The 2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: Takeaways for the LGBTQ+ Community

Description

It’s a wrap! Now that the legislative season has closed, we reflect on the policies that passed, failed, and may face us again in 2026. 

Join our legislative experts Dahron Johnson, Tom Lee, Chris Sanders, and Joseph Woodson for a discussion of 2025’s legislative season and how it has impacted LGBTQ+ communities. 

This is your chance to ask questions and discuss specific laws, delve into why we were victorious on some but not other bills, and explore what we can do to prepare for the next legislative season. 

Register today to receive a link to join the Zoom discussion!

About Our Panelists:

Chaplain Dahron Johnson (she/her) |  Community Education & Outreach, Tennessee Equality Project

Dahron Johnson, a clinically-trained chaplain & licensed minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC), is a 20-year resident of Nashville, TN. She works with a number of local groups, including the community advisory boards for the Kennedy Center; the Program for LGBTQ+ Health at VUMC; and the Board of the community leadership development organization, Neighbor 2 Neighbor. Her activism work, though, has its home in the Tennessee Equality Project, a group dedicated to legislative advocacy for the rights of LGBTQ+ Tennesseans. Chaplain Johnson has testified before the TN General Assembly Senate and House committees on multiple occasions. In January 2024, having been invited to serve as Chaplain of the Day, Dahron became the first openly trans person to speak from the floor of the Tennessee House—an occasion that is also believed to be the first time nationally that an out trans person has offered prayer in any state legislature.

Tom Lee (he/him) | Lobbyist, Tennessee Pride Chamber of Commerce; Nelson Mullins

Tom focuses in the practice areas of government relations and public-facing litigation. With over 40 years’ experience as an Emmy award-winning journalist, political strategist, lobbyist, and attorney, Tom is especially adept when conflict resolution requires awareness of policy, politics, and the press.

Chris Sanders (he/him) | Executive Director, Tennessee Equality Project

Chris has served as executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project and the Tennessee Equality Project Foundation since 2013.  He holds the M.Div. from Vanderbilt University.  He previously served as president of the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce and was a founding member of the Nashville Grizzlies Rugby Football Club, Nashville's first gay rugby team.

Advocacy Chair (he/him) |  Tennessee Pride Chamber of Commerce; Woodson Results

Joseph Woodson provides Government Relations and Consulting services as Founder & Principal of Woodson Results, LLC. He also serves as Executive Director of the Nashville Business Coalition. From 2016-2020, Joseph served as liaison to the Metro Council and senior legislative advisor under two Metro Nashville mayoral administrations. Prior to serving in the mayor’s office, Joseph oversaw government relations for the Office of the Tennessee Comptroller.