x
Breaking News
More () »

Lawmakers joke, cite provocative clothing during legislative sexual harassment training

Led by the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, the training comes more than a year after lawmakers voted to oust former colleague Jeremy Durham.
<p>The Tennessee state Capitol in Nashville.</p>

Near the end of the first-of-its-kind training for state House members intended to combat sexual harassment, one female lawmaker suggested women need to be mindful of the possibility of harassment if they wear provocative clothing.

Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville, said women have a "responsibility" to maintain their own decorum.

"I've had female lobbyists walk into my office dressed in such a manner that I had to fight the urge to laugh," Rogers said, adding that's been the case for "some of our younger interns."

Meanwhile, even before the presentation began Wednesday morning, Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, jokingly said he was "being harassed," pointing to Rep. John Mark Windle, D-Livingston, who was seated next to him while asking his colleague to be moved.

YWCA CEO Sharon Roberson, left, leads a training of Tennessee House lawmakers on sexual harassment. Jan. 10, 2018. Photo: Joel Ebert, The Tennessean.

Led by the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, the training comes more than a year after lawmakers voted to oust former colleague Jeremy Durham.

It also comes as lawmakers in legislatures — and other industries ranging from Hollywood to the news media — around the country face an onslaught of sexual harassment and assault allegations.

Rogers was one of only two House members not to vote for Durham's expulsion after a Tennessean investigation prompted an attorney general report that found Durham engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with at least 22 women.

The training, at which some lawmakers walked in and out of the in-person session, covered everything from examples of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct to a brief history of federal legislation that prohibits such acts.

YWCA CEO Sharon Roberson, who led the training, said while what Rogers said about provocative clothing might seem logical, governmental agencies that enforce harassment law on the state and national level disagree.

"That whole mindset is the culture that we have to change," Roberson said.

After the presentation ended, Roberson said she felt the fact that the legislature was doing the training, which her organization provided free of charge, meant they were taking the issue seriously.

"We have to make a cultural change in order for this body to move forward and take care of the business that they're here to take care of," Roberson said.

Roberson said the confusion around her example highlighted that work on the issue remains.

Anyone who knows of misconduct at statehouse must report it

To kick off the training, Connie Ridley, director of legislative administration, gave a brief overview of the legislature's new sexual harassment policy, which was adopted in July 2016.

She noted some key elements, including a requirement that anyone with personal knowledge of inappropriate conduct must report it or face the possibility of being held in violation of the policy.

"That's a big change for us," Ridley said. "That's a very expansion of this policy and again something that we think will really help to protect the people that are here."

Ridley also said the new legislative policy covers everything from prohibiting sexual harassment to age, gender and race discrimination.

The policy also allows anyone — including lawmakers, members of the public, lobbyists and staffers — to file a complaint.

Among the various points Roberson made during her training, she emphasized that a victim's reaction to harassment does not provide harassers protection. She also said the intent of a person who harasses someone does not matter.

"If a reasonable person would've felt offended by your actions that is the most important aspect of sexual harassment," she said.

Roberson also told lawmakers that they play a key role in combating sexual harassment at the legislature and ensuring work environments are kept professional.

"You're going to have to police each other," she said.

'Sin is sin'

Before providing examples of harassment, Roberson listed the various forms, including verbal, non-verbal, visual, physical and written.

Roberson wrapped up the presentation by providing an example of harassment that featured an attractive, hard-working female employee who occasionally flirts with her colleagues. While attending a business lunch with a male supervisor, the woman balks when the boss inappropriately touches her and asks her to go to a hotel.

When Roberson asked what they would do if they were on the receiving end of a human resources complaint, lawmakers gave a smattering of answers, ranging from calling for action against the supervisor to suggesting HR simply tell the boss to stop his actions.

Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, said the woman in the example was violating the sexual harassment policy when she began flirting.

"Sin is sin," said Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, receiving laughter.

Rogers' comments about provocatively dressed women also came in response to Roberson's question.

The new training for the House comes one year after lawmakers, staff and interns were required to watch a 15-minute online video aimed at combating and preventing sexual harassment.

In the coming weeks, Senate lawmakers are expected to take an online course on the issue.

A national problem, statehouse sexual harassment evident in Tennessee as well

The issue has garnered attention in statehouses around the country in recent months, after women in various industries, including Hollywood, the news media and the music business, have begun to speak out against harassment.

The Volunteer State has seen two former lawmakers — Durham and Mark Lovell — face sexual harassment accusations in the past two years.

Lovell, who resigned in January 2016, was accused of inappropriately touching a woman. A House committee found he violated the legislature's sexual harassment policy.

The Tennessean investigation also found the legislature's sexual harassment complaint policy secretive and ineffective, prompting House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, to require mandatory harassment training for the first time.

While the legislature eventually released some of its findings from the Lovell investigation, Harwell and Ridley have refused to provide information on other potential inquiries. Harwell had pledged that information would be public after a Tennessean investigation found the legislature was far more secretive than other state agencies when it came to releasing sexual harassment-related complaints.

Overall, Roberson said she was pleased with how lawmakers received her presentation, with one even suggesting he may have to reconsider how he embraces people for fear that it could be considered harassment.

"Taking the time to do this right, really does make a difference in the long-run," she said.

Dave Boucher contributed to this report.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.

Before You Leave, Check This Out