Tennessee took a huge step backwards for human rights this week when Governor Bill Haslam signed a bill into law that bans cities from creating anti-discrimination policies that are stricter than state anti-discrimination law.
The city affected is Nashville, which bans discrimination on the basis of sexual identity or gender expression. It is not illegal to discriminate against citizens on the basis of sexual identity or gender expression in the state of Tennessee, so the new, anti-gay law makes Nashville’s ban void.
Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese released a statement about the new law on Monday night: “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, Gov. Haslam has put discrimination ahead of the state’s values and even business interests by signing this horrible legislation.”
Governor Bill Haslam can be contacted here: bill.haslam@tn.gov