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Writers: Paula Foster, Jim Robert, Chris Spear, Joe Woolley Photographers: James Grady, Jim Robert, Cody Stallings Cover: Phillip Moore, photo by Cody Stallings National Advertising Representative: Rivendell Media 1248 Route 22 West | Mountainside, NJ 07092 (908) 232-2021 ext. 200
CORRECTIONS
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We regret that the February LGBTQ Business Directory and Travelers’ Guide listed an incorrect phone number for Karuna Therapeutic Solutions. Their correct phone number is 615-669-6621. We apologize for the confusion.
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LEGAL
Streaming LGBTQ Cinema Jason Shawhan
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 2017 by Out & About Nashville, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of the person or persons. Out & About Nashville accepts unsolicited material but cannot take responsibility for its return. The editor reserves 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.
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Duality by Duke Dumont Album Review Chris Spear
10 Meet Your 2020 Nashville Pride Board
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Recent Pride Presidents on the Challenges and Triumphs of Nashville Pride A Sweet Taste of Herbalism Sara Schuster Nashville Pride 2000 A Look Back after 20 Years Jim Robert Photos from Pride 2019
Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce Pride Update Joe Woolley
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LETTER
Dear Out & About Nashville readers, On behalf of the Board of Directors of Nashville Pride, I want to wish you all the happiest of Prides! As we mark the beginning of our traditional Pride season, we must acknowledge that this is not the Pride we all know and love. This is not the way we wanted to celebrate. We had an incredible festival and parade planned but sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. Your health and safety is the most important thing to us. We could not in good conscience continue to plan for an event that might put your lives at risk. Through the years Pride has become more than just a word to describe a feeling. It is a celebration, a movement, a homecoming, and space to be ourselves. We come together to create a community, to express our joy, to stand for justice and be visible. This year may be disappointing, and we may not have our 2-day outdoor festival in June, but we can still be proud! Our LGBTQIA+ community has faced challenges greater than COVID-19, and we have constantly shown our resilience. We have marched for the right to be treated fairly and equally. We have joined together to demand our right to serve our country. We have demonstrated to secure our right to marry whomever we love, and we stand up to ensure all of our community is protected from discrimination at every level. We will unite with all of our colors to see our community through and into this new way of life with all of its challenges. We thank all of those who have gone before us, teaching each of us to be proud and to love and believe in ourselves. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the very first Pride March, we will remember those too numerous to name who made this possible for all of us. We are grateful for all of those who took to the streets of New York City in June of 1970 to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. We are grateful to all who have marched in the 50 years since ensuring our community’s visibility and building our strength. We must never forget that our strength is in our diversity, that our table is big enough for all of us. We must draw on both our differences and our bonds of community to continue to work for our freedom to enjoy the rights we so justly deserve. While we may not be able to have our traditional festival in June this year, we are working diligently to create and plan an alternative Pride celebration in the Fall of 2020. As we create more virtual experiences now and retool our festival to meet the demands of our new normal, I hope you will join in and find your own creative ways to celebrate your Pride. In the meantime, we STILL remember; we STILL honor; we STILL are resilient; we STILL are engaged; and most importantly, we STILL are PROUD. Wishing you all Happy Pride, Paula D. Foster
President, Nashville Pride Board of Directors
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June 2020
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MOVIES
The Special Shelf
Streaming LGBTQ Cinema Jason Shawhan My, it’s been quite an eternity since the Age of Covid-19 befell us. It’s Pride month, and that always resonates in different ways; but this year has brought a set of circumstances that I can’t even fit into words anymore. Sure, there’s going to be determined and creative folx who are going to do stop-motion videos or use Zoom to make multiple-exposure one-person Pride Parades, and I am thankful for them because I will share those videos on social media and take heart in the spirit of our community. I lack that gumption. But I’ve been exploring the myriad of streaming options out there and that has led to some nice finds. The Tubi app is a welcome tool for any cinephile, queer person looking for some interesting representation, or just plain cheapskate. I’m all of those things, and though there are periodic ads (let’s just call them built-in breaks), I can’t complain too much about a free service with this much variety. Even better, Tubi has more varied and extensive LGBTQIA+ film and TV than any other streaming service. Previous Special Shelf films Urbania, Devil’s Path, You’re Killing Me, Jeffrey, and Bathroom Stalls and Parking Lots are all available to stream there. But there’s hundreds and hundreds of titles, and here are a few of my recommendations, all streaming for free on Tubi. BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (1999) Or, why the community rightfully treasures Natasha Lyonne. True to the spirit of those forced to endure conversion camps, but determined to do so with humor and an open heart to make this kind of story bearable. Butch icon Clea DuVall charms, Mink Stole does that thing that only she does, and multiple Oscar nominee/American treasure/Dawson’s Creek survivor Michelle Williams shines. Few no-budget films get at the transitive liberation of queer spaces like this film’s gay bar moment, scored to Saint Etienne’s “We’re In The City.” CUBBY (2019) An unexpected treat for anyone who has ever felt so socially awkward that the only way to cope was through ‘charming’ fugue states. Mark (writer and co-director Mark Blane) is an adorable wreck who finds himself ‘living’ in New York City as the regular babysitter for a precocious six-year-old. Medicated, sweet, and unprepared for the ways of the world, Mark copes through the imagined superhero Leather Man, and tries to get his professional, emotional, and sexual lives in order. Imagine if Todd Solondz characters were capable of love, then go from there. 6
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QUEERCORE: HOW TO PUNK A REVOLUTION (2017) An essential doc about radical queer music and the beloved weirdos (Bruce LaBruce, G.B. Jones, Vaginal Davis, Tribe 8, Team Dresch, Pansy Division, Jayne County, Genesis P-Orridge Breyer) who helped make everyone who was into what was hot and hip have to address uncompromising queer lives (there’s a reason why Kurt Cobain and Green Day were respected by the community). Funny, informative, and determined not to be taken too seriously, this is one of the most enjoyable music docs of recent years. THE CHAMBERMAID LYNN/DAS ZIMMERMÄDCHEN LYNN (2014) Phantom Thread star Vicky Krieps is stellar in this German-language film about voyeurism, discipline, and the ways that power dynamics are a double-edged sword. Krieps is phenomenal, as usual, as she explores all sorts of options and dips a toe in all sorts of bodies of water. Kinky, but accessibly so, and always rooted in a genuine sense of character, this is a great film for anyone looking to open a few new doors and have a look around. GAMING IN COLOR (2015) A brisk (62 minutes) look at LGBT representation in videogames, this is an interesting gathering of gaymers and designers talking about the issues that proliferate around game culture. It’s not too intense, and thus is just right for anyone (like me) who knows nothing about the how and why of modern gaming (the only games in the past decade that I feel I understand are Duck Game and Alien: Isolation). IN A GLASS CAGE/TRAS EL CRISTAL (1986) Every cinematic subgenre has its own “I Dare You” titles—films so shocking because of content and concept that their very existence is spoken of in whispers (or in all lowercase on Internet discussion spaces).So Agusti Villaronga’s Spanish-language shocker is like the gay equivalent of A Serbian Film or Emanuelle in America or Visitor Q (though it is a better made film than any of those). This is a serious film about the legacy of fascism and the cycle of exploitative sexual violence, and it addresses deeply upsetting issues in a respectful but dazzling way. The DVD box has a pull quote from John Waters; do with that knowledge what you will.
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MUSIC
Duality by Duke Dumont Album Review Chris Spear
British Dj/Producer Duke Dumont has been a mainstay for dance music lovers of all kinds. Ever since I was first introduced to his track “Won’t Look Back” in 2014, I have always thoroughly enjoyed his releases. On April 17, 2020, he released his first full length album, Duality, and it is a wonderful mix of different styles of house sure to get you moving. The more I listened to the album the more it grew on me. A majority of the album you could listen to while working out or dancing around the house. In an alternate universe you would hear a lot of these tracks in bars and clubs. The album opens up with “Therapy,” more of an old school house track using lots of familiar loops and stabbing piano riffs. With its familiar soulful vocals, it is a great way to be introduced to Duality. “The Power” featuring Zak Abel is a solid progressive house track with catchy vocals. I particularly like the swelling bassline. One of the darker tracks, “Obey,” featuring Roland Clark, has a fun bass line with lots of acid house vibes. This track pleasantly surprised me the first time I listened through Duality. I always like it when producers vary their styles when it comes to an album. Things get a bit deeper with “The Fear” featuring Niia. The bass and vocals compliment each other well while an echoing guitar swirls melding into strings. “Nightcrawler” featuring Say Lou Lou is a more chill indie dance track with catchy guitar riffs layered with sparkling pads all layered on top of sexy vocals. Originally released in 2015, “Ocean Drive” is a classic Nu-Disco track. The vocals, guitar, and bass keep you moving no matter where you are. I am a sucker for vocoders and “Together” featuring How To Dress Well has vocoders for days. The clean falsetto vocals on top along with the other elements of the track do a great job of building up to the drop. “Love Song” Is another house track featuring
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Duality by Duke Dumont
MUSIC
soulful vocals. The thing that stands out the most to me in this track are the horns. There is a good blend of when it is the driving force of the track and when it is in the background, adding to the depth of the song. “Overture” is a minute long piano piece that leads fantastically into the final track of the album. I actually wish there were more tracks like this, and hopefully we will get similar tunes in the future. “Let Me Go” featuring RY X is my favorite track on the album. It builds on the piano from Overture and is nothing short of epic. The layers of vocals, synths, and strings creates such a swell of beauty. Overall I really enjoyed Duality. I hope Duke Dumont continues to create more dance music that shares a lot of the elements with the latter tracks of the album. We know he can make great house and deep house tracks, but I always love hearing producers grow and evolve, which he continues to do. FOR ONLINE: https://dukedumont.lnk.to/DualityPreorderPR
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LIFESTYLE
Meet Your 2020 Nashville
Pride Board Matthew Gann (Past President) Harvey Milk once said that “Hope Will Never Be Silent.“ Nashville Pride to me is about being loud - not necessarily in the sense of volume but in action and involvement. Like many kids, I struggled with my sexuality growing up. I started volunteering with Nashville to ensure young folks, especially in rural areas around Nashville, know they have a voice, that their voice matters, and that there is a safe space for them to celebrate that voice.
me to grow the mission of the organization’s great work. As a person of color, attending events and seeing people who look like oneself with many of the same shared experiences, contributes to building stronger, healthier LGBT communities and is an effective way to combat homophobia and stigma in the Black community along with overcoming the cultural, communal and institutional barriers created by isms and phobias. I am PROUD to be a board member of Nashville Pride.
Pam Kelner I originally started going to Pride 10 years ago to speak with people who wanted to learn about adopting through Jewish Family Service. Now, as a Board Member of Pride, I specifically chose to run the Kids Zone. Year after year, I get to see those families that we helped to form through adoption and love seeing how the kids have grown every year! Vic Sorrell In addition to the opportunity to learn through serving alongside some of the brightest LGBTQ+ folks in the southeast, I wanted to participate as a Board member of Nashville Pride because members have the unique role of being faces from the LGBT+ community for our Nashville family at large, fostering the collaborative spirit that enables true inclusivity.
David McMurry Joining the Nashville Pride Board was the gateway to a greater local LGBT community experience. This opportunity allowed 10
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I also love seeing teens in the Youth area, creating their own space to be who they are freely and in a safe space. The number of teens that come to Pride over the past couple of years has grown exponentially. It is great to see!
Paula Foster (President) I “came out” in November of 1990. Over the past 30 years, I’ve never missed a Pride celebration. I find rejuvenation in the mass of LGBTQIA+ humanity at our annual Pride festival and being part of making it happen is the least I can do for my community. I love working with the other members of the Pride board and seeing the creativity and passion they each have for the
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LGBTQIA+ community in Nashville and the surrounding Middle Tennessee region. I believe that it is vitally important to recognize both the struggles and the victories of our community and being part of the Pride Board of Directors gives me the opportunity to lend my voice to our celebration and our fight for justice. I will never forget the first Pride parade I attended and the feeling of belonging and joy I experienced and I want others to feel the same. Being able to help create and plan our annual Pride festival brings me a deep and abiding sense of happiness. I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve my community.
Amber Bryant For me, it is such a unique bond with Nashville Pride. There is nothing like feeling the energy, love, and hope all around you. I went from a spectator at my first in Centennial Park to a drag entertainer/host in the upcoming years. I have seen the festival grow from Centennial to the Riverfront and now to Public Square Park. I even had the honor and privilege to serve as Mister Nashville Pride 2016. Being a part of this all has opened my heart and eyes to so much within our LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Seeing what work has been done, the progress made, and knowing what work is still to be done has all pushed me to go beyond the stage and see what work I can put forth. Together, in Pride, we shall win this fight for our self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility
Pride Board
LIFESTYLE
Christiane Davis Given our country’s current social and political climate and the growing need to celebrate and embrace diversity, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Nashville Pride Board.
Dakerri Barber-Rhone I wanted to be involved with Nashville Pride because the history of Pride and the Stonewall Riots are extremely important to me. Advocating for LGBTQI+ rights and fighting for equality legislatively is my passion. Marsha P. Johnson’s life and legacy inspires me and motivates me daily. Nashville Pride has been a safe-haven for me for over 16 years. It is the one time a year that I feel completely free, loved, accepted, and supported. To have the opportunity to serve the community as a Nashville Price board member is such an honor. My heart is poured into the work, outreach, and bonds formed with the Nashville Pride community.
Jaime Combs Being born in rural Tennessee at a time when LGBTQ+ issues were never discussed, much less celebrated, I was so pleasantly surprised to see the Transgender Community being specifically featured and given a place of honor at the Nashville Pride Festival and Equality Walk the first year that I moved to Nashville. Representation matters and as a transgender woman I wanted to align myself with organizations that were seeking voices from my community. When the opportunity to join the Board of Nashville Pride arose, I naturally wanted to become a member. Now more than ever I am convinced that the work being done by Nashville Pride saves lives, and I am honored to be a part of this organization.
Kenny Hill Wright Active in the LGBTQ+ community for nearly 40 years, accepting a position on the Nashville Pride Board is a worthy extension of my volunteerism. As an older gay man, I want to bridge any gaps that may exist between our younger and senior communities while promoting an overall strengthening of our community-at-large as well as individual pride.
Kerrie Turney (Secretary) Equality for all is something that I feel very strongly is something that everyone deserves. As an Ally, it was important to me to be part of Nashville Pride. Not only do I have the opportunity to continue the work that many leaders have been doing for years, but to celebrate. Celebrate culture and tradition, but most importantly celebrate the fact that love is love, and who you are as a human is perfectly awesome. Every year I choose to stay involved with Pride, cherishing the relationships that I have made and knowing that for many of my friends, family, and students, knowing that they have a fervent ally makes a difference.
Sheila Fischer As a respectful and accepting ally, I’m involved in Nashville Pride to celebrate the progress of the LGBTQ+ community in Middle Tennessee.
Alex Fortney (President Elect) My first Nashville Pride was in 2008 — back when the parade was a march around Centennial Park, and you could see the whole festival from the entry point. It was the first time I’d ever seen a rainbow campaign sticker (Thanks, Obama!), and the first time I’d been to any pride at all. Growing up gay in Nashville was hard, but that first Pride made me realize, for the first time, that I wasn’t alone. It was important for me to get involved because I know how important Nashville Pride is to so many people, of all ages, from all over Middle Tennessee (and beyond!). Last year’s parade was amazing and overwhelming and made me more proud than I’ve ever been of my city. It’s an honor to serve this community, and I hope to find ways to do it for the rest of my life.
Sandra Ferris I love PRIDE because everyone can and should be free to be exactly who they are. PRIDE celebrates that and inspires us to love ourselves and each other!
Mac Huffington What Nashville Pride means to me is that I get to service & support my Community in each & every way possible. I love what I do. I have enjoyed spending years devoting all my passion and dedication to the Pride Organization and you the Nashville Community!! Thanks for letting me serve now and in the future!
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LIFESTYLE
Pride Board
Andrés Martinez Pride is not just a celebration of our identity, it ’s a reminder of the struggles of generations past and their fight to secure civil rights for all. As part of Nashville Pride, I hope to continue advancing civil rights in Tennessee and our country as a whole.
Zach Ledbetter Following my first time attending Nashville Pride, a friend on the board urged me to volunteer for a couple years. I really enjoyed it and started attending additional events, which lead to an opportunity to serve on the board. Serving as volunteer coordinator for a while, I had the chance to meet many people within the community and learn what Pride means to them. The space, support, recognition and love that Pride offers is inspiring. I enjoy being involved to further build our community and its support system, and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for Pride!
Greg Cason You can often see me volunteering within the Nashville and LGBT community including Second Harvest, Habitat for Humanity, Nashville Pride, Nashville Black Pride, Atlanta Pride, Nashville CARES, Just Us, Gay Softball World Series, amongst others. When people ask why I volunteer so much of my time, I tell them “I give because I know what it feels like to be without”.
Justin Sweatman-Weaver As a young person growing up in the Upper Cumberland, the idea of Pride, or even living openly as a queer person, never really crossed my mind. We have evolved and grown so much even in the past few years and, while the progress is exciting, the potential that still lies ahead of us is even more thrilling. I take so much PRIDE in being able to work with young LGBTQ+ folks and with schools statewide – to amplify their voices and experiences and dreams – and to be part of teams like Nashville Pride that create space for us to celebrate ourselves, our friends, our chosen families, and the community that unites us. We shine as one.
Rell Freeman I have love and a passion for all people. Over the years, I have dedicated my time and aspirations of helping homeless LGBTQI youth by joining the board of Nashville Launchpad a “street free sleep initiative”. As a member of the Nashville Pride board, I strive to bring resources together to build a stronger platform of organizational unity within the LGBTQI community.
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Phil Cobucci I have had the opportunity to serve on the Nashville Pride Board for the last six years in a number of different capacities. Little did I know that when I started serving, I was going to have all of the opportunities that have been afforded to me through this service. Where I was raised, being gay was not something to discuss; let alone something to be proud of. It was something that was supposed to be hidden. In my teenage years, the L, the G, the B, the T, and the Q was not something to be acknowledged or celebrated. This work has taught me at the LGBTQIA+ community is more than just letters on an alphabet, but that our individual voices give meaning to different identities and lived experiences, all of which are complex, beautiful, an d fascinating. It is this fabulous quilt of many colors, faces, shapes, and sizes weaved out of our collective experiences that time and again proves the importance of Pride to me. Most importantly, this work has allowed the start of learning about the needs of our community through the Community Visioning Project which has led to building a strong foundation for the future work for our community in the months and years ahead.
Be Creative. Be Diverse. Be Nonstop. Be Authentic. Be
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Pride Will Overcome
Recent Pride
Presidents
on the Challenges and Triumphs of Nashville Pride
COVID-19 has defined 2020 and has reshaped our social landscape, altering what had seemed so certain and unchangeable. Financial trouble, social disapproval, and fear of violence, as well as other difficulties, have all threatened to derail Nashville Pride in the past. But through it all, the local LGBTQ+ community and the Nashville Pride Board, along with innumerable volunteers, have overcome to facilitate our community’s show of Pride. This year is no different. Though Pride has been postponed, plans are underway to allow the community to celebrate in June and to hold safe and fun events at a date in fall that has yet to be determined. We asked our recent Pride Presidents to share their thoughts about past difficulties Pride has overcome and some of their proudest Pride moments. Here’s what they had to say!
Pam Wheeler (2002, 2003, 2009) I was on the festival committee in 2000 and 2001…I think I have about 8 years in volunteering with Pride. And I look back at it as a wonderful time. My fondest memories involve the people and the friendships formed while volunteering for Nashville Pride. Never underestimate the bonding experience, from deadlines, drama, money challenges and common goals. We spent countless hours together—meetings, fundraisers, community events, calls, socials after meetings—and it makes for strong relationships. It would have probably made for strong reality TV as well. The biggest challenges? This is an easy one. Money. The biggest challenge was always money. In 2000, a group of people wondered when pride would happen and soon learned the Pride organization had dissolved. A community meeting was called to figure out what to do. At that meeting, OPEN (Our Pride Encompasses Nashville) was formed.
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It was already June, so the festival was planned for September that year (90 days after that first meeting). We raised funds by begging for money (“Dollar for Pride?”) at bar entrances—the Chute on Fridays, Connection on Saturdays. The event was at Bicentennial Mall and by all accounts it was a success. Compared to today’s standard, it would look like a hometown carnival. From the pet drag show (my nephew put a rainbow wrap on his turtle) to the Roller Skating Pride Week event, it had a charm to it. This was my first experience with Nashville Pride – as a volunteer. One of the first pride meetings after the 2000 festival brought out new faces. I remember it well—new volunteers demanding new standards—why weren’t there Pride TV ads? Why didn’t the
Pride Presidents event have alcohol? Critiques can be hard to hear but the drive and motivation from new people was awesome. With more people came more connections and resources.
LIFESTYLE
I could foresee sponsorship being tougher to obtain in the near future, reviewing budgets and existing partnerships will be a key strategy.
The next festival was moved to Centennial Park and alcohol sales came with it (albeit a confined area within the park). During these successful years, funds continued to be the challenge. The budget was about $80k and it was incredibly hard to get cash sponsors. We landed Showtime as a 5k sponsor in 2002 and that was HUGE. Pride was not the go-to organization for donations. I timed out as President after a couple years and the organization continued to thrive. After the 2008 pride celebration at Centennial Park, a group of friends were tossing around the idea that we might get involved in Pride. A few weeks or months later, I was elected President and Jack Davis joined the board. Jack’s addition added a next level skill set to festival planning. The new board decided that big entertainment would be a top priority. In our minds, this meant moving the festival to River Front Park. The new board inherited the organization with a lot of debt. Our plan to get out of debt involved: 1) VIP area at event, 2) Core 100—now the Friends of Pride plan, 3) Alcohol sales throughout the event, and 4) big name entertainers to draw bigger crowds. In 2009, that meant Deborah Cox and Lady Bunny. As the festival approached, we found ourselves cash-poor and needing tens of thousands of dollars to pay entertainment as they arrived in Nashville. We didn’t have it. With very few options, we set a meeting with the owners of Tribe and Play and made an extremely hard ask for a bridge loan. On the Thursday before the festival, they loaned us $25k. We were able to pay them back by the end of the day of the festival. It was a stressful time to say the least. My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer at the end of 2009. I gave a back seat to most of my community obligations at that time. I left the organization with strong leadership, but a weak bank account. As we all know, they survived and thrived.
Joseph Woodson (2014) When I joined the Pride Board we were significantly in debt, we had almost no volunteer database, no membership program, and were still trying to figure out the best place to host our celebration. Some might say the overall outlook was bleak. But In true Nashville form, we had a newly formed and recruited board, ready to roll up our sleeves and get the work done. By the time I was President, we had setup a volunteer program with over 200 community volunteers and developed a top-notch membership program full of awesome Pride benefits! During my presidential term, two major challenges were most important to address: 1) creating a missing rainy day (or savings) fund, and 2) we had to move locations from Riverfront Park. The
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Randall Roop (2010, 2012) I started as a volunteer with Nashville Pride in 2005, and first joined the Board in 2008. It was great to be a part of the festival growing over the years. Each location change was met with challenges that proved to be worth taking. I remember setting up the beer tent in Centennial Park! I was honored to serve as President in 2010 and 2012, and continued on the board until 2014. It was a year-round effort of the entire volunteer staff to produce a festival of this size (reflecting back 6 years ago)—it takes year-round planning for sponsorship, permits, contracting, etc. COVID-19 has cancelled 2020 Pride celebrations, but what hasn’t it cancelled! I would hope the Board takes the time to reflect and maybe reinvent the celebration(s) in some aspects.
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LIFESTYLE
Pride Presidents
rainy-day fund idea was supported widely by the board and to date there is still a savings fund, so we can ensure Nashville Prides will happen for years to come. The location move was concerning at first, but with the guidance and research of our awesome festival coordinator, Jack Davis, an opportunity presented itself. Then, we luckily found ourselves at a location better than imaginable—at the doorstep of our city government in Public Square Park. My favorite pride memories are the people, the ones I’d have never met if not for Nashville Pride, and their stories. I remember one of my first years on the board talking with a mother-son volunteer team from very rural Alabama. I remember the son, who was 16 years old at the time, said there wasn’t anything like Pride near where he lived. His mother interjected tearfully with “... and so I brought you up here to see there are so many people like you, and you are never alone.” In the long conversation that followed, he went on to explain how hard it was growing up without knowing out people, but that pride - and his mother - gave him “hope.” They hugged, and I hugged them—how could you not—and that family showed up to volunteer at every pride I helped organize since then... They inspire me still. If you can’t find hope where you are, keep looking. It’s out there. And that’s what Pride for some is all about: “hope.” Providing a safe place where we can be our true selves, celebrate who we are, where we’ve been, and remember where we have left to go. Really, the only reason all of Pride’s accomplishments were possible is because of our Nashville LGBTQI+ community and the all-volunteer Pride board. So, anytime someone asks, “Why doesn’t Pride have/ do [insert your idea]?” the answer might be “Because YOU haven’t volunteered and made it happen yet.” So, during this distance-pride, I challenge folks to take time to plan how YOU can help your LGBTQI+ community post- and during-COVID-19. Be that “hope” that 16-year-old talked to me about years ago. Our community has seen scarier times than this pandemic, and I know we will come out of it even stronger.
Claudia Huskey (2015) My favorite memory from my year as PRIDE President was the festival turning into a big celebration for marriage equality. At the time, I was campaign for Megan Barry’s mayoral campaigns, so right before the festival started, I was able to witness the very first, legal same-sex marriages in Nashville. Watching my dear friends Lisa and Wendy Howe get married was the very best part of that weekend. So many, including the amazing Abby Rubenfeld, had worked for decades to achieve equality for beautiful couples all over the country. Being a part of that special day is something I will always remember. PRIDE 2015 as very special, quickly followed by 2017 when I was able to meet and witness the gift to the world that is Lizzo.
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As the first ally president of the PRIDE board, I was honored my fellow board members trusted me to lead our team to organize the most successful festival in the history of PRIDE, to that date. I saw it as my mission to show Nashville we are hosting a celebration for everyone, the LGBTQ community as well as their families, friends, neighbors, elected officials, everyone can have PRIDE in their heart. Over the years, my biggest smiles at the festival come when I see families with children dancing with drag queens. The year I was president of PRIDE we had lots of challenges, including very hot weather, it was only our second year at Public Square Park, we had ambitious goals to create a “rainy day” savings fund, but we had invested more in artists/entertainment than we ever have before, and there were security issues at the festival with protestors. Every year there are unique challenges, but the ultimate goal is the same. I have every confidence this current group of leaders will navigate the COVID-19 crisis while working to create a wonderful experience for our community and keeping safety the highest priority.
Phil Cobucci (2017) A year after I started serving on the Nashville Pride Board, marriage equality became the law of the land. While that was a time of great celebration, we soon realized that the attacks against our community would continue through hateful legislation, policy erasure, and violent attacks on members of our community. Celebrating Pride became much more than the need to celebrate our visibility and existence following June 26, 2015.
KATE NELSON, REALTOR® 615 / 268-0319 615 / 383-6964 kjcnelson@gmail.com DIRECT
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Pride Presidents
LIFESTYLE
Being PROUD is many things, and over the course of my time with Nashville Pride, I have learned what it means––and most certainly what it does not mean. I can tell you that being proud and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community is not hiding behind words, it is not fear or shame. it is not judging your neighbor, and it most certainly is not hateful. What it is, however, is yet another human perspective. A perspective to be valued, respected, and recognized like so many others that are woven into the richness of human culture. We still have so much to overcome as a global LGBTQIA+ community, and Nashville Pride is just one event out of hundreds worldwide that exist for us to celebrate our people and our history, while also educating the global community on what full equality is. Pride festivals and events are a place where one can come out, be proud of who they are, walk hand in hand with a partner, wear the clothing they want to, use the bathroom they want to, be free from judgment and feel completely safe. Not to mention the empowering effect of celebrating diversity, life, and equality. There is PRIDE in being out and open. We still have a long road ahead to achieve full and complete equality for our community, but each year, these events help change minds, lift spirits and develop bonds that we wouldn’t see if we stayed hidden in a closet.
Coming January 2021:
The Second Annual Out & About Nashville LGBTQ Business Directory and Travelers Guide! Find your copy of the 2020 Guide wherever Out & About Nashville is distributed.
Interested in advertising with O&AN? Email Sales@outandaboutnashville.com or phone (615) 596-6210 for more information. o u t a n d a b o u t n a s hv i l l e .c o m
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HERBALISM
A Sweet Taste of Herbalism Sara Schuster
One of the questions I get most frequently when offering someone an herbal remedy is, “Does it taste good?” With herbal glycerites, I can easily answer with a resounding YES! Herbal glycerites have a syrup-like consistency and are made by infusing fresh herbs into vegetable glycerin. These are a great option for convincing children to try one of your herbal concoctions, or even the skeptical adults in your life. They’re also a wonderful option for anyone who chooses to abstain from alcohol, making them a good alternative to traditional herbal tinctures. Making herbal glycerites doesn’t take much in the way of supplies or tools. You’ll need: jars with lids, fresh herbs, vegetable glycerin, and a butter knife or chopstick. A note on sourcing vegetable glycerin: this is very easy to find online and fairly inexpensive. You can find glycerins sourced from different plants such as palm, coconut, or soy; choose whichever you prefer. They will be odorless and slightly sweet. I always look for vegetable glycerins that are organic and designated as food grade, since I will be ingesting the finished product. I find the herbs that work best as glycerites are usually either flowering plants or plants high in volatile oils, such as members of the mint family. Some of my favorite choices are elderflower, rose, lemon balm, sage, honeysuckle, chamomile, peppermint, ginger, and dandelion. Whatever herbs you select, make sure you are positive of your plant identification and that they were grown without being sprayed with any pesticides. Once you’ve assembled everything for this project, you’ll start by filling your jar between two-thirds and three-quarters full. You’ll want your herb material to be loosely packed so that the vegetable glycerin can really permeate everything. Now you can go ahead and pour the glycerin over your herbs, stopping once you’ve covered them.
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Using a butter knife or chopstick, give the mixture a good stir for a minute or two, fully mixing everything together as well as removing any air bubbles. Getting the air pockets out will lower the volume of the liquid in your jar. After stirring everything, you can now top off your jar by adding more vegetable glycerin, stopping about an inch below the lip of the jar. And that’s it! You’ve made your first herbal glycerite. Put the lid on and make sure to label it with the contents and the date. Keep your jar somewhere you’ll see it regularly, but out of direct sunlight. Try to shake it up once a day, or at least every other day. After 4-6 weeks, you can strain out and discard the herbal material from the glycerin. Your herbal glycerite is now complete and ready to use! These are shelf stable and will keep for 1-2 years. Because they’re naturally sweet, you can take them as is a spoonful at a time. They also make a delicious addition to hot teas in lieu of other sweeteners. In the summer, they make a refreshing combo by mixing an ounce or so with the seltzer water of your choice.
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LIFESTYLE
Nashville Pride 2000
A Look Back after 20 Years Jim Robert
It was the first time the event was held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. And back then, that was a big deal! I remember when Gary Stewart and I met Pam Wheeler, Keith Hinkle, and Matthew Strader at the location, as Pam laid out her plans for the event. We were all up very late the night before the Festival making and painting props and signs. Now this was before there were monies allocated for an event of this size. Everyone brought their own tables and portable tents, if they wanted shade! And even stage supports or scaffolding were made by a small group of devoted volunteers. In fact, our security guards for the event were two dedicated women! Gary and I took on the job of putting together a silent auction to bring in revenue for the event. We even had a Doggie Dress Up Contest. And who could forget the drag queens that performed, including, of course, Bianca Paige!
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A Look Back
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LIFESTYLE
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LIFESTYLE
Photos from
Pride 2019
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Pride 2019
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LIFESTYLE
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BUSINESS
Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce Pride Update
Joe Woolley
The organized LGBTQ+ community was formed largely through struggle, and to come together to combat challenges that threatened our day to day lives. The community has always persevered and emerged stronger than ever, because of our commitment to taking care of one another and uniting together. The response to COVID-19 has been no different, and while the virus is impacting the LGBT and all marginalized communities harder, we see the LGBT community coming together like we always have, supporting each other and the organizations that support us. And as we continue to do this, we can still celebrate our pride, just in a different way than we normally do.
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In an ordinary year, Pride celebrations would offer a chance to gather, celebrate the achievements of the community, and reflect on the future for social change. Now, with our rights still coming under threat and exacerbated by the virus outbreak, we are finding innovative ways of reaching out to provide alternative spaces online to celebrate. We are going virtual and want and need you to join us. The Business of Pride The quarantine has hit many of us hard, especially financially. Many of us will be looking closely at the cost of things and hoping for brighter economic days ahead. When you do spend your money, look for a business that is supportive of the LGBT community, a company that is an LGBT-inclusive corporation, or an LGBT-owned certified business enterprise. It has never been easier to go online or check to make sure you support the brands that have our community’s back. Our online directory and looking for our membership sticker in windows and on cash registers is a great way to do that locally. Be proud of and careful with those dollars and spend them with those that are showing their pride and are part of this amazing community.
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myemma.com
BUSINESS
GAY GUIDE PRInt EDITION HEALTH Dental Services East Side Smiles 7 North 10th Street Nashville, TN 37206 615-227-2400 eastsidesmile.net
Healthcare Providers Cool Springs Internal Medicine & Pediatrics MD 1607 Westgate Circle, Ste 200 Brentwood, TN 37027 615-376-8195 coolspringsinternalmedicine.com
Pharmacy Nashville Pharmacy Services 100 Oaks Plaza, Skyline Medical 615-371-1210 / 615-724-0066 npspharmcay.com
Optometry Look East 1011 Gallatin Avenue Nashville, TN 37206 615-928-2281 lookeastnashville.com
COUNSELING & PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH Individual & Couples Therapy Barbara Sanders, LCSW/John Waide, PhD, LCSW 2016- 21St Ave South/2323- 21st Ave South, Ste.401 Nashville, TN 37212 615-414-2553 / 615-400-5911 dignitytherapynashville.com Brandon Teeftaller, APN 220 Athens Way, Plaza 1, Suite 104 Nashville, TN. 37228 615-320-1155
REAL ESTATE
LEGAL SERVICES
Sheila Barnard, Realtor, The Realty Association 1305 Murfressboro Road Nashville, TN 37217 615-385-9010 cell 615-424-6924 sheilabarnard.realtyassociation.com Emily Benedict, Realtor, Village Real Estate 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-585-1258 BSLNashville.com Kate Nelson, Realtor, Village Real Estate 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-383-6964 realestatewithkate.com
Lawyer Bart Durham Injury Law Office 404 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37219 615-338-6177 bartdurham.com Sunny Eaton, Esq. 731 Porter Road Nashville, TN 37206 615-861-9960
ARTS Performing Arts Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center One Symphony Place Nashville, TN 37201 615-687-6400 nashvillesymphony.org
ORGANIZATIONS Nashville Humane Association 213 Oceola Avenue Nashville, TN 37209 615-352-1010 nashvillehumane.org Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 330971 Nashville, TN 37203 615-507-5185 nashvillelgbtchamber.org
SPIRITUALITY Holy Trinity Community Church 6727 Charlotte Pike Nashville, TN 37209 615-352-3838 www.htccnashville.com
BARS & NIGHTCLUBS PLAY Dance Bar 1519 Church Street Nashville, TN 37203 615-322-9627 playdancebar.com Tribe 1517 Church Street Nashville, TN 37203 615-329-2912 tribenashville.com
Karuna Therapy Solutions 210 25th Ave. North, Suite 1220 Nashville, TN 37203 615-669-6621
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BUSINESS
Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Virtual Pride This year as Pride goes fully virtual, it offers those wanting to experience it and those trying to reach the community unique opportunities. There are several factors that can stop a person attending a pride activity. The person may still be afraid to come out and to participate, or perhaps there are not pride activities nearby and they cannot afford to travel to one. A virtual celebration allows them to safely and affordably experience the amazing people, families, allies, and supporting organizations that are out there. LGBT Chamber Virtual Pride Events We will be having several events during Pride month. Our Rainbow Connection Series that moved online back in March is going strong and you can join us for an event every week of Pride month. AM Brewing Up Business—To complement our traditional Brewing Up Business, we will now offer this additional morning networking opportunity. We will break the larger group into small rooms to exchange information and let peers know you are doing at this time.
FAMILY, COSMETIC AND SEDATION DENTISTRY IN EAST NASHVILLE
Member Connect—This program will give an in-depth highlight of one of our corporate members and one of our small business members. We will have a Q&A session and have attendees speak to the group to check-in with other members. PM Brewing Up ESS15_EN_HalfPageH_August.indd Business—This is our signature happy hour 1 networking event. Come connect with chamber and community members in small virtual groups. Classroom Connect—This new program highlights a new, unique topic that assists the LGBT community. We will engage with other organizations to keep you informed and connected to opportunities. We will also be starting a new Corporate Connect program in June that will help our large corporate members connect and recruit a diverse workforce by specifically targeting the LGBTQ+ community. We are really excited about a joint event we have been working on with the Austin LGBT Chambers of Commerce: “PRIDE in Local Music, the rainbow heartbeat of America’s music cities.” This one-night virtual event will highlight the incredible music and cities that are Austin and Nashville and raise funds for LGBTQ+ artists in each city. We hope you will join us!
THOMAS F. HADLEY, DDS
8/17/15 10:20 AM
7 North Tenth Street 37206
(615) 227-2400 eastsidesmiles.net
Make Every Connection Count ESS15_EN_HalfPageH_August.indd 1
Stay Informed The Chamber created a COVID-19 resources page where we shared all the news and information we felt our members need to know about. We put all that information on our social media as well. A webinar section was created to connect our members to the countless webinars our community partners were putting out. We helped our members reach the LGBT population and our news section quickly filled up with important information. Directories were created that highlighted members that were offering takeout, or members that have changed their business to sell their product in a new way. Our Hot Deals section was promoted and was hugely popular. Visit nashvillelgbtchamber.org for more details on programs, events, and resources.
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ADVO C ATE . EDU C ATE . CO NNEC T.
We’re now 500 members strong with deep connections. Join now before membership prices increase on January 1, 2020. To learn about our membership benefits (business or individual), visit nashvillelgbtchamber.org today. Take the first step and start making connections at our Annual Meeting and Holiday Party on Thursday, December 12that the Nashville Children’s Theatre. Details and RSVP at nashvillelgbtchamber.org.
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