Voting for Equality in Shelby County on August 5 (Part 1)

TEP is often asked about who to vote for in elections. In this election year, TEP is urging all voters to Vote for Equality. In advance of the August 5 election and early voting which begins on July 16, I offer the following information on candidates in elections in Shelby County to those who plan to vote for equality.

My posts will appear in three parts: County Elections, Primaries for Tennessee House and Governor, and U.S. Congress.

But let me begin with some explanation. Only TEP PAC can endorse or make contributions to candidates for state and local office. The information offered here will include TEP PAC’s endorsements and additional information that you can take to the voting booth with you.

I will try to limit my comments to candidate positions on LGBTQ issues. Mainstream media often don't ask about our issues but do cover other important policy positions of candidates that should also be considered before casting your vote.

I have relied on first hand knowledge, various news media and other reliable sources before posting this information. I encourage you to add to this body of knowledge with one request: Keep your comments constructive, objective and factual. Let’s do our best to educate each other in the democratic process.

If you are not sure if you live in a candidates district, you can verify this information on your voter registration card or at the Shelby County Election Commission website: http://www.shelbyvote.com/.

SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR

The two major candidates for Shelby County Mayor are Interim Mayor Joe Ford (D) and Sheriff Mark Luttrell (R).

Before Ford was appointed by the Shelby County Commission last Fall to replace Mayor A.C. Wharton, he served on the Shelby County Commission . Ford appeared at TEP’s Ice Cream Sundae Social on June 27 to ask for your vote. Last year, TEP supported an employment non-discrimination ordinance sponsored by Commissioner Steve Mulroy (see below). The original ordinance would have protected employees of county government, government contractors, and businesses in unicorporated areas of Shelby County. Ford voted against the original ordinance in a committee vote but later voted for a substitute resolution that allowed a change in Shelby County government policy that protects county employees from discrimination based on “non-merit factors”, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

At a Mayoral Forum sponsored by the Shelby County Democratic Party Executive Committee last April, Ford was asked if he would support an ordinance that established workplace protections for gay, lesbian, bi and transgender employees of the county and county contractors like the non-discrimination ordinance proposed by Commissioner Steve Mulroy in 2009. Ford was first to answer among his opponents that he voted for the resolution that passed last year while still serving on the Shelby County Commission. Ford said that the county does not currently discriminate on the job. Ford said he could not commit to the ordinance without seeing the actual wording.

Sheriff Luttrell has no legislative record on LGBTQ issues, but it is worth noting that he was in charge of the Shelby County Justice Center when Duanna Johnson was beaten by Memphis Police officer Bridges McRae. The videotaped beating of Johnson showed that Sheriff Department employees did little to nothing to intervene while Johnson was beaten. Luttrell defended his staff as reported in the Commercial Appeal (June 8, 2008):

Sheriff Mark Luttrell, who oversees the jail, said Thursday that the nurse didn't ignore Johnson, but performed a visual assessment of Johnson and determined the injuries weren't life-threatening. A few minutes later, the nurse tended to McRae while Johnson rocked back and forth behind them.

Since Johnson, not McRae, suffered the most severe injuries, it is strange that Luttrell would offer such a defence with no offer to review how Sheriff Department employees should respond at the jail when fellow law enforcement officers lose control. Luttrell seemed more concerned about the videotape being leaked to Duanna Johnson’s attorney at the time:

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is investigating how an attorney got a surveillance videotape of their law enforcement lobby, which showed a Memphis police officer beating a suspect. The sheriff's office made one copy, which was given to MPD as part of the investigation of the incident, said sheriff's spokesman Steve Shular.

As Sheriff, Luttrell made no attempt to reach out to the LGBT community following the incident at the jail. We still don’t know what kind of training Sheriff Department employees receive for dealing with transgender detainees.

In deciding who to vote for, I plan to consider the following:

1. Which candidate will do the best job in following the new county non-discrimination policy that includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity?


2. Which candidate would be the most supportive of reintroduction of a stronger employment non-discrimination ordinance for county employees and employees of county contractors (who aren’t currently covered by county policy)?

SHELBY COUNTY SHERIFF

The reality on this race is that there is not a lot of concrete information available on the LGBTQ policy positions of the Democratic or Republican candidates for County Sheriff. To my knowledge, neither candidate has responded to direct questions on LGBTQ policy issues, but there are some indirect ways to compare these candidates. Both candidates have extensive law enforcement experience.

Randy Wade (D). Candidate Randy Wade's position on LGBT policies is unknown. However, Wade has worked in Congressman Steve Cohen's home office in the Ninth Congressional District. Cohen is known for holding progressive positions on GLBT issues (see below). By association, Wade may lean in the same progressive direction.

Bill Oldham (R). I know even less about the Republican candidate. Sometimes not showing up to certain events can be a good sign. Bellevue Baptist Church, a frequent stop for Republican candidates, hosted a "Stand for the Family" rally (aka anti-gay and anti-choice hatefest) on March 29, 2010. While campaign supports with stickers appeared for a few conservative Republican candidates for Sheriff, neither Oldham nor his campaign supporters were observed to attend. I freely admit that may be giving Oldham more credit than he may deserve.

If given the opportunity, I would ask the following of both candidates:

1. Do you believe that Sheriff Department employees should be protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression?


2. Do you support diversity training that includes discussion of LGBTQ people for department employees?


3. How should the Sheriff Department treat transgender detainees?

If you know how the candidates respond to these questions, please post their positions.

SHELBY COUNTY COMMISSION

Most of the races for the 13 seats for Shelby County Commission were decided in the May 4, 2010 primary because the opposing party did not offer a candidate. Commission District 5 is the only exception. For that reason, I’ll offer brief comments on each position.

County Commission District 1, Pos. 1
Mike Ritz (R). Incumbent Commissioner Ritz voted against the original employment non-discrimination ordinance in May 2009. But, Ritz did vote for a substitute resolution in June 2009 that allowed a change in Shelby County government policy that protects county employees from discrimination based on “non-merit factors”, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Ritz was the only Republican to vote for the resolution.

County Commission District 1, Pos. 2
Heidi Shafer (R). Candidate Shafer hopes to replace Dr. George Flinn on the commission. She has no legislative record on LGBTQ issues, but I have heard reports that she actively campaigned for Tennessee’s anti-marrriage amendment ballot referendum in 2006 that prohibits recognition marriages of lesbian and gay couples.

County Commission District 1, Pos. 3
Mike Carpenter (R). Incumbent Commissioner Carpenter voted against the original employment non-discrimination ordinance in May 2009 and the substitute resolution enacted in June 2009 that allowed a change in Shelby County government policy that protects county employees from discrimination based on “non-merit factors”, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

County Commission District 2, Pos. 1
Walter Lee Bailey, Jr. (D). Mr. Bailey is no stranger to the Shelby Commission having served many terms. He will be returning to the commission after a one-term break due to term limits. Mr. Bailey actively campaign for the original employment non-discrimination ordinance in May 2009. He spoke eloquently in favor of the legislation at a Unity Rally at First Congregational Church on May 31, 2010 and before the Shelby County Commission the next day.

County Commission District 2, Pos. 2
Henri E. Brooks (D). Incumbent Commissioner Brooks voted for the original employment non-discrimination ordinance in May 2009 and for a substitute resolution in June 2009 that allowed a change in Shelby County government policy that protects county employees from discrimination based on “non-merit factors”, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

County Commission District 2, Pos. 3
Melvin Burgess (D). The candidate’s views on LGBTQ policy issues are unknown.

County Commission District 3, Pos. 1
James M. Harvey, Sr. (D). Incumbent Commissioner Harvey voted against the original employment non-discrimination ordinance in May 2009. But, Harvey did vote for a substitute resolution in June 2009 that allowed a change in Shelby County government policy that protects county employees from discrimination based on “non-merit factors”, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Harvey pledged support for a full ordinance for the next term and received the endorsement of TEP-PAC.

County Commission District 3, Pos. 2
Sidney Chism (D). Incumbent Commissioner Chism voted against the original employment non-discrimination ordinance in May 2009. Chism sponsored and voted for a substitute resolution in June 2009 that allowed a change in Shelby County government policy that protects county employees from discrimination based on “non-merit factors”, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

County Commission District 3, Pos. 3
Justin Ford (D). The son of Joe Ford, Justin Ford’s position on LGBTQ issues are unknown.

County Commission District 4, Pos. 1
Chris Thomas (R). While serving as Shelby County Probate Court Clerk, Thomas stood with Bellevue Baptist Church’s Pastor Steve Gaines, a small group of right-wing preachers, and Commissioner Wyatt Bunker outside the Shelby County Administration Building to oppose the Shelby County employment non-discrimination ordinance sponsored by Commissioner Steve Mulroy. Thomas is the white-haired, white man at the beginning of this Commercial Appeal Video arguing with the Rev. Elaine Blanchard and Midsouth Peace and Justice Center’s Jacob Flowers.

County Commission District 4, Pos. 2
Wyatt Bunker (R). Where to begin? Incumbent Commissioner Wyatt Bunker sponsored the “hate fest” in front of the Shelby County Administration Building on May 26, 2009 opposing the Shelby County employment non-discrimination ordinance sponsored by Commissioner Steve Mulroy (See story here). Bunker also launched viscious slurs during the Shelby County Commission hearing of the employment non-discrimination ordinance. Commerical Appeal blogger Alex Doniach reported: “In light of the growing crowd, Commissioner Wyatt Bunker asked whether ‘those who identify themselves as men would give up their seats for those who identify themselves as women.’”County Commission District 4, Pos. 3Terry Roland (R). Candidate Terry Roland spoke against the employment non-discrimination ordinance during the Shelby County Commission hearing on June 1, 2010. He bragged about it during his campaign in the Republican Primary before last May.

County Commission District 5
This district is considered the swing-seat on the County Commission. It is the only district that was not decided in the May primary.

Steve Mulroy (D). Incumbent Steve Mulroy sponsored the employment non-discrimination ordinance on the Shelby County Commission in the Spring of 2009. He also enjoys the endorsement of TEP-PAC. Steve has appeared at local Pride events and other events sponsored by LGBT organizations. He not only deserves your vote, but your support as a campaign volunteer and contributor.

Dr. Rolando Toyos (R). Dr. Toyos is Commissioner Mulroy’s Republican opponent for this swing seat on the commission. Toyos grew up in the Bay Area of California and has a much more sophisticated view of GLBT people than many of his peers in his party. He’s not considered to be an opponent of LGBT rights, but if he were to win this seat, it would jeopardize the current non-discriminatory policy established for Shelby County government.

JUDICIAL RACES

Judicial candidates are prohibited by the judicial canons of ethics from taking positions on policy issues, but there are a handful of honorable mentions.

General Sessions Criminal Court Division 7. There are 20 candidates in this race. Two of them have attended TEP events to ask for your vote. Billy Bond shared some ice cream in search of votes the TEP Ice Cream Sundae Social on June 27. Bill Anderson, Jr. attended the monthly meeting of TEP's Shelby County Committee on June 28 to ask for votes.

Criminal Court Judge Division 3. Candidate Gerald Skahan has attended two meetings of TEP's Shelby County Committee and the June 27 Ice Cream Sundae Social seeking votes from LGBT and allied voters.

Other Honorable Mentions on Shelby County Government elections.

The following candidates have attended and supported TEP events seeking votes from LGBT and allied citizens in 2010:

• Corey Maclin (D) for County Clerk


• Regina Morrison Newman (D) for County Trustee


• Coleman Thompson (D) for Register of Deeds


• David Winslow Upton for State Democratic Executive Committee District 30. Upton deserves much credit in advocating for the employment non-discrimination legislation enacted by the Shelby County Commission in 2009.


• Dave Cambron for State Democratic Executive Committee District 31


• Adrienne Pakis-Gillon for State Democratic Executive Committee District 31

Part 2 of this series will focus on competitive primaries for Tennessee Governor and the State House of Representatives.

- Jonathan Cole

Thank you, Tennessee

It's my last day as chairman of the board of the Tennessee Equality Project, a position I've held for four years. The thank-yous and the good-byes I say are hardly final since I'll continue to serve as chair of the TEP Nashville Committee and on the board of TEP PAC, our state political action committee. But it will be quite a change not worrying every day about what's going on in Bristol, Memphis, Gallatin, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Jackson, Murfreesboro, and on and on. Habits of worry are hard to break, but mine will be considerably easier given the new officers and all the county chairs who lead our organization around the state.

Besides the biggies like the Metro non-discrimination ordinance signing pictured in the upper right or debating David Fowler and Stacey Campfield on television, here are a few things that come back to me about the last four years:

(Find the rest here)

-Chris Sanders

Knoxville Media AWOL on Pridefest

If you're looking for coverage of Knoxville Pridefest in the Knoxville media market today, you're looking in vain. I didn't find anything at the Knoxville News Sentinel except an article from yesterday focused on HIV testing. Nothing at WATE or WBIR showed up in searches. Perhaps the Metro Pulse will weigh in later this week.

But it's beyond me how a few thousand people can put on a festival celebrating gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in East Tennessee and it not be news. If our community is not even allowed to exist in the news, then we certainly won't achieve advances for equality in Tennessee.

If nothing else, coverage of Knoxville Pridefest would have provided quite a counterpoint to Rep. Stacey Campfield's (R-Knoxville) efforts to pass the Don't Say Gay bill this year as well as his complaints about OUTeach, UT-Knoxville's LGBT & Ally Resource Center. The Don't Say Gay bill was certainly on the minds of Nashville Pride festival goers as noted by the Tennessean. I can't imagine that East Tennesseans would have been hesitant to share their views IF THEY HAD BEEN ASKED.

-Chris Sanders

Domestic violence in the GLBT community: From the NFL to Memphis

Two items on domestic violence at The Advocate made me pause this morning. The big headline was that openly gay former Minnesota Vikings player Esera Tuaolo has been charged with domestic assault. I want to emphasize Tuaolo has been charged, not convicted. Still, the allegations are troubling given his work to try to reduce homophobia in professional sports.

If it had been a straight male athlete currently playing for a major professional team, most observers would simply treat it as another example in a long list of highly publicized cases of "boys behaving badly." As The Bleacher Report's Scott Goll said a few years ago, "Yet, it's almost an afterthought when we read about it buried in the sports pages. It doesn't live long in our psyche, especially if he goes on to hit a game-winning homer the next day—all is forgiven somehow."

But what the charges against Tuaolo bring up for me is the invisibility of domestic violence in the GLBT community. As if to underscore the point, the Advocate linked to a clip from the TLC show Police Women of Memphis (I had no idea there even was such a show!) that captures the aftermath of a domestic violence call:



We can be thankful that there are officers like the one who responded to the call. Not all victims are treated so considerately. Amnesty International USA has outlined some of the problems in police response to domestic violence in the GLBT community. For example:

"Only 17% of police departments report having specific policies on same-sex domestic violence. 83% of police departments report providing training on issues around same-sex domestic violence. 14% of police departments report that they do not train on issues around same-sex domestic violence. "

We are fortunate in Tennessee that organizations like the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence do wonderful, inclusive work around these issues. They list this information if you or someone you know needs help with domestic violence:

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For resources in Tennessee call 1-800-356-6767 or 1-800-799-7233 (National Domestic Violence Hotline).

-Chris Sanders

GLBT representation grows on Davidson Co Democratic Party Exec Committee

Congratulations to Nancy VanReece and Ryan Ellis, two of the newest members of the GLBT community to hold seats on the Davidson County Executive Committee. The two were selected at last night's meeting. VanReece serves as the District 4 committeewoman and Ellis serves as the District 29 committeeman. Both were TEP district captains of their respective districts in the 2009 effort to pass the Metro non-discrimination ordinance. Ellis is the incoming Vice President of TEP.

They join Shane Burkett, committeeman for District 12, and Marisa Richmond, committeewoman for District 23, on the executive committee--both of whom were on the ballot in the recent Davidson County Primary.

Closer to Equality in Family Leave

The Associated Press is reporting that the Department of Labor is set to interpret existing law to allow family leave for same-sex couples:

The Family and Medical Leave Act allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to take care of loved ones or themselves. The 1993 law, which also allows employees to take time off for adoptions, has previously only been applied to heterosexual couples. The Labor Department planned to extend those rights based on a new interpretation of the law, the officials said. There was no plan to ask Congress to change the law, which means future presidents could reverse the decision.

It's a welcome step during a month when many communities are celebrating Pride. In a state like Tennessee, it's particularly welcome because we have little hope for marriage equality in the near future. It's further evidence that President Obama has appointed people who are trying to find ways to make life better for GLBT families.

With all that said, though, until we pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees will not be out at work and are unlikely to ask to use this benefit. And until we have marriage equality, any of these admistrative changes can be taken away. Every step forward has been a mixture of relief and frustration. We can't help but feel relieved when these advances are announced. Each one means that the bar is moving a little higher (sometimes inches), but the need is so much greater. The frustration remains. It's not ingratitude; it's the desire for equality.

Nashville Pride Political Roundup

Despite the heat, thousands turned out for Nashville Pride today. Channel 5 offered some coverage. The Tennessean's coverage was more political with several folks interviewed talking about the 2009 Metro non-discrimination ordinance, the Don't Say Gay bill, and the birth certificate bill.

It was a good day for politicking. State Representative Mike Stewart was making the rounds. Candidate for State House district 58 Steven Turner and candidate for State Senate district 21 Jeff Yarbro were busy engaging voters. Newly announced candidate for Metro Council district 6 Pete Westerholm (an outgoing TEP board member) was busy working the TEP table and meeting people. I was pleased to see that the Tennessee Democratic Party also had a table busy with volunteers.

Volunteers at the TEP table registered voters, surveyed festival goers about discrimination, and increased awareness of the upcoming State Primary. All in all, it was a great day to build the movement for equality.

TEP Madison Co Committee launches

About 20 people attended the launch of the Madison County Committee tonight to provide new organization for the fight for equality in West TN.

The Madison Co Committee joins similar structures in the Tri-Cities, Knox County, Hamilton/Bradley Counties, Sumner County, Rutherford County, Nashville, and Shelby County. It fills a significant gap in TEP's coverage of the state. See the Jackson Sun's coverage here.

TEP Madison County Chair Drew Baker issues a call for those in West TN to help and get involved in the effort:



For more information, contact us at info@tnep.org .

Vote Equality: Getting out the Vote for the State Primary

Even though we've barely had time to catch our breath after a long legislative session, the State primary is just around the corner; it also happens to be the county general election. Early voting starts on July 16 and Election Day is August 5.

There's a lot at stake in this election--congressional races, half the State Senate, all of the State House of Representatives, the gubernatorial race, etc. The next General Assembly will set the plan for redistricting the State with important implications for Tennessee's congressional delegation. While TEP PAC, our political action committee, will be involved in the usual business of endorsing and helping fund pro-equality candidates, the Tennessee Equality Project will be doing what we can to raise awareness of the State primary in August and the general election in November. We want to make sure to turn out equality voters throughout Tennessee. We'll help get voters registered, make them aware of voting dates and locations, and the importance of these elections.

These races are vitally important for Tennessee's GLBT community. The Legislature routinely takes up bills that directly affect our rights. I've already found six State House candidates with anti-equality messages on their websites. We'll be calling them out just like we did in 2008. In the Nashville area, candidates for the Legislature that voted against the Metro non-discrimination ordinance are on the ballot. We'll be watching them closely, too.

If you'd like to help raise awareness of the State primary, check "attend" at our Facebook "event" and it will show up in your newsfeed. There's nothing to do after that but get informed and go vote.

-Chris Sanders

Two kinds of incrementalism in advocating job protections

First, let me say that incrementalism has become a bad word in the GLBT blogosphere. I don't say that's necessarily a universally shared view. But it's important to acknowledge at the outset that incrementalism with much justification is a bad word. Perhaps the most progressive president and Congress ever were elected in 2008, and the GLBT community's expectations were high after the election. Incrementalism was swept away as a necessary evil, a relic of the Bush-II years. Impatience is the order of the day.

TYPE 1--One meaning of incrementalism from the Bush years is particularly onerous--the effort in 2007 to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) without gender identity. Saying it that way is too clinical, though. What it meant was that transgender people, a sector of the population most susceptible to job discrimination and violence, would be left behind. The transgender community and allies have every reason to be on the lookout for this kind of incrementalism in current discussions of ENDA. Some voices in the GLBT community, not many of them saying so in public, continue to think that it would be sensible to go for ENDA with sexual orientation only and come back for gender identity later. As ENDA continues to be delayed, it may be that more of those voices will emerge from the shadows in an attempt to get something passed.

My first reaction is a philosophical NO. I can't see the justification for leaving behind a class of people who need these protections. I don't think that statement needs an elaborate "proof." I know it's not self-evident to everyone, but it is for me. It's probably not too persuasive, though, to certain kinds of incrementalists. They see themselves as practical people who want to move the ball forward...granted it's usually for themselves. But they see themselves that way nonetheless.

The most persuasive argument against that type of incrementalism is that it wouldn't move enough people to matter. The same people who are screaming about the imagined dangers of transgender people in restrooms (where's the evidence on this?) are completely opposed to any job protections based on sexual orientation. They are onto and completely opposed to ANY incremental approach. The Traditional Values Coalition is just one example. The fire fueling the opposition to ENDA in any form burns just as hot no matter how much of our community is included. I assure you that the Religious Right will not back down against a truncated ENDA.

So I say we just need to stand and fight.

TYPE 2--Despite my opposition to that type of incrementalism, there is another type that I completely support. The closest example I can draw on is the 2009 Metro non-discrimination ordinance. I don't believe we could have gotten half the support for an ordinance that would have applied to the private sector. Since no law (although there was a resolution in Shelby County and a Metro Schools policy) had ever been passed granting job protections in TN based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the territory was just too new. That's a sad statement on the state of equality in Tennessee, but it's where we are. Although the ordinance only applies to Metro government employees, it includes both sexual orientation AND gender identity. We wouldn't compromise on that point. There was an attempt to run a bill without gender identity, but it got amended to be inclusive. We were clear on this point from the beginning and our Council allies stood firm. No one was left behind. There was no question about coming back for anyone. Everyone took that small but important step together. It's a gain we can let sink in and build upon.

So until ENDA passes, TEP and others will continue to advance non-discrimination measures at the state and local levels in Tennessee. I believe we have an obligation to protect as many people as we can, protect them inclusively, and protect them with measures that can actually get the votes.

Maybe that's not philosophically consistent. I don't know. But from a practical point of view I would respond to the naysayers with this argument. My guess is that most of the members of Congress who support ENDA represent districts with at least one city that has some kind of non-discrimination ordinance. I believe that passing local ordinances makes it safer for members of Congress to support ENDA. I wouldn't say it's the definitive factor in their support, but it's a part of the puzzle. So I don't see that kind of incrementalism as a hindrance to achieving the larger goal of passing ENDA. If anything, it's a boost because it educates people in that congressional district about the issue of job discrimination.

-Chris Sanders

Presidential proclamation on Pride month and the remaining items on the equality checklist

President Obama has issued his proclamation of June as Pride month. After detailing the actions his administration has taken, which are far more than his predecessors though themselves fraught with compromise, he lays out remaining issues to be addressed as we move toward full equality:

"Much work remains to fulfill our Nation's promise of equal justice under law for LGBT Americans. That is why we must give committed gay couples the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple, and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. We must protect the rights of LGBT families by securing their adoption rights, ending employment discrimination against LGBT Americans, and ensuring Federal employees receive equal benefits. We must create safer schools so all our children may learn in a supportive environment. I am also committed to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" so patriotic LGBT Americans can serve openly in our military, and I am working with the Congress and our military leadership to accomplish that goal."

I am glad to see repeal of DOMA, adoption rights, ENDA (vaguely) , and safe schools mentioned. These are all advances that would help Tennessee's GLBT community given the constant fight we have over adoption, the lack of employment protections, ongoing challenges with bullying, and our state constitutional amendment that enshrines marriage discrimination. I think the President's remarks also acknowledge that what the Senate Arms Services Committee and the full House have passed is not yet a real repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

The President's proclamation is hopeful. The questions that remain are how hard the President is willing to work to advance these proposals and how hard the community is going to have to work to bring pressure to bear on him and the Congress to cross the finish line.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell "repeal" compromise advances in Senate committee, full House

On Thursday the Senate Armed Services Committee and the full House of Representatives advanced the compromise measure toward the eventual repeal of the military's 17-year-old Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that bars gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving openly in the military.

Tennessee's congressional delegation doesn't appear to have played a significant role in the proceedings in either body. Neither senator from Tennessee is on the Armed Services Committee. Congressman Zach Wamp rose briefly for a parliamentary question about adding time for debate. His smirk betrayed the move as an effort at delay. The House roll call is not available yet. UPDATE: Now the votes are available. AYE = Cohen, Cooper, and Gordon. NO = Blackburn, Davis, Duncan, Roe, Tanner, and Wamp.

The amendment is not what the GLBT community had hoped for or called for. It does not stop discharges of servicemembers. It provides no comprehensive non-discrimination policy. It doesn't even guarantee a repeal at the end of the Pentagon study. But it is the path to repeal that was available in this Congress. It is also a path that GLBT servicemembers' groups got behind. So, as with much legislation, most of the community held their noses, supported it, and worked for passage.

There are still a few steps left in passage of the bill carrying the amendment, but there is reason for optimism that it will pass and the process of real repeal can begin. Tonight is not a victory, but it is another chance.

-Chris Sanders

TEP partners with Friends for Life for HIV/AIDS Advocacy program

Tennessee Equality Project has partnered with Friends for Life in Memphis to teach advocacy skills to people living with and affected by HIV. Friends for Life launched an eight-week Advocacy Academy on May 19 funded by a grant from the Ford Foundation. Approximately 20 people enrolled in the class.

TEP will provide training on how to contact and speak to elected officials and research information on local and state government. TEP will also consult with graduates of the Advocacy Academy to develop a field plan focused on the advancement of HIV/AIDS public policy.

TEP has offered training in advocacy for several years to its members and allies for many years to prepare citizens for Advancing Equality Day on the Hill in Nashville and other local legislative initiatives. The advocacy skills taught in TEP workshops are not only useful for LGBT people and their allies. Such skills are valuable for anyone willing to advocate for public policy. Friends for Life approached TEP because of its strong track record for empowering the voices of sexual minorities in Shelby County and Tennessee.

TEP looks forward to empowering the voices of those living with HIV.

-Jonathan Cole

Hate crimes based on sexual orientation go down in 2009

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's crime statistics, hate crimes based on sexual orientation went down in Tennessee in 2009 vs the previous year. There were 52 sexual bias crimes in 2009 vs 60 in 2008.

Nevertheless, there were incidents in Nashville. The Tennessean describes two:

"In March, a man walking downtown on Second Avenue was confronted by a man who asked if he was gay. When he responded that he was gay, the other man punched him in the mouth. The victim required stitches."

and...

"In December, a man walking near Second Avenue North and Commerce Street with his friends was called an anti-gay slur, punched and tossed to the ground. He was treated for a dislocated elbow."

Overall, the report is good news. The report is a reminder that areas that are becoming more tolerant such as Nashville still have work to do in reducing the number of bias related incidents.

The report does not cover crimes based on gender identity unless it is now putting such crimes in with the category gender. The federal hate crimes law was signed in 2009 which covers both sexual orientation and gender identity, so hopefully the 2010 report that comes out next year will have a full breakdown of statistics. The lack of specific reporting is another reason to pass the Richardson/Marrero bill in the Legislature that would add gender identity and expression to the state hate crimes statute.

Politics of Ignorance: Marriage Rhetoric in TN Elections

A quick comment on the appearance of rhetoric about marriage in the upcoming August primary in Tennessee and the need for protections against job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in our state. Video link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpb5lKAi2iU . Best of all, you get to push (or punch, if you prefer) my nose to play the video.

-Chris Sanders

Harvey Milk the state activist

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and May 22 is Harvey Milk Day. So this week we're going to look at issues in activism in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

We're going to start out with Harvey Milk as a statewide activist, a role near and dear to us at the Tennessee Equality Project. Take a look at this fascinating interview Milk gave about the Briggs Initiative (Proposition 6) that would have banned gays and lesbians from working in California's public schools:



In some ways, the whole movement is summed up in this interview. Milk moves easily from local to state to federal politics. He is fully conversant with the religious arguments and is staking out a constructive position of his own. He takes the divisions within the community in stride and calls everyone to get involved rather than criticize. He's making common cause with labor and racial and ethnic minorities. He presents in ten minutes so much of the blue print we're still trying to follow today. Best of all, he represents American optimism at its best, an optimism that was richly rewarded with the defeat of the Briggs Initiative.

-Chris Sanders

Won't you be my neighbor? The Neighborhood Movement and Equality in Nashville

Discussing the lack of openly gay country stars with the recent and notable exception of Chely Wright, The Independent (Ireland) observed yesterday:

"Yet Nashville has no corresponding equivalent of San Francisco's Castro district."

Certainly there is the business district on Church Street and there is a significant presence in East Nashville and in the 37212 Zip code, but the Nashville GLBT community is pretty well spread out in Davidson County. The Independent is basically right; we are without a defining gay neighborhood.

Coincidentally yesterday was also the Neighborhood Summit in Nashville sponsored by the Nashville Neighborhood Defense Fund, MNEA, IAFF (Nashville Firefighters), FOP, and SEIU. I attended to get a better understanding of the language of "neighborhood" that so animates Metro politics. I've specifically been interested in the points of connection and divergence between the neighborhood movement and our work for equality in Nashville. It's particularly important considering the passion that neighborhood issue evoke, equal to our own in the fight against discrimination.

Points of contact: Neighborhood associations and two of the sponsoring organizations of the Neighborhood Summit (SEIU and IAFF) endorsed the Metro non-discrimination ordinance last year. The majority of the current and former Metro Council Members who spoke at the summit have supported non-discrimination efforts. Current Council Members Emily Evans, Mike Jameson (who was a sponsor of the 2009 ordinance), and Jason Holleman all supported the ordinance. Former Council Members Ginger Hausser and David Briley supported the 2003 ordinance. It's difficult to find a theoretical point of contact, but it appears that many of the leading neighborhood advocates also happen to be equality advocates in our city.

Points of divergence: There aren't really any direct points of divergence. When it comes to GLBT homeowners, I don't hear any Not In My Back Yard rhetoric. Maybe that was part of old Nashville, but not so much now. Understandably the two movements will sometimes back very different candidates for office.

Why is that? The GLBT community is perhaps not as suspicious of business and development as the average person involved in his or her neighborhood. I think that's because business has led the public sector in establishing non-discrimination policies and providing partner benefits. I'm not making the case that our community shouldn't have a healthy suspicion of business and development interests. But I think this difference makes it so difficult for us to wrap our minds around why the Nashville Neighborhood Defense Fund endorsed Carolyn Baldwin Tucker for Vice Mayor in 2007. But NNDF didn't make that endorsement based on her opposition to the 2003 non-discrimination ordinance. It wasn't any attempt to glorify those positions at all.

That's precisely why it's important for equality advocates in Nashville to do more homework on neighborhood concerns if we want to be effective. It's a source of passion and power in our city's politics that could lead to new strategies for advancing legislation. Given the strong involvement of a number of members of our community in their neighborhoods, there's every reason to believe we can make those connections if we try.

-Chris Sanders

Anti-equality candidates make the news in Tennessee

As the flood water recede and we all continue with recovery efforts, the work for equality resumes and just in time. Anti-gay candidates are making the news in Tennessee.

Shelby County: A hat tip to Jonathan Cole for the link to this piece in the Commercial Appeal describing the increasingly partisan dynamic we can expect on the Shelby County Commission in August. Republican Terry Roland will be joining the Commission and here's what we know about him:

Roland, from Millington, is well known for his ability to raise the volume on issues, demonstrating it forcefully last year as a citizen during debate over an anti-discrimination ordinance opponents said provided unneeded protection based upon sexual orientation.

"I'm not looking for a fight, but I'm not backing down from one," Thomas said. "I'm not going to lay down and let people roll over us."

His colleague Chris Thomas is ready to fight, too:

But Thomas said, "If we are in the minority and there are things we are strongly opposed to, I am going to sound the alarm and try to put public pressure on them. Sometimes when you are in the minority, it's what you have to do."

The Commission has added social conservatives ready for battle at a time when the Family Action Council of Tennessee has hired a new director of community relations for Shelby County. Given the growth of TEP's own Shelby County Committee and the fact that we'll have two officers and a total of five board members from the Memphis area, the Mid-South will continue to be an important battleground for equality issues.

8th Congressional District: The story of 8th District congressional candidate Ron Kirkland's remarks about violence against gay servicemembers and Don't Ask, Don't Tell has now entered its third week. Kirkland's comments are beginning to become part of the way he is defined as a candidate even as other controversial statements are added to the mix, as the Jackson Sun's Nicholas Beadle points out:

While his comment about gays being "taken care of" in the military has drawn far more attention, another remark 8th Congressional District candidate Ron Kirkland made about illegal immigration at an April Tea Party forum in Paris has also raised some eyebrows.

Equality advocates will keep up the pressure. There were letters to the editor of the Jackson Sun and the Tennessean last week about Kirkland's joke about violence. As of Sunday morning 190 people have clicked through this trackable link to contact the Kirkland campaign to call for him to apologize and to support the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We're not holding our breath, but we will continue to draw attention to the issue. The summer is looking pretty busy.

Ron Kirkland the prophet: National liberals are NOW coming after him

In yesterday's Jackson Sun, Dr. Ron Kirkland, candidate for TN's 8th district congressional seat, said that "liberal forces from all over the country" were attacking him. Presumably that letter was written on Saturday. At that point, the story wasn't national. Now it is. National gay blog Good As You called out Dr. Kirkland today:

Oh no, please, Mr. Kirkland -- do go ahead and describe it to us. We'd love to hear it. Really. It'd be somewhat refreshing in this world where brute injustices are often covered up with the constant claims that "gays are seeking special rights."

Think Progress has also picked up the story.

Dr. Kirkland may not be good at compassion, or good at interpreting the Constitution, but he does have the gift of prophecy. We've only been alerting our fellow Tennesseans to the story and asking them to contact him. But he has succeeded in getting the national attention he had predicted. Congratulations, Dr. Kirkland.

If any of you--whether you're part of the "liberal forces all over the country" or just a Tennessean who advocates equality--would like to contact the Kirkland campaign and register your opinion, you can do so at this link.

Update: Huffington Post , Memphian Evan Hurst at Truth Wins Out, and Bianca Phillips of the Memphis Flyer pick up the story.

Ron Kirkland tries to make himself the victim

You can't find a direct link to it, but Dr. Ron Kirkland has finally responded to the demand that he apologize for joking about violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender servicemembers in a letter to the editor of the Jackson Sun:


Candidate Kirkland stands by his conservative values

Since recent reports have been published about the Tea Party Forum in Paris on Thursday evening and my defense of the “Don't ask, don't tell” policy in the U.S. military, I have been attacked by liberal forces from all over the country. Allow me to be perfectly clear. I will not back down. When any of us is cowered into apologizing for speaking the truth, our constitutional freedoms are diminished, not increased.

Allow me to be perfectly clear about my position on this issue. I support the 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy currently in force in our military. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen have recently asked our liberal president to not tamper with the current policy until a military commission can further study the issue.

As an Army veteran who served our country in Vietnam, I know the unique demands of military service. I believe that 'Don't ask, don't tell' best protects the safety of all of our service men and women and helps remove unneeded distractions from a sometimes uncomfortable, unpleasant and stressful military environment.

I do not condone nor support violence against any of our fellow Americans, especially in our military. But the fact remains that mistreatment sometimes does occur, and “Don't ask, don't tell” helps prevent it.

I understand that not everyone agrees with my policy positions, and there may be further attacks on my strong pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and limited government positions. My response then will be the same as it is now. I will stand strong for our conservative Tennessee values.

RON KIRKLAND 8TH DISTRICT CANDIDATE FOR U.S. CONGRESS

Dr. Kirkland is trying to assume the mantle of the victim, but this is a diversion from the violence against GLBT servicemembers that he was joking about and for which he still fails to apologize. He predictably says that liberals all over the country are attacking him. No, not really. The story really hasn't gone national yet. Just a blip outside Tennessee. We've only asked the people of Tennessee to contact him here, as we did yesterday in this video:




Over 140 people from Tennessee appeared to have contacted the campaign.

He says that he doesn't condone violence against anyone. Perhaps, but his remarks were still outrageous and not fit for a doctor who is running for Congress.

He then goes on to make the argument that Don't Ask, Don't Tell actually makes GLBT servicemembers safer. The argument is ridiculous. Allowing servicemembers to serve openly and honestly without a policy that tells them to go into hiding is the best route to making everyone safe. How can anyone be safe when compelled to lie?

Late addition on the First Amendment: As I thought more about Dr. Kirkland's letter, I realized that he completely turned the First Amendment on its head. He's complaining that people are trying to get him to cower and that threatens his "constitutional freedoms." He presumably means First Amendment free speech. He is wrong about that, first, because the First Amendment protects citizens from government abridging speech, not candidates from being challenged by citizens. But he is also off base because he ignored the last part of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." It is the job of citizens to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. If he can't handle it as a candidate, how is he going to handle it as a Congressman?

The rhetoric of the Kirkland campaign is as bankrupt as the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

TEP calls on Dr. Ron Kirkland to apologize for his joke and to support repeal of DADT

For background on the story you can go to this story in the Jackson Sun. To contact the Kirkland campaign, go to the form on his campaign website.

Note: We had to shoot the video quickly because of the tornado watch and floods, so sorry about being a bit rushed.

Family Action's war against health information: Wise as doves, innocent as serpents

Jesus recommended the reverse, of course--being wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:6). But the Family Action Council of Tennessee's continued screeching about a service learning project offered by Nashville CARES will leave students neither wise nor innocent. And even though the Tennessean says that Metro Schools and Nashville CARES are working together to determine how or whether to go forward with the project, Family Action isn't giving up.

In a message to members this week, Family Action president David Fowler noted, "While AIDS is an awful disease and we would never wish anyone to suffer from it, we also should not want our young people to be exposed to graphic demonstrations of sexual acts for which our bodies were not designed and which are not healthful." Besides that, the class might "make most people blush or cringe."

Where to begin? The basic false assumption is that the service learning class is teaching students TO use their bodies in certain ways that Family Action considers contrary to design. Teens in Tennessee may or may not be having sex more than teens in other states, but the teen birthrate in Tennessee is significantly higher than the U.S. rate as a whole. Teens in Tennessee are certainly getting STDs. So it's pretty clear that projects like the one Nashville CARES is offering are not teaching students TO have sex. Students are "learning" somewhere else.

Instead of acknowledging these facts, Family Action wants to focus on "propriety" and divert everyone's attention by arguing that the Nashville CARES service learning project is designed to "advance a sexual agenda." That would be the sexual agenda that makes people blush. But I would say that blushing and even cringing beat an unwanted pregnancy or an STD any day.

Projects like the one led by Nashville CARES at Hillbsoro High School help give students the information they need to prevent unwanted pregnancy and avoid deadly STDs. But those concerns only get a dependent clause in Family Action's message. In fact, they've moved way beyond the life and death question of health. Their focus is collecting stories in cities across Tennessee so that they can carry on their fight against information. They tell their members to report more of these stories that make people blush. They ask, "...will you let us know?"

So we can expect more attacks on health information around Tennessee in the name of "worldview." But the health of Tennessee teens is what is really at stake, not a worldview.

Straight male ministers' Day on the Hill

The Tennessean profiles Family Action's Ministers' Day on the Hill. It would more aptly be called conservative Evangelical Protestant straight male ministers' day on the hill. The article is at pains to point out that there were white and African-American ministers present. That's an improvement over previous years when the demographic was largely white as this video shows:



No clergy who are women are visible in the video and none are mentioned in the article. Obviously no openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender clergy were present. And why not? The agenda was an attack on the rights of women and the GLBT community. Oddly, they're still talking about "gay marriage," which makes no sense since we've already dealt with that in the Tennessee constitution. But Family Action has an odd habit of chattering about marriage no matter what equality issues comes up, as they did when we were working on the successful non-discrimination ordinance in Nashville.

So why is Family Action trying to add racial diversity to its Day on the Hill? It's simple. African-American lawmakers must not be voting with them on a lot of their legislative package. And my guess is that until they embrace an agenda of justice including jobs and education, that's not going to happen.

And until this day on the Hill reflects the diversity of ministers in Tennessee, we'll continue to call attention to the fact that it's really conservative Evangelical Protestant straight male ministers' day on the hill.

Justice delayed is justice denied for Duanna Johnson

The trial of Bridges "Sutton" McRae, the former Memphis Police Officer charged with beating Duanna Johnson in February of 2008, ended in mistrial today. All but one of the twelve jurors voted to convict McRae. The dissenting juror did not believe the prosecution had proven that McRae had acted "willfully." All twelve jurors had to agree that Duanna's civil rights had been violated to convict McRae.

The trial result is disappointing to say the least. We can try to take comfort in the fact that eleven out of twelve jurors agreed with the evidence. McRae hurled transphobic and homophobic slurs at Duanna and was then captured on camera beating her senseless. Five witnesses testified that McRae's attack was unprovoked. It's unfortunate that Duanna herself was not here to give her testimony in person (she was killed in the street in late 2008 in a still unsolved and open investigation). Would the result have been different?

The prosecution has the option of retrying the case. Both sides interviewed jurors after the outcome today to learn what worked and what didn't work. Today's result will not be the last word. Justice is still possible.

Hope still lives and we must tend the flames of that hope so that Duanna's brave pursuit of justice was not in vain. On Tuesday night, the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center's Raise Your Voice committee will hold a vigil in Duanna's memory at 6:30 PM at Civic Center Plaza in downtown Memphis. We must speak for Duanna and the untold numbers of other transgender persons who suffer violence in our community. We must raise our voices so that our city is not defined by the fear and ignorance that led to Duanna's assault.

Some candles will be provided, but supplies are limited. Bring a candle from home and bring friends and loved ones. Let's show this city and the world that Memphis must become a place that welcomes and protects all its people.

- Jonathan Cole

More from myFOX Memphis:

Gender and finding your fit: It's for straight guys, too

This piece in the Tennessean came from the business section, and it's not an overtly political story. But at the same time, it really is:

Growing up in Middle Tennessee, Jeff Garner didn't feel like he fit in. His friends liked to hunt and fish. He liked to draw in his room.

They played musical instruments; he loved colors and fabrics. He wore his hair long and his dad called him "daddy's little girl." Garner dressed like Abercrombie & Fitch before Abercrombie & Fitch was hip, then discarded the tattered hats and T-shirts when they became mainstream, said his childhood friend and Christian music star Jaci Velasquez.

"He was a cool-looking surfer boy who looked like he should have been in Malibu," Velasquez said.

These days, Garner feels more like he fits in. The 30-year-old clothing designer from Nashville is making a name for himself here and abroad — including being one of the few chosen to walk the catwalk at London Fashion Week in February.

I suspect many readers would be tempted to wonder about issues of sexual orientation. Well, the piece goes on say that he was married but is now divorced. Sometimes the story is not sexual orientation; sometimes it's the way people express gender.

Given Family Action's recent hysteria about sexual orientation and gender identity in Nashville, it's important to remember that the way people simply ARE can easily be politicized. But Jeff Garner wasn't taught to express gender the way he does. No subversive group of gay teachers conspired to make him a fashion maven. He went to conservative Church of Christ schools K-college. This is a guy who likes "target shooting, handling all-terrain vehicles, and horseback riding." He's just another stereotypically masculine straight guy, except he's got long hair and he is a fashion designer. Whether it's genes, hormones, or whatever, Jeff Garner is who he is, and not the product of liberal social engineering or the "homosexual agenda."

Thankfully, he's found his fit, his peace with who he is and what he's doing. Doesn't that seem like an odd thing to say about a straight man, though? Wouldn't you expect that sentence to be about members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community? But the way gender is politicized doesn't just affect us. Too often, members of our community have been fired from jobs because of who we love or for being transgender. But sometimes people who are straight and comfortable with the gender into which they were born are also stigmatized because they aren't seen as masculine enough or feminine enough. So instead of focusing on whether people are a good friend, a good mate, a good employee, people around them fixate on the way they express gender and obscure the gifts they bring.

Think of it this way. What would we be missing if Jeff Garner had simply conformed and given up on fashion, and in this case, eco-friendly fashion? What gifts are we missing out on when we project our gender issues onto others and try to make them choose between what is coming from inside themselves and what we expect? In the end, the issues that are at the center of the GLBT rights movement are liberating for everyone, including straight guys!

-Chris Sanders

President signs memorandum on equality in hospital visitation

President Obama has signed a memorandum directing Health and Human Services to prohibit discrimination in hospital visitation based on a variety of factors including sexual orientation and gender identity. The memorandum affects any hospital that participates in Medicare or Medicaid.

This is huge, especially for people in states like Tennessee where marriage equality is a long way off. It means that wherever you live or travel in the United States, you can be with your partner if he or she has to seek medical attention. You won't have the added worry of being separated when your partner is most vulnerable or even at the point of death. Sadly, even in some cases where partners have all their legal documents in order, staff at health facilities have acted with what can only be described as cruelty in separating loved ones. This memorandum goes a long way toward remedying these horrifying situations.

Marriage equality is the obvious long-term solution, but until we achieve that goal, this directive will give couples in Tennessee another much needed layer of protection. It's a day to celebrate!

-Chris Sanders

Gubernatorial candidates on the adoption issue

The Tennessee Newspaper Network, made up of the dailies serving Tennessee's four largest cities, is out with its latest segment on the positions of the candidates running for governor--social issues. Unfortunately it's not possible to link directly to the adoption question with the answers of the four remaining major candidates. You have to build it by clicking on their names and the feature adds each one.

Regardless, the answers are revealing, even when they aren't. Congressman Zach Wamp and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey give largely similar answers. They both oppose adoption by same-sex couples. Wamp probably through oversight leaves out opposite-sex unmarried couples, but says he sees a role for singles to adopt children.

The answers of businessman Mike McWherter (the only Democrat) and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam contain a bit more nuance. McWherter prefers married couples, but respects the status quo that in some cases allows unmarried couples to adopt. Haslam also prefers married couples, but pivots to his support of singles who provide good adoptive homes based upon people he knows at Church. He doesn't directly answer the question about unmarried couples. It's pretty clear that the adoption ban bill wouldn't be a focus of a McWherter or Haslam administration.

But would it be a focus of a Wamp or Ramsey administration? Wamp hasn't been tested on the issue, even though he has expressed hositility to homosexuality in the past. Ramsey presides over a State Senate that has not moved SB0078, although that's probably in large part because of the high fiscal note on the bill.

And that brings up the question of what role a governor really plays in an issue like adoption. The governor chooses department heads that help set a tone and the administration's lobbying posture on the issue. But governors in Tennessee typically leave these matters to the Legislature to work out. The question for equality-minded voters in Tennessee is whether we want to take that kind of chance. Quotations from the candidates are reproduced below:

Mike McWherter: “My personal preference is to see children placed in the care of loving, traditional families, but I do respect our current system that allows for judges and other authorities to make the final determination on what’s in the best interest of a child.”

Bill Haslam: “I believe that we should work to find a stable, loving home with two married parents for every child. However, I also recognize — through personal relationships with several single members of my church in Knoxville who have adopted — that there are many single, qualified individuals out there who could also provide the love and support needed to raise a child right and give that child opportunities he or she might not otherwise be afforded.”

Ron Ramsey: “I do not support allowing unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, to adopt children. Adoption is not an arena political correctness should be allowed to invade. It is a very serious matter and requires the highest level of commitment. Adoption is not an abstract policy issue. It is the most critical moment in the life of a child looking for a permanent home. When married couples wish to adopt, the adoption process should include a very high degree of scrutiny to ensure a positive environment for the child’s future.”

Zach Wamp: “As a father, I believe the best environment to raise children is one in which a married mother and father cares for and raises a child, and this is true for adopted children as well. While I do recognize the efforts of single parents to adopt, I do not support allowing same-sex couples to adopt.”

Democratic candidates for Shelby County Mayor address LGBT-inclusive workplace protections

The Shelby County Democratic Party hosted a forum for the Democratic candidates running in the May 4 primary for Shelby County Mayor on Thursday night. Candidates Joe Ford, Otis Jackson and Deidre Malone answered important but familiar questions about sustainable funding for the Regional Medical Center, crime reduction, a special tax district for the Shelby County School system, school security, increasing county contracting with minority-owned businesses and Memphis & Shelby County government consolidation.

Candidates covered little new ground during the forum. However, the Mayoral candidates directly addressed a policy question that affects the lesbian, gay, bi and transgender citizens of Shelby County for the first time in the campaign season.

The three candidates were asked if they would support an ordinance that established workplace protections for gay, lesbian, bi and transgender employees of the county and county contractors like the non-discrimination ordinance proposed by Commissioner Steve Mulroy last Spring. The Shelby County Commission approved a much weaker substitute resolution that only protected county employees against discrimination based on non-merit factors instead of the stronger ordinance.

Current interim Mayor Joe Ford was first to answer that he voted for the resolution that passed last year while still serving on the Shelby County Commission. Ford said that the county does not currently discriminate on the job. Ford said he could not commit to the ordinance without seeing the actual wording. To be fair, almost a year has passed since he's seen the original ordinance.

General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson, Jr. stated that if asked the question 20 years ago, he would have answered no. But today, Mr. Jackson said that he has gay members of his family that compel him to support such an ordinance 100%.

County Commissioner Deidre Malone stated that she voted in favor of the original ordinance and the substitute resolution that eventually passed last year. She added that she took a lot of heat from ministers in the community after that vote but maintained she was proud of her vote.

These responses give Democratic primary voters something new to consider for the May 4 primary. Thursday's forum only included Democratic primary candidates for mayor which means that Republican Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell is the only major candidate who is not yet on record on this issue. Democratic and Republican LGBT voters and their allies need to hear from Luttrell before the May 4 primary and the August 4 general election. Will he respond?

Early voting for county primary elections begins on April 14, 2010.

LGBTQ community may have some recourse with the TN Human Rights Commission

The Tennessee Human Rights Commission board of Commissioners held a listening session for citizens of Memphis and Shelby County last night at Bridges.

The Tennessee Human Rights Commission is an independent state agency which investigates allegations of discrimination in housing, employment, Title VI and places of public accommodations. Complaintants may report discrimination based on race, color, gender, disability, national origin, religion, creed, familial status or age (40 and over).

Noticeably absent among the unlawful bases for discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations is sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Last night, I brought copies of the latest cover article from the Memphis Flyer to the commissioners about the efforts of the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center to provide emergency housing services to lesbian, gay, bi and trangender youth to highlight the fact that these youth are being underserved and actively discriminated against when attempting to access emergency housing and shelter.

I also shared a personal story from a few years ago in which a friend and I tried to find shelter for one of these youth who called the center for help. The center's Youth Empowerment Services were not available at the time. The 18-year-old caller had just been kicked out of her family's home in Fayette County because she was transgender. We tried to find temporary housing for her in area shelters. But she was only allowed to stay over for one night before she was told she could not stay at these shelters. Shelters turned her away for "religious" reasons or told her that they could not ensure her safety. We were finally able to find a place for her to stay at a local church that welcomes all people.

The commissioners present at the listening forum were sympathetic, but they and I knew that they have no mandate under current Tennessee law to investigate or prosecute such claims of discrimination. Commissioner Jocelyn Wurzburg hoped that the commission would be able to investigate such claims in her lifetime, but she felt it would be a difficult task to expand the commission's mandate in the current legislative climate.

There was one bright spot though. The Regional Coordinator for the Memphis office of the TNHRC, Linda Reed, suggested that discrimination based on gender expression may be covered by the commission in some circumstances. Reed stated that similar claims of discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations have been successfully prosecuted under the category of gender. While the mandate of the commission's authority still falls short, such an interpretation may offer recourse to some LGBTQ citizens of Tennessee on a case by case basis.

If you have endured discrimination in the above areas within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act, learn more about how to file a complaint with the commission on their website.

Don't Say Gay bill up in Senate Mon or Wed, in House on Wed

HB0821/SB1250, commonly known as the Don't Say Gay bill, is up in the Senate Education Committee on Monday and/or Wednesday and the House K-12 Education Subcommittee on Wednesday. This action campaign will allow you to contact both the Senate Education Committee and the House K-12 Subcommittee to let them know you oppose the bill. Here is video of the House K-12 Education Subcommittee from Wednesday of this week. You're not going to like what you see. Special thanks to Speak to Power's Steve Ross in Memphis for the video in two parts:





Rep. Campfield may be confused about what counts as curriculum. He mentioned examples that relate to professional associations, not the curriculum of Tennessee schools. Let's hope the House and Senate education committees will see the truth.

Does lack of LGBT-inclusive workplace protections in Germantown promote dishonesty in the workplace?

The Tennessee Court of Appeals recently overturned a lower chancery court ruling that a former Germantown police officer be reinstated with full back pay and benefits. The Commercial Appeal reports:

The three-member panel ruled Wednesday that the city was justified in firing former Lt. Stephanie Hill because the evidence supported charges of neglect of
duty and truthfulness.

The city fired Hill in July 2007 for violating departmental policies that stem from her accounts of how her unmarked police car was damaged in January that year.

Lt. Hill initially reported that she was uncertain about how the unmarked police car was damaged. She later reported that

her former roommate, Jamie Baker, had damaged the car at the home the two shared in Collierville. Baker told police Hill knew she hit the car when it happened.

Court records say that the couple ended their relationship "in an acrimonious and tumultuous manner" in mid-March only a few weeks before the city opened its internal affairs investigation.

I may be reading too deeply between the lines of this story, but the way this story is written leads me to believe that Lt. Hill and Baker were domestic partners. If Baker were simply a "roommate," wouldn't Lt. Hill have been forthcoming about the damage to the car?

Most gay or lesbian law enforcement officers will tell you that it's risky to disclose your sexual orientation on the job. The State of Tennessee and the City of Germantown currently provide no workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation. In addition to basic concerns about employment discrimination, police officers have to know they can depend on other officers to protect each other in dangerous situations. Their safety and lives depends on it!

Did Lt. Hill withhold Baker's involvement in the damage to the car because she feared unfair treatment on the job? Disclosing Baker's responsibility for damage to the car to Internal Affairs may have exposed Lt. Hill to sexual harrassment, employment discrimination, and abandonment by fellow officers in dangerous situations because she is or may be perceived to be a lesbian.

Unless there are specific protections for unlawful discrimination (e.g., race, color, national origin, sex, religion, etc.), employment in Tennessee is "at will" - meaning that the employer is free to discharge employees for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all. No federal, state or local law prohibits the Germantown Police Department from firing employees because they are lesbian, gay, bi, straight, or transgender.

We should all favor honesty in the workplace. While it was wrong of Lt. Hill to withhold how the car was damaged, it is also wrong for the City of Germantown to promote dishonesty in the workplace. If the City of Germantown as an employer does not explicitly protect employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, it sends the message that employees should fear for their jobs and live their lives in secret. Lt. Hill and other employees of the Germantown Police Department and City of Germantown should not have to fear being "outed" in the workplace.

Hardworking, high-performing employees shouldn’t be fired just because they’re gay or transgender. ALL lesbian, gay, bi, straight and transgender employees want the same thing: to work hard, earn a living, and provide for their familes.

An accountability moment for the lives of our LGBT youth

Ahem. This post is addressed to the Tony Perkins, the "Rev." Steve Gaines, the "Rev." Alton Williams, "Bishop" Harry Jackson, David Fowler, . . . . . the list goes on. All of the above spoke, attended or supported the Stand for the Family Rally last Monday at Bellevue Baptist Church.

Your actions or lack of action have real consequences.

The lead story of the Memphis Flyer released today features the Youth Empowerment Services program of the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center. MGLCC is meeting a need previously unmet by the social safety net, churches and shelters of our community. They are rescuing the lesbian, gay, bi and transgender youth of our community who were kicked out of the homes of their families before they could provide for themselves. These are families who heard and continue to hear the same messages as delivered at last Monday's rally (See here, here, & here).

The moral failing of our society to love and cherish ALL of our children is clear. Any pastor, church, lobbyist, or talking head who calls homosexuality or gender variance sin in our society shares responsiblity for the homelessness of these youth. That message is breaking the lives of children and their families.

Let's give thanks for heroes like Deb & Steve Word, Elokin CaPece, Mark Brown, Mary Parks, Bob Loos, Mike LaBonte, Lisa Kurts-Crume, and Will Batts. They are helping to undo the sins of this cruel world.