By Selena Haynes • Photos Courtesy Dakerri Rhone
Dakerri Rhone has had a zest for activism since she was in the eighth grade. She was involved in several community service projects and continued doing it through high school. Her activism became more personal after she came out. “After coming out and feeling confused about how just being me could be so wrong. I started researching and looking for answers. I volunteered my time with everything I could find,” said Dakerri.
The first initiative she ever led was the National Gay Blood Drive, which was a nationwide effort to bring attention to the FDA’s ban on gay/bisexual men donating blood.
Currently, to be eligible to donate blood in the United States, men who have sex with men must abstain from same-sex sexual activity for 90 days in order to be eligible to donate blood. This law is outdated, invasive, and discriminatory when we are in the worst blood shortage than we’ve been in 10 years.
“We set up at Red Cross and encouraged people to donate blood. When gay/bisexual men were denied, we kept track to show the impact that this discrimination had. We also provided free and confidential HIV testing,” Dakerri recalled.
During this time she met Chris Sanders of the Tennessee Equality Project and Dwayne Jenkins from Nashville CARES. “I started attending events, rallies and protests, going to talk to legislators about anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and meeting other amazing advocates,” noted Dakerri.
Changing Mindsets
In years past, Dakerri witnessed a lack of intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community. “I can remember going into a small LGBTQ+ club in an area not far outside of Nashville. Being a young, out and proud lesbian, I was excited, but that quickly faded. I’d never felt so uncomfortable amongst my community. There was one other person who looked like me and she was treated as a ‘token’ from what I could see. It was that day that I realized that there was work intersectionality that needed to be done. We weren’t one big happy family. We, unlike any others, face racism and discrimination within our own community,” said Dakerri.
However, she’s seen mindsets change. “We realize that we’re bonded by our identities as LGBTQ+ people, but more importantly we are weakened when we don’t focus on the work with a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens.”
When she’s speaking to legislators and advocating for equality, she now sees the LGBTQ+ community advocating for issues that specifically affect Black Brown, AAPI, women, and more.
The biggest challenge now has become people acting out of fear. “We are targeted every year by horrific anti-LGBTQ+ bills. The legislators are determined to instill fear to push their agenda. I hear from people, good people who have oppositions due to fear being put into them. It’s creating division and discrimination and our LGBTQ+ youth are paying the price for it,” explained Dakerri.
More than activism
As if her local political activism wasn’t enough, Dakerri became the community leader for the Elizabeth Warren 2020 Presidential campaign. “My experience working with the Elizabeth Warren campaign was amazing! It was the first time I had ever gotten involved in a Presidential campaign so heavily and so early,” said Dakerri.
Starting from scratch, Dakerri and her team learned a lot and were empowered to create the strategy for all aspects of the local campaign. When asked if she’d be involved with another campaign or run for office herself, Dakerri said, “I absolutely would get involved with another campaign if it was a candidate I truly believed in as I do Elizabeth Warren. I have thought about running here locally in Nashville to start. It could happen. Maybe in the next 10 years lol.”
Dakerri also heads up The Nashville Bevy, which is a monthly meet-up for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary peoples. “We meet monthly at local LGBTQ+ friendly bars and breweries. We realize that a lot of our members (including me) are parents, and often our meetups are at kid-friendly locations. It’s a time where we can unwind during the week, meet new friends, network, and just have a great time!”
Currently, there are six chapters – Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans with the first being in Birmingham. The Bevy was created by Carmen Chambers and Brit Blalock.
Dakerri is also proud to have been a member of a national LGBT Greek organization called Beta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc., founded in 2000.
The local Beta Mu chapter in Nashville has been heavily involved in fighting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and pushing for equality/equity. They have been partnering with multiple organizations locally and nationally. Dakerri serves as the national social justice coordinator and has been hosting a series of virtual round tables addressing issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community such as the anti-trans student bills that were signed into law in 2021.
Beta Mu will be hosting an essay contest very soon for LGBTQ+ high students and giving away a laptop to the winner. Once announced, they will be accepting submissions via email at [email protected].
Making History
With all that Dakerri is involved in, she’s bound to be in the history books. She said being a part of history is something that she’s really thought about. “I don’t usually think about where I fit in this. Advocacy gives me a sense of pride and I am honored to be doing this work and impacting lives. I truly feel this is why I am here, to advocate, educate and create change. Not just achieving equality, but establishing equity with a focus on intersectionality. I have so many emotions when I think about making history,” said Dakerri.
About Dakerri
Dakerri has been a Tennessean since she was 4 years old. She came out to her friends in 2001 and her family in 2002. Her best friend and sister, Donielle, was the first person she came out to and although they have a 10 year age gap, they are extremely close and advocate together.
She has an amazing partner named Ashley and they have two beautiful children, Sydney (15) and Jensen (5). Dakerri says they are “little activists in training.”
For her work life, she is the volunteer and community engagement manager for Nashville CARES and when she’s not working, you can find her around town at different coffee shops, breweries and rooftop bars/restaurants. She lives for coffee, wine, craft beer, and good food. She loves music, singing and all things DRAG.
