2020 Issue 6 Nov/Dec - Focus Mid-South Magazine

Serving the Mid-South LGBT+ Community and its Allies | NOV+DEC 2020

THE

GO!

ISSUE

ALLAN

CREASY

MEMPHIS

GO-GETTER

& DEVOTED

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DESIGNERS

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Daphne Butler

INTERACTIVE

+ SOCIAL MEDIA

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Tracy Love

DISTRIBUTION

+ SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Leila Hinkle

RE:FOCUS

PODCAST

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Goldie Dee

Allysun Wunderland

Joan Allison

Vincent Astor

Sheena Barnett

contributors

Chellie Bowman

Tricia Dewey

Sarah Rutledge Fischer

Peter Gathje

Gila Golder

Robin Beaudoin Ownby

Ray Rico

Sarah Rushakoff

Chris Reeder-Young

Focus ® Mid-South is all about LGBT + people and their allies…their work, play, families, creativity, style, health and

wealth, bodies and souls. Our focus is on you.

Focus ® Mid-South is published bi-monthly and distributed free throughout the greater Mid-South area. Focus

reserves the right to refuse to sell space for any advertisement the staff deems inappropriate for the publication.

Press releases must be received by the first of the month for the following issue. All content of this magazine,

including and without limitation to the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content, as well as the

selection, coordination and arrangement thereof, is Copyright ©2020, Focus ® Mid-South. All Rights Reserved. No

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14

CONTENTS

7 THEME: GO!

8 ASK ALLIE

Are you COVID-Lonely? Don’t despair!

10 FOCUS SOCIAL MEDIA

NOV+DEC 2020

12 COMMUNITY

We already rolled out the Focus Awards

virtually. Here, we roll out the winners!

14 LGBT ADVOCATE

Meet Vanessa Rodley, leader of Mid-South

Pride and the novel Virtual Pride Week.

16 ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

We’ve got fresh, syndicated content straight

from a Hollywood tattler!

18 COMMUNITY

Choices has a new facility. See the beautiful

interiors and hear about their refreshed

mission.

20 ORIGINAL MEMPHIS

We take you to Meeman-Shelby Forest State

Park to see its great outdoors, go-to amenities.

36

ON THE COVER: PHOTO

BY SARAH RUSHAKOFF

32

BE PART OF OUR NEXT PUBLICATION

‘THE WOMEN’ ISSUE

JAN + FEB 2021

Submit story ideas: editor@focusmidsouth.com

Editorial submission deadline: December 1, 2020

Advertising inquiries: sales@focusmidsouth.com

Ad space reservation due: December 1, 2020

30

22 TRANSFOCUS

November includes both Trans Awareness

Week and Trans Remembrance Day.

OUTMemphis leaders tell us how we as a

community can support our trans members.

24 FAITH+SPIRITUALITY

November and December are holiday mashup

months for different faith traditions. Rev. Pete

Gathje helps us parse out the meaning of each.

26 PET FOCUS

All creatures great and small deserve care. See

how one local wildlife rehabber does her part.

28 HEALTH+WELLNESS

Sadly, the already at-risk LGBTQ community

has it’s share of depression and suicide. Read

how one Memphis group’s prevention hotline is

helping to save those in despair.

30 LGBT ALLY

Allan Creasy has always been a guy who

dives right in – from politics to bartender

extraordinaire. Meet this Memphis dynamo!

32 LGBT HISTORY

Recent years have no special claim to

queerness. Vincent Astor introduces us to 19th

century female, and male, impersonators.

34 COMMUNITY

There’s a new radio station in town that casts a

wide net over music genres and lifestyles.

36 FOOD+DRINK

Marisa Baggett is a sushi and deli chef who’s

also kosher certified. ‘Busy’ doesn’t cover it!


TikTok. Staying or going?


Ray Rico gives you his Pop Culture picks.


theme

GO! / NOV+DEC 2020 / focusmidsouth.com / Page 7

life

DEAR

WINK

Dear Allie,

I’ve been a good boy and have been

home safe and solo during quarantine.

Let me tell you, it has gotten boring

and lonely. I miss hanging out with my

friends, flirting, even going on dates.

Aside from video chats and phone calls,

it is hard for a gay guy to date in the life

of the ‘Rona. I don’t really like the apps

and find myself going down endless

chats and no-gos. Got any tips?

Yours,

Missing a Wink from a Stranger

Dear WINK,

You may be alone, but you are

certainly not alone in this struggle.

The social isolation that has been a

necessary response to Ms. ‘Rona has

been especially hard on people who live

alone. So, let’s explore some of what

you are probably missing from those

fun, flirty nights and see if we can keep

you going until Ms. ‘Rona is long gone.

COVID-19

BEING ALONE

DOESN’T HAVE

TO FEEL LONELY

by Sarah Rutledge Fischer

One of the things you are probably missing more

than you realize is conversation with strangers. As a

culture, we tend to discount casual interactions with

strangers, deeming them awkward, but studies show

that short interactions with strangers leave people

feeling happier and more connected. You may be

spending more time at home these days, but when

you do go out, put away your phone and talk with the

people around you. Even if it feels awkward, it might

also leave you feeling less isolated for the rest of the

day.

And speaking of connections with strangers,

spontaneity is probably something you are missing

in your dating life these days. Online dating has

advantages, but browsing a profile lacks the

mystery and excitement of meeting the eye of an

attractive stranger across the bar. One

entertaining, if unpredictable, way to satisfy the

need for an occasional sexy flirtation is to use one

of the global video chat services like Omeagle or

Chatroulette. Both of these services have a welldeserved

reputation for unsolicited sexual content

(Allie encountered three, ahem, eggplants before

enjoying a flirty conversation with a very

attractive and fully clothed Frenchman.), so user

beware.


VOICES OF VISION ONLINE CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Once you’ve had your fill of random video

contacts, you might want to return to your online

dating options to seek real connection. When

you’re online dating, the endless chats can all start

to feel the same. So instead of staying on the

surface, try going deep. Once you’ve decided that

you might click with someone, instead of the usual

questions and awkward flirtations, propose asking

each other the famous 36 questions set forth by

psychologist Arthur Aron (https://nyti.

ms/30Nhkim). Designed to be answered in order

by two people sitting face to face, the questions

begin light and build in intensity, with the goal of

encouraging vulnerability and building intimacy. It

might go nowhere, but it will certainly be more

interesting than the usual dating app chat.

Now, the last topic is a bit touchy. Okay, very

touchy. Okay, it’s touch—physical touch. Gentle

physical touch does a ton of good for our bodies

and minds—from lowering the effects of stress to

triggering the release of oxytocin and cortisol.

Touch deprivation, which can result from long

periods of not being touched, can result in

increased feelings of anxiety and depression,

difficulty sleeping, and heightened stress.

But what can you do when touching someone

who isn’t already a part of your immediate circle is

dangerous? You give yourself the sensations of

touch that your body needs. For sexual touch, this

means that when you masturbate, rather than

falling into your regular routine, slow down and

pay attention to the sensations of your skin.

Outside of sexual touch, even taking time to

mindfully rub a gentle hand across your own arm

or down your own neck can trigger the

physiological benefits of touch. (According to a

2017 study, the ideal touching speed is between 3

and 5 centimeters per second.) Mindfulness of

touch sensations can also help--pay attention to

the feeling of your foot against the ground or the

coolness of water as it flows down your throat.

Embrace other tactile comforts such as a taking a

hot bath, using a weighted blanket, or snuggling

with a pet.

None of this is a substitute for the joy of

spending time out in the world with beloved

friends and attractive strangers. But for now, it just

might get you through until Ms. ‘Rona is gone. At

the very least, it should get you started.

Your friend,

Allie

To submit your own question, email Allie at

Allie@focusmidsouth.com. Focus Mid-South reserves

the right to edit letters for length and clarity.

J oy : He Shall Reign

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community

It was an evening of glitz, glam,

phenomenal honorees, and....roller skating!

Yep, Focus publisher, Ray Rico, in a

dramatic performance that would have

dominated at the Oscars, decided to ‘roll

out’ the stress of creating a ‘Virtual Focus

Awards 2020’ with a roller skating dream

sequence set to Olivia Newton John’s

Xanadu (with parody lyrics). Memphis

producer Savannah Bearden was a crucial

partner in this couple’s skate, weaving

together all the virtual parts into a DeMilleesque

vision.

Did Rico really stress? Probably. Did he

love every minute of producing the virtual

ceremony? Absolutely!! It was his, and the

community’s, opportunity to honor the

great work of LGBTQ+ persons and allies

in the Mid-South. And thanks entirely to

COVID-19, it was all presented during

Mid-South Pride’s own virtual Pride Week

celebration.

Congratulations to all of our nominees

and a special nod to this year’s honorees.

Wanna see the entire virtual

presentation, including Rico on skates?

Watch it now on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/7bdOEj-3gso


AND THE WINNERS ARE:

D.R.U.S. BAR | TAMI MONTGOMERY

JERRED PRICE

As the People’s Choice winner, Jerred was

awarded $7,500 to give to the charity of his

choice. Jerred selected the Elton John AIDS

Foundation to receive the award.

JOHNATHAN UNDERWOOD


lgbt advocate

Sarah Rushakoff Q&A with

VANESSA

RODLEY

With a dogged determination to keep the beloved festival alive amid the

COVID-19 pandemic, Rodley led a team of volunteers at Mid-South Pride

to produce a novel Pride Week 2020 — the Virtual Edition.

photo by Sarah Rushakoff

Have you had to get creative

with your career during the

pandemic?

Oh, absolutely. I was

working 80+ hours a week last

year, so my wife and I decided

I was going to take the first

few months of 2020 off, focus

on my health, and then jump

back out there. Well, then

COVID happened. So we had

to reevaluate the pros and

cons of me going back to

work. People weren’t really

hiring, so I only worked for

Pride this year. I don’t get paid

to do this, but I knew I needed

to really step up and lead us in

the right direction. I have a

great board but they aren’t

used to planning a virtual

event like this. I’d say I did

about 80 percent of the work

for virtual pride. I do have to

say, I couldn’t do this without

my wife. She is my second

brain.

Was it a hard decision to go

virtual?

Pride is a feeling. You

cannot cancel a feeling. We

had to find a way to make that

happen at home for people.

We tried to get in front of it

as early as we could, especially

since we knew some of the

smaller prides in the area

would look to us and follow

our lead. I watched all the

virtual events I could and took

notes, so we could create an

event people would want to

participate in from home. We

used Global Pride as our

template for how we wanted

to do things and engage

people.

Instead of doing a live

caravan that would encourage

people to gather in large

groups, we pre-recorded the

entire thing so it was easy to

watch it from home. That

ended up being amazing.

Overall, we streamed about 20

hours of festival content

between Thursday and

Sunday. We had 24,000

people watch.

What aspects of a physical

festival were the most

difficult to recreate virtually?

A big part of the feedback

we get every year is that

someone found a church that

accepts them. It’s lifechanging

for a lot of people,

especially here in the south. So

we planned a multi-faith virtual

service with 32 participating

congregations, way more than

in past years. I’d talked to

Reverend Sam [Teitel] over at

Church of the River, and he did

an amazing job getting a lot of

congregations involved.

Our nonprofits that do HIV

testing, or PrEP, and things like

that, rely on the day of pride to

get the most tests

administered as possible. We

dedicated Thursday to make

sure our community is aware

of these places. We invited

nonprofits to share a video

about who they are, what they


Pride is a feeling.

You cannot cancel a feeling.

We had to find a way

to make that happen

at home for people.

— Rodley on cancelling the live Pride week

versus producing a virtual Pride Week

do, and why they need our

support. I personally learned

so much about our nonprofits

than I ever knew before.

What other events do y’all

have besides the annual

festival and parade?

For years, I’d been trying to

bring our community a 5k, the

first LGBTQ 5k in our region.

We went virtual and hit our

target goal for our first year,

which was great. We’re

bringing it back for 2021. Also,

we did the Drag N Drive this

year, it sold out almost ten

days before the event. We had

people begging for tickets and

we couldn’t give any more,

because the health

department was strict about

the number of cars. For next

year, we’ll just do two screens,

or even more. We tried to run

a poker tournament, but the

legalities were too hard to deal

with. We hope to do it in the

future.

What is Mid-South Pride

doing as an organization to

serve the Black and POC

LGBTQ community in

Memphis?

A lot of people don’t realize

we have Tri-State Black Pride.

They have more of an

education base, so their

platform is more hosting

things for people to learn.

We’ve teamed up with

Headliners Memphis, they did

a virtual pull-up event for

pride about sexual health. We

shared My Sistah’s House on

both Thursday and Saturday to

help share their message and

help with their funding. The

PAIGE [The Project of

Advancement in Gays’ Efforts]

is amazing, and we shared

their video on Thursday as

well. We hope to start teaming

up with more organizations in

the future and sharing what

they do.

I was raised in Los Angeles,

so I have a more forwardthinking

upbringing than most

people here in the south. Not

saying that my thinking was

better, but I was raised

differently. When I got here, I

saw the division. We went out

of our way this year to make

sure we had equal parts Black

to white, try to bring brown

and Asian into this as well, so

we can show diversity across

the board. I joined the board

eight years ago and there have

been an average of two Black

or POC board members ever

since then. We are all in.

Do you plan to keep having a

virtual component for the

future? How will pride look in

2021?

Even if we do have in-person

events in the next few years,

there will be people who can’t

be there because of health

issues, but they still want to

celebrate. Now that we’ve

learned how to do it virtually,

we’ll use aspects of that every

year. For 2021, we’re moving

Mid-South Pride to the first

weekend in June. We’re calling

it “Going Home to June.”

Hopefully it can be physical, if

not, it’ll be virtual.

Above, Rodley at the 2017 Pride Fest in Memphis. Below left,

Rodley with Pride staffer Matt Doyle, at the 2019 Pride Fest.

Rodley

©Kevin Reed Photography

Upper right group: For the virtual Pride this year, the Pride

volunteers prepared ‘Pride Packs’ for those watching the

streaming show. Pick ups. From left, Rodley, and board

members Kelly Carpenter, Matt Doyle, Jennifer Murry

Lower group: Board members Lexie Hatcher, Jennifer Murry,

Jr Stone, and Rodley, close the Pride Festival with a Grand

Marshals Sunday Brunch.

Rodley Rodley


lgbt arts+entertainment

senior

INSIDE

story by Romeo San Vicente

Boys In The Band star Robin de

Jesús goes Boom

What we love most in this life is a real queen, someone whose

flashing discoball personality you can feel from miles away. And

if you watched the recent Netflix update of Boys In The Band,

you saw Camp star Robin de Jesus, then you witnessed a

queenly performance of extravagant proportions. Rooting for

this three-time Tony nominated actor is one of our hobbies and

we’re thrilled to see him included in the cast of the upcoming

directorial debut from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tick, Tick… Boom!

Based on the semi-autobiographical stage musical from Rent

creator Jonathan Larson, the story concerns an aspiring theater

composer approaching 30 and despairing that he might not

realize his dreams (no spoilers intended, but we’re going to

assume it has a happy ending). The cast for this one is

impressive: de Jesús is joined by Andrew Garfield, Alexandra

Shipp, Vanessa Hudgens, Bradley Whitford and Judith Light. It’s

all just getting underway right now, so maybe by the time it’s

ready to hit a big screen… well, you know.

Kaley Cuoco takes off in

The Flight Attendant

Like so many experiences with air travel, The Flight Attendant

hit some pretty major turbulence. The new Kaley Cuoco-starring

limited series based on the novel of the same name by Chris

Bohjalian and executive produced by Greg Berlanti (Love,

Simon), was in the middle of shooting its first season for HBO

Max when the COVID shutdown began. Then in late August

production resumed on the remaining episodes for a future air

date. The story involves Cuoco’s flight attendant waking up in

Dubai on a layover, with a hangover and a dead body lying next

to her. Unable to remember the night before, she begins to think

she might be the killer. We love a murder mystery and we also

love it when a sitcom powerhouse changes up her career with

something unsavory. The supporting cast includes Rosie Perez,

Bebe Neuwirth, our favorite Girls “girl” Zosia Mamet and the

return of Grey’s Anatomy’s T.R. Knight. So we’ll be streaming

along when this one finally arrives, later than expected,

sometime in November.

Tessa Thompson finds Jazz Age

romance in Sylvie’s Love

Cue up our enthusiasm for Sylvie’s Love. Written and directed

by Eugene Ashe (director of the 2012 indie feature

Homecoming), it stars queer fave Tessa Thompson and former

NFL All-Pro player-turned-actor Nnamdi Asomugha as lovers in

1957 New York. She dreams of working in TV and he’s a

struggling jazz saxophonist. When circumstances separate

them and pull them in

different directions,

they become mutual

“One(s) That Got Away.”

Fast forward many

years later to a reunion

and one more chance

for romance. The film

co-stars Eva Longoria,

Wendi McLendon-

Covey (The Goldbergs),

Aja Naomi King (How To

Get Away with Murder),

and Jemima Kirke

(Girls). Amazon drops

this one on Christmas

Day, and with the period setting and the promise of that kind of

only-in-the-movies romance, it sounds like the perfect gift.

Meet Sam Jay, Late Night Host

It’s very possible you aren’t aware of Sam Jay. The Black

lesbian stand-up comic has appeared on Netflix’s The Comedy

Lineup and starred in her own Comedy Central special, before

getting her own Netflix standup special in 2020, Sam Jay: 3 in

the Morning. But in a world of too many TV choices, you might

still have missed her. It’s more likely that you know her work as a

writer on Saturday Night Live as the co-creator of the recurring

sketch, “Black Jeopardy.” Well, you’ll soon be able to see her

work on HBO as the host of an as-yet-untitled late night series

– one executive produced by Insecure showrunner Prentice

Penny – where she’ll dissect culture and politics from her unique

perspective. Currently, Peacock is streaming another late night

format show hosted by a Black woman, The Amber Ruffin Show,

which means all we need now is for another platform to do the

same thing for this to become the trend it always should have

been. For now at least it’s a welcome future disruption in the

late night world of seemingly endless white dudes. Jay’s HBO

bow takes place sometime in 2021.

PHOTO BY KATHCLICK


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health+wellness

CHOICES

NEW BUILDING GIVES LIFE

TO BETTER HEALTHCARE

story and photos by Tricia Dewey

With the opening of their new

offices on the edge of the Medical

District slightly farther west than

their original building, Choices

staff and patients are wrapped in

the quilt-like outer coat that

architect Peter Warren used for

the exterior of the new building.

Choices executive director

Rebecca Terrell and architect

Peter Warren coordinated on the

idea of the green quilt-like pattern

‘as a Southern symbol of comfort,

strength, and diversity that holds

all these diverse pieces and

makes up this beautiful and

strong thing that is very much

what Choices is.’

Choices opened in 1974

immediately after Roe v. Wade

was decided; several Midtown

women bought a building, hired a

doctor, and organized the clinic

as a nonprofit to provide

reproductive rights services. For

the initial 20 years, it was a first

trimester abortion care and birth

control provider. In the last 10 or

15 years their services began to

expand, and in 2013 Choices

sought to physically grow their

practice. Katy Leopard, director

of external affairs at Choices, says

it was then that they saw birth

and prenatal care as part of that

reproductive life journey. “There

was a real need in our community

for some choices around birth.”

The board agreed and a

marketing study showed that the

community also embraced this

idea. In 2014 they started the

process of raising $6 million. Six

years later, the result is a brand

new, full services reproductive

rights facility that more than

triples their capacity to see

patients.

Making their case to funders,

Choices felt they had a powerful

story to tell about the purpose of

their new project. First, it was

about reducing the stigma

around abortion. Providing

abortion in the context of birth,

prenatal care, and all of their

other services defines it as a part

of reproductive health care.

Second, from a business

standpoint, by diversifying

services, Choices can continue to

operate if abortion becomes

impossible to provide. Leopard

says, the third reason is the

community need. “They need

choices around birth. Bodily

autonomy is really what we’re

about,” she said citing abortion,

birthing methods, trans

healthcare, and life choices as

decisions that should be left to

individuals.

It’s an experience just walking

from the private parking lot to the

secure entrance in the back of the

building. Leopard says, “It is

inspiring. I’ve had so many people

tell me this is the one bright spot

in their 2020. And it certainly is

for me. We’ve been open and

running since September 8. And

we’re the first in the country as a

nonprofit to do full spectrum

reproductive health including

abortion and birth under the

same roof.”

The secure, back entrance is a

covered open air seating area

that can eventually open to the

interior spaces to host

community events, documentary

screenings, or panel discussions


for community education around

midwifery and other aspects of

Choices services. Stepping inside,

the large and bright waiting area

is welcoming and airy. The three

birthing suites upstairs are the

crown jewels of this new space,

each outfitted with a double bed,

birthing tub for two, space for a

birthing sling, and an outdoor

area.

The focus on the birthing

center brings additional work on

maternal health care. Choices is

working to advocate for better

TennCare reimbursement rates

for births and for postnatal care

and to improve the outcomes in

this area for their uninsured,

underinsured, and TennCare

populations. Choices is now able

to provide natural childbirth and

home birth options to their

patients on TennCare, which

includes about 70% of their birth

patients. According to Leopard,

after care with Choices, patients

are faring much better than

Shelby County statistics. “Our

folks are all breastfeeding, they

are carrying to term, they have

healthy babies, families are good.

We really think postpartum care

is a really important part of that.”

Currently the four midwives on

staff at Choices are working on

home or hospital births. The birth

center will be credentialed by the

state in November 2020 and then

be ready for use. Choices expects

200 deliveries there in the next

year.

All of the new developments at

Choices track with their

philosophy of bodily autonomy.

Leopard explains, “There’s so

much in the health care world,

where people are being told what

they can and cannot do and some

of it wasn’t based on medical

facts. So back in 2009 we decide

to start a fertility practice

because we had heard that the

fertility practices here in Memphis

would not work with you if you

were not married to someone of

the opposite sex. And to us that

was crazy.” Choices doesn’t treat

infertility but it can order sperm,

do inseminations, and track

cycles. In their birth center,

families of all types can now give

birth and not feel any kind of

stigma.

After opening their fertility

practice, Choices started to see

many patients who reported a

real need for a safe space for

sexual and reproductive health

that is open, welcoming, and

culturally competent to serve the

LGBTQ+ community. They began

a dialogue with the community to

learn more. Leopard explains,

“We heard good and bad things

on our journey. When we started

serving the trans population we

had a real education process to

go through with our staff and that

was good and it’s ongoing, it

doesn’t end….We have almost

200 patients who come to us

from a 300-mile radius or more

because we don’t require a letter

from a counselor, we have a

payment plan, and other things

like that that make the hormone

replacement or whatever the care

is accessible.”

Joy Evans is Choices’ LGBTQ+

coordinator who responds to

these and other LGBTQ+ patients

who have questions about

Choices services provided and

costs. She is a friendly face to

answer questions and provide

information about Choices

available health care services.

Like Choices itself, Evans and

other staff expect to revel in their

beautiful new space and turn

their focus to the quality of their

expanded services.

Above left, the lobby of the new

Choices building features tons of

natural light and bright, cheerful

colors. Above right, a meeting

space in subdued, calm tones. At

left, a state of the art birthing suite

that includes a birthing tub for

two, double bed, space for a

birthing sling, and an outdoor

space directly accessible from the

birthing suite.


travel

SHUTTERSTOCK

Original Memphis

MEEMAN-SHELBY FOREST STATE PARK

story and photos by Tricia Dewey


Located on the third Chickasaw

Bluff, Meeman-Shelby Forest State

Park is 13 miles north of Memphis

and contains 12,529 acres of

oak-hickory forest, two lakes, 20

miles of hiking trails, a biking trail,

two disc golf courses, and miles of

fresh air. This Tennessee State Park

is a 30-minute drive from the

Memphis area and perfect for a

morning, afternoon, or even

overnight camping or cabin

excursion. If you have only visited

for the First Day Hike or Memphis

Runners 10-milers (otherwise

known as “the beast”) you are

missing out.

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

is situated adjacent to land managed

by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources

Agency that fronts the Mississippi

River and is managed for hunting

and fishing access. Next to these

bottomlands, Meeman-Shelby

Forest rises from 180- to 200-foot

bluffs that were formed by silt from

glacial deposits during the Ice Age.

These bluffs are now covered with

oak, American beech, hickory, sweet

gum, several champion trees, and

other endangered and protected

plants.

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

began as Shelby Forest State Park

and was a New Deal-established

recreation demonstration area run

by the National Park Service in the

1930s. According to a monument to

the Civilian Conservation Corps

(CCC) next to the visitor center, the

CCC worked to develop the park,

and later the Works Progress

Administration (WPA) continued

the work. Between 1933 and 1941

the CCC and WPA built the

Mississippi River Group Camp,

established trails and picnic areas,

and planted 200,000 black locust

trees. In 1944, Meeman-Shelby

Forest was deeded to the state for

use and oversight. Edward J.

Meeman, editor of the Memphis

Press-Scimitar, was instrumental in

helping to establish Great Smoky

Opposite page, a barred

owlet. The 13,476-acre park is

home to over 240 species of

birds including the barred owl.

In 2006, The Audubon Society

designated Meeman-Shelby

an Important Bird Area.

Activities and amenities within the park include playgrounds, disc golf, boating, camping,

cabins, hiking trails, birding, horseback riding trails, fishing, and Mississippi River boat launches.

Mountains National Park and

Meeman-Shelby Forest. He owned a

farm near the park and according to

tennesseeencyclopedia.net he

“insisted that forests in his region

could be made to prosper once

again.”

When the pandemic hit in

March, the park rangers and staff

took the opportunity to work on

some spring cleaning projects in the

campground areas and other

facilities, but since then according

to James Wilkinson, park manager,

they have been open and running

full steam with CDC and state

protocols in place. The afternoon

visits have been increasing as have

been the weekenders but there is

plenty of space for distanced

outdoor fun. “We have a 49-site

campground. We’ve got three

primitive sites and we have six rental

cabins that are located right on

Poplar Tree lake. So it’s just a nice

little way to get away that’s close,

kind of like a staycation.” The park

also contains meeting rooms and

tn.gov

outdoor areas suitable for weddings.

Wilkinson says that fall in

particular is a nice time to visit the

park. “Usually what will happen

during the fall of the year is we will

see an increase especially in the

camping on the weekends. We have

a lot more people that are staying a

lot closer just because of everything

going on, which is really nice. It’s

just a beautiful time to come out...

we are getting into the time when

the leaves are falling and this place

is really pretty driving through the

roadways and just seeing the color

changes.”

Any of the hiking trails are

moderately easy walks and the

biking trail is partly paved and rated

moderate. Poplar Tree Lake is a nice

paddle and following the shore line

can bring you close to great blue

herons and other native birds. There

are several bald eagle nests here and

sightings are not uncommon.

Wilkinson says they see bobcats

fairly often and he has noticed more

turkeys in the park this year. Check

out their Facebook page for their

programming and posts like the

Meeman Minute about local plants,

animals, and conservation ideas.

Seasonal ranger Eric Rosenthal’s

posts about snakes that he looks for

around the park are especially

educational and entertaining.

Campsites, cabins (which sleep up to

six people), and other

accommodations can be reserved on

their website or over the phone.

Their First Hike, Swamp Canoe

Float, and other special events are

popular. As Wilkinson says “it’s

really close to the city but we are a

great little getaway, even for an

afternoon, to get away from the

hustle and bustle…. Being outside

does a lot of things--you get your

exercise, you get out into the fresh

air, it’s also a quiet place, good place

to reflect and just be able to slow

down a little bit, take some time,

enjoy nature, and enjoy what’s out

there.” At Meeman-Shelby Forest

State Park what is out there is good

for the soul.


Transgender Awareness Week is

Nov. 13-19 with the Day of

Remembrance on Nov. 20. What

is OUTMemphis planning?

We’re going to do a week-long

event on our social media

accounts, having LGBTQ

community members post

photos and quotes about their

experiences of what it means to

be part of the community.

It’s important to have the

week of awareness before the

day of remembrance so that we

have something that focuses on

the positive aspects of the trans

community. While I think it’s

important to hold space for our

community members who were

lost, it’s also important to

consider how we can stop the

violence. We can do that by

normalizing the existence of

trans people.

What resources does

OUTMemphis have for trans

people?

We are in the process of going

through our Trans Best of

Memphis survey, updating this

year’s guide to doctors, gyms,

and many types of places where

trans people have told us they

feel comfortable going.

The Latinx trans community is

helping us by translating the

survey into Spanish. The survey

is still open. We want the best

community resource

representation possible before

we end the survey and publish

the guide.

If someone needs a specific

resources now, email info@

outmemphis.org or call (901)

278-6422. Trans Lifeline is also

available for community

members in crisis. Call (877)

565-8860; all the operators are

trans-identified.

Does OUTMemphis still have

support groups?

Yes! We have weekly virtual

groups on Zoom for transidentified

folks. For LGBTQ+ or

allied youth, we have two groups

split by age: for ages 13 to 17, we

have PRYSM; those 18 to 25 can

attend GenQ.

Virtual T is another group for

ages 18+ on the trans spectrum

including gender non

conforming and non-binary

folks. Some people attend GenQ

and Virtual T, especially if they

need that space to connect with

other community members.

How can CIS people learn more

about the trans experience to

be good allies?

Look up people like Janet

Mock and Laverne Cox, who

have really good social media

presences, written works, and

interviews that are easy to find.

Great websites include GLSN

(Gay, Lesbian and Straight

Education Network - info

especially for youth); HRC

(Human Rights Campaign - basic

information); TSER (Trans

Student Educational Network);

the National Center for Trans

Equality; GLAAD; and others.

Books, even older ones like

Transgender Warriors, talk about

TRANSGENDER

AWARENESS WEEK and DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

transfocus

by Sarah Rushakoff with Alexander Hauptman, OUTMemphis Transgender Services Manager

Alex Hauptman (left),

OUTMemphis Transgender

Services Manager (he/him),

and Mackenzie Williams (she/

her), who currently holds the

Trans Services Fellowship with

OUTMemphis).

how long trans and gender

nonconforming people have

been in different cultures

throughout history. It makes the

point that we’ve always existed

and we’re not just going to go

away. It’s important that people

understand that, acknowledge it,

and celebrate it.

What can we change in

Memphis to better support

people on the trans spectrum?

No one thing is gonna make

trans people safe, and get jobs,

and get housed. I think even just

doing the work in your own head

to check your assumptions,

educate yourself, and learn how

to call people out and disrupt

some of the harmful patterns in

our society. You have the ability

to improve your behavior, and

model it for others.

Do what you have the power

to do. If you’re working in an

office and you deal with

paperwork, make sure people

can list their pronouns and the

name they go by if they haven’t

changed it legally. If you work in

an apartment complex and see

trans people being discriminated

against, speak up for them. It

doesn’t take a lot to start shifting

systems to be more welcoming.

Even for me, someone who

“passes” pretty well, there are

still plenty of men’s bathrooms

that I can’t use because there are

no stalls and no lock on the door.

That’s my pet peeve, not being

able to pee.

What changes would you like to

see in Memphis and beyond

between now and Transgender

Awareness Week 2021?

Access to gender-affirming

healthcare and medical transition

measures, finding doctors who

care about interacting with trans

patients in a respectful manner

and who put the effort into

actually learning about hormone

treatments would be huge.

With trans youth, there’s a

ripple effect. If a child doesn’t

feel safe in school, they’re not

going to go. If they don’t go to

school, it’s hard to get good jobs.

When they’re bullied and

harassed and kicked out of the

house, sometimes they have to

turn to alternate means of

getting by. They’re more likely to

turn to self-medicating, attempt

suicide, become incarcerated,

and end up with HIV, which has

infection rates that are much

higher in the trans population.

A lot of progress has been

rolled back over the past few

years when it comes to creating

safer spaces in schools for trans

youth. Legislators have been

going after access to sports,

extracurricular activities, and the

bathroom. With better policies,

and teachers who are supportive

and use the correct names and

pronouns and shield vulnerable

kids from bullying, kids can

succeed rather than fail.

Recently there was another

trans woman murdered in

Louisiana, which was the year’s

32nd reported murder of a trans

person, the highest reported

number of any year so far. We

still put our focus on the

violence. Why aren’t we also

putting effort into addressing

the unhealthy masculinity that

perpetuates it? Giving these

perpetrators access to mental

health tools without shame or

stigmas, so their own internalized

issues aren’t causing someone

else to be assaulted or murdered.

That’s a piece of the

conversation that’s typically

missing.

For a full list of OUTMemphis’

trans services, go to

outmemphis.org/programsservices/transgender/

Trans Awareness Week

activities are on facebook.

com/outmemphis/?ref=page_

internal


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faith+spirituality

RELIGIOUS

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

HOLIDAYS

by Peter R. Gathje

At the December 2019 holiday festival in Haifa,

Israel, a Christmas tree, Star of David-shaped

menorah, and a star and crescent, symbolize the

three major world religions in a sign of coexistence.

Photo: Shutterstock


Faith and the holidays are

inextricably bound together. Yet

the religious traditions that gave

birth to the “holiday season” are

perhaps as difficult to negotiate

as a holiday meal with a

distempered relative. Is there a

“war on Christmas?” Should we

tell our child that Santa Claus is

a fantasy? Should people who

are not Christian put up a tree

and exchange gifts? Do Muslims

have a holiday to celebrate this

time of year? Is Hannukah the

Jewish Christmas? What are

Hindus doing putting up all

those lights? Do Buddhists see

Jesus as a Bodhisattva?

Even starting to ask those

questions is a sure way to get

into hot water. What religious

traditions were not mentioned?

Who gets to speak for what a

religion holds? A quick read of

articles that examine being

Buddhist, or Muslim, or Jewish,

or Hindu, or anything other than

Christian at Christmastime,

reveals the difficulties of

negotiating various religious

traditions in the holiday season.

The flipside to such potential

for controversy is that the faiths

celebrating during “the holidays”

are as delightfully diverse as

“the holidays” themselves. It is

true that in the U.S. the holidays

originated in the celebration of

the Christian feast of Christmas.

Yet the holidays today, at their

best, have expanded to draw in

celebrants from a variety of

faiths and no faith at all.

And here is where we might

want to focus. At the heart of

the holidays, in all of the faiths,

is a wonderful affirmation of

human compassion, of the

goodness of human life, and the

triumph of good over evil and

light over darkness. This heart of

the holidays even plays out in

secular versions that appear in

holiday movies and days off of

work to gather with family and

friends. In this holiday spirit we

can go with the Buddhist monk

Ajahn Chah who said, “Anything

that inspires us to see what is

true and do what is good is

proper practice.”

For those in the Christian

tradition, human compassion,

hope, and the victory of

goodness are grounded in the

celebration of the birth of Jesus.

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus’ birth is

marked by angels who appear

praising God and proclaiming,

“on earth peace among those

with whom God is pleased.”

Within Judaism, the Feast of

Hannukah celebrates the

rededication of the Second

Temple after the overthrow of

foreign rule. The lighting of the

Menorah commemorates the

miracle of enough lamp oil in

those days of scarcity to keep

the lamp in the Temple lit for

eight days. For Buddhists,

“Bodhi Day” on December 8th

recalls the day of Buddha’s

enlightenment under the Bodhi

tree. The Hindu feast of Diwali is

a festival of lights, and across its

many meanings is a shared

affirmation of the victory of light

over darkness, knowledge over

ignorance, and good over evil.

For Muslims, Eid al-Fitr marks

the end of Ramadan. Renewed

Each faith in its distinctive way

remembers the goodness of life,

of being with each other,

and the responsibility to

be compassionate and seek

the well-being of others.

in their faith through the

practices of Ramadan, Muslims

emerge with refreshed

connection with each other and

with the world, celebrated with

gatherings and good food.

Each faith in their distinctive

ways remembers the goodness

of life, of being with each other,

and the responsibility to be

compassionate and seek the

well-being of others. Each faith

also recalls people to a kind of

humility and shared humanity.

Jesus was born on the margins,

in an obscure corner of the

Roman Empire, to a people

enduring foreign occupation. He

comes, as he says, “to bring

good news to the poor.” The

Menorah was lit as a way for the

Jewish people to once again

affirm their existence against

powerful forces that sought to

extinguish them. The Buddha

emptied of the trappings of

wealth and status came to

enlightenment under the Bodhi

tree. Dwali’s lamps symbolize

the inner light that protects

from spiritual darkness, and

the defeat of those forces that

try to coerce us towards evil.

Eid al-Fitr affirms the

goodness of spending time

with loved ones, of shared

meals, of sharing with the

poor, and gathering for

worship of God.

There is in these religious

traditions, at the heart of the

holidays, a counter-cultural

message that is often lost in

the sea of consumerism that

now surrounds the holiday

season. Joy comes in

attending to our relationships

with family and friends, with

each other, and not in the

acquisition of more and more

things. Love affirms the

goodness of each person in the

midst of our diversities if we are

to live well together. Hope

realistically acknowledges the

difficulties and dangers of

human life, but still affirms life

shared with each other is worth

living. Faith undergirds joy, and

love, and hope. And faith in this

holiday season, affirms that

sorrow, separation, and the

shadows of our lives, may be our

teachers if we listen to the

wisdom that life is stronger than

death, and that light is stronger

than darkness.

During the coronavirus crisis, services are online only at www.churchoftheriver.org

pet focus

OUT OF THE

WOODS:

A NEW ANIMAL

RESCUE

story and photos by Robin Beaudoin Ownby

Wildlife rescues and

rehabbers are a rare and wild

breed themselves, waving off

the ugly to get to the healing

and release of wild animals.

Memphis and the Mid-South’s

facilities have been stretched

thin to rescue injured and

orphaned wild animals, so the

introduction of Out of the

Woods is a welcome presence.

Rescuer/owner Sami Harvey

lives and works on the

property in Shelby Forest, with

a lake behind, and surrounded

by woods, creating an ideal

space for the animals to be

released. Decorated with

hanging plants and a ceiling

strung with twinkle lights, this

space has a positive vibe.

Harvey allows a squirrel time to

explore his area outside his enclosure.

Sami Harvey demonstrates

the two-stage raccoon release

cages, explaining what they eat

and their surroundings,

“They’re all under the building

right now. They can get out of

everything. They made a little

hole right here. They sleep

underneath the facility during

the day, that’s by design.”

Raccoons are her favorite to

rehab, and the building is

packed with two cages full of

squirrels and one opossum,

affectionately named George

Jones, who is soon to be

released. George Jones was

bitten by a dog and is finishing

a round of antibiotics. Harvey

expects more opossums in the

spring. People sometimes even

check the pouches of

dead opossums on the

roadside and rescue

their babies.

Open the doors to

the building and

former residents of the

rescue come to visit.

One adult squirrel

strolls in to socialize

with Harvey and the

other teenage

squirrels. She

recognizes the squirrel

and lets him explore in

and around the cage

with his playmates.

Regarding release, she

states, “They don’t go

from being inside to

Left, Harvey holdings resident opposum, George Jones.

At right, a baby squirrel laps up formula as he’s syringe fed.

outside overnight. Squirrels are

born in the spring and the fall,

and the fall babies, you have to

release where you raised them

and feed them over the winter,

then they go on their way.” In

one corner of the building, she

keeps the baby squirrels, just

growing hair, and feeds them

one by one with a bottle of

squirrel formula.

There are a few ways to

become a rehabber. Harvey

suggests, “You can go formal

education, earn your hours

through another rehabber, but

really getting your hands dirty

and understanding what goes

into it is important. Mentally,

it’s a lot of hugging baby

animals and happy endings,

but in reality, it’s a lot of poop

and it’s a lot of death. There’s

no getting around it. Not

everyone will survive, no

matter how much you love

them. It’s messy.” Harvey

volunteered with a rehab

mostly dealing with raccoons

for the better part of summer.

“They’re like little toddlers

forever. They’re just like

babies.” The vet, Dr. Ralph

Pope, cares for the animals in

need of medical attention

beyond Harvey’s scope,

volunteering time and advice.

“I brought him a squirrel, and

he just felt it and knew which

bone to set. They do die,” says

Harvey. “The ugly parts of the

job are watching animals die,

the smells, the cage cleaning,

and some long nights and busy

days.”

The rescue is holding a

holiday auction fundraiser in

November (visit their website

for details). Local artists and

vendors have donated time

and items to the cause. Out of

the Woods is funded

exclusively through donations.

Harvey makes the most of

every opportunity. “Every time

I get a promotional email, I

reply to them with an email

asking for donations.”

Currently, the animals are

drinking Liquid Death water,

donated by the company.

Grove cleaning supplies

donated $50 as well. Groceries

are always in high demand,

with all of the animals needing

bedding, food, and materials.

Want to help? Contact Sami at

outofthewoodswildlife@gmail.com

outofthewoodswildlife.org

901.340.6534

Need your pet fixed?

Spay Memphis offers high quality, affordable

spay/neuter services to the public.

Call for more information 901-324-3202 spaymemphis.org

It’s our

differences

that make

us great.

Kathy Thurmond-Edwards, Agent

680 West Brookhaven Circle

Memphis, TN 38117

Bus: 901-767-7744 Cell: 901-550-5852

www.teamkte.com

No matter what you value, I’m

here to help protect it with

respect and professionalism.

Here to help life go right. ®

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Memphis, TN 38104

901.572.1419

Fax: 901.672.8541

1326 Hardwood Trail

Cordova, TN 38016

901.737.2911

Fax: 901.737.2989

404 Galleria Lane, Ste. 1

Oxford, MS 38655

662.238.7773

Fax: 662.238.2774

RYAN E. BYRNE, ESQ.

Attorney at Law

Buying or

Selling a Home

shouldn’t be a

DRAG!

Let Greg treat you like a Queen or King

when buying or selling your home!

Greg Renfrow

901-466-4000 office

901-283-2899 cell

7990 Trinity Rd, Suite 202

Memphis, TN 38018

www.GregSellsMemphis.com

health+wellness

MEMPHIS

CRISIS CENTER

by Sarah Rushakoff

Please note: this article discusses depression and suicide and may trigger

a strong emotional response for some. If you feel triggered, please

contact the Memphis Crisis Center at 901.274.7477 for help.

What is the MCC?

Compassionate listening.

Human contact. Collaborative

problem solving. The Memphis

Crisis Center (MCC) began as

the Suicide Intervention Service

in 1970 when a small group of

dedicated mental health

professionals saw an urgent

need for a 24/7 point of

contact for patients struggling

with suicide. Over the years the

volunteer telephone-based

service has expanded to handle

a full array of crisis situations,

serving as a lighthouse for all

who need help.

Leadership and Programming

at MCC Executive Director Mike

LaBonte’s serendipitous

journey led him to the doors of

the MCC in 2000. As a former

student activist he was

interested in service-oriented

work. He and Co-Director Terry

Barnes have been affiliated with

the agency for more than 20

years providing direction and

vision for the important work of

the center.

LaBonte stated, “We will be

celebrating our 50th

anniversary in 2021, marking

the date we became officially

incorporated. During the ‘60s

and early ‘70s, crisis hotlines

began springing up in many

Mike LaBonte, Memphis Crisis

Center Executive Director

communities as part of

grassroots community-based

effort to address suicide and

other mental health issues. We

were the local pioneer. We

originally focused on suicide in

our early years, but we have

expanded to include a full array

of programs to serve the needs

of as many people as possible.

“Along with the main crisis

line, we administer the

community’s Call4Kids Hotline,

the HIV Care Line, the Elder

Lifeline and serve as the local

affiliate of the National Suicide

Prevention Lifeline, and the

National Veterans Hotline. The

MCC also partners with the

Crime Victims and Rape Crisis

Center providing after hours

and weekend call coverage.

“The MCC is here for anyone

in distress. Our vision is no one

facing a crisis has to face it

alone.”

Volunteers at MCC

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of

the center,” LaBonte says. “We

could not provide this

important service without

them. We recruit community

members, train them in crisis

intervention, and they go on to

actually staff our hotlines. We

are probably the most

community-based mental

health service around because

we actively engage the

community in its own safety

net.”

“There are a lot of

misconceptions about what we

do,” LaBonte continued. “It’s

not just suicide. A majority of

people who call us are lonely,

sad, or facing some sort of life

challenge. We are a full service

crisis hotline here for anyone in

distress or in need of emotional

support. We provide empathic

listening, collaborative problem

solving if needed, and

community referrals for those

needing longer-term

professional help.”

LaBonte describes telephone

interventions as a form of

‘emotional first aid.’ Volunteers

first take the time to

compassionately connect with

the caller. “Although every

situation is unique, there is a

basic geography to the

intervention process. The first

step,” LaBonte says, “is caring.

You have to make a human

connection with the caller.

Next, you have to listen. It’s

painful holding things in. We

give people a safe place to let

the hurt out and process it.”

Helping is the third part in

any intervention process.

LaBonte says, “Sometimes the

help involves collaborative

problem solving and exploring

options that can move the

caller forward and empower

some positive changes. For us

it’s always about the caller.

Meeting the caller where

they’re at in terms of their

situation. What are their needs,

values, and priorities?

“Just providing a caring ear

can often prevent something

from becoming a crisis—or

keep a crisis from becoming

acute or life-threatening. There

is something intrinsically

healing about the power of

compassionate listening.”

For longer term help, the

center’s crisis line volunteers

can refer callers to resources

such as mental health centers,

drug rehabs, shelters, or 12-step

programs.

One of the benefits of

volunteering, LaBonte says, is

that crisis line workers become

familiar with local resources.

“When they leave their service

with us, it creates an additional

layer of protection for the

community because they are

now empowered by their

knowledge and skills and are

better equipped to help those

in trouble who they may

encounter.”

Because the volunteers are

often the first point of contact

when someone is in need, the

MCC focuses on what LaBonte

calls “the beauty of confidential

hotlines in breaking down

barriers.” Barriers include

stigma, shame, fear, even

geography. Hotlines provide a

safe and confidential point of

contact that can break those

barriers down. “Our volunteers

can de-stigmatize and

encourage the caller,” LaBonte

continues. “Immediacy and

accessibility make us so vital.

“We often serve as a stop

gap measure for those

struggling with mental illness

and acute emergencies that are

verging on suicide.”

The Holistic Value of MCC in

Memphis

The MCC provides support

on as many challenges as

possible. “The calls we get deal

with everything you can

imagine,” LaBonte says,

“including mental health and

emotional problems, grief and

grieving, addiction and

recovery, and crime and family

violence issues such as child

abuse, elder neglect, domestic

violence, and sexual assault.”

Another major issue, he says,


is the impact of poverty. “The

lack of resources such as food,

shelter, and transportation

make life difficult for so many

Mid-Southerners.” According to

LaBonte, the MCC is a proud

partner in United Way of the

Mid-South’s Driving the Dream

initiative that links families

struggling with poverty into

programs to enhance their

financial stability and transition

them to greater self-sufficiency.

Other major MCC community

partners include the Family

Safety Center that provides

free services for victims of

domestic violence, and the

Crime Victim’s and Rape Crisis

Center that focuses on crime

and sexual assault. The

University of Tennessee Health

Science Center is also a major

partner, providing the MCC with

a home for over 10 years now.

MCC is helping individuals,

but it is also helping

communities and the agencies

who serve those communities.

“We facilitate community

stability by de-escalating

situations that might otherwise

spill over into community

violence. We can link troubled

individuals into systems of

care.”

LaBonte also sees the MCC

as cost effective for the

community. “The ability to

de-escalate crisis situations

before they become acute can

translate into fewer trips to the

ER and less need for costly

on-site active rescue by police

and other emergency services.”

He also sees the value of

hotlines in freeing up 911

dispatchers by creating a

resource for those struggling

with chronic mental illness and

needing somewhere to turn to

cope with daily challenges.

LGBTQ+ Support

Many of us are familiar with

the increased suicidal risk

factors for LGBTQ+ individuals.

LaBonte has a personal

commitment to the cause and

ensuring that the MCC provides

a safe place for LGBTQ+

individuals facing crisis

situations. In the 1990s,

LaBonte was a student activist

with the Bisexual, Gay and

Lesbian Awareness (BGALA)

group at the University of

Memphis, now known as the

Stonewall Tigers. He was

instrumental in the University of

Memphis becoming the first

public university in the state of

Tennessee to include sexual

orientation in its nondiscrimination

policies. LaBonte

says he is especially proud that

the MCC has always been

inclusive. “We’ve even had past

board members that were

active in founding MAGY and

held leadership positions in

TEP.

“We know that LGBTQ+

youth have a greater risk of

suicide, experience higher rates

of discrimination, harassment,

and ... families are still rejecting

their kids for coming out. We

have some great resources

today like OUTMemphis’

Metamorphosis project and

support groups. A little bit of

acceptance for LGBTQ+ youth

can go a long way in preventing

suicide,” according to LaBonte.

“One powerful experience I

had on the crisis line happened

many years ago,” stated

LaBonte. “I received a call from

a 16 year old lesbian in a rural

community. She had been

extremely active in her church

and had recently been outed.

She was devastated by the

rejection she received and had

an immediate and lethal means

to end her life.” During the call,

LaBonte reminded her that she

would not always be in the

place she was that day. “In a

few years, I told her, she would

be able to make her own

decisions and even find an

affirming church family—

something she had never heard

of before...By the end of the call

we had disabled her suicide

plan and she made a decision

to live.”

MCC and COVID

During the COVID 19 pandemic

the MCC has seen an increase in

calls, including a 22% increase

in suicide calls. “More people

are struggling with depression,

anxiety, and loss.” LaBonte

advises on ways to help: “The

truth is we need to be checking

on our neighbors, especially

seniors and other isolated folks,

and making connections in safe

ways like telephone calls. We

need those connections. Call

people. The almost lost art of

telephone conversation is a

safe way to socialize in the

pandemic. We need each

other.”

If you are in need of help, call

(901) CRISIS-7 or 901.274.7477.

For more information, visit

www.memphiscrisiscenter.org

YOUR LIFE

is worth a

PHONE CALL

THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN JUST THIS MOMENT.

LET US HELP YOU FIND IT.

The Memphis Crisis Center is a volunteer-powered 24/7

crisis and suicide hotline service.

Our trained volunteers provide help, build hope and save

lives everyday.

901-CRISIS-7 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

for deaf and hearing-impaired callers: 711

www.MemphisCrisisCenter.org

To volunteer can contact us at volunteers@crisis7.org

lgbt ally

ALLAN

CREASY

by Sarah Rushakoff | photos courtesy of Allan Creasy


I want to see a more

progressive, inclusive city and

county,” says Creasy. “I want

to see us unfettered. I want to

see the party that claims to

support small government, let

Memphis rule itself to a

greater degree.

If you’ve lived in Memphis for

a while, chances are you’ve had

a conversation with Allan

Creasy. It might have been at

Celtic Crossing in Cooper-

Young, where he tended bar

and ran trivia nights for years.

Maybe it was for a political

campaign he’s volunteered

with, or during one of his own

campaigns for the Tennessee

State House over the past few

years. As a bartender, he would

often give tourists directions

and sometimes, he recalls, “I’d

take them out and show them

the real Memphis, go to a local

show, or some dingy dive bar

they would never have gone to

on their own.” However it

happens, chatting with Creasy

is always a “real Memphis”

experience.

Back in 2018, Creasy ran for

the district 97 seat in the

Tennessee State House of

Representatives. “No Democrat

had run in 16 years,” he says. “It

was considered ‘too red.’ But

we had a huge amount of

volunteers, raised about

$140,000, and we knocked on

over 20,000 doors.” Creasy

earned 45% of the vote that

year, and while it was a

disappointing loss, he’s proud

of the work his campaign did. “I

mean, we were endorsed by

the Tennessee Equality Project,

among others,” Creasy shares

proudly. “I was really grateful

for that.” This year, he ran again

for the same seat, this time

pitted against Gabby Salinas in

the Democratic primary.

Salinas won the nomination,

and Creasy has nothing but

admiration for his one-time

opponent. “I am in awe of the

type of campaign they were

able to run in the primary.

Gabby is an absolutely amazing

candidate and I support her

completely.”

Now that he’s not bartending

or campaigning, and since the

pandemic has kept all of us

from socializing like normal, he

misses meeting new people

and hanging out with regulars

at the bar. “It really helped to

preserve my sanity,” says

Creasy about making

connections with folks. “When I

didn’t have bartending and I

wasn’t knocking on doors for

myself or other candidates, I

felt a bit lonely and out of

place.” No longer working the

night shift, he looks forward to

having more time to visit with

friends and loved ones. With

masks on, of course, and from

a safe distance. “Instead of

going out for a drink, it’s sitting

six feet apart on somebody’s

front porch.”

What does a gregarious,

Memphis-loving guy do after 15

years of bartending? It was a

natural move for Creasy to join

the staff at Future901, a West

Tennessee political action

committee that champions

inclusivity. “So much of the

most racist, sexist,

homophobic, and transphobic

legislation gets written at the

state level,” Creasy points out.

“Knocking on a few hundred

doors can mean all the

difference in a primary where

only 5 or 6,000 people are

going to vote. We can make a

huge difference working on

voter education for downballot

races.” In his new

position as consultant at

Future901, he’s working on

social media campaigns and

fundraising. He jokes, “It’s a

good fit because bartenders

have no qualms about asking

people for money.”

Creasy wants Memphians to

stay informed about local and

state politics even after the

election. “I would recommend

subscribing to and supporting

local journalism like Focus, the

Daily Memphian, the Memphis

Flyer, publications that really

go in-depth on state issues.

Follow Future901 and the

Tennessee Holler on social

media.” He also cautions West

Tennesseeans to pay more

attention to what is happening

in Nashville, and which state

candidates support things that

could either strengthen or

weaken Memphis and Shelby

County. For example, he says,

“The state legislature has

ensured that our city council

can’t decriminalize any

amounts of marijuana, is

pushing some really disgusting

anti-trans bills, and has passed

legislation preventing local

municipalities from increasing

the minimum wage.”

Looking toward a future

Memphis, “I want to see a more

progressive, inclusive city and

county,” says Creasy. “I want to

see us unfettered. I want to see

the party that claims to

support small government, let

Memphis rule itself to a greater

degree. To move forward with

candidates who will fight for

Memphis to not only survive,

but to thrive.”


lgbt history

CROSS GENDER

IN THE GAY OLD DAYS

by Vincent Astor

In her early days, Memphis

was anything but a sleepy river

town. I’ve lived part of the

LGBT history of the city, and

thanks to the work of a

1970s-era local librarian, I’ve

uncovered a rich history of an

active Memphis gay community

that goes as far back as the late

1800s (at least).

My librarian source, who in

the mid 1970s had access to the

the main library’s history

department, wrote under the

name Fred Harris. Harris’

research involved combing

through much of the microfilm

of old Memphis newspapers

and uncovered, among other

things, the story of Alice

Mitchell and Freda Ward (1892)

which has previously been

published in this magazine. In

the mid-1970s, he wrote for

Gaiety newspaper, Memphis’

first gay community

newspaper. This newspaper

may be found in the Memphis

and Shelby County Room

collection in bound form and

electronically through Rhodes

College.

In his research, Fred also

discovered an 1870 theatrical

engagement at Broome’s

Variety Theatre, a long-gone

downtown location formerly at

37 Jefferson. The theater was

also known as Broom’s Opera

House. The theatre was popular

with acts including minstrel

shows, farces and all sorts of

entertainment. One act in this

particular 1870 engagement

was a male impersonator

named Marie Hinkle.

According to accounts in the

Memphis Public Ledger, Marie

had favorites in the female

chorus who were rivals for

Marie’s affections. So enamored

with Marie, the two ladies got

into a cat fight over who was to

escort Marie to the train station

for her next engagement in

New York City. The train

terminal is long gone, but it was

where the Casey Jones historic

marker is now on Front Street.

In the Ledger article, the

names of the rivals were given

merely as Ione and Lizette.

During their meeting at the

Women’s Entrance (!) to the

Overton Hotel (where the

Cannon Center is now) a scuffle

broke out. Knives were drawn,

but the women were separated

before too much blood was

spilled. Reading this account so

many years later, some of it

could have been a publicity

stunt, but it did make the

papers. The fight even involved

Dick English, the ‘river editor’ of

the Memphis Daily Appeal, an

ancestor of today’s Commercial

Appeal. English helped to

separate the two women

before “there would have been

murder done.”

According to Daneel Buring’s

Lesbian and Gay Memphis:

Building Communities Behind

Annie Hindle, a.k.a. Marie Hinkle, was a male impersonator who

performed in Memphis in the 1870s. Photo: NY Public Library.

the Magnolia Curtain, Marie

Hinkle was actually a woman

named Annie Hindle, a male

impersonator. Hindle

performed as a ‘swell’ (an

upper-class man who could

indulge in a range of leisure

activities). She also

impersonated ‘fops’. Fop is a

term meaning ‘man of fashion’

who overdresses and generally

puts on airs. By making fun of

that type, Hindle had a great

appeal to the working-class

men who attended her shows.

She was married several times

(two men, divorced) and two

women. The first died and the

last was even interviewed by

the press as her “widow.” Annie

Hindle was most active in the

latter part of the 19th century

so it’s possible that she

could’ve been the Marie Hinkle

who played Memphis. Read

more about Hindle at https://

dragkinghistory.com/1864-

1904-annie-hindle/

It’s tempting to think that

female impersonators lived in

the shadows of society. For

female impersonator Julian

Eltinge, it was quite the

opposite. Julian Eltinge was the

most famous female

impersonator of his day, playing

vaudeville and music hall

comedy.

With outstanding reviews for

performances, his early

appearances in New York were

in 1905-6. He toured Europe,

even performing at a command

performance at Windsor Castle

for Edward VII. He was known

for his quick changes. Variety

wrote in September of 1907,

“The audience was completely

deceived as to Eltinge’s sex

until he removed his wig after

the second song…his act is far

and away above what is


described as female

impersonation.”

It was always assumed that

he was gay, but he went to

great lengths to steer away

from that association

throughout his career. He

appeared in several films, in his

usual mode of having to

disguise himself for some

reason as a woman and then

reveal his true gender at the

end. In his only sound film,

“Maid To Order” (1931) he plays

a private detective who

disguises himself as a French

singer, Lottie Lorraine,

performing at a nightclub

where diamonds are being

smuggled. It is a forerunner of

“Some Like It Hot” and

“Tootsie” in which Lottie had to

room with another female

singer creating embarrassing

and farcical situations. He lived

a double life as a very

successful performer who was

famous for his female roles but

maintained a very masculine

persona (almost too much) off

stage.

Part of Eltinge’s legacy

remains today in Manhattan.

The Empire Theatre on 42nd St.

in NYC, was originally the

Eltinge Theatre. It was built in

1912 and named in Eltinge’s

honor (though there is no

record of him ever performing

there). It was well known as the

theater of the Abbott and

Costello performances. In 1998,

as part of the renewal of 42nd

Street, it lifted off its

foundation and moved 170 feet

to the west where it became

the lobby of an AMC movie

theater. Eltinge’s name is listed

there on a plaque facing the

street. It is said that the images

in the plaster and murals which

still may be seen are of Eltinge

in costume. Read more about

the theater at http://

cinematreasures.org/

theaters/255 Read more of

Eltinge’s biography at http://

www.julianeltinge.com/bio.

html

White, New York

L.A. Times archives

In these three photos, Julian Eltinge.

Eltinge was the most famous female

impersonator of his time. He was a star of

stage and screen. At left is Eltinge,

presenting as male in a promotional still.

A program from the UofM Collection shows

that Eltinge performed in Memphis at the

old Lyric Theatre on Madison in 1924.

Below is Eltinge performing as a female.

So ‘out’ was Eltinge when he

presented as a woman, he socialized

with very visible personalities of the

time. At left, Eltinge is seen chatting

with Pat Collins, left, and Edward G.

Robinson at a performance by the

Dominos Club, Nov. 25, 1935.

One last vestige of Eltinge is the lobby

entrance of the AMC theater on New

York City’s 42nd Street. The Eltinge

theater was built in 1912 and named in

honor of Eltinge. When the street was

revamped in 1998, the old theater was

lifted from its foundation and moved 170

down the famous street and joined to

the AMC structure.

©Vincent Astor

White, New York


WYXR

by Sheena Barnett | photo by Jamie Harmon

community

New Crosstown Radio Station

Provides Tunes, Connections

To hear what Memphis

sounds like, tune in to 91.7 FM

WYXR.

The latest station to hit the

local airwaves features music

of all genres and voices from

many backgrounds, all in an

attempt to bring Memphis

together - musically.

“We really wanted genres of

music that have been

underrepresented and people

and communities that have

been underrepresented on

radio to have a voice,” said

WYXR Executive Director

Robby Grant. “We also feel like

there is some community

news, community talk that just

doesn’t have a place on the

dial, so we wanted to have a

place for that.”

WYXR is a collaboration

between the University of

Memphis, The Daily Memphian

and the Crosstown Concourse

- which serves as the station’s

home base. The station plays a

wide variety of artists and

genres, all hand-picked by the

Memphians who serve as

volunteer programmers. The

station’s taglines are “Raised

by Sound” and “Memphis is our

format,” and that’s evident in

the tunes and shows.

Shows include We Belong,

which features LGBT-inclusive

music of all genres (Sundays

from 4 to 5 p.m.); Sounds of

Africa, which showcases the

diverse sounds of West Africa;

Ring the Alarm, a Caribbean

music themed show; Dead

Wax, a Memphis music history

tour; Finders, Keepers, which

shines the spotlight on obscure

artists; and Riffin’ on Jazz, a

celebration of all kinds of jazz.

See the full schedule at https://

wyxr.org/schedule/

Grant and Program Manager

Jared Boyd have worked to

find a diverse group of

programmers and DJs who can

showcase not only the best of

Program Manager Jared Boyd, Operations Coordinator Shelby

McCall and Executive Director Robby Grant have been working

on WYXR for about a year, and the station officially began

broadcasting in early October.

each genre, but highlight the

deep cuts, too.

“What’s cool about the

station is that even if you’re

familiar with certain genres,

like soul or funk or rock, you’re

hearing one level or two levels

deeper than in a lot of cases

you would,” Grant said.

“Somebody on Twitter said,

‘I’ve heard so many songs I like

that I’ve never heard before,’

and that’s what we’re trying to

go for.”

Even Grant and Boyd are

being introduced to new tunes

through the station.

On a recent episode of

Reachin’ Out, DJ Daniel Mathis

played two hours’ worth of

obscure disco songs from the

70s and 80s.

“It was just incredible,” Grant

said. “I’d never heard one of

those songs before, and I listen

to a lot of music.”

WYXR’s headquarters

features everything from

turntables to cassette players

to CD players, plus controller

hookups, so DJs can truly play

any music, no matter the

format.

“We didn’t want to limit

people to a certain medium,

because we wanted to hear as

many voices as possible,”

Grant said.

The station can play any

style of music because it is

commercial-free.

“Because we’re noncommercial,

we’re not as

beholden to ratings. We’re not

trying to narrow cast our entire

station for a specific

demographic or format. We’re

trying to keep it open, so being

listener-supported helps us do

that,” he said. Donations to the

station can be made on the

WYXR website at wyxr.org.

The website also features

the station’s schedule, as well

as two weeks’ worth of

archived shows.

WYXR will feature even

more voices next year, as the

station will host a second

stream that’s more focused on

the University of Memphis and

its student DJs. So far, though,

the station is rocking and

rolling – and Grant couldn’t be

happier.

“Our idea is that we create

this microcosm of Memphis

with the station and people

interacting, and then people

listening to the different shows

are staying a little bit longer to

listen to the show after that or

coming back the next day

because they liked what they

heard the day before,” he said.

“They’re hearing different

genres of music and voices

they haven’t heard before, and

people are opening up and

expanding their horizons a bit.”


Be

PrEPared.

Learn more about

HIV prevention at

Planned Parenthood.

We believe in

making Memphis

a better place.

When you think of real estate,

consider us first.

TOGETHER WE KEEP MEMPHIS #1

866.711.1717

PlannedParenthood.org/Tennessee

54 South Cooper | Memphis, TN 38104

Office 901.278.4380 | Toll Free 888.799.4235

SOWELLANDCO.COM

food+drink

FROM SUSHI TO DELI, & KOSHER-CERTIFIED

CHEF MARISA BAGGETT

by Gila Golder | photos by Sarah Rushakoff

“I am exhausted,” says chef

Marisa Baggett, a few days

after the end of the monthlong

marathon of Jewish fall

holidays (Rosh Hashana, Yom

Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah)

which brought her an

avalanche of catering orders.

But that’s nothing compared to

how she felt about ten years

ago, when she realized it was

time to slow down.

“I went through a period of

several years where I just

wasn’t able to stand on my feet

due to this weird, out of the

blue illness that happened to

me and took me away from the

kitchen. I started looking for

opportunities to do things

where I could sit, so that’s

when I wrote my cookbooks,”

she recalls.

A graduate of the California

Sushi Academy, Marisa is the

author of two cookbooks,

Sushi Secrets and Vegetarian

Sushi Secrets. But these days,

she’s back in the kitchen,

feeling better, and describes

herself as a “professionally

trained sushi chef turned deli

lady.” In July 2019, she

launched Zayde’s NYC Deli, a

kosher-certified catering

company offering delivered,

heat and eat meals for

Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.

Customers can order full

meals or a la carte items from a

seasonal menu – no order

minimum required, so those

who live alone or with a

partner or spouse can order

just the amount they need.

That concept underlies an

upcoming Thanksgiving

offering, the SatisPie.

“Say it’s me and Stan. A lot

of our ideas come from what

Stan and I would want,” she

says of her husband. “We like

different kinds of pie, but we

don’t both need to eat an

entire pie. So I thought, what if

you could buy a pie that had a

few slices of this and a few

slices of that?”

What Zayde’s doesn’t do is

provide a full Thanksgiving

meal option, because Shabbat

meals must be ready to go on

Friday. “My thought is, we can

help you with your desserts,

but you focus on Thanksgiving

and we’ll take care of

Shabbat.”

Because Zayde’s food is

kosher-certified, certain

ingredients are off-limits. Most

menus are prepared with meat,

which may not be combined

with dairy products under

traditional Jewish law. Rather

than rely on artificial

substitutions, as many home

cooks do, Marisa curates

recipes to focus on whole

foods and fresh ingredients,

such as coconut milk and olive

oil. She can also accommodate

allergy restrictions or other

special diets – Zayde’s has a

dedicated gluten-free

customer base and always

features a monthly gluten-free

dessert. “It’s always the most

popular dessert, whether

people need it to be glutenfree

or not.”

What’s next for Zayde’s?

Marisa is coy about future

plans, but hints at a possible

transition to “shmick and

shmortar” (currently, Zayde’s

rents space from the kosher

kitchen at Baron Hirsch

Synagogue.)

“Knowing that I serve the

community is what I’m most

proud of,” she says. She often

receives orders from elderly

customers who can’t go

grocery shopping, or from

families observing shiva, the

seven-day ritual mourning

period following the passing of

a loved one.

“There’s nothing that means

more to me personally than

when someone reaches out to

say the food that you brought

for us was so amazing in our

time of need. Food is such a

connection point, and it’s very

humbling that people trust me

to do these things for them.”

Stay tuned on Zayde’s social

media pages (@zaydesnycdeli)

for new monthly menus,

holiday offerings (Chinese food

for Christmas!) and more.


WORLD AIDS DAY

Show your support

#RockTheRibbon

worldaidsday.org

TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2020

Rock the Ribbon

End HIV stigma

Created by

arts+entertainment

OPINION:

IS TIME UP

FOR TIKTOK?

by Robin Beaudoin Ownby

Shutterstock

They say that Facebook

makes you hate the people

you love and TikTok makes you

love people you will never

meet. Nothing could be truer.

In the tidal wave of negativity

that is American politics and

the Coronavirus pandemic,

millions have flocked away

from the “too real,” escaping

to something more

entertaining and anonymous,

in ByteDance’s Chinese

video-sharing app, TikTok. The

app, formerly the youth

favorite, Music.ly, has evolved

from karaoke and lip-sync to

an endless platform for

entertainment, information,

and inspiration. I downloaded

TikTok to monitor my tween

daughter’s internet behaviors

but have come to enjoy it

immensely as a parent and

adult.

Because of TikTok’s one

minute or less video platform,

my own inattentive adult self

has learned how to care for

houseplants, how to bake

bread, how to choose proper

skincare, and how to plop my

wavy hair and wear it natural.

I have made homemade lava

lamps with oil, water, Alka-

Seltzer, and food coloring,

I have made cooking videos,

I have participated in political

activism, and I have met other

mothers struggling in the

same ways that I did when my

kids were younger. Thanks to

“dermatology TikTok”, I have

changed my skincare routine

to include products from The

Ordinary and tossed my St.

Ive’s scrubs. I cannot forget to

mention the body positivity

and LGBTQ+ and allies. I am

wearing shorts for the first

time in a decade thanks to

these amazing body positive

role models, but no, I can’t do

the WAP dance. The “TikTok

Creating how-to videos for the TikTok platform is very popular.

Famous” became my new

favorite celebrities, in the

absence of new television over

the summer.

Most surprising to me is the

myriad of helpful therapists

volunteering their knowledge

in the form of short lists and

suggestions on recognizing

trauma, how to best talk to

your children, and leaving

toxic relationships. Depression

seems to be contagious in the

U.S., with a sense of normality

evaporated like the Lysol to

which we cleave. Coronavirus

has many of us missing our

social interaction and physical

touch, which give us serotonin,

boosting our mood. Children

are schooling in masks on

campus, or at home, isolated

from their friends. The current

political divide feels greater

than a typical election year,

tearing apart lifelong friends

and dividing families. These

counselors’ and

therapists’ posts are

a treasure, if not a

jumping-off point at

exploring and

treating one’s mental

health.

The political circus

surrounding TikTok

nods at security

issues with China.

This user has serious

doubts about that.

Back in June, teen

users along with fans

of Korean band BTS

ordered loads of free

tickets to a Trump

rally in Oklahoma,

rendering the seats

half empty on rally

day, effectively

Shutterstock

sinking the rally. The

president’s ego was bruised.

Citing security issues, he

threatened to remove it from

play stores and iTunes, and

even to “ban” the use of the

app If a deal that satisfies him

is not made. In response in

August, TikTok has sued

Donald Trump and his

administration, arguing that

taking aim at the app is

unconstitutional, citing that

Trump’s executive order

bypassed due process by not

allowing the company to be

heard. In September, a judge

ruled on an injunction request

that Trump could not remove

the app from stores, at least

until a deal was made or

denied.

President Trump gave his

blessing to a deal including

Walmart and Oracle (a cloud

and platform server provider),

giving them a 20% stake in

TikTok Global, keeping the

headquarters and operations

in the United States. “Four of

the five board members” will

be Americans, Oracle and

Walmart state. The board will

include the CEO of ByteDance,

TikTok’s parent company, and

the CEO of Walmart. The

completion of this deal is on

the horizon, but both Trump

and ByteDance China need to

agree with the plan.

I am hopeful, absorbing

both the news and seeing the

involvement in the TikTok

community to keep the app

safe and thriving. It will likely

continue to be an escape for

me, even when there is a “new

normal,” and politics have

simmered down.


SNEAK PEAK

by Ray Rico

STREAMING

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Tensions rise during a recording session in

1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await the

legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey

(Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless,

fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her

white manager and producer over control of

her music. As the band waits in the studio’s

claustrophobic rehearsal room, ambitious horn

player Levee (Chadwick Boseman) spurs his

fellow musicians into an eruption of stories

revealing truths that will forever change the

course of their lives. Out on Netflix December 18.

STREAMING

Selena: The Series

Before she became the Queen of Tejano Music,

Selena Quintanilla was a young girl from Texas with

big dreams and an even bigger voice. The two-part

coming-of-age

drama Selena: The

Series explores the

once-in-a-generation

performer’s journey

as a young artist,

from singing small

gigs in Corpus Christi

with her family to

becoming one of

the most successful

Latin artists of all

time — and the years

of grit and sacrifice

the Quintanilla family

navigated together

before Selena’s

meteoric rise to

fame. Out on Netflix

December 4.

STREAMING

The Prom

New York City stage

stars Dee Dee Allen

(Meryl Streep) and

Barry Glickman

(James Corden)

are in a crisis: their

Broadway show is

a major flop that

has flatlined their careers. Meanwhile, in smalltown

Indiana, high schooler Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen

Pellman) feels a different kind of heartbreak:

despite the support from the principal (Keegan-

Michael Key), the PTA prez (Kerry Washington)

has banned her from attending the prom with her

girlfriend, Alyssa

(Ariana DeBose).

Dee Dee and

Barry decide

that Emma’s

is the perfect

cause to help

resurrect their

public images;

they hit the road

with fellow actors Angie (Nicole Kidman) and Trent

(Andrew Rannells). Their selfish plan backfires,

so the foursome rally to give Emma a night to

celebrate her true self. Out on Netflix December 11.


THEY’VE SERVED US,

NOW LET’S SERVE THEM.

Learn more at: ilovememphisblog.com/eatlocal

We know these are difficult times. Here’s one way to make them easier:

Eat local. You get a tasty break from cooking; Memphis’ restaurant

community gets some local love. They’ve served us, now let’s serve them.

SO JOIN US IN SUPPORT BY EATING LOCAL.

Our restaurants are safe, open and Ready To Serve You.

2020 Issue 6 Nov/Dec - Focus Mid-South Magazine

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