ABOVE: T.J. Osborne, photo via Instagram.
A resolution that passed the Tennessee State Senate in a 30-0 vote to honor openly out Country Music artist T.J. Osborne was blocked by the state’s House of Representatives May 3.
In a statement just prior to blocking the measure, SDR 609, sending it back to a committee that has ended its work for this legislative session effectively killing it.
Representative Jeremy Faison, chair of the House Republican Caucus took to the House Floor telling the House Speaker, “We have some concerns on the SDR […]” When queried as to the source of the concerns, Faison replied that since the bill had not been heard in committee “it ought to be.”
Memphis Democratic Representative Antonio Parkison fired back with “a lot of SDR’s aren’t heard in committee and we vote on them- we voted on a couple of them today as a matter of fact,” he said. Then he raised his voice saying, “the Country Music artist TJ Osborne?! We’re talking about a Country Music singer y’all, come’on.”
Faison has co-sponsored several anti-LGBTQ legislative measures which politico observers have indicated may be his actual reason for blocking the resolution.
Osborne and his brother who make up the highly successful duo ‘Brothers Osborne’ tweeted Faison directly about about his actions.
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
On May 5, Faison responded:
I would be honored to break bread with you.
— Jeremy Faison (@JeremyFaison4TN) May 4, 2021
Television show host Ellen DeGeneres had spoken with Osborne, who made headlines after coming out as gay in a powerful Time magazine article earlier this year.
The Brothers Osborne singer talked about why now was the perfect time to go public with his truth, and why he thinks country artists are hesitant to come out.
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