Integrity friends,
Two devastating bills are before the TN State Senate.
****Especially urgent: SB0049 -- vote is tomorrow! "Prohibits the teaching or furnishing of materials on human sexuality other than heterosexuality in public school grades K-8," Imagine a middle school kid who goes to his/her guidance counselor for help and can't get it! Check http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/ to get your senator's name and contact info. Call 1-800-449-8366, then enter the last five digits of their office phone number and let him/her know your concern.
****SB 0632: A Special Access to Discriminate (SAD) Bill has already passed the state House. It was deferred in today's Senate State and Local Government Committee to . next Wednesday. SB0632 "prohibits a local government from imposing an anti-discrimination standard that deviates or supplements the definition of 'discriminatory practices'" of the state.
City and county governments wanting to provide just treatment in health insurance, minimum wage or family leave benefits to LGBT persons and others not covered in state or federal law would be prevented from doing so. Immediately affected would be the city of Nashville, which recently added LGBT persons to its anti-discrimination law. (Odd that conservatives advocating "State's Rights" would oppose tlocal government rights!)
Also negatively impacted would be the state economy as businesses and conventions would be deterred from doing business in the state and many tourists wanting to be sure of fair treatment would decide to go elsewhere.
Two ways to help:
Contact the Senate State & Local Government Committee using Tennessee Equality Project's online petition and recruit others to do the same.
Ask local elected officials in your city and county to sign a statement opposing the SAD Act. Forward correspondence confirming local elected officials' opposition to the SAD Act to Jonathan@tnequalityproject.com
I truly believe that fair-minded Episcopalians, regardless of their position on church blessings for same-gender committed relationships, do deeply support civil justice so I hope you will forward this widely.
Dear Nancy,
The Special Access to Discriminate Act (SB632) and other bills were deferred in today's Senate State and Local Government Committee.
The deferral of SB632 in the Senate provides more time to prevent the repeal of Nashville Metro's Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance and to ensure expansion of future LGBT-inclusive workplace protections in the State of Tennessee.
The State House approved their version of the SAD Act (HB600) last week. Therefore, we must remain vigilant to keep the SAD Act from advancing in the Senate. Here are two ways to help this effort:
Contact the Senate State & Local Government Committee using Tennessee Equality Project's online petition and recruit others to do the same.
Ask local elected officials in your city and county to sign a statement opposing the SAD Act. Forward correspondence confirming local elected officials' opposition to the SAD Act to Jonathan@tnequalityproject.com.
Lastly, make a generous contribution to Tennessee Equality Project today to ensure that hard-won victories are not lost. How much is the protection and expansion of equality in Tennessee worth to you? Make a donation of $25, $50, $100, or $500 to TEP today.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Cole
TEP Board Chair
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