O&AN | June 2015 by Out & About Nashville

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MAYBE QUESTIONING THE NORM SHOULD BE THE NEW NORM. Every time a bar gets raised, a record gets broken, or a new star shines, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because somebody was curious. Wondering how high they could reach. How much they could do. As a proud sponsor of Nashville Pride, we applaud that. Questioning everything makes anything possible. Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC. O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .C O M

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

/////////////////////////////////// June 26, 2015 Dear Friends: It is a pleasure to welcome you to our great city as you take part in the 2015 Nashville Pride Festival and Concert. This is a celebration of diversity, of community and of people from many backgrounds coming together for a shared cause. Whether you live in Nashville, visit often, or are with us for the first time, I encourage you to visit our cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many landmarks such as the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous honkytonks, and historical sites such as The Hermitage (home of President Andrew Jackson) and Fort Negley. In addition, please consider visiting the Parthenon, one of our most beloved icons, located in beautiful Centennial Park. It is my sincere wish that your festival is a great success. I am certain that you will witness firsthand the southern hospitality and friendliness that our city is famous for. We hope to see you back in years to come. Regards,

Karl F. Dean Mayor

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TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER PRIDE PRESIDENT CLAUDIA HUSKEY SHOWS ALLY PRIDE /////////////////////// JAMES GRADY Not too long ago, even in huge cities, Pride was more of a political action than a festival, and LGBTQ people were subject to harassment and abuse for daring to show up. In Nashville, that is much more recent history. So it is unsurprising that members of the LGBTQ community have strong feelings of ownership over Pride. Claudia Huskey has as much enthusiasm for and, well, pride in Nashville Pride as any of her predecessors, but she does bring something different to the table. Huskey is a straight ally. When this was announced, there were murmurs, but as the community has gotten to know her and her work on behalf of Pride, those murmurs have generally been converted to nods of approval. Huskey isn’t a newcomer to ally status. She recalled two close family friends, Rick and Steve, one of the first committed gay couples she met. “I saw the struggles they faced trying to get and keep jobs, purchase property together and make medical decisions together—all things that for others in our community don’t come as a struggle. I remember thinking at a really early age, ‘Wow, that’s not fair, that’s not cool.’ So I just really felt compelled to fight for human rights, which are completely basic, in my opinion…. That motivated me to serve Pride and our community, and I think that it is incumbent upon other straight allies to do the same.” Getting Huskey involved, then, didn’t require a hard sell. “I worked at the Tennessee legislature with Joseph Woodson when he was about to become president elect, and they didn’t have anyone to fill the position of secretary. They were also looking to diversify their board a little, and were looking for some straight allies. In the role of secretary I entered the executive committee right off the bat....” At the end of the festival in 2013, Woodson approached Huskey about running for president elect. “We had a lot of discussions about it, and actually I called each member of the board personally, because it was something I was very sensitive to. I wanted to make sure that if it was a direction we wanted to go I had full buy-in from the board. The consensus was that everyone

thought it was a great thing, that I had the leadership skills to help move things forward and a passion for the mission.” Most have viewed her presidency as a positive step for Pride. “Obviously the LGBT community can and should have a great amount of pride for who they are. But straight allies also need to show pride in our coworkers, our friends, and our family members who are members of the LGBT community, and we need to come together. Our slogan this year is ‘Keep Moving Forward Together’ and the stronger our numbers are

twenty, thirty, forty years ago is incredible and amazing.” Engaging people in the struggle to forward the cause is essential, and Huskey sees Pride as the cornerstone of building a stronger community that links LGBTQ people not only with each other but also with allies and potential allies. “I just want to see people come together in our community. We can’t continue to look at it as ‘us versus them’ on issues of fundamental rights! Hopefully by having a straight ally president, it signals other allies that this is a festival for you too, we want

of LGBT people who are out and thriving and of straight allies who support the community, the faster it’s going to happen, and the more we can get done.” Engaging straight allies in our community, Huskey believes, is key to expanding the reach of the message of Pride and forwarding the cause of equality. “If we limit involvement in and leadership of the festival to only those within the LGBT community, it can only grow so large, and our message can only go so far…. By expanding and having a bigger footprint downtown at Public Square Park, we can bring straight allies in to support our cause and to raise awareness of all the important work that’s being done by community members now and that has been done in the past. The amount of knowledge I have gained as a straight ally of fights that were fought ten,

you to come, we want you to join together with our brothers and sisters and keep moving forward together!” Aside from its social value forwarding the cause of liberty, Pride serves a very important function now. Huskey recalled a moving moment from last year’s festival. “I met a young man from outside of Nashville. He was able to attend the festival and was able to hold hands with his boyfriend. Really it’s one of the only few times in the whole year he’s able to do that and live as an open, gay man. 363 other days of the year people have a hard time being who they are. If we can provide two days where they can hold hands or be affectionate, wear what they want to wear and say what they want to say, nothing makes me prouder than helping provide people with that opportunity.” @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .C O M

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FOR THE

OF PRIDE ///////

PRIDE LEADERSHIP SHARES WHY THEY [HEART] PRIDE Organizing Nashville Pride is hard work— truly a labor of love—and we imagine that everyone who takes a leadership role in the event must wonder occasionally (each day) why it is they agreed to this. So we decided to give them a boost coming in to Pride month and help them remind themselves why they love this festival so much. Here are some of the responses we received. Joey Leslie, President Elect // The Equality Walk has grown so much in a short time and it was amazing to see several people get overwhelmed with emotion during last year’s walk. It’s a great feeling to be a part of something so special and meaningful to so many people for so many reasons. Matia Powell, Secretary // My favorite moment from 2014 Pride was watching my best friend Claudia Huskey perform at Turnabout. Pride is about love, understanding, and celebrating our differences. Turnabout challenges performers to step out of their comfort zone and experience life—even for a moment—from a different prospective. I am sure Claudia was nervous, but she stepped out on the stage and owned it like a BOSS! Her performance definitely encouraged me

Joey Leslie

Jack Davis

to perform in this year’s event. Matthew Gann, Treasurer of the Board // This past year was my first year attending Nashville Pride. I volunteered as a Gate Captain and I really didn’t know what to expect. My favorite memory has to be seeing the amount of happy families, both gay and straight, that came through my gate. The kids were excited to be there and the parents were proud to support the community. I think that’s what makes “Nashville Pride” completely “Nashville.” Jack Davis, Festival Director // The Equality Walk for me is always the best way to kick off our Saturday festival. The bands that perform, the diversity and excitement of the festival attendees is also a huge highlight for me, as a culmination of all of the work that goes into planning the festival and concert throughout the year. Lisa Howe, Equality Walk Coordinator & Board Member // The Equality Walk, hands down. We had participation from corporations with banners and matching shirts, non-profit organizations, and social groups from Facebook with signs. When over 1000 diverse people share that experience

Joseph Woodson

MODERN OR CLASSIC? WE APPRECIATE BOTH.

for equality, publicly and proudly, it is very impactful. Joseph Woodson, Past President // We’re Music City, and music should be a huge part of our celebration for diversity— and last year it definitely was! My favorite memory from 2014 was watching Bettye Who ignite the crowd into a dancing frenzy less than one hour before the festival was over. Seeing Nashvillians of all shapes, sizes, colors, genders, ages, and orientations jumping up and down singing “Somebody Loves You” to one another really struck a cord in me. It was a music magic Nashville Pride moment I’m very proud of! Phil Cobucci, Marketing & Communications Chair // Last year was my first year working with Pride as a volunteer and sponsor. Overall the experience was thrilling and a highlight of my year, I think back to our People of Pride photos that we took for Nashville Pride social media channels. I look back at those pictures at least once a month, to remind myself of who we, as the Nashville Pride board, do this for. Whether a member of the LGBTQ community or a straight ally, all of this work is to celebrate equality with our community, that is truly special to me. Jeff Yarbro, State Senator & Board Member // The move to Public Square Park— City Hall’s front yard—symbolized to me both the progress that’s been made and the ambitions going forward.

Matia Powell

Matthew Gann

Lambda Car Club Int’l — Cumberland The regions only LGBT car club focused on cars, special events, networking, and great friendships with like-minded automotive enthusiasts. WWW.LCCCUMBERLAND.COM GROUPS/LCCICUMBERLAND

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WHAT IT TAKES TO SHOW NASHVILLE’S PRIDE

AFTER FINANCIAL STRUGGLES, FESTIVAL FINDS ITS FOOTING //////////////// JAMES GRADY Nashville’s Pride festival has come a long way since the city’s first Pride March in June 1988. Back then, around 125 congregated at Fannie Mae Dees (Dragon) Park for a march through Vanderbilt University and then across West End Avenue to Centennial Park. Bearing signs and facing protests, that group of activists made a statement about LGBT visibility and built the foundations for the climate of greater social acceptance we now enjoy. By 1995, Nashville Pride was seeing attendance numbers as high as 8,000.

As Pride continued to become more acceptable to, and in some cases even embraced by, the mainstream culture, Nashville Pride, like festivals around the country, became an even more elaborate affair, requiring a large body of volunteers, a sizeable budget, and a full year of planning to pull off. According to the Pride Executive Board, “It costs well over $100,000 to put on Pride every year.” That six-figure budget has allowed the event to thrive, but there have been significant challenges. In 2009, Nashville Pride was facing financial challenges. The organization was, by then,

tens of thousands of dollars in debt and was in desperate need of financial restructuring and support in order to ensure its longevity. It took four long years and incredibly hard work by its all-volunteer board for Nashville Pride to be officially debt free in 2013. This was accomplished by cutting costs and vigorous fundraising and the hard

work of our committed all volunteer board. According to Phil Cobucci, PR & Marketing Director for Nashville Pride, “Funds are raised through a variety of sources. Most notably is our signature Friends with Benefits membership program, which anyone can join. When our friends make a tax deductible donation of either $150 or $200, they get great benefits which include access to our annual events like Chefs for Pride and Martinis and Jazz, as well as VIP access to the festival. When our friends donate, they

play an integral role in ensuring the success of pride year over year. You can learn more about this program at nashvillepride.org/ donate. In addition to this program, we have great corporate sponsors, private donations, and event partners who help put our events on.” In 2013, Joseph Woodson was elected President of Nashville Pride. Rather than rest on their success, Woodson immediately charged the board with the task of continuing to operate in a lean and fiscally responsible manner, as well as to develop a rainy day

fund to cover costs of putting the annual Pride event. This fund, a literal rainy day fund, was established in case a festival was a complete washout due to weather or any other unpredictable circumstances. According to Cobucci, “We are proud to say our all-volunteer board has worked very hard over the last six years. Nashville Pride is now officially 100 percent out of debt. We are also happy to say that after just one year, we are about half way to having the money necessary for a full year rainy day fund.” Nashville’s LGBT community need no longer worry: Pride is healthier than it has ever been in Nashville!

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O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .C O M

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Nashville Pride Board Meeting 6pm – 7pm Center 615

Annual Pride Pageant 7pm - 10pm Play Dance Bar

Pride Drag Queen Brunch 11am - 3pm Play Dance Bar Studio Tenn Theatre Company presents The Wizard of Oz 2pm - 5pm Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Meet The Sisters at Canvas 8:30pm – 9:30pm Canvas Lounge

Pride Board Turn About 7pm - 10pm Play Dance Bar

Pride Comedy Night at Zanies 7:30pm - 9:30pm For more info and tickets visit goo.gl/oBnS7R

Nashville in Harmony 7:30pm – 10pm Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Mayoral Forum for the LGBT and Ally Community 6pm - 8pm Baker Donelson

Spirituality Night 6:30pm - 8:30pm Wightman Chapel

Nashville Sounds Night Out at the Ballpark 7:30pm - 10pm First Tennessee Park

Pride Festival Volunteer Meeting 6pm - 7pm Outcentral

Curb Records Pride Pre Party 6pm - 10pm

Gay 5k for Outcentral 8am - 9am Shelby Park (Register at goo.gl/XEjNSA)

Pride in Concert 6pm - 10pm Public Square Park

Pride Festival driven by Bridgestone 10am - 9pm Public Square Park

Co-hosted by Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Stonewall Bar Association of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Equality Project

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

MÝA SHOWS HER ALLY PRIDE PRIDE ENTERTAINER OPENS UP /////////// TESSIE AUSTIN Mýa—the name speaks volumes to music lovers everywhere! Since bursting onto the scene in 1998, Miss Mýa has had a sixteen-year record of hits, racking up accomplishment after accomplishment, and giving back to our community time and again, and she is still going strong. A star of music, film, TV, she is a true superstar, and yet she is someone that truly cares about her fellow human beings. Philanthropy has always been a part of Mýa’s career and life. Starting back at the beginning of her rise to fame in 1998, she was the spokesperson for Secret to Self Esteem. In 2005, she founded The Mýa Arts & Tech Foundation to help disadvantaged youth. She has been advocating for breast cancer survivors, in honor of her mother who is a 16 year survivor, working with the Global AIDS fight, assisting homeless LGBT youth, advocating for equality with the NOH8 campaign and most recently standing with our community in the #LoveConquers Hate campaign. When you look at all Mýa’s accomplishments, endeavors, awards and her gracious generosity to so many causes, it’s a no brainer that any Pride festival would be proud to have her join their Pride 2015 lineup. And Mýa loves Pride: “As an entertainer, live performance is the ultimate experience for me. And there’s really no other platform where I feel I can comfortably be free without judgement except for the Pride platform.” Mýa has performed at other Pride events in recent years in other cities as well, showing her continued support for LGBT fans all over the country. One of her most memorable Pride moments happened at a Los Angeles event, she said, where “the 12

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city lost power and the stage completely blacked out. We lost, lights, sound, but we didn’t stop. We finished the show to our own rhythm, our own beat and the crowd cheered us on. And it was clear then, we were all in this together and didn’t need anything but just that and the spirit that brought us there in the first place.”

When asked about her passion for being an ally for our community, Mýa explained, “My passion comes from respect and compassion for humanity. Life and travel has only been confirmation [for me] that people, animals, plants and every creation have been designed to be one of a kind. And if not one of us is designed to be the same, why can’t we exist as we are without scrutiny and punishment? I have a problem with that.” Mýa also knows that “conflict in the world has been created by humans” but she sees it as part of her calling to bring JUNE 2015

PRIDE

people from all walks of life together to share in the basic human needs of unconditional love. She also said that almost losing her mother to cancer twice has “instilled [in her the value of] pursuing balance. It’s been a reminder that everything that glitters is not gold and true richness is giving love and using yourself to make the world a better place.” Not only are we excited to have her headline our Nashville Pride, Mýa’s excited to come back to Nashville as well. “I’ve always loved the scenery in Nashville, and it’s a place that I know will naturally feel like home. Being that there’s an incredible established music scene there, I’m super excited to share new music in a place that births extraordinary music.” With all she has going on currently, downtime is important to recharge and maintain balance. What does that look like for Mýa? She takes time to smell the roses, literally: her Instagram account shows pictures of different flowers every day that she stops to admire. Her #AFlowerADay pictures collect a beautiful assortment of nature’s charms that helps not only her, but also all her fans, stop each day and enjoy the world around them. She can also be found visiting aquariums or museums, or just chilling with her animals and family in Maryland. Mýa also said, “I love thrills and adventure, so amusement parks or something outrageous like a shark encounter tour” could be on the agenda at any time! What’s next for Mýa? She just released a series of three digital EP’s on her independent label Planet 9. She is also focusing on her biggest project, herself. She’s will have 365 days of veganism under her belt as of July 1, 2015, something that she is very proud of. Her focus on being a free spirit and doing bold things also is part of her current plan for life. Whatever she chooses to do in the future, we know that it will be something that her fans will enjoy, and her long history of giving back is sure to continue.

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THE ROLLING STONES Wednesday, June 17

LINDSEY STERLING Tuesday, June 23

BRYAN ADAMS

Thursday, June 25

IMAGINE DRAGONS with Metric and Halsey

AMOS LEE & DAVID GRAY

OUTCRY TOUR 2015

BRIAN WILSON & RODRIGUEZ

SHANIA TWAIN with Gavin DeGraw

LAST SUMMER ON EARTH: BARENAKED LADIES WITH VIOLENT FEMMES AND COLIN HAY

Friday, July 31

Monday, July 13

FOO FIGHTERS – SOLD OUT

R5 with Jacob Whitesides and Ryland

Wednesday, July 8

with Hillsong United, Kari Jobe, Bethel Music & More Thursday, July 30

Monday, October 5

Friday, June 26

Saturday, June 27

Thursday, July 30

DAMIEN RICE

Sunday, August 16

MICHAEL MCDONALD Friday, June 12

MAD DECENT BLOCK PARTY Friday, August 28

ROB THOMAS with Plain White T’s Wednesday, July 22

JOHN HIATT & THE COMBO AND THE TAJ MAHAL TRIO

TORI KELLY

Sunday, August 23

Tuesday, June 16

KRAFTWERK

NEON TREES with COIN and Fictionist

Sunday, September 27

Tuesday, July 14

BRAND NEW with Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine Sunday, October 11

WALK THE MOON Friday, October 16

JACK GARRATT

Thursday, August 6

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

ST LUCIA DELIVERS ‘DREAMY, NOSTALGIC POP’ TESSIE AUSTIN St Lucia’s music might best be described as a mix of the throwback sounds of Wham! with unique synth-pop vibes, giving the group’s music a kind of 80s feel with a definite now sound. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africia, St Lucia front man Jean-Phillip Gorbler is a musician who early on studied classical opera and then burst onto the music scene in 2010. His pop music is grounded in early inspirations, such as Fleetwood Mac and Madonna, among others. Flash forward to 2015 and Gorbler is belting out songs like “September” and “All Eyes On You” as St Lucia, and his newest album is called When The Night. His native South Africa and his current home base of Brooklyn, New York, may seem a far distance from Nashville, however the whole crew that supports St Lucia is based right here in Music City. Gorbler sees Nashville has having a “traditional country side, as well as a progressive side,” and he feels very fortunate to have been able to spend time here not only spreading the wonderful sounds of his music but helping to produce other artists, such as his label mate HAERTS, in our great city. That’s why he jumped at the chance to come back to Nashville and perform at Pride. St Lucia also has a large number of LGBT fans, so he said performing at Pride 2015 in Music City “just seemed natural!” That’s a wonderful thing to hear from such a great ally for our community.

When you listen to St Lucia, you will hear sounds that are often described as “dreamy, nostalgic pop,” and you may feel transported back to the days when his inspirations were on top of the charts. While some artists might resists such a characterization, St Lucia embraces it,

even if, as with any artist, he finds it hard to classify his own sound. “If you ask any artist how they would describe their music, we could go on for hours because we live it,” according to Gorbler. He also stated that “there is always a balance [in my music], but also juxtaposition between happy and sad, a tinge of melancholy. I like to have a rub between those because life is like that. I’m always aware of the two

opposites of life; I want my music to reflect that.” When he’s not on the road performing, chances are you’ll find St. Lucia still working. According to Gorbler, “writing takes me long time, with all the layers in the music.” He does also take time to visit his family still in South Africa and his wife’s family in Germany as much as possible. Working out, seeing friends, and “just trying to be as balanced as I can within the crazy framework of music” are how he described his down time away from the scene. St Lucia has recently performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, an event he described as “kind of a South by Southwest in the desert.” According to St Lucia, “It was blazing hot, tons of people, amazing sets by loads of different amazing bands. The sound is amazing. It’s the first proper festival of the season, and everyone is trying to put their best show forward.” And that’s exactly what St Lucia did, performing for a live crowd of about 30,000, with about 50,000 more tuning in online. To him, those numbers were unfathomable. He said “at best my brain can absorb about 2,000 people, but I can’t picture that there were 30,000 people watching!” St. Lucia is also touring with Empire of the Sun this fall on the West Coast. But love for Nashville will bring the act back our way sooner than you think!

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Photos: Shervin Lainez

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GIVING GAY A VOICE ON THE AIRWAVES ///// DJ RON REFLECTS ON PRIDE AND HIS NASHVILLE LEGACY JAMES GRADY It’s been twenty-three years since Ron Slomowicz, one of this year’s Pride DJs, arrived in Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University. In those years, the man who has come to be more recognized by the bigger-than-life character he created, DJ Ron, has changed the face of Nashville and its music scene. So news that he is relocating to Chicago spread fast. Why after all these years has DJ Ron decided that this was the moment? After all he refused a job in New York years ago. “I’m forty-one,” said DJ Ron. “I’ve never had that big city life experience before and if I don’t do it now, I never will.” But he’s not leaving Nashville behind. “I love Nashville, I love playing Tribe, and I love the community here. I grew up here. I mean I moved here when I was eighteen, so I’ve been here more than half my life…. I’m still spinning at Play once a month, I’ll be back for Pride, and I’ll still have my holiday parties. So Nashville will always be part of my life, and I’m still part of the great group of DJs who spin at Play—DJs like Stretch and Remedy, Azera and Apollo—and it’s a real honor to be part of such a great group of DJs.” DJ Ron’s ties to Pride in Nashville also run deep. “I started getting active here in Pride in 1994, when I started staying in Nashville over the summers during my years at Vanderbilt. I’ve been really active since around that time.” Active is an understatement. From around 1997 until about 2001, he served on the Executive Board of the Pride committee. “We did an exchange with San Diego. We went to San Diego Pride and learned how to do a bigger festival in Nashville. As part of that I also got to

play San Diego Pride for three years in a row!” Some of his earliest Nashville Pride memories relate to the legendary Bianca Paige. “You never knew what was going to come out of her mouth, and she didn’t care. One of the drag queens one year demanded chocolate covered strawberries or she wouldn’t perform. It was such a diva thing to do. And Bianca Paige went on stage and that was like the punchline of every joke she told that night—chocolate covered strawberries.”

“One more recent thing that really sticks out in my mind—this was probably three years ago—was when Nikki Williams had just had her hit single “Glowing”—that was like Top 40—it did really well. Her manager called and said, ‘Hey, Nikki’s in town, can you put her on stage anywhere?’ So out of nowhere, I’m on stage DJing and I said, ‘Everybody, I’ve got a special treat for you all. Here’s Nikki Williams!’ And she came on stage and surprised everyone. That was an amazing moment….” “Another time that really stands out was when we had Kerli here. We had kids driving

from four or five hours away to come see her. It was a two hour line to get to her for an autograph afterwards, and she was there the entire time in the hot sun showing so much love to all her fans. I just learned from that….” DJ Ron may be in Chicago now, but Pride is something he won’t miss. “Nashville Pride will always be in my blood. I grew up in Nashville and it’s something I believe in. One of the first things I did when I decided to move to Chicago was to buy tickets to Nashville for Pride. No matter what kind of gig I get booked for, I am in town for Nashville Pride.” It’s clear that Nashville will always hold a central place for DJ Ron. Reflecting on his years in Nashville, he said that if he could only have one Nashville legacy, he would have it be for his role in “bringing gay onto the radio and giving us a voice on the airwaves. I was on WRVU for twenty years—1992 to 2012—doing gay and lesbian radio. I don’t want to call myself a trailblazer but gay radio wasn’t being done in the early 90s. So much stuff was covered over those years, the fight to overturn sodomy laws … and just fighting for visibility, fighting for the right to walk down the street for a gay pride parade. We talked about so many things, ON THE AIR, at a conservative college in the South!” “One of my biggest honors, though,” he added, “was that I’m the first DJ to ever when Best Club DJ in the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville awards five times. To know that Nashville supported me that much over the years... I’m so humbled by, and grateful for, all the support that I’ve received. I couldn’t live my dreams the way I do without Nashville behind me.”

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ORGANIZERS AIM TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION ////////////////// was launched as a way for OutCentral to promote health and wellness, while at the same raising much needed funds. Obviously, it was not exactly a rousing success that first year, but the OutCentral board believed in it and decided it was a worthy labor of love. The name of the run was changed and marketing efforts have increased over time. Last year’s event boasted 206 participants, and this year’s goal is even higher. OutCentral’s mission is to connect, educate, empower, and build a positive, energy-filled space for greater Nashville’s diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. For more information - outcentral.org.

Photos: OutCentral

JULIE RELIFORD As part of this year’s Pride month, OutCentral will hold its 8th Annual Gay 5K Run/Walk for diversity on June 20 at Shelby Park in Nashville. Everyone— gay, lesbian, straight, bi, trans, allies and anyone else—is invited. All ages and all levels of ability are encouraged to participate—run, walk, roll, crawl, or dance your way across the finish line. The motto of this event is “bring your best!” This year’s Gay 5K will be on a certified course and chip timed. Proceeds from the event benefit OutCentral, Greater Nashville’s LGBT Center. The first Gay 5K, held seven years ago, was actually called the “Rainbow Run,” and it had only six participants. It

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A MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM STONEWALL TO SCOTUS JULIE RELIFORD The journey that began with a riot at the Stonewall Inn in the 1960s has made it all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), which will soon rule on marriage equality, and Nashville in Harmony is throwing a party to celebrate. The 120 voices of Nashville in Harmony are presenting, “Rock ‘n’ Rule—A Musical Journey from Stonewall to SCOTUS” on Sunday, June 14, at 7:00 p.m. at TPAC’s Polk Theater. “Rock ‘n’ Rule” will feature iconic rock

and pop songs that formed the soundtrack of the decades-long struggle, as well as featuring stops along the way to remember pivotal moments in LGBT history. Equality is the unifying refrain of this show, which includes classic pop, rock, and soul tunes like “We Belong,” “Everyday People,” “We Will Rock You,” and “A Change Is Gonna Come,” as well as more recent anthems from artists like Kelly Clarkson, Sarah Bareilles, and Destiny’s Child. According to Artistic Director, Don Schlosser, “These are the songs that define

the last fifty years, the music we grew up with, the songs we all know by heart, and sing loud.” In their short eleven-year history, Nashville in Harmony, whose mission is to ‘use music to build community and create social change,’ has been acknowledged as a premier arts organization, and was voted by the readers of the Nashville Scene as Music City’s favorite chorus. As the historic ruling comes closer, it is a good time to reflect on a few of the events that have contributed to positive growth in the struggle for LGBT rights.

• June 28, 1969: Stonewall Riots, New York City - While smaller events and achievements preceded Stonewall, the size and scope of the riots were unprecedented up to that time. The evening of the Stonewall Riots is widely considered the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States. The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the LGBT community against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in Greenwich Village. Unwarranted raids, beatings, and abuse directed at LGBT people by the police had been an accepted and common occurrence for many years. This particular night the LGBT community finally fought back, due in part to the solidarity they felt

because hundreds, if not thousands, of gays were in town for the funeral of gay icon, Judy Garland. • June 27–28, 1970: First Pride - To mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall uprisings, the first Pride Celebrations were held in New York, LA, San Francisco, and Chicago. Gay Pride celebrations continue to be held all over the world each year in June to commemorate this event. • 1973 - The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from their official list of mental disorders. • November 27, 1978: Harvey Milk Assassinated - Harvey Milk had a dream for a better tomorrow filled with hope and equality, and a world without hate. To help realize that dream he entered the political system in San Francisco and won a ground breaking election in 1977, becoming as one of the world’s first openly gay elected

officials. He was arguably also the most visible at the time and symbolized the freedom to live life with authenticity to millions of LGBT women and men around the world. Milk served less than a year in public office before he was assassinated. His life and death profoundly changed a city, state, nation and a global community. His courage, passion and sense of justice rocked a country and stirred the very core of a put down and pushed out community, bringing forward new hope and a new vision of freedom. • October 14, 1979: The National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights - This large political rally was the first such march on Washington, and it drew between 75,000 and 125,000 gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people, and straight allies to demand

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1978: MILK

1981: AIDS CRISIS 1998: SHEPARD

2010: DON’T ASK DON’T TELL

Photos: Nashville in Harmony

2015: MARRIAGE EQUALITY

equal civil rights and urge the passage of protective civil rights legislation. • 1980 - Democratic National Convention adds gay rights to their platform. • 1981: The AIDS CRISIS - On June 5 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), describing cases of a rare lung infection, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), in five young, previously healthy, gay men in Los Angeles. All the men had other unusual infections as well, indicating that their immune systems were not working; two had already died by the time the report was published. This MMWR marks the first official reporting of what will become known as the AIDS epidemic. Throughout the 1980s, the AIDS epidemic grew, as did stigma against gays as a result. • May 30, 1987 - Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank comes out as the first openly gay member of the US Congress. • October 11, 1987 - National March on Washington and first display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. • December 1, 1988 - First World Aids Day. • November 30, 1993: Bill Clinton

implements Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy Considered a positive step for LGBT people at the time, the policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service • September 21, 1996: Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - The act was enacted as US federal law that allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states. • April 30, 1997: “The Puppy Episode” - Controversial at the time, and later considered a pivotal moment in LGBT history, this two-part episode of the TV sit-com *Ellen*, starring Ellen DeGeneres, detailed lead character Ellen Morgan’s realization that she was a lesbian and her coming out. • October 1998: Matthew Shepard Murdered - Matthew Wayne “Matt” Shepard was an American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming on the night of October 6, 1998. Shepard died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 12, from his severe head injuries. It was believed that he was

targeted for being gay and his murder brought national and international attention to hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels. • 2000 - Vermont allows civil unions with same protections and obligations as marriage for same sex couples • 2004 - Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize same sex marriage. • 2009 - Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act signed into law. • 2010 - Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repealed • 2011 - DOMA repealed • 2015: SCOTUS agrees to rule on same-sex marriage - On January 16, 2015, SCOTUS took on the historic constitutional challenge regarding same-sex marriage. Oral arguments were heard in April, and a final decision is expected no later than the end of June. At the time the case was accepted, same-sex marriage was allowed in thirty-six states and banned in the other fourteen. The court will decide whether same-sex marriage bans are prohibited by the U.S. constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law, and/or whether states must recognizes same sex marriages from other states. No matter the outcome, the case is considered a monumental event in LGBT history. @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

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Created in 1995, The Brooks Fund was named for the beloved Vanderbilt associate professor H. Franklin Brooks, and perpetuates his forthright championing of human rights. Through Franklin Brooks’ legacy and a matching grant from the Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues of New York, The Brooks Fund was established within The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

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DELIVERS HATE DURING PRIDE MONTH

ROLODEX OF HATE TOUR HITS TPAC FOR ONE NIGHT AMY SULAM I recently got a chance to sit down with RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 winner, Bianca Del Rio. What a delight! Bianca got her start in theatre and stumbled into drag. “I was working at this bar, and one night they asked me, ‘Hey, could you do this?’, and I said sure!” Prior to that night, she had done one part in a play in drag. “I say yes to everything,” she explained. From this humble beginning, Bianca grew to be a well-known drag star in New Orleans, and she had led the Pride parade there many times, but never really considered the level her career could go to. “I was happy to be doing it but tried to stay realistic about longevity,” she said. Had it not been for one fateful night, Del Rio added, “I had planned on retiring from drag at 40. How much further could I go?” Bianca will be 40 next year. But with age comes wisdom, and Del Rio has a Ph.D. in quick wit and street smarts. Her reign as America’s Drag Super Star is a laugh in the face of the ageism that plagues our community. You can be over 25 and be beautiful, successful and even have your career suddenly, finally take off. According to Del Rio, Drag Race wasn’t something she seriously considered. “I never had a plan. I didn’t expect to do the show.” But Bianca has luck smiling on her. She said, “I hadn’t really thought about doing the Drag Race show. I had been hired by a promoter to host a Drag Race viewing party for a club in New York. Some of the previous contestants were there, and they were acting like they were so much better than me because they had been on this show,” Del Rio explained. “I looked at them and thought, ‘If they can make it on the show, I certainly CAN!’” With that she applied for the show, and we all know how that ended. Bianca said the girls in question are now good friends of hers, adding, “You have to have humility.

I know I’m not better than anyone, I’m incredibly lucky.” When asked what she thought it took to win drag race and whether there was validity to queens saying they were edited to seem a certain way, she said, “Know yourself before you go on Drag Race. You need to be aware of yourself. The show is intense. The schedule is crazy, and you have a lot of different personalities. You are only in control of yourself.” So perhaps the queens who see something else on screen need to look a little harder in the mirror. “You know you said that. You know you did that,” she said, and pointed out that while pressure is high and that doesn’t bring out the best in people, it also doesn’t change who they really are inside either. I had to ask about her recent appearance on Season 7. She was summoned to tell the queens to be funny. Many thought this had been shot recently because the Season 7 queens seem to be lackluster in the funny department. Not so said Bianca: “I actually shot that last summer and had no idea what it would be used for in the show.” She had shot the clip while in LA for a weekend shooting her “Really Queen?!” videos for WOW. (If you’re a fan of those videos, there’s good news! She is planning on shooting more!) Del Rio’s fame has boosted her stand-up career. Bianca is unique in the competitive world of stand up. The closest comparison I could make would be Eddie Izard, the well-known, cross dressing British comic. Like Izzard, Del Rio’s comedy is clever, shows her wisdom, and is a bit tongue in cheek. Bianca said of her craft, “I’m a man in a dress telling jokes. Talent is talent no matter what you are wearing. It’s passion and it’s business. I’m not curing cancer, I’m doing comedy. @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

they’ve been to a show and really enjoyed it” When asked whether she felt pressure from becoming an overnight idol in the worldwide drag community Del Rio said, “I try to be a good person every day and be the best me I can be. I don’t feel pressure but I am aware of how I treat people.” She views the spotlight Drag Race put on her as bringing with it responsibilities as a LGBT spokesperson, as well. “It’s important to not be too preachy.” Bianca said that getting to meet Joan Rivers before she passed away was easily the highlight of her year. “Getting to meet Joan, traveling the world, being treated well… It’s been an amazing ride. It’s surreal and I’m very grateful.” What next for Bianca besides Battle of the Seasons and Drag Stars at Sea? She’ll be bringing her Rolodex of Hate Comedy Special to Nashville’s James K. Polk Theater on June 19, 2015, at 9:00 p.m. She’ll also be hosting Pride events this year in Toronto and New York.

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Photos: Mathu Andersen (pg 33) & Magnus Hastings (pg 34)

I don’t want people to focus on the drag, but to focus on the material. That’s just how I represent my community. This is who I am and how I do comedy.” Bianca loves her craft. “Every time you walk on stage and there’s an audience, it’s surreal! I’ve performed for as few as three people before, and thought I was lucky. To walk on stage to these huge audiences is something I’m grateful for every time.” That grateful attitude guides Bianca and helps keep fame from going to her head. “I really have no reason to be rude,” Del Rio said, “even if I’m tired. Everyone has bad days but I get treated really, really well: for me to be in a huff because I have jet lag would be ridiculous. I appreciate this opportunity so much!” Her level headed approach to the business no doubt helped her win not only the title but the hearts of millions of fans. “Before drag race, I didn’t have Instagram or Twitter or anything like that. It’s so fun to hear back from people when

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A BENEFIT FOR THE GLAAD SOUTHERN STORIES CAMPAIGN JOSEPH BRANT He’s out — finally — and he’s proud, but Ty Herndon doesn’t want us to forget that he’s foremost a country singer. “I’m still the same redneck I was before November,” he told me over the phone recently. “Still the same country artist, man. You happen to know me a little better now, you know? During my show I always tell people, I always say, ‘I guess you guys heard the big news’ and then everybody gets quiet, and then I go, ‘I’m a vegetarian.” He laughed. “It just kinda breaks the ice a little bit. I don’t focus on [coming out] a lot because, you know, we’ve always got such an array of country fans there.” Ty Herndon hasn’t had a Top 10 hit since “Hands of a Working Man” in 1999, but it hasn’t stopped him from booking over 120 shows this year. “A lot of fairs and festivals and casinos,” he explained. “I’m working with Andy Griggs and Jamie O’Neal quite a bit.” “I’m also doing about ten Pride festivals this year,” he said, “which is awesome. Doing Los Angeles Pride with Meghan Trainor and Nick Jonas. As I understand it, it’s the first time they’ve had a country act on the main stage there so I’m a little nervous about that. It should be fun, though.” One of those 120 scheduled shows will be in Nashville in June during the annual CMA Music Festival. The inaugural Concert for Love and Acceptance (3pm, June 12 at City Winery) is a collaborative event, an idea of Herndon’s inspired by the work GLAAD is doing with its Southern Stories campaign and that will, in fact, kick off the Southern Stories Summer Tour. “I know that GLAAD has huge events in New York and LA and I think that we’d love to see this become its flagship for Nashville,” he said. “We’re the gateway to the South. I will be part of the Southern Stories tour that’s going across the country, and meeting with kids from the South. I’m from the south, man. I grew up in a small town in South Alabama and Mississippi so I understand how hard it is for an LGBT kid anywhere but especially in the South.” “It was hard for me growing up,” he said, “so one of the reasons I came out was to be authentic and when you’re authentic you get to live and be a more honest example for those kids that want to be country singers, too, or who might want to be ministers, or any one of the jobs you’re told you can’t do when you’re gay. I just wanted to, in some small way, shed light on the fact that you can be whoever you want to be.” Co-hosted by Meghan McCain, the show will feature performances by Billy Gilman, Melinda Doolittle, Jennifer Knapp, Jamie O’Neal, Shelly Fairchild, as well as an appearance from Pastor Stan Mitchell of GracePointe Church. “The number one focus will be the music,” Herndon said. “It’s CMA Music Fest week and it’s about the fans. They show up, and they’re so willing to help and be of service, and I’ll tell you the same @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .C O M

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PRIDE

Photos: FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS

thing about country artists. We have some amazing artists that have stepped up to the plate to be part of the show. I think our problem’s gonna be having enough time to fit in the artists that are wanting to come by and sing!” A homecoming of sorts, the Concert for Love and Acceptance will be his first Nashville performance since coming out in People magazine last November. “It’s been a 90 percent loving experience, because there’s always haters,” he said, “and so I feel really blessed and lucky about that. Most of all, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t get to continue being in country music, that I wouldn’t get to continue doing the thing that I love the most and that’s music. I was really wrong about that. I’m getting to do it more and I’m getting to do it better, more authentically, than I’ve ever done it before.” Herndon looked to a trailblazer among LGBT country performers for tips on maneuvering the high profile coming out process. “Chely Wright has been my friend for such a long time,” he said, “and she coached me through so much of this process. What a great coach to have. It was hard to speak to it before because [talking about sexuality] was such a blank canvas and I had no idea what would happen or how it would be perceived.” “One thing I knew had to happen,” he said, “was that I couldn’t live the way I was living anymore. I wanted to be truthful. I wanted to be of service. I wanted to be authentic. It was just time. A lot of my friends and family already knew, of course, but it was time to be honest with the fans and they’ve just overwhelmed me with love and acceptance and that was one of the big reasons I wanted to do this show. That’s why we called it ‘love and acceptance.’” In a year that’s seen the comings out of Herndon and Billy Gilman, we’re encountering more and more country performers who are choosing to begin their professional careers from an authentic and honest perspective regarding their sexuality. Others, like Glenn Stewart, are incorporating traditionally LGBT themes into their work more explicitly. In the months that have passed since he came out, Herndon has been approached by country artists in search of advice. “The only thing I can really tell anyone,” he said, “is it’s the same rule for anyone. It has to be about the music. And then you can play into the rest of your life. That’s the thing I’ve figured out. Really and truly, especially in country music, the fans, they care about the music, man. They want to hear a song that takes them somewhere else. They want to close their eyes, hear you singing, and say, ‘My gosh, how did he know about my life? He’s singing about me.’”

JAUME PLENSA

May 22 – November 1 Experience the dramatic sculptures of internationally acclaimed Spanish artist Jaume Plensa in the debut of Human Landscape. The exhibition, which marks Plensa’s largest in the United States to date, will be on display throughout the cheekwood.org

estate’s historic grounds and Museum of Art.

P R E S E N T E D BY: This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

P R E S E N T E D I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H T H E F R I S T C E N T E R F O R T H E V I S UA L A R T S . Jaume Plensa, Spiegel, 2010, Painted stainless steel, 148.4 x 92.5 x 96.5 inches (377 x 235 x 245 cm) each, Collection: Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio, Installation view: Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, England, 2011, Photo: Jonty Wilde. All images © Jaume Plensa. Courtesy Galerie Lelong, New York @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

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BONNAROO FEATURES

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Photos: David Barnum & Morgan Harris

LGBT ARTISTS, ALLIES TO DESCEND ON FAMOUS LOCAL FESTIVAL

TESSIE AUSTIN From out gay and lesbian musicians and comedians, like Brandi Carlile, Courtney Barrett, Cameron Esposito to great LGBT allies like Ben Folds and Hozier, there is something for everyone at Bonnaroo. Whether you like folk music, top 40, comedy or country, you are sure to find music you will adore. The fun and frivolity continues year after year and people make the trek down for the event no matter who is performing. This year, Bonnaroo’s lineup boasts almost 200 artists on multiple stages intermixed with a plethora of other activities, like an NBA finals watching party, advance screenings of movies, and other interactive experiences. Several LGBT groups come join in the festivities each year from other states. Not only is the LGBT community well represented, supporters from many genres are there for their fans also. The Bonnaroo experience is one that all can share in: the code of the festival is one of being positive, respecting the land where it occurs and preparing yourself for the hot Tennessee summer weather! A partial list of this year’s lineup acts by notable LGBT artists and allies: Cameron Esposito - Thursday, June 11, 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.–7:45 p.m. Friday 6/12 1:00 p.m.–2:15 p.m. in the Comedy Theatre Esposito is best known for her stand up focused on LGBTQ topics and her lesbian identity. Most recently she has been a recurring panelist on Chelsea Lately and

has a series of videos with Buzz Feed titled “Ask a Lesbian” Courtney Barnett - Thursday, June 11, 10:45 p.m.–11:30 p.m. in the This Tent Out singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett is a breath of fresh air. The song “Numbers” is written by Courtney and partner Jen about their relationship. Against Me! - Friday, June, 12, 5 p.m.– 6 p.m. in the This Tent A four person group with a punk sound, Against Me! laughs at danger and breaks all the rules! One of the band members, Grace, is a transitioning transgender person, and the group is very active in trans issues. Kacey Musgraves - Friday, June 12, 7:15 p.m.–8:30 p.m. in the That Tent Musgraves is an LGBT ally who sang for GLAAD in New York. The signifigance? She was the first country singer invited to perform. She sang her YOLO-themed song, “Follow Your Arrow,” which carries a great message for our times. Ben Folds - Friday, June 12, 8:15 p.m.– 9:30 p.m. in the The Other Tent Another great LGBT ally, Folds is very mainstream in America’s music scene. When asked about his home state of North Carolina’s ban on gay marriage, he said it was “embarrassing” and that he didn’t “believe the population of people that he knows agrees with that.” Hozier - Saturday, June 13, 5:45 p.m.– 7 p.m. on the What Stage Hozier is an ally who wants to see things change for the LGBT community, especially in Russia. Hozier’s video for “Take Me to Church” features a young gay couple being tormented by a Russian mob and takes a strong stance against the

oppression and homophobia that is all too common in Russia. Bassnectar - Sunday, June 14, 12:30 a.m.–2 a.m. on the Which Stage An ally for the LGBT community, Bassnectar is one of the longest standing and most respected artists in American electronic dance music. He is excited about his success and playing for a mainstream audience. “I feel really confident and excited to play for all kinds of people,” he says. “I don’t judge anyone as unworthy, or assume they’re not going to get it, or that I even know what it is that they could get.” Hurray for the Riff Raff - Sunday, June 14, 1:45 p.m.–2:30 p.m. in the That Tent Hurray for the Riff Raff can be described as American Folk music. Singer Alynda Lee Segarr , identifies as queer and fiddler Yosi Perlstein is transgender: the entire group have long been supporters of feminism and LBGT causes. Brandi Carlile - Sunday, June 14, 5:45 p.m.–7 p.m. on the Which Stage Carlile is extraordinary talent with raw earthy vibes. She and her wife, Catherine Shepherd, were recently married in Boston, MA. She has a new album out, The Firewatcher’s Daughter. Betty Who - Sunday, June 14, 8:15 p.m.–9:00 p.m. on The Who Stage Betty Who delivers a blend of indie and pop music delivered in a striking voice. Her most recent contribution as an ally to the LGBT community is in her song “Somebody Loves You,” which was featured in a Home Depot wedding proposal video featuring a gay couple. She then sang at their wedding. More information and tickets can be found at http://www.bonnaroo.com. @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

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Service, kickoff party, and the Nooga Glo 5k: Run For Equality, along with several other community events. The Sunday festival—held at beautiful Ross’ Landing overlooking the Tennessee River in the shadow of the Tennessee Aquarium—featured live entertainment, presentations from the community, and ended with a drag show featuring some of Chattanooga’s most talented local entertainers. So when TVP returns to Chattanooga this year, you might want to consider taking the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful cities in our state and show your support for the local LGBT community there. Watch tennesseevalleypride.com for more information as summer draws to a close.

Photos: James Grady (Middle & Bottom)

JAMES GRADY Tennessee Valley Pride (TVP), held in Chattanooga, is one of the last Pride festivals of the season, probably the latest in Tennessee (a date has not yet been announced for this year’s festival, but last year’s was held on October 5th). The event is not a huge affair like you will find in Nashville, Memphis, or Knoxville: it is an intimate, hometown celebration of a strong and growing LGBT and allies community in the region. TVP boasts the support of community organizations from PFLAG and Chattanooga CARES to Jewish Congregation Bnai Zion and UTC’s Wesley Fellowship. TVP 2014 was a true showing of solidarity, because in terms of LGBT rights, Chattanooga had a rocky year last year. After openly gay Councilman Chris Anderson led a 2013 fight to pass domestic partner benefits for city employees, local groups retaliated by organizing a petition to bring the ordinance to a popular vote. The citizens of Chattanooga voted to repeal domestic partner benefits, with a 62.58% support. Additionally, a vigorous campaign was fought to recall Anderson, leading to charges of bigotry against his opposition. Ultimately Anderson retained his office. But a very healthy crowd of LGBT people and allies turned out to show that the Tennessee Valley is strong and PROUD. The week leading up to TVP 2014 included an Interfaith

JUNE 2015

PRIDE

WE OFFER COUNSELING REGARDLESS OF HIV STATUS At Nashville CARES, we believe making healthy choices comes from a healthy mind and spirit. That’s why we are offering our counseling services to anyone in Middle Tennessee who needs our assistance. By simply reaching out to our trained professionals, we’ll start you on a path to a stronger you. It’s completely confidential and everyone is welcome. Talk to us: NashvilleCARES.org or 800-845-4266 @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

Photo by Matthew Murphy

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