TTPC

Lat week, transgender people, and anyone who is gender variant or a gender non conformist, found themselves on the receiving end of one the worst pieces of legislation introduced in Tennessee in recent memory, the Bathroom Harassment Act (SB 2282/HB 2279).   The Bathroom Harassment Act restricts access to public restrooms and public dressing rooms designated by sex to members of that particular sex.  Using the person’s birth certificate, a person would face a Class C Misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $50.

We are pleased that the original Senate sponsor, Bo Watson, decided to withdraw the bill in the Senate.

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition feels that while this bill is a direct attack on the rights of Tennessee’s transgender community, transgender people would not be the only people harassed under this bill should it become law.  It would affect lots of other gender variant and gender non conforming people who do not necessarily identify as trans.

The bill would also affect families who take their children with them into restrooms in shopping malls, restaurants, theaters, and sporting events.
There are also serious Constitutional questions surrounding this bill, since the Fourth Amendment protects persons “from unreasonable searches and seizures.”
We urge all of you to contact your State Senator and urge them not to sponsor this bad bill.

While there have been many attempts to scare people about transgender people using bathrooms, including a well circulated video previously used in anti-transgender campaigns in Florida and Michigan, the only documented incidents all show the transgender person as the victims, not the perpatrators of the abuse.  The April 2011 beating of Chrissy Lee Polis at a Baltimore McDonald’s led to charges of Hate Crimes in Maryland against the two women who beat Ms. Polis.  In Tennessee, they would probably be hired as supervisors in the new Tennessee Bathroom Security Agency.

If you do not know the name of your State Senator, you can Find Your Legislator by clicking here.  Feel free to tell your story and educate them about the reality of the lives of their transgender constituents.

Ban on Teaching Sexual Diversity Deferred

Another of our top priorities is the Ban on Teaching Sexual Diversity (a.k.a., Don’t Say Trans/Don’t Say Gay).  On Wednesday, SB0049/HB0229, by Dr. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) and Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville), was rolled three weeks until Wednesday, February 8, when the House Education Subcommittee will schedule a full calendar on curriculum related bills.  TheTennessee Transgender Political Coalition has consistently opposed this bill over the years because we believe it is a violation of free speech and is anti-intellectual.  In addition, with renewed attention focused on the issue of bullying, which can lead to suicide, silencing teachers and administrators can be potentially dangerous.  If passed, this legislation might actually cost lives.

Last year, the Senate amended the bill to limit teachers to discussing only “natural human reproduction science.”

We urge you to contact members of the Education Subcommittee and express your opposition to HB0229:

• Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), Chair & Bill Sponsor
• Joe Carr (R-Lascassas), Vice-Chair
• Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville)
• Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland)
• John DeBerry (D-Memphis)
• Lois DeBerry (D-Memphis)
• Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville), Bill Co-Sponsor
• Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley)
• Ron Lollar (R-Bartlett)
• Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville)
• Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville)
• Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington)
• Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville)

Racial Profiling Bill

On Wednesday, January 25, the House  Finance Subcommittee will hear HB1380 by Joe Carr (R-Lascassas).  This is an Arizona Copycat bill that would permit law enforcement to request identification from a person without probable cause.  While this bill is targeted at certain ethnic minorities, it can also be used to out and harass transgender persons.  That is why we join other transgender advocacy and civil liberties groups in opposing this bill.  We join by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, among others, in also opposing this bill.

The members of the House  Finance Subcommittee are:

• Michael Harrison (R-Rogersville), Chair & Bill Co-sponsor
• Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville), Vice Chair
• Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland), Bill Co-sponsor
• Lois DeBerry (D-Memphis)
• Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley)
• Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), Bill Co-sponsor
• Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga)
• Steve McDaniel (R-Parkers Crossroads)
• Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington)
• Gary Odom (D-Nashville)
• Dennis Roach (R-Rutledge)
• Charles Sargent (R-Franklin)
• Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar)
• Harry Tindell (D-Knoxville)

The House Finance Subcommittee meets on Wednesday, January 25, at 11:00 am, CST, in Legislative Plaza, Room 29.

If you do not know the name of your State Senator or Representative, you can Find Your Legislator by clicking here.