Most of the committee hearings listed below were postponed to next week, which means there is more time to make your calls and write your letters. Keep in mind that the Senate is more conservative than the House, so there is a better chance of persuading House members than Senate members. Also, House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh has the power to influence many of his colleagues if and when he decides to do so. Everyone should contact Naifeh and urge him to take a stand against "bad public policy".
Naifeh has repeatedly referred to the proposed same-sex marriage ban as "bad public policy", yet he has refused to wield his considerable power against bad public policy. He needs you to tell him to do the responsible thing. Contact him: 615.741.3774 speaker.jimmy.naifeh@legislature.state.tn.us
Tips for making phone calls from a TN Guerilla Womyn:
"It felt good to make the calls to legislators yesterday. I did all 25 in less than an hour. I used the terms 'bigotry' and 'backward' and 'which does not attract new business to the state of TN because people want to live in more open-minded cultures'. I reminded them that there was a time that blacks and whites could not get married.
The people I talked to were very polite. They took my name and/or phone number/address. REP. Joe Armstrong's office aid said that she would start a 'no' list which means that they need more calls - his number is 741-0768."
Email them this letter from the Tennessean:
State's problems don't include gays adopting
To the Editor:
I cannot be the only one struck by contrasts of the lead story Feb. 20: ''State may not let gays adopt kids in its care,'' and the back page, Local section: ''Couple accused of abusing children ran Christian school near Knoxville.''
It is absolutely astounding to me that our lawmakers, led by Diane Black, Doug Jackson, Jim Bryson and Frank Buck, could spend so much time on such vitriol as the unfounded condemnation of gays as parents. But it is easy to do, it is popular to do and it is apparently, at least in Tennessee, the political thing to do. After all, there are more of ''us'' than there are of ''them.''
While we wander down the road toward state financial bankruptcy because of our backward, regressive tax system; while we prepare to throw hundreds of thousands of poor and disabled off the rolls of TennCare; while our children rank at the bottom of the country in graduation rates and test scores; while thousands of our military families are on the ropes financially; we stand protected and secure against the rampant danger of gay folks. God forbid they marry and God double forbid they adopt a child and give him or her a caring, loving home environment.
Maybe, just maybe, one of these days before I die, Tennessee politicians will stop the incessant bashing of people different from them and deal with real issues affecting real people in real ways.
Robert E. Wages
Nashville 37215
List of Legislators to Contact
Please contact the following legislators as soon as possible. It is very important that you contact your legislators immediately and TELL THEM TO VOTE NO on the following bills. You can call your legislator by calling 1-800-449-8366 ext.1+ number listed below or via email at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/.
House Domestic Relations Subcommittee- Postponed to Next Week
(Was scheduled for: Tuesday, Feb. 22, 12:00- RM 29)
HB 751 by Rep. Clem- Prohibits Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships
HB 775 by Rep. Clem- Prohibits Homosexuals from Adopting
Members:
Rep. Sherry Jones (Nashville)- 2035
Rep. Tommie Brown (Chattanooga)- 4374
Rep. Jerome Cochran (Johnson City)- 7450
Rep. JoAnn Favors (Chattanooga)- 2702
Rep. Matthew Hill (Jonesborough)- 2251
Rep. Brian Kelsey (East Memphis)- 4415
Rep. Beverly Marrero (Midtown Memphis)- 9128
Rep. Debra Maggart (Hendersonville)- 3893
Rep. Mike Turner (Nashville)- 3229
Rep. Nathan Vaughn (Kingsport)- 6867
Know your extreme right-wing democrats:
''Scripturally, civil unions are an abomination under the sight of God.''
Democratic Rep. Nathan Vaughn
Senate Judiciary Committee- Postponed to Next Week
(was schedule for: Tuesday, Feb. 22, 3:30- RM 12/14)
SB 829 by Sen. Black- Prohibits Homosexuals from Adopting
SB 1615 by Sen. Bryson- Prohibits Homosexuals from Adopting
Members:
Sen. Curtis Person (East Memphis/ Germantown)- 2419
Sen. Doug Jackson (Dickson)- 4499
Sen. Tommy Kilby (Wartburg)- 1449
Sen. Steve Cohen (Midtown Memphis)- 4108
Sen. David Fowler (Signal Mountain)- 1764
Sen. Jamie Hagood (Knoxville)- 1648
Sen. Joe Haynes (Nashville/ Goodlettsville)- 6679
Sen. Jeff Miller (Cleveland)- 3794
Sen. Mark Norris (East Memphis/ Rural West Tn)- 1967
Passed: All of the House Budget Subcommittee members (listed below) voted for the marriage ban. House Budget Subcommittee- Weds., Feb. 23, 11:00- RM 29
HJR 24 by Rep. Dunn- Constitutional Amendment to define marriage
Members:
Rep. Harry Tindell (Knoxville)- 2031
Rep. Joe Armstrong (Knoxville)- 0768
Rep. Mike Harrison (Sneedville)- 7480
Rep. Steve McDaniel (Parkers Crossroads)- 0750
Rep. Bob McKee (Athens)- 1946
Rep. Kim McMillan (Clarksville)- 2043
Rep. Doug Overybey (Maryville)- 0981
Rep. Randy Rinks (Savannah)- 2007
Rep. Johnny Shaw (Bolivar)- 4538
Same-Sex Marriage Ban
May go for final Senate Vote Next Monday Evening (Feb. 28). Will also have to pass the House. If the marriage ban passes by a 2/3 majority, the civil rights of LGBT persons will be up for a vote in 2006!
SJR 31 by Sen. Miller- Constitutional Amendment to restrict marriage to different-sex couples only.
You can contact any Senator via the Legislature's homepage: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/
