Tennesse law prevents Nashville from passing ordinance protecting gender identity and sexual orientation

Details: Category: LGBT Issues; Published on Tuesday, 24 May 2011 23:05; Written by Lara Landis; Hits: 485

Tennesse Governor Bill Halsam signed a bill into law that would force municipalities in Tennessee to protect the same groups under employment statues. The new law repeals an ordinace passed by the city of Nashville that would have expanded legal protections for sexual orientation and gender idenity. Race, creed, color, religion, sex, age or national origin were already protected categories under the state's current law.

Nissan, FedEx, AT&T, Comcast, DuPont, Pfizer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Caterpillar, KPMG, Whirlpool, Embraer, Alcoa, and United HealthCare supported the bill. Supporters argued it would keep discrimination laws the same throughout all of the state, according to LGBTQ Nation. Aloca, FedEx, AT&T, KPMG, United Health Group, Whirlpool, and Comcast withdrew their support after the list of the companies supporting the measure was announced on the Americablog.

Tennessee has made it into the news recently for its support of the Don't Say Gay Bill. The Don't Say Gay Bill needs approval from the house and would limit the teaching of procreative acts to reproductive purposes only.