O&AN | August 2014 by Out & About Nashville

TOP 5 CITIES FOR END-OF-SUMMER ROAD TRIPS

LGBT POVERTY AT A GLANCE

ADDRESSING THE FACTS ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE

ADVANCING HEALTH HIV AND REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

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AUGUST 2014

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7/17/14 11:00 AM

8.14

LETTER

FROM THE

EDITOR AUGUST. The sweltering heat is here, and just as surely, the end of summer is just around the corner. What a summer it has been for Nashville’s, and Tennessee’s, LGBT community. Nashville’s hard-fought battle for Metro domestic partner benefits is over, except for some final details. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is poised to move Tennessee’s marriage case, and a few others, one step closer to the highest court in the land. This issue of Out & About Nashville is, in many respects, dedicated to “taking a breather” and appreciating the opportunities we have in this great city of ours. Our central feature invites us all to act like tourists in our own town, or hit the road for one of the many gems within a few hours’ drive. From a new series on the LGBT family in Middle Tennessee to the story of a trans woman from New York who lived through a surreal night in jail to discover how lucky she is to be in Nashville, we hope that this issue is a celebration of the strength of LGBT Nashville.

JAMES GRADY

@JamesAllenGrady

FAX

615-246-2787

PHONE 615-596-6210

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

STAFF

Publisher : Jerry Jones jjones@outandaboutnashville.com

Managing Print Editor : James Grady jgrady@outandaboutnashville.com

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Writers : Joseph Brant, Greg Bullard, Jaz Dorsey, James Grady, Alexandra Huff, Lindsay Jensen, Samara Stern, Paige Turner, Bobbi Williams

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OPPORTUNITIES

Out & About Nashville welcomes volunteer writers, photographers and videographers throughout the year. If you’re interested in contributing to our publication, send an email to editor@ outandaboutnashville.com with a resume, contact information and samples of your work if available. Our volunteer staff is unpaid, but contributors do receive credit for their work in our print publication and online. Those seeking an internship in journalism or mass communications are strongly encouraged to apply. Cover Design: Tylor Loposser Cover/Feature Photographer: Julius Greene Political Cartoon: Damon Xanthopoulos

LEGAL 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 2013 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 and submission. 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. All letters sent may not be published. Out & About Nashville only accepts adult advertising within set guidelines and on a case by case basis.

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INSIDE

OUTCENTRAL A Profile of Nashville’s LGBT Community Center’s President JAZ DORSEY | dramaturgtn@gmail.com

I made my NYC directing debut in 1991 at the New York LGBT Cultural Center on 13th Street - and The Center was a vital part of my life during my New York years, and even after. It was vital to me and so many others because it was a place where amazing things happened, where amazing people met. Its somewhat palatial facility was as busy every day as Grand Central Station. In contrast, OutCentral, Greater Nashville’s LGBT Center, occupies a simple storefront at 1709 Church Street. Nestled amongst several of our favorite bars Canvas, Blue Gene’s and Vibe - OutCentral is a shotgun style facility with a reception area, one modest sized community room and some office and storage space. It’s not large but there is always art hanging on the walls and the community room truly serves the community. It was, for example, speaking personally, the perfect place for a recent reading of Ed Wood: The Musical. OutCentral’s current president is a very passionate young man named Robbie Maris. At 25, he’s got that rare trifecta of enchanting good looks, charm and compassion that result in great charisma, and a personal story that explains why he is perfect for this job.

MARIS CAME OUT TO HIS CONSERVATIVE LUTHERAN FAMILY WHEN HE WAS A 16, A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. “THOSE WHO KNEW ME,” HE SAYS, “KNEW I WAS GAY BEFORE I DID.” HIS PARENTS ENROLLED HIM IN EXODUS INTERNATIONAL, ONE OF THOSE CONVERSION THERAPY MOVEMENTS FOR CONFLICTED CHRISTIAN HOMOSEXUALS. HE EVEN WENT WITH HIS MOM TO THE EXODUS INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM CONFERENCE IN MARION, INDIANA IN 2006.

oming to Nashville to attend Belmont, however, allowed Maris to alter his journey and shift his paradigm. In 2009 he founded LGBT Bridge Builders, the first LGBT student group at Belmont University, and when soccer coach Lisa Howe (today Executive Director of Nashville’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce) was fired for coming out as a lesbian in December of 2010, Maris organized a sit-in protest outside the president’s office. Bridge Builders became a recognized student organization shortly after that.

After college, Maris volunteered at OutCentral, where he was familiarized with Street Works, a Nashville based organization serving those most at risk of HIV infection. Street Works hired Maris as program assistant for Project UNO, an empowerment program for gay and bisexual men between ages 18 and 29. Since Street Works rents office space at OutCentral, Maris, by this time an OutCentral board member, was on site every day, all day long. OutCentral has no paid staff, so Maris became the accidental face of the center, since he was always there.

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

AUGUST 2014

MARIS WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE OUTCENTRAL BOARD IN DECEMBER 2013 AND TOOK UP HIS TERM IN JANUARY 2014. IN OUR MEETING, HE GAVE ME HIS CARD, WHICH BEARS THE OUTCENTRAL MISSION STATEMENT, “...TO CONNECT, EDUCATE, EMPOWER, AND BUILD A POSITIVE, ENERGY-FILLED SPACE FOR GREATER NASHVILLE’S DIVERSE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.”

In addition to regular community meetings, OutCentral holds major events, such as Autumn Honors in October for LGBT history month. In September, OutCentral will host THRIVE 615, a day to empower the gay/bi/trans community, focused on HIV and health. The event is a joint effort of OutCentral, Street Works, Nashville Cares, The Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program, The State of Tennessee and The United Way. I asked Robbie, who has left Project Uno to become community educator/recruiter for the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program, about the challenges facing him as president of this board. The lack of a support staff is always an issue: the board, which changes every year, charts the course, while volunteers must be depended on for everything. Then of course the never ending requirement for fundraising is a challenge. One source of funding is, of course, membership fees and my thought is that we should all be members. Even you New Yorkers. Who knows - one day you might want to come down here and do a reading of your new play in Nashville. Visit http://outcentral.org/ to find out more about the center, events, or to join!

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LGBT POVERTY AT A GLANCE

CHILDREN IN MALE SAME-SEX HOUSEHOLDS HAVE A POVERTY RATE OF

HUNGER & FOOD INSECURITY

OF THE LGBT COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE HAVE MEMBERS UNABLE TO ACCESS FOOD.

GREG BULLARD | @CoftheC

ociety believed a LIE, that LGBT communities were more affluent than the population at large, because a marketing firm created a false picture to sell more advertising. They created this impression by selecting their population sample from a very specific group of people – the donors to several national LGBT civil rights organizations – who by-and-large are more affluent, but are not an accurate representation of the true demographics of LGBT communities. (As an aside, this marketing firm has made the fight for equality harder because conservatives used their “data” to say there was not a need for equal civil rights protections.) The reality is that gay men make between 10% to 30% less than straight men for the same jobs. The reality

CHILDREN IN FEMALE SAME-SEX HOUSEHOLDS HAVE A POVERTY RATE OF

is that 40% of the homeless youth population is LGBT, and of those 59% experience sexual violence (rape) and 62% commit suicide. In housing and healthcare, the numbers are as staggering and destructive. Housing takes up between 60% and 70% of take home pay for those at or near the poverty level of $11,670 for a one person household (add $4,060 for each additional person in the household to find that poverty level). 30% of the transgender community is being denied housing, and another 19% are harassed when they seek housing. Even after “Obamacare” many LGBT persons lack adequate health insurance due to states not expanding Medicaid. Up to 25% of the LGBT people lack the coverage to meet their healthcare needs.

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

AUGUST 2014

BISEXUALS

FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITIES OCCURS AT 2 TIMES THE RATE OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.

HAVE A

HIGHER POVERTY RATE THAN LESBIANS & GAY MEN. THE POVERTY RATE IN THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY IS AT LEAST AND OF THOSE NOT IN POVERTY

MADE LESS THAN $15,300 EACH YEAR.

SAME-SEX

COUPLES WITH CHILDREN MAKE 22% LESS THAN DIFFERENT-SEX COUPLES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO HELP, OR GET HELP

EMAIL PASTOR GREG BULLARD AT PASTORGREG@ COVENANTOFTHECROSS.COM OR

CALL 615-612-5040.

TONIGHT 1 IN 3 LGBT PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES WILL GO TO BED HUNGRY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET FOOD. THE RATE OF POVERTY FOR CHILDREN OF FEMALE SAME-SEX COUPLES IS 41%, AND FOR MALE SAME-SEX COUPLES IT IS 29%. FOR TRANSGENDER PERSONS, THE POVERTY RATE IS AT LEAST 59%. THESE ARE JUST A FEW STATISTICS THAT PAINT THE TRUE PICTURE OF THE LGBT COMMUNITIES. The rate of LGBT poverty, hunger, etc., in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville is nearly twice as high as it is in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and other very large metropolitan areas. In outlying or rural counties, LGBT poverty rates go higher, to nearly three times that of the major cities mentioned. A few years ago I cast a vision to end poverty, as we now know it, in Middle Tennessee. The church I serve, Covenant of the Cross, began a program we call Covenant Cupboard – a program that seeks to provide assistance to anyone who has a need. In 2013, over 4,000 people were helped via that program, receiving over 49,500 meals, 300 medical clinic visits, or help with shelter and utilities. This year we realized that we had to make Covenant Cupboard a non-profit, to expand and sustain our ability to help. The needs are getting so great that more resources are needed. We give people food based on one question only – “Are you hungry?” Few people come asking because they feel great about it, so we decided that we do not care who you love, what you do, your race, or anything other than “Are you hungry?” Of course we help with healthcare, housing and LGBT homeless youth as well via this program. But as the truth about our community’s need becomes clearer, the question is not what we will do. The question is what will you, the reader, do? ‭

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OBAMA ACTS ON

LGBT ISSUES President Accelerates LGBT Rights Agenda via Executive Privilege uring Pride Month, President Obama spoke to a Democratic National Committee LGBT Gala in New York City. He reflected on the Supreme Court’s historic Windsor decision: “The day that the Supreme Court issued its ruling … was a great day for America, a clear victory for human decency and equality and justice and freedom. So we thank you for your courage and your inspiration.” Adding a personal touch he congratulated a number of couples on weddings celebrated, and lives changed. Just ten years ago, eleven states had constitutional amendments against same-sex marriage on their ballots. Obama jokingly reminded the assembled that, “Sometimes you guys were a little impatient. (Laughter.) Sometimes I had to say, will you just settle down for a second, we’ve got this. But because of your help, we’ve been able to do more to protect the rights of lesbian, and gay, and bisexual and transgender Americans than any administration in history.” Then he recalled the great LGBT milestones of his administration: repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell,” signing a hate crimes law bearing Matthew Shepard’s name, lifting the 22-year ban on people with HIV traveling to the U.S, prohibiting discrimination in hospitals and housing that received federal funding, making it illegal for health insurers to deny coverage to people based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and confirming ten new openly LGBT judges (there had been one prior), to name just a few. What is becoming massively clear isn’t just that President Barak Obama has been extraordinarily committed to advancing LGBT causes (perhaps at long last), but also that as he settles into his second term he is increasingly impatient with the unwillingness of the Legislative Branch to deal with issues of justice, for instance passing ENDA.

Some might accuse Obama of taking more credit than he is due, but a quick look at his administration’s use of its executive powers to advance causes favorable to the LGBT community says otherwise. Indeed, in the aftermath of the Hobby Lobby decision, which illustrates the danger of vague religious exemptions, the President excluded any religious exemption, beyond one pertaining specifically to the hiring of religious leaders, from his executive order on sexual orientation and gender discrimination by federal contractors. In his June 17th speech, Obama explained his reason for moving on federal contractor issues, where he has broader powers, and presumably other areas of executive privilege. LGBT rights, like all civil rights issues, are matters of justice, and the victims of injustice shouldn’t have to wait when something can be done. Nonetheless, the dangers of securing LGBT gains via executive privilege are clear. An executive order, or a policy brief, has a potential expiration date: January 20, 2017. Additionally, House Republicans have increasingly shown themselves ready to turn to the courts to challenge executive privilege. Boehner and company have made significant noise over the prospects of civil suits related to matters as diverse as the Fast and Furious scandal surrounding the Justice Department and Obama’s delay of provisions in the Affordable Care Act. Obama himself acknowledged, “It would be better, by the way, if Congress passed a more comprehensive law that didn’t just cover federal contractors. And we need to keep working on that, so don’t take the pressure off Congress.” In the meantime, the president has been slowly but surely carving out a space for LGBT equality wherever he has authority. “There are still Americans out there who are vulnerable and alone, and still need our support. So we can’t stop. We’ve got to keep fighting.”

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

AUGUST 2014

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE GARFIELD

SOME EXECUTIVE ACTIONS

PROMOTING LGBT EQUALITY SUMMER 2014

⌂ On June 16, it was announced

JAMES GRADY | @JamesAllenGrady

SOMETIMES YOU GUYS WERE A LITTLE IMPATIENT. (LAUGHTER.) SOMETIMES I HAD TO SAY, WILL YOU JUST SETTLE DOWN FOR A SECOND, WE’VE GOT THIS. BUT BECAUSE OF YOUR HELP, WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO DO MORE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF LESBIAN, AND GAY, AND BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS THAN ANY ADMINISTRATION IN HISTORY.

that the President directed his staff to prepare an Executive Order that prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Signed July 21

⌂The Department of State announced US travel bans on “certain Ugandan officials involved in serious human rights abuses, including against LGBT individuals” and other sanctions are being put in place, in response to the nation’s Anti-Homosexuality Act

announced June 19

⌂U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas

E. Perez announced “a proposed rule extending the protections of the Family and Medical Leave Act to all eligible employees in legal same-sex marriages regardless of where they live”

announced June 20

⌂The Social Security Administration

will “recognize some non-marital legal relationships as marriages for determining entitlement to benefits. These instructions also allow Social Security to begin processing many claims in states that do not recognize same-sex marriages or non-marital legal relationships”

announced June 20

CELEBRATE

VICTORY

JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION FOR THE BATTLES WE’VE WON, AND THOSE WE’RE STILL FIGHTING. PLENTIFUL FOOD & DRINK, WITH A LIVE DJ SET FROM VJ STRETCH

FRI SEPT 19

AUGUST 2014

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First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville Open Minds, Open Hearts A Welcoming Congregation for LGBT & Allies Come visit our LGBT+A group

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DoctorMay.net Christopher May DC 2933 Berry Hill Dr Nashville, TN 37204 (615) 220-0777

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TENNESSEE

PROUD Memphis Native Wrote and Produced New Film, Tennessee Queer

JOSEPH BRANT | @mohawkatlarge

Tennessee Queer, a new film from Memphis native Mark Jones, tells the tale of Jason Potts, a New Yorker who returns to his Tennessee hometown and takes on the task of engineering a pride parade in the small town. The film was inspired by local events. “I started writing this in late February of 2011,” said Jones. “Different things had occurred. In 2009, our Shelby county government was going to vote on giving some equality to gay/lesbian county workers. We had the Shelby County commissioner, about two weeks before the vote, hold this huge press conference outside, right in front of the county building. He invited six ministers to come, and they, all six, just spoke so angrily and so disrespectful of gay people. It was just amazing and the county commissioner just stood there smiling, listening. It was ugly, it was horrible to watch.” Along with a rash of highly publicized suicides by gay teens, these events were the inspiration for the movie.

“Tennessee Queer” was filmed almost entirely in Memphis with a local cast and crew. “What’s really cool is the movie takes place in a small town,” said Jones. “So we have a stretch called Broad Avenue here in Memphis, and we used the main street of downtown Binghampton…. Right after WWI, the city of Memphis annexed Binghampton and just kept going, so it’s kind of in the middle of the city now, but three or four blocks haven’t changed in a hundred years. It still looks like a downtown main street of a small town.” The film was shot over nineteen days within a four week window. Shooting began in September 2011 and was complete by late October. “The first film festival we played in was in July of 2012,” said Jones, “and it was at Philadelphia QFest, Philadelphia’s gay and lesbian film festival and actually I met representatives from Breaking Glass Pictures. So I took their card and we kept going to film festivals. We did the film festival circuit for about a year or 15 months, actually played at some universities for their gay and lesbian student groups. We played down at MTSU for their LGBT group last October.”

It took a film showing in LA this spring, coordinated by Jones, for the distribution company Breaking Glass to find its way back into the picture. The owner of the movie theater helped Jones get reacquainted with the distribution company. He “got us all back together and talking about the film. And then I shipped them another copy of it and here we are today!” “For my theatrical release, I rented out a screen sometimes for a night, sometimes for a week,” said Jones. “And did the same in Atlanta. I did a night in New Orleans, a night in Mobile, Alabama. A night in Dallas. And one of our local movie houses here in Memphis actually played it for two weeks, I didn’t have to rent out the screen. They liked it and they wanted to show a local film, so it played in Memphis for two weeks.” Reflecting on the film, Jones considers the value of local heroes and their value especially in small towns. “It’s a fun comedy,” he added. “I’ve gotten a lot of good comments, going to festivals, and I think especially in Nashville and people in the surrounding area will like it because it’s a Southern film. It takes place in Tennessee so I hope they’ll like it.”

I’M A BIG BELIEVER THAT ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME HELP, BUT ONE PERSON, LIKE OUR LEAD CHARACTER, JASON, ENDS UP PUTTING ON A GAY PRIDE PARADE AND IT’S ABOUT HIS BATTLE TO DO THAT. I BELIEVE ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SORT OF LIKE JIMMY STEWART IN IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE OR GARY COOPER IN HIGH NOON, SORT OF THAT ONE MAN AGAINST THE WORLD KIND OF THINKING.

Visit tennesseequeer.popslice.com/ for more information about the film, which was released on DVD and digitally on July 29th.

Psychotherapy

AUGUST 2014

Individuals & Couples

John Waide, PhD, LCSW 615/400.5911 waide@psychotherapy-and-psychoanalysis.com Barbara Sanders, LCSW 615/414.2553 BarbaraSandersLCSW@gmail.com Music Row / Vanderbilt Area @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

#ShangjuelaUntuck #O&AVacation PHOTO COURTESY OFJULIUS GREENE

JAMES GRADY | @JamesAllenGrady

STAYCATION

VACATION

Sometimes a weekend road trip is just what the doctor ordered. Pack lightly, get the neighbors to look in on the pets, hop in the car and get away from it all. The benefits of these short, whimsical trips include being much more low pressure than a fully planned vacation. You can discover the wonders of the world in your own backyard, things you’ve been too busy to notice. Of course, the allure of the weekend road trip for some is its downside for others. The flexibility of getting up and going, exploring nearby cities and attractions, lends itself to unexpected complications. For those who need a quick vacation but find the spontaneity of the road trip less than appealing, the staycation provides a nice middle ground. For those who can effectively unplug and live in their own town like a tourist for a weekend, a city like Nashville holds many delights often missed by those who live here. Therefore Out and About Nashville has chosen what we consider four prime locations for short weekend road trips: Memphis/Tunica, Louisville, Asheville, and Chattanooga. Each is just a few hours’ drive from Nashville, and each holds its own allure. Rather than attempt to rank these options, we present these four very different cities as offering something for nearly every kind of traveler. Memphis/Tunica is a solid choice for adult entertainment, with Vegas style gambling just hours from Nashville, while Louisville offers everything from professional sports and horse racing to an increasingly vibrant gay scene. Chattanooga, on the other hand, offers a family friendly option, particularly for those with children to entertain or history buffs to educate, and Asheville promises a sophisticated destination, steeped in art and culture, and a foodie paradise. Last, but certainly not least, is Nashville itself. Everyone who lives here has probably, at some time or other, said, “Nashville is more than just country music.” A person could do a lot worse than spending a weekend exploring this great city and all it has to offer, even those who have lived here for years.

TOP 5 CITIES FOR END-OF-SUMMER ROAD TRIPS

s summer draws to a close, many people get a last bout of travel fever. The urge to hit the road and explore the world is strong, but the time may be short. Perhaps you’ve used those precious vacation days on longer trips, or just want to take a little time for yourself.

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

Vacations are often more work than they’re worth, or so they seem at the time. All the planning, arrangements, and packing – the logistics of taking a long vacation can be overwhelming. Are you covered at work? Have you arranged a dog- or house-sitter? Did you unplug the iron?

AUGUST 2014

PHOTO COURTESY OFJULIUS GREENE

TELL US ABOUT THE RIDE Meet Tusks, the fourth gorgeous model in this month’s O&AN cover shoot. She’s over 35 years old (ancient for a model, I know!) and could conceivably keep driving for another 35 years. I named her for her distinctive ivory color and tusk like protrusions on her front bumper. The first thing you might notice when you get in is the distinctive smell from the horsehair stuffed seats. Then the loud diesel engine roars (and likely clatters) to life. These cars are charming, distinctive and get between 25-40 miles a gallon to move a car that weighs more than a ton. My Mercedes-Benz 300d rolled off the assembly line in Germany in 1977 and her and her siblings can still be seen navigating through Africa, taxiing passengers in Asia, on Germany’s autobahn, and rolling down the backroads of Tennessee. Feel free to wave if you see her.

PHOTO COURTESY OFJULIUS GREENE

AUGUST 2014

@O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

ASHEVILLE

294 miles

BY FAR OUR MOST FAR-FLUNG CHOICE, ASHEVILLE, NC IS EASILY ONE OF THE MOST ECLECTIC SMALL CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. AND CONSIDERING IT’S IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, ASHEVILLE’S STATUS AS AN UNQUESTIONABLY LGBT FRIENDLY TOURIST DESTINATION IS ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE. IN 2000, ROLLING STONE DUBBED ASHEVILLE THE “NEW FREAK CAPITOL OF THE US,” AND IT HAS REMAINED A HOSPITABLE PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE TO LET THEIR FREAK FLAGS FLY, OR TO SIMPLY ENJOY THE ART AND CULTURE THAT PERMEATES THE REGION.

WHERE TO STAY The options for LGBT friendly lodging in Asheville are plentiful. LGBT owned and operated facilities – such as such as North Lodge on Oakland, a B&B, and 1889 White Gate Inn & Cottage, a AAA 4 Diamond accommodation and the closest inn to downtown Asheville – provide plentiful opportunities to enjoy a comfortable weekend away, while supporting the local LGBT economy. Perhaps the most famous and historic hotel in Asheville, however, is The Omni Grove Park Inn. The hundred-year-old hotel, nestled in the mountains, has had many famous lodgers, including ten presidents, Harry Houdini, Thomas Edison, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, who spent two summers in Room 441.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SELENA N. B. H.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM BOWEN

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SEE THE SIGHTS Asheville is full of interesting things and people, but the single biggest attraction, both in size and number of visits, is George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate, the largest home in America. Built in the style of a French Renaissance castle, the Biltmore has over 250 rooms and sits on thousands of acres, including 75 acres of superbly manicured gardens. Also available on-site is America’s most-visited winery, a touristy shopping and dining complex called Antler Hill Village, and an outdoor adventure center offering fly fishing classes, land rover driving classes, and clay shooting to name just a few. Downtown Asheville, meanwhile, is home to literally dozens of art galleries and a large number of antique shops, boutiques and other unique shopping opportunities. The collections in the art galleries rival those of small museums, and the antique shops are nearly as finely curated. Wandering downtown’s shopping district, as well as Biltmore Village and the River Arts District, is bound to turn up a treasure you just can’t pass up. Or for a literary turn, you can visit Thomas Wolfe’s home, and tour a museum dedicated to one of America’s great authors. Asheville is also a destination for food tourists, and its restaurants are regularly reviewed by national and international journals. Selecting a list of highlights would be impossible, but Asheville’s culinary delights are so popular the city has a number of food tours. Eating Asheville Walking Food Tours (http:// eatingasheville.com/) offers the Classic Walking tour, which features 6 farm-totable restaurants and includes 3 or more beverage pairings for the bargain price of $47, and a High Roller option with 7 restaurants for $10 more. Competitors, including Asheville Food Tours, offer similarly priced packages, and all are sure to please.

CHECK OUT THE NIGHTLIFE With a varied music and arts scene, as well as a healthy ratio of bars to customers, Asheville is anything but a quiet mountain town on weekend evenings. And with a population of under 90,000, Asheville boasts no less than four LGBT clubs, including Club Hairspray, an eclectic nightclub featuring drag and karaoke, Smokey’s Tavern, and O’Henry’s, North Carolina’s longest running gay bar and home to the Western North Carolina Leathermen and regular live music. Asheville’s largest gay nightclub, Scandals, is a downtown dance club, which has three dance floors and four bars.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL TRACEY

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA

Asheville was named “Beer City USA” for four years running (2009-12), and so even if you’re not a foodie, a local craft brewery tasting tour might just hit the spot! Asheville Brewery Tours offers van transportation between tastings and will guide you right, but the Asheville Brews Cruise gets points for rhyming, and for offering private custom tours if you bring a bunch of your buddies!

LOUISVILLE

182 miles

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY HAS SOMETHING FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYONE: MUSEUMS THAT CATER TO JUST ABOUT EVERY INTEREST, A RENOWNED SYSTEM OF PARKS, HORSES AND GAMBLING IN THE FORM OF BETTING ON THE RACES, AND A THRIVING LGBT NIGHTLIFE. IT’S RIGHT UP I-65 AND WELL WORTH THE DRIVE. PRE-TRIP MAINTENANCE

PHOTO COURTESY OF SALI SASAKI

CHECK OUT THE NIGHTLIFE

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMERON MIQUELON

SEE THE SIGHTS Louisville abounds with sightseeing opportunities. Louisville is perhaps best known across the country as the home of the Kentucky Derby. The race may be over, but the Kentucky Derby Museum is open year round. Its exhibits will give you an expert’s look into the lives and careers of these amazing animals! And you won’t have to go too far to find some Off Track Betting, if you’d like to put a few bucks down on a race somewhere in the country. Louisville is also home to the Louisville Slugger, and the famous baseball bat factory and museum are a top attraction. The Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural and educational center dedicated to the hometown boxing hero, and features multiple levels of multimedia educational experiences. And if your desire to explore is even greater than a few museums can satisfy, try going on The Louisville Quest, which is part race, part scavenger hunt and part historical, sight-seeing tour. For the outdoorsy types, Louisville offers diverse opportunities from Louisville Mega Cavern’s underground zip lines and ropes courses to a top notch parks system. If your need for excitement is extreme, consider bringing your gear and heading out to Louisville Extreme Park, which is open all day, every day, and offers skaters a 24-foot full pipe, seven bowls of different sizes, a street course, and much more.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE

WHERE TO STAY We mentioned museums, right? One of the most interesting places to stay in Louisville is a 90-room boutique hotel, The 21c Museum Hotel, which doubles as a contemporary art museum. The hotel restaurant serves farm fresh, family style meals at dinner time, as well as hosting special dinner series. And even if you can’t afford to stay there, the hotel-museum offers free guided tours of its collection on a regular basis. For around half the price but twice the charm, you might try one of Louisville’s many historic B&Bs. Perhaps the most famous of these is The Samuel Culbertson Mansion, which was completed in 1897, and boasts six guest rooms ranging in price from $119 (The Louisville Room) to $189 (The Knights of Kentucky Suite). Perhaps best of all, the mansion is an LGBT owned and operated establishment.

Louisville offers a rich night life. Its culinary scene is world class, with options as wide at the traditional French cuisine at Bistro le Relais and the authentic Mayan Café. From the highbrow to neighborhood favorites, do yourself a favor and explore. After dinner, a night out at Louisville’s LGBT clubs is in order. Nashville’s own dance club, Play, has expanded into Louisville, so if you’re hankering for a bit of home away from home, stop in and see them. If you’ve been around Play Nashville for long you’ll recognize a few familiar faces: Micah is one of the club’s owner/managers, and Dee Ranged is on the Playmate cast there now. The major LGBT club complex in Louisville, however, is The Connection. Named one of the 60 Best Gay Bars in the World, The Connection is a one stop LGBT party ‘til you drop destination. Its theatre hosts drag and musical performances, and it boasts a large and well-populated dance floor. More impressively, the complex includes Boots, the city’s top leather bar, Privates, a full service bar featuring gogo dancers and “shower shows,” and DOC Video Bar, which features 22 screens visible from the floor. If you need something steamier than shower shows and leather, a few blocks away, but associated with The Connection, is Vapor Spa….

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA

For those travelers who have more macabre interests, one of the most popular attractions for visitors who like to walk on the dark side is Waverly Hills Sanatorium, one of the largest sanitoriums ever built. Tours are offered during the summer, and include paranormal and historical options, as well as overnight stays for the stout of heart.

AUGUST 2014

Summer is a time to “Get your motor runnin’, head out on the highway, looking for adventure.” But even an in-town exploration can turn into the wrong kind of adventure if you’re not road-ready, so we scoured the internet for the top summer car maintenance tips!

#1TIRES ARE A TOP PRIORITY

Check your tread, make sure your tires are balanced. Proper tire pressure is important for both tire maintenance and gas mileage. If you last checked your tires in winter, check again: your tire pressure will change as 2PSI for every 10 degrees difference in outside air temperature. PS – Check your spare!

#2 OIL CHANGE?

Make you keep to your vehicle’s recommendation to protect your warranty, and your car! One thing that you definitely don’t want to hear knocking on a road trip is your engine. Be sure to fill up your coolant and transmission as well, and check your filters.

#3 CLEAN AIR

Air filters clean the air required by the engine, and a dirty filter means less fuel efficiency and more wear. Cut your bill by a third and do it yourself! The guys and gals at the auto supply will probably be glad to show you how. This list is by no means exhaustive. Check out your car’s manual for more information and travel safely this summer!

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CHATTANOOGA

134 miles

IT MAY SOUND FUNNY TO PUT A CITY LIKE CHATTANOOGA UP NEXT TO THE OTHER FOUR CITIES WE’RE SUGGESTING, BUT THIS LITTLE GEM ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY GETAWAY THAT IS SURE TO PLEASE, WITH ITS NATURAL BEAUTY, HISTORICAL LANDMARKS, AND MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. SO BUCKLE UP, HEAD DOWN I-24, AND “SEE ROCK CITY!”.

GET IN THE MOOD PHOTO COURTESY OF SALI SASAKI

CHECK OUT THE NIGHTLIFE

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF GUNN

SEE THE SIGHTS Chattanooga was once made famous by a campaign that painted “See Rock City!” on the roofs and sides of barns across the South. Rock City, a scenic overlook with its view of seven states, and nearby Ruby Falls, an amazing waterfall 1,120 feet beneath Lookout Mountain, remain major tourist attractions, offering natural beauty and a taste of the outdoors. Voted a 2013 Family Fun Top 10 in the category of Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums in the US – and the top aquarium – the Tennessee Aquarium was the world’s largest freshwater aquarium when it opened in 1992. Its offerings now include an IMAX theater, its own riverboat for river wildlife tours, backstage passes, and more. Just down the street, the Creative Discovery Museum, also ranked one of the top children’s museums in the country, offers interactive exhibits that will occupy kids for hours. Chattanooga, and the surrounding area, is also a history buff’s paradise. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park includes the Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Battlefields, as well as the site of the infamous battle at Chickamauga. Chickamauga is a sprawling and beautiful park facility, and one could easily spend a day there. Point Park at Lookout Mountain offers a view of history, as well as a scenic view of beautiful downtown Chattanooga.

WHERE TO STAY One of the great things about Chattanooga, the closest of our getaways, is that it makes a great day trip. If you don’t mind the drive, you can enjoy a day full of adventure and still be home in bed in time to watch the nightly news. But if you do decide to stay in Chattanooga to enjoy the weekend, consider a stay at The Chattanooga Choo Choo. Inspired by the famous song, a group of investors bought historic Terminal Station and converted it into a hotel: the station’s gorgeous dome was converted into a dining hall, and sleeper cars became very unique hotel suites. The complex now includes one of Chattanooga’s premier music venues, Track 29.

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The Aquarium project revitalized the Riverfront area. Now the neighborhood is full of shops and restaurants, and during the summer it’s a lively place to spend an evening. On Saturday nights, there’s a free concert series called Riverfront Nights, which offers an inexpensive, low key way to wind down at the end of your day. Art lovers should head up to the Bluff View Art District, which is home to numerous art galleries and restaurants. Nestled on a bluff overlooking the river, this neighborhood has the look and feel of an elegant European village. Start your evening with an early visit to the Hunter Museum of American Art, then stroll down the narrow streets to River Gallery, which exhibits fine art and crafts. Then enjoy some fine pastries and coffee at Rembrandt’s. For those who just can’t skip the LGBT-oriented nightlife, Chattanooga offers a few alternatives. Chuck’s II, Chattanooga’s oldest gay bar, has a definite neighborhood bar vibe, while Images is a bar where the entertainment centers on drag. Images hosts such delicately named pageants as “Miss Trailer Park Trash,” which just might be a hoot. Alan Gold’s, Chattanooga’s LGBT dance club, has a show seven nights a week.

There’s nothing like a few good movies to inspire you, right? So if you’re thinking of hitting the road, here are a few suggestions. Then again, maybe seeing a movie about a road trip might just inspire you to hang around and enjoy the beauties of Nashville?

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (1994) So you’re on an uncomfortable road trip through the desert when your vehicle breaks down. If you ask a pessimist, you’re watching The Hills Have Eyes, but if you ask a gay optimist, he knows it’s Priscilla. This movie is as epic as it’s cult following suggests, and it reminds us that not every desert breakdown ends with bloodthirsty cannibals. Sometimes backwoods desert dwellers love drag queens.

ROAD TRIP (2000) Sure, it isn’t high cinema, or an LGBT film, but this comedy is a guilty pleasure on multiple levels. With a tagline like “Love is never having to say you’re sorry you made a sex tape with a woman then mailed it to your girlfriend,” the audience isn’t left expecting Hitchcock. A little nudity, some slapstick, and a comical series of Murphy’s Law illustrations is just what the doctor ordered.

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA

Dollywood is Tennessee’s most famous amusement park, but before there was Dollywood, there was Lake Winnepesaukah, or Lake Winnie. Much smaller than Six Flags or Dollywood, Lake Winnie has plenty of charm to make up for it, mixing in a carnival atmosphere and retaining the feel of a bygone age. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re into historic wooden coasters.

TRANSAMERICA (2005) Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on a cross-country road trip with your dad? You may have done that, but what if your dad was a transwoman on the verge of gender reassignment? Transamerica is a film that reminds us that sometimes a road trip is more than a road trip: it can be a poignant journey of discovery.

MEMPHIS / TUNICA 210 miles

WE’VE LUMPED MEMPHIS AND TUNICA TOGETHER IN THIS ISSUE, BUT OF COURSE EACH ONE IS A DESTINATION WORTHY OF A LONG WEEKEND ON ITS OWN. BUT A WHIRLWIND WEEKEND ROAD TRIP TO MEMPHIS AND TUNICA SOUNDS LIKE A RECIPE FOR A DEEP SOUTH VERSION OF THE HANGOVER, AND DOESN’T THAT JUST SOUND LIKE TOO MUCH FUN? SO WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WEEKEND OF GAMBLING WITH AN EVENING ADVENTURE TO ENJOY THE GAY NIGHTLIFE IN MEMPHIS, OR WEEKEND OF JAZZ, BLUES, AND BARBECUE, ENHANCED BY AN AFTERNOON OF CARDS AND SLOTS, THIS GETAWAY IS SURE TO SATISFY. SEE THE SIGHTS In Tunica, you’ll want to check out the casinos. You’ll find everything from national chain casinos, like Bally’s and Harrah’s, to the more local Sam’s Town and Tunica Roadhouse. The luxurious Horseshoe, a member of the Caesars brand, the opulent-looking Gold Strike, and the massive Harrah’s (one of the largest casinos in middle America) form the backbone of Tunica’s reputation as a gambling destination. Nashville may be Music City, but Memphis gives it a run for its money. The city’s two most internationally recognized tourist attractions cement Memphis’s status as a music lover’s Mecca: Graceland and Beale Street. Nearly forty years after the death of the King, his mansion still welcomes over 600,000 visitors a year, and is the most famous residence in America after the White House. Graceland is now a complex, including Graceland Plaza across the street and the museum, which now displays Elvis’s two planes and includes The Elvis Presley Automobile Museum. Beale Street may not seem as exciting to Nashville folks as it is to visitors from around the world, given that many of Beale Street’s famous bars and clubs are also found in downtown Nashville. But the rhythm and blues and jazz cultures that dominate Beale Street give it an entirely different flavor. So head out to Beale Street in the evening, grab some barbecue at Pig on Beale (we bet one of those special men in your life will die for a t-shirt bearing that logo), and then head over to Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall. Or maybe visiting King’s Palace Café’s Absinthe Room and spending an evening shooting pool and enjoying that drink with such a bad reputation is more your speed?

WHERE TO STAY

CHECK OUT THE NIGHTLIFE

Staying in Tunica has its perks. The casinos are invested in keeping you on site – which means keeping your wallet closer to their own gambling rather than the tables of their competitors. That yields some incredible deals: you don’t have to be a member of a perks program to get a non-smoking king room in, for instance, the Resorts Casino Tunica (http://www.resortstunica.com/) for $75/ night. That’s a weekend rate! If you take the time to join a perks program online, you could get an even bigger steal. But if your thing is spending evenings in Memphis in famous jazz clubs or local gay haunts, consider staying in the city. Gaycities.com’s highest ranked LGBT friendly hotel in Memphis also happens to be the city’s crown jewel: but be prepared to splurge on this treat. To sleep in the residence of the famous Peabody ducks, you’ll probably pay rates beginning upward of $200/night, and going MUCH higher! But if a night or two in the lap of luxury is just what the doctor ordered, there is no better place to stay.

Memphis is no San Francisco, but it has its own brand of gay nightlife, if Beale Street isn’t your flavor. If you want to sing your heart out at karaoke where no one knows you, or catch some Memphis drag, Dru’s Place (http://www.drusplace.com/) is the place to go. But if you want something unlike what you’d find in Nashville, check out The Pumping Station (http:// www.pumpingstationmemphis.com/). Voted the Best Gay Bar in 2013 in the Memphis Flyer, this bar is a levis-andleather kind of place, with regular cookouts, cigar nights, and pool tournaments.

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA

One of the most infamous moments in Memphis history was the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. For those who value a more serious stop on their vacations, the site of the assassination, the Lorraine Motel, now houses the National Civil Rights Museum, which memorializes the movement. The surrounding neighborhood is home to some interesting cafes and shops if you want to make an afternoon of it. AUGUST 2014

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NASHVILLE

your backyard

THERE TRULY IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME – ESPECIALLY WHEN HOME IS A VIBRANT, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CITY THAT HASN’T ENTIRELY SHED THAT SMALL TOWN FEEL. BUT TAKING A STAYCATION IS ITS OWN KIND OF WORK. HOW DO YOU IGNORE THE CALL OF THE DAY TO DAY CONCERNS AND LOOK AT YOUR OWN TOWN AS IF IT WAS SOME PLACE NEW?

SEE THE SIGHTS Few locals fully avail themselves of what Nashville has to offer: the Symphony, the Frist, Cheekwood, and the endless series of live music venues, parks, and attractions. Go to the visitor’s center, or the brochure rack in front of any attraction and pick a few of the biggies you haven’t tried yet. You’ll thank yourself later. Or check out some alternatives. Instead of the Country Music Hall of Fame, try the Johnny Cash Museum. Or make your own fun. A selfguided tour of Nashville’s public art, from Dragon Park to Musica, is a fun way to spend an afternoon. The Hermitage or the historic Sam Davis home offers a glimpse at local and national history. There’s also no shortage of pure kitsch in Nashville: Cooter’s Place Dukes of Hazzard Museum is a hoot (and free), and if you’ve ever seen that pink bus around town, we’re here to tell you that the Nash Trash Tours with the Jugg sisters are not to be missed. And for the truly bizarre, drive out to Adams, TN and visit the Bell Witch sites!

WHERE TO STAY

Home! But there are plenty of options: try your guest room out and see how the other half lives. Or try your own back yard: it’s like camping but your iPhone is always charged and the showers are hot.

CHECK OUT THE NIGHTLIFE Start an evening off at the First Saturday Art Crawl, and then head over to Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, and enjoy some live music with your delicious food. Or maybe grab some dim sum to go at Lucky Bamboo and then drive out to Watertown’s Stardust Drive-In Theatre. Or grab some friends and head over to the Flying Saucer and get to work on putting your name on a saucer by drinking a ridiculous amount of beer. Basically, ask yourself what you would do if you were vacationing in one of the South’s premier destinations – then remember that you are and do whatever came to mind! We know you love your Nashville LGBT bars and clubs! We don’t blame you, we do too. But one way to see Gay Nashville through strange eyes is to try something different. If you’ve been to Canvas every Saturday night for the last two years, mosey on down to Play, or even over to Stirrup. Two very different adventures await you. It’s not cheating on your favorite bar – you’re on vacation!

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA

Summers in Centennial Park are full of wonders. From August 14-September 14, Shakespeare in the Park will put on As You Like It for a suggested donation of $10, and on Saturdays in the event shelter you can attend Big Band Dances.

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AUGUST 2014

T H R O U G H

O C TO B E R

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This exhibit ion was organized by t he Whitney Museum of American Art, New Yo r k . THIS EXHIBITION’S TOUR WAS FUNDED IN PART

BY A GRANT FROM THE

HENRY LUCE FOUNDATION

T H E F R I S T C E N T E R F O R T H E V I S UA L A RT S GR AT E F U L LY A C K N OW L E D G E S O U R P I C A S S O C I R C L E M E M B E R S A S E X H I B I T I O N PAT R O N S .

D O W N TO W N N A S H V I L L E 9 1 9 B R O A D WAY

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THE FRIST CENTER FOR THE VISUAL ARTS IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY

F e d e r i c o C a s t e l l ó n . T h e D a r k F i g u re ( d e t a i l ), 1 93 8 . O i l o n c a n v a s . W h i t n e y M u s e u m o f A m e r i c a n A r t , N e w Yo r k ; p u rc h a s e 4 2 . 3 . © E s t a t e o f F e d e r i c o C a s t e l l ó n ; c o u r t e s y o f M i c h a e l R o s e n f e l d G a l l e r y L L C , N e w Yo r k , N Y

AUGUST 2014

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7/15/14 4:42 PM

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM BOUSKA

Suzanne Westenhoefer Talks LGBT Standup ALEXANDRA HUFF |

Stand-up comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer’s website describes her in one word: candid. Her honesty onstage and off has endeared her to fans and critics for over twenty years. Out and About talked to the openly lesbian comedian. Westenhoefer, who was recently voted one of America’s Funniest Lesbians in Curve Magazine, talks about coming of age in NYC, her activist roots, straight club promoters, gay marriage, and her hopes for the future.

WESTENHOEFER’S STORY BEGAN DURING THE HEIGHTS OF THE HIV CRISIS. “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN AN ACTIVIST. AN OPINIONATED GIRL [LAUGHS]. WHEN I UNDERSTOOD I WAS GAY I WAS 20, AND AT COLLEGE IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THERE WERE ONLY A FEW [LGBT PEOPLE] ON CAMPUS AND WE WERE BEING HASSLED BY THIS HUGE CHRISTIAN CULT. THEY BELIEVED THAT HIV/AIDS WAS ‘GAY CANCER’. SO MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD MEET UP AND TALK ABOUT IT. ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER. WE WERE ON THE LOCAL NEWS. THAT’S HOW I BECAME AN ACTIVIST; I WANTED THIS GROUP TO START.” By the end of 1990, Westenhoefer was in her late twenties and working as bartender. The HIV/AIDS epidemic, she recalls, “was crushing down on all of us. Marches and rallies came very naturally. Activism was just a reaction to this plague.” In the midst of this upheaval, people close to Westenhoefer were telling her that she should try standup, but the environment in comedy was very different then. “I knew if I was going to do it I wasn’t going to be closeted. Nobody was out then. Ellen [Degeneres] and Rosie [O’Donnell] weren’t out. There were a handful of openly gay comics in the city, but they only played gay clubs and that wasn’t what I wanted either. I entered a contest in West Manhattan and talked about being a lesbian Barbie. I won twenty bucks

or something, and I thought ‘Well, I’m going to be an openly gay comic as long as they let me.’” The world of standup has come a long way since. In fact, she says, “Nowadays, most of what I hear from straight club promoters is ‘So what?’ They love to minimize [my sexuality].” While that speaks to a great deal of change in the cultural climate and positive change in public perception, Westenhoefer’s activist roots show in her response: “I never want the gay community, which is a huge part of the arts community in general, to become complacent and let people minimize us. There are already a ton of regular people, regular comics out there. They’re doing great. They’re not us. We’re gay people! It makes us different! That important.

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AUGUST 2014

The fight against inequality isn’t over because some LGBT people can getting married. When did our focus become marriage? Isn’t that an old straight thing? Not everyone wants to get married! It’s important, but, like, the fight isn’t over. [Straight club promoters] saying ‘No one cares anymore,’ that’s just another way to put us down.”

Westenhoefer loves her career. “In a perfect world,” she says, “I would have a show every day and I could walk to it. But there would still be 300 people there [she laughs]. I love what I do.” Comedy, she says, offers her a platform to make people think, on the one hand, and escape from reality, on the other. “I love getting in front of straight audiences, gay audiences, mixed audiences and making them laugh about something they might not have thought about. The day to day world can be quite a challenge. Whatever people bring in that’s bumming them out, I want them to be able to let that go for an hour. Would I love a TV show? Probably [laughs]. But I love what I do. I could do it forever.” Westenhoefer may not get to walk to work and perform to a full audience every day, but Nashville will get the chance to enjoy her act on Wednesday, August 6th, at Zanies. Visit http://www.nashville. zanies.com/ for more information and to purchase tickets. fRee CASe eVAluATIon

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AUGUST 2014

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SUMMER READING FOR

MODERN FAMILIES READING DIVERSITY WITH THE NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY LINDSAY JENSEN | lindsay.jensen@nashville.gov

HAVE YOU BEEN TO NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY YET? IT’S DEFINITELY WORTH CHECKING US OUT (PUN INTENDED!) IN FACT, SUMMER IS A GREAT TIME FOR LGBT FAMILIES TO VISIT. THROUGH AUGUST, FAMILIES CAN COMPETE IN NPL’S SUMMER CHALLENGE. AS THEY DISCOVER BOOKS AND MATERIALS – INCLUDING LGBT-FRIENDLY ITEMS – THEY’LL ALSO EARN POINTS AND WIN PRIZES. LINDSAY JENSEN is a children’s librarian at Nashville Public Library’s Main location in downtown Nashville. She devotes much of her time to reading, so she can always have book recommendations ready.

WHAT IS THE SUMMER CHALLENGE?

his free game is for all ages. Anyone can sign up online or at any of our 21 locations. All you need is your Nashville Public Library card. Participants will earn points for completing activities such as reading with a friend, visiting a park or checking out a book. Then, they redeem points for prizes. Summer Challenge is a lot of fun, but there’s also a serious educational aspect to the program. The library focuses on summer reading so intensely because we know kids who read yearround are more successful. If they stop reading during summer break, kids can lose up to three months’ worth of learning skills. They begin their next school year behind their peers.

What’s worse, this loss compounds every summer. Summer Challenge is a local, free and fun way to incorporate reading and learning into your family’s together time. These books are just a few of the LGBT-friendly items you’ll find at Nashville Public Library. We can offer many other suggestions, tailored to what you seek. And remember, books are only half the story at NPL. With your free library card, you can download e-books, listen to audio books, stream music, rent movies and more. If you don’t have a library card yet, don’t worry. It only takes a few minutes to sign up, and you’ll earn Summer Challenge points for doing it! Just come to any of our locations or get one online.

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AUGUST 2014

Nashville Public Library maintains a collection of 2 million items, including books, periodicals, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and downloadable books, movies and music. The Library also offers more than 800 public-use computers, free art exhibits, educational programs, events for all ages, 24/7 reference assistance, online databases, interlibrary loan and special collections. Equal access is provided by the Talking Library audio reading service for the print disabled and Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. For more information, call (615) 8625800 or visit library.nashville.org.

ABOUT NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

OUR BOOKS AND MATERIALS REPRESENT ALL THE FACES OF NASHVILLE, INCLUDING LGBT PEOPLE. WHAT’S MORE, DIVERSITY IN LITERATURE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN. THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM LGBT STORIES AND CHARACTERS EARLY IN THEIR LIVES.

These stories introduce LGBT kids to relatable characters, at their own reading levels, who reassure kids they’re not alone. Meanwhile, LGBT stories help straight kids build empathy and acclimate to a world full of differences. If you want to incorporate LGBT reading into your summer challenge experience, we can help. To get started, here are some suggestions from our shelves:

SEE YOU SOON AT NPL

GOOD LUCK FINDING A MORE LIKABLE CHARACTER THAN NATE. HE’S GOOFY, ENDEARING AND SO VERY FUNNY. YOU’LL CHEER FOR NATE THE ENTIRE TIME – EVEN IF YOU ALREADY KNOW ET: THE MUSICAL IS A HORRIBLE IDEA. Better Nate than Ever

Marco Impossible

(for grades 5-8)

By Tim Federle

Nate Foster is wanting to leave Pittsburgh and make it big on Broadway. When he and his best friend Libby learn their favorite movie, ET, will soon go from screen to stage, they’ll do whatever it takes to get Nate to the New York City audition. Good luck finding a more likable character than Nate. He’s goofy, endearing and so very funny. You’ll cheer for Nate the entire time – even if you already know ET: The Musical is a horrible idea. This is a great book, whose protagonist describes his sexuality as “undecided,” making it clear there’s more to us than our sexualities.

By Hanny Moskowitz

Thirteen-year-old Marco wants to break into a high-school prom to publicly declare his love for long-time crush Benji. This is an updated take on the classic buddy adventure novel. Mixed into this funny story about Marco and his best friend Stephen are very un-funny hatecrime threats, strained friendships and ruthless bullies. Marco is out and proud; he makes no apologies. So, while they execute “Project Prom,” the boys also search for the person sending threatening notes. This book will resonate with anyone who has faced adversity for being true to him or herself. It could also be a great read for parents who want to understand what it’s like to grow up gay (spoiler alert: it’s not easy).

These books are just a few of the LGBT-friendly items you’ll find at Nashville Public Library. We can offer many other suggestions, tailored to what you seek. And remember, books are only half the story at NPL. With your free library card, you can download e-books, listen to audio books, stream music, rent movies and more. If you don’t have a library card yet, don’t worry. It only takes a few minutes to sign up, and you’ll earn Summer Challenge points for doing it! Just come to any of our locations or get one online.

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(for preschool – grade 2)

This illustrated book tells the true story of two male penguins at Central Park Zoo. They couple up and build a nest (that’s the penguin equivalent of “making it official,” by the way). When another penguin couple at the same zoo is unable to care for its egg, the male couple hatches it and raises the baby, Tango. This book reinforces that love is love, no matter what. Because it’s based on a true story from the animal kingdom, it also shows same-sex couples can be found everywhere. That’s reassuring for kids in the LGBT community to know.

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FAMILY

QUEERIES INTERVIEW & PHOTO BY SAMARA STERN

Nashville is growing in a great way, with strong lively communities, including our LGBT community. Increasingly, the Nashville LGBT community includes robust and diverse family structures. We are creating loving homes and safe spaces, challenging not only laws but also traditional opinions. This column will be a space to meet Nashville’s LGBT families, to hear and share each other’s stories. The Stantons, Amber, Rachel, and IF YOU WOULD ASK FOR ANY CHANGE FOR Ryman (7 months), arrived for their LBGT FAMILIES, WHAT WOULD IT BE? interview full of smiles and eager to Amber: We had to go through a lot share their story. Here is a glimpse into to make sure Rachel had legal rights their life as an LGBT family. to Ryman. We just want to be a family, just like anyone else. Having our union recognized everywhere would be huge SO HOW DID YOU TWO MEET? for us and for him Amber: We met through a Business Networking International (BNI) meeting WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FOUND SO FAR in Green Hills, when I was looking for a AS AN LGBT FAMILY AND/OR COUPLE? new job. After the meeting, Rachel and I Amber: The adoption process was were intrigued with each other, but kept expensive and we just completed that things at a friend level, as we were both last week! Rachel is on Ryman’s birth in long term relationships. I was offered certificate now. But doing the home study, three jobs from that BNI meeting, but getting all of the financial documents, the best thing I found there was Rachel. finger printing, and investigation was Rachel and I connected again several kind of crazy. I don’t think we’ve run into months later, when Rachel contacted much outside of that. me about Nashville in Harmony tickets. Rachel: People tend to assume a Both of us were now single and what lot about our relationship, and everyone had been intriguing all those months ago turned into mutual attraction. The rest, as has questions that are a bit personal. For instance, I wouldn’t just ask a family they say, is history. how they had their baby. WHEN DID YOU TWO DECIDE TO EXPAND ANY PLANS FOR EXPANDING YOUR YOUR FAMILY? FAMILY FURTHER? Amber: We got married in Amber: Well right now I’m Tennessee in 2011 and in 2012 we got breastfeeding Ryman, so for right now legally married in Massachusetts. Once thats on hold, but once thats over we are we were legally married, we decided to considering one more. have a baby together.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND AS YOUR BEST NASHVILLE PARENT/FAMILY RESOURCE? Rachel: Nashville in Harmony, a large LGBT & allies choir, has been helpful. There are many parents like us and a lot of supportive people, not only on the LGBT end of it, but just on parenthood in general.

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PEOPLE TEND TO ASSUME A LOT ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP, AND EVERYONE HAS QUESTIONS THAT ARE A BIT PERSONAL. FOR INSTANCE, I WOULDN’T JUST ASK A FAMILY HOW THEY HAD THEIR BABY.

HOW DID YOU TWO CHOOSE THE NAME RYMAN? Amber: Rachel and I went to a nursing home on Valentine’s Day, as we both realized that while we got to spend every day with our sweetheart, most of the people in the nursing home had lost theirs. We brought treats and balloons and sang and just hung out. One lady we met, who really stood out, was Ryman. Even though we weren’t even trying to conceive at that time, Rachel and I both said together that we wanted to name our child that. We later found out that Ryman was actually her last name, but we still loved it, and it was never a question that it would be our child’s name.

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DREAMS TO REALITY COMES TO NASHVILLE Group Offers Opportunities for Education on Fertility and HIV JAMES GRADY | @JamesAllenGrady

People living with HIV have come a long way since the discovery of the virus, when the emergence of symptoms was a death sentence. The rise of antiretroviral treatments and other life enhancing measures have both greatly extended the lives of those living with the disease and improved their quality of life. HIV-positive individuals can focus on life-long goals, including long-term career prospects and raising a family. “Medical technology has really changed,” said Guy Ringler, M.D., internationally-renowned reproductive endocrinologist. “Individuals with HIV can expect a long life and thus have all the hopes and dreams that uninfected people have.”

NEVERTHELESS, FAMILY BUILDING FOR HIV-POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS OR COUPLES IS A TRICKY PROPOSITION. ADOPTION IS OF COURSE ONE AVENUE, BUT THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH HIV CAN THREATEN THE ADOPTION PROCESS, EITHER THROUGH THE ATTITUDES OF THE COMMUNITY WHOSE LAWS HAVE TO BE SATISFIED OR THROUGH LESS OBVIOUS AVENUES, SUCH AS THE BELIEFS OF THE CASE-WORKER. OTHER OPTIONS INCLUDE IN VITRO FERTILIZATION WITH DONATED EGGS OR SPERM, AND PERHAPS A SURROGATE. BUT WHAT IF AN HIV-POSITIVE PERSON WISHES TO PARENT A BIOLOGICALLY CONNECTED CHILD?

nter The American Fertility Association (AFA). The AFA is an inclusive organization committed to helping people create their unique path to parenthood by providing leading-edge outreach programs and timely educational information. The AFA is committed to the principle that everyone – regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or HIV status – should be able to have a family. Last year, the AFA honored Elton John and his partner David at their annual fundraiser. Elton and David had shared their own adoption story with the world, and they approached the AFA to express their desire to help people with HIV understand all their options for parenting biologically linked children. The Elton John AIDS Foundation then made a large gift to the AFA to fund

what Ringler describes as an “educational program to increase knowledge about treatment options for prospective patients available for men and women infected with HIV.” The resulting project, “Dreams to Reality,” has additional financial support from HIV Assisted Reproductive Technologies. The “Dream” outreach effort is a three-pronged campaign promoting patient education, training for healthcare professionals, and building support of community organizations. Initially at least, “Dreams” will focus on the Southeast, because the region has the highest HIV infection rates in the country and likewise lacks educational resources in this area, where the science has outpaced public awareness.

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AUGUST 2014

AFA FACTS ‭You cannot be denied medical care, including fertility treatment or access to assisted reproduction, simply because you have HIV. ‭Both men and women infected with HIV may opt for using a gestational carrier and/or an egg donor to conceive a child. ‭Sperm washing procedures can significantly reduce the amount of HIV virus present by separating the virus from the sperm cells. ‭You can safely start taking antiretroviral drugs at the beginning of your second trimester of pregnancy (12 weeks). ‭Thanks to HIV medications and precautions, fewer than 200 American babies are infected with HIV per year.

“THE ABILITY TO HAVE ONE’S OWN CHILDREN WITHOUT THE FEAR OF TRANSMITTING THE HIV VIRUS IS A PROFOUND ADVANCEMENT IN FAMILY-BUILDING OPTIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN LIVING WITH THE VIRUS,” SAID RINGLER, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE OUTREACH EFFORT.

Dreams to Reality: A Message of Hope for People Living With HIV Who Want to Have Kids Today, there are new medical treatments that can help men and women affected by HIV have genetically-linked children — safely. Join us to learn more about the latest options for HIV and parenthood. WHAT A FREE SEMINAR on

HIV and Parenthood

WHEN Saturday, August 16th 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. WHERE Covenant of the Cross 752 Madison Square Madison, TN

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For more information and to register, visit: www.theafa.org/hiv

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It is essential for patients with HIV to be informed about the fertility treatment options available that can help them have children safely, with minimal risk of transmitting the HIV virus to their sexual partners, reproductive partners, or to their children.” The technology exists, Ringler explains, for “men and women with HIV to have children safely through a combination of HIV therapies and assisted reproductive therapies – a combination of sperm wash and invitro or surrogacy for instance.” A recent article Ringler references reviewed medical articles covering over 8,000 cases where the sperm wash treatment was used. “Effective protocols minimize risk. No published studies involved cases where transmission of HIV occurred. Adding effective antiretrovirals has also improved reproductive options, and a combination provides a very safe way for men with HIV to have their own genetic children. For women, treatments exist that can dramatically reduce the risk that HIV will pass to children from an infected mother.” Nashville is an early beneficiary of the “Dreams” program. On August 16, Guy Ringler will be leading an educational program, hosted at Covenant of the Cross. Visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/ hiv-and-parenthood-lunch-andlearn-tickets-12083304489 to register for the free lunch-andlearn or to sign up for the webcast.

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THE CONDUCTORS

Nashville Leather Club Seeks to Reinvigorate Its Membership JAMES GRADY | @JamesAllenGrady

Nashville’s gay leather group, The Conductors, is one of the longest surviving gay social and service groups in the city. The group was founded by a core group of friends who shared an appreciation for leather. Current group president, Jackie Walton, explains, “It’s for those with an interest in leather – its look and feel: we’re a brotherhood with an interest centered on that. We don’t always even go out in leather. I for instance have a closet full of everything leather you can imagine – but you don’t have to have that to join us.”

The Conductors rose to the challenge, devising a method of support that it still offers today. A direct assistance emergency need program provides support, through Nashville CARES, for clients with severe and emergent need, who have exhausted all other sources of financial support. The Conductors program is anonymous. The Conductors’ president, Jackie Walton, is proud of the fact that, “We support Nashville CARES and in 33 years we’ve never turned anyone down.” They have funded prescriptions, co-pays, eyeglasses, utility bills, home repair, rent, among many other need items. The group

the community through organizations like CARES and to provide a brotherhood for the leather community—as too important to let this group fail. The Conductors are making sure the group goes out to other groups’ events, like Bear Chested and Sisters’ Nights, as well as getting out to the Grizzlies. “There are people who have no idea who we are, which is sad because we’re a group who’s supporting everyone. Historically, The Conductors has been viewed as a cliquish group, but we don’t want that. We really want to welcome everyone. We have a transgender associate who’s going to

#ShangjuelaUntuck #Conductors

In 1982, when the group was founded, introducing leather to the city’s gay nightlife was a risk, as there was the potential for drawing negative attention to the LGBT community from those who disapproved of the “leather lifestyle.” The founders of The Conductors viewed the formation of their group as a way to build fellowship within the leather community while building good will in the wider LGBT community by giving something back. During its first few years, The Conductors supported local charities, like Second Harvest Food Bank and the Angel Tree program, sponsoring food drive programs and other fundraisers at its first two “home bars,” The Crazy Cowboy and The Chute Complex. But when the AIDS crisis emerged in Nashville, The Conductors found the primary beneficiary of their charity work. Soon after Nashville CARES was formed, it developed a relationship with The Conductors, seeking financial assistance for its clients.

has also supported the Thanksgiving meals Nashville CARES offers its clients. “Back in March of 2013, we celebrated our 32nd year in the community,” Walton says. “Maybe the most members we’ve had is 20, but at that time there were only 7. Some of the older members who have been around for years decided to go alumni, though, and this brings us down to 4 – basically two households.” The four full members are basically two couples, and while there are a number of associate members, full members are necessary for sustaining a healthy club. Walton explains that, “as a full member you have to attend all meetings, functions like bar night, and events like fundraisers and the AIDS walk. Associate members come when they can, but being a full member is a big commitment and some people can’t dedicate the time.” Walton has seen groups that didn’t survive once their membership fell off, but he views the missions of The Conductors – to support

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

AUGUST 2014

become a full member, and my daughter is an associate. It’s a brotherhood of leather people, but that doesn’t mean we don’t accept everybody.” Walton will be working hard this year to recruit new associates, who have the chance to try the group out to see if the full member path is right for them. “Our mission for this year,” Walton says, “is to grow our group back to a solid fifteen people. We want to make sure The Conductors remains strong, so that we’re able to keep saying yes to every person who comes to us for help.” For more information about The Conductors, their events, and membership, visit their website: www.conductors.net/

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HALLELU! NASHVILLE UNTUCKED : Shangela

PAIGE TURNER | @PaigeTurner01

Hallelu, Untuckers, Shangela is back! Ok, so when I saw her she didn’t pop out of a box. But her return is nearly as surprising! Back during “Night of the Living Drag” in NYC, Shangela had suffered an on-stage accident that took her off the road for a while. While she sent a heartfelt video message to fans assuring us that “I might be down, but I am definitely not out,” doctors told the drag racer that she would be down until July. Proving the skeptics wrong, like she has so many times before, Shangela recovered months ahead of schedule. When she came back to Nashville, she showed our stage no mercy as the fans flocked to get another chance to see “the corn goddess” buck the house down, leaving Nashville singing Hallelus for weeks to come.

QA &

SO, COME ON GIRL, EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW: CAN YOU SPILL THE TEE ON ALL STARS? HONESTLY everybody thinks we know but we don’t. Rupaul doesn’t know, World of Wonder doesn’t know, even LogoTV doesn’t know! It’s all up in the air at this point. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU TO BE CAST IN ALL STARS? Because I haven’t won the $100,000 and the crown yet! No … really because I have shown a lot of growth and I would love to have to the chance to just share more of myself with the world. IF YOU WERE TO GET ON ALL STARS, IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIAL YOU WOULD BRING THAT WOULD HELP YOU CLAIM THE CROWN? It’s not just about All Stars. In general I’ve learned so much more about myself as an entertainer. There are so many different types of drag queens. Some get their life sewing, some get their life doing hair, and some people just get their life doing pageants or being pretty. I get my life performing; I love to perform.”

#ShangelaUntucked

WHO DO YOU THINK ARE THE QUEENS FROM OTHER SEASONS MOST LIKELY TO BE CAST IN ALL STARS? I don’t want any of those bitches to get on! I want to win and that’s just more competition. WHAT QUEENS WOULD YOU PICK TO BE ON ALL STARS? Myself, of course! Maybe The Princess: she wasn’t on very long and has some great costumes. Phoenix is sickening: I’d like to see her on. From my season, Mariah. She can beat a mug: she is fierce! SO, TELL ME, WHAT THE HELL HAS SHANGELA BEEN DOING SINCE DRAG RACE? I have been just working all over the world, opened my own company, have become California’s first ever Entertainer of The Year, and went on to place 1st alternate at Nationals my first time. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR 2 SEASONS? Honestly, it was kind of a coincidence because I had sent in a li’l audition tape for Season 3. They called me and asked if I was interested in coming back. I asked if they had seen the tape and they said ‘no,’ so it was fate.

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AUGUST 2014

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PUT SHANGELA BACK IN THE BOX? Shangela is not going anywhere, so they can say it all they want, but Shangela is here to stay.

WHAT IS YOU BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN YOUR CAREER? FROM THE SHOW? WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET? It was a huge accomplishment for me to be on the show in general. Being so new to drag, it was like I was ‘the baby.’ My only regret was being sent home! No, really, I would’ve loved the chance to get that one-on-one time with Ru. But I have grown a lot and continue to grow as an entertainer. I broke my leg onstage, and as I was being taken out the fans were so sweet. It felt great to have all this love from fans all over. There was a chance I would never walk or perform the same but I have been back to working since February. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. You can do anything you set your mind to, and I’m living proof of that! Hallelu!

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August 15 - 17 Totally Awesome 80’s Weekend: Boys Just Wanna Have Fun!! Check out this new event for 2014, totally themed for a gnarly weekend of awesome music, 80’s themed movies and décor! See our website for details.

August 29 – September 1 Labor Day Weekend Always a huge party!! Book early to get your room and RV spot of choice. It always sells out quickly!! Be here for all the fun, food, and MEN!!

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AUGUST 2014

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ARRESTED DEVELOPMENTS BOBBI WILLIAMS | bobbi@bobbiw.net

In the two years since I moved here from upstate New York, I always worried that I’d be pulled over by the police. What might happen to a ‘girl’ like me? One night after a reception for the board of the National Center for Transgender Equality, I drive off toward Lipstick Lounge. I run through a flashing red light and suddenly there are more flashing lights…from the police car behind me. My license still has my male name, but the officer seems non-plussed, asking me to perform the standard sobriety tests. “It’s not easy doing this in heels,” I say. (The arrest report will read: “He was not able to perform the walk and turn or stand, due to his shoes.”) He handcuffs me, apologizing for the discomfort, and as I get in the back seat of the police car he apologizes again: “Sorry, but it’s not very comfortable back there.” He offers a Breathalyzer, but since I’m burping like Shrek at a barbeque, he adds to his report: “was not able to complete the observation period without belching.” As he types his report, he reads me my rights and engages me in polite conversation. I learn about his family, his life history, why he become a policeman. Then he asks if I will agree to a blood test and I say yes. I’m so nervous I would even agree to a high colonic. At the hospital a nurse draws blood and the officer again apologizes, saying,

“It’s the only option other than the breathalyzer.” Then he takes me down to be booked, and I must remove my breast forms, all of my jewelry, and my wig. A female officer pats me down and checks my shoes. “Nice” she says with what might be a tinge of envy. After getting my “mug shot,” I’m led into a large room with two sections of benches. I sit down across from a man who smiles and says “Nice shoes.” After about an hour, I’m called to a bank-teller style window and asked for a contact for a character reference, but without my phone I can’t provide it. A short while later, I’m told that I can leave under my own recognizance if there’s someone who can pick me up. But unable to contact anyone, I have to stay until eight a.m. I want to nap, but a heavy metal door slams every time officers and staff come and go, so there’s no chance. Around four a.m., I’ve dozed off, but I’m awakened by a familiar voice. I blink and look up...

EVERY FATHER WANTS TO BOND WITH HIS SON, THOUGH THIS WAS NOT THE SCENARIO I ENVISIONED. MY SON IS ACCEPTING OF ME, THOUGH, AND WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT IN, HE IS NOT AT ALL SURPRISED AT HOW I LOOK.

DR. BOBBI WILLIAMS IS AN AUTHOR, TEACHER, AND CONSULTANT FOCUSING ON LGBT HEALTH. TWO BOOKS OF HER WORK HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED: ME & BOBBI & THE GYRLS (A SHORT STORY COLLECTION) AND TRANSFIXED, A NOVEL. BEFORE MOVING TO NASHVILLE, SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF RAINBOW ACCESS INITIATIVE, A NEW YORK STATE FUNDED LGBT HEALTH PROGRAM. SHE IS CONSIDERING HAVING HER SHOES BRONZED.

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AUGUST 2014

“HEY,” the voice repeats. There’s my son, sitting beside me. “HI,” he says. I’m incredibly relieved. “YOU CAME TO TAKE ME HOME,” I say. He shakes his head. “I’M IN HERE TOO.” “ARRESTED?” I ask, stunned. “WHAT FOR?” “SHE CALLED THE POLICE,” he said. “THEY CHARGED ME WITH ASSAULT.” “HEY…” The guy who admired my shoes calls out. “ARE YOU TWO RELATED?” My son nods. “SHE’S MY DAD.” The man shakes his head. “IF THAT DON’T BEAT ALL.”

WHEN EIGHT A.M. ARRIVES AND MY NAME IS CALLED, I TELL MY SON GOODBYE AND FOLLOW AN OFFICER THROUGH THE SLAMMING DOOR. IN THE ELEVATOR, THE OFFICER ASKS, “DO YOU MIND IF I ASK YOU A QUESTION?” THEN HE POINTS TO MY SHOES. “HOW DO YOU WALK IN THOSE?” I WALK AWAY SMILING. MY BIGGEST FEAR HAS BEEN RESOLVED, AND I REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE I AM TO BE IN NASHVILLE.

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BOZ SCAGGS August 12

LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND

WEST SIDE STORY

THE FOUR TOPS

September 5 & 6

September 11 - 13

Acclaimed singer songwriter performs his hits like “Lido Shuffle” and “Lowdown.”

August 13

The four-time GRAMMY® winning Texan returns for a swingin’ night of fun.

Watch this classic film on a big screen as the orchestra performs the score live.

The Motown legends will have you dancing to “Baby I Need Your Loving” and “I Can’t Help Myself.”

AMERICAN MASTERWORKS

FOREIGNER

EXPERIENCE HENDRIX

September 18 - 20

Smash hits like “Juke Box Hero,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Urgent,” “Cold as Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

JOHNNY MATHIS with the Nashville Symphony

September 14

with the Nashville Symphony

“Chances Are” you’ll get “Misty” when this crooner performs his hits with the orchestra.

Conni Ellisor and Victor Wooten perform a ground-breaking Concerto for Electric Bass & Orchestra.

with the Nashville Symphony

September 21

with the Nashville Symphony

September 26

Featuring Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and more.

NashvilleSymphony.org | 615.687.6400