The Conductors is one of the longest surviving gay social and service groups in the city, having been involved in Nashville’s gay community for over 35 years.

We were established in 1982 by a group of friends who shared common interests in leather. Nashville’s gay community in the early 80’s, although thriving, was still small. Knowing that introducing leather boots, vests, and chaps into the nightlife of Nashville’s bar scene was somewhat of a risk at the time, those first members organized that it was vital for acceptance and future to give something back to the community.

At the time, AIDS was not on the forefront of anyone’s mind in Nashville, as it was just beginning to be seen in some of the larger gay communities. For our first couple of years, the Conductors supported various local charities such as the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Angel Tree programs. We sponsored food drives at our first home bar, The Crazy Cowboy, and held regular club nights at our second home bar, The Chute Complex, where we remained for 21 years. The tradition continues at our current home bar, TRAX. We also host a variety of other fundraisers, partnering with many of the local bars.