On March 20th, Nashville will host the Love Rising concert, a music event that aims to support the LGBTQ+ community. The concert will benefit the Tennessee Equality Project, inclusion tennessee, OUTMemphis and The Tennessee Pride Chamber, while the Looking Out Foundation will be matching up to $100,000 in donations from supporters.
A number of musicians who are part of the LGBTQ+ community and ally musicians are expected to perform including Maren Morris, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Sheryl Crow, Allison Russell, Amanda Shires, Brittany Howard, Brothers Osborne, Hozier, Jake Wesley Rogers, Jason Isbell, Joy Oladokun, Julien Baker, Mya Byrne, The Rainbow Coalition Band and Yola, with special guests to join them onstage.
The event comes about after two highly discriminatory bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community, SB3/HB9 and SB1/HB1, were signed into law by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. SB3/HB9 is also known as the anti-drag performance bill and essentially ban drag performances from happening in public areas. The bill, which is very vague in its wording, makes it a misdemeanor first-time offense and a felony second offense to hold a drag show on public property or in a location where the performance could be viewed by a minor.
SB1/HB1 is a bill that bans gender affirming care for transgender youth. Healthcare providers violating the law can face penalties and be open to lawsuits from families of the youth they treat. This includes not only surgical procedures but also the prescribing, administering, or dispensing of a drug or device that could alleviate gender dysphoria.
“As a queer, intersectional artist and mother, raising my child in Nashville, it’s important to me to support these wonderful Tennessee LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations, working so hard to build bridges, reduce harm and promote equality for all Tennesseans,” Allison Russell said in a statement to the press.
In a public statement, Jason Isbell said, “SB3/HB9 and SB1/HB1 are clearly targeted attacks on Tennesseans who haven’t done anything wrong,” said Isbell in a press statement. “These bills add up to an attempt to eradicate a valuable part of our community and force good people to live in fear. We can’t in good conscience just stand by and let that happen.”
Tickets are avalible at https://www.ticketmaster.com/love-rising-a-benefit-concert-and-nashville-tennessee-03-20-2023/event/1B005E6786E72207.
