By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Legislation accused by Civil Rights groups such as the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) of gradually stripping away the rights of LGBTQ+ people has advanced through the Tennessee House and Senate, several of which only require the signature of Governor Bill Lee to officially become law. This legislation includes that which would eliminate explicit language to protect minority children from the Tennessee teacher’s code of ethics, prohibit the display of pride flags in schools across the state, and require teachers as well as possible school counselors to report children to their guardians if they label…
Author: Logan Langlois
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Open Table Nashville (OTN) has joined over 1,000 organizations and public leaders in filing more than 40 amicus briefs to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in anticipation of their upcoming consideration of Johnson v. Grant Pass. This will be a landmark case regarding how homelessness is handled by government bodies within the United States in public spaces. Previous courts presiding over the case ruled that communities without sufficient housing and beds cannot fine, cite, or arrest people for using a blanket, pillow, and other supplies on public properties. Outreach Specialist for…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Governor Bill Lee signed HB2169/ SB1738 into law earlier this week, introduced by Representative Mary Littleton in the State House and Senator Paul Rose in the Senate. Civil Rights groups such as the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) have criticized the bill as a threat to the civil rights of trans foster children as it would prohibit “the Department of Children’s Services from requiring an adoptive or foster parent to support a policy on sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with the parent’s sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.” TEP Policy Researcher Jace Wilder…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — An over 500-person strong crowd marched its way peacefully under the musical accompaniment of a small band up Deaderick Street and to the War Memorial Plaza last week in protest of the recently passed anti-immigration bill HB2124/SB2576. Sponsored by Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, and Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis is meant to mandate local law enforcement to work with the federal government in separating and detaining illegal immigrants and their families. The protest organized by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) consisted of immigrants, refugees, friends, family, and allies who called the bill…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Did you catch the last Nashville boat rowing race by chance? Neither did any other Tennessean you’d try and ask probably, but what if you found out that this under-celebrated sport could be the gateway to bettering the lives of many of Nashville’s inner-city kids? That’s what author, mentor, professional chef, and former captain of America’s first all-Black high school rowing team, Arshay Cooper, said soon after he visited the Nashville Public Library to talk about his book A Most Beautiful Thing. While touring the city, Cooper said he was also able to visit…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — During the height of lent, a period of reflection on wrongdoing and a desire to change for Christians internationally, faith leaders and clergy with Middle Tennessee Christians for Justice in Palestine (MTC4JP) gathered for a “service of repentance” outside of the offices of U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. Event organizers estimated hundreds of Christians in different cities nationwide organized on Monday, March 18th to protest in solidarity to “highlight the harm and violence caused by ‘Christian Zionism.” The group said their repentance was for all Christians, including the aforementioned senators, who “have…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Nashville-based conservative media outlet The Daily Wire published an article last week misrepresenting the fundraiser concert ‘Trans Day of Vengeance’ meant to raise money for low-income trans people, hosted by local non-profit Boro Fondo. In the article, Daily Wire writer Luke Rosiak connects the Murfreesboro benefit to the anniversary of the March 27 Nashville Covenant School shooting, highlighting the benefit’s March 31 show date. Though Boro Fondo responded to Rosiak’s email asking “the meaning of ‘trans vengeance,’” Rosiak’s originally published article claimed Fondo did not respond for comment, which he later stated was because…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — The average unhoused person must walk between 10 and 15 miles a day in Music City, and Open Table Nashville (OTN) is trying to make that journey a little easier. The outreach and advocacy group will be hosting a one-mile walk to raise $20,000 for their daily efforts on Saturday, April 6th at 9:30 a.m. at Cleveland Park. The fundraiser named Walk With OTN will be a family-friendly event meant for community building, and for supporters to talk together while enjoying popsicles in the park. As a part of the event, OTN challenged its…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — On Tuesday, 500 people committed to mobilization outside of the United States Supreme Court building for the “Bans Off Our Mife” action organized by Women’s March as SCOTUS began hearing oral arguments challenging the FDA’s 20-plus legal authorization of the drug mifepristone. Women’s March Executive Director Rachel O’Leary said among other things, mifepristone is used in over half of medical abortions because it is the least complicated and least painful available option. O’Leary said this case is just the latest fight in the overall conservative agenda targeting control over women’s right to abortion, and…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — In the wake of an economic downturn during which the price of care for pets is skyrocketing, Nashvillian non-profit Paws Angels Dog Rescue continues to call out to its army of volunteers to give as many animals a second chance as they can. The rescue’s founder and owner Crystal Parman said animal homelessness has been growing increasingly severe and shows no sign of slowing without direct action. “I think every day it gets worse,” Parman said. “Every shelter and rescue in Middle Tennessee and every state beyond is completely overfull. The shelters are tragically…