Republican lawmakers in the Tennessee state legislature have blocked a resolution to honor TJ Osborne, the country music singer of the Brothers Osborne, who came out as gay earlier this year.
NBC reports that Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 609 would have commemorated Osborne, noting “though T.J. Osborne is not the first country music artist to come out as gay, he is the first and currently only openly gay artist signed to a major country label.” It further adds that “though it may have been merely a consequence of being true to himself, he has nonetheless become a trailblazer and a symbol of hope for those country music artists and fans alike who may have become ostracized from a genre they hold dear.”
Related: Country crooner TJ Osborne on the unexpected response to his coming out
SJR 609 had already passed the Tennessee Senate by a unanimous vote before coming up against a roadblock in the state House. Rep. Jeremy Faison, chair of the House Republican Caucus, blocked the measure. Faison has a long history of sponsoring legislation designed to attack LGBTQ people.
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“We have some concerns on this SJR, and I’d like to send it back to naming and designating,” Faison said of his actions. “It wasn’t heard in committee, and I feel like it needs to be.”
The Brothers Osborne, for their part, expressed their confoundment at Faison’s move.
We’ve lived in this state for over half of our lives. @JeremyFaison4TN honored Ben Shapiro who doesn’t even live here. Jeremy, let’s have lunch one day. On us. Would really like to know more about you as a person. https://t.co/00w2rdwCec
— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) May 4, 2021
“We’ve lived in this state for over half of our lives,” the Brothers Osborne said in a tweet. “@JeremyFaison4TN honored Ben Shapiro who doesn’t even live here. Jeremy, let’s have lunch one day. On us. Would really like to know more about you as a person.”
Other country music singers also weighed in on the stalling of SJR 609.
The move is just the latest in a long history of anti-LGBTQ legislative tactics by Jeremy Faison. In 2012, he notoriously declared that suicides among queer youth are not a result of bullying, but of the youth lacking “proper principles.”
“We’ve had some horrible things happen in America and in our state, and there’s children that have actually committed suicide, but I will submit to you today that they did not commit suicide because of somebody bullying them,” Faison said. “They committed suicide because they were not instilled the proper principles of where their self-esteem came from at home.”
In 2019, Faison also supported a bill that would allow adoption agencies to deny service to same-sex couples.
As a state, Tennessee has increasingly targeted the rights of LGBTQ people as well. Last month, the state House passed a bill that would require transgender-friendly businesses to post signs warning patrons of their bathroom policies. In March, Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a bill banning transgender youth from competing on sports teams in accordance with their gender identity. Republicans in the state have also introduced bills to ban teachers from teaching LGBTQ history.
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Tombear
So what’s new?
Kangol2
Why are so many Republicans so rabidly homophobic and anti-gay? Again and again, they show their true, foul colors.
Harley
It’s called projection. They can’t face their own same sex attraction so like school yard bullies they have to beat up those people who pose a risk to their own sense of masculinity.
Donston
Harley, prejudice and being homophobic and/or anti-gay, it’s definitely more complicated than that. However, there is some projection in many. There are quite a few folks (even out folks) who project insecurities or traumas or resentments towards their dimensions onto others. Generally, it’s all driven by fear and the weird human need to see particular people as “wrong” or beneath you. While so many Conservative Republicans don’t truly hate same-sex behaviors. They more so resent people being unabashedly out, embracing a “gay” identity, indulging public same-sex passions, affections, love, commitment.
OhPlease
Ex-reporter here: They recruit extensively in the LGBT, BDSM and sex worker subcultures. A facility I covered in Right Wing, TX that was run by hardcore GOPers for vets actually rented their space to the local BDSM club!
Donston
It’s fairly obvious at this point that a percentage of alt-right and super religious dudes are “queer”. In fact, many of them get off on publicly being “straight” and Conservative while being something else behind doors. Most people who care to know have heard about the prostitution stories, secret meetings, BDSM clubs, etc. While even the ones who aren’t closeted/are semi out don’t tend to publicly associate with “gays”.
Mister P
Republican cancel culture.
Cam
Republicans hate the idea that gay people even exist.
Wondering the same old troll will be in here to either try to deflect the topic, or make up some lie about Osbourne to attack him. Nothing the right wing hates more than an out of the closet LGBTQ person.
Chrisk
He saw too it that the gas bag Ben Shapiro was honored though. I’d say he’s a POS but that’s an unfair association to actual shit. The f*cker is way lower then that.
Such blatant bigotry and yet the passed it unanimously. Just effing scum. Every last one of them.
BoomerMyles
What a shocker a red state would be homophobic.
BGreen1963
Tennessee is part of the vast Bible Belt; known for Teenage pregnancy, Child Molestation, Rape, Gun Violence, Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, Anti-semitism, Religious intolerance, vast ignorance and incest. Southern Baptist Ministers spread evil, hate and ignorance everywhere they go. Nothing will change in Tennessee until Tennesseans start to realize they are being led straight to their Hell.
Markph84
As a son of Tennessee by adoption, a Filipino by birth, & veteran by choice you forgot one Tennessean dirty secret, child marriage is still legal as long as the child’s parents or guardians agree to the arrangement. I believe 12 is the minimum age requirement but the youngest has been 10 years. Tennessee has always been a backwards state outside of the city population centers which is why I left.
cynicalsteve
He’s probably a raging close homo. Toe tapper.
Fahd
Charlie Pride didn’t have an easy time of it either. I like the Brothers Osborne inviting him to lunch, being sure to mention they’d pay. He’s dealing with some deep-seated prejudice.
Mack
What do you expect from the state that wants to make the “Bible” the official book of the state?
amanwithanedge
LOVE TJ
Prowelsh56
Tennessee. It’s Tennessee! Yet another State not to visit. You have to wonder how folks of the State of Tennessee ( like others ) just shrug their shoulders.
Heywood Jablowme
” but I will submit to you today that they did not commit suicide because of somebody bullying them,” Faison said. “They committed suicide because they were not instilled the proper principles of where their self-esteem came from at home.”
I can’t make any sense of that second sentence, but the first one strikes me as his admission that he was a bully as a kid and he really enjoyed it! And he was disappointed if none of his victims committed suicide.
James26
I totally missed the coming out story when it broke last February. TJ seems like a cool, talented normal guy. It’s great that he came out. We need more like him!
Donston
Half of the male public figures who come out are “masculine” or “straight-passing” or at least not aggressively femme. So, this obsession with “normal” guys just screams queer insecurities and femme-phobia. It’s been old. Every time a non overtly effeminate guy comes out you do not need to talk about how “normal” he is. Furthermore, we’re all “queers”. To “straight” people none of us are “normal”. So, stfu with that “normal” shit.
James26
@donston Normality is a real thing, even if you put it in scare quotes. Celebrate this brother’s coming out. Do better. Be better.
yaletownman
I grew up in Tennessee and lived there for over 30 years until leaving almost 20 years ago. While their are hood people there as there are everywhere overall it’s a shitty place. The cities, like Nashville used to have pretty strong counter and sub-cultures but after George Bush was elected and hick/trash culture began to become something to aspire to instead of escape from, it’s really gone to hell.
Markph84
Ignorance is to be celebrated now instead of being ashamed. Did you hear our home state now has a day dedicated to the OG Grand Wizard of the KKK, Nathan Bedford Forrest? I guess a state park & many monuments weren’t enough. The south loves to celebrate their losers & traitors.
cuteguy
It’s a GQP state that would only honor the KKK. This is the garbage cult that Caitlyn Jenner represents. The GQP doesn’t even hide their hatred or discrimination anymore
Wheelerman
I despise Tennessee lawmakers as well as other red state Republicans. I don’t know the Osbourne Brothers or TJ, but I’m going to buy some of his music in support of him.
Markph84
Tennessee won’t change like most southern states due to smaller towns & counties being primarily GOP bastions. Unless, there’s a huge infusion & gentrification of the entire state, it’ll be red, “Lord allowing & the creek don’t rise”. And hear I thought child marriage was the worst display of ignorance before “Nathan Bedford Forrest Day”. I grew up in that state throughout the 80s & 90s, to say being a triple threat (a gay, Filipino immigrant who later became a staunch agnostic) was easy is a misnomer because I became very entrenched in my closet until I left & joined the Army.