{"id":36222,"date":"2016-04-11T14:00:39","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T18:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/photos-glaad-in-nashville-calls-on-music-industry-to-take-a-stand-against-discriminatory-bills\/"},"modified":"2016-04-11T14:00:39","modified_gmt":"2016-04-11T18:00:39","slug":"photos-glaad-in-nashville-calls-on-music-industry-to-take-a-stand-against-discriminatory-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/photos-glaad-in-nashville-calls-on-music-industry-to-take-a-stand-against-discriminatory-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"PHOTOS: GLAAD in Nashville, calls on music industry to take a stand against discriminatory bills"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOTOS: GLAAD in Nashville, calls<\/a> on music industry to take a stand against discriminatory bills<\/b><\/p>\n

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Chris Sanders of the Tennessee Equality Project, Photo by GLAAD<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Today GLAAD and the Tennessee Equality Project<\/a> gathered in Nashville with actor and musician Chris Carmack<\/a>, singer-songwriter and producer Desmond Child, and Tennessee-based LGBT advocates to call<\/a> on the country music industry to take a stand against discriminatory bills currently pending in Tennessee, which threaten the rights and safety of LGBT people.<\/p>\n

Tennessee’s House Bill 1840 would allow medical professionals to refuse mental health services to LGBT patients, and Tennessee’s HB 2414, a so-called “bathroom bill,” would target transgender youth, aged K-12, as well as transgender higher education students – denying them the safety and freedom to use the bathroom that matches their identity.<\/p>\n

“There is no doubt that these anti-LGBT bills will jeopardize this state’s economy,” GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said during a press conference today in Nashville. “Nashville is America’s music capital, and the companies, artists, and allied businesses here alone contribute more than $9.7 billion dollars to this state’s economy. I am here today to call<\/a> on the country music industry to stand with us, alongside television networks and film studios who stood with us in Georgia, in a united front against discrimination.”<\/p>\n

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“This kind of unnecessary discrimination has no place in this city or the state of Tennessee,” Carmack, who plays the gay<\/a> country music star Will Lexington on ABC’s hit show ‘Nashville’, said. “It could take years to undo the economic damage done by this potential law; but let me be clear, the human damage can never be repaired. Our young people only get one chance to grow up in a state that values and accepts them for who they are. Let’s not take that away from them. It’s important for those who can make a difference in my industry to stand up. Let their words be heard. Let their actions be seen. I invite others to join me in making sure this law doesn’t become a reality in our state.”<\/p>\n

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Others joining GLAAD and the Tennessee Equality Project at Monday’s Nashville press conference included Marisa Richmond of Tennessee Transgender Political Committee:<\/p>\n

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Songwriter and Hall-of-Fame-member Desmond Child:<\/p>\n

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Nashville Pastor Stan Mitchell:<\/p>\n

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Henry Seaton, a transgender student at Beech High School in Hendersonville TN:<\/p>\n

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Recording artists Miley Cyrus, Ty Herndon, and Chely Wright <\/a>are among the recording artists who have also spoken out on social media. Last week, GLAAD joined the Tennessee Equality Project last week in support of a petition that voices opposition to the state’s discriminatory bills<\/a>. Thousands have already signed in support of equality and acceptance for all LGBT Tennesseans. Check out more photos from the event below. <\/p>\n

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April 11, 2016<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues: <\/div>\n