Tennessee lawmakers recently passed legislation that targets drag performances and transgender youth, causing a backlash among many musicians in the state. The trend of conservative-led legislatures introducing laws limiting LGBTQ rights or using hateful rhetoric about trans people has led to a tightly knit musical community in Tennessee using their voices and songs to raise awareness and money, as well as encouraging music fans to get out and vote.
One example of this was the Love Rising concert held in Nashville, featuring Grammy-winning artists such as Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Maren Morris, Hayley Williams, and Brittany Howard alongside drag performers and trans and queer singer-songwriters. The event aimed to show that no one is in danger from the LGBTQ+ community or from drag performers or trans people. The effort continued with a second show the following night, We Will Always Be, featuring a showcase of LGBTQ artists in collaboration with Black Opry.
While LGBTQ people have long been a part of the state’s lucrative musical and entertainment industries and drag performers and shows have a storied history in Nashville and beyond, some musicians now feel threatened by its laws. The bill that passed this year changes the definition of adult cabaret as “harmful to minors” and says that “male or female impersonators” now fall under adult cabaret, along with topless dancers and strippers.
Performers have expressed concerns over the vagueness of the bill and its potential implications on their livelihoods. For example, non-binary singer-songwriter Adeem the Artist wondered if their stage outfit would run afoul of the new law starting April 1, saying, “Am I allowed to wear lipstick? What does it mean to be dressed as the wrong gender?”
The Love Rising concert and other events aim to raise awareness and funds for LGBTQ support organizations such as Tennessee Equality Project, Inclusion Tennessee, OUTMemphis, and the Tennessee Pride Chamber. Donations are being matched by foundations created by Grammy-winner Brandi Carlile and the family of the late Nashville singer-songwriter John Prine.
While some musicians have found other ways to show their opposition to the record number of anti-trans bills introduced last year, the music industry in Nashville still has a long way to go in supporting marginalized artists who are facing discrimination. Black Opry founder Holly G noted that the fight for racial equality is also the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, and that both issues must be addressed together.
The recent events in Nashville have shown that the arts community in the city is standing up against discriminatory laws, with drag performers and country music artists coming together to support each other. As drag queen Cya Inhale said, “Do you think Dolly Parton is wearing all those rhinestones because a straight guy told her to? I don’t think so.”