Tennessee is currently under attack from right wing ideologues, legislation, and paramilitaries that have organized in concert. These enemies are the ones directing their efforts on trans and queer people. Currently trans and queer workers have the most to lose from this recent onslaught of attacks. Queer and trans workers in Tennessee are in the unique position of having to face these attacks from all sides including their workplaces.
We have a duty to organize and fight back. And we must not just fight back, we must go forward. We have a chance at not just keeping but expanding the rights of all people within Tennessee. As drag bans, bathroom bills, and healthcare restrictions make it through our legislature and become law, cisgender men and women, even those that are not queer themselves, have their rights limited.
The parents of queer and trans children live under worry about the mental and physical well-being of their children. Those parents that are not accepting will force these children to de-transition, or not at all. We have already seen opponents in our streets decrying “transgenderism”. Fascists aim at eradicating our safety, peace, and existence.
As transgender people lose their rights, all our rights become threatened. This state is becoming the base for fascists across the right-wing spectrum. More become emboldened by their successes and the lack of cohesion among the working class. We have a duty to organize and expand our fight. We know that we do not yet have all the answers as we do not even know all the questions or needs of our community. We cannot prescribe a solution other than to organize. We must go out among the people learn what they need. While this campaign aims at organizing queer and trans workers, we must address those who are not in those communities to also rise up in solidarity.
Political consciousness is central to growing our base. With constant investigation and analysis of our tactics and strategies, we will be able to adjust and correct when necessary, always attempting to fit the needs of the people.
Campaigns
Hire the Dolls
QUILT is working to create a directory of businesses in Middle Tennessee listing which ones are safe for queer and trans people to patron, which ones hire and are good employers of queer and trans people, and which ones should be avoided. We’re calling this directory the Lavender Pages.