LGBT culture in Nashville

LGBT culture in Nashville consists of the LGBT friendliness, resources, communities, activities for the LGBT community in Nashville and the surrounding areas.

Photo taken at Nashville Pride

LGBT Friendliness

Each year, since 2012, The Human Rights Campaign rates cities based on five attributes that a city may or may not have, non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and the city leadership's public position on LGBTQ equality. In 2019, they rated 506 cities, Nashville being one of them. Nashville scored higher than average (60 points out of 100), with 70 points out of 100. The city ranked the highest out of the eight cities that were ranked in Tennessee, which included Chattanooga, Clarksville, Franklin, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis, Murfreesboro, and Nashville.[1]

LGBT Friendly Areas

As a result of the partnership between OkCupid and Trulia in 2017 cities across the United States were given a "Pride Score" that determined the most LGBT friendly communities on a point-based scale. The highest Pride Score in Nashville was given to zip code 37206, an area that largely consists of East Nashville.[2]

Along with East Nashville, Church Street is commonly known as "the center of gay life in Nashville."[3] 2nd/4th Avenues are also considered LGBT friendly parts of Nashville.[3]

LGBT Friendly Businesses

Cafe Coco

Cafe Coco is 24-hour LGBT friendly cafe that serves a varied menu, including coffee, beer, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, and desserts.[4][5]

Canvas

Canvas is a small gay-friendly bar on Church Street that holds up to 85 people. The bar features a small menu and quirky decor accented by warm lighting.[6]

D'Andrews Bakery & Cafe

D'Andrews is an LGBT-owned bakery and cafe certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The bakery/cafe is known for their build-your-own salad bar and their house-made dressings.[7]

Lipstick Lounge

Lipstick Lounge is a lesbian-owned, predominantly, lesbian/girl bar in East Nashville.[8]

Suzy Wong's House of Yum

Suzy Wong's House of Yum is an Asian bar and restaurant that is known by the LGBT community for their drag shows during lunch and dinner. The owner of Suzy Wong's House of Yum is Top Chef contender Arnold Myint.[9][10]

The Turnip Truck

The Turnip Truck is an LGBT-owned natural grocer certified by the LGBT Business Enterprise.[11]

Resources

Vanderbilt LGBT Resources
  • Vanderbilt University medical center offers a variety of services to members of the LGBT community. Their LGBT health services include HIV care, intersex health, mental health, and a Trans Buddy Program. The Trans Buddy Program offers transgender people the opportunity to have someone help them make important medical decisions and be there for them before, during, and/or after their transition.[12]
  • Vanderbilt offers many student groups for the attendees of the university. One of these, Out in Engineering, provides the opportunity for students to make connections with other members of the more niche community of LGBT engineers.[13]
  • On their website Vanderbilt provides resources for students and faculty/staff who are looking for LGBT friendly housing off-campus.[14]

LGBT Friendly Media Outlets
Name Type of Media Outlet
Out & About Nashville Magazine
Focus Middle Tennessee Magazine
Nashville Lifestyles Magazine Magazine
NewsChannel 5 Network Television News

[15]

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Services
  • Nashville CARES[16]
  • Street-Works Outreach Program[17]
  • My House[18]
  • Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic[19]

Communities

Certified LGBT Business Enterprises

Nashville businesses whose owners are members the LGBT community have the opportunity to become certified with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce through the local Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce. According to the Chamber, Nashville's LGBTBEs are as follows:

Nashville in Harmony

Nashville in Harmony is a diverse and inclusive choir.[20]

Oasis Center

Oasis Center is a youth center. Their Just Us program focusses on supporting and advocating for LGBT youth in Nashville.[21]

Nashville LGBT Gaymers

Nashville LGBT Gaymers is a Facebook community of LGBT gamers within the Nashville area.[22]

LGBT-affirming religious institutions
Name Type of Institution
Christ Lutheran Church[23] Lutheran Church[24]
Congregation Micah[25] Reform Synagogue[26]
Covenant of the Cross[25] Non-denominational Church[27]
Edgehill United Methodist[25] Methodist Church[25]
First Unitarian Universalist Nashville[25] Unitarian Universalist Church[28]
Glendale Baptist[25] Baptist Church[25]
Glendale United Methodist Church[29] United Methodist Church[30]
Second Presbyterian Church[25] Presbyterian Church[25]
The Table[31] Lutheran Church[32]

Activities

Nashville Pride

Nashville Pride is an annual pride festival held on Broadway Street that includes a parade, vendors, and performances from music artists and other performers.[33]

Nashville Black Pride

Nashville Black Pride hosts several annual pride events specifically for black members of the LGBT community, although all races and sexualities/orientations are welcome.[34]

HotMess Sports

HotMess Sports is an LGBT sports league that plays a variety of sports such as dodgeball, kickball, and volleyball.[35]

OutLoud Music Festival

OutLoud Music Festival is an annual LGBT music festival that includes LGBT artists in its lineup. Past performers include Kim Petras, Greyson Chance, and Gia Woods.[36]

References
  1. "Municipality Equality Index" (PDF). The Human Rights Campaign Foundation. March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  2. "10 gay communities where home prices are spiking". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  3. Brant, Joseph (2016-05-16). "Grizzlies Guide to Nashville: the Gayborhoods". Out & About Nashville - LGBT news, events and gay guide. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  4. "Cafe Coco | Home". Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  5. Staff Report (2019-03-23). "West-Side Social Premiers March 30". Out & About Nashville - LGBT news, events and gay guide. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  6. Staff Report (2010-12-02). "Come one, come all". Out & About Nashville - LGBT news, events and gay guide. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  7. "D'Andrews Bakery & Cafe". www.nashvillelgbtchamber.org. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  8. Brant, Joseph (2015-12-03). "The ladies of Lipstick take three Gay Faves". Out & About Nashville - LGBT news, events and gay guide. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  9. McElroy, Steven (2016-06-24). "6 L.G.B.T.-Friendly Places to Visit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  10. "Suzy Wong's House of Yum". www.suzywongsnashville.com. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  11. "The Turnip Truck". www.nashvillelgbtchamber.org. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  12. "Vanderbilt Program for LGBTQ Health - Vanderbilt Health Nashville, TN". www.vanderbilthealth.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  13. "Student Groups". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  14. "Nashville LGBTQI Friendly Housing". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  15. "Advertising & Media | Nashville LGBT Chamber". www.nashvillelgbtchamber.org. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  16. "Nashville CARES". Nashville CARES. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  17. "StreetWorks". Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  18. "RESOURCES". myhouse2. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  19. "Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic - Vanderbilt Health Nashville, TN". www.vanderbilthealth.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  20. "Nashville in Harmony". Nashville in Harmony. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  21. "Just Us". Oasis Center. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  22. eangelico (2012-11-01). "Nashville gaymers create Facebook page". Out & About Nashville - LGBT news, events and gay guide. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  23. "What We Believe". Christ Lutheran Church. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  24. "What We Believe". Christ Lutheran Church. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  25. Staff Report (2011-11-29). "Finding faith". Out & About Nashville - LGBT news, events and gay guide. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  26. "Congregation Micah". Congregation Micah. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  27. "COVENANT OF THE CROSS CHURCH". COVENANT OF THE CROSS CHURCH. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  28. "Mission and Beliefs | firstuunash.org". Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  29. "About Glendale". Glendale United Methodist Church. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  30. Reconciling Ministries Network (2019-08-23). "New Reconciling Communities". Reconciling Ministries Network. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  31. "Mission & Vision". The Table. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  32. "Resources". The Table. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  33. "Nashville Pride". Nashville Pride. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  34. "About Us". NashvilleBlackPride. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  35. Brant, Joseph (2017-09-07). "HotMess Sports celebrates five years". Out & About Nashville - LGBT news, events and gay guide. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  36. Staff Report (2019-07-31). "OutLoud Music Festival Expects Sellout Crowd". Out & About Nashville - LGBT news, events and gay guide. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
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