Restricting transgender care and expressions of gender identity isn’t just a political issue. These proposals and laws have had a deep impact on people in Tennessee’s LGBTQ+ community.
The sheer volume of legislation, legal challenges and superseding court rulings could make it difficult for anyone to keep up — but WPLN News closely covered the developments and set its coverage apart by centering the voices of those directly impacted by anti-LGBTQ+ state policy.
Led by Marianna Bacallao, WPLN journalists developed expertise and trust, elevated perspectives that did not appear in other local outlets, and added layers of understanding for our audiences.
The audio shared above is a curated collection of five in-depth audio stories. Those are included below, along with select additions from a year of coverage.
‘Because others can’t leave’: Inside the fight for transgender rights in Tennessee
Neo-Nazis threatened a drag show at a Cookeville bar. Now the bar is facing eviction.
‘It’s not a way to live’: Why transgender people are leaving Tennessee
Tennessee’s drag restrictions have been temporarily blocked — again
Transgender youth in Tennessee will not be able to access gender-affirming care, federal court rules
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