Can the Herald-Citizen handle the truth?

Last night we brought you the story of Shayne Bilbrey's attempt to get his letter to the editor about GLBT youth published in The Herald-Citizen. Since that time Evan Hurst of Truth Wins Out has picked up the post and today R.G. Cravens, chair of the TEP Upper Cumberland Committee, is pressing for answers in his own letter to the editor:

To whom it may concern,

I'm writing today about an issue that has recently been brought to the attention of our organization.

We were recently contacted by Shayne Bilbrey who authored a letter to your paper with a message of encouragement to LGBT students and youth in our area. The letter is a message of hope and acceptance which is desperately needed, especially in areas like ours. Shayne reported that he was told by a member of your staff that his letter would not be published because it did not meet the "family values" standards of your publication.

Let me share with you some staggering facts about young people in the LGBT community from the Trevor Project:

• Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey 2007).
• More than 1/3 of LGB youth report having made a suicide attempt (D’Augelli AR - Clinical Child Psychiatry and Psychology 2002)
• Nearly half of young transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives and one quarter report having made a suicide attempt (Grossman AH, D’Augelli AR - Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior 2007)
• Questioning youth who are less certain of their sexual orientation report even higher levels of substance abuse and depressed thoughts than their heterosexual or openly LGBT-identified peers (Poteat VP, Aragon SR, et al – Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2009)
• LGB youth who come from highly rejecting families are more than 8 times as likely to have attempted suicide than LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection (Ryan C, Huebner D, et al - Peds 2009;123(1):346-352)
• More information is available here: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/suicide-resources/suicidal-signs

So you see, regardless of your values, I think we can agree that the life of a young person is more valuable than anything.

The Herald-Citizen has recently appeared in a number of blog posts regarding this issue:

http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2011/06/16965/

http://grand-divisions.blogspot.com/2011/06/dont-say-gay-also-policy-of-some-tn.html

I would hope that the Herald-Citizen does not have a policy of rejecting letters relating to GLBT issues simply because they disagree with the content. It is my hope that your paper can show our community locally and nationally that you are accepting of differing opinions and appreciate the diversity of the Upper Cumberland region.

Please consider publishing Shanye's letter or contact me so we can discuss your actual policy as we intend to write letters to your paper in the future.

Thank you for your time,

R.G. Cravens
Chair, Tennessee Equality Project Upper Cumberland Committee

-Posted by Chris Sanders

Don't Say Gay also the policy of some TN newspapers?

Have you ever wondered why you don't see stories and opinion about the struggle for equality of Tennessee's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in some Tennessee newspapers?

Question 1: Is it because we only inhabit urban enclaves? Nope. We're all over the state, according to the Williams Institute's analysis of census data.

Question 2: Has it been a slow news year for discriminatory legislation? Um, no. The Don't Say Gay bill and the Special Access to Discrimination law (SB632/HB600) were frequently covered in the newspapers of the state's four largest cities.

Question 3: Is it because we weren't pitching stories (not that we should have to)? Strike 3. The Lebanon Democrat would not cover the Special Access to Discriminate law, even though it was sponsored by Sen. Mae Beavers from Wilson County and they were definitely given the opportunity.

Question 4: Is it because we weren't writing letters? We were and I have to point out a notable exception to the pattern. The Crossville Chronicle did publish a letter by R. G. Cravens, our TEP Upper Cumberland Committee Chair, on the Special Access to Discriminate law. But we've run into an instance of erasure by another Upper Cumberland paper, The Herald-Citizen out of Cookeville. Shayne Bilbrey tells us that he wrote a letter to the paper about the difficulties that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth face, but when he talked to a representative of the paper on the phone, he was told "that they were a family values newspaper, and they weren't comfortable with publishing it."

Take action: We suspect this sort of thing happens quite a bit. So we're going to publish Shayne's letter below. But if you'd like to send a letter to the Herald-Citizen, you can do so at editor@herald-citizen.com . Or you can post a comment on the wall of their Facebook page asking them whether they are trying to disappear their gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender readers. Do it for Shayne and the other readers who are looking for coverage of the whole spectrum of people living in the Upper Cumberland.

Shayne's Letter: And now here it is:

It’s okay to be Gay

High school graduation is just around the corner, and well over a thousand Putnam County students will be graduating this year. Most of them had the normal teenage years, goingto prom with the person they love, getting that first kiss, or getting their driver’s license at sixteen. Yet for some kids that dream was a long shot, because some of this year’s graduates are Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual. Most of these students couldn’t have that dream life, because they were usually the primary targets for bullying. The bullying would vary from daily taunting such as being called a “fag” or a “queer.” The students usually behind the bullying would often cite the bible, or what their preacher told them. This is very troubling for that, in a society that values individualism, we can’t honor these kids fundamental right to let them be whoever they want to be and to be with. I know that when I came out, during my senior year in high school, I was faced with some backlash, but even before that I was called many names, and felt at times that I was worthless, which is similar to how some of these students feel. It hurts to be bullied at school, but to be bullied in your own home is incomprehensible. Thankfully, I have a family who loves me for who I am, and for which I am blessed for. Yet, it saddens me when I hear of some of my friends, which have come out to their parents, have had to face ridicule from their own parents. Some parents go as far as to disowning their own child, calling them a failure, and sending them to a gay to straight camp. I don’t understand why a parent would do such a thing, but sadly it happens a lot. Well I‘m here to say that, things will and do get better, granted they’re still some that disagree, but it does get better. We should all be able to value ourselves, love others, and be able to accept all for whom they are. We are all God’s children, and he loves us all in the same way. So if you are Gay, Lesbian, Transsexual, and bisexual, it’s okay to be you, and be proud of who you are, and will become. Love, cherish, and embrace thy own self.

-Chris Sanders

Can you help overturn the Special Access to Discriminate Act?

The Tennessee General Assembly, Governor Bill Haslam and member companies of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry have taken a lot heat in local and national media in the weeks following passage of the hateful “Special Access to Discriminate” Act.

Can you help repair
the damage caused by
the SAD Act?

Proponents of the SAD Act boast that HB600/SB632 is a “first-in-the-nation” law - not realizing their responsibility in making Tennessee the last place that educated professionals, skilled workers, and entrepreneurs want to live and work. With national attention focused on the intolerance and bigotry codified in the law, it’s hard to see anything worth bragging about.

Tennessee Equality Project fought hard to defeat the Special Access to Discriminate Act (HB600/SB632) in the legislature before it became law in Tennessee, and we will do our part to ensure a successful challenge of the law in the courts.

While TEP will continue to be at front line of the fight for equality in the workplace, you might be just the right person to help overturn the SAD Act and keep similar laws from spreading to other states.

A number of people in Tennessee may be directly affected by the SAD Act, including:

1. Employees of companies who contract with Metro Nashville Government. These contract employees are no longer protected from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability.
2. Children in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools are no longer protected from discrimination in education based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
3. Children who attend Memphis City Schools are no longer protected from discrimination in education based on sexual orientation.
4. Individuals living in the City of Memphis who depend on Section 8 vouchers or SSI disability income are no longer protected from housing discrimination based on source of income. Memphians are also no longer protected from housing discrimination based on age.
5. Has the local government of your city, county, or school board enacted additional protections from discrimination that are not already covered by state law? If so, people who were protected by those local provisions may no longer benefit from those protections.

Do you, your friends, or members of your family fall into any of the above categories?

If you do, you may have standing as a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the Special Access to Discrimination Act in Tennessee. Tennessee Equality Project encourages you to contact Nashville-area attorney Abby Rubenfeld for more information (parents should call on behalf of their children):

Rubenfeld Law Office

2409 Hillsboro Road, Suite 200

Nashville, Tennessee 37212

615-386-9077 / 615-386-3897 (facsimile)

arubenfeld@rubenfeldlaw.com

The Tennessee General Assembly may have adjourned for 2011, but Tennessee Equality Project continues to fight for the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families in our state.

- Jonathan Cole 

HB600's rationale in shambles, pressure builds for repeal

It was another bad week for SB632/HB600, the Special Access to discriminate law as Nashville students presented a petition for its repeal to Governor Bill Haslam while the Family Action Council of Tennessee (the real pusher of the law) reacted hysterically and defensively to the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry abandoning them at the unholy altar of hate.

Students petition for redress of grievances: A group of Nashville students who have been active in opposing the Don't Say Gay bill have turned their attention to HB600. They marched from the Metro Courthouse to the Capitol and presented a petition to the Governor's staff, earning the praise of Congressman Jim Cooper, according to The Tennessean:

“It reminds me of the Freedom Riders in the ’60s,” he [Cooper] said.

Another Jim turns the business argument on its head: Meanwhile in Memphis, Sen. Jim Kyle, the sponsor of SB2121 that would repeal HB600, met the business argument that had been used to support discrimination and Jiu-Jitsued it into an argument about Tennessee's place in a global economy during a WSMV interview:

"This measure needs a second look," said Kyle. "This goes directly to our ability to be competitive in a world market and on a world stage."

Proponents on the defensive: The video isn't up yet, but Pat Nolan asked Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, who abruptly announced her support of HB600 in April, about the repeal in the most recent episode of Inside Politics. My guess is that those who supported the measure will continue to face embarrassing questions. But we do have video of the Family Action Council of Tennessee's president, David Fowler. In one of the most audacious redefinitions of "bullying" ever to be broadcast, Mr. Fowler bemoans the business community retreating from the legislation and accuses the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community of bullying business:



First, let's be clear. Businesses colluded in discriminating against Tennessee workers. It was only natural that our community and our allies would raise an outcry. Second, Mr. Fowler's organization bullied lawmakers with a deceptive video implying that non-discrimination ordinances lead to gender confusion, which would then magically give carte blanche to predators who want to follow children into bathrooms. Third, the irony of Mr. Fowler standing on a playground talking about bullying when organizations like his actively work against adding explicit protections against bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity to school policies is THICK!

But the real point is that Family Action is feeling a little bit lonely as the realization hits that everyone has now seen through their pro-business facade. If I were a business leader, I would be fuming that I had let them lead me into so much bad publicity and potential loss of market share.

More to come: Students petitioning, businesses doing a 180-degree turn, the filing of SB2121...has the story finally run out of twists and turns? No way. Once the court challenge is filed, the story will continue to make the news. And we will continue to see just how much of a mess HB600 has made for our state.

-Chris Sanders

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Chris Sanders

Finally! A statewide conversation about job discrimination

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

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

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

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

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

-Chris Sanders

Partner Benefits for TN companies? Yes, you can!

I got a call today from a company that wanted to explore providing partner benefits (health insurance) for partners of its employees. They had heard that they couldn't do so from their insurance broker. Interestingly I had heard something similar from the leader of a business organization. He was under the impression that companies can't provide partner benefits in Tennessee unless they are self-insured.

I called Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee to find out more. They offer insurance products with partner benefits if a company or organization has 26 or more employees. That's great news.

The wrong information may be all that is holding your employer back from providing this important benefit for your family.

Obviously partner benefits are not the same as marriage and all the obligations and benefits that come with it. Justice demands marriage equality, but until that day comes, partner benefits offer a way to protect those we love.

-Chris Sanders

Dear TNDP Executive Committee: Less is not more

Disclosure: I'm a member of the Affirmative Action Committee of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Earlier in the week, Sean Braisted alerted us that the diversity goals of the delegate selection plan for the 2012 Democratic National Convention were in danger and that includes the goals for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender delegates.

The new draft plan is to be voted on tonight by the TNDP's Executive Committee.

There's really never a good time to lower your standards, but now happens to be a really bad time. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people were among the groups heavily attacked during the recently concluded legislative session. Our community and our allies are pretty angry right now. Democrats ought to be offering a life line rather than kicking us when we're down.

If the whole moral thing isn't appealing, here's some information that some Ds know and others don't. TEP PAC volunteered and/or raised money for 12 of your House candidates in 2010. From a practical point of view, you really should consider how you could grow that number.

Lowering your goals for inclusion of our community won't inspire anyone to try harder for you.

-Chris Sanders

TEP launches GAYATHON in response to Don't Say Gay Bill

Say GAY to
Stacey Campfield
in TEP's GAYATHON

The Tennessee Equality Project is pleased to launch a GAYATHON in response to the Senate passing the Don't Say Gay Bill (SB0049). During this GAYATHON, we at TEP encourage you to tell Stacey Campfield that you plan to say GAY and keep fighting for equality no matter what happens to his Don't Say Gay Bill. 

 Here's how the GAYATHON works . . . . 

1. Make a $10, $25, $50 or larger donation to Tennessee Equality Project by clicking HERE. 
2. Copy and paste Sen. Stacey Campfield's address into an email message: sen.stacey.campfield@capitol.tn.gov.
3. Enter the word "GAY" in all capital letters in the subject line of your email. 
4. In the body of your email write: "Because of you, I donated $___ to Tennessee Equality Project to fight for equality in Tennessee." 

Your participation in TEP's GAYATHON will help us prepare to fight the House version of this bill (HB0229) when the Tennessee House of Representatives opens session in January of 2012.

So donate, participate and share the news of this GAYATHON with your friends and fellow equality advocates by email, Facebook and Twitter.

Be respectful and civil in your message to Campfield. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. 

Tennessee Senate Passes SB0049

The Senate voted to approve an amended version of SB0049 by a vote of 19 to 11. Often described as the "Don't Say Gay" Bill by opponents, the bill including its amendment in purple now reads:

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10, relative to education. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: 

SECTION 1.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-1005, is amended by adding the following as new subsection (c) and by relettering the existing subsection (c) accordingly: 

(c) 

(1) The general assembly recognizes the sensitivity of particular subjects that are best explained and discussed in the home.  Human sexuality is a complex subject with societal, scientific, psychological, and historical implications; those implications are best understood by children with sufficient maturity to grasp their complexity. 

(2)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any instruction or materials made available or provided at or to a public elementary or middle school shall be limited exclusively to natural human reproduction science.  The provisions of this subdivision shall also apply to a group or organization that provides instruction in natural human reproduction science in public elementary or middle schools   

SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

Tennessee Equality Project observes that the amended version of SB0049 no longer makes direct reference to sexual orientation. However, SB0049 and its House companion (HB0229) remain a threat to safe schools in Tennessee. The State House of Representatives is expected to review HB0229 as early as January of 2012. TEP will continue to advocate against both versions of the Don't Say Gay Bill. 

Regrets, I've had a few, but CAN DO ain't one of them

Now that the TN House and Senate have passed HB600/SB632 (with one difference in the Senate version that will soon be worked out), the Special Access to Discriminate bill will be headed to Governor Bill Haslam's desk. Barring a miracle veto, which we are nonetheless pressing for, the bill will become law.

Last week a Metro Nashville Council Member asked me whether I regretted the whole thing--the work for the Metro Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance and having to fight the state bills introduced to stop it and stop any city or county from passing a similar ordinance. The answer is "NO!"

Do I regret that the the majority in the Legislature is anti-equality and tried to frame the issue as a business argument even though there was no study on the business impact of the Metro bill or the state bills? Of course. But I don't regret the work that went into the passage of CAN DO or that everyone put into fighting the state bills.

The Gains: Since the whole discussion began back in December, here's what's different. (a) Belmont University has begun a serious effort at welcoming diversity on its campus. They have more work to do, but they're in a different place. (b) Metro boards and commissions have been updating their non-discrimination policies to conform to the Metro non-discrimination ordinance of 2009. (c) We confirmed that we have a pro-equality consensus in Metro Nashville Government. The city has sent a clear message, even if the state guts the specifics of the ordinance. (d) At last, a statewide conversation on workplace discrimination has begun. Granted, it has been joined by questions of local authority and some fantasy of a "uniform business climate," but it has begun. In that regard, we can't forget how wonderful it was to be allied with Tennessee's four largest cities in opposing the state bills, to receive the support of a Shelby County Commission resolution, or the support of local lawmakers from the Knox County Commission, Jackson City Council, Oak Ridge City Council, and the Memphis City Council. (e) We know where our gaps are in the Legislature. The one positive about a negative vote is that you have a clear map of where you need to build support and you'd better believe we are going to work on that. (f) Our community and our allies are fully awake to the need to be engaged with our Legislature. That is a positive and it will yield strength for other fights!

It ain't over 'til it's over: If Governor Haslam signs SB632/HB600, the matter won't be over. Various groups are talking about filing suit to overturn it. And other options are under consideration. Stay tuned, but don't count us out!

-Chris Sanders

Messages of inclusion in Williamson and Wilson Counties: How I spent my day

As it happens, I was in Williamson and Wilson Counties today. These two counties elected the House and Senate sponsors of SB0632/HB0600 or what we call the Special Access to Discriminate bill. If Sen. Mae Beavers or Rep. Glen Casada had been around today, they would have heard words maybe they aren't used to in their backyards, or maybe they do hear them but ignore them.

The first event was Nashville CABLE's "Power of Inclusion" awards luncheon. TEP received the award in the non-profit category for our work supporting the Metro Council on the 2009 and 2011 Metro non-discrimination ordinances. The event took place at the Cool Springs Marriott. The work of advancing legal protections for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community was completely embraced by this incredible network of professional women and I was glad that these achievements were celebrated in Williamson County.

The second event was the Mt. Juliet funeral for Bob Stovall, the late father of TEP's former president H.G. Stovall. I was honored to give the eulogy. The Stovall family completely embodies inclusion. There are few words I could add to the slice of the the obituary that the family wrote for Bob included below.

I just wonder how long Rep. Casada and Sen. Beavers can seal the borders of Tennessee from the national conversation on equality and their own counties from the voices of the women of CABLE and accepting fathers like Bob.

Stovall, Robert Kenneth, age 74, of Mt. Juliet, TN, died Sunday, May 8, 2011. Mr. Stovall was a member of Donelson Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) and the Tennessee Equality Project. Mr. Stovall was the son of the late, Robert L. and Elizabeth Oliver Stovall. He is survived by:
Wife - Gayle Stovall of Mt. Juliet, TN
Sons - H.G. Stovall and his partner, Harry Longfellow of Nashville, TN and Shawn Stovall of Owensboro, KY
Daughter - Elizabeth Ann Smith of Calhoun, KY
Brothers - Teddy A. (Katie) Stovall and
Anthony (Jaynie) Stovall both of Kuttawa, KY
Sister - Mary E. (Jim) Doom of Utica, KY .

-Chris Sanders

Tennessee Equality Project elects new Board and Executive Officers

On Saturday, May 7, members and supporters from across Tennessee gathered in Nashville for Tennessee Equality Project's Annual Meeting to elect new Board  members for the term that begins on July 1, 2011. 

The following individuals will be returning to the Board for two-year terms: Wes Aull (Nashville), Jonathan Cole (Memphis), Brandon Hutchison (Nashville), H.G. Stovall (Hermitage), Ryan Ellis (Nashville), Latoya Belgrave (Clarksville), and Joe Rhymer (Bristol). 

New members elected to the board include Brad Palmertree (Jackson), Anne Gullick (Collierville) for two year terms and Herb Zeman (Memphis), Jennifer Swails-Wenger (Nashville) and John Winnett (Nashville) for one year terms.

The following Board members will continue in the second year of the their term: Robbie Bell, Michelle Bliss, Daniel Forrest, Anthony Johnson, Matia Powell, and Christy Tweddle.

We salute the service of those Board members who resigned from the Board during the last year: Darlene Fike, Natalie Reinoehl, and Lane Scoggin. Thanks also to Ryan Ellis (outgoing Vice President) and Christy Tweddle (outgoing At-Large) members of the Executive Committee for their service. Special thanks are due to H.G. Stovall whose second term as President was shortened by an early resignation to address an illness in the family.

After new Board members were elected, the Board-elect convened in executive session to select new executive officers. During the annual meeting recess, participants called State Senators to encourage votes against the Don't Say Gay Bill (SB049) and the Special Access to Discriminate Act (SB632).

The new Board returned after the election of Executive Committee officers with the following to announce:

President & Chair: Jonathan Cole
Vice President: Wes Aull
Secretary: Latoya Belgrave
Treasurer: Matia Powell
At-Large: H.G. Stovall

Please join me in thanking Board members past, present and future for their service to Tennessee Equality Project and our state. 

- Jonathan Cole

Let's thank those who voted for equality

House vote on the Special Access to Discriminate Act

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Southern Baptist Church Appoints Pedophile as Trustee: Hypocrisy in Action

If I sound angry in this blog post, it is because I AM ANGRY. This morning I found a blog post on StopBaptistPredators blog that literally made me want to throw up.

Last year I blogged here about a 2006 scandal at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, where an associate pastor named Paul Williams was kept on that church’s staff for six months AFTER admitting he had molested his teenage son some years before. Steve Gaines, the senior pastor at Bellevue, was finally forced to fire Williams after the story became public. Today I found out that this same Paul Williams has been made a Trustee of Warren Community Church in Somerville, TN, another Southern Baptist Convention church about thirty miles from Bellevue. I am angry for many reasons on a variety of levels.

First and foremost, my husband and I are parents of a six year old son. As a parent, it makes me sick to think that parents at Warren Community Church are entrusting their kids to a church that is honoring Williams with the position of Trustee. Of all places we can send our kids to be safe, church should be at the top of the list. For those of you who did not grow up in the Southern Baptist Church, it isn’t just church members’ kids who could be exposed to this predator. Vacation Bible School is held in the summers, and often kids from the surrounding neighborhoods attend a church VBS program even if they aren’t members of that church. This exposes the community at large to Williams, which is utterly irresponsible and frankly, frightening.

Second, as an advocate for the LGBT community I have sat and listened to Steve Gaines and other ministers here in Memphis repeatedly talk about the immorality of the “gay lifestyle.” I have read the blog posts from the Family Action Council that deem homosexuality a threat to children, flying in the face of the data that shows that child molesters are predominately heterosexuals. I have viewed the unbelievably vile video on YouTube that the Family Action Council produced to support passage of House Bill 600, where they depict a world where granting employment protections to LGBT employees of municipal contractors will result in bathrooms ripe for child molestation. What I have not seen is the Family Action Council standing up for the children in the evangelical community who are being victimized by their own clergy. Not a single word about this at all.

Finally, as a former Southern Baptist, I am angry that the Southern Baptist Convention has done absolutely nothing to stop this horrendous placement of an admitted child molester in a position of leadership in one of their churches. To paraphrase what I was taught growing up, don’t judge your neighbor for the splinter in their eye; worry about the two-by-four in your own eye first. The Southern Baptist Convention, headquartered in Nashville, TN, has refused to create a sex offender registry for their clergy. They have a responsibility to the people that they require to have blind faith in church authority on scripture and morality, to actually require their clergy to adhere to scripture and morality. The SBC is amazingly fast to lobby lawmakers, under the guise of promoting “traditional family values,” to deny the LGBT community the same civil rights as this predator enjoys in his “traditional marriage” and as an alleged Christian.

The hypocrisy is deafening, and sickening.

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

Rep. Glen Casada of Williamson Co.

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

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

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

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

Rep. G.A. Hardaway of Shelby Co.

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

Rep. Brenda Gilmore of Davidson Co.

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

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

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

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

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »
 

Don’t let dirty tricks create a haven for intolerance in Tennessee

David Fowler of the Family Action Council of Tennessee and other radical extremists are desperately trying to pass a lie off as the truth in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Last week, FACT sent a message to supporters claiming that the “Special Access to Discriminate” Act (HB600) would keep straight white male sexual predators from assaulting little girls in womens’ restrooms. The Family Action Council forwarded a ridiculous fear mongering video showing a bearded man follow a girl into a women’s restroom to trick supporters into calling on members of the House Subcommittee on Commerce to vote for HB600. 

The SAD Act will not protect children from assault in public restrooms. Parents and law enforcement do that.

It’s also worth noting the hypocrisy of William Morgan, Board Chairman of the Family Action Council of Tennessee and CEO of Nashville-based industrial equipment manufacturer John Bouchard & Sons. Morgan warned that the Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance which passed in Nashville Metro Council on Tuesday night would interfere with the free marketplace. However, the Nashville Scene reports that Morgan’s company has been an approved contractor with Louisville, Kentucky since 2008. Louisville and Jefferson County enacted city- and county-wide LGBT inclusive workplace protections in 1999. Morgan’s company has done business with Louisville since 2008. Workplace equality policies in Louisville have not kept Morgan’s company from doing business there. So why not in Tennessee?

It’s unfortunate that the false witness of FACT gained traction in the subcommittee which voted on Wednesday, April 6 to pass HB600 on to the full House Commerce Committee.

We must act today to protect the Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance enacted in Nashville on April 5 and the expansion of equality in the workplace elsewhere in our state by contacting the House Committee on Commerce before it votes on HB600 on Tuesday, April 12.

TAKE ACTION!

If you live in or near a district of one of the following House Commerce Committee members, use the numbers below to call them during regular business hours and convey one of the following messages:

HB600 will lead to million dollar losses in tourism and sales tax revenues in Tennessee. I am counting on my Representative to vote NO on HB600! 

HB600 will accelerate the migration of college-educated youth, skilled workers and entrepreneurs out of Tennessee. Vote no on HB600!

HB600 will allow workplace discrimination in our local communities will make all of Tennessee less attractive to the best workers, entrepreneurs and businesses who want to live and work in our communities. Vote no on HB0600!

Be sure to ask your Representative how they plan to vote on HB600. Then contact TEP at Jonathan@tnequalityproject.com to let us know what you learned. Share this post with your friends and family via email, Facebook and Twitter.

Representative           District                 Phone (615)

Montgomery, Richard    District 12            741-5981

Pitts, Joe                       District 67            741-2043

Powers, Dennis             District 36            741-3335

Ragan, John                  District 33            741-4400

Swann, Art                   District 8               741-5481

Curtiss, Charles            District 43            741-1963

Elam, Linda                  District 57            741-7462

Favors, Joanne             District 29            741-2702

Gilmore, Brenda           District 54            741-1997

Hardaway, G. A.         District 92            741-5625

Harmon, Bill W.          District 37            741-6849

Haynes, Ryan A.         District 14            741-2264

Johnson, Curtis G.       District 68            741-4341

Johnson, Phillip            District 78            741-7477

Lundberg, Jon              District 1               741-7623

Marsh, Pat                   District 62            741-6824

Matlock, Jimmy           District 21            741-3736

McManus, Steve         District 96            741-1920

Miller, Don                  District 10            741-6877

Pody, Mark                 District 46            741-7086

Roach, Dennis E.         District 35            741-2534

Sargent, Charles          District 61            741-6808

Sexton, Cameron        District 25            741-2343

Shepard, David           District 69            741-3513

Sontany, Janis Baird   District 53            741-6861

Todd, Curry                District 95            741-1866

Towns, Joe , Jr.           District 84            741-2189

Williams, Kent             District 4               741-7450

Wirgau, Tim                District 75            741-6804