Official
2019
JUNE 2019 / VOLUME 19 / ISSUE 06 FIRST ISSUE FREE - ADD’L COPIES 50¢ EACH
PRIDE GUIDE
RS OF E N T R PA ESS P RO G R
The 2019 Nissan Rogue®
In the shared spirit of progress, Nissan proudly supports the LGBTQ community on the road to equality. NissanUSA.com/Pride 2
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
Always wear your seat belt, and please don’t drink and drive. © 2019 Nissan North America, Inc. JUNE 2019
TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
SEPT 10-15, 2019
present
OCT 15-20, 2019
NOV 5-10, 2019
DEC 31, 2019 – JAN 19, 2020
THE LINCOLN CENTER THEATER PRODUCTION
JIMMY BUFFET T’S
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MAY 5-10, 2020
MAY 26-31, 2020
JUNE 9-14, 2020
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NOV 19-24, 2019 PLUS – TPAC & Lythgoe Family Panto present
FEB 11-16, 2020
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Aladdin and His Winter Wish
learn more about the
MAR 27-29, 2020 DEC 12-22, 2019
2019-20 season
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STAFF
Publisher: Jerry Jones jjones@outandaboutnashville.com
Managing Editor: James Grady jgrady@outandaboutnashville.com
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CONTRIBUTORS
Writers: David Briley, Matthew Gann, James Grady, Josh Robbins, Jason Shawhan
Photographers: Nolwen Cifuentes, James Grady, Will Shutes, Ashley Callahan Payne
Cover: (diagonally) Damien Connor & Candace Johnson; Carla Lewis & Jaime Combs; Matthew Gann & Ruby Ida Marigold; Shawn Reilly, Justin Sweatman-Weaver, & Del Ray
25
Zimmerman; (left) Joe Interrante; (right) Jane Dupree
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Out & About Nashville strives to be a credible community news organization by engaging and educating our readers. All content of Out & About Nashville is copyrighted 2017 by Out & About Nashville, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of the person or persons. Out & About Nashville accepts unsolicited material but cannot take responsibility for its return. The editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit submissions. All rights revert to authors upon publication. The editorial positions of Out & About Nashville are expressed in editorials and in the editor’s notes as determined by the editor. Other opinions are those of writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Out & About Nashville or its staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged but may be edited for clarity and length. There is no guarantee that letters will be published. Out & About Nashville only accepts adult advertising within set guidelines and on a case-by-case basis.
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06.19
CONTENTS
12
PRIDE MONTH EVENT SCHEDULE
14
NASHVILLE PRIDE TAKING OVER BROADWAY
16
NASHVILLE PRIDE 2019 ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
31
NASHVILLE PRIDE UNDERTAKING COMMUNITY VISIONING PROJECT
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PRIDE OVERTOOK EAST IVY MANSION
37
THESE ARE THE FACES OF PRIDE
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“TO ME, PRIDE…”
45
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ASURION
48
BRIDGESTONE AIMS FOR GREATER INCLUSIVITY THROUGH BPROUD
51
DOWNTOWN | FRANKLIN | HENDERSONVILLE | HERMITAGE | MURFREESBORO
LOVING THE ONE YOUR CHILD DARES TO BECOME
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LOOKING BACK WITH JOE INTERRANTE
56
HISTORIC SLATE OF LGBT CANDIDATES IN NASHVILLE
60
IS BEING CALLED ‘DADDY’ AT PRIDE A BAD THING?
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MOVIE REVIEW: PRIDE QUARTET
carrie@midtowntitletn.com | 615.921.8684
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
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LETTER
from the Editor
Join us for
TENNESSEE EQUALITY PROJECT FOUNDATION
NASHVILLE PRIDE’S OFFICIAL KICKOFF
HELLO, NASHVILLE! I don’t get excited for Pride very much anymore. It’s a lot of work— bigger issue, planning for events, taking photos, “volunteering” at the O&AN booth? ‘Give me a gin and tonic and a cool, quiet place’ is how I feel by 10:01 a.m. on the first day of Nashville’s Pride Festival. It’s a funny thing to say at the beginning of my Pride issue that I don’t enjoy Pride, I suppose! Those who know me know that I am a pretty bah-humbug sort of guy. But Pride isn’t about me. Looking over this issue now that its finished, I think it represents what Pride is about: being able to proudly show our true faces somewhere. A few years ago, it seemed like Pride might be on track to becoming obsolete. But recent political developments have put us again on the defensive, left us fighting a rearguard action to preserve as many of the gains we have made as possible. There are minorities within our LGBTQ+ community who are becoming even more vulnerable, who are being backed into corners and increasingly excluded from public spaces. The facilities a trans person is able to access are being legislated. Businesses are being granted the ‘privileges’ of churches—to harm and exclude those who do not believe like them. I could go on. So 50 years later, there is still a desperate need for Pride: to be able to come out and show that inner strength and strangeness within each of us, in a group of people who—at least to some degree—will understand and accept that spark of difference. For two days a space of freedom is carved out. Those kids who have secretly crafted their own binders so they can feel good about themselves on a day-to-day basis without endangering their wellbeing by speaking their truth walk around shirtless, wearing only the requisite Band-Aids across outlaw nipples. Those ‘roommates’ who carefully avoid any appearance of public affection so that their neighbors can keep up the charade of propriety drive three hours to hold hands in front of thousands and make out in front of bigot street preachers. In this issue, we have highlighted the Pride festival, of course, but we have also attempted to show the “faces of Pride” as well—something I hope we manage to do to some degree throughout the year. If you would like to share what you are Proud of, or what Pride means to you, send your thoughts and a photo to editor@outandaboutnashville.com so we can keep this going online, especially this month!
James Grady Managing Editor, O&AN
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JUNE 2019
june 21 / 6 pm • center 615 courtyard / nashville
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Jenny Ford Government Strategies | Nashville, TN | Est. 2003
Government Strategies
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JUNE 2019
Enjoy a special glimpse into one of the world’s finest collections
of Mexican art, featuring iconic works by Frida Kahlo, her
husband Diego Rivera, and their contemporaries. Among the
more than 150 works on view are self-portraits by Kahlo, Rivera’s
Calla Lily Vendor, and photographs that illuminate Kahlo and Rivera’s passionate love affair and show how the couple lived, worked, and dressed.
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2
919 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee FristArtMuseum.org #FristMexMod
Organized by the Vergel Foundation and MondoMostre in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL)
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Hospitality Sponsor
Education and Community Engagement Sponsor
THE SANDRA SCHATTEN FOUNDATION
Supported in part by Friends of the Mexican Renaissance and
Nickolas Muray (American, 1892–1965). Frida on a White Bench (detail), 1939. Carbon print, 15 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation. © Nickolas Muray Photo Archives
From the President of
NASHVILLE PRIDE
DEAR NASHVILLE,
For many, Nashville Pride is a place to come together with friends, family, and loved ones to celebrate the progress our community has made. It is a time to say “thank you” to those who have sacrificed their time, energy, and even lives to securing our rights to gather, marry, adopt children, and even simply use the restroom. As we celebrate the 31stPride in Nashville, we also pay homage to those who started the modern-day LGBTQ+ movement at the Stonewall Inn 50 years ago, an event that led to the creation of pride festivals and parades throughout the world. In our celebration, we can’t forget the constant struggles some in our community still face. Although Nashville has made great strides toward equality and inclusion, the state and federal political environments are increasingly uncertain. Intersectionality makes us stronger. With a commitment to love and humanity, we will continue to stand up against discrimination and stand for equality. We must continue to band together with our neighbors and make our voices heard. We should always remember that Pride comes from the knowledge that we are humans deserving of love and acceptance — that our humanity is something to be celebrated and to be proud of. While we don’t know what lies on the road ahead for the LGBTQ+ community, we must always remember the obstacles we
have faced and tackled the last 50 years that led us to today: a day where we will march down a rainbow-clad Broadway in one of the most popular cities in the south led by a group of LGBTQ+ youth who know it’s ok to be who they are; a day where the largest employers in the region commit substantial financial and human resources to stand with us and stand up for us; a day where the police and fire departments and the Mayor’s Office have dedicated liaisons to deal with issues that matter most to us; and a day where the Mayor and Metro Council honors us for the “enormous contributions to the quality of life in Nashville and Davidson County” by declaring June Nashville Pride Month. The road hasn’t been easy, and we know there are still struggles ahead, but take every opportunity to celebrate this Pride Season. Our community has earned it. In Pride,
Matthew Gann President, Nashville Pride
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HAPPY PRIDE! ABBY R. RUBENFELD Attorney at Law
202 South Eleventh Street Nashville, Tennessee 37206 Telephone: (615) 386-9077 Facsimile: (615) 386-3897 arubenfeld@rubenfeldlaw.com
Your Nashville Symphony
Live at the Schermerhorn RICHARD
MA RX
june 14
june 20 & 21
june 27 & 28
july 6 & 7
OC E A N SOUL
ERSATION WIT
H
A CONV MITE” POLEON DYNA JON HEDER “NA EZ “PEDRO” EFREN RAMIR
SPEAKER SERIES
IN G AN D Q& A MOVI E SC RE EN
july 10
july 11 CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOODSTOCK
july 17
july 28
Live at Ascend Amphitheater june 15
june 22
615.687.6400 | NashvilleSymphony.org Ocean Soul, Napoleon Dynamite, The Isley Brothers and Summer of Love presented without orchestra.
june 29
WITH SUPPORT FROM
PRIDE MONTH
Event Schedule FRIDAY, JUNE 7 PRIDE TURNABOUT PLAY Dance Bar 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Check out this annual favorite, where community organizations’ leaders get into drag to raise funds for Nashville Pride.
SUNDAY, JUNE 9 NASHVILLE PRIDE FLASH TATTOO FUNDRAISER 21c Museum Hotel 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. 21c and Alchemy Nashville, an LGBTQ+ owned and operated tattoo shop, are partnering to raise funds for the 2019 Nashville Pride Festival. On June 9th you will be able to get a $31 or $50 dollar pride related tattoo. Designs will be announced on June 1st.
SUNDAY, JUNE 9 NASHVILLE PRIDE PAGEANT PLAY Dance Bar 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. Come out as Miss and Mister Pride are crowned at this annual pageant! This year’s theme is “Pride Under Construction.”
TUESDAY, JUNE 11 PRIDE SPIRITUALITY NIGHT Congregation Micah 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Join Nashville’s spiritual communities and organizations as they celebrate Pride in this annual tradition.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 NASHVILLE SOUNDS PRIDE NIGHT First Tennnessee Park 7:05 – 9:05 p.m.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20 LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BREWING UP BUSINESS Details To Be Announced
FRIDAY, JUNE 21 PINK + PURPLE PARTY FOR TEP Center 615 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22 – SUNDAY, JUNE 23 NASHVILLE PRIDE FESTIVAL Public Square Park Saturday 10:00 a.m. – Sunday 6:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22 NASHVILLE PRIDE PARADE Broadway at 8th 10:00 a.m. For more information, see page 14 in this guide.
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Nashville Pride Taking Over Broadway Festival-Goers Getting Their Parade Back, and Better Than Ever For a number of years, Nashville Pride has been kicked off by an Equality March, which grew steadily the last few years in our rapidly changing political environment. But one thing you heard every year was, “We wish there was a parade, with floats, just like we used to have!” Well, Nashville Pride’s Board had been listening, and this year the Pride Parade returns to Nashville! While staging a Pride Parade may sound simple, there are a lot of moving parts and logistics to be taken care of, and parades—which involve closing city streets and the necessary police and public works presence to make that happen— aren’t cheap! This is why Pride had to stop having a parade for a period of time. “The conversation about bringing back the parade element of Nashville Pride started a number of years ago,” said Matthew Gann, Nashville Pride Board president. “A parade is a large financial and time commitment, and as a board we wanted to ensure we could do it, do it well, not sacrifice any part of the festival, and be fiscally responsible. Nashville Pride had financial issues a number of years ago, and we’ve worked hard as an organization to ensure that situation doesn’t resurface.” To answer the demand in a financially responsible way, the Board studied many factors, including the support of local business. “We had conversations with the community and businesses that support the festival to see where the level of commitment was to in regard to expanding our equality walk into a parade. Finding that the commitment and excitement were definitely there (Ron Sanford, we hear you), we tasked our festival director Jack Davis to start researching what a parade
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would take both in human and financial capital,” Gann added. That research involved not only combing data but getting into the field. “I traveled with Phil Cobucci, our community relations chair, to Atlanta and met with some of their team,” Gann explained. “Jack traveled to a few other cities and had conversations with their teams about logistics. We are an all-volunteer board with no employees, so any new project is a large time commitment for a small number of people. I appointed Paula Foster chair of the Parade Committee to work with Jack on logistics.” Of course, every great parade has a grand marshal, and on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, it was incredibly important for Pride to choose a fitting torchbearer. “It just made sense,” Gann said. “Our mission is to bring people together to celebrate the history, lives, and the advancements our community has made the past 50 years since the Stonewall Riots in New York City. Those events started the modern-day LGBTQ rights movement, and we feel it is only fitting our parade is led by those that will lead us the next 50 years—the Students of Stone-
JUNE 2019
wall and JustUs students from The Oasis Center.” The Students of Stonewall and the JustUs program from The Oasis Center are youth action and leadership programs, which bring together a diverse group of students from Middle Tennessee who are committed to transforming Nashville into an open and affirming community for all people. On the announcement of the grand marshals, Joseph Clark, director of the Students of Stonewall program, shared that, “By using their most powerful tools, their voices and experiences, these young people truly embody the spirit of the Stonewall movement. With their bravery and audacity, they will continue to pave the way for a more equitable future for LGBTQ people, now and for the next 50 years.” 2019 Grand Marshal Honorees include retiring Nashville CARES Executive Director Joseph Interrante (read more about his career on pp. 53-55) and out country music artist, Ty Herndon. Interrante was the first openly gay director of a non-profit organization in Nashville and the first HIV-positive director of an HIV/ AIDS organization in Tennessee. Herndon is a Grammy-nominated singer with 20 Billboard charted singles and five million albums sold. The 31st annual Nashville Pride Festival will take place in Public Square Park on Saturday, June 22 (10 a.m. – 9 p.m.) and Sunday, June 23 (noon – 6 p.m.). Nashville’s Pride Parade, presented by Bridgestone and supported by Alliance Bernstein, will begin on Saturday, June 22, at 10 a.m., starting at the top of Broadway at 8th Avenue and culminating at the bottom of Broadway at 2nd Avenue.
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NASHVILLE PRIDE 2019 Entertainment Lineup A Quick Rundown Nashville Pride 2019 truly has entertainment for every taste—so much so that it’s impossible to truly give even a rundown! The best thing we can tell you to do is get Nashville Pride’s Official App on your phone and plan your days accordingly. This year’s the Nissan Equality Stage will present a diverse group of talent, from local to international! On Saturday, Neon Trees headlines, but more local talents like Brody Ray and Brandon Stansell will also be featured. And when DJ Remedy and the Playmates aren’t stealing the spotlight, rising acts like Taco Mouth and The Blam Blams will be earning new fans. Sunday’s main stage centerpiece is, of course, the classic American girl group TLC, but others like local country artist Shelly Fairchild will be big draws as well. All weekend, the Stonewall Stage will host an astounding array of talented drag queens and kings, including Nashville favorites like Jordan Allen and Vivica Versace, as well as visiting guest stars like Axel Andrews. Meanwhile, on the RNBW Stage, you’ll find musicians performing acoustic, and on the WXNA Stage you’ll hear the best DJs around. While we can’t introduce all of these amazing talents, In the following pages you’ll meet a select few to whet your appetite and get you ready to celebrate Pride!
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M
usic always played a major role in Brody Ray’s life, so when the testosterone treatments he started taking during his transition threatened his voice, Brody worked hard daily retraining and trying to recover his singing voice. After two years of dedication, Brody was able to sing again and sound like he’d always imagined, with a deeper, more fitting voice. He then found the confidence to audition for American Idol, and later The Voice. At the beginning of 2018, Brody auditioned for America’s Got Talent, earning a chance to sing in front of the Celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell. After shocking the judges and crowd with his story of transitioning, he then went on to sing his stunning and moving rendition of “Stand In the Light” by Jordan Smith. Since his appearance on the show, Brody has been traveling and performing all over the US and Canada, singing at some of the nation’s largest Pride Festivals, including Mid-South Pride in Memphis, Lexington’s PrideFest, and Atlanta Pride. This year he is performing at both the Ty Herndon’s Concert for Love & Acceptance, as well as Nashville Pride!
BRODY RAY
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MADAME GANDHI Kiran, who performs as Madame Gandhi, is an electronic music artist and activist based in Los Angeles. Having gained recognition as the former drummer for M.I.A. and as the iconic free-bleeding runner at the 2015 London Marathon, Madame Gandhi now writes music that elevates and celebrates the female voice.
At NPS Pharmacy, we don’t look or act like any other pharmacy that you have ever seen, and that is by design. Since our beginning, we have been committed to providing outstanding service to our customers and to changing what is expected from a pharmacy.
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JUNE 2019
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TENNESSEE EQUALITY PROJECT PRESENTS
FRIDAY JUNE 21st THE OFFICIAL PRIDE WEEKEND KICKOFF PARTY
SECOND ANNUAL PRIDEFUL BENEFIT FOR TEP FOUNDATION
MUSIC BY VJ STRETCH AND CAROL PLUNK
DOORS OPEN AT 6PM | 18+ center 615 courtyard
tickets $50
dress code
625 MAIN STREET IN EAST NASHVILLE
OPEN BAR + MUSIC
PINK + PURPLE SUMMER CASUAL
SPONSORED BY
10% OFF (to/from event) CODE: PINKANDPURPLE
for more information + to purchase tickets
PINKANDPURPLEPARTY.COM
CAKES DA KILLA Get a free & confidential HIV test at
Cakes Da Killa is a Brooklyn based rapper and nightlife fixture who has helped shift the conversation around LGBTQ visibility in rap and club music. His signature ‘90s flow and cutthroat wordplay has garnered him praise from HOT 97’s own Ebro to Anthony Fantano of the Needledrop. Cakes mixes hardcore lyricism marinated with heavy club beats for his own original turn up stew. With a couple mixtapes under his belt, as well as his debut album Hedonism out now on all streaming services, Cakes’ live shows are both electrifying and comedic, and have quickly made him a must-see act on festival rosters across the globe.
TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR HEALTH KNOW YOUR STATUS
Stop by the Nashville CARES booth in our new location. Interested in PrEP? Speak to one of our PrEP Navigators. Sign up for Nashville AIDS Walk news and information and be entered to win a $250 VISA gift card!
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TACO MOUTH
Taco Mouth is a fearless punk rock band hailing from East Nashville. The band started in 2017, with best friends Erica Sellers (singer) and Angela Lese (drummer), and has morphed into a best friend supergroup with the addition of Shawn Hammer (lead guitarist) and Flip Cooper (bassist). Together, they have created a true musical reemergence similar to the old CBGB days of rock ‘n roll. Morphing punk rock and pop hooks (the Runaways mixed with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), every show is a party. But they’re so much more than that - they’re a band fighting for everyone’s right to exist equally. They’re not afraid to tackle social and political issues, and help push all the underdogs to the forefront. That’s really what Taco Mouth is all about. FB/IG/Twitter: @tacomouthband
Mayor David Briley Signed executive order making Nashville the first city in the South to recognize LGBTowned businesses
Vote Aug. 1
Paid for by David Briley For Mayor, Hannah Paramore, Treasurer
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JUNE 2019
TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR HOME Home is love. Home is a reflection of your individuality. Home is feeling a warm, loving embrace from the moment you walk in the door. We can help you find just that. If you are searching for that perfect home, or ready to sell, we would be honored to assist you with the process. - Alexa and Julian
ALEXA LIPMAN REALTOR
c. 615.578.3343 • alexa@lipmanhomesandestates.com
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c. 615.866.7954 • julianbakerrealestate@gmail.com
Each RE/MAX Office is independently owned and operated. • 2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite C-104 Nashville, TN 37215 • 615.463.3333
2019 PRIDE BRUNCH
hotel indigo Nashville saturday June 22nd & Sunday June 23rd
8:00am -1:00pm right across from the pride festival
come in and
get your buzz on with
live music and bottomless mimosas
$24.95
the district bar & kitchen @hotelindigonashville
301$5 union street well drinks all day
just show us your pride wristband 32
PLACK BLAGUE Nebraska’s elusive Leather Band, Plack Blague, has been on a rampant path of sex, destruction and electronic leather mayhem for over a decade. Performing nationally from large theaters and dive bars, to art galleries, dingy basements, and even children’s television shows, Plack Blague’s sound emits a vile combination of primitive Industrial noise, sadistic Body Music, and throbbing dance beat party vibes. The live performance is a “must see” spectacle of homoerotic Leathersexual delusions of grandeur mixed with muscle flexing tantrums of harsh noise and electronic disco.
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MYYLO Myylo sits at the nexus point of folk lyricism, pop production, and boyish relatability. It is this combo of elements that has won him big brand support like the 2018 Starbucks Holiday campaign and write-ups in major publications like The Gay Times and Attitude Mag as well as top billing on Tidal Rising Playlists. Power players like Mike Posner and BabyFace have made a point to include the artist on writing camps. Most recently, the artist released his EP I’m A Nice Boy and partnered with Sofar Sounds for a 20-date tour across the U.S. and U.K.
Psychotherapy Individuals & Couples
John Waide, PhD, LCSW
615/400.5911 waide@psychotherapy-and-psychoanalysis.com Offering psychotherapy & psychoanalysis.
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JUNE 2019
Barbara Sanders, LCSW
615/414.2553 BarbaraSandersLCSW@gmail.com dignitytherapynashville.com
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∞ Free PrEP Exam (No Doctor Co-pays EVER) ∞ No-cost PrEP Rx and Home Delivery in partnership with Avita Pharmacy ∞ Free Testing for HIV, all STDs, plus Hep A-B-C ∞ LBGTQ Informed and Affirming Care Make your no-obligation appointment today at: MusicCityPrEP.org or call (615) 469-1065
Music City PrEP is the proud sponsor of the NASHVILLE PRIDE DANCE TENT Introducing THE MUSIC CITY PrEP BOYS and THE SEXY DRAG NURSES OF MCPC
THE BLAM BLAMS Premiering in late 2017, Glam Rock group The Blam Blams have swiftly dazzled their way into the hearts of their hometown Music City with their theatrical performance, powerful harmonies, stick-in-your-head lyricism, and driving rock rhythms. Following in the footsteps of influences like Queen, David Bowie, and The Beatles, The Blam Blams weave traditional stage elements with clever musicality and lyrical storytelling that is nothing short of an authentic (and sometimes intimate) window into the discovery and exploration of the self to create a unique experience that is as whimsical and energetic as its players. In December of 2018 The Blam Blams released their debut EP: The Roll On EP, and is finalizing writing their first fulllength, Opening Night (spring of 2020).
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WE OFFER OUR SINCERE APOLOGIES
For harm done by the church, we are immensely sorry.
Our doors are open to all. NO EXCEPTIONS. NO EXCLUSIONS.
HILLSBORO VILLAGE/MIDTOWN
Belmont United Methodist Church Worship with us Sundays at 8:15am or 10:30am 2007 Acklen Avenue | BelmontUMC.org SYLVAN PARK/THE NATIONS/BELLEVUE
Blakemore United Methodist Church Worship with us Sundays at 10:30am 3601 West End Avenue | BlakemoreUMC.org
EAST NASHVILLE
East End United Methodist Church Worship with us Sundays at 8:30am or 10:30am 1212 Holly Street | EastEndUMC.org VANDERBILT/MUSIC ROW
Edgehill United Methodist Church Worship with us Sundays at 10am 1502 Edgehill Avenue | Edgehill.org
GREEN HILLS/OAK HILL/12 SOUTH
Glendale United Methodist Church Worship with us Sundays at 10am 900 Glendale Lane | GlendaleUMC.org WEST END/CENTENNIAL PARK
West End United Methodist Church Worship with us Sundays at 8:45am or 11am 2200 West End Avenue | WestEndUMC.org
We will continue to work with you to make our community and the world a place of justice and compassion for all people.
We can’t wait to see you at PRIDE and celebrate alongside you.
Nashville Pride Undertaking Community Visioning Project
Discovering What Middle Tennessee’s LGBTQ Community Needs To Thrive Nashville Pride, an organization focused on celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) life and culture in Middle Tennessee announced in March the launch of a region-wide study to learn what the LGBTQ+ community needs to live a fulfilling and purposeful life. The study will take place over the course of three months, with multiple phases of data Collection, to ensure the voices of all identities within the LGBTQ+ community are heard. During this project, the organization has developed specific evaluation tools that consist of public and invitation-only broad group conversations, identity-specific small group conversations and an open public survey which will launch during Pride Week in Nashville (June 17). The LGBTQ+ movement has witnessed wins that an earlier generation would have thought impossible: from the legalization of same-sex marriage to a U.S. President acknowledging LGBTQ+ rights in his inaugural address to the nation. However, as the struggle for legal equality of LGBTQ+ people in the United States continues to advance, the movement faces a series of questions about the future. As the struggle for legal equality of LGBTQ+ people in Tennessee continues to face challenges, the movement faces a series of questions about the fu-
ture. It is the hope of Nashville Pride that we learn what our community in Middle Tennessee need in order to thrive. The centerpiece of the Nashville LGBTQ Community Visioning Project is focused on creating a dialogue to develop a collective vision for the future of the community. On the launch of this project, Matthew Gann, President of Nashville Pride shared that, “Strong communities are built only where there is a dialogue between the different groups of the community. Our hope with this project is that we can have honest discussions about where we’ve been, where we are and what we need to do in the future to ensure positive movement forward.” This data gathering is motivated by the knowledge that perspectives within the community are limited. As Phil Cobucci on the Nashville Pride Executive Board said, “My lived experience as a gay cisgender white male is not the same as that of my transgender sister or my African American or HIV+ brother, or the queer youth who is underemployed or homeless, or my friend who identifies on the LGBTQ+ spectrum with a disability. It is critical for us to hear from everyone—as our lived experiences are different and we need to truly hear them to create opportunities, open doors, make connections and more, so we all can thrive equally in this community.”
The ultimate goal is to secure the future of the LGBTQ+ community in Middle Tennessee. “In order for our community to move forward together we need to learn what the needs are from each person, of every identity (race, gender, orientation, age, socio-economic background and disability). The fabric of our community is beautifully diverse and there has never really been a survey or research program dedicated to wanting to hear from everybody,” Cobucci said. “Our goal is to hear from as many people that are willing to talk and share their viewpoints on what we all need in order to live happy, healthy and meaningful lives. In a time when our full equality and rights as LGBTQ+ people can be uncertain, this is a chance to be counted to help effect change in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.” The project will run through July 2019 with a public analysis to be released in the fall of 2019. A comprehensive report will be available to organizations that serve the LGBTQ+ community in the fall of 2019 through an application process. Participation in the different phases of the LGBTQ Community Visioning Project is open to the LGBTQ public at large. Event listings and details on how to volunteer as a conversation captain can be found at www.lgbtqcommunitysurvey.org.
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NASHVILLE PRIDE`S
M A R T I N I S
&
J A Z Z
PRIDE OVERTOOK EAST IVY MANSION
PHOTO CREDIT: WILL SHUTES
Nashville Pride returned to East Ivy Mansion for their Martinis & Jazz fundraiser on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The event, presented by First Tennessee Bank, included a silent auction featuring fantastic items from around the region paired with signature martinis and live music.
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These Are the Faces of Pride 50 Years After Stonewall, Pride Still Has A Place
PHOTO CREDIT: ALL PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY INDIVIDUALS PRESENTED
Pride is the opposite of shame. Our pride festivals are celebrations of that same notion. For far too long our people have been condemned for who they are or who they love, but for a brief few days each year you can attend a Pride festival in your city. You can hold the hand of the person that you love without intimidation, you can embrace a friend without being jeered at or assaulted, and you can feel safe and comfortable knowing that all those around you accept you for who you are and pass no judgement upon you. Know that, for a short time, that sensation you feel is what most other Americans get to feel everyday. - Carla Lewis
Pride events provide various groups the opportunity to connect, learn, grow, develop and celebrate each other’s uniqueness. For many, it’s their only chance to “Be Themselves” in a comfortable/non-judgmental environment, where they are being celebrated and not just tolerated. - Greg Cason
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Pride to me means showing others that you’re not afraid of being your true self. Standing up for who you are is one of the most courageous, self-loving things anyone could do. Pride is being able to say to the world, “This is who I am, and I’m proud of it.” - Damien Connor
To me pride is embracing who you are and living without fear. As a celebration, pride is to a moment to rejoice and appreciate our peers and civil progress. - Jane Dupree
Pride is the heart and soul of the community. I have been a part of the Pride Board for over 20 years, and I still love what I do in our Community and appreciate the people in our Community who continue to let my passion and dedication for what I do grow. Mac Huffington
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“To Me, Pride…”
SHAWN REILLY, JUSTIN SWEATMAN-WEAVER, AND DEL RAY ZIMMERMAN, GLSEN TENNESSEE BOARD MEMBERS
who got us to where we are today. It’s one of the happiest places I’ve gone to because everyone is so kind and warm hearted and accepting, and I don’t feel like I have to hide my true self. -Dilan C, 17
… is a time of reflection to think about all of the incredible LGBT people who have come before us, and about how to prepare the world for the next generations of queer youth. -S.E., 17
… is an opportunity to increase awareness and visibility for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The event allows all members of the community, as well as allies, a chance to be their authentic selves. It is a celebration and a political movement. - Delia M, 18 … is being able to be yourself. Whether that’s to break a stereotype, or to be unique in your own way. For me, pride is the ability to be comfortable with myself and around others. - Aleksandr M, 17 … is the freedom for people to express who they truly are. It’s the joy and complete self-acceptance I see all my LGBTQ friends want and have, and I want to protect that -Ebony C, 17 … is a time for me to be unapologetically who I am, as well as a time to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ activists of the past
GREY MARRON AND AIDEN CLOUD PERFORM SKITS THAT AIM TO TEACH ADULTS ABOUT SUPPORTING THEIR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN HIGH SCHOOL
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tution can change who you are, no matter how hard they try. Having pride in my queer identity gives me the ability to stand up in front of both those who are against me and those who support me, saying ‘This is who I am, and I am proud of it.’” -Aiden C, 16
EBONY COTTON AND JOEY LING SERVING LOOKS AT THE YOUTH SUMMIT
… means the freedom to openly express one's values and identity without a fear of discrimination. In addition to having a strong reliable support system that loves you for who you truly are. -Joey L, 18 … is finding strength in an identity that has been fought for and through its very existence is a rebellion. Pride is finding joy in knowing that no person or insti-
… is a promise. A promise to continue fighting for the ones who gave their life (willingly and unwillingly) to our fight for justice. It’s also a promise to be unapologetically me and respect others for doing so as well. A promise to value love before everything else because it is the reason we fight and why we have pride. -Chloe M, 17
ancestors have left us. A celebration of the transwomen of color who stood up against police resistance during Compton's Cafeteria Riots and the Stonewall
AIDEN CLOUD, PREPARING TO PRESENT ABOUT MAYOR BUTTIGIEG
… is just being, existing, without a constant wave of hate. It’s about being able to stand confidently in who I am. Pride is about community. -Addison R, 16 … is being myself with no fear of hatred. Pride is knowing that it doesn't mat- Uprising. And a time to conter what peo- tinue in that path of resistance. ple think of me -M.W., 14 -Grey M, 17 … means celebrating not only … is a cele- your differences but everyone bration of the else’s! It’s amazing how we come legacy of resis- together as a community to honor tance that our who we are and what our history queer and trans is. -Georgia L, 17 SARA QUINN AND CHLOE MILLER PREPARING FOR WORKSHOPS AT THE YOUTH SUMMIT
SHAWN REILLY, CHARLES KEY, ADDISON REITER, GEORGIA LEMING, EBONY COTTON, SARA QUINN, CHLOE MILLER AND GREY MARRON
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Asurion CRAIG AMMON
The Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards last month celebrated the accomplishments of local individuals and businesses in advancing LGBT opportunities and advocacy in our community. Nashville-based global tech care company Asurion was the recipient of the Corporate Ally Award for its progressive diversity and inclusion policies, employee engagement programs, community outreach, and their involvement in the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce. It’s amazing how much Asurion has accomplished in just the two years since they established their Pride Employee Resource Group and joined the Chamber. Every day Asurion’s 19,000 experts help nearly 300 million people around the world solve the most common and uncommon tech issues. Helping you stay connected and get the most from the tech you love is Asurion’s top priority, and Asurion leaders have always known that their talented and enthusiastic employees are critical to the superior customer service they provide. So, the company continually seeks to ensure work-life balance, offer education and promotion opportunities, and foster high morale among its employees. In fact, Asurion has been certified as A Great Place to Work® for the last two consecutive years and named by the Tennessean as a Top Workplace in the Nashville area for the past four years. While Asurion leadership has always valued diversity in its ranks, it’s a challenge to discover and address what’s needed to foster that diversity. This is where employee resource groups (ERGs) can be so influential in large corporations, such as Asurion. ERGs are meant to serve as the voice of different demographics that can bring ideas and concerns to leadership. Asurion employee Kimberly Stephan-Tate played an integral role in securing executive support for their Pride Employee Resource Group to support LGBT employees and their allies in 2017. Stephan-Tate had come to Asurion from Dell, which also has a very active Pride ERG. So, she knew the positive impact such groups can have in advocating for inclusive policies. Stephan-Tate and the other members of the Pride ERG knew that if they were to have a positive impact for their LGBT employees and allies, they would first need to thoroughly evaluate a wide range of corporate policies and training programs before recom-
mending improvements. A core committee of 7-10 people within Asurion’s Pride ERG, working throughout the organization, conducted a 16-month long self-assessment against the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Asurion leadership was immediately receptive to their findings and pledged resources to improve their policies and practices on a variety of issues. In just two short years, Asurion has implemented a wide range of policy changes and training programs, including, but not limited to: ● Adding gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation in its Equal Opportunity Employment Commission statement; ● Releasing a gender transition guide for its leaders, human resources team and employees to ensure a successful transition at work; ● Creating and hosting education sessions for employees, which teach inclusive language and help employees navigate scenarios that could pop up at work; ● Updating the donation policy of its non-profit arm, Compassion Forward, against donating philanthropic dollars to anti-LGBTQ organizations. Earlier this year Asurion received a perfect score of 100 on HRC’s 2019 Corporate Equality Index, acknowledging the amazing strides they’ve made in providing the best possible work environment for their LGBT employees and allies. According to HRC President Chad Griffin, “The top-scoring companies on this year’s CEI are not only establishing policies that affirm and include employees here in the United States, they are applying these policies to the company’s global operations and impacting millions of people beyond our shores… Time and again, leading American businesses have shown that protecting their employees and customers from discrimination isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also good for business.” Nikki Smith-Bartley, Asurion Vice President and Special Counsel for Diversity and Inclusion, echoes the above sentiment, saying, “We strive to create and maintain a diverse and inclusive environment where all our employees and their perspectives are valued, and where our employees have a sense of belonging. We seek out the best teammates and strive to bring out their full potential through empowerment, diversity and everyday leadership that is driven by humility, open feedback, active coaching and courage.”
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LGBT CHAMBER
Providing these protections and advocacy is good for business because it ensures that companies are attracting the best talent and motivating their employees to give their best every day. Asurion LGBT employees and allies have responded enthusiastically to the culture of diversity Asurion fosters. Meredith Fortney, an Asurion employee who is active in the company’s Pride ERG and serves as Chair of the HRC Board of Governors says, “I came to work here because I knew diversity and inclusion was important. I liked that Asurion focused on creating a safe space for everyone, and it fills me with so much pride. It’s why I’m excited to come to work every day.” Asurion and its Pride ERG have also provided numerous opportunities for their LGBT employees and allies to connect with one another, show their pride, and come together to provide services to local charities and organizations serving our community. In 2017 Asurion participated only in the Nashville Pride Festival. This year, they will participate in six Pride festivals throughout the US, as well as in the Philippines. Last year Asurion flew the Pride flag above its global headquarters in Nashville for a week in June. This year, Asurion will fly the Pride flag for the entire month of June. Asurion CEO Tony Detter says, “Asurion is committed to fostering an environment where our employees across the globe feel
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safe and supported in their different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. To continue to drive innovation, engage our diverse teams, and provide the best customer experience possible on behalf of our partners, we have made a commitment to each other, and now the public to do all we can to drive a culture of inclusion. I’m thrilled at how open our leaders have been to making real change, and how excited and trusting our employees have been as we’ve tackled sensitive issues to drive progress.” Stephan-Tate sums up the impact of Asurion’s inclusive, diverse work environment well when she says, “I feel I can be my whole self here. I’m not afraid of letting people know that I’m married to a woman, and this is part of who I am. When you can come to work worry-free like I can, it’s a weight off your shoulders. I can’t tell you how proud I am to see Asurion’s advocacy and how far we’ve come be recognized by the HRC,” Stephan-Tate said. “I’m not going to lie, I might’ve teared up a little when I heard the news!” Want to make Asurion your next Great Place to Work? Asurion has over 19,000 employees in 48 locations around the world, with our global headquarters in Nashville, TN. Click here for career opportunities, or scan the QR code below!
HAPPY NASHVILLE PRIDE 2019! 06.20 THURSDAY / 5:30 – 8PM
Brewing Up Business
Kick off Pride Weekend on Thursday, June 20th, with our monthly Brewing Up Business! This month we are partnering with the Nashville Business Assistance Office (BAO) and other area chambers including Nashville Black Chamber, Tennessee Latin American Chamber, and Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber. Details on our website.
JUST GETTING STARTED... Last year we declared, “We’re just getting started . . . ” We’re proud to report we were right: • 430 members strong • Metro Nashville becoming the first city in the South to recognize LGBT-owned business in the procurement process; we have 27 certified LGBT-owned businesses and 31 currently being certified! • The business community and our members helped beat back the slate of hate in Tennessee this year!
2019 EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARDS Corporate Diversity Award: Asurion Small Business Diversity Award: Focus Middle Tennessee Business Leader of the Year: Pamela Sheffer, Oasis Center Ally Award: Kathy Halbrooks, PFLAG Entrepreneur of the Year: Jenny Ford, JF Government Strategies Community Service Award: Brian Marshall, MashUp Nashville Leadership in the Arts Award: Belcourt Theatre
There are so many other things going on, join us today!
NASHVILLELGBTCHAMBER.ORG nashlgbtcc
@nashlgbtcc
@nashlgbtcc
The Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce is the premier advocate of the Greater Nashville Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender business community, representing 400+ businesses, community groups, and individuals in Nashville and the surrounding area. We advocate and educate on behalf of our individual, small business, corporate, and nonprofit members who share the values of promoting equity and diversity in business and society.
Bridgestone Aims for Greater Inclusivity through BP ROU D
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRIDGESTONE
LGBT Employee Resource Group Drives Change Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas recently received a score of 90 on the HRC’s 2019 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). While it’s not even the highest score for a major Nashville brand, it is notable because it reflects the company’s commitment to LGBTQ workplace equality, with respect to tangible policies, benefits, and practices. In 2018, Bridgestone launched a number of achievements that helped boost its CEI 2019 score over previous years. Some of these efforts included the implementation of a Global Human Rights Policy, and a Sustainable Procurement Policy that align with the company’s overall corporate social responsibility mission, Our Way to Serve. Additional initiatives included establishing a Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, and the approval of a new, Nashvillebased employee resource group, BPROUD, which focuses on supporting LGBTQ employees and allies. The company also has a history of supporting the HRC through its presenting sponsorship of the annual Nashville HRC gala for 12 consecutive years, and Nashville Pride as presenting sponsor for the past six years. “As a company, we’re committed to making our workplaces as diverse as the customers we serve – both locally in Nashville, and across the U.S.,” said Susie Long, Vice President of Talent Management & Development for Bridgestone Americas. “We are proud of the progress we’ve made – and will continue to make – toward this commitment and I believe our 2019 CEI score reflects that.” Long admits even a company like Bridgestone always has more work to do on these issues, but she’s proud of the hard
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work that has been put into it. “Honestly the hardest work is often acknowledging that as a company there’s work to do to improve our own perspectives when it comes to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. When I came to Bridgestone, we were just starting to recognize that we had a gap in our employee diversity, and while that’s not unique considering the industry we’re in, as a leadership team we had to take a hard look at ourselves and determine how to improve these gaps.” “In 2018 we conducted an employee-wide engagement survey that more than 33,000 employees participated in. From that survey, 72 percent of employees said they believe Bridgestone values and promotes diversity” Long added. “Do I want that number to increase? Absolutely. But it’s a starting point to continue moving the needle toward a more diverse and inclusive workplace for all.” Iris Ocasio, Senior Supply Chain Analyst, Bridgestone Retail Operations, and President of BPROUD, sees the resource group as one of the keys to continued progress for the company. “Now that we have our employee group, BPROUD, we’re able to have more representation as an LGBTQ community within company. The next step is to use BPROUD to provide opportunities to talk to coworkers who don’t identify as LGBTQ and help them learn about the community and how to be an ally. We want to educate others about viewpoints that may differ from their own; awareness and being visible is half the battle.” Bridgestone is definitely positioning themselves as Nashville’s next 100-scoring company!
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Loving the One Your Child Dares to Become One Mom’s Particular Journey Alongside Her Trans Son
PHOTO: ASHLEY CALLAHAN PAYNE
JAMES GRADY
Candace Johnson has been everywhere, speaking about her book, Particular Peyton, Daring Damien, and her experience raising a trans son—from the First Unitarian Universalist Church on International Trans Day of Visibility to MTSU’s LGBT conference and the Youth Summit a month later. If she can drag him along, you might also meet Damien. While it’s Damien’s story, it’s Candace’s memories. There’s a lot Damien can’t remember—an experience many of us (whose childhoods were of a sort) can understand. So Candace reconstructed both sides of the story. Her book is a book for trans children, and for their parents. Read from front to back, the perspective is that of Peyton, whose being longs to emerge as Damien. Read from back to front, it’s the story of a mother, sharing resources with other parents in the hopes that they can give their children a better experience. When I sat down to chat with Candace, she did drag Damien along. He mostly sat by quietly, unless he needed to clarify, or until a smirk announced that he was about to needle his mom a bit, on the record. That was the look he gave when he clarified that he didn’t even know his mom was writing his story until it was mostly done. “Okay, well, first of all, it was not my idea,” he said, smiling. “Second of all, I didn’t even know about it, honestly. Cuz I just recently learned that mom was writing it for a period of time … four years on and off…” Candace then explained, “When we were going on our journey, there weren’t any resources… I wanted it to be more be like what I would write to a friend, or how I’d want someone to say something to me, you know? I got his classmate, who was a transgender kid as well, to do the sketches, which they were excited to do. But I just kept at it, thinking well, he’s almost grown … we’ve gotten through it, no one cares…” “But then one of my friends who I talked to about it read it and said, ‘No, no, you really need to keep pushing!’ So when I published it, people were really moved by it, people wanted to talk to Damien, and he was like, ‘Oh, my God, people give a shit?’” Damien’s story is like so many others, and Candace captures it from the perspective of the growing child, and of the mother who doesn’t really understand what’s happening until much later. Candace saw her child sink into depression, feel so lost and out
of place. Things clicked with a very simple experience, however: a haircut. “I was surprised when he wanted to cut his hair,” she said. “He had so much curl, it was gorgeous… When he decided to cut his hair, then it fit. And I was like, ‘I wonder.’ And that’s when I started digging to see why it fit. Because he became so masculine looking immediately; he looked like a happy boy and his spirit lit up! As opposed to Peyton, who every morning I wondered if I would go in there and … find her because she couldn’t take it anymore…” “How desperately depressed and sad,” Candace continued, voice faltering. “Everything was in this dark cloud, and I was always looking for the little bit of sunshine in there, to pull it out. And when I watched him light up when he cut his hair, it just dawned on me: something else has to have clicked.” And the more masculine the presentation, the more natural in his own skin Damien felt. “Yeah,” Damien interjected, “I truly thought to myself, ‘I don’t know what happiness is like, I’m never going to find it.’ This is just the way it is… Now I don’t feel that way, although … there are some days… But that’s everyone. Everyone has bad days.” Candace found she had few resources for navigating this path as a parent, as someone who loves a trans child and wants to help him grow into the man he’s becoming. Few of the resources that do exist are oriented to those who support trans family and friends. That’s why she’s produced this book. And it’s serving that purpose. So Candace is on a mission to educate parents and to let children know they are not along. “Most everyone really loves it,” Candace said, “and they say that they learned something... They liked that I put it in a basic text, putting the MRI and the medical and those types of things.” “My therapist actually used the book in one of her sessions,” Damien said. “And the little kid was just like, ‘Oh, he’s just like me…’” Still, Damien never ceases to wonder that anyone would find his life, his experiences, interesting at all. Particular Peyton, Daring Damien can be purchased on Amazon, and if you know a transgender child or a parent who may be struggling with their child’s sexual identity, or if you would like to look at the world through the eyes of a transgender child and his mom, the book is worth exploring.
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Looking Back With Joe Interrante Nashville CARES & Beyond
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASHVILE CARES
JAMES GRADY
For the last 25 years, Joe Interrante led Nashville CARES. In April, he stepped down as CEO, and by May he had worked his last days. Just before he his successor arrived in Nashville, Interrante sat down with us to look back over his career. For those readers who may not be aware of your history, can you tell us about how you first became involved in HIV education and advocacy? I first got involved in 1983. The immediate reason for that was personal. I was living in Boston at that time and teaching. My former life, people may not know, is that I was a college teacher. I was involved in progressive politics and LGBT politics. Among other things, I worked on these magazines called Radical America, and Gay Community News... I was involved in helping to helped create the Boston Gay Oral History Project, things like that. And, doing some community organizing in the late ‘70s, when all that anti-gay stuff started emerging in response to the early victories of the gay movement.” In 1983, my partner at that time, Paul DiAngelo (we had been together for six years), was one of the first people diagnosed with AIDS in Boston. That was a time when the way you found out you had this disease was you got sick, because they hadn’t identified a virus... It was simply the cluster of conditions, one or more of which gave you this diagnosis. Paul decided to be public, and got involved with the group there that, like CARES, was a group of people trying to build some sort of response around community education and providing some support to people who were living with the disease. As he became involved in doing media stuff, I got involved with him around that. His progression from diagnosis to death was literally six months, which was not atypical at that time. I stayed involved with what became the AIDS Action Committee of Boston. For me, along with a couple of other friends from Gay
Community News, we approached it as community mobilizing and organizing. Because of my background, I started working on community education that that group was doing. Two years later, when they had identified what they thought was the virus and had developed a test, I took it and tested positive in 1985. Quite frankly, I think I and other folks, were living ‘as if’ we were infected so it didn’t come as a surprise. But there was absolutely nothing you could do with that knowledge when you had it. No treatments to control the virus, not even any tests to monitor the virus. Some of my closest friends from graduate school were professors at Oberlin College. I took a short term teaching position there. Slowly I tracked down the organization in Cleveland doing AIDS work and started volunteering with them. And then they made the fateful decision, I think it was ‘88, that a lot of organizations, CARES includ-
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ed, made to begin to hire staff. Because this issue, and the number of people who were being impacted, was just growing at too fast of a rate to be effectively managed strictly by volunteers. So I became their education department. And then a year later I became their executive director and was with them for seven to eight years. What was the name of this organization? It was called the Health Issues Task Force. Such was the nature of the issue at that point that they didn’t have the “A-word” in the name, although they later became the AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland. I think I was the third staff person - they had a receptionist and a director. Within a year, I built the education department into a team of four. We hired our first social workers to help to provide services to
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people who were living with the disease. It was late 1993 when a notice for this job in Nashville, Tennessee came across my desk. It probably just hit at the right moment. After eight years, I was thinking that the Taskforce had gone through so many changes and growth, that it was perhaps time for this the organization to have new leadership. And I felt that maybe I was ready for a change. So I sent in an application, and one thing led to another. CARES had been founded in 1985, so it was eight years old at that point. There had been an initial run of candidates that they had reviewed, and there were some people in the gay community that who were concerned that there wasn’t a candidate who was gay among the finalists. They were also concerned because one of the candidates was the person who was the head of the state AIDS
program when just two years the state had eliminated anonymous testing, and made HIV reporting mandatory. In any case, they reopened the process for a variety of reasons. And that’s when I found out about it. I was, at that point, openly gay and, openly HIV positive. I think that my openness on both was both attractive, and also perhaps a little scary because of uncertainty among some about what that openness meant. So we went through an important dialogue about what that meant and didn’t mean. And how change doesn’t happen because of one person but takes a team. One of the things that surprised me, living with my own stereotypes, was that I felt that the level of community engagement around HIV as an issue in Nashville was better than what I was dealing with in Cleveland at that point. One of the things that I always credit is the involvement of the Ingram Company. They got involved, for example, in the discussions under then-Mayor Bredesen that led to the creation of an outpatient clinic, which we know as the Comprehensive Care Clinic, in part to avoid the kind of overwhelmed hospital ERs people saw on coastal cities... So I was surprised in very positive ways around that: I had to confront my own stereotypes about Nashville as “Music City, USA” and what that meant, and didn’t mean. For me, HIV/AIDS has always been a personal issue, obviously, as well as an issue of community mobilization. And I think we’ve seen success in mobilizing the community’s rise and fall at different points over the last 25 years. To read the rest of the interview and hear more about Interrante’s experience of coming to Nashville, and what he views as CARES’ greatest accomplishments under his leadership and its greatest opportunities for future successes, visit outandaboutnashville.com!
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HISTORIC SLATE OF LGBT CANDIDATES IN NASHVILLE Record Numbers Seek Council Seats in 2019
During the last cycle of elections to the Metro Council, history was made when two LGBT candidates—Brett Withers (District 6) and Nancy VanReece (District 8)—won seats. This year, at least six out LGBT candidates are running or guaranteed a seat (Withers is unopposed). The potential for the LGBT community in Nashville to achieve unprecedented representation in city governance is a reason to take pride in how far we’ve come. It’s Pride Month, so let’s get familiarized with some of our LGBT candidates and get ready to do the hard work necessary to see the best people take office!
Russ was born and raised in Mississippi, graduating from college at Mississippi State University in 2009 with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries. He had spent many weekends and breaks visiting his best friend in Nashville and fell in love with this great city. So, in the fall of 2009, he moved to town with little money and lots of determination. Over the last ten years, Russ has lived all over Nashville and experienced so much and taken advantage of all the opportunities Nashville had to offer. Russ and his partner reside in Donelson with their cat, Gulliver, and two rescue dogs Nova and Jack. Russ comes from a family committed to service. He’s had family serve in the military dating all the way back to the Civil War up to Desert Storm. Russ’ cousin, Sara Fortney, was elected the first openly LGBTQ school board member in the state of Florida last November. He believes very strongly in doing what you can to give back. Currently, he does this by serving on his local alumni chapter board. Russ is running to give voice to the people of District 13. He will fight every day to make sure that the issues that trouble his neighbors are heard by the Council and the Mayor. Russ wants to make sure that we do right by our teachers, students, law enforcement, firefighters, and the people who call Nashville home. He wants to return our governments focus on the people that make Nashville the “it” city by investing in better roads and infrastructure, increasing access to public transportation to those who need it, and being more responsible with our tax dollars. It’s time for all of Nashville to benefit from this historic growth. Let's take off together!
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ALL PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY CANDIDATES
RUSS BRADFORD, District 13
ZACH YOUNG, District 10 Since 2012, Zach Young has made public service to his community a hallmark of his reputation. A lifelong Goodlettsville resident, Zach has long been involved in organizations and causes in the Goodlettsville area to improve life for residents and businesses. Zach’s service to Goodlettsville includes acting as a member of the community’s Board of Commissioners, the Board of Zoning & Sign Appeals, the Visitors & Tourism Board, Chamber Foundation Board, and many others! Zach is also proud of having come just one vote short of amending Goodlettsville’s non-discrimination ordinance to include sexual orientation. Zach is honored to be one of the historic slate of seen LGBT candidates seeking seats on the Metro Council this year. He is also proudly endorsed by the Victory Fund. Zach’s vision for serving District 10 includes bringing the fiscal responsibility and focus on employees that he has maintained while on the Goodlettsville City Commission.
DAVID MCMURRY, District 9 Residents in Nashville Metro Council, District 9 deserve a Council Member who is concerned about the next generation, not just the next four years. This is no time for someone who represents the status quo. We need to prepare Madison for the jobs of the future, not just focus on the past. The big issues that our city face—improving schools, tackling crime, and building infrastructure—those are issues I have dealt with my whole life. It’s time to have a Council Member who is from the neighborhood, who understands neighborhoods and puts neighborhoods first. I’m excited to work with all District 9 residents to shape our future together. That’s why I’m running to be your next District 9 Council Member.
NANCY VANREECE, District 8
(incumbent)
When Nancy VanReece was elected in 2015, she had a vision for District 8 that came from listening to her constituents. Residents wanted more green space, safer and more walkable streets, historical preservation, and a “sense of place.” They wanted development to happen for them and not to them. Over the past 4 years, Nancy has worked effectively and tirelessly to realize this vision and transform District 8 into a thriving community with a bright future. Under Nancy’s leadership, District 8: • renovated Oakwood Park, providing a safe, clean, and family-friendly environment
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• expanded trash and recycling services • welcomed Music City Solar, which transformed an old landfill into a center for renewable energy • established a new Trail Oriented Development Community Plan to extend greenways • added 977 new street lights to the Madison area • approved & designed sidewalks for installation along Dickerson Pike • begun a preservation of Madison’s musical history, such as the Carter-Smith property and Hank Snow’s Rainbow Ranch • expanded housing opportunities and services through development • and completed the Madison Library renovation. A vote for Nancy in 2019 will mean development will continue to happen for us and not to us.
EMILY BENEDICT, District 7 Emily is a 20-year resident of Inglewood and East Nashville. She has served on the Nashville Pride Board, HRC Steering Committee, LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Minority Supplier Development Council. During her career, she has managed over $325 million and has actively worked to connect diverse businesses to companies. Her experience is one of the many unique qualities that make her extraordinarily capable of not only working through our Metro budget, but also in providing equitable solutions for the diverse communities and neighborhoods in District 7. Equity requires being an advocate for equality for the LGBT+ community. It also means standing for fair wages, equal access to transportation, and attainable housing that doesn’t force our citizens to make the difficult decision between paying the rent or paying the car note, electric bill, and other costs of living. She believes that it’s not just our Metro employees that need a cost of living adjustment, but our citizens as well. UNDER CONTRACT
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Lastly, Emily believes in sustainability. While Nashville has grown substantially, many of our communities like Inglewood and Madison have seen a tremendous lack of conformity in the housing in their neighborhoods. So when a group comes together and wants an overlay to protect the conformity of their street, block, or neighborhood, Emily will be the one to help them reach their goal. Nashville and Davidson County have received a lot of attention over the last decade, and growth is great when done in an equitable manner that sustains the quality of life and the character of all of our communities. Emily has the experience to get the job done for District 7 and for our city.
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RIGHT: ENVISION CAYCE GROUND-BREAKING, WITH MAYOR BRILEY AND MARILYN GREER OF THE CAYCE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION LEFT: BRETT WITHERS, WITH NANCY VANREECE
BRETT WITHERS, District 6
(incumbent, unopposed)
I am honored to have been elected to represent District 6 in 2015 and to be unopposed in my reelection bid this year to continue representing District 6 for four more years. During my time on the Metro Council I have advocated for LGBT issues and have passed legislation that enabled businesses to expand access to gender-neutral or unisex bathroom facilities for patrons and employees. This pro-business and pro-LGBT legislation has escaped State preemption efforts and still remains on the books today benefitting Nashville residents and visitors. I have also introduced and passed Transgender Day of Remembrance Resolutions on the Metro Council. In addition to advocating for LGBT issues, I introduced and passed a Resolution making Nashville one of the first cities in the Southeast to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. My proudest accomplishments on the Metro Council have been championing public housing residents in their self-advocacy work toward implementing the Envision Cayce Master Plan. To date we have 350 units of new affordable and mixed-income housing opened or under construction, with more largecount phases on the way. We also have the brand-new K-8 Explore Community School facility that will open on the James Cayce campus in time for classes to start in the fall. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together over the next four years, and I appreciate the support of community members in District 6 and throughout the county.
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IS BEING CALLED ‘DADDY’ AT PRIDE A BAD THING? JOSH ROBBINS
Hey, daddy... I think I almost threw my phone the first time a younger gay that I was hitting on—maybe even sexting—used that word, referring to me. Daddy. I was a bit shaken to my core—was I starting to age? Are my gray hairs starting to show? Am I losing my hair? Am I old? Am I a gross old man hitting on the young ones? Daddy!?!? What the hell? So, I did not acknowledge it was said, and just kept the texting going. But then it happened a second time. This freshman from Belmont University literally just said that damn word again: “When are you free, daddy?” Again, I didn’t respond. Kids these days... Wait, erase that. I sound just like a daddy. I’m in my 30s and I definitely do not think of myself as a daddy. I admit I even still call my own father “daddy” when talking about him. My friends give me a hard time about that. And the only time I’ve asked, “Who’s Your daddy?” is when I’ve been singing along to Toby Keith’s number one single from 2002. Who’s your daddy, who’s your baby? Who’s your buddy, who’s your friend? And I haven’t been playing that record since probably 2013. So here I am, being confronted with my aging and the boys that think calling me daddy is hot and a turn-on. When did the term daddy become so sexually-laced, and maybe even a bit perverse? In an article from The Washington Post in 2005, the question of the origins of the term daddy was answered: “the slang use of ‘daddy’ has long been associated with prostitution. According to the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, the oldest usage dates to 1681, when the speakers were hookers who used the phrase in reference to their pimps or to an older male customer.” But it wasn’t until much later that the gay community adopted the word, first used as a phrase. Esquire reports, “Jump ahead to the 1970s, when the gay community co-opted the word for leather subculture, with the term ‘leather daddy’ coming to be.” Then, the leather community simplified the phrase, to just daddy. Paul Morris, the iconic gay pornographer from Treasure Island Media (NSFW), thinks of the term daddy as part of LGBT culture.
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“Daddy has been sexualized and eroticized since forever. It touches on fetishes as diverse as incest and being ‘kept.’ In my thousand years of making porn, I’ve come across an incredible range of uses—from old men who love calling young men daddy to young men who are aroused by pretending that men old enough to be their grandfathers call the young men granddad.” But can the term daddy help build something deeper or more meaningful? Morris continues, “I think if it’s meant sincerely and serves to activate either a fantasy or a salient reality for the couple, ‘daddy’ or ‘boy’ or ‘granddaddy’ or ‘son’ or any variant on those can be warm, nurturing and helpful in negotiating a positive workable relationship—sexual or otherwise.” According to Google Trends, the slang use of daddy has an interesting search record. New Mexico, Kentucky, and Oregon have the highest amounts of searches for the word. At Pride events around the country, the daddy appreciation is on full display, particularly at Pride events in major cities like Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Palm Springs. Self-identifying as a daddy seems more acceptable, but are these stereotypes what we want? In a recent YouTube video, Davey Wavey questions whether terms like daddy and twink are “just stereotypes used to put us in black and white boxes in a world full of color and nuance. What if it’s just another attempt to define human beings so society can more easily understand and judge us? What if each of us is just a complex human being that defies definition—that we have free will and we can create this expression of who we are, independent of society?” Maybe it’s my fear of aging or wanting to stay young forever, but maybe my anxiety just made me miss out on a hottie because he called me daddy. Regardless, I’m only getting older. I’d better start owning daddy. Let’s be honest, I’ve paid for someone’s Uber ride to my place before—that has to be a daddy qualifier. Happy Pride, y’all!
Josh Robbins is a spokesperson for DatingPositives.com, an award-winning sexual health advocate, and author of the site imstilljosh.com. He was nominated for a GLAAD media award in 2017 and recently won the National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association’s Excellence Award in the blogging category.
HEALTH
ARTS
Dental Services East Side Smiles 7 North 10th Street Nashville, TN 37206 615-227-2400 Eastsidesmile.net
Performing Arts Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center One Symphony Place Nashville, TN 37201 615-687-6400 Nashvillesymphony.org
Healthcare Providers Cool Springs Internal Medicine & Pediatrics Bradley Bullock, MD 1607 Westgate Circle, Ste 200 Brentwood, TN 37027 615-376-8195 Coolspringsinternalmedicine.com Pharmacy Nashville Pharmacy Services 100 Oaks Plaza, Skyline Medical 615-371-1210 / 615-724-0066 Npspharmcay.com Optometry Look East 1011 Gallatin Avenue Nashville, TN 37206 615-928-2281 Lookeastnashville.com COUNSELING & PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH Individual & Couples Therapy Barbara Sanders, LCSW/John Waide, PhD, LCSW 2016- 21St Ave South/2323- 21st Ave South, Ste.401 Nashville, TN 37212 615-414-2553 / 615-400-5911 Dignitytherapynashville.com
LEGAL SERVICES Lawyer Bart Durham Injury Law Office 404 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37219 615-338-6177 Bartdurham.com SPIRITUALITY Holy Trinity Community Church 6727 Charlotte Pike Nashville, TN 37209 615-352-3838 www.htccnashville.com ORGANIZATIONS Nashville Humane Association 213 Oceola Avenue Nashville, TN 37209 615-352-1010 Nashvillehumane.org
REAL ESTATE Sheila Barnard, Realtor, The Realty Association 1305 Murfressboro Road Nashville, TN 37217 615-385-9010 cell 615-424-6924 Sheilabarnard.realtyassociation.com Emily Benedict, Realtor, Village Real Estate 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-585-1258 BSLNashville.com Kate Nelson, Realtor, Village Real Estate 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-383-6964 Realestatewithkate.com BARS & NIGHTCLUBS PLAY Dance Bar 1519 Church Street Nashville, TN 37203 615-322-9627 Playdancebar.com Tribe 1517 Church Street Nashville, TN 37203 615-329-2912 Tribenashville.com
Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 330971 Nashville, TN 37203 615-507-5185 Nashvillelgbtchamber.org
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JASON SHAWHAN
In honor of Pride, we’re doing something a little different in this month’s Special Shelf. Instead of focusing on just one specific title, we’re going to turn a majestically pearlescent spotlight on the good folks at Shout! Factory, a media company that has been the home for SCTV, MST3K, Freaks and Geeks, and heaps of the best mid-to-big budget horror classics of recent years with their Scream Factory line. For Pride, Shout! has decided to bring four titles of LGBTQIA interest into the HD realm, with Blu-ray releases of Jeffrey, Can’t Stop The Music, Boom!, and To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar. Any one of these films surfacing on Blu-ray would be a big deal, but all four is an embarrassment of riches, like activating a gentleman’s app at a Pet Shop Boys concert. To Wong Foo, better known as the earlymid ‘90s drag film with a kinder heart and smoother edges than its sister Priscilla, has Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo sewing the seeds of decency throughout the heartland. But it’s also got Stockard “Rizzo” Channing, Beth “Sordid Lives” Grant, and Melinda “A Christmas Story” Dillon, and those are Actresses that we stan hardcore. Also, Swayze, as always, does a really good job. Can’t Stop The Music, the film that served up the Village People to a public eager to slash and burn and feast on the bones of disco, is a camptastrophe like The Apple or Serenity (2019) or even
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The Pirate Movie; it is something that deserves to be seen, and analyzed, and absorbed through the eyes like a caustic cure for the ceaseless drudgery of the outside world. Sadly, Caitlyn Jenner has no involvement with the feast of new extras, but comic legend Bruce Vilanch is part of a new commentary track that promises to dish all the dirt. Based on Paul “Addams Family Values” Rudnick’s stellar play, 1996’s Jeffrey is the story of a twentysomething gay man in New York trying to find his own way, deal with his own sexual neuroses, figuring out the process of making serodiscordant relationships work (something unheard of in films at the time), and trying to live his best life. It’s wickedly funny and deeply rooted in the consciousness of a community under siege, and it also features Sir Patrick Stewart as the best friend everyone wants. And then there’s Boom! One of the most infamous films of 1968, this pairing of star Elizabeth Taylor and director Joseph Losey was met with stunned silence by audiences at the time. An adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, it is a masterpiece of camp, tragedy, and heaving flesh clad in jewels. One of John Waters’ favorite films of all time (he’s contributed a commentary track, because he knows what we need), Boom! is the kind of film we simply don’t get anymore, to our lament. In addition, critic/historian/ Christmas movie consigliere Alonso Duralde is all over these new releases, with his own featurette on Boom! and as part of a commentary track on Jeffrey with star Stephen Weber. If you’re unfamiliar with Duralde’s work, he’s a tremendous critic, as well as deeply funny. His books Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas and 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men are both delights to read and invaluable resources, and Linoleum Knife, the podcast empire he runs and hosts with his husbear Dave White, is essential for every LGBTQIA cinephile out there. His presence is a sign that this Pride quartet was put together by quality-minded people, and a boon for cool viewing during hot weather.
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