$ YOUR WEALTH IS ABOUT MORE THAN DOLLARS AND CENTS. IT’S ALSO ABOUT LEAVING A LEGACY THAT GOES BEYOND YOUR GENES. That’s why Fifth Third Private Bank Advisors want to know about more than just your assets. Asking about your family, passions and the legacy you want to build helps us design a personalized plan to accomplish your goals. Put our more than 100 years of curiosity to work for you. And your loved ones. Learn more at 53.com/legacy. NLGBT Chamber honored Don Abel Tennessee Affiliate President and CEO of Fifth Third Bank with the Ally Award at the 2013 Excellence in Business Awards. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Fifth Third Private Bank is a division of Fifth Third Bank offering banking, investment and insurance products and services. Fifth Third Bancorp provides access to investments and investment services through various subsidiaries, including Fifth Third Securities. Fifth Third Securities is the trade name used by Fifth Third Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and registered investment advisor. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investments, investment services and insurance: Are Not FDIC Insured - Offer No Bank Guarantee - May Lose Value Are Not Insured By Any Federal Government Agency - Are Not A Deposit Insurance products made available through Fifth Third Insurance Agency, Inc. © Fifth Third Bank 2013.
,
OSHi FL O W E R S
REFRESHINGLY CLASSIC ATTENTION TO DETAIL
WWW.OSHiFLOWERS.COM Music City Center 615.254.6744 217 A. Sixth Ave. North Nashville TN
The Pinnacle at Symphony Place - 615.259.0444 150 Third Ave. South (Main Lobby) Nashville TN
Direct to Perri (OSHi) 615.972.5425
WHERE EVERY BLOSSOM LEAVES YOU HUNGRY FOR MORE
Joey Amato Managing Editor Ben Rock Publisher
Estella Pan Book Reviewer Sebastian Fortino Business Editor A.J. Busé Business Correspondent Michael Burcham Business Writer Dan J. Groover Fitness Editor Mark Allyn Nimmo Food & Wine Editor John Winnett Life & Style Writer Kyle Kressin Music Editor Ron Slomowicz Arts & Entertainment Editor
Letter from the Publisher It may be easy to take a selfie while on vacation; however, it’s impossible to build a successful business without a team or without mentors to help guide you along the path of success. When I was living in South Florida, I applied for a job I saw on Craigslist for a position at a startup LGBT newspaper, South Florida Gay News. At the time, I had never heard of the publication nor its publisher Norm Kent; however, after learning of his stellar reputation, I accepted the position as SFGN’s editor and began working at my first LGBT publication. Over the next year, Norm taught me everything I needed to know to run a successful newspaper, and I owe much of UNITE’s success to him. If it wasn’t for Norm, UNITE probably wouldn’t even have been a thought in my mind. As the years went by, I crossed paths with many business people; however, none had made the same impact on my life as Norm. Then, shortly after I relocated to Nashville, I met Michael Burcham, founder and CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. After spending countless hours of coaching, he has now become a mentor and a friend. The gifts Michael has given me and the entire community of Nashville are immeasurable. If you are thinking about starting a business, find yourself a “Norm” or a “Michael” and ask them for guidance. Assemble an advisory board. Surround yourself with people smarter than yourself who you can trust to help your business succeed. As one of my staff members once said, there is an i in UNITE but no i in team. —Joey
4 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Contributing Writers
Jessica Gibson, Liz Riggs Account Executives Creative Director
Jeffery Humble Joshua Beadle
Creative Assistants
Michelle Kowalczyk, Tristan Tanner Webmaster Ben Rock Photographers
Jessi Coggins, Heather Johns, MyL Pack Cover Photographer James White Advisory Board
Tyler Chapman, Mark Farrar, Sam Felker, Scott Glasgow, Joseph McLean Gregory, Lisa Howe, Rana Mukherji, Gordon Publow, Chris Robinette, Jeff Rymer, Jim Schmidt Contact
(615) 852-6660 joey@unitemag.com
free review Do you have the right investments in place to help you meet your financial goals?
At Edward Jones, our business is to help people find solutions for their long-term financial goals. If you would like a free review of your savings plans or any of your other investments to see if they are appropriate for your long-term goals, please call or stop by today.
FEATURE Carrie Underwood LeAnn Rimes
Jeremy K Garner Financial Advisor .
30 Burton Hills Blvd Suite 130 Nashville, TN 37215 615-665-4474
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
Prime Timers of Greater Nashville is a social activities club for mature gay and bisexual men (and younger men who appreciate older men) who enjoy diverse activities and the friendships that develop with other Prime Timers through our many monthly events such as, potluck dinners, movie nights, dining out, arts & culture, theatre, concerts,sporting events, the great outdoors with the Outsider's, and most every other facet of healthy gay life in Greater Nashville.
CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DOWNLOAD YOUR MEMBERSHIP FORM VIA THE WEBSITE TODAY!
Prime Timers of Greater Nashville 615.269.3263 wresch@comcast.net
www.tnprimetimers.org
30 24
LOCAL STARS Perri Crutcher 12 Kathy VanReece 14 James Worsham 36 Theron Denson 48 BUSINESS Chamber Chat 7 Leadership G.R.I.T.S. 8 Now Mark Rosenberg 10 Style Hello Boys 16 Look Book The Label 18 Fitness You vs. Gravity 38 Film TWO 40 ART Sensuous Steel 44 Music Nervo 50 Sports Hudson Taylor 52 Out Destination Fort Lauderdale 54 Book Review Summer Reading 56 Coming Out David Paine 58 Giving Back Project UNO 60
BUSINESS
Chamber Chat by Dan J. Groover
The board of directors of the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce has been collaborating with the organization’s members to better identify benefits, programs, and events that the Chamber can provide its diverse membership. According to Lisa Howe, executive director of the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce, large corporate members join the Chamber for different reasons than small business owners or nonprofit organizations. “One of the programs I am most excited about is one geared for our LGBT business owners,” Howe said, “and that is the Supplier Diversity Initiative.”
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce offers third party certification for LGBT-owned businesses. An NGLCC certified company is called an LGBTBE (business enterprise). The top two thirdparty certifications are WBE for women-owned businesses and MBE for minority-owned companies. Veterans and people with disabilities also have access to third-party certifications.
benchmark scores. Metro [Government of Nashville] set aside over 30% of the overall budget for the construction of the Music City Center to be spent on minority- and womenowned businesses. The Omni Hotel has designated an even greater percentage than that.”
“Corporations like Aetna, IBM, Pfizer, and Nissan have found value in diversifying the supplier base in their supply chains,” Howe explained. “Using diverse suppliers also helps businesses score higher on the HRC Corporate Equality Index and other diversity
According to Heather Cox at Certify My Company, LGBTBE certification is a marketing tool that gives the supplier a competitive advantage. Certification gives an LGBTBE access to business opportunities, corporate buyers, and fellow suppliers. Other LGBTBEs, such as Jennifer Brown Consulting, have had experiences where one of the first questions asked by a procurement manager is “Are you certified?” If not, a supplier may not get to finish an elevator speech or
Lisa Howe & Sam McClure.
pass along a business card. “With the help of local businesses and resources, the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce is prepared to help LGBT business owners become certified and educate them about the supply chain,” Howe said. The NGLCC will also waive its $600 certification fee for NGLBTCC members who are Boardroom level or above. Contact the NGLBTCC or the NGLCC for more information.
photo by MyL Pack for MPACK Photography
UNITE MAGAZINE | 7
BUSINESS
LEADERSHIP by Michael Burcham, PhD
W
hen you screen as many new startup ideas a week as I do, you have to have a system to stay focused and keep the ball moving. My system is simple. There are three groups of ideas: A, B, and C (notice I said groups of ideas, not people). I have to persuade those with ideas in Group C not to quit their day jobs—just yet… Our mentors educate Group B on where improvements can be made before they are ready take their ideas into prime time. But, it is those in Group A that have something special. It’s a combination of a great business idea, an identified market, a willingness to learn, and most importantly, a particular character trait that I can see a mile away. And it has nothing to do with whom their daddy knows, where they went to school, how outgoing they are, or how much money they have. This unique trait that distinguishes the real entrepreneurial leader is grit. Grit is what makes an entrepreneur successful, and it’s what Thomas Edison referred to when he said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.”
8 | UNITE MAGAZINE
G.R.I.T.S.
Grit is the quality that allows people to accomplish their goals, to actualize their dreams, to create a legacy. Because we’re in the South, I have to make a slight adjustment: to be a leader not only do you have to have grit but also GRITS. GRITS are the five things that that make a leader—and an entrepreneur—truly remarkable.
G for Goal. Successful entrepreneurial leaders typically have a wellarticulated goal. They have real clarity of purpose and work toward that singular goal with a zest that for most is unimaginable. I was reminded the importance of a strong goal when I stumbled across this quote: “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much!”
R for Resilience. Great leaders and great entrepreneurs are able to deal with stress and uncertainty. They know how to develop enough mental “hardness” to persevere, and they take on the challenges instead of running from them.
The really great entrepreneurial leaders are often the ones at the back of the room, but they are successful today because of their ability to persevere.
I for Innovation. Entrepreneurial leaders are innovative. The entrepreneurs I admire most have learned to think through possibilities and practicalities. They have a sharp distaste for the status quo and a drive to think beyond yesterday’s solutions for tomorrow’s problems. They embrace their curiosity.
T for Trust. Entrepreneurs trust the people around them. This trust is rooted in a confident expectation of something, in
optimism, and in hope. The truly successful ones learn to trust others to help execute the vision and turn their idea into something real. Entrepreneurs wear multiple hats in the early days of their business—they simply do whatever it takes for the business to succeed. As the business grows, this unilateral decision-making style must change. Plenty of businesses, ideas, and campaigns have failed because of a leader’s inability to trust.
S for Sharing the Success. The one trait that I admire more than anything is that entrepreneurs share their success, or as we say in entrepreneurial and leadership circles, they “pay it forward.” Great entrepreneurs understand that doing well and doing good are not the same thing, and they are mindful to do both. Growing up as a poor kid from Mississippi, I know first hand what it means to have someone pay-it-forward, and having someone reach out to me as a mentor has made all the difference in my life. It is why I do what I do and give other young entrepreneurs the same opportunity that someone gave me. Michael Burcham, PhD, has been called the “Simon Cowell of startups.” As the founder and CEO of The Entrepreneur Center in Nashville, he screens dozens of new business ideas each week and has worked with everyone from a 10-yearold with a briefcase to a single mother with a dream, helping those with the best ideas achieve their goals while coaching others to further develop their aims.
IT TAKES SKILL AND STRATEGY TO BRING EVERYTHING INTO
PERFECT HARMONY. Planning for your financial success is complicated in today’s world. A broad knowledge of everything, from complex investment products to elaborate tax laws, is required. As the scope of financial services grows, so does the need for professionals to provide these services. That’s why we approach your financial planning needs with a team of specialists who combine their knowledge and experience to determine the suitable financial strategy for your individual needs. It’s the key to our success, and more importantly – your success.
To learn more, contact: Capital Financial Group 8 Cadillac Drive Suite 150 Brentwood, TN 37027 615-309-6300 www.capitalfinancialgroup.net
LIFE INSURANCE + RETIREMENT/401(K) PLAN SERVICES + DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE + LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE + ANNUITIES
MassMutual Financial Group refers to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. Insurance products issued by MassMutual, Springfield, MA 01111 and its subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Co., and MML Bay State Life Insurance Co., Enfield, CT 06082. CRN201501-168393
NOW
MARK ROSENBERG
wants you to eat his feelings
by Ben Rock
M
ark Rosenberg’s latest book, Eating My Feelings, is a comedic portrayal of the image-obsessed world of gay culture, where people are forced to hire personal trainers they want to sleep with in attempt to create what he calls “the perfect gay.” “Eating My Feelings is a book about how we view ourselves and how we value our selfworth,” Rosenberg explains. “It’s just a fact that people, gay or straight, are more apt to be attracted to people they are physically interested in.” The book, Rosenberg’s second, walks readers through his life, from his early days as a fat kid growing up to his exercise addiction as he tried to become the perfect gay guy. “I tried really hard to live through Grindr and P90x but started to realize I was
10 | UNITE MAGAZINE
living in a fairytale land with no real friends,” he says. “My relationships were with myself and my family.” Aside from his struggle with his weight, Rosenberg’s most difficult challenge has been his alcoholism. “Being a 25-yearold gay man, it was very difficult to beat. Everywhere you go involves alcohol, whether it’s for business or pleasure. Most networking events serve alcohol and on a personal level, many dates take place at bars. Alcohol is everywhere.” Five years sober, Rosenberg hopes he can share his message and experiences while helping others facing the same struggles he has experienced. An avid writer, Rosenberg is currently putting the finishing touches on his third book and has just completed a pilot for a reality show he describes as
photo courtesy of Mark Rosenberg
Seinfeld for gays. “The book is really over the top and out there. It’s all about our interpretation of what romance really is. Anyone who’s ever been on a date will totally relate.” When he is not writing books, touring the country promoting them, or creating pilots for television shows, Rosenberg is at home in New York City listening to some of his favorite artists, including Britney Spears, Jay Z, and British pop sensations Little Mix. He also admits that he is a huge Washington Redskins fan. “Many people find that hard to believe,” he says with a laugh. “I’m gayer
than a Christmas tree in July, but when I was in college, we would go to games. It’s just something I grew up with.” Rosenberg’s book tour will be stopping in Nashville this August, and he has a list of things he can’t wait to do when he gets here: enjoy some BBQ, try to meet Kelly Clarkson, and visit all the sites highlighted on his favorite television show, Nashville. Meet Mark Rosenberg at Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt on August 31 at 2 p.m. for an exclusive book signing and discussion of Eating My Feelings.
Using an inventive array of materials and hundreds of miles of glowing optic fiber, Munro has transformed Cheekwood’s beautiful gardens into an iridescent landscape.
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until 11pm May 24 – November 10
E X H I B I T I O N P R E S E N T E D B Y:
E X H I B I T I O N S P O N S O R E D B Y:
Barbara and Jack Bovender
cheekwood.org
FIRST TENNESSEE FRIDAYS
Friday evenings will be especially magical this summer as musical acts throughout Cheekwood supply an eclectic soundtrack to LIGHT: Bruce Munro at Cheekwood. Celebrate with specialty cocktails at several bar locations, and join us for an incredible experience of music, art, food and fun under the stars.
BRUCE MUNRO, FIELD OF LIGHT (INSTALLATION VIEW), CHEEKWOOD, 2013. PHOTO: KYLE DREIER WATER-TOWERS PHOTO: MARK PICKTHALL
GOOD NIGHT.
LOCAL STARS
photo by Joey Amato
Perri Crutcher puts the ‘O’ in ‘flower’ by Dan J. Groover
Perri Crutcher’s love of flora came at an early age. As a child, everytime he visited his great aunt’s home near Memphis, Tennessee, he was surrounded by gardens of fruit trees, wild grape vines, roses, and gardenias, and she would often wake him after a late spring rain by sprinkling fresh rose water on his forehead from the blossoms of the cabbage roses she had gathered just outside the window. As an adult, Crutcher has spent time decorating and designing with plants all around the world, including such places as New York, London, Paris, and Istanbul. Eight years ago, he brought his knowledge and talents to Nashville, where he saw a need. There were beautiful floral arrangements in many of the corporate buildings in New York, but few here. To build his business, Crutcher began delivering arrangements free of charge with one request: that he be able to leave some of his cards. It was not long before OSHi Flowers took off. As Nashville grew, so did Crutcher’s business.
12 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Now, approximately 65 to 70 percent of the lobbies with flowers downtown have OSHi creations. In time, individuals began to notice the work they were seeing downtown, and Crutcher’s business expanded yet again. OSHi flowers can prepare arrangements onsite or at one of two downtown locations, create more custom pieces for individuals, cater to special events, and please the most discerning of corporate clients. Crutcher has diligently worked to create the OSHi brand. He describes it as “classically traditional with a modern edge and a wonderful little element of surprise.” While creating his arrangements, Crutcher feels it is important not only to utilize master design skills but also to enhance inner creativity while listening to the client most of all. When it comes to representing the OSHi brand, Crutcher wants to be as visible as possible as his product is a visual one. As a gay African American male, Crutcher tries to prove to himself his own self worth, not anyone else. “There is no place I feel unwelcome, nor any situation I cannot handle,” he says. Because of his working with flowers, Crutcher is surrounded by color and diversity every day. He feels he has the respect to design and run a sustainable business here in Nashville. He also has confidence based on his knowledge of the product and his sense of business. Crutcher sees the gay community in Nashville as strong and diverse in business and lifestyles, and he exemplifies this view rather accurately. Having worked and lived all over the world, Crutcher is very comfortable in Nashville and feels that the consumer is sophisticated enough to shop based on consistent quality and reputation of the product rather than purchasing simply because of a stereotype. His work is magnificent because of his talent and experience, not because he is gay. Nashville is exceptionally fortunate to have garnered such a talent as Perri Crutcher and his ever adaptable and successful business OSHi flowers. Crutcher focuses on the needs of the community and listening to his client. He uses his skills, experience, and brilliant talent to create breathtaking pieces of art. For more information, visit www.oshiflowers.com.
Advocating for Same Sex Partners Financial and Legal Issues • Estate Protection • Personal Protection • Income Protection • Tax Protection • Investment Protection An industry leader in educating clients, peers, and adult learners in estate planning and wealth transfer, Frank C. Weightman, PH.D., CEP, is a strong advocate for the Nashville LGBT. His office is located at 341 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 210, Franklin, TN 37067, 615.261.4632. Securities and advisory services offered through FSC Securities Corporation, member FINRA/SIPC. Radian Partners is not affiliated with FSC or registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor.
Recognized by Forbes Magazine as an industry leader in educating clients, peers, and adult learners in estate planning and wealth transfer, Frank C. Weightman, PH.D., CEP, is a strong advocate for the Nashville LGBT. Office is located at 341 Cool Springs Blvd. Suite 210, Franklin, TN 37067 615.261.4632. Securities and advisory services offered through FSC Securities Corporation, member FINRA/SIPC. Radian Partners is not affiliated with FSC or registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor.
photo courtesy of Perri Crutcher
LOCAL STARS
Nancy VanReece Living an Artful Life by A.J. Busé Carpe diem. Seize the day. A common phrase of encouragement. But, it’s much more than that for Nancy VanReece. It is her life’s philosophy and the name of her business, or businesses, rather. With a background in radio promotions, publicity, and artist management, VanReece began Carpe Diem Artist Management in 1985, shortly after attending college, and worked mainly in the music business for several years, mostly promoting and managing touring acts. She has since expanded her expertise and services, reaching arts-related clients nationwide to help them with their marketing and promotions strategies. Raised in Oklahoma and educated at Baylor University in Texas, VanReece made her move to Nashville to pursue work in the music business. That’s a common story heard often of those who move here to follow their dreams, but VanReece didn’t have her sights set on the stage. Instead, she wanted to use her behind-the-scenes experience to help promote those who did want to be up there. She hit the ground running, working with Contemporary Christian musicians throughout the 1990s. That work grew into a nearly nine-year-long stint at BMI, working in music licensing for corporations and health care systems. Then, in 2007, VanReece became the first executive director of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, growing that organization into a well-known and well-attended event, while launching the Winter Shakespeare program with Belmont University. Three years later, she was asked by Cool People Care to manage a program through the Tennessee Arts Commission to hold a series of workshops throughout Tennessee assisting arts organizations in creating or improving their online presence. One of those workshop attendees was the Nashville Symphony. Her work with this Grammy Award-winning group led to the creation of a social media strategy and web site management position, a role she has filled since October 2011. Seize the day, indeed. VanReece has always been an early adopter of technology and was an avid user of social media long before many were even aware of it. She is the author of the eBook Social Media for the Arts and is in demand as a workshop leader and lecturer nationwide to help arts-related organizations and other small businesses with their online communication strategies. She is also affiliated with Mothers Digital and the new Para-Diem Projects with Parachute Media. “In any business, your customers are your audience and you must
14 | UNITE MAGAZINE
photo by Chad McClarnon
create a good, shareable experience for them,” VanReece says. This philosophy isn’t limited to only arts groups; many of her new clients are turning out to be health care and insurance companies. “The key is to create an experience. I find that clients respond to what I have to tell them because I’m a baby boomer who ‘gets it.’ I can create that meaningful content and present it in a way they understand.” Her expertise in social media and promotion also help drive her passion for politics. “It is my civic duty to keep Nashville a place I want to live,” VanReece proclaims. What better way to contribute to Nashville’s positive future than by running for office to serve Metro Council’s District 8. With Joan, her partner of more than 25 years, VanReece has lived in Madison since 1990 and had garnered her neighbors’ support as an activist who wanted to grow and improve that area of Davidson County. Then, in what was viewed by many as a tricky political move, the boundaries of District 8 were changed well after VanReece’s campaign for the post had begun, throwing a wrench into a wellplanned strategy and contributing to her loss on election day. “Most people in Nashville are more focused on who is the best person to represent them,” VanReece says, explaining that her being a lesbian did not have a negative effect on voters in any way. Her plans to run again in 2015 have already begun. When she is not advising organizations on their media strategies or running for office, VanReece shares her creativity through her own art. Quickly becoming an artist in her own right, some of her work is now on display as part of the Women’s Studies Department Collection at Vanderbilt University. Yes, carpe diem serves VanReece well, both as a life philosophy and as a business strategy. She sums it up best: “Living an artful life is something everyone can participate in.” Social Media for the Arts by Nancy VanReece is available as a free E-book download at www.SocialMediaForTheArts.com or as a paperback on Amazon.com.
Fun … Stress-Free … Educational What do these words have in common? Follow the steps below, and they’ll be part of your home-buying experience! Let’s get started.
STEP 1 Call Steve Gaunt, Mortgage Lender 615-419-7566
Stephen C. Gaunt Branch Manager/ Vice President Mortgage Division NMLS #478718
n
n
Fast pre-approval helps you know what your price range is and indicates that you are a serious buyer 25 years of experience in making the mortgage process understandable and personalized for you
n
Local decision making
n
Local servicing
STEP 2 Call Laurie Sheinkopf, Real Estate Agent 615-497-4012
Laurie Sheinkopf ABR, CRS, GRI, e-pro, ISS, CSP, GREEN totallynashville.com email: totallynashville@ yahoo.com
n
Has worked, lived and invested in the city and suburbs
n
Previews homes so your time is not wasted
n
Has a great “black book” of contacts
n
n
Has helped hundreds of happy families find their dream homes Is available after the sale for any issues that arise
Announcing an app that lets you search for homes, has a mortgage calculator, and lists fun events and open houses in Metro Nashville, all in the palm of your hand!
TOTALLY NASHVILLE APP
Visit the iTunes App Store and search “Totally Nashville.” Sign up for our monthly newsletter and you’ll be entered to win a $500 Visa gift card.
S STYLE
“Our brand is a lifestyle. That’s what we sell; we sell a lifestyle.”
Jeremy Ryan & Gavin O’Neill.
Say Hello to the new boys in town 16 | UNITE MAGAZINE
photo courtesy of Hello Boys
Gavin O’Neill and Jeremy Ryan are the faces behind this lifestyle—Hello Boys—one of the newest additions to the Nashville vintage scene. A 350-square foot store tucked in East Nashville’s Idea Hatchery on Woodland, Hello Boys was launched as the male counterpart to Kim Davidson’s store, Goodbuy Girls. As a former artist manager, Kim started collecting vintage when she would receive leftover outfits and clothes from video and photo shoots. With a desire to start a male version of her boutique, Davidson reached out to Gavin O’Neill, a friend she’d made who had an uncanny affinity for styling. O’Neill, a 23-year-old California native, moved to Nashville in 2010 after meeting his partner, Jeremy, a 33-yearold Eastern Kentucky native. The couple opened Hello Boys just two weeks after Davidson formally made the offer.
by Liz Riggs
enormously muscular calves and Michael Phelps’s width shoulders. “I don’t like to create boundaries for myself.”
“Our brand is a lifestyle. That’s what we sell; we sell a lifestyle.”
On the other hand, Ryan is the more functional of the two, with O’Neill dubbing him as “nerdy chic.”
“This is a catalyst to where we want to go,” O’Neill says, describing how he and Ryan would ultimately like the store to become a sort of catchall for artists. Because Ryan is a graphic designer and photographer, Gavin is a stylist, and Kim is a management and marketing guru, the crew hopes to be able to eventually turn their vintage store into a full-fledged marketing machine providing tangible goods and services for artists. “The best way to describe it [the goal] is like an ad agency, but for artists. We like taking care of everything.” As for their personal taste, O’Neill is the more fashionably audacious of the duo, prizing style over comfort any time. He can be spotted wearing anything from short overalls with a tank underneath to a pair of metallic shoes three sizes too small that will, as one might guess, make his feet bleed. “I’ve really branded myself personally for a long time now after the Thunderbirds in Grease, like that 1950s [look]. I try to play to my proportions the best that I can,” he says, pointing out his
“I’m the complete opposite. I like a basic T-shirt, skinny jeans, and a shirt over it,” he says, pointing out his hand-printed shirt from the store, a loose fitting red flannel, and snug, dark denim. “Comfort over fashion any day.” This comfort factor is probably because Ryan does a lot of the “dirty work,” which may involve picking out fixtures, putting pieces together in the store, or “keeping them out of jail,” O’Neill says. O’Neill gives the final say for pieces, providing the “yes” or “no” for what ends up on the shelves. They get their clothes from dealers who pull for them, independent filmmakers who sell them their wardrobes, and even musicians who find thrift store gems in other cities. At the end of the day, it all has to be quality, be wearable, and—obviously—look great. “Now that we have this store, I have to look good,” Ryan says about a new fashion pressure he feels around town—and it’s probably true. Being a new addition to the vintage scene in Nashville, Hello Boys has all eyes on them. Luckily, it seems like they’re up for the challenge.
New from the author of Blackouts and Breakdowns —and in the tradition of Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Chelsea Handler– a collection of funny essays skewering the author’s struggles with weight and body image, both as a kid in the 1980s and as a gay man in the 2000s.
Mark Brennan Rosenberg signs
Eating My FEElings Saturday, August 31, 2 p.m. at
FREE PARKING IN THE 2525 GARAGE
LOOK LOOKBOOK BOOK
The Label is Nashville’s premier men’s boutique, styling many of entertainment’s biggest names along with those seeking the latest fashion trends. It is the perfect place to find your summer-chic look without breaking your wallet. Over 90% of The Label’s products are designed and made in the United States; however, everything you will find at the store is 100% original, and many items are custom made by The Label’s in-house designer.
18 | UNITE MAGAZINE
LOOK BOOK
LOOK LOOKBOOK BOOK
20 | UNITE MAGAZINE
LOOK BOOK
LOOK BOOK
TheLabel Labelisislocated locatedatat 2222 12thAvenue Avenue South. (615) 915-0722 for hours and more information The 2222 12th South. CallCall 615-915-0722 for hours and more information
LOOK BOOK
FEATURE
The Life, Love, and Heartache of
LeAnn Rimes by Joey Amato
Spitfire walks us through the remarkable journey of Rimes’s life over the past few years. “I looked at this record as making a film,” she said. “Every song that I wrote and every song I recorded fit the whole vision and story that I wanted to tell.” This is the first time Rimes was able to record an album without any outside control. “The process was an amazing roller-coaster ride,” she said. “I got to work with everyone I wanted to work with, which has never happened. I recorded most of the album sitting in a circle with a handheld mic. People in the past told me I could never record that way.” Rimes even laid on her back to record the heart-wrenching track “What Have I Done.”
One of the most eagerly awaited albums of the year is by one of country music’s most beloved artists. LeAnn Rimes burst on to the music scene 18 years ago and is the first to admit she had many ups and downs along the way. However, with her latest release, Spitfire, Rimes makes it known that the album is 100% true to life.
On this album, Rimes speaks more honestly than she ever has before. She hopes people will relate to the truth, pain, and love she expresses. The album kicks off with the title track “Spitfire,” a song about how total strangers were making up lies about her personal life. “Believe it or not, the word spitfire came to me in a dream. I have no idea what the dream was about, but I woke up and wrote that down. Since I couldn’t exactly fight it out with strangers—it would just fuel the fire—it felt good to put all that into a song. It was very cathartic, and it’s the best way for me to speak my truth.”
“I never felt like people really saw me as a person. They saw me as a prodigy with a big voice. I felt like an alien child,” she recalled. “I want people who listen to my music to see me, know me, and recognize me as a normal human being who can sing and write, and I hope [they can] connect with me through my music in a deeper way than ever before.”
In a time when country music sweethearts are recording popcountry albums, Rimes wanted to release a true country album. “I just pulled the safety net right out from under me,” she
24 | UNITE MAGAZINE
explained, “and I wanted to go for what I’ve known I wanted to go after for a long time. I wanted to write songs that relate to everyone’s life, not just mine. There’s an honesty and humility on this album that has never been there.” Along with “What Have I Done,” Rimes’s pain can also be heard in tracks like “Borrowed.” “My favorite moment of recording this album might have been working on ‘Borrowed,’” she said. “I didn’t know Dan Wilson at the time, but he’d written ‘Someone Like You’ for Adele. Explaining to Dan what I wanted to express was a special moment for me. I went to a deep, dark place that I’ve never shared with anyone, but one that so many of us have experienced: waiting around for someone to call, watching TV, alone, lonely, wondering if it was going to end or was already over. That period wasn’t a memory I wanted to revisit, but I think I had to face it.” When songwriter Liz Rose, pitched “You Ain’t Right” to Rimes, she was worried that the singer would be turned off because it has the word shit in it. “I said, ‘Bring it on.’ I’m not hiding anything on this record,” Rimes explained. “Some people who started listening to me when I was a child have trouble flipping that switch and seeing me as a woman who can use that kind of language when it’s called for. But, I’m a 30-year-old woman. I can say it if I want to.” What Rimes likes most about the song is that it’s funny, tongue-in-cheek, and represents a light moment during three
very interesting years of her life. Her freedom of expression is also why Rimes has been supportive of many LGBT issues over the years. “Being gay is something I can understand in a way,” she explained. “Being in the music business since I was a kid, I’ve always struggled with people wanting me to be something I’m not. I’ve always believed in equality, and I hate people being bullied. At least, I can be the one showing support and love.” One song that many LGBT individuals can relate to is a track called “What Have I Done.” “I wrote it six weeks after I’d begun my relationship with Eddie [Cibrian],” Rimes said. “I was on the phone with a friend, and she said, ‘What have I done?’ So this started as a song about her, and I thought it was. It took a while to realize it was about me.” “What Have I Done” is more than an apology Rimes explains. “We’ve all broken someone’s heart, and as life passes, people inevitably have some regrets. I think there’s a lot on this record that people may not be willing to admit that they’ve experienced or are experiencing. I finally have the balls to say what I feel, and to write what people want to say but haven’t or can’t find ways to express is the most gratifying thing.” Each track on Spitfire serves a purpose and is a peek into the world of LeAnn Rimes. “It’s an intimate conversation between myself and whoever’s listening. I hope I’m saying things that are hard for others to express.” photos courtesy of Curb Records
UNITE MAGAZINE | 25
PAPARAZZI Diversify Nashville at Bar Louie
photos by MyL Pack of MPACK Photography
EXTRAVAGANCE : STANDARD
T H R O U G H S E P T E M B E R 15
Lead Sponsors
BARBARA, JACK, SARA, AND RICHARD BOVENDER Platinum Sponsor
Media Sponsor
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is supported in part by:
Hospitality Sponsor
DO WNTO WN NAS HV ILLE | 9 19 B R OA D WAY | F R I S T C E N T E R . OR G/ A R T D E C OA U TOS Recip r o ca l d i sco u n ts a r e o ffe r e d a t N as hv i l l e’s Lane M ot or M us eum w w w. l anem ot orm us eum . c om 1938 His p an o - S u iza H 6 B Du b o n n et “X en ia” C o u p e. C ol l ecti on of Peter Mul l i n Autom oti v e Mus eum Foundati on. Photograph © 2013 Peter Harhol dt
LGBT BUSINESS DIRECTORY ATTRACTIONS
FLORAL DESIGNERS
Cheekwood Botanical Garden 1200 Forrest Park Drive (615) 356-8000 www.cheekwood.org Frist Center for the Visual Arts 919 Broadway (615) 244-3340 www.fristcenter.org
OSHi Flowers 150 Third Avenue South (615) 259-0444 217 A. Sixth Avenue North (615) 254-6744 www.oshiflowers.com
The Renaissance Center (615) 740-5600 www.rcenter.org
Rubenfeld Law Office, PC 2409 Hillsboro Road, Suite 200 (615) 386-9077 arubenfeld@rubenfeldlaw.com
Ryman Auditorium 116 5th Avenue North (615) 889-3060 www.ryman.com Schermerhorn Symphony Center 1 Symphony Place (615) 687-6400 www.nashvillesymphony.org
BOOK RETAILERS Barnes & Noble 2501 West End Avenue (615) 343-2665 www.vanderbilt.bncollege.com Hope Diamond Collection, Inc. www.josephmcleangregory.com
CREATIVE SERVICES b-kreative, llc (615) 975-0129 www.b-kreativellc.com
EVENT PLANNERS Amos Events amos@amosevents.com (615) 481-7900 www.amosevents.com
EVENT SPACES Scarritt-Bennett Center 1008 19th Avenue South (615) 340-7500 www.scarrittbennett.org
FINANCIAL SERVICES Capital Financial 8 Cadillac Drive (615) 309-6373 www.capitalfinancialgroup.net Edward Jones Jeremy Garner (615) 665-4474 www.edwardjones.com Fifth Third Bank Fifth Third Center 424 Church Street, Suite 700 (615) 687-3115 www.53.com Radian Partners 341 Cool Springs Boulevard (615) 261-4632
28 | UNITE MAGAZINE
LEGAL SERVICES
MEDICAL SERVICES Toyos Clinic (Eye Care) 600A Frazier Drive, Suite #110, Franklin (615) 764-1999 1800 State Street, Nashville (615) 327-4015 www.toyosclinic.com Dr. Bradley Bullock (General Care) 1607 Westgate Circle, Suite 200, Brentwood (615) 376-8195 Dr. Brian Hooper (Psychotherapy) (615) 485-5923 www.drbrianhooper.com
NIGHTLIFE
Play 1519 Church Street (615) 322-9627 www.playdancebar.com Tribe 1517 Church Street (615) 329-2912 www.tribenashville.com
NON-PROFIT The Community Foundation 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, Suite 400 (615) 321-4939 www.cfmt.org Prime Timers (615) 269-3263 www.tnprimetimers.org
RESTAURANTS Batter’d & Fried 1008-A Woodland Street (615) 226-9283 www.batteredandfriend.com Beyond the Edge 112 South 11th Street (615) 226-3343 www.beyondtheedge.net East Side Drifters 1008-B Woodland Street (615) 262-2776 www.driftersnashville.com Watanabe 1400 McGavock Pike (615) 226-1112 www.watanabesushibar.com
RETAIL The Label 2222 12th Avenue South (615) 915-0722 www.thelabelnashville.com
SALONS/SPAS Elan Hair & Skin 3756 Hillsboro Pike (615) 269-0222 www.elannashville.com Studio BBC 1219 17th Avenue South (615) 473-6954 www.studiobbcsalon.com Studio Gaven 100 International Drive, Franklin (615) 503-9788 www.studiogaven.com
TRAVEL Cruise Planners (615) 953-9516 www.letsvamoose.com Tropicana Evansville (800) 342-5386 www.tropicanacasinos.com
REAL ESTATE Realty Trust Residential Laurie Sheinkopf (615) 497-4012 www.totallynashville.com BancorpSouth Mortgage Steve Gaunt (615) 419-7566 United American Mortgage Kimber White (954) 306-3553 Village Real Estate Lon Hurst (615) 946-3177 lhurst@villagerealestate.com
Be a part of the UNITE Magazine LGBT business directory. Email joey@unitemag.com for more information.
COVER COVER STORY
30 | UNITE MAGAZINE
lown BA way
Carrie Exhibition Comes to Nashville by Estella Pan
Last month, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum opened its much anticipated exhibit surrounding international superstar Carrie Underwood’s critically acclaimed world tour. Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour Exhibition runs through November 10 and features original costumes, custom accessories, set pieces, and a tribute to Underwood’s fans along with other interesting tour memorabilia. It was not that long ago that Carrie came out in support of same-sex marriage, and this exhibit is truly one that will be loved by the LGBT community both in Nashville and abroad. The Blown Away Tour Exhibition recreates nearly a dozen vignettes from the tour and includes one-of-a-kind gowns, shoes, and accessories worn by Underwood throughout the show. The exhibition also features items from Underwood’s backstage “meet-and-greet” area, including a selection of gifts and signs presented to her by fans during the tour. The six-time Grammy-award winner’s 2012-13 Blown Away Tour consisted of 112 dates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Australia. Since her debut, Carrie Underwood has sold over 15 million albums, has garnered 16 #1 singles, and has earned adoration from millions of fans throughout the world.
photos by Randee St. Nicholas & Donn Jones
UNITE MAGAZINE | 31
Costumes worn during the sho ws “Act IV: Twister� segment
All designed by Emmy Awardwinning costume designer Marina To y b i n a
A collection of memo r abilia sent to Ca rr ie f r om h e r fans 34 | UNITE MAGAZINE
The f i rs t dress wor n in the perfor mance designed by M a r i n a To y b i n a
LOCAL STARS
James Worsham
(t)here and all around by Kyle Kressin with additional reporting by Ben Rock
Stepping into James Worsham’s Germantown studio is equally like entering an artisan’s wood shop and a pristine showroom. The upstairs space is a small loft with walls and floors adorned with the handcrafted pieces of his collection. The sawdust-covered lower level houses the organized chaos of a well-used and well-loved workshop, and it is here that the woodworker creates his art. “I started college as a painter,” Worsham says of his time at the University of South Florida, where he earned a degree in fine art. “When I was painting, I started getting more interested in texture. I started painting onto sandpaper, gravel, and faux fur.” He then moved into creating pen and ink drawings before his professors encouraged him to look into sculpture, leading to his eventual furniture craftsmanship. “My grandfather had been a great woodworker, building much of the furniture in my childhood home, and I’d always been interested in the trade,” he says. “I found my knack and got to work. My graduation show was entirely composed of furniture-based works that had animal-like qualities, as though Dr. Seuss had done a line for Ikea.” After college, Worsham moved to Nashville, a city where he never planned to live. “[My family and I] moved from New York to the Tampa area in Florida,” he explains. “I sort of hated it, so I tried to get as far out of state while still getting in-state tuition for college and luckily landed in Pensacola, at the University of West Florida.”
got offered the position the same day, and then moved here two weeks out. I figured I could stick anything out for a few years, not really thinking Nashville was my scene. Now I’ve never been happier, and I doubt I’ll ever relocate.” Everything he needed to be successful and happy fell into his lap once he got settled into the city, and he figured out it was his responsibility to put those things together and make them into something. Inspired by his boyfriend, Mark, who had already set up his own business in the city, Worsham began to create his company, and (T) HERE (pronounced Here and There) was born. “I’d always wanted to do a retail venture, but lacking the capital, I decided I wanted to do pop-up stores instead,” Worsham explains. At his pop-up shops that specialize in affordable, curated home goods and accessories, he curates his furniture made of contrasting materials, such as reclaimed wood adorned with high-gloss white paint or railroad ties merged with fine grade plywoods, and other vintage objects repurposed
with modern design—a style that is rustic yet sophisticated, rugged yet polished. It is through his love of modern design that Worsham approaches his work, treating each piece like art, using materials he finds while rummaging through antiques. He is also just as likely to find something he wants to use lying in a field by the side of the road as he is in a showroom, and because all of his pieces are handmade, no two are alike.
At left: James Worsham At far left: Pharmacy Console and Orange Trifold
Expecting to return home to New York after graduation, Worsham was surprised when Anthropologie approached him to interview for a job designing displays for its store in Nashville. “A friend of mine from college worked for the company and knew of my sculpture background and skill set,” he says. “I visited for my interview, photos by Brett Warren
36 | UNITE MAGAZINE
“Even on the pieces that I can make multiples of, each will have an element of singularity and distinguishability,” he says. Realizing it was time to expand his display business and that he wanted to carry more than just his own pieces, Worsham had to establish a brand for himself. “Since I love bow ties and suspenders (and terrible puns), Handy Dandy Production Co. was what I settled on,” he says with a laugh. Through Handy Dandy Production Co., Worsham continues the work that originally brought him to Anthropologie and creates installations for homes and businesses as well as weddings and other special events in the Nashville area. His work can be seen at KORE + nashville in Edgehill Village along with other venues throughout the city, including the new Thistle Stop Cafe, Wedding 101, Safe House Tattoos, Nisolo Shoes, and Style Kitchen. His sculpture can also be found at the Nashville International Airport and The Rymer Gallery. Worsham occasionally will hire a helper for his really big projects, but for the most part, it is just him. “I really enjoy my work, and I hope I never get too big that I can’t build anymore,” he explains. “That being said, I’ve already got some things in my five- and ten-year plans that mean I’ll have to get some help. Luckily, I’ve met some amazingly talented people, and I can’t wait to see what they can contribute.” Until then, look for little shops by Handy Dandy Production Co. popping up (T)HERE around town.
FITNESS
YOU
-VSGRAVITY
Suspension training is an approach to strength training that uses a system of ropes attached to a single (or multiple) anchor point(s). By manipulating the straps you are able to leverage your weight and gravity to perform hundreds of exercises. This type of resistance training includes body weight exercises in which a variety of multi-planar, compound exercise movements can be performed with the goal of developing strength, balance, flexibility, and joint stability simultaneously. While there are a handful of companies who produce suspension-training systems, one company stands out as the industry leader. After spending 14 years as a Navy SEAL commando, Randy Hetrick developed the TRX system for the Navy SEALs in 1988. Now, TRX systems and classes can be found in many modern training facilities or purchased to be used virtually anywhere. The lightweight functional design allows users to pack their gym in their suitcase and complete a full body workout without expensive machines.
What you’ll need: Your best friend for this workout will be a suspension trainer, such as the TRX. While many fitness facilities now provide this great tool, the best option for achieving amazing results is to buy your own TRX and complete a full body workout daily. Links and discounts for any of TRX’s equipment can be found at www.reachamark.com.
The Workout: A full-body movement consists of working the seven major muscle groups (back, chest, legs, shoulders, biceps, triceps, and core) and can be done daily or every other day. Each round (all seven exercises) should be done four times with a one-minute pause between each round, and each move is to be done for 50 seconds with a 10-second rest in between, creating a 30-minute full-body workout.
Tip: Adjust the intensity of movement by changing body angle during exercise, stepping deeper or more shallow. photos courtesy of Sarah-Jane Hill for Krank Nashville
Chest: TRX Pushup Facing away from the wall with your feet together, grab hold of the hard handles of the TRX and lower your body down to a 45 degree angle. This is the starting position: elbows should be extended, navel is drawn in towards the spine, shoulders are down and back, and there is a parallel line between your shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. Bend the elbows and lower your chest down until it is in line with your hands. Press against the handles and press back to the starting position.
38 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Legs: TRX Suspended Lunge Face away from wall placing one foot into both foot cradles at once, toes in. Plant the other foot approximately three feet in front of anchor point. While pressing the suspended foot down into foot cradle, lower hips into lunge position and the suspended leg will begin to move back. Continue moving down until the front knee is at a 90째 angle. Return to start position by pressing down on heel of grounded foot. Maintain balance and upright body posture throughout.
Biceps: TRX Bicep Curl Facing the wall, hold the handles with arms extended and lean back to about a 45째 angle. Bend elbows until hands are next to the temples, with palms facing forehead. Return to the starting position with arms straight while keeping the elbows high throughout movement.
Core: TRX Suspended Crunch and Pike Place feet toes-first into foot cradles with hands on the ground in a suspended plank position. While maintaining a straight line between shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles, raise hips in a pike by bending at waist. Keep legs straight and feet together, and then return to the starting position. Between each pike perform a suspended crunch by bringing the knees to the chest, then return to starting position. The complete workout including back, shoulders, and triceps can be found at www.reachamark.com/trx.
Tip:
To increase intensity, tap floor with hand at bottom of each lunge and/or perform a plyometric leap when returning to start position.
Tip:
To work both sides of forearms, hold handles with palms facing down.
Tip:
Keep the back straight and drive head down between arms, look at feet as hips drive up into pike.
UNITE MAGAZINE | 39
F FILM
Same-sex parents share their story with the world
TWO The Story of Roman and Nyro by Joey Amato
One of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of the year is taking the film festival world by storm. Having already screened at the Nashville Film Festival, Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the 23rd Annual Toronto InsideOut Film Festival, and the Honolulu Rainbow Festival, TWO: The Story of Roman and Nyro will soon to be screened at the San Francisco DocFest, Philadelphia Q-Fest, and the Los Angeles Outfest. Directed by Heather Winters, TWO documents the 12-year journey of legendary Nashville-based songwriter Desmond Child and his partner of 24 years, Curtis Shaw, and the extraordinary way they met and connected with Angela Whittaker, the woman who carried their twin sons, Roman and Nyro, into the world. Best known for his work with Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Carrie Underwood, Joan Jett, Cher, and Ricky Martin, Child is a strong advocate for gay rights and, most importantly, same-sex marriage. “Gay marriage opponents need to come up with a better argument than
40 | UNITE MAGAZINE
procreation,” said Child. “Gay people are not infertile. We actually can procreate, and our children deserve married parents. End of discussion, America.” The emotional film, which features a cameo appearance from the boys’ godfather, Jon Bon Jovi, and family friend, Deepak Chopra, won the Audience Favorite Award for US Documentary at the Nashville Film Festival this past April where it played to two soldout audiences of movie-lovers, media, and friends and also won the HBO ‘Home Town Hero Award’ for director Heather Winters at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. From preconception through the boys’ first 10 years, TWO is the personal and powerful story of these unique individuals whose lives become inextricably woven together in magical and unexpected ways. TWO is testament
with many projects in different stages of development, Desmond can work anywhere and actually prefers life in the big city,” said Shaw. “He has made a bit of a sacrifice by agreeing to live here in Nashville, but this is where we choose to live and where we’ve built a supportive, diverse community of friends. Even when we’ve ventured out of our protected ‘circle of safety’ into the youth-sporting community, we have discovered that the people of Nashville support diversity and recognize us as a family as legitimate as any other.” As the issue of same-sex marriage is one of the biggest topics of conversation for lawmakers and advocacy groups throughout the country, filming the documentary mostly in Nashville carries greater significance. “This film couldn’t come at a more important moment in our nation’s history, when hearts and minds are fractured and debate rages over equality,” said Winters of directing the film. “I’m honored that Desmond and Curtis entrusted me to tell the world their story.” Known for her role as executive producer of such diverse films as Super Size Me, Anywhere u.s.a., Convention, and Class Act, TWO marks Winters directorial debut.
photos courtesy of the Child-Shaw family
to the universal power and ultimate triumph of love—that it is love that makes a family and that some affirming families may be modern in their making but timelessly human at their core.
The film began as a video diary conducted by Angela Whittaker, Roman and Nyro’s surrogate mother. Later, Shaw and Child joined in on several interviews and over time, the project grew in scope.
“We’re just living our lives day by day, and we have the same ups and downs like any other family,” said Shaw. “Our life is lived from an interesting perspective. Our kids don’t see any difference between their friend’s families and our family. All parents want the same things for their children: to be happy, to live a life full of purpose and full of compassion, kindness, and love.”
“Originally we thought we’d be able to show other gay couples that having children was possible and a joyful choice, but as the years and footage mounted, it’s turned into a much larger project,” Shaw said. “What we’re finding this summer as we support the film at festivals across the country is that the film especially resonates with people who recognize that, when in the trenches of parenthood, love is the binding factor in making a family. Whether you’ve got a mother and a father, have a single parent, have two moms or two dads, are adopted, are a family of mixed race, or are a blended family, love is the guider to truth, and love makes a family.”
Now 11 years old, Roman and Nyro Child were born in Miami Beach, Florida; however, Child and Shaw decided to raise their family in Nashville. “Being a successful songwriter and entrepreneur
UNITE MAGAZINE | 41
PAPARAZZI
QDP Pre-Pride Party at SEEN Nashville photos by Heather Johns for heather takes photos
42 | UNITE MAGAZINE
do WHAT YOU
LOVE
and love
what you
DO
HELPING THE CREATIVE CLASS TURN THEIR IDEA INTO A BUSINESS.
The Nashville Entrepreneur Center 41 Peabody Street, Nashville, TN • 615.873.1267 • www.entrepreneurcenter.com
ART
Sensuous Steel
Where Art Meets Auto by Estella Pan
photos by Peter Harholdt
Car lovers and art lovers alike will find The Frist Center for the Visual Arts’s current exhibition, Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles, truly extraordinary. The exhibition of unique and luxurious autos from the 1930s and ’40s includes 18 cars and two motorcycles drawn from some of the most renowned collections in the automotive world. Organized by guest curator Ken Gross, former Petersen Automotive Museum director, the exhibition will be on view through September 15. While today’s automotive manufacturers often strive for efficiency, there was a time when elegance reigned. Like the Frist Center’s historic building, the automobiles included in Sensuous Steel display the classic grace and modern luxury of Art Deco design. An eclectic, machine-inspired decorative style that thrived between the two World Wars, Art Deco combined craft motifs with industrial materials and lavish embellishments. The movement began in Paris in the early 1920s and was propelled to prominence with the success of the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in 1925. Automakers embraced the sleek iconography of motion and aircraft-inspired materials connotative of Art Deco, creating memorable automobiles. “Sensuous Steel is the first major museum auto exhibition devoted entirely to Art Deco automobiles, and there could be no more fitting a venue than the Frist Center’s landmark, historic Art Deco building, which was completed in 1934,” notes Dr. Susan H. Edwards, executive director for the Frist Center. “The works in this exhibition convey the breadth, diversity, and stunning artistry of cars designed in the Art Deco style.” “Rapidly changing and ever-evolving, the automobile became the perfect metal canvas upon which industrial designers expressed the vital spirit of the interwar period,” explained Ken Gross. “To give the illusion of dramatic movement and forward thrust, cars of the 1930s and ’40s merged gentle curves with angular edges. These automobiles were made from the finest materials and sported beautifully crafted ornamentation, geometric grillwork, and the elegant miniature statuary of hood ornaments. The classic cars of the Art Deco age remain today as among the most visually exciting, iconic, and refined designs of the twentieth century.”
44 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Steel UNITE MAGAZINE | 45
46 | UNITE MAGAZINE
YORK & Friends fine art Nashville • Memphis
Nashville’s Newest Leading Source for Tennessee Art AND
are proud to return as sponsors for the
4th Annual
ARTS & FLOWERS benefiting Grammy-Nominated
ALIAS CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Pearls & Ivory, 30x30, acrylic/canvas
Saturday, July 20 • 7-9 WO Smith Music School 1125 8th Ave. S. for tickets and additional information
www.aliasmusic.org
LOCAL STARS
Theron Denson
The Black Diamond by Estella Pan
photos courtesy of Theron Denson
“I’m a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind.” Theron Denson sings these lines from “I’m a Believer,” as part of The Black Diamond Experience, a Neil Diamond tribute show. The Black Diamond Experience is an interactive show, calling for loads of audience participation. Besides being treated to “Sweet Caroline,” “I’m a Believer,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “about a gazillion other Diamond classics,” fans can expect the element of spontaneity throughout the show, such as someone from the audience
being invited on stage for an impromptu duet. “Mainly, The Black Diamond Experience’s mission is to make sure you forget all your troubles, smile, and simply have a good time,” Denson shares. “Oh and sequins—most definitely you can expect the sequins!” The seeds for bringing The Black Diamond Experience to fruition were planted more than a decade ago. “I’ve often been asked how it was that I chose Neil Diamond to emulate. My truthful response is that it seems
The Black Diamond performs for a sold-out crowd.
as if Neil Diamond found me,” Denson explains. “It was others, who upon hearing me sing, would exclaim that I resembled Mr. Diamond vocally. I particularly recall hearing it at churches in West Virginia and Missouri.” Having heard the same sentiments echoed a plethora of times, Denson honestly thought Mr. Diamond attended his church and was simply seated in another part of the auditorium. Eventually, upon the realization that this elusive “Mr. Diamond” did not attend his church but was a worldwide music icon,
Denson bought The Jazz Singer, which became his first introduction to Neil Diamond. Through inspiration and hard work, The Black Diamond Experience grew organically. In the beginning, Denson had a hand in practically every part of the show. “I was my own sound guy, wardrobe person, roadie, and most of all, my own publicist and booking agent,” he says. “I would call every business I found in the Yellow Pages I had determined might need enter-
tainment. Then, I would begin hawking my show, which at that time didn’t even have a name. This led to getting several bookings, including a weekly pizza parlor gig for a few bucks along with all the food I wanted.” During one of those pizza parlor gigs, Denson received an invitation to appear on ABC television’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! “I am so thankful that [Kimmel] plucked me from that West Virginia pizza parlor and brought me to Hollywood and to the nation’s attention,” he says, reflecting on his tenth anniversary as a musical guest. “It certainly gave The Black Diamond concept a major boost. Oh, and he took me bowling afterward!” Next month, Black Diamond: The Real Illusion, a new book about his show, will be released, and Denson couldn’t be more excited or honored. “This has to
be one of the coolest things ever to happen in my life, and that’s no understatement! “It came about after prolific writer Scott Nollen overheard me telling my story on a show we were taping in Las Vegas, four years ago,” Denson explains. “After the taping, he approached me and said that he would like to write my story as it has unfolded thus far. My incredulous smile probably told him that he’d have to do some convincing. I figured the Black Diamond tale might make for interesting reading in a newspaper, magazine, or blog, as I had experienced those three things before. But a book? Well, I wasn’t sure about that one! Not to mention Scott has written books about Jethro Tull, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Boris Karloff, just to name a few.” The notion that the new book
might inspire others and perhaps even help people find meaning and direction in their lives, as Denson had with his own, was what persuaded him to approve the project. “The whole process of being the subject of a biography has been eye-opening and a learning one indeed,” he says. “I have just read the first draft for accuracy, and I am overwhelmed by the content. It’s particularly interesting to read how others view me. It will be released nationwide August 24, and I am simultaneously nervous, pumped, and euphoric. It is a pretty emotion-filled story.” Along with his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Denson’s other career highlights include being named the opening act for the Pointer Sisters. “They are like my mentors, so to have them express pride in me and the Black Diamond show was
just mind blowing!” he explains, excitedly. “If you looked up the word ‘giddy,’ in the dictionary, there my picture would have been and probably still is!” He raves, equally enthusiastically, about the Village People. “They and Donna Summer were two artists I had listened to a lot as a teen. Such colorful entertainers both were! I ended up being granted an audience with the iconic group, and— WOW—was that cool!” As it turned out, they were also Neil Diamond admirers and requested an a Capella serenade. He obliged and suddenly found the Village People singing “Sweet Caroline” with him. Nashville fans are invited to check out The Black Diamond Experience on August 24 at Marathon Music Works.
MEasy, Breezy, Beautiful MUSIC
NERVO by DJ Ron Slomowicz
As the heirs apparent to David Guetta, the Nervo twins are ones to watch. They are not just triple threats—they are quintuple threats—singers, songwriters, DJs, producers, and models. They are the writer/ producers of David Guetta’s crossover success with Kelly Rowland, “When Love Takes Over,” and have penned tracks for pop superstars Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Ke$ha, and The Pussycat Dolls. Yet they have also achieved credibility in the DJ world and a massive fan following with their relentless touring schedule and collaborations with Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero, and of course, David Guetta. With so few women achieving success in the boys’ club of DJing, it is not a shock that CoverGirl chose them to be their new spokesmodels; that they are gorgeous while being the most friendly DJs you will ever meet might just be another reason for their success.
DJ Ron Slomowicz: What challenges do you face as female DJs in the male-dominated EDM scene? Nervo: We don’t think our challenges are gender-specific. We’ve always looked up to other women in the music industry and particularly women DJs like DJ Lottie, Annie Mac, Miss Kittin, Peaches, et al. How did you decide to move from songwriting and production into DJing? It was a natural progression. We had always photo courtesy of Nervo
50 | UNITE MAGAZINE
been DJing while writing and producing, but it was only for fun. The turning point was when we won the Grammy for writing “When Love Takes Over.” It gave us a lot of attention, and we got a lot of great support from our friends, whom we had been working with, like David Guetta, Afrojack, and Avicii. You’ve done so many great collaborations. How do you choose who you work with? Are you usually in the same room or does the work happen over the Internet? It changes every time. With David Guetta, it’s 50% of the time done via the web and the other 50% of the time done in the studio. With Nicky Romero, we jammed out the initial ideas in the same room and then finished the record via Internet. That was the same with Avicii and Hook N Sling. We worked via Internet with Afrojack, Steve Aoki, and Armin Van Buuren. We always record the vocals with the artist, so when we work with pop stars like with Kelly Rowland, Kylie Minogue, The Pussycat Dolls, and Ke$ha, it is always in the room. But, a lot (and most) of the production work happens in hotel rooms, airports, and airplanes. Which is more challenging: creating a perfect pop song with someone like Kylie or Ke$ha or constructing a massive dance floor track? Why? They’re both equally as challenging but rewarding. The great thing about music is there are no rules, so there’s no right or wrong. You have to go with your gut most of the time. When you wrote “When Love Takes Over” with Kelly Rowland, did you have any idea the
song would become as big as it did? What about that song do you think resonated with so many people? No, we really didn’t know it would be as big as it was. Also, because we originally wrote the record for Kelly Rowland and her label passed on it. It was David Guetta who then resurrected it and turned it into a hit. #thankyoudavid Is there a Nervo artist album coming? What will it sound like? That’s the million dollar question. Yes, there is an album coming, but we would like to release a few more singles before then. The album will show different layers of Nervo. You won’t only have club bangers on there, but you will also hear a few bigger dance floor records. You were everywhere during WMC this year. How do you maintain your energy and stamina with such a demanding schedule? We love what we do so much. Our fans give us so much energy, and it’s infectious. We feel very lucky to be doing something we love so much. How did it feel to be chosen as the new faces of CoverGirl? We’re still pinching ourselves. It’s a great feeling. CoverGirl really does embrace individuality and strong women, so we’re honored to be a part of their family. Plus, we get to wear all of their awesome makeup, which is always fun. What advice do you have for all the aspiring female (and male) producers and DJs out there? Work hard, stay focused, stay true. If you believe in what you do, keep going, and eventually, your work will be noticed.
25
MEETING ROOMS
13 6 AFFORDABLE
SLEEPING ROOMS
SERENE, HISTORIC GROUNDS IN MIDTOWN NASHVILLE
10 ACRES OF
1
GOOD CAUSE
• Walking distance to Vanderbilt, Music Row & restaurants • Delicious on-site catering & reserved dining facilities • Complimentary parking 615.340.7500 • RESERVATIONS@SCARRITTBENNETT.ORG • 1008 19TH AVE S • SCARRITTBENNETT.ORG Scarritt-Bennett is a non-profit education, retreat and conference center with a strong commitment to promoting racial equality, cross-cultural understanding, the empowerment of women and spiritual renewal. Your support through the rental of our historic facilities and donations helps us to offer programs that continue this mission.
sports
For Hudson Taylor, it started with a sticker. During his senior year at the University of Maryland, the three-time NCAA All-American wrestler affixed a blue and yellow Human Rights Campaign sticker to his cherry red headgear before a match. “I thought it looked cool,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to make a huge impact.” Afterwards, Taylor spoke with a reporter about the decal and casually voiced his support for the LGBT community. To his surprise, his inbox flooded with emails from closeted kids across the country. To them, he was a rare beam of light in sports—tangible evidence that athletes who advocated for LGBT inclusion existed. “They told me, ‘Hudson, I see you speaking out as an athlete, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I can join a sports team,’” Taylor recalled. “It made me realize if a college wrestler can do it, and if I could get a football player [or other major athlete] on board, we can save
wrestler gone activist Athlete Ally aims to educate straight a l l i e s i n s p o r t s by Caity Kauffman photo courtesy of Hudson Taylor
lives, change lives, and make sports better for everyone.” Just a sticker? Hardly. Three years later, Taylor is founder and executive director of Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and cultivating straight allies in sports. Athlete Ally focuses heavily on collegiate athletics, and Taylor travels to more than 40 colleges a year educating athletic departments, coaches, and administrators on how to be better allies. Its athletic roster boasts prominent advocates like former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe. Taylor oozes warmth and passion with boyish good looks—he could easily pass off as Twilight star Kellan Lutz’s wholesome younger brother. And, of course, he bears the signature wrestler’s cauliflower ear. But he hasn’t lost the competitive edge that earned him that ear, a badge of victory. He takes his sportsman tenacity with him in his fight for LGBT athletes. “At the end of the day, athletes want to win, want to be the best. Discrimination hurts our ability to be our best,” Taylor said. “Before Jackie Robinson, baseball was worse off because of that discrimination. It’s no different now.” Taylor has recruited a board of directors that is a slough of heavy hitters in sports and LGBT activism—including NFL Network’s Sam Marchiano. “Hudson is a rock star,” she said. “His ability to connect with people is fantastic.” The 20-year sports media
veteran’s résumé includes MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN, and the New York Daily News. Like Taylor, her own personal experience reflects into her LGBT advocacy. “Sexism and homophobia are very much linked together in the culture of locker rooms,” Marchiano explained. “When I started going in the locker room in the mid-80s, I was in the first wave of women.” In fact, Marchiano found an ally of her own while covering the NHL’s New York Islanders in the 1980s. The Islanders selected Pat LaFontaine third overall in the first round of the 1983 draft; he was a decorated player who later became a Hall of Fame inductee in 2003. But for Marchiano, LaFontaine is much more than that. “[LaFontaine] was phenomenal, a wonderful human being. I instantly connected with him, and he said, ‘If anybody gives you any trouble, have them talk to me,’” she said. “I found the guys that I knew would accept and respect me. It helps.” For Taylor, Marchiano, and the rest of Athlete Ally, they recognize the undertaking of eradicating homophobia in sports—especially in the professional leagues. “Certainly, we are approaching a time in which athletes can and do feel comfortable coming out. There are over 700 open lesbian and gay athletes in college level. The climate is shifting,” Taylor said, “but there is still an environment of assumed straightness. You don’t have to come out as straight. You still have to come out as LGBT. There’s still work to be done so long as that is the case.”
out
DESTINATION
Ft. Lauderdale
by Joey Amato
hood sports bar offering daily drink specials and a great mix of men and women alike.
K
nown as one of the country’s foremost LGBT capital’s, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, definitely offers visitors a plethora of dining, entertainment, and cultural options, not to mention miles of pristine beaches perfect for those looking to catch some rays while listening to the mesmerizing sounds of the Atlantic. The area’s Fort Lauderdale Beach is a picturesque oceanfront destination dotted with high rise condominiums and hotels, including The Ritz-Carlton, W Hotel, and Hilton. Dozens of beach-front restaurants, shops, and attractions line North Atlantic Boulevard, also known as A1A, and are extremely gay-friendly.
fine restaurants, including Steak 954, 3030 Ocean, or Coconuts, where diners can savor delicious American cuisine including New England Lobster Rolls, Coconut Shrimp, or the fresh catch-of-the-day while watching the sunset over downtown.
Dance the night away at The Manor Complex, a huge mega club in the heart of Wilton Manors that combines a restaurant, ultra lounge, and nightclub all into one upscale experience. Check out The Manor’s website for a list of daily events, which include special appearances by world-renowned DJ’s and numerous live performances throughout the year.
The Grand is the largest gay-owned and operated men’s resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach, offering 33 luxurious guest rooms, two pools, a Jacuzzi, full-service spa, fitness center, and complimentary breakfast. Stay in one of the suites, which contain a separate living space and full kitchen, perfect for those looking to spend a few extra days of fun in the sun.
Enjoy some after dinner libations at any one of the many venues on Las Olas Boulevard, including Yolo, or head to Wilton Manors, South Florida’s gay Mecca. Just a few miles from Fort Lauderdale beach, Wilton Manors is an epicenter of gay culture. Dozens of gayowned shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs are clustered along Wilton Drive, making the area a one-stop destination for the LGBT traveler and a great place to mingle with the locals.
After a fun evening of partying, culture buffs should visit the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The museum is home to a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works including significant pieces by the artists of the northern European CoBrA movement and contemporary Cuban artists. The museum also offers numerous unique exhibitions, which have included the recent Primordial: Paintings and Glass Sculptures by Isabel De Obaldía and the original exhibition SHARK.
Guests can enjoy the resort’s famous Sundown Happy Hour every Thursday through Saturday before heading to one of the beach’s
Sports enthusiasts should head to Sidelines, a friendly neighbor-
A few blocks away is the Museum of Discovery and Science
The charm of Fort Lauderdale Beach, however, lies just two blocks inland. Those looking to avoid swanky hotel chains in favor of smaller, more personal accommodations should head to one of over a dozen LGBT-owned guest houses, most notably The Grand Resort & Spa.
54 | UNITE MAGAZINE
consisting of 85,000 square feet of interior space, a 300-seat AutoNation IMAX Theater, and an open-air grand atrium. The Museum features dynamic interactive exhibits in the natural and physical sciences and a large array of programs designed to serve diverse audiences. If you’d prefer to spend a more casual afternoon with friends, head to Rosie’s Bar & Grill and enjoy some of the best burgers, sandwiches, and salads in Fort Lauderdale. I suggest trying the She BOP Wrap made of grilled chicken, bacon, fresh avocado, cheddar cheese, and herb mayo rolled in a tomato-basil tortilla with a side of homemade sweet-potato fries. For a different flavor, head to Rodeo, a restaurant specializing in Southwestern, Tex-Mex, and Cajun cuisine. For a quick bite, sample Rodeo’s delicious Fried Green Tomatoes, Barbecue Nachos, or New Orleans Quesadilla. While in town, be sure to stop by the Stonewall National Museum & Archives, an extraordinary collection of cultural and historical artifacts celebrating the LGBT community. The
museum is home to over 21,000 books, 19 traveling exhibits, and over 7,000 artifacts including the gavel used to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Fort Lauderdale is also home to many LGBT charitable organizations including SunServe, Out of the Closet, and Broward House, South Florida’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS community service organization. If your vision of a vacation includes the hottest go-go boys in South Florida, then stop by Johnny’s Fort Lauderdale, one of three bars in town featuring nightly go-go dancing. The staff and dancers at Johnny’s are always welcoming, so if this is your first time visiting, they will make you feel right at home. Upon arrival to Fort Lauderdale, be sure to pick up a copy of either South Florida Gay News or Hot Spots magazine. Both publications will provide you with great information about what’s happening around town, including special events, nightly drink specials, and LGBT community news. For more information, visit www.sunny.org/glbt.
photo courtesy of The Grand Resort and Spa
Get Off Your Caboose, Let’s Vamoose
615.953.9516
www.letsvamoose.com sales@letsvamoose.com
REVIEW BOOK Southern SUMMER READING by Sebastian Fortino Looking through my library, I realized I own and love several books which take place in the South and have a gay angle to them. I also realized these books were all made into movies. With the ease of iPads and other tablets, you can read the books and then watch the films on the beach or by the pool. Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson McCullers Leonora Penderton is the wife of Captain Penderton, a man who struggles with homosexual desires. She is elegantly bored— both by her marriage and life on base—and is unfaithful. Her main lover in the novel is Major Morris Langdon, unhappily married to a mentally ill woman who taken care of by her flamboyant Filipino houseboy Anacleto. When Ellgee Williams, an ordinary grunt soldier, comes to work for the Pendertons, their lives will never be the same. Williams sees Leonora through a window nude and becomes obsessed with her, creeping into the house to watch her sleep and rummaging through her lingerie. In contrast, her husband takes a fancy to Williams and studies him whenever possible, almost to the point of obsession. The book— very scandalous at the time of its publication in 1941—deals with issues like mental illness, homosexuality, and fetishes very casually. The novel was made into a film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando in 1967.
56 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt I admit this book is kind of a cliché in terms of Southern writing; however, “sometimes something is good for a reason.” Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is one of those things; it won a Pulitzer for nonfiction, after all. Also, it has all the things we want from books set in the South: an old mansion, a wealthy “bachelor,” murder, lush parties, Spanish moss, hoodoo, foggy cemeteries, and a cast of eccentric characters. It is hard to decide which character is the most eccentric; you may find a new favorite each time you read or watch. The book was made into a 1997 movie starring Kevin Spacey, John Cusack, and Jude Law. It’s a great film but misses many of the details and insights found in the book. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg Of course, we’ve all seen the movie—it’s right up there next to Steel Magnolias in the gay lexicon of films about strong, Southern women. The book, however, is deeper. Not only is the lesbian relationship between Ruth Jamison and Idgie Threadgoode more suggested but the comedy more pronounced, the additional aspect of switching back and forth between the 1920s and 1980s also makes the story more multilayered than the film.
The book also leaves some questions unanswered and unfulfilled. They would not have worked well in the 1991 film version starring (among many other strong female leads) Jessica Tandy and Kathy Bates, but are richly satisfying in the book. Suddenly, Last Summer by Tennessee Williams Okay, this is not a book but a play, and I know people often take umbrage with reading plays. However, this one does merit reading. Imagine your favorite actors playing the parts as you read. Openly gay, Southern gentleman Tennessee Williams is the noted writer of A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and many other works. Suddenly, Last Summer is a twisted tale delves into the mysterious relationship between wealthy New Orleans resident Violet Venable, her son Sebastian, and his cousin Catharine Holly. Sebastian’s death on a beach in Europe is quite terrible, and his doting (or rather, insane) mother seeks to cover up the fact that she, knowingly, and Catharine, rather unwittingly, procured young men for Sebastian’s pleasure. The 1959 film stars Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and one of her dearest friends, gay actor Montgomery Clift. Each are perfectly cast in this dark, surprising story.
COMING OUT
RIGHT ON TIME
At puberty, I got the big jolt: I was attracted to boys. That was an answer to the nagging questions. But in my case, it wasn’t a definitive answer. Girls were interesting, too. And so, because of all the societal pressures in place at the time, I decided to pursue girls. Once I got out of the dorky high school phase and into college life, I discovered I was pretty good at it. Girls certainly liked me, so it wasn’t very hard.
by David Paine photo courtesy of David Paine
I came out—to myself first and then to everyone else—when I was 55, married for the second time, and the father of two almost-grown sons. Late, some might say, but in my case, right on time. Like most gay people I’ve talked to about the journey outward, I knew there was something different about me from day one. It was a sense of not quite fitting in—into my family or among my peers. No big trauma. In fact, from the outside, it looked a lot like Leave It to Beaver. But underneath the glossy surface there was a nagging sense of self-doubt. Why am I different? Is there something wrong with me?
And there, it seemed, my answer lay: Girls work okay, and that’s a lot less scary than boys, so I think I’ll just lock the boy thing away in the attic and go for girls. This led to marriage, fatherhood, and marriage again before the pressure inside that locked box in the attic became too intense to ignore. The rumblings began in my early 50s. A combination of serious trouble with my older son, bumps in my business path, and the illness and death of my father led to bouts of depression and fierce anxiety attacks. This, in turn, led me to the conclusion that something was desperately wrong with my picture. I found meds, found God, and got into therapy. And with the help of those three powerful forces, I was able to look at myself clearly for the very first time. Coming out to myself involved understanding that my love for men was absolutely fundamental to who I am. It goes beneath and beyond mere sexual attraction, though that part is certainly present. It goes right to my core. Some serious changes were in order. The changes I had to make were scary and painful, but not fatal. I still have two wonderful sons, great friends, and a genius therapist. I was married—the second time around, at least—to an absolutely wonderful woman who stood by me through my changes and is still my friend. I’m a lucky man. And along with the pain and fear, came the astonishing realization that I finally knew myself and was living honestly. Free at last. But, what about lost time? Why did I wait so long? How did I wait so long? I think about that now and then, but I know how grateful I am to have my sons, and how much I learned about life and relationships from being married both times. I also know that coming out simply wasn’t possible until I reached the point where I could see myself clearly, and it had to happen. And then it did happen. Right on time.
58 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Photo Credit: Mike Ruiz
AUGUST 8 ONE
NI GHT
ON LY!
BUY TICKETS: 615.687.6400 | NashvilleSymphony.org
GIVING BACK
Project UNO Empowering those at risk by Jessica Gibson With a five-year federal grant, Street Works, Nashville’s innercity outreach and drop-in center for people living with HIV/ AIDS, has taken a big step in bringing help to the area’s at-risk gay men with its new program, Project UNO. “Project UNO is an empowerment project for gay men in Nashville and Davidson County,” said David Long, the creator and coordinator of the project. “We teach men how to have stronger and more outstanding lives.” With an extensive background in social work and addiction counseling, Long is uniquely suited to work with the population he and the project serve; he also happens to have been HIV positive since 2005. A recent transplant from New York City in December 2012, he was recruited by Street Works to help get the initiative running, and Project UNO opened to clients in February of this year. Project UNO (U—New and Outstanding) works with men who have sex with men, who are between the ages of 16 and 35, and helps them learn more about themselves and how they can improve their lives and their outcomes. It is a departure from other programs that work with gay men only after they have contracted HIV, instead
60 | UNITE MAGAZINE
addressing those at greater risk of contracting the virus without them necessarily having a positive status. “Once a participant signs on, we ask for 24 hours of their time over a course of six months (once per week), and they either meet with a group or work one on one with a life coach,” said Long. The project uses a “5 S” model to help participants in their journeys to better and greater lives. Sober—Participants learn how to lead a more sober lifestyle and why it is important. Part of the process is to help participants truly face and understand the cost of an active addiction monetarily and the toll of that addiction physically. Safe—Instead of just hearing “here’s a condom,” participants learn about their body and alternatives to sex that are intimate but reduce risk of infection and still allow the achievement of orgasm and closeness with a partner. Strength—Project UNO works with local churches to help participants become spiritually strong and to help them experience respect and acceptance without judgment passed on them or their lifestyle.
photo courtesy of Street Works
Self-purpose—This module incorporates the use of daily and weekly goals to help participants begin to look toward the future in incremental steps. Status—All participants are tested for HIV and Hepatitis C so that they will know their statuses. Those who test positive can quickly access the help and treatment they need to manage their disease. Those who test negative learn the best ways to stay negative and healthy. Project UNO also has an array of peer-led groups, ranging from recovery groups to book clubs, from writers’ groups to horticulturalists. Recently, a dedicated garden was started in the northwest side of Nashville and is tended by participants. Monthly get-togethers and field trips are scheduled as well, allowing participants to bond with each other. At the core, Project UNO is a
measure designed to respond to the stigma and risk of HIV infection and drug abuse, but it is—by design—so much more. “[It is] an empowerment project,” Long said, explaining Project UNO. By giving participants the opportunity to slow and eventually reverse the downward spiral often associated with people experiencing active addictions and risk-filled lifestyles, Project UNO helps participants begin to dream again. They are given the tools needed to help build their dreams into reality and take control of their own futures. Project UNO is currently housed at OutCentral. Office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. If you or someone you know could benefit from Project UNO, contact Street Works online at http://street-works.org or by telephone 24-hours a day at (615) 259-7676.
K I R K- B U RG E SS P RO D U C TIO N S p resent s
I
SOUTHERN
BAPTIST
SISSIES A P L AY B Y
DEL SHORES
It was in these pews tha t we learned to hate ourselves.
JULY 5-7, 11-13, 2013 DARK HOR SE THE ATRE • 4 610 CHARLOT TE AVE. T I C K E T S 615 .9 4 2 .6 2 11 • w w w. k i r k b u r g e s s . n e t DIRECTED BY
ANNE-GERI´ FANN & JUSTIN BURGESS DONALD POWELL & L.T. KIRK
PRODUCED BY
CHUCK LONG • CINDA MCCAIN • RUSTI RAE DANNY PROCTOR • DANIEL VINCENT • L.T. KIRK MATT SMITH • JOSH STUTTS • CARL GOAD
FEATURING
Karen Ingram
PAPARAZZI Nashville Pride
photos by Jessi Coggins
62 | UNITE MAGAZINE