Nashville Pride, which has several events upcoming during June, is sponsored by big-name brands, including the Tennessee Titans, Vanderbilt Health, and others, according to its website.
Bridgestone and Nissan, who have huge presences in Tennessee, are listed on the site as “presenting partners” of this year’s pride activities. Nissan also sponsors the Tennessee Titans football stadium.
Postmates, the food delivery service, is listed as an “entertainment partner” for Nashville Pride, while Amazon, which has a facility in Nashville, is listed as a “sustainability partner.”
Other sponsors include:
- Jack Daniels
- Tito’s Vodka
- AllianceBernstein
- Dollar General
- Journeys (a “VIP partner”)
- The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation
The group also lists its official hotel partner as W Nashville, a Marriott property.
Media sponsors include WSMV, The Nashvillian, and Connect Media Group.
Mars Petcare, Total Wine, and Cracker Barrel, among others, are listed as “friends.” Kroger, The Nashville Predators, Papa John’s Pizza, T-Mobile, Belk, The Tennessee Valley Authority, Truist, and Planned Parenthood are listed as “supporters.”
Meanwhile, several top brands nationwide have drawn the ire of conservatives in recent weeks.
Anheuser-Busch, which owns Bud Light, has lost billions after featuring a drag performer called Dylan Mulvaney on some of its cans. Target was the subject of backlash after shoppers discovered that the company was selling LGBT-themed youth clothing.
Nashville Pride kicks off its “pride month” festivities Saturday with an event called “Bath & Body,” which features drag queen Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson, who goes by the stage name Alyssa Edwards.
An event called “Country Pride” will be held Saturday night, which benefits The Trevor Project.
That organization, which bills itself as an online youth LGBT support organization, has faced immense scrutiny for introducing children to adult perversions.
June 7 will feature a concert for “love and acceptance.”
“GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, and groundbreaking country music artist Ty Herndon announce the return of the Concert For Love & Acceptance, set to take place Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on the eve of CMA Fest,” Nashville Pride’s website says. “Maddie & Tae, Terri Clark, Pam Tills, Desmond Child, Wendy Moten, Billy Gilman, Shelly Fairchild, and Justin Fabus are set to perform. The event will benefit GLAAD and Ty Herndon’s Foundation For Love & Acceptance.”
“Pride Weekend” kicks off on June 22, with a party at the Sheraton Grand Hotel.
That is followed up by the city’s office Pride Parade on June 24.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.Â
