“Slay Hate” Rally Draws Hundreds In Nashville

By John Partipilo and Holly McCall, Tennessee Lookout

March 10, 2023

A Nashville rally sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign drew hundreds to protest recently-passed Tennessee laws that criminalize some drag performers and performances and prevent parents from providing their children with gender-affirming care.

“Slay the Hate: Fight Back Tennessee,” featured appearances by several drag performers and remarks from LGBTQ leaders.

The event was one of several efforts the HRC is taking to push back on Gov. Bill Lee, who signed the new laws in a matter of hours last week, and the Tennessee General Assembly. On Monday, the LGBTQ advocacy organization ran a full-page ad in the Tennessean with a 1976 photo of Lee dressed in a cheerleading outfit, wig and pearls at a high school powderpuff football game, criticizing Lee for hypocrisy.

Kelley Robinson, HRC president, confirmed the organization would have mobile billboards with the Lee photo driving the streets of Nashville for the weekend’s Southeastern Conference basketball tournament and Saturday night’s annual HRC fundraising dinner.

Robinson was among the speakers at Thursday’s rally, joined by Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, Kathy Sinback, executive director of the ACLU of Tennessee, and National Women’s Law Center Director of Reproductive Rights Miriam Abolfalzi.

Tennessee leads the nation in passing anti-LGBTQ laws, having enacted 14 since 2015.

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