TNSBA Joins Chorus Calling on Amazon to Push For a More Inclusive Tennessee

The Tennessee Small Business Alliance (TNSBA) stands by organizations such as the Tennessee Equality Project, Human Rights Campaign, Tennessee Thrives, Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, that are working tirelessly at the Capitol to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Phil Cobucci, Founder and Chief Strategist at BAM! Social Business and TNSBA Board Member, released the following statement in response to the six anti-LGBTQ bills up for debate this week in the state legislature:

“Our state already has some of the most archaic laws on the books that discriminate against the LGBTQ community, and these bills would go even further. Small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy, and the legislature doesn’t get that these discriminatory laws are bad for business. However, Amazon does understand the importance of inclusivity; so much so that its commitment to “diversity and inclusion” is ingrained in its corporate culture.

“We ask that Amazon use its influence as a multinational corporation to urge the Tennessee state legislature to move toward a more inclusive Tennessee, not one of exclusion and division. We hope others, especially Amazon, join us in support of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters across the state.”

The six anti-LGBTQ bills the state legislature is considering include: SB 1282/HB 1369, “Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act,” that would defy the Supreme Court ruling and try to ban the freedom to marry for LGBTQ couples; HB 836/SB 1304 that would allow adoption agencies a broad license to discriminate against LGBTQ people; HB 563 that would allow businesses a broad license to discriminate against LGBTQ people; HB 1152/SB 848 that would allow taxpayer-funded child welfare agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ people and families, among others; and, HB 1151 that would enable harassment of transgender people in public places.