O&AN | September 2016

ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL

MIDDLE TENNESSEE & THE NATIONAL POLITICAL STAGE

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SEPTEMBER 2016 VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 9

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09.16

LETTER

“All politics is local…” This quote from former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill can be taken a number of ways. But, for me, it is most importantly a reminder to step back. But not too far back.

What do I mean? Well, we all too often have a habit of approaching politics from a big picture point of view… “It’s the national level that matters,” we grumble, even as we feel powerless to change a machine so large and already set in motion. We focus on the national races and fight viciously ‘til it’s over, and then if our horse doesn’t win we throw up our hands, say “I didn’t vote for that one,” and stomp off to wait a few years. And repeat.

Standing before the national political scene may make us feel powerless, but politics is a local reality, even when you’re talking about president and congressional representatives. They reflect interconnected local realities, and they have very real impacts on local ways of being.

A Donald Trump presidency isn’t about a wall between two nations: a Donald Trump presidency is about walking into my local Latin market (my home away from K&S) and no longer seeing some familiar faces. That wall is grandly symbolic of a hateful and hurtful local reality that it will spread across this country like a cancer.

And we face the very real possibility of that coming to pass because we treat politics like something distant, a set of ideological points to be hashed out and argued, rather than the pulse of our daily lives. We have to keep referring these “big picture” views back to those daily lives in order to expose the big picture and determine if it is truly worthy of us.

As powerless as national politics makes us feel, and as much avoidance as that can inspire, local politics is perhaps worse. Sure you can

from the

EDITOR

make an impact, you can see the change … but it’s just so much darn work. Exposed to the possibility of putting real work into politics people suddenly act as if “that’s what those idiots in Washington are supposed to be doing, isn’t it?” After all that’s what we elect them to do, isn’t it?

The fact of the matter is, everything begins locally, and everything draws on local resources, and it’s hard work. And if you don’t want to do it, don’t complain about how you don’t like the results. Don’t like a national two-party system?

Post fliers about the meeting you should be hosting to grow your local Green Party, or stop whining. Want to be protected under the law?

Fight for it, bring it to light, and do the work…

All politics is local, and this month O&AN is highlighting that reality by offering our endorsements for the General Election rapidly approaching on November 8, 2016. Here we look at state and national races and offer our thoughts on the candidates. But we also opened the floor to our readers to share their thoughts in favor of Clinton and Trump.

We looked at the major parties’ national conventions and how they positioned LGBT issues, but we also heard from a local LGBT delegate and feature an interview with Marisa Richmond of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, who served as the Democratic National Convention’s first transgender podium official.

And of course Amy Sulam took a little swipe at Trump, and America.

So as the political season kicks into high gear, get inspired and heed Richmond’s advice— it isn’t too late, find your candidate, get involved, and make a difference. @jamesallengrady

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Writers: Darrell Bouldin, Blake Brockway, Julie Chase, James Grady, Roman Laws-Milburn, Eric Patton, Amy Sulam, Paige Turner, Bobbi Williams Photographers: Stephen Bloodworth, Julius Greene, Scott Weaver Cover Photograph: Courtesy of Marisa Richmond Cartoon: Damon Xanthopoulos National Advertising Representative: Rivendell Media 1248 Route 22 West Mountainside, NJ 07092 212-242-6863

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SEPTEMBER 2016

A TALE OF TWO CONVENTIONS A LGBT HIGHLIGHTS RETROSPECTIVE ROMAN LAWS-MILBURN

Now that both the major political parties’ conventions are over, and with the national election looming, it is a good time to look at both major parties’ to see where LGBT issues stand with each.

We know that, historically, the Republican platform has generally excluded the LGBT community, while the Democratic platform has been more open to inclusion of the community’s interests.

The historic marriage equality ruling could’ve made room for exploring other issues facing the nation and the LGBT community as a whole. What follows are some observations about each party’s platform.

Cleveland, Ohio—The Republican National Convention kicked off on a rainy day. The convention platform’s first order of business on the RNC’s website under the heading “Restoring Americas Values” is “Preserving and Protecting Traditional Marriage.”

This makes sense in a year when the RNC has moved this further right on LGBT issues than it has in history. Despite this fact, roughly 17% of the LGBT community self-identify as Republicans.

Nevertheless, that is in sharp contrast to the 74% of the LGBT community that self-identify as Democrat, with the remaining 9% made up Independent or Green Party (PEW Research Center, 2% margin of error). The party’s shift to the right helps explain the lack of traction the Republican party has with the LGBT community.

Despite this shift, however, the RNC did have an historic moment this year when, from the main stage, Peter Thiel, co-founder of Pay-Pal, described himself as a “proud gay Republican.” He was met with applause and cheers from the convention floor. Never before had an openly gay person taken the stage to speak at a Republican convention. He was the only speaker that identified as LGBT. The RNC does have LGBT delegates but they are not counted.

Other speakers were mixed on LGBT issues. Florida Governor Rick Scott spoke about the Orlando victims during his 7-minute speech, but did not mention the victims as LGBT, nor did he mention guns. Donald Trump did mention the” LGBTQ” community in his acceptance

speech, stating that he would “be the best on LGBTQ.” Vague, but a mention.

The 17% of LGBT who are Republicans hold out hope, despite the party’s current path, as Republicans ages 18-29 are 61% in favor of LGBT issues being on the platform of the RNC. However, this dream will be long deferred.

Ted Cruz and his delegates pushed hard for the RNC platform to be the most anti-LGBT in convention history. What is little known is that the Republican LGBT delegates were looking to force a debate on the convention floor by protesting the RNC’s anti-LGBT platform. This was shut down at the time of debate, however, so that the Chair could navigate a unity between the Ted Cruz delegates who were making the start of the convention disruptive and Trump supporters.

The take away is the LGBT community does not make enough of a percentage of the Grand Ole Party, and doesn’t have vocal enough allies, to gets its agenda onto the platform. It can’t even get the anti-LGBT agenda off the platform.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—The Democrats held their convention in the

city of brotherly love, which is fitting from the perspective of the overwhelming increase in LGBT representation the party has seen.

The first mention of LGBT issues at a DNC was made by Democratic nominee George McGovern in 1972 who was under pressure by LGBT rights groups to form a more inclusive platform, on the grounds that the LGBT community had been helping support the party with donations and publicly marching in protest for basic Civil Rights.

Democrats are looking down ballot to capture the United States House of Representatives and the Senate. The master plan for the Democrats seems to be a plan of inclusiveness.

Fast-forward to 2016. Sarah McBride, 25, became the first transgender person to address the national convention of a major party. Giving McBride, a former White House staffer, a major speaking role was a solid political statement by the party.

In 2012 the DNC recorded 550 openly gay delegates. That is 200 more than in 2008. While the exact numbers are not out yet on the 2016 DNC (as of this writing), top officials within the DNC expect that number to be higher this year.

With each passing convention the LGBT presence grows. 27% of the DNC platform is devoted to issues directly affecting the LGBT community.

Examples include legislation that expands

hate crime laws and legal protection for LGBT persons under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Those address some of the largest issues still facing the community.

The most hopeful indication that LGBT issues are being taken seriously was that one out of every five speakers at the DNC were from the LGBT community.

Mayor Megan Barry who shattered a glass ceiling in her own right by becoming the first female Mayor of Nashville was also in attendance with the Tennessee delegation. When I asked her what was the one thing that she took away from Democratic National Convention, Mayor Barry said, “It was inspiring to see such a great group of diverse Americans coming together around our shared ideals and common goals. I believe the Democratic convention showed the best of America - united in hope and optimism for our future with Hillary Clinton as our next President.”

With a growing number of progressive and younger Democrats coming into the fold, the party seems to have more fully embraced, and placed front and center, the LGBT members and delegates that make up an ever growing percent of the party. Comparing the parties side-by-side on LGBT issues, it’s easy to see that both still have work to do, but it’s also clear that one is far behind the other on this front.

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

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O&AN ENDORSEMENTS

GENERAL ELECTION, 2016 STAFF

This year is shaping up to be a tumultuous year in American politics, but when the O&AN editors, publisher, and staff got down to it, the decisions weren’t that hard. At the end of the day, this year Tennessee voters in the LGBT community aren’t left with many choices.

With the (hopefully temporary) extinction of the moderate, or socially liberal, Republican in the Tennessee political landscape, only Democrats made the grade when it came down to support for the LGBT community, as well as other social issues with which we and our allies are most concerned: social justice, racism, women’s rights, immigration, health care, education, etc.

With so many candidates around state to consider this year, for statewide and national office, we have restricted ourselves to commenting on candidates facing opposition, except in a couple of cases where candidates have warranted mention, despite being unopposed.

National Office President of the United States: Hillary Clinton Post convention, Hillary Clinton is the candidate worth considering, for voters who are concerned about the future of civil rights and social justice in America. Her opponent has promised—and we are well aware that he has promised nearly everything to nearly anyone who will listen, with price tags attached right up front—to appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn marriage equality and other, similar rulings.

While that may be just another empty promise from the man who once sold “degrees” through a “university” or “program,” a scheme currently under investigation for, or confirmed to have committed, fraud in a number of states, take the threat seriously. Yes, the Supreme Court can act against precedent. And the next president might get to replace four of the Supremes.

People argue over how the feel about Clinton, whether they trust her, whether she should have… At the end of the day, if you can ask those

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questions and not look over your shoulder at Donald Trump and recognize the very real danger he poses not only to America, but to every minority citizen, every LGBTQ person, individually, then there is nothing to be said that will change your mind.

Through the scandals, most of which have shown themselves to be nothing more than Republicanor mediacreated smear jobs against a woman too many Americans have loved to hate since 1992, Clinton has borne herself with stubborn dignity, grit, determination, and intelligence.

She has learned politics in the fire of a long public life, so don’t be shocked when she acts like a studied politician. She is one. Only she’s smarter, more thoughtful, and more graceful than most of the men we admire for their political acumen. And sometimes being a politician means not racing headlong into a revolution for which there is no clear vision: it means compromising to get the most you can realistically expect for those who need it most, at the least political expense to the same.

So, has she always been the most strident ally to the LGBT community?

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

SEPTEMBER 2016

Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine

of a kind of politics that has been largely forgotten—not the politics of revolution, full of promises but no room for give and take, and not the politics of rage, which has only agreement and enemies, but the practical politics it takes to make things happen bit by bit. It’s been missing for too long and Washington, and Clinton can herald its return. And with it the return to a saner political climate.

Jim Cooper

No, when being an LGBT ally was quicksand for Southern Democrats, both Clintons played it safe. But she’s always worked to get what she could for us when she thought she could get it for us. And when the political tide began to shift in our favor she was ahead of the curve in fighting our fights, compared to many others who had a lot to lose.

To some this will sound cynical. In reality it’s the practice

US House of Representatives 5th Congressional District: Jim Cooper This is hardly a race at all, as Stacy Ries Snyder (R) attempts to unseat incumbent Jim Cooper (D).

Cooper has diligently served the people of his district during his life in public office, and a vote for his opponent is a vote against all good sense. When it comes to listening to and serving his constituents, Cooper is one of the most attentive legislators in Washington.

Our print editor, James Grady, personally knew one person who, because of an emergency, needed to leave the country almost overnight.

She had no passport and the visa to visit the country where her teenage son was hospitalized required consular approval. Due to the intervention of Cooper’s office—on

Erin Coleman

John Ray Clemmons

Brandon Thomas

a weekend—she was on a plane the following day. Such effort reflects the kind of man Cooper has shown himself to be—a true representative, and servant, of the people.

It’s important to note that Cooper hasn’t always voted favorably on LGBT issues: in fact, he voted to define marriage as one-man-onewoman in 2006 and for an amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2004.

However, in 2009 he co-sponsored hate crime legislation, and in 2010 voted to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” And while he didn’t sign the amicus brief against the Defense of Marriage Act in 2012 when that went to the Supreme Court, he did state around that time quite publicly that he did believe that civil marriage should be available to same-sex couples.

In short, Cooper’s public conversion to ally status began, and was completed, long before even Barack Obama announced the completion of his “evolution” on the issue. And since then Cooper hasn’t given us real reason to doubt his commitment.

State Office Davidson County State Senate 20th Senatorial District: Erin Coleman (D) has shown herself to be a consistent ally to the LGBT community, as well as a leader with a solid set of policy positions. She is also the strongest opportunity to pick up a State Senate seat for Democrats.

Incumbent Steve Dickerson (R) has a mixed record on LGBT issues, but Coleman’s challenge would establish a more liberal candidate to represent Davidson County’s voter base. Further, the scandal surrounding Republican misappropriation of public funds to assist their colleagues’ (specifically Dickerson’s) reelection attempts shines a harsh light on how the system remains rigged in favor of the supermajority party.

State House 50th Representative District: We endorse Bo Mitchell (D) for this seat.

Trisha Farmer

State House 53rd Representative District: Jason Powell (D) should continue to serve his district in the state legislature.

Challenger Davette Blalock (R), a Metro councilperson, would shift the House even further to the right, which must be avoided at all costs.

State House 54th Representative District: We endorse Brenda Gilmore (D), who faces an independent challenger.

State House 55th Representative District: Though running unopposed, John Ray Clemmons (D) was recently recognized as a key ally by the Nashville Pride committee. Thank him by checking the box next to his name on election day!

State House 56th Representative District: We recommend voting for Chris Moth(D) to send incumbent Beth Harwell (R) a hard message.

She has fought tooth and claw against LGBT rights, has been an outspoken opponent of immigrant rights, and has done her best as speaker to push the State House further to the right.

State House 60th Representative District: Darren Jernigan (D) has shown his metal fighting on the side of LGBT issues, and we believe he will continue to serve all his constituents fairly and with care in his next term.

Notable Tennessee Races for State Office: State House 13th Representative District: Gloria Johnson (D) is again running against Knoxville incumbent Eddie Smith (R), who has voted for anti-LGBT measures in committee and on the floor. We encourage voters to oust Smith by voting for Johnson!

State House 34th Representative District: We endorse Laura Bohling (D) in her race against Tim Rudd (R), who narrowly won a four-way Republican primary that drew only a sixth as many voters as the 2012 race.

State House 49th Representative District: Brandon Thomas (D) has run a strong campaign on issues from diversity to healthcare reform, while the Republicans viciously bloodied each other in their primaries. Thomas is not only an outspoken advocate for these issues and many more, including trans rights, which he fought to expand while in student government at MTSU. Thomas is an openly LGBT candidate for office in Rutherford County, Tennessee, and has been an active leader in the local TEP chapter.

We heartily endorse Thomas against incumbent Mike Sparks. @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

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OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

SEPTEMBER 2016

in Courtenay Rogers, a mother, a veteran, a business owner and a community advocate. Most of that should sound good even in conservative ears. And even if Rogers wasn’t courting LGBT support, she’d do more for LGBT citizens and other minorities than almost anyone in the House just by NOT BEING Glen Casada. Vote Rogers!

Courtenay Rogers

Holly McCall

Darren Jernigan

State House 65th Representative State House 57th Representative

District: We endorse Holly McCall

her war against the LGBT community

Glen Casada. Casada’s virulent anti-

District: Trisha Farmer (D) has

and we’d do well to rally behind

immigrant, anti-LGBT, anti-liberal,

openly courted LGBT support in her

Trisha Farmer to send Lynn back to

anti-women antics know almost no

bid to oust incumbent Susan ‘I-Hate-

the private sector for good.

bounds. He’s even suggested putting

incumbent Representative Jeremy

The-LGBTs-More-Than-Thou’ Lynn

State House 63rd

immigrants in trains and ship them

Durham, who was embroiled in

(D). This Williamson County race represents a notable opportunity, as

in this Wilson County battle royale.

Representative District: Before

off to camps. ICE camps, but surely

a nasty controversy involving

Lynn as you may recall is behind

there was a train of acolytes parroting

Herr Casada can’t be so tone deaf

accusations of sexual assault and

some of the most vicious anti-LGBT

Donald Trump calling for the

or ignorant as to be unaware of how

who was investigated and denounced

legislation to hit the floor in Tennessee

expulsion of Syrian refugees and

problematic that call would be.

by the Republican legislature for his

since the anti-marriage amendment.

the use of a religious test to admit

Susan Lynn has been unrepentant in

Muslims to this country, there was

Luckily this year Casada has a serious Democratic challenger

actions, was unseated in a primary challenge.

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O&AN READERS WEIGH IN ON WHO SHOULD BE PRESIDENT GENERAL ELECTION, 2016

HILLARY! This letter from Robert Hansen says it all on why I’m voting for “her”, and should resonate with a lot in the LGBT community:

“Your third party or write in vote only helps elect Donald Trump… You often quote that Hillary stated that she was against marriage equality, [and] she did, but … we’ve received more equality in just 7 years under our current president who also evolved on marriage equality. Though you don’t hear about it much in the so called liberal media, Trump vows to appoint Supreme Court justices that will overturn marriage equality, says he’s ok with the anti-LGBT law in North Carolina and other states and has selected the country’s most hateful anti-LGBT governor as his running mate. Often the younger generations thank [us] for helping pave the way for acceptance and equality, as we appreciate and thank the ones that came before us. To see you, however inadvertently it might be, help pave the way back to the 50’s is just unfathomable to me. I’m closing in on 60 years old and really don’t want to have to start over from square one.”

Robert illustrates an important point.

Discrimination has a measurable cost to the aggrieved. A woman not having the choice to control her own body, her reproduction, is more than a moral issue, it is an economic issue. People of color who were redlined and unable to get affordable home loans were denied the ability to build wealth others could.

The people we elect and the laws they pass have an effect on us all. Failing to

TRUMP: I am supporting Donald Trump because I am sending a message to Washington—there must be change. Our political system must stay as current and cutting-edge as our iPhones. We need to phase out the career politician. How can Hillary be permitted to cheat and lie for decades at our expense?

People look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them I’m voting for Trump, but how could anyone vote for a blatant criminal? She fraudulently secured her nomination by rigging the DNC and shortchanging Bernie Sanders, who was

clearly the people’s choice, and somehow that was just okay with everybody. Trump earned 14,000,000 votes—the most in GOP history—despite media opposition while eliminating sixteen other candidates through a barrage of debates. Yet he’s laughed at and is the “con man.”

I think the establishment should really look at that and listen to what We The People are trying to say. Not exactly what Trump says word-for-word, Molly, but the bigger message. I can’t keep tolerating #her.

I also believe that the Presidential election is actually the weakest vote we cast

CLINTON: This presidential election is all about the Supreme Court Justices. The next president will appoint anywhere from two to four of the next deciders of our country’s laws, on items that no one else can agree on, which truly sets the direction for our country. With that in mind, I HAVE to vote for Hillary, over any other candidate. Despite any problems or issues or legal battles she may or may not face, we can survive 4 years of any president, as there is proper checks and balances, as long as they are someone who will appoint more liberal justices. I would not want to know that I had a hand in electing someone that would appoint 2 to 4 conservative justices, which would set our country on a brand new path for the next few decades, having a longer lasting impact that any single presidential term ever could.

-Jason Steen I’m with Her All the way! In the beginning, it was sort of humorous to me watching Mr. Trump and his antics. In all seriousness, this is the most important job in the Land. Mr. Trump hasn’t the intelligence nor the temperament to hold the most important job in the Land!!! -Sherry Wilson

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OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

SEPTEMBER 2016

learn the impact of a candidate’s rhetoric and policy positions can affect a society for generations. -Joe Paul My pick for President is Hillary Clinton.

I have never voted for any Republican and never will. And President Obama has been good for me. I am a gay Vietnam veteran

as citizens. If we really want to influence the laws and direction of our incredible country, then we should shift our focus on the elections of our representatives and who they’re in bed with. (That or disable the now unnecessary electoral college.) These are the elections of our Representatives and House members.

Why aren’t we talking more about these elections and why aren’t we hearing more about them? We want them to work together while representing us, not make deals for each other while scratching backs. -Rusty Hackett, aka Raquel Redd

that was discharged for being gay. President Obama and his work to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and his efforts on behalf of the LGBT community have allowed me to upgrade my discharge to honorable and to receive VA benefits. I am retired and they have been a big help to me. -Jim Fields

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DEMOCRACY AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN ACTION A MIDDLE TENNESSEE DELEGATE’S DNCC EXPERIENCE DARRELL BOULDIN

My first Democratic National Convention (DNCC) was in 2012 as an Obama delegate when the DNCC was held in Charlotte. I was the first openly gay delegate elected to a major party presidential nominating convention from Rutherford County. It was a great honor to be selected to attend again in 2016 as a delegate.

The DNCC is the presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party and occurs every four years. In years when Democratic presidents are running for reelection, as in 2012 when I first attended, all delegates generally represent one candidate.

In competitive presidential primaries, like this year’s, delegates represent the votes of the Democratic primary voters of their state for their respective candidates.

The selection of delegates differs from state to state but there are specific Democratic National Committee guidelines each state must follow.

In Tennessee delegates, are generally selected in three ways but are all part of the Tennessee Delegation. There are district delegates, at-large delegates (including a category of party leaders and elected officials), and the superdelegates.

District delegates are elected through congressional district conventions attended by county delegates elected at Democratic county conventions to attend the district conventions to represent their respective candidates. At-large delegates including elected officials are elected by the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee, which is the governing committee of the state party. Superdelegates are selected by the Democratic National Committee per the national party rules and bylaws.

My first Convention was exciting, and I was proud to participate in what was one of the largest LGBT delegations ever.

This year the Convention was even more diverse. Around 11.5% of the delegates were LGBTQ, up from around 7% in 2012, and there were record numbers of trans delegates. We also had record numbers of Young Democrats and LGBT delegates in our Tennessee delegation this year.

My fellow delegate Blake Kitterman and I were male delegates from the 4th Congressional District. We both happen to be openly gay. He was the male Hillary delegate, and I was the male Bernie delegate. There were other gay delegates

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as well, including Ramon Ryan, Gary Bynum, and Christopher Ball.

Marisa Richmond, who was the first ever black trans female delegate to a DNCC, was not a delegate this year, but represented Tennessee in a very visible ceremonial role in the official appointed office of Convention Timekeeper. This made her the first trans individual to ever serve as an official officer of a Democratic National Convention.

During the DNCC, two meetings were hosted by the Democratic National Committee’s LGBT Caucus chaired by Earl Fowlkes. The room was packed and we heard from several wonderful very high profile LGBT speakers and allies. This diversity was mirrored on the main stage in the Wells Fargo Arena. Several LGBT elected officials spoke at the Convention.

Sarah McBride became the first trans individual ever to give a major speech at the Convention. Jason Collins also spoke, as did his twin brother who is a phenomenal LGBT ally.

Attending the convention is exhausting but rewarding. There are hundreds of simultaneous events hosted throughout the host city and around the perimeter of the convention. High profile organizations like HRC and Victory Fund typically hold events coinciding with the convention that also feature amazing speakers and typically have a strong presence.

Though I was a Sanders delegate, it was remarkable to witness history as the first woman became the presidential nominee for a major political party. Though I sided with Sanders on many policy issues I feel that our nominee Hillary Clinton spoke to and adopted many of those issues. By the end of the convention I felt we moved toward unity. I spoke to both CSPAN and German television, as well as other international news outlets, about how I endorsed and supported her after Bernie Sanders did so.

The speakers, performances and energy of the 2016 DNCC was phenomenal. There were many people passionately committed to their candidates, and it resulted in one of the more interesting and dynamic DNCCs in recent years. Though all did not always go smoothly it was amazing to witness our democracy in action.

Attending the Democratic National Convention especially as a Delegate on the floor is like being in a snow globe

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of democracy and the Democratic Party. The event takes over the host city and the energy fills the air. It is the experience of a lifetime and one of the major historical events of our nation that occurs only every four years. To witness history is a humbling experience and one I know I will long remember.

Even if you are not a delegate, guests who are not delegates can usually attend surrounding events, especially with proper invitations, and enter the auxiliary events of the convention that take place outside of the main floor and arena, including the caucuses at times. I would encourage people to consider attending even as a member of the public if they are interested in politics.

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‘STRAIGHT OUTTA THE CLOSET’ ONTO THE COURT GAY BASKETBALL TEAM IN ‘STRAIGHT’ LEAGUE JAMES GRADY

LGBT sports leagues and teams are enjoying a boom in Nashville. With the growth of the HotMess League, which features volleyball, dodgeball, and kickball, and the success of local LGBT teams, such as the Nashville Grizzlies who recently hosted a major international tournament, the Bingham Cup, there is a lot of interest in the community right now. And there’s a hunger for more.

This summer, Sammy Hann, who plays with the Grizzlies, and his boyfriend Chris Housman, who has played on the HotMess league, decided it would be fun to add basketball to the LGBT sports offerings in Nashville.

“We started to talk about how nice it would be if HotMess would branch out to basketball,” Hann said. But in the meanwhile, the two of them decided to pursue basketball by another route.

“Some friends got together and talked about putting together a gay team to compete in the straight league.”

“That was on Tuesday,” Hann

said. “We talked and got together, and I sent out two emails to East Nashville businesses telling them we were trying to organize a gay basketball team. I sent one to Kustom Thrills Tattoo’s Chris Saint Clark and one to the general manager of The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden. They were like, ‘East Nashville? I’m in!’ Both gave money almost immediately.”

The local support was a big help.

“That was real big for us to get some stuff paid for,” Hann said. “It can be expensive to get started, especially so quickly. It helped with the cost of jerseys and things like that.”

Meanwhile Housman, who is also the team’s captain, worked with the Mid State Sports Leagues to get the team, “Straight Outta the Closet”, registered.

Within ten days,” Hann said, “we had a roster of ten guys together and got registered. We had our first game that very next Tuesday.”

In their first season, the team had a solid record against some more

Back (Left to Right): Coach Mark Pilkington, Sean Sims, Heath Jones, Johnny Rush, Mark Pierce, Tim Barry Front (Left to Right): Clifford Carpenter, Chris Housman, Sammy Hann, Damon Reid, Taylor Tavarus

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SEPTEMBER 2016

established teams, finishing fifth of eight and going 3-4 in the season. “We played in the first game in the tournament,” Hann said, “and got recognition from the other teams, who said how cool it was. One of the refs posted online about having refereed for a gay team and how well we did. Friends and people came out to watch, and people started hearing about what we are trying to do.”

The group does plan to continue, perhaps playing two seasons a year. “We are going to try to register for winter season with the same group of guys,” Hann explained. “We are going to try to do winter and summer. We have a couple of guys asking to get on the team if there are openings. But we aren’t gonna be cutting people. We’re just a group of friends trying to do an experiment to see what a group of guys can do in a ‘straight league.’ We had fun and had some success, so that’s not a bad thing.”

And who knows, maybe they’ll inspire other groups of friends to “come out” and play?

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FROM WEST END AVENUE TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL WITH ACTIVIST MARISA RICHMOND

JAMES GRADY

Marisa Richmond has been tireless in her advocacy for the transgender community, and the LGBT community more widely, in Tennessee. Her work founding Tennessee Vals, which provided a rare safe haven for trans people in Tennessee, and the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, which lobbies for transgender rights most broadly construed, hasn’t just changed lives: there is little doubt it has saved lives.

She is less well known for, but no less energetic in, her promotion of political activism and action through her Democratic Party. She has volunteered through and served as an officer of the Davidson County Committee of the Democratic Party, as well as having worked on campaign staffs and even run her own campaign once.

Richmond’s work in both advocacy and in Democratic politics have garnered her many “firsts.” In 2008 she became the first transgender person elected to hold executive office in the Democratic Party in Davidson County, in the same year she was first elected to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention (DNCC). On June 29, 2011, Richmond was invited to attend the White House LGBT Pride reception, where she met with President Obama and VicePresident Biden.

Earlier this year, Mayor Megan Barry

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appointed Richmond to the Metro Human Relations Commission. This was the first time a transgender person was named to a local government board or commission not only in Nashville, but in all of Tennessee.

But Richmond’s most prominent first may be her most recent. At this summer’s DNCC, Richmond served as official podium timekeeper. By all accounts, that honor makes her the first transgender person to serve as a podium official at a major party convention.

In light of this momentous honor, and as we focus this month on the nexus of local and national politics, we sat down with Richmond to discuss her life in politics, with all of its hopes and frustrations, and how she believes the LGBT community can best position itself in future political battles in Tennessee.

So this month, we’ve titled our issue All Politics is Local…

That’s a quote from former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, you know? [I nod.]

I actually voted for Tip O’Neill in my first election when I was a freshman at Harvard.

So a couple of years later, when I was working for Jane Eskind—that was my first paid campaign staff position. We were over at an Al Gore event in Lebanon, and Tip O’Neill was there. I went over and introduced myself and said I voted for him, and he grabbed me and yelled across the room, “Hey, Al! I’ve got

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SEPTEMBER 2016

a constituent here!” He was so excited!

Then it really does tie in well! Tell our reader’s a little about your history and how you got involved in politics?

I’m a native of Nashville; I was born and raised here. Both my parents were educators: they taught at Fisk and TSU. When I was four, my mom took me and my sister to see President Kennedy when he came to Nashville. The motorcade in those days was open limo, and when he came past us he was smiling and waving, and he looked right at me. I’ve sort of been a political junky from that moment on.

Were your parents very politically active?

Yes! My parents even hosted Stokely Carmichael in our house when he was the president of SNCC (the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), so I had that exposure from a very early age.

My mom, when she was pregnant with my sister, was between jobs. So when the sit-ins started here in Nashville, she was on the phones helping organize the business boycotts, saying, ‘Those kids are out there fighting for us, we need to stand up and help them in some way.’ And the business

boycott had helped with the Montgomery Bus boycotts…

How did you get personally involved?

I was twelve, almost thirteen, when my best friend’s mom ran for mayor of Nashville...

So I was volunteering—the headquarters was over on West End Avenue—and I was stuffing envelopes and passing out literature and stuff like that. That was the first campaign I volunteered in. I always paid close attention to politics, always talked about it at school, so when opportunities arose I just said, ‘I’d like to get involved.’

As an undergrad I went to Harvard, and for grad school I started at Cal Berkeley, before I moved across country to D.C. to work at the Smithsonian and finish my Ph.D. at George Washington University. I worked on Jane Eskind’s campaign. And actually when I was in grad school in California, I ran for county committee in Alameda County. I didn’t win. The way the district was set up, there were six seats and you ran at large.

There were eleven of us running, and I finished eleventh!

When did you get more involved in the LGBT community, or trans community?

I was only starting to come out of the closet when I was in D.C., and so I started by going to the bars… I was still just getting my feet wet in the community when I moved back to Nashville in 1992, so I wasn’t involved in leadership in the community in D.C. But … while there I found out about a support group there called Transgender Education Association (TGEA), and I joined while I was there.

how much the country would change in this short amount of time?’ We still have a long way to go but we’ve made incredible progress in all these years.

So when you returned to Nashville, how did you start to get involved?

Especially now that they’re back in school, with all this bathroom crap (no pun intended) that they are putting up with...

It saddens me, with all that we’ve done, that those kids are having to put up with so much. I try to present a role model for them, because I didn’t have that when I was their age. I want to show them what’s possible with their own lives.

Well, we started the Tennessee Vals (TVals), so that was the first step. It was not intended to be political—and it’s certainly not—though there were a couple of times I tried to organize letter-writing about some things.

The spark for TTPC was actually the non-discrimination battle here in 2003, because that left out trans people. We were angry and insulted by things that were being said. And so a bunch of us … started TTPC in May 2003, right after that whole business with the ordinance blew up, and we selected a core of issues, like non-discrimination, hate crimes, birth certificates, and marriage equality. Those were our four original priorities.

Despite the progress there’s still a lot facing our youth: they’re so eager to be out now that they are very exposed. How do you work with them?

After I moved to D.C., my involvement kind of died out because of Hatch Act restrictions on government employees, but I always said I was going to get involved again.

When I moved back to Nashville, I ended up spending several years taking care of my parents in their last years, so that kind of took up a hell of a lot of time…

After they passed away, I started to get involved. Around 2008, I decided that I wanted to be a delegate and that I wanted to be on the county committee. I’d actually started going to the county committee meeting a couple of years earlier. In fact, one person said when I got elected, “I thought you were already on the committee; you were coming all the time.” But I finally ran in 2008 and got elected. Of course I ran for delegate that year, and got elected for that as well.

How do LGBT people build their political clout?

There are a number of LGBT events; I know one’s coming up at the end of this month for Holly McCall. There have been others. I know a lot of people are trying to help Trisha Farmer in Wilson County. And I tell people, let the candidate know, “This is why I am supporting you, because of these issues, because I belong to this constituency.”

When they are elected, you can say, “I voted for you,” “I volunteered for you,” or “I donated money to you” for this reason: here’s what I’m asking now that you’re in office.

And that’s how it works.

How do we motivate people to take that interest in local politics?

What was it like trying to get support for that agenda early on?

When we started going to the legislature trying to get them to do legislation, they were just like, “Oh, yeah.... Right!’ At that time people didn’t want to talk about trans issues and they were sort of taken aback. I found out later that people were talking behind my back about, ‘Where’s she going to go to the bathroom?’ When I heard that, I thought ‘Really?’ That’s all they were thinking about.... I was talking about discrimination in the workplace and hate crimes and they’re already talking about bathrooms. I was annoyed with that when I found out!

But eventually the first bill we got introduced was the birth certificate bill by Steve Cohen when he was in the state senate, so we really sort of started working heavily on that issue at the time. We were also pushing for the repeal of the state’s Defense of Marriage Act—and that’s when the marriage amendment was introduced almost at that same time, so we had to sort of start focusing and try to stop that, because we didn’t want discrimination in the state’s Constitution.

It’s sometimes hard to remember that that fight was so recent…

When I was in Philly and D.C. recently, I was talking to a lot of my fellow old-timers and saying, ‘Can you remember ten years, twenty years ago? Would you have imagined

Election day coming up November 8, and there’s candidates all around the state…

Get involved in those campaigns, they need your energy. They need money, but as one candidate told me, “If I have to choose between volunteers and donors, I’d rather have volunteers.” So I tell people, give an hour a week: go in, make phone calls, knock on doors... Do something. But get involved and start making those contacts and meeting people. Let them see that you are committed.

And that’s how you start to work your way up through the system.

Especially now that they’re back in school, I keep warning their parents about the possibility of suicide. I don’t want us to lose any more kinds, and this is the time of year when it’s most dangerous for them. And so I’m trying to give them something positive to look to… I love the kids… I also try to help their parents and answer their questions, because they are parents who struggling to understand them and trying to be supportive and that’s great.

Can you tell us a little about how your involvement with the Democratic Party developed over the years?

My parents were very partisan Democrats. So I knew a lot of politicians, and they took me to a lot of speeches and rallies, and stuff like that. So I saw Bobby Kennedy when he spoke at Vanderbilt in 1968. I remember that vividly.

Have you been to a convention again since 2008?

I wasn’t a delegate this year, but I was in 2012. But I was there this year as an official officer. I didn’t run to be a delegate this year because I was on the Diversity Outreach Committee, so I was trying to get other people in the community to run. Several people said they were interested, and then two of them didn’t even vote in the primary.... I got really exasperated. So one of the things, especially when I was posting from the convention, is I was was hoping to excite people. I want people to think, “I want to see myself in those pictures, I want to be in that spot, so I’m going to find out how to do this next time.” So some people have started to reach out and say, “You’re right, I need to get off my butt and start doing things.”

How do people go about getting involved?

I’m hoping the craziness we’ve seen out of our state legislature the last few years will help. I was saying the other day that when Stacey Campfield was there that was all people were focused on. And it’s like the sun is up, the stars are still there in the sky but you don’t see them until the sun sets.

Well now Campfield is gone and people are starting to realize how many other crazy stars that we have, and people are finally starting to talk about this. So now they just have to get involved.

So back to the DNCC: what did your role this year entail?

My official title was podium timekeeper.... The time was actually kept by the production staff, so the position is honorary. That’s why I was taking so many photos. So I jokingly called myself the official podium selfie photographer. I was physically on the podium Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday they removed the seats so they had a special VIP section in front, so that’s where I was Thursday night.

What are some of the highlights of the Convention for you, besides the history making moments? @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

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Besides what goes on in Wells Fargo Center, there are receptions and events, and I spoke on both Wednesday and Thursday.

On Wednesday, I spoke at the HRC/Victory Fund Luncheon just before Chelsea Clinton, although we didn’t actually rub elbows. And Thursday I spoke at the LGBT Caucus just before Senator Cory Booker. It was kind of nice to be part of that.

And then when we took the big group photo of all of the trans delegates together... It was the biggest Transgender Caucus, and I’ve seen online that it’s gotten wide exposure, so we’re hoping that will inspire more people all over the country, and for me especially in Tennessee, to step up and run.

After the DNCC, you were off to the Lavender Law Conference. You talked there about what’s going on in Tennessee and how to move forward. Can you give us a taste of that?

When I gave the speech at the Transgender Law Institute lunch, I focused on what’s going on here in Tennessee and all of the many battles, both positive and negative but mostly negative... And then when I was on the panel at the end of the day, we were asked to talk about next steps and what we think we can achieve or how we are going to get there.

What do you think is possible for us here in Tennessee?

Well, the key is enforcement of those laws, and encouraging people to continue to file lawsuits and grievances, whether it’s through EEOC or Department of Education or Department of Justice... Federal laws apply to Tennessee whether Tennesseans want to admit it or not. We tried secession once, and it didn’t work. We are part of the United States of America, and U.S. laws apply to us here.

We do plan a lawsuit at some point on the birth certificate laws in Tennessee.

We’ve been working to line up plaintiffs for that, but we are going to take however long it takes. Originally the plan was to file before Thanksgiving 2015, but then everyone’s attention had to shift both to bathrooms and to counseling discrimination. Those two issues took up so much energy.

We are reaching out all across the states, and I think we’ve got about a dozen plaintiffs already. Actually they don’t even all live in Tennessee: one had moved to Toronto. One of the things we wanted to show is that it doesn’t matter where you live, it matters where you were born, and it still follows you even if you move to another state or another country.

For more information about the TTPC and its events, like the group at facebook.com/tntpc.

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

21

UNTOUCHABLE TOUR BRINGS ELECTRICITY TO ASCEND AMPHITHEATER GRAMMY WINNER Meghan Trainor BLAKE BROCKWAY

Rain and lightning might have briefly delayed the show for almost an hour, but that did not stop thousands of fans from pouring into Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Saturday night to experience pop starlet Meghan Trainor’s Untouchable Tour.

Promoted by Live Nation, Untouchable will be Trainor’s biggest and

special guest appearance by good friend recording artist Fancy Hagood, best known for his collaboration with Trainor and Ariana Grande on “Boys Like You.” Hagood joined Trainor for a power rendition of her hit John Legend duet, “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.” The amphitheater setting gave Trainor’s show a conversational feel and allowed her to connect with the audience,

THE CLEAR, UNIVERSAL THEME OF THE SHOW WAS

Self-Acceptance most ambitious tour yet. Kicking off on Thursday, July 14 at PNE Amphitheatre in Vancouver, British Columbia, the tour will ultimately hit 26 cities throughout North America, including New York City, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, and more.

With Academy Award-nominated actress and multiplatinum pop singer Hailee Steinfeld supporting, and special guests Common Kings appearing on select dates, Untouchable is guaranteed to be a show to remember During the show’s stop in Nashville, Trainor proved that she can bring a packed house to its feet as well as her fellow pop divas Taylor Swift, Rhianna, and Katy Perry. Two years ago no one knew her name but she has grown into a pop powerhouse and has quickly found her home on the stage: from the audience, it’s easy to see how she won that coveted Best New Artist Grammy earlier this year.

Trainor, who got her start here in Music City as songwriter, praised the town for making her the artist she is today.

Her Nashville roots showed throughout the night as she would give shout outs to friends, family, and fellow co-writers in the audience who came out in full force to support her. The night even featured a

22

and she took the opportunity to be more personal with the crowd. She brought several fans up on stage to dance with her throughout the night and called out to many of them with “I love you too!” as a thank you for their homemade signs and t-shirts.

Trainor’s show was very family friendly, as she shared stories about her mom and brother. Gary Trainor, who is known well by Meghan’s fans, joined the pop star on stage for a little “dancing,” while she belted out her song “Dance Like Your Daddy.”

The clear, universal theme of the show was “self-acceptance.” Trainor is known for her retro sound and songs of modern womanhood, positive body image and empowerment. Some may bill the “Untouchable Tour” as a traveling after school special, but no matter whether you were a six-year-old little girl with not a care in the world, a teenage girl who just broke up with her first boyfriend, a gay kid who is struggling with coming out, or a middle age mom trying to figure out how to be a single, Meghan left you feeling empowered and confident that you to are worthy and could take on the world.

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OVER

the RAINBOW

I AM ... CAIT?

“You are now out of your text; but we will draw the curtain and show you the picture...Is’t not well done?”

JULIE CHASE

Cue Rod Serling writing new episodes of the Twilight Zone somewhere in authors’ heaven...

Picture if you will the following...

Somewhere inside a large Nashville hotel not long ago, a former athletic champion is beginning to come to terms with his hidden gender. Standing in front of a mirror, a flood of thoughts may have entered his mind as he prepared to undertake one of the more risk-filled challenges of his life. He is a reasonably successful motivational speaker in town to address a large convention.

He would not be the first traveling professional to cross-dress in public far from the prying eyes of home. Some use the experience to embrace, or reject, their very secret identities. Some just like wearing the right clothes for a change. Our subject may have been doing both.

Courage in that moment probably required baby steps as he—now she— stepped out onto the balcony overlooking a dimly lit indoor atrium in high heels.

She would probably not risk the journey downstairs to the main lobby or visit any of the hotel’s restaurants. She most likely settled for a quick stroll upstairs thinking the upcoming exercise in femininity would be risky enough as it was. She may have been attempting this for herself: perhaps also she’s was acting on a therapist’s requirement too.

But just before she left the room to face her fears, she probably gripped that balcony rail and asked herself a potentially life-changing question: “Can I really do this?”

My own presentation as transgender woman is uncommon. I recognized that I should have been a girl around age five, but I also identified as a lesbian too. I have always thought like a lesbian and have been mainly attracted to lesbian women since the onset of hormones. I consider myself to be a butchleaning feminist woman, but I do not refer to myself as that just yet. That privilege is earned and I have far more dues to pay.

Caitlyn Jenner has chosen a more traditional transgender presentation—and very publicly too. No one should say that her coming out last year was not a watershed moment for LGBTQ nation. We had our first really famous (prior to transition) person publicly step out of the T closet for all to see. But I do share some of the guarded skepticism about how all this looks and is being handled.

Frankly, she looks fabulous...way too fabulous. She’s not Barbie in the Malibu Dream House sans Ken, but seems to come reasonably close. Yes, she lost her marriage in the transition, and her kids have had to adjust to the new paradigm too. But all things considered, she seems to have come through pretty darn well. Her revelation led to a multi-million-dollar television deal and a shot at icon status.

My revelation led to a one-way ticket to military school. Timing is everything, I guess.

Caitlyn’s journey into LGBTQ daylight is much the same as anyone elses, produced and directed by acolytes of the Dick Clark coaching tree of course, but real nonetheless.

We have all been there in one way or another.

Eighteen months in and a few public gaffes later, she’s still family. The training wheels are off and she seems to be over the novice phase of her journey as news breaks of her program’s cancellation.

The main difference between the overwhelming majority of the tribe and Caitlyn is that we get to make our gaffes without cameras rolling. High school and college were our training grounds, and we had a G-ddess-given right to explore our unrequested blessings in creative and occasionally stupid ways that only a select few would truly know about.

Public personalities usually do not get this advantage, with work and paychecks on the line, but successful people also go through that same deep and very personal hell that most LGBTQ folks suffer when adjusting to being a minority in a heterosexual world.

Driven types tend to put their real identities

Illustration: Melissa Gay

Olivia, Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (Act I, Scene 5)

on hold until achieving what seems to be a more important and reachable goal again... and again. It is only when their intentionally busy lives slow down long enough that they can no longer ignore their screaming souls.

Should she have done this in front of the cameras? I think she probably made a very smart move by doing so; the tabloids were going to out her anyway. Why not make the most of it while shining a light on the cause for all to see? Her program has allowed America to get an up close and personal look at transgendered people. The heterosexual world finally got a clear picture of the LGBTQ solar system’s Pluto...and most were pleased.

As contrived as some of the program may be, one thing stood out as I binge-

watched: Caitlyn is genuinely scared in many scenes. Her body language does not lie. Joining the other team is always hard no matter how right the decision and how well you prepare. It’s a brave new world, and Caitlyn has very likely and irrevocably blown up her past to join the tribe.

Sound familiar? We need to continue to back her. She’s one of us now.

Hey Cait? Love you, babe! Now please do a rethink on some of your politics…

Julie Chase is the pen name for a local 40-something trans woman. A graduate of The University of the South at Sewanee, she loves butterflies, strong women and the Austrian School of Economics. @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

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FORMERLY KNOWN AS ‘WHO POST-REPUBLIC FANCY HAGOOD GETS REAL ERIC PATTON

“Who is Fancy” is a name that’s long been familiar to Nashville’s LGBTQ millennials.

He’s charted two songs on the pop charts, one a trio with Ariana Grande and Meghan Trainor. Signed to Republic Records until very recently, his career has gotten off to a fantastic start, and he’s been writing with all sorts, including the likes of Bob DiPiero.

How does that happen?

He’s kind of a local. A small town kid from Arkansas, Jake Hagood started going by the pseudonym Fancy while attending Trevecca Nazarene University in the late 2000’s. He was discovered by Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta, along with the now infamous Dr. Luke. They went to Republic Records with a strange idea: They wanted to produce him, but keep his identity under wraps. This uncommon tactic proved successful in building his brand.

Since then he’s performed at Nashville Pride in 2015 and Kentuckiana Pride this year. He’s performed live on Dancing with The Stars, as well as several national media outlets, including when he finally revealed his identity on Jimmy Fallon. Now 25, he’s still a writer with Big Machine Records but

he’s recording his own music, on his own terms.

When we met for cocktails at the beautiful new club, ‘Old Glory,’ in historic Edgefield, we started with the obvious: “Who is Fancy”?

“I’ve been going as Fancy for about six years now, so it’s just what people know me as,” Hagood explained, “especially in Nashville in the music scene. My family still calls me by me ‘real’ name, which is Jake.”

When asked, “So you are Fancy?” he replied, “100% Fancy,” sounding almost like he was coming out of the closet. The “Who Is” part was another matter. “That was something that happened outside of my control. My goal, when I became Fancy, was to be Fancy Hagood the whole time. I never wanted to change my name [from Fancy].

I never wanted to have a pseudonym artist project. But it fell in my lap and I ran with it.

It worked out for my first single. It just kind of is what it is. But I don’t want that.”

“The whole name positions itself to say that I don’t know who I am,” he added. “The whole reason I became Fancy was because I know exactly who I am. I want people to

“

I’m an openly gay artist, and I am not ambiguous.

I will never be ambiguous; my pronouns are ‘very’ specific. If I’m singing about a boy I slept with, I’m singing about the boy I slept with.

“

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OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

SEPTEMBER 2016

IS FANCY?’

know that it’s not just some sort of adjective I describe myself as; it’s my name. It’s what I go by. From here on out, we’re transitioning out of the ‘Who Is Fancy’ right into Fancy.

Fancy Hagood.”

While Hagood appreciates the opportunity his two years signed with Republic gave him, he’s ready to embrace that self-knowledge and move to the next stage in his career. “I know who I am, I know what I have to say, I know what my purpose on this earth is. I want to chase that. I want to pursue that. I want to be myself fully. That’s why I became Fancy…”

Now Hagood will speak more uniquely out of his own experience. “Music transcends into people’s lives. I’m a bigger dude, I’m openly gay … there are so many things people see as an obstacle, but for me I find empowering,” he explained. “I love my body, I love who I am, I love what I represent.

I love writing about my experiences, and my experiences range far and wide. From being in love, to just have sexual experiences, partying and going out, whatever…”

Being the person he is, Hagood has faith in his audiences. “I think there’s people that

will connect and really like the new music because it’s me being authentic to myself,” he said. “’Goodbye’ was a heartbreak song, and I loved it. And ‘Boys Like You’ is a fun song, and I wrote both of those. But this album I’m putting together explores my journey of coming into myself; mind, body, soul. That’s a story I wasn’t allowed to tell before.”

Bothered by that, I asked him if he felt like his former record label had suppressed him.

“I think everyone is just doing their best to do what they know how to do. I’m walking in unchartered territory. I’m an openly gay artist, and I am not ambiguous. I will never be ambiguous; my pronouns are very specific.

If I’m singing about a boy I slept with, I’m singing about the boy I slept with. There’s no reason for me to say ‘they’ or ‘you’ or ‘blah.’”

This is important to Hagood because he wants ‘boys like him,’ who grew up in Arkansas or Mississippi or other places where being gay still is not being accepted to hear music they can relate to directly. “Trans people have to be worried about where they use the restroom?” he asked incredulously.

“There are still people out there who are

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facing discrimination and still facing being different and being punished for it. I know what that’s like, I grew up in that. And the thing is, I want them to look at the music charts and see someone like me and know that there is another side.”

Returning to his new music, Hagood promises his life experience and sexuality will spring to life out of the music.

“The whole sexual aspect is something I want to come across in my album. Just like I said earlier, these kids growing up in bum-f—king-Egypt, like so many of the rest of us… I just want those kids to know that there are no limits. You are not who they say you are. You are what you decide you are.”

Then he added, “And for so long, I listened to so many people about my identity and who I am and what my worth was. And like I said earlier, I love who I am. I love my body, I love my friends, I love the things I do, I love my music. I want this album to embody all of those things. Confidence, sexuality.”

Hagood then reflected on the double standard about sexuality in music for people like him. “Artists like Beyoncé and Rhianna, even the Pussycat Dolls, who are one of my favorite bands of all time, are all encouraged to be sexual and to flaunt it and to put it out there. But then I’m told, ‘That’s not going to work,’ or ‘You’re the boy next door, let’s not go that route.’ I am NOT the boy next door. Like if I’m the boy next door, I’m the boy next door who slept with your husband, boo. It’s just a fact.”

“This album is very raw and unedited. It’s very sexual,” he said. “Carnal is the word I’ve been using to describe it. It’s going there. It’s almost like my little black book. There’s one song on the album, the most controversial song on the record, it’s probably my favorite. It’s dirty, it’s crazy, and people are not going to believe it’s me saying it, but it’s straight up taken from a page out of my diary.”

I can attest that the song will seriously turn heads and get some folks talking. If the little preview he gave me is any indication of the rest of the album, it’ll make Adam Lambert’s For Your Entertainment look like a church skit. I know I’ll be a very happy customer when I get the chance to buy this album. So watch this space, because Fancy Hagood is going to make a huge splash with this new project.

For an extended version of this interview, visit outandaboutnashville.com.

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STIGMA MODEL AUCTION RAISES AWARENESS & FUNDS TEAM FRIENDLY ALLIES STRIP DOWN FOR THE CAUSE JAMES GRADY

Team Friendly Tennessee, as many already know, is an organization dedicated to eradicating HIV stigma, through face-toface activism. The group hosts regular beer busts at Stirrup, as well as events in the community around Nashville and across the state, and attends nearly every Pride festival in Tennessee. These events allow the group to display its signature smiley face prominently and spark conversations about HIV, creating opportunities to share and educate.

The group’s fundraising supports these activities, and Team Friendly Tennessee has developed some creative, entertaining, and, as you can see, interactive ways to raise funds, from “nearly naked” car washes to last month’s “Mr. Friendly Stigma Model Auction.”

Now in its second year, this event combines the groups activism and education mission, while putting the fun in fundraising. An assembled group of models of all body types was escorted through a packed crowd a Stirrup and, for a small donation, audience members could write words used to stigmatize people with HIV on the bodies of the models. Then the models were auctioned off, the winner getting the privilege of washing the words off their model’s body on the porch after the auction concluded.

Throw in all-you-can-eat barbecue and beer for $10, and there was more than enough fun to be had by all. Before it was all said and done, Team Friendly Tennessee raised nearly $2,000!

28

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

SEPTEMBER 2016

Photos: Scott Weaver and Stephen Bloodworth

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29

GRIZZLIES CAPITALIZE ON BINGHAM BOOST INTRO RUGBY CLINIC DRAWS NEW BLOOD STAFF

Photos: James Grady

The Grizzlies welcomed 22 new players to their Rugby 101 clinic on Saturday, August 13. Held at Vanderbilt University, the clinic was designed to teach basic rugby rules and skills to prospective players and fans. The new players were joined by over 30 veteran players and a new team of coaches headed by Jimmy Arredondo.

“We played better rugby during the Hoagland Shield semifinal than we ever have in our history. This season, we are focusing on improving our skills and tactics even further.

This is our tenth year and we expect to be more competitive than ever,” said head coach, Jimmy Arredondo.

The clinic was broken into two halves.

After introductions by the coaching staff and all new and returning players, the clinic broke up into small groups to learn basic rugby skills.

Led by veteran players, the groups were made up of varied experience levels and covered skills like rucking, passing and kicking.

“The turnout this weekend was excellent.

I feel confident that we will be able to carry the momentum from this weekend through the rest of the season, starting in Charleston on September 17,” said club president, Mark Pilkington.

Normal practices resume on Thursday, August 18 and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Capers Field at Vanderbilt University. Parking is available at the lot at the corner of Natchez Trace and Children’s Way. Also watch the Grizzlies Facebook page for more information on their opening games: September 17th against the Charleston Blockade (away) and September 24th versus the Gadsden Pioneers (home).

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SEPTEMBER 2016

SNARKOLOGY: DO THE TRUMP-TY TRUMP 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.

Am I high? Sorry I have to ask. I’ve been in recovery for about 3 years, and I’ve forgotten. But Trump is a viable candidate, so I must be hallucinating.

This means we could be one ballot away from that Jersey Shore wannabe sitting in the Oval Office. There’s a lot about this that makes my brain hurt, not the least of which is extremely bigoted white people posting videos of them doing extremely racist stuff and screaming “TRUUUUUUMP!!!!!!”

I saw one meme that compared all the things Hillary has done, from Bengazi to shredded emails to hijacking the primaries.

Next to it was a picture of Trump with the caption, “Said mean things.” Obviously, he’s said some racist stuff people don’t like, but, hey, he’s not a criminal.

But WATCH the man. If he’s elected, he’ll have enough money and power to make Solomon blush, and you think that won’t lead to some criminal activity? Can you honestly say a potato in a toupee drunk with power is what we really need? I don’t think either of them are great candidates, but that’s neither here nor there.

How the hell did we end up here? Why do we hear people talking about wanting to bring back ‘the good old days’? And making America great again? Well, I’m glad you asked.

First of all, there’s no such thing as ‘good old days’in America if you’re black, Hispanic, Jewish, Muslim, Indian, LGBTQI, a woman, poor, non-Protestant Christian, brown, Asian, etc. When I hear “bring back the good old days,” what I’m really hearing is “I don’t want to have to accept other people! Bring back the time when WASP was the cultural norm and no one questioned it!”

Let me tell you about the days when America’s economy flourished. Before outsourcing we were doing pretty good. But companies started sending jobs overseas so they could pay workers less. Why? Because we want to be able to buy a flat screen at Walmart for $200.00. That’s really it. Our economy took a sucker punch, because of us.

We kind of did this to ourselves. I’m just

as guilty as anyone else. We wanted cheaper goods and services, companies listened and moved jobs overseas. Except for the auto industry. They didn’t listen when we asked for better cars.

The heads of those companies had a good run for a long time with politicians in their pocket. What they hadn’t counted on was that we would figure out their cars sucked, that we could get a better quality vehicle for less money and would vote with our dollars. Our free market gave them a chance to compete for a long time but they didn’t want to and now they’re scrambling.

But what about the -isms, like racism, sexism, etc.? What does that have to do with it? Those things hide more when we don’t see as many problems we need to blame on notourselves.

Basic human psychology. Like, we’re all cool until Billy Bob loses his pension because everyone—Billy Bob included— buys Korean televisions instead of Billy Bob brand expensive pieces of crap. But Billy Bob won’t blame Billy Bob. Next thing you know he’s opening a new chapter of the KKK in his basement.

Trump’s an asshole who says exactly what he thinks. While I don’t agree with it, I must admit I respect someone with no f*cks to give who doesn’t pretend to be something they’re not. I think we’re so used to being lied to we’re almost offended when we’re not. At least he says what he’s thinking, mostly. Is he a bully? Yep! But Trump is feeding Billy Bob’s delusion. There are lots of people who think the awful s**t he does and just don’t say it.

That doesn’t mean they don’t act on it, they just don’t say it out loud.

If we were all cool, we wouldn’t have to have things like the Fair Housing Act. But we are largely not cool. We are selfish, selfrighteous ass hats. We like people who are like minded. The closer you are to agreeing with me the more you right are!

We took a wrong turn about 1,000 miles back and now here we are: Trump.

Donald Trump is a viable candidate. And the establishment hates it. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like that a little bit. All these politicians

scrambling and mad because their rigged system isn’t system is being smashed like a tinker toy set by a cheetoh in a wig. God! It’s beautiful! But also terrifying.

Trump’s capturing a base in America that is frightening. Before, when the wealthy s**t on us they had some dignity. They at least pretended we mattered. Trump is like, “You suck! Did I stutter?”

Trump isn’t the mean one. We are. He’s fleshing out these long held resentments.

really make this country something fantastic, what did we do? We denied black people basic human rights. We did the same with the LGBT community, and we s**t all over women’s rights. So this is what we are.

After World War I and World War II, we could really have banded together and made this country the great thing that everybody thinks that used to be. But it never was to be, so here’s the deal: we were never really that great. There, I said it!

“HOW THE HELL DID WE END Up here”

?

Illustration: DonkeyHotey

AMY SULAM | @Amysulam

We are the Dr. Frankenstein and Trump is our monster. And it’s too late for a pitchforkwielding mob.

Trump is holding up a mirror and we don’t like what we see because what we see is our own pus-covered underbelly. Way back when, when we had the chance to pool all the immigrants together—the best and the brightest from around the worl—and

Every time we have a chance to band together and become great we s**t all over everyone and each other because of race, religion, sexual orientation, or generally for being anything but a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant male from a wealthy background.

Trump didn’t invent the -isms, he’s just playing them on his fiddle while Rome is burning. @O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H

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different for me this year, but I love the Pride Pageant—it’s another one of my babies. I would still love to work with the Pride Pageant if the opportunity ever arises again. I will continue to work with Mr. and Ms. Nashville Pride for any MAC Productions events. I wish the new head of the Pride Pageant good luck.

A KIKI WITH PAIGE TURNER | @PaigeTurner01

Holy untucked, we are back and in full force! This month we KIKI with the legendary Mac Huffington of Mac Productions. She is responsible for so many events that unite and highlight the LGBT community and has been a huge advocate here in Music City, even though she may not view her role that way. As the owner/ promoter of many local pageants, for years she has crowned your favorite locals, from kings and queens to divas and toddlers.

This lady is always working nonstop, and I think it’s time we got to know her a little better. So, sit back: it’s time to get untucked with the legend herself.

What sparked your interest with the drag pageant world?

Going to several Drag Queen pageants and not seeing many drag kings or drag king pageants. The creativity of a contestant is just awesome to watch. To see someone grow as a person while doing drag is a beautiful thing.

How long have you been the promoter/ owner of pageants?

For over 20 years, starting with the Ms. & Mr. Nashville Pride Pageant in 1996; then I added Drag Kings the following year.

Bianca Paige was the first Ms. Nashville Pride and Bushra Shabazz, now a member of MAC Productions, was the first Mr. Nashville Pride.

You also own/promote other pageants, can you tell us about those?

My 11th Ms. Tennessee Diamond Diva Pageant was on August 14, 2016, and my 20th Mr. Esquire Pageant for Drag Kings will be in October 2016. I also started the Lil Ms. Diamond Star Pageant for kids this year 2016. I also had a Pageant for males several years ago my winner is still out competing today…

Have you ever owned or promoted a prelim for a national competition?

Yes, I have owned two USofA pageants:

32

Mr. TN USofA for Male Impersonators and Ms. TN Diva USofA. I have also participated in Unlimited & Renaissance Pageants which is also a National system.

Over the years your work has been recognized by a lot of groups. What are some of the highlights?

MAC is involved in the LBGT community, being part of but not limited to Nashville Pride. I was the winner of the Bianca Paige Community Service Award 2011. I have also been a member of Nashville Black Pride for 14 years. I was the winner of the Brothers’ United Community Service Award for community service, along with many other awards and achievements in the community. This year I was one of four finalists for the LGBT Chamber’s Mark Lee Taylor Community Service Award.

You have been a member of the pride board: how long have you been doing that?

Well over 20 years. This year myself and other long term members of the Pride Board were termed out per a new policy.

I love Pride. I still volunteer and I am the Coordinator for the Pride Drag Stage. I hope to be a board member again or part of the Executive Board if elected, and if not I will always volunteer and try to be a part.

You were sorely missed this year at the Nashville Pride Pageant. Can you explain to us why are you not heading the pageant after doing such a wonderful job all these years?

I was told by this year’s Pride Board I have done a wonderful job all these years— no problems, no complaints—but they decided I have been doing it too long. So the job was given to someone else.

I had already started working with the reigning King and Queen and some of the formers on the 2016 Pageant, so when the abrupt decision was told to me it was a hard pill to swallow. I still attended and supported the pageant. It was just very

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

SEPTEMBER 2016

A lot of people in the community consider you a huge advocate for the LGBT community. Do you consider yourself an advocate?

Again I do not think of myself that way.

I know a lot of people in the transgender community, many are my close friends and family. I just try to help any way I can. I do not want anyone to be discriminated against.

After that she developed a fan base and they gave her a stage name, momSINity.

What is the most important thing you can do for your community as an advocate?

If people think I am popular or an advocate then I will continue to help and speak out, and do all I can and be their voice if they need me.

Do you feel at times that large parts of the LGBT community are more segregated

than united?

I know there are many times the community seems segregated—black, white, king, diva, queen, trans, young, old, etc.. We are all trying to protect and preserve our personal rights. It was very apparent that when Pulse happened we as a community can come to together and show how truly united we can be.

What do you think is the most important thing we can do as a community to become more united?

We should continue to have events, rallies, festivals, shows, open discussion and more and keep them open to the public to continue to educate our community. Interviews like this also help educate the community about issues or people in the community.

What are some big events you have planned this year?

We are working on making the 20th Mr. Esquire Pageant a big event. There are not many Drag King Pageants that are twenty years old. We are proud to be one of the longest standing premier pageants in the southeastern region. We are working on a pre-party with cake and drink specials from 7–8 p.m., with the pageant following at 8 p.m. sharp, and concluding with an After Party. We also have our annual Toys for Tots Fundraiser in December.

What are you most excited about?

This year’s 20th Mr. Esquire Pageant for Drag Kings is very exciting and emotional.

I still communicate with several of my former Kings, and many of them have obtained several titles and are doing well in their communities. It’s a great feeling to see so many doing so well… I’m happy to still be in the pageantry business. It still excites me, and I am still very passionate about it.

There are so few systems that have made it this far. I am very fortunate.

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Where can our reader’s keep up with you and your events?

Everyone can like and follow my Facebook page for MAC Productions!

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33

THIS TRANSGENDER LIFE

STEVE RAIMO: “NOT A CASE

Photos: Julius Greene

OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY”

BOBBI WILLIAMS

On Friday, March 22, 1996, the Nashville LGBT community was shocked to learn that Christian Paige, a 24-year-old transperson, was found murdered in her apartment in Chicago. “She had recently moved there intending to work and save money for her surgery,” Steve Raimo explained to me. “Christian is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, but there is no marker on her grave.” If Steve Raimo’s fundraising effort with the Music City Sisters is successful, that will change.

“I chose this as my novice project for the Music City Sisters,” Steve said. “It’s not just important to the drag community, it’s also important to the transgender community.”

That’s not a connection that is often made. Most drag queens don’t identify as transgender. And the transgendered do not often identify as drag queens. But Steve doesn’t make a hard and fast distinction between the two. “For some transgender individuals, the drag route was the only avenue open to them. They found drag as a way to express their inner-self. It was more than just a performance for them, while on the other hand, there are gay men for whom drag was a performance venue. It was a unique fixture of gay life.“ “So,” I asked, “how do we know the difference?”

“It’s a matter of identity,” Steve explains. “If the drag persona has not been with her from her earliest memory, she is probably not transgender. A drag queen can tell you exactly when she was ‘born,’ but a transgender person will tell you she was born trans.”

That answers one of my big questions and before I can ask another, Steve adds “And drag queens have children. They can be mothers and they adopt their drag daughters and take them under their wing.

I don’t know think that is something that trans people do.”

Steve came to Nashville from New York City (Staten Island), where he grew up, to attend Trevecca Nazarene University.

While in high school he worked part-time for Madonna’s record label. He is known in the drag world as Veronika Electronika and admits to ‘borrowing’ his stage name from the diva while she prepared to release her Ray of Light album.

Drag hadn’t been part of his plan until one evening a friend commented that he wouldn’t make a very attractive drag queen and Steve set out to prove them wrong.

The response he got at his first appearance cemented the bond between Steve and Veronika. “But we don’t share wardrobes,” Steve says, “although my acting career usually vacillates between the two. And frankly, Veronika is often used because celebrity sells tickets, you know.”

Steve identifies as a pansexual Christian cisgender male, meaning his sexual orientation is fluid, but his gender identity and faith are not. While at Trevecca, a conflict arose over a presentation he made for a speech class. “I presented Veronika and talked about her experience,

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34

OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM

SEPTEMBER 2016

but was told that such a presentation was unacceptable,” he explained. Unless the presentation was redone on a different topic, the “unacceptable” would mean no grade would be given for it.

“I’m an out gay Christian,” Steve told them. “I want to be here, but if you dont want me here, just let me know.” That didn’t sit well with some faculty, so he left, but recently, he applied for readmission so he could finish his degree. That meant appearing before a committee which included the professor who had deemed his presentation unacceptable.

“Would you redo the presentation?” the professor asked “If I were asked to today,” Steve told her, “I might. But then...at that time? No. It was the right decision at the time.”

He was readmitted and was told by the professor that she respected his decision to continue his education.

In his years in Nashville, Steve, as well as Veronika, have become well-known figures in the LGBT community, serving on the boards of the Tennessee VALS and Out Central. Sometimes his views aren’t popular with everyone. “I feel that the biggest detriment to the transgender community has being their association with the LGB one. Gender Identity and

Sexual Orientation are not the same thing.

They should not be lumped into a single category.”

“But transgender folk don’t have the numbers they need to have a political impact,” I explain.

Steve nods. “They would if more of them spoke up,” he says. “And I certainly agree that gays, lesbians and bisexuals should be allies of the trans community, but it muddies the water surrounding a lot of issues when they’re seen as having the same agenda.”

I have to agree. So I return to our opening subject. “What will the headstone say?” I asked. “How would Christian Paige be identified?”

There’s a pause, then Steve smiles: “Christian Paige,” he said, chiseling the name in the air. “Maybe just Christian Paige.”

Donations to the Christian Paige headstone fund can be made at the Remembering Christian Paige Facebook page: http://www.musiccitysisters.org/ product/donation-2

“It’s a matter of identity...if the drag persona has not been with her from her earliest memory, she is probably not transgender”

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