Tennessee Equality Project lights the way to justice

OUTvoices
20 March 2013


Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) is gearing up for what they have affectionately dubbed “Turning Point Tuesday”. First, bills including the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the discrimination in counseling, and the Dignity for All Students Act were rolled until March 26. Secondly, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments debating the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Of course, you can count on TEP to have events scheduled for the community to attend and show their support. First, the GLBT community and its allies are encouraged to wear purple to the Legislative Plaza on Tuesday starting at 3 p.m. when the House Education Subcommittee meets. For more information or to RSVP you can visit their Facebook event page.

For those who cannot make it during the afternoon, TEP also plans to ‘light the way to justice’ with a candlelight vigil planned at OutCentral (1709 Church Street) starting at 6:30 p.m.. The event is planned to show solidarity for marriage equality as the SCOTUS hears arguments in a historic case that could overturn DOMA.

"Marriage equality is perhaps the most sought after component of equality and truly one of the largest of the inequalities our community suffers,” said H.G. Stovall, President and Chair of TEP Foundation. “Since Tennessee's constitutional ban on marriage equality was put into place TEP has been working tirelessly on attainable goals such as safer schools and workplace equality. TEP looks forward to joining together with others to bring increased attention to the quest for full equality in Tennessee beginning with this vigil."

Attorney and advocate Sam Felker is scheduled to speak to the crowd about the case and TEP asks that participants bring a candle for a candlelight vigil to be held after the informational session. For more information or to RSVP you can visit their Facebook event page.

If you’re not in Nashville, Gen Q, the college-age group at Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC), will host a candlelight vigil on March 26, beginning at 7 p.m..

Several speakers will offer thoughts on what marriage equality will mean for the community.“ It’s important to show the rest of the country that we’re on the same page,” said Kal Rocket, founder of the Gen Q group, in a prepared statement.

TEP, Gen Q and MGLCC will join thousands of people all over the United States and other countries, as part of United for Marriage: Light the Way to Justice.