Olivia Hill, the first openly transgender person elected to public office in Tennessee.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Olivia Hill’s Early Life and Education - Metro Nashville Public Schools
Military Service - 10 years US Navy
Career at Vanderbilt University - 26 years working in the Power Plant
Community Leadership and Activism
Election to Metro Nashville Council
Introduction
Olivia Hill is a trailblazer for transgender rights and the LGBTQ+ community at large. Amber LeMay was lucky enough to have the chance to have a wonderful discussion with Olivia about her life, career, Nashville, and the LGBTQ+ community. You can watch the video here.
Olivia Hill’s Early Life and Education - Metro Nashville Public Schools
Olivia Hill was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended Metro Nashville Public Schools.
According to a profile in the Nashville Scene, Hill showed an interest in engineering and technology from a young age. As a child, she would dismantle household appliances to see how they worked and would build her own amateur radio equipment. Her teachers recognized her talents in math and science and encouraged her to pursue engineering in college. Hill joined the Navy instead.
Military Service - 10 years US Navy
Hill served for 10 years in the US Navy on both Frigates and Destroyers. She completed 3 deployments overseas, two of which were in the Persian Gulf. Hill saw combat during Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf in 1991.
According to Navy records, Hill received several commendations during her military service, including the Navy Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Career at Vanderbilt University - 26 years working in the Power Plant
After leaving the Navy, Hill returned home to Nashville Tennessee where she accepted a position at Vanderbilt University working in the power plant. She rose through the ranks to become Senior Supervisor of the power plant, managing a $100 million annual budget and overseeing daily operations of the 24/7 facility.
According to a Vanderbilt press release, under Hill's leadership she oversaw the power plant's transition from coal to natural gas, reducing the university's carbon footprint. Hill's engineering expertise and management skills were essential to maintaining the complex heating, cooling, and electrical infrastructure serving the Vanderbilt community.
Community Leadership and Activism
In recent years, Hill has become a prominent community leader and activist in Nashville, particularly around LGBTQ+ and women's rights issues. According to Metro Social Services, she has educated police recruits and spoken to numerous local organizations about challenges faced by transgender individuals.
Hill served on the board of the Tennessee Pride Chamber of Commerce and was the Grand Marshall of Nashville's Pride parade in 2023. She received the Chancellor's Heart and Soul Award from Vanderbilt in 2019 recognizing her for her dedication to Vanderbilt and the fact she had held every position in her division. In 2020, she was named LGBTQ Advocate of the Year by Vanderbilt University
Hill made headlines in 2021 when she sued Vanderbilt University for discrimination related to her transition in 2018. According to media reports, the case settled in 2022 on confidential terms. Hill is currently completing a book about her experiences with gender dysphoria and transition.
Election to Metro Nashville Council
On September 14, 2023, Olivia Hill made history by becoming the first openly transgender person elected to public office in Tennessee. She won one of five at-large seats on the Metro Nashville Council in a countywide election.
According to the Nashville Scene, Hill campaigned on a platform of improving infrastructure, utilities, and public safety.
Hill's election is seen as an important milestone for LGBTQ+ rights and representation in Tennessee. However, she has emphasized that she wants to serve all residents of Nashville and work on issues that unite the community. As an at-large councilmember, Hill represents over 600,000 constituents across Davidson County.
—This article was written, restructured, or adapted by Russell with information gathered from sources around the internet. Russell is the producer of Amber Live and is greatly overworked to pull it all together. If it’s on the internet, it must be true. (We’re kidding.) BUT, if you find any errors or omissions in the article, please let us know so that we may correct the issue. Thanks for your support!
