January to March 2010

• Lobbied members of the Tennessee General Assembly during the current session.  Worked to pass legislation to add “gender identity or expression” to Hate Crimes statute, to permit gender changes on Tennessee Birth Certificates, and against legislation that would discriminate against LGBT persons, including legislation that would ban unmarried, cohabiting couples from adopting children, a bill to silence teachers from discussing sexual diversity, and opposed all Voter ID bills which could disfranchise transgender voters.
• 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.
• Appeared on Out and About Today television show on January 8.
• Appeared on Liberadio (!) on WRVU (91.1) in Nashville on January 18.
• Held Winter Meeting on Nashville on January 23.
• Spoke to Tennessee Tech University Lambda in Cookeville on January 27.
• Dialogues in Diversity: Gender Diversity in the Workplace
• Spoke to Transcenders Transgender Support Group in Red Bank on January 31.
• Appeared on Queer Talk Radio on WRVU (91.1) in Nashville on February 27.
• Participated in 6th Annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill, organized by Tennessee Equality Project in Nashville on March 2.
• Participated in National Center for Transgender Equality Congressional Lobby Days in Washington, DC, March 14 to 16.
• Spoke to Giles County Democratic Party Executive Committee in Pulaski on March 24.
• Spoke to L-Club in Nashville on March 27.

Upcoming for Second Quarter 2010

• Will speak on “Gender Identity and the Law” at Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville on April 14.
• Will appear on Sisters Talk Radio on April 25.
• Will participate in Pride celebrations across the state.

And Please Save These Other Dates!

Saturday, July 24, 6:00 pm CDT
TTPC Summer Meeting
Nashville
Saturday, October 16
TTPC 6th Annual Dinner
Nashville

On Wednesday, the Tennessee House K-12 Subcommittee rolled two bills by Representative Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville), HB0821 which would ban teaching sexual diversity, and HB0812, which would require parents to sign written permission slips for students to take Family Life Courses, until the committee’s Last Calendar, which is expected to be on March 31.

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition remains opposed to both bills.

Other major bills of interest to TTPC this week are:

Voter ID:

The House Elections Subcommittee has rolled HB 0639 by *Maggart, a Voter ID bill which TTPC has previously opposed because it could disfranchise transgender voters in Tennessee, to Wednesday, March 23.  A separate bill, HB0270 by Watson, Rich, Bass and Evans, was amended to remove the new ID provisions.  TTPC, along with the ACLU and Common Cause, have all dropped their objections to that bill, which is moving through the House.  TTPC remains opposed to HB0639.

Members of the Elections Subcommittee are:

• Eddie Yokley (D-Greeneville), Chair
• Eric Watson (R-Cleveland), Vice-Chair
• Jim Cobb (R-Spring City)
• Joshua Evans (R-Greenbrier)
• Gary Moore (D-Joelton)
• Harry Tindell (D-Knoxville)

The House Elections Subcommittee meets Tuesday, March 23, 1:30 pm CDT, in Legislative Plaza, Room 16.

REAL ID Act:

The House Public Safety Committee rolled HB 1426 by *Niceley, opposing implementation of the REAL ID Act of 2005, until On Tuesday, March 23,.  The Senate companion bill, *SB 1934 by *Burchett,has already passed by a vote of 29 to 1.

In both 2007 and 2009, the full General Assembly passed resolutions opposing implementation of REAL ID by unanimous votes each time.  In addition, officials of the Tennessee Department of Safety testified in January 2008 about their concerns of compliance due to the cost to the state.

To date, Congress has delayed implementation of REAL ID until 2014 for people 50 years of age and younger, and until 2017 for people over the age of 50, but this law remains a real burden for transgender people.

TTPC is strongly opposed to the REAL ID Act of 2005 and continues to support efforts by the state to urge Congress to repeal the law.

Members of the House Public Safety Subcommittee are:

• Vince Dean (R-East Ridge), Chair
• Tony Shipley (R-Kingsport), Vice-Chair
• Ty Cobb (D-Columbia)
• Chad Faulkner (R-Luttrell)
• Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville)
• Ben West (D-Hermitage)

The House Public Safety Subcommittee meets Tuesday, March 23, 4:00 pm CDT, in Legislative Plaza, Room 16.

Pay Equity in the Workplace:

The Tennessee House Employee Affairs Subcommittee will take up HB0776 by Mike Turner this Wednesday.  This bill, called Pay Equity in the Workplace, would increase penalties for denying equal pay for equal work based on gender.

TTPC 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:

• Mike McDonald (D-Portland), Chair
• Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville), Vice-Chair
• Sherry Jones (D-Antioch)
• Gary Moore (D-Joelton)
• Donna Rowland (R-Murfreesboro)
• Mark White (R-Memphis)

The House Employee Affairs Subcommittee meets Wednesday, March 24, 12:30 pm CDT, in Legislative Plaza, Room 29.

The vote this morning was 64 to 35. We are, however, extremely disappointed that both of Tennessee’s Senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, chose to vote No, despite the plethora of Hate Crimes against LGBT people, and especially against African American Transwomen, in Tennessee.

Hate Crimes legislation will be the first positive bill covering transgender, as well as lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, ever to reach the desk of the President of the United States. We look forward to seeing President Barack Obama sign this important piece of legislation into law.

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition also recognizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which announced plans yesterday to establish the nation’s first National Resource Center to assist communities across the country in their efforts to provide services and supports for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

According to HHS statistics, estimates are that as many as 1.5 to 4 million LGBT individuals are age 60 and older. Agencies that provide services to older individuals may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the needs of this group of individuals. The new Resource Center for LGBT Elders will provide information, assistance and resources for both LGBT organizations and mainstream aging services providers at the state and community level to assist them in the development and provision of culturally sensitive supports and services. The LGBT Center will also be available to educate the LGBT community about the importance of planning ahead for future long term care needs.

The LBGT Resource Center will help community-based organizations understand the unique needs and concerns of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers, including providing help to LGBT caregivers who are providing care for an older partner with health or other challenges.

Finally, TTPC also applauds the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which also annouced yesterday a series of proposals to ensure that HUD programs are open to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity as well as the first-ever nationwide survey of housing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. This historic announcement explicitly addresses discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time by a federal agency.

According to the HUD announcement, the proposed rule by HUD will make three important changes to federal regulations. First, it includes language that ensures LGBT families are recognized and covered by HUD programs, including affordable housing assistance. Second it requires organizations that administer HUD grants to abide by state and local laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Third it prohibits consideration of factors other than creditworthiness, including sexual orientation and gender identity, in the awarding of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

All three of these actions from the Nation’s Capitol are major steps forward in ensuring that LGBT individuals and families are treated fairly and with respect across the nation.
We thank all who made this possible.

Representative Jeanne Richardson delivering her Keynote Address during TTPC Dinner

Her colleague, State Representative Mike Stewart (D-Nashville), also attended the event to show his commitment to the transgender community of Tennessee. We greatly appreciate his support.

We would also like to thank Stirrup Nashville for being a sponsor of TTPC.

Stirrup Nashville 615-782-0043
1529 4th Ave. South; Nashville, TN 37210
stirrupnashville.com/stirrupnashville.com/Welcome.html

• As a member of the United ENDA Coalition, the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition lobbied members of Congress from Tennessee in favor of legislation that would make Hate Crimes, and discrimination in Employment, based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, federal crimes.
• Lobbied members of the Tennessee General Assembly in favor of equal rights for all LGBT persons.
• Participated in Equality Federation meeting in St. Louis, July 29 to August 2.
• Appeared on Out and About Today from Nashville on August 7.
• Spoke to Employee Brown Bag Luncheon at WTVF/News Channel 5, in Nashville on August 19.
• Participated in LGBT Leadership Summit in Nashville on September 10.
• Worked for fully inclusive Non-Discrimination Ordinance, which passed in the Metro Nashville Council on September 15, and signed by Mayor Karl Dean on September 25.
• Participated in National Transgender Convening, hosted by Gill Foundation, National Center for Transgender Equality, and Transgender Law Center, in Chicago, September 18 to 20.
• Participated in Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta, September 22 to 27.

Upcoming for Fourth Quarter 2008:

• Will appear on Queer Talk Radio on WRVU (91.1) in Nashville, on October 10.
• Will participate in PFLAG Regional Directors Meeting, in Washington, October 10.
• Will participate in the National Equality March in Washington, October 10 and 11.
• Will participate in Tennessee Valley Pride in Chattanooga on October 11.
• Fifth Annual Fundraising Dinner in Nashville, on October 17.
• Will participate in Nashville Black Pride # 7, October 24 to 26.
• Will participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremonies across the state.