TTPC » Call to Action http://ttgpac.com Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:28:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Nashville CANDO Final Vote on Tuesday http://ttgpac.com/2011/04/01/nashville-cando-final-vote-on-tuesday/ http://ttgpac.com/2011/04/01/nashville-cando-final-vote-on-tuesday/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:28:30 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=527 It finally comes down to this.  On Tuesday, April 5, the Council of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County will vote on the Contract Accountability Non Discrimination Ordinance (CANDO), BILL NO. BL2011-838, which would ban discrimination against all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees of contractors in Metro Nashville and Davidson County.
The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) continues to thank the 21 members  of  the Metro Nashville Council who voted Yes on Second Reading.
If you, or someone you know, lives in Davidson County, ask them to contact their District Councilmember if that person voted Yes on Second Reading, along with the three At Large Members who also voted yes, and thank them as well for standing against discrimination, and ask them to continue supporting this important piece of legislation through the remaining votes.  If your are not certain of the name of your District Councilmember, click on http://findwhereivote.nashville.gov/ to find your district number.
Even if a Councilmember did not vote Yes, we still need everyone in Davidson County to contact them and express support for ending discrimination in Metro Nashville contract work.  Urge them politely to stand against discrimination.
Last month, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued the most comprehensive survey showing pervasive discrimination around the country against transgender people.
Click on the link to download and read the Executive Summary (8 pages) or to download and read the Full Report (228 pages).
Unfortunately, opponents of fairness and equality are resorting to tried and true scare tactics, including falsehoods and misinformation.  There are already dozens of employers operating in Davidson County with non discrimination policies that are inclusive of LGBT employees.  Entities with such policies include Vanderbilt and Tennessee State Universities, and all civilian offices of the United States Government.  None has reported any difficulties with bathroom policies.  It is time for Metro Nashville to ensure that anyone doing business with it must also ban discrimination in the workplace.
Then, please join us for the Third and Final Reading on Tuesday, April 5, at 6:30 pm.    The Metro Council chamber is in the Metro Courthouse on the 2nd Floor.  We are asking all supporters of fairness and equality to  wear Purple.
Then, after the vote, please join supporters of equality at a special Thank You Party at Nuvo Burrito, 1000 Main Street, to recognize all who worked hard for the ordinance.

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2011/04/01/nashville-cando-final-vote-on-tuesday/feed/ 0 TTPC Wishes You a Good Memorial Day Weekend http://ttgpac.com/2010/05/28/ttpc-wishes-you-a-good-memorial-day-weekend/ http://ttgpac.com/2010/05/28/ttpc-wishes-you-a-good-memorial-day-weekend/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 18:29:49 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=439 This weekend, many Americans will take some time to honor and celebrate the achievements of servicemembers and veterans who have risked their lives, and in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice, for their country.  Many who have served, and continue to serve, are transgender.  Sadly, once a transgender person comes out of the closet, they face immediate discharge from voluntary military service.

At the present time, there is no legislation pending in Congress which will end discrimination against transgender persons in the military.

Pass ENDA Now

There is, however, a bill pending that does ban discrimination against all LGBT people, the Employment Non Discrimination Act (S.1584; H.R.3017).  The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition has joined several hundred other local, state, and national organizations calling on Members of Congress to begin action immediately.  We are tired of the delays.

Currently two members of the Tennessee delegation are co-sponsors of ENDA, Jim Cooper (202-225-4311) and Stephen Cohen (202-225-3265).

Please contact them and thank them for their support, but also urge them to oppose any Motion to Recommit designed to delay the bill or weaken transgender protections in the bill.

The rest of Tennessee’s Representatives are:

and Tennessee’s Senators are:

Use this message:

My name is _____ and I am a proud resident of (your city, county). I am calling in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S.1584; H.R. 3017), to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. Please take action to pass ENDA now. I can be reached at _______ (give your phone number). Thank you.

It only takes a moment.  Your action can help shape the future.

Currently, 12 states and more than 100 localities have LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections, covering nearly 40 percent of Americans.  The State of Tennessee is not one of those states, but the Tennessee Board of Regents, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and in 2009, both Shelby County and Metro Nashville, have all adopted such policies for their employees.  Additionally, more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, including most recently, Federal Express, have enacted nondiscrimination policies protecting LGBT workers.  Other agencies and private employers based in Tennessee do have such policies in place, but many remain unprotected.

And, according to numerous surveys, large majorities of likely voters in the U.S. support federal employment non-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people. Polling data from 2006 shows that voters are more likely to support a candidate who votes for LGBT discrimination laws than they are to vote against.

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2010/05/28/ttpc-wishes-you-a-good-memorial-day-weekend/feed/ 0 TTPC Joins Call for Congress to Pass ENDA Now http://ttgpac.com/2010/04/30/ttpc-joins-call-for-congress-to-pass-enda-now/ http://ttgpac.com/2010/04/30/ttpc-joins-call-for-congress-to-pass-enda-now/#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:08:22 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=429 The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition has joined 235 other local, state, and national organizations calling on Members of Congress to begin action on the Employment Non Discrimination Act (S.1584; H.R.3017).   To read the full statement and see the full list of signatories, click here.

Currently two members of the Tennessee delegation are co-sponsors of ENDA.  Please contact Jim Cooper (202-225-4311) and Stephen Cohen (202-225-3265), and thank them for their support, but also urge them to oppose any effort to strip or weaken transgender protections in the bill.

The rest of the Tennessee delegation consists of Senators:

and Representatives:

Use this message:

My name is _____ and I am a proud resident of (your city, county). I am calling in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S.1584; H.R. 3017), to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. Please take action to pass ENDA now. I can be reached at _______ (give your phone number). Thank you.

It only takes a moment.  Your action can help shape the future.

Currently, 12 states and more than 100 localities have LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections, covering nearly 40 percent of Americans.  The State of Tennessee is not one of those states, but the Tennessee Board of Regents, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and in 2009, both Shelby County and Metro Nashville, have all adopted such policies for their employees.  Additionally, more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, including most recently, Federal Express, have enacted nondiscrimination policies protecting LGBT workers.  Other agencies and private employers based in Tennessee do have such policies in place, but many remain unprotected.

And, according to numerous surveys, large majorities of likely voters in the U.S. support federal employment non-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people. Polling data from 2006 shows that voters are more likely to support a candidate who votes for LGBT discrimination laws than they are to vote against.

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2010/04/30/ttpc-joins-call-for-congress-to-pass-enda-now/feed/ 0 TTPC Thanks you for Participating in Advancing Equality Day on the Hill http://ttgpac.com/2010/03/25/ttpc-thanks-you-for-participating-in-advancing-equality-day-on-the-hill/ http://ttgpac.com/2010/03/25/ttpc-thanks-you-for-participating-in-advancing-equality-day-on-the-hill/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:29:40 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=405 The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition wishes to thank all of you who came to Nashville on Monday and Tuesday to meet with legislators as part of TEP’s 6th Annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill.

Dozens of LGBT Tennesseans and supporters discussed various issues including SB0253 by Sen. Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis)/HB0335 by Rep. Jeanne Richardson (D-Memphis), which would add “gender identity or expression” as a hate crimes sentencing enhancement factor to Tennessee Code Annotated 40-35-114, and SB0252 by Senator Marrero/HB0334 by Rep. Richardson, which would permit gender changes on birth certificates.  In addition, you took the time to discuss other bills that would limit the rights of LGBT people, including the right to adopt, the right to vote without fear of harrassment, and bans on the teaching of sexual diversity.

We hope all of you will continue the relationships you have established and will join us again in 2011 for the 7th Annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill.

Pay Equity Rolled to Last Calendar

The day after Advancing Equality Day on the Hill, on Wednesday, March 3, the Tennessee House Employee Affairs Subcommittee decided to roll HB0776 by Mike Turner to the Last Calendar of 2010.  This bill, called Pay Equity in the Workplace, would increase penalties for denying equal pay for equal work based on gender.

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition strongly supports this bill.

We encourage you to contact members of the House Employee Affairs Subcommittee and express your support for equal pay for equal work regardless of gender.  Members of the Employee Affairs Subcommittee are:

NCTE Congressional Lobby Days for ENDA

Later this month, members of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition will be going  to Washington, DC, as part of the annual NCTE Congressional Lobby Days, March 14 to 16, to meet with members of Tennessee’s Congressional delegation to discuss the importance of the Employment Non Discrimination Act (S.1584; H.R.3017).

If you cannot join us in DC, you can still participate by calling your Members of Congress during those dates and urge them to support ENDA and bring an end to discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

Currently two members of the Tennessee delegation are co-sponsors of ENDA.  Please contact Jim Cooper (202-225-4311) and Stephen Cohen (202-225-3265), and thank them for their support and urge them to oppose any effort to strip or weaken transgender protections in the bill.

The rest of the Tennessee delegation consists Senators:

and Representatives:

Use this message:

My name is _____ and I am a proud resident of (your city, county). I am calling in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S.1584; H.R. 3017), to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. Please take action to pass ENDA now. I can be reached at _______ (give your phone number). Thank you.

It only takes a moment.  Your action can help shape the future.

Currently, 12 states and more than 100 localities have LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections, covering nearly 40 percent of Americans.  The State of Tennessee is not one of those states, but the Tennessee Board of Regents, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and in 2009, both Shelby County and Metro Nashville, have all adopted such policies for their employees.  Additionally, more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, including most recently, Federal Express, have enacted nondiscrimination policies protecting LGBT workers.  Other agencies and private employers based in Tennessee do have such policies in place, but many remain unprotected.

And, according to numerous surveys, large majorities of likely voters in the U.S. support federal employment non-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people. Polling data from 2006 shows that voters are more likely to support a candidate who votes for LGBT discrimination laws than they are to vote against.

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2010/03/25/ttpc-thanks-you-for-participating-in-advancing-equality-day-on-the-hill/feed/ 0 TTPC Remembers Veterans Day http://ttgpac.com/2009/11/11/ttpc-remembers-veterans%e2%80%99-day/ http://ttgpac.com/2009/11/11/ttpc-remembers-veterans%e2%80%99-day/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:37:48 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=396 Today, communities all across this nation will honor those who have served their country.  Among those who have worn this nation’s military uniforms in the past, or are serving today, are many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.  These service members face the prospect of immediate discharge from every branch of the military if they come out of the closet.  In addition, many can be denied some of the basic benefits they earned during their service, including health care.

On this Veterans’ Day, we hope all will remember both our Veterans’ and active Service members who volunteer on behalf of their country, and ask Congress to end all discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people in both the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Defense.

Currently, there is only one bill in Congress that addresses discrimination in the military, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1283).  This bill will repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which bans people who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, from serving in the military, but it will not lift the ban against transgender people.  The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition asks you to please call or email your Congressional Representative and urge that person to push to add “gender identity or expression” to H.R.1283, so that transgender people who wish to serve their nation can continue to do so.

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2009/11/11/ttpc-remembers-veterans%e2%80%99-day/feed/ 0 Federal Employment Non Discrimination Act (H.R.3017) http://ttgpac.com/2009/11/11/federal-employment-non-discrimination-act-h-r-3017/ http://ttgpac.com/2009/11/11/federal-employment-non-discrimination-act-h-r-3017/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:34:17 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=392 The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on ENDA, sometime this month, reportedly before Thanksgiving. lease contact Tennessee’s two co-sponsors of ENDA, Representatives Stephen Cohen and Jim Cooper, to thank them for their support and to remind them to oppose any effort to strip “gender identity or expression” from the bill.

Currently, 12 states and more than 100 localities have LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections, covering nearly 40 percent of Americans. The State of Tennessee is not one of those states, but the Tennessee Board of Regents, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and earlier this year, both Shelby County and Metro Nashville, have all adopted such policies for their employees. Additionally, more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, including most recently, Federal Express, have enacted nondiscrimination policies protecting LGBT workers. Other agencies and private employers based in Tennessee do have such policies in place, but many remain unprotected.

And, according to numerous surveys, large majorities of likely voters in the U.S. support federal employment non-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people. Polling data from 2006 shows that voters are more likely to support a candidate who votes for LGBT discrimination laws than they are to vote against.

In 2007, the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition was a key coordinater of the organizing efforts in Tennessee in support of a gender identity inclusive ENDA, which included sending transgender people to Congressional offices in Tennessee and Washington, DC, to lobby their legislators.

At home, set up a visit!

The most effective action is a visit. Since Representatives will be home over the August recess (August 3 to September 7), now is a great time to start setting up a meeting with you and other community members to visit with the Representative (or their staffs) in their home district offices during this time.

Besides, Stephen Cohen and Jim Cooper, the remaining members of the Tennessee delegation who you should contact and ask to vote to end discrimination in the workplace are:

For help setting up visits, check out:

Let us know!

Please let us know what your Senators and Representatives tell you about their support of ENDA using our Lobby Report Form
For more information about the United ENDA Coalition and additional available resources, go to www.unitedenda.org.
Send a letter to your Congressional Representative. Below is a sample letter:

Subject: Please Support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Dear [your Representative's name],

Representative Barney Frank, joined by a group of bi-partisan Representatives, recently introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. ENDA would extend the existing federal law prohibiting employment discrimination to protect people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
Please support an inclusive ENDA – the bill that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans from losing their jobs just because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.

Federal law already bans job discrimination based on race, gender, religion, and other categories that are essential to a person’s being. But employers in many states can still fire people because they are transgender, lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

LGBT Americans deserve and need the ability to work–just like every American. Please help by cosponsoring and supporting an inclusive ENDA in 2009.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
(your name)

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2009/11/11/federal-employment-non-discrimination-act-h-r-3017/feed/ 0 Employment Non Discrimination Act http://ttgpac.com/2009/10/23/employment-non-discrimination-act/ http://ttgpac.com/2009/10/23/employment-non-discrimination-act/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:50:50 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=384 The fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), H.R.3017, which would protect LGBT employees from workplace discrimination, is headed to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives sometime this fall. The bill, which enjoys bi-partisan support in Congress, would add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to existing federal employment non-discrimination laws.

At the present time, Representatives Stephen Cohen and Jim Cooper are among the original sponsors of the bill filed in the House of Representatives.

We urge all Tennesseans to thank Representatives Cohen and Cooper for their support.

The remaining members of the Tennessee delegation in the House who you should contact and ask to vote to end discrimination in the workplace are:

We also urge all Tennesseans to contact Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, and ask them to support the Senate version of ENDA, S.1584, to end discrimination in the workplace against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in this country.

For help contacting Members of Congress, check out:

Let us know!

Please let us know what your Senators and Representatives tell you about their support of ENDA using our Lobby Report Form

For more information about the United ENDA Coalition and additional available resources, go to www.unitedenda.org.

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2009/10/23/employment-non-discrimination-act/feed/ 0 U.S. House Holds Hearing on ENDA http://ttgpac.com/2009/09/22/u-s-house-holds-hearing-on-enda/ http://ttgpac.com/2009/09/22/u-s-house-holds-hearing-on-enda/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:07:52 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=351 Action is about to begin on the fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), H.R.3017, which would protect LGBT employees from workplace discrimination. The bill, which enjoys bi-partisan support in Congress, would add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to existing federal employment non-discrimination laws.

Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, September 23, the Committee on Education and Labor of the United States House of Representatives will hold a full committee hearing on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA, H.R. 3017), at 10 am EDT (9 am CDT), in Room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The only Tennessean who serves as a member of the committee is Phil Roe, M.D.

We urge all Tennesseans to contact Dr. Roe and urge him to support ENDA. His office phone number in DC is 202-225-6356.

A vote on the floor of the House is anticipated later this fall.

At the present time, Representatives Stephen Cohen and Jim Cooper are among the original sponsors of the bill filed in the House of Representatives.We urge all Tennesseans to thank Representatives Cohen and Cooper for their support.The remaining members of the Tennessee delegation in the House who you should contact and ask to vote to end discrimination in the workplace are:

We also urge all Tennesseans to contact Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, and ask them to support the Senate version of ENDA, S.1584, and end discrimination in the workplace against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in this country.

For help contacting Members of Congress, check out:

Let us know!

Please let us know what your Senators and Representatives tell you about their support of ENDA using our Lobby Report Form
For more information about the United ENDA Coalition and additional available resources, go to www.unitedenda.org.

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2009/09/22/u-s-house-holds-hearing-on-enda/feed/ 0 Rally for Non-Discrimination at MTSU on Thursday http://ttgpac.com/2009/09/10/rally-for-non-discrimination-at-mtsu-on-thursday/ http://ttgpac.com/2009/09/10/rally-for-non-discrimination-at-mtsu-on-thursday/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:17:55 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=341 The Lambda Association at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro will hold a Rally to support adding gender identity and expression to the campus-wide non-discrimination policy. This would allow MTSU to match the Tennessee Board of Regents Non Discrimination Policy adopted on February 13, 2008.

The Rally will take place at the Keathley University Center KnoIl on Thursday, September 10, at 3 pm.

At 4:30 pm, the same day, the Student Government Association will meet. The president of Middle Tennessee Lambda is going to speak at this meeting, and the public is welcome to attend.

If you are a student at MTSU, please contact MTLambda for more information on how you can assist them.

]]> http://ttgpac.com/2009/09/10/rally-for-non-discrimination-at-mtsu-on-thursday/feed/ 0 Fifth Annual Fundraising Dinner http://ttgpac.com/2009/09/10/fifth-annual-fundraising-dinner/ http://ttgpac.com/2009/09/10/fifth-annual-fundraising-dinner/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:49:27 +0000 Carla http://ttgpac.com/?p=336

State Representative Jeanne Richardson, District 89

Keynote Speaker: Jeanne Richardson
State Representative, District 89

House Sponsor of Hate Crimes (HB335) and Birth Certificate (HB334) Bills

Saturday, October 17, 2008, 7 pm
Holy Trinity Community Church
6723 Charlotte Pike
Nashville, TN 37209

$20 per person

Please RSVP by October 12

Tickets can be purchased online or by mail

Reservation Form
Name:____________________________
No. in Party:_______________________
Amount Enclosed: $20 x _____ = $_____

Please clip and mail with check or money order to:

Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition
P.O. Box 92335
Nashville, TN 37209-2335

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