TTPC

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition wishes you a Happy New Year for 2012.

The past year was a trying one as we fought against efforts to ban local non discrimination ordinances, to ban teachers from discussing diversity, and to suppress voting by requiring new IDs that would effectively disfranchise many people, especially transgender  voters.  Right before Christmas, two representatives from TTPC were in a courtroom in Hamblen County to show support for Andrea Jones who was denied the right to have her true gender on her drivers’ license, and then accused of criminal behavior when she tried to show that she was not a male.

Despite the challenges, we have fought back.  We were part of the coalition to help pass an ordinance in Metro Nashville to ban discrimination by contractors based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  We are also one of several co-plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the State of Tennessee in support of that ordinance and any future similar ordinances.  We are excited to see a fully inclusive non-discrimination bill being introduced in January that will include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.  Of course, our ongoing work to build alliances acorss the state to raise awareness of discrimination and of the need for protection in employment, hate crimes, educational institutions, and in recognition of our family relationships will continue in 2012.

You can be part of this effort by donating today.  Membership in the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) is only $25 per year, and your commitment helps us to fight for your rights.  We urge everyone to become involved.

Together, we can make it possible for all transgender, as well as lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, to enjoy the New Year as we continue the march towards full equality.

Marisa Richmond
President

Fourth Quarter Report 2011

• Continued lobbying Members of Congress and educating the public as part of the United ENDA campaign in support of the Employment Non Discrimination Act and opposing attempts to remove gender identity or expression from employment protections, as well as lobbying in favor of equal rights for all LGBT persons.
• Lobbied members of the Tennessee General Assembly in favor of equal rights for all LGBTpersons.
• Participating as a co-plaintiff in Howe v. Haslam to defend the right of local governments to adopt non discrimination legislation.
• Participated in Slut Walk in Nashville on October 2.
• Spoke at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, on October 4.
• Participated in Occupy Chattanooga on October 6.
• Participated in Better World event organized by the Nashville Peace and Justice Center  on October 8.
• Participated in TransPeople of Color panel sponsored by the Williams Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles on October 14.
• Participated in Mid South Pride in Memphis on October 15.
• Participated in Tennessee Valley Pride in Chattanooga on October 16.
• Hosted a table at the Vanderbilt Drag Show in Nashville on October 19.
• Participated in OUTstanding: A Seminar Exploring LGBTIQ Diversity at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville on October 22. Hosted 7th Annual Dinner in Nashville on October 22.
• Spoke to the Residence Assistants’ group at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on October 27.
• Participated in Nashville Black Pride, October 28 to 30.
• Spoke to OutLAW, the Vanderbilt Law School LGBT student group, on November 10.
• Spoke to a Child and Adolescent Psychology Class at Maryville College in Maryville on November 11.
• Participated in National Center for Transgender Equality Reception with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, in Washington, on November 15.
• Participated in Transgender Day of Remembrance in Nashville on November 16.
• Spoke to Chattanooga Organized for Actionon November 17.
• Spoke at National Safe Schools Roundtable annual meeting in Nashville on November 18.
• Participated in Nashville Peace and Justice Center office warming party on November 19.
• Participated in Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute in Houston on December 3.
• Spoke to Gay Straight Alliance at Tennessee State University in Nashville on December 7.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker and TTPC President Dr. Marisa Richmond