Tennessee Equality Project

Why congressional redistricting is blowing up across the US this summer • Tennessee Lookout Fueled by President Donald Trump’s aims to bolster the U.S. House’s GOP majority, a mid-decade redistricting fight has engulfed several states.

@tennesseelookout.com piece giving an overview of what is going on with congressional redistricting around the country. tennesseelookout.com/2025/08/08/r...

Anti-LGBTQ hate crimes remain high amid overall decline in violent crime FBI reported data from its annual crime report Tuesday

Painful figures. www.washingtonblade.com/2025/08/06/a...

Trump’s Judicial Nominees Cannot Wait to Make LGBTQ People Second-Class Citizens The White House’s judicial confirmation machine is firing on all cylinders. The results are already ugly.

Trump's judicial nominees really, really do not want to talk about how seriously they take the right to same-sex marriage ballsandstrikes.org/nominations/...

Save the date: September 23 for the Nashville celebration of Bi Visibility Day!

Bad news via @wkrn .

Vandoliers Make Fun Revolutionary at Cannery Hall The Texas country punks dropped in Thursday at the venue complex’s Row One Stage with support from Nate Bergman

In our live-review column The Spin: Texas country punks @vandoliers.bsky.social embraced the power of their platform to do good during their stop at Row One Stage at Cannery Hall.

Donate to Tennessee Equality Project Show your support with a contribution.

Support our state legislative lobbying at the link: secure.actblue.com/donate/tenne... . Thank you for considering it.

Donuts and decoding legislation part 2 Refreshment, Learning, and Fun

We would love to see you on August 21 in Nashville. www.tnep.org/donuts_and_d...

TEP Special Reports Research and action for the LGBTQ community in Tennessee

Back to school time brings up a number of policy and practical issues for LGBTQ+ students and their parents/guardians. We have a number of related reports at the link: www.tnep.org/tep_special_... .

LinkedIn removes hate speech policies forbidding transphobic misgendering & deadnaming - LGBTQ Nation GLAAD said the revised policies are part of a "disturbing trend" of social media companies allowing anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech.

Be aware of these changes if you are on the platform. www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/07/link...

Best in Rural Writing Contest Shows the Value of Rural Stories The 2025 Best in Rural Writing Contest is accepting submissions until Sept. 15, 2025, offering an important platform for rural writers.

If you live in a rural area and write, this contest may be for you or someone you know. dailyyonder.com/best-in-rura... . via @dailyyonder.bsky.social

Vandoliers Reflect on Big Changes With ‘Life Behind Bars’ Catching up with the country punks’ Jenni Rose ahead of their show at Cannery Hall

“Kids are getting picked on right now by our government, so hard in pretty much every realm,” says Rose.
Great piece on @vandoliers.bsky.social in @nashvillescene.com . Read it at www.nashvillescene.com/music/featur...

A look at what LGBTQ bills Ohio lawmakers have introduced so far • Ohio Capital Journal Ohio lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have introduced several LGBTQ-related bills so far this General Assembly. We take a look at what's been proposed.

A look at the anti-LGBTQ+ bills Ohio is considering. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/07/24/a...

Who are the out-of-state developers financing the effort to create a Christian nationalist community in Tennessee - and why are they banking on a collapse of society as we know it?

YouTube video by TNEquality Seek not to be inspired, but seek to be equipped for advocacy.

Equipped for advocacy. youtube.com/shorts/3wyen...

Donuts and decoding legislation part 2 Refreshment, Learning, and Fun

Join us on August 21 for Donuts and Decoding Legislation - Part 2 in Nashville. www.tnep.org/donuts_and_d...

A short eulogy for Phil Michal Thomas Decades of advocacy in word and deed

We mourn the loss of Phil Michal Thomas, a great Nashville advocate. open.substack.com/pub/christop...

Court temporarily blocks DEI ban in Mississippi. See the story at the link: thehill.com/regulation/c... . Similar laws passed in Tennessee this year.

Cracker Barrel faces DEI probe after pro-Trump law group complaint America First Legal claims some of the restaurant chain's worker initiatives may be "discriminatory."

Ominous development for a major Tennessee company. www.newsweek.com/cracker-barr...

Meet the Hitler-loving podcaster who's teaching young Christian men to hate - in the name of God He’s a Hitler-loving podcaster on a mission to convince young Christian men to hate – all in the name of God.

MUST WATCH: He’s been called ‘one of the most-dangerous people on the planet.’ Meet the Hitler-loving podcaster who's teaching young Christian men to hate - in the name of God. Incredible photojournalism by Bryan Staples. (Video from full interview attached.) www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...

We enjoyed participating in Friday's The T Journey Mixer and discussing state legislation. Thanks to Nashville Pride, Metro Nashville Council Member Olivia Hill, and Bridgestone's BProud group for hosting it.

UPDATE: Andry is reportedly free after Trump sent him to an 125 days in an El Salvadoran prison for no reason, without due process, because of his “mom” and “dad” tattoos.

YouTube video by TNEquality Good Trouble Lives on in Hendersonville, Tennessee

We were glad to be part of the Good Trouble Lives on rally in Hendersonville, TN that honors the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis. youtube.com/shorts/ZnTDH...

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour 'John and Jim' symphony honors marriage equality with its future increasingly in doubt

PBS NewsHour on new symphony honoring the love that led to a Supreme Court case. www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY-R... .

Loss of $4M grant threatens HIV prevention efforts in Tennessee • Tennessee Lookout The loss of federal funding from the Centers for Disease Control comes as Memphis health officials face rising rates of new HIV infections.

@tennesseelookout.com on cuts that threaten HIV prevention efforts. tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/16/l... .

Thanks to TEP Knox, Anderson, and Blount Counties Chair Bean Chapman for being on the advocacy panel for the Tennessee Counseling Association’s Leadership Development Institute.

Breaking: Trans, nonbinary passport protections remain in effect, judge rules Judge Kobick denied DOJ's request to allow the State Department to enforce Rubio's anti-trans/anti-nonbinary passport policy after the SCOTUS Skrmetti decision.

BREAKING: Trans, nonbinary passport protections remain in effect, judge rules.

Judge Kobick denied DOJ's request to allow the State Department to enforce Rubio's anti-trans/anti-nonbinary passport policy after the SCOTUS Skrmetti decision.

New, at Law Dork: www.lawdork.com/p/trans-nonb...

Good news from Sumner County last night. www.wkrn.com/video/sumner...

Nashville LGBTQ+ community leaders decry layoffs at VUMC office supporting access to care • Tennessee Lookout Vanderbilt University Medical Center laid off the staff of its LGBTQ Health Program in late June, closing a resource for LGBTQ+ people.

Nashville LGBTQ+ community leaders decry layoffs at VUMC office supporting access to care tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/08/l... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tnequality.bsky.social

Metro Scales Back DEI Initiatives in Light of State Law City's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion shifts to Office of Impact

@nashvillescene.com on how anti-DEI laws in Tennessee are affecting the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. www.nashvillescene.com/news/pithint...