GAY FAVES 2015: Professional & Business Services

As LGBT visibility continues to rise, our voices are heard in more and more realms. But discrimination against LGBT people is still legal in this state, and we can be denied service with little warning. So we celebrate our favorite providers of business and professional services, people we know we can trust during tough, or important, times. It’s great to know that our community has people and institutions it can turn to when necessary.

Lawyer – Abby Rubenfeld

Abby Rubenfeld is an icon in the LGBT civil rights movement. Rubenfeld has fought tirelessly to tear down the barriers faced by LGBT people. She led the drive to overturn Tennessee’s sodomy laws, years before she became famous as one of the lead attorneys in one of the cases that would end same-sex marriage discrimination in America. So, our readers rightfully salute her efforts, naming her our favorite lawyer for a third year in a row!

Dentist – East Side Smiles

You know, they say image is everything, and one of the first things people notice about a person is her or his smile. And for the third year in a row, East Side Smiles has been chosen by our readers as the place they trust the most with their smiles.

A recent Yelp review had rave reviews for the office: “Dr. Hadley is awesome…. The technology they use is extremely up to date and this is so refreshing. Not to mention the finished product is more than AMAZING. The front office is warm and welcoming and will work with you any way they can to ensure you are happy. Overall, my experience was wonderful!”

Health Services – Vanderbilt University Medical Center

If Nashville weren’t Music City, chances are good it would be Hospital City, and of the many fine choices available, Vanderbilt is certainly one of the best known and most respected.

Vet – Murphy Road Animal Hospital

There are no pet owners quite like LGBT pet owners, and when it comes to pet care, we are a choosy lot. This year, Murphy Road Animal Hospital unseated Value Vet to take the top pet doc of choice among our readers! One customer’s review said, “I will never go to another vet again—the entire staff is fantastic, and they are incredibly customer-centric. Appointments are easy to schedule, everything runs on time, they take plenty of time to help you understand your choices…”

Real Estate Agent – Blake Samples, Keller Williams Realty

An Alabama native and graduate of the University of Alabama, Samples moved to Nashville for work after graduating and fell in love with Nashville’s “big city, small town feel.” He lives in East Nashville, and is well known around town, and our readers obviously trust him to handle some of the biggest transactions they’ll ever make, which is high praise.

Bank – Regions

Regions Bank is a major financial institution that employs tens of thousands of people. Why is it the favored bank of Nashville’s LGBT community? The quality of service, no doubt. But Regions is also committed to “its mission of making life better for our customers, communities and shareholders by creating shared value.” One of those values is a thought-out commitment to diversity.

Pharmacy – Nashville Pharmacy Services

NPS Pharmacy is a unique independent pharmacy that has been serving the Southeast since 2001, when it was founded by Kevin Hartman. Hartman felt that there was an unmet need for a pharmacy that could offer things that the large chain pharmacies could not, things that could help improve the health and lives of the customers that it would serve. Nashville Pharmacy Services has also been an active supporter of the Nashville LGBT community, acting as a corporate sponsor for many events.

LGBT-Owned Business – Lipstick Lounge

The Lipstick Lounge again takes top honors in this category. As you can see in our main feature, it is an LGBT-owned business that truly engages that sometimes-forgotten community spirit of openness and welcomes all people, LGBT or otherwise. As they say on their website, “Come as you are, no matter what you are. You’re part of the human family, and this is your home.”

LGBT­-Owned New Business — Homegrown Taproom

Homegrown Taproom & Marketplace is a neighborhood craft beer taproom and local food market in Donelson. It serves as an outlet for local products, in particular craft beer. The concept, products, and people of Homegrown are community driven and a true demonstration of the word homegrown. We look forward to hearing more from and about this new LGBT-owned venture!