MAKING ROOM UNDER THE RAINBOW AUGUST 2017 / VOLUME 16 / ISSUE 08 FIRST ISSUE FREE - ADD’L COPIES 50¢ EACH
A PREVIEW OF BORO PRIDE MEET THE FOUNDERS OF SCRUFF
FILL YOUR SUMMER WITH CONTEMPORARY ART.
DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE 919 BROADWAY NASHVILLE, TN 37203 FRISTCENTER.ORG
fresher than squeezed lemonade? Come to the Frist to see amazing contemporary art now on display.
STATE OF THE ART
VADIS TURNER
Through September 10
Through September 10
Organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas
Organized by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts
DISCOVERING AMERICAN ART NOW
Platinum Sponsor
2
TEMPEST
ANCESTRAL MODERN
AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL ART FROM THE KAPLAN & LEVI COLLECTION Through October 15
Organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Seattle Art Museum
Contributing Sponsor
Hospitality Sponsor
Supported in part by
From State of the Art: Jonathan Monaghan (b. 1986). Rainbow Narcosis, 2012. High-definition computer-animated video, 8 minutes, 46 seconds. Courtesy Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas. O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M AUGUST 2017 Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Curator’s Office, Washington, DC
Ryan customized the most beautiful ring we have ever seen! Thank you to Ryan and his team for welcoming us with open arms and for honoring us as clients. We have 100% trust in American Jewelry Company. <PIVS aW] NWZ KZMI\QVO \PM MVLTM[[ KQZKTM[ \PI\ LMÅVM[ W]Z TW^M [\WZa
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACH HARRISON
– Allie & T J
MT JULIET
Providence Marketplace 401 S Mt Juliet Rd – Suite 165 615.754.6046 BRENTWOOD
CityPark Brentwood 7011 Executive Drive – Suite 103 615.457.2089 @OUTANDABOUTNASH
american.jewelry
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
3
FAX 615-246-2787 | PHONE 615-596-6210 OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM
STAFF Publisher: Jerry Jones jjones@outandaboutnashville.com
Managing Print Editor: James Grady jgrady@outandaboutnashville.com
Managing Digital Editor: Joseph Brant jbrant@outandaboutnashville.com
Director of Sales, Marketing, and Events: Eric Ginsberg eginsberg@outandaboutnashville.com
Sales Associate: Bridgett Jones bjones@outandaboutnashville.com
Advertising Design: Donna Huff dhuff@outandaboutnashville.com
Design, Layout and Production: Mike Moore mmoore@outandaboutnashville.com
Distribution: George Webster gwebster@outandaboutnashville.com
CONTRIBUTORS Writers: Julie Chase, James Grady, Olive, Mathu Potts, Shawn Reilly, Cody Tracey, Paige Turner, Isaias Vasco Photographers: Stephen Bloodworth, Olivia Erickson, Rick Godbold, Henpeck Lane, Lucent Vignette Photography, Kristofer Reynolds, Ron Sanford, Cody Stallings Cover Photograph: Cody Stallings National Advertising Representative: Motivate Media | 858-272-9023 Rivendell Media | 212-242-6863 | 1248 Route 22 West | Mountainside, NJ 07092
On Sale Now!
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.
LEGAL Out & About Nashville strives to be a credible community news organization by engaging and educating our readers. All content of Out & About Nashville is copyrighted 2017 by Out & About Nashville, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of the person or persons. Out & About Nashville accepts unsolicited material but cannot take responsibility for its return. The editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit submissions. All rights revert to authors upon publication. The editorial positions of Out & About Nashville are expressed in editorials and in the editor’s notes as determined by the editor. Other opinions are those of writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Out & About Nashville or its staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged but may be edited for clarity and length. There is no guarantee that letters will be published. Out & About Nashville only accepts adult advertising within set guidelines and on a case-by-case basis.
4
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
WORLD PREMIERE
SEPTEMBER 8-24 TPAC.ORG/PartofthePlan 615-782-4040 Groups of 10 or more call 615-782-4060 Contains adult language and some military situations. bT Ĺ¤ĂŠĂ˜ÂŁ ÂŤĂœ ĂŁÂ¨Â˜ ÊĄŽ‚Ÿ ĂŠĂƒÂźÂŤĂƒÂ˜ ĂœĂŠĂ¨Ă˜ÂŽÂ˜ Â˘ĂŠĂ˜ Â?Ă¨ĂşÂŤĂƒÂŁ ĂŁÂŤÂŽÂšÂ˜ĂŁĂœ ĂŁĂŠ bT Â˜ĂłÂ˜ĂƒĂŁĂœĹ¤
Ă˜ĂŠÂ‚Â”Ă´Â‚Ăş [Â˜Ă˜ÂŤÂ˜Ăœ ĂœĂ•ĂŠĂƒĂœĂŠĂ˜Â˜Â” Â?Ăş
Concerts Con Con nc ce ert erts rt t att the ts th he e Schermerhorn Sch S Sc chermer rme merh rho o orn tickets on sale now
AUGUST 11
AUGUST 13
DONALD FAGEN OF STEELY DAN AUGUST 20
AUGUST 27
FIREBIRD, WINGER & WATTS
CLASSICAL SERIES OPENING WEEKEND
september 14 to 16
september 24
WITH THE
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY
september 27
september 28 to 30
with support from:
615.687.6400 • NashvilleSymphony.org @OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
5
20 08.17
CONTENTS 8
A LOOK INTO MURFREESBORO PRIDE COMING IN SEPTEMBER
10
8
LGBT CHAMBER PROFILE: RON SANFORD PRODUCTIONS
16
10
CURB RECORDS’ PRIDE PRE-PARTY IMPRESSES
20
LGBTQIA+? MAKING ROOM UNDER THE RAINBOW
28
THE FOUNDERS OF SCRUFF HOST PARTY IN NASHVILLE
16
6
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
28
At NPS Pharmacy, we don’t look or act like any other pharmacy that you have ever seen, and that is by design.
505NASHVILLE .COM
Since our beginning, we have been committed to providing outstanding service to our customers and to changing what is expected from a pharmacy.
2015
NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR MOVE-INS BEGINNING OCTOBER 2017
505 CHURCH STREET NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37219 615 / 214.4505
100 OAKS PLAZA Suite 57100 719 Thompson Lane Nashville, TN 37204 615.371.1210
SKYLINE MEDICAL Suite 110 3443 Dickerson Pike Nashville, TN 37207 615.724.0066
npspharmacy.com Your independent hometown pharmacy since 2001.
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
7
PRIDE RETURNING TO MURFREESBORO FOR A SECOND YEAR EVENT PROMOTES LGBT UNITY, ACCEPTANCE
Returning for a second year in a row, Boro Pride is a program of the Tennessee Equality Project’s (TEP) Foundation and is presented by TEP Rutherford County Committee, a local arm of the TEP Foundation. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2017, from 3:00–10:00 p.m., with the Boro Pride Walk starting at 4:00 p.m. in front of the Rutherford County Courthouse on the side facing East Main St. Boro Pride was organized with one goal in mind: to foster and nurture a more diverse and inclusive atmosphere in Rutherford County. The event aims to bring the LGBTQ population together, along with allies, to promote unity in the county and in the city of Murfreesboro. Boro Pride is thus family friendly and open to the general public. As Boro Pride Committee Chair/TEP Liaison Brittany i˜iwiÂ?` Ăƒ>ˆ`] Âş >Ă›ÂˆÂ˜} > *Ă€Âˆ`i iĂ›iÂ˜ĂŒ ˆ˜ Ă•Ă€vĂ€iiĂƒLÂœĂ€Âœ “i>Â˜ĂŒ a lot to the LGBT community who call this city home. It’s hard to believe that almost 1,000 people came to last year’s inaugural event‌ Rutherford County has a large LGBT and supportive community; it was long overdue for us to have a Pride event of our own. Like all Pride events, Boro Pride is important because it supports the rights of LGBT people and helps them be who they truly are. The Boro Pride Committee hopes the event will help Rutherford County become more ĂƒĂ•ÂŤÂŤÂœĂ€ĂŒÂˆĂ›i Âœv ÂˆĂŒĂƒ / VÂœÂ“Â“Ă•Â˜ÂˆĂŒĂžÂ°Âş This year’s emcee and headline performer is Iona, from Chameleons’ Lounge drag cast. She was a crowd favorite last year and will undoubtedly be so again this year. The full entertainment lineup for the event will be released prior to the event on its Facebook page. Last year’s event drew a great crowd and a lot of vendors, and interest has only increased. Currently the event’s vendors/ sponsors include O&AN, of course, as well as Alpha Lambda <iĂŒ> Ă€>ĂŒiĂ€Â˜ÂˆĂŒĂž] i˜ Ă€ÂˆvwĂŒÂ… Ć‚Ă€ĂŒÂˆĂƒĂŒ] - /i˜˜iĂƒĂƒii] i˜˜ˆviĂ€ 7Â…ÂˆĂŒi i˜˜>] >Â?iˆ`ÂœĂƒVÂœÂŤi] >“L`> >Ă€ Â?Ă•L] Ă•ViÂ˜ĂŒ Vignette Photography, Murfreesboro Little Theatre, MT >“L`>] Ăž ÂœĂ€Âœ Ć‚}iÂ˜ĂŒ] >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i Ć‚Â˜ÂˆÂ“>Â? Ć‚`Ă›ÂœV>VĂž] "ÂŤi˜ />LÂ?i Â…Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŒÂˆ>˜ Â…Ă•Ă€VÂ…] * Ć‚ >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i] ,>ˆ˜LÂœĂœ ,Ă•ĂŒÂ…iĂ€vÂœĂ€`] Rutherford County Democratic Party, Simply Pure Sweets, Suntrust, The Change Project, and U.S. Bank. Boro Pride will be continuing to accept vendors as long as space permits. The event is also lining up food trucks, so you’ll want to check that out as well! For more information about Boro Pride, check out the event’s page at Facebook.com/events/661417734058952. The event will be updated regularly as more entertainment and vendors are signed. See you on September 9 out at Boro Pride!
8
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
PHOTOS: LUCENT VIGNETTE PHOTOGRAPHY
JAMES GRADY
2017
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LUNCHEONS
SERIES
Giving you the tools you need to accomplish your personal and professional goals.
TIMES ARE 11:30AM - 1:00PM
AUG 23
MANAGING YOUR PERSONAL AND BUSINESS FINANCES
OCT 17
MANAGING YOUR TIME
REGISTER FOR THE POWER LUNCH AT NASHVILLELGBTCHAMBER.ORG USE THE CODE OUTANDABOUT FOR A $5 DISCOUNT
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
9
{
RON SANFORD PRODUCTIONS
}
/Â…i >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i / Â…>“LiĂ€ Âœv œ““iĂ€Vi ĂƒĂ•Ă€ÂŤ>ĂƒĂƒi` Îää “i“LiĂ€Ăƒ ˆ˜ Ă•Â˜i° /Â…i `ÂˆĂ›iĂ€ĂƒÂˆĂŒĂž] iĂ?ÂŤiĂ€ĂŒÂˆĂƒi] >˜` ¾Õ>Â˜ĂŒÂˆĂŒĂž Âœv members have helped improve Chamber programs and iĂ›iÂ˜ĂŒĂƒÂ° /Ć‚-/ >˜` ĂŒÂ…i Ă?ViÂ?Â?i˜Vi ˆ˜ Ă•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ Ć‚Ăœ>Ă€`Ăƒ] ĂœÂ…ÂˆVÂ… Li˜iwĂŒ ĂŒÂ…i >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i / Â…>“LiĂ€ ÂœĂ•Â˜`>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜] >Ă€i ĂŒĂœÂœ events that have consistently grown and improved. Ron Sanford Productions has been a key contributor to both events since x° ,ÂœÂ˜Â˝Ăƒ iĂ?ÂŤiĂ€Âˆi˜Vi >˜` VÂœÂ˜ĂŒ>VĂŒĂƒ ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i iĂ›iÂ˜ĂŒ LĂ•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ have helped the LGBT Chamber attract a growing number of sponsors, attendees, media, vendors, and participants for its events each year. The LGBT Chamber met Ron when partnering to cohost The Perfect Wedding Guide, an educational event helping Ăœi``ˆ˜} Ă›i˜`ÂœĂ€Ăƒ LiĂŒĂŒiĂ€ ÂŤĂ€iÂŤ>Ă€i ĂŒÂœ ĂœÂœĂ€ÂŽ ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… Ăƒ>“iÂ‡ĂƒiĂ? couples. Ron has been a Gold member of the LGBT Chamber since that event in 2015. In 2017, Ron Sanford Productions Ăœ>Ăƒ ViĂ€ĂŒÂˆwi` LĂž ĂŒÂ…i >ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜>Â? >Ăž E iĂƒLˆ>˜ Â…>“LiĂ€ Âœv
œ““iĂ€Vi >Ăƒ >˜ / Ă•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ Â˜ĂŒiĂ€ÂŤĂ€ÂˆĂƒi° i ÂˆĂƒ >ĂŒĂŒi˜`ˆ˜} Â…ÂˆĂƒ wĂ€ĂƒĂŒ
Ă•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ E i>`iĂ€ĂƒÂ…ÂˆÂŤ œ˜viĂ€i˜Vi ĂŒÂ…ÂˆĂƒ Â“ÂœÂ˜ĂŒÂ…Â°
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, NOT WALLS.
OURHOUSE NASHVILLE
KEVIN WILSON
Broker, ABR, CNE, GRI “Village 2016 #2 Top Selling Solo Agent� ourhousenashville.com c: 615.390.5065 o: 615.383.6964
10
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
7ÂˆĂŒÂ… ÂœĂ›iĂ€ Ă“x Ăži>Ă€Ăƒ Âœv iĂ?ÂŤiĂ€Âˆi˜Vi ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i wiÂ?`Ăƒ Âœv iĂ›iÂ˜ĂŒ >˜` wedding planning, entertainment, and hospitality. Ron got his professional start in Atlanta, GA and was quickly enamored with the glamorous world of drag and male entertainers there. Firmly implanted in the gay nightlife scene so close to the Center for Disease Control, Ron was recruited to spread ˜iĂœĂƒ Âœv ĂŒÂ…i 6ÉƂ - iÂŤÂˆ`i“ˆV Ă€>ÂŤÂˆ`Â?Ăž }Ă€ÂœĂœÂˆÂ˜} ĂŒÂ…Ă€ÂœĂ•}Â…ÂœĂ•ĂŒ the nation. This is where the backbone of Ron’s charity work developed. Winning Mr. Gay World in 1986 elevated Ron to a role model position that helped springboard his philanthropic endeavors into happier territory, making a career in partyplanning a viable path. Given his newfound fame, he opened ÂˆÂŤĂƒĂŒÂˆĂ?] > ĂƒĂ•VViĂƒĂƒvĂ•Â? vi“>Â?iÂ‡ÂˆÂ“ÂŤiĂ€ĂƒÂœÂ˜>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ VÂ?Ă•L ĂœÂ…ÂˆVÂ… Â?>Ă•Â˜VÂ…i` many drag divas. Putting on a show every weekend easily led to planning large-scale events, including Atlanta Pride Fest. This resulted in a collaboration between Ron and Road Shows catering, an on-set catering company for movie and ĂŒiÂ?iĂ›ÂˆĂƒÂˆÂœÂ˜ wÂ?“ VĂ€iĂœĂƒÂ° Ć‚Ăƒ ,Âœ>` -Â…ÂœĂœĂƒÂ˝ ÂŤĂ€iĂƒiÂ˜ĂŒ>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ ĂƒÂŤiVˆ>Â?ÂˆĂƒĂŒ]
- ] >˜` /Â…i œ˜`Ă•VĂŒÂœĂ€ĂƒÂ° Ron Sanford Productions has proudly sponsored the VIP areas of >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i *Ă€Âˆ`i vÂœĂ€ ĂŒÂ…Ă€ii Ăži>Ă€Ăƒ] ĂœÂœÂ˜ ĂŒÂ…i Óä£Ç >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i *Ă€Âˆ`i *…ˆÂ?>Â˜ĂŒÂ…Ă€ÂœÂŤÂˆV Ă•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ Ć‚Ăœ>Ă€`° i ÂˆĂƒ > “i“LiĂ€ Âœv ĂŒÂ…i LGBT Chamber of Commerce Event Committee for both TASTE and the Ă•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ Ć‚Ăœ>Ă€`Ăƒ >˜` Ăœ>Ăƒ iĂ›i˜ > w˜>Â?ÂˆĂƒĂŒ vÂœĂ€ ĂŒÂ…i Óä£Ç >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i / Â…>“LiĂ€ Âœv Commerce Business Awards’ Mark Lee Taylor Community Service Award. If you’re involved in a charity and looking for a sponsor to make your event great, all you need is to reach out to Mr. Sanford!
PHOTOS: KRISTOFER REYNOLDS, HENPECK LANE, OLIVIA ERICKSON, RON SANFORD
Ron was introduced to Ted Turner and ĂŒÂ…i "“˜ˆ ÂœĂŒiÂ?] ĂœÂ…iĂ€i /Ă•Ă€Â˜iĂ€Â˝Ăƒ ÂœvwViĂƒ ĂœiĂ€i Â?ÂœV>ĂŒi`° iVœ“ˆ˜} ĂŒÂ…i "Â“Â˜ÂˆÂ˝Ăƒ chief planner, Ron’s parties were touted as toast of the town, snagging him an ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒi}Ă€>Â? ÂŤ>Ă€ĂŒ >Ăƒ > “i“LiĂ€ Âœv Â?ĂŒÂœÂ˜ ÂœÂ…Â˜Â˝Ăƒ ÂœÂ˜Â‡ĂƒiĂŒ VĂ€iĂœ `Ă•Ă€ÂˆÂ˜} ĂŒÂ…i wÂ?“ˆ˜} Âœv Âş/Â…i Circle of Lifeâ€? music video. It was hard to leave Atlanta with such a vibrant portfolio, however Ron needed to be closer to his aging mother. Moving ĂŒÂœ >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i ˆ˜ £™™x ,œ˜ LiV>“i }i˜iĂ€>Â? manager of The Connection, the south’s largest gay club at the time. That year Ron saved the day when he brought >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i *Ă€Âˆ`i ÂœĂ•ĂŒ Âœv ĂŒÂ…i Ă€>ˆ˜ >˜` ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒÂœ ĂŒÂ…i VÂ?Ă•Lt "˜i ĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜} Â?i>` ĂŒÂœ >Â˜ÂœĂŒÂ…iĂ€ >˜` ˆ˜ Óäää ,œ˜ Ăœ>Ăƒ VÂ…>ÂˆĂ€ Âœv >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i Pride—the only year the parade came down Broadway. In the years since, Ron has continued to work with famous clients, from Carrie 1˜`iĂ€ĂœÂœÂœ` ĂŒÂœ ˆVÂœÂ?i ˆ`“>˜ >˜` iÂˆĂŒÂ… 1Ă€L>˜° ,œ˜ ÂŤĂ€Âœ`Ă•Vi` iÂ˜Â˜Ăž ˆÂ?Â?Â˝Ăƒ Ăœi``ˆ˜}] `iĂƒÂŤÂˆĂŒi ĂŒÂ…i >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i yœœ` that devastated so many. As Ron Sanford Productions starts out on its third year of operations, Ron can proudly list the company as a producer of An Evening with Scott >“ˆÂ?ĂŒÂœÂ˜ >˜` Ă€Âˆi˜`Ăƒ ÂĂœÂ…iĂ€i ,œ˜ ÂˆĂƒ affectionately known as ‘Swoosh’), Miss Gay U.S. of A., Miss Gay America, the Montgomery Bell Academy prom, the ÂˆĂƒĂƒ iÂ˜ĂŒĂ•VÂŽĂž *>}i>Â˜ĂŒ] >˜` iÂ?iLĂ€>ĂŒi >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i >ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…i ,ޓ>˜° /Â…i VÂœÂ“ÂŤ>Â˜Ăž ÂˆĂƒ also chief planner and producer for the /i˜˜iĂƒĂƒii ˆ`˜iĂž ÂœĂ•Â˜`>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜Â˝Ăƒ -ÂŤĂ€ÂˆÂ˜} -ÂœÂˆĂ€ii >ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…i "“˜ˆ ÂœĂŒiÂ?° In his very limited spare time, Ron travels the country as a wedding and event planner and is currently looking into real estate development back home ˆ˜ >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i >˜` >LĂ€Âœ>` ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i œ“ˆ˜ˆV>˜ Republic. Watch out, world, Ron Sanford Productions may go international! 7Â…i˜ ˆ˜ Â…ÂˆĂƒ >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i] ,œ˜ V>˜ Â“ÂœĂƒĂŒ often be found in his natural habitats: *Â?>Ăž >˜Vi >Ă€] /Ă€ÂˆLi] /Â…i -ĂŒÂˆĂ€Ă€Ă•ÂŤ] /Ă€>Ă?] Lipstick, and Canvas. If you see him, `ÂœÂ˜Â˝ĂŒ Li ĂƒÂ…Ăžt i ĂœÂœĂ€ÂŽĂƒ Â…>Ă€` ĂƒÂœ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ Â…i can play hard and is always willing to ÂŤ>Ăž ÂˆĂŒ vÂœĂ€Ăœ>Ă€` ĂŒÂœ ĂŒÂ…i >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i / community, eagerly supporting local / VÂ…>Ă€ÂˆĂŒÂˆiĂƒ ĂƒĂ•VÂ… >Ăƒ >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i >Ă€iĂƒ] Mr. Friendly, the Music City Sisters of *iÀiĂŒĂ•>Â? ˜`Ă•Â?}i˜Vi] ĂŒÂ…i ">ĂƒÂˆĂƒ iÂ˜ĂŒiĂ€]
6JG 0CUJXKNNG .)$6 %JCODGT KU C RTQHGUUKQPCN CPF EQPUKUVGPV TGUQWTEG VQ Ć‚PF businesses who are inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally customers and clients. The Chamber directory at www.nashvillelgbtchamber. QTI NKUV YKNN JGNR [QW Ć‚PF 4QP 5CPHQTF 2TQFWEVKQPU CPF QVJGT .)$6 HTKGPFN[ businesses and organizations.
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
11
12
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
13
14
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
15
NASHVILLE SHOWED ITS PRIDE AT CURB KICKOFF
/Â…ÂˆĂƒ Ăži>Ă€Â˝Ăƒ Ă•Ă€L ,iVÂœĂ€`Ăƒ *Ă€Âˆ`i *Ă€i‡*>Ă€ĂŒĂž Ăœ>Ăƒ Â…iÂ?` œ˜ Ă•Â˜i Ă“Ă“] Óä£Ç] from 6:00—9:00 p.m. at Grand Avenue, sponsored by Curb Records, Ă€>˜` Ć‚Ă›iÂ˜Ă•i] "Â?Â“ĂƒĂŒi` >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i >˜` ,œ˜ ->˜vÂœĂ€` *Ă€Âœ`Ă•VĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂƒÂ° *Ă€Âˆ`i Ă€Âˆi˜`Ăƒ 7ÂˆĂŒÂ… i˜iwĂŒĂƒ] / Â…>“LiĂ€ i“LiĂ€Ăƒ] >˜` *Ă€Âˆ`i Festival volunteers receiving complimentary tickets to the event. The iĂ›iÂ˜ĂŒ >Â?ĂƒÂœ ĂƒiÀÛi` >Ăƒ ĂŒÂ…i / Â…>“LiĂ€Â˝Ăƒ Ă•Â˜i Ă€iĂœÂˆÂ˜} 1ÂŤ Ă•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ event.
16
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
PHOTOS: CODY STALLINGS
PRE-FESTIVAL EVENT ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS MUST-ATTEND PARTY
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
17
18
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
www.bartdurham.com | 615-242-9000
404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1712 Nashville, TN 37219
YOU DESERVE TO BE PAID FOR WHAT YOU’VE GONE THROUGH.
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
19
ay. Gay and Lesbian. Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT). The conventions about how our community has referred to itself have changed over the years, gradually expanding to include other minorities of gender and sexuality. Rarely have these shifts been uncontroversial, as they are driven by political and social commitments that may not be universally held even within the community. Adding the ‘B’ to the spectrum may seem like it ought to be unproblematic… But how many of us has not heard, or even said, something in our safe, private, LGBT spaces to the tune of, “He’s gay but in denial.” I remember when I told a close friend, early in my own coming out process, that while I did identify mostly as gay, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the term. I felt like, since the attraction ratio was more like 80%/20% favoring men, I was gay but strictly speaking maybe I ought to refer to myself as bisexual? I was being earnest and opening up a secret space, and the response I received? “You’ve been in the closet too long—you’re just experiencing ‘bi now, gay later.’” But I wasn’t. And now I felt like I had a new closet to inhabit, as I no longer felt comfortable expressing the nuances of my own identity. And that nuance— despite the commonness of bi denial within the gay community— is one that is much more widely accepted than many of the newer identity terms. Transgender is problematic as part of the spectrum as originally prescribed, but has opened the community to both sexual and gender minorities in fruitful ways: we now hear not only of transgender but gender non-conforming, bigender, agender, twospirit, etc.
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
Adding the Q—some understand questioning but most believe queer—was cause for anger and alarm among some under the rainbow, and that grew loud and pointed when the suggestion arose that the whole community might be served by adopting not > º> « >LiÌ Ã Õ«» >à Ìà `i Ì w iÀ LÕÌ Ã « Þ y Þ Ì i queer colors. To part of a generation queer is an irredeemable slur, while to a younger generation it is a reclaimed term that rejects both the heteronormative structure of heterosexual versus homosexual, which allows only two options, as well as the community’s seeming `ià Ài Ì Ài`ÕVi ÃiÝÕ> ÌÞ Ì > viÜ Üi `iw i` possibilities, all over and against heterosexuality. Both of those approaches privilege iÌiÀ ÃiÝÕ> ÌÞ >Ã Ì i Ì } Üi > `iw i ÕÀÃi Ûià in comparison to, and neither do justice to the complexities of sexual orientation and gender, neither of which it seems is as rigid as they were once held to be. While I do understand the resistance to the use of the term queer—I myself don’t think it serves well as a blanket term, but do think it does well describe many people’s identity in its reformed use—I’d like to point out to the negative experience of the word queer is not universal. For example, the terms that was used to try to break my spirit when I was in school all centered on the term “gay.” We have a way of trying to dictate according to our own experience, and we should beware that urge. Speaking of slurs, the term “alphabet soup” has often been used derisively as an attack on the socially progressive momentum of the community, by both internal and external critics. Social conservatives ridicule us for our many colored banner and our manyfaceted membership, but those same people within our tribe who engage in bi-denial, gay misogyny and transphobia, and demand that people conform to a narrow range of human sexualities/genders behave
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
PHOTOS: CODY STALLINGS
no differently. Every addition to the “alphabet soup” rankles them. I sort of enjoy the term alphabet soup, for all of its metaphoric opportunities: all the possible combinations of letters are in it, waiting to rise to the surface and be arranged by our joyous inner child Ì > V > Ì >Ì w ̽à ÕÃÌ À } Ì° ÕÌ Þ an unfettered inner child, who hasn’t been told there is only one order, can ÌÀÕ Þ w ` Ì i À } Ì Ü À` v À ÕÃ] > ` Ài importantly for him/her/themselves. Rather than string together a lot of arguments about how the current letters y >Ì } Ì i ÃÕÀv>Vi v ÕÀ à ի > i perfect sense, and rather than defending theoretically the legitimacy of identities that are not my own, I’ve chosen a different route. Frankly, defending the legitimacy of these identities gives too much dignity to those who presume to tell people who they are and who they can be. Many things which are foreign and unknown cause fear and distrust, creating a vicious cycle. So I asked a few folks who identify with the QIA+ to talk some about why it’s important to be open to a broader set of letters than just LGBT, what it means to them, and how it has impacted their feelings of belonging within the community. Get to know them > ÌÌ i] > ` Ãii v Þ Õ V> ½Ì w ` Þ ÕÀ Ü>Þ to help make a little more room under the rainbow banner.
MEET SHAWN REILLY (THEY-THEM-THEIRS)
I identify as queer, sexually. As far as gender, I identify as genderqueer. I do get pushback from people who claim more historically mainstream LGBT identities. My mom’s best friends are a gay man and a gay woman. They’re rad, rockstars for their generation. But even they CHƂTO O[ OQVJGToU YQTTKGU CPF FQWDVU VJCV O[ IGPFGT CPF sexuality is somehow a phase, or something unsettled. And in a way, it is unsettled. + UVKNN HGGN WPEQOHQTVCDNG CV VKOGU YKVJ VJG ƂPCNKV[ QH choosing a label. That’s why queer and genderqueer are DGUV HQT OGtVJG[oTG ƃWKF CPF FQPoV PCKN OG FQYP VQ CP[ type of behavior, thought patterns, or identities. I think it’s human nature to put things in boxes. And it’s human nature to fall back on what’s comfortable. Terms that have become more popular recently—genderqueer, IGPFGT ƃWKF DKIGPFGTtHQNMU GXGP OCP[ KP VJG VTCPUIGPFGT community, are not familiar with. And if we don’t understand it, we reject it. $WV + DGNKGXG KP C FGGRGT JWOCP ECRCDKNKV[ VQ ƂIJV VJGUG urges to simplify and box up others. I believe, I know, we can be better. Right now we live in a world of labels: Democrat/ Republican, documented/undocumented, straight/gay, white/black. As they say in Broad City, we’re headed to a world where we’re all caramel and queer. People feel comfortable KP DKPCTKGU CPF URGEKƂEKVKGU DWV KP TGCNKV[ YG CNN NKXG KP ITG[ spaces. Who agrees with every single view of one party or the other? Who feels comfortable claiming that they’re straight, have never had any queer thoughts or actions, and will be straight for the rest of their life? And how is that a happy life? 1PEG YG NGV IQ QH URGEKƂGU CPF UVQR RWVVKPI GCEJ QVJGT and ourselves, into pigeonholes, we all will be freer. +oO PQV UWTG JQY KORQTVCPV KV KU VQ KFGPVKH[ URGEKƂECNN[ with a queer or LGBT community, especially because there are such diverse viewpoints and ideas among us. It’s more important to me to identify with a progressive community— folks that, no matter their gender, sexuality, race, religion, want to move toward a more inclusive and intentional community for all historically marginalized peoples.
22
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
1 ) 0 5 0 ( 3 " 1 ) : 252.562.8245 • codystallings.com
/CodyStallingsPhotography
Insta
/CodyStallingsPhotography
@CStallingsPhoto
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
23
24
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .C O M
JULY 2017
There are some rad progressives in the LGBT community. But there are also “Gays for Trumpâ€? and gay white supremacists. It’s less important for me to identify YKVJ .)$6 VJCP VQ KFGPVKH[ YKVJ VJG HQNMU VJCV Ć‚IJV CICKPUV that each day. What do you say to those gays object to queer as a slur they just will not allow to become normalized? Times change. Black used to be a slur. It has been reclaimed by the young, and those who don’t feel comfortable DGKPI RWUJGF KPVQ URGEKĆ‚EKVKGU QH pIC[q QT pNGUDKCPq QT GXGP “bisexual.â€? There has been much hurt through the word queer, this is true. But I believe it is the most powerful act to claim something that has been used against you. Like the pink triangle from the Act Up movement (it was used during the holocaust to identify queer people in camps), it is important we reclaim things that have been used against us.
MEET ISAIAS VASCO
very inclusive. The “+â€? sign also includes more identities not commonly known or talked out about, but it does not mean they are not as equally important as the other ones. The “Gâ€? term does not cover it for me when it comes to my gender identity, although it does for my sexual orientation. Such is the case for many of us out there. I have recently learned that sexual orientation is not the same as sexual identity. This was a tough one for me to comprehend, but I am glad I was able to understand it with time. But how did I come to such conclusions? Well, I watch and follow a lot of documentaries, TV-shows, YouTube miniseries, social media posts, etc., by which I was inspired and learned a lot about my sexual identity. )GPFGT ĆƒWKFKV[ OCMGU OQTG UGPUG VQ OG + FQ PQV YCPV to solely identify as male because I highly identify as female too—sometimes as both, sometimes as female, but never as male alone. It really depends on the occasions or even VJG RGQRNG +V OC[ UGGO UKNN[ DWV KVoU RGTHGEVN[ Ć‚PG YKVJ OG I strongly believe that diversity is what really makes us interesting. I know there are a lot of ways to identify, and yes, it gets confusing. The way to overcome the confusion is to get educated and have a student’s mind. That is how I learn about new things in life.
MEET OLIVE
*K O[ PCOG KU +UCKCU CPF + KFGPVKH[ CU C IC[ IGPFGT ĆƒWKF person. Why? Because being just gay and male does not EQXGT KV CNN DWV CP WODTGNNC VGTO CU pIGPFGT ĆƒWKFq QT GXGP “gender queerâ€? does. I have to be honest. Many of these terms are very new to me, but they make a lot of sense. Even the fact that I came out about two years ago is at times new to me. Even so, I have come to know myself better within these last two years than I have in the previous twenty-two. Coming out for me was among the best things that ever happened to me. It freed me from the notion that I was bound to love women in a sexual way. So now I feel free to love guys because I am past that stigma. Part of coming out also opened the door to a new world to me. It can be very overwhelming and extremely confusing if you are not patient with yourself. This world is known to many as the LGBT community, or as I prefer to call it the LGBTQIA+ community. Why then do I feel the need to add more letters after the “Tâ€?? Because I have learned that there is so much more than those 4 letters. The “Qâ€? is a great one because it is
*QY FQ [QW KFGPVKH[ CPF JCXG [QW CNYC[U KFGPVKĆ‚GF that way or was it kind of an evolution? + KFGPVKH[ CU CIGPFGT + JCXGPoV CNYC[U KFGPVKĆ‚GF CU UWEJ ,WUV C [GCT CIQ + KFGPVKĆ‚GF CU IGPFGTĆƒWKF /[ IGPFGT KFGPVKV[ JCU DGGP KP C DKV QH ĆƒWZ CU + NGCTP OQTG CDQWV CDQWV these terms and explore which ones feel most right. If you had asked me 3 years ago, I would have said cisgender. How would you identify in terms of sexuality? I’m bisexual, with a bit of asexuality. That’s complicatedUQWPFKPI + WUGF VQ DG OQUVN[ CUGZWCN 5GZWCNKV[ KU C ĆƒWKF thing, so it makes sense that mine would develop into bisexuality. But my former asexuality still hangs around a good 20% of the time. It’s weird but comfortable.
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
25
Your identity, and your developing understanding of it, is complex. Do you get pushback from people who claim more traditional LGBT identities? I do. I’ve come to expect that, in a sense. Because it’s my identity, I certainly don’t expect anyone else to understand it as well as I do. I’m often told to just simplify things and call myself a traditional term, but that wouldn’t account for a lot of nuance. The nuance represents important differences in KFGPVKƂ ECVKQP 9JGP QPG KFGPVKƂ GU CU C OCP CPF UC[U UQ RGQRNG IGV URGEKƂ E KFGCU QH YJCV VJCV OGCPU 5COG VJKPI with calling oneself a woman. These gender handles have certain associations. For me to call myself one or the other instead of agender would be to take on those social expectations, as well as certain personal expectations. To let go of the nuance in this way would be to lie. I think many people see it the other way around; if one KFGPVKƂ GU QWVUKFG QH VJG IGPFGT DKPCT[ VJCV UGGOU NKMG C lie. People like having social frames and boxes, and when people like me break those constructs, it must feel to them like a frivolous rebellion. They might be uncomfortable with my identity, but they’re uncomfortable because they don’t want to rethink what they’ve been taught. Why do you think some people in more sexual traditional orientations or gender roles are so invested in
pigeonholing people rather than welcoming a diversity of identities? I’ve often heard the concern that too many sexualities under the umbrella will make lines blur past the point of distinction, that a plethora of sexualities could end up including any and all sorts of people, thereby making the whole point of the community useless. There’s a strong fear that our protective community boundaries will erode. How do you feel about that? Have the responses you’ve gotten made you feel less welcome in the community in term of gender and sexuality? 4GURQPUGU NKMG VJCV JCXG FGĆ‚ PKVGN[ OCFG OG HGGN NGUU free to express my full identity at times in the community. Some of my own friends who are also LGBT don’t even know that I’m agender. Especially recently, I’ve learned that people can still judge “degrees of queerness.â€? I don’t fully trust my own community to not show aggression. That being said, I connect with other agender and gender nonconforming people as much as possible and enjoy spending time with people of other identities. Even if I can’t identify fully with most of the community, there’s so much to learn and experience. The community is evolving every day, there’s always someone new to welcome, and it’s really the place I feel most safe.
৩া $ŕ§„ŕ§„ŕ§‹ŕŚˇŕ§‚
NASHVILLE AIDS WALK & 5K RUN 3ŕ§ˆŕŚťŕ§‰ŕŚťŕ§„ŕ§ŠŕŚťŕŚş সŕ§? 136 3ŕŚžŕŚˇŕ§ˆŕ§ƒŕŚˇŕŚšŕ§?
8VH SURPR FRGH OAN50 WR JHW DQ H[WUD Rࡇ )ೳ೹ೲೞೳ೸೹ ೞ೚ ೯೸೎ ೞೲ೯ +,9 $,'6 ೯೺ೳ೎೯ೡೳೠೳ೸ 0ೳ೎೎೜೯ 7೯೸೸೯೽೽೯೯
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 | DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE | 9:00AM | ೟೯೹ೳ೽ೞ೯೟ ್ೞ 1್೽ೲഀೳ೜೜೯AIDS:್೜೾ ŕłŕłšŕłˇ
26
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
JULY 2017
INTRODUCING OUR ALL NEW PRINT & ONLINE
POCKET PRIDE
LEARN HOW TO RESERVE YOUR AD OR EVENT LISTING AD SIZES List your business in O&AN’s Pocket Pride – a pocket map featuring LGBT businesses and ongoing weekly LGBT
EXCLUSIVE
LARGE SQUARE
PREMIUM BACK COVER
3.80” x 3.45” $900
Size not shown
3.8” x 8.8” $5,000
events. The Pocket Pride will be distributed at over 160 locations (hotels, tourist spots, etc.) with racks serviced weekly. Rates listed are per ad or event listing for one
SMALL SQUARE
6-month placement.
RECTANGLE VERTICAL
1.85” x 1.85” $350
Contact Eric Ginsberg, O&AN
1.85” x 3.25” $650
Director of Sales, Marketing, & Events, by phone at 615.596.6210 or via email at eginsberg@ outandaboutnashville.com for more information if you’re interested in listing your business or ongoing event.
WEEKLY EVENT LISTING
RECTANGLE HORIZONTAL
/OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE
Example not shown
$750
3.80” x 1.85” $650
/OUTANDABOUTNASH
OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
27
PUTTING THE SOCIAL BACK INTO THE APPS
JOHNNY SKANDROS
Scruff Founders Visit Nashville’s Own Tribe
ERIC SILVERBERG O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SCRUFF
ver the past decade, it has seemed like the number Âœv ÂşĂƒÂœVˆ>Â? >ÂŤÂŤĂƒÂť >ˆ“i` >ĂŒ the LGBT community—in particular the gay community—has increased iĂ?ÂŤÂœÂ˜iÂ˜ĂŒÂˆ>Â?Â?Ăž\ Ă€ÂˆÂ˜`Ă€] -VÀÕvv] Ă€ÂœĂœÂ?Ă€] ÂœĂ€Â˜iĂŒ] Ć‚`>“{Ć‚`>Â“Â˝Ăƒ ,>`>Ă€] iĂŒV° The list is so very long, and has been vĂ•Ă€ĂŒÂ…iĂ€ iĂ?ÂŤ>˜`i` >Ăƒ >ÂŤÂŤĂƒ ĂŒĂ€>`ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜>Â?Â?Ăž associated with straight dating, like /ˆ˜`iĂ€] Â…>Ă›i iĂ?ÂŤ>˜`i` ĂŒÂœ ˆ˜VÂ?Ă•`i Ăƒ>“iÂ‡ĂƒiĂ? Âş`>ĂŒÂˆÂ˜}° Some might roll their eyes at calling these social apps, demanding that such >ÂŤÂŤĂƒ >Ă€i ÂşÂ?Ă•ĂƒĂŒ vÂœĂ€ Â…ÂœÂœÂŽĂ•ÂŤĂƒÂť ÂœĂ€ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ] >ĂŒ LiĂƒĂŒ] œ˜i “ˆ}Â…ĂŒ w ˜` > ĂƒÂ…ÂœĂ€ĂŒ ĂŒiÀ“ y ˆ˜} there at best. And one doesn’t need ĂŒÂœ ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒiĂ€Ă›ÂˆiĂœ `ÂœĂ˘iÂ˜Ăƒ ĂŒÂœ w ˜` ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ “>Â˜Ăž people have been turned off, or at least burned, by these apps and the way they are used. That doesn’t mean that they’re swearing off, mind you‌ A person has to have an outlet, you know. At least one of these apps, however, has tried to put the social back into their app, both in terms of building a community of sorts and in terms of social responsibility. Industry leader -VÀÕvv] >˜` vÂœĂ•Â˜`iĂ€Ăƒ ÂœÂ…Â˜Â˜Ăž -ÂŽ>˜`Ă€ÂœĂƒ and Eric Silverberg, have made this a top priority for their company, which has }Ă€ÂœĂœÂ˜ vĂ€ÂœÂ“ > ˜ˆVÂ…i‡w Â?Â?ˆ˜} ĂƒÂœVˆ>Â? >ÂŤÂŤ ĂŒÂœ boasting a loyal base that includes not only its original target, bears and otters, but also users from across the genderĂƒiĂ?Ă•>Â?ÂˆĂŒĂž ĂƒÂŤiVĂŒĂ€Ă•Â“Â° ˜ Â?>ĂŒi Ă•Â?Ăž] -ÂŽ>˜`Ă€ÂœĂƒ >˜` Silverberg, who travel the country and the world spreading the word about their app and talking to their customers, “>`i ĂŒÂ…iÂˆĂ€ w Ă€ĂƒĂŒ Â?ÂœÂˆÂ˜ĂŒ Ă›ÂˆĂƒÂˆĂŒ ĂŒÂœ >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i representing their brand. Scruff of course has made its ÂŤĂ€iĂƒi˜Vi viÂ?ĂŒ ˆ˜ >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i LivÂœĂ€i] Âœv course—notably when it sponsored the Bingham Cup held here in 2016—but the duo came bearing gifts of swag >˜` LiiĂ€ vÂœĂ€ -VÀÕvvÂ˝Ăƒ Â“ÂœĂƒĂŒ Â?ÂœĂž>Â?° "˜ Ă•Â?Ăž AUGUST 2017Ă“ĂŽ] vĂ€ÂœÂ“ x‡™“ >ĂŒ /Ă€ÂˆLi >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i] ĂŒÂ…iĂž
JAMES GRADY
hosted a beer bust during Showtunes Sunday and offered free pitchers of LiiĂ€ ĂŒÂœ ĂŒÂ…i w Ă€ĂƒĂŒ £Óä }Ă•iĂƒĂŒĂƒ ĂŒÂœ ĂƒÂ…ÂœĂœ their SCRUFF apps at the door. They also had many other giveaways, from t-shirts to premium membership upgrades. In advance of the visit, the two sat `ÂœĂœÂ˜ ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… "EĆ‚ ĂŒÂœ ĂŒ>Â?ÂŽ >LÂœĂ•ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…iÂˆĂ€ company, and its mission. When they iÂ˜ĂŒiĂ€i` ĂŒÂ…i “>ÀŽiĂŒ] Âş/Â…iĂ€i ĂœiĂ€iÂ˜Â˝ĂŒ > lot of apps at the time,â€? said Skandros. Âş7i viÂ?ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…iĂ€i Ăœ>Ăƒ > ˜ˆVÂ…i “>ÀŽiĂŒ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ needed to be served‌ We started with the bear community, and then just grew as people started hearing about it. As the years went on we got a lot more diverse, but it really did hit a niche in the beginning.â€? iĂž ĂŒÂœ }Ă€ÂœĂœĂŒÂ… Ăœ>Ăƒ }iĂŒĂŒÂˆÂ˜} ĂŒÂ…i ĂœÂœĂ€` ÂœĂ•ĂŒ >LÂœĂ•ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…i ˜iĂœ >° Âş7Â…iĂŒÂ…iĂ€ I was out there in shirts, on social media, on the app talking—24/7 my goal was to make sure people knew what -VÀÕvv Ăœ>Ăƒ]Âť -ÂŽ>˜`Ă€ÂœĂƒ >``i`° ÂşĆ‚Ăƒ ĂŒÂ…i company grew we started to be more strategic about how we marketed, and how we reach our members, but at the beginning it was pounding pavement, for me especially.â€? Ć‚Ăƒ ĂŒÂ…i ĂŒ>Ă€}iĂŒ >Ă•`ˆi˜Vi iĂ?ÂŤ>˜`i` >˜` `ÂˆĂ›iĂ€ĂƒÂˆw i`] ĂŒÂ…i VÂœÂ“ÂŤ>Â˜Ăž Â…>Ăƒ ĂŒĂ€Âˆi` not only to keep up with changing attitudes but also to be on the leading edge of that change. A number of features that have been added or >`>ÂŤĂŒi` ÂœĂ›iĂ€ ĂŒÂ…i Ăži>Ă€Ăƒ Ă€iy iVĂŒ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ strategy, which is driven not only by consumer drive but also social consciousness. Âş Ă€ÂœÂ“ ĂŒÂ…i Li}ˆ˜˜ˆ˜}]Âť -ÂŽ>˜`Ă€ÂœĂƒ iĂ?ÂŤÂ?>ˆ˜i`] ÂşĂœi Â…>` ĂŒĂ€>Â˜Ăƒ “i“LiĂ€Ăƒ] >˜` œ˜i iĂƒÂŤiVˆ>Â?Â?Ăž] > }Ă•Ăž ˜>“i` i>ĂŒÂ… reached out and said, ‘I am trans and ĂžÂœĂ• >Ă€i ĂŒÂ…i w Ă€ĂƒĂŒ >ÂŤÂŤ ĂœÂ…iĂ€i ½Ûi Lii˜ >LÂ?i ĂŒÂœ w ˜` > vĂ€Âˆi˜`Â?Ăž v>Vi] ĂœÂ…iĂ€i people in the community accept me for who I am.’ So that really prompted us to think about adding ‌ really as
many categories as we could to connect people… We were Ì i w ÀÃÌ >«« Ì >`` > ÌÀ> Ã}i `iÀ «Ì ] > ` Ì>ÀÞ >à Üi o Even drag we added recently. So it’s listening to our readers and hearing what they need.” º7 i Ì V iÃ Ì 6 ÃÌ>ÌÕÃ]» - ÛiÀLiÀ} Ã> `] ºÜi thought long and hard about it because it’s such a sensitive and important subject, and we spent quite a while talking to > ` ÃÌi } Ì ÕÀ i LiÀÃ Ì ÌÀÞ > ` w }ÕÀi ÕÌ Ì i LiÃÌ Ü>Þ Ì iÌ ÕÀ 6 « Ã Ì Ûi i LiÀà vii >VVi«Ìi`] V Õ`i`] > ` welcomed… We added a poz community a couple of years ago. I know in the past other apps have done it differently, but we felt by adding a community it was something our members V Õ ` >vw À >Ì Ûi Þ ] Üi V Õ ` LÀ } «i « i Ì }iÌ iÀ Ì share more about themselves and connect with other poz i LiÀÃ Ü Ì ÕÌ vii } iÝV Õ`i`°» º7i >Ài > à «À Õ`]» - ÛiÀLiÀ} >``i`] ºÌ Li i v Ì i w ÀÃÌ >««Ã Ì > Ü Þ Õ Ì V Õ`i Þ ÕÀ Ã>viÀ ÃiÝ «À>VÌ ViÃ Þ ÕÀ «À w i > ` Ì i « VÀi>Ìi >Ü>Ài iÃà v Ì i iÜiÀ «Ì à Ã>viÀ ÃiÝ «À>VÌ Við ½Ûi i>À` > iV` Ì> Þ Ì >Ì Ì i }À ÜÌ v PREP in different metro areas is correlated with the increased
summarizing the laws and inviting you to click a link providing more information.” Scruff draws its data for this from information in the public ` > V « i` LÞ ÌiÀ >Ì > iÃL > ] >Þ] ÃiÝÕ> ] /À> à > ` ÌiÀÃiÝ ƂÃà V >Ì Ƃ®° º7i Ì Ì Ã Ài« ÀÌ Ì >Ì Ì iÞ publish regularly, adapted it for the mobile web, and published it and put it in the public domain. This allows anyone—any >««pÌ V Õ`i }>Þ ÌÀ>Ûi >`Û Ã À iÃ]» - ÛiÀLiÀ} iÝ« > i`° º7i Û iÜ Ì Ã >à > «ÕL V } `] à iÌ } Üi Ü> Ìi` Ì ` Ì make sure that people are informed and stay safe as they travel around the world.” What is the drive behind Scruff’s commitment to serving Ì i } ` v Ì i V Õ ÌÞ¶ º7i >Ûi Ì Ã « >Ìv À ]» - > `À à Ã> `] º> ` Üi vii > Àië à L ÌÞ] i À V Ã> `] Ì ii« ÕÀ members safe, to keep our members informed, in the best way Üi V> o Ü V> Üi ` > Ì v } ` > } L> ÃV> i° *>ÀÌ of our mission is connecting members nearby with the global gay community, so we’re doing that… We are always thinking of how we can do good here with what we have, beyond dating and beyond hooking up—how can we give back? It
“Part of our mission is connecting members nearby with the global gay community, so we’re doing that… We are always thinking of how we can do good here with what we have, beyond dating and beyond hooking up— how can we give back?” visibility of PREP, including on apps like Scruff.” Scruff’s founders take its social responsibility seriously, promoting inclusion as they mentioned but also giving back to the community. A few years ago, for instance, the company ÃÌ>ÀÌi` vviÀ } ºLi iÛ >`ûpvÀii >`ÛiÀÌ Ã } «Ì à v À «À w Ìà > ` V Õ ÌÞ ÃiÀÛ Vi À}> â>Ì Ã Ì À Õ} Scruff’s platform to its local users. º Ì Ài> Þ i >L ià ÕÃ Ì Ã>Þ ÞiÃ Ì > ` Ü À Ü Ì > Þ QµÕ> w i`R / À}> â>Ì iÀi > ` >À Õ ` Ì i Ü À `]» - ÛiÀLiÀ} Ã> `° º7i Ì Õ} Ì `ii« Þ >L ÕÌ Ü -VÀÕvv V Õ ` do the most good with what we had, and that’s why we really invested a lot of engineering time to build in the features that allow organizations to interact directly with our readers. Another option would have been for Scruff to become itself an advocacy or lobbying group, but we really felt that there are so > Þ iÝÌÀ> À` >À Þ Ì> i Ìi` > ` `i` V>Ìi` / «À w Ìà around the world that we really wanted to empower them and help them do more with our app.” Another tack the company has taken to increased social responsibility has been through its gay travel advisories Ì >Ì Ûi° º/ >Ì Ài> Þ Ü>à >L ÕÌ ii« } ÕÀ i LiÀà Ã>viÀ Ü i Ì iÞ ÌÀ>Ûi ° 7i ÜiÀi Ì i w ÀÃÌ] > ` Ì ÃÌ Þ] >«« Ì >Ì will alert you to local laws and the state of LGBT acceptance in more than 90 countries around the world. So when you land in a country that has a travel advisory, you’ll get an in-app update
took Eric and the engineering team a year of hard work and we hope other companies follow suit… Why wouldn’t you? This is something that could save lives…” º" i ÌiÀiÃÌ } Ì } Üi ` `]» - > `À à >``i`] ÛiiÀ } Ì Ü>À` > Ì iÀ iÝ> « i] ºÜ>à ë à À Ì i w ÀÃÌ *À `i iÛi Ì iÜ i ° -VÀÕvv Ü À i` Ü Ì À}> âiÀÃp Ì Ü>à L>à V> Þ > y >à L] v Þ Õ Ü>ÌV Ì i Û `i «i « i >Ài Üi>À } -VÀÕvv à ÀÌà > ` `> V }] Ã Ü } *À `i Ü >Ì Li iÛi Ü>Ã Ì i w ÀÃÌ large Pride celebration in India. Connecting with the community globally, that’s our mission…” As Skandros, Silverberg and others travel around, they meet many members, and see the impact the company has had. Skandros said one of his favorite things about these occasions Ì iiÌ ÕÃiÀà à iiÌ } º-VÀÕvv V Õ« iÃ]» «i « i Ü iÌ the app. Skandros laughed recalling having been asked to get Vi Ãi` Ì >ÀÀÞ Ã i v Ì Ãi V Õ« ið " i V Õ« i] Ì i ÌÜ shared, sent photos of their Scruff-themed wedding. So Scruff is a business, but it’s more than just business for the founders and their team. It’s people, it’s community, and it’s a way of life. Skandros, who’s made himself the face of -VÀÕvv à Vi Ì i V «> ޽à Vi«Ì ] iÃ] ºƂvÌiÀ i } Ì Þi>ÀÃ] my closet is nothing but Scruff shirts. My friends make fun of me, but Scruff is my identity. It’s a company and brand that I’m proud of, and I want to show that and connect with members… I really am proud of what we’ve become.” @OUTANDABOUTNASH 1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
HEALTH
PERFORMING ARTS
BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
DENTAL SERVICES
Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center One Symphony Place Nashville, TN 37201 615-687-6400 | nashvillesymphony.org
PLAY Dance Bar 1519 Church Street | Nashville, TN 37203 615-322-9627 | playdancebar.com
East Side Smiles 7 North 10th Street Nashville, TN 37206 615-227-2400 | eastsidesmile.net OPTOMETRIST
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Look East 1011 Gallatin Avenue Nashville, TN 37206 615-928-2281 | lookeastnashville.com
%DUW 'XUKDP ,QMXU\ /DZ 2I¿FH 404 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37219 615-338-6177 | bartdurham.com
CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES
Christopher May DC 2933 Berry Hill Drive Nashville, TN 37204 615-220-0777 | doctormay.net
High Gravity Photography Mt. Juliet, TN 615-347-4515 | highgravityphotography.com
Cool Springs Internal Medicine & Pediatrics Bradley Bullock, MD 1607 Westgate Circle, Ste 200 Brentwood, TN 37027 615-376-8195 | coolspringsinternalmedicine.com
John Cannon Studios 1108-C Woodland Street Nashville, TN 37206 615-496-1259 | johncannonart.com
Nashville Pharmacy Services 100 Oaks Plaza 615-371-1210 Skyline Medical 615-724-0066 npspharmcay.com
Papa & Roberts, PLLC, Attorney and Consultants Benjamin Papa/ Attorney & Mediator 1612 Westgate Circle. Ste 220 Brentwood, TN 37027 615-767-5900 | PapaRoberts.com
COUNSELING & PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH
SHOPPING
INDIVIDUAL & COUPLES THERAPY
Barbara Sanders, LCSW / John Waide,PhD,LCSW 2016- 21St Ave South | 615-414-2553 2323- 21st Ave South, Ste .401 | 615-400-5911 Nashville, TN 37212 dignitytherapynashville.com
30
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
Hayes Nissan Rivergate, Tim McIntyre 1550 Gallatin Road North Madison, TN 37115 352-454-4145 | nissanofrivergate.com
AUGUST 2017
Tribe 1517 Church Street | Nashville, TN 37203 615-329-2912 | tribenashville.com REAL ESTATE Sheila Barnard, Realtor THE REALTY ASSOCIATION 1305 Murfreesboro Rd | Nashville, TN 37212 615-385-9010 sheilabarnard.realtyassociation.com Kate Nelson, Realtor VILLAGE REAL ESTATE 2206 21st Ave South, Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37212 615-383-6964 | realestatewithkate.com ORGANIZATIONS Nashville Humane Association 213 Oceola Avenue | Nashville, TN 37209 615-352-1010 | nashvillehumane.org Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 330971 | Nashville, TN 37203 615-507-5185 | nashvillelgbtchamber.org SPIRITUALITY Covenant of the Cross 752 Madison Square Madison, TN 37115 615-612-5040 | covenantofthecross.com
2015
INDEPENDENT EYEWEAR STORE AND OPTOMETRIST IN EAST NASHVILLE WE OFFER COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMS AND HIGH-QUALITY, UNIQUE GLASSES. 1011 Gallatin Road • 615 / 928 2281 • LookEastNashville.com.
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
31
Shake it up.
Stir it up.
SINCE 1888 32
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
FourRosesBourbon.com
AUGUST 2017
Be mellow. Be responsible.
GRIZZLIES COMPETE IN LOCAL TOURNAMENT A DIFFERENT KIND OF GAME AT THE MUSIC CITY SEVENS CODY TRACEY
PHOTOS: RICK GODBOLD
"˜ ->ĂŒĂ•Ă€`>Ăž Ă•Â?Ăž n] Óä£Ç] ĂŒÂ…i >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i Ă€ÂˆĂ˘Ă˘Â?ˆiĂƒ ÂŤ>Ă€ĂŒÂˆVÂˆÂŤ>ĂŒi` ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i ĂŒÂ…ÂˆĂ€` >Â˜Â˜Ă•>Â? Ă•ĂƒÂˆV ÂˆĂŒĂž -iĂ›iÂ˜Ăƒ ĂŒÂœĂ•Ă€Â˜>“iÂ˜ĂŒ Â…ÂœĂƒĂŒi` LĂž ĂŒÂ…i >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i Men’s Rugby Football Club. The event is not an International Gay Rugby (IGR) event. ÂœĂœ] ĂžÂœĂ• “>Ăž Li >ĂƒÂŽÂˆÂ˜} ĂžÂœĂ•Ă€ĂƒiÂ?v\ Âş-iÂ?v] ĂœÂ…>ĂŒ ÂˆĂƒ ĂƒiĂ›iÂ˜Ăƒ ÀÕ}Lޜ Well, since you asked, sevens rugby is a rules variant when each team has only seven players on the pitch, hence the name, as ÂœÂŤÂŤÂœĂƒi` ĂŒÂœ ĂŒÂ…i Ă•ĂƒĂ•>Â? wvĂŒii˜° ĂŒ >Â?ĂƒÂœ Â…>Ăƒ ĂƒiĂ›i˜ Â“ÂˆÂ˜Ă•ĂŒi Â…>Â?Ă›iĂƒ] ĂŒÂ…Ă•Ăƒ making it a much faster paced game. The matches were held at Ted Rhodes Park, with the Grizzlies competing in the Men’s Social Division. The team started the ĂŒÂœĂ•Ă€Â˜>“iÂ˜ĂŒ ÂœĂ•ĂŒ ĂƒĂŒĂ€ÂœÂ˜}] ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂŒÂ…i Ă€ÂˆĂ˘Ă˘Â?ˆiĂƒ Li>ĂŒÂˆÂ˜} ĂŒÂ…i ˜œĂ?Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i Awesome Possums 19-14. During their second match, the Grizzlies had some trouble going against Louisville, with the match going ĂŒÂœ ÂœĂ•ÂˆĂƒĂ›ÂˆÂ?Â?i >˜` > w˜>Â? ĂƒVÂœĂ€i Âœv ĂŽn‡£Ç° ˜ ĂŒÂ…iÂˆĂ€ Â?>ĂƒĂŒ “>ĂŒVÂ… Âœv ĂŒÂ…i tournament, which was against Chattanooga, the Grizzlies played their best, but were very narrowly defeated, with Chattanooga winning 15-12.
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
33
If you had to choose one thing to change about your drag style or NQQM YJCV YQWNF VJCV DG! | If I had to say what I would change about my style, it would be to be a Â“ÂœĂ€i y Ă•Âˆ` ¾Õii˜° Ăƒ>Ăž ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ LiV>Ă•Ăƒi would want to know every little aspect there is to know about the art of drag.
A KIKI WITH PAIGE TURNER | @PaigeTurner01
ĂŒÂ˝Ăƒ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ ĂŒÂˆÂ“i >}>ˆ˜pĂœÂ…i˜ Ăœi }iĂŒ ĂŒÂœ ÂŽÂ˜ÂœĂœ >Â˜ÂœĂŒÂ…iĂ€ Â?ÂœĂ›iÂ?Ăž Ă•ĂƒÂˆV ÂˆĂŒĂž ¾Õii˜° "Ă•Ă€ ĂŒÂœĂœÂ˜ ÂˆĂƒ LÂ?iĂƒĂƒi` ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂŒÂœÂ˜Ăƒ Âœv `ˆvviĂ€iÂ˜ĂŒ ĂƒĂŒĂžÂ?iĂƒ Âœv ĂŒ>Â?iÂ˜ĂŒ] vĂ€ÂœÂ“ ÂˆĂƒÂ… ĂŒÂœ Â?Ă•L ¾ÕiiÂ˜ĂƒÂ° iĂœ ĂŒ>Â?iÂ˜ĂŒ and personas arriving on the daily—for instance, the ever so talented Bianca Santana ˜ˆ}Â…ĂŒ] ĂœÂ…Âœ V>˜ ÂœvĂŒi˜ Li vÂœĂ•Â˜` }Ă€>Vˆ˜} ĂŒÂ…i ĂƒĂŒ>}iĂƒ Âœv /Ă€>Ă?° /Â…ÂˆĂƒ Ă€iViÂ˜ĂŒÂ?Ăž VĂ€ÂœĂœÂ˜i` ÂˆĂƒĂƒ Ƃ“iĂ€ÂˆV>˜>pÂ…iĂ€ w Ă€ĂƒĂŒ ĂŒÂˆĂŒÂ?i i>Ă€Â˜i` ĂƒÂˆÂ˜Vi Â“ÂœĂ›ÂˆÂ˜} Â…iĂ€ipÂ?ÂœÂœÂŽĂƒ Ă€i>`Ăž ĂŒÂœ ĂŒ>ÂŽi >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i LĂž ĂƒĂŒÂœĂ€Â“t -Âœ Â?iĂŒÂ˝Ăƒ ĂƒÂˆĂŒ L>VÂŽ] Ă€iÂ?>Ă?] >˜` }iĂŒ Ă•Â˜ĂŒĂ•VÂŽi` >Ăƒ Ăœi }iĂŒ ĂŒÂœ ÂŽÂ˜ÂœĂœ ĂŒÂ…ÂˆĂƒ }ÂˆĂ€Â? œ˜ w Ă€it Did you face any hardships growing up? Can you tell us about them? 9iĂƒ] Â…>Ă›i] Â?Ă•ĂƒĂŒ Â?ˆŽi ĂŒÂ…i ˜iĂ?ĂŒ ˆ˜`ÂˆĂ›Âˆ`Ă•>Â?° Ă€ÂœĂœÂˆÂ˜} Ă•ÂŤ ˆ˜ > Âş Âœ`‡vi>Ă€ÂˆÂ˜} …œ“i]Âť Liˆ˜} Vœ˜vĂ•Ăƒi` >LÂœĂ•ĂŒ “Þ ĂƒiĂ?Ă•>Â?ÂˆĂŒĂž] and the stress of coming out as a black male‌ *QY QNF YGTG [QW YJGP [QW Ć‚ TUV started doing drag? I was 23 years old, and I got started in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was a >Â?Â?ÂœĂœii˜ `Ă€>} VÂœÂ˜ĂŒiĂƒĂŒ >ĂŒ Ć‚vĂŒiĂ€ >ÀŽ nightclub. What sparked your interest in this CTV HQTO! | The freedom it allows‌ As an inspiring designer, it allowed me to showcase my designs and creations. In middle school and high school, I’d always been on stage with show choirs and musicals. So it’s no surprise that I love Liˆ˜} œ˜ ĂƒĂŒ>}i >˜` iĂ?ÂŤĂ€iĂƒĂƒÂˆÂ˜} Â“ĂžĂƒiÂ?v° I have to say that this art form was also a healing process for me, when I was in a broken dark place in my life. How would you describe your drag style and persona, and who are your inspirations? My style is creative, classy, and
34
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
innovative. Several queens and ÂŤiĂ€vÂœĂ€Â“iĂ€Ăƒ Â…>Ă›i Lii˜ Â…Ă•}i ˆ˜y Ă•i˜ViĂƒ] ĂƒĂ•VÂ… >Ăƒ iĂžÂœÂ˜Vj] Ă€>Vi œ˜iĂƒ] >`Ăž Gaga, Vernessa Mitchell, Rubi Santana (Drag Mother), The Legendary Misty ˜ˆ}Â…ĂŒ *>ĂŒĂŒÂˆ > iÂ?Â?i] v>ĂƒÂ…ÂˆÂœÂ˜ `iĂƒÂˆ}˜iĂ€Ăƒ Â?ˆŽiÆ Ć‚Â?iĂ?>˜`iĂ€ V+Ă•ii˜ >˜` 6iĂ€> Wang, RuPaul’s Drag Race the list can go on. Of them all, who would you say has DGGP VJG DKIIGUV KPĆƒ WGPEG KP [QWT drag career? My drag mother Rubi Santana. She has been there for me through it all, along with a few others. I’ve cried, laughed, and fought with her, but through the years our bond has gotten stronger. With endless support and love, I can always count on her to make me simile and motivate me to be a better entertainer. How does your family feel about you doing drag? Ăž v>“ˆÂ?Ăž ÂˆĂƒ “ˆĂ?i` ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂŒÂ…i ĂœÂ…ÂœÂ?i idea, some love it and some hate that I do drag, but for the family members ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ Â…>Ă›i }ÂœĂŒĂŒi˜ ĂŒÂœ iĂ?ÂŤiĂ€Âˆi˜Vi ˆ>˜V>] ĂŒÂ…iÂˆĂ€ Ă€i>VĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ ÂˆĂƒ] Âş >“˜] ĂƒÂ…i “>ÂŽiĂƒ > w ˜i ĂœÂœÂ“>˜t
AUGUST 2017
What is the one thing you would never change about your drag style or look? "˜i “>Â?ÂœĂ€ ĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜} ĂœÂœĂ•Â?`Â˜Â˝ĂŒ VÂ…>˜}i is my self-growth as a drag queen: never stop learning in this industry. I will always stay true to myself, stay humble, and give 100% on stage. >Â˜Ăž Ăƒ>Ăž “Þ `Ă€>} ĂƒĂŒĂžÂ?i ÂˆĂƒ w ĂƒÂ…Ăž] ½Ûi learned over the years what that meant and learned to be proud of it. What is your favorite song to perform, and why? I have many songs that I love to
«iÀv À Ì ] i º iÜ ƂÌÌ ÌÕ`i]» º À>âÞ Ûi]» > ` º*À Õ` >ÀÞ]» LÕÌ º-V } vi» LÞ iÞ Vj Ü always be dear to my heart, because Ì >Ì Ü>Ã Ì i w ÀÃÌ Ã } iÛiÀ ` `] > ` Ì was the start of what is Bianca Santana } Ì° How do you feel when you perform VJCV UQPI! | I feel higher than life when I perform that song: it’s like I get a rush of energy in my soul. The rhythm and the beat Ì> ià ÛiÀ > ` Þ Ã« À Ì Ã w i` Ü Ì power. 9JGTG FQ [QW UGG [QWTUGNH +P Ƃ XG years as a performer? I see myself still on stage, doing what I’m passionate about, growing and testing the waters of more pageantry. I see myself to continuing designing for
myself and other queens. What is the hardest obstacle you have face whether it been in your everyday life or as a performer? To answer truthfully and honestly, the hardest obstacle I have to overcome would be myself, for not believing in myself more. What makes you feel most accomplished as a performer? When I can look out from the stage and see every patron engaged, with a smile. I know I have done my job. You can catch Bianca at a number of venues around town, but she most often performs at Trax. To stay upto-date on her events and designs, you can follow her on Facebook by searching Bianca Santana Knight.
Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Brandon Teeftaller, APN specializing in brief therapy & medication management crisis and evening appointments available all patients welcome including adolescents and adults
KATE NELSON, REALTOR
most insurance accepted including Medicare
®
615 / 268-0319 615 / 383-6964 kjcnelson@gmail.com DIRECT
1720 West End Avenue Suite 240 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 615 | 320.1155
OFFICE
realestatewithkate.com
Nashville – 636 Old Hickory Boulevard Chattanooga – 7734 Lee Highway Knoxville – 230 Papermill Place Way
Buy • Sell • Trade www.mckaybooks.com
Find Something You Want Now posting great McKay finds on Facebook & Twitter!
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
35
The
hookup site
Miranda’s
ADULT STORES
TOO HOT for the
app store
Timberfell Lodge and Campground
novelties • DVDs • games • supplements lubes • leather goods • lingerie • books • cards September 1 – 4
Labor Day Weekend / Mr. Timberfell 16th Annual Competition
Gay DVD’s starting at $4.99 Largest selection of gay products in Tennessee
September 15 – 17
Fall Rush : KOK Greek Weekend
GAY OWNED AND OPERATED
September 29 – October 1
Pool Closing Party FOR RESERVATIONS
423 234 0833 1 800 437 0118
timberfell.com Tennessee’s Premier Men’s Resort & Campground located in the Southern Appalachians near Greeneville
36
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017
Nashville
Jackson
Clarksville
822 5th Ave South 615/ 256-1310
186 Providence Rd 731/ 424-7226
19 Crossland Ave 931/ 648-0365
Elkton
Chattanooga
Bucksnort
1166 Bryson Rd 931/ 468-2900
2025 Broadstreet 423/ 266-5956
4970 Hwy 230 931/ 729-2006
Harvest/Huntsville (AL)
Greensboro (NC)
5641 Highway 53 256/ 885-6563
1310 E Bessemer Ave 336/ 274-7188
NASHVILLE SET TO OBSERVE BIANCA PAIGE DAY 2017 THREE STAGES, DOZENS OF ARTISTS LINED UP
JAMES GRADY & MATHU POTTS
PHOTOS: STEPHEN BLOODWORTH
ˆ>˜V> *>ˆ}i  >ÀŽ ˆ``Â?iĂŒÂœÂ˜ÂŽ ÂˆĂƒ > ĂŒĂ€Ă•i Â?i}i˜` Âœv / >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i° As her friends and community began to suffer and die from the rising epidemic, this drag queen—over the course of her career— >ĂƒĂƒÂˆĂƒĂŒi` ˆ˜ Ă€>ÂˆĂƒÂˆÂ˜} ÂœĂ›iĂ€ > “ˆÂ?Â?ˆœ˜ `ÂœÂ?Â?>Ă€Ăƒ vÂœĂ€ 6ÉƂ - Ă€iĂƒi>Ă€VÂ…t She fought ‘til the end, and when she passed, the city felt a great loss, holding a memorial that resulted in the closing of ÂŤ>Ă€ĂŒĂƒ Âœv Â…Ă•Ă€VÂ… -ĂŒĂ€iiĂŒ ĂŒÂœ >VVœ““œ`>ĂŒi ĂŒÂ…i ÂœĂ›iĂ€yÂœĂœ vÂœĂ€ ĂŒÂ…i ĂƒÂ…ÂœĂœĂƒ Â…iÂ?` >vĂŒiĂ€ ÂˆĂŒÂ° >ĂžÂœĂ€ >Ă€Â? i>˜ ÂŤĂ€ÂœVÂ?>ˆ“i` ĂŒÂ…i `>Ăž Âœv Â…iĂ€ memorial, August 27, a city holiday, honoring Bianca/Mark for all of his work. /Â…ÂˆĂƒ Â…ÂœÂ?ˆ`>Ăž Â…>Ăƒ Â˜ÂœĂŒ Lii˜ vÂœĂ€}ÂœĂŒĂŒi˜° >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i *Ă€Âˆ`i Â…ÂœÂ?`Ăƒ a Bianca Paige Day/Mark Middleton Day of Service, and also annually awards a prize in their honor in advance of Pride. The local community has also observed the day ever since. Mathu *ÂœĂŒĂŒĂƒ] >˜ ÂœĂ€}>Â˜ÂˆĂ˘iĂ€ Âœv ˆ>˜V> *>ˆ}i >Ăž viĂƒĂŒÂˆĂ›ÂˆĂŒÂˆiĂƒ Â˜ÂœĂŒiĂƒ] Âş Ă›i˜ though it started as two drag queens and a bucket raising what ĂŒÂ…iĂž VÂœĂ•Â?` vÂœĂ€ >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?i >Ă€iĂƒ] ĂŒÂ…i Â…ÂœÂ?ˆ`>Ăž }Ă€ÂœĂœĂƒ i>VÂ… Ăži>Ă€t >ĂƒĂŒ year’s event started at noon at TRAX, involved two continually Ă€Ă•Â˜Â˜ÂˆÂ˜} ĂƒĂŒ>}iĂƒ Â…ÂœĂƒĂŒi` LĂž >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?iÂ˝Ăƒ `Ă€>} iÂ?ÂˆĂŒi] L>˜`Ăƒ ĂƒÂˆ}˜i` LĂž “>Â˜Ăž Âœv >ĂƒÂ…Ă›ÂˆÂ?Â?iÂ˝Ăƒ }Ă€i>ĂŒ Ă€iVÂœĂ€`ˆ˜} Â?>LiÂ?Ăƒ] Â?ÂœV>Â? Vœ“i`Ăž ĂŒĂ€ÂœĂ•ÂŤiĂƒ] media personalities, and more. The program lasted until the very end of the night—3:00 a.m.â€? This year the event is growing once more, with the addition of a fenced parking lot, a third outdoor main stage, and vendor booth availability. The current list of entertainers and speakers is still growing, and the Bianca Paige Day team is still interviewing and auditioning local performers, musicians and more, but they promise that this year’s event will be the most amazing yet! Already, though, the lineup includes more than twenty drag iÂ˜ĂŒiĂ€ĂŒ>ˆ˜iĂ€Ăƒ] vĂ€ÂœÂ“ *Â?>Ăž >˜Vi >Ă€Â˝Ăƒ ˆVÂœÂ?i Â?Â?ˆ˜}ĂŒÂœÂ˜ Ă•ÂŤĂ€ii ĂŒÂœ ĂŒÂ…i ->ĂŒÂˆÂ˜ ÂœÂ?Â?Ăƒ >˜` ĂŒÂ…i ÂˆĂƒwĂŒ >w> Âœv /Ă€>Ă?° œ“i`ˆ>Â˜Ăƒ ˆ˜VÂ?Ă•`i local talent like Thomas Prunier, as well as personalities including
>˜>`ˆ>˜ /6 ĂƒĂŒ>Ă€ >˜˜>Â… Âœ}>˜° Ă•ĂƒÂˆV>Â? ĂŒ>Â?iÂ˜ĂŒ ˆ˜VÂ?Ă•`iĂƒ LÂœĂŒÂ… ÂŤiĂ€vÂœĂ€Â“iĂ€Ăƒ >˜` ĂœiÂ?Â?Â‡ÂŽÂ˜ÂœĂœÂ˜ ĂƒÂ° Ć‚Ăƒ ĂŒÂ…i Â?ÂˆĂƒĂŒ }Ă€ÂœĂœĂƒ >˜` Â“ÂœĂ€i >VĂŒĂƒ Vœ˜wÀ“i`] ĂŒÂ…i ÂœĂ€}>Â˜ÂˆĂ˘iĂ€Ăƒ ĂœÂˆÂ?Â? ÂŤÂœĂƒĂŒ Ă•ÂŤ`>ĂŒi` ˆ˜vÂœĂ€Â“>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i event’s Facebook page. An impressive host of community partners has lined up to support this year’s event. In addition to Pride, organizations like Team Friendly, The Conductors, the Music City Sisters, Ron ->˜vÂœĂ€` *Ă€Âœ`Ă•VĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜Ăƒ] Ă€>˜` iÂ˜ĂŒĂ€>Â? *>Ă€ĂŒĂž] >Ăƒ ĂœiÂ?Â? >Ăƒ Ć‚Â?>Ă? /Ă•Ă€Â˜iĂ€  Õ` ˆ}Â…ĂŒÂŽ] ÂˆÂŤÂ“>˜ Ă€ÂœĂŒÂ…iĂ€Ăƒ  >}iÀ“iÂˆĂƒĂŒiÀŽ] >˜` iĂŒ ÂˆĂƒĂŒĂ€ÂˆLĂ•ĂŒÂˆÂ˜} (Miller Lite), are helping produce the event, with many more being added as of this writing. In order to make it easier for the community to attend, this year’s event will be observed a day earlier, August 26, 2017, with a start time of 3 p.m. Attendees can also look forward to giveaways from such local institutions as Rebel Yell Tattoo, Monolith Tattoo, Blackbird Tattoo and Gallery, Sinema Restaurant, and Peckers Bar and Grill. For up-to-date info on this still-evolving event, visit Facebook.com/events/1539030152828509.
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
37
OVER
the RAINBOW
OLDER AND WISER JULIE CHASE
>Ûi Lii V> i` ºÌ Ƃ } > ` Ì angry enough” by a lesbigay friend, the opinions of whom I do value. The truth of the matter is that this person may be right. Soulmate and I entered college together in the early 1980s, just when the AIDS epidemic struck with full force. Being iÛiÀ à à } Ì Þ L ÃiÝÕ> µÕ V Þ Üi Ì vÀ º Ì «Ì > » Ì ºÀ>Ì iÀ L>`» >à > ` ÀiVÌ result. There had been some blowback from the mainstream already because of the renewed conservative political culture, but AIDS was the real culprit, killing family and setting back the LGBTQI movement by roughly ten years or more. With college scholarships and starter employment prospects on the line, quiet and reasonably closeted seemed the better way to go for many of my kind back then. "ÕÀ }>ÞÉ iÃL > vÀ i `à vÀ V i}i began integrating into the greater community soon after graduation, while Ì i L ÃiÝÕ> Ã Þ VÀ Ü` ÃÌ>ÀÌi` }iÌÌ } cold feet upon hitting the real world. There was an obvious out in my case: Soulmate and I had managed to fall in love. We soon married, both of us relieved to have found a partner who shared an intimate secret. "ÕÀ >«« iÃà Ü>Ã Ì Ì Li à >Ài` by friends who could not do the same. They had no other choice but to forge ahead and be part of the revolution. There was no going back for them. Silence really could equal death ... and they knew it. Þ L ÃiÝÕ> vÀ i `à ÜiÀi Ài Ì > a little scared of going public with the unrequested blessing anyway. There were real consequences: shunning, lack of employment opportunities and the ÃÌ } > v Ì V ÌÌ } Ì ºi Ì iÀ Ìi> » were just a few. We were also afraid of the bar culture...and very few of my churchcollege gang had ever seen—much less dabbled in—the recreational drugs that seemed to be making a strong comeback within the community by the 1990s.
38
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
It was better to stay politely closeted and support The Tribe from behind a curtain, we reasoned. For me, the straight >VÌ Ü À i` w i v À ÌÜi ÌÞ « Õà Þi>ÀÃ Õ Ì my near breakdown over gender dystopia. I managed to not do anything too stupid in all that period of time, but just barely. Severe life changes and the prospect v à ÌÕÀ } wvÌÞ ` ià > i i V à `iÀ «>ÃÌ >VÌ Ã° Ì Ã«i> } ÕÌ and shying away from the organized LGBTQI resistance then was a serious mistake on my part, and I am very sorry that I failed to do so. If we had to do it all over again, Soulmate and I would have become the openly lesbian couple that we are today from day one, and I would have willingly kissed the career possibilities goodbye in favor of happiness and sanity. I imagine that we are not the only ones who could say this. I also imagine this category is chalk-full of mostly V ÃiÌi` L ÃiÝÕ> Ã Ü V Õ ` }iÌ >Ü>Þ Ü Ì Ì i º à ÃÌÀ> } Ì» «Ì Ü i Ì i gay/lesbian wing had to slug it out with organized bigotry. Thank goodness the so-called radicals of our community were i>` } Ì i w} Ì L>V Ì i ° The simple truth of the matter is that The Tribe would be nowhere near where we currently stand without the folks who were willing to give all to obtain our full freedom, stigmas and consequences be damned. This generation’s activists have their roots in groups like Act Up, descended from the Stonewall era, themselves growing out of the Daughters of Bilitis and Ì i >ÌÌ>V i - V iÌÞ° "vÌi ] ºÀ>` V> » really just means being ahead of the curve. That’s where our community’s heroes have always been. It takes that type of gutsy person to turn a page for society and history in everyday America. Were they so radical because they knew who they were and ÜiÀi w} Ì } v À Ì i À ÛiÃ] Ì i À Ûià > ` their freedom? If I had a realistic chance of
AUGUST 2017
ILLUSTRATION: MELISSA GAY
The Con nfessio on of a Returning Bisex xual
losing my lifemate because we lived in a society that could easily have thrown me in jail for openly loving her, I would easily have become that radical too. I still tend to speak softly and try to use the powers of reason and love as my weapons of choice, but I am not as naive as I used to be. This is a true culture war, and we have no option as a people but to win it. Bigotry persist, metastasizing into far more dangerous forms. All progressive communities and their allies are now under direct threat, and thus the quiet types amongst us may no longer stay so polite and quiet. Guilty consciences often breed determination to right past wrongs. As my generation and younger of formerly V ÃiÌi` L ÃiÝÕ> à V Ì Õi Ì ÃÌÀi> back into the community, I predict many of these fellow souls will take a more open > ` >VÌ Ûi À i Ì i w} Ì] >ÌÌiÀ Ü they love. That, in itself, will be a quiet victory for The Tribe. / i ºÀ>` V> û v ÕÀ ÌÀ Li ÜiÀi À } Ì° am very grateful to be amongst them now. Julie Chase is the pen name for a local 40-something trans woman. A graduate of The University of the South at Sewanee, à i Ûià LÕÌÌiÀy iÃ] ÃÌÀ } Ü i > ` the Austrian School of Economics.
September 9, 2017 • 3:00PM – 10:00PM Murfreesboro, TN • town square
WALK • VENDORS • COMMUNITY • LIVE MUSIC • FOOD AND MORE!
LIKE AND SHARE ON FACEBOOK!
#BOROPRIDE
@OUTANDABOUTNASH
WALK BEGINS AT 4:00PM
1 5 Y E A R S O F LG B T N E W S
39
O U T A N D A B O U T N A S H V I L L E .CO M
AUGUST 2017