A lawsuit was filed against the new law
banning local governments from creating anti-discrimination laws that
are stricter than the state’s. The law was created to void Nashville’s
law that banned discrimination against gay and transgender people.
Tennessee’s anti-discrimination law currently covers race, creed, color, religion, sex, age and national origin.
The lawsuit, filed in Nashville, charges that the new law voids
school board anti-discrimination policies in districts like Nashville
or Knox County.
The lawsuit states, “HB600 embodies an animus toward gay and
transgender people so strong that the Tennessee legislature was
willing to repeal policies protecting students against bullying and
harassment and to make other groups suffer as well, merely to prevent
gay and transgender citizens from obtaining needed protections.”
The law’s effect on local schools is still being determined. Metro
Nashville Public Schools cover sexual orientation and gender identity
and expression in their anti-bulling/harassment policies.
“The net effect of the state legislation hasn’t yet been determined,” Cross said to The Republic. “The school board is not going to entertain a policy that sanctions bullying of any kind.”
The sponsor of the legislation, Republican Rep. Glen Casada,
said it only affects businesses that contract with local governments.
The law does not apply to employees who work for cities or counties, he
said.
“The intent is to keep local governments from putting any more
regulation on our local businesses beyond federal law,” he told The
Republic.
Tennessee has also been in the news recently for its “don’t say gay” law.
