OUR RESEARCH

Community Visioning Project

The LGBTQIA+ community in Nashville and Middle Tennessee has witnessed significant progress in recent years, but still faces challenges in achieving full equality and acceptance. To understand the needs of this community, the Nashville + Middle Tennessee LGBTQIA+ Community Visioning Project conducted extensive outreach and engagement, including surveys, small group conversations, and World Café sessions. ​The findings highlight key priorities such as the need for a centralized, safe, and sober community space; access to affordable and affirming healthcare; and targeted programming and resources for LGBTQIA+ youth and older adults.

Key Points

  • Over 84% of participants indicated that the creation of a centralized, safe, sober space for the LGBTQIA+ community is a priority.

  • Over 82% of participants reported that access to affordable and affirming healthcare is a priority.

  • Over 71% of participants reported that specific programming and resources for LGBTQIA+ young adults (13-26) is a priority for Middle Tennessee.

  • Over 65% of participants reported that specific programming and resources for LGBTQIA+ older adults (55+) is a priority for Middle Tennessee.

  • Over 60% of participants expressed a need for a centralized collection of resources.

“If I wait for someone else to validate my existence, it will mean that I’m shortchanging myself.”

– Zanele Muholi

Envisioning a Future LGBTQIA+ Community Center for Nashville

The document outlines the process of envisioning a future LGBTQIA+ Community Center for Middle Tennessee, created through a partnership between the Civic Design Center and inclusion tennessee. The report summarizes the community feedback gathered through various engagement activities, such as surveys, meetings, and events, and discusses the desired programming, spatial organization, and design considerations for the proposed community center. The report also highlights key precedent studies, recommended sites, and the next steps for this project.

Key Points

  • The mission is to create a safe, welcoming, designed, and programmed space to reflect the LGBTQIA+ community in Middle Tennessee.

  • The community feedback was gathered through various channels, including a community survey, public engagement events, and meetings with stakeholder groups.

  • The desired programming includes gathering spaces, health and wellbeing spaces, affordable housing, and safety/accessibility features.

  • The spatial organization and design considerations focus on creating a privacy gradient, with public spaces closer to the entrance and more private spaces deeper within the building.

  • The next steps involve advocating for the creation of this LGBTQIA+ Community Center and continuing to engage with the community.