Jennifer Pritzkerthe world's first out and only known transgender billionaire, as well as a cousin of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzkerthreatened to pull her fortune from Tennessee if lawmakers pass transphobic legislation currently under consideration, according to out.com .
"As a transgender woman, these unnecessary and hurtful laws are personal to me," Jennifer, a decorated military veteran, wrote in an open statement to lawmakers. "But as a businesswoman, my larger concern is the impact they will have on Tennessee's reputation and, ultimately, economic well being, as businesses and tourists turn elsewhere.
"No state benefits from the perception that it is an intolerant and unwelcome place for people of different backgrounds, and it alarms me gravely to see this state vying for the title of least inclusive in the nation."
Lawmakers in the state's House recently passed HB 1233, which is part of what the Human Rights Campaign called a "Slate of Hate" bills currently making their way through the Tennessee House and Senate. The Senate has its own version of the bill, SB 1367.
Recently, Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill that forces transgender students to compete in school sports according to their sex at birth, The Tennesseean reported.