Nashville Black Pride (NBP) is celebrating its seventh year this month and continues its mission to bring together African American and other GLBT people of color in a social, non-threatening setting to uplift, educate and present positive images that help empower, affirm and maintain a healthy, productive community.
All NBP events are open to everyone, regardless of race, gender or orientation. Nashville is one of more than 26 cities that is an official member of the International Federation of Black Prides organization. The IFBP is a coalition of Black Pride organizers formed to promote a multinational network of Prides and community based organizations that attract hundreds of thousands of attendees throughout the world, including Toronto and South Africa.
The theme for 2009 is "Year of Change" and activities will include an opening reception on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Hotel Preston.
During the ceremony, the Brothers and Sisters United (BASU) Network, Inc. will be recognizing organizations and individuals who, since the group’s inception in April 1996, have maintained at least a 10 year working relationship with the Network.
“Selecting this group of people and businesses who have collaborated with us for so long is very special to us, and shows that LGBT based partnerships do have longevity,” said Dwayne Jenkins, the BASU Executive Director and President of Nashville Black Pride.
The recipients of the 2009 BASU Legacy Awards are: Nashville CARES, OutLoud Books & Gifts (Ted Jensen & Kevin Melody, owners), Linda Welch (publisher of Inside OUT Nashville & XENOGENY), Artist Bobby Jones (Son of Ellis), MAC Productions, and community recipients Dr. Marisa Richmond and Jim Hawk.
Other events taking place over the three-day weekend include book signings featuring authors Kenean Gilmore, "Is This Him”, and John Edmonds, "Called, Justified, Glorified and Gay."
There will also be workshops, spoken word events, a town hall meeting and free and confidential HIV/STD testing. Live musical performances include gay New York based rapper Last offence, and rising Hip Hop sensation B.LOU from Atlanta. The official parties will take place on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24, and will feature the sounds of DJ Mark James from Newark, New Jersey.
Mac Productions will feature two of their newest pageant winners: Ms. TN Diamond Diva Goldie Buchanan from Atlanta, and the 2009-10 Mr. Esquire who will be crowned on Oct. 10. In collaboration with Lube for your Mind Productions, a subsidiary of JL King, LLC., there will be two theatrical performances of the new stage play The PENIS MONOLOGUES LIVE! Similar to the Vagina Monologues, this show celebrates the penis through a variety of views including sex, relationships, health and wellness.
NBP publishes a free Black Pride Guide, as well as listing all of the Pride events in the Oct/Nov/Dec issue of The Brothers & Sisters United newsletter, The BASU SOURCE.
For more information and a complete listing of dates, times, and locations for this year’s celebration email NashBlackPride@aol.com or visit myspace.com/nashvilleblackpride.