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A resolution recognizing Wednesday, June 1 to Thursday, June 30, 2022 as the “Nashville Pride Month”, celebrating the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer communities and their enormous contributions to the quality of life in Nashville and Davidson County, and further recognizing the 34th anniversary of the first Nashville Pride event.
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WHEREAS, Our Pride Encompasses Nashville (Nashville Pride) has been a strong advocate and supporter of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities throughout Middle Tennessee and is celebrating Nashville Pride in the city of Nashville; and
WHEREAS, the city of Nashville is honored to welcome members of the LGBTQ community and their allies to celebrate a very special and important event honoring the diversity, inclusion, and history of the pride and gay rights movement; and
WHEREAS, the Nashville Pride celebration and movement continues to grow and celebrates inclusion as a necessary ingredient to making Nashville and the United States truly diverse. Nashville Pride has grown immensely and is now one of the largest public weekend festivals in Middle Tennessee, reminding us to embrace what makes each individual unique and to use those qualities to change the world for the better; and
WHEREAS, the Pride movement has an auspicious history in the U.S. and Nashville. Early on the morning of Saturday, June 28th, 1969, LGBTQ persons rioted following a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar at 43 Christopher Street in New York City. In Nashville, the first pride parade took place in 1988, not with a riot but as a positive stance against discrimination and violence toward LGBTQ people. The parade promoted self-affirmation, dignity, equal rights, and increased the visibility of LGBTQ persons as a social group to build community; and
WHEREAS, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the first passage of legislation decriminalizing same-sex relationships in the US which occurred in the State of Illinois in 1962. While Tennessee still has a sodomy statute in place, it was ruled unconstitutional by the Tennessee Court of Appeals in the Campbell v. Sundquist decision, brought by Nashville resident Penny Campbell; and
WHEREAS, in 2022 Tennessee is represented by two openly gay State Representatives in the General Assembly, Representative Eddie Mannis (R - 18th District) and Representative Torrey Harris (D - 90th District) who, alongside many allies in the Tennessee General Assembly, have advocated valiantly for equality of all Tennesseans against an unprecedented number of pieces of State legislation filed this session to attack LGBTQ Tennesseans and particularly transgender children and youth; and
WHEREAS, we make clear that organizations that lobby for legislation in States including Tennessee that advance discriminatory policies that harm LGBTQ children and families do not reflect Nashville and Tennessee values of respect, inclusion, and support for the rights and dignity of all persons, which the Metropolitan Council hereby affirms; and
WHEREAS, this year also marks the 34th consecutive Pride event in Nashville. This year’s Nashville Pride Festival will be held June 25th & 26th, 2022 at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County would like to thank the Nashville Pride Board of Directors, Working Groups, Sponsors and all of the volunteers for their continued support and commitment to the mission of Nashville Pride over the past 34 years.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing Wednesday, June 1 to Thursday, June 30, 2022 to be “Nashville Pride Month” in Nashville, celebrating the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities and their enormous contributions to the quality of life in the City of Nashville.
Section 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to the Nashville Pride Board of Directors.
Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.