TEP Hamilton County Meet Up Notes

Tennessee Equality Project Meeting

Notes from Danielle Quesenberry 

January 21, 2025 

• What they do

Statewide Advocacy Organization 

Work in the capital, monitoring bills, training citizens to advocate, and spread resources and knowledge. 

• Mission of TEP 

The Tennessee Equality Project advocates for the equal rights of LGBTQ people in Tennessee.  We do this through legislative advocacy.  That means we lobby the Tennessee General Assembly and local governments around the state.  When there is an important federal issue, like bills that include anti-LGBTQ adoption language, we help you make your voice heard with your federal officials.

TEP is state wide. Founded over 20 years ago and have been fighting for LGBTQ+ rights 

• What they want you to know

Everyone in this room, in this state has a voice, has power. You have sway over your lawmakers whether you know it or not - they work for you.

The advocacy we do makes a difference. We meet with lawmakers. We go to committee meetings. We read every single bill that is introduced in our state. We look for discriminatory or harmful bills. A lot of times - we make it simple by just emailing your lawmakers. We also do postcard writing campaigns. We meet at the capital. We schedule meetings with lawmakers. We offer coaching; especially if a bill directly affects you - we talk to you about testimony and teach you how to go in front of the house and senate committees. 

There is a lot of work that we do at the state level, but also the municipal level. There have been many instances of book banning across TN - we show up at the city council meetings - the folx doing these bans show up - so we do too. There are already obscenity laws in libraries and others and unfortunately many people don't trust those. What we say - these books can be a lifeline for trans and nonbinary teens. 

Sometimes, advocacy is done best in closed doors - because if we draw attention to it - that can draw the wrong attention. In some cases, we've been able to make the bill go away quietly. 

When it is a hot button issue/take, we show force. 

TEP has researchers watching bills. 

Throughout the bill, they reference other things - they always never say LGBTQ+, trans, or nonbinary, they always never refer to what are considered protected classes, because it could be explicitly discriminatory. 

Every little amendment they make is closer to a worse bill. 

They push the line so they can introduce more malicious bills. 

We have to be on top of this 24/7 and resilient. 

In the last few years, we have had at least 2 dozen bills come down the pipe.

How does a bill come to life?

A legislator who is over a district will craft a bill and introduce it. Once it is introduced in the state of TN - it is set for committee hearings

There are several committees: Education Finance Labor - it makes it way through committee. Once it passes the committees - it heads to the House and Senate floor.

At every stop, we fight against this bill. 

A way to stop a bill is to show that it affects every single one of us - even the rhetoric it makes okay - is how people are talking about us when we're not in the room. It is very important to know the tone that a bill sets and what it says about you, us, our community..

. 

Bill Filing Deadline - January 31, 2025 - potentially extended to February 4/5

More people need to testify, but come to a committee hearing first. You see very little on camera - the bargaining and decision making is happening in the halls and offices behind you. 

For those of us who don't have a story to tell - how can we be most impactful as boots on the ground - your physical presence is powerful - you don't have to say a word. Us just showing up - you can see it when there are more and more of us. What TEP has seen happen over the years is more people present - this is powerful for the people in the room. 

Local support

We go into local communities and stand with you and let you know about it.

If something is highly publicized, we will put it out on social media.

Recently with the gender affirming care in TN - it went to SCOTUS

Eli Givins who testified against the bill went with us.  We were the 48th person of the 48th allowed into the courtroom and the ACLU lawyer gave an amazing argument. 

• The issues at stake

An immense amount of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the last 2 decades.

Over 30 in 2024 - over all defeated other than 4. 

TEP gets alerts when something is happening so they know when to ban together to stop it. 

• How to get involved

Balcony Brigade - a group of people that show up at the capital - other advocacy groups have begun picking up teh shirts. It is a way to show a voice - if you're going to pass legislation that harms us - you have to look us in the face to do so and we're not going anywhere. 

We're seeing the kids who are coming up, scrounging gas money - we've seen the devastation on their faces when these bills pass - the more people we have showing them that people care - that gives them the strength to go on. When they go there and see 12 people in committee with our shirts on - saying we go your back - it makes a difference. Your presence means something. 

Monday Phone Bank

https://www.tnep.org/

Register for the newsletter for more information on joining in on the phone bank.

The newsletter will also have helpful links to email your representatives. 

Follow the Tennessee Equality Project Facebook

• Next steps

Day on the Hill with the Balcony Brigade 

February 11, 2025

Nashville, TN 

Advocates from all across the state come - this when you meet with lawmakers, setup meetings with lawmakers.

When you come to day on the hill - what you can expect - Cordell Hull Building - offices of lawmakers. 

When you show up in the cafeteria, you can meet other people across the state and then you go off to your meetings - 1030 - 1130. 11AM is a press conference. We want as many people as possible to be at the press conference. 

If you wish to join TEP for Day on the Hill, please reach out to Chair Marcus Patrick Ellsworth. 

His email is: marcuspellsworth@gmail.com

You will be provided with a list of talking points so you're knowledgeable about the bills going through so you can share your personal experience.

If you think that doesn't make a difference - you are wrong. It absolutely does. We have had lawmakers that were seton bills that were harmful to us and we've had people go and share their own personal experience and they have listened and changed their vote. Changed their mind. 

Personal experience is the most valuable tool that we have. We share it every chance we get. 

Media Comms

Our personal stories are our power. If you'd like to be connected for potential interviews in the Hamilton Co area - we will connect you to the media. Always looking for different faces to represent different stories who all fall under the umbrella of supporting LGBTQ+ rights.