NASHVILLE, Tenn. — This week in Nashville marks one of the busiest times for the LGBTQIA+ community as advocates plea for officials to defend their rights.
“The community is exhausted,” said TaMesha Kaye Prewitt, Transgender Services Manager of OUTMemphis, an organization that serves the LGBTQ community.
Over the course of three days, 18 different bills will be heard across Tennessee's House of Representatives and Senate. Some of the bills include the ability to deny a lawful gay marriage, punishment for anyone who takes a minor to get gender affirming care out of state and a bill prohibiting teachers from talking about gender identity. Tuesday proved to be the busiest day in Nashville, with 11 bills on the docket for discussion.
“It means there is no other subject receiving this much attention in the halls of our legislative branch this week,” said Molly Quinn, OUTMemphis Executive Director.
Just days before, the Memphian was in Washington, D.C. to speak with the Biden administration about the struggles red states like Tennessee face. The executive director told media outlets that bills similar to what is circulating in Nashville have driven families to groups like OUTMemphis, especially over the past year and a half.
“Last year, we had a 3x increase of any previous year for emergency services, whether that’s housing or mental health interventions. It was unlike anything we had ever seen,” said Quinn.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Tennessee ranks second for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation nationwide. Advocates are pleading with lawmakers to instead focus on more pressing issues, a sentiment echoed by Rep. Justin Pearson.
“The reality is that we in our community as LGBTQIA people and allies are not a problem. The problem is poverty, the problem is housing injustice," said Pearson. "And the only way it stops is if we resist it.”