O&AN | May 2015

A First Glance at This + Year’s Pride Festivities OUTANDABOUT NASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 05

FIRST ISSUE FREE

ADD’L COPIES 50¢ EACH

12 YEARS

OF LGBT NEWS

SheHaw Takes Nashville + Drag Into Straight Bar

ST. LUCIA | MYA | THE VERONICAS CAZWELL, CHAD MICHAELS

SHELLY FAIRCHILD, SINCLAIR, HANK & CUPCAKE, INDIANA QUEEN, *repeat repeat, OBSCENITY, JAYDEN DIORE FIERCE, QDP, DJ RON, DJ REMEDY, DJ LADY B & MORE TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT NASHVILLEPRIDE.ORG

driven by

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

3

05.15

LETTER

from the

In April, I had the honor of attending a few events which, from my perspective, speak volumes about LGBT life in Nashville. But the one I can’t quite stop thinking about is the Stomp H8 Prom, hosted by the Music City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Stomp H8 also enjoys the support of community groups like GLSEN and OASIS Center, of course, but it is also supported from outside our community. Belmont United Methodist Church has broken the mold in reaching out to the LGBTQ youth of Nashville, showing us that we have friends everywhere, and that religion itself is not our enemy.

Stomp H8, an alternative prom for LGBTQ teens, celebrated its third year in Nashville on April 18, attracting more youth than ever. Those who showed up enjoyed dancing and snacks in a carefully constructed safe space, with entertainment by Veronika Electronika, Paige Turner, and the St. James sisters!

Stomp H8 is a reminder of the very best and very worst of our community. It is painful that society necessitates events like Stomp H8. Even if not formally excluded from proms by rules specifically designed to bar them or erase their identities (couples

EDITOR

only, with couples defined as opposite sex pairings, etc.), LGBTQ teens may find attending the most iconic of high school events impossible due to the long term psychological impact of bullying or the threat of violence. I fear this will get far worse before it gets better: in the aftermath of a SCOTUS decision affirming gay marriage, for instance, social conservatives and their spawn may increase the social pressure on our teens in retaliation.

However, it is my hope that long after the need for Stomp H8 has disappeared such events will persist. LGBTQ kids face a great deal of adversity, but they show such a great measure of independence and creativity. They showed up to their prom in casual clothes, dress casual, full formal, and even cosplay outfits: they dance and prance and play in configurations impossible for the mainstream to conceive, even if it can tolerate it. Teens in our community assert themselves through their uniqueness, and I hope that a space will be maintained for them to be as different as they can dare to be, even when they are allowed to be “just like everyone else.” @jamesallengrady

FAX 615-246-2787 PHONE 615-596-6210

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

STAFF

Publisher : Jerry Jones jjones@outandaboutnashville.com

Managing Print Editor : James Grady jgrady@outandaboutnashville.com

Managing Digital Editor: Joseph Brant jbrant@outandaboutnashville.com

Director of Sales Marketing and Events : Scott Bryant sbryant@outandaboutnashville.com

Account Executive : Michael Price mprice@outandaboutnashville.com

Advertising Design : Donna Huff dhuff@outandaboutnashville.com

Layout & Production : Mike Moore mmoore@outandaboutnashville.com

Webmaster : Ryan Huber rhuber@outandaboutnashville.com

Distribution : George Webster gwebster@outandaboutnashville.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Writers: Steve Bruns-Revell, James Grady, Mike Moore, Amy Sulam, Paige Turner, Cody Tracey, Bobbi Williams Photographers: Nora Cranfield, Ron Elkman, James Grady, Julius Greene, Jonathan Clay Harris, Weston Heflin, Brett Kling, Mick Leonardi, Deen van Meer, Mike Moore Cover Design: Mike Moore Julius Greene Cartoonist: Damon Xanthopoulos National Advertising Representative: Rivendell Media 1248 Route 22 West Mountainside, NJ 07092 212-242-6863

OPPORTUNITIES

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

LEGAL Out & About Nashville strives to be a credible community news organization by engaging and educating our readers. All content of Out & About Nashville is copyrighted 2014 by Out & About Nashville, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of the person or persons.

Out & About Nashville accepts unsolicited material but cannot take responsibility for its return. The editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit submissions. All rights revert to authors upon publication. The editorial positions of Out & About Nashville are expressed in editorials and in the editor’s notes as determined by the editor. Other opinions are those of writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Out & About Nashville or its staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged but may be edited for clarity and length. There is no guarantee that letters will be published.

Out & About Nashville only accepts adult advertising within set guidelines and on a case-by-case basis.

4

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

Music City’s

d n a B t Bigges

Your Nashville Symphony | Live at the schermerhorn

Symphonie Fantastique

ABBA THE CONCERT A TRIBUTE TO ABBA

with the nashville Symphony May 14 to 16 + 10:30 am Fri. concert

May 12

BR IT TEN’S

EQUIEM WAR r with the NA SH V ILLE S Y MPHON Y & CHORUS

WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY

May 29 & 30

June 2 & 3

w it h t he NASHVILLE SYMPHONY June 12 at 1 & 7 pm

June 17

THE QUEEN OF SOUL

IN HD WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY

ARETHA FRANKLIN WITH MEMBERS OF THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY

June 25 at 1 & 7 pm • June 26 at 7 pm AEGIS

SCIENCES FOUNDATION EST. 2013

June 30 Mary C. Ragland Foundation

615.687.6400 | NashvilleSymphony.org @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

5

NASHVILLE PRIDE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES MONTH OF FESTIVITIES STAFF

This year, some exciting changes are coming to 27th annual Nashville Pride. The festival, which is being held later in June, will avoid conflicting with other major events and festivals, such as the Country Music Awards and Bonnaroo, as well as with Father’s Day. This has also given Pride the opportunity to schedule an entire month of events aimed at a variety of audiences to build up to the big weekend.

The Nashville Pride committee, driven by its top corporate sponsor, Bridgestone, assembled an impressive and diverse array of entertainers this year, including St Lucia, The Veronicas, MYA, Cazwell, Shelly Fairchild, Sinclair, repeat repeat, Hank and Cupcake, Indiana Queen and RuRaul’s Drag Race winner Chad Michaels.

In addition to Indiana Queen, a “queer alternative country” band based in Nashville, other local talent will be on prominent display, with 2014 Miss Nashville Pride Obscenity and RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Jayden Diore Fierce hosting from the main stage throughout the festival, with QDP, DJ Ron, Lady B, and DJ Remedy spinning.

St Lucia, a band led by South African singer Jean-Philip Grobler, will bring its unique brand of dreamy, nostalgic pop to the Pride Festival this year. St Lucia enjoyed a very successful 2014, on the heels of their release of “When the Night” in late 2013.

Ryan Lathan, founder of The Sonic Hive, called their album “a flawlessly constructed record,” so expect to be impressed. The group has recently toured with Ellie Goulding and Charli XCX, and performed at festivals including Lollapalooza, Governors Ball and Firefly.

Grammy Award winning singer and actress Mya will bring some of her many hits, including “Lady Marmalade,” “Ghetto Superstar,” and “My Love is Like…Wo,” to the Pride Stage. In addition to boasting an impressive music career spanning more than fifteen years, MYA’s award winning role in the musical film Chicago, a turn on Dancing With the Stars, and numerous Pride Festival appearances have left the crowds aching for more. This “triple threat” promises to heat up an already hot Pride stage and give Nashville a show it’s not soon likely to forget.

6

The Australian pop duo The Veronicas, who are back on tour supporting their new album, The Veronicas. The group, formed in 1999, is composed of identical twin sisters Lisa and Jessica Origliasso. After their initial flash in the pan, The Veronicas took a lengthy hiatus, which was broken by their July 2012 release of their single, “Lolita.”

In a testament to their talent and enduring popularity, “Lolita” entered the Top 40. Just last year in September, the duo released “You Ruin Me”, the first single from their self-titled third album. The song, which debuted at number one on the ARIA Charts, became the sisters’ second chart topping single and their first to debut in the top spot.

American singer-songwriter Cazwell brings a very different talent to Nashville Pride. Cazwell’s use of distinct blends of hip-hop, rap, and other genres to focus on gay and bisexual urban themes are adult-oriented and have sometimes been controversial. For instance, his debut album Get Into It includes the songs “The Sex That I Need” and “All Over Your Face.” The latter song was banned from Logo for its themes and lyrics, and its highly sexualized lyrics. And while Cazwell claimed his “Ice Cream Truck” was supposed to be a cute, summertime music video, its provocative use of sexy club dancers led YouTube to flag it as adult content.

With more high profile drag and an exciting lineup of entertainers, the 27th Nashville Pride Festival has something to offer everyone. This year’s lead-up to the event likewise provides a lot of different opportunities for people to get into the spirit.

A drag brunch at hot dining spot POP, a comedy night at Zanies, and a Pride Night at the Nashville Sounds are just a few of the many events that will no doubt draw very proud crowds!

This year’s Nashville Pride Festival will take place at Public Square Park on Friday and Saturday June 26th and 27th at Public Square Park in downtown Nashville.

Nashville Pride Weekend passes are $25.00 and are on sale now. Entrance into the Festival on Saturday June 27th is $5 cash at the door without a weekend pass. Dates and time for specific performances will be released at a later date.

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

Chad Michaels Photo: Jonathan Clay Harris

LINE UP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL STARS AND LOCAL TALENT

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

7

THE

N A S H V I LL E

EXPERIENCE

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

BEACH FOAM PARTY PARTY 2015

MAY 22-24 FRI MAY 22 FROM SEASON 7

KANDY HO SAT MAY 2

KENNEDY DAVENPORT

FRI MAY 8

HOSTED BY JAIDYNN DIORE FIERCE FOLLOWED BY THE MONDAY MASHUP

1517 CHURCH ST | 615.329.2912 | TRIBENASHVILLE.COM /PLAYDANCEBAR

8

@PLAYDANCEBAR

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

/TRIBENASHVILLE

@TRIBENASHVILLE

1519 CHURCH ST | 615.322.9627 | PLAYDANCEBAR.COM

MAY 2015

NASHVILLE PREDATORS FOUNDATION TO FUND TEP YOUTH PROGRAM GRANT SUPPORTS ANTI-BULLYING WORK, SPIRIT DAY JAMES GRADY | @jamesallengrady

During the Predators’ time in Nashville, the hockey organization has shown itself to be as deeply committed to the wellbeing of the greater Nashville community as it is to excellence on the ice. The team’s charitable arm, the Nashville Predators Foundation, has distributed $4.5 million in grants to further its mission, “to meet the educational, social, health and cultural needs of our community by offering unique resources and financial support to local youth-oriented organizations.”

Given the many needs of the organizations that serve Nashville youth, the Predators Foundation receives many requests for funds, from causes as diverse as Alive Hospice, Inc., OASIS Center, and the Nashville Chess Center, to name a few. According to the Foundation website, this means that even some worthy causes go unfunded,

it’s time

and it adds, “The grant review process is the most challenging time of year for our Foundation as we wish we could fund every grant application.”

This year, for the first time, the Tennessee Equality Project applied for a grant from the Predators Foundation, according to TEP Executive Director Chris Sanders. Specifically the organization applied for funding assistance for its anti-bullying programming. Recently, the Predators Foundation announced its grant recipients, which this year included TEP. “We’re really excited to have their support and develop a relationship,” said Sanders, “because I think their name lends credibility to the cause of anti-bullying. They have a long commitment to youth endeavors in Middle Tennessee.” Given the

As TEP and other LGBT rights organizations gear up for their postmarriage fights, issues like bullying promise to remain key foci of activism.

Sanders made it clear that the grant would be well utilized, emphasizing that, “None of the funds will be used for staff time or so-called overhead. It’s 100% program funding.” Details of the program will follow once the date of Spirit Day, an annual GLAAD event, is officially set. “We will begin recruiting students for these events, and there will be more public information available about the specifics of the program at that time,” Sanders added.

TEP, as well as other beneficiaries of the Foundation’s largesse will be presented with their checks at a formal presentation to take place at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday, May 5th from 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Brandon Teeftaller, APN

to feel

better

challenges and dangers bullying poses for all involved, having a group like Nashville’s Predators behind an antibullying program sends a powerful and important message. “I think the grant reinforces the message that we have a lot of work to do to address bullying in Tennessee and that mainstream stakeholders are seeing that and want to help,” Sanders said. “We welcome that. Allies are vital to making sure all students are safe in school.”

The Nashville Predators Foundation funds distributed to TEP will be used to support Spirit Day activities this fall that focus on bullying of youth. “We will work with GLSEN Middle TN,” Sanders explained, “to put together a mini conference on bullying for area high school students, followed by a pep rally that evening to celebrate youth thriving despite bullying.”

WE OFFER COUNSELING REGARDLESS OF HIV STATUS

specializing in brief therapy & medication management crisis and evening appointments available all patients welcome including adolescents and adults most insurance accepted including Medicare

2200 21st Avenue S, Suite 406 Nashville, Tennessee 37212 615 | 301.8681

Christopher May DC 2933 Berry Hill Dr Nashville, TN 37204

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

DoctorMay.net (615) 220-0777

15-CARES-0001 L1CG 4.65x5.25-Quarter-Page.indd 1

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

9

2/26/15 11:33 AM

It’s Not All About the Hats Anymore

MEN’S FASHION COMES OUT FOR STEEPLECHASE MIKE MOORE | @mgmnashville

It’s that time of year again! One of the most anticipated social events of the spring season is upon us. On this most special of days, people can pour their first mimosa or Bloody Mary at 8 a.m. and not even get a funny look. It’s the day where you can see the occasional cat fight among sorority girls in the mud at 2 p.m. It’s the infamous event known as Steeplechase. Every year thousands of locals gather in Belle Meade for the event. Lavish tailgates, gourmet catering, top shelf drinks and fashion are part of what makes this event so infamous, but it is the audacious fashion that truly defines Steeplechase as an event.

In the past, all of the fashion attention was focused on the women. Brightly colored dresses, with wild hats and fascinators, could be seen from miles away, while the men blended together in a sea of khaki. But in recent years, it has been the men who have finally begun turning heads with their top designer brands, wild spring colors, and unique eyecatching accessories. Whether you have had your outfit picked out for weeks or you are just getting around to shopping now, we have some top notch selections for this event from the experts at local men’s clothiers in Green Hills.

Tallia Linen Window Pane Jacket Levy’s $228.00 AG Linen Pant Levy’s $145.00 Eton Pink Pocket Square Levy’s $55.00 Eton Button Down Shirt Levy’s $256.00 Will Leather Brown Leather Belt Levy’s $95.00 Swims Turqoise/Blue Loafer Levy’s $156.00 Rayban Aviators Dillard’s $150.00

Roundtree & York Navy Cut Flower Pin Dillard’s $25.00 Daniel Cremieux Palm Tree Bowtie Dillard’s $39.50 Daniel Cremieux Park Seersucker Blazer Dillard’s $195.00 Polo Ralph Lauren Oxford Shirt Dillard’s $98.00 Polo Ralph Lauren Solid Webbed Cotton Belt Dillard’s $50.00 Polo Ralph Lauren Classic-Fit Flat-Front 6” Chino Shorts Dillard’s $69.50 Cole Haan Grant LTE Drivers Dillard’s $118.00 Rayban Wayfarers Dillard’s $180.00

10

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

AnthonyJohnson

Tallia Floral Jacket Levy’s $248.00 Agave Cotton Jean Levy’s $258.00 Gitman Pop Overshirt Levy’s $185.00 Swims Black Loafer Levy’s $156.00

Mathieu Brooksher

Photos: Mike Moore

TreVero Blue Dot Fedora Dillard’s $29.50 Quieti Jaipur Long Sleeve Floral Dillard’s $110.00 Murano Solid Linen Vest Dillard’s $79.50 Murano Flat-Front Alex Herringbone Pant Dillard’s $79.50 Johnston & Murphy Darben Wingtip Dillard’s $198.50

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

11

READ ALL ABOUT IT JAMES GRADY | @jamesallengrady

This year’s 2014-15 HCA/TriStar Health Broadway at TPAC season has been an endless stream of wins for Nashville theatre-goers. For the series’ seventh and final show this season, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center will be hosting the Nashville debut of Disney Theatrical Productions’ Tony Award-winning smash hit musical, Newsies. As part of its tour, the show will play in a limited, oneweek engagement at TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall, May 26-31.

So what is a “newsy”? The distribution of newspapers by vendors, who buy copies wholesale and sell at cover price, has reemerged in Nashville as an occupation to assist the homeless. But The Contributor didn’t invent this distribution model. Back in the day, the news was big business, and it was cut-throat. And those papers didn’t sell themselves: newsboys, poor youths who sold papers by calling out catchy headlines in the streets, did.

Newsies, a musical film released

by Disney in 1992, was inspired by history. Unlike The Contributor, which exists to give its distributors a way to work themselves out of the cycle of extreme poverty, the papers run by media titans exploited youth trapped in poverty to maximize distribution while minimizing costs. So when industry leaders cut into the already meager profits the newsboys were making by raising the wholesale prices to its distributors, they sparked the ‘Newsboy Strike of 1899.’ Led by newsboy Kid Blink, a band of orphan and runaway newsies embarked on a two-week-long protest against the actions of Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, and other powerful newspaper publishers.

In the Disney story, Newsies, which is set in New York City at the turn of the century, we are presented the inspiring and uplifting, but definitely sanitized, tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged ‘newsies,’ who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. As in the historical event, it is the raising of distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense by publishing titans Pulitzer and Hearst which prompts Jack to

12

become a leader in the fight for the rights of the newsies, whom he rallies, inspiring a city.

Indubitably, Newsies enjoyed an inglorious beginning. The film was one of Disney’s lowest-grossing live-action films and was nominated for Worst Film by both the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards and the Golden Raspberry Awards (“Hard Times, Hard Times” won a Golden Raspberry for Worst Original Song). And yet, Newsies has enjoyed remarkable popularity and a growing following, especially since its release on DVD. According to TPAC, this cult phenomenon “for years had been the single most requested title of all the Disney musical films not yet adapted for the stage.”

But even haters of the film might want to consider putting their preconceptions aside and give the stage musical a fresh opportunity to impress. The stage show omits some songs from the movie, but retains most fan favorites, including “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” “King of New York,” and “Santa Fe.” The show also introduces seven brand-new songs by the original team of Alan Menken and Jack Feldman. Notably, the book for the musical was written by fourtime Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, who also wrote the book for Kinky Boots, among others.

When it opened on Broadway on March 29, 2012, Newsies was scheduled for a Broadway run of only 101 performances. A base of fiercely devoted fans, however; propelled the show to an extraordinary 1,005 performance run. During that run, more than one million people attended the show, which grossed over $100 million. By comparison, the 1992 film had a domestic box-office gross of less than $3 million. The stage show broke house records at the Nederlander Theatre and became the highest-grossing show from the 201112 Broadway season. It also received 23 major theatrical nominations, including eight Tony Award nominations, and won Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Score and Choreography.

The entire Newsies creative team—including its director, Tony

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

nominee Jeff Calhoun, and choreographer Christopher Gattelli, who won a 2012 Tony Award for his work on the show—has reunited to bring the break-out hit musical to audiences across North America.

“This season has been filled with Tony Awardwinning shows, and introducing Nashville to the inspirational production of Newsies is the perfect way to close our year of top-notch Broadway entertainment,” said Kathleen O’Brien, TPAC president and chief executive officer.

“This show comes to us straight from Broadway during its very first national tour, and it has the high-energy that all of Disney’s productions bring, from highenergy choreography to fantastic songs.

With the storyline of the little guy trying to beat big odds, everyone in the family will enjoy this show.”

For information on this and other TPAC shows, visit TPAC.org. Tickets are available for purchase online, or by phone at (615) 782-4040 and at the TPAC Box Office.

More information about the Newsies tour can be found at NewsiesTheMusical. com/Tour, Facebook. com/Newsies, and Twitter.com/Newsies.

Photos: Deen van Meer

HIT MUSICAL, NEWSIES, CONCLUDES ‘BROADWAY AT TPAC’ SEASON

High energy bills are lame, but you can still Learn easy, DIY home improvements that will make a difference

BE COOL

in your energy bills.

REMAINING SUMMER 2015 DATES MAY 9 9:30-11 am Margaret Maddox YMCA 2624 Gallatin Pike Nashville, TN 37216

AUGUST 15 9:30-11 am

Neighborhood Energy Savers

Sumner County YMCA 102 Bluegrass Commons Blvd Hendersonville, TN 37075

Workshops contact information: Nashville electric service 1214 Church Street Nashville, TN 37246 ph: 615.736.6900

n e s p o w e r . c o m

26296-8 NES Out and About Ad 4.20.indd 1

# N E S W O R K S H O P

4/15/15 4:58 PM

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

13

HRC EQUALITY DINNER 2015 HRC Nashville’s 2015 Equality Dinner, which was presented by Bridgestone, was truly an event to remember this year, as HRC celebrated a monumental milestone, twenty years in Nashville. Friday, March 27th’s VIP party was hosted by Mitchel Gold + Bob Williams in their gorgeous furniture showrooms in Green Hills.

The big event was held on Saturday, March 28, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

This year, HRC Nashville honored Mayor Karl Dean for his contributions to LGBT equality in Nashville as they celebrated the 20th Anniversary of HRC’s presence in our community. This year’s silent auction, featuring items valued at over $95k, was the biggest yet, and the live auction, hosted by Zac Woodward of The Woody & Jim Morning Show on 1075 THE RIVER, produced some truly exciting bids. An impressive slate of speakers was capped off by Kyle Dean Massey from ABC’s “Nashville”! Good luck topping this next year, HRC Nashville!

Photos: James Grady

VIP PARTY HONORS LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS

14

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

Photos: James Grady

DINNER FEATURES NATIONAL HRC LEADERS, GAY NASHVILLE STAR

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

15

find your with kate

Kate NelsoN, RealtoR速 DIRECT 615 / 268-0319 OffICE 615 / 383-6964 KATE@VILLAGEREALESTATE.COM

realestatewithkate.com

16

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

A REVIEW OF PEELING BACK THE LAYERS

ESTEEMED JOURNALIST’S MEMOIRS EXPOSE TRAGEDY, TRIUMPHS STEVE BRUNS-REVELL

Lawayne Childrey, an Edward R. Murrow award winning author and journalist who now resides in Nashville, has written his memoirs, Peeling Back the Layers. This book has such a powerful message that it not only deserves to be read but should be required reading for every person tasked with decision making.

This work deals in depth with many of the author’s life experiences and how he dealt with them. In its pages we discover how Childrey not only survived, but thrived, despite adversity.

Even a few examples of his burdens suffice to show that this was a truly amazing journey.

Perhaps most importantly, Childrey shares his experience of testing positive for HIV. The following is a passage expressing what it was like for him to go through the testing and to receive the diagnosis: “As they stuck the needle in my vein to draw the vials of blood, I sat there as cool as a cucumber on the outside, but it felt like I was dying on the inside. Finally after about 20 minutes passed, the nurse, along with a doctor, came back into the room and told me exactly what I had feared. ‘You have come into contact with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.’ I didn’t flinch, I didn’t cry. All I could do was sit there in silence with my whole sexual life flashing before my eye. I couldn’t help thinking about all the stupid things I’d done, like not wearing a condom and sleeping with multiple partners. But the truth is, I guess I felt that the diagnosis was punishment I deserved.”

Childrey goes on unflinchingly to disclose his addiction to drugs and alcohol as well. He does not minimize the experience but faces it head-on.

“Instead of smoking laced joints,” Childrey wrote, “I started smoking crack off a can. When that didn’t work, I began smoking it out of a glass pipe.

That way I was ingesting what I’d hope would be a lethal amount. After several months of smoking crack, I found myself in situations that I never dreamed I’d ever be in. It was nothing for me to leave work and head straight to the crack house. It wasn’t just the allure of the drug. It was also the stimulating conversations that took place there.

That’s where loneliness and depression can lead you.”

Childrey’s thoughts of suicide by overdose were more than a passive hope, and his thoughts on this too are presented with radical honesty. “Finally, I convinced myself that the only real solution to my problems was suicide, but I didn’t have the courage to pull

in yourself, one can still achieve one’s dreams.

While reading this book, I looked deep within, and consider myself blessed for not having to face issues of being HIV positive, drug/alcohol addiction, or suicidal tendencies. My own issues with co-dependency and self-esteem pale by comparison, and yet I gained so much

the trigger of a gun or swallow a bottle of sleeping pills. I had hoped the crack would eventually burst my heart, and then I’d end up dead.”

Against the backdrop of this anguish, Childrey presents how he coped with the whole process. His coping methods are very much faith based, which is a common thread throughout the book. Faith appears interestingly as an important means of self-examination and of healing. So as not to misrepresent this process, suffice it to say that Childrey is a man who humbly tells stories of how his own broken life was restored, renewed and redeemed by his faith. He is a testament to the reality that, regardless of how hopeless things may seem, through faith and by trusting

self-worth through reading his book.

Sermon messages I had heard all my life from my spiritual leaders, such as Pastor Kim and Pastor Cindy, suddenly clicked again with me. I’d never really taken those messages seriously or applied them to my heart until I read this book. I then realized how important these messages are to my salvation, not only in an eternal sense but in present life circumstances.

The thoughts the book inspired helped me to face devastating events in my life I had long since suppressed.

Reading this book forced me to look deep within myself to evaluate how I view things and make decisions.

Childrey’s sole purpose in writing this book is to help the reader face and

conquer their own demons, the ones each reader experiences within the context of his or her own life.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ABOUT CHILDREY Although Lewayne Childrey is a Birmingham Alabama native, he and his life partner have established their home in the Nashville area and have become very involved in Brothers United, Team Friendly & Ryan White Planning Council.

His book, Peeling Back the Layers, is available through Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com. Mr. Childrey can be reached directly through email at lawaynechildrey@gmail.com.

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

17

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Nashville’s Men’s-Only Private Club Editors Note: Both the organizers of the Male Socials, as well as the Tennessee Social Club, were contacted for comment, but neither has responded as of this time. It is not the purpose of this article to cast either in a negative light, but rather its aim is to clear up misconceptions readers might have about such clubs.

JAMES GRADY | @jamesallengrady

I consider myself a sex-positive person, but I must admit that, when I was asked

by O&AN to attend a Male Socials evening—a men’s only event held at The Social Club in Nashville—I was tempted to say no. Don’t misunderstand, I’m no prude: I’ve been around and have even visited a couple of bathhouses, including the well-known Steamworks in Chicago.

But dropping in anonymously at such a venue far from home, in a big city, is one thing: attending an event in my own town was something else altogether.

What if someone I knew well saw me and thought worse of me? (I know it’s irrational, because they are there too, but rationality doesn’t fare well against fear!)

What if I saw someone there I didn’t want to see that much of? Or someone I did?

But really, the big question is did I want to share any of this with you, my readers?

Ultimately, I did.

18

The doors open at 6:00 p.m. for the Male Socials, but I put it off until about 8:00 p.m. because I was feeling anxious.

Finally I bit the bullet and drove down to Division Street. I parked in the lot above Frugal McDougal’s—it’s a flooring place, I think—and worked up my nerve.

On my way in I passed a cop who was dealing with a man acting strangely.

At first it looked like he was being wired up, and I felt sure a bust was going down, so I almost left. But then I realized the man was being arrested: he wasn’t being wired up, he had taken his ankle bracelet monitor off. So I gathered my courage yet again and went inside. Approaching a window, I put down $20 and filled out a form (something I’m told you only have to do the first time).

I then descended a long staircase and entered a very large room. From the outside I never would have guessed HOW large the place was. In the middle of the

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

space is a raised platform for dancers, and there are poles for pole-dancing, and dozens of tables filled the room. But when I arrived the room was empty except for the DJ in his booth and the man behind the bar. The club is BYOB and you can deposit your bottle with the bartender, who looks after it. He also supplies snacks and has various non-alocolic drinks available. I felt bad asking even for a cup of water, since he works for tips and I had brought no extra cash. He told me I could get him next time, and knowing there probably wouldn’t be a next time, I felt worse.

Holding my cup I turned and approached the DJ booth. Up a short set of stairs I could see a smaller room with tables and lockers against the back wall (you just need to bring your own lock). I wasn’t going to explore that section but at the top of the rise appeared a guy in his mid-twenties. “Hey, James!” he said with

a bright smile. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight!” I explained that it was my first time and that I hadn’t planned on telling anyone! It turns out it was his first time, too, but he’s young and cute, so someone had given him a thorough enough tour to direct me to the party.

My acquaintance led me to the staircase by the bar, which took us to the second level of the club. Along the way we passed a sign expressing the Club’s rule against unwanted advances: if someone says no, you stop and don’t continue to harass them. Upstairs I found, quite distinct from the nightclub vibe the downstairs gave, what I had expected from the Male Socials at The Social Club.

There was a long hallway that opened up at the end into a more open space and another door to a well lit room. Along the hall, men stood, not quietly waiting to snag a hookup or performing sex acts, but chatting pleasantly, occasionally copping a

feel or exchanging welcomed hugs.

Immediately to my left was a doorway that opened into a narrow hall lined with doors. Men stood by open doors waiting for someone willing to join them in one of the small rooms. This looked like the layout of the video booths section of a classic adult bookstore, as many gay men will recognize. The insides of these rooms are far cleaner and more comfortable than those video booths though....

To my right a door opened into a large, darker room that I would check out later. For the moment I was feeling claustrophobic and wanted to get to that well-lit room at the opposite end of the hall. So I pushed forward, carefully avoiding bumping into or rubbing against people as I passed. As I came to a little row of tables, most of which hosted men smoking and talking, I could see that, in the open space across from the booths, there was a large, black ceiling-mounted sling. I didn’t immediately notice that, to the left of the slings was a little corral leading back to some curtains (I later was told this was the glory hole section).

Nashville’s LGBT community. There were guys who looked like they barely made the age limit (you have to be 21 to enter Male Socials) and guys who could have been in their seventies. Most men were in their late twenties to mid-forties though. I kicked myself for making assumptions: I had been expecting the place to be full of only much older men trolling for sex.

What was even more amazing was the racial and cultural diversity. Caucasian, African American, Asian, and Latino men intermingled both in and out of the little private rooms. Even if they came in together in small, homogenous groups, the social barriers seemed lighter. A young, Latino guy, probably twenty-five was leaving with his friend, but on his way out he grabbed my hand, told me I was cute, and asked me if I would be back next time.

I barely had time to process before he was dragged off, though smiling over his shoulder at me. I’m definitely not cute but that was great for the ego.

What wasn’t surprising was the diversity of dress. There were some real exhibitionists there, but fewer than

Nashville—and such play is uncommon at Male Socials, or so I was told when I asked a few men. One of the men I asked, a daddy bear, seemed disappointed when he found out I was merely curious.

I was really at the point of sensory overload by that time—in real time about twenty minutes after entering the building—so I hung out and tried to behave nonchalantly. I thought leaning against a wall and watching a pool game between a gentleman in his sixties and a college-aged African American cub in a jockstrap would render me invisible.

Instead it drew the interest of most everyone who came around.

Was I going to play? What was I into?

People were friendly, not aggressive but definitely outgoing, and gradually, despite myself, I got drawn into a conversation with the men playing pool. As people came and went, I met men who had driven in from Chattanooga, Huntsville, and Kentucky for the party, and people from as far away as New York who happened to have discovered the event while here on a trip.

“It’s a venue within which sex is sought and encouraged, and where, no matter what your tastes, you’ll find some attractive men.”

Mostly I failed to notice this because there was a somewhat handsome Asian man in his mid- to late-twenties laying in the sling with his legs in the air. He seemed comfortable with the situation, and the men around him were watching casually, as if waiting. The “for what” became clear when an older, “wolf”-ish gentleman returned, wearing very little, from another hallway lined with doors.

Almost casually, he grasped the hips of the man in the sling and resumed his pleasure.

I was immediately struck by how normal this all seemed to feel to those around me. There was no crowding, no attempt to sidle up and get involved. Mostly there was a lot of watching over uninterrupted conversations about mostly mundane things: work, family, travel and the like.

I took a moment to look around, though my eyes kept getting drawn back to the sling, where things were getting more … energetic. The crowd was more diverse than anything I’ve ever seen in

I expected. Some men walked around naked, having locked up their clothes and wallets. These carefree souls were more than happy to stand and chat with it all hanging out, and for me that’s a bit distracting. More than a few times, I had to remind myself that some guy’s eyes were up there. Other men wore only underwear. In retrospect it seems to me that the younger guys there favored jockstraps. Thank you, Andrew Christian!

One twinkish young man wore a seductive white, button-up shirt, entirely unbuttoned, over his jock: I suppose he was being modest, though he needn’t have been.

Finally, I made my way to the well lit room, where I found more lockers, two pool tables noticeably worse for the wear, and in the back of the room a St. Andrew’s cross and some other implements often associated with the kinkier side of things.

But that equipment was not particularly high quality—certainly nothing near what you would find at The Mark in

One man asked the Huntsville man why he had come so far for the event, and the man said, “Someone I met up with online told me I could have some good sex here.” Fair enough, I thought. The men talked and discovered they had a common acquaintance. Apparently the Huntsville man’s reputation for legendary prowess in the bedroom preceded him. Now that he had been identified, the man he was speaking with led him away to one of the little rooms in the hall nearest the sling.

I followed the men, walking past the room they chose, to get a better look at the smaller, private rooms. Some had their own sling, while others had simpler furniture, like platforms covered in vinyl for easy cleaning. In each room I found paper towels and cleaners, just in case. I also saw condom packets all around, for those who wanted them. Many did, as the condoms disappeared over the course of the evening. On my way back out, I could hear the Huntsville man living up to his

The Social Club Controversy Back in January, The Tennessean reported that The Social Club, a Nashville swingers club, had purchased a 22,000 square foot building in Madison in 2014 and that it would attempt to relocate there as early as February. But community backlash against the move was swift. Citizens have protested and signed petitions to prevent the relocation, and government action at the state and local levels has targeted the club and operations like it.

In March, the Metro Council approved Ordinance No. BL2015-1036 prohibiting clubs as a use in the office (ON, OL, OG, and ORI) zoning districts.

This action began in February and passed third reading on March 17. It was approved on March 19.

Shortly thereafter, Tennessee state lawmakers passed a bill (HB0480) to prohibit a “private club” from being located within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, daycares or parks in Tennessee. Private club was defined in terms specifically targeting clubs like The Social Club. Governor Haslam signed the bill on April 9.

On April 7, Ordinance No. BL20151099 was introduced in the Metro Council, passed first reading and was referred to the zoning commission.

This ordinance seeks to further define the zoning restrictions that impact clubs like The Social Club, asserting “sex clubs have been shown to have a negative impact on the health, safety, and welfare of communities.”

Meanwhile The Social Club is fighting back, threatening lawsuits.

More proactively, they have filed a second zoning request, this time as a church. The rooms are all relabeled for “religious” purposes, though the floorplan remains the same. The United Fellowship Center, as the church would be called, would charge an annual membership fee. Metro Zoning Administrator Bill Herbert said that if the building isn’t used as a church, the city could use the courts to shut it down, but that could prove tricky, since policing the “religious” practices of consenting adults in their houses of worship could create headaches for the city. @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

19

reputation from the hallway.

The last room on my right before emerging back into the sling area was larger than the other small rooms and had a large window into the wall, so I stopped for a look. Inside a man who had brought sex toys was demonstrating some of his goods on a couple of willing subjects, while a crowd of ten or so stood watching with more than simple sexual interest.

They were learning something, so I decided to name this The Classroom.

The sling held a new subject now, a hairy, attractive man in his late thirties, who was making himself available to potential tops, but business at the sling was slow. It turns out that really, really public sex, which for me is epitomized by the sling at the “halls crossroads,” isn’t as popular at the club as you might imagine.

Sure, while I stood around the pool table, there was a guy receiving oral in a chair a few feet from me, but that wasn’t the norm.

Most men paraded around, flirted, and chatted before pairing (or tripling) up and taking it behind closed doors. Then there were more semi-enclosed spaces like The Classroom. Another such area was in the dark room I had passed on my way in: when I finally visited that room, I dubbed it the orgy room. The middle of the room has an upholstered platform big enough for a large number of people to have sex on at once and the walls of the big room are lined with “booths,” or as I like to call them, sex cabanas.

I didn’t see any sex in the open orgy space during my visit, but the largest of the sex cabanas is more secluded than the rest.

As you enter the dark room, it is to your right, while the orgy area is to your left.

It has a half wall, and, though there is a large open-air window into the space, it is somewhat obscurable by sheer curtain. As I came into the orgy room, about a dozen men gathered around the door and window of that space, so I squeezed in between a leather daddy and a chubby younger guy and peeked in. On the padded platform on the right side of this sex cabana, one thin man in his forties was having sex with a younger guy in missionary position, while another coupling of men was trading oral sex to their right. In the middle of the room one bear sat, while a young guy in a jockstrap took care of him. More than enough show to go around.

I didn’t stay there long, but made my way back toward the pool area. Along the way I heard a nude older gentleman giving career advice to a hot, lean, muscular young man in a leather harness. Then they hugged and said goodbye, calling

20

The Controversy: AN INSIDER’s PERSPECTIVE While we received no official comment from anyone associated with The Social Club, a source knowledgeable about the club did agree to speak off-the-record about it: “If there wasn’t a need for these kinds of places there wouldn’t be two brick and mortar clubs and numerous large private house and hotel parties.

And that’s just the straight side of things! The straight club gets 250-300 people some nights, and the male evenings average over 100. We’re the largest swingers’ membership club in America! It’s clearly something Nashville and Middle Tennessee wants.

Our club’s been here for thirty-five years! There are so many other things, other problems, these people could be focusing on rather than messing with consenting adults. Everybody has these images, that you walk in and it’s just one big orgy, and that still wouldn’t be their business! But really it’s just a club for likeminded people to meet in a safe and private space.”

Perhaps Lady Nashville protests too much? Clearly there is an appetite and a market for what clubs like The Social Club offer to consenting adults, and that appetite is neither new nor going away.

each other by name. This sort of casual friendship was the thing most on display, and most surprising, during my visit.

After slowing to observe a few more encounters along the way, I made it back to the pool room and ended up staying far longer than I had intended. A middle aged African American man had joined the group and the pool was now a doubles game. One tall, handsome, thin young graduate student was unburdening himself about having been left by his boyfriend of over a year, so another of the men shared his experience of having a seven year relationship end the same way. After sharing words of mutual encouragement and respect, they got back into the game and lighter conversation.

As the night drew to a close, another young acquaintance of mine showed up, also his first time it turned out. We talked

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

some before he went off with a friend of his looking for a playmate, and then I made ready to slip away. But it didn’t go quite like that—our little crew from the pool room had to all say our goodbyes first, and I got the longest and most sincere hug from that tall graduate student before I left.

If you had asked me to describe the Male Socials before I visited, I would have described a large, uninhibited sex party full of unattractive men, to be honest. To be sure, it’s a venue within which sex is sought and encouraged, and where, no matter what your tastes, you’ll find some attractive men. In reality, though, what I found was far more of a social club—blurring the race, class, gender and sexuality boundaries that so often dissect our community—than a wild sex party. I didn’t see that coming.

OUTCENTRAL HOSTS NEW MUSIC SERIES

NEOGRAFT Hair Restoration NON SURGICAL

SECOND PERFORMANCE FEATURES AVI WISNIA AND GORDON ROQUE JAMES GRADY | @jamesallengrady

On Sunday, May 10, 2015, OutCentral will host a mini-concert in its Great Room featuring Avi Wisnia of Philadelphia and Gordon Roque of Nashville. It’s the second such performance in as many months, and OutCentral aims to hold a series of such events, according to Steven Raimo, Out Central’s programming coordinator.

Wisnia is an award-winning singersongwriter whose influences include classic Brazilian bossa nova, acoustic American folk, 1950’s west-coast jazz, and contemporary pop. According to his biography, Wisnia is a “wordsmith as well as a composer and performer, Avi’s clever lyrics give a knowing nod to those that came before, while his smooth vocals and deft piano skills assure you that this is truly something new.”

Roque is an artist and musician, an accomplished acoustic pianist, whose music is sure to please. Roque has played a number of live venues in Nashville, including performing at places as diverse as BB King’s Blues Club with his band, which includes guitarist Andrew Weitze and drummer Dave Dykstra, and Café CoCo.

Raimo believes that having this split bill, which features two excellent artists with unique styles, will add to the evening’s dynamic and leave audiences wanting more. And that’s exactly the goal. Since taking over as programming coordinator, Raimo has made increasing the quantity and diversity of programming at the center a priority. A major focus of that is arts programming, so look for more offerings from the center in the visual arts, music, and dance in coming months.

For more information about OutCentral and its programming, visit www.outcentral.org.

NO LINEAR SCARRING

ELAN RESTORE 615-269-0222

Call for a free consultation

Gordon Roque

Avi Wisnia

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

21

BRINGING A PIECE OF THE WEST TO THE SOUTH JESSE LAFSER’S NEW ALBUM BRINGS TWO HOMES TOGETHER STEVE BRUNS-REVELL

girlfriend moved into a home together in East Nashville. Being an out lesbian has not hampered her career at all. Lafser said, “When it’s warm outside, it’s all musicians and artist, people just come over and play music and hang out on the porch.” Lafser

here. It may be different if I was in a different circle and town. I really love our neighborhood.” She goes on to say, “Now a days it’s sort of the like the whole gay artist thing just goes away. I think you can just be an artist without having that tag

also attributes being in East Nashville to her ease into being out in the music industry. In Lafser’s words, “It helps a lot, and it’s a more progressive community

to it. I’m totally comfortable with it. I’ve been out for 10 years, I haven’t had any bad experiences even living in Nashville and the South.”

Like many out LGBT folks, Lafser has had her share of issues with her family. Lafser says, “I just have come to terms with the fact that my family may never accept me being a gay woman.”

However with age sometimes comes the realization that while our family may not be as accepting as we’d like, there are consolations that can be made. “We still maintain relationship, and they are super nice to my girlfriend” according to Lafser.

For her, having her family in her life has been for the best. Lafser also goes on to say, “They have their own beliefs, and I have mine, and they are different. You have to live in the tension. I tried for a while cutting them out and not talking to them but this is healthy for me.”

What’s next for Lafser? She’s embarking on a tour for her new album starting in Nashville at The Basement on April 25, 2015 and then trekking out west through Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado and then ending in her hometown of St. Louis, MO on May 14, 2015. Her plan with this album is to “do things the right way, the way I wanted to put something out” according to Lafser.

Getting a booking agent, getting a manager, finally having a publisher, touring as much as possible are what Lafser feels is the right way. Raised up right here in Nashville via the Plains would be the way to describe this talented songwriter/singer who is contributing to our community by bringing a bit more of the west to the South for our listening pleasure.

Photo: Weston Heflin

Photo: Mick Leonardi

Two and half years ago, Jesse Lafser released “Land in Sight” after a tumultuous time in her life where emotional struggles and illness had ruled for a time. Fast forward to 2015 and she is set to release her next album “Raised on the Plains,” whose songs were inspired by her treks out west in New Mexico during her tour for her last record.

When she weaves the stories encompassed in songs on this album, you feel as if you are with her during her travels. Like a picture postcard, you can see the breathtaking scenery change every few moments and then out of nowhere, a herd of buffalo appears roaming free to your left and on the right cascading mountains of red rock jutting up to the blue sky above.

According to Lafser, “this feels most like me of anything I’ve done so far.” If this is what feels most like her, the stories she tells in the songs she sings will make you feel like you’ve known her for years and maybe you were raised right there on the plains with her. The title song on the album “Jack Hat Blues” is, according to Lafser, the “song that feels like what whole record is about—ragged, jangly, wild and free.” ne listen and you’ll know you are in for a treat with the rich chronicles of Lafser’s life up to now intertwined in those narratives.

Not only did Lafser travel out west and pen these great tales, she has also had another great few years right here in Nashville. Lafser and her longtime

22

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

MUSIC CITY SISTERS PRESENT

Photos: James Grady

H8’S A DRAG AND STOMP H8 2015

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

23

REMEMBERING KEVIN WATTS FRIENDS SHARE MEMORIES Last month, Nashville was rocked by news of the loss of Kevin Watts, a well known and well liked member of the LGBT community. Kevin’s favorite drinking spot was the Stirrup and he was a Grizzlies fan, or at least enjoyed the third half!

moments then put it back down. An hour later I found out you had gone.

Tonight I am moving our beautiful vase to my bedside where it will stay. I am going to miss answering my phone with you greeting me ‘Goodaye Bugga!!’ I love you forever Kevin, Danny xoxo”

Stanley Green, from Nashville, shared the following memory of Kevin: “One of the most recent memories was a couple of months ago, he called me to have dinner with him at the place Obama had dinner at…. His appearance had changed for the better, I thought to myself my old Kevin is back! We had a wonderful time that night talking and carrying on about everything. As the night went on we saw these two guys talking in sign language. In true Kevin fashion, Kevin went over and introduced himself to them. Next thing I knew, the two guys came over and sat at our table. We pulled out our cell phones and started talking to them via text message. Kevin even knew some sign languages. Kevin was very attentive to them the whole time and made sure they saw our lips as we spoke and included them in our conversation. That’s what I like about Kevin, he never met a stranger. Kevin liked you for who you were, not what you looked like or how much money you had.”

Daniel Hawken, Kevin’s friend from Australia, expressed his sense of loss, sharing: “I don’t know how my life will be without you now but thanks to you I have so many memories of drunken phone calls, funny texts messages, hand written letters and cards and all our gifts and photos that I will have you with me forever. I am so crushed this is the hardest loss I have ever come up against but I will live with the knowing that you, the most beautiful caring and gentle soul that you are, have now found peace in a place that is perfect. I know you will visit me, I think you did today.. When I was leaving your house in 2010 I said ‘Give me something of yours that is special to you’ and you went straight to your bedside table and gave me a vase your brother brought home from Iraq.

For no reason today, I went and picked up that very vase, looked at it for a few

In a much longer piece published on O&AN’s website, Barbara Sanders, a Nashville-based counselor, offered the following advice to those who have survived Kevin, and other victims of suicide, affirming the many natural responses people have to such a loss: “Recently, family and friends were shocked and stunned to find out that Kevin Watts had killed himself. What many people go through following a suicide includes much grief, sadness and also sometimes anger about the suicide. I want you to know that any feelings or thoughts that you are having about Kevin and his death are normal reactions to a tragic and horrifying situation. No one knows how they will react to a loved one’s death, especially not to a suicide….

“I am focusing on how the living can go on living, mourn and grieve death, and cope with such a tragedy.

Family members and friends often beat themselves up about a suicide. They think they should have known it was going to happen and that they somehow could have prevented it. But, none of us are mind readers, we can’t always know what goes on inside even our closest loved ones.”

24

OBITUARY

On April 10, 2015, Kevin Watts, who lived on Franklin Road in Nashville, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was only thirty-two years old. Friends report that Watts had suffered a number of setbacks in recent months, and that they noticed a change in his behavior.

Watts, an Arkansas native is survived by his father Mikle, mother Billinda, and brother Joseph, as well as extended family. He also had two beloved dogs, Dozier and Emily, whom friends and family are trying to place with loving homes. A public memorial was held on April 18, 2015.

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

Kevin Mikle Watts | 08.03.1982 - 04.11.2015

MAY 2015

Family and Children’s Services in Nashville operates a weekly support group for survivors of suicide. More information about the Survivors of Suicide group is available at survivors.suicide@fcsnashville.org or (615) 244-7444.

For more information on suicide, its causes, and resources on suicide and mental illness, refer to any of the following agencies: • Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network: (615) 297-1077 or www.tspn.org • Mental Health America: www.nmha.org • Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/safeusa/suicide.htm • American Association of Suicidology: www.suicidology.org • Suicide Prevention Resource Center: www.sprc.org If you or a loved one are suicidal or severely depressed, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a counselor in your area.

ABBA (KINDA) COMES TO NASHVILLE

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE SYMPHONY

RENOWNED TRIBUTE BAND TO APPEAR AT THE SYMPHONY “ABBA The Concert” has played to sold out shows at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Chicago’s Highland Park, and other, more intimate venues.

So whether you are an ABBA megafan, or just fell in love with Mamma Mia!, you really must visit the Nashville Symphony’s engagement of “ABBA The Concert.”

It may be a long time before you have another opportunity to see the “top ABBA tribute group in the world” playing all of the songs you just can’t help but love, and know by heart, songs like “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” “Money, Money, Money,” “The Winner Takes All,” “Waterloo,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,” and “Dancing Queen.”

“ABBA The Concert” will appear at the Nashville Symphony on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, or information about the Symphony’s other performances, visit www.nashvillesymphony.org.

Thursday, May 7 – Saturday, May 9 Kenny G Sunday, May 10 Natalie Cole Sunday, May 31 Beethoven’s Fifth, with Giancarlo Guerrero & the Nashville Symphony Friday, June 5 Comedian Craig Ferguson Friday, June 12 Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II, in HD with the Nashville Symphony Saturday, June 13 – Sunday, June 14 The Wizard of Oz Friday, June 19 Star Trek in Concert, in HD with the Nashville Symphony Thursday, June 25 – Friday, June 26 Pixar in Concert, in HD with the Nashville Symphony

Photos: Ron Elkman

JAMES GRADY | @jamesallengrady

ABBA is one of those groups that enjoys cult status. Even though the group hasn’t performed in nearly 25 years, their music has enjoyed numerous periods of renewed, or growing, interest. Numerous tribute bands and covers have kept the spirit of the band alive, and the hit musical-turned-film Momma Mia! is constructed around the groups music.

On May 12, 2015, the Nashville Symphony is bringing ABBA to Nashville! Well, “ABBA The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA,” anyway!

“ABBA The Concert” is a production of 21st Century Artists, Inc., which has been presenting various ABBA tribute shows— including ABBA The Music, ABBA The Concert, and ABBA The Hits— for over a decade. According to the Nashville Symphony, “audiences all agree: this is the closest to ABBA you’ll ever get.” And the show’s performance proves that there are some HUGE ABBA fans out there.

Tuesday, May 5 2015 Symphony Spring Fashion Show Featuring Brunello Cucinelli

MODERN OR CLASSIC? WE APPRECIATE BOTH.

need an attorney

?

CARS • EVENTS • NETWORKING • FRIENDSHIP

a Voice for the Voiceless

LAMBDA CAR CLUB INT’L CUMBERLAND REGION

LT O

R”

Patricia Snyder Attorney-at-Law RI TE

RE A

The Law Office of Patricia L. Snyder 2400 Crestmoor Road / Nashville TN 37215 NE R IN W 3X

D AR RN

BA

LA

State & Federal

call Sheila...

EI

Criminal Law: Felonies & Misdemeanors duI, Sex offenses, Internet-Based Crimes

it is more than just a house.

SH

general Practice, Landlord-tenant Law, Personal Injury

“F AV O

615.279.4411 phone / 615.523.1179 fax pat@psnyderlaw.com / www.psnyderlaw.com No ChArge for INItIAL CoNSuLtAtIoN If you meNtIoN o&AN ALL PhoNe CALLS PromPtLy returNed

www.lcccumberland.com groups/lccicumberland

FREE analysis to buyers/sellers.

FREE $250 Home Depot gift card at closing.

m (615) 424-6924 o (615) 385-9010 barnard@realtracs.com SheilaBarnard.RealtyAssociation.com 1305 Murfreesboro Pike / Nashville, TN 37217 @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

25

THIS IS NASHVILLE ON DRAG! CODY TRACEY

Nashville is a town known for its drag.

Local bar owners and promoters spawned some of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious drag pageants in the country, and supports quality drag shows at multiple venues.

But She Haw is moving into fresh territory, as this new comedy, camp drag show—to be held the last Saturday of each month—is bringing drag into a West Nashville venue, The Stone Fox, which isn’t specifically LGBT. Tammy Whynot, one of the show’s headlining queens, said “What’s great about The Stone Fox is first of all its unique charm. That and it’s not specifically a gay venue. There hasn’t really been anything done [in terms of drag] that is easily accessible to people in West Nashville and areas like Bellevue, so we’ve been excited to bring some...color...to that side of town.

Places like East Nashville and Midtown are typically very open and accepting of the LGBT community, but this was a chance to encourage even more of that mindset.”

According to Tammy, the show’s concept took shape when she was approached by Minnie Pearl Necklace, another of the show’s headliners, in late 2014. Minnie had said that the Stone Fox had been wanting to do something that focused on the queer community. Tammy responded that she used to be one of the hosts at a show in Raleigh called Trailer Park Prize Night and had always wanted to bring something similar to Nashville but just hadn’t found the right opportunity. The show that would eventually be called She Haw would provide the perfect outlet.

The idea for the show was further developed as Tammy and Minnie met over drinks a few times and talked further about what they each wanted to see in the show.

Tammy recalled, “I think the biggest thing we decided is that we wanted to see bearded drag queens in Nashville doing something outside the normal drag box and having a good time. We started throwing around the ideas that had made Hee Haw such a big success. Corny jokes, funny sketches, music and hawties on bales of hay. While we may not have bales of hay just yet, we pretty much covered all the rest of it! Although if anyone has access to hay and boys in cutoff jean hot pants...well, we wouldn’t turn them away.”

Tammy said that the name came to her in a moment of inspiration one morning:

26

“I was slowly waking up and suddenly, like lightning, I went ‘(He)e Haw’ ... ‘She Haw!’” The name stuck. Minnie then came up with the tagline, “It’s a drag show, y’all!”

Tammy and Minnie are joined by Marina Lasera Sanchez, Mitzi Pennington, and Orchid to make up the show’s cast. Throw five campy queens into the mix, along with some ridiculous door prizes, and you’ve got the beginnings of a really good night!

According to Tammy, reception has been very positive. “I think it’s been received very well,” she said. “After our first performance on February 27, I asked one of the bartenders if they had enjoyed the night. He and one of the servers immediately asked if we could make this a weekly thing! I was like, ‘Uhhhh, I have a job, but we’d love to do it monthly!’

Luckily, management at The Stone Fox agreed and we’re on our way!”

So what’s it like performing outside the bubble of LGBT spaces? “I don’t really look at the audience or venue as a particular demographic,” Tammy said. “One thing we, as people, enjoy is laughter. Having a few hours where we just don’t take life too seriously. Is it still a straight bar when we’re there? Is it a gay bar because we’re doing a drag show? Or is it just a place where no matter who you are you’re accepted and made to see life in a lighter note.”

She Haw is rather unique in the Nashville drag scene. Comedy/camp drag makes up a small portion shows at most bars, if it appears at all: She Haw puts it front and center. “The queens here haven’t all shaved every hair on their body,” Tammy explained. “I’m wearing balloons in my bra; some of the girls don’t bother to tuck; and we might not all know all the words to our songs (but if you notice anyone else besides me doing that, tell them to quit stealing my shtick!). What we can promise is we’ll make you laugh. Hell, we may even offend a few people!”

There are already also plans to make the show bigger and better. Tammy said that they have been thinking of making the show even more reminiscent of Hee Haw and bringing in some acoustic acts.

For example, they have been in talks with Heyday Revival, which has been known to do bluegrass covers of Lady Gaga.

You can catch the next She Haw at The Stone Fox on Saturday, May 30, 2015, at 9:30 p.m. The show is 21 and up, and there is a $5 cover.

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

Photos: Brett King

SHE HAW BRINGS CAMPY COMEDY DRAG TO WEST NASHVILLE

BART DURHAM I N J U R Y

L A W

Let our 30+ Years of Experience Work For You.

• Experienced personal injury attorneys for the GLBT community • 30+ years of experience • Handled more than 5,000 personal injury cases since 1985 • Fees are contingent – we make a charge only if you get paid • We promise to treat you with courtesy and respect We understand any legal matter adds stress.

Let us take the stress off you.

Bart Durham Injury Law 404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1712 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 615-338-6177 phone 866-468-6603 toll-free 615-254-6562 fax BLAIR DURHAM BART DURHAM

“Justice is Your Right!

And We Demand It.” 615-338-6177 –OR– 866-468-6603 @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

27

JUSTIN LILES, BENEATH THE SKIN

ADULT FILM STAR ON HIS MAINSTREAM FILM, RETURN TO PORN JAMES GRADY | @jamesallengrady

Around Nashville, adult film star Hunter Page is known as Justin Liles. He’s a guy you probably met, or saw, working at Tribe or Play, or perhaps you grabbed a photo with him in his toga when he was out supporting the TEP at Olympus. Liles, who just turned twenty-one this year, has already done his share of living, and it looks like things are still heating up for him.

Liles broke into the gay porn industry as Hunter Page when he was just eighteen with a solo for CollegeDudes, and has since developed a large following, with over 50,000 followers on Twitter (@HunterPageXXX). In 2014, he received five Grabby (think gay porn Oscars) nominations, including Best Newcomer, Best Actor, Best Group, and Best Duo (twice), and he won Best Duo for a scene with Shawn Wolfe at NakedSword.

But at the height of his rise in the adult industry, Liles/Page suddenly stopped shooting new porn scenes for about a year. In an industry where scenes sometimes don’t get released for weeks or months and the internet keeps old scenes circulating, you might not have really noticed the break unless you are a die-hard fan wondering why you aren’t getting nearly weekly new releases like you once were.

When we spoke in late March, though, Liles revealed that he was ready to start shooting again. “I’m leaving for Vegas in a few days, and that’ll be the first time I’ve shot since February of 2014.” Liles is jumping back into the industry with both feet—as he does with most things he’s decided to do. “In the next couple of months, I know I’m going to six major cities a month [mostly for work] until July or August,” he said. He’ll be visiting and shooting in Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, D.C., San Francisco, L.A., and Toronto, to name a few.

During his break from the industry, though, Liles announced to friends on Facebook that he was embarking on an exciting new adventure! Last year, Liles was cast as the lead in a mainstream, independent LGBT themed film, Beneath the Skin. It’s not something Liles anticipated or sought: Liles said he never wanted to be an actor. “I still to this day don’t want to be,” he said. There are parts of it he did enjoy. “I like learning

28

the lines and proving to myself that I can do it, but I hate actually being around other people on a set because most of the people there have been wanting this and have a passion for it. Then there’s me just coming in, and the only acting I did was in the third grade!”

This, of course, raises the real question of how and why Liles ended up as the lead in a film! According to Liles, Aaron Ellis, the film’s author and director, “had found me through my work in the adult industry, and he looked at that as a good way of marketing the film.”

Liles’ significant social media following and connections would be a boon for an

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

independent, young, British filmmaker trying to get his movie in front of the market.

“I think Aaron chose me specifically because he thought I could reach out to a lot more people and not just be on a sexual basis, though he did throw enough of my @$$ out in that movie!” Liles said.

And he still gives Ellis a hard time about his casting methods. “I give him hell to this day about that! I mean how he found me…. I’m like, ‘I know what you were really doing when you found me’,” Liles said, laughing.

Beneath the Skin is a drama centered on a British student, Joshua (played by

Ellis), who is sent to Canada after the death of his mother. In Canada, he meets Jay (Liles), an aspiring American artist, who had come to Canada to escape familial violence in native Alabama. The two castaways are drawn to one another, despite interference from bullies, as the story unfolds.

Initially, Liles expressed concerns about the script, which he addressed with the creative team to his satisfaction. As an additional inducement to join the cast, however, Liles was named executive producer. “Naming me an executive producer on the movie got me interested because I do like the business aspects of the industry, just not the acting!”

Finally, in June, Liles left Nashville to begin six weeks of shooting, first in Canada, then in England. Shooting for Beneath the Skin was a unique experience, because the cast and crew were, for the most part, as young as Liles. “Aaron’s a year younger than me, he just turned twenty-one a week ago,” Liles reported. “Almost everyone who worked on this film is under twenty-five, no one’s been doing this for a long time.

Aaron wrote the script and got investors involved, so this is something some kid aspired to do: he wrote a script and made it happen…. It’s not just money for him, this is his baby, everything he’s wanted for the last 4-5 years, so I respect him for that.”

The trip was Liles’ first experience abroad. “I figured London would be harder to get used to but I think Canada— Halifax specifically—almost killed me,” he said, laughing. Specifically, he was unprepared for the bitter cold of Halifax in June. “The very first night filming,” Liles said, “it was about midnight, we were sitting looking out over the water— and this is funny because this was my least favorite scene to shoot and it also got cut—but … it was like 15 or 20 degrees outside. I’m sitting there in this big jacket, hoodie, undershirt, pants trying not to sound like I’m shivering… Every part of my body was shaking, the camera couldn’t even keep up with me, and I’m like, ‘I can’t stay out here!’ So it took us about four-and-a-half hours to shoot.”

It’s ironic that Liles says Halifax almost killed him, since, later, while shooting in London, he was mugged coming out of a tattoo parlor! “I walk out and turn the corner,” Liles recalled, “and I didn’t even get three steps, and this guy, he has a knife, says ‘Give me your money!’ I almost laughed for a second because I remembered, ‘Oh yeah, everybody doesn’t just have guns in this country.’ I was like. ‘Okay, here

you go!’ I had like 17 pounds, and he actually asked, ‘Is this it?’ I said ‘I’ve got American money,’ but he wouldn’t take that!”

With shooting complete, Liles returned to Nashville while the film went into production, though he’s remained involved, working to help promote the film. “Aaron’s been talking about another movie he’s doing,” Liles said. “He asked me for casting help—I told him I would give my input, and I think he might want to use someone else in the adult industry that I know.” Eventually Liles will work more on securing U.S. distribution for the film. “Before I can secure a deal for distribution over here,” Liles explained, “they have to lock in a British distributor. For some reason it has to go into distribution over there first….”

The return to Nashville brought Liles his most unexpected experience, though, he said. “Before I left not a lot of people knew why I was leaving…. The most surreal thing about the whole process was … to come back and have people who hadn’t spoken to me in my two years at the bar come up and say, ‘It’s amazing what you’re doing, and we can’t wait to see it….’ People were interested.”

In March 2015, Liles returned to London for a screening of the film, the final shot of which displays Liles, full frontal. “There’s this champagne bottle covering me,” Liles said, setting the scene, “and when I moved it—there are these girls behind me, one of my coworkers on the film and then her best friend and her mom—I heard her best friend and her mom kinda go, ‘Oh my god.’ … I was so nervous the whole movie waiting for this part because the audience were looking at me up there, and I’m just up front with head down, thinking ‘Don’t see me!’” And there’s something refreshing hearing that from a porn star!

With his mainline film starting to be screened and Hunter Page soon to return to a computer screen near you, what does the future hold for Liles? “I’m working on getting everything ready for school again. I’m looking strongly at moving to Atlanta in the next few months,” he added. “My best friend just moved there, and I’d really like to be closer to him.”

Liles is also contemplating big change for Hunter Page. Porn “was never about the money for me back when I was filming. I can do it, so I was gonna do it, and nobody was gonna tell me I couldn’t do it! I also wanted to show I could still do it and be whatever I wanted to be.” Liles pointed out that he never really retired, and that at this point in his life he wanted to get back a bit more to the lifestyle of traveling around and meeting people, to mix things up a bit. But, he added, “I don’t think I have a lot longer left in the adult industry. I definitely won’t be in the industry for more than four or five more months and then that’ll be it for me.

I’m sure a lot of fans will be sorry to hear that, but I’m sure the internet will keep Hunter Page near to their hearts. What will be truly fascinating is to see what the near future holds for Justin Liles.

For more information on Beneath the Skin, check out the film’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BTSFilm.

medical care for your entire family 615/376-8195

Bradley Bullock, MD Cool Springs Internal Medicine & Pediatrics

1607 Westgate Circle Suite 200 Brentwood

de CinCo Meow FRIDAY, MAY 1 – TUESDAY, MAY 5

All adult cats 5 months & up

ADOPTION FEE! Look for Teddy’s Wagon in Nashville and find your new furry friend!

Saturday, May 2nd Sevier Park Festival Belmont/Hillsboro Saturday, May 9th Musician’s Corner Centennial Park Saturday, May 16th Capitol District Street Fair Germantown Saturday, May 23rd Musician’s Corner Centennial Park

Monday 10am – 5pm | Tuesday 10am – 5pm | Wednesday CLOSED | Thursday 10am – 5pm Friday 10am – 5pm | Saturday 10am – 5pm | Sunday 12pm – 5pm

VISIT US AT 213 OCEOLA AVENUE IN NASHVILLE – NASHVILLEHUMANE.ORG – 615.352.1010 @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

29

5+1.ŏ$+)!0+3*ŏ,$ .) 5ċċċ *+ŏ) 00!.ŏ3$!.!ŏ5+1ŏ .!ċ

Dr. Thomas Hadley Straighten your teeth in 6 months with clear braces!

Full-Service Family Dentistry Cosmetics Implants Sedation

Zoom whitening available

In-office crown machine – CEREC

The Ultimate in New Technology And Comfort

TV in the Ceiling

đŏ .!!Čŏ" /0ŏ !(%2!.5ŏ đŏ .!!ŏ/$%,,%*# đŏ !./+* (%6! ŏ/!.2% ! đŏ +),+1* %*#

No case too complex!

Please welcome

Dr. Suzie Stolarz!

Dr. Stolarz is now seeing patients on Mondays & Tuesdays.

7 North 10th Street East Nashville, TN 37206 Across from Marché

#1 rated dentist on

615.227.2400 | eastsidesmiles.net

Psychotherapy Individuals & Couples

John Waide, PhD, LCSW 615/400.5911 waide@psychotherapy-and-psychoanalysis.com Barbara Sanders, LCSW 615/414.2553 BarbaraSandersLCSW@gmail.com Music Row / Vanderbilt Area

30

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

100 OAKS PLAZA Suite 57100 719 Thompson Lane Nashville, TN 37204 615.371.1210

SKYLINE MEDICAL Suite 110 3443 Dickerson Pike Nashville, TN 37207 615.724.0066

npspharmacy.com Your independent hometown pharmacy since 2001.

SNARKOLOGY:

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOTHER LOVERS! DISCLAIMER: Amy Sulam is a comic, and not everyone thinks she’s as funny as she does. We condone nothing she says, particularly not if you decide to take the following seriously. It should not be taken as such.

anything I wouldn’t or couldn’t love them through, and I felt that giving them the opportunity to show me that kind of love when I was in a transitional phase of my life would help them understand how deeply they are loved by me. It’s in giving love that we learn to receive it.

So many people go through life not knowing how to accept to love, and I don’t want my kids to go through life

letting go of the idea that we are the center of the universe. We give over our highest aspirations selflessly to them, and we work to become people they can be proud of. My youngest daughter told me, “I love my weird mommy,” in her tingling bell voice out the blue one day and made me smile from my soul.

She then spilled a slushy all over the backseat of my car.

emotionally stunted. I try to be as open with them as is appropriate for their ages so they can see that people fall down and fail, experience heart break and let downs but also that pain passes, we learn from those mistakes and move forward. We move forward and become the stronger, better versions of ourselves we were meant to be.

We learn so much from our kids.

A lot of personal growth comes from

I feel like that’s a great metaphor for interpersonal relationships: look at the sweet, well-meaning things, not the slushy all over the backseat. My oldest daughter set the toaster and a cabinet on fire this week trying to make breakfast for everyone. It’s important not to overlook the intention when examining the flawed execution. They have made me better at accepting others’ short comings as well as my own.

And that’s all love really is, accepting flaws and being inspired to be your personal best. Happy Mother’s Day to my daughters: thanks for making me a mommy to two badass, gnarly kids! I’m glad you picked me.

Photos: Nora Cranfield

AMY SULAM | @Amysulam

I’m not always an awful human being.

I have a softer side. This month I want to talk about what it means to be a parent in our community. For our kids, it’s kind of a crap shoot. Some people will be accepting, some will not. We have to raise them to be compassionate and strong enough to endure the verbal daggers that may get thrown at them.

I’ve raised my daughters to have a quick wit, and they do not disappoint. My oldest daughter reads O&AN, and she says of my column, “You’re not funny.

I don’t know why anyone would read that.” She keeps me humble.

I’ve gone round and round about how to word this month’s column.

I want to say thank you to my girls.

You’ve made me who I am today. I knew nothing of the world until I met you. I realized the first time I laid eyes on my daughters that I had never actually, really known what it was to love another person. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t give them or do for them.

When I started coming to terms with my sexuality, I was most worried that they would suffer because I was their mom. I was worried that I had let them down by not being “normal”: the thought that who I am could impact them socially at school was a heavy burden. To their credit, both of my girls were happy when I came out to them.

My oldest daughter judges the crap out of anyone who wants to date me, and my youngest daughter revels in making up rules for dating her mom. For example, “She must be able to juggle and have a pet dragon.” Good luck ladies! Unfortunately it seems like all the good juggling, dragon-owning ladies are always taken.

My kids also gave me the courage to come out. I wanted to show them by example to be brave, to be bold, and to accept who you are. There isn’t

Y’all better act right, and call your moms and your drags moms and any woman who’s been important you. It’s not just about moms: let your partner or close friends know how much they’ve helped you grow as a person by giving you love and letting you love them.

Lord knows we all need it. @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

31

A KIKI WITH THE PAIGE TURNER | @PaigeTurner01

It’s an all new season, and we’re six episodes in, so it’s time to talk a little RuPaul’s Drag Race!

In my opinion, this season of all seasons seems to be a little farfetched.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been some great moments this season so far, but I feel like the season is lacking in most areas by comparison with previous ones. For instance, I have seen a couple of outfit repeats, regardless of color changes, and lack-luster lip syncs.

I have had a few favorites this season—our hometown alumni, and recent Out & About Nashville cover model, Miss Jaidynn Diore Fierce, being one—but no one has really left me gagging on their eleganza.

I was very captivated by Trixie, as we all were I’m sure, so I was very disappointed when she had to sashay away. It was especially disappointing since she was the clear winner of that lip sync, but, as RuPaul says, the decision is hers to make.

Some queens this season seem to have some pretty terrible attitudes,

32

taking shade and laziness to a whole new level. It’s such a blessing to have the opportunity to be on the show, so it really bothers me when queens do not take it as such and give up and give in so easily. Most of the ladies from the show, while they have all displayed different views and opinions, have

throw shade but another altogether to be a drag bully. I feel some queens are singled out or bullied a little too much for my taste. We all know drag has very many types and forms so there never really seems to be any overarching rules of how you should represent your drag, yet some queens, who may not

The amount of b!+¢$iness, shade, shenanigans, love, and just ridiculousness has literally left me gagging. seemed to see their opportunity as a blessing and display gratitude. This season has a few notorious exceptions though!

A lot of the ladies this season are delivering on the “Mean Queen” game as well. Of course we all love catty queens. Still, it’s one thing to playfully

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

understand a drag style, tend to drop umbrella size shade.

This month I took it to the streets to find out what other Drag Race fans, including some local queens, think of the new season! Let’s find out what they had to say as Nashville gets Untucked!

Sapphire Mylan “Honestly I am ready for everyone across the board to STEP IT UP and start to SHINE! Right now, it’s a snooze fest!

Sara Andrews “I don’t have much of an opinion to be honest. I’m just watching this year to see my friends on it. I swore last year that I wouldn’t bother with it again until they include trans queens... UNLESS I had a friend on it. And I just happen to have a few this season. So I’m literally just watching to support them. Other than that, I’m bored with it and its trans-exclusivity.”

Julio Bonilla “I would like to say that so this far has been one of my favorite seasons to date, even though Trixie needs to come back for justice! The amount of bitchiness, shade, shenanigans, love, and just ridiculousness has literally left me gagging. The looks

and creativity many are showing are out of this world. Some of my favorites are Katya (literally everything she says is just hysterical) and Violet, who, while bitchy, is one of the most talented and polished by far. I hope that people start just relaxing and enjoying the show for what it is, even if it’s funner to tear something apart and be catty.

Because I would hate to see it go, and I know you would too!”

Veronika Electronika “Honestly, I wish the show had more substance and focused less on vanity. It seems just as pointless as

one of those real housewives shows.

For a show that has a mainly gay audience, they don’t really focus on what matters, especially being a community that has so much wrong to deal with, things like HIV and legal matters. And with a platform to speak to the growing straight audience about issues they might still not understand … it’s a missed opportunity. Like when someone talks about their partner or having HIV they only focus on it for about ten seconds of the episode. I really just wish it catered to and did more for the community. It really has no social connection to the real world.”

Timberfell Lodge

timberfell.com

Miranda’s

ADULT STORES

novelties • DVDs • games • supplements lubes • leather goods • lingerie • books • cards Gay DVD’s starting at $4.99

Largest selection of gay products in Tennessee

GAY OWNED AND OPERATED

May 1 – 2 Totally Awesome 80’s Weekend Join us on our 2nd Annual Friday Night Retro 80’s Prom! Special mixers will be provided at the Boys Just Wanna Have Fun Pool Party on Saturday afternoon. Then dress in your favorite 80’s attire and dance your buns off at the Like Totally Awesome 80’s Dance Party on Saturday night, playing all your 80’s favorites.

May 15 – 16 Blush & Bashful: A Weekend Tribute to Steel Magnolias This weekend we will pay tribute to a cinema classic, including Ouiser’s Knock Her Lights Out pool party, themed décor (our colors are blush and bashful), Shelby’s Drink Your Juice mixer, and maybe even a big ole slice of armadillo cake.

May 22 – 25 Memorial Day Weekend Book early for your favorite room or RV site. This one sells out fast!

Men, music, cookouts and did we mention MEN! Great long weekend in the mountains.

Come visit us in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.

2240 Van Hill Road Greeneville, TN 37745 FOR RESERVATIONS:

423-234-0833 1-800-437-0118

Nashville

Jackson

Clarksville

822 5th Ave South 615/ 256-1310

186 Providence Rd 731/ 424-7226

19 Crossland Ave 931/ 648-0365

Elkton

Chattanooga

Bucksnort

Greensboro (NC)

1166 Bryson Rd 931/ 468-2900

2025 Broadstreet 423/ 266-5956

4970 Hwy 230 931/ 729-2006

1310 E Bessemer Ave 336/ 274-7188

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

33

Photos: Julius Greene

BOBBI WILLIAMS

SEATUPOR SEATDOWN

I was sitting at my hangout in Austin, Texas, when one of the lesbians emerged from the ladies room and shouted pointedly at a bunch of us girls who were seated at the end of the bar. “Hey!” she yelled, garnering the attention of the entire bar as she pointed directly at us. “Which one of you b!+¢$es left the seat up!”

We looked at one another, then back at her. “You wanna be ladies?!” she shouted. “Then act like ladies!”

One of the first questions I’m always asked when speaking to various organizations is “Which bathroom do you use?” To address this properly, I need to take you back in time.

In the 1950s, when I was growing up, the Ladies’ Room was a refuge. I recall being taken there by my mother at a very young age. It might have been in a movie theatre or a restaurant or maybe at the train station. As I recall, it was a lot nicer than the Mens’ Rooms I had been to with my father. There was a couch, mirrors, and sometimes an attendant.

And mother didn’t go there just to use the facilities. She also went there to primp. That was where I first saw her smoke. On occasion she might also adjust her outfit. And once, reluctantly

dragging me along, she went there to cry. It was the one place there would be no men.

In the 1970’s and ‘80’s, along with the feminist movement, the couches and attendants disappeared.

But to a large extent, the traditional view of the “Ladies’ Room” as a haven away from men remained, which is one of the reasons it generates a lot of heat in the discussion of gender identity. Even genetic women who are transgender ‘allies’ become conservative when the subject comes up. They have to admit that they just aren’t comfortable having someone with a penis in there with them.

Solutions for the problem abound.

Harvard University is considering building gender-neutral bathrooms.

Philadelphia recently passed a law that all new or renovated city buildings should include unisex bathrooms. School systems where transgender students have challenged the rules have had to rethink their policies. In Colorado, an elementary school boy who identifies as a girl won a court case allowing her to use the girls’ bathroom. And in Arizona, a little girl who identifies as a boy now uses the boys’ bathroom.

Of course, there’s the other side of the matter which rears its ugly head in the form of laws restricting the use of public bathrooms to one’s physiology. Arizona, Florida, and our neighbor Kentucky have

McKay Used Books, CDs, Movies, & More

34

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

MAY 2015

all proposed such laws, despite the impracticality of their enforcement. (On the other hand, it might reduce unemployment if we had to employ Gender Inspectors at the entrance to any public restroom, though I’d hate to be the one to interview those job applicants.)

What most of the arguments don’t seem to understand is that, for most transgender people, the bottom line is simply safety. When I am in public and need to use the restroom, I use the Ladies’ Room, not solely because I identify as a woman, but also because in the Mens’ Room I run the risk of being hurt (or even worse) by some dumbass who is threatened or angered or gets his jollies from it. Whereas, if I use the Ladies’ Room, some of the women there might be uncomfortable

“

shopping at a mall did. After spending hundreds of dollars at various shops, they went to the Ladies’ Room, whereupon they were accosted by a mall guard who was responding to a complaint that two ‘men’ were there.

My friends told the guard she was correct, at least insofar as anatomy was concerned, and if the guard insisted on ejecting them, they would be happy to go to each of the stores where they had shopped, return the goods, request a refund, and explain what had happened. The guard, recognizing that Capitalism trumps all, backed off and my friends finished their ‘business.’

So now to my local potty complaint—the gay bars. At every one of them here, the guys use whatever one they like. And that’s OK with me. But they need to understand that

WHICH ONE OF YOU B!†¢#£$ LEFT THE SEAT

UP!?

”

or upset, but the likelihood that they will hurt me is far less than that posed by the men.

While I have never run into a problem using the Ladies’ Room, two transgender friends who went

regardless of our plumbing, we are ladies: we pee sitting down. And we really don’t mind if they leave the seat up. But it would be so nice if they would if they put it up when they pee.

Is that so much to ask?

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!

Photo by Matthew Murphy

2015-16

SEASON TICKETS START AT JUST $170 September 22-27

November 10-15

MOTOWN® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF UMG RECORDINGS, INC.

February 16-21

January 26-31

March 9-20

3 ADD-ON SPECIALS

ON SALE NOW TO SEASON TICKET HOLDERS AND GROUPS

October 20-25

June 7-12

©LITTLESTAR

May 10-15

STORIES YOU REMEMBER. SHOWS YOU’LL NEVER FORGET.

Presented by

April 26 – May 1

May 31 – June 5

TPAC.ORG/Broadway • 615-782-6560 TPAC Box Office • Groups of 10 or more call 615-782-4060 Broadway Series sponsored by

Dirty Dancing presented by

Event, date, time, guest artist, and repertoire are subject to change. Some shows contain mature content.

TPAC.org is the official online source for buying tickets to TPAC events.

Sponsored locally by

THE ALL NEW ATS-V

ĂāĂāŏ +/ ŏ ċŏ .'/ŏ +1(!2 . ŏđŏ /$2%((!Čŏ !**!//!!ŏđŏćāĆċĂąĂċąĂąĂŏđŏ /$2%((! %(( ċ +)