Nashville’s LGBT community is diverse and active. This creates an atmosphere of constant activity and regular events. Honestly, if you tried to do it all, you’d be exhausted. So we have to prioritize, selecting the organizations (TEP, HRC, CARES, Music City Sisters, etc.) and activities (Grizzlies, HotMess, Nashville in Harmony, etc.) we deem most worthy of our efforts and energies. This year, our readers have selected a diverse and powerful slate of community representatives that remind us how much we have to be proud of.

Non-Profit

NASHVILLE CARES

In a category of extremely strong contenders, Nashville CARES is truly a standout organization. The 

organization has, for nearly three decades, pursued an audacious mission, “to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee. We work to achieve this through education, advocacy and support for those at risk for or living with HIV.” In the last year alone, CARES has served countless people in Middle Tennessee, including testing “13,000 individuals for HIV and linked the 99 people who tested positive to care and support.” That’s what we call community service!

Community Event

PRIDE

Nashville Pride changed venues yet again this year, and for the most part it was a hit with the crowd. The

location was perfect to minimize interference and to allow the festival to spread out, creating more “family friendly” sectors, while allowing the grownups to still enjoy the day. Plus the symbolic power of having pride in Public Square Park cannot be missed. We look forward to bigger and better things in the future!

LGBT Sports Team

HOTMESS KICKBALL LEAGUE

HotMess Kickball League graced the cover of O&AN in the June 2014, and our readers clearly can’t get enough of them! But how could they not garner the vote, with well over 200 members playing last season? Plus, this isn’t rugby: you don’t have to be willing to get plowed down, full contact style, to enjoy this elementary playground staple. So if you miss the good old days of juice boxes and mud pies, reconnect with childhood through Hotmess.

Local Politician

MAYOR KARL DEAN

THANKFULLY Nashville and Davidson County are bright blue beacons in a sea of red, and so is our mayor, who, in August, was one of the first Tennessee mayors to support gay marriage. He was also a leading proponent of the city ordinance to provide metro employees with domestic partnership benefits, which passed in June. Fingers crossed he’ll be our next governor!

LGBT Musician

NASHVILLE IN HARMONY

This year, our favorite musician is a choir—namely Tennessee’s “first and only musical arts organization

specifically created for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people – and their straight allies.” To the casual observer, Nashville in Harmony might just appear to be one more expert choir performing technically challenging vocal music. But the mission of the organization is to build understanding within a community and promote social change, by bringing diverse people together to sing and by putting them before appreciative audiences. And Nashville says, “Bravo!”

See also:

GAY FAVES 2014 Bartenders

GAY FAVES 2014 Nightlife

GAY FAVES 2014 Dining

GAY FAVES 2014 Community

GAY FAVES 2014 Look Good / Feel Good

GAY FAVES 2014 Places

GAY FAVES 2014 Professional Services