LAURA SCHNEIDER
June is recognized as Pride Month, but that doesn’t mean the need for connection and support among the LGBTQIA+ community ends after just one month — it’s an all-year necessity.
Local organization, inclusion tennessee, recognized this and more after conducting a year-long community needs assessment to better understand what was lacking in Middle Tennessee’s LGBTQIA+ community. Following months of research, conversation, and community engagement, inclusion tennessee was born. Founded by current Executive Director, phil cobucci, and thirteen community members, the group envisioned an organization that would focus on justice and liberation for all people, especially those who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We chatted with cobucci to learn more about all inclusion tennessee is doing, along with hopes for the future.
About the Org: inclusion tennessee is an organization with a mission to connect people, opportunities, and resources to enrich and enhance the lives of the multifaceted LGBTQIA+ community. Our organization was officially formed in August 2021, following a year-long community needs assessment conducted in 2019 to better understand the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-plus community throughout Middle Tennessee.
Uncovering Unmet Needs: Prior to 2019, our researchers and key community leaders understood that there was a disconnection in our community, and it was hard for people to get connected to programs and services outside of the one big time of the year that our community comes together — Pride. We also sensed then that there was a lack of belonging in our community. Not only did our research show that in 2019, but it was further confirmed in the research we did in 2022 with the Civic Design Center around the development of a community center space and the most recent 2024 IMAGINE Nashville research released earlier this spring. The needs that our community faces are far and wide, including the need for a wider array of LGBTQIA+ youth programming (up to the age of 24); the establishment of LGBTQIA+ programming for our older adult community; vetted and organized healthcare navigation; and the development of more safe, sober, and welcoming places that serve the full diversity of our community. Our collaborations are varied throughout the region, and we are most excited about what can be created when we work together.
Key Initiatives: inclusion tennessee engages in a variety of efforts from youth programming to older adult peer support groups and resources, health and wellness initiatives, networking groups, health awareness initiatives, testing programs, sexual education, and a comprehensive suite of services for transgender and gender-expansive individuals. The organization is constantly assessing how to best serve the queer community throughout the region through various modalities of research and community engagement to ensure that community input is at the core of the program. The aim is to promote justice and equity for our trans, queer, Black, Brown, and gold communities throughout the state by collaborating with those who share a bold vision of a future where liberation is championed.
Progress Made: In just a few short years of operations, we have been able to make some incredible strides. We have been able to complete over 400 gender marker or name changes with our legal partners, we are registering new voters in the hundreds, and committing to thousands of hours towards building out our programs to support our advocacy efforts. Community members from Clarksville to Chattanooga and Waverly to Upper Cumberland have been impacted by our work and community- focused support programming. I have seen lives changed just by having the ability to use an affirmed name legally or by gaining access to healthcare. I have also seen community members empowered by gaining their right to vote or learning how to speak truth to power in the halls of the Tennessee State Legislature. Lives have been changed by our work in just two short program years, and we continue to see amazing results when we create greater collaboration between our community partners.
Fostering Hope: Living as an LGBTQIA+ individual in Tennessee is currently a social determinant of health. Our goal with inclusion tennessee is to replenish this deficit of hope, allowing our community to find joy, resources, and support through the simple act of nurturing belonging. The most crucial message any LGBTQIA+ individual can receive today is that they are immeasurably loved and belong to something beautiful. By fostering a community that knows they belong, we are on our way to creating a thriving community in Nashville and throughout our region. I like to think of us as dealers of hope in a region where our LGBTQIA+ community is in dire need of hope and acceptance. As we expand our programming throughout the region, we are finding ways to bring joy, possibility, and a sense of belonging to a community that is constantly under attack. While addressing the lack of hope, we are simultaneously building a sense of belonging in a community that often feels unwelcome and unwanted. This work gives me hope, and brings me joy every day. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and thrilled about what we can accomplish when we work together.
Pride Month Programming: Throughout June, we’re organizing several special events, as are many of our partners. I’m particularly excited about our All Ages LGBT+ Queer Prom on June 8. It’s an occasion for community members of all ages to experience a prom they might not have had the opportunity to attend before. We also have an array of other exciting events throughout the month. As new events often pop up, the best place to stay updated is our calendar on our website. (inclusiontn.org)