Author

Lonnie Lee Hood

Lonnie Lee Hood

Lonnie Lee Hood is a queer Nashville-based writer covering justice, LGBTQ issues and more. They are an amateur roller-skater and live with their hedgehog, Noodle, and three-legged cat, Tom. They are writing a debut novel and have published poetry and sci-fi/fantasy short stories.

(Anne-Marie Miller/Getty Images)

Tennessee’s anti-LGBTQ bills supported by national conservative groups

By: - May 20, 2021

With dozens of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this legislative season around the U.S., human rights groups and nonprofits have been busy fighting discrimination—perhaps only surpassed in productivity by the vast and well-funded networks of nonprofits that lobbied for, and helped write, discriminatory bills in the first place. Three of the heaviest hitters have been the Heritage […]

Opponents of several bills targeting transgender youth attend a rally at the Alabama State House to draw attention to anti-transgender legislation introduced in Alabama on March 30, 2021 in Montgomery, Alabama. There are so far 192 anti-LGBTQ bills under consideration in state legislatures across the United States. Of those, 93 directly target transgender people. (Photo by Julie Bennett/Getty Images)

State could lose millions in business and tourism over discriminatory legislation

By: - April 28, 2021

Since Tennessee Republicans passed a bill prohibiting transgender student athletes from competing on teams that affirm their gender identity, at least three conferences have backed out of coming to the state. Oracle, the tech giant expected to bring thousands of new jobs to Nashville, joined 86 other businesses in signing an open letter against the […]

Metro Nashville motorcycle police photographed on Oct. 22, 2020 at the Belmont University Presidential Debate. (Photo: Metro Nashville Police)

Nashville’s Community Oversight Committee investigating MNPD arrest of minors 

By: - April 1, 2021

The Metro Nashville Community Oversight committee is investigating the arrest of two children Sunday following video of the incident posted on social media. Videos show multiple police officers gathered as one officer pushed a 13-year-old Black child against a car and searched him. According to Angel Stansberry, co-president of activist organization People’s Plaza, two Vanderbilt University […]

A transgender woman hold a transgender pride flag at a rally for LGBTQ rights in New York. (Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images.)

Businesses support anti-transgender legislators despite public PR campaigns

By: - March 10, 2021

Ahead of the Tennessee House of Representatives vote on SB228/HB3, which effectively bans transgender student athletes from competing in sports on teams that affirm their gender identity, both local and national businesses continued to donate money or support Gov. Bill Lee and other GOP legislators who advocate for the bill. For many of those companies, […]

Historic Metro Nashville Courthouse (Photo: Nashville.gov)

After a testy debate in Nashville, vice-mayor commits to equity on boards

By: - February 18, 2021

Nashville Metro Vice-Mayor Jim Shulman committed to selecting a “person of diversity” to sit on the Metro Fair Board following a heated Metro City Council meeting February 16th. During Monday night’s meeting councilmembers considered two appointees to the Hospital Authority board, including Pastor Frank Stevenson and St. Thomas COO Michelle Robertson. Robertson was initially selected […]

Stock market or forex trading graph in graphic concept suitable for financial investment or Economic trends business idea and all art work design. Abstract finance background

Tennesseans buy into GameStop trading frenzy

By: - February 2, 2021

Even if you haven’t picked up a video game controller in years, you’ve likely heard about the historic market debacle involving GameStop and a few other select companies Reddit users have been purchasing stock in.  The subreddit WallStreetBets, a sort of community for amateur investors and day traders, came together in a united effort to […]

Do these look like tourists to you? (Photo: Alex Kent)

Tennesseans play role in mob scene at U.S. Capitol

By: and - January 7, 2021

As photo and video of Wednesday’s rioting at the U.S. Capitol spread across social media, Tennesseeans began recognizing friends and neighbors, with prominent elected officials and local leaders among the mob who entered the federal building and temporarily halted certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s win. NashvilleResist, a popular political Twitter account, reported that at least […]

Gina Coleman has lived in Haynes Park for 39 years and she and neighbors raised $4,500 for 2 security cameras in the neighborhood. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Haynes Park neighbors organize for safer neighborhood

By: - December 15, 2020

After a rash of disconcerting crime in North Nashville’s Haynes Park, neighbors were tired of feeling like “sitting ducks,” according to community activist Gina Coleman. Coleman and her fellow Haynes Park Neighborhood Association board members are doing something about it—fundraising for security cameras, hosting fish fries and other community efforts to reduce crime and change […]

(Photo courtesy of the Daily Post Athenian)

1946 Tennessee election parallels 2020

By: - November 24, 2020

Election season in Tennessee has been a microcosm of the nation’s problems: social media videos of voter intimidation in Knoxville, massive protests led by teens, alleged hate crimes by right-wing instigators and implications of voter fraud by the president, but voters’ memories are short: they may have forgotten that in at least one rural Tennessee town, violence […]

DRAKETOWN, GA - APRIL 21: Members of the National Socialist Movement, one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the US, hold a swastika burning after a rally on April 21, 2018 in Draketown, Georgia. Community members had opposed the rally in Newnan and came out to embrace racial unity in the small Georgia town. Fearing a repeat of the violence that broke out after Charlottesville, hundreds of police officers were stationed in the town during the rally in an attempt to keep the anti racist protesters and neo-Nazi groups separated. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Election chaos and violence possible in Tennessee, experts say

By: - October 20, 2020

Mere minutes after President Donald Trump told the Proud Boys to “stand by,” during the first presidential debate the group started posting merchandise and graphics online bearing the phrase. Based on their posts, the “western chauvinist” group that marched with the KKK at the “Unite the Right” Charlottesville riot in 2017 heard Trump’s call to […]

(Getty Images)

In Rutherford County, incumbent and challenger face off for second time

By: - September 16, 2020

In 2018, the Tennessee House of Representatives race in District 49  was decided by just 1,041 votes. Rep. Mike Sparks, the Republican incumbent first elected in 2010, beat Democrat Chris Mayor by five percent. In 2016, Sparks, who was first elected in 2010, beat Democrat Brandon Thomas by a margin of 61%-39%. Sparks and Thomas […]

(Photo: iStock/Getty Images)

In-person voting rule challenges Rutherford County voter ill with COVID-19

By: - August 14, 2020

On July 29, Brittney Whidden received a phone call from the Rutherford County Election Commission. While her husband’s absentee ballot had been approved, hers would not be. Whidden pushed back, and the election commission made an exception. Whidden, who tested positive for COVID-19 and is recovering, received her ballot via mail July 31, but reached […]