TTPC

Today, history was made when President Barack Obama signed the Defense Authorization, which includes theMatthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition was one of many groups working across the country on behalf of this legislation which is the first law ever enacted by the Federal government that provides explicit coverage for transgender people, as well as for lesbian, gay, or bisexual people.

We applaud all who worked hard over the past several years tosecure adoption of this vital legislation which will now make it a federal crime to assault a person based on gender identity or sexual orientation.

This law will provide victims of hate crimes the opportunity to seek justice in federal courts.

We now challenge members of the Tennessee General Assembly to adopt HB0335, by Rep. Jeanne Richardson (D-Memphis)/SB0253 by Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis) which would add “gender identity or expression” to Tennessee’s Hate Crimes statute. Currently, Tennessee is one of 38 states which does not provide protection for transgender residents. The rash of hate crimes against transgender persons, especially against African American transgender women in Memphis, make passage of this bill even more important here. Having an additional tool available to victims will make life safer for everyone and send a message that the lives of transgender people in Tennessee have value too.

Once again, the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition thanks all who worked on behalf of the new federal law, especially those who rejected the claims that adding transgender people would be a bad “strategy.”