OPEN LETTER - Oppose Discrimination

Governor's Office
Bill Lee, Governor

State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37243

Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Office of the Speaker of the House
Senator Jack Johnson

301 6th Avenue North Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243

Dear Governor Bill Lee, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, Speaker Glen Casada, and Senator Jack Johnson,

I am Aaron Davis, a resident of Fairview, Tennessee, and the CEO and Co-founder of Exploration, a global music administration company. I speak on behalf of our entire company to oppose, in the strongest terms possible, the discriminatory bills up for consideration by the Tennessee Legislature and ultimately, Governor Bill Lee.

These bills send a clear message to members of the LGBTQ community: You, your efforts, and your talents are not welcome in Tennessee. That is not, nor should be, the attitude of the state we love. These people are our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and community leaders. All walks of life should be welcome in Tennessee, and our state will be stronger and more vibrant with their diverse perspectives included.

This legislation, and the ideology that drives it, are on the wrong side of history and are remarkably bad for business.

You see, there aren’t many life experiences that are more inclusive than music. In an age of extreme polarization and dearth of good will, music is a powerful force that brings people together … not only songwriters, artists, bands, producers, promoters, music publishing and record label executives, financial advisors, event coordinators, venue staff, … but also fans, here, across the US, and the world! Music allows folks from every walk of life to participate and we are all better as a result. Nashville is Music City; this legislation threatens the fabric of that long-standing value and pride that we all feel around the role that Nashville and Tennessee play on the world stage.

Our goal is to foster community, not tear it apart. Tourists, natives, and businesses want to be in Music City because this is a unique place that brings people together.

I am proud to have employees that identify as LGBTQ and one can be certain that we are not alone across the larger music business. Our business and the greater music industry are better as a result of their presence and effort, and this legislation will have a substantial negative economic impact on the most visible industry in Nashville.

Nashville and greater Tennessee are experiencing positive growth on nearly every measurable metric -- please -- make sure diversity and inclusion are part of that list.

Join us and the many fair and economically enriching companies in opposing these bills that unfairly discriminate against our colleagues, neighbors, and family members that identify as LGBTQ.

Human Rights Campaign

Tennessee Open Letter to STOP Discriminatory Legislation

Respectfully yours,
Aaron Davis
CEO / Co-Founder
Exploration

Joining:

11seventy
AllianceBernstein
Bridgestone
Brinnovate Digital
Conjure
Covenant of the Cross
Curb Records
Dell
Diversity Builder, Inc
Events R Us Photography
Focus Middle Tennessee
Genesco
Hilton
IKEA
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
Lyft
Marriott International
MassMutual
MediCopy
MP Dezgn Technology Solutions
Nashville Ballet
Nashville Cares
Nashville Children's Theatre
Nike, Inc.
Noah E. Spiegel Consulting
North America Services, LLC
Overlook Nashville
Pecker Bar & Grill
Postmates
Replacements, Ltd.
ROCKNFILM
Salesforce
The Orchard
Turnip Truck
Unilever
Warby Parker
Warner Music Group

Here’s how you can help now!

Write your own letter to have your voice heard and invite other companies to do the same.
Add your name to either or both open letter opposing this legislation.
Action Alert from the Nashville LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce — This has highlights action steps, and links.
Contact your legislators via www.capitol.tn.gov.

Reference Articles

Official Downloadable PDF of this Open Letter

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2019/04/23/nike-bridgestone-and-a-dozen-others-join.html

https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2019/04/22/warner-music-against-tennessee-lgbtq-legislation/3538396002/

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2019/04/04/anti-lgbt-legislation-tennessee-businesses-randy-mcnally/3365817002/

https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2019/03/05/alliancebernstein-joins-lgbtq-advocates-fight-tennessee-legislation-hb-1152-diversity-inclusion/3065533002/

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2019/04/08/taylor-swift-nashville-donation-tennessee-equality-project-lgbtq/3406545002/