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JUNE 2013
VOLUME 12 | ISSUE 6
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OPPORTUNITIES Out & About Nashville welcomes volunteer writers, photographers and videographers throughout the year. If you’re interested in contributing to our publication, send an email to editor@outandaboutnashville.com with a resume, contact information and samples of your work if available. Our volunteer staff is unpaid, but contributors do receive credit for their work in our print publication and online. Those seeking an internship in journalism or mass communications are strongly encouraged to apply. Cover Design: Josh Robbins
LEGAL This isn’t the ‘Lou you thought you knew. We’ve got a lot of Pride here. Say “Hello” to awesome nightlife down in The Grove and incredible culture up in the newly remodeled Art Museum. Come see why The Advocate put us in the Top 15 “gayest” cities in America. Check out our impressive packages at explorestlouis.com/LGBT
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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 2013 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 and submission. 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. All letters sent may not be published. Out & About Nashville only accepts adult advertising within set guidelines and on a case by case basis.
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June 22, 2013 Welcome to the 2013 Knoxville PrideFest! This annual celebration of music, entertainment and speakers focuses on one of humanity’s basic principles: to promote equality and inclusion of all. While the festival has moved from Market Square to World’s Fair Park this year, the mission to “live, love and be proud” hasn’t changed and still rings true. Throughout the day, you have an opportunity to support vendors and businesses that reach out to the LGBT community. They have come to display information about their organization and sell goods and services. By supporting these businesses, you help to bolster our local economy and make Knoxville even stronger. The 2013 PrideFest features several activities, including a joint concert with the Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus and Nashville in Harmony, Art Out in the City, the Pride Picnic, and more. Last year, I walked in the parade down Gay Street to show my support for equality. Though I am unable to participate this year, I hope the 2013 parade is an even bigger success. I have often said that a great city opens its arms and gathers into its midst the diversity of its people - people of all races and colors, people of all abilities, gay and straight, people of all faiths, from the youngest to the oldest, from the richest to the poorest. All of us are Knoxville, and Knoxville will only become greater if all of us are involved and respected, I am honored to serve as your Mayor, and hope you will enjoy all of the activities that PrideFest has to offer. Sincerely,
Madeline Rogero Mayor
CITY COUNTY BUILDING • ROOM 691 • 400 MAIN STREET • P.O. BOX 1631 • KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37901 PHONE: 865-215-2040 • FAX: 865-215-2085 • EMAIL: MAYOR@CITYOFKNOXVILLE.ORG WWW.CITYOFKNOXVILLE.ORG
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JUNE 2013
Nashville Pride celebrates local leaders, activists and volunteers Awards to be given during Pride Rocks! Pre-Party June 13 O&AN STAFF REPORTS
Curb Records Pride Rocks! Pre-Party takes place at Hard Rock Cafe June 13.
Drake Jensen is the featured performer for Pride Pre-Party.
Each year Nashville Pride celebrates those in the community (and their own organization) that are integral in helping bring together the massive celebration. This year’s honorees will be awarded at the Curb Records Pride Rocks! Pre-Party, June 13 at Hard Rock Cafe. This year’s Mark Middleton/Bianca Paige Pride Volunteer Award, given to a Nashville Pride volunteer who embodies Mark Middleton’s passion for and commitment to the GLBT community and Nashville’s annual Pride Festival, will be presented to Debra Hyslop. The Mark Manasco Community Service Award, given to a member of the GLBT community who demonstrates Manasco’s devotion to community service and GLBT organizations, will be presented to the Music City Sisters. This year’s Philanthropy Award will recognize Joey Brown. Brown has raised community awareness and money through events at Play and Tribe. Play hosts numerous events throughout the year including April’s Music City Sisters H8’s a Drag celebration and the OutCentral benefit performance of Torch Song Trilogy on June 16. This year’s Rising Stars Awards will be presented to Kerrie Turney, Jennifer Cowherd, Jessi Coggins and Amanda Henson. Each recipient is recognized for their outstanding efforts and dedication to the success of the 2013 festival and Pride's mission to educate and maintain a sense of pride, community and awareness of, about and for GLBT people and culture in Middle
Tennessee. Finally, Nashville Pride will present Butch Spyridon with the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau with their annual Ally Award. The Curb Records Pride Rocks! Pre-Party also features a performance from the OUTlaw himself Drake Jensen.
JUNE 2013
Find exclusive content with Drake Jensen and the chance to win a copy of Jensen’s latest CD on the O&AN website. Tickets for the Curb Records Pride Rocks! Pre-Party are $20 and can be purchased at nashvillepride.org.
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“It's about as effective as a first step a single step might be over a bridge of razor wire. It'll cut right through the life of the organization, and still teaches discrimination. Unfortunately, is still reinforces the ‘gays are pedophiles’ lie. On the plus side, though, wingnut heads will explode. That's always a good thing.” David W. Shelton
“It's about time. I am hopeful that current and future scouts will be treated better. I was treated horribly by scouts and troop leaders alike. I'm afraid my disregard for the BSA as a whole may never recover; however, I hope this brings about a positive change in attitudes across the board.” Chris Kingsley
Illustration by Paul Berge
You tweeted, you commented and we listened
“Incremental change is change. Civil unions in Illinois.” Anne Brownlee Gullick
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“It's a change in the right direction but I want to know their justifications for not permitting gay leaders!” Brett Kling
JUNE 2013
‘Not enough or good first step for BSA?’
“I'm surprised they voted that way. I was expecting much worse.” Alexander Quiñones
“A step in the right direction but honestly it seems to say ‘we'll teach you some good values, but we don't trust that you can pass them on to the next generation of scouts.’” Nathan Dominic Johnson
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EVERY 9 1/2 MINUTES SOMEONE IS INFECTED WITH HIV. GET TESTED. Nashville CARES promotes and participates in a comprehensive and compassionate response to HIV/AIDS in Middle Tennessee. Our purpose is to educate the community for increased understanding and prevention of HIV transmission, to advocate for responsible public policy and to provide services that improve the quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Register now for the 2013 Nashville AIDS Walk and 5K Run Saturday, October 5, 2013 www.nashvilleaidswalk.com Over 20 Years of Programming to Gay Men
Brothers United © - Gay/Same Gender Loving men of color provide programs and services locally, regionally throughout the state and nationally. There's something for everyone ages 26 and up including building gender pride, learning relationship skills, AAMSM specific health information, free HIV counseling and testing, events and referrals.
Young Brothers United © - Just like their older counterparts, YBU is a peer based program for young Gay/SGL men of color under the age of 25. Uniquely young, uniquely proud! -
Social events Free HIV testing Volunteer opportunities Discussion groups Social Network Strategy Referrals to MYHWC
nform © - Defining and promoting healthy MSM values, skills and pride in a sex positive and responsible way is a reality in the LGBT community. It's fun, free, safe and healthy. See where you'd like to join in.
Interested in joining one of our men’s programs? Contact us at (615) 259-4866
633 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204 | 615.259.4866 | www.nashvillecares.org
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JUNE 2013
Supreme Court Decisions Expected in June Tennessee Stonewall Bar members share their opinion
“
There is no way to predict from the arguments what the court will do with these cases, but we are cautiously optimistic for a good outcome in both cases.
”
Sam Felker, Bass, Berry & Sims, member of Tennessee Stonewall Bar Association
“
I think the decisions will be in favor of marriage equality in some form. The optimist in me is hopeful for a broad victory. However, from a legal standpoint, they are likely to be narrow decisions that may not necessarily have an immediate impact on LGBT people in states that do not currently recognize same-sex marriage. Maria Salas, Salas Law Group, member of Tennessee Stonewall Bar Association
”
Find O&AN online for more Supreme Court Coverage JUNE 2013
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O&AN Must-List for Bonnaroo 2013 This year’s festival shifted weekends in June and lands smack dab in the middle of Nashville Pride’s 25th anniversary celebration. So whether you are splitting your time between the two (or not), superhuman strength is downright necessary to Bonnaroo survival.
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
Capitol Cities
THURSDAY 7:45 PM
Walk the Moon “Anna Sun”- One listen to this catchy track and you’ll wonder why it hasn’t become the soundtrack to the summer … yet. Its infectious verses lead way to sing out loud chorus. Walk the Moon will rattle Bonnaroo Thursday at The Other Tent.
9:15 PM
Purity Ring “Fine Shrine”Listen closely to Purity Ring and you’ll not only hear electro-pop but also a subtle hip-hop influence. This production only complements Megan James’ angelic vocals. Purity Ring performs Thursday at The Other Tent.
12:00 AM
Allen Stone “Unaware”The world needs a new soul singer and this bespectacled blue-eyed singer could be the answer. Stone’s music hearkens back to a time when soul music spoke up about what is happening in society. You can catch the funky Allen Stone Thursday (if you’re not sleeping).
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2:25 PM
Solange
Capital Cities “Safe and Sound”- Indie rock duo blends electro synth with a catchy chorus on lead single “Safe and Sound.” The band will drop their debut album June 4 but you can catch Capital Cities at the New Music on Tap Lounge Thursday—rather Friday.
Solange “Losing You”- This is the last time Solange should be referred to as Beyoncé’s little sister. “Losing You” finds Solange settling into a neo-soul / old-school R&B style that proves she’s an artist worth watching in her own right. Solange will perform Saturday on Which Stage.
2:15 PM
3:30 PM
1:00 AM
Charlie XCX
Charli XCX “You (Ha Ha Ha)”- English singer-songwriter is responsible for what is poised to be this summer’s biggest song (for a second year in a row) “I Love It” by Icona Pop. Performs Friday at The Other Tent.
3:30 PM
Glen Hansard “Bird of Sorrow”- Glen Hansard, part of the Oscar-winning duo The Swell Season, strikes out on his debut solo record Rhythm and Repose, proving that his blend of indie-rock angst is just as affecting all by his lonesome. Going through a breakup at Bonnaroo? Catch Glen Hansard Friday at This Tent.
3:30 PM
Frank Turner “The Way I Tend to Be”Trading his punk roots for a more acoustic singer-songriter vibe, Turner shines on this trck from his just released Tape Deck Heart. Catch Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls at That Tent on Saturday.
5:00 PM
Nas “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”- 90s rap game-changer Nas makes an appearance this year and while Lauryn Hill will probably not show up to sing the hook on this 90s hit, we hope he performs the track. Nas rules Bonnaroo on the What Stage on Saturday.
Of Monsters and Men “Little Talks”- Icelandic sextet Of Monsters and Men burst onto radio last year with this gem. It’s horns, hand claps and sunny, sing along chorus help make the band one to catch on Friday on the Which Stage.
8:15 PM
4:30 PM
R. Kelly “Ignition (remix)”- If there weren’t three hundred parts to R. Kelly’s soap opera saga “Trapped in the Closet” we would have added that to our playlist. The R&B bad boy/sex god has the right spot when he takes a late night spot on the Which Stage on Saturday.
Passion Pit “Take a Walk”- Its stomping chorus is not the only reason we’ve included this track on our Bonnaroo playlist, the song’s lyrics examine The American Dream resulting in a depth one may not hear if just superficially listening. Catch Passion Pit Friday on What Stage.
7:30 PM
The xx “Angels”- Listen to The xx and you feel like you are listening to an intimate discussion and “Angels” from their latest album Coexist is no different. Out singer Romy MadleyCroft’s vocals are yearning, the instrumentation sparse—truly a beautiful track. The xx perform Friday on the Which Stage.
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JUNE 2013
Lumineers “Ho Hey”- Do we really need to say anything about this track? It’s everywhere. Catch the Lumineers on the Which Stage Saturday.
11:30 PM
12:00 AM
“Weird Al” Yankovich “Polka Face”Too many parodies to choose from but “Weird Al” tackled this medley of pop hits including Katy Perry, P!nk, Lady A and more. “Weird Al” rolls into Bonnaroo on a wave of laughter late Friday/early Saturday in The Other Tent.
SUNDAY
Kacey Musgraves
12:00 PM
Kacey Musgraves “Follow Your Arrow”-There’s a new wave of country artists and Musgraves is leading the charge. With introspective, unique lyrics and a viewpoint not sung often in country music, “Follow Your Arrow” is an homage to the GLBT influences in Musgraves’ world. Musgraves takes the Which Stage.
6:30 PM
The National Trouble Will Find Me - This band’s latest record is an actual emoting, piece of art from start to finish so check it out and catch The National at Bonnaroo Sunday when they take the What Stage.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
You can LOL all weekend long by catch the hilariously funny GLBT comedian James Adomian for several shows Saturday and Sunday. Also you can catch Daniel Tosh throughout the weekend as well as Bob Saget (yes, Danny Tanner from Full House). Several cult classic films will be shown including The Goonies, Nightmare on Elm Street, National Lampoon’s Vacation and a special Father’s Day screening of Three Men and a Baby. Get more artist and full lineup information at Bonnaroo. com. Find this article on the web for more artists and access to our Bonnaroo Spotify playlist.
CMA Music Fest
Above: David Nail, above right: Kalisa Ewing, below : Little Big Town
JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR
Nashville is hot right now and I’m not just sweating in the sneaky summer weather. We’ve been designated an ‘IT’ city, we’ve just celebrated the grand opening of the new Music City Convention Center and heck collectively, I like to think we’ve even been picked up for a second season on ABC’s Nashville. Like I said, Nashville is hot! And what better way to celebrate than with the annual CMA Music Fest? This year’s event takes place across downtown Nashville June 6 – 9. Here’s a handy go-to guide to navigate this year’s event, plus find out how you can listen to our 2013 CMA Fest playlist. First and foremost, LP Field is sold out this year. You can purchase tickets from 3rd party sites (and probably pay and arm and a leg) but beware of fakes. This year’s lineup includes equality supporter Carrie Underwood, reigning CMA Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and the Zac Brown Band. Who are we truly looking forward to? Well, keep your eye on Luke Bryan. Not only is this man gorgeous, he put on one helluva show last year. Also Little Big Town is an LP Field highlight on Friday night. After years of modest success, Little Big Town scored their first #1 country hit last year and their fan base has (finally) swelled. Finally, we’re excited for Saturday night when is she or isn’t she going country Ms. Kelly Clarkson takes the stage. Don’t worry if you didn’t get LP
Field tickets as there are plenty of free concerts happening around town all day (and weekend) long. These include the shows at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage. Highlights include Sara Evans, Blackberry Smoke, David Nail, Maggie Rose, our perennial fave Jo Dee Messina and legend Ronnie Milsap. There’s more music on the Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena and we’ll be front and center when 90s icons Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan take the stage together. We’re eagerly awaiting details of their upcoming duets CD. Other artists we’re looking forward to are Michael Ray, Kelleigh Bannen and Emerson Drive. Other stages include Transitions Performance Park, located in the Walk of Fame Park on Demonbreun between Fourth and Fifth Avenues South. Some of the artists to check out include country royalty and gifted singer-songwriter Holly Williams, Julie Roberts and Gwen Sebastian. Our favorite location to stop in during the festival is The Buckle Stage. Performances are hosted on Thursday and Sunday and include Kalisa Ewing, who we fell in love with last year. If you’re looking for refreshing new artists, this is the place to hang out during the festival. On Friday and
Saturday, the area hosts the ABC Block Party and you never know who may show up. Last year, stars of Nashville came out to talk about the show. There is so much music and only 24 hours in everyday to see it all. Impossible? Probably. But it sure is fun trying. For more artists and information including schedules for the artists mentioned above visit cmafest.com.
JUNE 2013
We want to see your CMA Fest photos this year. Make sure you follow us on Twitter for live tweets from the festival and tweet @outandaboutnash with all your CMA Fest Tweets. Want to hear our CMA playlist? Head over to outandaboutnashville. com to find out how.
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Nashville has Pride - Gay Pride - And Lots of It! Celebrates 25 years with 2013 festival
this year,” said Gonce. “Last year I was President Elect/Festival Director—a huge job. We are lucky to have Jack Davis as our Festival Director this year. His expertise and involvement is going to make the Festival a huge success. My involvement in Pride is made so much better because of the Board, our Festival vendors and the great GLBT community in which we get to work.” When asked his memories from the last 25 years of the Pride Festival, Gonce responded, “The most vivid memories over the past 25 years are the growth of the Festival, the growing acceptance by all facets of the community and the great time everyone has. Being President on the 25th year is amazing and could not have been possible without all of those board members that have for years given a lot of hard work.” MAC, a staple in the GLBT
LINDA BREWER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Since 1988, Nashville Pride has been a moving force in Nashville. Celebrating 25 years in 2013, its volunteers and board members have been working tirelessly year round to host events which all lead up to the Pride Festival at Riverfront Park on June 15. The festival and events leading up to it help support Nashville Pride’s mission to educate and maintain a sense of pride, community and awareness of, about and for GLBT people and culture in Middle Tennessee. With the Pride Month Kick Off Bar Crawl, Pride Pageant, Spirituality Night, Pride Awards and Pride Rocks! Pre-Party coming up before the festival on June 15, it’s a month of celebration, fabulousness and, well - Pride! As you can probably imagine, the planning, creativity and dedication to make all this happen is a work in progress and without the Pride Board and volunteers, it would be impossible. For 25 years, Pride has been an integral part of the Nashville community, each year offering education, excitement and happy memories to volunteers and attendees alike. “I've had the honor of serving as Volunteer Chairman for the last four years,” said Joseph Woodson. Woodson serves double duty as Pride President Elect. “Meeting our volunteers, serving with them, and hearing each of their unique stories is my favorite part of Pride every year.” “One story I tell over and over is about a mother/son team who visited from Alabama,” Woodson continued. “The mother called me from Alabama
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Joseph Woodson
before the festival to explain, ‘we are volunteering because my 17-year-old son came out to me this school year. I want to take my son somewhere to see that who he is, and who he loves, is normal. I want him to see that there are many more people just like him, and we don't have a Pride in Birmingham.’ I will absolutely never forget that, and indeed that is why Pride exists. So that the community at large can know that we are parents, doctors, teachers; we're taxpayers, we contribute, and we are proud to be part of the Nashville community.” “When I met her and her son on the day of the festival, he explained to me, while throwing bags of ice into a cooler, ‘this year has been tough, and I couldn't have done any of it without my mother.’" This dedication comes when Woodson is not researching and providing policy analysis for the Tennessee General Assembly. Current President Allan Gonce is a Senior Buyer for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and aims to further expand the GLBT exposure in the business and political arena. “I'm lucky enough to be President
OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM
JUNE 2013
MAC
community, has been a Nashville Pride board member for over 20 years. MAC serves as the Pride Pageant Coordinator and the Nashville Pride Tribe and Play Entertainment Stage Coordinator. MAC’s most vivid Pride memories are the parades and pageants. “I used to walk and have floats in the Parade. We even had friends come from out of town to participate in the Parade. They were so much fun. I was the person who introduced the first Drag King into the Pride Pageant and the Pageants still excite me.” Joey Leslie, who oversees press as the Nashville Pride PR and Marketing Director was elected to the Pride board in 2010. “It’s the 25th year of Nashville Pride and we are ready to show this city a good time. I’m so thankful to be
Joey Leslie (left)
a part of this organization and excited about the big things in store,” said the PR guru. Leslie remarked that the success and growth of the Festival wouldn’t have been possible without “many generous sponsors including Coors Light, our presenting sponsor this year, and countless other businesses and supporters from the community.” “The entertainment this year is going to be amazing, including Beverly McClellan (from NBC's The Voice) on the Bridgestone Main Stage,” Gonce shared. “We have a great line up and are getting a lot of excitement built up. [We are] also very excited about our second annual Equality Walk this year, sponsored by Vanderbilt University. It was twice as big as we had hoped last year and we anticipate it being even bigger this year.” Woodson says that Pride, and the events that run the festival, go on all year long, “2013 is our 25th Anniversary year, so everything has a silver lining. We have already celebrated diversity with exciting twists on our 2Chefs/2Visions event hosted at the Farmer's Market with four unique chefs (Daisy King, Margot McCormack, Arnold Myint and Laura Wilson) and hosted by former Miss Nashville Pride and all-around-diva, Suzy Wong; and Martinis & Jazz was a huge success at a new location - East-Centric Pavillion - which included a DJ from Nashville's QDP, a sell-out silent auction, and delicious food and drinks. [This year’s] festival will be no different - everything will be on all cylinders for our big 2-5!” This year promises to be the most exciting and entertaining Pride Festival yet; to volunteer or find out more information about the organization and this year’s events, visit nashvillepride. org.
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On behalf of the entire Nashville Pride Board of Directors and Committees, welcome to the 25th annual Nashville Pride Festival presented by Coors Light! Our volunteer board has been working since the close of last year’s festival to bring you an action-packed, exciting Pride Month and Festival. And this year, more than ever before, we want to pay homage to the dedicated volunteers who established GLBT Pride 25 years ago and who have nurtured it throughout the years since. Our mission is to maintain a sense of community and awareness for and about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and culture throughout Middle Tennessee. It’s no small task, nor one that we take lightly. Though the political climate isn’t always favorable, we strive to provide fun and uplifting opportunities throughout the year for people to come together and celebrate victories large and small, culminating with our Pride Festival in June. This year’s Pride Festival will feature the standards you have grown to love including three stages with live music (through 7 p.m.), Equality Walk sponsored by Vanderbilt University, Youth Village sponsored by Metro Human Relations Commission, as well as a Kids’ Zone, Artists’ Village, and 100+ vendors in the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce Vendor Marketplace. Again this year, we are thankful for an outpouring of support we’ve received from many generous corporate and local sponsors including our presenting sponsor Coors Light. We also want to thank the city of Nashville, including the Mayor’s office and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, for their support as the Nashville Pride Festival continues to grow with prime visibility at Riverfront Park. The Festival could not take place without the support of our many generous sponsors, Core Members, festival attendees and volunteers. We can’t thank each of you enough! Visit us at nashvillepride.org for a full list of sponsors and be sure to return the favor by giving them your business when possible. Also check out the full calendar of our June events that help make “Music City Fabulous.” With Pride,
Allan Gonce Nashville Pride President
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JUNE 2013
One City for All People
June 15, 2013 Caroline G. Blackwell Executive Director Dan Cornfield, Chair Mark Baugh Deb Palmer George Phyllis Hildreth King Hollands Sharon Kay Drost Kokoye Judy Lojek Alistair Newbern Nick Patel Don Peterson Avi Poster Loraine Segovia-Paz Peter Woolfolk
Visitors, Neighbors, and Friends, Greetings and welcome to Nashville for the 25th Annual Nashville Pride Festival. It is hard to believe that a quarter-century has passed since that small group of activists and community members joined together to bring a new voice and a new event to our city. From the movement for equal treatment and full civil rights for African Americans in1960s, to all other awareness and pride movements that are its spiritual heirs, Nashville has always been in the forefront action to advance the value of diversity, intercultural understanding, and inclusion. Nashville Pride and our own Metro Human Relations Commission are both proof of this mindset and the commitment this city holds to the wellbeing of all who call it home. As you enjoy this day, planned with care and dedication by many, please note that our neighbors in Knoxville will be celebrating their own Pride Festival on June 22. We hope that you will be able to attend that festival and support the LGBT and its allies in that community there as well. I know you will ďŹ nd a warm welcome in Music City. We thank you for visiting Nashville and look forward to having you back soon. In service to equality for all,
Caroline G. Blackwell Executive Director
800 2nd Avenue South, 4th Floor P.O. Box 196300 Nashville, TN 37219-6300 MHRC@Nashville.gov
JUNE 2013
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JUNE 2013
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2012/2013 Organizational Highlights Award. For upcoming event information including how you can get involved for the 2013 AIDS Walk and 5K run visit nashvillecares.org.
Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) Designed to educate and advocate on behalf of transgender related legislation at the federal, state and local levels, TTPC also celebrated its 10-year anniversary last month. TTPC has been instrumental in securing both the passage of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Act of 2009 and the Violence Against Women Act of 2013. TTPCs federal reach extends to their inclusion in substantive policy meetings with White House officials and discussion with both President and Vice President about trans rights. In addition to federal victories, TTPC also continues to raise public awareness and build alliances with other Tennessee organizations in order to promote equality at the state level. TTPC has aided in supplying language for several positive state level bills TTPC has either written or co-written several positive bills, including the Transgender Hate Crimes Act, the Dignity for All Students Act and the Tennessee Non Discrimination Act. TTPC has just wrapped up their work urging Senators to vote for immigration reform the was LGBT family inclusive and look forward to promoting Tennessee legislation which includes securing more support in Tennessee for the Employment Non Discrimination Act and finding new sponsors for the Birth Certificate Fairness Act. TTPC lobbyist and former President Marisa Richmond was named this year to the Inaugural Trans 100 list for her perseverance in raising awareness for trans issues.
Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) TEP is a statewide organization dedicated to promote and sustain the equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
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transgender persons in the state of Tennessee through the establishment of fair and equitable laws protecting these rights. They also work for the elimination of laws that would seek to counter this effort. This year TEP was instrumental in the defeat of several pieces of legislation that would have negatively impacted Tennessee’s GLBT community. This includes The Classroom Protection Act (aka Don’t Say Gay), an act that would have allow discrimination in counseling services and a bill that would have eliminated Vanderbilt University Police force for its all-comers policy. The legislative session may have wrapped but TEP is keeping busy with several upcoming events including Forward Friday, a fundraising event with silent auction set to take place July 19 at Tribe. Also TEP has announced its response to Tennessee’s Traditional Marriage Day and plans to counter on August 31 with Tennessee’s Marriage Equality Day. Finally, you can catch the return of Athena with their Olympus: Chapter 2 party in September. ‘Like’ TEP on Facebook for more event details or visit their website at tnep.org.
Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLBTCC)
Dedicated to economic growth and cultural discoveries for the GLBT community in the Nashville area, the Chamber offers educational programming to improve its members’ skills in the business environment and extend networking opportunities to grow companies in and outside of the community. This year the NGLBTCC celebrated its most successful year including its Excellence in Business Awards which saw explosive growth in reception and attendance.
Nashville in Harmony (NiH)
NiH may be wrapping up this season with ‘Takin’ it to the Streets’ June 1, but Tennessee’s first and only musical arts organization specifically created for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people—and their straight allies—is whistling a happy tune as they prepare for their upcoming 10th anniversary this fall. Expect plenty of surprises, music and service. There’s a reason they received the Rhubarb Theater Company Leadership in the Arts Award at this year’s NGLBTCC Excellence in Business Awards. For more information, visit Nashvilleinharmony.org.
Nashville CARES
Middle Tennessee diners helped raise a record breaking $150,000 dollars for Nashville CARES during the 2013 Dine Out for Life. Additionally, the organization partnered successfully with Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS last month for The Lion Sings Tonight a star-studded event that helped raise more funds. They were awarded this year by the NGLBTCC with the Mark Lee Taylor Community Service
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across town but you may not know that their beauty is more than skin deep. The Music City Sisters, the Nashville chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, celebrated this year with their successful H8’s a Drag 2013 which helped raise money and awareness for GLBT youth. This year’s event featured Stomp H8, an additional component for GLBT youth ages 18 and under. The Music City Sisters kick off their Sister night June 6 at Canvas Lounge. This month’s event benefits TTPC. For more information, visit musiccitysisters.org.
Brothers United
An African-American social and support organization committed to the education and the empowerment of the local and statewide GLBT community. Brothers United sponsors Nashville Black Pride the last weekend in October.
OutCentral
Nashville’s LGBTQIF cultural center provides arts, educational and wellness programming while offering city-wide volunteer service and space for community meetings and events. You can help OutCentral this Pride by attending a special performance of Torch Song Trilogy at Play June 16 or by registering for their Gay 5K June 22. Visit outcentral.org for more information.
HRC Nashville Steering Committee
This year’s HRC dinner was a smashing success and this diverse volunteer group of individuals worked each and every day to bring the missions of the Human Rights Campaign to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight allies in the greater Nashville area. For more information about how you can get involved email info.nashville@hrc.org.
PFLAG Nashville
Music City Sisters
You’ve seen their faces painted
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through support, education and HIGHLIGHTS cont’d on page 23
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HIGHLIGHTS cont’d from page 20 advocacy. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. PFLAG Nashville meets the third Tuesday of every month at the Turner Commons Room at the Oasis Center. For more information, visit pflagnashville.org.
Greater Nashville Primetimers
This group of mature and bisexual men—and their admirers—come together in a supportive atmosphere to enjoy social, educational and recreational activities. From monthly movies nights at OutCentral to attending shows at TPAC, the Primetimers keep a packed schedule. For more information visit tnprimetimers.org or contact them at wresch@comcast.net.
Middle Tennessee Outsiders
Nashville’s hiking, camping, wading, swimming, rafting and more group offers GLBTQ and straight people opportunities to explore and experience nature and the great outdoors. You can find event information for this month’s hike at Peeler Park June 2 on their Facebook page (facebook.com/ Middle-Tennessee-OUTsiders) or email middletennesseeoutsiders@gmail.com.
Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program
As part of the international collaborative HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program participates in the clinical trials that will lead to a safe, effective, preventative HIV vaccine that can work anywhere in the world. For the latest information visit vanderbilthealth.com/HIV-vaccineprogram
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OutCentral Gay 5K Set For June 22 On your mark. Get set. GAY. O&AN STAFF REPORTS
Not sure that’s how the race will start but it should. If you’re looking for ways to continue celebrating diversity after Nashville Pride and get healthier all at the same time, then make sure you’re registered for the 6th annual Gay 5K and Kid’s Fun 1-Mile runs on June 22 at Shelby Bottoms Greenway. All proceeds benefit OutCentral Cultural Center, Nashville’s GLBTQIF community gathering place. Registration is $20 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under. You don’t even have to run because there’s the always-popular ‘sleep-in’ option at
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$20 where you’ll still get a shirt. So really you can hit the snooze button and support OutCentral at the same time and no one will ever know. Registration will open at 6:45 a.m. (morning-of price is $25 for adults, $15 for kids), with the 5K starting at 7:30 a.m. and the Kid’s Run at 8 a.m. Hang around afterward for medals, which will be awarded in multiple age groups based on finish times. As OutCentral puts it, “Run. Walk. Roll. Crawl. Gay. Lesbian. Straight. Bi. Trans. Bring your best!” For more information or to register to run or ‘sleep-in’ visit outcentral.org.
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World’s Fair Park | June 22 | 1- 10 PM
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Tipper Whore
Photo Caption- Tipper Whore’s Meredith Kotas (left) and Ryan Breegle (right) show their Pride Catch Tipper Whore at Nashville Pride June 15. (photo by Katy Parson)
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JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR
What does a promise to don a dress to play in ‘that band,’ a semi-drunken party joke about 80s censorship and Tipper Gore and a shovel all have in common? Well not much if you look at them separately, but when you mix them up in bowl, they’re the ingredients that go into making this year’s Nissan Leaf Local Stage an exciting place to be when Tipper Whore takes the stage for their first Nashville Pride performance. If you don’t know who Tipper Whore is now, you surely will when they bring their self-confessed brand of “glam-punk, dirty, garage dance-rock” to Nashville Pride. “What started off as a joke, turned into a band,” the members of Tipper Whore reminisced. A housewarming party joke about Tipper Gore and censorship was turned into a Facebook page and nearly a year later Tipper Whore have found themselves playing across Nashville including the Road to Bonnaroo showcase— something that band is amazed that they even had the chance to do. The young band is definitely making a name for itself and a random drop-by at a Tipper Whore rehearsal reveals that the energy the band exudes on stage isn’t just relegated to their performances. The band’s members, Ryan Breegle, Megan Kellar, Meredith Kotas, Jason Goucher, Kelly Bolick and Nick Clark, have been friends over the years and their quip-filled interactions highlight the amount of fun the band has together. Earlier this year, Tipper Whore released their first double-sided single (on vinyl, no less) for their single “Two
Sticks’ and the B-side “Day Drunk,” complete with a kiss-stamped download card. Guessing who donned the lipstick for the single given to me (we were able to narrow down the limited-edition single smooch to Kelly or Jason) was much like a game of pin the tail on the donkey at a child’s birthday party where the punch had accidentally been spiked. Something, after listening to the band’s stories, could be a song in the future. Whatever the future holds for Tipper Whore, including upcoming nuptials for members Meredith and Jason, they’re excited to take part of Nashville Pride. “We’re excited about playing Nashville Pride because we are so different,” Breegle said. “Different than most gay acts and a lot of the other rock acts.” The energy possessed on vocals by Breegle, Kotas and Kellar may be easily compared to the B-52s and while the band relishes the comparison, Tipper Whore is all its own. “We sing about sausages,” Kotas joked. But that isn’t a joke. Some of their other tracks include “Summer Sausage,” “Cocaine with Ke$ha” (which the band maintains hasn’t ever happened) and “Mile High.” Whatever the song, the inspiration is fun. “Whatever we write about, it has to be fun,” Bolick shared. And fun it will be. You can catch Tipper Whore on the Nissan Local Stage at Nashville Pride June 15. For more information on Tipper Whore ‘like’ their Facebook page (www. facebook.com/TipperWhore) or visit their Bandcamp site (tipperwhore.bandcamp. com).
Nashville band Alanna Royale play Bonnaroo and Nashville Pride this summer. (publicity photo provided)
Alanna Royale
ELLEN ANGELICO, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I stood on the porch of a beautiful, quintessentially East Nashville home and fidgeted with my phone as I waited for someone to come to the door. “Just a second!” yelled Alanna QuinnBroadus and I hear a rowdy dog beat her to the door. A few moments later, Alanna answered the door and took me to her studio where her fiancé and bandmate Jared Colby were wrapping up a session and getting ready for band practice. Alanna Royale members Braxton Nicholas, Matt Snow, and Gabriel
Golden filed in eventually. During our interview, Alanna and her merry men dropped twentyeight f-bombs. The aforementioned rowdy dog gnawed on Alanna’s arm throughout, and a full two minutes of the recording I made was of us laughing. These guys are one heck of a good time, even before you put them on stage. “For us, it’s sort of a combination of things. Our songs are good, and we’re good performers, but we’re grateful for the things we have.” One thing they have is a ton of people. They have a horn section. Not a lot of bands in Nashville with horn sections, I noted.
The Granny Whites The Granny Whites are back at Nashville Pride with songs from their long-awaited self-titled album. (publicity photo provided)
ELLEN ANGELICO, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
According to The Granny Whites website, they’re an all-female band that “brings the hot summers of Tennessee to your ears.” At last year’s Pride Festival in Nashville, they didn’t have to work too hard to do just that. “It was really hot,” said guitarist Daphne. “We got access to the cool Gibson tour bus, which was awesome,” chimed in multi-instrumentalist JK. “It was
very air conditioned and helped with the sweatiness. The breeze off the water was nice too. I wanted to take a running jump into the river.” The Granny Whites will be back again at this year’s Pride festival. Daphne explained the group feels a strong connection to Pride. “About half our band members are gay, roughly,” she said. “Half?” asked JK incredulously. “Okay, I’d say about 4/5. Most
“And they all have the same horn section,” Alanna said. “Our horn section plays for everybody. Saturday they played six sets in one day.” We mused for a little while about what it is about horn sections people are so drawn to. Matt, inarguably the loudest member of the band said simply, “They’re loud!” and let out a hearty laugh. “They’re loud and it’s different.” “So different,” Alanna agreed. “Also there’s something about the sheer amount of people you see on stage. You cannot help but be fascinated as to what the hell they’re going to do with eleven people on stage. So much sound.” Alanna Royale definitely has a big sound. But more importantly, they exude energy. Even when they’re sitting around getting ready for rehearsal, the room is vibrating. On stage they’re electric. Their sold-out EP release show at the Basement “was like a rumor that spread the week after,” Alanna laughed. “It was like, ‘Oh, I heard about what happened at the Basement,’ like it was a tragedy.” It’s clear these seven people (six beards, three horns, and one lady, according to their Facebook) are on to something special. “It’s been overwhelming, in a good way,” Jared said. They were Lightning 100’s Artist
of the Month in February. They’ve played East Nashville Underground, Music City Roots, and are headed to Bonnaroo this summer and Austin City Limits Music Festival this fall. And they’re just getting started. “We’re touring on the weekends this summer,” Alanna said excitedly. “We’re working with a bunch of promoters that are really excited about us and want to help us grow.” Former president of Nashville Pride Jack Davis is among those who want to see Alanna Royale succeed. Alanna explained, “Jack booked us after we had been a band for barely any time and kind of overnight we became a Nashville buzz band. And it’s good on him, because he took a chance on someone who wanted to be a part of Pride.” Pride, tour dates, and music festivals aren’t the only things Alanna and the gang has cooking. “We are also releasing a four-on-the-floor, gay club-banger remix of our single,” she elucidated and a devious smile spread across her lips. “Do you want to hear it?” she asked slowly. Of course I heard it but you’re going to have to catch them at Nashville Pride to get a taste of the phenomenal track.
of them, but not all of them,” Daphne conceded with a laugh. “I think it’s good to tap into that part of the community, even though a lot of bands are afraid to get labeled as just a gay band. There is still a lot of hatred out there.” The Granny Whites are way more than just a gay band. As a group, they’re committed to great causes and often play shows for local charities. “If someone is going to ask us to do something and it’s for a charity, we’re probably 200 percent more likely to say yes than if it’s just like, ‘do you want to play in this bar?’” Daphne explained. “I think it’s really important to give back, especially if it’s for a good cause. We spent our entire Christmas this last year for Second Harvest Food Bank. We got like 23 other bands to join us and we called it the Granny White Food Drive. We did six or seven shows.” “It was a Very Granny Christmas,” said JK. All the members of The Granny Whites are gainfully employed in areas other than music so the band provides an outlet for their charity. “The day jobs
don’t really lend themselves necessarily to giving,” said JK. “This is a great way for us to be able to give to charity while having a good time.” Somewhere in between the day jobs, Pride, and the shows for charity, The Granny Whites recorded a fulllength album at the Sound Emporium and released it in February. It’s now available on iTunes and Spotify. They’re in the process of writing songs for their next album and they are working on a music video as well. Word is starting to spread about The Granny Whites. They’re playing with the Nashville Rollergirls at the Municipal Auditorium on July 27 and at the Wilson County Fair later in the summer. They’ve even secured billing for Louisville Pride next year. “We wouldn’t mind playing Atlanta too,” JK laughed. You can catch The Granny Whites at Nashville’s Pride Festival on June 15. They’ll rock your face off, but according to their website, they’ll reattach it with superglue because they care about you.
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2 Chefs / 2 Visions
Upper Cumberland Pride
Martinis & Jazz
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Official June Pride Events 1
Fadd’s Party Bus Pride Bar Crawl Leaves from Tribe at 8 p.m.
Visit nashvillepride.org for more details. June 1 / 8 p.m.
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Nashville Pride Pageant Play Dance Bar
Come out to Play Dance Bar when Nashville crowns its Mr. and Miss 2013 Pride. For more pageant coverage, visit page 37. June 9 / Doors: 8 p.m.
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Nashville Pride Volunteer Meeting
For more information on how to become at 2013 Nashville Pride volunteer visit nashvillepride.org/volunteer June 11 / 6 p.m.
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Nashville Pride Spirituality Night Scarrett-Bennett Center
Join faith-based organizations from across the community to celebrate Pride Week. June 12 / 7 p.m.
Pic: yes
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Pride Rocks Pre Party Hard Rock Cafe
Drake Jensen performs. Visit the O&AN website for an exclusive Drake Jensen spotlight. For more information and tickets visit nashvillepride.org June 13
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Nashville Pride Equality Walk 1st Ave and Broadway
Sponsored by Vanderbilt University June 15 / 11 a.m.
Nashville Pride Riverfront Park June 15/ 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Pride doesn’t stop when the festival ends. Find your hotspot at these GLBT bars across Nashville. South
The Stirrup
Trax
1529 4th Ave. S.
1501 Ensley Blvd
A place where everybody knows your name, The Stirrup is another wonderful neighborhood bar. Check out their weekly events at stirrupnashville.com.
West
Show your Pride at Trax with its official Pride Show featuring the one and only Charlie Brown. For more information visit Trax on Facebook.
Play Dance Bar
Canvas
Tribe
1519 Church St.
1707 Church St.
1517 Church St.
In addition to their amazing drag shows, you can also catch an exclusive performance from Nashville Pride performer Linnea.
Saturday Night Fever? No problem! Check out the Pride Disco Party at Canvas for the best music.
Video Bar plus the best humpday happy hour in town (all Smirnoff flavors $2 from 5 – 8 p.m.) makes Tribe a must check out place during Pride.
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Knoxville Pride: A Bigger and Better PrideFest UKELA A. MOORE, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
With a new location, a full schedule of events leading up to Knoxville PrideFest, and lots of support from both the community and businesses, PrideFest promises to be bigger and better than ever. Saturday, June 22 at World’s Fair Park South Lawn, promises to have more people coming OUT than ever before and Todd Cramer, President of Knoxville Pride, and his team are certainly ready and welcoming. It has been a long road getting here. However, since the birth of Knoxville PrideFest, the event has seen steady progress since 2006. “With each successful year, the festival grows in support from both businesses, and the community,” Cramer said. “That growth brings a larger budget, recognition from surrounding communities and involvement from our local government.” The festival kicks off with the Knoxville PrideFest parade at noon. The procession will advance to World’s Fair Park where the party goes until 10 p.m.. This year’s festival is almost double last year’s and is sure to keep everyone out & about with fun! “The other big change for this year is that we have decided if we we’re to Live. Love. Be. Proud! then we should model that behavior,” Cramer shared. “Instead of booking one large, gay-friendly, but straight headliner, we chose to book four out and proud headliners. Not only are we very excited, but the response from the community has been even better than we expected. We are now expecting our largest attendance ever.” This year’s entertainment includes Tennessee native (and Tony Award winning actor) Levi Kreis, Beverley McClellan from NBC’s The Voice, hip-hop/soul duo God-Des & She and Dangerous Muse. “As we continue to expand our impact on the lives of individuals, our community and the involvement of sponsors, we plan to also expand the opportunities for each to be involved in shaping East Tennessee Equality Council (ETEC) and Knoxville PrideFest for years to come,” said Cramer. “We hope they will become involved in all aspects of our organization and events, shaping them to be what they need, allowing them to further engage, enlighten and educate and expanding the outreach to an even greater part of East TN.” And according to their social media ‘likes,’ the excitement is spreading like wildfire. This is sure to be the best ever Knoxville PrideFest.
Official Knoxville Pride Events 6
Art OUT in the City The Emporium
An evening filled with wine, food and music plus a silent and live auction to benefit ETEC. 6:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. / FREE EVENT
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Pride Picnic Tyson Park
Afternoon fun with food and games. Main dish provided by ETEC. Community groups and volunteers to provide sides.
World’s Fair Park South Lawn Saturday June 22 1 - 10 p.m.
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
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Next to Nothing Club NV
Fashion, underwear and swimsuit fashion show. 8:30 p.m. / $10 cover
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Celebrity Bartending Preservation Pub
Live Music by Karen Reynolds, T Strickland & Samuel Damewood entertain the crowd as local celebrities serve up drinks for tips to support ETEC. 5:00 p.m.
God-Des & She
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Interfaith Worship Service and Breakfast Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
A joint choir from many supportive congregations joins multiple speakers to kick off our Pride Day Events in prayer & worship. 8:30 a.m.
Knoxville PrideFest Parade Downtown Knoxville
Procession of supportive businesses, community organizations & individuals down Gay Street. 12 p.m.
In addition to the events log on to knoxvillepridefest.org to find out where you can Eat Out with Pride during the month of June and July when area restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds for Knoxville Pride.
Beverley McClellan
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JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR
Tennessee born singer-songwriter Levi Kreis has always exposed himself through his music. From the reflections on his debut album One of the Ones to the personal struggle with his religious upbringing on The Gospel According to Levi, some may say that Kreis bares it all. Kreis releases his latest album Imagine Paradise June 20 and fans will get to see a whole new side of Kreis— dare we say a bit more (and less) exposed at the same time? One glance at Kreis’ upcoming album cover and you may imagine more than paradise. Covered in nothing more than sharpie marker, Imagine Paradise kicks off a sexy new chapter in Kreis’ career and he’ll supply a double dose of summer heat to his home state releasing the album the same week he headlines Knoxville Pride. But Imagine Paradise almost didn’t happen. Following his 2010 Tony Award for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet, Kreis admits to a bit of a crisis in his life’s direction. Kreis found the allure in the
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Tony Award winning Levi Kreis performs at Knoxville Pride Releases latest album ‘Imagine Paradise’ same week Broadway/acting machine compared to the many hats he had to wear as an independent singer-songwriter very attractive. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to do another album,” he said. Urged by a friend to let the fans decide, Kreis turned to Kickstarter to see if a new album was “worth the endeavor.” And the answer was a resounding yes! In August 2011, Kreis’ Kickstarter campaign was named one of the most successful fan-funded music projects at the time by Billboard. The collection of songs on Imagine Paradise charts new territory for Kreis. “This is the first album I have created that isn’t thoroughly autobiographical,” Kreis admitted. “It’s the first time I’ve walked away from my own life experiences and gave my art to other people and making other peoples’ lives my muse.” Those people, whose names are scrawled across Kreis’ body, are the fans who helped make Imagine Paradise a reality. “The cool thing about [this] was I made a lot of
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discoveries that impacted my life when I began to delve into the stories of my fans.” One of those discoveries is “4 Letter Word.” Kreis penned the track after hearing about a fan’s struggle to maintain his relationship while deployed under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. “You [couldn’t] be transparent with your phone calls, or your emails and the relationship really suffers in a way none of us would know unless you were in that situation,” Kreis shared. Another song was born from the stories of a fan’s activism during Stonewall and the period following when the GLBT community was finding its voice. “I wanted to create a song that embodied his passion and commitment for our LGBT history,” Kreis said. The result, “Love Revolution,” will be the album’s second single. In addition to the album’s perspective switch, Kreis also gambled with a different sound. While piano production marks a majority of his past efforts, the decision to move to a more upbeat, soul-steeped sound that exudes heavy dance beats, disco deviations and 70s and 80s R&B influences paid off. Growing up in the churches of East Tennessee, an early introduction to gospel influenced Kreis’ song craft. “When you’re singing gospel you learn how to sing from a place of conviction,” he shared. “It’s that same kind of passion—without me even realizing it— that became such a part of what I do. From a musical perspective and a contextual perspective I can trace a lot of my albums back and find some good East Tennessee influences.” Kreis will showcase those influences when he takes the stage at Knoxville Pride June
22 at The World’s Fair Park. Although he remembers attending Nashville Pride years ago, this will be his first Tennessee Pride performance. After years of struggling with conflicting messages from the church and learning to accept himself, his upcoming Knoxville Pride performance is more than a homecoming celebration for the man he is today, it’s a celebration to showcase what happens when we learn to love ourselves. “It’s time for us to step up as gay men and lesbian women to own our place as spiritual leaders for our community,” Kreis said. “That is where my passion is. I speak of this for Pride. I think Pride is a great thing. I understand the history of Pride and what Pride has been, but I think it’s important for Pride to become something else in this day and age. Pride needs to begin with yourself. Don’t talk to me about your pride and going to Pride festivals if you spend the whole week faded and having unprotected sex because Pride begins with honoring your mind and body. How can you show Pride to the rest of the world if you don’t know how to make proud choices for yourself?” It’s Kreis’ groove-inducing message of self-love that will not only satisfy the 391 Kickstarter backers whose names Kreis scrawled on his body in sharpie for the Imagine Paradise album cover, but also score Kreis a new set of fans as he continues to tour across the US this fall. Only question is: if there is another Kickstarter campaign, from the waist down will there be enough room for all of them? You can catch Levi Kreis at Knoxville Pride June 22. You can also ‘like’ his Facebook page (facebook.com/LeviKreisOfficial), follow Kreis on Twitter @levikreis and visit his website to purchase the new album when it drops June 20 (levikreis.com).
Gonirl irl G comedy presented by
June 5 • July 10 August 14 • September 11 Featuring the Southeast’s best female & GLBT comedians.
$
10 / ticket
The show is rated R for sexual content, lewd references, vulgar language, adult themes, and mature subject matter. Some shows also include variety acts such as burlesque and pole dancers.
facebook.com/ GirlonGirlComedy twitter.com/gogcomedy FOR MORE INFO:
GirlonGirlComedy.net ADVANCE TICKETS:
ZaniesNash.com VENUE:
Zanies Comedy Night Club 2025 8th Avenue South Nashville, Tennessee
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Nashville Pride welcomes ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ contestant Mystique Summers Headlines Play/Tribe Entertainment Stage June 15 HOLLIS HOLLYWOOD, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Returning to Nashville as the headline act on Play/Tribe Entertainment Stage at Nashville Pride following a raucous, nearly flooded-out show at Vibe Nightclub last summer, Mystique Summers is already sweating the Nashville heat. Originally from Chicago, Mystique burst onto the drag scene in Dallas, TX, rising through the ranks through her tireless charity work and as a part of the legendary Court System. After a run on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race provided national notoriety, Miss Two Piece & a Biscuit picked up her skirt and took her high-energy act to Cincinnati. Now a featured performer on the All-Star cast at The Cabaret, owned by RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5 contestant Penny Tration, Summers also tours the country and shares her thoughts and wisdom on YouTube videos, Facebook, Twitter, and most anywhere else her fans are gathering online. O&AN caught up with her in Oakland, CA as she prepared for a show benefitting a friend raising money for top surgery in his transition from female to male. It’s been a year since you were in Nashville, and your show at Vibe Nightclub was a blast, but was nearly flooded out by a veritable monsoon earlier in the evening. I’m sure you are hoping for a less dramatic welcome from the city this time around.
I had a really good time the last time I was here. It was a blast, super low-key and nice. I’m very excited for Pride, but not so much the Nashville heat, because I want to look good when people see me from the stage. Depending on how hot it is, by the end of my performances I may look like Whitney Houston in the grave, or I may go from Missy Elliott to Cee Lo Green in five seconds flat. I didn’t see a lot of the city the last time I was here, but did manage to make it to the MAC counter and a Vietnamese restaurant with you, Hollis! This time I want to eat more Pho and maybe meet Tim McGraw or someone like that. We had too much fun! One of the things that is important to you is giving back to the LGBT community and raising money for causes you believe in. What drives your activism as a drag performer? When I started my career, my work was probably 75 percent charitydriven and 25 percent earning my own personal wages. In the charity world people are going to tip you no matter what, even if you are horrible, and it also teaches you how to be an entertainer. It gives drag artists a chance to get on a stage and learn how to perform before they cross over into the “real world” of professional performance. Often new performers can’t even get a chance to get onstage unless they know a person or somehow get in good with a club. At charity shows the attitude is usually,
‘You want perform? Great. Come on out and help us raise money.’ I always recommend the charity route to artists who are just getting started and hope to find their way. You’ve been at The Cabaret in Cincinnati for the past couple of years. That’s a really special place to see a drag show because the performers come right into the audience and interact with the crowd instead of standing above them on a stage. Are there challenges to that kind of format? Pretty much it’s a setup I’m not used to because it is a cabaret and I’m more used to a traditional club or bar with a gigantic stage. This is more of an intimate setting where people are right up on you, so you really have to know all of your words and look good and present the whole polished package of an entertainer. Anyone can put on a wig and go out there and lip sync, but it takes a special kind of performer to really go out there and capture an audience up close and personally. One of the things I think is unique and remarkable about you is the amount of time you spend encouraging young people, not just drag performers, but kids all over the world who are your fans. It seems to bring you a lot of joy as well. The drag world can be so catty and there are always people out there MYSTIQUE cont’d on page 38
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Nashville Pride Pageant to Rock 80s Vibe JESSICA GIBSON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Get ready for June 9. In an event leading up to the highly anticipated Nashville Pride Festival, the glitterati will descend upon Play Dance Bar to determine who will be crowned the fiercest, most fabulous Dude and Diva in all the city. Of course, we’re talking about Ms. and Mr. Nashville Pride. Last year’s winners Ivy White and Lucas Prescott will be on hand to bestow their current titles and the opportunity to reign over the Entertainment Stage festivities at Riverfront Park. This year’s host Annastacia Beaverhousen, a former Ms. Nashville herself (’10), will host the show in her trademark bawdy and raucous style. She is sure to entertain the crowd and keep the energy high throughout the evening. Boasting a Pride in the 80s theme, this year’s show will surely be a throwback to the high fashions of times past. The Pride Pageant began in 1998, crowning an icon as its first Ms. Nashville Pride, the late Bianca Paige.
Since then, the winners of the pageant read like a who’s who of Nashville drag royalty: Dakota St. James (’99), Trinity Monroe (’03), Mya Campbell (’04), Katrina Avalon (’05), and Stephanie Wells (’06)—just to name a very few. But this is not just a pageant for the queens of drag. From the beginning, the kings have held court as well. The first winner—holding court with Bianca Paige—was the inimitable Bushra. Though perhaps not as well known, the kings of the stage have brought a swagger and exuberance that make the pageants an unmitigated joy to watch. Past winners include: Teddy White (’00), D’luv Sayvion (’03, ’04), Buddy Holly (’06), Armani St. James (’09), and Lil Eazy (’11). The title of Mr. Nashville Pride has also been held by a real boy, Deshay Campbell (’05). The responsibility of putting on the pageant has, since the beginning, fallen on MAC. An icon in her own right, MAC has been putting on pageants in the Nashville area for 17 years, and has been on the board of Nashville Pride for over 20 years. Her career in
pageantry began when she took over the Mr. and Ms. Music City Pageant, now renamed the Mr. Esquire Pageant. Together with her production company, MAC Productions, she is the driving force behind many of the pageants that occur in the area. She has a particular focus and love for the art of male impersonation. “For me, personally, the rewards are to see [drag kings] grow as performers— and people. We help a lot of them personally, and it’s always great to see them do well, to see their confidence grow. I just love to see that.” After all this time, she knows exactly what makes for a great pageant. “It’s whether the crowd enjoys it. I don’t care if it’s two contestants, or ten, or how many more, success is in the crowd.” Nice prizes also help, she notes. The biggest prize for winning is the crown and jewelry set, and will be provided by Performance Studios this year. Soon, the stage will once again be set to determine who will be the fiercest, the most fabulous, the one who
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shines the brightest. They will truly be royalty, and they will ascend to a spot once held by current and past icons who have contributed so much to our community…and to our pride. Nashville Pride Pageant will be held June 9. Contestants can register for the Nashville Pride Pageant online at nashvillepride. org or can register on the day of the show in person at Play Dance Bar starting at 5pm. Entrance fee is $50.00. Doors open at 8pm, and the show starts at 9pm.
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Nashville … Untucked
PAIGE TURNER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
You have all seen it on RuPaul's Drag Race so don't you think it's time the "T" was spilled on the Nashville's drag scene? No, I'm not talking about one of those bash columns that have recently become popular that read our queens for filth, but one that would focus on the beauty and wonder of Nashville's drag culture. I for one think it's about time we take our city back to the hay days where Music City ruled the drag world. Drag is fluid—an art form that cannot be defined by any certain look, type, or style and Nashville is a perfect example of all the variety in the drag world. Nashville is filled with many shows featuring queens from all different walks of life. So whether you're seeing a weekly show at Church Street staples Play Dance Bar, Tribe, and Vibe, downtown at the Attic or in East Nashville for Mad Donna’s weekly Drag Bingo, there is one guaranteed to fill your every drag need. Nashville … Untucked will be your "go-to guide" to
what's happening and going on in our drag community so that you are better connected and entertained. I will be highlighting local shows, performances, and entertainers within our city to bring you all the "T" on what went down, where it went down, and who it went down with. So to kick us off in this firstever pride edition of "Nashville … Untucked," I’ve been asked by O&AN to let you know a little about me. My name is Paige Turner and I’m a local drag entertainer/emcee. Born in Cookeville, I’m a Tennessee native residing in Nashville for the last six years. I’ve been performing in the art of drag for three years and have loved every minute of it. Having a very unique style ranging from high fashion couture to your classic drag looks, you never know what you are going to catch me in. The past year I was lucky enough to be voted "Nashville's Best Drag Performer 2012" by The Nashville Scene and to be profiled in Pin Up America. At heart I’m a comedian.
MYSTIQUE cont’d from page 36 who are ready to put you down and be discouraging. I think it is important to be positive and encourage anyone who has an interest in performing by nourishing them with correct information. Which is how we all get better. Right now one of my favorite ways to interact with fans is through my makeup videos on YouTube. Of course RuPaul’s Drag Race got me a lot of
notoriety, but the videos have branched me out even more across the world. I can reach thousands of people much faster than I can on, say, Facebook, because once I post a video, anyone anywhere in the world can access it. People who are interested in learning about drag makeup respond to the fact that it’s Mystique Summers from Drag Race teaching them how to do contour.
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Give me a mic and a live audience and I feel more at home than and I’ve felt anywhere else. You can catch me all over town starting at Play Dance Bar for Sindustry Sundays with shows at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. where you can get in for free until midnight. Then see me for Mondays Are a Drag at Tribe with a free show at 9:30 p.m.. On Tuesday nights, you can come on down and play some Drag Bingo with me at Mad Donnas in East Nashville. This cover-free event is a great show with amazing prizes and starts at 8:30 p.m.. That’s three shows in one week where you can get in for no cover charge. With all these shows, plus several more around town, where have y’all been? Our guess was you just didn't know so we think it's time you are more informed so come on out, get your tipping bills ready, and party ‘til the lights go out. There are so many amazingly talented drag performers in our area and we’re more than excited to bring you the scoop! Until then, in the famous words of RuPaul, " You.. Betta..Werk!"
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Introducing
PAIGE TURNER
Photo provided by Julio Bonilla
Want to know the “T”? Follow Paige Turner on Twitter @PaigeTurner01, ‘like’ Paige’s Facebook page (facebook.com/PaigeTurnerMusicCityCoverGirl) or email nashvilleuntucked@outandaboutnewspaper.com.
You have really mastered the art of social media interaction and there are several ways your fans can keep up with you and get to know you better before you hit the Pride stage on June 15. Where should they go to find you? In addition to my YouTube channel and my website, MystiqueSummers. net, I also have a personal makeup page on Facebook called “Makeup Without
Rules.” Our community is a group of makeup artists throughout the world, real girls and drag queens and anyone interested in sharing tips and learning more about the art. People post looks they like and suggestions about products and techniques. It’s just a group to help people learn tips and tricks on how to do makeup. I’m active on Twitter as well and people can follow me there @ MystiqueSummers.
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Readers share why they are PROUD in 2013 “I'm PROUD that Tennessee legislators listen when we make our voice heard and that we as a community with our allies were able to stave off another version of the Don't Say Gay Bill.” H.G. Stovall Tennessee Equality Project
“As a straight man, I am
PROUD to stand up for gay rights because it's the right thing to do.” Alexander Quiñones O&AN contributor
“I am PROUD to live in America! A relatively young nation, still having our share of growth spurts and yes, growing pains... I am also proud to be living during the era between Stonewall and the realization of EQUALITY for the LGBTQ community!” Gary Elgin Host of The Lavendar Table
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Main Stage
Center announces new youth leadership program Students of Stonewall accepting applications through July 15 That being said, Sheffer points out the students will engage in nonviolent activism. “We’re definitely not going to be pushing any kind of a violent initiative; it’s going to be more about voice and relationships,” she said.
ALEXANDER QUINONES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Two years after launching Just Us, a program to help LGBT youth in a crisis, the Oasis Center is officially announcing the launch of a new youth activism leadership program. “What we really wanted and what we felt was needed, and a lot of our young people were expressing a desire for, was to be actively engaged in social activism,” Pamela Sheffer, coordinator of Just Us, said in a recent interview. The leadership program will be called Students of Stonewall, named after the 1969 New York Stonewall riots that sparked the gay rights movement.
The idea for the name came out of the drop-in sessions for LGBT youth the center runs on Tuesday nights. They were learning about the riots, and then President Barack Obama mentioned them. “What really got them excited was when President Obama during his second inauguration speech mentioned Stonewall, and they absolutely connected with it,” Sheffer said. “They were so excited about it. It just seemed like a natural thing to include Stonewall into that particular initiative for them. They have reclaimed it as something that is a powerful reminder of what activism can do.”
-2P A 1 1 2 2 JUNE
Forms of activism As youth activism goes, Sheffer said there are three major ways to go about it: social activism, youth-driven activism and youth-led community organizing. Sheffer described social activism as campaigns that are organized and led by adults but engage the youth voice. Think: Tennessee Equality Project’s Advancing Equality Day on the Hill. Youth-driven activism encourages young people to be the primary movers within an adult movement. An example of that would be students engaging with the local school board to promote an environment of equality within schools. Last, Sheffer said, is youth-led community organizing, which is designed and driven entirely by young
people. The students will get their first taste of this type of activism by planning the discussion topics for the center’s weekly LGBT youth drop-in sessions. Accepting applications Students of Stonewall is looking to recruit five high school students and five college students to meet Thursday evenings for two hours, September through May. The program will pay students a stipend, but Sheffer said the amount is still being figured out. She hopes the center can attract business sponsors. Before the program even gets started, Students of Stonewall will hold a retreat to figure out what projects they want to take on. They will decide how they will gauge success. “They’re going to be identifying what their target goals are," Sheffer said. "From there, they’re going to figure out how to get to that point." Possible ideas can include STUDENTS cont’d on page 55
HOLY TRINITY CELEBRATES
PRIDE! WITH NASHVILLE
We'll see you at the Riverfront June 15...and then join us at Holy Trinity June 22 as we celebrate our families! ALSO join us Gospel Sings
JUNE 30 9:30 & 11:00 Regular Sunday Services: 8:55, 10:15 & 11:35
FREE & OPEN TO EVERYONE. At H.G. Hill Park on Charlotte Pike (across the street from church). Activties will include: Karaoke, Bouncy House, Inflatable Slide & Obstacle Course, Face Painting, Carnival Games and Crafts. Food Vendors will be available for the option to buy lunch or feel free to bring a picnic.
www.HolyTrinityCommunityChurch.com 6727 charlotte pike
nashville, tn 37209 JUNE 2013
615.352.3838
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? in need of debt relief
O&AN reader show their Pride KATY PARSON, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Andrew Lee Moyers (left), a recent Tennessee transplant from West Virginia is already a community member of the Austin Peay GSA and plans to enroll in the university in the fall. Ryan Whipkey (right), currently a political science and secondary education major at Austin State Peay University, he also has served as the president of the university’s GSA since 2011, helping the organization to be named rs e y APSU’s Organization of o ee M y L w the Year for 2011-2012. e re pk And Whi n a Whipkey is also involved Ry with Tennessee Equality Project and is actively involved in several other university organizations.
Sister Loretta Lynnda Hand Sister Calamity N. Sane
The Music City Sisters are part of an amazing network of support in the Nashville GLBT community, so it was fitting that two members of the organization would come out and show their Tennessee Pride. Sister Loretta Lynnda Hand (left) and Sister Calamity N. Sane (right) paint their faces in the name of community spirit and change. For more information on the Music City Sisters visit musicicitysisters. org. Petey Peterson and Kaylee Jeske moved to Nashville in 2012 where Peterson (left) serves as a Program Coordinator for LGBTQI students at Vanderbilt University. Originally from Iowa, Peterson and Jeske recently celebrated two years as a queer couple. They are the proud parents of three pugs (Trice, Max, and Addi) and one black lab (Silver).
Debra and Tara Gordon
33 Music Square West Suite 100A Nashville, TN 37203 phone 615.244.6246 fax 615.386.3708 maria@salaslawgroup.com
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Debra and Tara Gordon have plenty to celebrate this month as the couple was recently married in Washington state. After meeting nearly 10 years ago in Delaware, the couple finally decided to tie the knot in a ceremony clear across the United States. “Nashville is the place that we call ours,” Debra shared. “We weren’t out in Delaware so when Tara helped me move to Nashville for music, it became us.” “Our respite,” Tara adds. You could call it a fairytale
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because you can’t make these stories up. Tara knew they were getting married in Washington but Debra had an entirely different ceremony planned—full of surprises—for Tara. From family members, including Tara’s mom, to flowers and decorations, Tara was surely a shocked bride when it was time to say ‘I do.’ Congratulations Debra and Tara! Here’s to another 10 years of friendship and love.
Petey Peterson Kaylee Jeske
Michelle
Elizabeth
Michelle Elizabeth Lewis (Millie) has only recently discovered how proud she truly is. She is a 43 years young, male to female transgender in her early stages and growth towards her true self. Lewis’ stories of abuse at the hands of bullies, friends and family, show the true spirit of a survivor. Lewis’ transition has helped her lead a more honest life—one that allows her vocal support for the GLBT community.
Vanity
Her name is fitting as Vanity brought beauty to the Tennessee Pride shoot at the State Capitol. Vanity was the winner of this year’s H8’a a Drag Local Revue, held in April as part of the Music City Sisters’ H8’s a Drag weekend. You can catch Vanity (and all her beauty) when she performs at Chameleon’s Lounge. Find Vanity on Facebook (facebook.com/ vanity.rayne.71).
Steve Alt
um
Chris Gra y Josh Sev ier
Chris Gray and Josh Sevier are best friends who met at Cumberland University. Gray (left) helped establish the first ever GLBT organization at Cumberland University, which is still active today. He recently graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and continues to serve on the Cumberland University Alumni Board. Sevier (right), born and raised in Nashville, is a doctoral student who considers himself a GLBT ally. “[Chris] came out to me my freshman year of college, I believe,” Sevier shared. “He was extremely nervous about telling me. Ever since, I've always supported his rights and the fight for his rights.”
Visit
outandaboutnashville.com for more photos
Steve Altum serves as the Co-Chair HRC Nashville Steering Committee and as Co-Chair for 2014 HRC Dinner Gala. Altum has found new friends and a new family in Nashville since coming out in 2011. “This is such an exciting time to be a member of the LGBT movement and I wanted to show my PRIDE for my gay brothers and sisters,” Altum shared.
Nashville Grizzlies
RAWR! In their natural habitat they are a rough and tumble crowd but catch the Nashville Grizzlies off the pitch on Sundays when they’re celebrating Sunday Funday in East Nashville before heading to Showtune Sundays at Tribe and you see a different side of Grizzly pride.
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A Grant Gesture Musician’s tell-all interview on HIV, addiction and revealing new album CHRIS AZZOPARDI, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
John Grant’s head is like a prison, and inside are words waiting to get out. These words flood the melodies of the songs on his second LP, the critically praised Pale Green Ghosts, and they also free-flow in conversation like he’s been wanting to get something off his chest. The former Czars singer is personal without any probing, a patient sitting across from his therapist exorcizing all his inner-most demons and the sea of emotions welling inside: anger, disappointment, regret. All of Grant’s words are laced with these feelings. And these feelings are a result of, as Grant puts it, “self-hatred” and “selfloathing.”
Without reservation, the Iceland-based artist chats with the same easy candidness of his debut, 2010’s Queen of Denmark, and its recently released followup Pale Green Ghosts, rife with frank confessions regarding his flawed self-assurance, being a target of small-town homophobia, his addiction with addiction and the result of the latter: his HIV diagnosis. “Who wants to hear about some diseased faggot and his disease that he got that he deserved because he’s living this horrible lifestyle?” Grant says outright when he explains his HIV catharsis piece “Ernest Borgnine,” a self-proclaimed “expression of anger and absurdity” that sorts out his behavior through the perspective of the track’s actor-
namesake – a song he says isn’t a fit for radio audiences. No matter; it wasn’t for them anyway. It was written for Grant. “I needed to explore why I allowed myself to get HIV after I spent so much time getting sober and turning my back on selfdestructive behavior,” he says. “Why did I have to keep the selfdestructive behavior in the realm of sex for myself?” It was always some realm for Grant. The realm of drugs. Of alcohol. Of sex. “It didn’t matter what I could get my hands on to achieve that different state of mind,” he says. “I can do it with food, or with spending money.” He could do it, unprotected, with an HIV-positive man. And he did, resulting in his GRANT cont’d on page 50
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GRANT cont’d from page 48 seroconversion. “This shouldn’t have happened – and yet, here we are. And what does it say about you that you still allowed this to happen?” By turning the song’s perspective onto Borgnine, an actor Grant adores and once met at a New York restaurant, he found his answer: “That you weren’t completely willing to let go of your self-loathing. That I still had a long way to go … and still had many things that I needed to let go of. “I was holding onto things that were still hurting me. The truth is, it was self-destructive behavior just like any of the other addictions that needed to be dealt with – and it came directly from the self-hatred and self-loathing of the last 25, 30 years or whatever. Getting the HIV diagnosis was a huge wake-up call for me that (I) still have a long way to go.” Being open about his status, which he revealed during his opening gig for a Hercules and Love Affair show in London last year, was part of the process. That was, for him, acknowledging he wasn’t invisible anymore. That fantasy world he’d always escape to? It was gone. “I have a very strong tendency to want to avoid things and hide from them,” he admits. “I was standing on a stage when I said it and I was about to sing a song that had everything to do with that, but I didn’t want to be dramatic. I knew I wouldn’t be able to decide until that moment. “This whole shame thing is what gets me into a lot of trouble anyway – this hiding, this feeling like I should be ashamed and that I’m a lesser human because of this.” Now, though, he’s more because of
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this, as Grant’s revelation – to himself, and to the world – has broken down the same doors that many HIV-positive people hide behind for fear of being judged. Not to mention, he’s been sober since 2004. “I don’t think that I’m this maverick who’s going to change the way people think about certain things,” Grant says, “but I can talk about my own experience. And by being open about it – who knows, maybe there’s people out there dealing with certain issues. Maybe they’re ashamed about it and maybe they’ll think to themselves, ‘Well, if he can say something about it – and he’s up on stage – then maybe I can admit it to myself. Maybe I can deal with it.’” The cover of Pale Green Ghosts doesn’t reveal much. Sitting in a coffeehouse Grant frequents in Reykjavik – the largest city in Iceland, and also the capital, where he currently lives – he’s stoic and still as he sits alone at a table with two books and a brew. There’s mystery and intrigue, and none of the transparency of his unambiguous words. “It was really early in the morning, and I didn’t want to show any emotion,” he says. “I suppose in photos maybe I look serious, because I don’t want to reveal too much of my vulnerability with my eyes, which is really easy to do in photos if you don’t control it.” That Grant can be completely guileless musically but less so in photographs is telling – a contradiction that’s not lost on him. “There’s a part of me that wants to look strong and not vulnerable at all, because I learned that’s what a man is,” he says. “I’m sure that’s in my subconscious when I’m having my photo taken. I want to appear strong and like an impenetrable fortress … which I’m not.” His sharp tongue is his shield. Even when he’s self-analytical on album standout “GMF,” saying he’d be the underdog if ever cast in a film, he masks his insecurities with biting wit and self-boasting that even he doesn’t seem to entirely believe (the song’s acronym refers to him, the “Greatest Mother Fucker”). “Humor has always been my default protective mechanism,” Grant says. I tell him he’s good at selfdeprecation. Grant laughs. “Yeah, I’m a pro.” One of the most poignant moments GRANT cont’d on page 57
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‘Southern Baptist Sissies’ Takes on the Bible Belt Controversial, Groundbreaking Play More Timely Than Ever
Southern Baptist Sissies take the stage in July. From left Matt Smith, Daniel Vincent, Josh Stutts, L.T. Kirk.
O&AN STAFF REPORTS
After bursting onto the Music City theater scene in 2012 with the hard-hitting and shocking Mysterious Skin, KB Productions announces its follow up production, Southern Baptist Sissies, July 5th – 13th at the Darkhorse Theatre. With its theme of religion clashing with sexuality, Sissies opened to stellar reviews during its original run in Los Angeles and was lauded by critics as “daring, heroic, and no-holds-barred hilarious.” This is the first opportunity for Middle Tennessee audiences to see a live staging by a Nashville theatre company of this much talked about
theatrical event. Sissies is the unflinching story of four gay boys raised Southern Baptist. Each one confronts what it means to be gay versus what the church says about their homosexuality. No surprise, the church’s condemning nature presents a plethora of conflicting feelings for each of the characters. The production’s director, Anne-Geri’ Fann and Justin Burgess (co-producer and assistant director) proposed the show because they believed that the story was relevant to the social struggles currently taking place regarding equality. While the societal and religious issues stood at the forefront of Sissies, the production team
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was also attracted to the razor sharp and often biting comedy found in the script. Bringing Sissies to Middle Tennessee has been a long time dream and goal for the show’s co-producer L.T. Kirk (Kirk). “There couldn’t be a more perfect time for this play,” Kirk notes. “The climate between many churches and the gay community remains contentious and strained, and this play has the possibility of taking the dialogue to another level.” For Kirk and Burgess, Southern Baptist Sissies is a perfect fit with their mission to present audiences with edgy and controversial works that often don’t find outlets in Nashville. Kirk, the son of a Baptist Minister, said the subject matter hit close to home. “I found myself being able to relate to almost every character on some level,” Kirk noted. “I’ve felt all of their pain, frustration, anger, and resolve.” Kirk, who portrays Andrew in the production, counts himself as a survivor of the Exodus program, the ex-gay movement that encourages members to refrain from homosexual behavior.
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Kirk believes that an often quoted question from Sissies, “How do you stop the hate that is spewed in the name of the Lord?” will resonate with audiences throughout the mid-state. The cast includes Nashville stage favorites Cinda McCain, Chuck Long, Danny Proctor, Daniel Vincent, Matt Smith, L.T. Kirk, Josh Stutts and Carl Goad. Anne-Geri’ Fann serves as director, while Justin Burgess is assistant director. Donald Powell and L. T. Kirk are the producers of the show. Performance dates are July 5 – 7 and 11 – 13. All performances begin at 7:30 pm except Sunday, July 7, which begins at 2:30pm. The play will be presented at the Darkhorse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209. Tickets are $12 (cash or check) at the door (Seniors $10). Reservations can be made by calling 615-942-6211, or by email at tickets@kirkburgess.net. There are special buy one, get one free tickets on Opening Night, July 5.
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JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR
We all have that imaginary place where we retreat when the world seems tough. Some may close their eyes and imagine themselves kicked back on the beach with a beer; others let their mind wander to faraway lands with dragons, goblins and knights. It’s a place of our own creation where we can be who we really are. Known for their innovative productions, Cirque du Soleil brings that imaginary world to life when Quidam plays at Bridgestone Arena June 26 – 30. For a bored, young Zoé Quidam (pronounced Key-dahm) is the imaginary world she slips into when she feels that parents are ignoring her and her life has lost meaning. Along the way, Zoé meets characters who help her discover her true personality. In advance of the June shows, O&AN spoke with performance artist Adrienn Banhegyi, a World Champion rope skipper, to talk about how Quidam relates to kids today, how she picked up the jump rope and how difficult becoming part of Cirque du Soleil truly is. Do you think the message of Quidam will resonate with kids about finding out and accepting who they really are? The storyline of the show follows a girl who discovers a lot about life and is on an emotional journey. I think it has a very strong message for that. Also by looking at the acts, it’s an inspiration. You see that it’s possible to live your dreams and stick with what you like doing in your life. For children,
Enter the imaginary world of ‘Quidam’ at Bridgestone Arena ‘Quidam’ performance artist talks Cirque the jump rope is the perfect tool to demonstrate from a simple thing you can bring out such a big professionalism and create something spectacular. Well talking about doing what you like, not many kids grow up wanting to be World Champion rope skippers. When did you know it was what you wanted to do? Actually, it started as a fun activity. We didn’t plan that we would go to the professional level when we started. My dad came up with the idea that we should do jump rope because it improved coordination, concentration and the condition as well. That’s how it started but when we found out there was a federation in Hungary and internationally, we started to attend competitions. After spending 15 years in the competitive jump rope world, it became clear it was something we could use in the future. How old were you when you won your first World Championship? Actually, I was 13. So young. So how does skipping rope bring you to Cirque du Soleil? The auditions for Cirque are quite tough because we don’t really know what to expect with a whole day of testing. The one I participated in in France, we had 50 people starting with us in the morning and by the end I think there were eight of us. We had to do flexibility tests, strength tests, role plays, singing, gestures and different characters to demonstrate how we
imagine. At the end of the day, you find out if you are a candidate for future shows. So that was eight years ago and I had to wait four more years to be contacted. What is it like traveling with Cirque du Soleil? It’s a very special way of living your life. There are more than 50 artists from 20 different countries and some artists are giving lessons to others. Also, on tour with Cirque we have classes for martial arts, pilates, dancing and personal training. You live your life in a small little village with people that become your family.
jump rope burns so many calories I am not such a big on a diet. I can eat just about anything. Quidam will continue a winning streak for Cirque du Soleil shows and Nashville audiences when it comes to Bridgestone Arena June 26 – 30. For more information and tickets visit bridgestonearena.com.
Have you found any obstacles or challenges since coming onto Cirque? For me, coming with a competitive background, it was a big transition because we had to learn to be actors as well and how to express ourselves. Well you must stay on a pretty strict diet, do you plan to eat any Southern food while in Nashville? Too late (laughs). I already have. Since
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O&AN STAFF REPORTS
Here TV announces all-new summer 2013 Pride programming America’s only gay TV network unveils a diverse mix of television premieres as well as the return of network favorites Here TV, America’s only gay TV network, today announced an exciting slate of new and returning programs debuting during the 2013 Pride Season. This summer Here TV is happy to announce the return of She’s Living for This for a second season as well as a special pride celebration episode of fanfavorite, Just Josh. In addition, Here TV has the television premiere of the feature film Varla Jean and the Mushroomheads as well as the network premiere of the new series The Gayest Show Ever and the comedy special Half-Share. “We have put together a very exciting line up of shows specifically for Pride Month, from a brand-new season of She's Living for This to an historic look at the origins of gay pride. It runs the gamut and represents wonderful diversity of who we are,” said Josh Rosenzweig, Here TV’s Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development.
Sherry’s loyal fans coming back for more. Season 2’s special guests include Debbie Harry, Sharon Needles, Willem, Michael Musto, Pam Ann, Johnny McGovern, Jackie Beat, the Lady Bunny, Pandora Boxx, and, of course, Season 1’s breakout star, Busted. Varla Jean and the Mushroomheads (June 7) This feature film was directed by Michael Shiralli and stars Jeffery Roberson as Varla Jean Merman. After years of performing in dive bars and bathhouses around New Orleans, semicelebrity and loose chanteuse Varla Jean Merman is watching her audience get older by the minute. In a last-ditch effort to prop up her sagging career, Varla decides to go after a younger crowd—kids. The Gayest Show Ever (June 7) The Gayest Show Ever takes a smart, sexy, and hilarious bite out of global gay culture. Designed for straights and gays alike, the half-hour show is led by a lively host and features field interviews with guest reporters. The show blends a documentary sensibility with cheeky humor. With political controversies, one-of-a-kind personalities and bizarre community rituals, the show paints a portrait of gay life like you’ve never seen before. Half-Share (June 7)
Upcoming Pride premieres from Here TV include: She’s Living for This: Season 2
(May 31) Sherry Vine brings back her fun-filled variety show for a whole new season. This season Sherry and company welcome the most celebrated queer comedy acts, musical performers, and other entertainers on the scene. Plus, even more original sketches will have
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From directors Sean Hanley and Jesse Archer, Half-Share features Alec Mapa, Jack Plotnick, and Sam Pancake. Fresh out of a long-term relationship, Mac (Kyle Spidle) leaves Oregon for a summer on Fire Island and must decide if he can handle his eccentric new housemates on the mythical Island of Misfit Boys. Just Josh: Special Pride Episode (June 21) This special pride episode of Just Josh includes host Josh Rosenzweig interviewing people who were at the
PROUD!
Stonewall Inn during the 1969 police raid, Kinky Boots star Billy Porter, and Heritage of Pride’s Chris Frederick, who gives a rundown on all the events of Pride week as well as a tour of the West Village. Here TV airs on all major U.S. cable systems as a 24-hour subscription service. Here TV appears in 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets, including every top 10 market. On most major cable providers, Here TV can be found by entering the “On Demand” menu, selecting “Premium,” and then selecting “Here TV on Demand.” To find out how to get Here TV, log on to www.heretv.com/AGetHerePage. Or sign up for Here TV Online and watch Here TV series, films, and specials now at http://premium.heretv. com. Here TV titles can also be viewed through numerous online channels including YouTube paid channels, Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Amazon. Get exclusive Here TV updates on Facebook at facebook.com/HereTelevision and on Twitter at @heretv. STUDENTS cont’d from page 45 acceptance within the faith community, LGBT youth homelessness and education about LGBT topics. Sheffer hopes to attract passionate students, even if they don’t think of themselves as leaders. "They may not know that they’re a leader, they may not think that they’re a leader," she said. "They may be shy, but they got a passion within them. We will help that grow inside of them." Everybody has a talent, and Sheffer's hope is to help young people give their passion a voice. "If their skill sets are more background — more internet research, whatever it is — everybody plays a role," she said. "Everybody has a particular strength that we’re going to capitalize on." The deadline for applications is July 15. To find out more, call Pam Sheffer at 983-6862.
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GRANT cont’d from page 50 on Green Ghosts comes during the coda. “Glacier,” he says, is about “the whole gay marriage circus” and his feelings of frustration, despair and disappointment. The song inspires with a mantra that could just as easily be his own – “don’t become paralyzed with fear when things seem particularly rough” – but in conversation, that passion turns to anger. “The Bible is not the Constitution of the United States, and in this country, you don’t get to force your beliefs on somebody else,” he says. “You don’t get to do that. That’s called totalitarianism. That’s called a dictatorship. That’s called a theocracy. And that’s not what we have here in the United States of America.” “It’s an atmosphere of compassion on that song, where I’m saying, ‘Don’t let it destroy your life.’ That’s why I wrote this song, because I know that there are a lot of other people out there who feel that way. Of course, these days, it does seem like there’s a lot of changes, you know. But there are still a lot of problems, too. I don’t think that things have changed as much as a lot of people think they have.” Though Grant’s stream-ofconsciousness songwriting is, again, at the forefront of his work (as is that rich baritone of his), the sound echoes ’80s electro – the music of the singer’s adolescence, which Green Ghosts is firmly rooted in. “That’s when all the problems really started and where I began to see that I was up to my ears in shit,” he says. Grant spent the first 12 years of his life in Buchanan, a city on the far west side of Michigan that’s no more than five square miles. His first album, Queen of Denmark reflected those tumultuous childhood years. “It was a nightmare,” he says of small-town life. “It was like a horror movie, because you saw yourself turning into this creature that was completely unacceptable. The more you
realized there was nothing you could do about it, the more horrible it became – because you were also starting to realize just how serious the people were who were telling you that it was not OK – and that people would much rather abandon you as a person then deal with your ‘sickness.’” That time, though, was also the beginning of the bond he made with the music that would inspire Green Ghosts: electronic, new wave and romantic sounds of the ’80s. The Eurythmics’s sophomore LP, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), was his first crush, but he also fell in love with Devo and Yazoo. What’s the sound of a 44-yearold man who’s weathered everything from drug addiction to HIV? “Lots of distortion and Wall of Sound guitars mixed with huge cinemascapes and electronic Vangelis-esque Blade Runner-scapes.” It’s a sound that could inspire his next album, which he suggests may follow the trajectory of his work so far and explore the next phase: adulthood. “The songs just trickle in and happen, whether you like it or not,” he says of the follow-up LP, “and then – this is gonna sound really stupid and retarded – but the songs choose what kind of clothes they’re gonna be wearing sonically, and it really makes sense to me. “I think you will also hear the sounds of Pale Green Ghosts, though, just because I love synthesizers so much and I can’t get enough of them. But maybe I’ll do a country album at some point, too, because there’s lots of country music that I think is amazing. I could do anything. That’s the tough part: figuring out what you’re going to do, because you can do anything. I can imagine doing a metal record, too.” How about a country-metal record? “Yeah,” he laughs, “thereby ending my career permanently.” See, he’s much more in touch with reality these days.
Win a copy of John Grant’s Pale Green Ghosts at outandaboutnashville.com
Timberfell Lodge
timberfell.com June 6 – 9 Camp Bear 2013: WOOF AT THE MOON Timberfell’s 5th Annual Bear Event! This fur-friendly event provides special cocktail mixers, pool parties, cookouts, T-shirt vendors, and after-hour parties. The 9th annual Mr. TimBear contest will be held in conjunction with this event. Visit our website for registration info.
June 21 – 23 Trailer Trash/Sordid Lives Weekend 6th Annual Brother Boy Boozey Bash in the RV Park, Trashiest Campsite/RV, Trailer Park Tour of Homes, Redneck Golf Cart Parade, and more. Join us for a fun filled weekend featuring this great satire movie of the South.
July 4 – 7 BANG ~The Fabulous Fourth Holiday Weekend A summer classic! Book early to get your favorite room. Special cookouts, poolside dance party, tavern bash, After Hour parties, and HOT men by the pool.
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Want to be on the O&AN Calendar? Email your event to editor@outandaboutnashville.com
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Darren Criss in concert
Music City Sisters’ Night
Sideshow @ Actor’s Bridge presents She Kills Monsters
Symphony Under the Stars
Cannery Ballroom
Canvas Lounge
Nashville Children’s Theater
Bicentennial Mall
Catch your favorite Glee gay when he performs in Nashville. June 6 / Doors 7 p.m.
Once a month, the Music City Sisters will hold a benefit night for local organizations. This kickoff will benefit Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition. June 6 / 7 – 9 p.m.
7-8 Bianca Nicole performs Play Dance Bar
Visit playdancebar.com for more information. June 7-8
Brandy in Concert War Memorial Auditorium
Catch our full Q&A with Brandy online plus get a chance to win tickets. June 8 / 8 p.m.
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She & Him in concert Ryman Auditorium
She & Him kick off their US tour for their latest album Vol. 3 in Nashville. For more information and tickets visit ryman.com June 13 / 8 p.m.
Community Cinema: Love Free or Die Nashville Public Library Main Branch
Love Free or Die is about a man who has two defining passions that the world cannot reconcile: his love for God and for his partner Mark. The film is about church and state, love and marriage, faith and identity--and openly gay Bishop Eugene Robinson’s struggle to dispel the notion that God’s love has limits—a powerful, must-see film.
June 6 – 9 / Various times
CMA Music Fest Various stages including Riverfront Park and LP Field
For more information on this year’s CMA fest including our must-see artists visit page 13.
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Make sure you check out this GLBT Best Bet on O&AN website.
June 6 – 9 / All Day
Enjoy the lazy days and warm summer nights of June, bring your favorite lawn chair, pack a picnic dinner and immerse yourself in an evening of popular classics and favorite movie themes. For additional dates and locations visit nashvillesymphony.org June 7 / 8 p.m.
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14-30
Bonnaroo
Rent
Manchester, TN
The Center for the Arts / 110 W College St, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
See our Bonnaroo playlist on page 12 and listen to on Spotify. June 13 – 16 / All Day
June 14 – 30 / Tickets $15; can be purchased at boroarts.org/tickets
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OutCentral Benefit: Torch Song Trilogy
New Kids on the Block with Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees in concert
Nashville Primetimers Classic Movie: Gods & Monsters
Bridgestone Arena
OutCentral June 19 / 8 p.m.
Play Dance Bar
Visit O&AN online for its continued Torch Song coverage. June 16 / 7 p.m. / Tickets $15.
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Tickets are still available at ticketmaster.com June 18 / 7:30 p.m.
June 15 / 3 p.m.
Nashville Pride + Equality Walk Riverfront Park
See our Nashville Pride coverage on page 14 and full calendar of Pride events on page 31. June 15 Pride 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Walk Starts at 11 a.m.
21 Archer Live
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Jen Foster and Patrice Pike
OutCentral Gay 5K
Listening Room / 217 2nd Ave. Nashville, TN 37203
Join out singer-songwriter Jen Foster for another exciting Nashville show. Foster is joined by another Texas native, Patrice Pike. Visit O&AN online for an exclusive Jen Foster spotlight. June 21 / 9 p.m.
Shelby Bottoms Greenway
See our coverage on page 23. Registration open at outcentral.org; June 22 / 7 a.m. / $20 per runner
Knoxville Pride World’s Fair Park
See our Knoxville pride coverage on page 33 June 22/ All Day
Ryman Auditorium
Featuring a moderated panel discussion, a script reading of memorable Archer scenes and an audience Q&A with cast members and producers. This once-in-lifetime experience is certain to delight fans of the sitcom. The series, which follows the exploits of employees at the International Secret Intelligence Service, is currently in its fourth season on FX. June 21 / 8 p.m.
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Pat Benatar in concert
Cirque Du Soleil presents Quidam
Ryman Auditorium
Bridgestone Arena
Enter to win tickets at the O&AN Pride booth or visit ryman.com for more information and tickets. June 25 / 7:30 p.m.
Info: For more information on this year’s show and a spotlight with feature performer Adrienn Banhegyi visit page 53 June 26 – 30 / Various showtimes
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