The Pride Issue 2021
In celebration of Nashville Pride, we check out the festival and hear from some of Music City’s LGBTQ voices
Pride has come to Nashville at last, and in this issue, we celebrate the visibility of our LGBTQ community. We dive into Middle Tennessee State University’s archives to explore what a groundbreaking local publication looked like. Queer Nashvillians continue to find innovative ways to be seen authentically, including in a photography series that aims to chronicle the expansiveness of bisexuality. Meanwhile, our resident drag expert takes us on a tour of drag brunches in town, and we talk to the recently crowned Mr. and Miss Nashville Pride.
Plus, we’ve got everything you need to party this weekend. The two-day Nashville Pride Festival begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with the Nashville Pride Parade, kicking off from the Woodland Street Bridge. Marchers will move west on Union Street and then north on Sixth Avenue North to Charlotte, looping around the Tennessee State Capitol to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. In addition to music, scores of vendors will be on site, and you can peruse all of our city’s LGBTQ-friendly organizations that show up. When you get hungry, you’ll have plenty of options, among them the Banh Mi & Roll Factory, The Grilled Cheeserie, Daddy’s Dogs and Nashville Cotton Candy Co.
From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the Kids & Family Zone will host the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Musical Petting Zoo, Turnip Green Creative Reuse, Mr. Bond’s Science Guys and other kid-friendly activities. Get the full schedule of events and other info at nashvillepride.org, or download the festival’s app. A note: Nashville Pride will require attendees to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test (taken within 72 hours of the festival) upon entry. So have your info ready and prepare to party.
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With The Nashville Bi Diaries, photographer Emily April Allen shows the expansiveness of bisexuality
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Drag culture is now fully in the mainstream, and Nashville’s got the brunch shows to prove it
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Nashville Pride’s musical offerings include Orville Peck, Salt-N-Pepa, Kim Petras and more
