Tennessee Transgender Political CoalitionFor Immediate Release: Dated February 8, 2009
The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) is pleased to announce that, for the first time in history, a transgender inclusive Hate Crimes bill has been filed in the Tennessee General Assembly.
This week, Rep. Jeanne Richardson (D-Memphis) filed HB0335, which is accompanied by SB0253 by Sen. Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis), which would add "gender identity or expression" as a hate crimes sentencing enhancement factor to Tennessee Code Annotated 40-35-114. Passage of this bill will make it easier for state and local authorities to track and prosecute hate crimes against all LGBT Tennesseans.
Also this week, Rep. Richardson and Senator Marrero filed HB0334/SB0252
which would permit gender changes on birth certificates. Currently, Tennessee is the only state in the nation with a law that totally bans such changes.
We thank Representative Richardson and Senator Marrero for their support in these two areas. We urge Tennessee lawmakers to pass both of these vital pieces of legislation.
The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition is also opposing, once again, a bill to ban adoption rights for unmarried, co-habiting couples, SB0078 by Senator Paul Stanley (R-Germantown). TTPC was one of several groups which mobilized thousands of responsible Tennesseans against this discriminatory, moralizing, and costly legislation in 2008, which would limit the rights of responsible adults from adopting children. We are opposing it again this year.
TTPC is also opposing all bills being filed which would require new Voter IDs:
- SB0003 by Beavers/HB0009 by Weaver
- SB0005 by Ketron/HB0010 by Maggart, Lynn, and Evans
- SB0150 by Ketron
- SB0191 by Bunch/HB0267 by Watson
TTPC has previously opposed any such legislation because of its potential disfranchising impact on transgender voters and will do so again this year.
We are continuing to monitor the filing of bills and will oppose any legislation which discriminates against LGBT Tennesseans in Civil Unions, Education, and in any other area where there is an attempt to deny full equality.
If you do not know the name of your State Senator or Representative, you can Find Your Legislator by clicking here.
As part of this effort, we strongly urge everyone to join TTPC as we support the Tennessee Equality Project's 5th Annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill, on Tuesday, February 17. Join LGBT people and supporters from across the state in Nashville as we meet with state legislators and discuss issues of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. More details about the event are below.
If you live in Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga or Tri-Cities areas, contact TEP before scheduling your meetings to avoid setting up multiple meetings with the same representatives.
Marisa Richmond
President
Coming to Nashville the Night Before
If you plan on coming to Nashville on Feb. 16, the night before Advancing Equality Day on the Hill, we recommend staying at the Doubletree Hotel at 315 4th Avenue North. We have a special group rate of $99, but you need to reserve your room no later than Feb. 3. Call 1-800-222-8733. Make sure to mention that you are with the Tennessee Equality Project for the rate.
Reception at Tribe the Night Before
To welcome our guests from out of town and to celebrate our unity as we fight these negative bills, we have planned a reception at Tribe located at 1517 Church Street beginning at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Come gather with friends as we prepare to take the Hill.
Advancing Equality Day on the Hill Schedule
At 8:30 a.m. Central Time, we gather at the Rymer Gallery located at 233 5th Avenue North. Pastries and coffee will be provided to give you some energy to start the day. We will provide you with a legislative briefing. Around 9:30 we will go as a group to Legislative Plaza and the War Memorial Building to meet with our lawmakers. You will need government-issued photo identification to get into Legislative Plaza and the Capitol. The rest of the day is free time, which you may use to attend committee hearings, tour the Capitol, or see the sights in Nashville.
The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) is an organization designed to educate and advocate on behalf of transgender related legislation at the Federal, State and local levels. TTPC is dedicated to raising public awareness and building alliances with other organizations concerned with equal rights legislation.
For more information, or to make a donation, contact:
Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC)
P.O. Box 92335
Nashville, TN 37209
http://ttgpac.comTTGPAC@aol.com
(615)293-6199
(615)353-1834 fax
