WE WILL ALWAYS BE: A Benefit for Inclusion Tennessee
WE WILL ALWAYS BE: A Benefit for Inclusion Tennessee
March 21 event at City Winery Nashville will benefit Inclusion Tennessee
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NASHVILLE, TENN. (March 6, 2023) — City Winery Nashville, Hunter Kelly, and the Black Opry are teaming up to host We Will Always Be: A Benefit for Inclusion Tennessee, a fundraiser protesting Tennessee’s recent passage of laws banning public drag performances and age-appropriate medical care for transgender youth. All proceeds will benefit Inclusion Tennessee, which connects LGBTQIA+ people to services and resources throughout the state with the goal of fully enhancing and enriching their lives.
“You can’t eradicate queer people. We just are. We always have been, and we always will be,” Kelly says. “We claim this space to celebrate the queer community’s creative light, which our fellow Tennesseans are trying their best to extinguish. They’ve tried this before, but we’re still here. They can’t and they won’t succeed this time either.”
“As an organization run by queer people, it has always been an integral part of our mission to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and intersectionality,” adds Black Opry Founder and Co-Director Holly G. “We are proud to take a stand along with Hunter Kelly, City Winery, and all of the performers involved.”
Scheduled for Tuesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. at City Winery Nashville, We Will Always Be: A Benefit for Inclusion Tennessee will include performances by local drag queens Britney Banks, Cya Inhale, Dee Zastris, Justine Van de Blair, Portia, Shelby La Banks, Trinity Monrow, Vidalia Anne Gentry, Jaidynn, and Vivica Steele and feature songwriter rounds curated by Kelly and the Black Opry and additional sets from Aaron Lee Tasjan, Kaitlin Butts, Katie Pruitt, Lilly Hiatt, Mary Gauthier, She Returns From War, and The Shindellas. A complete lineup of performers is below.
“City Winery will continue to promote and support drag performances and all LGBTQIA+-related shows and events that have been a constant source of entertainment and joy to our community,” says Lauren Polley, City Winery Nashville’s programming director. “We will not be detoured by any false, bigoted legislation. We’re an inclusive venue that celebrates diversity and amplifies voices that need to be heard.”
Tickets for We Will Always Be: Celebrating Nashville’s Queer Voices will go on sale at 12pm on March 10 via CityWinery.com.
We Will Always Be: A Benefit for Inclusion Tennessee complete lineup:
Hunter Kelly Presents:
Chris Housman
Izzy Heltai
Brady Riley
Harper Grae
Brody Ray
Black Opry Writers Round:
Autumn Nicholas
Jett Holden
Carmen Dianne
Josey
Ally Free
Other Performing Artists:
Mary Gauthier
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Kaitlin Butts
Katie Pruitt
Lilly Hiatt
She Returns From War
The Shindellas
Performing Drag Queens:
Britney Banks
Cya Inhale
Dee Zastris
Justine Van de Blair
Portia
Shelby La Banks
Trinity Monrow
Vidalia Anne Gentry
Vivica Steele
Jaidynn
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About Inclusion Tennessee: Inclusion Tennessee is an equity and justice oriented organization focused on connecting the multi-faceted LGBTQIA+ community to programs, services and resources throughout Tennessee. Founded in 2021, inclusion tennessee is committed to building models of collaborative impact statewide through advocacy and education, creating health and wellness programming and developing navigation services, while also building safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community to gather throughout the state. To learn more about the organization visit inclusiontn.org or follow us at @inclusiontn.
About City Winery Nashville: Nashville’s premier venue, restaurant, winery, and event space, City Winery offers live music, comedy, and wine events in an intimate venue with good food, a full bar, and great wine.
About Hunter Kelly: Hunter Kelly is the host of PROUD Radio on Apple Music Country, featuring music and interviews with LGBTQIA+ country artists and allies, including Brandi Carlile, Dolly Parton, T.J. Osborne, Maren Morris, Ty Herndon, Allison Russell, Amy Grant, Leslie Jordan, Amythyst Kiah, and more.
About the Black Opry: Black Opry is a home for Black artists, fans, and industry professionals working in country, Americana, blues, and folk music. Country and roots music have been made and loved by Black people since their conception, but for just as long, Black people have been overlooked and disregarded in the genre. Black Opry is changing that.
Media Contacts:
For City Winery Nashville:
Lauren Polley
City Winery programming director
For Hunter Kelly:
Hunter Kelly
For the Black Opry:
Holly G and Tanner Davenport
Black Opry co-directors
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