Sign your name and let us know your email address to pledge your ongoing commitment to the work for full equality in Tennessee after the marches and celebrations are over.  That will allow us to stay in touch with you about key training events around the state.

I pledge to work for equality and justice for LGBTQ people in Tennessee after the marches and rallies.  I will keep their spirit with me and find ways to resist discrimination and build power for the equality movement.  Please, contact me on June 26 for a special announcement about opening a new front in the fight for good public policy for LGBTQ people in Tennessee.

I want to join my efforts with equality advocates statewide to resist the Legislature's attacks.

New threats to Tennessee's LGBTQ community mean we must organize as many people in the state as we can so that we can speak more effectively against discrimination.  Thousands of people attend Pride celebrations in Tennessee every year.  We expect many newly out members of the community and allies to attend for the first time in 2017.  Please, make a tax deductible investment in our work to engage all the people who attend Pride celebrations in Tennessee.

TEP plans to be a strong presence at regional Pride celebrations in Tennessee so that we can actively sign people up and connect them to organizing against discrimination.  YOUR support makes it possible to afford booth space, materials to hand out during Pride, and travel to Pride celebrations around the state.

For us, Pride is a celebration of the community AND a critical opportunity to grow the movement for equality in Tennessee.  Thank you for your investment in our work.

Please, tell us your name, email address, and for which Pride festival you will be volunteering.  For example, are you volunteering for Knoxville Pridefest?  If so, note that.  Thanks.

Tell us your state senate and state house districts.  Note:  We are NOT asking for your U.S. Senate and U.S. House districts (the elected officials who meeting in Washington, D.C. ).  We are asking about your elected officials you meet in Nashville--your state senator and your state representative.  You can find them at this link by entering your street address.

So tell us your state senator and your state representative as well as your email address.  Thank you!

Two of TEP's founders--Jim Schmidt and Joe Woolley--have issued a challenge to our members.  They are matching the first $1000 in tax deductible donations to the TEP Foundation.  So that means that your contribution will be doubled!  We are grateful for the commitment that Joe and Jim have made over the years to TEP and their ongoing leadership in many organizations that benefit Tennessee's LGBT community such as the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Victory Fund. 

We hope you will join them in investing in our work this week.  Note:  We will let Jim and Joe know that you have made a contribution in their honor if you participate.  Thank you!

In April the owners of the Wild Cow and Graze restaurants added gender-neutral signs to their single occupancy restrooms, but they were later told that this move meant they were no longer in compliance with the Metro code.  They made the move to serve their customers and employees and to protest the Legislature's bathroom bill that was pending at the time.  You can read about the background here.

Metro Nashville Councilman Brett Withers has filed a bill allowing businesses the option of gender-neutral bathrooms.  You can read the bill at this link.  The bill is up for second of three readings on June 7 at the 6:30 Metro Council meeting in the Metro Courthouse.

Sign the petition to show your support.

On the evening of May 17, The Tennessean and The Commercial Appeal reported that legislators are considering a special legislative session to take up a new effort to pass a statewide anti-transgender bathroom discrimination law.  Sign YOUR name to the statement below and we'll deliver your signatures to legislative leaders:

In late April the U.S. House Armed Services Committee voted to undo President Obama's non-discrimination executive orders for federal contracts via the Russell amendment.  This amendment is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. 

Removal of the President's executive orders on non-discrimination would be a disaster for LGBT people in states like Tennessee that lack employment protections covering sexual orientation and gender identity. 

Please, sign this petition to Tennessee's two U.S. Senators and nine members of the U.S. House of Representatives and we will make sure copies are sent to their offices.

Target's trans-inclusive policies are under attack in Tennessee.  A Mt Juliet pastor's rant went viral and this week at a Hendersonville Target, protesters shouted religious wrath at employees and customers.  But we know that Tennessee loves Target and it's time to show it!

As former TEP Board member Ellyahnna Hall (pictured) notes:  

"I support Target for trying to provide a safe space for all people. I'm a trans woman and I've faced the dangers of not having access to restrooms that corespond to my gender identity. If opponents are really concerned with safety then let's focus on tougher rape laws and enforcing those, not creating a fake danger that doesn't exist."

Sign the petition statement and show Target some love.  We'll deliver hard copies of the petition to select Target locations in Tennessee.

Please, take action about Senate Bill 1912 that defunds the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Office for Diversity and Inclusion.

Call Governor Haslam at 615-741-2001 and ask him to Veto Senate Bill 1912 and defend diversity.  It's fine to leave a message.

OR

Tweet him @BillHaslam with #VetoSB1912 .

When you have called or tweeted, let us know you did it with this form.  NOTE:  You don't have to live in Tennessee to participate.

The Legislature passed SB1912/HB2248 that removes funding from the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.  Sign this petition that we will deliver to Governor Haslam asking him to veto the bill.

On April 18, 2016 about 30 pastors shamefully stood in Legislative Plaza and spoke in favor of the anti-transgender student bathroom bill.  And religion was used to advance the counseling discrimination bill.  Many more clergy across Tennessee publicly opposed both bills.

Whether you're religious or not, aren't you tired of religion being used to support discrimination in our laws?  If so, endorse this statement:

We oppose the use of religion to justify discrimination in Tennessee law.  To use religion to divide us in our public life violates the spirit of the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions, does harm to the people of Tennessee, and brings scandal to religion.

Sign this NEW petition urging Governor Bill Haslam to keep listening to the voices opposed to the anti-transgender student bathroom bill!

Take a minute to contact Governor Bill Haslam by phone message or on Twitter and then let us know you did it using this form.  Let's get to 500 or more!

I called or Tweeted Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and urged him to veto HB1840, the counseling discrimination bill.  I'm asking you to do the same this week.

The response to discriminatory laws in Indiana, North Carolina, and Mississippi makes it clear that everyone is affected.  So we all have a role to play in making sure that Tennessee is able to attract good jobs and keep our economy open for business.  That includes conservatives, independents, and business people, too.  Please, endorse Keep Tennessee Open For Business.  Use your voice and your influence to speak out for a prosperous Tennessee.

Economic opportunity allows individuals to live up to their potential and keeps families strong.  Discriminatory laws in other states have resulted in billions of dollars of losses because of boycotts and companies reconsidering their investments .  Tennessee cannot afford to go down that road.  Legislation like HB1840, which allows counselors to discriminate, and HB2414, which micromanages which bathrooms students are allowed to use, risks Tennessee's prosperity.

I endorse Keep Tennessee Open For Business to say that I stand for economic opportunity for our state and against discriminatory legislation that poses a threat to our future.

Please, add your voice and urge Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to veto this discriminatory bill.

Moving the Message--it's a critical part of fighting back against hateful legislation in Tennessee.  When we reach more people, more voices rise against discrimination.  That means we have a fighting chance of winning. 

Help TEP invest in new communication tools to bring more allies into the fight so we can win more battles!

Let's see how much we can raise by April 15.

Please, join us in encouraging Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to fight against this attack on transgender students.