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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 615-414-2553 / 615-400-5911 dignitytherapynashville.com psychotherapy-and-psychoanalysis.com Brandon Teeftaller, APN 220 Athens Way, Plaza 1, Suite 104 Nashville, TN. 37228 615-320-1155 Karuna Therapy Solutions 210 25th Ave. North, Suite 1220 Nashville, TN 37203 615-669-6621
REAL ESTATE Sheila Barnard, Realtor, The Realty Association 1305 Murfressboro Road Nashville, TN 37217 615-385-9010 cell 615-424-6924 sheilabarnard.realtyassociation.com Emily Benedict, Realtor, Village Real Estate 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-585-1258 BSLNashville.com Kate Nelson, Realtor, Village Real Estate 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-383-6964 realestatewithkate.com
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
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
LEGAL SERVICES 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
SPIRITUALITY Holy Trinity Community Church 6727 Charlotte Pike Nashville, TN 37209 615-352-3838 www.htccnashville.com
Contents FAX 615-246-2787 | PHONE 615-596-6210 OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM STAFF Publisher: Aequalitas Media, LLC
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CORRECTIONS
Joan Brasher
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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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LGBTQ Advocate and Philanthropist’s Legacy ‘will live on’
CONTRIBUTORS Writers: Joan Brasher, Vidalia Ann Gentry, James Grady, Christopher Sanders, Brian Sullivan
Obituary: Iris Buhl
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Rage Against the Mismanagement
Equality and Pandemic Are on the Ballot in Every Race This Christopher Sanders
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The High Stakes of the 2020 Elections Local and LGBTQ Community Leaders Address Speak Out James Grady
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Candidates Profiles
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Oh, How the Mighty Could Fall Voting Blue in November Vidalia Ann Gentry
LETTER
YOU DESERVE TO BE PAID.
F re e Con s u l tation • Call U s 2 4 /7 www.ba rtd u r h a m . c o m | 615-242-9000 outandaboutnashville.com October 2020 4 0 4 James Roberts on Pa r k w a y, Su ite 1712, Na sh ville , T N 3721 9
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Obituary
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of the Community Foundation of MIddle Tennessee
Obituary:
Iris Buhl LGBTQ Advocate and Philanthropist’s Legacy ‘Will Live On’ Joan Brasher
Iris W. Buhl, a Nashville native and outspoken LGBTQ+ advocate and philanthropist, died Aug. 11, 2020, at the age of 77. Buhl began familiarizing herself with HIV/AIDS in the 1980s when her son required multiple blood transfusions due to a heart condition. Her research unexpectedly led to a deeper understanding of the inequities and stigmas associated with the LGBTQ community, which changed the course of her life, and the lives of many others. Buhl told Out and About Nashville in 2007, “When I began volunteering with Nashville CARES (in 1987), I had no idea I knew any gay people except, of course, John Bridges... As time passed I became more familiar with what folks have to put up with simply to live as themselves.” Buhl became the face of Nashville CARES for many years, first as a volunteer, then development director and a member of the board of directors. “She went on, in her indomitable way, to become deeply involved in CARES,” said Nashville author John Bridges. “All of that led her to learn to love—and to be loved by—gay people. Iris received many awards, all of them recognizing her dauntless work in support of human rights, voting rights, women’s reproductive rights and the rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. She was a great, irreplaceable, woman. She was fearless.” Buhl was appointed by Mayor Bill Purcell to the Charitable Solicitations Board of Metropolitan Nashville, which she chaired for two years. She was also appointed to the Metro Nashville Human Relations Commission. In 2007, she won the Nashville Human Rights Campaign Ally Award, the first straight person to receive the award. Buhl received the Community Nashville 2013 Human Relations Award, the Thomas J. Powell Award for Community Service, and a Certificate of Appreciation from Governor Bill Haslem in 2014. “Iris and her husband Mike were deeply committed to issues of social justice,” said Joe Interrante, retired CEO of Nashville CARES. “Iris in particular had little tolerance for gestures that she saw as merely performative. But she never attacked or challenged aggressively; she would ask questions to force someone to think about what they were doing and why they were doing it. Watching her do this could be quite entertaining. She was one of my closest friends. I will miss her terribly, and I'll never forget her.”
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Steve Sirls and Allen DeCuyper spent many years working with Iris on community service work and considered her a close friend. They said she could be exacting when organizing such fundraisers as Artrageous, but it was all in the pursuit of excellence. “Iris was our friend, mentor, teacher, and keeper of the ways to do many things in life correctly,” the couple told Out and About Nashville. “She was so committed to Nashville CARES. She would call and say, ‘This is what you have to do,’ and of course we would round up the troops and get it done.” Interior designer Ralph Cadenhead counted Buhl among his clients and his closest friends. “I first knew her the year I co-chaired Artrageous, and we became fast friends,” Cadenhead said. “Iris never failed to stand up for what was just and what was right, regardless of the consequences. She was tough, she was fearless and she was formidable. But just as much, she was fair, generous, kind—and she was always a lady. Iris gave her voice, her resources and her time to the causes she held dear. Nashville CARES, of course, was at the very top of that list. Her legacy will carry on for years to come.” Buhl earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1964 and a Master of Arts degree in special education in 1974 at George Peabody College before its merger with Vanderbilt University. While an undergraduate, she participated in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as working with a project studying changes in racial attitudes. After graduation she worked at the Regional Intervention Program training parents of developmentally disabled children. She was the second president of the auxiliary board of the University School of Nashville in the history of the school, and she was a member of the school’s Board of Trustees from 1981 to 1985. She is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur H. (Mike) Buhl III, and is survived by her son, Michael Higgins Buhl, her brother, Stephen Byrne Willoughby, and her nephew, Sean Stephen Willoughby. Memorial gifts may be made to The Buhl Family Fund of The Community Foundation, Nashville CARES, and The University School of Nashville.
Shake it up.
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October 2020
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Be mellow. Be responsible.
Christopher Sanders The stakes are pretty high this November and LGBTQ people know that more than most. The COVID-19 pandemic has been spectacularly mishandled putting us all at risk. The attacks against transgender people at the federal level are enraging. The official resistance to the idea that Black lives matter has been a disaster. We are beyond spin and polite words. We know that leadership in public policy matters. Let’s look at what’s on the ballot because that is another chance for us to fight back. President and Vice President: You all already know where you stand. I’ve seen more outrage directed at this President than at any other politician in my lifetime. Rightly so, given how many lives have been upended by his policies over the last four years! This race is motivating you and there’s not a thing I can tell you about it that you don’t already know. The great thing is that we can all use this race to get people to the polls so that they will also vote in all the down-ballot races. That’s a real opportunity this November that we shouldn’t miss. U.S. Senate and House: In Tennessee’s Senate race to replace Sen. Lamar Alexander, Democrat Marquita Bradshaw faces Republican Bill Hagerty. Because of how red Tennessee has become, Hagerty is obviously favored to win. But no one should count out Bradshaw who on a small budget turned in a whopping win in the Democratic primary. I think our community has an important opportunity to press both campaigns on supporting the Equality Act and talk more about LGBTQ issues.
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Rage Against the Mismanagement
Cover Articles
Of the nine congressional races in Tennessee, only the First District is open, that is, without an incumbent. Republican Diana Harshbarger and Democrat Blair Walsingham are vying to replace Congressman Phil Roe. Hotly contested races will be the Second District in which incumbent Republican Tim Burchett faces Democrat Renee Hoyos, the Fourth District in which Democrat Christopher Hale challenges incumbent Republican Scott DesJarlais, and the Seventh District in which incumbent Republican Mark Green faces Democrat Kiran Sreepada. LGBTQ people need to ask the candidates in both parties about their support of the Equality Act. We sometimes forget that an election is a great time to lobby. You may already know how you’re voting, but you can still shape the policy positions of all the candidates in a race. Make LGBTQ equality an issue, regardless of whether they bring it up or not. State Legislature: Sixteen state senate seats and all ninety-nine state house seats are up for grabs this year. Incumbents generally have an advantage in the general election because of the way districts are drawn (meaning gerrymandered). Still, with the presidential race at the top of the ticket, voter turnout could swell and result in some upsets. If you’ve heard of the Slate of Hate, then you understand how important state legislative races are. The Legislature will decide issues like gender-affirming care for transgender youth, whether transgender students can play school sports, whether public libraries can have LGBTQ programming, and the extent to which businesses can discriminate while using public funds. These bills
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and more like them could be filed in 2021 regardless of who wins the presidential election and regardless of what the Congress looks like. In short, voting in state legislative races is vital. The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) is surveying candidates in many state legislative races now so that you will have a better understanding of their positions on likely LGBTQ issues. You can read all the responses we receive via the TEP blog (tnep.org/tep_ state_legislative_candidate_surveys_equality_on_the_ballot). Here are four key state legislative races to watch on election night.
1. Check your voter registration one more time at this link: https://proudvoter.org/partner/tep/. 2. Ask at least one candidate in a non-presidential race about LGBTQ issues or whatever is important to you. 3. Educate one friend about races down the ballot. Most people never take the time to learn and the pandemic has made it even harder for people to focus. But your friends will listen to you.
Early voting starts October 14. Election Day is November 3. Put on 1. State House District 18 in Knox County. Republican Eddie that mask and make it count! Mannis faces Democrat Virginia Couch. Mannis’ primary victory was challenged by ultra-conservatives, but the State Christopher Sanders is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Republican Party upheld his victory. He is a member of the Equality Project. LGBTQ community. 2. State House District 49 in Rutherford County. Democrat Brandon Thomas takes on Republican State Representative Mike Sparks. The polling indicates a close race. I should disclose that Brandon has worked with me at TEP, so I am definitely biased in his favor. But objectively speaking, I think it’s fair to say that since Rep. Sparks always votes for anti -LGBTQ bills, Brandon, who is a member of our community, would be a strong advocate for equality in comparison. 3. State House District 90 in Shelby County. Democrat Torrey Harris takes on incumbent Rep. John DeBerry. Rep. DeBerry has served many years in the House as a Democrat, but the Tennessee Democratic Party’s executive committee recently disqualified him. The Legislature passed a bill allowing him to run as an independent in the general election in response. Rep. DeBerry has typically voted for anti-LGBTQ bills, while Harris is a member of the LGBTQ community. 4. State Senate District 20 in Nashville. There are no LGBTQ candidates in this race, but it is one to watch because it is projected to be close. Democrat Heidi Campbell is taking on Republican incumbent Sen. Steven Dickerson. Campbell has expressed support for the LGBTQ community by speaking out against the Slate of Hate, while Dickerson has spoken against these anti-LGBTQ bills on the Senate floor and used his powerful committee chairmanship to help stop bad bills. Local races: By local races, I mean your city councils, boards of aldermen, city commissions, mayors, etc. There are dozens of cities holding elections for these offices in November such as Clarksville, Johnson City, Maryville, Mt. Juliet, Gallatin, Union City, and Oak Ridge. In Johnson City and Clarksville, members of the LGBTQ community are on the ballot. Don’t forget to ask questions of those running for these offices. They can set an affirming climate for LGBTQ people, decide issues like police reform, and set policies that have an impact on the right to protest, not to mention the tried and true zoning and property tax issues. Those are some of the highlights. I know that if you’re reading this, you’re probably going to show up at the polls because of the presidential race. Some of you have been counting the days for months. Do yourself and our community three favors.
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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.
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The High Stakes
of the 2020 Elections Local and LGBTQ Community Leaders Address Speak Out
James Grady
This election year comes at a time of extreme social upheaval, fomented by four years of erratic “leadership”—or as I prefer to call it, self-serving, lightly directed chaos, helmed by a man who has embraced every wrong in our history and held it up as a model. It is impossible to overstate the import of elections in normal times, and these aren’t normal times. This is even more true today, as the world just learned last night, as of this writing (September 19, 2020), of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A week ago, I wrote to many city and state leaders, from LGBTQ community leaders, to state and local legislators, to activists, asking them to discuss what they thought were some of the highest stakes in this year’s extraordinary election cycle. Below are their own words. They share some themes, though each has a quite different perspective, and all are informative. Thank you all in advance for voting: take advantage of early voting if you can do so, or vote on election day. If for safety’s sake, you use mail-in voting, DO NOT WAIT until the deadline. Return your ballot immediately upon receiving it.
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The High Stakes of the 2020 Elections
Cover Article
Christopher Sanders
Executive Director of the Tennessee Equality Project The rage against the President is an opportunity to achieve a record turnout of LGBTQ people and that may drive results in down-ballot races. That should help allied candidates and LGBTQ candidates in Tennessee. There are three LGBTQ people running for the Tennessee House of Representatives and I've recently learned that members of our community are running for local government offices in Johnson City and Clarksville. Read more from Sanders on pp. XX-XX
Marisa Richmond
Professor & Transgender Rights Activist The biggest stakes in this election are our very lives. The current Administration is trying to roll back the clock in many areas. They fought in the Courts in support of discrimination in the workplace for all LGBTQ people. For Trans people, in particular, this Administration also stands for denial of access to health care, especially for trans youth, denial of access to housing, and denial of service in the military, and support for transphobic legislation in the states. A Biden-Harris Administration will reverse these positions. The recently adopted Platform by the Democratic National Convention features the most inclusive LGBTQ language ever adopted by any party. We had more LGBTQ delegates, including a record 35 Trans and Gender Non-Conforming delegates, and many LGBTQ people are in important positions in the campaign.
FAMILY, COSMETIC AND SEDATION DENTISTRY IN EAST NASHVILLE
THOMAS F. HADLEY, DDS
I feel that in 2021, not only can we finally adopt the Equality Act, as long as we can flip the Senate as well as the White House, but the policies that a Biden-Harris Administration will support and adopt will put the brakes on hateful bills at the state level. Tennessee's current Slate of Hate was based on the understanding that they would be supported in the courts by the Trump Administration. That will not be the case if we win in November. There is much in a future Biden-Harris Administration that Progressives can support besides just LGBTQ rights: climate change, healthcare, education, the judiciary, racial justice, and a just return to the global community.
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Cover Articles
The High Stakes of the 2020 Elections
Brandon Thomas
Joseph Woodson
One of the biggest stakes for our community is one that not a lot of people are focusing on, because it's a little more technical, but it's incredibly important and is one of the main reasons I chose to run for State House again this year.
The last few years, and 2020 particularly have proven to be ‘NOT NORMAL’ ... and ‘not normal’ actions require ‘not normal’ reactions, particularly with what our nation is seeing normalized. So I think for the remainder of 2020, our community’s main focus is broad but simple—do not act NORMAL.
Democratic Candidate, Tennessee State House District 49
In the state of Tennessee, it is the state legislature that redraws state and federal district maps. Basically, this process allows politicians to draw their own districts and ensure that they stay in power for as long as possible without any real challenge. This is called redistricting, and happens after each census—which means it will happen next year. If the Republican supermajority wanted, they could redraw the 5th Congressional district to push Representative Cooper out of office and ensure that Nashville is represented by a Republican. They could also wreak havoc at the state level, removing Democratic representation in the State House and State Senate. We need as many Democrats as possible in the legislature next year, to bring balance to this process and advocate for fair redistricting. When elected, I will fight to ensure that voters continue to pick their legislators, and not vice versa. If there isn't balance in this process, we could lose LGBTQ-supportve representation in both the U.S. Congress and the Tennessee General Assembly. We cannot allow that to happen. Thomas, an LGBTQ candidate, faces anti-LGBTQ extremist Mike Sparks in November.
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Founder of Woodson Results, and Former Nashville Pride President
The same safe political conversations with our friends are not enough, social media posts are not enough, voting for a candidate who doesn’t have a chance is not enough, and as Eleanor Roosevelt said famously, it’s never enough to “curse the darkness,” it’s high time to “light a candle.” Talking won’t make change; thoughtful action will. This year I have challenged myself and I challenge our community to get out of our comfort zones (we’ve already been pulled out whether we realize it or not), get involved, and stop acting normal... here are some starter ideas: • When, not if, you see something wrong - anywhere - speak up. Especially when the people doing something wrong look like you, and even more importantly when everyone in the room does. • Look inward. Challenge your own discomfort with or denial of racism, xenophobia, transphobia, bisexual erasure, fat- femsingle- bottom- shaming, whatever it is. Face it, sit with it, and deal with it. And if you have the privilege to “tune things out” you also have a responsibility to act for those who don’t share that privilege.
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The High Stakes of the 2020 Elections •
•
Help register people to vote. Make sure your friends and loved ones have a plan to vote and, if they’re (or you’re) voting by mail, that they DO IT NOW. Recruit people to join digital fundraisers, and make calls for candidates you support. If you can, give money. It matters. Every dollar. Most importantly, though, stay aware and active until the end. The other side is NOT intimidated by what we think is “not normal.” There are more folks than we’d like to admit in America, in our own neighborhoods, who are comfortable with ignoring science even if hundreds of thousands die. Who are not phased by our black and trans siblings being killed and beaten in the streets or their own homes. People who will justify or - just as culpably are willing to turn a blind eye - as families are separated and caged again in our country due to xenophobia. There will sadly always be those who would like for these things to continue becoming ... normal.
Remember, elections aren’t over until they’re over. Polls are just fancy guesses, and nothing is ever “in the bag.” These are all things worthy of fear, but from fear comes courage. So, step outside of that comfort zone, and get active. In 2020, please don’t be normal.
Make Every Connection Count
Councilman Brett Withers
Nashville Metro Council District 6
I believe that the biggest stakes that the LGBTQ+ community has in the 2020 election is the makeup of the courts, particularly the Supreme Court. Many of our civil rights were won in the courtroom, and when local or state legislatures do pass equality protections, preemption efforts by higher bodies also often require legal challenges. One of the most diligent—and actually competent and strategic—activities that the Trump administration has been to appoint judges who are not pro-equality or to replace those who are. So that is why the office holder of the President and the makeup of the Senate are such pressing issues for our community in this year's election. Written prior to the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
ADVO CATE . EDU C ATE . CONNEC T.
Senator Sara Kyle
Tennessee State Senate District 30 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.
Dignity and respect are on the ballot in 2020. At every turn, the Trump administration and the conservative supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly have worked to dehumanize and demean LGBTQ people.
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The High Stakes of the 2020 Elections
At the federal level, Trump has nominated many anti-LGBTQ judges with horrific records to lifetime appointments, eliminated programs for LGTBQ rights and even erased representation questions on forms and websites. In Tennessee, we’ve seen a new law attacking adoption rights for LGBTQ families and vile legislation targeting transgender students and their families. No matter who you are or what you look like, no one should have to suffer this harassment, especially from people who are elected to represent everyone. This year we must reject the conservative politicians who only seek to divide our families and we must join together to ensure our country is a place that supports liberty and justice for all without exception.
Brandon Marshall
LGBTQ Liaison, Office of Nashville Mayor John Cooper On a national level, one of the biggest stakes communities has approaching would be to vote in the November 2020 Election. Participation is critical. On a smaller scale, when it comes to the 2020 Census, I believe this is one of the biggest stakes residents of Davidson County have in 2020. Within my circle of friends, I have made sure they are both registered to vote and have filled out the Census before the September deadline. I hope people will think about the long-term effects not participating in either the election or Census will have in our communities.
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Cover Article
The High Stakes of the 2020 Elections
"This year we must reject the conservative politicians who only seek to divide our families and we must join together to ensure our country is a place that supports liberty and justice for all without exception." Senator Sara Kyle Elizabeth Madiera
Democratic Candidate, Tennessee State House District 63 I think the biggest stakes for us both nationally and locally are both the coronavirus, and the growing spread of lies and disinformation that further divide us as neighbors and a community. Madiera faces disgraced Republican former-Speaker Glen Casada in November.
Councilmember Nancy VanReece Nashville Metro Council District 8
In 2020 things inverted in on itself. I speak out loud my gratefulness every morning for both of my jobs (at Metro Council and BatchUSA.com) and for Joan's work as a crisis counselor. I am overwhelmed at times by obligation, but committed to doing the work each day to make some sort of difference. My mom, before she passed said, "Do something every day that will matter tomorrow. If you do, all of your tomorrows will matter." I turned 56 in 2020. I was in kindergarten when the Stonewall Riots happened. My entire life has led up to being in a place where I can bring a voice form our community. We are so diverse and multicultural and multi-ethnic and multi-gendered, there is no possible way that one person, or even a few people, can speak for all of us. We need to encourage each other to speak out, tell our stories. Tell them now, don't wait.
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Candidate Profiles
Candidate Profile: Torrey Harris
The Race to Dethrone Anti-LGBTQ Former Democrat DeBerry in District 90 Brian Sullivan District 90 Candidate Torrey Harris could become the first out member of the Tennessee State Legislature this November, and his eyes are on the goal. The community leader and mentor advanced in the August Primary and could soon unseat rival Representative John DeBerry, Jr.
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Representative DeBerry was removed from the Democratic Party earlier this year, in part because of his anti-LGBTQ and anti-choice votes. In contrast, Harris will walk into the voting booth with endorsements from the Democratic Women of Shelby County, the local chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Memphis for All, the LGBTQ Victory Fund, and a host of other progressive organizations. Harris says, for far too long some have been unheard. “Every single person in this District has values they are concerned about,” says Harris. “The LGBTQ couple who wants to adopt children, the Black man who can’t afford the cash bail placed on him, the trans men and women who aren’t able to access safe and healthy reproductive services, the young person who wants to be heard, but can’t, because their Representative believes their voice doesn’t matter and that they are just young, inexperienced protesters.” Public school funding has been a long-standing issue in District 90, and a large portion of the area lacks broadband internet. Some students attending charter schools do not even have laptops or
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Candidate Profiles other technology needed to attend class. “We haven’t had a Representative in District 90 who is even willing to reply to emails or phone calls of voters, who will not take meetings with many of the nonprofit organizations in this District, who hasn’t held a Town Hall that anyone can ever remember. We haven’t seen our Representative because he has spent so much time sitting with his Republican buddies trying to dismantle our education system year after year.” Harris vows to start in January 2021 by continuing to be accessible, communicating with those who put him in office and ensuring that voices are heard throughout Tennessee. On election night, Harris and District 49 Candidate Brandon Thomas, another LGBT person of color, could become the first two openly LGBT members of the Tennessee State Legislature. “Honestly, growing up, I never thought a Black President was possible, but it happened, and it has changed everything,” says Harris. “I will be making history when elected, and I hope that it empowers a trans person to run in 2022, so I can help them.”
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“I feel he is out of touch,” says Harris. “I believe his intentions are good...for him. I am disgusted that a Black man believes that it’s more important to stand up for Confederate statues than to fight for a review of the funding for our children’s education. I am disappointed that a Black man who prides himself on talking about his father’s work in the Civil Rights movement is completely oblivious to this when he voted to take away the voice of protesters standing up for all of us.” Harris says he looks forward to meeting with DeBerry after the election as they transition the seat to true progressive leadership and says he will be sure to ask him how in touch he really felt he was with the people who voted for him in the hopes that he was going to work to improve their lives. The voter registration deadline for the November 3 election in Shelby County is October 5, and early voting begins October 14 and runs through October 29, 2020.
Harris says he is hopeful that someone who represents the LGBT community will be standing in the room when Republican legislators put forth damaging legislation that greatly affects lives like his, so they have to look him in the eye when they vote. Harris has been a vocal critic of a bill that would essentially criminalize protesters at the State Capitol. DeBerry gave a speech on the House floor back in August in favor of the bill, which would increase penalties for assaulting law enforcement or defacing property and makes camping on state property a felony.
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Candidate Profiles 1995 was the year of the Base Closure Act, which closed the nearby Army Depot Facility. It was that year Bradshaw gave birth to her son. Ma’ Dear coached her through breastfeeding while she was dying of cancer. Bradshaw recalls that many people in her neighborhood died of cancer. “Sickness and death became more prevalent in my community,” says Bradshaw. After Ma’ Dear and Papa Starling died, Bradshaw’s mother formed the Defense Depot Memphis TN Concerned Citizen Committee (DDMT-CCC), which had over 2500 members. “My father, Kenneth, a brilliant writer, contributed greatly to the organization and served as the first Project Director,” says Bradshaw. “Over half the initial members died within a year due to illnesses related to the depot.” The Army Defense Depot of Memphis was more than a storage and distribution center for the Army. It also served as a 640acre landfill for any type of material that was disposed of, compensated, or stockpiled from any war between 1945-1955. Some of the most destructive chemicals used to kill vegetation and human beings were stored there. Three hundred and ninety -five of those chemicals were known to be linked to cancer. “There are so many issues in my District,” says Bradshaw. “The people in my District have seen their needs ignored for so many years. We have disparities in education, healthcare, and workers’ rights just to name a few. I will continue to listen to the members of my state. I am visiting all counties in Tennessee and I am listening to all of the needs. My policy will be based on what the communities need.” Bradshaw doesn’t take the honor of being the first Black female U.S. Senate nominee in Tennessee’s history lightly and knows that she has become a role model. She follows in the footsteps of great Black women like her mother, Doris, who fought for environmental justice for the South Memphis community she was raised in. “I am a Black woman raised in South Memphis, and I am running for Senate as the Democratic nominee,” says Bradshaw. “Many have said that could never happen, but look where I am now!”
Candidate Profile: Marquita Bradshaw
Candidate’s Family Has Long History of Community Activism Brian Sullivan Candidate Marquita Bradshaw could make history on November 3 as Tennessee’s first black female United States Senator, and she’s no stranger to beating the odds. Bradshaw grew up in a working-class neighborhood in South Memphis. Her father was an iron worker and her mother, Doris DeBerry-Bradshaw, worked at a bank. The family of eight lived in a three-bedroom house, her two brothers in one room, and four girls in the other. Her great grandparents, who she affectionately calls “Ma’ Dear” and “Papa Starling”, lived next door. When Bradshaw was in high school, her mother Doris suffered an on the job injury that took her out of the workforce. After her back surgery, Doris had to learn how to walk again. As a result, Bradshaw assumed a bigger role in the family. Doris taught her how to pay bills and balance the family finances.
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Bradshaw says her activism taught her to stand on principles. The work she has done for environmental justice was not for popularity, but because her community was harmed. “I was harmed,” says Bradshaw. “My family was harmed. I did not want to see these injustices inflicted on any communities. The loss, the hurt and the illnesses that we have had to endure as a community of people is not something I want to see inflicted on other communities of people. My activism has taught me to be bold and to fight for the rights of all people.” Bradshaw has toured the entire state the past few months, gaining momentum and quite a few endorsements, including one from former presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth Warren. Early voting begins in Davidson County October 14 and runs through October 29. Out & About Nashville will be watching the Bradshaw vs. Haggerty race and will keep you updated on election day, November 3, 2020.
Candidate Profiles
Politics
Candidate Profile: Heidi Campbell Tennessee State Senate District 20 Vidalia Ann Gentry I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Oak Hill’s mayor, Heidi Campbell, who is the Democratic candidate to represent Tennessee’s 20th State Senate District. She’s running against Republican incumbent Steven Dickerson on a platform of economic efficiency and was a pleasure to have as a guest on Here & Queer Nashville. District 20 is an incredibly gerrymandered district that encompasses most of the affluent white suburbs that surround Nashville proper. It forms a craggy C-shape with its opening in the southeast end of the county, omitting the economically, racially, and ethnically diverse Antioch. I grew up in Antioch, and after years of nothing but negative press about my neighborhood, the strange shape of district 20 comes as no huge surprise. Although Mayor Campbell’s platform does not explicitly plan to address gerrymandering, she does support State Senator Jeff Yarbro’s initiatives towards redistricting the state more equitably. Heidi is in favor of marijuana legalization, disability rights, and paying our public school teachers what they’re worth. She has promised to be a “staunch and unwavering ally for the entire LGBTQ+ community in the state legislature.” She supports equitable access to healthcare for all and expressed specific frustrations with our state legislature’s decision to not expand Medicaid, leaving billions of dollars on the table and causing the closure of rural hospitals. Mayor Campbell also happily agreed to participate in a virtual town hall with members of the LGBTQ+ community to discuss her policies and voting record. Heidi has gained bipartisan support because of her commitment to economic efficiency. As mayor of Oak Hill she eliminated her salary and balanced the budget. Should she win, she would be entering a super minority in the state senate (currently only 5 of the 33 seats are held by Democrats) and being able to work “across the aisle” to pass legislation could prove a valuable asset. With endorsements from the Communication Workers of America, the National Women’s Political Caucus TN, United Auto Workers, a plethora of local leaders, and yours truly, Heidi promises to be a voice for women, LGBTQ+ people, and all Tennesseeans. I’m excited to vote for Heidi Campbell for Tennessee State Senate District 20 on November 3, 2020. The deadline to register to vote is October 5. Register online with your valid Tennessee driver’s license in about five minutes at ovr.govote.tn.gov. You can find Heidi on the web at www.campbell20.com, on Instagram @ campbell4senate, and on Twitter @campbellTN20. Make sure you follow me, Vidalia Anne Gentry on Instagram @vag4short, and check out our podcast, Here & Queer Nashville, for more from Heidi!
"Heidi is in favor of marijuana legalization, disability rights, and paying our public school teachers what they’re worth. She has promised to be a “staunch and unwavering ally for the entire LGBTQ+ community in the state legislature.”
KATE NELSON, REALTOR® 615 / 268-0319 615 / 383-6964 kjcnelson@gmail.com DIRECT
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Oh, How the Mighty Could Fall Voting Blue in November Vidalia Ann Gentry
and vote for legislation that moves us away from that system. The fact of the matter, though, is that we are one month from heading to the polls and the system hasn’t changed. It’s the 11th hour, there is no viable third party candidate, and we are still voting in a two party system. Voting for a third-party candidate in the general election will not affect any change to this system, but, as I said before, the system needs to change. Desperately. So, if the question is, “Which presidential candidate do I think will be more likely to lead an administration that will consider legislation to move us away from a two party system?” then the answer is Joe Biden. The Supreme Court is one of the most, if not the most, important bodies of government, as it pertains to civil rights legislation in America. Nominations for appointment to the Supreme Court are made by the President. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the oldest supreme court justice at 87 years old, with Justice Stephen Breyer shortly behind her at age 82. Both justices were appointed during the Clinton administration. These two justices, who have historically voted in favor of a woman’s right to choose, are both well past retirement age. Should they decide to retire or, heaven forbid, fall under bad health over the next four years, we have to consider who their replacements might be. If you care about the lives of people from any marginalized community, you should care about the Supreme Court. So if the question is, “Which presidential candidate do I think is more likely to nominate Supreme Court justices that will protect the civil rights of marginalized Americans?” then the answer is Joe Biden. March 3 marked the 2020 presidential primary election in Tennessee, and in the early hours of that Tuesday, a tornado ripped through Nashville, claiming 25 lives and becoming the 6th costliest tornado in US history. I waited in line for three hours to cast my democratic primary vote for Senator Elizabeth Warren. Many waited longer. Later, I was upset when it became clear that Warren would lose the nomination. I, and many of my peers, felt that somehow the election had been rigged, that Biden had stolen the nomination. It seemed like the dream of a greener, more progressive future had been snatched away from us. But, both Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders went on to endorse Joe Biden for President, and progressives around the country followed suit. We’ve seen the Biden campaign adopt more progressive policies because of the pressures of progressives, and we can continue to push the needle now, and when he’s in office. So, if the question is, “Which presidential candidate did Bernie Sanders endorse for President of the United States?” or even,
It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a tough year, with a lot of questions. One question a lot of us are asking ourselves is, “Do I vote for Joe Biden, even though he’s not my ideal candidate?” The answer is yes.
IT IS MORE THAN JUST A HOUSE.
I don’t intend to convince you that your ballot is being held captive by a two-party system and that you MUST vote for the lesser of two evils. I do, however, hope to convince you that voting in this election, for all offices on your ballot, is more important and more nuanced than a simple, “this or that”. Over the past four years, the Trump administration has mounted countless attacks against marginalized communities and has done more to drive political division and hatred in this country than I ever believed was possible. Democracy is at stake, and the President of the United States thinks he deserves not only a second, but a third term because of how poorly he believes he’s been treated in office. Trump is a fascist who must be defeated. I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that our two-party system is fundamentally flawed, and I will happily advocate
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Politics
Oh, How the Mighty Could Fall “Which candidate would be more likely to adopt progressive policies while in office?” then the answer is Joe Biden. On August 6th, 2020, Memphis-based environmentalist Marquita Bradshaw won the democratic nomination for Senate, beating the party favorite, James Mackler, with only a fraction of his budget. Marquita supports the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, fully funded public education, and a worker’s right to a living wage. She is the first black woman to win a statewide party nomination in Tennessee, and the only black woman running for US Senate this year. The Republican Party currently holds a majority of 53 seats in the Senate, and electing Ms. Bradshaw to replace Republican Lamar Alexander would move the Senate one step closer to a democratic majority. So, if the question is “Which US Senate candidate is advocating for progressive social policies and programs and can help flip the Senate?” then the answer is Marquita Bradshaw. For me, Joe Biden is the only option when I enter the polling booth to cast my vote for president in November. So, if the question is, “Do I vote for Joe Biden, even though he’s not my ideal candidate?” then the answer is yes. But, I’m not just voting for President. I’m also voting for Jim Cooper for House of Representatives, Marquita Bradshaw for Senate, Heidi Campbell for State Senate, and Darren Jernigan for State House. I’m voting for my rights, women’s rights, civil rights, the rights of my LGBTQIA+ family, and I’m voting to defeat fascism There is so much more at stake here than a question of whether you like a candidate, because our system is so much more complicated than that. So, if the question is, “Do I vote to protect the people and country I love from four more years of Trump?” then the answer is yes! Vote early, vote informed, vote blue, but most importantly, just vote.
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