First Horizon National Corporation, which owns First Tennessee, has agreed to add sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to their EEO Policy. They recently added domestic partner benefits as well. First Tennessee joins a growing list of companies in the Volunteer State which have added both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to their non-discrimination policies.
First Horizon of Memphis, which has more than 13,000 employees in more than 40 states, provides financial services through hundreds of offices, notified the New York City Comptroller that it will amend its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to add an "express prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity."
"The Board of Directors has approved the amendment and delegated authority to management to revise policies, guidelines, procedures and publications to include a prohibition against such discrimination," First Horizon said in a letter to the New York City Comptroller's office. "Management will also include in its Equal Opportunity Policy and employee publications a prohibition against such discrimination."
"First Horizon is an integral part of the economy in Tennessee. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT)employees have been a part of the company since that time. We feel it is important that their contributions to the company and the community are now being recognized," said Dr. Marisa Richmond, president of The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC).
Members of TTPC applauded First Horizon for adding both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to its non-discrimination policy and the organization encourages other companies, along with the State of Tennessee and the United States government, to recognize the contributions of all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons by adopting non discrimination language covering sexual orientation and gender identity or expression
TTPC is an organization designed to educate and advocate on behalf of transgender related legislation at the federal, state and local levels. TTPC is dedicated to raising public awareness and building alliances with other organizations concerned with equal rights legislation.
