B R O T H E R S    U N I T E d    N E T W O R K
 Founded 1996

The Brothers United Winter Retreat is an event that was created to celebrate, affirm and address a wide range of topics within the Black Same Gender Loving / Queer Male Community.  Historically the retreats were held once a year over the first weekend in December that commemorated with World AIDS Day from 1997-2006. The organization took a hiatus to concentrate on the larger Nashville Black Pride celebration and began hosting the retreat again when Nashville CARES received funding in 2014-16. In 2017, the BU Network organization continued hosting the retreat by increasing registration fees and obtaining its own sponsorships & donations as a separate 501c3 non-profit organization

The atmosphere is very relaxed and gives participants a chance to explore subjects of identity, spirituality, and sexuality. It is facilitated in a non-threatening and culturally sensitive forum. At times it can be entertaining, provocative and emotional. Although the majority of participants live in Tennessee, we continue to get men from out of state and welcome friends from near and far to join us for these historical gatherings. 

Each gathering the retreat has a theme. This theme helps the Retreat Committee to guide the overall concept and direction of the workshops and activities for the weekend. It is also a time celebrate and highlight the outreach work of the entire network of Brothers United chapters devoted to empower, embrace and help provide a better quality of life for those living with or impacted by HIV and other challenges we may face within the Black and LGBTQ communities.