Do Something for LGBTQ+ Equality

2025 has barely started and already LGBTQ rights are under attack in Tennessee. Which isn’t surprising at all because a contingent of Republicans in our state capitol put together a slew of bills every year specifically designed to attack everything from trans people accessing public restrooms to the sanctity of same sex marriages. For several years this pandora’s box of bigotry has been deemed the “Slate of Hate” by Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), the statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization, and other proponents of equality. And every year, queer people and allies from across the state have successfully pushed back most of this hateful agenda due to the diligence of community leaders, volunteers, and groups across the state standing together to rally support and take action.

Given the aggressively anti-LGBT+  rhetoric that is being emboldened by the incoming presidency, the cabal of conservatives eagerly working to roll back as much progress as possible are going to be particularly heinous in the coming months and years. There is already one bill–HB64 introduced by Rep. Gino Bulso out of Williamson county–being watched by TEP that is aimed at removing equal access to sports facilities and restrooms by requiring “all residential educational programs in this state, regardless of type or duration, that allow minors to participate or to access residential facilities to segregate all restrooms, changing areas, and showers by immutable biological sex”.

HB64 has implications far beyond restroom stalls and soccer pitches. This is part of a concerted nationwide effort to erode the rights of trans people by portraying them as threats to safety in gendered spaces and/or as having an unfair advantage in the arena of sports. This is despite the fact that trans athletes make up an extremely small percentage of sports participants and studies showing that they may actually have some physical disadvantages depending on the types of gender affirming care they are receiving. There is also the grim reality that trans people are far more likely to be harmed than do harm in almost any given space be it public or private. Leveraging misconceptions also plays into laws being passed that deny care to trans people of all ages and attempts to portray trans people as mentally ill. This carries over into bathroom bills, healthcare, housing, and basic privacy and respect that some would deny trans people.

There will be more attempts to legislate against trans people, though at the time of publication we do not know specifically what those will be. In addition to the transphobic bills, we are likely to see some swipes at marriage equality and gender based protections that could affect even existing protections and legislation.

So what can be done? Sitting by and wringing our hands in worry as things develop is not going to help anyone. We can take action in thoughtful and productive ways. If you are in the Hamilton and Bradley County area, you can join TEP for a meeting next week on January 21st at 5:30 PM at Barking Legs Theater. There will be discussion about the road ahead for LGBTQ+ issues in regards to the state legislature as well as opportunities to get involved and stay informed. While it is frustrating that our community has to put in this effort every year, time and again, the benefit is that such work has proven to be effective. The Trans Legislation Tracker reports that last year 613 of 672 anti-trans bills failed across the country, many due to the advocacy in the 43 states where the bills were submitted. 

This is how we win more than we lose. This is how we build up allies among our elected officials. This is how we draw public attention to the attacks on our rights. This is one way in which we not only defend our community, but build up our communal strength. On the other side of the legislative coin, there is a positive bill being introduced this session. 

HBJR5 being introduced by Rep. Aftyn Behn of Davidson County would “prohibit this state or an instrumentality of this state from abridging or denying a person's rights on account of sex”. While this bill is intended to support protections against sex based discrimination, there is always the possibility it could be defeated or amended in ways that would exclude LGBTQ people. Another reason it is paramount to stay informed and make sure the legislature is aware that constituents are engaged on these issues and care about the final outcomes even while such bills are being drafted or working their way through committees.

Each of us needs to do our part and work together. Nothing does more to allow for the erosion of our rights than when we stand by and fail to take action. So do something and do it with your community. That’s how we’ll get through to better times.