Tennessee LGBT Bill Is Unconstitutional

A bit of good news to kick off 2023. A U.S. District Court has entered a final order prohibiting enforcement of Tennessee HB 1182 a law passed in 2021 requiring businesses to post a demeaning notice if they permit LGBT patrons to use the same restrooms as other patrons. The order states that the law “is unconstitutional & may not be enforced.” Mike Curb, Founder & Chairman of Curb Records & President of the Mike Curb Foundation stated, “Our foundation has been dedicated to inclusion & nondiscrimination including for LGBT people, from day one. HB 1182 was an attempt by the government to force me & other businesses in the state to abandon our values & put up a 'not welcome' sign to employees & customers. I’m relieved to know that state officials have agreed that the constitution does not permit such a mandate & that this final order means HB 1182 cannot be enforced. The people of Tennessee do not want such harmful anti-LGBT & anti-business legislation & such a law should never have been passed & signed into law.” The order from the U.S. District Court for the District of Tennessee, Nashville Division is the result of an agreement with the Defendants including the Tennessee Governor & other state & Nashville officials to resolve the federal challenge to HB 1182 brought by independent record label Curb Records & the Mike Curb Foundation. The challenge asserted that HB 1182 promoted a hostile climate for LGBT people in the state & denied them equal access to businesses open to the public & to employment & educational opportunities.