State of Tennessee Archives: on Civil Rights
ACLU:
Fight to defend Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling
Nearly four years after the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal throughout the US, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee introduced a bill aimed at banning gay marriage in the state. The "Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act," which was first
proposed in 2016, seeks to "defend natural marriage between one man and one woman regardless of any court decision to the contrary."One obstacle is the state's LGBTQ community and its allies, who banded together in 2017 to prevent the bill's
passage. "Tennesseans who are in committed same-sex relationships simply want to be treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else," the executive director of the ACLU in Tennessee, said. "A handful of state legislators cannot nullify the
law of the land and drive our state backward simply because they wish to discriminate. The ACLU of Tennessee, along with many partners, will be working hard to defeat this narrow-minded, blatantly unconstitutional legislation."
Source: NBC News on Tennessee voting record SD-022
Feb 12, 2019
Bill Haslam:
Remove Confederate statues from state capitol
Nathan Bedford Forrest's bust in the state capitol has become particularly controversial. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says the monument to the Confederate general turned Ku Klux Klan leader should be removed, that Forrest doesn't
deserve "honor at the Capitol." Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., disagrees."I don't think that we should begin removing all the history that our children will learn by, I think we have to leave history to be history and let it be a lesson."
Source: Washington Examiner on 2018 Tennessee gubernatorial race
Aug 22, 2017
Carnita Atwater:
Time for African-American female governor: embrace diversity
Atwater, a native of Mississippi and a longtime resident of West Tennessee, said this is her first run for political office. "Not in the history of our nation have we ever had an African American female governor,"
Atwater said. "We have never had an
Source: Columbia Daily Herald on 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Sep 24, 2021
David Kustoff:
Marriage is between a man and a woman
Standing for West Tennessee Values: I will always fight for the West Tennessee values we so strongly believe in.
I believe life begins at conception, I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and I believe we have an unequivocal constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
Source: 2016 Tennessee House campaign website KustoffForCongress.com
Nov 8, 2016
Diane Black:
Confederate statues are part of history
Nathan Bedford Forrest's bust in the state capitol has become particularly controversial. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says the monument to the Confederate general turned Ku Klux Klan leader should be removed, that Forrest doesn't
deserve "honor at the Capitol." Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., disagrees."I don't think that we should begin removing all the history that our children will learn by, I think we have to leave history to be history and let it be a lesson."
Source: Washington Examiner on 2018 Tennessee gubernatorial race
Aug 22, 2017
Gordon Ball:
Pro-gay rights
Both Adams and Ball are in sync with contemporary Democrats on issues like women's rights and support for gays.
Both are for raising the minimum wage and for expansion of Medicaid and protection of Medicare and Social Security from privatization schemes.
Source: Memphis Flyer on 2014 Tennessee Senate race
Aug 6, 2014
James Mackler:
Fight for LGBT rights
Politics and religion have long been the rivals of the LGBT community. The two have even been known to team up against the community, but thanks to people like James and Shana Mackler, some political and religious realms are working alongside
those fighting for LGBT rights. The Macklers have both been fighting for equality for quite some time now. Both grew up being taught important principles such as service, justice, and compassion, which bled over into their professional lives.
Source: Out & About Nashville on 2018 Tennessee Senate race
Jun 7, 2018
Jason Martin:
We need to protect our LGBTQIA+ Tennesseans
One of the primary responsibilities of government is to protect those who need protecting and provide a voice to those who feel silenced. We need to make sure that we protect our LGBTQIA+ Tennesseans. These hard working, integral
members of our communities have often been silenced and marginalized, and under my administration I will make sure that they are valued and heard. There is more than one type of family, and they all have love.
Source: 2022 Tennessee Governor campaign website MartinForTN.com
Aug 7, 2022
JB Smiley:
Raise the bar for marginalized communities, not only Blacks
Smiley pointed out that the issues aren't limited to race and are often mirrored in other marginalized communities. "If we figure out how to raise the bar for marginalized communities, we are speaking to not only Black people but also to a lot of rural
Tennesseans," he said. "The issues in Black communities will be the issues in other marginalized communities or rural communities that have been forgotten about."
Source: Tri-State Defender on 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Oct 14, 2021
Karl Dean:
First in Tennessee to join Mayors for the Freedom to Marry
Tennessee may have the distinction of having the first judge to rule in favor of a same-sex marriage ban, but it also now has the mayor from its capital city announcing support for same-sex marriage.Nashville Mayor Karl Dean became the state's first
mayor to join the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry campaign, a coalition of around 500 mayors "who are making the case for marriage for same-sex couples in their communities," according to a release from the campaign earlier today.
The campaign now boasts at least one mayor from every Southern state.
"I believe that all people should be treated fairly and equally and that their individual dignity should be respected," said Nashville Mayor
Karl Dean in a statement. "Embracing and celebrating our growing diversity makes our city stronger. Nashville needs to continue in that direction, and it's my hope that joining this effort will help us do that."
Source: Memphis Flyer on 2018 Tennessee governor race
Aug 21, 2014
Lamar Alexander:
Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act: heal ugly scars of the past
Alexander introduced the Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, which would establish a special section within the Department of Justice and a new FBI office to investigate these cases to bring the guilty to justice."This bill should help to heal some of
the ugly scars of the past," said Alexander. "It reminds us that equal opportunity is at the front of our goals in the United States of America, and we'll work long and hard to try to achieve those goals.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2010 Tennessee Senate incumbents
Oct 4, 2008
Mark E. Green:
Overturn Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling
Nearly four years after the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal throughout the U.S., Republican lawmakers in Tennessee introduced a bill aimed at banning gay marriage in the state. The "Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act," which was first
proposed in 2016, seeks to "defend natural marriage between one man and one woman regardless of any court decision to the contrary." The bill, which was reintroduced this week, would deem the Supreme Court's decision in
Obergefell v. Hodges "unauthoritative, void, and of no effect."Mark E. Green co-sponsored the 2017 equivalent bill, SD-022, on 3/15/2017, also entitled the "Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act" which states the policy of
Tennessee to defend natural marriage between one man and one woman regardless of any court decision to the contrary.
Legislative outcome: No vote in 2017; reintroduced in 2019.
Source: NBC News on Tennessee voting record SD-022
Feb 12, 2019
Marquita Bradshaw:
Against overturning rights, especially of LGBTQ+
I won't vote for any judicial nominees who want to turn back the clock on anyone's rights, especially the LGBTQ+ community. Being deprived of housing, jobs, and healthcare because of your gender identity or sexual orientation - that is a death sentence.
I am committed to serving all hardworking families with common-sense policies of transparency and accountability-dignity and fairness for all.
Source: 2020 Tennessee Senate campaign website MarquitaBradshaw.com
Aug 26, 2020
Marquita Bradshaw:
Calling for unity without addressing racism is a band-aid
Calling for unity without addressing racism will be a band-aid on a wound that needs 400 years of stitches in the American fabric. No more band-aid fixes. Hold this space of dissonance of publicly demonstrating so we can get justice for all.
Understanding that making policies to address racism is an investment in moving to have justice in police accountability, the criminal justice system, the health care system, the environment, the green new infrastructure, and the economic system.
Source: Sierra Club 2020 Tennessee Senate endorsement
Jun 19, 2020
Marsha Blackburn:
Let people of faith withhold services to gay couples
Q: Can businesses withhold services to same-sex couples?Marsha Blackburn (R): Yes. "People of faith should be free to practice their beliefs."
Phil Bredesen (D): No. Gay people should not be subjected to indignities when seeking goods and services in an open market.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Tennessee Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Phil Bredesen:
Disallow withholding services to same-sex couples
Q: Can businesses withhold services to same-sex couples?Marsha Blackburn (R): Yes. "People of faith should be free to practice their beliefs."
Phil Bredesen (D): No. Gay people should not be subjected to indignities when seeking goods and services in an open market.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Tennessee Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Terry Adams:
Pro-gay rights
Both Adams and Ball are in sync with contemporary Democrats on issues like women's rights and support for gays.
Both are for raising the minimum wage and for expansion of Medicaid and protection of Medicare and Social Security from privatization schemes.
Source: Memphis Flyer on 2014 Tennessee Senate race
Aug 6, 2014
Gloria Johnson:
Disgusted with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Tennessee
She's also disgusted with how the State house has attacked the LGBTQ+ community. "Arguably, we're more anti-LGBTQ+ than any other state, passing something like 24 bills against the queer community so far. Just this week, we passed an anti-trans
sports bill. It shouldn't be up to a bunch of white men deciding who should participate in high school and college sports, it should be up to the sports authorities, like the NCAA, to decide the rules, not us," she stated emphatically.
Source: The Advocate on 2024 Tennessee Senate race
Apr 24, 2023
Gloria Johnson:
Don't define "sex" as immutably determined at birth
SB1440: For purposes of interpreting the meaning of the word "sex" throughout present law, except in statutes where the context otherwise requires, this bill defines "sex" as a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics
existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person's biological sex.Human Rights Campaign press release March 13, 2023 (opinion for voting NO): Let's be clear: the goal of this bill is to exclude the
LGBTQ+ community from nondiscrimination protections in the state of Tennessee and to perpetuate a false narrative of who transgender people are.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 27-6-0 on Mar/13/23; passed House 71-21-7 on Apr/21/23; State Rep. Gloria Johnson voted NO; Signed by Governor Bill Lee on May/17/23
Source: H.R.C. on Tennessee State Legislature voting records SB1440
Apr 21, 2023
Marsha Blackburn:
Enforce Court decision ending college affirmative action
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court struck a blow against institutionally-driven racism in the United States. In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College, the Supreme Court found [that colleges with affirmative action admissions] were
impermissibly discriminating against certain applicants based exclusively on their race.While the Court took a big step forward in eliminating racial discrimination in admissions, more work remains to be done. In his remarks in the wake of the
landmark decision, President Biden proposed "a new standard, where colleges take into account the adversity a student has overcome, including racial discrimination that individuals have faced in their own lives."
We call upon the Biden administration
to embrace the Court's holdings: racial discrimination [does not] have any place in schooling. The American people deserve no less than an Executive Branch committed to enforcing the law equally to all people without concern for their race.
Source: Sen. Ernst press release: for 2024 Tennessee Senate race
Sep 12, 2023
Bill Hagerty:
Voted against bill protecting same-sex marriage
Tennessee senators attempt to block marriage equality bill: "The Supreme Court has already ordered what this bill seeks to accomplish. Rather, it provides new avenues to exploit for litigation and government enforcement actions against Americans for
genuinely-held religious beliefs in the traditional definition of marriage. The bill's failure to adequately protect religious liberties is magnified by the Biden Administration's track record of using government power to target its political opponents."
Source: WKRN, "Marriage Equality," on 2026 Tennessee Senate race
Nov 16, 2025
Marsha Blackburn:
DEI has been co-opted by the radical Left
DEI is an initiative that has been co-opted by the radical Left to lead Americans to believe it will reduce discrimination and quell bias. Senator Blackburn introduced two measures to make the U.S. military less "woke" by ensuring our military is
focused on combating Communist China rather than accommodating servicemembers' neopronouns, along with preventing military children from being indoctrinated by Department of Defense teachers. Yet, Senate Democrats blocked these measures.
Source: Senate press release "Wokeness":2026 Tennessee governor race
Aug 21, 2025
Marsha Blackburn:
Urged NCAA to ban transgender athletes from women's sports
22 U.S. Senators sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker urging him to update its student-athlete policy to ban transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. The senators wrote: "Amid the Biden-Harris administration's unprecedented
assault on Title IX, we write to urge the National Collegiate Athletic Association to update your student-athlete participation policy to require that only biologically female students participate in women's sports."The NCAA updated its policy in
2022 on transgender athletes, aligning itself with Olympic standard. The NCAA requires transgender athletes to give documentation that meets sports standards for testosterone levels at three points in time:
- Prior to any competition during the
regular season;
- Prior to the first competition in an NCAA championship event; and
- Prior to any competition in the non-championship segment.
A CNN report estimates there are fewer than 40 transgender athletes among more than 500,000 athletes.
Source: CBS-2-Iowa's Tyler Downey on 2026 Tennessee Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026