Washington County Democratic Party Denounces ‘Slate of Hate’ Legislation
April 1, 2023, marked a dark day for Tennesseans as the law that curbs the rights to free speech and personal expression for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community was to be effective. This law is now under a temporary judicial hold until May 26. Under false, fear-mongering, and divisive pretenses, Gov. Bill Lee, who himself performed in drag in his youth, signed this law along with another that denies bodily autonomy to trans youth (which is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023). Both laws specifically attack the LGBTQ+ community as part of the Tennessee Republican Party’s Slate of Hate legislation, and violate freedom of expression and First Amendment rights in Tennessee.
“These laws are cruel and unjust, they target minorities, and they are part of a broader pre-presidential election tactic designed to instill fear and use children as pawns for political gains by the Republican Party,” said Sylvain Bruni, Chair of the Washington County Democratic Party (WCDP). “We will not stay silent. We will advocate with every ounce of our energy to protect LGBTQ+ people and uphold their rights. We will not go back in the closet!”
WCDP’s non-partisan Forum on Diversity and Inclusion in Appalachia, held January 10, 2023, demonstrated the progress made toward equality and belonging for minority populations and vulnerable communities. The Forum also highlighted the imminent dangers of this hateful and unjust legislation pushed in Nashville.
We invite members of the public to call their legislators and advocate against the further erosion of the rights of Tennesseans:
- Call Representative Alexander’s office at (615) 741-2251
- Call Representative Hicks’ office at (615) 741-1717
In seeking to defend the rights of law-abiding citizens, the Washington County Democratic Party will work tirelessly to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community is respected and protected by elected officials.
