Homophobia

Here in Tennessee it seems that every day another piece of proposed legislation targeting the LGBT community is brought out by one of our representatives or senators. Recently we have had local high schools shaken by the suicides of young people who had been bullied for being gay. I live in a state where being who you are can be quite difficult some times. Still there are individuals who don't seem to be able to see what is going on around them.

I have been asked by several different individuals how the proposed anti-gay legislation affects me on a personal basis. I don't have kids so the "Don't Say Gay Bill" which would prevent homosexuality from being discussed in Tennessee's public schools is something they feel I shouldn't be concerned about. Likewise the "License to Bully Bill" would have an effect on me since I am no longer in school. Obviously the bill recently publicized that would mandate which public restrooms an individual could use, even if that person is transgender, is not something that should concern me personally. I have to admit, these bills won't have a huge impact on me personally, at least from a legal perspective. The fact that my state would elect legislators who would think it was in their best interest, or their constituent's best interest effects me greatly.

Many people seem to think that members of the LGBT community are protected by the legal protections that certain other minority groups fall under. This is completely false. In Tennessee there are no real legal protections for LGBT individuals. We can be fired for who we are, we can be denied housing simply because of who we are. We are denied the ability to marry the person we love, therefore we are also denied the right to be treated equally under our nation's tax and inheritance laws. Yet many think that homophobia isn't real or exists on such a small scale that it isn't worth their consideration. Well right here in Nashville, Tennessee, a very liberal city where the LGBT community is fairly visible and suffers less from homophobia than it does in almost any other part of our state homophobia still exists.

A friend of mine is in the process of starting a new business. He previously worked for a local gay and lesbian bookstore that fell victim to the same economic and market forces that have closed so many local bookstores around our country. But my friend knows the value of having a store like this in Nashville. He has seen many frightened young people walk into the store where he worked, kids, and sometimes adults, who had never been in a place before where they could be who they are. A place where they could talk about things they couldn't talk about at school or church or with their families. A place where they could see other people like themselves who are happy and well adjusted and living good lives. A physical representation of the "It Gets Better Project" where kids could see that one day the bullying would stop and they have a reason to keep on living, a physical place where they could see hope when all of the other places they should have been able to find hope had turned them away. My friend has a business plan, but he also has a plan for a community. He wants to be able to earn a living while also giving others a reason to keep on living. Today I received an email from him describing what is preventing him from adding to our community and to our economy, homophobia. Below is his email;

Homophobia in Nashville

Dear George,

For the sixth time in the same number of months, a landowner has told us that he would not rent us his space because we are a GLBT Business. He told his agent that he had thought long and hard about it, but just couldn't rent to "those people."

We are suppose to be a pretty progressive city--a blue dot in a sea of red. Unfortunately, it sure doesn't seem like one today. This is another reminder that our battle isn't over. Just look at the legislative proposals that are coming to the hill right now and you can really see that we have a lot of work to do.

The social conservatives have not stopped their work because of the recession. In fact, they are even more active now because they know people have other concerns. Take time to support those organizations that are working for you in the state and local governments--even if it's just a small amount.

We are working hard to open a new store for our Nashville community. If you know of any GLBT-friendly owners in the midtown or East Nashville areas, please have them contact us if they have any spaces that are between 1,800 and 2,500 sf.

Our work continues!


Jim Hawk, Chief Manager

Homophobia exists, it is real, it effects people, people you know. You may not think it effects you, but directly or indirectly it effects all of us. It is time we stand up against homophobia just as we have and continue to stand up against sexism and racism. Without fairness there is no freedom, and none of us is free if all of us aren't free. It is time to make this country what it is supposed to be, a country where we all have the opportunity to succeed, a country where we can disagree but where we allow others to be who they are and believe what they believe.