The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee, challenging a recently passed law that bans gender-affirming care for minors. The lawsuit argues that the law violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, discriminating against individuals on the basis of sex and transgender status. The lawsuit seeks to block the law from taking effect and to ensure that transgender youth in Tennessee have access to the same medical care as non-transgender minors. It is a reminder that transgender youth should have the same access to medically necessary care as any other minor.
Posts tagged as “Bill Lee”
Key takeaways: Tennessee Senate has passed a bill that would protect gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers against lawsuits. The bill is heading to…
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed an executive order to tighten background checks and called for a "red flag" law to make it easier to remove guns from people who pose a danger. This move comes in the wake of a school shooting and the expulsion of two Black Democratic lawmakers who called for greater firearm restrictions. Gun reformers in the state have welcomed the move, and it is now up to the state legislature to pass the necessary legislation.
Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic lawmakers, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, for participating in an unauthorized protest against gun violence on the chamber floor. Governor Bill Lee has called for a special election to fill the vacant seats, and the Tennessee Three have been invited to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Rep. Gloria Johnson survived the expulsion vote by one vote.
A federal judge in Tennessee has temporarily blocked a law that would have placed strict limits on drag shows in the state, noting that the state has failed to provide a "compelling government interest" for why it should regulate drag performances so severely. The law was met with criticism from LGBTQ+ activists and allies, and the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Parker will remain in effect until April 15, when the court will hear arguments from both sides.
A federal judge in Tennessee has granted a temporary injunction against a first-of-its-kind law that would have placed strict limits on drag shows, citing that it "missed the mark" when it came to protecting free speech. The law was signed into effect by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, on March 2 and has been met with strong opposition from the LGBTQ+ community. The case is ongoing and a hearing is scheduled for April 13 to determine if the law will be allowed to take effect or if it will be permanently blocked by the court.
At least three people were killed in a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville on Monday. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee identified two of the victims as Cindy Peak and Katherine Koonce, both teachers at the school. Maria Colomy, an art instructor at Nossi College of Art & Design, taught the shooter, Audrey Hale, for two semesters in 2017. Governor Lee mourned the victims of the “horrific act of violence” and Colomy expressed her condolences to the victims’ families. The shooting is still under investigation and The Covenant School has released a statement offering their support to the families of the victims.
Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee has signed two controversial bills into law, one of which bans gender-affirming health care for minors and the other which criminalizes certain drag shows. The legislation has been met with criticism from civil rights organizations and major medical associations, who have warned of the potential harm it could cause to transgender youth. Tennessee is the first state to criminalize certain drag shows, and is the latest in a string of states to introduce legislation attacking gender-affirming medical care for young people.