Starting in 2009, multiple interviews were conducted chronicling the lives of gay, transgender and bisexual residents, reflecting on life in Middle Tennessee before 1970, and how homosexuality was viewed in the larger community as part of The Brooks Fund History Project.

These oral histories are archived in Nashville Public Library’s Special Collections Division: Oral History Collections . They were made into the documentary film,  A Secret Only God Knows, directed by Deidre Duker, that premiered on Nashville Public Television in 2015.

The Brooks Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee encourages the inclusion, acceptance and recognition of Middle Tennessee’s lesbian and gay citizens by supporting a variety of nonprofit programs, enhancing the quality of life for the LGBTQ+ community and building bridges between all segments of the community.

 

Additional Video Clips

Born on December 9, 1937, Aleshia Brevard grew up in Tennessee’s smallest county,  Trousdale, and is a transgender female who began living openly at the age of 25.
Born in 1937, Bobbie Fred Smith grew up in East Nashville, Tennessee and is a gay male who began living openly in his early twenties.
Born in 1938, Gail DuBois grew up in the Hillsboro Village/Green Hills neighborhood in Nashville and is a lesbian female who began living openly at the age of 43.
Born in 1932, Jere Mitchumm grew up in East Nashville, Tennessee and is a gay male who began living openly at age 65.

The complete collection of The Brooks Fund History Project is available at the Nashville Public Library Main Branch in the Special Collections Division: Oral History Collections located on the second floor at 615 Church Street, Nashville 37219.

The Brooks Fund, founded in 1995, of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee encourages the inclusion, acceptance and recognition of Middle Tennessee’s lesbian and gay citizens by supporting a variety of nonprofit programs, enhancing the quality of life for the LGBTQ+ community and building bridges between all segments of the community.

All photos © Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee unless otherwise noted.
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