Nike Inc.'s U.S. Director of Governance and Public Affairs, Orson C. Porter,
recently wrote to Nashville officials urging them to pass an ordinance that would mean businesses contracting with the city's government must adhere to an LGBT-inclusive anti-discrimination policy. We thank Mr. Porter for his advocacy but now must call on him to once again make his voice heard. This is because Tennessee House legislators have passed a bill that would void the Nashville ordinance by making it illegal to for local governments to pass nondiscrimination ordinances in excess of state level protections -- Tennessee
does not grant workplace protections on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Lawmakers say this ban is necessary to encourage ease of commerce, but really it is simple and stark anti-LGBT prejudice.
It is estimated that Nike employs around 2000 Tenneseeans, so its voice, unlike that of the LGBT community, can not be easily brushed aside.
We the undersigned respectfully ask that Mr. Porter again use his position to advocate on behalf of fairness and equality and that he call on Tennessee legislators to abandon plans to prevent Nashville from enacting this LGBT-inclusive ordinance. 