File #: BL2021-622    Name:
Type: Bill (Ordinance) Status: Passed
File created: 1/25/2021 In control: Metropolitan Council
On agenda: 3/16/2021 Final action: 3/16/2021
Title: An ordinance to amend the Geographical Information Systems Map for The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by changing the name of Carney Street from 4th Avenue South to Ensley Boulevard to "Bianca Paige Way". (Proposal No. 2021M-002SR-001)
Sponsors: Colby Sledge, Brett Withers, Nancy VanReece, Russ Bradford, Zach Young, Emily Benedict, Ginny Welsch
Attachments: 1. BL2021-622 Attachments, 2. BL2021-622 Historical Commission Staff Report
title
An ordinance to amend the Geographical Information Systems Map for The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by changing the name of Carney Street from 4th Avenue South to Ensley Boulevard to "Bianca Paige Way". (Proposal No. 2021M-002SR-001)

body
WHEREAS, Mark Middleton, better known as "Bianca Paige", 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
WHEREAS, in the summer of 2020, the Metropolitan Government recognized the 10th anniversary celebration of Bianca Paige Day and read a proclamation in her honor; and
WHEREAS, the request for the street name change has been submitted by Colby Sledge, 17th District Council Member, in consultation with the Metropolitan Council LGBTQ Caucus, applicant; and
WHEREAS, the proposed request to change the name of this right-of-way has been submitted to the Metropolitan Planning Commission, and other relevant agenc...

Click here for full text