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Musk nonprofit is union-busting its Memphis organization
Big Green employees in Memphis are pushing back against union-busting tactics they say the nonprofit is using to keep them from organizing and having more direct communication with the communities they serve. The gardening nonprofit teaches school children about growing food and spending time in nature, but employees say they’re up against corporate lawyers hired […]
Preds’ prospect coming out good news for Tennessee
Earlier this week Nashville became home to the National Hockey League’s first active, openly gay player after Predators’ prospect Luke Prokop came out. Prokop posted the personal announcement in an Instagram post on Monday and later did an interview with ESPN—making history for himself, for fellow players and for Music City. In his post, Prokop […]
A South African sportswriter’s influence on anti-transgender legislation
In the last six years, Tennessee has passed more than 70 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation. This year the state surpassed nearly every other in the country, becoming the first to require businesses and government buildings to post a sign if they let transgender people use bathrooms. Previous Lookout reporting covered the far-right and conservative groups […]
Tennessee’s anti-LGBTQ bills supported by national conservative groups
With dozens of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this legislative season around the U.S., human rights groups and nonprofits have been busy fighting discrimination—perhaps only surpassed in productivity by the vast and well-funded networks of nonprofits that lobbied for, and helped write, discriminatory bills in the first place. Three of the heaviest hitters have been the Heritage […]
State could lose millions in business and tourism over discriminatory legislation
Since Tennessee Republicans passed a bill prohibiting transgender student athletes from competing on teams that affirm their gender identity, at least three conferences have backed out of coming to the state. Oracle, the tech giant expected to bring thousands of new jobs to Nashville, joined 86 other businesses in signing an open letter against the […]
Nashville’s Community Oversight Committee investigating MNPD arrest of minors
The Metro Nashville Community Oversight committee is investigating the arrest of two children Sunday following video of the incident posted on social media. Videos show multiple police officers gathered as one officer pushed a 13-year-old Black child against a car and searched him. According to Angel Stansberry, co-president of activist organization People’s Plaza, two Vanderbilt University […]
Businesses support anti-transgender legislators despite public PR campaigns
Ahead of the Tennessee House of Representatives vote on SB228/HB3, which effectively bans transgender student athletes from competing in sports on teams that affirm their gender identity, both local and national businesses continued to donate money or support Gov. Bill Lee and other GOP legislators who advocate for the bill. For many of those companies, […]
After a testy debate in Nashville, vice-mayor commits to equity on boards
Nashville Metro Vice-Mayor Jim Shulman committed to selecting a “person of diversity” to sit on the Metro Fair Board following a heated Metro City Council meeting February 16th. During Monday night’s meeting councilmembers considered two appointees to the Hospital Authority board, including Pastor Frank Stevenson and St. Thomas COO Michelle Robertson. Robertson was initially selected […]
Tennesseans buy into GameStop trading frenzy
Even if you haven’t picked up a video game controller in years, you’ve likely heard about the historic market debacle involving GameStop and a few other select companies Reddit users have been purchasing stock in. The subreddit WallStreetBets, a sort of community for amateur investors and day traders, came together in a united effort to […]
Tennesseans play role in mob scene at U.S. Capitol
As photo and video of Wednesday’s rioting at the U.S. Capitol spread across social media, Tennesseeans began recognizing friends and neighbors, with prominent elected officials and local leaders among the mob who entered the federal building and temporarily halted certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s win. NashvilleResist, a popular political Twitter account, reported that at least […]
Haynes Park neighbors organize for safer neighborhood
After a rash of disconcerting crime in North Nashville’s Haynes Park, neighbors were tired of feeling like “sitting ducks,” according to community activist Gina Coleman. Coleman and her fellow Haynes Park Neighborhood Association board members are doing something about it—fundraising for security cameras, hosting fish fries and other community efforts to reduce crime and change […]
1946 Tennessee election parallels 2020
Election season in Tennessee has been a microcosm of the nation’s problems: social media videos of voter intimidation in Knoxville, massive protests led by teens, alleged hate crimes by right-wing instigators and implications of voter fraud by the president, but voters’ memories are short: they may have forgotten that in at least one rural Tennessee town, violence […]