Australian marriage ad everyone's talking about, TN Tech students against bullying, another swipe at HB600

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  Here's your weekend roundup.

Australian marriage campaign ad moves the world:  You would have to have avoided Facebook for the last three days or not known any gay people to have missed this compelling ad for the campaign for marriage equality in Australia.  I can't tell you the number of people, straight and gay, who posted "It's Time" over the weekend:



TEP wishes the Australians the best of luck as they get closer to marriage equality!  Spreading the ad around Tennessee can't hurt our own chances for advancing some forms of relationship recognition around here, by the way, even if they don't amount to full marriage equality.

Tennessee Tech students take on bullying:  The Herald-Citizen out of Cookeville has a great piece on a conference being organized by some Tennessee Tech students coming up in January. The conference deals with bullying that targets the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community as well as other minority communities and the topic of cyber-bullying: 

Why should Putnam County be interested in bullying?

"Because it affects everyone," [conference co-organizer Justin] Sweatman said. "Even if you're not a student or parent, you are still in a community where students are being bullied, and it's your responsibility."

And the conference isn't just for locals -- it's a statewide affair.

"Problems don't stop at county lines," Sweatman said. "Bullying is everywhere. But if we can start at home, maybe awareness will spread."

It's always a major win when a local newspaper provides this kind of coverage of an equality issue in Tennessee.  It helps change the attitudes of citizens and it sends a great signal to lawmakers representing the area.

Francois takes swipe at HB600:  In today's Tennessean, former Metro Nashville Council candidate Renard Francois knocks the Legislature over HB600, the Special Access to Discriminate law that nullified Metro's Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance, in the course of taking on another state bill that would usurp local control in the area of property taxes: 

This is not the first time the state government has attempted to interfere and undermine the collective will of Davidson County. Last year, the state government simply overturned Nashville’s anti-discrimination ordinance despite robust countywide debate.

Yep, we hope more people will continue to notice the pattern and realize we should have all been trying to stop that train sooner.  But there is still time to fight for legitimate local control.  I hope that all the lobbying interests that are supposed to protect local government--and not the four largest cities in state that did an admirable job this year--get more involved in 2012.

The issue lives.  The press has largely done its job of helping make the citizens of Tennessee realize that they are being usurped.  It's up to all of us to start defending our right to shape our own communities throughout Tennessee.

-Chris Sanders






 

Debating the South, Transgender Day of Remembrance, and GSAs

Southern questions:  There's a vigorous discussion going on today at our Facebook page about whether it's appropriate to generalize that the South is "ignorant" or "hateful" and so on.  Such a characterization ignores the countless people fighting back and working for change.  It also enables the tendency of many in the country to write off our region and not bother assisting with the change we readily acknowledge we need.  What do you think?  Log in and join the discussion.


Transgender Day of Remembrance:  It's so vitally important that there is a day to bring into focus all the members of the transgender community that we have lost to violence.  Maryville held its first event yesterday, the same day  Memphis held its annual event.  Nashville's observance at Vanderbilt was earlier last week.  Bianca Phillips makes it clear why it's such an important annual reminder in Tennessee:

Duanna Johnson. Tiffany Berry. Ebony Whitaker. These three transgender women were killed in Memphis over the past six years, and they're a small number in the hundreds of transgender homicide victims nationally.

Passing laws that include gender identity and increasing awareness are life and death matters in our state and around the world.

GSA of Greater Nashville kicks off:   WSMV covered the first meeting of the Gay Straight Alliance of Greater Nashville yesterday and its unique form of organization is likely to get some notice:

Organizers say this is the first community GSA in the United States, as most GSAs are only offered in schools.
While the group is open to everyone, they cater to Nashville residents under 25.

This development is another example of imaginative leadership from our youth.

-Chris Sanders

"Don't tell the Chamber or TEP," says Family Action PLUS the protest of a Morristown transgender woman

Worst kept secret:  The Tennessean delves into the Family Action Council's correspondence with state lawmakers uncovered in the court challenge to HB600, which overturned Metro Nashville Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance.  They thought no one knew what they were up to:

Fowler wrote the group again on Jan. 29 after meeting with chamber officials.
“I felt it was pretty clear that they did not like the ordinance but didn’t want to come across as homophobes or send the country a signal that Nashville was not a great city for all people — was inclusive,” Fowler wrote. “In my opinion the Chamber is clearly trying to document ‘good reasons’ to oppose the bill that anyone with any common sense, regardless of where they stand on the ethic of homosexual conduct, could see are valid concerns.”
Again, Fowler concluded the email by asking recipients not to share it.
“We sure don’t need any loose lips getting word to the Chamber about what I think and for sure not (the Tennessee Equality Project)!” he wrote.

Let's bracket their interpretation of the Chamber's views for now.  The issue is that Family Action officials thought they were fooling people, even TEP, which is odd since everyone knew they were lobbying against the Metro ordinance when it was working its way through the Council.  The intent was clear from the beginning--to keep local governments from protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees in their jurisdictions throughout Tennessee.  Although it was no secret, it's clear that Family Action thought discrimination should remain a secret.  SAD!

Transgender woman protests double standard:   WATE is reporting that Andrea Jones, a transgender woman from Morristown, protested the refusal of the DMV to change the sex designation on her licesnse, by taking off her blouse for which she was arrested.

Of course, this puts officials in an odd position.  It's not considered indecent exposure for a male to go shirtless, but in arresting Andrea, they are treating her as a woman...until she tried to get the gender marker changed on her license when she was considered male.  I don't see how they can have it both ways, which is exactly the point of Andrea's protest. 

Secrets and doubles standards are the tools of discrimination in Tennessee!

-Chris Sanders

We are the 60%: Marriage inequality in TN and our options

ThinkProgress takes a look at a New York Times editorial lauding the recent Senate Judiciary Committee vote to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act.  The title of their post says it all:  "60 Percent of Americans Live in Places That Don't Offer Protections For Gay Couples."  29 states, including Tennessee, bar same-sex marriage via

Image from the Repeal Tennessee's Marriage

Amendment Facebook page

constitutional amendment.  They also include a map ominously called "The Geography of Discrimination."  Again, that's about as clear as it gets.

What can we do in Tennessee?  That's where things ain't so clear.   Here are our options for advancing marriage equality.  Nothing is easy or likely about any of them.

1.  Move our current Congressional delegation on DOMA.  We have a couple of Congressmen who might be persuaded to back repeal of DOMA--Cohen and Cooper.  I wouldn't take such a move for granted.  Our two U.S. Senators aren't fire-breathing Right wingers, but it would be an extremely heavy lift to move either one of them on DOMA.  Senator Alexander is starting to show more of his trademark moderation and independence.  And it's always good for more constituents to let him and Senator Corker, for that matter, know that they oppose DOMA, but don't hold your breath.

2.  Elect new anti-DOMA members to our Congressional delegation.  Defeating any of the decidedly pro-DOMA Senators or Congressmen with an anti-DOMA opponent also seems unlikely.  If Congressman DesJarlais goes down in defeat, it will likely be in the primary to another Right winger.  Tea Partiers talk about challenging Senator Corker, but we still don't know whether a viable Democrat will get in the race.  And even if one does, the odds are low that such a candidate would oppose DOMA--a lesson we learned in 2006.  Could the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community raise the $25,000+ in a House race or the $50,000+ needed to get the attention of a candidate in one of these races?  Yes, it could be done.  It seems unlikely to happen, though.  And even if it did, the anti-DOMA candidate has to win and stick to his or her position. 

3. Repeal Tennessee's amendment.  I'll offer the warning again:  Don't hold your breath.  To repeal a constitutional amendment is to amend the TN Constitution again.  That takes passing a resolution in two consecutive sessions and the second time you have to have two thirds of each House.  So we've got to elect, reelect, or persuade 33 Senators and 66 Representatives.  Are we willing to raise (and this is a conservative estimate) $10,000 for each of the 66 House races and $25,000 for each of the 33 Senate races?  First, I want to say that it could be done.  But I don't think it would happen because our community has shown more willingness to invest our political dollars out of state.  Additionally, all our candidates would have to win and then vote with us in two consecutive sessions.  If a miracle happened and the resolution passed, we would still have to win at the ballot.  Oh, and one last thing, we'd still have to repeal a state statute defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.  They spent over $3 Million in New York on ads designed to move Republicans in their legislative efforts.  Daunting!

4.  See you in court.  If DOMA is struck down in a court challenge, that would help ease another court challenge to Tennessee's state constitutional amendment and statute.  I'm not an attorney, but my hunch is that it is through the courts that Tennessee will achieve marriage equality.  But I'll let the legal experts weigh in on that one.

The deck is definitely stacked against us, but it's always up to us to decide what to do. There's no doubt in my mind that we could raise the money and volunteer army needed to make a move in 1 to 4 federal races.  That would increase the odds for desperately needed votes out of Tennessee's congressional delegation to pass the Respect for Marriage Act.  As I said, my doubts hinge on our ability to get that kind of agreement and focus statewide. 

I may very well have missed an option.  If so, let's get it out there on the table and discuss it.  Maybe that would help contribute to a statewide consensus so we could develop a plan of action to make our contribution to the movement for marriage equality in Tennessee. 

I'm in.  Are you?

-Chris Sanders

Weekend Roundup: Rutherford Rep urges purge; civic pride

Mercifully, as far as I know, no Tennessee public official did or said anything incredibly embarrassing when it comes to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community this weekend.  Sadly, though, that energy was used to attack another group.

Don't Ask, Don't Pray Five Times a Day?:  I believe ThinkProgress broke the story over the weekend of State Rep. Rick Womick of Rutherford County calling for a purge of Muslims from the military.  Here's the video: 



Every citizen should be concerned about this kind of rhetoric.  It inflames existing stereotypes and suspicions and it also inspires legislative proposals.  Do I think any kind of bill banning Muslims from the military would pass or, if it did, pass constitutional muster in the courts?  No, of course not.  But I wouldn't be surprised to learn that a resolution had been filed in the General Assembly urging Congress to administer loyalty tests and the like.

I also look at this issue through the prism of the recent Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal, which social conservatives fought for years (some still are fighting it).  If you can ban a whole class of people from the military, you can reinforce the argument that they aren't patriotic citizens and that some of their other rights can be taken away.  Circular logic, to be sure.

And that brings us to...

Civic Pride:  The constant stream of embarrassments emanating almost weekly from our red state officials is a strong inducement for many of us to retreat into the refuge of our cities.  Our cities aren't perfect by a long shot.  They have petty squabbles, minor scandals, budget woes, etc.  But they tend not to cause nearly the same level of angst in the area of human rights and human relations as our state officials.  At this point, it's far easier to get Tennessee's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community involved in city politics than it is in state politics because we can see positive results flowing directly from our actions like the election of Lee Harris to the Memphis City Council.  We're not giving up on the state by any means, but it's nice to have a refuge from the storm.  Beyond politics what we are beginning to see in Tennessee's larger cities is that our open participation in the ordinary life of the city is not some revolutionary act.  It's just business as usual.  

Team TEP

Our Nashville committee participated in the Mayor's Challenge 5K Walk/Run this weekend.  The organizers didn't hesitate to invite us to form a team a few months ago and there were no gasps when we donned our TEP stickers at the event.  The word "equality" doesn't bring to mind the blood bath of the French Revolution to most city dwellers.  That's perhaps a fantasy of the suburbs.  It was just another day and we were just one of dozens of other groups showing our civic pride.  And that, my friends, is what the so called "gay agenda" is all about.  Equal rights, equal participation until it becomes no big deal.

-Chris Sanders

Memphis Council runoff today, Rogero talks inclusion, Vanderbilt's non-discrimination policy up for consideration?

Memphis:  The long campaign season comes to an end in Memphis today with the runoff for City Council district 7 between Lee Harris, endorsed by TEP PAC, and Kemba Ford.  Both campaigns are predicting a "nail-biter," according to the Commercial Appeal. If you live in this district, please, get out and vote.  The Commercial Appeal link provides you links with information on polling locations and hours.

Knoxville:  On the other end of I-40, the Metro Pulse says Mayor-elect Madeline Rogero was talking inclusion shortly after her victory: 

In her victory speech to hundreds of cheering supporters at the Foundry Tuesday night, Rogero emphasized again the reach of her campaign. “Tonight we come together, as we did throughout this campaign, representing a broad and deep cross-section of Knoxville residents,” she said. “We ran a campaign of inclusiveness, from white collar to blue collar, from labor to management, from every neighborhood north, south, east, west, and downtown. We welcome people of all races and colors, gay and straight, people of all abilities, people from the youngest to the oldest.
“From the youngest to the oldest,” she continued, “from the richest to the poorest, because all of us are Knoxville. And Knoxville will only become greater if all of us are involved.”

These are words that I wish everyone in Tennessee would hear from his or her mayor and, frankly, from Governor Haslam.  Unfortunately, you can count on one hand the number of executives in the state who are comfortable saying something like Rogero did on election night.  But what a great message to come out of East Tennessee! And in the end, it's really an easy message to share once a candidate or elected official decides to cross the mark.

Vanderbilt:  It's been no secret that Right wing groups like the Congressional Prayer Caucus and the Family Action Council have been putting pressure on Vanderbilt over its decision to apply its non-discrimination policy to all officially recognized and funded campus organizations.  What I'm hearing from some employees is that they believe that the Board of Trust, which is meeting this week, may consider scaling back the application of the policy.  If they do, it will be a step back and then the bad publicity will really begin. 

We have taken the step of urging people to contact Vanderbilt and offer support for the policy.  You can do so at this link. 

Change.org|Start an Online Petition »

Another busy week for our work for equality in all three grand divisions of Tennessee!

-Chris Sanders

Morning brief: Perez, UK on West TN make up flap; Gay marriage play tonight; anti-gay bomb in Kelsey bill

Welcome to the first weekday morning under the new time change.  We've got the links and analysis you need to start your week.

Kasey Landrum story goes big:  The story of Kasey Landrum, the Lexington high school student suspended for wearing make up at school is going national, even international.  Perez Hilton has picked it up with lots of boos for the principal.  "Awful," says Hilton.   And, yes, the story has now crossed the pond.  The Daily Mail reported it over the weekend.  The Pink News (UK) has run a story this morning, discussing the sudden reversal of the principal's repressive make up policy after it was brought to the public's attention.  They quote the district superintendent:

Superintendent Wilkinson, of Henderson County, said: ‘I guess that the easiest thing to do would be to go to a standard policy but we have in the past given a little freedom to our children and their parents about what they choose the wear.’

Good move, Mr. Wilkinson.

image from The Nashville Scene

"Gay marriage" play comes to Nashville Church:   "Standing on Ceremony:  The Gay Marriage Plays" comes to First Church Unity in Nashville tonight only, according to the Nashville Scene.  7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Anti-gay bomb in Kelsey bill:  As we mentioned over the weekend, State Sen. Brian Kelsey has filed SB2149, which would prevent any city or county in Tennessee from passing an ordinance making family leave, wage, or health insurance requirements for the private sector.  While there are some such ordinances in Tennessee (not many), there is no flood of proposals in local governments around the state.  But I believe there may be some anti-gay bias in the bill.  I wonder whether it is really filed to prevent any city or county from requiring its contractors to provide health insurance for domestic partners, as Austin does.  The discussion came up in a public forum with a leader of Family Action on the eve of the third reading of the Metro Nashville Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance.  The leader in question feared partner benefits was next.  Furthermore, the House companion bill to SB2149 will be carried by Rep. Glen Casada whose work against equality is notorious.  It's worth mentioning that Sen. Kelsey's voting record isn't exactly pro-equality.  We'll be watching this bill.

Have a great week!

-Chris

Lawsuits, Occupy Nashville, boys in make up, coalitions, Sheryl Crow--Fighting back in a red state

The majority of voters and the majority of elected state officials are decidedly right of center in Tennessee.  Whether a true majority of the state goes red is another question.  Every month Tennessee finds a new way to become famous in the national media for embodying this bent in our public policy. 

How do you fight back in a situation like this? 

Lawsuits:  If the Legislature and the Governor are trampling your rights, you can take ‘em to court.  That’s what a group of plaintiffs including TEP have done in our challenge to HB600.  The worst case scenario is that we put our opponents on the defensive as they have to reexplain and redefend their discriminatory actions.  In the best case scenario, we win and the law is struck down.  The Occupy Nashville movement is already seeing results from their court challenge to the administration’s efforts to shut down their protests.  

We will likely have a red majority for at least ten years, so I would assume court challenges to bad legislation and bad policy will become business as usual for the foreseeable future.

Occupy Nashville:  Three members of TEP’s Nashville Committee have been involved in the protests.  So it’s a topic we watch very closely.  By sustaining their protest over several weeks, the participants have forced the hand of the state thereby showing the public in a very concrete way how much our state government has been overreaching since January.  By ordering the arrest of peaceful protesters on public property, the state has generated more disgust with state government than all the negative legislation that has appeared this year.  Maybe it’s time more issue specific strands of the progressive community take a page from this example.

Kasey Landrum photo from WKRN

Make up:  If you really want to make some principals angry in Tennessee, all you have to do is wear a shirt supportive of a Gay/Straight Alliance, as a student in East TN did, or wear make up, as Kasey Landrum a student in West TN did.  Youth really are fighting on the front lines of equality.  It’s sad that some adults get angrier about self-expression than low tests scores and other real problems in our schools.  Self-expression is becoming a form of everyday fighting back in Tennessee.  Its value, besides just letting a person be comfortable in his or her own skin, is to make right wingers overreach in their response, which has the effect of clarifying everyone’s rights.  And that takes the issue beyond a mere expression of the self and into the realm of commonly held values relating to the First Amendment. 

Coalitions:  Sometimes organizations have to focus strictly on their own issues and sometimes it is beneficial to work in coalition and cast issues more broadly.  I believe it is time for equality advocates, labor advocates, and local government advocates to work together to advance SB2121 and fight SB2149 in the Legislature.  SB2121 would restore the right of cities and counties to add to their non-discrimination ordinances, a right taken away from them by HB600 that passed this year.  SB2149 prevents cities and counties from passing ordinances related to health insurance, family leave, and wages.  Labor, equality, and local government defenders ought to make a pact to work together on both bills for the common good.  Creative alliances make sense during these tough times.

Sheryl Crow:  But I’ve saved the real creativity for last.  Maybe we need to get more creative in candidate recruiting.  I think Sheryl Crow ought to run for the TN House of Representatives from Williamson County.  She’s getting more involved in philanthropic efforts in Franklin and she’s had a high profile as an activist on many issues. 

I know what you’re saying.  The Legislature isn’t big time enough for Sheryl Crow.  But I would say our state government is garnering a lot of media attention and it’s a good platform for someone to address the real hot button issues—attacks on teachers, voter disenfranchisement, nullifying local equality ordinances, guns everywhere, defunding family planning, and cutting unemployment benefits.  If Sheryl Crow entered the race, she could shine even more light on what’s going on in Tennessee.  And if she won, I suspect it would be a little bit harder to find a lead sponsor for some of the nut bar bills we’ve seen over the last year.  We might even get a song out of it.  So if you’re reading, Ms. Crow, give it a shot, give us a chance!

There’s no doubt we need to fight back.  I believe we will.  The only question is how we’ll do it. 

-Chris Sanders

Welcoming Family Action to Nashville

Dear Members of the Family Action Council of Tennessee:

On behalf of equality loving citizens throughout Nashville, I want to welcome you to Music City today for your Stand for Truth event. 

I think you’ll find Nashville a welcoming city for everyone.  In case you forgot just how welcoming we are, I’d like to take a moment to remind you: 

• In 2008 the Metropolitan Board of Public Education unanimously adopted non-discrimination policies for teachers and students protecting them from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Voters overwhelmingly rejected an English Only charter amendment in 2009.
• That same year the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County adopted a non-discrimination ordinance protecting government employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• This year, with the support of over 70 congregations, businesses, and community and labor organizations, the Metropolitan Government adopted another non-discrimination ordinance protecting employees of government contractors from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• In August the Council passed a resolution honoring high school students protesting the Don’t Say Gay bill.
• When the Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging them to do so, the Metropolitan Law Department announced that it will file an amicus brief in the court challenge to HB600, the Special Access to Discriminate law, that nullified our contractor non-discrimination ordinance.

I know that your events end on Saturday afternoon, but I invite you to stay longer and join us for some pre-Halloween bar hopping on Church Street tonight. The costumes are going to be FABULOUS!  And if you’ve got a little more time, visit one of our many affirming congregations for worship on Sunday morning.  

WELCOME TO NASHVILLE!

-Chris Sanders

Family Action non sequitur of the day: School sex ed leads to funding for HIV+ prisoners?

The notion of cause and effect has fallen on hard times over at the Family Action Council. 

Can someone help our friends over at FACT with this?

In a recent blog post, they're trying to make a point that social issues translate into fiscal issues, which in turn affects the economy.   But the connection they attempt to make can only be linked if one chooses to indulge in magical thinking.

They discuss the rise in HIV among young people in Middle Tennessee and say that we shouldn't be surprised because of condom instruction that has taken place in Metro Nashville schools.  I'm not making this up.  Go to their post and read it.  

But then the connection completely collapses when they shift from young people in Middle TN (which includes more than Davidson County, by the way) to the cost of the federal government funding three positions to coordinate the treatment of HIV+ prisoners when they are released, as reported in a Tennessean article.

They conclude by asking coyly:  "Still want to say that divisive social issues like sex education in our schools has no fiscal effect?  Hope not."

What on earth does sex education in schools have to do with the treatment of HIV+ prisoners?

It's no wonder they want to quash the subpoenas in the court challenge to HB600.  I wouldn't want to answer direct questions if I thought that's how the world worked either.

-Chris Sanders

Using small business to shield discrimination

Photo from Out & About Newspaper

Friday's Human Rights Campaign / Tennessee Equality Project press conference with state and local lawmakers resulted in a couple of quick gains for the cause of equality in Tennessee.

First, State Representative Brenda Gilmore announced that she would be a House sponsor of SB2121, the bill filed by Sen. Jim Kyle to repeal HB600, which nullified the Metro Nashville Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance.  If passed, it would give us the status quo ante.   Any sober observer realizes that the effort to pass SB2121 faces an uphill climb.  Nevertheless the development represents progress because before Friday there was no House sponsor.  Whether you look at it as a one yard gain or a first down, it's an advance.

Second, it put the opposition on the defensive and caused them to show a few of their cards.  They have now backtracked from a general pro-business argument to a defense of small business argument.  In light of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce's reversal on HB600, the right wing has lost half its shield.  They have retreated to hiding behind only one segment of the business community.  As WSMV's Cara Kumari reported on Friday:

"It just creates an environment for businessmen. So, no, it passed with bipartisan support and in this environment I just don't see it getting out of subcommittee," Rep. Glen Casada said.
Casada says this bill isn't for the Fortune 500 companies, it was passed for the small businesses. 

The problems with this line of defense are numerous, however.

*The history is inaccurate.  Supporters of HB600 did not make just a small business argument when they were advancing the bill.  They made a general business argument.  I can understand why they would want to hide their retreat, but the support of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, several of whose board members come from Fortune 500 companies, was trumpeted on the House floor.

*The Metro ordinance had a small business exemption.

*47 businesses (most of them small) supported the Metro ordinance, and they even supported it before the small business exemption was put into the bill.

*NFIB surveys of small business owners consistently reveal that poor or low sales are their number one concern with regulation registering lower.  And by the way, when these business owners do indicate that regulation is a problem, they are typically talking about federal health and safety regulations, not local non-discrimination ordinances.

*Austin example disproves the negative effect on business, small and large.  I've said it many times before, but Austin has a non-discrimination ordinance even stronger than the one Nashville passed and its economy is poised better than just about any other in the South to weather our current conditions.  

HB600 never had any credible business rationale.  It was always about preventing local governments from protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people from job discrimination.  Hiding behind small businesses won't cut it.

-Chris Sanders

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:

Give Hate a Holiday - the event that almost wasn't.

Yesterday, hate crime became real for me. First, you should know the City of Tupelo witnessed an extraordinary affair. "Give Hate a Holiday" helped "raise visibility and public awareness about the lives and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Mississippi and throughout the South, and [helped] build support for ongoing local, state, and regional efforts to make our communities more just, inclusive, humane, and safe for LGBT [people] . . ." http://outinthesilence.blogspot.com/2011/08/give-hate-holiday-tupelo-or-bust.html. TEP co-sponsored the event with a coalition of groups including the Link Centre of Tupelo (former home of Harrisburg Baptist Church), the Unitarian Universal Congregation of Tupelo, PFLAG of Tupelo, PFLAG Oxford/University, PFLAG Gulf Region, and the Universal Unitarian Association of Congregations "Standing on the Side of Love" campaign. http://standingonthesideoflove.org. Tupelo served as the point location because it is the home of the notoriously anti-gay and Southern Poverty Law Center [SPLC] designated hate group, American Family Association. The Link Centre which occupies the former Harrisburg Baptist Church building hosted the event. link-centre.org.

We began the day with a well attended news conference covered by WCBI out of Columbus. Neither WTVA of Tupelo nor the local paper the Daily Journal made an appearance. The paper clearly had notice of the event as Tim Wildmon, president of AFA, had written a letter to the editor the day before. Nevertheless, Bob Spencer, a lay minister with the Universal Unitarian Church, opened with a statement that his personal campaign for equality had become a crusade. Tim Jordan, a former member and youth pastor at Harrisburg Baptist Church, followed. Tim told his story of being gay and being afraid that God did not love him for that reason. Yesterday, he stood on the very spot where he gave a sermon in 1979 about God's love for all and reclaimed that sermon after a life time journey as a gay man away from and back to faith. Representatives from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays [PFLAG] from Oxford and the Gulf Region offered their support while Amanda Todd told of her efforts to bring a PFLAG chapter to Tupelo. pflagtupelo.org. Jaribu Hill with Mississippi Worker's Center for Human Rights spoke of its support for all human rights and her ongoing efforts to see justice done in the James Anderson murder in Jackson, Mississippi. msworkers.org. Representatives of Americans Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] of Mississippi spoke of their action on behalf of Constance McMillan and their involvement in two current school bullying cases in Mississippi. aclu-ms.org. I represented TEP and assured the GLBT citizens of North Mississippi that equality knew no state boundaries and that we supported their efforts to live fully realized lives. I also called upon the straight allies in North Mississippi to respond to National Coming Out Day and come out in support of the GLBT population. Mark Potoc, Director of the Intelligence Project for SPLC explained why the American Family Association is a SPLC designated hate group, and he rendered the attendees speechless with quotations from AFA's spokesperson Bryan Fischer. splcenter.org

The press conference dismissed to a colorful and enthusiastic demonstration along West Main street where the attendees waved banners and signs and proclaimed yesterday as a holiday from hate. Many passing motorists thrilled the numerous demonstrators with honks of support. However, the hate came in through the back door. While we were demonstrating, Tupelo City Police responded to an anonymous bomb threat and swept the Link Centre during our outdoor event. After the building was cleared, we breathed a sigh of relief and rejoined the day's planned festivities.

At 2:00 Joe Wilson and his partner in life and filmmaking Dean Hamer presented Out in the Silence, a film telling of the AFA's destructive interference in Mr. Wilson's life and in the lives of GLBT citizens in Oil City, Pennsylvania. The powerful film documented the far reaching impact of Tupelo's AFA and its often devastating effects on ordinary people's lives. The movie was, however, in the end, uplifting, moving, and inspiring, and the misters Wilson and Hamer distinguished themselves with the telling of the story. After the presentation, the filmmakers encouraged audience participants to tell their stories, and what emerged was an unexpected outpouring of support from the "straight" community of North Mississippi. A group of concerned citizens in Tupelo have informally joined to start challenging the status quo, and they identified themselves by website as tupelocitizens.com. They indicated that the GLBT community had a place at their round table and invited them to participate in the dialogue encouraged there. Another woman promoted the facebook page, It's Not Easy Leaning Left in Mississippi, which deals with progressive issues in the state. She invited the GLBT citizens to friend the page and participate in the conversation. Aleigh Farris, the daughter of lesbian parents, told of her life growing up in Tupelo, and Rick Davis reported the story of an attempt to establish a GSA at Tupelo High School which was derailed after the principal allegedly threatened the job of at least one of the only two teachers who agreed to sponsor the group. PFLAG Tupelo invited all to attend their new meeting on the last Tuesdays of the month at All Saints Episcopal Church, and Dr. Latoya Brock, a professor of social work at the University of Mississippi Tupelo campus, indicated she had invited her social work class to attend the film, but that none had been there. She was disappointed, but she hoped to see some present at the evening showing.

The takeaway from this day? The people of Mississippi are ready for equality, and they are incredibly courageous. I met my facebook friends Brandon Lacey and Cody Bruff, young partners who are ready to become activists. Benson Hill and his mother Mikrah are working with PFLAG and are making a change in Tupelo. Bob Spencer, a retired lay minister, seeks equality in his lifetime. I heard an African American Baptist minister who just wants to love everyone as he believes Christ intended everyone to be loved. I met a woman from my home town who knew my parents, and we were both so gratified to see Myrtle girls working for equality. Misty Waldrop attended, and she works in central Mississippi with GLBT youth. Lyrik, a very outspoken lesbian leader @thatdamnlyrik, entertained us all with her enthusiasm. I talked with Dale Merkle, PFLAG regional director, Gulf region, the Southern father of two gay sons. I spoke with Mr. Potoc and told him that his boss Morris Dees is my legal hero. I talked to two lovely performers from Tremont and Fulton, of all places. And I spent time with Casey who has been an out transgirl/woman since high school. A bomb threat did nothing to discourage these people from standing up to the AFA and to their own fears.

At the end of the day, I was the beneficiary of this outpouring in small town Mississippi. I saw a man reclaim his faith heritage. I saw an older generation reach out to a different generation and uplift them. I saw drag queens holding signs of encouragement. I was in a bomb threat situation. I met a transwoman who is seeking understanding and encouragement. I had dinner with this lovely couple who wants to change North Mississippi. I saw a film about empowerment and joy and commitment and the defeat of forces of destruction. I helped challenge the AFA on its home turf. I cried, I laughed, I gasped, and I cheered.

I am renewed and invigorated. I want to change my world, but if I cannot change it, I want to at least, irk it a little.

Anne Gullick

co-chair TEP Shelby County Committee

board member, TEP

Your Moment of Zen or What's Wrong with this Picture?

When I saw this picture over at Family Action's blog, I just about howled.  It's a photo in the current issue of Focus on the Family's Citizen magazine that goes with a story about Family Action's antics in Tennessee.

The first thing I saw was the word "Zen" in big letters next to David Fowler's head and thought, "Surely not."  But then when I saw the words "Finding Harmony in Nashville," I said, "Well, you know, maybe they're going to feng shui their activism."  But then I realized it was just Mr. Fowler's head hiding the other letters in the word "citizen," and I was a bit let down.

But then I looked at the picture on the left (if there is any left in such a publication) and I noticed Mr. Fowler with Sen. Beavers and Rep. Casada.  That's when my mind turned from thoughts of wonder to irony.  What do two people who live in Williamson County and one person who lives in Wilson County have to do with "Finding Harmony in Nashville?"  Um, nothing.

Sen. Beavers and Rep. Casada were the sponsors of the bill pushed by Mr. Fowler to overturn Metro Nashville's contractor non-discrimination ordinance. 

So maybe the subtitle of the article is missing.  I'll help fill it in.  "Finding Harmony in Nashville:  Then Trampling on It."  

-Chris Sanders

Memphis radio host resorts to anti-gay bias

Thaddeus Matthews demonstrates how
anti-gay bias hurts all people in Memphis.

A local radio personality in Memphis recently launched a series of personal attacks against one of TEP PAC's endorsed candidates: Lee Harris who is running for Memphis City Council District 7.  Harris is a law professor at the University of Memphis, a product of the Memphis City Schools system, and a family man with children who have lived in District 7 for eight years. He is committed to making Memphis and his community a better place to live for all people. Harris finished first in last Thursday's election in a crowded race for the only council seat where an incumbent was not running for re-election. He will face Kemba Ford in the runoff election scheduled for Nov. 10.

Thaddeus Matthews hosts a talk radio program on the AM dial. He claims to offer "exclusive news that no other media will release" on his blog and radio program. 

Matthews is currently featuring a link on his website to a recorded interview of Lee Harris conducted by Michael Hildebrand of Memphis Loves Gays. Matthews posts the question  "Is Lee Harris gay?" on his website and asked "Lee Harris, are you a faggot?" on his radio program on Friday. Matthews alleges that Harris must have something to hide since Harris's wife did not take his last name when they were married. 

When Michael Hildebrand learned that Thaddeus Matthews was using his interview link to slander Lee Harris on his program, he decided to approach him at his office to discuss the issue directly with Matthews at his place of business:

I walked over and attempted to discuss the issue with hope he would take off the misleading link... well, being white was an issue, plus me being gay, then I mentioned that I would like him to remove the link. He went mad....Luckily the guys I work with were watching from the balcony of Harvest [Creative] otherwise I fear it would have gotten violent. He threatened me as he got in my face. Told me to leave his property, which I did promptly. He followed me out, continuing to threaten me. I am still just amazed. He is a very overweight man and full of anger. I am more than certain it would have gotten bad if I wouldn't have crossed the street.

After Hildebrand left, Matthews turned his attention to him on his radio program, calling him a "white sissy" and a "flaming sissy" and that he was "pink phone carrying." Matthews continued to threaten physical violence against Hildebrand on the air. 


Matthews will say and do anything for attention and to create controversy - his business model for boosting ratings and attracting listeners for his program. Matthews' behavior demonstrates for all how anti-gay bias hurts our community. Engaging in gay-baiting distracts from the important issues in the District 7 election and the problems that Memphis must confront. The people of District 7 deserve better than a radio host more interested in attention seeking antics than finding the best candidate for Memphis City Council. Matthews has resorted to such behavior because he has no other tools in his toolbox for reasonable debate. I am confident that the people of District 7 in particular will see through Matthews' vulgar attacks and ignore them.

Memphis election results favor incumbents and equality

The results are in and all 12 incumbents won re-election in their districts for Memphis City Council last night. What does that mean for the advancement of equality in the Bluff City? The results provide encouraging signs:

• Both sponsors of the Memphis Employment Non-Discrimination Ordinance (ENDO), Janis Fullilove (8-2) and Shea Flinn (9-2) were re-elected in landslides by a 2 to 1 and 4 to 1 margins, respectively. At the very least, these results demonstrate that the elected officials do not suffer at the polls for voting pro-equality. They may have even benefited because of their convictions.
• All six council members who voted for 2010's ENDO were re-elected: Wanda Halbert (4), Jim Strickland (5), Edmund Ford, Jr. (6), Janis Fullilove (8-2), Myron Lowery (8-3) and Shea Flinn (9-2). Strickland and Lowery were unopposed and the others won with very comfortable margins. Voting pro-equality proved to be no barrier to their successful re-elections. 
• Yesterday's election results demonstrate missed opportunities for Mayor AC Wharton and members of the council who voted against the ENDO to be on the right side of history. Mayor Wharton pledged support for an ENDO when he ran for Memphis Mayor. His administration worked closely with Tennessee Equality Project on acceptable language for the ENDO to present to the Memphis City Council in 2010. But when he was asked his position on the legislation, Wharton backed away.  The Mayor declared that he would support any version of the legislation the Council sent to his desk. Mayor Wharton could have sided firmly with equality and suffered no loss of political capital or support for re-election. Close observers of the council will recall that Bill Morrison had pledged his support for an ENDO when he won his first term to represent District 1 in 2007. He later voted against the ENDO in 2010. Had he stayed true to his convictions, voting pro-equality on the ENDO in 2010 would not have hurt him in 2011. Let's hope for more courage from Mayor Wharton and  Councilman Morrison in the new term. 
• Finally, Lee Harris who was endorsed in District 7 by TEP PAC finished ahead by 4 votes against Kemba Ford in yesterday's only race that has no incumbent running. Ford will face Harris in a runoff election on Thursday, November 10

The end result of yesterday's election favors the formation of a majority equality consensus on the Memphis City Council in the new term. TEP PAC will be calling on equality advocates to help confirm that result as the campaign for District 7 continues until November 10. If you care about advancing equality in Memphis, help TEP PAC carry Lee Harris to the finish line. Visit his website to make a donation or to find contact information to volunteer for his campaign.

For all the election results visit the Shelby County Election Commission website. With 100% of precincts reporting, here are the results for Memphis Mayor and City Council:

Mayor

Wharton 48,635 or 65.3%

Ford 20,907 or 28%

James Harvey 2,053 or 2.7%

Kenneth Robinson 774 or 1%

Robert ‘Prince Mongo’ Hodges 750 or 1%

Marty Merriweather 441 or 0.5%

James Barbee 310 or 0.42%

Carlos Boyland 169 or 0.2%

Write In Votes 160 or 0.2%

Leo Awgowhat 141 or 0.1%

DeWayne Jones 79 or 0.1%

Memphis City Council

District 1

Bill Morrison 4,905 or 64.8%

Kendrick Sneed 2,637 or 34.8%

District 2

Bill Boyd 7,170 or 74.7%

Sylvia Cox 2,391 or 24.9%

District 3

Harold Collins 6720 or 98%

Write-In 86 or 1%

District 4

Halbert 6,243 or 64.8%

Michelle Smith 1,897 or 19.7%

Louis Morganfield 767 or 7.9%

George Walker 692 or 7.1%

District 5

Jim Strickland 10,187 or 99%

Write-In 91 or 0%

District 6

Edmund Ford, Jr 8,606 or 63.8%

Sharon Webb 2,070 or 15.3%

Clara Ford 1,658 or 12.3%

Rhoda Stigall 1,123 or 8.3%

Write-In 24 or 0%

District 7

Lee Harris 1,983 or 24.1%

Kemba Ford 1,979 or 24%

Coby Smith 957 or 11.6%

Michael Steven Moore 562 or 6.8%

Erskine Gillespie 493 of 6%

Jesse Jeff 367 or 4.4%

Scott Banbury 358 or 4.3%

David Vinciarelli 351 or 4.2%

Raymond Bursi 284 or 3.4%

Darrell Wright 215 or 2.6%

Julie Ray 211 or 2.5%

Evelyn Fields 197 or 2.3%

LeAndrea Taylor 137 or 1.6%

Artie Smith 101 or 0.4%

Write-In 31 or 0%

Superdistrict 8, Position 1

Joe Brown 27,571 or 77%

Mark Coleman 4,358 or 12%

Tammy Warren 3,743 or 10.4%

Write-In 107 or 0%

Superdistrict 8, Position 2

Janis Fullilove 21,701 or 57.8%

Rosalyn R. Nichols 9,954 or 26.5%

Isaac Wright 2,978 or 7.9%

Mario Dennis 2,836 or 0.1%

Write-In 59 or 0%

Superdistrict 8, Position 3

Myron Lowery 31,553 or 98%

Write-In 436 or 1%

Superdistrict 9, Position 1

Kemp Conrad 19,919 or 64%

Paul Shaffer 11,313 or 36%

Write-In 87 or 0%

Superdistrict 9, Position 2

Shea Flinn 24,210 or 80.7%

James Sdoia 5,668 or 18.9%

Write-In 92 or 0%

Superdistrict 9, Position 3

Reid Hedgepeth 23,447 or 98%

Write-In 306 or 1%

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.