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Nashville, Tennsee – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the natn’s largt lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights anizatn — nmned the Tennsee Senate for passg…

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TENNSEE LITENANT ERNOR, 79, MENTS ON YOUNG GAY MAN'S RACY INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

Tennsee state senator Stacey Campfield tri aga to get his "Don't Say Gay" bill passed to law. * tennessee senator gay *

Kim Jackson (D), who is openly lbian, was elected to reprent the heavily Democratic District 41 the Geia state Senate, makg her the first openly gay senator the state. The litenant ernor of Tennsee, which recently passed multiple bills that target LGBTQ people and culture, has been equently mentg om his verified Instagram acunt on shirtls photos of a young gay man. McNally add that he has iends and a fay member who are gay and tri to be supportive of many people, the Lookout far this year, Tennsee lawmakers have troduced 26 bills targetg LGBTQ people, acrdg to the Amerin Civil Liberti Unn, which is trackg them.

The bills have also gaed promence and polil tractn as nservative activist groups and media figur have reloted to the state recent years, keepg gay and trans rights as a top prry for lawmakers. )After the Obergefell lg nullified Tennsee’s same-sex marriage ban, Republin legislators sought new ways to lim gay passed bills the followg year allowg mental health profsnals, cludg school and substance abe unselors, to turn down LGBTQ clients if nflicts wh their “scerely held prcipl” or “relig beliefs” — even s where people are at risk of harmg themselv or others. ’”In the next six years, 10 other laws were enacted that affect gay and transgenr rights.

TENNSEE'S LITENANT GOVERNOR IS "PSG" SOCIAL MEDIA USE AFTER SCTY OVER HIS COMMENTS ON A YOUNG GAY MAN'S RACY INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

* tennessee senator gay *

Those clu the state’s bathroom bill and a law that allows child placement agenci, which ntract wh the state, to refe assistg wh adoptn or foster re placement wh LGBTQ parents and GOP lawmakers natnwi have begun sponsorg hundreds of new measur recent years to rce protectns for transgenr or gay youth or to lim discsns of LGBTQ topics public schools, that trend accelerated 27 bills targetg LGBTQ rights troduced this year Tennsee clu the drag bill, which bans “adult baret performanc” public or ont of children and blocks the shows om wh 1, 000 feet of public parks, schools and plac of worship.

Lawmakers this year also passed a law prohibg people unr 18 om receivg any genr transng medil treatments, which is set to go to effect on July new boom bills targetg gay rights has been driven part by nservative media outlets and far-right podsters who have kept prsure on legislators to prrize the Walsh, a nservative pund wh 1. The Fay Actn Council of Tennsee, a nservative advocy anizatn led by former state senator David Fowler, helped wre at least two of the bills targetg gay rights that have bee law Tennsee sce 2015, acrdg to lawmakers, advot and Fowler’s blog posts. After the bill passed, Fowler wrote a blog post that the law was need bee judg are phg a “gay agenda” their 2021, Fowler lobbied and told media he provid “legal wordsmhg” for a law banng transgenr stunt-athlet om playg on sports teams that don’t align wh their sex assigned at birth.

TENN.'S 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL BACK AND IT COULD OUT STUNTS TO THEIR PARENTS

Tennsee's litenant ernor is takg a break om social media after weeks of scty over his ments on a young gay man's racy Instagram a statement shared wh BuzzFeed News, Lt. McNally's statement about his social media e asserted that he was not agast gay people. "I am 79 years old, and was raised a time when homosexualy was eply shameful.

"But I now have iends and even a relative who is gay. "Beg nservative and anti-gay "are not synonymo, " McNally add, though he also said he tried to "unrstand this muny better, and at the same time not promise tryg to protect children and my own valu. Like a homophobic phoenix, the "Don't Say Gay" bill has risen om the ash to "protect the youth of Tennsee" -- and clus a provisn requirg teachers out gay stunts to their parents.

HERE ARE THE SENATORS WHO VOTED AGAST AMERI’S FIRST GAY CABET SECRETARY

Tennsee state senator Stacey Campfield has retroduced his famo legislatn that would prohib schools om discsg homosexualy sex tn class until after the eighth gra (even though schools Tennsee do not teach sex ed before the eighth gra) dyg the Hoe two years ago, the bill, now lled the Classroom Protectn Act, is back wh addns such as "certa subjects are particularly sensive and are, therefore, bt explaed and discsed wh the home, " and "at gra levels pre-K through eight (pre-K-8), any such classroom stctn, urse materials or other rmatnal rourc that are nsistent wh natural human reproductn shall be classified as appropriate for the tend stunt dience and, therefore, shall be prohibed.

TENNSEE 'TURN AWAY THE GAYS' BILL FEELS HEAT OM MEMPHIS CHEF

" That will likely bar any teacher om even suggtg homosexualy bill also now stat that when a stunt approach a teacher or unselor and nfis them that they may be gay, is the teacher or unselor's rponsibily to tell the stunt's parents. ”Shevr Jon (D) – State Senator for Florida’s 35th District: Shevr Jon has bee the first openly gay state senator elected Florida.

”Rchie Torr (D) – New York’s 15th Congrsnal District: Rchie Torr is the first openly gay Black man Congrs and is also the first LGBTQ Ao-Lato ngrsman. ”Mondaire Jon (D) – New York’s 17th Congrsnal District: Mondaire Jon is the first Black openly gay reprentative US Congrs, alongsi Rchie Torr.

STACEY CAMPFIELD, TENNSEE SENATOR BEHD 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL, CONFIRMS HE WAS ASKED TO LEAVE RTRANT

Jon addrsed the homophobia he had faced as a ndidate and stated that his life story ma him ph through even though his mpaign was on the edge of breakg. ” In addn, he stated, “there’s never been an openly gay Black member of Congrs the 244-year history of the Uned Stat, and was only the past few years that I began to thk that was possible.

While out Transportatn Secretary Pete Buttigieg was nfirmed by a bipartisan vote of 86-13, who voted agast the nfirmatn of the first gay Cabet Secretary? Reports of vlence and timidatn agast LGBTQ+ people have been makg news across the untry – wh whe natnalists targetg a Pri event Idaho and Proud Boys crashg Drag Queen story hours at lol librari to shout homophobic and transphobic slurs. The Human Rights Campaign is Ameri’s largt civil rights anizatn workg to achieve equaly for lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer people.

Brian Kelsey, after the polician proposed a so-lled "Turn Away the Gays" 17, 2014— -- A Tennsee senator is unr fire om a celebry chef and other members of his district, after sponsorg a bill that would allow bs owners to refe service to gays. It is monly beg referred to as the "Turn Away the Gays" bill. "The 'new South' enpass everyone: It's straight and gay.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* TENNESSEE SENATOR GAY

The Washgton Post</tle><path d="M39.2 32v36.6c4.7-2.8 7-6.8 8.7-12.1l1.2.6c-1.1 13.2-10.3 26-24.3 26S0 72.6 0 55.8C0 43 7.7 35.1 18.7 28.2a16.11 16.11 0 00-4.4-.6c-7.2 0-11.4 4.9-11.4 9.9H1.5a14.77 14.77 0 01-.1-2.1c0-9.3 5.5-19.7 16.9-19.7 7.3 0 12.9 6.7 21.4 6.7 4.3 0 6.7-1.6 8.4-5.3h1.2c-.1 6.5-2 12.8-10.1 14.9zm-19-3.3C15.1 34 10.1 39.6 10.1 50.9c0 6.2 1.9 12.4 6.6 16.4l3.1-1.7V40.3L16.6 42l-1-1.6 15-8.4c-3.8-.8-6.9-2.3-10.4-3.3zm17.1 3.7a17 17 0 01-2.3.1 17.52 17.52 0 01-4-.4v29.5l-12.8 7a15.57 15.57 0 009.9 3 22.58 22.58 0 009.2-2zm44 9.2v34.3c0 9.6-8.51 16.11-18 18l-.6-1c4.7-2.3 7.8-6.41 7.8-11.41V45.7l-4.9-4.5-2.6 2.6v27.1l3 2.8v.4l-8.1 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.4l3.6-3.8V25.8l10.6-11.3.2.1v26.6l8.7-9.2 8.7 7.9 2.7-2.6 1.31 1.3zM97.91 62v4.5l9 7.1 7-7.3 1.3 1.3L101 82.8 88.21 72.6l-2.8 2.8-1.2-1.3 3.1-3.2V45.8l18.9-13.8 10.5 16.3zm.2-22.6l-.2.1v20.1l8.7-6.4zM180 82.71l-13.9-12-10.6 12-14.4-12.41V50.7h-2.8a3.89 3.89 0 00-4.1 3.5h-1a15.87 15.87 0 01-.5-3.8c0-2.6 1.1-9.4 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3.8l.1-.09zm6.41-19.6a9.78 9.78 0 01-6.91 2.3 8.92 8.92 0 01-6.3-2.9l-.2.1v14.6h3.8l9.7-14zm22.9 43.41l-8.8-6.91-2.71 2.7-1.3-1.29 3.1-3.21V39.4H671l-.2-.2 3.5-5.2h2.5v-6.7L687.41 16l.2.2V34h8l.2.2-3.5 5.2h-4.7v30.3l4.8 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.3 1.4z"></path></svg><span class="alic gray font-xxxxs font--body">Democracy Di Darkns</span></div></div><hear class="w-100" data-qa="ma-full"><div class="hi-for-prt"><div class="wpds-c-bHXelH wpds-c-kBYYkb wpds-c-bHXelH-fGHEql-maxWidth-fluid wpds-c-bHXelH-iiAiuHj-css"><nav class="wpds-c-hwIWrt wpds-c-hwIWrt-hIlwIL-alignment-left wpds-c-hwIWrt-eDNePg-cv flex overflow-hidn overflow-xscroll b bb mw-vw-100 grid-mobile-full-bleed" aria-label="Sectn" data-qa="sendary-nav" tabx="0"><div class="wpds-c-sertR"><a href=" data-qa="sendary-nav-primary-lk" class="wpds-c-bePrsO wpds-c-bePrsO-kTaxWV-font-meta wpds-c-bePrsO-hbKkTl-labelColor-black">Polics</a><a class="wpds-c-bgVtfq wpds-c-jxcbnu wpds-c-bgVtfq-ecTIdS-variant-primary ml-md" href=" data-qa="sendary-lk">Bin 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data-qa="headle" id="ma-ntent"><span data-qa="headle-text">Tennsee leads charge passg laws targetg LGBTQ rights</span></h1></div><div class="flex prt-byle prt-mt-none"><div class="byle-wrapper flex-lumn flex"><div class="PJLV PJLV-ihSmMVC-css"><div class="mb-xxs" style="gap:0.5rem" data-qa="thor-byle"><span class="wpds-c-PJLV"><div class="flex ems-center" data-qa="thor-byle"><div class="mr-sm flex lh-0"><div class="wpds-c-iTcer"><img src=" alt="" class="wpds-c-dgBqAZ"/></div></div><span class="left"><div class="flex"><div class="dib font-xxs" data-qa="name-wh-optnal-lk" data-cy="name-wh-optnal-lk"><span data-qa="attributn-text" class="wpds-c-cNdzuP">By <!-- --> </span><a data-qa="thor-name" href=" rel="thor" class="wpds-c-cNdzuP wpds-c-cNdzuP-ejzZdU-isLk-te">Kimberly Kdy</a></div></div></span></div></span></div></div><div data-ttid="timtamp" class="wpds-c-kgabfe wpds-c-kgabfe-ikrKXLV-css"><span data-ttid="display-date" class="wpds-c-iKQyrV">April 7, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT</span></div></div></div></hear></div><article class="grid-article mb-xxl-ns" data-qa="ma"><div data-ttid="le-art" data-qa="le-art"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:0.5625;--aspect-width:1;filter:blur(5px);transn:filter .1s"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark ml-gutter mr-gutter" data-qa="vio-ptn">Drag performers speak out about how a now-halted law uld impact their liv, and a larger nservative effort they see agast trans people. (Vio: Jon Gerberg/The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div><div class="grid-body"><div class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-PJLV-hSmMVC-isLuf2-false"><div class="wpds-c-jUMcim wpds-c-jUMcim-ibVGacg-css hi-for-prt mb-sm"><div class="PJLV PJLV-ieDMgMI-css flex ems-center" nfig="[object Object]" data-qa="article-actns"><div class="wpds-c-mfMEg"><div class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-hnjNCH wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-nsy-pact wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutle-te wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-futx-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv"><div class="wpds-c-jmMNTu"><div role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Listen" data-ttid="listen-button" class="PJLV PJLV-ieXqgLD-css"><svg xmlns=" fill="var(--wpds-lors-primary)" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-kKAfCG wpds-c-bPOGbC"><path fill="currentColor" d="M12.29 3.88A6.13 6.13 0 0 1 14 8.24V11a3 3 0 0 1-3 3h-1V8h1a3 3 0 0 1 2 .78v-.54A5.118 5.118 0 0 0 8 3a5.12 5.12 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PJLV-ietWzJw-css"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-dJBvpf wpds-c-dJBvpf-iPJLV-css "><path d="M14 14H2V7h1v6h10V7h1Zm-5.5-2h-1V3h1Z"></path><path d="M10.29 5.71 11 5 8 2l-.71.71L5 5l.71.71L8 3.42l2.29 2.29z"></path></svg></div><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Share</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As Republin lawmakers natnwi have <a href=" target=_blank>phed a historic wave of legislatn</a> targetg LGBTQ rights this year, Tennsee is the vanguard of the movement after years of passg siar legislatn and emergg as one of the most rtrictive stat the natn on the issue.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="db dn-ns mr-neg-gutter ml-neg-gutter mb-md hi-for-prt" data-qa="subscribe-promo"><div data-orientatn="horizontal" role="separator" class="wpds-c-dbVHzF wpds-c-dbVHzF-hDkAcj-variant-flt"></div><a class="pt-sm pb-sm flex ems-center bold font-xxxs font-xxs-ns jtify-center" href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="lor:#166dfc;borr:none"><svg class="ntent-box" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns=" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>Wp</tle><path d="M11.055 8.728l-1.018-1.019-.782.782v6.292l1.782 1.564.018-.019v-7.6zm-4.11.236L5.674 7.71l-.836.855v6.237l1.545 1.327.564-.636V8.964zm2.656 9.074l-2.528-2.182-1.927 2.182-2.619-2.255v-3.564h-.509c-.454 0-.672.273-.745.636H1.09a2.89 2.89 0 0 1-.091-.69c0-.473.2-1.71 1.527-1.71V7.691c0-1.073-.709-1.127-.709-2.054 0-1.037.982-2 2.782-2.637l.164.145c-.6.291-1.09.655-1.09 1.437 0 1.2 1.163.89 1.163 2.782v.727l2.127-2.236 2.237 2.2 2.109-2.2 2.036 2v6.728l-3.745 3.455zm11.108-9.625l-1.073-.982-.964 1.018v6.6c.855.11 1.491.4 2.019.964l.018-.018V8.413zm-2.382.418l-.528.545v10.237l.528.492V8.83zm1.49 9.055c-.308-.382-.69-.709-1.145-.836v3.782l-.036.018-1-.927-2.11 1.945-.036-.018V16.96c-.636.145-1.327.545-1.854 1.2l-.146-.091c.127-1.4.818-2.436 2-2.837v-3.545h-.382c-.527 0-.89.363-.963.763h-.219c-.054-.145-.127-.381-.127-.836 0-.891.6-1.564 1.582-1.564h.11V8.085l-.655-.582-.51.51-.254-.237 2.018-2.073 1.71 1.564V9.05l.527-.564v-2.09h.345v1.727l2.273-2.419L23 7.576v7.91l-3.182 2.4z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg><span class="mr-xs ml-xs gray-darkt flex ems-center">Get the full experience.<span class="ml-xs subs-theme blue">Choose your plan</span></span><svg class="ntent-box" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" xmlns=" style="fill:#166dfc" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>ArrowRight</tle><path d="M7.664 1.25l6 6a1 1 0 010 1.414l-6 6L6.25 13.25 10.499 9H2V7h8.585L6.25 2.664 7.664 1.25z" fill-le="nonzero"></path></svg></a><div data-orientatn="horizontal" role="separator" class="wpds-c-dbVHzF wpds-c-dbVHzF-hDkAcj-variant-flt"></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><a href=" target=_blank>This week, </a>Tennsee was set to bee<b> </b>the first state to enforce wi-rangg rtrictns<b> </b>on drag performanc while nearly a dozen<a href=" target=_blank> other stat nsir siar bills</a>, before a feral judge <a href=" target=_blank>temporarily blocked</a> the law.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Sce 2015, Tennsee has enacted at least 13 laws that rtrict LGBTQ rights — the most the natn that time ame, acrdg to<b> </b>a Washgton Post analysis of data om two groups that <a href=" target=_blank>track such legislatn. </a>Geia and Arkansas enacted at least ne siar laws the same time ame, followed by Alabama wh six laws.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">This year has seen a particularly rapid acceleratn efforts by GOP-ntrolled legislatur across the untry to pass bills targetg transgenr rights, wh more legislatn troduced sce January than all of 2018-2022, acrdg to a Post analysis of ACLU data.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">This week alone, Kansas lawmakers overro the Democratic ernor’s veto to ban transgenr women and girls om sports teams, North Dakota Republins approved a <a href=" target=_blank>package of eight bills</a> that would severely rtrict transgenr rints and ban drag shows, and Idaho’s ernor signed a ban on genr-affirmg health re for transgenr youth.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But even amid the current flurry of legislatn, Tennsee stands out the tempo and severy of s legislatn. The state passed three separate transgenr bathroom bills recent years, wh a one-of-a kd measure 2021 that required bs to hang warng signs outsi rtrooms if they allowed transgenr patrons to e bathrooms different om their sex assigned at birth.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The Tennsee legislature’s GOP majory monstrated s power and willgns to quash liberal ristance aga this week when voted to expel a Democratic lawmaker the wake of his gun ntrol protts after a mass killg at a Nashville school.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">GOP legislators have broadly said the laws rtrictg LGBTQ rights are aimed to protect children, an argument they echoed when the drag show rtrictns were passed and signed last month.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I’ve seen vios of sexually graphic performanc where children are prent, and is absolutely spible,” state Senate Majory Lear Jack Johnson said a statement after the drag bill was signed. “This is a mon-sense protectn that provis clary regardg what performanc are not appropriate for children.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Crics say Republins are tryg to ph boundari on an issue that they believe ronat wh their base. The bills have also gaed promence and polil tractn as nservative activist groups and media figur have reloted to the state recent years, keepg gay and trans rights as a top prry for lawmakers.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It has bee a social issu arms race for the GOP Tennsee,” said Kent Syler, a polil science profsor at Middle Tennsee State Universy. “It’s a wng formula that has helped Republins w primari. So, they keep returng to , which means they have to top what they did last ssn wh somethg more extreme.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Democrats and activists argue that the foc on rtrictg LGBTQ rights has distracted om more prsg issu and<b> </b>acce top Republins of hypocrisy. Gov. Bill Lee (R) faced phback for signg the anti-drag bill after a high school yearbook photo emerged showg him a cheerlear uniform and wig — an cint Lee said was not equivalent to the drag shows targeted by the bill. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, meanwhile, apologized after g his Instagram acunt to make flirtat ments on racy photos of men.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“The only ws wh the bills are the polil ws for a very small handful of people,” said state Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D). “It’s prsg and vastatg. It weighs on you heavily when you n’t beat this stuff back.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In a state where Republins<b> </b>ntrol the legislature and the ernor’s mansn, though, opponents have had ltle succs ristg a movement that shows no sign of slowg down.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">This year, 27 bills seekg to rtrict LGBTQ rights<b> </b>were troduced Tennsee — a historic high. Th far, two have passed and seven are still alive mte, acrdg to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocy group that tracks the bills.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“This is the year that thgs me crashg down Tennsee,” said Sarah Warbelow, legal director of the group. “We’ve seen a number of anti-LGBTQ bills past years, but this year they were troduced earlier than ever, are more extreme and have grown number.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-lgmod" id="YS5IBFAJKBH4VCK6YD2Q46KRUA"><div>An latg movement</div></h3></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Tennsee lawmakers and voters have long backed tight rtrictns on LGBTQ rights.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The state passed an anti-sodomy law 1829 that held until was overturned 1996. And 2006, 81 percent of voters backed a same-sex marriage ban that had been approved by the legislature.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">A new wave of measur targetg LGBTQ rights started about 15 years ago, acrdg to lawmakers and lobbyists the state.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“There are two thgs that really dispted polics Tennsee over the past -pl, and that was the electn of Barack Obama and the Supreme Court’s lg on <i>Obergefell</i> [<i>v. Hodg</i>], which sent shock wav through the state,” said Tom Lee, a longtime lobbyist the state who reprents the Tennsee Pri Chamber, referencg the 2015 lg that legalized same-sex marriage natnally.<b> </b>(Lee is not related to the ernor.)</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">After the <i>Obergefell</i> lg nullified Tennsee’s same-sex marriage ban, Republin legislators sought new ways to lim gay rights.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">They passed<b> </b>bills the followg year allowg mental health profsnals, cludg school and substance abe unselors, to turn down LGBTQ clients if nflicts wh their “scerely held prcipl” or “relig beliefs” — even s where people<b> </b>are at risk of harmg themselv or others. The bills me rponse to the Amerin Counselg Associatn’s 2014 update of s ethics , which requir unselors natnwi to provi re regardls of a person’s genr inty<b> </b>or sexual orientatn.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“The legislature said, ‘Not so fast,’” said Chris Sanrs, executive director of the Tennsee Equaly Project, an LGBTQ advocy group. “‘No, you n ed turn people away.’”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In the next six years, 10 other laws were enacted that affect gay and transgenr rights. Those clu the state’s bathroom bill and a law that allows child placement agenci, which ntract wh the state, to refe assistg wh adoptn or foster re placement wh LGBTQ<b> </b>parents and guardians.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><a href=" target=_blank>As GOP lawmakers natnwi</a> have begun sponsorg hundreds of new measur recent years to rce protectns for transgenr or gay youth or to lim discsns of LGBTQ topics public schools, that trend accelerated Tennsee.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The 27 bills targetg LGBTQ rights troduced this year Tennsee clu<b> </b>the drag bill, which bans “adult baret performanc” public or ont of children and blocks the shows om wh 1,000 feet of public parks, schools and plac of worship. Lawmakers this year also passed a law prohibg people unr 18 om receivg any genr transng medil treatments, which is set to go to effect on July 1.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The new boom bills targetg gay rights has been driven part by<b> </b>nservative media outlets and far-right podsters who have kept prsure on legislators to prrize the issu.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Matt Walsh, a nservative pund wh 1.5 ln Twter followers and an fluential podst<b>, </b>moved to Tennsee 2020. He’s anized<b> </b>a private screeng of his anti-transgenr rights film for GOP lawmakers and prompted the state’s attorney general to vtigate Vanrbilt Universy’s transgenr health clic. Walsh, who didn’t rpond to requts for ment, was ved by Republin lawmakers to ttify before a legislative mtee January on the transgenr health-re ban.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Matt Walsh and other nservative mentators appear to be servg as nsultants to the legislature about transgenr re; people wh no medil background,” said Kathy Sback,<b> </b>executive director of the ACLU of Tennsee.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Walsh’s efforts echo those of other nservative media the state, cludg recently found outlets like the Tennsee Star and Tennsee Conservative and polil advocy group Tennsee Stands, whose executive director — Gary Humble — has played a notable role prsg GOP lawmakers further right on culture war issu. In last year’s Republin primary, Humble me wh about 800 vot of beatg Johnson, a 16-year cumbent and lear of the senate. Johnson then moved this year to bee a lead sponsor on the drag show and genr-affirmg re bans.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“He has really phed people to the g,” state Sen. Rmh Akbari (D) said of Humble, who cled an terview requt. “After Johnson nearly lost to him, he started sponsorg the bills. ... Learship is now behd the bills. That wasn’t the se before.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Johnson cled an terview requt. Instead, his spokperson emailed news releas issued after the ernor signed the drag and transgenr bills on March 2, which the senate lear ld by sayg, “In Tennsee we prrize protectg children.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Some<b> </b>lawmakers heargs have also echoed the rhetoric of the state’s fluential nservative punds.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Maybe there are children listeng and you may not know, or you may not thk you know what you are,” state Rep. Pl Sherrell (R) said at a legislative hearg last month about the transgenr health-re ban. “Our preacher would say: ‘If you don’t know what you are, a boy or girl, male or female, jt go the bathroom and take your cloth off and look the mirror. You’ll fd out what you are.’”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Evangelil Christian anizatns have also helped craft legislatn, ttified favor of the bills and rallied their members to petn state lawmakers to support the measur. The Fay Actn Council of Tennsee, a nservative advocy anizatn led by former state senator David Fowler, helped wre at least two of the bills targetg gay rights that have bee law Tennsee sce 2015, acrdg to lawmakers, advot and Fowler’s blog posts.<b> </b>He also succsfully lobbied on many other<b> </b>laws rtrictg LGBTQ rights.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In 2017, Fowler helped wre a bill that beme law, which, acrdg to LGBTQ advot, keeps same-sex upl om havg the same legal rights as straight upl fay urt and other legal proceedgs. After the bill passed, Fowler wrote a blog post that the law was need bee judg are phg a “gay agenda” their cisns.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In 2021, Fowler lobbied and told media he provid “legal wordsmhg” for a law banng transgenr stunt-athlet om playg on sports teams that don’t align wh their sex assigned at birth. Last year, he worked wh lawmakers on legislatn to create a legal marriage regnn available only to straight upl, which did not pass.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">A Pew Rearch Center <a href=" target=_blank>study</a> shows 52 percent of Tennseans intify as evangelil Christians, while another Pew study found that evangelils are send only to Jehovah’s Wns their lack of support for LGBTQ rights.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Gerrymanrg<b> </b>has helped keep nservativ ntrol of the legislature and has centivized ndidat to foc on nservative policy posns to w primari, polil observers said. Republins have also <a href=" target=_blank>taken aim this year at the cy of Nashville</a>, troducg<b> </b>bills and lnchg vtigatns that would dimish the power of the Democratilly-ntrolled cy ernment. The actns, which took place after the cy voted last year agast a proposal to host the 2024 Republin Natnal Conventn,<b> </b>clu shrkg the size of s Metropolan Council as well as efforts to change electn laws ways that uld make harr for Democrats to w mayoral electns.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Republins have also passed a number of laws that make votg more difficult for groups tradnally cled to vote Democratic<b>,</b> cludg Black and young Tennseans, acrdg to polil scientists and the League of Women Voters of Tennsee. Debby Gould, print of the nonpartisan votg rights group, said a bundle of state laws have ma<b> </b> nearly impossible for ex-felons to vote, creatg<b> </b>an outsize impact on Black Tennseans. <a href=" target=_blank>One 12 people Tennsee</a> are former felons, and nearly half of them are Black, Gould said.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Democrats have also failed to advance bills<b> </b>allowg stunts attendg public lleg to vote wh their stunt IDs, which Republins argue are not secure. State law, however, already allows faculty at public lleg to e their mp intifitn rds.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“They have created so many hurdl, pecially for young people, who this type of discrimatory legislatn is not aimed to attract,” said Clemmons. “Rather, is aimed at a small populatn of olr people who vote the Republin primari.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As the Tennsee legislature approach the end of this year’s ssn, which clos May 4, several bills targetg transgenr rights<b> </b>are still viable, cludg a private school<b> </b><a href=" target="_blank">anti-trans sports ban</a> and another that would allow teachers to refe to refer to transgenr or nonbary stunts by their preferred pronouns.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But some activists say public prsure uld stem further actn. Last month, as a Senate mtee nsired a send, more rtrictive anti-drag bill, a group of Nashville mic stars held an LGBTQ rights benef ncert blocks om the pol that drew more than 10,000 people.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As drag queens flood the stage, billboard chart-toppg artists like Sheryl Crow and Maren<b> </b>Morris embraced the performers and cricized the law.<b> </b>“I troduced my son to some drag queens today. So, Tennsee, f---g arrt me,” Morris told the crowd a moment that went viral on social media.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Hours later, the drag bill died whout bate.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I don’t thk we should unrtimate the power this ncert had at the pol the followg day,” said Lee, the longtime lobbyist. “It was noticed.”</p></div><div class="PJLV PJLV-ibHxfFu-css flex mt-md tt overriStyl"><div class="mb-lg-mod" data-qa="ments-btn-div"><button aria-label="Scroll to the ments sectn" data-qa="ments-btn" class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left ments hi-for-prt"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp "><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg><span class="ral-unt unfed" data-ral-notext="te"></span> Comments</button></div><div class="wpds-c-dXjReQ"><button id="gift-share-shortcut" class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-nsy-pact wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left hi-for-prt ml-sm"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-dJBvpf "><path d="M10.73 5h.14a1.75 1.75 0 0 0 1-2.25 1.83 1.83 0 0 0-.51-.75 1.72 1.72 0 0 0-1.48-.35 1.76 1.76 0 0 0-1.2.94L8 3.93l-.68-1.4A1.76 1.76 0 0 0 4 3.59 1.74 1.74 0 0 0 5.13 5H2v4h1v5h10V9h1V5ZM9.58 3a.77.77 0 0 1 .51-.4h.17a.73.73 0 0 1 .47.17.72.72 0 0 1 .27.71.72.72 0 0 1-.48.58l-1.77.66ZM5 3.43a.72.72 0 0 1 .27-.71.73.73 0 0 1 .47-.17h.17a.77.77 0 0 1 .51.4l.83 1.7L5.48 4A.74.74 0 0 1 5 3.43ZM3 6h4.5v2H3Zm1 3h3.5v4H4Zm4.5 4V9H12v4ZM13 8H8.5V6H13Z" data-name="Path 10"></path></svg><span class="wpds-c-iSKIAI">Gift this article</span>Gift Article</button></div></div><div></div><div></div><sectn class="dn-ns hi-for-prt" data-ttid="mostRead" subscriptns-sectn="ntent"><div data-ttid="lazy-most-read-parent" class=""><div style="m-height:800px"></div></div></sectn><div class="wpds-c-hsVKiV"><div data-qa="newsletter" class="hi-for-prt relative"><div class="dib w-100"><div><div class="flex jtify-center align self-center center transn-all duratn-400 ease--out" data-qa="sc-newsletter-signup" aria-label=""><svg aria-labelledby="react-aria-1-aria" role="img" viewBox="0 0 100 80"><tle id="react-aria-1-aria">Loadg... .

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