It’s been a big week for anti-gay political moves across the country, and it’s only Tuesday. In Tennessee and Minnesota, political figures have rolled back LGBT rights or are taking the preliminary steps to do so.
The past few months in Tennessee have been a tumultuous ride for official policies on LGBT protections. At the beginning of April, Nashville Metro Council passed a non-discrimination measure that banned companies doing business with the metro area from discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation. Last week, however, the ordinance was voted down by the state Senate, reasoning that nondiscrimination clauses should be uniform throughout the state. Yesterday, Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Haslam, approved the decision, which officially overturned the Metro Council’s non-discrimination measure. The measure also prohibits cities and counties in the state from approving any new measures to prohibit LGBT discrimination.
The Human Rights Campaign responded with strong opposition to the news. The organization’s president, Joe Solmonese, said:
Discrimination should have no place in the Volunteer State and the Chamber’s opposition to this law sent a strong signal that corporations are on the leading edge of positive change. In contrast Governor Haslam has put discrimination ahead of the state’s values and even business interests by signing this horrible legislation.
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This development comes right on the heels of a bill approved in Tennessee to ban any mention of homosexuality in the state’s schools. The bill, referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” measure, passed in the state Senate on Friday. It looks like an instance of clear, unnecessary discrimination, especially since the Tennessee school system already prohibits sexual education until high school.
Meanwhile, last Saturday Minnesota advanced a measure in the state legislature that approves a ballot initiative for the November 2012 election, allowing voters to add a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
The decision inspired the formation of a new organization, Minnesotans United for All Families, which is committed to learning from the mistakes of the “No on 8” campaign from 2008’s Proposition 8 in California. Donald McFarland, spokesperson for the advocacy group, explained the organization’s early plans:
In 2012, Minnesota will vote “NO” on this anti-family ballot question. In Minnesota, we treat others like we want to be treated. Our campaign is hitting the ground running and we plan on using every resource available to defeat this anti-family constitutional amendment.
These anti-gay measures are part of the exhausting battle for gay rights that’s been waged over the past decade. It’s surprising and disappointing that, even after public opinion polls have indicated a shift toward greater support for gay rights, we’re still seeing the introduction and passage of these backward bills and laws.