This past June, Middle Tennessee Humanists showed up and showed out in support and in deep love of the LGBTQ+ Community here in Nashville.
Two events of note had taken place in which members of MTH were a part of: Pride Spirituality Night and Nashville Pride Festival.
Pride Spirituality Night
On the evening of Wednesday, June 24th, I, along with my friends and fellow members Steven and Georgia, were invited to take part in Nashville Pride’s annual Pride Spirituality Night in Wightman Chapel at the Scarritt Bennett Center, hosted by Progressive Pastor and public faith leader, the Rev. Dawn Bennett.
Pride Spirituality Night is a cool time that takes place right before the main Pride Parade and Festival in which people and groups of different faiths (and “of little/no faiths”) and beliefs come together for a night of affirmation, celebration, and support of our LGBTQ+ friends, who have had long been discriminated against for being the very people they are.
We actually were representatives that night of Sunday Assembly Nashville – a secular gathering of like-minded people; typical members include, for example, those who have left organized religion and miss the community and fellowship aspects of a traditional church.
Sunday Assembly Nashville and MTH have been “partners in crime” for so many years and have co-organized several events together, including the Middle Ground Potluck at Steven and Georgia’s house.
While Sunday Assembly Nashville comprises of different backgrounds and beliefs not necessarily of Atheism, and while I, myself, am on the “don’t know, don’t care” end of the belief spectrum – on that glorious night, we represented the Atheists.
I really enjoyed the different groups of people that took the stage that night, which included Progressive Christians, people of Jewish faith… Holy cow, we even got to witness (and participate in, in a way) a beautiful Pagan ritual.
Our portion of the event – it turned out very well.
We had a couple of songs lined up to sing, one of them we actually had the pleasure of teaching the congregation: a Steven Phelps original, sang at the end of every primary Sunday Assembly Nashville meeting, titled “I Believe In Good”.
After teaching them the song, we all had a wonderful sing together!
The second song, also a Steven Phelps original, is called “Allies”. It is a recognition of the injustices and inequality constantly being thrown at marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQ+ Community, and a call to compassion and to standing up and fighting for these people that are simply just trying to live their authentic lives.
A strong declaration, ringing loud and clear: “WE ARE ALLIES”.
Now, we will not pretend that everything went off without a hitch. It was decided that “Allies” would be performed to a prerecorded backing track. It was queued up on Steven’s cellular telephone, which was paired to his little Bluetooth speaker. Well, in short, we’ve just had a bit of a technical difficulty, but all the while, I am happy to report that we also provided the comic relief of the night!
No, but we did end up having the track work and we did our best!
I was the percussionist on the second song, my late mother’s childhood tambourine in hand (complete with multiple scrawls of “SANDY LOVES RICKY” from her high school days). I also sang alongside Steven and Georgia (she also had her own tambourine).
Georgia is a natural harmony queen, and she was so awesome, as was Steven – the music man with the plan and a six-string in hand. He’s quite the personality and I was honored to have also played the role of his “vocal double” on “Allies”.
Truth be told, that was the first time I was ever on stage singing as an adult. I have spent a few years in my teenhood church’s youth choir, but that was it.
As someone who is just now coming out of shyness as far as performing in front of others (this includes public speaking and public singing), and as someone who has long struggled with negative self-esteem and self-worth, this was a very critical moment for me. This also serves as a testament to the power of community, as both MTH and Sunday Assembly Nashville have helped to give me the courage and the gentle push to step out and be authentically me.
And all along, I really like to perform. I’ve just had it suppressed for so long.
Steven, Georgia, and I – we killed it out there, and we had a lot of praise and applause. However, a deeper goal was reached here – to our LGBTQ+ friends, we stood in solidarity and in support, in love and in light, with all we have and all that we are.
Our message was clear. We were there with them all the way. We are allies.
I came out of the event with a fuller heart.
We were all really grateful to have done this, and with me in particular – as I had never done events like this before, this had deepened my love for community and for humanity.
And hey, a little self-esteem boost doesn’t hurt anyone.
Nashville Pride Festival
Fast forward to Saturday, June 27th – the day that Nashville LGBTQ+ folk and their allies have been waiting for: Nashville Pride Festival, baby!
Normally, we would have our primary Humanist group meetings on 4th Saturdays.
During a virtual MTH Planning Meeting, it was brought up that the 4th Saturday in June was the day of the Pride Festival, and so we moved our primary Humanist meeting to the 3rd Saturday. That way, it wouldn’t conflict with the Pride Festival, if people wanted to come. Meanwhile, we came up with a great Service and Participation project: volunteering at the front gates at the Pride Festival.
Scanning QR codes for digital tickets, accepting paper tickets, and greeting the lovely attendees!
Alex and I attended the Nashville Pride volunteer training and while the event was surprisingly brief, for an event informing us on what to do in our respective jobs, we did get a lot of the more pertinent information and we came out more informed than we were before. On the morning of the Pride Parade portion of the day’s festivities, Alex and I met up with Rachel, and we all met up with Steven at the parking lot near Bicentennial Mall, the state park where the Pride Festival took place. We also had John, who I have only met maybe once or twice before, join us at the gates and he helped out too!
I will be honest, I was going in and out of heat exhaustion and it was a struggle to keep myself going through the shift, but I was grateful that there were a lot of volunteers on standby, so when I needed to take a break and sit down somewhere, I could. Alex visited me on the benches every now and then and I really appreciated their company. I was honestly upset that I had heat exhaustion and was not able to perform my duties as well as I would have liked to, but my friends at MTH who volunteered alongside me made it so I was alright and I don’t know what I would have done without them.
Now, when I was able to work, it was really enjoyable. I never thought I would actually like scanning QR codes off people’s phones, and I also never thought I would like interacting with the attendees there and wishing them a fun time!
But, of course, where there is some event that is queer-confirming here in the Bible Belt, there are so-called “loving” Christians with megaphones spreading messages of hate, and we had an earful of one such person. We knew not to “feed the trolls”, so to speak, largely ignoring him and continuing to love on the people coming in, ensuring them that happiness and fun is found on the other side of the barrier separating the gates and the festivities. And while I didn’t really care to interact with this lovely man, many others did so themselves… and honey, they were fabulous. Chef’s kiss, beautiful.
I can recall a couple of people in fursuits pose next to him and taking pictures. That was one of the highlights of the whole day for me!
Anyway, I am giving this dude so much attention on this blog post, we’re moving on!
Volunteering at the Nashville Pride Festival was an enjoyable and enriching experience. I was grateful that we also showed up in support of the LGBTQ+ Community in this way, as well.
I would so do this again next year. Maybe then, I will have learned from the battle of the heat exhaustion and be better prepared.
We Are Proud of You!
These are two of the many ways MIDDLE TENNESSEE HUMANISTS SHOW UP, and June is a big ol’ showing-up month that we look forward to!
As I have only been a member of MTH since September of 2025, this was my first Pride Month with them, and what a beautiful way to celebrate it.
I know we have helped to make a difference in the lives of our LGBTQ+ friends and their allies, and quite honestly, these people, as well as our own merry little band of hooligans – they have all made a difference in my life personally, and to that I am very grateful.
But I will say though – Pride Month had come and gone a while ago, I know. Don’t rub it in, you’re making me cry.
But compassion, love, respect, solidarity, celebration, all these things and more – these values should be and are year-round. Especially during this very hostile climate in our country right now in which the lives, freedoms, and basic human rights of our queer and trans friends (and especially our trans friends) are constantly and unabashedly being debated on, pulled apart, and stripped away.
Nobody’s clocking out of being queer on July 1st. So why should we stop caring? Why should we stop loving? Why should we stop celebrating?
To Nashville Pride, we thank you for giving us the honor of being involved in your events this year. You are an incredible resource for queer and trans folk.
We hope to be with you all again next year!
As for our readers, we thank you for giving us a small portion of your time and for letting us share these experiences with you all! We have so much more to share, so stick around!
And reach out as well if you want to be involved with us! We’d love to have you!
Until we meet again – shine on, my friends.
With love,
Samantha <3
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