Image Credit: Facebook pages of Metro Nashville Council & The Mighty 990.
Article by Paula Gomes, Tennessee Conservative News –
Nashville’s Metro Council has gone full woke and elected transgender Council Member at-Large Olivia Hill as President Pro Tempore, in a first for the position.
Serving as President Pro Tempore means that Hill will take charge of the 40 members of the council whenever the vice mayor is unavailable. Should the vice mayor’s office become vacant for any reason, Hill would take over until a successor is chosen.
Hill, a native Nashvillian, ran for Metro Council in 2023 which means serving in the position until at least August 31st of next year.
Having served in the engineering division of the U.S. Navy for a decade, Hill did not “come out” as transgender until the age of 52.
After more than 25 years working at the Vanderbilt University Power Plant in a variety of roles which included electrician, plumber, and boiler specialist, before being elevated to leadership, Hill’s transition in 2018 and 2019 led to a federal employment discrimination lawsuit against the university. Hill claimed there was severe harassment. Legal proceedings ended in a settlement in January 2022 and Hill retired at the end of the same year.
Hill’s campaign for public office was backed by the national LGBTQ+ Victory Fund two years later.
Before running for Metro Council, Hill gained legislative experience by serving as chair of the Metro Council’s Government Operations and Regulations Committee, the District Energy System Advisory Board, and of course, the council’s LGBTQ Caucus.
Hill is the descendant of Horace Greely Hill, founder of H.G. Hill Food Stores in 1906, a regional supermarket chain.
Earlier this year, Hill was joined by other council members and city leaders who dressed in drag to perform at a fundraiser for Nashville Pride.
The drag show aimed to raise money for the city’s Pride festival as corporate sponsors have been reluctant to throw money at it for the second year in a row.
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About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
