TTPC Applauds Senate Vote on Hate Crimes
Late last night, the United States Senate passed a cloture vote on the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, 63 to 28. This action clears the way for final adoption of Hate Crimes legislation, as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, later this afternoon. The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) applauds the 63 Senators who voted to expand protection against hate crimes to all LGBT people.
Regrettably, both of Tennessee’s Senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, were absent, and did not vote.
Once final action is complete, the bill will likely move to a Congressional Conference Committee. The House of Representatives has already passed this legislation by a vote of 249 to 175, and President Obama has pledged to sign it. We urge Conferees to keep Hate Crimes in the final bill so that it will finally become the law of the land.
Metro Nashville Non-Discrimination Policy
Next up in Tennessee is a fully inclusive non-discrimination policy for employees of the Government of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) joins the Tennessee Equality Project in supporting this effort to protect all LGBT employees from workplace discrimination in Metro Government. The ordinance, ORDINANCE NO. BL2009-502, reads:
An ordinance amending Chapter 11.20 of the Metropolitan Code to prohibit the Metropolitan Government from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity through its employment practices.
The 10 sponsors are Megan Barry, Tim Garrett, Ronnie Steine, Jerry Maynard, Mike Jameson, Sean McGuire, Buddy Baker, Erik Cole, Anna Page, and Sandra Moore. Please contact them and thank them for supporting equality in Metro Government.
You can find the contact information of Council members by clicking here. You can also use this special Feedback page to send an-email.
If you do not know the name of your District Councilmember, then click here to Find Where You Vote and the District in which you live.
The First Reading before the Metro Council is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21.
