Red carpet premier of 'We're Here' HBO Max episode shows drag queens visit to Murfreesboro

Over 100 LGBTQ+ people and supporters gathered for a recent Friday night movie premier to celebrate and view an HBO Max episode, "We're Here," recorded in Murfreesboro.

The fourth-year documentary series shows three drag queen performers, Priyanka, Sasha Velour and Jaida Essence Hall, visit Murfreesboro, one of several the cities where the "We're Here" series is filmed. The show goes to places where the LGBTQ+ community has faced obstacles, including challenges to First Amendment rights.

In the docuseries, the three performers appear in drag attire at Murfreesboro City Hall, the Rutherford County Courthouse, the Rutherford County Republican Party Headquarters and other downtown areas of the city.

They also posed at the Tennessee Capitol where state lawmakers have sought laws that challenge the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

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Norman Hanks, a co-founder of Rutherford County Pride, talks with Sasha Velour in the first episode in Murfreesboro. Hanks explains that his home was shot at, with bullet holes hitting a bedroom wall and lamp. The incident happened after Hanks had announced his campaign as an openly gay candidate for Rutherford County mayor in 2022.

Hanks also shares the hurt he experienced when the Murfreesboro government unsuccessfully sought to block the annual BoroPride from continuing the LGBTQ+ festival and drag show, The government through a letter from City Manager Craig Tindall accused the BoroPride organizers of exposing “children to a harmful prurient interest.”

BoroPride teamed with attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union to file a federal First Amendment lawsuit to prevent the Murfreesboro government from stopping the annual festival held October 2023 at Tennessee Miller Coliseum. The venue is owned by Middle Tennessee State University.

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The lawsuit challenged a controversial community decency standards ordinance approved by the Murfreesboro City Council June 2023. Only Vice Mayor Bill Shacklett opposed because he had concerns about free speech rights, including access to library books.

The council settled the case by agreeing to repeal the ordinance and outdated language dating back to 1949 that defined homosexuality as being illegal.

Ultimately, in an agreement, city council ended up paying BoroPride and the ACLU $500,000. City insurance covered most of the lawsuit costs, but the government did have to pay over $14,267 in fees for outside legal counsel, spokesman Mike Browning said.

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Hanks is also a drag performer with the stage name, Veronica Paige Velour. The character name had been known as Veronica Paige when Hanks won Miss Boro Pride recognition. He added the Velour name to honor the "We're Here" performer's bond and mentorship.

Dozens posed ahead of the red carpet premiere showing Friday.

Rutherford County Pride will be showing the second episode of the series filmed in Murfreesboro at 8 p.m. Friday at Nourish Food Bank in Murfreesboro. Those attending are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets.

Hanks serves as the chief executive officer for the nonprofit seeking to end hunger by providing many low-income families in need with food in Middle Tennessee.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: 'We're Here' HBO Max episode shows drag queens visit to Murfreesboro