NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- A leader in Tennessee’s gay community says some LGBTQ residents are changing their public behavior out of fear following the election of Donald Trump.
Chris Sanders heads the Tennessee Equality Project.
“I’m hearing from same sex couples that they’re more hesitant to hold hands with their spouse in public because of this,” Sanders said.
Sanders says some couples have told him they’ve even stopped sitting close together in public. He says the fear level increased after a November 5 incident in Putnam County. A transgender woman living in Cookeville had the name “Trump” spray painted on her truck and then the vehicle was set on fire in the middle of the night.
Sander’s says his organization is gearing up to resist new attempts he expects Tennessee legislators will soon launch in an effort to curb the rights of LGBTQ individuals.
“We’ve been meeting with clergy around the state who will be allies for us. We have three days on the Hill planned for next year. So we’re gonna fight very hard when the General Assembly convenes,” he explained.
Just one example, Sanders says he expects Mt. Juliet Republican Rep. Susan Lynn to revive a bill that would prevent transgender students from using the school restroom or locker room that matches their gender identities.
The bill sparked some fierce debate on Capitol Hill earlier this year, including this exchange between ACLU Director Hedy Weinberg and former Rep. Rick Womick over the federal definition of gender.
(WOMICK) “Title IX doesn’t say ‘gender identity,’ it says ‘gender.’ (WEINBERG) “But that’s not how it’s…” (WOMICK) “But you interpret it as gender identity.” (WEINBERG) “No. ACLU does not interpret it. That’s the way it’s been interpreted by the Department of Education and others.”
Chris Sanders says a Donald Trump, Mike Pence administration will likely interpret federal regulations very differently.
Rep Lynn insisted that her bill was intended to protect the rights of all students, but she withdrew the measure under intense pressure. She promised to reintroduce the measure in the legislative session that begins in January.