Four bills are up this week in committees and we need your help to stop them. Two take direct aim on the rights of trans youth and two would undermine Tennesseans’ access to abortion. Please contact the committee members listed below and urge them to oppose all of these bills.
Click here to scroll down to the bills attacking trans rights and click here to scroll down to the bills attacking abortion access.
Trans Rights
TRANS RIGHTS: Tell the House Education K-12 Subcommittee to let trans student athletes compete.
The House Education K-12 Subcommittee meeting is Tuesday, 3/3/20 at 4:30 p.m.
1) HB 1572/SB 2077: If passed, this bill would force trans public school athletes to compete as the gender they were assigned at birth as well as withhold state funds from schools that stand with their trans students. This bill violates federal law as well as the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and is even more restrictive than the gender guidelines for the Olympics. Trans students are already at risk for bullying, lower GPAs, lower school attendance and higher levels of depression. If passed, this bill will add sex discrimination in sports to the long list of challenges facing trans students in Tennessee. Please call or email the following House Education K-12 subcommittee members and urge them to vote NO on HB 1572/SB 2077.
Emails for all House Education K-12 Subcommittee members:
rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov; rep.terri.lynn.weaver@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.jerry.sexton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov
Individual Contact Info for House Education K-12 Subcommittee members:
Representative John Windle, (615) 741-1260, rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Mark White, (615) 741-4415, rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Terri Weaver, (615) 741-2192, rep.terri.lynn.weaver@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Vincent Dixie, (615) 741-1997, Rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Kirk Haston, (615) 741-0750, rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Antonio Parkinson, (615) 741-4575, Rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Iris Rudder, (615) 741-8695, rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov
Representative John Ragan, (615) 741-4400, rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Jerry Sexton, (615) 741-2534, Rep.jerry.sexton@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Scott Cepicky, (615) 741-3005, rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov
TRANS RIGHTS: Tell the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee not to discriminate against trans youth in your name.
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee meeting is Tuesday, 3/3/20 at 12 p.m.
2) HB 2576/SB 2215: This bill aims to criminalize healthcare professionals for providing life-saving, medically-indicated evidence-based treatment appropriate to meet the healthcare needs of transgender youth Transgender youth deserve a chance to feel safe to explore their identity with trusted adults in their lives and to have access to supportive clinical care without fearing that the people in their lives will be sent to prison for listening to and affirming them. Urge your committee representative to prioritize the health of trans students in Tennessee and vote NO on HB 2576/SB 2215.
Emails for all House Criminal Justice Subcommittee members:
rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.brandon.ogles@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov; rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.curcio@capitol.tn.gov; rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov
Individual Contact Info for House Criminal Justice Subcommittee members:
Representative Antonio Parkinson, (615) 741-4575, rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Brandon Ogles, (615) 741-6808, rep.brandon.ogles@capitol.tn.gov
Representative William Lamberth, (615) 741-1980, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Andrew Farmer, (615) 741-4419, rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Clay Doggett, (615) 741-7476, rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Michael Curcio, (615) 741-3513, rep.michael.curcio@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Karen Camper, (615) 741-1898, rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov
Representative G.A. Hardaway, (615) 741-5625, rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov
Reproductive Freedom
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM: Tell the House Health Committee that doctors shouldn’t be forced to lie to women.
The House Health Committee meeting is Tuesday, 3/3/20 at 9 a.m.
3) HB 2568/SB 2465: This bill requires medical professionals to provide inaccurate information to women stating that they have the option to reverse a chemical abortion. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists opposes so-called medication abortion “reversal” bills because “reversal” procedures are unproven and unethical and legislative mandates based on unproven, unethical research are dangerous to women’s health. Urge House Health committee members to protect women’s safety in Tennessee and vote NO on HB 2568/SB 2465.
Emails for all House Health Committee members:
rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov; rep.david.byrd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.barbara.cooper@capitol.tn.gov; rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.hall@capitol.tn.gov; rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.matthew.hill@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov; rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov; rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jerry.sexton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.robin.smith@capitol.tn.gov; rep.micah.vanhuss@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov; rep.darren.jernigan@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
Individual Contact Info for House Health Committee members:
Representative Tom Leatherwood, (615) 741-7084, rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov
Representative David Byrd, (615) 741-2190, rep.david.byrd@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Barbara Cooper, (615) 741-4295, rep.barbara.cooper@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Vincent Dixie, (615) 741-1997, rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Ron Gant, (615) 741-6890, rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Mark Hall, (615) 741-1350, rep.mark.hall@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Esther Helton, (615) 741-1934, rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Matthew Hill, (615) 741-2251, rep.matthew.hill@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Bryan Terry, (615) 741-2180, rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Sabi ‘Doc’ Kumar, (615) 741-2860, rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Sam Whitson, (615) 741-1864, rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Larry Miller, (615) 741-4453, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov
Representative John Ray Clemmons, (615) 741-4410, Rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Jerry Sexton, (615) 741-2534, rep.jerry.sexton@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Paul Sherrell, (615) 741-1963, rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Robin Smith, (615) 741-2548, rep.robin.smith@capitol.tn.gov
Representative James (Micah) Van Huss, (615) 741-1717, rep.micah.vanhuss@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Kevin Vaughan, (615) 741-1866, rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Darren Jernigan, (615) 741-6959, rep.darren.jernigan@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Bob Freeman, (615) 741-0709, Rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Bob Ramsey, (615) 741-3560, Rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Mark White, (615) 741-4415, Rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov
Representative Ryan Williams, (615) 741-1875, Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM: Tell the Senate Judiciary Committee not to criminalize abortion in Tennessee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee meeting is Tuesday, 3/3/20 at 3 p.m.
4) SB2196/HB 2263: Governor Lee has just released the most restrictive abortion bill in the United States and SB 2196 will soon be amended to include the governor’s new language. This bill imposes a felony charge for medical professionals who preform an abortion after six weeks as well as restricting the reasons a woman can have an abortion at all. If passed, this bill will effectively outlaw abortion in the state of Tennessee and put medical professionals at risk of criminalization just for doing their jobs. Urge your committee representative to keep abortion safe and legal in Tennessee and vote NO on SB 2196/HB 2263.
Emails for all Senate Judiciary Committee members:
Sen.Dawn.White@capitol.tn.gov; sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.Katrina.Robinson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.Jon.Lundberg@Capitol.tn.gov; sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov; sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov
Individual Contact Info for Senate Judiciary Committee members:
Senator Dawn White, Sen.Dawn.White@capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-6853
Senator John Stevens, sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-4576
Senator Katrina Robinson, Sen.Katrina.Robinson@capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-2509
Senator Kerry Roberts, sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-4499
Senator Jon Lundberg, Sen.Jon.Lundberg@Capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-5761
Senator Sara Kyle, sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-4167
Senator Todd Gardenhire, sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-6682
Senator Janice Bowling, sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-6694
Senator Mike Bell, sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov, (615) 741-1946
