Tag: Tennessee

Craig Northcott is the District Attorney for Coffee County, Tennessee and a self-proclaimed “good Christian man.” But he may soon be without a law license after spouting off his homophobic beliefs at a religious conference and then doubling down on them later. A letter signed by over 330 lawyers is urging the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility to issue an emergency suspension of Northcott’s law license after he was caught on video telling a religious conference that he doesn’t believe...

Well, this is awkward. Earlier this week, Tennessee state Rep. Bill Sanderson announced his immediate resignation from office amid allegations he’s been maintaining a secret Grindr profile. The political blog The Dog and Pony Show accused the 59-year-old lawmaker of soliciting sex with men, some of whom were up to 40 years younger than him, throughout his tenure in office. That wouldn’t be such a big deal except for the fact that, while he was doing so, he also supported nearly ever anti-LGBT...

Jay Scruggs, the pastor of Lee’s Chapel Baptist Church in Sweetwater, Tennessee has allegedly refused to host the funeral of Jessie Goodman’s dying 71-year-old father because Jessie is is gay and engaged to another man, his partner, Brandon Smitty. While Jessie’s father is still alive, he reportedly only has days left to live. His dying wishes included his funeral being held at the above named church and his son singing “The Anchor Holds.” “As long as I was going to take...

(photo via Charles on Unsplash) Tennessee state lawmaker Rep. Bill Sanderson (R) announced Tuesday he would be stepping down from his legislative seat. His resignation became effective at noon on Wednesday. Sanderson told The Tennessean that his White Squirrel Winery in the western part of the state needs more of his attention as it’s become a full-time job. And, due to his legislative responsibilities, he’s “lost the fruit of 135 peach trees.” He also shares that his son-in-law is undergoing a...

Tennessee lawmakers tried to sneak through a bill that would severely curtail the availability of officiants for marriage ceremonies, including same-sex weddings, but targets of the move have struck back. SB1377/HB0213 restricts exactly who can perform a marriage ceremony, prohibiting, “persons receiving online ordinations from solemnizing the rite of matrimony.” The Tennessee code, last updated in 1998, did not address anyone ordained online, such as from the American Marriage Ministries or the Universal Life Church. The newly-amended code, which was supposed...

Lawmakers in Tennessee just struck a low blow to marriage equality by banning anyone ordained online from officiating weddings. As of July 1, only priests, rabbis, ministers, people designated through a temple or church, and public officials can perform weddings, courtesy of a totally unnecessary new law. Critics of the law claim that it will unjustly affect LGBTQ couples who, by and large, have their weddings performed by friends and family members and outside churches in the state. By prohibiting online ordination...

Cracker Barrel, the country restaurant chain, recently refused to let an anti-LGBTQ pastor hold an event at one of their locations. But considering that the chain once had an openly anti-LGBTQ employment policy, does that mean they’re now allies? Let’s take a closer look… Grayson Fritts — the pastor of Knoxville, Tennessee’s All Scripture Baptist Church — had planned on holding a June 29 church event at Cracker Barrel location in Cleveland, Tennessee. But when the Tennessee Democratic Party heard...

A police officer who called for death for gay people has asked for early retirement. Grayson Fritts is a deputy with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee, as well as the pastor of the All Scripture Baptist Church. A local television reporter was invited to sit on a sermon last night at the church, when Fritts called other Baptist preachers “weak and spineless” when it comes to homosexuality. His sermon, which was entitled “Sodomite Reprobates,” said that God hates. “Just as...

Photo by Andrew JorgensenBrooklyn LGBTQ based nightclub “The House of Yes” descends on the Bonnaroo, showing the Gay Pride side of the festival.  Bonnaroo music festival takes place in Manchester, Tennessee over the weekend of June 13th-16th. It’s an outdoor camping and arts festival that has grown over the years to become one of the biggest music festivals in the summer circuit. Having hosted in previous years performers like U2, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lorde, The Killers, Muse, Pearl...

A hardware store owner in Tennessee once again made national news yesterday because he decided to put back up a sign that read "No Gays Allowed" after the Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling this week. This is a pebble in what could eventually become bricks being thrown at this incredibly strong house that the LGBTQ community has built for decades, so its better to address this issue now than to let it fester and allow people like this owner to do what...

A candle light vigil to remember Deon Brown is set for 5 p.m. outside the Nashville beauty salon where he used to work at 2225 Murfreesboro Pike. Family and friends including the LGBT community are mourning the death of a 24-year-old man found brutally killed this week on the property of a West Nashville trucking business The body of Deon Brown was discovered about 6:22 a.m. Monday in the lot of Western Express at 7135 Centennial Place. Metro police said Brown, who...