MAKING THEIR OWN WAY JULY 2019 / VOLUME 18 / ISSUE 07 FIRST ISSUE FREE - ADD’L COPIES 50¢ EACH
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CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTORS Writers: James Grady, Josh Robbins, Jason Shawhan, Sabrina Torres
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Photographers: Anderson Lane Photography, Kailee Riches,
IN THIS ISSUE
Photography, Jennifer Sheridan
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KEEP LIVING: AN EXPLORATION OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HIV AND SUICIDE
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HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH
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MAKING HER OWN WAY
LEGAL
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Out & About Nashville strives to be a credible community news organization by engaging and educating our readers. All
5 TIPS FOR INCREASING SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE
content of Out & About Nashville is copyrighted 2017 by Out & About Nashville, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of the person or persons. Out & About Nashville accepts unsolicited material but cannot take responsibility for its return. The editor reserves
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MAKING THEIR OWN WAYS
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IN THIS ISSUE
Making Their Own Ways
Many people find the traditional work world stifling, but women often face many considerable hurdles that make that environment unwelcoming or hostile. For LGBTQ women, the social burdens created by gender norms—the disproportionate burden of childcare and rampant pay inequality are but two—are amplified by societal homophobia. Rather than squeeze themselves into the mold created by a patriarchal system, women entrepreneurs often blaze their own trail, embracing the freedom of being themselves and the opportunities that can create. This month’s issue features a group of diverse LGBTQ women, each of whom has done just that, following their passions and carving out niches all their own. Our cover model, Sabrina Torres (pages 12-14), had a single goal when she went back to college: to start her own business that would allow her to work from home. There are easier
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ways to work from home, but working for someone else wouldn’t necessarily meet her needs—to be available to care for her family when she needed to be. So when she discovered social media marketing and management, she set out to create her own space in that competitive field. Chrissy Kirkwood (page 16) has delved into the competitive jungle that is Nashville’s real estate marketing, but has embarked on a unique path by branching out to run a house venue in East Nashville and a drum circle collective! Mac Huffington (page 17) sought to reshape the drag scene, both locally and nationwide, by creating spaces for drag that transcends queens—putting drag kings and divas, among others, front and center. Sunny Eaton (page 18-19) is practicing law her way through her firm, Eastside Legal, but she’s also branching out with a virtual law firm, On the Map Legal, and a women’s
JUNE 2019
retreat program in Costa Rica. Robin Cohn’s (page 20) concern over leaving her dogs in the care of others led her to found come.sit.stay pet boutique fifteen years ago, providing that personal touch to pet care. Recently the business has branched out into CBD products for pets (and owners)! And Shannon Lashley (page 20) was tired of watching security industry employees mismanaged, and set out to start a company, L.A. Security, that would treat its staff well, while providing expert service. Andrea Hewitt (page 22), like many of the women featured, has multiple projects, but she left her job as program coordinator of the Vanderbilt Faculty Senate in 2015 to start East Nashville Doulas, providing non-medical labor support and education for families around the birthing process. Why? She wanted to make a bigger and more direct impact in people’s lives.
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KEEP LIVING: AN EXPLORATION OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HIV AND SUICIDE JOSH ROBBINS
On the day that I was told “it’s a positive viral load,” I was given pretty amazing advice from my dad. After I spent 30 minutes explaining the diagnosis, his only words were: “Son, keep living.” Keep living. That advice contains even more wisdom than I ever knew. It drives to the heart the instruction for people who are given an HIV diagnosis to never give up, to never give in to the pain, and to never choose to stop living. It was my father’s way of telling me not to choose suicide as a reaction. It’s for good reason, I’ve learned. The suicide rate among men within the first 12 months of an HIV diagnosis is five times that of the general population. Five times! It’s insane, but it’s true. After the first year, the suicide rate among HIV positive men drops to double that of the general population. We have this data thanks to a 15-year study of almost 90,000 people diagnosed with HIV in England and Wales, comparing their suicide rates against the general population. Sara Croxford of Public Health England presented the findings to the British HIV Association (BHIVA) conference: “Our findings highlight the need for a reduction in the stigma surrounding HIV, improvements in psychosocial support and routine screening for depression and drug and alcohol misuse, particularly at the time of diagnosis.” I don’t need a cohort study to provide me with the conclusion that people newly diagnosed with HIV could very well be experiencing depression or other mental health issues that could result in suicide attempts. But the data is there, the stigma is all too real, and It could happen to anyone. Early after Charlie Sheen received his diagnosis, he admitted to having thoughts about ending his life. In an interview with ABC News’ Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, Sheen said he, “Immediately wanted to eat a bullet” the day he learned he was HIV-positive. This is an all-too-familiar sentiment that I’ve encountered personally, both on social media and through private conversations with others in the community. All of this makes me think: I’m someone living with the virus and I have never considered attempting suicide. Why is that? Don’t I experience similar stigmatization? Well, maybe not.
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On the day that I received my diagnosis, I wanted to (and felt safe enough to) share the news with my family. Literally the same exact day—within hours of getting the news myself—I was sitting down with my family and disclosing my diagnosis. They were and still are my biggest support circle, and I feel a tremendous amount of privilege and luck to have that. I recognize that there are a number of reasons other people living with HIV aren’t able to experience that type of support from their families and friends. I question how much I would have been able to accomplish and attempt to tackle as an activist without that support, and I wonder whether my thoughts might have moved towards selfharm without my circle of deep support. I sincerely can’t imagine my life any other way; I attribute my strength completely to them. Throughout the past seven years since my diagnosis, they’ve empowered me to talk about HIV every day. They stand beside me when I get fired up about HIV stigma and as I try to change the world via Twitter and Facebook updates. I’m lucky to have them… but what about others who don’t have that support? How do we put out the right messages to reach them, to tell them that life isn’t over with an HIV diagnosis? That they can still love, be loved, and deserve to keep living… just like my dad told me? As the cohort study concluded—and as I firmly believe—we must realize that stigma is a real epidemic in our lives and the effects can and will continue to take people’s lives. The jokes about HIV seem a bit less funny when we realize just how life and death it can be for our friends, coworkers, bar buddies or strangers that overhear us. HIV is a virus, but stigma is the epidemic … and one that already has a cure.
Josh Robbins is an award winning sexual health advocate, author of the site imstilljosh.com and spokesperson for DatingPositives.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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SHELF SPECIAL THE ● SHELF SPECIAL THE ● SHELF SPECIAL THE
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HEDWIG THE ANGRY INCH JASON SHAWHAN
Camp, intentional and unintentional, is conspicuously absent from this grunge epic, the story of Hedwig, born Hansel, “a slip of a little girly-boy from East Berlin” who comes to America following a botched gender reassignment (hence the name of her band, the Ambassadors of Eastern Bloc Rock, “The Angry Inch,” and the film’s title) and, through the transformative power of rock n’ roll, becomes something a little bit more than man or woman but a little bit less than a star. Co-Writer/Director/Star and later Nicole Kidman compatriot John Cameron Mitchell, working from the Off-Broadway (Squeezebox, a landmark of queer ‘90s New York) experience he developed with musician and lyricist Stephen Trask, has a dynamic and wickedly funny presence on both stage and screen, and his Hedwig is a unique creation. We follow The Angry Inch on their Shadow Tour, performing in different Bilgewater’s restaurants (a salad-barred seafood emporium) throughout the country. And oh, those majestic songs… The naughty “Sugar Daddy” is the kind of bawdy country classic-to-be that would sound great on country radio, were country radio not a pallid xerox factory of blanditude. “The Origin of Love” is the kind of unlikely pop masterpiece that
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incorporates Greek mythology and philosophy into the kind of torchy ballad that Bette Midler used to tear through with gusto and verve. And the closer, “Midnight Radio,” is sheer bliss. As a whole, the film’s song score is up there with Purple Rain or Grace of My Heart, a narrative with excellent songs that endure. Mitchell is electric as a singer and actor, and supporting turns from the late but legendary Alberta Watson (The Keep, Spanking the Monkey) and Andrea Martin (SCTV) practically shine during their screen time. The animated sequences in the film work their own curious and minimalist magic, adding yet another interesting medium for Hedwig to conquer (following theatre and cinema). For the adventurous viewer, Hedwig and The Angry Inch offers the kind of unique film experience that doesn’t often come down the bend. Have some gummi bears and enjoy the show. Thanks to The Criterion Collection, Hedwig and The Angry Inch is finally available on blu-ray, packed with all sorts of extras, and an essential part of a comprehensive collection of modern LGBT cinema.
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MAKING HER OWN WAY SABRINA TORRES TACKLES SOCIAL MEDIA TO REACH HER GOALS JAMES GRADY
So tell us a little about what you do. I started a social media marketing company called Be Truly Social. We run social media for businesses around the world to help them increase brand awareness, find new customers, and build community with their existing clients. Most of my clients are what I call, “hand over the keys” clients, we take care of it all. For smaller businesses, I do a lot of hourly consultations, which just about any company can fit into their budget. I’m also part owner of Do Something Films with my partner, and I advise our clients on social strategy for their video releases. How did you get into this line of work? It was actually a bit of an accident! I was recently divorced, had three little kids, and I was back in school getting a degree in Mass Communication & Media. I wanted to start my own business by the time I graduated. I was specifically looking for a way to work for myself and take care of my family. Then I stumbled across a social media management job listing and I thought to myself “Wow, that’s a real job?” It seemed creative and interesting and I could do it from anywhere. From that point, how did you begin to make that dream a reality? Well, I started with the “school of Google” [laughing]. I started learning from people who were actually doing it, and who were really good at it. And then I jumped in with both feet. The best way to learn something like this is by doing it. Social media is constantly changing and evolving, you’re always learning. I started by offering my services for free, with the understanding that there would be a learning curve. It was a great experience. I was ready to go by the time I graduated. So, when did you get your first paying client, and what was that like? I think it was 3 months after graduation, and I do think there may have been some breathing into a bag [laughing]. But I had a track record now, I had proven results. I’d been working on my own social media, and doing social for our film company, so I had done enough to convince somebody to pay me, and I guess they were happy with me because 2 years later, they’re still my client!
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,,,,,,,
How did you grow your client base? Initially, I promoted myself by creating a 60 second video series on social media tips, that worked really well. Got referrals, that was helpful. But the real magic happened when I started to focus on LInkedIn. I’ve developed some tricks there that can generate a lot of leads, I get the bulk of my clients via LinkedIn now. Ultimately, your business outgrew your ability to service as a single individual. You have a team now? I do have a team now. I come up with the strategy, and have my team of 5 contract workers, all standouts in their individual areas, execute our plans, and I’m working on possibly adding my first employee. I knew that in order to keep up the level of service that I value and still bring in new clients, I absolutely had to build a team of talented people that I could trust. So, what does your average day look like? I’m not sure there is any such thing! Most of my days include phone calls with current clients, chatting with prospective clients, checking in on all the platforms, running the day to day. It can be anything from developing the rollout of a client product launch, or handling a social media crisis for a client. And that’s what I enjoy, that every day is different. What else have you enjoyed most about the work? Aside from the excitement and having achieved your goal of being able to support your family, and be available to them? Getting to interact with people every day, online or on the phone. And getting to celebrate things with my clients. When you prepare for two months for a product launch and it goes out and you get to see real-time feedback on social media, it’s pretty exciting! And great opportunities come up all the time because of what I do. Last month, we were invited to speak on our LGBTQ video and social strategy work we do for our film company at the legendary Stonewall Inn in NYC, it was such an amazing honor. What are some of the most common problems that you find in a company’s existing strategies, when you take over or start consulting? The biggest problem is usually that there is no strategy. Most businesses that don’t have a knowledgeable person handling their social media are trying to figure it out on a day to day basis. And so overall strategy is the number one thing that I can usually help them with. What do you do to maintain your own personal brand, while taking care of everybody else’s? It doesn’t always take top priority! I’ve actually joked with people that you don’t necessarily want to choose a social media manager based on their own social media, because, chances are, they will always put their own at the bottom of the list. I’m busy taking care of clients. But I’m always on LinkedIn no matter what, because that is where my market is. I always tell my clients, invest the most of your time and money where your target audience is.
What general advice would you give to somebody who thinks of themselves as having a personal brand, or as an influencer? Well, even a personal brand or an influencer still needs to think about the person on the other side of the screen. So, as long as you’re consistent in putting out content that people care about, you’re going to have success. Follower count really is not the most important thing. At this point, I have one client who has 5,000 followers, but every single post gets 3-500 engagements (likes, shares, comments). Whereas you can have a list of 20,000 and get just 5 engagements per post. Which is more valuable? Who’s making a bigger impact? Businesses have learned they want an engaged audience, because they know those are more likely to end up becoming paying customers. How do you think being out as a lesbian has impacted your career? I am a very loud and proud, out, Latina lesbian [laughing]. Starting out, people warned me not to be out in my business. The entrepreneurial marketing world is very conservative. But it’s actually been much more successful for me to be out, it helps me stand out in a crowded industry of very similar people, and the hair helps do that, too [laughing]. Sometimes, clients seem to reach out to me *because* I am out, because of the way I look, they feel more comfortable with me because they feel I may share their values. I’m glad I didn’t take that advice in the beginning. So when you were in college, you set this audacious goal of starting your own business by the time you graduated… What’s your new audacious goal? Well, my goal for 2019 is to double my revenue from last year, which is only kind of audacious, right? [laughing] But my 5-year goal, I want to have a thriving marketing agency where I get to work with even more brands, causes, and people that I love, that I care about. You know, I think one of the hallmarks of success is getting to work with the people you want to work with, right? And that excites me.
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Ti ps For Increasing Social Media Influence SABRINA TORRES
Whether you want to get a bigger following on your personal Instagram or you run social media pages for your company, here are five tips you can start implementing today to help grow your social media influence! Focus on only one or two platforms. If you are trying to be everywhere all at once, you won’t have the time to do any one platform well! Pick the platform your target audience hangs out at the most, and concentrate your energy there.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Interact more than you post. The more time you spend talking to people on their own posts, the more likely they are to want to follow you and engage with you! Plus, the algorithm gods favor those who give back to the platform. Plan your posts. Pick one day every week or month, and set up your calendar. Then the time you spend on a day to day basis can go towards that interaction we just talked about! Ask your audience simple questions to get them talking. People can’t interact with you unless you give them a good reason to. Ask them a simple question about themselves, and give them the opportunity to talk to you! Let’s face it, we all like to talk about ourselves.
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Show faces. People naturally prefer to see other people! Whether you do a quick live video, a selfie, or a group shot of everyone in your office, show some faces today and let your audience connect!
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Chrissy Kirkwood—Real Estate, as well as Urban Ecovillage and I noticed I was spending all my free time looking at neighborhoods and learning about real estate investing. I decided that buying a house was the smartest thing I could do for my future. After going through the process and learning about first time home buyer options, I decided I wanted to help others do the same. When people decide to buy or sell real estate, it usually signifies a transition in their life. It’s an honor to guide people through the process of home buying and selling. We aren’t therapists, but we listen very well!
Tell me about your business.
I am a real estate broker and owner at Kirkwood Property Group. We are LGBTQ+ led and managed. We help clients through the process of home buying and selling. We enjoy representing good people doing good things and enjoy helping people find more freedom and flexibility through their real estate ventures. I also have another business—a house venue called Urban Ecovillage East Nashville, and Rhythm Bird, a drum circle collective.
How did you get into this field, and why do you love it?
I got into real estate after purchasing my first house at the age of 20. I was working at an entertainment law firm on Music Row during the day,
As a Gemini, I love how real estate is always fresh. Each client is a new puzzle with different variables. Same overall process, but different every single time! I also love meeting people from all walks of life, hearing their stories and finding the connections and common ground.
What difficulties related to gender or sexuality have you had to overcome to be successful?
In the beginning, I had to overcome my look. I was a 21-year-old Asian (so I looked 12) who dressed like a tom boy. I had to really embrace my serious side and professional side. I remember channeling my inner 40-year-old in my early 20s. I would also speak to myself in the mirror, “I am a real estate professional.” I remember hoping that people would not ask my age, and they would just let my skills and knowledge speak for itself. To be successful, I had to practice accepting myself. Learn about my preferences. Learn how to honor myself authentically. Instead of conforming or trying to represent clients that didn’t accept me, I focused on finding people who did accept me. I embraced the queer community, I found support and friendship within our community. It spurred our business early on and still supports our business today.
Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Brandon Teeftaller, APN specializing in brief therapy & medication management crisis and evening appointments available all patients welcome including adolescents and adults
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most insurance accepted including Medicare 1720 West End Avenue Suite 240 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 615 | 320.1155
Mac Huffington—MAC Productions Tell me about your business.
I moved here from Chicago, Illinois to go to school. I graduated from Fisk University with a B.S. in Business Management. While in school, I found the gay community and found a place where I could be me. I was very excited to be a part early on. It was nice to know I was not the only one. I was not out in Chicago. When I found the pageant scene and meet Bianca Paige, Rita Ross, Stephanie Wells and Gary Brodrick (owner of Performance Studios) I knew the drag world was what I wanted to be involved in. Pride was just starting, and I heard about it, went to a meeting and have been hooked ever since. I love Pride and our community and everything that it has grown to be, especially knowing I was a part of it. Mac Productions began from just wanting to be a part of the drag scene. Drag Queens were so amazing to me but there were very few Drag Kings. I wanted to make Drag Kings as popular as the Queens and do the things they were doing. We began promoting Drag Kings and traveling and performing at every event we could.
Over 20 years ago, I started with the Ms. & Mr. Nashville Pride Pageant in 1996, then I added Drag Kings to the Pageant the following year. Bianca Paige was the first Ms. Nashville Pride and Bushra Shabazz, a member of MAC Productions, was the first Mr. Nashville Pride. Then came the Mr. Esquire Pageant for Male Impersonators in 1997, with 13 contestants at Connections Night Club. There were about 200-300 people in attendance. There were very few drag king pageants in the 1990s, but over the years Drag Kings and Drag King pageants have risen to great heights. There are now national pageants for Drag Kings as well. I have owned two national pageants, one for Drag Kings and one for Divas. I currently own the Mr. Esquire Pageant (for the past 23 years) and Pageant for Diva’s (AFAB) (in its 14th year).
What difficulties related to gender or sexuality have you had to overcome to be successful?
The popularity of Drag Kings/Male Illusionist has risen greatly but the struggle is still to get them equal bookings and pay comparable to the Drag Queens.
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
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Sunny Eaton—Eastside Legal, and On the Map Legal Tell me about your business.
I am a criminal defense and intellectual property attorney. I own Eastside Legal in East Nashville and a virtual law firm called On the Map Legal. Twice a year, I run women’s retreats in Costa Rica.
How did you get into this field, and why do you love it?
Since high school, I knew I wanted to be an attorney. I was on the mock trial team and it was one of very few things at that time where I excelled. Our coach, an attorney who later became a judge, was the first person who told me I should consider law school. He said I had a natural gift for litigation—but at the time, I had poor grades and a complete lack of self-discipline. Law school felt unattainable. Instead, I became a family counselor and then a foster parent recruiter. I learned multiple things through those experiences the least of which being that I am a much better talker than listener and also that there are many ways to help people. I went to law school in Washington, D.C. and became an attorney in 2007.
What I love the most about the areas of law I practice is that, in both types, it’s always my job to find the best in my client and to protect their interests. In criminal law, what I do changes every day and it never fails to entertain. Every single day, I get to help someone. I listen to them, I tell them the truth, and I tell their story.
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With my business clients, I help them with the hard stuff, so they can focus on the work. It’s not always exciting, but it’s always rewarding. I love being self-employed – although I work twice the hours I did when I worked for someone else. Being my own boss, my wife and I can travel regularly—the only thing I love doing more than being an attorney.
What difficulties related to gender or sexuality have you had to overcome to be successful? I’ve been out as a lesbian for my entire career. I don’t know how not to be out. I don’t have the time in a day that it would take to hide. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but ultimately, being open about who I am has aided my professional life. I don’t have any horror stories. When you are who you are, despite the risks, you immediately present to others as having both integrity and courage—two incredibly important traits for an attorney. But, being a woman and an attorney can be a minefield, especially in the South. It’s difficult for a young attorney to find the balances between professionalism and friendliness versus what you have to overcome as a woman to be taken seriously by your colleagues. If you’re not flirty or willing to flirt in return, you’re seen as cold or rude. If you’re “too” friendly you are seen as unprofessional or weak. My ability to help my clients is often about the relationships I have with others. How you’re perceived has a direct impact on the client. As I’ve gotten older and more experienced, it’s gotten easier. It takes a long time but after a while, the work you do and your reputation as a professional will prevail.
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Robin Cohn—come.sit.stay, a pet boutique Tell me about your business.
I own come.sit.stay pet boutique in Belle Meade Plaza. I started come.sit. stay almost 15 years ago, hoping to fill in a niche in the Nashville marketplace that didn’t exist at the time: A small specialized store which carried only the safest and highest quality items on the market for our dogs and cats. Yet at the same time, we’re functional and aesthetically pleasing. My love for my own dogs led me to open the store. As they were getting older, I hated the idea of leaving them at home all day long. So, I threw caution, and savings, to the wind and started the boutique. I soon discovered how MANY people loved their dogs, and cats, and wanted to spoil them! Dogs and cats are no longer considered “just pets”, they are treated more like family.
At come.sit.stay I carry only humangrade treats, the most durable lines of toys made, hand-made collars, leashes and beds, bowls made in America with safe clays and glazes, and such. My best seller for the past 2 years has been CBD products from Colorado, which helps pets and humans, deal with anxiety, inflammation, pain, and much more. I did months and months of research before carrying CBD of any sort, to discern that which was the cleanest, safest on the market. I am cautious in everything I approach when dealing with our pets. CBD has changed my business model as it has changed lives. Human, canine and feline.
How did you get into this field, and why do you love it?
I guess the answer to this question was answered above for the most part. Being able to have my dogs with me, and loving dogs and cats in general, was my main impetus for starting the store. I also wanted to find items for them which were safer and cleaner than what I could find at big-box type stores.
What difficulties related to gender or sexuality have you had to overcome to be successful?
I had been out for over 22 years when I started come.sit.stay. My sexuality and
PHOTO: JEN KNIGHT (L) & ROBIN COHN (R)
gender had been issues in previous jobs, but by the time I opened the store, I can’t say that they presented many barriers. That being said, being a woman business owner means that you continuously have to prove yourself to others in ANY industry to be considered an “equal.” The fact that I am gay doesn’t come into play too often, and if it does, I consider it an educational opportunity to teach those who may make insensitive or degrading remarks while in the store. I will not turn a blind eye, or ear, to discrimination. I have had jobs in the past where I was told, “We don’t hire gay people”, so I DO know how that feels. I set out to always have an open door to all. To welcome any and all equally. Love is love is love.
Shannon Lashley—L.A. Security, Inc. Tell me about your business.
L.A. Security Inc. maintains a safe and secure environment for customers and employees by establishing and enforcing security policies and procedures for all. Our company, based in Nashville, provides all types of security services throughout Middle Tennessee. Security services offered by our company can be customized and combined to meet the security requirements of any organization. We work closely with each client, listening carefully and applying our 18 years of expertise to offer a security solution that meets your specific service needs. I have worked for other security companies for several years and finally decided that I was just tired of watching employees being mismanaged and
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mistreated. I decided to start my own company to begin a better way and try to make a difference. I want my employees to be treated well at the work place, while still maintaining a strong security company. I also want to teach crime prevention.
What difficulties related to gender or sexuality have you had to overcome to be successful?
The main struggle is being female and minority. I am one of the few minority females to serve as the chief of a security company, as well as to own my own business. This is a hurdle that I continue to struggle with, especially with other security businesses. I have experience and the knowledge that inspires me to continue in this business.
HEALTH
ARTS
Dental Services East Side Smiles 7 North 10th Street Nashville, TN 37206 615-227-2400 Eastsidesmile.net
Performing Arts Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center One Symphony Place Nashville, TN 37201 615-687-6400 Nashvillesymphony.org
Healthcare Providers Cool Springs Internal Medicine & Pediatrics Bradley Bullock, MD 1607 Westgate Circle, Ste 200 Brentwood, TN 37027 615-376-8195 Coolspringsinternalmedicine.com
SPIRITUALITY
Pharmacy Nashville Pharmacy Services 100 Oaks Plaza, Skyline Medical 615-371-1210 / 615-724-0066 Npspharmcay.com Optometry Look East 1011 Gallatin Avenue Nashville, TN 37206 615-928-2281 Lookeastnashville.com COUNSELING & PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH Individual & Couples Therapy Barbara Sanders, LCSW/John Waide, PhD, LCSW 2016- 21St Ave South/2323- 21st Ave South, Ste.401 Nashville, TN 37212 615-414-2553 / 615-400-5911 Dignitytherapynashville.com
Holy Trinity Community Church 6727 Charlotte Pike Nashville, TN 37209 615-352-3838 www.htccnashville.com Belmont United Methodist Church 2007 Acklen Avenue Nashville TN 27212 (615) 383-0832 Blakemore United Methodist Church 3601 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37205 (615) 297-6519 East End United Methodist Church 1212 Holly Street Nashville, TN 37206 (615) 227-3272 Edgehill United Methodist Church 1502 Edgehill Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37203 (615) 254-7628
BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Glendale United Methodist Church 900 Glendale Lane Nashville, TN 37204 (615) 297-6233
PLAY Dance Bar 1519 Church Street Nashville, TN 37203 615-322-9627 Playdancebar.com
West End United Methodist Church 2200 West End Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37203 (615) 321-8500
REAL ESTATE Sheila Barnard, Realtor, The Realty Association 1305 Murfressboro Road Nashville, TN 37217 615-385-9010 cell 615-424-6924 Sheilabarnard.realtyassociation.com Emily Benedict, Realtor, Village Real Estate 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-585-1258 BSLNashville.com Kate Nelson, Realtor, Village Real Estate 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-383-6964 Realestatewithkate.com LEGAL SERVICES Lawyer Bart Durham Injury Law Office 404 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37219 615-338-6177 Bartdurham.com ORGANIZATIONS Nashville Humane Association 213 Oceola Avenue Nashville, TN 37209 615-352-1010 Nashvillehumane.org Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 330971 Nashville, TN 37203 615-507-5185 Nashvillelgbtchamber.org
Tribe 1517 Church Street Nashville, TN 37203 615-329-2912 Tribenashville.com
Nashville – 636 Old Hickory Boulevard Chattanooga – 7734 Lee Highway Knoxville – 230 Papermill Place Way
Buy • Sell • Trade www.mckaybooks.com
Find Something You Want Now posting great McKay finds on Facebook & Twitter!
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CREDIT: KAILEE RICHES PHOTOGRAPHY
Andrea Hewitt—East Nashville Doulas
Tell me about your business.
I’m the owner of East Nashville Doulas, a full-service, professional doula agency in Nashville. We offer birth doula services, postpartum doula services, childbirth education classes, breastfeeding classes, and fourth trimester classes. Our team consists of 8 doulas, including myself, plus a lactation educator. And we are committed to providing inclusive care to all families in the greater Nashville area. For those who don’t know what doulas do, we are non-medical labor support professionals who provide physical, emotional, and informational support to families before, during, and after birth.
ready to find a job where I could make a difference in people’s lives in a more direct & tangible way. I’m a helper by nature. I had been fascinated by all things birth and babies since I was younger, and having had two children of my own had only fueled my desire to help empower pregnant people to have their best birth. I trained and certified as a birth doula first, then I became a certified Lamaze childbirth educator, and a trained postpartum doula, as well. I opened my solo practice in 2015. After I got so busy last year that I was turning clients away, I opened my agency in July 2018. Bringing on other doulas to help with this work has been such an amazing experience. I love mentoring these doulas and watching them grow in their careers, too. My favorite part of my job, besides directly supporting people in labor and in their postpartum time, is watching people go from not knowing much at all about birth and the choices they have for care to feeling
How did you get into this field, and why do you love it?
CREDIT: ANDERSON LANE PHOTOGRAPHY
In 2015, I left my job as the Program Coordinator of the Faculty Senate at Vanderbilt University, where I had worked for the past 12 years, because I was
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empowered and well-informed about their birth choices. We know that people are more likely to have a good experience if they are a participant in the decision-making process about their birth. Doulas give people the tools they need to have those important conversations with their care provider team. We are proud to work together with obstetricians, midwives, and nurses to help clients get the best birth possible.
What difficulties related to gender or sexuality have you had to overcome to be successful?
Honestly, I was a bit worried at first about the impact my being a lesbian would have on my ability to get clients. Although Nashville is a very progressive city, I know that not every person is accepting. But my experience has been the exact opposite. I state in my bio on our website that I’m married to a woman since I want to be upfront about it from the beginning. And it has never been a problem. We are also very vocal about inclusive care for all, and that’s a value that’s very dear to me and everyone who works with me. I find that this resonates with our client families, and I think it’s actually been a plus for us. There is some homophobia in the birth world, though, and there are some doulas & midwives who will not work with LGBTQ families. It’s so sad to me when I hear of the discrimination that LGBTQ families experience when they are simply trying to get care. I want all of them to know that we support you and we can help you find supportive care providers if you need that service.
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