Chris Sanders, long-time president of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) and former acting director, has been named as the organization’s first full-time executive director. The announcement was made at TEP’s Olympus gala in Nashville over the weekend.
Sanders’ previous role as president was a volunteer role, but the new director position is a full-time paid gig. The executive director’s role includes directing TEP’s education, advocacy, media relations, community organizing, and fund development efforts.
“As you know, we have a lot of work to do in Tennessee before we can claim full equality, but I’m pleased to tell you that the work is already underway,” Sanders said in a recent Facebook video about TEP’s work on marriage equality, an anti-bullying bill for the state, employment nondiscrimination at the local and federal level, and other issues.
“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.
