future violence toward GLBT citizens of Memphis, including the following:

• The Shelby County Committee TEP calls upon the MPD to strengthen its requirements for diversity training. Many people of diverse cultures, traditions, ethnicities, and backgrounds call Memphis home and visit Memphis events and attractions. Memphis Police Department officers and staff must treat all people with respect and dignity regardless of race, gender, culture, religion, age, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. TEP believes that MPD employees must receive immediate, mandatory sensitivity training in working with the diverse citizens of Memphis.
  


• The Shelby County Committee of TEP also calls for the MPD to reappoint a GLBT liaison to improve communication and relations with the community. Several years ago, the MPD appointed a community liaison to work with GLBT citizens and organizations. Since that time, the liaison has left the department.
  

Finally, the Shelby County Committee of TEP requests that the Memphis City Council hold a special committee hearing to follow-up on the results of the MPD investigation of this incident. The MPD’s actions in this matter cannot be limited to investigation and termination of the officers involved in this terrible incident. Efforts must be made to ensure systemic changes in MPD policy.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Cole
Co-Chair of the Shelby County Committee of TEP

Cc: Memphis City Council, Mayor Willie W. Herenton, Press, Christopher Sanders, President of TEP