Shelby County Schools quietly enacted LGBT-inclusive protections in June of 2013

Did you know that when the Memphis City Schools were absorbed into the Shelby County School system, MCS students lost enumerated anti-bullying protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression?

Anti-bullying protections weren't fully enumerated in Shelby County School policy at the time of unification.

In response, Tammy Ferguson Green (mother of a Shelby County School student) and Bri Kirwan (a Shelby County School student) spoke to the unified Memphis and Shelby County School Board on September 27, 2012 to urge revision of the anti-bullying policy.

Guess what? They listened.

It appears that the policy was quietly revised in June 2013 to include LGBT-inclusive protections against bullying.

Thanks Tammy! Thanks Bri!

Watch their presentation from September 27, 2012 below:

What happens when we discover the cause of sexual orientation?

The recent UT study which used mathematical modeling to show links between epi-markers on genes and sexual orientation led me to raise questions with Darrell Greene on Fox 13 in Memphis last night:


This new report revisits an old question: What causes sexual orientation? I personally side with nature over nurture as a cause along with many other gay, lesbian and bisexual people. Others claim they had a choice. This study also raises new questions:

• Whether sexual orientation is determined by genes or epi-markers on genes, what do we do when and if that question is settled?
• What would parents do, if their doctor tells them that an epi-marker test projected they will have a gay or lesbian child?
• What if we had the medical technology to ensure that certain epi-markers were "switched on" for a particular orientation?
• Would such knowledge lead to genetic engineering to eliminate homosexuality or bisexuality in newborns? 

After struggling with homophobia for many years, I finally came to the conclusion that a person's orientation is a morally neutral phenomenon. In my personal experience, I find being gay to be a gift. Being gay brings a perspective that enriches my life and career. I believe it would be wrong to terminate a pregnancy if parents learn that that unborn child will be gay, lesbian or bisexual. I also think it would be unethical to apply "treatments" to an unborn child that would ensure heterosexuality.

Our society needs to explore these matters more deeply before a cause for sexual orientation is known. We need an ethical framework for new discoveries that will have profound social and political consequences for gay, straight, lesbian and bisexual people. What do you think?

 - 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

"It's a choice." Lingering negative effects of an argument without basis

Michael Cass reports in today's Tennessean about last night's Metro Council meeting in which the Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination was briefly discussed with respect to its being deferred until Feb. 15. He relates the comments of Councilman Mike Jameson, one of the sponsors, on the whole "Is sexual orientation a choice?" issue:

Councilman Mike Jameson, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said opposition to the proposal tends to stem from the belief that homosexuality is a choice. He asked critics to spend the next two weeks thinking about whether that's true."I would submit to you that … no, it is not a choice," he said.

Sadly enough, the erroneous belief that sexual orientation is a choice is having negative effects in a number of policy debates in Tennessee. The argument goes something like this: It's a choice and it's a bad choice so why would we want to protect "homosexual behavior" by law?

Well, I'm going to leave it to the experts at the American Psychological Association to handle this one. But before I do, I need to remind everyone that religion, which is a protected class, is a choice. Now back to the APA:

Is sexual orientation a choice?

No, human beings cannot choose to be either gay or straight. For most people, sexual orientation emerges in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed.

Can therapy change sexual orientation?

No; even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some homosexual or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy, often coerced by family members or religious groups to try and do so. The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable. However, not all gay, lesbian, and bisexual people who seek assistance from a mental health professional want to change their sexual orientation. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people may seek psychological help with the coming out process or for strategies to deal with prejudice, but most go into therapy for the same reasons and life issues that bring straight people to mental health professionals.

What about so-called "conversion therapies"?

Some therapists who undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they have been able to change their clients' sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Close scrutiny of these reports, however show several factors that cast doubt on their claims. For example, many of these claims come from organizations with an ideological perspective that condemns homosexuality. Furthermore, their claims are poorly documented; for example, treatment outcome is not followed and reported over time, as would be the standard to test the validity of any mental health intervention.

The American Psychological Association is concerned about such therapies and their potential harm to patients. In 1997, the Association's Council of Representatives passed a resolution reaffirming psychology's opposition to homophobia in treatment and spelling out a client's right to unbiased treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to deal with issues of sexual orientation has a right to expect that such therapy will take place in a professionally neutral environment, without any social bias.

-Chris Sanders (with lots of help from the APA)

Hate crime report alarming

A hat tip to Mr. Kleinheider for making us aware of the TBI's 2008 Hate Crime Report.

As we have noted before, this document does not include bias offenses based on gender identity or expression. So the Duanna Johnson case is likely not included in the figures, but the report does include crimes based on "sexual bias."

The reports findings are truly disturbing. In 2006 and 2007, there were 54 sexual bias hate crimes. In 2008 that number jumped to 61, which is an increase of 13%. 25 of the incidents were directed at gay men, 15 directed at lesbians, 18 directed at gays and lesbians (perhaps an attack on a group of people), 1 directed at a straight person, and 2 directed at bisexual persons (p. 5). The victims of sexual bias crimes were young in 2008. 20 of them were between the ages of 18 and 24. 26 of the incidents occurred on a Friday or a Saturday, which makes me think attacks at bars make up a large part of the number.

In 2008 hate crimes took place against gays and lesbians in the following jurisdictions: Anderson County, Cleveland, Collierville, Covington, Dickson, Elizabethton, Franklin, Gordonsville, Hamilton County, Humboldt, Huntland, Johnson City, Knoxville, Lawrenceburg, Memphis, Milan, Millington, Morristown, Oak Ridge, Red Bank, Shelby County, Soddy Daisy, Sparta, Vanderbilt University, Warren County, and Washington County (p. 17).

Not only is this problem clearly on the rise in Tennessee, but it affects rural and urban areas in all three Grand Divisions of our State. Passing the Matthew Shepard Act at the federal level and Rep. Jeanne Richardson and Sen. Beverly Marrero's bill at the state level would help increase the safety of more people in Tennessee.

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.

Will parents soon be able to screen the unborn for sexual orientation?

William Saletan has a must-read article in Slate examining the moral, religious and political implications of the latest scientific studies of the potential causes of homsexuality. Many studies have ruled out genetic differences between homosexual and heterosexual people. Scientists are now focusing more on hormonal influences on fetal development. Parents could soon be faced with a decision to prevent a homosexual orientation of their unborn children:

Would hormonal intervention work in humans? Should we try it? Some thinkers are intrigued. Last year, Rev. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote: "If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use." Mohler told the Associated Press that morally, this would be no different from curing fetal blindness or any other "medical problem." Rev. Joseph Fessio, editor of the press that publishes the Pope's work, agreed: "Same-sex activity is considered disordered. If there are ways of detecting diseases or disorders of children in the womb … that respected the dignity of the child and mother, it would be a wonderful advancement of science."

If the idea of chemically suppressing homosexuality in the womb horrifies you, I have bad news: You won't be in the room when it happens. Parents control medical decisions, and surveys indicate that the vast majority of them would be upset to learn that their child was gay. Already, millions are screening embryos and fetuses to eliminate those of the "wrong" sex. Do you think they won't screen for the "wrong" sexual orientation, too?

Very scary.