Advocacy for a Time of Crisis in Tennessee

Around the country, we are seeing bills limiting gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary adults. Just recently a bill dropped in Florida that will prevent LGBTQ nonprofits from contracting with government entities. The effect on social services will be drastic if it passes.

Editor 2 years ago 3 min read

By Chris Sanders

The Tennessee General Assembly will gather in Nashville on January 9, 2024, to resume their 113th session. The 2023 session was, without a doubt, the worst for LGBTQ people in the twenty years that I’ve been working on discriminatory legislation in Tennessee. The anti-trans youth legislation was so bad that some families fled the state. The anti-drag legislation brought extra elements of danger to planning Pride celebrations across Tennessee.

It was devastating. We don’t have to rush to say that we are “resilient” and that we are going to “thrive.” It’s all right to sit with the fact that we are angry, exhausted, scared, and mourning the loss of some of the safety we once had. Or maybe we are feeling numb from fighting for so long. Coming to terms with those feelings in the most honest way possible is important. It will make us better advocates. Knowing ourselves and acknowledging the truth of the situation can be a source of power, though it’s a hard-won form of power.

We have a strong legislative team as we navigate the difficult days ahead. During the special legislative session on public safety, three lobbyists watched every move of every bill for us. Our field team of Dahron Johnson, Jace Wilder, and Brian Sullivan do an incredible job of providing timely media responses, conducting public education, and identifying people to testify when needed. Committed regional chairs around the state ensure we are recruiting advocates throughout Tennessee. We have also been fortunate to collaborate with effective leaders, like educator and activist Ray Holloman, and many partner organizations to give voice to the impact of discriminatory legislation.

We already know some of the bills we will face. They remain from the previous legislative session. They affect trans healthcare, marriage equality, and safe schools. One of the first bills filed for 2024 has the effect of banning Pride and Black Lives Matter flags in our public schools. Around the country, we are seeing bills limiting gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary adults. Just recently a bill dropped in Florida that will prevent LGBTQ nonprofits from contracting with government entities. The effect on social services will be drastic if it passes.

While we won’t know the full picture until all the bills are filed, we continue to prepare. You can get involved with the Balcony Brigade to learn about the legislative process, witness what is happening to our democracy, and deepen your advocacy. Contact us at [email protected] if you are interested. The numbers matter, and being together matters even more. We have also scheduled Advancing Equality Day on the Hill for February 13. If you want to meet with your legislators on that day, reach out to us and we will help prepare you.

We have the team, years of expertise, and the unyielding desire to fight for our community. We will advocate in the halls of power, protest on the streets, and support court challenges to defend our rights. But we need you. Join us.