Voter's Guide

During this election season, O&AN has elected to make endorsements during general elections only. We are sharing our endorsements for county and local offices this month because local general elections will be held on August 7th, 2014. We will make our endorsements for state and national offices in the fall.

Glenn Funk

Davidson County District Attorney

http://voteglennfunk.com/

He may be running in an uncontested race, but O&AN feels that Glenn Funk, an accomplished attorney, with 29 years of experience, deserves our recognition and support.

Besides his vast experience as assistant district attorney, assistant public defender, and special prosecutor, as well as in private practice, Funk brings a deep sense of personal conviction to the job. He believes that LGBT individuals should be respected as equals. Funk’s support for the LGBT community is rooted in, not in spite of, his faith. He relates, “Within my church, Westminster Presbyterian, I have consistently supported equal rights both in denominational issues such as equality in marriage issues, and locally with regard to our congregation's hiring practices. I will look to add diversity within the office. I will also seek input from all groups within Nashville regarding the administration of justice.

Throughout his campaign, Funk has attended to the concerns of the LGBT community, going so far as to hold a meet and greet at Suzy Wong’s House of Yum “to meet with voters and talk about issues important to the LGBT community.” 

 

Rachel Bell

General Sessions Judge, Division VIII

http://www.rachelbellforjudge.com/

Rachel Bell remains a solid ally to the LGBT community, attending community events, such as this year’s HRC dinner. She is a member of the Tennessee Stonewall Bar Association, which “provides support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawyers working in Tennessee” and “is dedicated to promoting LGBT inclusion and civil equality both in Tennessee’s legal community and the state’s general population.” In our opinion, Bell is one of the most progressive judges currently serving Davidson County.

 

Melissa Blackburn

General Sessions Judge, Division II

http://www.blackburnforjudge.com/

Melissa Blackburn is a huge supporter of our LGBT community. She has attended nearly every LGBT political and social event in Nashville. At Pride this year, she was a visible presence, and her smiling face left no doubt that she was proud to be there with us! She has really earned our community’s trust as an elected official and office holder with our best interests in mind. 

“Throughout my career in the legal, private sector and charitable fields working alongside friends and colleagues, it has been clear to me that LGBT community members want essentially the same things most of us want: the opportunity to work, be successful, have a family, provide for the needs of their family and contribute to making Nashville a better place to live.”

Also, importantly, she wants us to remember she is NOT MARSHA.

 

Lynda Jones

General Sessions Judge, Division IV

https://jonesforjudge.com/

Lynda Jones is the kind of family values candidate we can get behind. An active member of West End United Methodist, she is married and has one daughter. But she is on the record as promising, “I am unbiased in my beliefs and demonstrate an open mind to people of all backgrounds regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or economic status.” Now promises are promises, we understand, but Lynda is a longtime friend of the LGBT community, and a Federal Club Member of the HRC. She puts her money, and her action, where her mouth is.

 

Nashville Metropolitan Board of Public Education

Education is a matter of broad, bi-partisan concern, and certainly most candidates for school board in Nashville are, with a greater or lesser degree of enthusiasm, on the right side of issues like discipline, bullying, and the inclusion of diverse families. However, certain distinctions can be made: for some bullying is a matter to be dealt with as it happens, and for others it is grave concern calling for proactive and preventative measures. Some candidates are willing to include everyone, while others seek to make Nashville a place that extends a welcome. With these thoughts in mind, we wish to highlight two candidates in particular, whose personal experiences and ethos speak to issues of concern to LGBT families.

Tyrese Hunter

District Six

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Tyrese Hunter is deeply invested in the state of education in Nashville and her district. Hunter has three children in Nashville schools, one in elementary, one in middle, and one in high school, and the district she seeks to represent, which includes Antioch/Cane Ridge, traditionally underperforms. “Our schools expect too little for and from children with differences. Whether we’re talking about economic disparities, learning differences, or groups like LGBT children, they’re making excuses for why children aren’t doing well but aren’t dealing well with underlying issues.”

One such issue is bullying, which her son experienced to the extent that he had to be taken to the hospital, and ultimately had to change schools. While Nashville has policies in place to prevent bullying, “they aren’t well addressed. My son videoed a situation where bullying was happening and the teacher sat there. Without implementation, policies are no good. This is one reason why many children with differences aren’t as successful as they could be.” Her experience, we believe, will make her a proactive board member on issues of diversity support and anti-bullying. “I support families that love each other, and hold each other up: I think that’s all that matters. We should have schools where sexual orientation isn’t an issue that causes stress for students.” 

 

Rhonda Dixon

District Four

http://www.dixonforschools.com/

Rhonda Dixon is raising a grandchild in Nashville schools. She reflects on her own family as a picture of diversity, and this has made her desire to “stand up and be an advocate for all people.” With regard to protections for diverse students, she reflects, “My stepson is gay and he’s faced a lot of challenges throughout his life – I have such a strong believe that people should have equality. Everyone should have their rights protected in school, whether they meet ‘the norm’ or not. My norm is diversity. People who are not like you should have the right to go to school without being harassed. School is hard enough without having to be afraid of showing up.” Dixon believes that her passion will allow her to make strong stands against powerful personalities of “the vocal minority. I will challenge them and speak up, and not let some group take over when children are at stake.”

 

 

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

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Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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