Attorneys for six Tennesseans have filed a lawsuit challenging the Tennesee law which prohibits same-sex sexual contact. Named as defendants were Tennessee governor Ned McWherter, state attorney general Charles W. Burson, and Davidson County DA Torry Johnson. Plaintiffs in the suit include Penny Campbell of Nashville, a longtime activist; Chadwick Freeman Presswood, a student at UT-Knoxville Law School; James Tallent, chair of Knoxville Pride '93; and Christopher Simien, a grad student in psychology at Vanderbilt University. The other plantiffs are "John Doe" of Rutherford County and "Jane Roe" of Davidson County. Attorneys for the plaintiffs are Abby Rubenfeld of Nashville, Jacqueline Kittrell of Knoxville, Susan McKenzie of Memphis, and Christine Freeman of Nashville. Rubenfeld says that the suit challenges the law as violating both the right to privacy (which is very clear in the Tennessee constitution) and equal protection under the law, since only same-sex sexual relations are criminalized. Currently, same-sex sexual acts are classified as a Class C misdemeanor with a possible maximum sentence of a $50 fine and/or 30 days in jail. James Tallent told me that the attorneys involved are working on a volunteer basis and in some cases paying their own money for fees. If you would like to send donations to help them, here is the address: Abby Rubenfeld 2505 Hillsboro Road, Suite 201 Nashville, TN 37212 (615) 386-9077 Be sure to earmark any donations for this case. I have seen a copy of the lawsuit, and based on my admittedly limited knowledge of the law, it looks like this suit has a good chance. Each of the plaintiffs list in the suit how the law puts their careers in jeopardy (since in many cases they are required to report being convicted of a crime on applications for licensing, etc). I'll keep the net posted as I find out more. Tina M. Wood al715@yfn.ysu.edu Activist geek healer curmudgeon One Life to Live fan "God, grant me the serenity to just remember who I am." Geek code: GSS/O d+ p- c++ l- m+ s-/ !g w+ t- r- x+