Our own Dr. Bharat Mehra made news in the latest edition of Full Circle, UT-K’s alumni newsletter of the college of communications and information. Mehra’s involvement in the School of Information Science’s cross-cultural collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Accompanying Mehra to the Rio Piedros camp were Drs. Carol Tenopit and Dr. Ed Cortez.

The group intends to develop a student exchange program and a symposium. Further information can be found in Full Circle’s Fall 2006 edition.

Tommy Higens now manager at West Knox News

Our own Tommy Higens, writer for both Out and About Newspaper’s East Bureau and the Equality Herald has

Tommy Higens

Photo provided

been promoted to General Manager of West Knox News. The adult bookstore located in Bearden at 5005 Kingston Pike is a landmark in that area. Higens, a Manhattan native, came to Tennessee a few years back from Eastern Long Island where he was heavily involved in the cabaret circuit. He began his new position in late November.

Higens and his companion, Allana Jackson, are a frequent sight at various LGBTQ events in the Knoxville area. Tommy has plans for a CTV (cable access talent show and is considering Kurt’s Bar as a taping venue according the Becky Varner, Kurt’s new co-owner.

Knology teams up with Grace Baptist

Knology, Knoxville’s “other” cable company recently teamed up with Grace Baptist Church as a media sponsor for Grace Baptist’s Natalie Grant concert held at the Karns mega-church on Tuesday, December 5. They also served as the conservative church’s media sponsor for “Extremely Christmas at Market Square” on December 2 as part of the Christmas in the City series.

John Feehan, Knology’s general manager for the Knoxville area, declined to comment regarding the new affiliation with Grace Baptist when contacted by the Equality Herald. He did confirm that Knology was the media sponsor for the events in cooperation with Grace Baptist.

Further inquiries to Knology regarding their company policy with regard to nondiscrimination policy relating to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression as well as domestic partner benefits drew similar responses.

Grace Baptist Church, located at 7171 Oak Ridge Highway is a right-wing congregation headed up by leaders with deep roots in Southern Baptist tradition. They boast a 31-member staff. The sprawling facility is growing rapidly and currently includes a day care, a private school, and many other amenities. The construction at the site is never-ending and has included massive excavation behind the church’s present site entailing the removal of a substantial portion of a hill located behind the church.

Transgender firefighter's appeal denied

The Tennessee State Human Rights Commission has denied the appeal of a ruling denying discrimination based on gender identity and expression in the case of Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) Captain Jamie Faucon.

Jamie Faucon

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Knoxville Police Department internal investigation branch and Civil Service Board officials had previously substantiated claims made by KFD Captain Jamie Faucon that she was discriminated against based on her gender identity/expression. Faucon, who is transgendered, previously filed a grievance asserting that Assistant Fire Chief Mark Foulkes and Master Firefighter Mike Brown altered, and reduced the scope of her duties and moved her office to a location making it difficult to fulfill her responsibilities, as part of a general climate of discrimination. Faucon also alleged that Foulkes

and Brown made derogatory statements indicating their displeasure with having a transgender firefight serve on KPD.

Faucon, who continues as quality control officer for the organization, received word in early June that the grievance investigation findings were in her favor. Numerous witnesses were questioned in the investigation including not only KFD employees, but employees from other City/County governmental departments as well. Some cited “fear of retribution” if they cooperated with the inquiry, despite the presence of whistleblower protections.

The City also has anti-retaliation rules to cover those who make “good faith” complaints of job discrimination in order to “ensure that no excessive burdens be placed on a complainant which might discourage filing of complaints.” Faucon feels that Foulkes and Brown attempted to retaliate against her by smearing her performance in her last job performance evaluation. With prompting from the Civil Service Board, that evaluation was pulled and rewritten to reflect a more accurate description of Faucon’s recent work history.

“All options are under consideration,” says Faucon. “We will make a decision on whether to go forward with appeal after reviewing all options.”

The Tennessee State Human Rights Commission is an independent state agency charged with preventing and eradicating discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing. The Commission has its central office in Nashville and has regional offices in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis.

Lambda Flames of Knoxville Fall Semester 2006 a rousing success

The Lambda Student Union’s Flames of Knoxville Fall 2006 performance held Thursday, December 7, in the Carolyn P. Brown University Center auditorium was a sight to behold. From the local pros, including Raz from Club XYZ, to the students in all-out drag, the performance was delightful.

Check out the photo album here.

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