Media Advisory: Over 100 in red to protest "Turn the Gays Away" bill on Tuesday

Media Advisory:  Over 100 in red to protest “Turn the Gays Away” bill at Senate Judiciary hearing on Tuesday

Feb. 17, 2014

CONTACT:           Chris Sanders

                              (615) 390-5252

                              chris@tnequalityproject.com

Nashville, TN (February 18, 2014)—Over 100 Tennesseans will protest SB2566, commonly known as the Turn the Gays Away bill, by wearing red during the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 18 at Legislative Plaza. 

“The bill’s language is so broad that it is unclear which goods and services may be included and under what circumstances; the fact that an amendment to tighten the language is being proposed confirms that,” according to Tennessee Equality Project executive director Chris Sanders.  “Regardless of whether the bill applies to wedding cakes or to groceries, it is an effort to say state government can pick which groups of people that businesses and organizations can discriminate against.  The nationwide outrage is understandable.”

Red became a symbol of marriage equality in the lead up to the 2013 Windsor Supreme Court decision that struck down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Find the Facebook event showing the number of RSVPs at https://www.facebook.com/events/1463545210540028/ .

WHEN:  Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. Central Time

WHERE:  Legislative Plaza in Nashville, Room 12LP

WHY:  To protest the state sanctioning discrimination against same-sex couples

WHO:  The Tennessee Equality Project, Tennessee citizens concerned about the legislation

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TEP Foundation Completes LGBTQ training of Shelby County Sheriff Officers

Tennessee Equality Project Foundation completed a series of four LGBTQ cultural competency classes for the upper command staff and academy instructors of the Shelby County Sheriff Department today. The training is designed to empower Shelby County Sheriff officers to provide professional and respectful treatment of the public without bias toward  LGBTQ people. Over 100 staff attended the training over two weeks. TEP Foundation certified Sheriff Academy instructors in the diversity course one week ago. Those instructors will train law enforcement and correctional officers in the coming year.

TEP Foundation's relationship with the Shelby County Sheriff Department began in December 2011 when a group of Sheriff Academy corrections graduates received a half-day training in LGBTQ cultural competency. A renewed interest in the training followed Shelby County Sheriff participation in the Community Police Relations (CPR) project - a "partnership between citizens and law enforcement officers that is challenging both groups to overcome their differences and distrust to work together on the deepest problems of our community."

Duanna Johnson

One of the CPR forums organized by the Midsouth Peace and Justice Center focused on the concerns of LGBTQ residents in Shelby County. Members of the community in Memphis and Shelby County reported anti-LGBTQ bias and disparate treatment during police stops and in correctional facilities. Law enforcement mistreatment of transgender people of color has captured headlines in Memphis in the past. The best known example involved the 2008 beating of Duanna Johnson by a Memphis Police Officer in the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar Avenue (a facility operated by the Shelby County Sheriff).

The MPD officer used anti-trans language and physical violence to gain compliance from Duanna after she was detained. Duanna suffered serious injuries. The offending officer was later terminated from the police department and served time in a Federal penitentiary. The City of Memphis awarded civil damages in a court settlement to the estate of Duanna Johnson (now deceased).

To his credit, Sheriff William Oldham is taking a proactive approach to prevent past abuses from happening again. He's ordered all his staff to be trained in LGBTQ cultural competency. The TEP Foundation applauds his leadership. If his officers apply the training, the public will experience more professional and respectful law enforcement and correctional officers, and the Shelby County Sheriff Department will significantly reduce the potential cost of civil rights lawsuits, personnel discipline, and termination of highly trained officers.

TEP Foundation provided training to the Shelby County Sheriff Department without charge. If you'd like to donate to the Foundation to help cover the cost of this and future training in Tennessee, visit the Foundation's donation page or click the "Donate Now" button on the right side of this page (desktop version only). 

Many thanks to TEP Foundation Board member Anne Gullick and TEP Foundation Executive Director Chris Sanders for facilitating this training.

Red Alert Parties across Tennessee to mark return of the Legislature

Today the Tennessee Equality Project is hosting Red Alert parties in Memphis, Knoxville, and Nashville to mark the return of the Legislature.  Mostly social affairs, the events will include some information on the upcoming legislative session as well as Advancing Equality Day on the Hill, which takes place on March 11.

Memphis:  RSVP and learn more at this link. 

Knoxville:  RSVP and learn more at this link.

Nashville:  RSVP and learn more at this link. 

There's no charge to attend, but party goers are encouraged to wear red.  The second year of the 108th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee convenes the next day on Tuesday, January 14 at Noon.

TEP launches Equality Means Business to highlight pro-equality companies in TN

Contact:  Chris Sanders
                (615) 390-5252
                chris@tnequalityproject.com

NASHVILLE, Dec. 30, 2013— Tennessee Equality Project Foundation (TEP) President H.G. Stovall today announced a new initiative “Equality Means Business” to celebrate business support of equality across the state. The awareness campaign kicks off TEP's tenth anniversary year of advocating equality for Tennessee’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

Honorary Co-Chairs for the initiative are entrepreneurs Martha Boggs in Knoxville, Randy Rayburn in Nashville and Ray Rico in Memphis. "We are proud to have the support of so many locally owned businesses as well as the major corporations doing business in Tennessee," said Stovall.

Rayburn said, "Throughout almost four decades in the hospitality industry, I've seen clearly that an open door policy for all customers and employees makes a business grow—period."

TEP is providing a small window sticker for businesses that want to show their support on the front door and asking business owners to add their name to the growing list that will be updated on the TEP Facebook page. "All it takes to win is one more person to stand up for equality," said Stovall.

"We hope to encourage our state’s leaders to stay focused on issues that really affect the business climate in Tennessee.   Allowing truly business-friendly policies to be held captive by those with personal agendas is bad business," said Stovall. "Too many start believing someone else’s talking points and thinking that means they know what's best for businesses and everyone else.”

According to the Human Rights Campaign's most recent Corporate Equality Index, sixty-one percent of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.  Nationwide more leaders are recognizing equality is good for business because it allows them to attract and retain the best employees and better reflect their customer base. 
 
Businesses interested in “Equality Means Business,” receiving a window sticker, or more information on the Tennessee Equality Project  should contact Executive Director Christopher Sanders at chris@tnequalityproject.com.

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End 2013 with a matching gift to TEP Foundation

Keep reading to find out how you can Light a Match for Equality!

An anonymous donor has given $4000 to the Tennessee Equality Project Foundation toward a matching gift campaign. Help us reach a goal of matching this generous donation with a year-end tax deductible gift to the TEP Foundation.

Help TEP Foundation double the size
of a generous donation.

Your donation helps us:

• Provide LGBT Cultural Competency education to law enforcement, social service agencies, churches and schools.
• Empower voices  for good public policy throughout the state with Advocacy 101 training.
• Provide media training to tell the stories of LGBT people living in Tennessee
• Organize faith leaders who support equality

Can you help us reach our goal? Donate what you can give at the drop-down button below. We'll keep you posted on our campaign progress on the TEP Facebook Page.

Choose to give in one of our new giving circles or give another amount that you choose.

Choose a One Time Amount for the Year

Governor Circle $1,200.00 USD Lt. Governor Circle $900.00 USD Speaker Circle $600.00 USD Senator Circle $300.00 USD Representative Circle $120.00 USD Advocate Circle $60.00 USD

Give another amount that is right for you:

 

The Tennessee Equality Project Foundation strives to eliminate prejudice and discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons by promoting and advocating equality through education, collaboration and victim advocacy.

TEP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions made to TEP Foundation are deductible for purposes of federal income tax.

Watch our progress!

Fundraising Thermometer by:
www.easy-fundraising-ideas.com

A look back on a year in the politics of equality in Tennessee: Photos from around the state

It's not over yet, but 2013 has been an incredible year in forward movement for equality in Tennessee.  We fought hard and even got some results.  Check out a few of the highlights.

Advancing Equality Day on the Hill brought advocates from East, West, and Middle TN to the Capitol to attempt to stop negative bills like Don't Say Gay and advance positive legislation like the Dignity for All Students Act.  Here we are preparing for a press conference in Legislative Plaza.

On July 22 the Knox County Commission passed an inclusive non-discrimination ordinance for Knox County employees.  Pictured are bill sponsor Commissioner Amy Broyles and supporters in Knoxville in Commission chambers after the victory.

When Rep. John Ragan, House sponsor of the Don't Say Gay bill received an award from Students First, 11-year-old Marcel Neergaard called foul.  As a student who has endured bullying for being gay, Marcel received national attention when he called on Students First to rescind the award, which they did.  Yes, a student really can teach the public about what's going on in our Legislature!  Marcel continues to inspire us all at TEP.  

In order to show the reality of discrimination, couples in Nashville and a couple in Wilson County...

as well as couples in Shelby County applied for marriage licenses.

 

 

 

 

Knoxville, Memphis, Cookeville, West TN, Chattanooga, and Nashville held rallies at the end of August to celebrate TN Marriage Equality Day to counter the Legislature's Traditional Marriage Day.  I think we had a better turnout than they did.

 

 

In September the push began for inclusive non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies in Rutherford County Schools after a teacher was told to take down a safe schools poster.  The fight continues today with advocates developing strategy to advance their proposal in the School Board. 

 

At Olympus TEP honored 8 Champions of Equality--7 from state media outlets and 1 Memphis City Councilman--for their work in advancing equality in Tennessee.  Nothing we do is possible without our allies!

The Memphis community gathered in October to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the non-discrimination ordinance.

Also in October attorney Abby Rubenfeld, other Tennessee attorneys, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed suit to have the marriage of couples who moved to Tennessee legally recognized.  TEP identified 2 of the 4 plaintiff couples.

Collegedale detective Kat Cooper (center) led her city to be the first in TN to offer partner benefits.  Knoxville soon followed by executive order of Mayor Madeline Rogero.  In November Chattanooga Councilman Chris Anderson passed his partner benefits and non-discrimination ordinance making it the third city in Tennessee to offer such benefits.  Also pictured is Kat's TEP Hamilton & Bradley Counties Committee co-chair Marcus Ellsworth (viewer's left) and TEP executive director Chris Sanders.

TEP Foundation receives UCC grant for media training in East TN

December 9, 2013

Contact:  Chris Sanders  (615) 390-5252 or chris@tnequalityproject.com

Tennessee Equality Project Foundation receives grant from the United Church of Christ and Justice Witness Ministries for media training in East Tennessee

Nashville, TN--The Tennessee Equality Project Foundation's Tennessee Equality Voice program, which seeks to shape a media message for equality in Tennessee, has received a grant of $1000 from the United Church of Christ and Justice Witness Ministries.  The grant will help fund media training for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied community around issues of equality in East Tennessee. 

TEP Foundation Executive Director Chris Sanders notes, "This grant comes at an important time for East Tennessee, as we have seen significant gains in Hamilton and Knox Counties and emerging challenges such as the anti-partner benefits ballot measure in Chattanooga.  We need to train more members of our community and allies how to talk about the values of equality and inclusion when they engage the media.  Thanks to the generosity of the United Church of Christ and Justice Witness Ministries, as well as the encouragement of the Rev. John Gill at Knoxville's Church of the Savior, we will have the opportunity to accomplish this task in the region."

Trainings will begin in the first half of 2014.  The TEP Foundation has begun working with our network of county committees to establish times and locations. 

For more information about the TEP Foundation or to make a contribution, go to http://tnequalityproject.org/tep-foundation/ .  To contact us about upcoming training events, email us at chris@tnequalityproject.com .

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"Special Rights" argument comes from the Religious Right's attempts to divide minorities on ballot measures

Maybe everyone else knew this, but I didn't until I started reading Gay Rights at the Ballot Box by Amy L. Stone, an assistant professor of sociology at Trinity University.  Basically the argument we so

frequently hear about equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people being "special rights" came from the Religious Right's efforts to divide minority communities during the Right's earlier wave of anti-equality ballot measures.

Here's what Stone says:

Part of this secular argument about 'special rights' was a new image of the Religious Right as supportive of civil rights for 'deserving' minorities such as African Americans but opposed to 'undeserving' minorities such as LGBT activists. The anti-gay Right used special rights political messaging to divide potential allies by exacerbating existing tensions about race and class in LGBT politics. Through this messaging, the Right reaffirms gayness as whiteness, creating divisions between a presumed white LGBT movement and the presumed heterosexual African American community.

It does seem pretty consistent with the playbook, though the language of special rights is now also used to justify majority rejection of equality legislation.  Both the special rights language and the tactic of dividing minorities are items to watch as the ballot measure campaign to overturn the partner benefits and non-discrimination ordinance in Chattanooga gets underway.   

#GivingTuesday with the TEP Foundation

It's #GivingTuesday.  Consider making your contribution to the TEP Foundation at this link. 

You can also mail your check to
P.O. Box 330895  
Nashville, TN  37203. 

We are grateful for your support.  Let's advance the values of equality and inclusion in Tennessee.

Virtual "Don't Say Pizza" Party with Sen. Campfield: Get your two slices of equality!

Lately Sen. Stacey Campfield has been making the news for having trouble finding a place to host a pizza party fundraiser for his campaign.  He's had trouble with restaurants before, as we know. 

Well, according to The Nashville Scene, his problems have been solved.  His event is rescheduled for TODAY at Mafiosa's in the 12 South area of Nashville.  Yes, that's right--Nashville!

The Scene reports it's a reservation for 12 people.  But we think that's not nearly a big enough pizza party to honor the work of the legislator who brought us the Don't Say Gay bill.

School pizza from Anchorage, Alaska

So we're hosting a virtual pizza party around the state today with (or without) Sen. Campfield and we invite you all to join us.  It looks as if a slice is about $3, so why not have two? 

Consider donating $6 to the TEP Foundation at this link so we can provide more education about equality and inclusion around the state at our virtual pizza party.

Let's make it the biggest pizza party the state has ever seen!

*Hat tip to Eric P. for letting us know about the event.

Same-sex binational couple denied name change on driver's license: Video from WREG

WREG in Memphis broke the story of a same-sex binational couple (the Smarts) who tried to get a name change on a driver's license and ended up not getting a driver's license at all. TEP is attempting to explore whether there may be administrative options for rectifying these issues that couples are having all over Tennessee.  The long-term solution, of course, is challenging Tennessee's marriage discrimination amendment in court.

We're well aware that couples can get their names changed by going to court and paying around $200. That's discriminatory, though, and we'd love to find a way for them to be able to avoid that trouble and expense. Earlier on Thursday, Huffington Post ran this piece about the difficulties that couples in Georgia and Tennessee are having with the issue.  Stay tuned for more developments.

Tennessee same-sex couples apply for marriage licenses

Here's a summary of the news links:

http://wreg.com/2013/08/07/gay-couples-apply-for-marriage-license-and-get-denied/

http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2013/08/07/nashville-gay-couple-denied-a-marriage-license

http://www.truthwinsout.org/news/2013/08/36739/

http://www.towleroad.com/2013/08/gay-tennessee-couple-denied-marriage-license-video.html

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/aug/07/memphis-lgbt-couples-try-fail-to-apply-for/

http://www.memphisflyer.com/MemphisGaydar/archives/2013/08/07/memphis-gay-couples-are-turned-down-for-marriage-licenses

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130807/NEWS01/130807006/Nashville-same-sex-couple-asks-marriage-license

http://www.wkrn.com/story/23073974/same-sex-couple-asks-for-marriage-license

http://www.wmctv.com/story/23077030/same-sex-couples-attempt-to-file-for-marriage-licenses-in-shelby-co

http://www.outandaboutnashville.com/story/davidson-county-couple-attempts-apply

http://www.gayapolis.com/news/artdisplay-issues.php?artid=25103

http://www.wate.com/story/23073974/same-sex-couple-asks-for-marriage-license

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2013/08/tn-couple-applies-for-marriage-license.html

Good News: Marriage is Not Dead in Tennessee

On Thursday night, July 25, in Germantown, TN, I was there when the Family Action Council of Tennessee, (FACT) decided marriage was not dead.  However, FACT believes the institution is on life support and within a few months or a couple of years of being declared extinct.  Nate Kellum, self proclaimed chief counsel of the self founded Center for Religious Expression, attempted to, on the one hand, educate the tens of people who attended (28 plus 3 facilitators) on the DOMA and Prop 8 decisions and, on the other hand, scare them into a course of action he could  not clearly define.

But do you know what rang most true during the whole night? He endorsed the allied groups that are bringing us equal marriage.  Nate (I'm going to call him Nate cause it's easier, and because I feel like I should know him.  We were at Ole Miss Law School at the same time) told the gathering that pro-equal marriage advocacy is a success story.  That marriage equality proponents make up a small but affluent group.  That they are passionate and committed because they just brush off defeat and start re-strategizing.  He declared that they will work until there is full acceptance of their "lifestyle."  Well, by this point, I felt like standing up and yelling at the top of my lungs, "Damn Straight!!!!!"  Oops.  I mean, darn tooting!  He then stated that Christians needed to match that effort.  That's when things got scary again.

I.  Marriage is not dead.

Nate's first point was despite the DOMA and Prop 8 decisions, the "biblical" definition or marriage remained intact.  He did a relatively good job explaining the result of the decisions, but I loved his editorial speechifying along the way.  Ask me sometimes for the details, but suffice it to say, he used terms like "serious homosexual activist" in reference to the Prop 8 trial court Judge Walker, "unprecedented," "unconscionable," and "utterly deprived Prop 8 proponents of their voice in court."

II.  However, he said "marriage" is in a fight for its life.

Nate admitted that his marriage had not been "redefined", but his definition was on life support.  He immediately blamed Lambda Legal and the ACLU for wasting no time in Pennsylvania and North Carolina in challenging marriage amendments and laws.  But the worst case scenario for FACT is the Ohio case.  They know it, and they don't know what to do about it.  Ohio residents and twenty plus year partners Jim Obergefell and John Arthur, who has been stricken with ALS, flew to Maryland and got married on July 11 on the tarmac in the airplane in which they arrived.  John's family owns a  burial plot that is restricted to Arthur family descendants and their spouses. Additionally, if John dies as the Ohio law now stands, he would be identified as unmarried on the death certificate, and Jim would not be identified as spouse or survivor.  So, the gentlemen have  filed suit in Ohio federal court to have their Maryland marriage recognized by the state of Ohio.  

Last Monday, the court, relying on the DOMA case, ordered the State of Ohio to recognize the marriages of same sex spouses who married in other states but who live in Ohio. It is a thrilling ruling for same sex partners living in Tennessee, and it has FACT frightened.  Why for Tennessee?  The federal court system is geographically and for purposes of legal precedent divided into appellate court circuits.  Tennessee and Ohio are both in the Sixth Circuit, and when a Sixth Circuit Court decides an issue, it could be binding in all of the states in that circuit.  So, if the Ohio district court case is appealed to the Sixth Circuit, and the Sixth Circuit rules as the lower court did, marriage equality could effectively be brought to Tennessee.  Nate said, and I agree, that the DOMA and Prop 8 cases do not affect Tennessee marriage directly, but this Ohio case could.

Which brings us to the second point FACT made here.  That marriage is under severe attack by cultural influences.  He noted with astonishment how supporting same sex marriage has become not only "not detrimental" but politically advantageous for politicians.  I find this a huge admission from FACT and a bigger victory in the long term battle.

But then . . . 

III.  Marriage is worth fighting for he argued.

Here is where Nate fell down the rabbit hole into apparent untruths, half truths, and undocumented and unsourced scare tactics.  He argued that opening up marriage to other "definitions"  harms individuals, social interests, and religious liberties.

According to Nate, same sex marriage will beget polygamy which will beget polyamorous marriages which will beget adult/child marriages which will beget person/pet marriages.  He then linked the concept of equal marriage to the trigger word "welfare" when he blamed marriage equality in Sweden and Norway for contributing to them being the largest two welfare states in western civilization.

Finally, he finds same sex marriage harmful to religious liberty.  He posited that because same sex marriage  proponents want full societal acceptance of gay people and nothing less, a clash between those who want to live their biblical freedom and everyone else is inevitable.  He told of three arrests in Europe based upon "preaching the gospel" or simply reading from the biblical book of Romans about homosexuality, and he intimated that this type of state action was headed for America.  However, he conveniently forgot to mention the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment guaranteeing free speech and the fact there are no hate speech laws anywhere in any jurisdiction.  See aforementioned First amendment issue.

Nate then took questions ranging from should they sue the Supreme Court justices for tyranny to the best question of the night, "How do we stop this runaway train [marriage equality] headed toward Tennessee?"  He answered simply that they had to pray, had to speak where God put them, had to talk to their friends and neighbors, and perhaps a Supreme Court challenge would go up in a couple of years where the Court would uphold traditional marriage.  FACT, though, is also sponsoring a work session entitled "Stand for Truth" at which they will be teaching what they describe as practical tools for talking to non-Christians about abortion and traditional marriage.

Well, in the long run, I have to agree that marriage is not dead.  Rather, I submit it is  getting a second wind.  A new (and not so new) generation or should a say, a protected class, of people want it, lust after it, desire it, and want to make it theirs.  They want to feel safe, secure, loved, transformed.  They want to rear children together, grow old together, and get buried together.  They want to build families and love each other to the fullest extent of the law, and  I am proud to say that I think Nate would agree with me that it is closer to reality here in Tennessee than ever before.

Now, here is your challenge.  Nate threw it out there when he recognized all of your unwillingness to take defeat.  Can you be as committed, as passionate, and as hard working when success seems to be in your grasp?  Can you show them you mean just as much business when you are winning as when you were being defeated?  The folks at FACT Forum on Marriage are reorganizing and restrategizing, and they believe they can do to equal marriage what they are doing to reproductive rights.  So, please don't let them win.  Work harder.  Work longer.  Reap your rewards, and fight on.  Marriage is close, but let's not stop until Nate's worse nightmare and our dream is realized - full acceptance of GLBT people in our society and under our law.  

- Anne Gullick, TEP and TEPF Board member