Chris Sanders, who has served in a volunteer role as president of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) for years, has been named acting executive director of the organization.
The TEP Foundation’s board has determined the organization needs a full-time, paid executive director to lead the organization. Previously, it was run by volunteers. Sanders will fill the interim role while the board launches a search for the full-time position.
The executive director’s role includes directing TEP’s education, advocacy, media relations, community organizing, and fund development efforts.
“The recent Supreme Court rulings on DOMA and Prop 8 are historic for our country, but we have to make sure that we’re not standing still in Tennessee. Having a dedicated professional to direct our efforts will allow us to achieve more in East, West, and Middle Tennessee. The gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in our state deserves no less,” said TEP vice president Bleu Copas.
The board will also be appointing a new president of the organization to fill the role Sanders is vacating.
Sanders will begin his new responsibilities with an outreach tour around the state starting in Nashville on July 19th at a Forward Friday event at Tribe starting at 7:00 p.m., followed by TEP’s annual Ice Cream Sundae Social on July 21st in Memphis, completed by a gathering in Knoxville for the final vote on the Knox County non-discrimination ordinance on July 22nd.
