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

Trouble for Rep. Casada's anti-anti-discrimination bill?

As first reported here at Grand Divisions, Rep. Glen Casada plans to file legislation that would prevent municipalities like Metro Nashville from extending their non-discrimination policies to businesses with which they contract. As of today, the legislation still hasn't been filed, even though the Representative indicated that it would be. So he's late, but I'm sure it's coming soon.

This bill has problems.

Not popular: Williamson A.M. letter writers don't seem to like it. OK, one letter writer liked it, but the rest clearly didn't. The writers either thought the state shouldn't be interfering in a local matter or that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people should have job protections like everyone else.

Here's what Suzanne Clement of Franklin had to say:

Rep. Casada's attempt to prevent cities from enacting non-discrimination ordinances leaves a bad taste in my mouth on a variety of levels. Equality of rights and protections applies to all citizens, period, whether they are on the "official list" or not.

Casada's meddling with how municipalities do business is over-stepping. It is within the scope of the city governments' functioning bodies to determine what conditions apply to city contracts.

Worse, whether it is the intent or not, this measure appears to be an attempt to deny homosexual business people the right to equal consideration in doing businesss with cities.

I think he should step back on this one.

Smell Test: At a time when our Legislature is saber rattling about federal meddling in the states, it just seems odd to be considering state prohibitions on local government.

Interference with Contracts: I'm no lawyer, but doesn't it strike you as odd that with this bill the state government is trying to get between two parties in a contract? Isn't it typical for parties to set conditions for a contract? Why isn't Metro's proposed extension of its non-discrimination policy looked upon as just another condition that one party desires to set up in the contract that two parties freely enter into? If a business doesn't like the proposed condition, then it doesn't have to bid. This ought to be pretty easy.

Fun Fact of the Day: Rep. Casada's employer has inclusive workplace protections that cover sexual orientation and gender identity. According to his website, he has worked for Schering Plough for 23 years. Schering Plough gets a high score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. Yes, that's right; Rep. Casada most likely has openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender coworkers.

Note on that whole Williamson County vs Nashville thing: It just looks bad when a Williamson County state legislator and another Williamson County resident (David Fowler of Family Action Council) are the leaders in the effort to stop a Metro Nashville ordinance. It doesn't help appearances that Family Action is holding its Nashville "Truth Project" Worldview Training Seminar event in Williamson County. No doubt, one of the big topics at the seminar will be how to work against the Metro ordinance. I just shake my head sometimes at these things.

-Chris Sanders