The
CHANGING FACE of TENNESSEE POLITICS INCREASING ENGAGEMENT WITH LGBT ISSUES
INTERVIEWS WITH WADE MUNDAY & KARL DEAN
JULY 2018 / VOLUME 17 / ISSUE 7 FIRST ISSUE FREE - ADD’L COPIES 50¢ EACH
STUDENT ACTIVISTS HOLD DIE-IN AT LEGISLATIVE PLAZA
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1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
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07.18
CONTENTS 8
LISA HOWE SAYS GOODBYE TO THE NASHVILLE LGBT CHAMBER
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KARL DEAN’S CAMPAIGN FOR DIGNITY AND RESPECT
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WADE MUNDAY & THE CHANGING FACE OF TENNESSEE POLITICS
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LOCAL STUDENTS PROTEST TO END GUN VIOLENCE
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JUMPER MAYBACH BRINGS PRIDE COLLECTION TO NASHVILLE
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GRIZZLIE’S WIN BIG AT THE 2018 BINGHAM CUP
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{ LISA HOWE } LISA HOWE
Can you believe, in February 2012, the Board of Directors of the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce hired an unemployed college soccer coach with a six-month-old baby as its first fulltime Executive Director? For that, I will forever be grateful. I remember my first day on the job, the Monday morning after the Super Bowl, sitting on my couch with Wendy’s laptop (because I didn’t have one) drafting emails to members, sharing the press release of my hiring, and getting acquainted with our website and CMS. I remember my first Third Thursday Mixer I attended as the Executive Director of the Chamber. There were about 15 people in attendance, and my big call to action was for guests to post their attendance on social media. So far, in 2018, we are averaging 75 people at Brewing up Business. I am not sure that anyone, at that time, understood the potential of the LGBT Chamber and how big of a role we would come to play in the Nashville economy. Well, I didn’t. In my final weeks, I will be working in our Chamber office alongside another full-time employee, using our two desktops and laser printer (donated by Dell) and two laptops. My goal of finishing strong includes: • Speaking with hundreds of employees from Alliance Bernstein who will be moving from New York after I worked with the Nashville Chamber on Project Stella to help recruit the global financial industries company to move their headquarters, and 2,000 jobs, to Nashville. • Putting the final touches on our 20th Anniversary Celebration Event, which includes a guest list of 200 people and an amazing video tribute to our founders and our future. • Making some final phone calls to Metro Council members to encourage them to vote for Mayor Briley’s proposed $100,000 budget appropriation to minority Chambers. • Leading the design of a full-page ad in the Nashville Business Journal promoting our 13 certified LGBT Business Enterprises and recognizing our Foundation’s first scholarship recipient. • Organizing 3 future events for our new African American Affinity Group. • Following up with donors from the Big Payback and the $20/20 Campaign—that resulted in raising over $25,000 in just three days.
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• Inviting almost 700 representatives from over 320 member organizations to my final Brewing up Business on July 19th. • Finishing a final report for a $5,000 grant we received from the NGLCC and Wells Fargo last year. • Attending my final meetings for the Minority Business Advisory Council and the Metro Sports Authority Board, to which I was appointed by two different Mayors. One of the biggest challenges has been managing the high rate of membership growth, while also being asked and expected to do more with other economic development partners in Nashville. That was not always the case. I remember attending one of my first Diversity Discussions. It was clear from the questions and answers from the panelists that diversity was defined, by them, as female and African American. I would attend events like these and follow up with the organizers afterward to ask why there was no discussion about being inclusive of people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. It did not take long for organizers to start inviting me to participate on panels to address work and employment issues for LGBT people. Well, I had not worked in corporate America, and I had never been out at work in my first career. It was clear to me, after my first panel, I needed to get more educated about the topic. Another “aha” moment for me was when I testified in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in front of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. I was peppered with questions, which were more like comments, from one of the conservative
commissioners. She was speaking such nonsense that I did not know how to respond. I felt like I was asked to represent our community, and I let people down. That experience, along with encouragement from Board members, gave me a new sense of how important it was for me to be knowledgeable, articulate, and able to represent the LGBT community when it came to policy and culture change. It is a role I did not seek out, but it quickly became part of my job. I do not take that responsibility lightly, and I continue to work to improve my skills to be a good representative. I hope that our local LGBT and ally community have been confident in me and trusted me to serve as a spokesperson. It has been a true privilege. I have a countless number of volunteers, members, Board members, committee members, and peers to thank for helping me transition into a new career. I appreciate our community being patient with me and providing guidance as I navigated this new territory. I am fortunate to have been surrounded by supportive, talented, smart, passionate, and creative people who have served as mentors, soundboards, a support system, and life changers. Wendy and I were married in Nashville. Our daughter was born in Nashville. For me, Nashville has never been Music City or the “It City� or any of our other nicknames. Nashville is the city of people who had no reason to do so but chose to put their arms around me and my family and support us and love us and give us the opportunity to make a new life here. For that, I will forever be grateful!
LISA, WENDY, & DAUGHTER
The Nashville LGBT Chamber is a professional and consistent resource to find businesses who are inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally customers and clients. The Chamber directory at www. nashvillelgbtchamber.org/list will help you find The Mockingbird and other LGBT-friendly businesses and organizations.
THE CHAMBER SAD ABOUT LISA'S DEPARTURE @OUTANDABOUTNASH
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HEROES IN THE LOCAL FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS HONORED
DONOR APPRECIATION CELEBRATION HOSTED BY NASHVILLE CARES STAFF
On the evening of Thursday, June 14, 2018 Nashville CARES invited their top donors to join them at Red Arrow Gallery for cocktails and light hor d’oeuvres for a celebration and to acknowledge and award special honors. Among the celebrated were members of the Steve Smith Society, which honors the legacy of a founding member of CARES who was also a sacrificial donor to the organization. Steve Smith Society members are donors who contribute $1,000 or more, annually, to Nashville CARES. Additionally, Walgreens received the 2017 Corporate Partner Award for their continued partnership and generosity in supporting of Nashville CARES. Nashville CARES’ Board of Directors created the Corporate Partner Award in 2012 to recognize corporations which have had, and continue to have, a significant impact on the fight to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee. Since 2009, Walgreens has made substantial financial contributions to Nashville CARES. This financial assistance is generated through various initiatives but most importantly through their annual in-store “scannable” program. This program not only provides important funds to Nashville CARES but provides brand recognition for Nashville CARES in over 90 Walgreens stores in Middle Tennessee. In addition to direct financial contributions to the organization in support of prevention education, Walgreens has participated with groups of employee volunteers in several of our fundraising events, including AIDS Walk, Avant Garde, Dining Out For Life and Red Ribbon Breakfast. Walgreens also partners with Nashville CARES for National HIV Testing Day to provide free HIV testing through area locations. Walgreens exemplifies corporate partnership through both volunteerism and financial contributions to the mission of Nashville CARES. Also honored was Jay Matheney, who received the J. Thomas Powell Volunteer Award for 2017. This award was named in memory of another of Nashville CARES’ founders, Tommy Powell, a tireless advocate for those living with HIV and AIDS. Jay Matheney served on the Nashville CARES Board of Directors from 2010 to 2016, during which time he provided extensive work and leadership on Nashville CARES’ strategic marketing plan. In addition to his own financial contributions, Jay has also volunteered as Chair of the Dining Out For Life Committee for multiple years, and has also helped to raise more than $18,000 as a fundraiser for the Nashville AIDS Walk & 5K Run (coming up again on Saturday, October 6, 2018). Jay Matheney exemplifies the spirit of community volunteerism and philanthropy. Recently, the Lambda Car Club - Cumberland Region hosted Lambda Car Club International’s member invitational in Nashville, raising $10,000 in support of Nashville CARES. Kerry Garner, president of the regional chapter, presented Nashville CARES with the check at the Donor Appreciation Celebration. Nashville CARES is deeply thankful for the faithfulness and generosity of its donors who play an instrumental role in its mission to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee.
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MADDUX HALE PHILLIPS REYNOLDS SHUPE 12
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
JULY 2018
IN THE 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, IT’S ONE HALE OF A RACE STEPHEN RAY ALBERS
On May 7th, 2018 in Murfreesboro, I was a victim of a hate crime while walking home, targeted due to my sexual orientation. The media coverage prompted Congressional candidate Christopher Hale to reach out to me. He, just as any politician would, promised that if elected he would ensure that this type of situation wouldn’t happen again. Beyond merely stating his noble intentions, Hale also asked that I advise him on other concerns. In addition to providing the opportunity to educate Hale, this sparked an interest in the stances of other candidates for office in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional district in relation to our community. Most of the candidates understand the needs of this mixed urban-rural community along similar lines. Democratic candidate Mariah Phillips described our needs accordingly, “This district is full of hard working people who just need someone to stand up for them in Washington.” Steven Reynolds (D) echoed the sentiment, saying, “I hope to be the bridge between both the rural and suburbs.” As a self-proclaimed radical moderate he emphasized, “We have to bring the people in the middle together.” Furthermore, he added that he wants to, “Bring equality and fair treatment to all citizens,” as he believes that current members of congress seem to lack the ability to make sound and impartial decisions that encourage the diversity that was the founding objective of our government. His comment, “As long as you’re not causing harm to anyone, you should be able to live as you choose, and that’s the true meaning of liberty,” spoke to his dedication to those ideals he’d serve without reservation if elected. Independent candidate Michael Shupe focused on the many small communities within this Congressional district. Shupe is a resident of Columbia in Maury County which is primarily rural areas. His main concerns was, “With the 4th district having so many rural areas, tax dollars are not allocated in a way to ensure a separate county, but equal (if you will), education system.” He continues, “There could be any number of Einstein’s out there that no one will know about because of lack of funding,” adding that many schools are without broadband internet, placing the generations in these parts of the district at a great disadvantage. Additionally, he is concerned about the college-focused organization of our educational system. “There’s a push for … gaining collegiate degrees, causing substantial debt for constituents… There needs to be more of a focus on vocational training.” Shupe seeks to bridge the gap between the underserved communities he is all too familiar with, the counties with larger populations, and overlooked citizens, for example those within the LGBT community. “My commitment is that every man, woman, and child will be represented equally. We may not always agree on all the issues within the district, but I will always keep
an open line of communication to ensure that everyone is heard.” In respect to hate crimes and the LGBT community, he felt that, “The best thing here would be better education and communication, especially, with the younger generations, to establish a proactive mutual respect and understanding for the LGBT demographic,” in hopes that this education will completely eliminate hate crimes against it, as well as other marginalized groups. In general, his attitude towards LGBT rights was that, “It’s up to the individual how they identify, the relationships they want to be in, and to marry whomever they love. I don’t think we should be getting involved in anyone’s life in this regard.” Instead, the ‘judge not’ rule is the credo he follows. Of these candidates, Phillips has the most immediate and involved relationship with the district’s LGBT constituents. This exceptional candidate majored in political science, and, as a teacher, understands the educational and other needs of the 4th’s rural communities. Likewise, she is a true champion on the LGBT community. She was the only candidate for her district to have an official presence at the 2nd Annual Murfreesboro Pride event (Karl Dean, Democratic candidate for governor, was also present). Beyond this, she also had a hand in establishing the organization Murfreesboro Loves, of which she was a founding member and with which she continued to volunteer after its inception. Phillips felt that hate crimes are a continuing issue within our country in general, and argued groups are perpetuating the problem by being grounded by hate (for example, White Lives Matter). For her, politicians play a role in establishing this climate. “My concern is that politicians both local and federal are using the LGBT community as a way to divide Americans in forms of discrimination,” she stated. “We all deserve equal rights. That’s what our country was founded on… That’s who we are as America.” Phillips conveyed a strong belief that, “It’s our responsibility as citizens of the USA to take care of each other.” Republican candidate Jack Maddux truly surprised me with his overall stance and opinion on policies affecting our demographic, although, he does hold to some of his party’s dogmatic statements on the issues. For example, he believes that gay marriage should be a state, not federal issue. Additionally, his strong southern Baptist religious views motivate and reinforce his belief that marriage is strictly a right afforded a couple comprised of a man and a woman. He defends his views emphatically, explaining that it’s not a matter of hate or discrimination stating, “I believe a lot of times today Christians are more associated with the Republican Party; however, there’s a misconception that Christians don’t believe in that [LGBT]
community and that they hate them. That’s the stereotype, but a true Christian should be about loving everyone. We all don’t necessarily need to agree, but we all need to love.” In fact, Maddux has an openly gay son Wesley Maddux. Though Wesley was hesitant to be interviewed, he wanted voters know that his father stood for all people. Wesley’s experience lent credence to his father’s willingness to provide that love. “My dad always loved and supported me my whole life, not just certain portions of it,” Wesley said. When he came out, it wasn’t the atypical horror story you would expect from a conservative, southern Baptist, republican, congressional candidate from small town Tennessee. “He’s a great dad and a great person… I’ve always known my dad to be a very caring and compassionate individual. He’s quick to listen, but slow to judge. He wants what’s best for everyone…” This is in stark contrast to the incumbent, Dr. Scott DesJarlais, with whom attempts to set up an interview via his campaign manager and congressional communications director were unsuccessful. DesJarlais’ contempt for the LGBT community and liberal values are well documented, however, and his record stands for itself (though his record on liberal values is slightly mixed, since he seems to support limited abortion rights—for his ex-wives and mistresses). So, in the 4th District, there are relatively good choices for voters across the political spectrum, but some are stronger than others. Christopher Hale (D) only filed his paperwork to join the race on the filing deadline. This to his detriment, as Phillips commented, “He missed out on the relationship building all over the district. There are 16 counties and that’s a lot of people’s trust to gain.” Hale, however, feels that 6 months is going to be plenty of time to win the primary, and he’s got great ambition to win the general election. Currently, he indicates he has volunteer staff campaigning in all 16 counties. Additionally, he is utilizing campaign strategies that are generally considered very costly. At the time of this interview, he was not willing to disclose information regarding campaign funding or usage. This could raise the concern, especially with his late entry, that he believes money is enough to win the election, and that he many be pandering to certain voting blocks, showing disingenuous interest in certain segments, such as the LGBT community. Unfortunately, he’s got a snowball’s chance in Hale of winning the race, at least with current public opinion, and the LGBT community has a much stronger supporter in Phillips. Please remember to vote in the 4th District (or your own) primary on August 2. It’s a civic responsibility, which has been defended by a great many, and our communities across the state depend on it.
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O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
JULY 2018
HELPING TENNESSEE BECOME ITS BEST SELF KARL DEAN’S CAMPAIGN FOR DIGNITY & RESPECT JAMES GRADY
This year’s governor’s race is an essential contest for Tennessee. While Governor Haslam has not been a reliable ally to the LGBT community, he has worked a great deal behind the scenes to prevent many damaging LGBT bills from progressing through the general assembly (to be sure in defense of the business community rather than LGBT citizens, but this cannot be ignored). Candidates to replace Haslam on the Republican ticket include notoriously anti-gay lawmaker, Diane Black. There are, however, signs that at least one of the Democratic candidates, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, could be able to best Black in the general election. Hot off the campaign trail, Dean took some time to speak with us about Tennessee’s political atmosphere and the pragmatic approach he would take to dealing with issues like rights in the much more conservative leaning sphere of state politics. GRADY: The LGBT community is fairly legally insecure in Tennessee, and so I wonder what your campaign platform has to say to our community as far as our future here. DEAN: Well I think one of the things that I talk about a lot on the campaign trail is the need for Tennessee to be what it is: a friendly state, a welcoming state a state that values diversity. And I think it’s sort of a fundamental value to me that we treat everybody with dignity and respect every individual. And that’s the way I would act as governor. You know of course I have a record on this issue. As mayor I had to deal in ‘09 with the effort to make Nashville an English-only city. I was involved in leading the campaign against that and we were successful. I signed an executive order prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, and I signed legislation which did the same thing. I was the first the first mayor in the state to come out in favor of marriage equality, joining the Mayors for Freedom in 2014. And I tried in my hiring practices and everything else to reflect those values. And I think that’s key. You know, I’m running on this idea that I think what the state wants is a governor who’s going to focus on being pragmatic, have common sense, try to get things done, and try to work on issues that really matter to people. We spend, at the state level, a lot of time talking about social issues or things that they shouldn’t control or have anything do with. What we should be focusing on for all Tennesseans is education, job creation and health care. I think I benefit from having run for mayor in a nonpartisan election. You know, to win I had to get Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to vote for me. And then as mayor, you don’t do things on party lines, you do what’s going to move the city forward and create a better future. And that’s what I would try to do as governor But I think being a state that starts out with this fundamental value that everybody should be treated with respect, everybody has dignity, and then focusing on things that are actually going to improve the state is what state government ought to be doing.
DEAN: Well, you know, there were obviously issues. The best example to me is guns in parks. You know the Legislature passed legislation saying that guns would be allowed in parks, but then left in an option for local government to opt out. So the legislature acknowledged that local governments have a role in deciding what should happen in their parks, and Nashville and some other cities opted out. And then, you know, a year or two later, they came back and said you know we’re not having any opt outs. You got to do this. To me that is overreaching. The legislature clearly has a lot of power vis a vis the local government, but that’s got to be exercised with judgment and wisdom. There are things that require the state have uniform policies. And that’s fine. But I don’t think interfering with local government just physically interfering is the right way to go. Nashville, along with Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, as well as even smaller cities, rely on tourism and hospitality as a
GRADY: As Governor, how would you feel about the state interfering with local municipalities. This is something you experienced a lot as mayor.
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major source of their economy. We also rely on attracting the best people to work in our businesses, to work in our government. And you don’t want to put up impediments to being a place where people want to live and you know that that was always a concern of mine. GRADY: Currently in Tennessee it’s legal to discriminate in terms of housing and other ways against the LGBT community. Given the shape of the state--and I know there’s only so much the governor can do-- how will you work to mitigate some of the damage. DEAN: I think you have to recognize that, no matter how the legislature is comprised along party lines, you have to work with people, and good things happen when people try to talk to each other and try to try to move things forward… We have to treat people with respect and dignity, and that’s important not least because it’s the right thing to do. But secondly, if we’re going to be a place that is attracting visitors and tourism all over the state is a major sector of our economy, if we’re going to be the home to major businesses, that requires expertise and talent. You don’t want to discourage people from looking at Tennessee as a place to live and work because they might regard it as unfriendly or unwelcoming. And I think that argument should carry a lot of weight. GRADY: So, coming into the primaries, there is a choice for people to make. What do you think that you bring to the table that would mean that people should choose you? DEAN: Well, I have nothing to say against my opponent. But what I would say in my favor is that I have the executive experience of running a large government, the city. I like to think that my time as mayor was successful, that the city prospered and advanced. I was also mayor for difficult times through a flood, through a deep recession, and we got through that and came out of it better than ever I think that I’m used to working with people with different viewpoints. I’m not somebody who’s going to be a real ideological. I’m very much a pragmatist and want to get things done. The values that I’ve had--whether it’s on English only or whether it’s being supportive of all the different communities in the state, there’s a record behind that that I’ve been doing that for some time.
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Beyond being mayor you know I spent a lot of time as a public defender of my life. So I think I bring a particular understanding of the criminal justice system, issues around poverty, drug addiction, mental illness, alcoholism.... I’ve served as a city’s lawyers, so I’ve worked with the city’s affairs on both the state level and with the federal government. And I have a vision for for the state. I’ve always believed that you’ve got to create great communities. When you create great communities, that create success, so I’m going to be focused on education, which I think is a top priority, and jobs and health care... making sure that we keep Tennessee a beautiful state, with clean air and clean water, and that we are a state that is friendly and welcoming and again treats people right. I think this is just a fundamental value. And I think Tennesseans share that value--I dont think I’m going out on a limb or anything, I think that’s what people believe. GRADY: What would you what would you say to the LGBT community in this state about their future here? DEAN: I would be honored to have their vote, and I’d be honored to work together to make this state even better than it is. I mean I really do believe our best days are still to come. Part of that is being a place that people want to live and where people are treated right, and we respect dignity and respect people’s rights, and we make sure that everybody feels that they’re part of it. And that’s what I’ll do. I think one of the good things about being governor is you have a bigger pulpit to talk from and you can deliver that message. And I think that message needs to be delivered and needs to be talked about and stated. People in the legislature need to understand that these [antiLGBT bills] may seem like political issues that get everybody all excited, and maybe somebody perceives there’s some benefit to them, but they hurt the state. If you start losing business and people start saying “We’re not coming there because our employees don’t want to live there, or we’re not going to visit there, we’re not going to hold a sporting event here or a concert there,” that hurts. Karl Dean faces Craig Fitzhugh in the Democratic primary in August. For more information visit karldean.com.
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WADE MUNDAY and the CHANGING FACE of TENNESSEE POLITICS INCREASING ENGAGEMENT with LGBT ISSUES STATEWIDE JAMES GRADY
Let’s be honest with outselves :
middle Tennessee residents are likely weary of politics in 2018, and the fact of the matter is the season is just heating up. Already we’ve been to the polls a couple of times: to vote on transit and for local primaries, and again to vote for a new mayor (with the specter of a possible return visit thankfully exorcized). The county general election and state and national primary election looms in the near future—August 2, 2018. And then on November 6, 2018 voters must return to the polls one last time for the general election for state and national offices. We are at serious risk for burnout, and with a committed anti-LGBT base, lack of voter interest and turnout amongst liberal voters would be a severe blow to progressive agendas generally, and LGBT rights specifically. But while we may be fatigued, there’s a lot of reason to hope this year. The shift in the discourse may be subtle, but it’s real. Elsewhere in this issue, we take a look back at a studentled anti-gun protest. This “die-in” was held at Legislative Plaza and was organized by students from conservative Williamson County—with a strong contingent of LGBT identifying students and GLSEN members. And it was held on the anniversary, and in honor of the victims, of the 2016 Pulse Massacre in Orlando— the most deadly mass shooting in US history to target the LGBT community specifically. We also get a view into the political landscape of Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District (currently held by the notoriously antiLGBT Scott DesJarlais)—where the candidates include many LGBT-friendly candidates, and where the Republican challenging DesJarlais is a Baptist who doesn’t flinch at having a gay son. And we sit down for a chat with one of the Democratic Party’s leading contenders for the governor’s nomination, Karl Dean. Dean’s unflinching support of the LGBT community is well known, and his governorship would mark the first time someone holding that position was a dependable and predictable ally. Wade Munday, running as a Democrat for Tennessee State Senate District 25, exemplifies these trends: he’s a theologically trained, values-oriented candidate, who isn’t willing to let his conservative counterparts own the values platform. Like the youth advocating in our streets, he has firm convictions, liberallyoriented but held with an openness to dialogue that is refreshing in our current climate. And like the new breed of candidates beginning to seek office in Tennessee, he’s not afraid to bring these conversations into traditionally conservative strongholds. Munday’s interest in politics isn’t new—it’s been simmering since his youth. “Politics has always been important to me, ever since I was a kid,” Munday recalled. “I think the first political act U T Ain N Dwas ABOU TNASHV L E .COto M George JULY 2018H. W. Bush during I took Opart writing aI Lletter
the first Gulf War, and he responded back with some standard correspondence and a magazine about The White House that I flipped through until it fell apart and I couldn’t look at it anymore.” “So I don’t think it was a surprise that I would run for office because of my interest in politics but I didn’t know when that would happen… But I never wanted politics to interfere with my faith and what I practice both in my personal life at home and on Sunday morning. So I started studying religion in high school, thought about becoming a minister, then did some travel and thought about becoming a missionary.” “Then I decided that I’d rather be a very educated layperson within the church and decided to go to divinity school,” Munday explained, “really because studying religion, theology and philosophy was another thing that was very important to me… I really just studied what I wanted to study and hoped that I could find a job afterward! So it was a bit of a risk, but I enjoyed my theological education. I went to Trevecca Nazarene University which had a great religion department in terms of preparing me for what I would learn at Vanderbilt Divinity.” Divinity School prepared Munday for many things, including a career in non-profit work, which took him to Boston. But, ultimately, the lure of Tennessee was strong. “For one year I lived in Boston, and I remember living there and looking at homes in Springfield, in Robertson County, because it’s a quaint small southern town, kind of idyllic, what you think of when you think of the south, with a beautiful town square and a little coffee shop...” Munday had moved back to Nashville and continued to dream of his move to Springfield, until it became a reality. President Trump’s election pushed him to another new reality. “I decided that now was as good a time as any to get politically involved. The tone and rhetoric of that national political campaign was so negative that I felt compelled to be a positive change and to try to talk about influencing our political dialogue using reason, accountability and kindness.” “If I had a campaign mantra, it would be reason, accountability, and kindness—kindness being one of the most important things for a political campaign to consider. It doesn’t mean that you can’t go negative, but it certainly means that you treat your opponent and constituents on the other side as human beings, and that they are not completely off base in their assumptions about policy or the divide between the two parties.” Munday is a non-traditional candidate—though not in the mold of a Trump. “[Divinity and non-profit work] is a nontraditional path, but I think there’s a lot of variety in life and in the people’s lives that I hope to influence through policy… So the fact that I come from a different background is probably better than if I were a cardboard candidate that took the traditional route—
“If I had a campaign mantra, it would be reason, accountability, and kindness—kindness being one of the most important things for a political campaign to consider.”
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went to law school, practiced at a firm, and then ran for office. I’m happy to be different in that way.” As a candidate who has come quite far from his roots, Munday is also well aware of where he comes from and brings that to his campaign as a strength. “One of the greatest advantages is that, somewhere along the way—and I don’t know if this came with growing up in the south with the family that I’ve got, which is rather large and diverse—but I learned to talk to anyone and be open to what others have to say. I think that’s the greatest advantage.” “I said at the event at Canvas the other day that the first duty of love is to listen—that’s a quote from Paul Tillich, a theologian. That’s incredibly important for the campaign trail. To know your neighbor, to get you neighbor’s vote, you have to love your neighbor. To love your neighbor, you have to listen to your neighbor.” “That means I have to sit down and listen to people whose political views might be odious to me,” he explained, “ but if I am to love them, I’ve got to listen to them, and to listen to them I’ve got to keep them on the line. I can’t just immediately shut them off or turn them away from my ideas. I think maybe a theological degree was helpful to bridge two opposing sides that we’re dealing with so often in the south...” While candidates in the recent past, including allies and LGBT candidates, from rural distracts have distanced themselves from the community, Munday is in his district talking about LGBT rights and hosting meet and greets with the LGBT community through Middle Tennessee. For Munday, it’s all about reaching out to people, bridging gaps, and serving those who have needs. “I think the group is larger than what we see,” Munday said. “I think there are so many individuals who live with shame, who live in the closet, and that’s not the freedom that America espouses, it’s not the freedom we aspire to live in... So for me it’s important to reach out to everyone…” “So going to a gay nightclub for my campaign is not so much a political statement as it is a way to talk to all different kinds of people,” he added. “We certainly are not in a post-anti-LGBT society; there is still a lot of hostility towards the gay community, a lot of misunderstandings about the gay community, in the rural south.”
“...there is still a lot of hostility towards the gay community, a lot of misunderstandings about the gay community, in the rural south.” O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
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And in pushing the anti-LGBT agenda, Munday sees our legislators as violating the sacred duty entrusted to them. “There is legislation that has come up in the General Assembly that has distracted us from our core mission in Tennessee—managing the state budget properly and wisely. These are things like the bathroom bill or the marriage amendment. When you come down to it, our state legislators are first entrusted to wisely manage a rather large $30+ billion budget… Being anti-gay should not be the agenda of the state legislature.” Munday shares the optimism that there is change afoot in the current climate, and he intends to be part of that change, one way or another. “I would hope that through my candidacy, and through others around the state, we can move past these arguments that have taken place in the last ten or twenty years and get down to the business of serving others and including in that group of people we serve the LGBT community… So I would ask people to always be talking about politics, and to talk to people in your family and community about our campaign, and hopefully the word spreads and people know that there’s a candidate in this district that wants to represent them fairly.” And be on the lookout across the state and country for candidates like him. Little by little, we may be able to take back our country.
WADE MUNDAY HOSTS EVENT AT CANVAS LOUNGE
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MARCH 2018
EVEN WHEN THEY’RE DEFEATED, THEY DO US HARM BALLOT MEASURES AFFECT EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF LGBT PEOPLE STAFF
In an important piece of new research, scholars found that the very presence of ballot measures, regardless of their success, was enough to have a significant impact on LGBT people’s emotional well-being. This research indicates that legislators who float these bills, and thus force these initiatives, do significant harm even if their measures don’t pass. Based on these findings, one also must wonder about the effects of legislation working its way through the General Assembly and local governmental bodies. A new study examining the psychological effects of ballot measures related to same-sex marriage in 2012 found that LGBT people were more likely to be stressed as the total number of televised campaign advertisements increased. The study also found that the substance of the campaign advertisements influenced LGBT people’s emotional well-being. Ads that opposed same-sex marriage evoked sadness, while supportive ads brought about enjoyment and happiness. The quantity and tone of the ads had no effect on the stress levels and emotional well-being of non-LGBT people. “Negative campaign messages can be seen as threatening to LGBT people and expose them to a variety of stressors that other studies suggest lead to adverse mental and physical health outcomes,” said lead author Andrew R. Flores, a visiting scholar at the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law and assistant professor at Mills College. “On the other hand, affirming discourse can have positive consequences in otherwise stigmatizing environments.” Researchers analyzed survey data from a representative sample of LGBT and non-LGBT people living in the 12 states that share media markets with Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. The four states had marriage equality measures on the 2012 ballot. Researchers examined whether psychological well-being varied between LGBT people residing in areas with a high volume of media campaigns and areas without advertisements. They also looked at how potential exposure to campaign-related advertisements affected three psychological outcomes: stress, felt emotions (happiness and sadness) and behavior (laughing or smiling).
KEY FINDINGS:
• LGBT people in areas with 400 campaign ads had a 34.0 percentage point greater likelihood of reporting stress.
• LGBT people in areas with 200 negative
ads had a 58.8 percentage point greater likelihood of reporting sadness and a 68.1 percentage point lower likelihood of smiling or laughing.
• LGBT people in areas with 200 positive
ads had a 14.1 percentage point greater probability of reporting happiness, a 20.9 percentage point greater likelihood of enjoying something and a 22.3 percentage point greater likelihood of smiling or laughing.
• LGBT people in areas with 200 positive ads had a 27.3 percentage point lower probability of reporting sadness.
• Voter referendums and initiatives are
used in 27 US states often to expand or limit the rights of minority groups. Between 1974 and 2009, there were 158 referendums and initiatives concerning LGBT people, with over 70 percent of them restricting or rejecting their rights.
“IT’S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF BALLOT MEASURES,” SAID FLORES. “BECAUSE EVEN IF DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES DON’T SUCCEED AT THE BALLOT BOX, THE STIGMATIZING MESSAGING FROM THE CAMPAIGN MAY BE A SOURCE OF STRESS FOR LGBT PEOPLE.”
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STUDENT ACTIVISTS COMMEMORATED PULSE MASSACRE
‘DIE-IN’ SOUGHT TO BRING ATTENTION TO GUN VIOLENCE JAMES GRADY
On June 12, 2018, activists and LGBT community members around the country, and indeed around the world, commemorated the two years that have passed since the largest mass shooting targeting LGBT people to have been perpetrated in the United States. Since then, of course, many more mass shootings, have occurred, and Pulse has now been eclipsed in death toll by Las Vegas. But, for many, particularly in the LGBT community, the memory of Pulse is a stark reminder of how much hatred there still is for the community. In Nashville, Pulse was remembered in many ways, by many people, but a group of students from Williamson County, in conjunction with a nation-wide event, observed the anniversary with a call to action. These students, many of whom were LGBT and allies, came together on Legislative Plaza and spoke about gun violence. Then they staged a “die-in,” symbolically laying dead on the ground for 10 seconds for each of the victims. While the assembled lay prone in honor of the victims, a group of 2nd Amendment rights activists burst into the space occupied by the students and placing copies of the constitution into their hands. They then loomed over the rest of the proceedings, while a police officer monitored the situation. Afterward the event concluded, Sydney Coil, a student at Independence High School, explained, “The reason I’m here is because a lot of people say that young people shouldn’t get involved in politics, and I disagree, because we are the next generation. We are the people who are going to be taking over these problems, so I think the earlier we can get into politics the better.” Then she added, “I think gun violence has become very normalized in America and I think that’s something we need to change. We shouldn’t be numb to it. We should be feeling the horror and shock we did with the first mass shootings.” Sydney’s
parents support their daughter’s decision to engage in this activism. Sydney was recruited to the cause by Garrett Schneider, she said. Garrett expressed a general frustration with the political atmosphere that has stalled out progress on gun violence. “I’m tired of seeing lot’s of back and forth, with lots of talk but nothing being done, within our legislature,” Garrett said, “and the voices of the kids not being taken seriously. In the case of school shootings, we are required by law to go to school Monday through Fridays; the lawmakers aren’t. They aren’t taking our safety seriously, and they aren’t taking the threat of gun violence everywhere seriously.” Reflecting on Pulse, Garrett, who identifies as LGBT, added, “Pulse was one of the deadliest mass shootings in America before Las Vegas. It was a time when we should have stopped and said, ‘This has happened, what are we going to do about it?’ And it seems that nothing has been done, and more and more mass shootings--Las Vegas, Stoneman Douglas, and on and on. After these mass casualty events, nothing is being done. Sometimes it seems nothing will ever be done, unless we do it...” Garrett was not alone at the event. His father accompanied him and the other students, despite the fact that he holds more conservative political beliefs. “Him and I are opposite sides of the political fence,” said Garrett’s father, Tim. “But we discussed gun rights and we both really agree that people do have the right to bear arms, if they can do it legally... We both believe in background checks and registrations.” “It’s just like a car,” Tim explained, “it’s registered and it goes with the car and it’s tracked, and you can pull up it’s history. You can’t do that with a gun too many times. There are some loopholes that need to be closed... Society has changed, and they need to be closed.” Among the other adults present was Beth Roth, executive director and policy director of the Safe Tennessee Project. “We are a gun violence prevention organization based here in Tennessee,”
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with legislators, where they asked legislators tough questions about gun legislation. The WilCo [Williamson County] students reached out to see if we could help them promote this event and help them build up interest, and so of course we were happy to do that. We worked with Clay, one of the organizers, to provide him with some specific data to Tennessee.” Besides the youth activism, Roth says there’s reason to be optimistic, even in a state whose legislature is as hostile to gun control as Tennessee’s is. “This was the first year in at least the last four or five years when not a single law was passed expanding where guns can be carried. We considered that a victory... What we’ve also seen in recent polling is the needle really moving on this issue, not just nationally but even here in Tennessee. There’s been about a 24 point bump in the number of Tennesseans percentage wise who would like to see stronger gun laws ... so we fell like our message is getting out there and getting a better hearing.” After meeting with these students from Williamson County, it’s hard not to have a little hope for a safer future for our community.
PHOTOS: JAMES GRADY
she explained. “When the legislature is in session, we work closely with legislators on firearm legislation. During what I call the ‘off season’ when the legislature is not in session, we spend a lot of time doing research.” “We really come at the issue of gun violence from more of a public health angle, so we rely heavily on peer reviewed research, data specific to Tennessee,” she explained. “We look at other states and see what they have been able to do that has reduced gun violence in those states. And then we work up what we think good legislation for the coming session might look like and then we schedule meetings with legislators in the late fall to propose legislation that we think would be useful.” The shooting at Stoneman Douglas was a wake-up call for many youth, and Roth says her organization has seen a large uptick in interest amongst students since the event. “After Parkland, there were so many students that wanted to get involved that we actually formed a youth advisory board,” she said. Those students, she added, “helped plan walkouts in their schools, they were participants and planners of the big walkout we had here in Nashville, they planned a town hall back in April
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Jumper
Maybach Brings
Priden
Collectio
to
Nashville Mary Hong Gallery to Host LGBT Artist’s Work
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
JULY 2018
LGBT artist and philanthropist Jumper Maybach has unveiled a timely and important new series of works celebrating Pride 2018. The series, titled “The Pride Collection: Introspection,” will be on exhibition (and available for acquisition) beginning July 2 at the Mary Hong Gallery in Nashville. These works in this series were created by Jumper to show his love and support for the LGBT community, in addition to all those taking part in the #MeToo movement. “This series of works is one of the most engaging and important of my entire career,” said Maybach. “I wanted to create something to show my ongoing love and support for my community as well as the courageous men and women partaking in the #MeToo movement. As a victim of workplace sexual discrimination, I felt it was my duty to stand up and express myself at this pivotal time in history. I want my art to be that beacon of hope that inspires others to standup to ending injustices within society.” The collection was unveiled and on display in June in Houston, where the artist was named the Official Artist of Pride. The exhibit was an official part of Houston Pride’s event schedule and received great acclaim. “Pride Houston is ecstatic to have this unique opportunity to collaborate with Jumper and The Pride Collection series,” stated Jeremy Fain, Secretary of the Board of Directors for Pride Houston. “Jumper has done so much for our community and we’re looking forward to an evening where the community can come together to celebrate him. This exhibit and evening is going to be very special not only to our family here in Houston but to our family across the country and around the world.” Jumper has been featured in major media platforms throughout North America and continues to rise to national prominence as fine artist. His celebrity collectors include transgender rights activist Jazz Jennings, Edward James Olmos and a host of other well-known collectors. Again, the exhibit will be hosted by Mary Hong Fine Art July 2–31, and pieces will be available for purchase (both in person and online for those who are unable to attend the exhibition). For more information visit jumpermaybach.com and maryhongstudio.com.
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1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
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NASHVILLE TAKES A EUROPEAN VACATION?
GRIZZLIES SHINED AT 2018 BINGHAM CUP IN AMSTERDAM
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE NASHVILLE GRIZZLIES
In 2016, Nashville hosted International Gay Rugby’s crown jewel, the Bingham Cup, and wowed the world’s teams without hospitality. This year our hometown team descended on Amsterdam, the European party mecca, for this year’s tournament, and the boys did us proud again. After defeating the Paris’ Les Coqs Festifs, the Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents, the Portland Lumberjacks, and the Lisbon Dark Horses, the Grizzlies ended an amazing run in Amsterdam with a very tight 14-10 loss to the Rebelyons of Lyon, France, but with a 4-1 record, Bingham Cup 2018 will go down as one of Nashville’s most well-played tournaments. Of course, along the way the team racked up a few injuries, and a few familiar faces decided to end their rugby careers on high notes. Perhaps one of Nashville rugby’s most notable moments in Amsterdam was when team member Nick Maynard proposed to his long-time partner, and former O&AN cover model, Phillipe Chadwick (who accepted). So, all told, it was an exciting tournament for Nashville, and much of what happened in Amsterdam will, likely, stay in Amsterdam.
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O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
JULY 2018
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JULY 2018
Sugar Creek Campground Now Open Middle Tennessee’s Newest Men-Only Camp JAMES GRADY
Campgrounds for LGBT men aren’t a new concept—Middle Tennesseans have, in recent years, had two nearby options, the clothing-optional Timberfell Lodge and Whispering Oaks. These have enjoyed popularity over the years, and in fact, the Conductors recently held their annual run at Whispering Oaks. On June 15–16, 2018, Sugar Creek Campground, located in Only, Tennessee, held its soft launch, and its grand opening is slated for July 6–7, 2018. With its beautiful location and brandnew amenities, the new camp is sure to be a hit with those whose idea of a nice weekend away involves a tent and a drag show! Plus, located just an hour west of Nashville, Sugar Creek brings gay camping even closer to town. “It’s just a beautiful piece of property,” said proprietor, Bill Johnson. “It has a cave with a spring on it, it’s right on a creek that’s crystal clear with blue holes, where you can swim... As far as amenities, we start work on the pools on July 1, and they should be finished by August 1. We are going to have a hot sauna, dry sauna, we have the creek, we have volleyball and horseshoes, cornhole boards. We have a diamond for kickball and baseball.” “We don’t have cabins yet,” Johnson said, “but we are going to build cabins this winter. We do have a building with five studio units in it, and we have 37 campsites with RV hookups, and then we have about 20 tent sites with electric.” “And we have a club—an old restaurant we turned into a nightclub,” Johnson added. “We have a stage and we can probably seat about 100 people. We will have drag shows on Saturday nights; Friday nights will be game nights with a bingo drag queen.” Sugar Creek’s drag will be—pardon the pun—campy. “We’ve got Chyna, I know, a little bit,” Johnson said, “and Marlene-TwittyFargo and others like that. We don’t want to do a lot of serious drag, we want it to be kind of fun and camp-style drag.”
“The campground will be men only and membership-based,” Johnson explained, “but the night club on the weekends we do plan on letting people in for that, because everyone wants to see the drag show. We’ll let the visitors in at the beginning of the night, but after a certain point it’ll again be closed to members only. Access to the show will have a fee, but anyone who buys a day pass will also get access to the club.” “The nightclub will mostly serve bar food, and we have a beer license,” he added. “We don’t have a liquor license, but you can bring your own bottle.” The nightclub will be open Friday, Saturday, and during the day Sunday. The camp will be open all week. Why another campground, though? The owners visited other campsites and wanted to do something updated. “We went to all the other camps, and this is going to be top-of-the-line. Our shower house is beautiful, it’s clean. Everything’s nice and all the electrical, plumbing, and septic is brand new. The creek is so beautifully clean, and we have this cave that has about 5,000 gallons a minute feeding into the creek.” “It’s very private. We aren’t advertising it as clothing optional,” Johnson added, “but we aren’t really saying anything, as long as people aren’t bothering anybody else. And, again, they wanted to build something convenient. “It’s right off the interstate and centrally located for people between Nashville and Memphis,” he added. “And there’s a lot of gay people that live west of Nashville as well, so it’s very convenient. So far, Johnson says, the local response has been mostly positive. “Most of the neighbors that are close are gay or, if not, they are related to gay,” he explained. “I’ve owned Mirandas for 22 years there at that exit and we’ve never had any problems with the county whatever...” So if you want to pack up your tent and head out to Sugar Creek, follow them at Facebook.com/sugarcreekcamp, and look for their website, coming soon.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE SUGAR CREEK FACEBOOK PAGE
OVER
the RAINBOW
D E O P P R E SSO LIBER
JULIE CHASE | @notninahagen
I found the church, and I knew what my mission was that night. I was to lug in a couple of cases of water, then leave. That was what I could do to support this motley group of social revolutionaries. I had only recently found out that many of my friends from college had joined this group in other cities. They were more than a little surprised to hear my name come up amongst their circle, for they knew me in college and they knew of my background. College was the first time I had ever opened up about the family business. We were a tight group, and I felt that I could trust them. At the time, I was running away from it... I lived in the old South Africa. My father was mercenary soldier who plied his trade there and in the former state of Rhodesia. I do have good memories of the experience, but I never agreed with what he was fighting for. How could you separate the then current policy of racial apartheid from what the Nazis believed? You could not. Once you take that first step, how could you say the same concerning Native Americans / First Nations, Palestinians, undocumented immigrants...? Or deeply closeted Queer people like I was then? Dad always said that he was there for the pay and the adventure. He was a pirate, not a bigot. Frankly, he could not escape the life for a host of reasons, the primary one being that he could not face growing old. I had met the Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) last fall in Shelbyville, except I didn’t know they were the Poor People’s Campaign, nor did I know what the Poor People’s Campaign was or is. I had to look all that up before I went to Memphis last April. Who are they? Dreamers, activists, social revolutionaries, with broad support
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from people of all skin colours and backgrounds. That’s what I saw. Some were religious, some were not. Many were veterans of the “occupy” movement. A good chunk of them were eccentric, in the good way. But they all believed in social justice, something I never really thought about until I openly transitioned. Where did they get their start? Memphis, April 1968… Dr. King. Those who have followed my column from the beginning understand that I come from a politically conservative background. There are parts of me even after the catastrophe that was the last presidential election that still clings to some of that, especially the economic parts. But I have found a group of people whom I like and respect here. How do I feel about this group? Uncomfortable. Why? Because much of what they do makes me feel uncomfortable. Perhaps the most uncomfortable I have felt since living in an openly racist environment many years ago, and that’s the point. I do not agree with some of their proposed solutions, but I do agree upon the need for real action. I would rather be associated with those who take a page from the late Dr. King than from the late Richard Nixon. I would rather be uncomfortable than live in a prison of privilege. I would rather be scared as a trans woman than ever go back to my old life. It was safer then, but I was not free. And still none of us are truly free, when innocent people are suffering. None of us should ever be comfortable with what many of our current elected leaders and their supporters are saying and doing. I guarantee you the majority of the local PPC wants to know why I’m trying to help them. They don’t trust me a wit, and I really can’t blame them. The answer is that I may not agree with much of their politics, but I know what the good guys look like.
ILLUSTRATION: MELISSA GAY
Transition has changed me in ways I did not foresee.
If my father were here, he would laugh and welcome me to the club. I have just turned fifty, the age when he took his last assignment. I do not know everything about what he did, but he will always be my dad. I recently had the long talk with my daughter about what the grandad she never met did for a living. “So, I take it that you’re just crazy then?” she said with a mischievous smile. No, just a dreamer I suppose. I take inside the three large packs of bottled water for the activists to use the next day. The majority of the people in the room will be undergoing training about non-violent tactics of resistance, the same training that was used fifty years before when the civil rights pioneers fought for social justice. A member of the group who had never seen me stops me for a second. He looks me over, then inquires whom I was with? Was I with the church or somebody else? The local authorities had been trying to infiltrate lately... I laughed and said that it was okay. He didn’t know me, but I liked them and I love the good fight. I’m a mercenary.
Julie Chase is the pen name for a local trans woman.
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Chaos and Awe presents paintings that relate to a contemporary version of the sublime, capturing sensations of disturbance, curiosity, and wonder at the ineffable forces that shape and disrupt society. The exhibition features approximately sixty paintings by an international array of established and emerging artists.
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16 P R O G RAM H I GH L I GHT
FRIST FRIDAY:
AN EVENING OF CHAOS AND AWE Join us for the first event in our revamped live performance series featuring singer-songwriter Adia Victoria, poet Ciona Rouse, composer Darius Jamal VanSluytman, and artist-led programs with Afruz Amighi and James Perrin. Enjoy food trucks and tastings by Chef Maneet Chauhan.
Friday, July 27, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
FREE for members, 18 and under, and college students with ID. General adult admission: $12
919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 FristArtMuseum.org #FristChaosAwe
Chaos and Awe was organized by Mark Scala, chief curator, Frist Art Museum. Platinum Sponsor
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O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
JULY 2018
Supported by a grant from
Additional support provided by
Rokni Haerizadeh (b. 1978, Tehran; based in Dubai). But a Storm Is Blowing from Paradise (detail), 2014. 1 of 10 parts exhibited from a 24-part work: gesso, watercolor, and ink on inkjet prints, 11¾ x 15¾ in. each. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Guggenheim UBS MAP Purchase Fund, 2015.89.9. © Rokni Haerizadeh