Tennessee Equality Project Uses Social Networking to Mobilize Gay Rights Supporters

The gay rights group Tennessee Equality Project has no full-time employees, so if you call the number listed on its Web site, you'll reach its president's cell phone and might interrupt him at his day job raising funds for a Nashville charity. The TEP was founded only four years ago and reported about $37,000 in spending on its 2008 tax return. But it outmaneuvered opponents by mobilizing hundreds of people in favor of an ordinance meant to block job discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in Shelby County. The group made heavy use of social networking Web site Facebook.com and got a big boost when its opponents made "mean-spirited and ugly comments" that prompted people to react, said Jonathan Cole, TEP's Shelby County chairman. "When you target a specific group for discrimination, the people in Shelby County will stand up," said Cole, a social worker who took time off from his job to attend public meetings. Full Story from CommercialAppeal.com

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