Tennessee Democrats’ present vote on anti-Transgender bill is dangerous complacency | Opinion – Tennessean
- Blake Kitterman is an ambassador & speaker for the nationwide Title IX activist group End Rape On Campus.
The inevitability of the passage of House Bill 0003, dubiously entitled part of the “Slate of Hate” legislation introduced by anti-LGBTQ+ equality legislators, struck such a profound disappointment in the state I call home.
As a gay student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, I endured the federal government’s rescission of protections for LGBTQ+ students under Title IX.
The point at which attacks on my community reached the state legislature, I expected, and demanded protection from my own Democratic caucus.
Explain to me, Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis, why you voted “present” on legislation that would ban my trans siblings from equal protection under the law?
Followed by State Reps. Jesse Chism, London Lamar, Sam McKenzie, and Johnny Shaw, silenced prevailed as the House Bill was sent to the Governor Bill Lee’s office for signature and execution. As reported by the TN Holler, Rep. Lamar, D-Memphis, justified her assailing of the LGBTQ+ community as having “Strong science to support [her] decision.”
Here’s the science, Rep. Lamar. Trans students represent roughly 3% of our school systems, yet have a 35% attempted suicide rate. 65% of these real, breathing humans have reported falling victim to verbal harassment in our school systems, while 60% reported being denied access to restrooms. It is evident that we have a trans issue, but it is not their involvement in our sports, it’s their capacity to live like you and I.
Hear more Tennessee Voices:Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.
Voting “Present” never saved a trans child’s life.
It did not save Angel Unique, a Memphis-native and black trans woman, who was murdered in October 2020. And this bill will not save the vulnerable trans students who deserve to be normalized and provided equal opportunity.
By remaining complacent on human rights violations, my leaders fed a beast of violence that thrives on diminishing and destroying trans existence.
Camper most recently released a statement affirming her support of LGBTQ+ issues, but the proof is in the pudding. There is no dignity nor courage in the actions of leaders who betray their responsibility to serve and protect all Tennesseans.
I have seen too many faces of abused trans children, too many obituaries of LGBTQ+ persons, to have the audacity to say nothing.
At least for the trans students who are incapable of living true to their existence, I won’t forget that “Present” vote.
Blake Kitterman is an ambassador & speaker for the nationwide Title IX activist group End Rape On Campus. From 2017-2019, Kitterman served as the Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Young Democrats, under now-Representative London Lamar as President.