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s we in Tennessee head into early voting next week, we are certain to continue to be bombarded with information from all sides about candidates not only in the federal elections, but also in state races as well. While it can be overwhelming, it is of the absolute greatest import that we make sure we are aware of what's going on, not just at the federal level, but among candidates in our state.
Approaching this important election, there are many ways that we might be tempted to take short cuts regarding our state races. There are always people and organizations at the ready to capitalize on the desire for these short cuts. And while many of the resources available to offer insight into particular races are created with integrity, there are also those meant to manipulate people into voting against their own interests. This is especially true for many organizations who specifically target Christian audiences.
The Family Action Council of Tennessee's (FACT) "2016 Voter Guides" are a prime example of an attempt to manipulate the Christian voting public into voting against their own interests. As many of the devoutly Christian people in our state are people of color, poor people and people who otherwise lack access to basic necessities and are often deprived of basic human rights, "guides" like FACT's muddy the waters of importance for the majority of Tennesseans by casting control of bodies, sexuality and gender as the most important issues facing Tennesseans today.
FACT used a 14-question candidate survey to offer "guidance" to Christian voters. Of the 14 questions, half were questions about possible support of policies intended to limit people's sexual and reproductive freedom and access to health care. Important topics for most Tennesseans that were
NOT addressed by this survey included:
- Education Funding/School Closures
- Comprehensive Reproductive and Sexual Health Education
- The Criminalization of Illness and Health Care as a Human Right
- Initiatives to Address Poverty
- Pathways Back to Full Citizenship for People Convicted of Felonies
- Anything that Would Proactively Improve the Lived Experiences of the Most Vulnerable People in Our State
FACT only wants to solidify exclusionary policies that continue to attack women and oppress same gender loving and gender non conforming people. They are not concerned about the issues that are truly harming Tennesseans on a daily basis. Their "guides" only exist to pit an over simplified and frankly improper relationship between faith and citizenship against the actual needs of the people and trap Christians into a self-harming cycle.
DON'T BE FOOLED! We know best what our families need!
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