Titans issue statement against anti-LGBT legislation during NFL Draft Day 3

The Tennessee Titans have a released a statement opposing a bundle of anti-LGBTQ bills in the Tennessee legislature, claiming that the measures could impact the state's ability to secure hosting the NFL Draft again.

Legislation is being considered in the Tennessee General Assembly that would allow child placement agencies to deny same-sex couples on religious grounds and another that requires the state's attorney general to defend school districts determining bathroom use for transgender students. 

The Titans statement, released through the Nashville LGBT Chamber, unexpectedly came as day three of the 2019 NFL Draft is being broadcast from downtown Nashville:

"The Tennessee Titans oppose discrimination in any form. We are long-standing supporters of Tennessee Thrives. Discriminatory legislation hurts all of us. It also impacts our ability to secure events like the 2019 NFL Draft, major conventions, major athletic contests and other events that benefit our local and state economy. It also weakens our ability to recruit new business and industry to Nashville and to Tennessee. We would encourage our elected officials to keep us on a path that protects all our citizens, our growth and our economy.”

The Titans also signed an open letter to lawmakers opposing discriminatory legislation, which was signed by corporate businesses including Amazon, Bridgestone Americas, Dell Technologies, Warner Music Group, along with 50 Tennessee small businesses.

The letter was initiated by the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce with support from Tennessee Equality Project and Freedom for All American. It reads, in part: "Legislation that explicitly or implicitly allows discrimination against LGBT people and their families creates unnecessary liability for talent recruitment and retention, tourism, and corporate investment to the state." 

The bills have also drawn criticism from Lyft, Hilton, IKEA and Warby Parker.

Additionally, the General Assembly is considering a measure that could impact the transgender community by enhancing the punishment for any person who commits indecent exposure in public restrooms and other places. 

The Senate is scheduled to take up its bills on indecent exposure, child placement and transgender students bathroom use April 30. 

The House is scheduled to take up its transgender students bathroom bill April 29.

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Jamie McGee and Joel Ebert contributed to this report.

Reach Amelia Ferrell Knisely at aferrell@tennessean.com, 615-210-8286 or follow @ameliaknisely on Twitter.

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