February 11, 2021

Governor Bill Lee

1st Floor, State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37204

RE: Transgender Student Athlete Bill SB228/HB3

Dear Governor Lee,

I currently serve as the Pastor Developer at The Table, an ELCA church in downtown Nashville,
TN. It is with a saddened spirit that I write to you today regarding your comments made on
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 regarding the transgender student athletes in our state.
I implore you, as the leader of our State, to due further research on the topic of transgender
identity and in particular the mental health and wellness risks transgender youth suffer at the
hands of discriminatory practices. You may not be aware but our youth are very interested in
the things both you and I have to say, as public leaders. It may interest you to know that 86% of
LGBTQIA+ youth said that recent politics have negatively impacted their well-being.

LGBTQIA+ youth suffer suicidal ideation at alarming rates and youth who identify as
transgender all the more. The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading voice on suicide among youth
reports that “48% of LGBTQ youth reported engaging in self-harm in the past twelve months,
including over 60% of transgender and nonbinary youth.” Likewise, “46% of LGBTQ youth report
they wanted psychological or emotional counseling from a mental health professional but were
unable to receive it in the past 12 months.”

Governor Lee, I have been a resident of Tennessee since 1996. I raised my family here and all
three of my adult children currently live here and contribute to our economy. My three
grandchildren are enrolled in public schools in our state. I have a deep and abiding interest in
many aspects of Tennessee life: education, economics, public services and the health and
well-being of our residents.

This piece of legislation, SB228/HB3 is harmful to children in our state, both those who identify
as transgender and those who do not. School sports, as well as participation in clubs, afford our
children an opportunity to learn teamwork, communication, ethics and a host of soft skills that
will be necessary as they progress through school and prepare to enter the workforce. Denying
a child the opportunity to play sports could also negatively impact their college opportunities. In
your comments you said, the executive order [“and this particular executive order”] came from
President Biden and was a “tremendous overreach of the federal government into the states.”
May I ask you, Governor Lee, how is providing a well-rounded education for all Tennessee
children a “tremendous overreach?”

You additionally commented that, “transgenders participating in women’s sports will destroy
women’s sports.” Governor Lee, I implore you, as the highest authority in our state to first
commit to sensitivity training as it relates to the ways in which we address diverse people
groups. Secondly, it is extremely harsh language, and quite incorrect, to say women’s sports
will be “destroyed” by the inclusion of transgender females who wish to play on women’s teams.
It goes without saying that your comment also implies that transgender males who wish to play
men’s sports will destroy that field also. There is a population of students who do not identify in
a binary gender (gender non-conforming) and would therefore be denied the opportunity to
participate in school sports on what basis, may I inquire? SB228/HB3 is harmful legislation
submitted with discriminatory undertones based solely on a person’s gender, which has always
been and will remain a fluid reality as God has designed.

As a Christian, Governor Lee, I invite you to sit with me in a meeting so that we may discuss this
topic in greater detail. I believe I may have information that is not often talked about that may
help you in your decision whether or not to sign this Bill. At the very least, Governor, as we
publicly identify ourselves as Christians, we publicly make it known that we subscribe to the
ministry of Jesus Christ. As such, we are commanded to serve the poor and marginalized; the
least of these, if you will. Parents of LGBTQ+ youth are doing their best to educate and raise
healthy children. Bills such as SB228/HB3 make it nearly impossible to raise a child who is
healthy, societally well-adjusted and able to positively contribute to our state economy when
they become of age.

With all due respect,

Rev. Dawn Bennett

Pastor Developer, The Table
113 8th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 264-8600
nashvillerainbowpastor@gmail.com
www.thetablenashville.org

Cc: Rev. Kevin Strickland, Bishop

ELCA Southeastern Synod 
P.O. Box 400 
Decatur, GA 30031