Slate of Hate Continues to Threaten Our Community

Another brutal year anticipated for LGBTQ+ rights in Tennessee

Editor’s Note: This piece was written prior to House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) introducing Senate Bill 1, which would prohibit doctors and families from making necessary lifesaving healthcare decisions to support transgender youth, and Senate Bill 3, which would make performing drag in public where children can see it a crime.

By Chris Sanders
📧[email protected]

After the October hate rally against gender-affirming care for trans youth and a summer and fall full of attacks on Pride celebrations, drag shows, and LGBTQ books in libraries, it might feel as if the 2023 Tennessee legislative session has begun. In a way, it has. The far-right has already fired the opening shots in the battles we will continue to face in the new year. Let’s take a look at what we can expect when the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes in January.

There can be no doubt that another bill will be introduced to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth. After socially conservative activist Matt Walsh published his “report” on Vanderbilt University Medical Center, legislators fell over themselves jumping on the bandwagon of hate promising to do something. Never mind that for two years legislators have heard hours of testimony from trans people, their families, and their healthcare professionals. What’s new is not the reality of gender-affirming care for trans youth and its life-saving benefits, but rather that extremists are demanding its end. Our motivation to fight back must be at the highest level.

Tennessee has seen bills attacking marriage equality every year since the 2015 Obergefell Supreme Court ruling. I expect 2023 to be no different. Emboldened by the overturning of Roe v Wade, our opponents see an opening and they will attempt to push through it. If the issue of marriage is returned to the states, we can be sure that Tennessee won’t be recognizing our marriages in the near future.

Public school curriculum bills are likely to return. Members of the Kingsport Board of Education tried to ban and then require an opt-in for LGBTQ materials in the curriculum earlier this year. Similar bills have failed in the Legislature, but the issue never really goes away. There have been attacks on LGBTQ books in the Maury County library system, for example, in the name of protecting children. Representation in these materials matters, so we need to act.

The level of pettiness and extremism has reached a point where we could see a bill like Idaho’s which seeks to ban public drag performances. After all, two legislators were involved in the effort to stop Jackson’s Pride celebration because of the drag show. Tennessee Tech punished student groups for holding a drag event. And the City of Murfreesboro is attempting to ban BoroPride from using public parks for our events. I believe there is growing pressure for such a bill at the state level.

This summer and fall have seen warning after warning that our opponents are digging in. The question is whether we will do the same. Here’s what we need:

• District captains are volunteers who meet with their legislators to discuss possible and existing bills in the General Assembly. Some have already been holding meetings this fall. You can find out more by contacting me at [email protected]. We desperately need you for this important assignment.
• We need Middle Tennessee residents ready to show up at legislative committee meetings to show support for the LGBTQ community. Every week of the legislative session, we publish a schedule of what bills are being heard in committee. That way you will know where and when to show up.
• Hold a house party for your friends. If you’re reading this, chances are that you are aware of these attacks at a deeper level than your friends. Hold an event and invite us to talk to them so that we can grow the support. It doesn’t have to be about fundraising. What we most need are awareness and volunteers.

2023 is going to be another brutal year, but I ask you to face it head-on and commit yourself to doing something constructive in defense of our community. No one has to shoulder all the work, but if more of us pitch in, we can make a difference. Best of all, you don’t have to be an expert or have any experience. The most important quality is the will to take action.