(Last updated January 24, 2022. The current status of each bill can be found by clicking the bill numbers below.)
This coming week, the Tennessee General Assembly is launching an all-out assault on transgender Tennesseans, in an effort to erase them from public life and public spaces. Please contact your representatives and urge them to oppose all three of the following bills:
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- Let trans student athletes compete. Oppose. If passed, HB 3 would exclude trans students from participating in athletics consistent with their gender identity. This bill is yet another attack on the LGBTQ community, and it violates federal law. Trans students are at greater risk of bullying, absenteeism and depression than cisgender students. This measure would add sex discrimination in sports to the long list of challenges trans youth face in Tennessee. Trans athletes can compete in the Olympics – they should not be barred from middle and high school sports for being themselves. UPDATE: Governor Lee signed this bill into law on March 26, 2021. We and our partners are currently challenging this law in federal court.
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- Stop politicians from interfering in medical care for trans youth. Oppose. HB 578 is another discriminatory effort by the legislature to target and erase trans youth. This bill would ban medical therapy for prepubescent minors to support their transition. “Therapy” is defined broadly by the bill, suggesting doctors and parents could be criminalized for everything from surgery to consultation. Healthcare for trans kids is not child abuse, and legislators have no business inserting themselves into family medical care. UPDATE: On April 14, 2021, this bill was deferred. It will be considered again during the 2022 session.
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- Prevent discriminatory restroom signage. Oppose. HB 1182 would require businesses and public buildings with transgender-inclusive restrooms to post signs that say: “This facility maintains a policy of allowing the use of restrooms by either biological sex, regardless of the designation on the restroom.” These unnecessary signs perpetuate the lie that transgender women are not women and transgender men are not men, in yet another attempt to erase trans people. Worse, this dangerous language could lead to aggression against trans people and trans-inclusive businesses. UPDATE: Governor Lee signed this bill into law on May 17, 2021. We and our partners are currently challenging this law in federal court.
TAKE ACTION: Please call your state representatives and ask them to vote no on these bills.
If you don’t know who your state representative is, or need to find their contact information, visit “Find My Legislator.”
Sample Phone Script
Hello, my name is _____________. I am calling to ask you to vote no on HB 3, HB 578 and HB 1182. These three bills attempt to erase transgender people and exclude them from public life. Transgender people belong in our communities and have a right to be themselves, without being stigmatized and discriminated against. Please vote no on these three bills.
