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LETTER FROM THE
publisher Joey Amato managing editor Joseph Brownell creative director Blake Kniffin Publisher
Wow, it’s been an exciting two years since UNITE’s first issue. As with any new business, we hit a few bumps along the way but I’m happy to report clear skies ahead for UNITE. This month, our first licensed publication launches in Cincinnati. I am so proud of Chuck Beatty and his team for their hard work and dedication to helping the UNITE brand grow. In addition to Cincinnati, we signed an agreement to launch another magazine in a region which I can’t mention yet…it’s a surprise! As many of you know, I am actively looking for someone to take the reins of UNITE in Nashville so I can focus on growing the business nationally. In addition to growing UNITE, I’ve decided to open an art gallery on 5th Avenue in downtown Nashville. I have been actively involved in the art world for the past six years and decided now is the best time to take the plunge and unveil my open space. Music City Fine Art will officially open March 5. Music City Fine Art will also serve as the host location for our second anniversary party on April 16 where we will announce the UNITE Man and Woman of the Year. I want to encourage readers to follow your dreams. I know too many people in their 60s and 70s that say, “I wish I would have tried this or that when I was younger.” Life is way too short to say “what if.” Give it a try. If you fail, at least you know you tried and gave it your all. Take some time in the next few weeks and analyze your life. Are you doing what you always envisioned yourself doing? If the answer is no, then it’s time to make some changes before it’s too late. If you are passionate about something, now is the time to make it happen. -Joey
Chris Azzopardi, Estella Pan, Jesse Walker Book Reviewer Sebastian Fortino Business editor A.J. Busé Business correspondent Michael Burcham, PhD, Business writers Dan J. Groover, Lisa Howe, Fitness Editor Stacy McLoud HEALTH EDITOR Brian Hooper, MDiv, PsyD Political Editor Jim Schmidt Arts & entertainment editors
Matthew Jeffers contributing writers Tom Coffman, Shane Jordan, Abby Rubenfeld Account Executive
Tyler Chapman, Mark Farrar, Sam Felker, Scott Glasgow, Joseph McLean Gregory, Lisa Howe, Rana Mukherji, Darrin Otto, Gordon Publow, Chris Robinette, Jeff Rymer, Jim Schmidt, Ro Toyos Advisory Board
Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021 Unite Magazine (615) 852-6660 joey@unitemag.com
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UNITE MAGAZINE | 5
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table of contents
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Manufactured by The Doug Jeffords Company
FEATURE RICKY MARTIN BETTE MIDLER
28 40
BUSINESS CHAMBER CHAT BECOMING A LEADER NGLCC DIVERSITY INITIATIVE
8 10 12
LOCAL STAR SAM FELKER DR. RYAN FOOTIT
14 46
CULTURE FRIST CENTER PRESENTS: HOUGHTON HALL CHEEKWOOD: JUAME PLENSA PIPPIN COMES TO TPAC TN STATE MUSEUM PRESENTS: NEWSIES METRO ARTS COUNCIL
36 38
COMMUNITY BROOKS FUND HISTORY PROJECT
20
POLITICS IN THEIR OWN WORDS
24
FASHION MUSIC ROW STYLE
32
HEALTH SORTING THROUGH THE CLOSET
34
FITNESS QUEEN OF THE QUICKIE
44
16 18 22
featuring the works of internationally-acclaimed artists Peter Max & Doug Bloodworth
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BUSINESS
Chamber Chat NEW BOARD AND BIG INITIATIVES IN 2015
by Lisa Howe
Last year, the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce experienced phenomenal growth across its membership, partnerships, and programs. Looking ahead at 2015, as the Nashville economy thrives, leadership changes, and the culture and attitudes of Nashville’s LGBT citizens and their families ride the roller coaster of peaks, valleys, steep hills, and sudden plunges, there is no time for slowing down. At the end of 2014, the LGBT Chamber lost some experienced Board members, including President, Jeremy Davis. Long-time members, Jason Facio, Scott Glasgow, and Sheika Taylor rolled off the Board, and Randy Rayburn wrapped up his Board commitment. Their talents and commitment will be missed. A strong core group returns to the Board of Directors in 2015. They are Brad Pinson (President), Joe Woolley (Executive Vice President), Cathy Werthan (Treasurer), Rosa Berger, William Bullens, Sara McManigal, John Park, and Bruce Pittman.
Joyce McDaniel
The 15 Board members have the experience, connections, and diverse talents to lead the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce in three initiatives in 2015 while sustaining the foundation of successful programs and events already established.
8 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Clayton Klutz
photos are courtesy of the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce
The LGBT Chamber added seven new faces to the Board, all of whom have been actively involved in the organization. New Board members include Greg Cason, Senior Buyer at Nissan North America; Clayton Klutts, VP of Financial Planning & Analysis at Dollar General; Joyce McDaniel, a small business owner and political fundraiser and organizer; Chris Robinette, Financial Planner at Capital Financial/ MassMutual; Ron Snitker, Director of Sales Marketing & Administration at UBS; Dustin Turner, Director of Marketing at AEG Live/The Messina Group; and Renee Williams (Secretary), Agent at Liberty Mutual.
First, the LGBT Chamber will continue to strengthen its Supplier Diversity Initiative. There is a goal to certify 12 LGBT-owned businesses this year. Look for stronger partnerships with the SBA, NGLCC, Metro, and our corporate partners to help all of our small business owners. With a crane on every corner building $200 million towers and high rises, the LGBT Chamber will work to prepare our members to win and satisfy contracts while we work to add LGBTBEs to the pools of minority vendors. Also on tap for 2015 is preparing our members for marriage equality. When planning a same-sex wedding, we want the LGBT Chamber to be the place where people go to find their wedding vendors - venues, planners, caterers, florists, travel, etc. The LGBT Chamber will not only make sure our directory is full of LGBT-friendly wedding vendors, we will also provide training to help them with marketing and customer service for same-sex couples. It could be as simple as teaching staff when two men show up to look at your venue, not asking where their girlfriends are or not asking which one is the wife. The wedding industry is competitive, and we want to give our members every advantage when tapping into this $36 million market that is just going to grow. We also want the LGBT community to have a safe and enjoyable experience when planning their big day. Finally, the LGBT Chamber wants to put our members in
Dustin Turner
a position to take advantage of Nashville being the “It City” – the bucket list destination city, the must see, must eat, must hear, must visit, and must have your convention here city. We want to make sure when LGBT visitors come to Nashville, they have easy access to our directory and to our members. We are working on an initiative that includes greater visibility in the visitor’s centers, a presence at convention registrations, mobile-friendly directory, and that is easy to find before visitors get here. The LGBT Chamber is serious about helping our members tap into this $5 billion industry. The Board is committed to helping the LGBT Chamber and our members achieve these goals. It will take resources, time, and help from our members. Contact the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce if you would like to get more engaged in our initiatives or if you need more information. To find out more about Nashville’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, or to join, visit www.nashvillelgbtchamber.org
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business
BECOMING A LEADER BECOMING YOURSELF by Michael R. Burcham, PhD. The older I get, the more I realize that just because someone has an important job or leadership role doesn’t necessarily mean that they do it responsibly, or are even good at it. Integrity and proficiency are not a given. Really exceptional leaders “walk the talk” and let their expertise inspire others to follow their lead. Leadership success is not due to luck or tenure. Your life is far too valuable
10 | UNITE MAGAZINE
and important, and should not be wasted by leaving it to chance. Your success depends very much on your ability to be consistent in practicing self-discipline and determination, and having the right attitude for leadership. You owe it to yourself to take full responsibility to develop a personal vision for your future success, and be in complete control of your own destiny. Doing so will also give you all the
essential tools to become an inspiring and impactful leader. “Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.” - Winston Churchill Ultimately, your ability to lead others begins with yourself. But what does it mean to be prepared to lead? Real leadership proficiency is about build-
ing depth and breadth in your field of work or study. It means knowing the finer details of your specialty while also understanding its broader applicability. It means understanding the individuals around you and recognizing their potential. In simple terms, it is earning your master’s degree, and possibly PhD, in what you do. Here are 5 key things you can do to build your own leadership proficiency: 1. Cultivate an Open Mind: First, being prepared to lead means you must become a leader who is grounded in your values but have an open mind to new models, new ideas, new points of view. An open mind creates phenomenal results. Most people feel respected, honored, and uplifted by an open mind. A great leader is usually not, and does not want to be, the smartest person in the room. Great leaders surround themselves with individuals that have more experience and ideas in their areas of expertise than the leader. 2. Develop Emotional Maturity: Second, being prepared to lead means being emotionally mature. Emotionally mature leaders take full responsibility for self - they think without reacting. When a crisis or challenge occurs in a mature leader’s business or family, the leader looks for their own part in it while carefully considering, without accusation, the parts others are playing. Taking responsibility requires exceptional self-awareness. At decision time, mature leaders value principles over feelings and progress over comfort. When they make a mistake, they acknowledge it without fanfare and move on. 3. Become Intellectually Curious: Exceptional leaders are intellectually curious and always alert to opportunities. Curiosity fuels the grand “what if.” By being curious, you are open to new ideas, challenges and ways of doing things. This constant seeking of knowledge and better ways to achieve your goals makes innovation happen. Remember that much of leadership is all about organizing others to achieve a common goal. The curious leader uncovers innovative ways to motivate people, use technology, endure through struggle and learn from others. Being intellectually curious means you seek knowledge of a person, thing or situation at a deeper level. 4. Set Milestones: In order to take a project or organization to success, leaders must break down long-term goals into timely, digestible, and definable segments. These segments (Milestones) will help create a detailed roadmap that aligns the day-to-day activities of your organization with the overarching mandates of your strategy. Your team must be aware of these milestones and exactly what it takes to make it to each one. Business milestones are like checkpoints
for leaders, signaling that the business is thriving and growing. Milestones are the events that occur on the way toward achieving the desired end results or goals. Milestones become markers for celebration. They memorialize moments in time that build a sense of teamwork and accomplishment. Achieving and celebrating a milestone makes the work worthwhile. Developing milestones for your business requires some time and effort, but it is an invaluable exercise, especially if your business is new. 5. Engage in Mentorship: The word mentor literally means “wise advisor” and is taken from Homer’s Odyssey where the character Mentor served as a trusted friend to the story’s protagonist. While some might say great leaders are born leaders, the majority of executives have worked hard to learn the leadership skills that truly empower them. One of the most effective methods of developing leadership skills is through mentoring. A great mentor can give you benefit of his or her perspective and experience, help you look at situations in new ways, and ask the hard questions that help you solve real problems. Finally, a mentor can be a great sounding board for so many issues – from ethical dilemmas to insights on new career opportunities. Be sure to select a mentor who is wise in your chosen area of focus. Schedule mentorship meetings at least once a quarter – you’ll be amazed at how much you will grow! 6. Become a Teacher: Once you have mastered a skill it only makes sense that you would share that knowledge with others. To do so, contact a local school, library, civic or professional organization and offer to share your expertise in a formal setting, free of charge. Teaching always unearths gaps in your own understanding and knowledge. It also refines your communication skills – it’s one thing for you to understand an objective or task, it’s quite another to be able to explain it to others in a way that fosters engagement and learning. In life, leaders are not necessarily the highest-ranking person or the one who holds the most impressive job title. A leader is someone whose actions have placed them in a position of trust and authority among their peers. A leader is one whose advice is sought frequently, but never forcefully pushed onto others. A leader is someone whose spirit and desire for excellence eclipses that of everyone else around him. A leader sees the value in others, and inspires each person to perform their best, many times helping them to exceed even their own expectations. Learning to lead is a lot easier than most of us think – because each of us has the capacity for leadership. Anyone can be a leader – after all, it is all in the commitment to learning, ones emotional maturity, and the attitude with which one chooses to carry him/herself.
UNITE MAGAZINE | 11
Music City’s
Biggest Band
Your Nashville Symphony | Live at the schermerhorn
SBA & NGLCC LAUNCH DIVERSITY INITIATIVE by Jesse Walker Recognizing the business imperative to embrace diversity, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) have launched LGBT Business Builder, the first initiative of its kind focused on LGBT business owners.
VIENNA BOYS CHOIR
A St. Patrick’s Pops with
March 15
March 17
NATALIE MACMASTER & the Nashville Symphony
“[LGBT Business Builder] is about ensuring that entrepreneurs who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender have the support they need to excel, said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. “I’m here because we cannot separate the fight for civil rights from the fight for market rights and economic empowerment. This agreement is not about what we will do here in D.C., but we will do together in all 50 states to help LGBT entrepreneurs grow their revenues and their payroll.” LGBT Business Builder will incorporate expertise and resources from staff at SBA district and regional offices, NGLCC’s 38 U.S.-based affiliate chambers, and other resource partners as businesses learn how to leverage NGLCC’s LGBT-owned business certification and explore opportunities through SBA’s suite of services including government contracting, exporting, and other SBA initiatives.
BOYZ II MEN
EMANUEL AX
March 19 to 21
April 3 & 4
with the Nashville Symphony
Plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 14 with the Nashville Symphony
“At its heart, America is a country that builds things, especially businesses,” Justin Nelson, NGLCC president and co-founder, said. “It is gratifying to know the leadership of the Small Business Administration sees the value of LGBT citizens who have wondered for too long how they can also gain a seat at the table. This program will ensure they will understand the value of becoming an LGBT-certified business and all the SBA resources that are available to them. We commend Administrator Contreras-Sweet for putting an unprecedented focus on harnessing the potential of LGBT-owned businesses.” The first daylong training session will be held March 2 in San Francisco with additional sessions planned in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Atlanta.
FAMILY CONCERT
BERNADETTE PETERS
The Magical World of
with the Nashville Symphony
with the Nashville Symphony
April 9 to 11
April 11 at 11 am
TCHAIKOVSKY
The initiative’s focus in California is especially important in light of a new law requiring California public utilities to extend existing provisions granted to ethnic minority-, women-, and disable veteran-owned business enterprises to LGBT certified business owners. It is believed to be the first bill of its kind in the United States and will serve as a model for similar legislation covering other highly regulated industries and in other states. Additional cities will be announced in the future.
615.687.6400 | NashvilleSymphony.org
Through May 10 Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House invites you to immerse yourself in Old World opulence through a curated collection of paintings, furniture and other treasures from the meticulously designed early-1700s home of England’s first prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole. Next, explore the visual richness of aristocratic living in Tina Barney: The Europeans, a collection of the renowned American photographer’s journey through the elite inner circles of Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. HO U GHTO N HALL PL ATIN UM SPONSOR
HOUGHTON HALL HOSPITALITY SPONSOR
TINA B ARNE Y PRESENTING S P ONS ORS
T H E F RIS T C E NT E R F OR T H E VIS UAL ART S IS S UP P ORT E D IN PART B Y
ROBIN AND RICHARD PATTON D O W N TO WN N A S H V I L L E Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House was organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in collaboration with Houghton Hall. An indemnity has been granted by the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities | Tina Barney: The Europeans was organized by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.
9 1 9 B R O A D WAY
FRISTCENTER.ORG
Exterior view of Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Photo by Nick McCann
local star
SAM FELKER
ATTORNEY. ACTIVIST. ATHLETE. by A.J. Busé
photo courtesy of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
As a high school student in the 1970s, the investigative reporting of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two Washington Post reporters who doggedly covered the Watergate scandal that eventually led to President Nixon’s resignation, mesmerized Sam Felker. He was impressed with their unrelenting research, dedication and their tenacity to get to the bottom of what was right. So this Brownsville, Tennessee teenager decided to pursue a career in journalism. As the editor of Mississippi State University’s newspaper during a period of notorious NCAA pay-to-play capers, Felker enjoyed the active process of investigating, researching and writing. It was his parents, though, who said he should take that talent and put it to use as an attorney. Who was this good Southern gentleman to argue with his mother? So off he went to one of the nation’s top law schools, the University of Virginia, where he flourished, surrounded by a melting pot of stimulating and intellectual people. It was here that Felker realized that through litigation he could advocate for his clients and get the best results for them, much like he’d done with hard-hitting news stories before. “I enjoy solving complex problems,” he says, noting that being an attorney suits him perfectly. During law school, Felker served a summer clerkship at the Nashville law firm, Bass Berry & Sims, where he was later
Baker Affinitas is Baker Donelson’s affinity group for LGBT interests which includes approximately 50 members, consisting of employees who identify as LGBT as well as straight allies. The purpose of Baker Affinitas is to bolster the inclusiveness of the Firm by focusing on the retention and recruitment of LGBT members and increasing the number of LGBT members in Firm leadership roles. 14 | UNITE MAGAZINE
hired, eventually becoming partner. He’d never really been to Nashville before, but fell in love with what he calls a “sleepy but thriving city” and knew he wanted to stay; he’s been here since. Crossing the Line Outside the firm, when the suit and tie come off, the bike shorts and swimming goggles go on. Felker, competing in the international Gay Games four times, beginning with the competition held in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1998, is also a competitive tri-athlete. Much like competing in athletics, he says, “the practice of law is a marathon, not a sprint. Exercise releases stress,
clears my head, and pays great dividends to my health and to my life.” Felker’s husband, Keith Little, is a testament to this positive outlook. Little, a multiple gold medalist in javelin at both the Gay Games and OutGames, recently received news that he is cancer-free after several months of intense treatments. The two were married in 2007 in Provincetown when Massachusetts was the only state with marriage equality. They’re now approaching their 20th year together and still enjoy exercising, training and traveling together, but with an even greater appreciation. This summer the two plan to participate in their second AIDS LifeCycle, a week-long,
545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for AIDS/HIV programs. They also intend to compete at the 2018 Gay Games in Paris. As with an actual marathon, it takes a lot of work to be the first person to cross the finish line. And while Felker has yet to do that wearing running shoes, he’s done it several times with his wingtips on. As the first openly gay partner at a large Nashville law firm, he paved the way for other LGBT attorneys to come out. He also served as one of the first presidents of NAPP – now the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce – helping helm Nashville’s very first mayoral forum for an LGBT audience. And in 2014, Mayor Karl Dean appointed attorney Sam Felker Chair of the Metro Nashville Board of Health. The department oversees restaurants, vehicle emissions, HIV-funding and animal control, among other various services. Felker is also President of the Tennessee Stonewall Bar Association, a group of nearly 100 LGBT lawyers and allies. Although he sheepishly claims that he’s “not really suited for being seen as a pioneer,” it’s a role he takes seriously and with a great deal of pride. As a result, the Baker Donelson law firm recruited him last year in large part due to his community activism. He is responsible for the cultural competency and diversity at Baker Donelson and even oversaw the firm’s booth at the 2014 Nashville Pride Festival. On a national level, you can find Felker at the National LGBT Bar Association’s annual Lavender Law recruitment event, where some 150 law firms gather to actively recruit the nearly 500 law students in attendance. “It’s a sign that firms and corporations understand the importance of diversity in the workplace and the value of having LGBT employees by taking steps to hire them,” Felker proclaims. We All Win “We’ve come a long way,” Felker says, referring to LGBT acceptance and equality, “but we still have a long way to go.” Citing Apple CEO Tim Cook, Felker points out that as more high-level business people come out in their professions and their lives, the better it is for everyone. Many, however, see Sam Felker as the perfect example of an out, gay businessman leading by example. Someone who works every day to ensure the rights of everyone and who lives life to its fullest. Someone with a healthy balance between work responsibilities and personal enjoyment and who is a winner at both. Reflecting on his rural childhood, Felker beams, “I was brought up with a service attitude for helping other people. I find it gratifying to help people with their legal issues.” Sam Felker has done a great deal to help move LGBT issues forward. Many thanks to his mother for encouraging him to attend law school so he could do just that.
“Jazz It Up”
Sandy Spain
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culture FRIST CENTER BRINGS DOWNTON ABBEY TO NASHVILLE by Estella Pan The Frist Center for the Visual Arts presents Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House, a remarkable assemblage of paintings, furniture, porcelain, silver, costumes and other decorative arts from the 18th-century Norfolk estate of England’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. Concluding its landmark tour of the U.S., the exhibition will be on view in the Center’s Ingram Gallery from February 13 through May 10, 2015. Organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in collaboration with Houghton Hall, the exhibition features more than 150 objects that tell a captivating story of three centuries of British art, history and politics. Many of the objects will be
Houghton Hall
16 | UNITE MAGAZINE
presented in vignettes with large-scale photographic murals designed to recreate the key architectural spaces of the house, such as the impressive Stone Hall, with its white marble ornamentation; the gilded Saloon, covered in crimson velvet; the Marble Parlour dining room, dedicated to the Roman god Bacchus; and the mahogany-paneled Library. The house’s extravagant design and furnishings—chiefly of the Palladian style—were meant to reflect the social and cultural aspirations of its owner, Sir Robert Walpole (1676–1745), and were a testament to his sophistication and wealth as well as to his new position in government. In reference to the dual nature of the country house, a contemporary of Walpole’s described the ground floor as “dedicated to fox-hunters, hospitality, noise, dirt and business,” and the state floor as a tribute to “taste, expense, state and parade.” Assembled by eight generations of Walpole’s descendants, including the seventh and current Marquess of Cholmondeley, the objects on view offer a rare glimpse into the private interior of one of Britain’s grandest country houses. “Houghton Hall is indeed remarkable because it was one of the first homes in Britain in which the architecture, furnishings, art, and gardens were fully integrated,” says Frist Center Curator Katie Delmez.
photo by Nick McCann
The Marble Parlour (top, left), Bench in the Stone Hall (top, right), Place setting detail in Marble Parlour (bottom, left), portrait of Sybil, Countess of Rocksavage (bottom, right), and unknown plate from the Walpole Service (center). Images by Nick McCann and James Merrell.
BUENA VISTA PLACE
“Through this exhibition, largely organized by room, visitors in Nashville will be able to experience Houghton’s interiors as if they were walking through the actual home in Norfolk and see sumptuous décor similar to what we enjoy watching on Downton Abbey.”
ing everything from the chimney surrounds to the ceilings to the furniture to the way the paintings were hung. “He is celebrated for creating a fully unified design scheme in his buildings in the same way that Frank Lloyd Wright would work two hundred years later in America.”
Highlights of the exhibition include family portraits by William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds and John Singer Sargent; Sèvres porcelain and Garrard silver; and furniture designed by one of the stars of the exhibition, William Kent. “Kent is credited with transforming the look of a nation,” Ms. Delmez says. “Although a majority of his work was influenced by the Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, he brought a fresh style to Georgian England that did not look Continental European.”
Although Houghton Hall is renowned for its design cohesiveness, the collections have evolved over time with the addition of new objects. “Each generation of residents brought into the house various items of interest to them, and Houghton in the 21st century reflects this family history and tradition of collecting,” Ms. Delmez says. “Many family members collected Sèvres porcelain, for example, so there are numerous examples spanning a wide time period on view.” Seen together, the items in the exhibition demonstrate the rarified taste and access to great makers that such aristocrats had.
Houghton was one of the first homes in which Kent took a holistic design approach, consider-
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culture
Thoughts, 2013; Stainless steel and stone; Installation view: Bordeaux, France, 2013
photo by Laura Medina
CHEEKWOOD ANNOUNCES
2015 JUAME PLENSA EXHIBITION by Estella Pan In 2015, Cheekwood will debut a major exhibition of large-scale sculptures by internationally acclaimed Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Opening May 22 and on display through November 1, Jaume Plensa: Human Landscape will feature outdoor and indoor installations including sculptures imagined specifically for Cheekwood’s grounds. The exhibition is organized by Cheekwood in partnership with The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, where four of the artist’s sculptures will also be on view. Plensa’s monumental sculpture Isabella (2014), installed near the entrance to the Frist Center, will mirror a “sister” cast iron sculpture sited at Cheekwood. The upcoming exhibition at Cheekwood marks a rare opportunity for visitors to experience the spectacular work of Plensa in Nashville. This is the first time the artist’s work has been seen in such depth since his 2010 exhibition at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas.
18 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Plensa’s work in the United States include Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Millennium Park, and Echo, formerly on view in Madison Square Park in New York, now permanently sited at Olympic Sculpture Park at the Seattle Museum of Art. The recipient of many awards and accolades, Jaume Plensa was most recently awarded the 2012 prestigious National Visual Arts Award of Spain, the 2013 Velasquez Prize awarded by the Spanish Cultural Ministry, and Spain’s 2013 National Graphic Arts Prize. Nine large-scale outdoor sculptures, indoor installations and sculptures, and a selection of works on paper comprise this comprehensive exhibition, which will span the historic estate’s grounds, gardens and museum galleries for a uniquely engaging visitor experience. As a part of the exhibition, Jaume Plensa will create new works including a double sculpture entitled Soul of Words, which will be sited on the prominent color garden lawn. A
monumental cast iron head, Laura with Bun, a 23-foot high cast iron portrait will grace the entrance of the grounds. “We are proud to be bringing another major exhibition by an internationally-renowned artist to Cheekwood,” said Jane MacLeod, President and CEO. “Cheekwood’s beautiful landscape and historic origins offer such a unique venue for the display of large-scale contemporary sculpture. With each exhibition of this caliber, we continue to build recognition as a national treasure and our reputation as one of the Southeast’s premier art destinations.” Jaume Plensa, who has visited Nashville twice said, “Cheekwood has this duality of obviously a garden but also beautiful interior spaces. Even more for me, thinking that it was once a private home; it does not have the dimensions or concept of a museum. I’m extremely curious about the garden but also about the house.” Plensa’s body of work is primarily inspired by the complexities of the human condition. He is known for the exploration of the tension between the interior and exterior life. The artist uses a variety of materials—from cast iron to steel and bronze to alabaster and synthetic resin—choosing the material that will best communicate his idea for the image. Among the large-scale outdoor works is Plensa’s 2007 Heart of Trees, in which seven seated bronze figures, based on a self-portrait of the artist, are each covered with the names of the artist’s favorite composers. Each seated figure “embraces” a live tree; Cheekwood recently planted a fast-growing species known as the Kentucky coffee tree to accompany Heart of Trees. Composers are an apt subject for the artist who has described music and sound to be of particular influence. Plensa sometimes describes the sensation of seeing and feeling as “vibrations.”
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Of particular interest to Music City’s culture is Plensa’s 2013 seated stainless steel figure, Silent Music, entirely comprised of stainless steel musical notes. Though this does not actually incorporate sound, the sculpture stands as a symbol of the universal language achieved through music, celebrating the imprint left on body and soul. Cheekwood’s Museum of Art galleries will house Plensa’s 2003 Silent Rain, a hanging screen composed of literary phrases, poetry, and Plensa’s own words. Visitors pass through this suspended and cascading work as they pass through the galleries, naturally interrupting the words’ legibility and therefore temporarily disrupting any meaning while creating a physical experience with the written word. Also in the galleries is the artist’s 2006 interactive work entitled Matter-Spirit that invites visitors to fill the space with sound by ringing a series of gongs. Plensa’s new sculptures are informed and inspired by Cheekwood’s landscape and essence. Specifically designed for Cheekwood’s exhibition, Awilda & Irma consists of a pair of monumental stainless steel mesh faces that will engage with each other as well as the landscape visible through them. Visitors to Cheekwood will see the U.S. premier of The Soul of Words I and II, a pair of white stainless steel seated figures formed from the symbols and letters from nine different alphabets. For more info, visit www.cheekwood.org
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BROOKS FUND HISTORY PROJECT
REVEALS MID-TN’S LGBT PAST by Blake Kniffin More than 125 people crowded into the archives room at the Nashville Public Library in January to celebrate The Brooks Fund History Project’s addition to the Library’s Oral History Collections. A collection of 28 interviews – 22 with lesbians and gay men, two with trans-women and four with heterosexual observers – The History Project chronicles the lives of Middle Tennessee gay, transgender and bisexual residents. Interview subjects were residents of Middle Tennessee for at least a decade before 1970 and they reflected on life in Middle Tennessee and how homosexuality was viewed in the larger community. It was an emotional event for those who have worked on bringing this project to fruition
since the inception of The Brooks Fund of The Community Foundation 20 years ago. Local philanthropist and advocate Iris Buhl has been the driving force behind brining these stories to light. “It took an immense amount of courage for these people to share their story,” said Buhl. “For that, we are forever grateful.” Since spring 2009, local documentarian Deidre Duker and producer Phil Bell have conducted 45 hours of interviews. A documentary film including these oral histories has been produced and will be unveiled later this year. Some of the interviews can be found www.CFMT.org/TheBrooksFundHistoryProject
The Brooks Fund is excited to take part in The Big Payback. The Big Payback is a community-wide, online giving day hosted by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. On May 5, 2015, for 24 hours beginning at 12 a.m., donors can make gifts to participating nonprofits that are located in or provide services for Middle Tennessee’s 40 counties. Gifts will support The Fund’s mission of encouraging the inclusion, acceptance and recognition of Middle Tennessee’s lesbian and gay citizens through quality programs. Last year’s inaugural Big Payback raised a remarkable $1,492,492.50 for 525 nonprofits last year. In one day’s time, more than 11,661 gifts were made. “This is a great opportunity for our community to come together and have a positive impact right here where we live,” said Michael McDaniel, coordinator of The Brooks Fund.
CFMT president Ellen Lehman speaks at History Project Hand Over.
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photo courtesy of The Brooks Fund
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Pippin star Mark Burrell is definitely no stranger to the stage. Serving as swing, assistant choreographer, and dance captain of Pippin, the Michigan native made his Broadway debut in the first national tour of Fosse. He has held the title of Assis-
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tant Choreographer for Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular starring The World Famous Rockettes for the past 10 years and is quickly becoming recognized as one of the premier teachers and coaches in New York.
His motivating, yet demanding style is shaping the next generation of dancers by setting high standards for students and pushing them to test their fullest limits. Recently, his choreography was chosen to be produced in an evening of “Down-
town Dancing @ The Joyce” a benefit supporting Dancer’s Responding To AIDS. Burrell’s experience is extensive, having performed throughout the United States and internationally, including engagements in Japan, Zambia, Peru, and South Africa. He was featured in the motion picture, The Producers: A Movie Musical as well as other theatrical productions including: CATS, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Broadway for Hilary, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. “One of my greatest experiences was when I travelled to South Africa to work an industrial for IBM,” Burrell recalls. “The performance was a Best of Broadway/ cabaret-style show that we performed twice during their conference. It was truly an experience of a lifetime.” The feisty 36-year-old is a graduate of the Juilliard School, where he remains on the faculty as a summer instructor, master teacher, and choreographer. He has also engaged in the classical and contemporary works of such esteemed choreographers as Lar Lubovich, Paul Taylor, Jiri Kylian, Lila York, and David Parker and The Bang Group where he is an honorary guest artist. In addition, he continues to perform as a principle dancer with Chet Walker’s company WalkerDance. Burrell didn’t start singing until later in his career when he went to a Broadway performance of Cats. “That’s when I got bit by the bug. I said to myself, ‘this is a dancers dream.’ Seeing that show was a pivotal moment in my life.” Since then, Burrell has been the resident choreographer for
The Barbara Ingram School of the Arts where he has created productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Legally Blonde and The Wizard of Oz. Burrell’s former students can be seen on numerous Broadway stages as well as in many collegiate dance lines, national commercials, as well as being featured on So You Think You Can Dance both here and in Israel. He has also coached and served as a mentor for celebrities on Dancing with The Stars. He is quite eager to bring this production of Pippin to Nashville for its debut. “People are going to experience quite a spectacle. You’ll be surrounded with not just great song and dance but also incredible acrobatics,” he says. “The show is about taking risks and following someone’s journey, which makes it more enticing than a book musical. The audience will be submersed in an interactive circus world.” Without giving too much away, Burrell wants people to know that Pippin is unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. “There are hot-bodied men and women to die for. Plus it’s a show that really makes you think. As visually stimulating as it is, it asks what is extraordinary to you. That can be answered in different ways and that’s the message people walk away with…have I taken the risks I’d like to take?”
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Burrell and the cast of Pippin will bring their extraordinary talents to Nashville for a limited, one-week engagement March 10-15. Tickets are still available at TPAC.org, by phone at (615) 782-4040.
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IN THEIR OWN WORDS 2015 is the year of many elections. On a local level, three LGBT candidates will be running for a variety of offices and they need your vote. The following feature is written by each candidate in their own words telling us why we should vote for them for their respective office.
that very moment, forever. I had found my genuine motivation. I returned to Nashville knowing that Carolyn’s cry for help was not specific to Africa, it was happening right here in my backyard. I knew I was ready to run because I knew I was ready to do whatever it took to identify and help those in Metro Nashville who are suffering.
photo courtesy of John Lasiter
John Lasiter
METRO COUNCIL AT-LARGE I’ve always dreamed of running for office, but refused to do so until I was 100% genuinely motivated for the right reasons. In October 2012, I traveled to the slums of Nairobi, Kenya to serve those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Over the course of the month-long mission, I witnessed some of the most deplorable conditions any human should ever have to endure. Children couldn’t afford to go to school and those who could were so hungry they couldn’t concentrate on their lessons. One little girl named Carolyn looked up at me and said “Mr. John, please give me hope.” My life changed at
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I announced my candidacy over two years ago knowing I had a lot more work to do than most. I had very little, if any, name recognition; I didn’t make a lot of money nor did I have an overwhelming connection to those who did. All I had was the desire to help those living in Metro Nashville. Since announcing my candidacy, I’ve been amazed by how many supporters our campaign has gained. I’m humbled every day. I have people of all ages and cultural backgrounds taking the time to shake my hand and assure me I have their vote. Over the next several months, leading up to the election, I look forward to getting to know each one of you and hearing what you want from your Metro Council. I want to hear how I can help you, how I can better serve our community and learn ways we can all work together to make Nashville a stronger community. I don’t expect the LGBT vote simply because I am a gay man. I plan to work very hard to earn your vote because I’m the right man for the job. I don’t want be a politician, I want to be a councilman. Thank you for your vote. Visit www.ElectLasiter.com for more information.
nancy vanreece
METRO COUNCIL, DISTRICT 8 CANDIDATE It was 1986. I remember driving the 12 hours from Oklahoma City to Nashville in my two-tone Buick Regal and a U-Haul. I started my marketing company in Waco, Texas while in college a year and a half before and decided that my new company and I needed to be in Nashville.
photo by Chad McClarnon
Two years later, I met the love of my life at a Bible study. I had moved onto Music Row and later (in 1990) bought my first home in Madison, Tennessee. Joan and I celebrate our 27th anniversary in 2015. As I run for Metro Council in District 8, I can’t help but acknowledge so many 20-somethings as they move into Nashville with the same kind of dreams, hopes, and bolstering tenacity that I had.
Having now lived in Nashville for nearly 30 years (25 of them in Madison), I am aware of the changes of our growing city. Change is coming to our part of Nashville, and it’s important that the change we see is thoughtful and includes all of us. When I was young, my mother taught me the benefits of fearless urgency and grace in her protection of my potential; my father taught me the value of everyone’s potential. My Metro Council campaign has three core issues for helping all District 8 residents realize our potential. Here’s what that looks like to me: • Smart Development: As businesses and population push north up Gallatin Pike and west to Dickerson Pike, District 8 must embody smart development. By “smart development” I mean those that enhance our larger community, not just the bank accounts of developers. We need the economic growth from businesses both small and large, as well as the beauty of developments with proper context, location and scale within the neighboring communities. Smart development also means things like reliable infrastructure, sidewalks, better transit and storm water control. We have to work together to see that everyone’s development needs are met. • Community Advancement: From Madison to Maplewood, from North Inglewood to GraMar Acres and all the places in between, people are most “alive” where they feel most at home. That’s why such amazing things have happened at the Amqui Station and Visitor Center since the opening of the Farmers Market last year. Every Sunday from 12-3pm, we see northeast Nashville residents unite, with no attention to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age or sexual orientation. We’ve come together to foster genuine community. We need more projects like this to thrive and foster solid relationships, neighborhood by neighborhood, so the entire district is stronger as a whole. • Real Representation: People expect their counsel representative to be available to them, direct them to needed resources, and ensure those resources are actually delivered. If elected, I pledge to maintain regular office hours, be available for your community issues and neighborhood meetings, and create easy ways to exchange information both digitally and in-person. As a communication professional with decades of experience, I know the importance of being available to hear the stories that need to be told. I will do everything I can to share your stories with folks who should know. For more information, visit www.nvr4district8.com
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Paula D. Foster
METRO COUNCIL, DISTRICT 17 CANDIDATE
I’m always a little perplexed when people ask me why I want to run for public office. In my head, my answer is “why wouldn’t I?” While it is not really the best way to define my desire to run for city council, it is truly the way I think about it. In my career as a social worker I’ve been a community advocate, organizer, and activist for as long as I can remember. I marched with ACT-UP in New York City to demand better treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS. I marched in Washington, D.C. to demand equal rights for those of us who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. I’ve combed the streets of Nashville to count the number of homeless individuals in our city so we could secure the funding needed to create and sustain services to help find homes for our neighbors. My education and my 29 years of experience as a social worker have taught me the importance of simply being present, of listening to and engaging with people in thoughtful dialogue. I have a wealth of experience in management, mediation, policy development, strategic planning and consensus building that will be an asset to the city council. I want to take that experience and make it work for my community. I moved to Nashville in 2001 and made the Sunnyside/12South neighborhood my home when I bought my first house. I still live there with my wife and two daughters. I fell in love with Nashville and I want to work to ensure that my neighborhood and my district have the kind of solution-focused representation they need to address all of the issues facing a rapidly growing city. My children, my neighbors’ children, and all the children of Nashville are the real reasons for my commitment to public service. I believe that every individual can have an impact on the world around them and on their community. I want to teach my children to see the big picture, to recognize that service to others is what makes life worthwhile.
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photo courtesy of Paula D. Foster
I believe one of the most important things a councilperson can do is to listen to their constituents. My skills and expertise as a listener will help me be responsive to the people that I will represent. The issues we face are not insurmountable. We can improve our infrastructure. We can improve our transit system. We can find ways to ensure there are affordable and low cost housing options for all the citizens of our city. We can seek answers to providing adequate funding to ensure quality education for each one of our city’s children. Together we can find the answers to tough questions about how we grow and define Nashville today, tomorrow, and for years to come. I have the experience, the motivation, and the commitment to help move our city toward a bright future. For more information, visit www.paulafosterforcouncil.com
SAVE THE DATE
4.21.15
Eat well for a good cause. Join the fight against HIV/AIDS by Dining Out For Life on Tuesday, April 21. Participating restaurants will donate a generous portion of your bill to Nashville CARES.
TO VIEW PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS VISIT:
WWW.DININGOUTFORLIFE.COM/NASHVILLE Presented By
feature
Beyond
THE BON-BON by Chris Azzopardi
photo by Nino Muñoz
A single tweet changed Ricky Martin’s life, and then it changed the world. When the internationally famed Puerto Rican heartthrob came out in 2010, declaring himself on Twitter “a fortunate homosexual man” who’s “very blessed to be who I am,” Martin, 43, stepped out of the closet and into himself. Reflecting the free life he’s currently basking in are the raw sounds and personal soliloquies on the singer’s 10th studio album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar (To Whomever Wants to Listen).
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In conversation, Martin is notably laid-back, sincere and personal as he opens up about how his six-year-long relationship with Carlos Gonzalez Abella inspired his latest music (“I love being in love”), what he’s really trying to convey with all his shirtless selfies and the “powerful” coming out stories the LGBT community shares with him. And whether he’s ruminating on his two sons or anticipating shaking his bon-bon with _more_ male dancers onstage, his smile radiates even on the phone. This is a new, happier Ricky Martin, and yes, we’re listening. On behalf of the gay community, thank you for all you do.The world is a better place because of your shirtless selfies. (Laughs) Oh, man – thank you very much. I laugh so much at the reaction of the people; it’s so funny. It really is amazing. I get a kick out of it too. Are you more comfortable without clothes? Or do you feel it’s just your responsibility as a celebrated sex symbol?
I just want to let people know how normal my life is, and I try to do it with a simple picture – that’s what Instagram is about. So the other day I was laying in the sun and I was like, “Hey everyone, I’m here. I’m in a good place.” You know, I’m a little bit obsessed with social media, to be honest. That’s the first thing I do in the morning. I check out my Twitter, my HeyHey account, Facebook and Instagram, and I read what people have to say and what they need from me as an artist. It’s fun, man. You’ve always been a sex symbol, but how does it feel being a sex symbol for a community of gay men who know you’re playing on their team? Is it different when there’s that mutual attraction? Listen, for me, it’s about liberty and it’s about being you – me, in this case – and living life with transparency and just being. It’s so amazing to know that you have nothing to hide, man. What you see is what you get. And this is me. And I don’t wear a mask to go onstage, and the support that I’ve received from my community since I came out has been amazing. It’s one of those things that (makes) you say, “Oh my god, why didn’t I do this before?” But then again, Chris, you know how it goes – everybody accepts who they are at their own time. When I sent that tweet a few years ago just letting people know that I am gay it was the most amazing day of my life after the birth of my kids. And it is what it is. Now my life is simple and honest and transparent, and this is me. And that’s what my social media’s about – being yourself.
first realize that LGBT fans enjoyed you as well? It’s always been there. Before I came out the love was there and I was very thankful. Now, when I got to work directly with the community once I came out, it went to another level and it’s felt amazing, but once again, just being able to talk to the media about who we are and what we want and what we need, it’s just so powerful. The equality slogan translates so easily in any language. A Quien Quiera Escuchar sounds like you at your most authentic. I hear your essence, your spirit, your zest for life. How does it feel to be able to be yourself musically? When I started recording this album I had no idea what I wanted to talk about, which is completely different to what it was like in the past, when I said, “OK, I think I wanna get into the studio,” and I had a blank canvas in front of me and all I did was throw colors and started working with amazing producers, and they helped me. It was the most amazing psychoanalysis, to be honest, to work with other writers and co-producers who helped me to put myself in order. I started recording this album exactly a year ago in Australia and then we went to Los Angeles and we recorded in Miami. I also recorded in Puerto Rico. What I’m trying to say is that everything about this creative process was so organic and so relaxed, and I didn’t have pressure from anybody. I just allowed myself to open my book and I started reminiscing, remembering different
experiences that I had in my personal life and being able to point out specific emotions that I’ve been through – not necessarily this year, but through my life. And then, I think, A Quien Quiera Escuchar was born, you know? I listened to it today and I’m like, “Wow – there is poetry and there is honesty in these lyrics.” And there are some powerful slogans that people are quoting through social media. People are gravitating to (these lyrics) and using them and turning them into their own slogans. Once again, it’s about honesty. It’s about vulnerability. How much of the music on this album was inspired by your own personal love life, particularly your time with ex-partner Carlos Gonzalez Abella? After six years of being in a very steady relationship with him, yes, we have a lot of stories and we have a lot of moments of love and lots of light and yes, he is part of this album. It’s not about what I’ve lived (through) this year that we broke up or even the last five years. It’s decades of allowing myself to really go back and remember specific relationships that really (affected) me in many ways. And it became music. It’s never too late. You’ll be touring all year across the world. I’m addicted! Live, do you still even perform “She Bangs”? If people ask for it, I will perform it. I would become the character in the video and I would perform it. photo by Nino Muñoz
The ladies have obviously been infatuated with you since the beginning of your career – since you were in Menudo. But when did you
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You’ve always been flanked by female dancers. Now that you’re out and proud, does that mean that more male dancers get in on the mix?
don’t want to be in a relationship – I would be lying to you. I love being in love.
Hey, let’s be fair: Come on, it’s about equality, you know? And when I walk onstage I present different scenarios of life and, yes, I do have more one-on-one dancing with male dancers, but when you’re at a party, you just dance. It doesn’t matter who’s next to you, you grab a guy’s or a girl’s hand and you just go for it. And that’s what my show is about. It’s about freedom. And it’s about being comfortable in your own skin.
I am, I am, I am! You’re damn right about that.
That must be a great feeling for you to be comfortable enough to dance with a guy in front of millions of people. It’s greaaaaat! And the reaction of the audience is even better! (Laughs) Now that you’re back on the market, what is dating like for someone as widely known as Ricky Martin? (Laughs) Mmmm. To be honest, I love being in a relationship, Chris. I love waking up in the morning and, if you’re not with your boyfriend, (sending) that first message or text in the morning: “Hey baby, how ya doing? I hope you’re fine. I just woke up. I’m doing this and this and this today.” I loooove that. I really do. And I love picking up my phone and waiting for that reply from that text – it’s great. But at the same time, right now, I’m enjoying being single. I’m enjoying this process. I’m not saying that I
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You strike me as the hopeless romantic type.
How often have men used a pickup line on you that references your bon-bon? Ohh, man. If someone goes there I’d be like, “Dude, you gotta start again. I’ll give you another chance because of your pretty face.” (Laughs) Considering your own coming out experience, what would you tell your 6-year-old twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, if one or both were to come out to you one day? You know what, for us, at least in my family, that’s not an issue because that is the normal in my house. So if my kids ever tell me that they’re gay, I’ll be like, “Yeah? OK, cool! Brilliant! Bring it on.” But it all starts from the day that we’re born, and every time they ask me questions about anything – Who’s your boyfriend? How come I had two daddies? – the important thing is to answer with honesty and transparency. And it doesn’t matter how old your kids are. If they are capable of formulating a question, it’s because they are capable of receiving the answer.
photo by Nino Muñoz
As an out gay man with an enormous platform, what do you hope you’ve contributed to the LGBT community? I had the opportunity to write a book that is called Me and I’m very proud to say that it is a New York Times best-selling book. There have been people who’ve come to me and said, “Because of you and because of that book I know my father better, I know my grandmother, I know my uncle, my aunt, my sister, my brother.” And that’s it. I mean, I will always keep on talking about the importance of equality and basic human rights that we as members of the LGBT community are longing for, but to this day, and every day – the book was released about four years ago – I get a tweet or a Facebook post from someone saying, “Ricky, thank you so much for that book; it changed my life.” What do those stories mean to you?
Have you taught them the famous Ricky hip swivel yet?
It tells me that my fears were just in my head and that I feel nothing but gratitude. And I get goose bumps, man, when I get these stories and these testimonies from people from all walks of life coming to me to say, “Listen, I was homophobic until I read your book.” It’s very powerful, and I’m very pleased.
Oh, it’s in their blood, buddy. There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s there. (Laughs)
Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. Reach him via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com.
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fashion Once the season’s hottest styles arrive at The Label, Thompson reaches out to celebrity stylists including John Murphy to ensure they have the look desired. “Part of my job as a stylist is to source out custom goods and clothing for the artist I am working with,” states Murphy. “A lot of these opportunities arise when it comes to preparing for award shows and red carpet events.” In 2013, Murphy learned that there was no better way to maintain an artist’s image and individuality than a one-of-akind leather jacket. Murphy searched and found a last minute jacket for Jason Aldean the day he hosted the 2013 CMT Award in Nashville.
Jason Aldean and Lenny Kravitz
The Label is a men’s boutique in Nashville’s hip 12South neighborhood. With three different price points, The Label caters to starving artists, regular guys, and celebrity stylists. The Label also carries a splash of ladies ranging from accessories to clothes. The store is located at 2222 12th Avenue, South and is open 11 - 7 (Mon. - Thurs.) and 10 - 5:30 (Fri. - Sat.).
MUSIC ROW STYLE AT THE LABEL by Joey Amato
Frequenting the store prior to award shows and concert tours, the stylists for some of Nashville’s biggest stars – including Jason Aldean – know that they’ll find that perfect look to wow the photographers on the red carpet at The Label. The difference between The Label and other clothing boutiques in Nashville is that manager Monica Thompson buys according to what stylists and artists are asking for. “I have designers make clothing with celebrities that want unique one-of-a-kind fashion,” states Thompson. “We carry mostly men’s clothing but offer a splash of ladies because stylists and the customers asked for it. We listen to all of our customers and want everyone to feel like a guest.”
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“[Aldean] liked the black Demon Riff jacket from the CMT Awards so much that we decided to have another one made but more in his signature color palette of browns,” Murphy shared. This one was for the 2014 CMA Awards. “I reached out to Monica and she got some leather samples for us to look at,” Murphy recalled. “We were under a bit of a time crunch, due to my admitted procrastination, and since Jason was on the road at the time, I made the decision myself. I decided that I would also provide the buttons for the jacket too. I had seen some that I liked and thought would be perfect. The Label made sure I had the jacket in enough time to do a couple last minute alterations the night before the show.” In addition to the jackets, Murphy had Demon Riff customize a pair of Aldean’s signature
Wranglers, having them dyed black and distressed. The end result was great and looked good with his leather jacket for the first ever American Country Countdown Awards this past December where Jason won the Artist of the Year. So before you head out to this year’s CMT Awards, be sure to swing by The Label so you can dress like your favorite country star.
Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr on the red carpet (above and below).
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SORTING THROUGH THE CLOSET by Brian Hooper, MDiv, PsyD The phone rang sometime mid-morning; on the other end was a middle-aged man who needed to talk about a hookup he’d had a few days before. Assuring me that he does not regularly do this kind of thing, he was honestly disappointed and surprised that the person he’d hooked up with had not returned his call. “It seemed like we had a real connection,” he said. He asked about testing for HIV – how to do it so that others would not know – but he was not at all interested in connecting with any group process focused on helping gay men come out. He planned to stay in the closet. “I’m not like most other gay men,” he said.
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It was his last comment that prompted me to think about how our closet not only isolates us from our truest selves, but also isolates us from the possibility of authentic connections with other gay men. It continues to perpetuate an internalization of the homophobia that locked us behind its door in the first place. This phone call, or any number of variations of it, is routine for therapists who specialize in working with gay men. So, of course, accepting where he was, I pointed him to accurate sources for self-education on HIV and STDs and “left the door open” to talking more in the future if he wanted. As much as he thought he was not like the rest of us, we sometimes make the mistake of thinking that we are not at all like him.
You can take the man out of the closet, but it is even more work to take the closet out of the man. Even those who came out with a dynamite blast often carry the closet within – loud and proud does not always mean secure and confident. The closet was intended to protect us from the ridicule of others. We learned early on how to slip just behind the door at a moment’s notice: don’t sit knee over knee, but ankle on knee; distract them with something truly acceptable – football captain, first in your class at medical school, corporate titan, anything deemed the masculine end of the gender spectrum. But in all these accomplishments (as laudable as they may be) and posturing (as transparent as it sometimes is), the real self gets locked in a different closet, the closet of the heart.
My own therapist (yup, I have one too!) recently commented that the final frontier in gay relations is not with the straight community but with each other. And of course, that begins with ourselves because it remains necessary, even those of us who are “out,” to clean out our own closet from time to time. I offer five potential beginning points: 1. When anger or jealously arises, take a breath. Ask yourself if there is anything from long ago, in your childhood that resembles what is happening now. Because most of us did not have parents who loved us as gay children, many of us never learned how to care for these assaults to self-esteem and our response is the same today as when we were children, only in an adult context. 2. If you are constantly with others, step away and spend some quiet time alone. Note how you fill the time. Is it easy to be alone with yourself in silence or does it bring anxiety? If anxiety is the answer, then this calls for further excavation. 3. If you isolate, it’s time to connect up with others. Bars are often just too intimidating, and the messages telegraphed are often shaming, so consider investing some time with others as part of a team. 4. Examine your relationships with friends. What’s the focus? Is it more about discussing others and events (sometimes quite appropriate) or is it about helping each other to be the fullest version of yourselves that you can be (providing a space of vulnerable conversations, consistent care, and occasionally challenging each other)? That latter focus makes a space for our own inner work and exploration. Iron sharpens iron, to quote an old proverb. 5. When it looks like a relationship could become serious, do you begin to step away, or do you find yourself trying to control the outcome? Again, take a breath and focus on what is going on inside. Does the attention of another feel overwhelming? Or, do you fear abandonment? Either can be signs that there is more work to be done. Truth be known, we spend our whole lives coming out. And really, it is not all that different for straight people who choose to live consciously rather than be manipulated by messages intended to restrict how we embrace and share ourselves, not conforming to the status quo. It’s that season, time for a spring cleaning inside the closet and inside our own hearts. Brian Hooper, MDiv., PsyD. is a licensed pastoral psychotherapist with a private practice in the Belle Meade area of Nashville. He invites you to visit his website: www.drbrianhooper.com
Prime Timers of Greater Nashville is a social activities club for mature gay and bisexual men (and younger men who appreciate older men) who enjoy diverse activities and the friendships that develop with other Prime Timers through our many monthly events such as, potluck dinners, movie nights, dining out, arts & culture, theatre, concerts,sporting events, the great outdoors with the Outsider's, and most every other facet of healthy gay life in Greater Nashville.
CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DOWNLOAD YOUR MEMBERSHIP FORM VIA THE WEBSITE TODAY!
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TPAC and State Museum
PARTNER FOR 'NEWSIES' EXHIBIT by Joey Amato The Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Tennessee State Museum are partnering to present Newsies: A Tennessee Special Edition, a collaborative exhibit that explores the story behind Disney’s Broadway smash-hit musical Newsies and the state’s rich printing history. Closing the 2014-15 HCA/ TriStar Health Broadway season, Disney’s Newsies makes its Nashville debut in TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall on May 26 and runs through the end of the month. The hit musical is based on Disney’s 1992 live-action film Newsies, and both are inspired by the real-life Newsboys Strike
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of 1899 in New York City, in which newsboy Kid Blink led a successful two-week strike against publishing giants William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.
sociologist and photographer who used his camera as a tool for social reform, and some of his images of newspaper delivery boys and other child labor settings are featured in the exhibit.
The immersive exhibit details how Newsies went from historical inspiration to Tony Award-winning smash hit and how Tony Award-winner Christopher Gatelli shaped the high-energy choreography to portray the Newsies’ evolution into a unified force. Also featured in the exhibit is a costume from the Broadway production, making Nashville the first city to display such an item.
The exhibit also examines how original printing terms have survived in the digital age, showcases scans of historic fronts from the Nashville Banner, and provides a historical timeline of events.
With assistance from the Special Collections department of the Nashville Public Library, the state museum presents historical vignettes of newspaper printing in Tennessee, and specifically in Nashville’s famed Printer’s Alley. Over time, the museum has collected several photographs taken by Lewis Wickes Hine, the American
In addition to the exhibit, TPAC and the state museum also will collaborate during the engagement of Newsies to offer pre-show educational tours of the museum’s permanent collection, including a re-creation of the printing press and press room of the Knoxville Gazette, Tennessee’s first newspaper. Newsies: A Tennessee Special Edition is on view in the G-Level Gallery of the James K. Polk Cultural Center through June 2015.
METRO ARTS LAUNCHES
EXPLORENASHVILLEART.COM The marriage of art and technology has produced another offspring. This time, it is Metro Arts’ ExploreNashvilleArt.com, a new mobile platform that puts a directory of the city’s public art collection and cultural destinations at the user’s fingertips. Funded by a technology grant from Nashville’s Frist Foundation, the mobile site includes the city’s 40 works of public art and more than 120 of the artworks included in the Arts in Public Places collection database. “As our public art collection continues to expand into more neighborhoods across the community, more people are coming into contact with the art each day. Our new mobile site provides all the information people may want to know about individual pieces – title, artist, a description of the work – right there when they encounter the art,” said Jennifer Cole, executive director of Metro Arts. ExploreNashvilleArt.com sorts the collection by location/ neighborhood, titles and series. Additionally, there are maps on the site and links to additional audio and video content as well as a feature that allows individuals to submit public art as they see it across the city. The mobile site includes a geo-alert feature that pops up when a user nears an artwork.
“We hope people will interact with the site and that they will take a driving, walking or biking tour of the collection. Our mobile site provides great navigation to chart them from one piece to the next. It’s a perfect guide to art in Nashville, and we hope it will provide a more in-depth experience of our public art,” said Cole. ExploreNashvilleArt.com works on all mobile platforms and devices.
20/20
Nashville Equality Dinner Celebrating Our Past Envisioning Our Future presented by
Saturday, March 28th | 6:00 p.m. Renaissance Nashville Hotel Tickets $185 | available at hrc.org/boxoffice
feature
D photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Records
ivine
' I N T E RV E N T I O N '
You know how much we gays love our girls. How much do you keep your gay followers in mind when you make music, particularly with It’s the Girls!?
I had been in the theatre for a long time, from the time I was a young person, and I’d always known gay people – and they were just, like, gay people! Just ordinary friends. People that you knew and that you never thought twice about. You didn’t think of them as being different, although looking back on my high school years, I think there were a lot of people in my high school – this is so many years ago; this is 50 years ago – who probably were gay and didn’t ever talk about it. As a matter of fact, one of the kids that I went to school with, an enormously popular guy – really funny, really wonderful – who was in my Latin class, wrote me before he passed away from AIDS to tell me that he had been gay and that he had contracted AIDS.
To tell you the truth, it really didn’t cross my mind. The music I chose is music I had a lot of affection for.
So, I mean, what was the moment when I said that it was time to stand up? Oh my god – it never occurred
Midler talked about the anticipated tour she’s about to launch in support of this latest effort – and the truck full of hairpieces she’s schlepping along (“Cher has 55 wigs; why can’t I?!”). She also touched on her early support of the LGBT community, the degradation of the word “diva” and her plan to avenge Mae West for sending her a cease and desist.
zzopardi
You were welcoming to the gay community at a time when many weren’t. When you look back at your early support for the LGBT community, what do you recall as being the moment that galvanized you to stand up as an ally?
to me not to. These were friends of mine – people that I had worked with, people that I had danced with, people I had broken bread with my whole life – so it never occurred to me not to. You do what you do because there’s nothing else to do. There’s no other option. But to stand up for people who were seen as pariahs – that was taboo then. Did you experience any backlash for supporting gay people at the time?
c hris A
Midler would go on to global fame, reaching beyond music to become a celebrated name in film, television and on the stage, winning Grammys, Golden Globes, Emmys and a special Tony Award. And now, the eagerly-awaited return of one of show business’ most versatile performers has arrived with the release of her first album in eight years, It’s the Girls!, a tribute to some of the greatest female harmonies in history.
Some of these songs I’ve known since I was a little girl. I feel like if I have a strong feeling for this music, people will also have a strong feeling for it. The truth is, you cannot pander. You have to go with your gut and your heart, be true to yourself, and hope that people like it. They generally do.
You know, I might have, but I was very well-protected in those days. I actually did not feel it. I remember the first big benefit that anyone had done for gay rights (“A Star Spangled Night for Rights” in 1977). I remember the poster, and it was at the Hollywood Bowl. Lily (Tomlin), Richard Pryor and Tom Waits were on the program, but nobody ever said LGBT then. That didn’t exist.
by
Before the whole world knew her as “The Divine Miss M,” Bette Milder was ours. In the early ‘70s, bawdy, belt-y Bette was performing for the NYC bathhouse boys, and don’t think she’s forgotten it, either. “I mean, if I had a nickel for everybody that said they saw me at the baths,” says Midler in our recent interview, “I would be Joe Billionaire by now!”
So that night, Tom Waits sang “Standin’ on the Corner” and then Richard Pryor came out and Richard Pryor started off great. I don’t even know if this is in your history books or anything, but he started off great and then worked himself up into a real frenzy as only he could. He said that the gay community had never supported civil rights and, “Where were you when we were riding and they were kicking us to the curb and we were being fire-hosed?” Then he said, “You all can kiss my rich, black ass!” and he stomped off the stage. And I had to follow him! I mean, I’m just stripping it bare, but imagine what happened. So I went out and said,
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feature
photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Records
“You all can kiss my rich, white ass,” and of course then everything was much better, but it was such a curious evening. I think Stonewall, in the middle ’60s, was the first time (the gay community) fought back, but, you know, in history everyone says, “I was there.” I mean, if I had a nickel for everybody that said they saw me at the baths, I would be Joe Billionaire by now! I would be playing at Madison Square Garden instead of a rickety-tickety little bathhouse on 73rd Street! OK, let’s move on. I really do think that this big fundraiser in the late ’70s was a little shot across the bow too, and then not long after that, in the middle ’80s, AIDS came down and it was so horrible and, even though he knew so many gay people, Ronald Reagan did nothing. Nothing! Right – he wouldn’t even publicly acknowledge it was an issue until years
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later. And hey, Bette, I don’t mean to cut you off, but we’re on a time limit. Oh! I’m sorry. I’m a waxing poetic. Anyway, enough about you; let’s talk about me. If a gay fan approaches you, which of your projects would they most likely mention? You wanna know the truth? Hocus Pocus. Honestly, I cannot believe what happened with Hocus Pocus. I’m just dumbfounded by the number of people who mention Hocus Pocus–and they’re young people! It’s the Girls! celebrates and honors female performers who branded a very particular image. I mean, they definitely were not twerking. Ugh. I don’t know what to tell you. I just saw that Jennifer Lopez video with
Iggy Azalea – “Booty booty booty...” – and oh, girls, please! What can you say? Girls... please. How do you compare the girl groups from the era you’re channeling to what you’re seeing now? It was a really wholesome era in retrospect. It was sexy, but it was not blatant. It was intriguing and it was mysterious because it wasn’t flat out in your face. It was also supremely elegant. You know, I talk about this with my girlfriend Toni Basil, another gay icon: Those voices, the black voices, were not familiar to white ears. They simply never heard those voices singing harmony before. You never really heard those really strong, vibrant black girls singing until The Shirelles, The Crystals, The Chiffons, and then the Motown girls, and the girls who came after: Sister Sledge, The Emotions and
down the line. The Honeycombs? Is there a group called The Honeycombs? I personally wanted to cover (The Weather Girls’) “Two Tons o’ Fun” but everyone said, “No, no, you can’t cut that,” so I didn’t. You cover TLC’s ’90s pop hit “Waterfalls,” which famously dealt with HIV/AIDS and safe sex. What significance does that song have for you? The first time I heard it I was really struck by it because it seemed like such an important song. To me, it was one of the saddest songs I’d ever heard on pop radio. So, I wanted to do a stripped-down version of it because I really wanted the story to be clear. I had thought about it for a long time, and when I first heard it, I was so moved by it. I shed a tear myself, and I always use that as a kind of litmus test. If it really moves me, I can bring something to it; I can make it my own. What about the song in particular hit you? Did you know the original song was inspired by the AIDS-stricken and promoted safe sex? I do remember that, but it was a dance song. It was for the dance halls. It was for the discos, and yet it really is a song about the mother who can’t do anything, who’s completely helpless in the face of this. I felt that, and that’s the way I wanted to interpret it. I think it worked out wonderfully. You’ve been a self-proclaimed diva. In fact, your 1997 HBO special was called Diva Las Vegas, and during your Las Vegas spectacle at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, The Showgirl Must Go On, you said you were the “People’s Diva.” At this point, has the meaning of the word “diva” changed so much that you no longer identify with it? It’s a word that is just so overused that it’s really lost all currency. It no longer has any meaning at all. Any old slob on the Internet can say, “Well, I’m a ‘diva,’” and have some people believing it, but not me. In the old, old, old, old days – you know, during the Civil War when I
was just a child – it meant “the star.” It was an opera term, and it meant a female opera singer who really could carry the whole opera, and it has been so degraded now. It’s a shame because it really was a wonderful word. What does “diva” mean to you now? It means nothing. It has absolutely no meaning at all. “Divine” still has meaning because there’s still a church, but “diva” has absolutely no meaning at all. When you hit the road for your first tour in 10 years, how many wigs are you bringing along with you? Oh my god – I have a truck! I have a whole truck. Well, Cher always does. Cher has 55 wigs; why can’t I? To tell you the truth, I have been wearing wigs since, let’s see, the very, very old days. Since I first started making motion pictures – movies! – I’ve always worn wigs. Always, always, always. It really does spare you. It really is a time-saver, and I really enjoy them. And I love makeup and hair. I just love it, love it, love it! I love becoming somebody that I’m not. As they used to say about Mae West: “A little old lady used to come in onto the set and go into the trailer, and four hours later Mae West would come out.” It’s really kind of like that. A lot of drag queens would agree with you and Mae. What advice do you have for a guy who wants to dress in Bette drag? A good pair of shoes – a really good pair of shoes – because you’ll really hurt yourself. You’ll hurt your joints. And a serious undergarment. And if your panties fall down all around your feet, step out of them and keep on singing. That’s good advice even if you’re not a drag queen. (Laughs) Well, I’ve been accused of (being a drag queen) many times! But I take it with a grain of salt. To me, it’s a supreme compliment. You mentioned Mae West, and it was announced in late 2013 that you were cast as Mae in an upcoming HBO biopic. How’s that project coming along? I’ll tell you something: The script just came in, but I haven’t seen it. I’m waiting for the director, Billy Friedkin (director of The Exorcist), to make his notes, and then he’s gonna hand it off to me and we’ll see what happens. I’m really looking forward to it because I’ve been reading and doing my due diligence. She’s such a fabulous – she’s so fucking nuts! I mean, she was so insane. And you know, when I started my career all those many moons ago, I used to do an impersonation of Mae West, and I did it on The Johnny Carson Show – my very first Johnny Carson Show – and she sent me a letter telling me to cease and desist, which I swear to god I still have. I didn’t understand it at the time. I thought, “What’s wrong with her?” Now that I’ve done all the reading and am of a certain age, I totally get it. She was protecting what she had made. She was protecting her creation. That was practically a trademark and she didn’t want anyone to mishandle her creation. Ultimately, she was right. So I bowed to her wishes; I ceased and desisted. And I think it’s so amusing. (Laughs) After all that, if the script actually comes to the point of doing it, it certainly would be revenge. Take that, Mae! Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. Reach him via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com.
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fitness
Queen of the Quickie
TIME SAVING TIPS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR WORKOUT by Stacy McLoud Always rushing, we live in a world with little spare time. We want it and we want it now. We have shortcuts for everything but I hate to be the bearer of bad news, there really are no shortcuts when it comes to building a better body. Well, not if you want to keep it around for more than Spring Break. Sure, there are plenty of boxed powders, mass-marketed plans, injections, creams, pills and wraps. There are even a number of trend and fad diets, but none of those things are going to result in a sexy, sculpted body that’s long lasting.
have to spend endless hours in the gym each day to get in a good workout. When it comes to your time in the gym, a quickie isn’t always a bad thing. Whether you are going in for a marathon lifting session or want to get in and get out, here are a few time saving tips to make the most of your sweat session.
You want it? Well, then you must follow the advice of our beloved Britney...and work, bitch!
Be An Early Bird I don’t necessarily mean this in the literal sense – I hate working out in the morning. I typically like to have several meals before I lift. What I mean by early bird is that you should become familiar with your gym – find out what the peak hours are and avoid them. Going to the gym during slow times can help shave 20-30 minutes from your workout.
That said, quick and fit aren’t complete polar opposites. While it may take time to build a better body, that doesn’t mean you
Superset A superset is two different exercises done back to back with no rest.
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You can do this within the same body group or mix up the muscles you are working. To save time, I try to superset with things that are near each other or performed on the same piece of equipment. When I work out my shoulders, I may superset wide grip pull downs with narrow grip pull downs. There are so many options, but definitely incorporate supersets into your routine to not only save time but see faster results.
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Rest less Speaking of resting, rest times vary depending on if you are doing single sets or supersets and also how hard you are going. But the general rule is don’t rest longer than 30-45 seconds between sets and 60-90 seconds if you are doing supersets. This isn’t a set time frame. Some people do not rest between sets. Whatever time you choose, the goal is to make it quick. Not only will this get you in and out of the gym much faster, it keeps your heart rate up, allowing you to burn more calories and make your lifting session double up as a form of cardio as well.
This isn’t to say you should totally neglect cardio, you just don’t set that timer for any more than 30 minutes. You need to HIIT it … then quit it!
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H.I.I.T it and quit it By far the number one mistake people make when it comes to how they spend their time in the gym: If you must choose between the treadmill and the dumbbells, weights win every time.
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Art Dance Music Theatre
Art Dance Music Theatre
#TeamNoSelfie I know, I know. If you don’t take a selfie, it’s like you weren’t even there, right?! But if your goal is to save time you have to put away your phone. If you need it for a stopwatch or music, then make a promise that you won’t open any apps, take any calls, check emails, text, or take any pictures until AFTER your workout is over. Don’t be afraid of the “post gym look,” sweaty is sexy! If you can limit yourself and must use your phone, only do so during your workout’s rest time.
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It’s power hour. Not social hour. For many people, having a workout partner is the only way they will have enough motivation to get up and go. Others need a partner simply because they are working on building strength and need a spotter. Working out with a friend is a great incentive and a great way to spend time together, but it can also tack on time to your workout if you aren’t both serious about getting in and doing work. Remind yourself and your gym partner that you can catch up later, or in-between sets. If you choose the latter, just make sure you keep an eye on the clock so your daily gossip doesn’t turn into a 5-minute rant. Talk about a waste of energy.
Watauga Arts Academy
HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. The idea is to go as hard as you can in bursts of 30 to 60 seconds and then take it down a few notches for a set amount of time.
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Remember, cardio is great for your heart and it’s a great fat blaster, but if you aren’t doing it correctly, you will not only waste your time but you’re likely do more harm than good. Too much steady state cardio will potentially eat away the muscle you are working hard to build.
Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tenn.
For more fitness tips, visit www.simplystacy.com
June 14 - 27, 2015
apsu.edu/watauga
For more information about our camp, please contact us: 931.221.7876 or watauga@apsu.edu
APSU is an AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, religion, age, disability status, and/or veteran status in its programs, and activities.www.apsu.edu/affirmative-action.
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has advanced training in Pediatric Health through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, the world’s largest pediatric chiropractic association. Footit took over as the Medical Director for The Joint’s Nashville operation in January. With an emphasis on patient-focused care, he is truly excited about what The Joint is doing for patients and for the industry by making expert care more accessible. “The Joint Chiropractic’s mission is to improve quality of life through routine, affordable chiropractic care,” he states. “Any patient, new or existing, is able to walk-in anytime convenient to their schedule for treatment.”
Dr. Ryan Footit
photo courtesy of The Joint
Gay Chiropractor JOINS THE JOINT by Blake Kniffin Dr. Ryan Footit graduated in 2009 from the prestigious National University of Health Sciences near Chicago, Illinois, and has been proud to call Hendersonville home since then. He recently joined an esteemed group of individuals at The Joint Chiropractic’s Brentwood location where he brings his six years of experience to the operation.
community could not seem to cure his headaches. Once he started receiving chiropractic care, the headaches were managed extremely well. Not only were the headaches under control, but his overall health also improved dramatically. He soon realized that he wasn’t getting the flu or colds that often plagued him during seasonal changes.
Footit first became interested in chiropractic care when the traditional medical
In addition to his training as a chiropractic physician, Dr. Footit also
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Plans start at $49 per month, which includes 4 visits per month, making routine, wellness chiropractic care available to just about anyone. While The Joint entered the Nashville market in 2013, and now has locations in Brentwood and Midtown on West End Avenue, Footit is also thrilled about the growth and direction the company is taking in the Nashville market, and serving the local LGBT community. Future expansion plans include developing the Cool Springs, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, and Mt. Juliet areas. For more information, visit www.thejoint.com or call 615-209-9586.