Slaying Hate: Tennesseans Fighting Back

Photos provided by Selena Haynes

Last night the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) hosted the Slay Hate: Fight Back Tennessee rally at Tribe. Hundreds turned out to show their support for LGBTQ+ Tennesseans and to stand up against the hate being pushed by conservative Republican members of the House of Representatives, Senate, and Governor.

The event featured performances by singer-songwriter and transgender rights activist Shea Diamond who performed her song “American Pie”, and drag artists Vanity and Perplexity. The HRC President Kelley Robinson, Tennessee Equality Project Executive Director Chris Sanders, ACLU Tennessee Executive Director Kathy Sinback, and National Women’s Law Center Director of Federal Reproductive Rights Leila Abolfazli we also all on hand to make remarks about the current state of affairs in Tennessee.

“I’m here tonight to support our community and show support for drag and the people in our community,” said Nashville Pride President Mac Huffington. Tribe was packed to capacity with people who shared that sentiment. Last week, Gov. Bill Lee signed the nation’s first ban on public drag performances restricting artists’ freedom of expression through their performances.

And while the focus has largely been around the anti-drag bill, it is important to note that Gov. Lee signed another bill last week preventing transgender youth from accessing age-appropriate medical care. It is these laws that threaten, not only our transgender citizens, but all people who identify outside of the Republican ideal of cisgender, heterosexual, white Christians.

There are at least 18 more bills that could have direct implications on the LGBTQ+ community in Tennessee that are being considered and debated by the current legislation. We spoke to many people but Brenden M. from Nashville summed it up the best when he said “It’s not just about drag. It’s about our livelihood. It’s about our lives.”