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A resolution recognizing the 13th Annual Bianca Paige Day.
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WHEREAS, the health and welfare or our community is the foundation for a caring, productive society, and our future rests with the youth and young adults to carry on the awareness to adequately treat and ultimately find cures for individuals who are afflicted with a variety of illnesses including HIV/AIDS virus; and
WHEREAS, Bianca Paige, also known as Mark Middleton, was a longtime local favorite on the drag circuit, and a well-loved fixture among Nashville’s LGBTQ+ community; and
WHEREAS, Middleton moved from his hometown of Paducah, Kentucky to Nashville in the 1990s and subsequently created and perfected his alter ego, Bianca Paige, “The Pantomime Rage”; and
WHEREAS, Bianca Paige could not be contained, becoming an out-and-proud icon in Nashville, and was among one of the first drag queens a lot of people ever saw in the city at the time; and
WHEREAS, in addition to her must-see drag performances in Music City, Bianca Paige used her voice and presence to be a strong advocate for HIV/AIDS related causes; and
WHEREAS, Paige raised more than $1 million for AIDS related charities and donated time to Nashville CARES, Nashville Pride, Vanderbilt’s AIDS/HIV vaccine studies, Vanderbilt Children with AIDS, The Conductors, Human Rights Campaign, as well as served as spokesperson for “The Bianca Paige Awareness Network”, an organization dedicated to AIDS awareness and prevention; and
WHEREAS, in June 2010, Bianca Paige succumbed to lymphoma, and her presence in Nashville was and still is, deeply missed; and
WHERREAS, Middleton’s remarkable life and his legacy of community support will not soon be forgotten, as he truly made a difference in the work towards treatment and prevention by bringing together patients, caregivers, physicians, the community, legislators and the youth through support, education, advocacy and awareness to the subject when it was sorely needed; and
WHEREAS, on June 26, 2021, the Metropolitan County Council permanently dedicated Bianca Paige Way, submitted at the request of District 17 Councilmember Colby Sledge, which remains the first and only street in the United States named after a Drag Queen Performer, which immortalizes the Pantomime Rage for her iconic advocation of treatment, prevention, and awareness of the HIV/AIDS virus; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County join in conjunction with the Bianca Paige Foundation to celebrate and recognize Mr. Mark Middleton on August 26, 2023, in observance of the 13th Annual Bianca Paige Day.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as recognizing August 26, 2023, as the 13th Annual Bianca Paige Day in Nashville and Davidson County.
Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.