Tennessee Equality Project
With the filing deadlines passed for both the Tennessee House and Senate this year, the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) has unveiled the final version of its “Slate of Hate,” bills targeting the LGBTQ community.
These are the “key bills that present direct attacks on Tennessee’s LGBTQ community that could move in the 2020 state legislative session.”
From the TEP:
Attacks on transgender youth:
Tennessee General Assembly
Bowling and Ragan
SB2215/HB2576: This bill interferes with the ability of transgender youth to access gender-affirming health care and outrageously labels violations as child abuse.
Sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling and Rep. John Ragan
Tennessee General Assembly
Pody and Griffey
Tennessee General Assembly
Hensley and Cepicky
SB2077/HB1572 and SB1736/HB1689: These bills prevent transgender youth from participating in school sports according to their gender identity.
SB2077/HB1572 sponsored by Sen. Mark Pody and Rep. Bruce Griffey
SB1736/HB1689 sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley and Rep. Scott Cepicky
Tennessee General Assembly
Hensley and Holt
SB1499/HB1274: This bill represents a new twist on the older anti-transgender student bathroom bills. It provides state legal assistance to school districts that adopt anti-transgender student policies. Filed in 2019.
Sponsored by Hensley and Rep. Andy Holt
Attacks on marriage equality:
Tennessee General Assembly
Bowling and Ragan
Tennessee General Assembly
Bowling and Leatherwood
SB2625/HB2410 and SB2290/HB2310: These two bills attempt to undo or interrupt marriage equality by establishing a new definition of “secular marriage” and repealing existing Tennessee laws on marriage licensing.
SB2625/HB2410 sponsored by Bowling and Ragan
SB2290/HB2310 sponsored by Bowling and Rep. Tom Leatherwood
Tennessee General Assembly
Pody and Sexton
SB1282/HB1369: The Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act. Filed in 2019.
Sponsored by Pody and Rep. Jerry Sexton
Attacks on the ability of local governments to serve the LGBTQ community:
Tennessee General Assembly
Rose and Zachary
SB364/HB563: The Business License to Discriminate bill prevents local governments from favoring companies that have good workplace policies like inclusive non-discrimination. Filed in 2019.
Sponsored by Sen. Paul Rose and Rep. Jason Zachary
Tennessee General Assembly
Bailey and Holt
SB2896/HB2721: This bill would hinder the ability of public libraries to provide Pride and LGBTQ displays and programming.
Sponsored by Sen. Paul Bailey and Holt
