O&AN | November 2019

Giving Back ‘Tis the Season

THE PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS OF ONE GROUP OF BAR OWNERS + DAKERRI BARBER-RHONE’S ACTIVISM IN THE COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2019 / VOLUME 19 / ISSUE 11 FIRST ISSUE FREE - ADD’L COPIES 50¢ EACH

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CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTORS Writers: Craig Ammon, James Grady, Bennett Jason,

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Jason Shawhan

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY,S REVENGE

Photographers: Cody Stallings Cover: David Taylor, Joe Brown, Todd Roman, Keith Blaydes

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(L to R). Photo by Cody Stallings

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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.

OZ ARTS NASHVILLE

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THE QUEENS’ TABLE: PEARL DIVER

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GIVING BACK

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LEGAL

ACTIVISM IN TENNESSEE IS ALIVE AND WELL

Out & About Nashville strives to be a credible community news organization by engaging and educating our readers. All content of Out & About Nashville is copyrighted 2017 by Out & About Nashville, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The

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sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied.

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LOCAL LGBTQ ADVOCATE JOINS TEAM WARREN

About Nashville are expressed in editorials and in the editor’s notes as determined by the editor. Other opinions are those of writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Out & About Nashville or its staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged but may be edited for clarity and length. There is no guarantee that letters will be published. Out & About Nashville only accepts adult advertising within set guidelines and on a case-by-case basis.

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NOVEMBER 2019

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WITH OPEN ARMS

From the Editor

Giving Thanks Maybe there’s just something about this time of year… As the weather cools and winter sets in, the pace of life slows and we tend to more often take stock of what we have to be thankful for. November honors both Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving, and here at Out & About we are observing the spirit of this month by showing our gratitude to some of the many members of community who give back.

On our cover this month are the owners of PLAY & Tribe Nashville, who have given so much to various community organizations and causes over the years, from their generous support of Nashville Pride to raising funds for the victims of the Pulse Massacre. They are free with their money and their resources when a need presents itself, and they often get so little recognition for it.

Josh Robbins highlights some of the HIV/AIDS activists who serve the needs of Tennesseans, and I also interviewed Dakerri Barber-Rhone, a local political activist who has recently taken a national position with the Warren campaign.

These diverse figures represent the giving spirit of our community, and for each person we were able to feature, there are hundreds of others who do the same kinds of hard work. Do you know someone who should be profiled for the community? Email editor@outandaboutnashville.com to nominate someone to be featured in a future issue of O&AN. James Grady, Managing Editor

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SHELF SPECIAL THE ● SHELF SPECIAL THE ● SHELF SPECIAL THE

A NIGHTMARE, ON ELM STREET 2:

FREDDY S REVENGE JASON SHAWHAN

Even if they didn’t bust out their slurs of choice, there was always something about the way people responded to A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. It was a distinctive sequel, having to pull off the arcane alchemy that transforms a genre concept from a successful one-off into a franchise. And the departure of series creator Wes Craven left things in a weird stasis. So Director Jack Sholder (The Hidden, Alone in the Dark (the good one)) and Screenwriter David Chaskin changed things up. The sweater-clad child killer could slip between dream and reality. The day-to-day of the American high school student became a surreal, primal space. And instead of a Final Girl, the audience surrogate was a teenage boy, coded queer in as brazen a fashion as 1985 would pretend to tolerate.

The film is having a moment right now.

Star Mark Patton’s documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street, detailing the complicated legacy of Elm Street 2, as well as his own story as an actor in and out of the closet in ‘80s Hollywood during the midst of the plague years, is the hot ticket at film festivals all over the world. We’ve reached a point in which films about queer youth (Booksmart, Love, Simon, and Alex Strangelove to name a few) are being made for, and are reaching, a mainstream audience. Horror films are intersectional buffets of countless perspectives and points of view being represented, and so there’s something gratifying about the strands of fate pulling taut and bringing this movie into our collective brain.

If you’ve never seen A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, you absolutely should. It’s a good slasher, imaginative in its set-pieces, and filled with seven great endearing performances. Imagine a Friday the 13th with seven Betsy Palmers, if you even can. As far as the concepts that the market and audiences demanded of any horror film of the time, it fulfills them and then some. But it’s in the script’s queer content that the legacy of this film gets complicated.

At various times over the intervening thirty-four years, Chaskin has said that the film was intended as a homophobic text to scare gay viewers straight, that there was never any queer content at all and that it was

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Patton’s uncontainable homosexuality that rewrote the film’s cinematic DNA, and that there was meant to be queer subtext in order to distinguish it from every other film at the time. As his appearance in Scream, Queen! demonstrates, Chaskin has through the years been that messy bitch who loves drama.

But the film leaps past all the behind the scenes messiness to emerge, and remain, an essential queer text. Beyond Mark Patton’s noble, relatable Jesse, we have Robert Rusler’s Grady, who starts out as a bully but reveals a secret emotional life on the edges of the film as his friendship with Jesse humanizes and ultimately civilizes him. (He also gets the film’s funniest line.) We have Marshall Bell as Coach Schneider, whose Dom Daddy realness and gym of many implements have led to several different lines of porn throughout the years, all pitched around the way that teenage trauma has to get worked out through adult flesh. Kim Myers, who is delightful as Lisa Webber/Poletti, Jesse’s ‘girlfriend,’ is a kind and goodhearted young woman who handles the pivot from sexual frustration to supportive ally the best way any young gay boy could hope for. And Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger is stellar in this, the last time he was allowed to be scary before the jokes started seeping in.

This is a movie whose vision of heterosexual teenage debauchery is scored to a Bobby O song. It is an incoherent text, at

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war with itself on multiple levels, and its rough edges are one of the aspects that have helped it to gain relevance over the years. There’s no equivalent to it in the Friday the 13th or Halloween series (though Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, is notable because of its overwhelmingly gay male supporting cast and their behind-thescenes exploits). The same with the Hellraiser series, though it was created by the gloriously gay and kinky Clive Barker. The Child’s Play series was also created by a gay man, and starting with its fourth installment, 1998’s Bride of Chucky, has been a paragon of representation for all kinds of queer identities. For gay audiences looking for a mainstream horror touchstone in the ‘80s, Nightmare 2 is the foundational, effed-up touchstone you never truly let go of.

A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge is widely available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as streaming on Hulu and Shudder.

Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street is currently playing at film festivals all over the world and will get some form of cinematic/digital distribution if there is any justice in the world.

For all the dirt on Friday The 13th Part Vii: The New Blood, check out Peter Bracke’s book Crystal Lake Memories and the sprawling, majestically excessive documentary made from it.

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Kroger grocery stores have stopped carrying your favorite free publications nationwide as of October 2019.

Out & About Nashville is looking for some great businesses in the Nashville area to call home for our monthly magazine.

We provide a rack (if needed) and take care of monthly stocking. All we need is you.

Interested? Call or email Will Shutes at (615) 596-6210 or will@outandaboutnashville.com

You can find our monthly print issue of O&A at the following locations: Pecker’s Bar and Grill The Groove Nashville Barnes & Noble Hotel Indigo Billy’s Corner Performance Studios Hustler Hollywood Canvas Lounge Play Dance Bar McKay’s Carlton Cornett, LCSW Revelator Coffee Middle Tennessee State University Castrillo’s Pizza of Inglewood ShiMai Gallery of Contemporary Craft Miranda’s Adult Store Center for Spiritual Living Nashville Smack Clothing Mockingbird Nashville Chauhan Ale & Masala House Tànsuô Music City PrEP Clinic Dose Ten Thousand Villages Music City Wine & Spirits Elan Germantown Trax Nashville Cares English & Co. Tribe Nashville Farmers’ Market Fido Unity of Music City Nashville Pharmacy Services, LLC Frothy Monkey 12 South Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic All Nashville Public Libraries Green Pea Salon West Vanderbilt University Medical Center Parnassus Books Grimey’s New and Preloved Music Vanderbilt University Medical Center - Medical Center North Vanderbilt University - The K.C. Potter Center, Office of LGBTQI Life

OZ Arts Nashville CRAIG AMMON

TASTE, Nashville’s premier annual culinary tasting event, is just around the corner on November 24, 2019! With over two dozen vendors from Nashville’s finest restaurants and caterers offering samples of their most popular dishes and signature cocktails, TASTE delights attendees year after year. Do you have your tickets yet?

TASTE is the largest annual fundraiser for the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, which enables the Chamber to fulfill its mission to provide education, resources, and connections for LGBT business owners and professionals. This year, TASTE returns to OZ Arts Nashville, the site of the first TASTE gathering in 2012. OZ Arts Nashville has been a proud member of the Nashville LGBT Chamber for all those years and is excited to host the event once again to help the Chamber reach its goals.

This OZ Arts building, a memorable home for a wide array of performances and special events, may be familiar to most Chamber members. However, to truly witness OZ as one of Nashville’s premiere voices for contemporary arts, it is the cutting edge artistic season, curated by new artistic director Mark Murphy, that one must experience. The 2019-2020 season currently underway celebrates diversity through powerful artistic expression. Performances include a unique blend of influential contemporary artists and ensembles from around the world, as well as groundbreaking Nashville-based artists, with special emphasis on multidisciplinary performances, and work that highlights new uses of visual and audio technology.

Up next, OZ welcomes explosive Brazilian dance ensemble Companhia Urbana de Dança on November 14–17. Deemed “so wonderful that it seems miraculous” by The New York Times, the hyper-athletic company deconstructs Rio de Janeiro street dance through a high-energy fusion of styles, including hip-hop and capoeira.

From Brazilian dance to a weirdly wonderful keyboard instrument from the 1960s,

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A versatile space that can accommodate virtually any gathering, OZ Arts has become a favorite site for many fundraisers and community events, including those important to the LGBT community. In addition to TASTE, OZ has welcomed annual fundraising events for numerous area nonprofits, including The Oasis Center, which serves atrisk youth in Nashville through a variety of programs such as “Just Us,” for LGBTQI+ youth.

Just last month OZ hosted the Global Diversity Leadership Exchange, which meets each year “to serve as a catalyst for innovative ideas and solutions among C-Suite and thought leaders who understand the Mellotron Variations offers a modern tribute to a unique sound on December 7. Famously used in the iconic introduction of The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields,” the ultra-rare mellotron takes center stage with the creative quartet of Pat Sansone (Wilco), John Medeski (Medeski, Martin and Wood), Robby Grant (Big Ass Truck; Vending Machine), and Jonathan Kirkscey (Memphis Symphony Orchestra; Mouse Rocket). With unique arts performances at OZ every month, there is a wealth of bold creative experiences to explore this season.

While supporting the development and presentation of significant performing and visual artists and their work, OZ is equally committed to arts access, accessibility, and engagement. Evidenced by lower ticket prices and multi-event ticketing packages, audiences are encouraged to frequent OZ for a consistently electrifying experience.

Community engagement activities are also key to every OZ Arts season with many visiting artists participating in a variety of supplemental programming from free workshops and masterclasses to community performances in schools. From year-long partnerships with MNPS to the annual $5 Family Day festival, OZ engagement represents a promise to the greater Nashville community that arts access and arts education go handin-hand.

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intersection of diversity and inclusion and sustainability in the global economy.” Frequently held at the New York Stock Exchange and the United Nations, the Global Diversity Leadership Exchange felt right at home in Nashville, signifying the city’s growth and development from a global perspective. As a demonstration of their partnership with the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, OZ Arts Nashville President and CEO, Tim Ozgener, generously donated tickets for two Chamber members to attend this exclusive event.

“We strive to offer arts programming that is as diverse and beautifully multi-faceted as Nashville,” says Ozgener. “Our membership in the LGBT Chamber helps us stay connected to the audiences we serve, supporting our goal of bringing the community together through inspiring, artistic experiences.”

Brittany Carlton, the Marketing and Communications Manager for OZ Arts, says they offer a variety of packages that make great introductions to the wide range of arts performances at OZ Arts.

The popular Flex Pass starts at only $140 and allows arts lovers to redeem a pack of 4–8 tickets in any combination throughout the season. With individual tickets starting at just $25 for most performances, there has never been a better time to explore the wonderful world of brave new art at this Nashville gem.

To find out more about upcoming performances and purchase your tickets, please visit ozartsnashville.org. And there’s still time to get your tickets for TASTE on November 24, so visit the Nashville LGBT Chamber’s website for more information!

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The Queens’ Table BENNETT JASON

Welcome back to The Queens’ Table, where aces are high and the queens are wild! This month my ladies went luxe in mid-century Polynesian when we dove into the tastes and aloha feels that make up East Nashville’s Pearl Diver.

Opened in July 2018, Pearl Diver has already become a staple landmark on the main drag that is Gallatin Ave. Its exterior evokes a beautiful mid-century lounge, transporting you before you even walk in.

Once you enter, you recognize immediately that owners Ben Clemons (No.308), Jamie White (No.308), Matt Spicher (The Treehouse) and Corey Ladd (the Treehouse) had Hawaiian style on the brain.

Warm woods and exotic Versace wallpaper provide richness and texture. Paired with the sleekness of mid-century design, they didn’t give you a cheap tiki bar, but a luxe vacation bungalow.

The ladies took their first cocktails out back and lounged in a cabana. These cocktails included: the Maya Bay, a tropical tequila cocktail with mango, red curry, agave and fresh lime; the Banana! Banana!, a flaming rum crafted moment with

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banana liqueur, thai tea and cream; Lime in da Coconut, frozen beve with rum, coconut, whole fresh lime and cream; and, delivered on fire, in a giant seashell, the Kilauea Bowl was the perfect, sharable island concoction of rum, gin, sherry, apricot brandy and fresh juice. This volcano nearly had Monroe erupting. Some of the drinks offered are a playground for the innovative bar team, while others are authentic mid-century classics.

We then headed inside to dine on flawless bar nibbles. “This style of vintage decor and concept can go really wrong, really quickly if it’s not in the right hands.

They have done it just right!” Casanova observed as we sat down in a vintage, diner-style booth, watching day give way to night through the nautical porthole windows.

We started off with Coconut Shrimp, served with sweet and sour sauce, and grilled fish Street Tacos with fresh cilantro and mango salsa. They were absolutely perfect with our drinks, as these are all smaller dishes, not full entrees. So good, they keep you ordering more. Next came the Veggie Egg Rolls and the Shisito Peppers.

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PHOTOS: CODY STALLINGS

Pearl Diver

Presiding Queens: The Countess Casanova @casanova_ loves_you, Monroe Fitzgerald @monroe_fitzgerald, Cya Inhale @cyainhale

I noticed Cya developing an oral fixation for these egg rolls as she watched a near perfect vintage of David Hasselhoff running shirtless on the beach in the episode of Baywatch that was playing on the dining room’s wall projector. We all were living for the peppers, tossed up with peanuts and togarashi.

“They’re not hot!” Monroe noticed, busy trying new things.

Lastly, we tried the Rumaki and the Sticky Rice Balls with sesame and ponzu. The Rumaki, a bit of chicken and a water chestnut wrapped in bacon and served on a skewer, is a personal favorite. The rice balls were a simple palette cleanser, as the ladies’ enjoyed their final round of cocktails, solidifying another amazing evening.

Those cocktails included the Devil’s Flower, a beautiful mix of tequila, kiwi, poblano pepper liqueur, lime garnished with a cactus pad. The Sailor’s Delight is a spiced rum horchata with creme de cocoa, Cuban coffee and cayenne pepper. It offers enough caffeine and spice to catch your second wind and hit that hot drag party down the street. Last, but definitely not least, was the namesake cocktail, the Pearl Diver. This frozen, super creamy pleasure features light and dark rums, honey butter cream, fresh orange, lime and baking spices.

Pearl Diver spearheads the movement of many venues looking to bring a bit of the South Pacific to Nashville—embracing, learning and celebrating culture. If you’ve experienced Hawaii, you know that genuine hospitality is a cultural cornerstone. Pearl Diver preserves this. The only difference?

You’re still in the 615. It truly reminded my ladies to slow down, celebrate life, and enjoy the Aloha.

Until next time fierce foodies! Much love and good taste from The Queens’ Table.

Pearl Diver is located at 1008 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, 37206!

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Pulse, to providing direct funds via a very active non-profit foundation.

I asked David Taylor, one of the founders of Tribe, and Todd Roman, one of the original partners in the PLAY Dance Bar venture, to discuss with me how they became so committed to using their business to support the community.

Giving Back–

‘TIS THE SEASON

TRIBE & PLAY HAVE BEEN FOUNDATIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS JAMES GRADY

Almost anyone who has been in Nashville very long has probably, without thinking too much about it, been to at least a few fundraisers at Tribe or PLAY Dance Bar. We know how philanthropic our community groups are, and fundraising events often pack weekend schedules. But in a town where venues can cost thousands of dollars, cutting into the money that might

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go to providing services and aid to the community, LGBT groups have valuable allies in the owners of Tribe and PLAY, who regularly make their facilities available at extremely reduced cost or for free.

But their support of the community goes so much deeper, from always being ready to donate a booth or other prize for silent auctions to hosting benefits, such as the one that raised funds for the victims of

NOVEMBER 2019

Was philanthropic outreach something you had in mind when you started your businesses, or did it emerge as you began to operate your bars?

David Taylor: I’m an old Eagle Scout and believe you leave your campground better than you found it, so I’ve always been drawn to non-profits and other organizations that help the greater community.

When Keith Blaydes and I started Tribe in 2002, we were both already involved in the community. I had just chaired Artrageous 13 and the HRC Dinner and was on the Artrageous Board and the HRC Board of Governors. It only seemed natural to continue these relationships at Tribe in ways that we could host fun events and organizations could make money. One of the first was Post Office for HRC, which raised thousands of dollars over the years, and people had fun!

We were so lucky to join with Todd Roman and Joe Brown two years later when we started Play – they both were involved with the community and have the same philosophy of joining the business with the causes that are important to and impact the lives of our customers. In short, philanthropy has always been a part of who we are individually, and it was only natural to incorporate that into the business.

Todd Roman: Philanthropy has been a cornerstone of our business philosophy from our original concept. Joey and I came from a culture in which giving back to the community was not a priority. We actually began the idea of developing our own club following a conversation with the owner of another club, who said “f%$# them, where else are they going to go” when we tried to help an organization raise money.

“If you think you can do better, go do your own,” was his response. And at that point I thought, “You know, I can do better!” And a huge part of doing better would be to give back to the community and support those that support you.

David Taylor and Keith Blaydes also came from previous civic activism, and

this made the coming together the perfect match.

Over the years, you guys have supported a lot of organizations… What were some of the first and how has that developed?

David Taylor: Some of the first big causes we supported were HRC and Nashville CARES. HRC was growing, and HIV/AIDS was (and still is) a real threat to members of our community. We continue to support both of those groups because their work continues to be important.

There’s a long list of organizations we’ve worked with over the years, including Victory Fund, Oasis Center, TEP, Nashville Pride, LGBT Chamber, etc., but we are also proud of working with social groups like the Grizzlies, Women’s Rugby, HotMess Sports, Nashville In Harmony, etc. We are happy to work with any LGBTQ+ group to develop event(s) that bring people to Church Street while helping those groups.

Todd Roman: Another one of those [early causes we supported was] Nashville Pride. There was a time that Pride found itself in a financial position which jeopardized the event. We were able to come in and lend a helping hand so that Pride would continue. That’s something that I’m proud of. Our business partner, Joe Brown, served on the Pride boards of Nashville and Louisville for many years, and I believe both organizations benefited from his service.

I understand that in recent years you guys have become much direct in your philanthropic giving, via a new foundation?

Todd Roman (L), Keith Blaydes (R)

Todd Roman: Although we had pursed our philanthropic mission since opening, about three years ago we looked for a way in which we could reach out more broadly within the community.

We began a non-profit, Play A Role.

David Taylor: We started the Play-ARole Fund so that some of our corporate partners could help our community in additional ways. The funds that are raised go to the same non-profit organizations we’ve always supported, and we hope to grow this fund and our support in the future.

What are some of the things you’ve been a part of that you and your partners are most proud of?

David Taylor: We’re constantly amazed at how our LGBTQ+ community comes together in times of unexpected need. The Pulse Nightclub massacre jolted us all in deep and personal ways, and for many of us it felt as if our own home had been attacked. The Nashville and Louisville communities came together and raised more $78,000 for the employees of Pulse who had lost their jobs in this tragedy. The generosity of our vendors, customers, friends, and even folks who had never been to Church Street was overwhelming. And the responses received from the Pulse owner reflected the impact of our community’s gift.

Closer to home, we were also proud and amazed at the swift and generous response of the community to our beloved performer and friend, Deception, in her fight with cancer a few years back. Needless to say, we were all shocked and worried about Deception, and the community came together in a major way to show

Todd Roman (L), Joe Brown (R)

BENEFICIARIES OF THE PLAY-A-ROLE FUND Andrew Jackson Police Camp American Red Cross Artrageous Bianca Page Awareness Network Broadway Cares Clarksville Pride The Conductors GLSEN Tennessee Hotmess Sports Human Rights Campaign Inferno Blaze Softball Metro Nashville Softball MisFits Softball Music City Challenge Music City Classic Music City Invitational Music City Sisters Music City Stallions Nashville Black Pride Nashville Cares Nashville Firefighters Nashville Force Softball Nashville Grizzlies Nashville Improv Nashville in Harmony Nashville Jackhammers Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce Nashville Pride Nashville Rescue Mission Nashville Stars Nashville Theater Works Nashville Women’s Rugby Oasis Center’s Just Us Program Out Central Pink Panthers Softball PFLAG Rainbow Community Center Street Theater Company Tennessee Equality Project Tennessee Suicide Prevention Toys for Tots Victory Fund

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Todd Roman: The more you do, the more there is to do.

The causes we support have continued to grow so as to incorporate charity funds for the needy, LGBT youth, LGBT sports organizations, local businesses, etc. This is who we are and we look forward to supporting the community in the years to come.

Thank you, guys, for all you do to support the community, and we look forward to helping you do that in any way we can for years to come!

L to R- Joe Brown, Jaime Combs, David Taylor, Michael Ward

love and support as well as raise funds for her medical bills and living expenses until she beat the disease, healed, and was able to work again. It was one of the most special nights I remember at Play.

What have you learned from your experiences in philanthropic work with the community?

David Taylor: I guess the lesson to me is that while we each gladly make our own, personal donations to charities, it’s a small fraction of what the greater community has donated through our events over the years. I’m really grateful to everyone who valued the organizations and causes that we do and contributed to them through our businesses. Our customers deserve as much recognition as we do, so “THANK YOU” from us to all of you for making this all possible. It truly could never happen without the generosity of our customers.

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ACTIVISM IN TENNESSEE Is Alive And Well JOSH ROBBINS

When I was invited to The White House to help plan the marketing for the update to the President’s (Obama) National HIV/AIDS Strategy, I felt really connected to some of the important individuals that made plans for the federal governments’ response and direction about the HIV epidemic. I was sitting “at the table” where decisions were being made and strategies were being formed. I was surrounded by a think tank of extraordinary HIV organizations and nonprofits. It was a who’s who in the HIV community.

And I felt out of my league, honestly.

I was just an individual activist, who later was advised to just introduce myself

using a similar term (advocate) because the West Wing staffers got nervous with the word activist. I was just offering encouragement to people living with HIV on my blog and my social media channels.

Honestly, I was uncomfortable in my brand-new suit, pretending to take important notes that I would then pretend

To this day, I am so inspired by the many activists and health educators in our area—many who do incredibly important work that often times goes unseen. to need later, and my mind wondered to the many amazing HIV activists across the country and then particularly in Tennessee and Nashville.

To this day, I am so inspired by the many activists and health educators in our area—many who do incredibly important work that often times goes unseen. But they show up every time there is a need or a vacancy, usually with a tremendous amount of pressure.

And some may not even consider themselves activists. But, that’s exactly how I view them.

Locally, we are blessed to have activists like Brady Dale Etzkorn-Morris, whose

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story was told at the right time and heard by the right people, resulting in around 3,000 health departments signing the U=U consensus statement at one time. He sits on the Nashville ‘Ending the HIV Epidemic’ committee, is the chair of the Nashville Planning Council appointed by the Mayor, and a Tennessee AIDS Advocacy Network

NOVEMBER 2019

(TAAN) member working to end unfair HIV laws in Tennessee. If there is a local board that makes plans about the HIV epidemic, he’s on it and probably leading it.

Other people that I truly respect in our area that I personally know include Mark Middle Hubbard, who has been educating our committee about HIV and sexual health for years. Hubbard deserves a huge pat on the back for stepping up and educating Nashville about PrEP—which undoubtedly has kept so many from being diagnosed with HIV. He’s incredibly committed to being medically accurate and making sure that the science is understood by all of us.

In Memphis, Jimmie Samuels has been a staunch activist for the HIV community. He’s always gotten a nice contingent from the Memphis area to attend things like AIDSWatch and statewide meetings. We are lucky Samuels lives in our state!

Others that are doing amazing work include: Stephen Bloodworth of Team Friendly Tennessee, The Conductors, Mario Forte, Mark Grantham, Roger Dale Hilley, and Claude Genzel. We have two amazing women that lead our Aids Service Organizations across our state, as a directive from the Tennessee Department of Health working for United Way— Mia L. Boozer-Sharp, Ed.D., and Niki Easley.

The owners of Play and Tribe open their businesses’ doors every time there is a call or need for HIV-related fundraisers or testing outreach. We never thank them enough for their unique and important contributions of space and equipment.

And there are so many more! I obviously don’t know everyone and can’t mention them, so I need your help. Who are activists in Tennessee for the HIV community that we need to all thank?

Josh Robbins is a spokesperson for DatingPositives. com, an award-winning sexual health advocate, and author of the site imstilljosh.com. He was nominated for a GLAAD media award in 2017 and recently won the National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association’s Excellence Award in the blogging category.

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Local LGBTQ Advocate Joins Team Warren Barber-Rhone Was A Natural Pick for LGBTQ+ Community Leader JAMES GRADY

This month, we are focusing on giving back to the community, and there are many different ways of doing that. Dakerri Barber-Rhone is a familiar advocate in the Nashville community—many will have encountered her work for at least one of her various causes or issues, be they LGBTQ or broader. Last month Dakerri joined the Elizabeth Warren campaign as an LGBTQ+ community leader (one of five!), and so we thought it would be interesting to talk with her about her evolution as an advocate.

How did you become involved in community advocacy, particularly for the LGBTQ community?

I came out at the age of 18, and although I was secure in who I was, I was terrified because I was raised southern Baptist and I knew it wouldn’t go over well with my family. I didn’t know of any resources or support systems outside of my close circle of friends. It was a lonely feeling, and I knew that I had to be one of the voices advocating for those who felt like I did or even worse.

In 2013, I really started to take on more of a leadership role within the community.

I organized a National Gay Blood Drive in Nashville in 2013 and 2014 and partnered with Nashville CARES for free HIV testing.

Did marriage equality, or lack thereof, play any part in your development?

After 9 years of domestic partnership, in 2012 I married my wife Sondra in Washington, D.C., but when we came back to TN our

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marriage wasn’t recognized. I almost immediately hyphenated my last name and started experiencing the challenges of having legal documents and identification with names that did not match.

Around this same time, we also started trying to get pregnant, and, after researching, discovered the [extra] legal steps we would have to take depending on which method we chose to get pregnant. Experiencing these challenges and extra expenses because we didn’t have marriage equality motivated me to get involved, and so I attend a rally that the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) held and met Chris Sanders and became a volunteer for TEP. I know that the challenges of becoming parents played an increasing role in shaping your work. Can you say a bit more about that?

In 2014 my wife and I started a vlog on YouTube called Two Mom Diaries to document our journey to conceive our son. We had our son in April 2016. We used our journey to help educate other LGBTQ+ couples who were looking to start families. During this time, I also joined the Southern Advisory Board of the Family Equality Council. I began planning annual International Family Equality Day (IFED) celebrations in Nashville. I also partnered with the Family Equality Council to host Pathway to Parenthood family planning seminars here in Nashville.

Where did you go from there?

In 2017 I joined a national community-based sorority for queer women (we accept all women regardless of orientation) called Beta Phi Omega Sorority Incorporated.

And In March 2018 I joined the Human Rights Campaign Nashville Steering Committee and I co-chair the political and digital committees. I continue to volunteer with the TEP and joined the board in July of this year. I have served as a district captain for Advancing Equality on the Hill days each year since I’ve been a volunteer.

Last year, I started my own non-profit called The STAND Movement. We focus on

NOVEMBER 2019

students (making schools safer and more inclusive for LGBTQ+ students, in particular), mental health, gun safety and reform, and voter registration.

What motivated you to join the Warren campaign?

I cried election night in 2016, and I looked at my then-newborn son and promised him I’d do whatever I could in my power to ensure Trump was not re-elected. I had been Team Warren for a while and was watching and hoping she’d announce she was running for President.

When she announced and gave her speech, she spoke to me. I went on Facebook and posted in a group that I wanted to volunteer with the campaign. I met the Middle Tennessee organizer Liv Carter and joined the Nashville for Warren team as a team lead.

I wanted to get more involved and the opportunity arose to interview for the LGBTQ+ community leader position for the All In for Warren platform. We moderate the LGBTQ+ group on the online platform, attend weekly meetings with the campaign, prepare written material detailing Elizabeth Warren’s plans and events and we organize events and recruit volunteers.

Thank you, Dakerri, for all you do, and we look forward to hearing about your work during the long election season!

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Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is one of the most gay-friendly destinations not only in Mexico, but in the Americas. From its eclectic bar scene to its indulgent properties, it is one of my favorite places to visit, and I do often. Having spent many Gaycations roaming around the city everywhere from its gayborhood to the high-end properties in the South to the decadent yacht getaways around the Bay of Banderas, I have found some spots NO ONE visiting Puerto Vallarta should miss.

WHERE TO STAY

So, first things first, where do you stay when you are Gaycationing in PV? I have personally stayed at a variety of places, and there is certainly something for everyone, regardless of individual needs or tastes.

If you’re looking for one of the international chains, you’ll have plenty to pick from across the city, from Casa Velas, Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, and The Westin Resort and Spa Puerto Vallarta in the popular Marina, just minutes from the

airport, to the Hacienda Hilton Puerto Vallarta in the “hotel zone”.

Further south, in the city’s Historic Center and South Side you can find the legendary Casa Kimberly, the Grand Miramar, the Hyatt Ziva and the destination’s only 5 Dimond, all-inclusive adults only property the Hotel Mousai. Many of these properties are TAG certified and members of the IGLTA, like the Costa Sur Resort which has had an active LGBT friendly campaign for over 5 years.

Each property offers its unique take on hospitality, from one-of-a-kind spa treatments, to cooking classes, tequila and raicilla tastings, wellness programs and even your own rent-a-Valentino-purse offerings.

There is much fun to be had.

Puerto Vallarta is also home to several gay-owned or -run hotels, including the very upscale Almar Resort, which sits on a hilltop, and is home to the very popular Top Sky Bar and Mantamar Beach Club.

Smaller properties like the Blue Chairs, La Pinata and Hotel Mercurio are just steps away from the Los Muertos Beach, where you can mingle with the likes of Ross Mathews, Mama Tits, Hedda Lettuce and

many of the RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants who often vacation in this city. On the weekends, don’t miss the Adam and Steve show at Puerto Vallarta’s original luxury gay boutique hotel, Casa Cupula.

WHERE TO PLAY

Of course, you can’t go to Puerto Vallarta without going to Playa Los Muertos beach.

The gay section of the beach officially starts in front of the popular LGBT hotel Blue Chairs and spans just past the Mantamar Beach Club. This is certainly the place to be if you want to see half naked bodies tanning during the day. Steps away, you will find Basillo Badillo street, where you can buy a unique souvenir from local designers like Casandra Shaw or Sergio Bustamante, who also did many of the statues located in the Malecon. If you have time, try the Puerto Vallarta ArtWalk, to start your evening with some wine and international artwork window shopping. Continue the day with a local taco tour with Vallarta Food Tours and mingle with the locals before heading out of the night.

The bar scene in PV is quite extensive, offering something for everyone, regard-

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Retreat. You can also book a tour with Vallarta Adventures for visits to many of the towns located in the south or their private beach club in Majahuitas or the popular Las Caletas Beach where Sports Illustrated shot their Swimwear issue this year.

WHERE TO EAT

less of the night of the week. You can certainly get into some trouble if you aren’t careful! My suggestion would be to bop around the city, checking each one out until you find one that works for what you like. The “gayborhood” is manageable, and it is easy to get to most of the clubs as you hop from one to another. Most people start the evening at Flamingos, which plays 90’s music and normally gets packed early in the night. Margaritas is right next door and is a nice breather between stops.

One of my favorites is La Noche, which has three floors, each with a different feel. This is a great place to start your evening.

There is a gorgeous roof deck with spectacular views of the city that will add an awe-inspiring backdrop to your experience.

Ready to dance? I have two favorites that will help you get your groove into overdrive while having a great time. The first one is CC Slaughters, which has a great gay scene and is always a good vibe with house music and easy-on-the-eyes dancers.

Feeling a bit more circuity? Industry and CO*DE are the newest kids on the block; they are reminiscent of the old NYC clubs and are often on the grand scale. Perfect locations to dance the night (and morning) away! No matter where you end up, you will meet some super friendly (and sexy) people, guaranteed! Check out the local LGBT publications to see what entertainment options you have. Bars are always opening and closing.

Looking for a more private experience? How about a luxury yacht getaway? Hire your private yacht to cruise over to Yelapa and enjoy the day on the Bay of Banderas and its many secluded beaches or stop by Los Chicos Beach Club in Yelapa or do a day pass at the gay owned Casa Pericos or a wellness retreat at Xinalani

IT IS MORE THAN JUST A HOUSE.

Puerto Vallarta has more than 370 restaurants, ranging from the upscale to mom n’ pop’s dining. Gay owned Sapphire Beach Club and Azafran offer chef-oriented dining experiences. Barcelona Tapas offers an international fusion menu with arguably the best sangria in Puerto Vallarta. Not to be missed is the lesbian-owned El Arrayan.

These ladies have come Mexico to offer you the best dishes around.

For beach-front dining you can’t beat La Palapa or El Dorado. If you are a true foodie, you must visit Café des Artists to try its 5-7 dish French cuisine menu. Finger licking good, to be true.

PLACES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS …

A first stop for all visitors to Puerto Vallarta is the world-famous Malecon, the boardwalk that hugs the historic downtown and the coastline of the Bay of Banderas. It is a must-visit location where visitors and locals alike can immerse themselves in the flavor, color, and 24/7 activity that embodies the Puerto Vallarta vibe. The north side of the Malecon starts off at Hotel Rosita and ends by the Amphitheater beside the Plaza de Armas. Attractions include local artwork, statues, seaside artists, shopping, restaurants, bars, and the perfect vantage point from which to view the legendary Pacific Coast sunsets. After 10 p.m., the Malecon also becomes the heart of Puerto Vallarta nightlife as entertainment spills out into the streets for all to enjoy. The Southside of the Malecon includes the colorful Los Muertos Pier and the Rio Cuale crafts market which make the perfect backdrop for a selfie.

Puerto Vallarta has established itself as a center of creation, exhibition, and promotion. An important contribution to the city’s art scene is the weekly ArtWalk, which is held every Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. during high season. Low season offers visitors the opportunity to do the tour on their own and include other galleries not included in the regular schedule. The participating galleries in Historic Center exhibit works by important national and international artists.

Puerto Vallarta’s Annual Vallarta Pride festival takes place at the end of May. The 10-day event includes an anti-homophobia march, a Pride Rally, concerts, fashion shows, drag shows, weddings and women’s parties.

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