In recent days it has been reported the House Chairman of the Joint Government Operations Committee has advised state universities to suspend any policies making LGBTQ+ students a protected class amid federal litigation.
This is in direct violation of Title IX which as you know is a federal law passed in 1972 that outlaws discrimination based on sex in schools and colleges. We know that there is an injunction on this law being enforced by the U.S. Department of Education vis-a-vis the State of Tennessee. The advisement to suspend any policies making LGBTQ+ students at our state universities a protected class is grossly premature and shows neglect of the right to life and freedom for all Tennesseans.
What this reversal does is put a target on the backs of all LGBTQ+ students at our state universities, it says to them that they are second-class citizens in the state of Tennessee, who do not deserve the right to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness that is afforded to them by seeking higher education at our distinguished state universities. As you have stated serval times that you are the governor who is going to protect the right to life, my question to you is whom lives are you wanting to protect; just those who are heterosexual? You not only offend those who do not agree with you politically on the left, but you also who are members of the log cabin caucus of your Republican party to have their rights abridged as well.
As we see hate crimes across our state raise based on sexual orientation you have proclaimed open season on all LGBTQ+ students in the state of Tennessee. Our lives are being threatened each day this advice is allowed to stand. I implore you and the rest of the Republican caucus to truly live up to your creed of small government, and individual freedom. As an alumnus of UTC, this is personal to all those who love the UT-System. During one's matriculation at our great state universities, there is an aura of acceptance and holistic comradery in the belief that we will all live up to the creed and mottos of our respected institutions. This advice undercuts that acceptance and belief that we are all one Tennessee. This slate of hate will adversely affect not only the growth of each student body of our state institutions but will have a great negative impact financially on the state and higher education as a whole. I look forward to your response and would greatly appreciate meeting with you and sharing my life experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in Tennessee.
Executive Director I AM Foundation
Sean Nix