It’s January, and so far many of our resolutions still stand. In preparation for the New Year, Out & About Nashville asked community members and leaders, as well as individuals who have been featured in, or on the cover of, this magazine, what their resolutions were for this turbulent year. We got responses from the mundane to the idealistic, the whimsical to the serious, and everything in between. What did you resolve? And who’s helping you stay accountable? Email editor@outandaboutnashville.com to share your own journey with our community!

Jaime Combs

Jaime Combs & Carla Lewis

My resolution for the new year is to make a difference, share my story and live my truth. I hope to make a difference for my transgender family by being part of a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee that will allow transgender people that were born in this state the right to change their birth certificate.

I will be sharing my story—the story of the experience of being a woman who is transgender—along with two other women, in a performance of The Vagina Monologues.

Carla Lewis

For the upcoming year, as co-chair of the Community Task for the newly forming Middle Tennessee Pride Council, it’s my hope and resolution to compile a comprehensive and inclusive list of all resources that can be utilized by our queer community.

I also know that there are new threats on the legislative horizon that will threaten access to medical care for parents and their transgender children. I intend to be visible and outspoken against any such effort to threaten my transgender family in this way.

...and speaking of family, I really hope I get to spend more time with my own children and grandchildren in the coming year. As the years pass, time moves more rapidly for me, and opportunities to fellowship with those I care about seem more fleeting than before.

In short, I resolve to serve, defend, and love in 2020.

Brandon Thomas

Brandon Thomas

My New Year’s resolution is to make sure I’m setting a good example for my son, Ezra, about how we should treat others. He’ll be two in March, and I can see him taking in the world around him as he grows and learns. I want him to know how important it is to stand up for what’s right, and to help people whenever you can. That’s why I’ve decided to run for State House again in 2020. I want to show Ezra what it looks like to fight hard for what you believe in. I plan on winning my election next November, and look forward to making a resolution for 2021 to do everything I can as a state representative to improve my community, and the lives of my neighbors.

David Andrews. D’Andrews Bakery

David Andrews

My New Year’s goals are to be more creative, continue on a path of profitability and stop killing the plants my mom brings to my bakery.

I have so many New Year Resolutions!  But these are my top two.

Sunny Eaton. photo credit Joshua Corey

Sunny Eaton

To Bet On Myself. I’m going to take the big risks and double down on myself. As successful as I have been, negative self-talk and anxiety about unknowns still sometimes take hold. I’ve proven time and again that I am talented, driven, dynamic and capable of making magic happen. This year I will choose to believe in the proof instead of the fear.

Take a Tech Break. I find that I lose presence in both my personal and professional life when I can’t lay off the phone, the laptop, the internet—all of the blue-lit things. My most significant gains in both business and personal life have come from relationships. For those relationships to have authenticity and depth, my attention and extra time will be spent finding meaningful, personal ways of communicating and collaborating. Emails and texts are a great tool, but this year, I will make more phone calls, send more handwritten notes and make sure my attention is with the person I’m sitting with rather than the electronic distractions.

Officer Nakia Reed. MNPD LGBTQ Liaison

Officer Nakia Reed

My New Year’s Resolution for 2020, both personally and professionally, is to continue openly discussing LGBTQ issues that will help our city with its continued growth and development. As your MNPD LGBTQ liaison, I have learned a lot from the diverse community we serve in the Nashville area. My goal is to work hard to help improve quality of life and enhance the safety of our residents and visitors alike. My upcoming new year will be dedicated to promoting inclusion, continued outreach with local businesses and their involvement with our Safe Place Initiative and helping those in our great city feel safe and welcome.

Andrea Hewitt

Andrea Hewitt

My goal for my business is to broaden our reach to serve even more families in 2020 during the birthing year, and to continue our practice of inclusive care for all families. And my personal goal is to read more books in 2020!

Robert Harris

Robert Harris. Mayor’s Office, Council Liaison and Development Analyst

Resolutions: Read 2 books a month, run 1 race a month, exercise 5 times a week, eat meat only on the weekend.

Nancy VanReece

Hon. Nancy VanReece
Metro Council District 8

Perfect vision is known as “20/20” and that’s what I hope to focus on this next year. I plan to do my part to ensure that our amazing city is achieving continued growth through mindful and intentional investment in itself. I will be personally looking for ways to absorb educational opportunities and build relationships in order to achieve a bold vision for this next decade.

Joseph Woodson

Joseph Woodson

My resolution is to say YES to new adventures, and also remember to be still and reflect for myself.

Team Friendly Tennessee

Team Friendly Tennessee

We resolve to welcome new volunteers and to have more, good conversations with people about the current reality of HIV. We resolve to help them understand there is still a lot of stigma surrounding HIV. We additionally resolve to encourage people to know their status, because knowing is the first step to getting to zero new transmissions.

Greg Howard

Greg Howard

Young Adult and Middle Grade author of Social Intercourse, The Whispers, and Middle School’s A Drag: You Better Werk!

My personal goals for 2020 are: pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, doing a better job of living in the moment, and not allowing myself to absorb the stress of others.

Brandon Marshall

Brandon Marshall
Mayor’s Office, LGBTQ Liaison / Digital Director

My resolution is to read a different autobiography or novel each month, work out at the gym four times a week, and do more monthly community service projects.

Todd Roman

Todd Roman
Co-owner, Tribe / PLAY Dance Bar

My New Year’s resolution is to listen more. I want to be more open to others political views.  I want to understand how political ideology prevents one from working with others for the collective good. I’m at my core an optimist and want so much for people and the county to find a brighter path forward together in 2020!

Candace Johnson

Candace Johnson

My resolutions are to continue to learn as much as I can and help others with their resolutions. Often, old habits or “always something” just gets in our way of being the most productive and being our best self. Even as a shaman and energy worker, I ALWAYS have another layer that appears, after I shed the top layer. Every year, people make resolutions, “New Year, New ME”. Rarely is it ever a new you. However, we still have that longing. I will continue to show up for the LGBTQIA community and keep fighting for equality. I resolve to keep learning and growing.

Joe Brown

Joe Brown
Co-owner, Tribe / PLAY Dance Bar

I see and hear a lot of cynicism in our world and at times it is hard not to let those negative voices, unconstructive criticism, and polarizing individuals affect me.    My resolution is to block out the above, try to have the most positive attitude I can, and try to be the example of what I would like to see in the world!

Kathy Halbrooks

Kathy Halbrooks

As an ally, I will continue to support the LGBTQ+ community with my affirmation, friendship, and public actions.  In striving for the day that LGBTQ+ people are no longer discriminated against or treated unfairly, I particularly plan to work to see that bills negative to the community are defeated. In 2020 I resolve to be part of the movement that ensures LOVE WINS!

Jane Dupree

Jane Dupree

One of my biggest resolutions for 2020 is to focus more on self-care. It’s easy to get caught up in a routine but it’s important to make time for breaks and to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Vidalia Anne Gentry

Vidalia Anne Gentry

In the new year, I’m really wanting to experience more art, so I’m going to try and see a show or visit an exhibit at least once a month. I also want to start sewing more this year! I used to get really frustrated by it, but I think it might be time to give it another go.

Julie Chase

Julie Chase. Columnist

Your vibrator is NOT a back massager. Don’t you think you should begin learning how to use the new equipment properly?

The “crazy” people were right all along. Today’s ACT UP movements are being led by younger folks who have far more guts than your generation ever did. Never be afraid to acknowledge that. Never be afraid to lose “mainstream” friends by continuing to acknowledge that. And never, ever go back to what you were before.

Sgt. Catie Poole

Sgt. Catie Poole

A personal goal I have is to always grow and become a stronger person.  With the New Year, as with years past, I will continue to strive to improve my strength in the gym (I am a Powerlifter, after all), the strength and durability of my mind, and to help those around me however I am able.  My professional goal is to strive to be a positive influence in my community – to bridge the gap between the Metro Nashville Police Department and the community and develop relationships with those to whom I am in service.  I am a firm believer that building relationships is the key to solving most issues that exist between the community, slowly and steadily eliminating the shroud of misunderstanding that divides the many different individuals in our community.

Chris Sanders

Chris Sanders. Executive Director, TEP
photo Credit Jennifer Sheridan

My resolution is a pledge to use my energy to make sure that leaders like Morgan Robertson in Martin, Shahin Samiei in Memphis, Justin Miller in Murfreesboro, Shannon Herron in Knoxville, Mark Buchanan and John Hart in Dickson, Adam Haynes in Morristown, and Ray White in the Tri-Cities have the funds, resources, and information they need to grow effective advocacy around the state. Our success in the Legislature depends on thinking statewide.

The Music City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

The Music City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

As MCSPI begin their tenth year as a fully professed order we approach the coming year rededicating ourselves to the forty-year tradition. The coming year will offer opportunities; to stimulate intellectual curiosity through education, provide a quiet spot in a maelstrom through compassionate listening, shake a booty for a dollar, and present a Boonoonoonous scene.... All while maintaining an up-curled eyelash.

David McMurry

David McMurry

I feel the most significant change/improvement I can make is to provide more value to my family, friends, groups and community. I’m going to be healthier and start running again. If I’m the best person I can be, the. I can be better for the people I care about most! I’ve purchased a treadmill and started conditioning to build my cardio strength.

Glenn Stewart

Glenn Stewart

Now that I’m in my 50’s and embracing my Daddy status, I’ve come to some revolations about resolutions.  No more resolutions for this guy.  The plan is to live each day ahead of me to the fullest.  We have one life to live, and we need to maximize the time we all have left on this amazing planet.  I will continue to be the best husband and friend possible to the man of my dreams, Brad Taylor.

I / we also want to have many new experiences as possible.  As you get older inhibitions fly out the window and you start to develop a “Why the f**k not” mentality no matter how racy or vanilla something seems to someone. Hummmm maybe a only fans page?

I want to continue to work in and build stronger friendships and strengthen relationships with the people in our lives who we care deeply for.  This holds true for “Lifer” friends as well as people who recently came into our lives who we care deeply about. Happy new year everyone and may the force be with us...2020 is going to be very interesting.

Jason Shawhan

Jason Shawhan

My hope in 2020 is to be a better listener, eschew complacency, be more politically active in person (rather than just on the Internet), and declutter my apartment and my subconscious.