NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Like so many other organizations, Nashville Pride has been forced to cancel all their in-person events this month due to COVID-19 and replace them with virtual events. "Lots of online events showing the community," said Joe Woolley, CEO of the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Woolley says the changes could be considered a blessing, given the death of George Floyd and the conversation that incident has sparked. "The conversation needs to be on Black Live Matter, what this country needs to reckon with and have a conversation about," said Woolley. "It’s gonna be tough so Pride can be set aside for a while."
For those still looking to share their pride, Joe hopes Nashvillians will start by opening their wallets. "You can celebrate pride with your hard-earned dollars and spend those with companies that support the community and support Pride," said Woolley.
There's still some hope that this Fall, there can be some makeup Nashville Pride events, just at a smaller scale. "That will all depend on how we recover from the COVID-19 outbreak," said Woolley.
The celebration may be reinvented, but Woolley is confident, it'll be one to remember. "It's not going to stop us. We’re still going to celebrate Pride. We’re still going to show our Pride," he said.
Click here, for a full list of Nashville Pride virtual events. And for a full list of Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce partners, click here.