2017 Issue 5 Sep/Oct - Focus Mid-South Magazine

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Serving the Mid-South LGBT Community and its Allies | SEP+OCT 2017 

IMAGINE 

ISSUE 

VALERIE 

JUNE 

PERHAPS MEMPHIS’ MOST 

UNIQUE VOICE RISES TO AN 

EVEN HIGHER PLANE 

OUTFLIX FILM 

FESTIVAL 

LGBT FILM SHOWCASE 

RETURNS TO MEMPHIS 

SEPTEMBER 8 - 14 

GEORGE 

BOYINGTON 

LGBT YOUTH IS A 

HEALTHCARE EQUITY FORCE 

TO BE RECKONED WITH

Selection varies by store. 

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Wolfchase Galleria Mall 

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South Lake Centre 

35 W. Goodman Rd, Southaven MS 38671 • 662.349.8880 

rijewelers.com

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A SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY PATIENT CARE & EDUCATIONAL FACILITY

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Congratulations to all of our nominees 

John-Michael Alderson 

VISIONARY 

Michael Branan 

VISIONARY 

Antoine Dandridge 

VISIONARY 

Kayla Gore 

VISIONARY 

Floridia Jackson 

VISIONARY 

Ginger Leonard 

VISIONARY 

Brandon Leslie 

VISIONARY 

Audrey May 

VISIONARY 

Dewayne Murrell 

VISIONARY 

Vanessa Rodley 

VISIONARY 

Christian Assandria 

TRAILBLAZER 

George Boyington 

TRAILBLAZER 

Emerson Kirkpatrick 

TRAILBLAZER 

Chris Riales 

TRAILBLAZER 

David Winter 

TRAILBLAZER 

Robin Beaudoin 

THE ALLIE® 

Kellie Cole 

THE ALLIE® 

Tamara Goldstein 

THE ALLIE® 

Carol Livingston 

THE ALLIE® 

Becky Rachels 

THE ALLIE® 

Larrie Rodriguez 

THE ALLIE® 

Jennifer Warren 

THE ALLIE® 

Terri Weaver 

THE ALLIE® 

Blue Suede Sisters of 

Perpetual Indulgence 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE 

Hugh Busby 


Robert Horn 


Tanesha Jackson 


Mystic Krewe 

of Pegasus 


Diane Thornton 


See the winners online at 

focusmidsouth.com/awards 

Elijah Townsend 


MISSION: The Focus Mid-South Magazine Awards are the Mid-South’s premier awards for recognizing LGBT persons and allies who are making a 

significant impact on the LGBT community through their leadership, career achievements and personal qualities, and who also inspire others to excel.

CONTENTS 

SEPT+OCT 2017 

8 

28 

24 

38 

BE PART OF OUR NEXT ISSUE 

JOYFUL NOISE 

NOV+DEC 2017 

Submit story ideas: editor@focusmidsouth.com 

Editorial submission deadline: September 25, 2017 

Advertising inquiries: sales@focusmidsouth.com 

Ad space reservation due: September 22, 2017 

52 

32 

42 

7 THEME: IMAGINE 

8 DEAR ALLIE 

Praying away the gay? 

11 LIFE 

Here come the brides: Amanda DeVlugt and 

Suzie Szanyi 

12 LIFE 

Terryl Bucker, the father of the Memphis 

Black Pride community 

16 COMMUNITY 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of 

Memphis celebrates 25 years 

18 ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT 

Mural master Brandon Marshall loves 

Memphis! 

20 COMMUNITY 

14 years of fun, Mid-South Pride Festival is 

back, September 29-30 

24 ADVOCATES 

Blue Suede Sisters use humor, and 

outlandish costumes, to help others 

27 LGBT ALLY 

Singer Marcella Simien (Marcella and Her 

Lovers) talks about being an upstander 


Outflix Film Festival! Will Batts talks to its 

Executive Producer, Brian Pera, about THE 

Memphis LGBT movie showcase 


Outflix Festival schedule 

32 ON THE COVER: MUSIC 

Valerie June: sweet and fresh with a voice 

of a seasoned blues woman! 

34 COMMUNITY 

Equality Jackson: creating opportunities for 

LGBT+ in West Tennessee’s small towns 

36 LGBT ADVOCATE 

Alabama’s first openly gay state Senate 

candidate, tearing down the status quo 

38 LGBT YOUTH 

Big ideas come in young packages! George 

Boyington talks life and healthcare 

42 FOOD+DRINK 

Food truck’s fruity drinks and simple 

Brazilian flavors are made to satisfy 

44 TRANSFOCUS 

Band front woman Cait Brennan has found 

family and a potential home in Memphis 

46 COMMUNITY 

Christian Assandria recreates the T Dance 

50 PET FOCUS 

Burgerfest to benefit Memphis Paws 

52 TRAVEL: ORIGINAL MEMPHIS 

The Wolf River flows from Holly Springs, 

Miss., through Memphis, and out into the 

Mississippi River. Explore her wonders with 

the Wolf River Conservancy 

54 CALENDAR 

Must-do Mid-South events for 

September + October 

Page 6 / focusmidsouth.com / SEP+OCT 2017 / Imagine

theme 

You can’t do it 

unless you imagine it. 

–George Lucas 

Imagine / SEP+OCT 2017 / focusmidsouth.com / Page 7

life 

DEAR 

I.L.M.G.S. 

Dear Allie, 

I’m writing because I’m concerned 

about my twin sister. We are high 

school freshmen living in a small 

Tennessee town. My sister is gay, and 

I’ve known that just about as long as 

there was anything to know. I never 

thought it was much of a big deal. 

Our parents are super supportive, 

and she’s never had any problems 

or bullying about it at school. So, I 

was completely shocked the other 

day when I found pamphlets in her 

purse about “counseling for unwanted 

same-sex attractions.” They were for 

a pray-away-the-gay program. I didn’t 

even know that was still a thing. When 

I confronted her about them, she told 

me to stay out of it, that she was just 

so lonely, and that I didn’t know what 

it was like. I don’t know what to do. 

How can I help her? 

Yours, 

I Love My Gay Twin Sister 

Dear ILMGTS, 

I am so glad you are reaching out. 

It sounds like your sister really needs 

your love and support right now. Let 

me see if I can help. 

PRAY FOR THEIR HAPPINESS, NOT AGAINST, THEIR 

LGBT IDENTITY 

by Sarah Rutledge Fischer 

As I think you already know, “conversion therapy” (also known 

by the deceptive term “reparative therapy”) has been proven 

over and over to be ineffective and extremely dangerous. 

Unfortunately, ongoing societal bias and discrimination against 

LGBT people means that some of these programs have 

continued to thrive. Young people, like your sister, are especially 

vulnerable to conversion therapy and usually come out the 

other side deeply damaged. Before talking further with your 

sister, take a minute to educate yourself on the details. A great 

place to start is on the Human Rights Campaign website with 

a piece titled, The Lies and Dangers of Efforts to Change 

Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity (http://www.hrc.org/ 

resources/the-lies-and-dangers-of-reparative-therapy). 

Now, let’s talk about your parents. Your sister is beyond 

lucky to have parents who accept and support her LGBT 

identity. It is very importatnt that you get them in on this 

conversation. If you aren’t sure how to bring your parents 

into the conversation, you can start by showing them this 

column. If your sister truly is looking into such a harmful 

option, she is likely dealing with some very difficult selfimage 

issues. It might be time for your parents to help her 

find an LGBT-positive counselor to help her navigate her 

teenage years. 

Now, your sister did give you one big hint about what 


has made her feel so desperate to change that she 

would consider conversion therapy—she told you that 

she is lonely. Don’t discount the impact that loneliness 

and isolation can have. Nearly every LGBT adult who 

grew up in a small town is nodding his/her head in 

sympathy with your sister right now, and lots of them 

are wishing they could reach out and let her know 

that it gets better. 

Fortunately, you and your sister have more options 

than did past generations of small town lesbians and 

their allies. Many isolated gay teens find refuge and 

community with other LGBT youth online. That said, 

the internet is vast and not always age appropriate. 

It can be hard to know where to start. You might 

encourage her to check out TrevorSpace.org, a social 

networking site for LGBT youth ages 13-24. It is run 

and monitored by the folks at the Trevor Project, who 

have long provided crisis intervention and suicide 

prevention resources for LGBT youth. 

Offline, if your parents are willing to make an 

occasional long-distance drive, it would be great for 

your sister to make it to some in-person LGBT youth 

meet-ups. If you are near Memphis, check out PRYSM, 

an LGBT youth organization run by Out Memphis. If 

you are near Nashville, consider the Just Us program 

run by the Oasis Center. You might also encourage 

her to look into some of the LGBT summer programs 

listed on the PFLAG site. A week-long or even monthlong 

summer camp may give her the chance to form 

long lasting friendships with other LGBT teens and 

leave her feeling less alone. 

We all need a community of people who reflect our 

core characteristics back to us in a way that allows us 

see them as something positive. Hopefully, if you and 

your parents can help your sister build a community 

of LGBT peers, your sister will begin to see her LGBT 

identity as something to be celebrated instead not 

eradicated. 

F PROOF 

PROOF PRO 

OF PROOF 

PROOF PR 

OOF PROO 

That should get you started. 

Your friend, 

Allie 

To submit your own question, email Allie at 

allie@focusmidsouth.com. 

When you think Real Estate, 

think Bill Malone. 

Bill Knows Real Estate. 

Bill Knows Memphis. 

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life 

AMANDA + SUZIE 

BETTER 

TOGETHER 

story by Amanda DeVlugt with her 

soon-to-be wife, Suzanne Szanyi 

portrait photo by Lisa Cline Photography 

snapshots courtesy of Amanda DeVlugt 

Amanda DeVlugt (left) and Suzie Szanyi, engagement photo. 

It’s any normal day in August 

in Memphis: 100% humidity, 

weather reports a heat index 

of 101 degrees, oh, and the 

first-ever gay proposal on 

screen at the Orpheum is 

happening at exactly 6:40 

p.m. With parents, family and 

friends in place, the clueless 

Suzie gets ready to head to 

the Orpheum Theater to watch 

the movie, Grease. Amanda 

has a different picture in mind. 

Slowly the two get ready with 

their closest girlfriends as the 

clock ticks closer to 6:40 p.m., 

the time the OrpheumTheatre 

in Memphis will announce 

a quick word from their 

sponsors. Unbeknownst to 

Suzie, that sponsor of the 

movie is Amanda, her gilfriend 

of three years who’s created 

a two-minute video (to Bruno 

Mars video Marry Me) to ask 

her hand in marriage. 

Suzie says yes, the crowd 

goes wild, and by 6:43, Suzie 

and Amanda are a Memphis 

internet phenomenon, at least 

for an hour or so. The rest is 

history. 

••••••• 

Hi I’m Amanda. (Suzie’s 

next to me, and she says 

Hi, too). Let’s rewind us to 

about three years ago. Our 

company (which ironically we 

both had been working for 

in separate cities) moved us 

down to Memphis. Neither 

of us expected to find love 

in the Bluff City. In fact, both 

of us were sad that Memphis 

was where work landed us 

– initially. Memphis, as we 

know, doesn’t have exactly 

the best reputation... and the 

gay scene? Forget it. Never 

even knew it was a thing here. 

I knew walking into Memphis 

that my chances of finding a 

soulmate, let alone acceptance 

from the community, was 

going to be slim. Afterall, 

the two of us spent most 

of our adult life living in the 

Washington D.C. area where 

it was practically weird if you 

weren’t gay. Anyway, I digress. 

Suzie had been in Memphis 

about a year and had already 

learned about the Memphis 

LGBT community and all its 

glory. One of our first dates 

included Dru’s Thursday night 

drag show and obligatory 

karoake singing. She chose to 

sing Melissa Etheridge. Typical 

lesbian. I remember thinking 

to myself during those early 

nights with her... “Memphis is 

just like any other city...you just 

have to work a little more to 

find the fun.” And so the fun 

began for the two of us. 

When we first came out to 

our ally friends at work, it was 

a simple, “Ok,... where is happy 

hour?” I was both nervous 

and hesitant when I asked the 

Orpheum if I could propose 

to my girlfriend in front of 

the entire audience, but the 

response was “How exciting! 

We can’t wait to make this 

happen for you.” 

The positive reactions were 

overwhelming to me. I had 

spent so much time in my head 

believing that people were 

never going to accept me, that 

I had created this protective 

barrier around myself from 

people that I thought would 

hurt me with their hate. 

However, time and time again 

the community seemed 

to surpise me with their 

outpouring of love. I’ve had no 

choice but to accept 901’s love 

right back. 

And each and everyday, my 

beautiful wife-to-be shows me 

that same love. I’ve genuinely 

never wanted to spend so 

much time with another human 

being. A lot of our love for 

each is because number one, 

Suzie is so hot, and two, we’ve 

been honest with each other 

since the get-go. 

This comes in handy 

when you’re trying to plan a 

wedding, let alone a lesbian 

wedding! Talk about two 

commanders and no army. 

I think for us, the biggest 

challenge we’ve faced planning 

a lesbian wedding in Memphis 

is just that: planning a lesbian 

wedding in Memphis. We are 

Peabody Hotel’s first lesbian 

wedding (did we mention we 

are getting married on the roof 

(yeah, we are pretty awesome. 

Lucky for us, we’ve worked 

with folks like Dianne from the 

Peabody Hotel and our DJ 

who have created such a great 

experience for us throughout 

this journey. All the nit-picking 

things like finding a dress (yes, 

I’m wearing a dress and no, it’s 

not white), choosing the food, 

and the honeymoon (!) havent 

been as tedious to do. 

We were and still are 

attached at the hip. I mean, 

what can I say? I landed a real 

catch, and Suzie caught one, 

too. BTW, she didn’t say that 

quite like that, but I can’t write 

what she said in a magazine! 

We cant wait to continue the 

journey to the wedding and 

the journey in life together... 

because afterall, Life Gets 

Better Together. 


life 

2017 Tristate Black Pride 

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient 

TERRYL 

BUCKNER 

By Anita Moyt 

With contributions by Joy Doss 

photos courtesy of Tristate Black Pride 

and Terryl Buckner 

Terryl Buckner was honored 

by Tristate Black Pride on June 

15, 2017 at the National Civil 

Rights Museum during the 

opening ceremonies of Tristate 

Black Pride 2017. Buckner was 

presented with the group’s 

Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Terryl is a nightlife veteran, 

having recently retired after 

25 years in what can be a 

rough and tumble game. He 

captured a viable market in a 

way that no one else had at 

the time, and gave the black 

LGBT community in Memphis 

what it needed – a safe space 

with great music and great 

entertainment. 

He began his club business 

days with Club Escape on 

Monroe, then moved to 338 

South Front where he changed 

the name to Club N-cognito, 

which was where I (Joy) first 

met him while hanging out 

with my DJ friend. If you don’t 

know, the gay clubs have the 

best music in the city! Also 

as a woman, there was no 

one leering or being grabby – 

bonus! 

The more I hung out, the 

more I began to see familiar 

faces that weren’t “supposed” 

to be there. I, of course, 

honored the code. You will 

never hear a peep out of me. 

I say that to say that this is 

how I know that I know that 

this was a safe space in the 

midst of a community that may 

not always be so accepting 

– southern, black families, 

southern black families. One 

long-time club goer says, “It 

was one of the first gay clubs 

I went to in Memphis. My crew 

had mixed emotions about 

it because most of us had 

professional jobs and were 

successful. But it was a place 

where I got in touch with 

myself. I’m still friends with 

some of the guys I met there.” 

Later another transition 

would put “the club” in Frayser 

in the Northgate Shopping 

Center under the name Club 

Allusion. One last move saw 

“901” move back to downtown 

Memphis. 

Probably the most important 

piece of this puzzle is that 

Terryl was the founder of 

Memphis Black Pride over 

20 years ago. It was a long 

weekend of events throughout 

the city with top notch 

entertainment, J-Setters 

competing, literary festivals 

and educational activities. 

On Sundays, Terryl would 

rent out the entire Te-To-Tam 

Ranch in South Memphis for 

a leisurely day of cookouts, 

hayrides, horseback riding, 

volleyball and the water gun 

fights. He once said that he 

rented the entire ranch out 

so that his “kids” could have a 

place to go where they could 

be themselves without risk of 

discrimination or harassment. 

Buckner was appreciative 

of his award, one that he 

didn’t expect. “It really did feel 

good,” Buckner commented, 

“how they (Tristate Pride) 

acknowledged and 

appreciated me. Everything I 

was doing for the community 

was from my heart and I 

didn’t think I needed to be 

acknowledged. But after the 

day, it really did feel good for 

someone to say thank you and 

we appreciate you. It was just 

so well put together.” 

“From my heart I’d like to 

thank Memphis and all who 

supported me for 25 years,” 

Buckner concluded. “It is time 

for someone else to carry on 

for the future generations.”/ 

However, Buckner may be 

out of the club business, but 

he continues to work with the 

public in his line of work in real 

estate. And he still has plans 

to put together the occasional 

event that only Buckner knows 

how to do. 

Buckner and guests 

at one of the early 

Memphis Black Pride 

weekends at the 

Te-To-Tam Ranch in 

South Memphis. 

Buckner at the Tristate 

Black Pride event, June 

2017. Buckner at his club, 

N-Cognito, in the 1990s. 


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community 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis 

courtesy Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis 

Ronald McDonald House 

Charities of Memphis®, at no 

charge to our guests, provides 

supportive services and “keeps 

families close” while children 

are receiving treatment for 

cancer and other catastrophic 

childhood illnesses at St. Jude 

Children’s Research Hospital. 

Since opening its doors in 

1991, Ronald McDonald House 

of Memphis has provided a 

home, at no charge to our 

guests, for more than 9,400 

children from nearly every 

state and 45 countries. 

It is our aim at Ronald 

McDonald House of Memphis 

to give our families more 

time with their sick child. 

That means more hugs, more 

kisses, and more “I love you’s.” 

Families are stronger when 

they are together, and their 

presence helps a sick child heal 

faster and cope better. 

We enable families to focus 

on the health of their children 

rather than anything else, such 

as paying bills, cooking meals, 

or cleaning the house. Families 

are allowed to preserve a sense 

of normalcy with warm beds, 

warm meals, and warm hugs 

from other families fighting the 

same battle. 

One example is Emma, 

who is 14 years old and from 

Decatur, Ill. In 2015 an X-ray of 

Emma showed a mass. After 

she was diagnosed as having 

Ewing Sarcoma, she and her 

mother Jenny headed to 

Memphis. Three different times 

they have stayed at Ronald 

McDonald House Charities® of 

Memphis. Jenny said, “Emma’s 

treatment is more bearable 

because you are not constantly 

at the hospital.” 

Twenty five years after 

opening, RMHC Memphis is 

more than just a home. RMHC 

Memphis provides supportive 

programs that have a local 

impact such as the Family Field 

Trip Program so that families 

experience Memphis; the 

Chefs in the House Program 

so that they experience the 

food our city’s talented chefs 

provide; the Wings of Love 

Bereavement Program to 

support them after the battle is 

fought; and the Perseverance 

Scholarship Program to 

encourage patients to pursue 

their dreams. 

Volunteers contribute their 

time to prepare meals for 

families, host movie and pizza 

nights, clean and organize 

kitchens, and play areas, 

restock pantries and staff the 

front desk. By cooking meals, 

cleaning kitchens and play 

Page 16 / focusmidsouth.com / SEP+OCT 2017 / Imagine 

areas, volunteers allow families 

more time to spend with their 

sick children. 

To learn more about 

volunteer opportunities, 

contact our Volunteer and 

Program Manager Deenean 

Wilson-Henderson at 

deenean@rmhc-memphis.org 

or by calling 901.312.7478. 

In the words of a parent, 

“RMHC Memphis is way better 

than having to stay in a hotel 

room especially when you 

have to be here a longer time”. 

To another, RMHC Memphis 

is “shelter, relationship, and 

sharing of burdens.” One 

teenager says, “Thank you 

for making these incredibly 

difficult medical treatments a 

little bit easier for patients and 

families.” A young girl adds, 

“Thank you for all the support 

you have given to my family 

and everybody else. What you 

give is what we really need.” 

According to the father of one 

patient, RMHC Memphis has 

an “impact within the healing 

process, not so much within 

the medical-healing part of 

things but the spiritual part of 

things, the soul-helping part.” 

While RMHC Memphis 

cannot make medicine taste 

better or take away painful 

treatments, we can help 

lessen the burden and ensure 

families have the stability and 

resources they need to keep 

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arts+entertainment 

MURAL MAN 

BRANDON 

MARSHALL 

story by Sarah Rutledge Fischer 

photo by Justin Fox Burks 


Brandon Marshall loves 

Memphis, but he never 

dreamed that Memphis would 

know his name. See, Marshall— 

whose iconic Cooper Young 

I Love Memphis mural has 

become a favorite destination 

of tourists and Memphians 

alike—began his art career as 

a graffiti artist, earning semianonymous 

stripes in the literal 

underground—a world in which 

people know your art without 

ever knowing your name. These 

days, as one of Memphis’s 

hottest muralists, anonymity 

doesn’t serve him the way it 

used to. 

Marshall is a Memphis boy, 

born and raised. He grew up 

in East Memphis, and when he 

was 8 or 9 years old, he and 

his friends started sneaking 

down into the vast network 

of drainage ditches that run 

under the city. The ditches 

were originally designed 

to address the problem of 

stagnant water and prevent the 

spread of yellow fever. By the 

time Marshall discovered them, 

the tunnels had become a 

safe place for Memphis graffiti 

artists to practice their skills. 

Marshall and his friends were 

fascinated by the different 

artists whose work they saw 

both under and aboveground. 

By age 13, the boys were 

buying spray paint and trying 

to make their own marks. His 

friends eventually drifted away 

from graffiti, but Marshall was 

hooked. Graffiti had become a 

way for him to be alone in his 

thoughts and process emotion. 

Marshall spent his high school 

years working to improve his 

skills and build his identity as a 

graffiti artist. 

After graduation, Marshall 

joined the graphic design 

program at the University of 

Memphis, but struggled to 

stay on the path. At school, he 

was surrounded by talented 

people who only wanted to talk 

about art, not make it. When he 

wasn’t at school, Marshall was 

hooking up with older 

graffiti artists, painting 

side by side under 

bridges, in abandoned 

buildings, and beside 

railroad tracks. 

“It’s always been a 

therapeutic thing for 

me,” Marshall says, 

“a space where I can 

meditate. When you are 

alone under a bridge 

with one or two of 

your friends, and no 

one is talking—they’re 

just focused on their 

artwork and painting— 

that’s where I was 

able to find peace. It’s 

a literal dump, but in 

the same way, it’s a 

sanctuary.” 

Marshall dreamed 

of turning his love of graffiti 

legitimate and becoming a 

muralist, but everyone said it 

was just a pipe dream. For a 

while, he thought he could get 

a graphic design job, make 

some money, and do his art 

on the side. But by the time 

he reached his last semester, 

Marshall knew that wasn’t his 

path. He had to find another 

way. 

Meanwhile, Marshall was 

throwing regular “Soul Food” 

graffiti festivals. He would 

find a large paintable space, 

obtain permission, and bring 

50 or 60 graffiti artists to town 

to paint. As these festivals 

grew, Marshall sought the 

advice of John Weeden, 

then executive director of 

the UrbanArt Commission. 

Weeden urged Marshall to join 

the Commission’s email list 

and stay in touch. Months later, 

Art takes many forms for Marshall, 

including break dancing. 

Marshall received information 

about the I Love Memphis 

mural project. He applied, and 

the rest is Memphis history. 

Since then, Marshall has 

painted dozens of other 

commissioned murals 

throughout the city. The 

largest is probably the Get 

Down Mural on South Bellevue 

Blvd., commissioned by the 

Red Rover Ad Agency, in 

conjunction with the Delta 

Health Alliance for their “Power 

Over H.I.V.” Campaign. When 

Marshall met with the team, 

one of the ideas on the table 

was the phrase “get down.” 

The phrase jumped out at 

Marshall. It spoke directly to 

their goal—to encourage HIV+ 

people to follow their medical 

regimen and get their HIV cell 

count down—but it was also 

undeniably Memphis. 

“If you say, ‘Get down,’ to 

someone [with HIV] they know 

what you mean,” Marshall says. 

“They know that we’re talking 

about getting our HIV count 

down. But also, if you’ve lived 

for any time in Memphis, TN, 

and you don’t relate to the 

phrase, ‘Get down,’ you’ve 

missed the entire point of living 

here. . . Because that is truly 

what I think Memphis is all 

about. It’s just getting down, 

having a good time.” 

Theme in hand, they ran 

into another challenge. The 

location they had secured 

fell through. They found an 

alternate location, but the 

new wall was three times the 

size of the original. They had a 

much bigger wall but no bigger 

budget. The group suggested 

that Marshall just paint one 

third of the new wall, but he 

refused. Instead, he decided 

to paint the entire thing at no 

additional cost. 

“It’s a real cause that I really 

have empathy for. . . . I wanted 

to paint the whole wall because 

that community deserves to be 

heard and deserves to feel like 

they are not alone in what they 

are going through.” 

Marshall didn’t set out to 

give a voice to Memphis’ 

HIV+ community, but he is 

proud to have done so. See, 

the Memphis that Marshall 

loves, is big and diverse, full 

of all sorts of people, and 

leaving none of them behind. It 

invites everyone in, and wants 

everyone to get down. 

“It makes us a better city 

to not be exclusive, to be 

inclusive,” he says. “It’s making 

Memphis a more culturally rich 

place, and how can you argue 

with that?” 

GET DOWN 

Page 19 / focusmidsouth.com / SEP+OCT 2017 / Imagine 


community 

MID-SOUTH PRIDE 

FESTIVAL 

story by Phillis Lewis and Robin Beaudoin | photos courtesy of Mid-South Pride 

‘Mid-South Pride Presents: 

The 14th Annual Memphis 

Pride Festival’ for a weekend 

of fun, acceptance, and love 

September 28th through 

October 1st. On September 

29th, Friends For Life will be 

throwing the biggest dance 

party at the New Daisy Theater 

(tickets are only $25, and 

include admission and open 

bar), so dig out your dancing 

shoes. On Saturday, don the 

rainbow as the festival floods 

Robert Church Park and Beale 

Street with attendees from 

10am to 5pm. Parade lineup 

commences at noon for the 

1pm parade down Beale Street, 

and sign up is still open for 

anyone interested in helping 

to carry the famous pride flag, 

or enter a group to join in the 

parade. The Mid-South Pride 

Festival historically has about 

10,000 attendees and a myriad 

of booths and vendors. The 

weekend comes to a close in 

the Cooper Young District for 

a brunch at Celtic Crossing 

on October 1st. Save these 

dates on your calendar, and 

don’t be afraid to pitch in on 

the pre-party committees. 

With multiple teaser events 

leading up to the festival, 

volunteer opportunities 

abound! Interested volunteers 

may sign up on the Mid-South 

Pride website (midsouthpride. 

org), and may opt to work 

on Logistics, Visual Media, 

Interfaith/Culture, Business 

Logistics, and more. Visitors are 

welcome to join the Mid-South 

Pride team at a Monthly Open 

Board Meeting September 

5th at Out Memphis at 7:00pm. 

September 11th, the board 

will hold a Meet & Greet for a 

cocktail or two at the Zebra 

Lounge from 5:30 - 8:30 

p.m. The following weekend 

Spectrum will be hosting 

the Official Cooper Young 

Festival After Party with Mid- 

South Pride on September 

16th doors open at 9 p.m. 

For any additional details for 

volunteering opportunities 

contact Jennifer Murry-Rodley, 

jennifer.murry@midsouth.org. 

Phillis Lewis, board member 

for Mid-South Pride, wants 

everyone to come out and 

join the celebration for Pride 

weekend, noting that the Mid- 

South Pride festival is not only 

for the LGBTQ community, but 

to help educate others. 

“We have a festival to show 

unity. We have it to spread 

love. We have it to educate 

not only those outside of our 

community but also those 

within it. We are different but 

we are all human. The festival is 

an opportunity for everyone to 

come together in one place and 

celebrate being who they are 

without fear. 

We come together to 

remember those who came 

before us and fought for us 

for our rights to be able to 

walk down the street and 

hold our partner’s hand or 

say, ‘I do’ in front of our loved 

ones. We hope to see all your 

smiling faces: young, old, and 

in between because you are a 

part of what is to come so let’s 

all work together to build a 

better future.” 


Announcing the theme for the 

2017 MEMPHIS Pride Fest 

UNITY THROUGH 

DIVERSITY 

September 29-October 1, 2017 

Robert Church Park | 4th & Beale 

for more info visit 

midsouthpride.org 

#memphispridefest 

#midsouthpride 

UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY 

fri sat sun 

Come and enjoy 

our 3-day fest! 

There will be a kids area, 

food trucks, 2 stages 

with live entertainment, 

VIP area, and tons 

of vendors! 

Festival Location 

Robert Church Park 

Sep 29 

LOUD AND 

PROUD! 

Dance Party to 

Kick Off Memphis 

Pride Fest 

9pm at 

New Daisy 

Sep 30 

PRIDE FESTIVAL 

10am – 5pm 

at Robert 

Church Park 

PRIDE PARADE 

1pm – 2pm on 

Beale Street 

Oct 1 

PRIDE CRAWL 

at 

Cooper-Young 

Parade Location 

Beale Street 

midsouthpride.org

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lgbt advocate 

Blue Suede Sisters 

interview by Joan Allison | photos by Greg Campbell 

We’ve been called drag 

nuns, sacred clowns, 

freaks, heretics, etc. etc. 

and they’re all true. 

We are the intersection 

of absurdity, ministry, 

glitter, and love. I have 

been told that talking to 

a Sister is like talking to 

a cartoon character. 

— Chris Riales 

Blue Suede Sister 

When, why and how were the 

Blue Suede Sisters formed? 

So, the Sisters of Perpetual 

Indulgence is an order of Queer 

Nuns formed in 1979 in San 

Francisco with the sole purpose 

of Spreading Joy and Banishing 

Stigmatic Guilt. Since then, houses 

have sprung up around the country 

and around the world! Each House 

is an autonomous entity with its 

own 501c3 license and bylaws, 

but we are all part of a greater 

community held together by the 

“Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” 

trademark and the work that we do. 

Our house was formed in March 

of 2016 when I (Sister Tomm 

Foolery) encountered the Music 

City Sisters in Nashville. It was 

clear that the Sisters improve any 

city in which they manifest, and I 

was determined to bring them here. 

Thus, the Blue Suede Sisters were 

born. Our mission is to improve the 

lives of those around us by bringing 

joy, removing hate and stigma, and 

generally being as ridiculous as 

possible. 

Tell me how each of you first got 

involved. 

One of the things we adhere to 

is that we do not actively recruit. 

We are more than welcoming to 

anyone who feels the calling to join 

us in our work, but we find that 

the most active and enthusiastic 

Nuns are going to be the ones who 

feel drawn to join us, as opposed 

to those who we coerce to join. 

We have what is referred to as a 

“ministry of presence”, meaning 

that the work we do is best served 

by simply putting on the outfits 

(called “manifesting”) and showing 

up. Those who feel called to join 

us generally see us in public at 

an event or a bar ministry, and 

approach us. From there, the 

process can begin. 

How might someone else describe 

the Sisters? 

We’ve been called drag nuns, 

sacred clowns, freaks, heretics, 

etc. etc. and they’re all true. We 

are the intersection of absurdity, 

ministry, glitter, and love. I have 

been told that talking to a Sister is 

like talking to a cartoon character, 

which says to me that it’s working. 

The whole point of what we do 

(makeup, names, crazy nun getups) 

is to make us approachable. It is 

meant to be an icebreaker, because 

if I can walk up to someone and 

talk to them, I can do the work 

of spreading joy and banishing 

Stigmatic Guilt. 

What has surprised you most 

about being in the group? 

Honestly, how welcoming the 

community at large has been. 

This community has embraced 

us, and it fills my heart with joy. 

Whether it is offering venue space 

for a fundraiser we are planning, 

welcoming us into bars and 

spaces to hand out condoms and 

candy, or simply helping with 

networking to allow us to further 

our ministry, our community has 

been wonderfully accepting. It is 

fantastic. 

What do you find most 

challenging about it? 

It’s a lot of work. A lot. There 

are meetings, event planning, 

shopping for outfits, networking, 

scraping together funds for things, 

and a million other things that 

people don’t see. We are lucky to 

have a house of nuns who really 

care, because otherwise the work 

wouldn’t get done. 

What’s the best/worst thing to 

happen since you started working 

with the Sisters? 

There is nothing like walking 

into a space and seeing people’s 

faces light up and start pointing 

and run over to talk to you. It 

attests to the efficacy of manifesting 

as a sister. It’s evidence that this 

ministry is working. 


Worst thing to happen? 

I can’t think of anything to 

fit that metric. Perhaps it hasn’t 

happened yet. 

How would you respond to 

someone who disagrees with what 

you’re doing? 

I find it hard to believe that 

anyone would have a problem with 

a group of people committed to 

making people’s lives better. If they 

have a problem with the thematic 

elements, however, then I look 

forward to seeing the specific way 

they go out and do good in the 

world. We are are building the same 

community together, and it isn’t my 

place to tell someone that they’re 

doing it wrong if the outcome is for 

the better. 

Why does the world need the 

Blue Suede Sisters as opposed 

to the other groups working on 

LGBTQ+ issues? 

I wouldn’t say that we are needed 

as “opposed” to other groups. 

I would say we are needed IN 

ADDITION to other groups. There 

is no limit of space in this work 

for new people and groups. Love is 

limitless, and there is room for all 

of us. 

When your friends/family find 

out that you’re a Sister, what do 

they say or ask? 

Oh they loved it. I have a rule 

that I won’t do anything that I 

wouldn’t tell my mother about. It’s 

a way I make sure I’m not doing 

anything I would be ashamed of. 

As such, I’ve been pretty open with 

everyone I know and everyone 

I meet about my involvement 

with the sisters. To do anything 

otherwise would be indicative 

of guilt, which is precisely the 

opposite of what the sisters are all 

about. 

Tell me about someone who has 

influenced the Sisters. 

The sisters are all about freedom 

of expression, art based activism, 

screwing with gender and sexuality 

norms, and generally going against 

the grain. Anyone who champions 

those causes is going to be 

someone we look to. Divine, Ellen 

Degeneres, Joan of Arc, Marsha 

P Johnson, and Freddie Mercury. 

We look up to those who have been 

unapologetically themselves in the 

face of adversity. 

What might someone be 

surprised to know about the 

group? 

ANYONE CAN JOIN! People 

tend to think that we are just a 

bunch of gay men, but it simply 

isn’t true. Any member of the 

community who feels called to 

do the work of spreading joy is 

welcome to join us, providing they 

are 18+ and a human being. We do 

not have any restrictions on race, 

gender, sexual orientation, physical 

ability, religion, creed, or age (over 

18). If you feel the calling to join 

us, contact us and we will help you 

find your vocation. 

What would you tell someone 

who wants to join your group? Is 

that even a possibility? 

Throw your expectations out the 

window. We are intentionally silly 

in all things we do, including the 

paperwork and meetings. Yes, there 

is a lot of work involved, but we do 

it because we want to, not because 

we feel obligated. Therefore, we 

make sure to have fun in the work. 

What do you think will change 

about LGBTQ issues and the 

Sisters over the next five years? 

I honestly have no idea. They 

say the goal of any non profit is 

to make themselves unnecessary 

because the need is no longer there. 

I don’t think that is something 

that will happen to us, because the 

world will always need Joy. 

If you weren’t involved here, what 

would you be doing instead? 

There’s no telling. Probably 

trying to find ways to better my 

community. 

What do you wish other people 

knew about the Blue Suede 

Sisters? 

We love you, and we want you 

to be joyful without the burden of 

stigma, guilt, or hate. If we can put 

on these outfits and go out in public 

being as ridiculous and glittery as 

possible, then you can do whatever 

it is that you’re scared to do. :) 


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lgbt ally 

FORMER MEMPHIS COLLEGE OF ART 

STUDENT AND MUSICIAN 

MARCELLA 

SIMIEN 

FREE TO BE 

by Joy Doss | photo by Lisa Mac 

“Dude,” the audience member coughed out. He was talking 

about Marcella Simien’s voice (and possibly implying that she 

was transgendered) as she covered Tracy Chapman’s “Gimme 

One Reason.” Simien is proud of her femininity and was not 

aware that she sounded masculine to some. So she called him and 

his table mates out on their boorish behavior. Confused, they 

ignored her admonitions and requested she play some Credence 

Clearwater Revival. ‘I’ll try not to sing it like a dude,” she blurted 

before she delivered the song. She felt like she was being pushed 

down to being in middle school. As an ally, she was humbled by 

the experience and no longer plays to people’s ignorance. 

—paraphrased from a 2017 Facebook post, by Marcella Simien 

Marcella has been a longtime 

advocate, unafraid to 

speak up and speak out on 

behalf of others. She grew up 

in the conservative town of 

Lafayette, La. However, her 

family was anything but, with 

her father being two-time 

Grammy winner Terrance 

Simien. Her parents always 

had a hodge-podge of friends, 

much like she does herself. 

“My parents were welltraveled 

and not very 

conservative. [Gay people or 

gay couples] weren’t a strange 

thing to me. It only became 

‘strange’ when I realized that 

people weren’t raised the way 

I was. These people who can’t 

see outside of themselves. 

They don’t try to understand 

people with different beliefs or 

different ways of life.” 

New Orleans is closer to her 

hometown and certainly has 

the reputation for being open 

to anything – and everything. 

So, I asked why Memphis over 

New Orleans? She came here 

in 2009 to study at Memphis 

College of Art and stayed on, 

initially working at Bar DKDC 

and Beauty Shop before 

dedicating herself to her band, 

Marcella and her Lovers, 

in 2015. Of Memphis she 

says, “I feel there are a lot of 

parallels between Memphis 

and New Orleans. For instance, 

the Mississippi River runs 

through both, attaching 

cultures and different people. I 

felt really comfortable. I saw a 

different response to the type 

of music I was doing (here). I 

don’t play traditional Creole or 

Zydeco music. It seemed to fit. 

The rich history and influences 

in New Orleans are definitely 

reminiscent of Memphis.” Les 

bon temps rouler up and down 

the Mississippi, whether in 

Tennessee or Louisiana, Cher! 

The music lovers in our city 

– and we do deeply feel music 

– readily accepted her brand 

of self-described “Memphis. 

Swamp Soul.” If you have seen 

them perform, you know this 

description is accurate. 

She continues, “It’s 

undeniable that this city 

is a soul city, a city of raw 

emotion. I responded to that. 

I feel that people accepted 

my weirdness in a way they 

didn’t in Louisiana. I would 

use the accordion to cover 

punk songs and Nina Simone 

songs. People (in Memphis) 

liked it. That made me want to 

continue to create here.” 

Back to her Facebook post. I 

needed to know how on earth 

she contained herself in the 

face of such foolishness. Her 

response is what I hope to be 

enlightening and encouraging 

for readers, as it was for me. 

“I’ve encountered a lot of 

unusual and off-putting things. 

People have said awful things, 

especially late at night as 

people get drunker. You have 

to stay professional. I take a 

moment to breathe before I 

respond to things…so I don’t 

show too much of my emotion. 

I know how fast something 

like that can escalate. Being 

at work…there was a sense of 

decorum I had to maintain. I 

didn’t excuse any of it. I [just] 

had to be calm in my anger.” 

She’s for sure better than 

me. And many of you who are 

reading this right? You don’t 

have to say “Amen,” just look 

“amen,” as my pastor says. 

Marcella and Her Lovers 

have a new project coming 

out this year, Got You Found. 

It’s their first full-length 

album, which will be released 

independently. Both new 

album title and their first 

EP, The Bronze Age, will be 

available on iTunes, Spotify 

and Amazon music. 



CELEBRATING 20 YEARS! 

OUTFLIX 

FILM 

FESTIVAL 

by Will Batts, President of OUTMemphis 

The annual Outflix Film 

Festival is a program of 

OUTMemphis: The LGBTQ 

Center for the Mid-South. 

OUTMemphis believes that it 

is vital for us to see images 

of lesbian, gay, bisexual, 

transgender, and queer people 

that are not often visible in 

commercial movie theaters. 

Outflix seeks to correct that 

by highlighting our history, 

our loves, our losses, and our 

triumphs –stories ABOUT us 

told BY us. 

The first film festival, 

founded by Brian Pera, was 

held in April 1997, and was 

called “Twinkie Museum: First 

Annual Queer Experimental 

Film Festival.” As Brian 

explains, 

“I liked Twinkie Museum 

because like a lot of queer 

lingo it had refracted 

meanings, a sort of code logic, 

and because it was flippant 

but had hidden depths. I knew 

the name was provocative, but 

hoped that would create the 

possibility for conversation. To 

me the more important thing 

was the title’s reference to 

Harvey Milk and the story of 

the Twinkie Defense used by 

lawyers for Dan White, Harvey 

Milk’s assassin.” 

For the first few years, the 

film festival was held on the 

University of Memphis Campus 

in the Psychology Auditorium 

and tended to show more 

experimental shorts and 

features. During the second 

year, local filmmaker Ira Sachs 

premiered his movie THE 

DELTA to the largest audience 

in the early years of the 

festival. 

Beginning in April 2001, 

Outflix screened some films in 

a commercial theater as well 

as at Media Co-Op, formerly 

in the First Congo basement. 

The festival struggled with 

sponsorships and ticket sales 

and due to a lack of funds and 

leadership in 2004, no festival 

was held. 

In August 2005, Outflix 

experienced a rise from the 

ashes! With new leadership 

and an enthusiastic committee, 

the Outflix Film Festival 

screened 14 films over a fourday 

event in the make shift 

church basement theater. 

Though the budget was small, 

the attendance exceeded 

expectations 

In 2006 & 2007 the Outflix 

revenue quadrupled and 

attendance tripled as it moved 

out of the church basement 

and into the Muvico multiplex 

theater in downtown Memphis. 

Due to potential closing of 

the downtown theater, the 

2008 Outflix Film Festival 

Committee decided to move 

the event once again. One of 

the oldest and most historic 

theaters was chosen to be 

the new home of the festival, 


MOVIE BRIEFS 

Malco’s Ridgeway Four, where 

it continues to thrive and grow 

showing quality films from 

around the world. 

The Outflix LGBQ Film 

Festival continues to be a wellregarded 

festival both in local 

circles and around the country. 

Each year, hundreds of 

filmmakers submit their entries 

and the review team has an 

increasingly difficult job finding 

the best, most diverse slate 

of films, typically screening 

35-40 films from around the 

world. One of the enduring 

strengths of the festival from 

the beginning has been its 

appeal to straight allies. Pera 

explains, 

“I just remember being 

really fascinated by how 

enthusiastic so many of the 

audience from outside the 

community were that showed 

up. That surprised me. I mean, 

they weren’t shocked. They 

were into it. They got the 

humor. And I realized that a 

big, unanticipated part of the 

festival was about finding allies 

and making new friends and 

contacts, and a renovation of 

the ideas around community.” 

Join us for this year’s 20th 

Anniversary opening party 

on August 31 and the festival, 

which runs September 8-14! 

For more information - www. 

outflixfestival.org 

Come OUT and see a movie 

with us! 

Lavender Scare 

In 1953, President Eisenhower declared gay men and 

lesbians to be a threat to the security of the country and 

therefore unfit for government service. In doing so, he 

triggered the longest witch hunt in American history. 

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin 

THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN examines the life 

and work of one of the world’s most beloved storytellers, following 

his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay 

rights pioneer whose novels have inspired millions to claim their 

own truth. **We’re showing this film at the preview party** 

Something Like Summer 

Something Like Summer traces the 

tumultuous relationship of Ben and Tim, 

secret high school sweethearts who 

grow over the years into both adulthood 

enemies and complicated friends. 

Cherry Pop 

“Cherry Pop!” is about a newcomer struggling with being 

the outcast on his first night performing and a drag legend 

coming to terms with life after her last night performing. 

Cherry Pop is a real-time roller coaster ride where you 

better be strapped up, tucked in, and ready to go! 

Below Her Mouth 

BELOW HER MOUTH 

is a bold, uninhibited 

drama that begins with a passionate weekend affair 

between two women. Dallas, a roofer and Jasmine, 

a fashion editor, share a powerful and immediate 

connection that inevitably derails both of their lives. 

Jewel’s Catch One 

Jewel’s Catch One’s documents the oldest Black 

owned disco in America and establishes the legacy 

of businesswoman, activist, and healer, Jewel Thais- 

Williams, who stood up against hate and discrimination 

for 42 years. 

Want to know more? 

Read the online 

interview with 

Brian Pera, 

Founder 

OUTMemphis president 

Will Batts’ goes back to the 

beginning of the festival with 

the creator himself, Brian 

Pera. Read about the history, 

understand the innuendo, and 

hear about the unexpected 

support he received from 

the beginning! Go to 

focusmidsouth.com and click 

on ‘articles.’ 

I Dream In Another Language 

A young linguist travels to the jungle of Mexico to research 

a language on the verge of disappearing. Once there, he 

discovers its last two speakers clashed 50 years ago, and 

have refused to speak to each other since. Attempting to 

reunite them, the researcher discovers a secret past—and a 

forbidden gay love story. 

Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America 

Growing up in rural North Carolina, Moises Serrano fell in love 

with a country that refused to recognize his full humanity - both 

as an undocumented immigrant and as a gay man. 

***Opening Film on Friday, Sept 8*** 

Saturday Church 

A 14 year old boy, struggling with 

gender identity and religion, 

begins to use fantasy to escape 

his life in the inner city and find 

his passion in the process. 



Bold movie titles indicate movies that repeat on a different day. 

OUTFLIX 

FILM 

SCHEDULE 

ALPHABETICALLY BY MOVIE NAME: 

A Date For Mad Mary 

AWOL 

B&B 

Wed., Sept. 13 at 8:30 pm 

Tues., Sept. 12 at 6:30 pm 

Fri., Sept. 8 At 10:30 pm 

Mon., Sept. 11 at 2:30 pm 

Behind The Curtain: Todrick Hall Sat., Sept. 9 at 1:00 pm 

Thurs., Sept. 14 at 4:30 pm 

Below Her Mouth 

Center Of My World 

Cherry Pop 

Forbidden: Undocumented 

And Queer In Rural America 

God’s Own Country 

Handsome Devil 

Heartland 

I Dream In Another Language 

Jewel’s Catch One 

Lavender Scare 

Million Happy Nows 

Saturday Church 

Shorts Block 

Signature Move 

Something Like Summer 

The Untold Tales 

Of Armistead Maupin 

Woman On Fire 

Sat., Sept. 9 at 7:00 pm 






Sun., Sept. 10 at 7:30 pm 















Thurs., August 31 at 7:00 pm 



THURSDAY, AUGUST 31 

7:00 PM The Untold Tales 

of Armistead Maupin 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 

7:00 PM Forbidden: Undocumented and 

Queer in Rural America 

9:00 PM Cherry Pop 

10:30 PM B&B 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 

1:00 PM Jewel’s Catch One 

3:00 PM Something Like Summer 

5:00 PM Behind the Curtain: Todrick Hall 

7:00 PM Below Her Mouth 

9:00 PM Handsome Devil 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 

1:30 PM Million Happy Nows 

3:30 PM Heartland 

5:30 PM Saturday Church 

7:30 PM God’s Own Country 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 

2:30 PM B&B 

4:30 PM Handsome Devil 

6:30 PM Lavender Scare 

8:30 PM Woman on Fire 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 

2:30 PM Jewel’s Catch One 

4:30 PM Armistead Maupin 

6:30 PM AWOL 

8:30 PM Signature Move 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 

2:30 PM Below Her Mouth 

4:30 PM Forbidden: Undocumented and 

Queer in Rural America 

6:30 PM I Dream in Another Language 

8:30 PM A Date for Mad Mary 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 

2:30 PM Heartland 

1:00 PM Signature Move 

4:30PM Behind the Curtain: Todrick Hall 

6:30PM Shorts Block 

8:30PM Center of My World 


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music 

From 

Memphis 

by Joan Allison 

edited by Sarah Rutledge Fischer 

photos by Jacob Blickenstaff 

and Danny Clinch 

Valerie June 


The voice on the phone is girlish and sweet with a distinct Jackson, Tennessee Southern drawl. She 

is fresh off a European tour, but back in New York for this interview. She is a friend of a friend of a 

Memphis friend but could just as well be my younger sister as we chat about her life and music. She is 

strikingly open and earnest and enjoying all of the great things that are happening in her career. 

How did you start singing? How 

did you know that you could sing 

or enjoyed singing? 

Well I knew I enjoyed it. There 

was no doubt. That was one thing. 

The other thing was I knew my 

voice wasn’t what I heard when I 

turned on the radio growing up. I 

always thought I had a weird voice. 

I didn’t know if I could make a 

living as a singer, because I thought 

my voice was too weird for that. 

But I’m stubborn, and I believe in 

manifesting dreams. 

Did you have any training? 

Just [growing up] around all 

the members of [my] church. We 

didn’t have a choir, and we didn’t 

use instruments, but we sang every 

single Sunday. Everybody sings 

differently, you know? So, being 

around 500 different people every 

single Sunday and just listening to 

their voices and trying to figure out 

where their voices come from in 

their body. 

Some people sing from their low 

diaphragm. Some people sing very 

quietly from the whispering part of 

their voice. There’s different parts 

of the voice but you can hear kind 

of where it’s coming from. I spent 

18 years sitting by different people 

and listening to the way they sang. 

If I heard something I liked then 

I tried to figure out how they were 

doing it. 

Your singing voice, to me, is 

like an old Mississippi Delta 

Blues singer infused with a sort 

of Tennessee twang and maybe 

some Iris DeMente. Do you 

recognize those in your own 

voice? 

Not really. I’m starting to 

recognize my voice, but I haven’t 

really been able to identify my 

voice before. 

Lately—because I’m older 

and listening back to recordings 

of when I was younger—I can 

hear how my voice has changed 

with time. My voice, to me, now 

sounds a lot more in the jazz singer 

range or even like a Memphis 

Minnie, Billie Holiday or Dinah 

Washington. These old sounds that 

you hear Ella Fitzgerald offer up. 

I was walking around 

somewhere, and I heard my music 

on the overhead while I was maybe 

shopping for groceries. I was like, 

‘wait a minute. Is that me?’ I 

realized that it was me, and then I 

was listening to it outside of myself, 

and I thought, ‘Dang! I really 

sound Vaudeville-ish, you know? 

But in my music, I don’t listen to 

it that way—as an outsider. I don’t 

think about it at all. It was an 

interesting moment for me. 

You’ve said that your songs are 

given to you by the ethers. Do 

you associate any sense – taste or 

smell or color – when you get this 

inspiration? 

Usually colors…all kinds of 

different colors. ‘Astral Plane’ 

(Order of Time) is super ethereal 

and it’s like a lot of fuschia and 

turquoise and iridescent colors. 

The love songs have a very soft 

kind of pinkish color to them and 

sometimes a white. I’ve had dream 

songs (that were) just darkness and 

one single white light, and I heard 

the voice. 

Was that singular light a person? 

It wasn’t any form at all. It was 

only light. It was a beautiful voice 

like an angelic voice. Pretty. Just 

so pretty. 

Are there popular artists who 

influence what you do? 

There’s a long list of people who 

have influenced me. I started to 

speak those out on social media, 

on my Instagram channel. But 

there’s so many, that it’s kind of 

weird to give credit to one person. 

It’s huge, it really is. I’m just a 

person who loves music, and if I 

find something I love, then I find 

more about what I love about it. I 

just keep asking questions until I 

get to the core of what it is. Once I 

find what it is, then it gives magic 

to what I do. 

On your trip to Switzerland, 

I read that you were going to 

invite Tina Turner to come to a 

concert. Did that happen? 

No, but I’m super hopeful! 

She’s so powerful as an individual 

woman–the way she has taken 

genres of many different singers 

and married them into her own 

style. That’s basically the same 

thing that I’m doing. Sometimes 

people are like “It’s so new, what 

you’re doing,” and I’m like “No, it’s 

been done five billion times before. 

I’m just moved to do it myself.” 

I’ve read that you love John 

Lennon’s song ‘Imagine,’ but 

mostly you want people to 

respect each other. 

I think a lot of it comes from 

being from Memphis. We are from 

the place where Martin Luther 

King Jr., one of the [most famous 

leaders] in our country’s history 

of change and positivity, was 

assassinated. I think that teaches us 

a lot of lessons about how to move 

forward in the world. 

We can fight our way through... 

or we can decide “I’m going to 

allow change to happen, and I’m 

not going to use the hostile things 

like fighting. I’m going to stand up 

for what I believe in, and I’m going 

to have respect for my neighbors. 

I’m going to believe that me doing 

that, and me having integrity for 

myself and for my community, is 

going to help change the world in 

small ways over time.” 

If everybody looked at life 

like that then we’d be looking 

at multitudes of people coming 

together. 

June’s latest CD, Order of Time, is 

available on iTunes and Apple Music. 


community 

EQUALITY JACKSON 

Bringing Positive Change to Small Towns in Tennessee 

story and photos by Mark Benton 

When Focus contributor, Mark Benton, 

moved to Jackson, Tennessee in 2013, he 

had lived in many large cities but never 

a city as small as Jackson, population 

70,000. He had always been active in the 

local gay community where he lived. In 

Jackson, he scratched his head and asked 

himself “where is the gay community?” 

With a population serving over 165,000 

people there had to be a statistical queer 

population of at least 5,000. At the very 

least 2,500. 

Benton began involving himself with 

local groups, churches and the arts 

community. His spouse, Mike Millson, had 

moved to Jackson in 2007 to be closer 

to his daughter. Mike wasn’t sure that a 

politically and active “OUT” Benton could 

adjust to the slower lifestyle that Jackson 

adhered to. However, the “Mayberry 

lifestyle” and old southern charm lured 

him to purchase a home there in 2014. 

He noticed how the gay community 

attempted to quietly blend within the 

framework of the community. 

Most would flee their city on the 

weekend and travel to the more gay 

active cities of Memphis and Nashville. 

Benton was active in organizations in 

both. 

In September of 2016, Benton and a 

man named Eddie (last named withheld 

for privacy) formed the “Jackson Men’s 

Dinner Group, specifically for gay men 

in Jackson and the local area. The group 

started privately on Facebook and 

quickly gained a membership of over 

140. Now, each month they select an area 

restaurant to dine at. Usually around 25 

attend. It has been a success for over a 

year and membership continues to grow. 

In January, Benton took a leap of 

faith and started Equality Jackson, a 

virtual LGBTQ community center. Its 

membership grew to over 400 in less 

than two months. Benton understood 

that Jackson had a vibrant yet 

disconnected LGBTQ community. He 

realized that Equality Jackson could be 

the connecting element in bringing the 

LGBTQ in his community together. This 

June, Equality Jackson became public to 

all of Jackson. 


What exactly is Equality 

Jackson? 

Equality Jackson is a virtual 

community center for Jackson 

and the local area. Our office is 

in my home (by appointment 

only). We are currently 

studying whether to be a 

501(3)c organization. 

We offer LGBTQ resources 

and important information 

that can be accessed right 

here in Jackson. We support 

three dinner groups and are 

currently reaching out to 

two local LGBTQ student 

groups: one at Jackson State 

Community College and the 

other at Lane University. We 

are developing a supportive 

role with West Tennessee 

Health Consortium Group 

in our fight against, and 

education on, HIV. We are 

also reaching out to our local 

NAACP chapter and will 

participate with area churches 

seeking a more affirming 

dialogue with their LGBTQ 

members. We made our 

presence known this summer 

at the weekend (and well 

attended) Farmers Market. I 

was ecstatic how well received 

we were. 

What are you doing to affirm 

the rights of gays in the area? 

Our public and private 

presence alone helps affirm 

the lives of our LGBTQ 

community. I spoke about gay 

rights at the Madison County 

Democratic Party, of which I 

am a member. We placed an 

historic marker for the LGBTQ 

community in our area. I was 

able to get them to redefine 

their nondiscrimination clause 

to include gender identity. I 

hope to make our presence 

known to our local Chamber 

of Commerce. We want to 

make sure that businesses in 

Jackson are nondiscriminatory 

to everyone, including LGBTQ 

residents. We are also starting 

a campaign called «I LOVE 

JACKSON AND I SUPPORT 

LGBTQ EQUALITY.» 

What is the mission of that 

campaign? 

Basically, It will be an online 

petition that all members 

of members of the Jackson 

community can sign. I believe 

this campaign will help break 

down the perception that 

smaller cities like Jackson 

are homophobic. As more 

people and businesses sign 

the petition the more Equality 

Jackson hopes to break the 

barriers of fear surrounding 

the gay community. While 

living in smaller conservative 

communities can be a 

challenge it doesn’t necessarily 

mean that all conservative 

small city people are 

homophobic. 

You recently had a small Gay 

Pride event sponsored by 

EqualityJackson. What was 

it like? 

I can’t begin to tell you 

the support I received from 

businesses in Jackson and 

LGBTQ organizations from 

Memphis to Nashville. It was 

well attended and we had 

great entertainment and 

speakers. 

Tell us more! 

We had Mid-South Pride, 

NAACP, West Tennessee 

Health Consortium Group, 

Choices, Tennessee Equality 

Project, Lambda Car Club 

of Memphis and Mr. Friendly 

(Fighting HIV stigma) speak 

and Redemption Road Horse 

Rescue speak. I just wanted 

to cry tears of joy. My friends 

who lead these organizations 

took time out of their already 

busy schedules and drove 

to Jackson to support 

Equality Jackson. We had 

plenty of food, drinks and 

entertainment. Chaz Coffman 

and Kate Deliriouz were 

splendid entertainers. 

What else is happening with 

Equality Jackson? 

We are working with Ray 

Rico Freelance in launching our 

website later this year. I wanted 

the best and Ray’s work is 

known in the Mid-South to be 

superb. The website will have 

a list of resources in our area. 

Everything from affirming 

churches to professional 

services, legal referrals, health 

services and other supportive 

LGBTQ groups and business in 

our area. 

In September we begin a 

third dinner group. Called “The 

Rainbow Connection,” it will be 

available for all LGBTQ people 

and allies to attend. Currently 

there is a men’s and women’s 

dinner group. 

How can one contact Equality 

Jackson to get involved 

or seek information and 

resources? 

Currently you can reach 

me at my cell number which 

is 731-394-1154. Email: benton. 

mark7361@gmail.com. We are 

located on Westwood Avenue, 

Jackson Tenn. (please contact 

us first for an appointment). 

You can become a member 

of our private Facebook 

community by friending me 

on Facebook. Through me 

or another member, we can 

place you in our dinner group 

sites. Our motto is «STANDING 

STRONG TOGETHER.» 

I have to say that placing 

FOCUS Magazine in a half a 

dozen business and colleges 

has raised awareness of 

our need to connect our 

community. I hand out over 

200 copies of the magazine 

every other month. Lastly, 

I must say, that without the 

encouragement and support 

of my beloved spouse, Mike 

Millson, I could not have done 

all that I am doing. It feels 

great serving your community 

and connecting lives for the 

better. 


lgbt advocate 

Michael Hanson 

Alabama’s first openly gay candidate 

is challenging the status quo 

by Chellie Bowman | photo courtesy of Michael Hanson 

“Openly gay environmentalist 

running for Jeff Session’s old seat.” 

Bold categories, high emotions, 

incendiary blurbs. That Michael 

Hansen, born and raised in 

Memphis, is now the first openly 

gay person running for statewide 

office in Alabama, is garnering 

lots of attention and support is no 

surprise. But Hansen was just a 

concerned citizen like us, who took 

a leap of faith, taking things into 

his own hands. 

Hansen has a long history of 

challenging the status quo – he 

works as executive director of 

the health and environmental 

advocacy organization GASP, has 

a been working for LGBT rights 

locally in Birmingham for many 

years, and moreover, came forward 

with a powerful story last year. In 

November of 2016, Michael and 

his brother went public about abuse 

they endured by a youth minister 

when they were kids, and the 

subsequent attempts by the church 

to cover it up. It empowered him to 

run for office, he said, and that in 

itself has generated in him a sense 

of peace and inner strength. 

Hansen has cultivated 

this strength in running a 

campaign that he describes as an 

unapologetic defiance of what 

Alabama politics is supposed to be. 

Over the phone he firmly asserts 

“I am unapologetically who I 

am.” And Hansen means this in 

more ways than one. Apart from 

running as an openly gay man in a 

historically conservative Southern 

state, he also believes that people 

are longing for authenticity, “for 

someone authentic, who speaks 

without obscurity and ambiguity.” 

Something that is in complete 

opposition to Trump and his 

administration’s “alternative facts”, 

political obviations, and double 

speak. 

It is just that kind of duplicity 

that Hansen offers voters an 

alternative to. He actually decided 

to run for office when he heard 

that former Chief Justice of the 

Alabama Supreme Court Roy 

Moore, a “prolific homophobe”, 

had decided to run for the seat. 

Many of us Tennesseans know of 

Moore because of his history of 

anti-LGBT actions. In 2003 he was 

removed from his position as Chief 

Justice for refusing to remove a Ten 

Commandments monument (that 

he commissioned) from the court, 

and in 2015 once re-elected he 

attempted to block probate judges 

from issuing marriage licenses 

despite the Supreme Court ruling 

that overturned the state’s ban on 

same-sex marriage and was then 

suspended—and ultimately forced 

to resign—from the court. 

Hansen described Moore as 

issuing “some of the most vile and 

bigoted opinions from the court 

about LGBT people.” By launching 

his campaign in response to 

Moore’s, he wanted to show the 

gay community in Alabama that 

“we need the courage to stand up 

to bullies – whether they’re at your 

school, work, or the Senate. That 

representation matters. We need 

elected leaders who are like us, who 

know what it’s like to grow up as a 

gay kid in the South.” 

Indeed we do. Hansen’s 

experiences growing up in 

Memphis and in the South – and 

the complicated relationships 

we have with our families and 

religion – are something to which 

many of us can relate. Although 

Hansen left Memphis around a 

decade ago to pursue graduate 

school in Tuscaloosa, he still has 

emotional connections to the city. 

His parents and his sister and 

her wife still live here. He comes 

back often and concedes that he 

is impressed every time by how 

much Memphis has grown. In 

portraying his upbringing, Hansen 

discloses that his family “grew 

up relatively poor and in a pretty 

diverse neighborhood. And my 

parents are conservative, Southern 

Baptist Republicans. And when I 

look at someone like Jeff Sessions 

or Roy Moore who use the Bible as 

a weapon I think it makes people 

like my parents look bad – and 

other Republicans and Christians 

look bad, this weaponization of 

faith. My parents are two of the 

best people I know, they’re always 

helping others and doing their 

part. Just because we don’t see 

eye-to-eye politically doesn’t mean 

we love each other any less. And 

I think that’s the story of most 

Southerners.” 

In the current political climate 

in which Trump and the recent 

election has divided families 

and friends, Hansen represents a 

progressive, pro-LGBTQ candidate 

who also, however, understands 

the nuances and complications 

of living gay in the Bible Belt. 

He represents the change we 

need, but as a political newcomer 

and “gay kid from the South” 

he also has the context and the 

insight to represent us. When 

asked what he had learned since 

starting the campaign, Hansen 

mentioned how exhaustive and 

hindering campaign finance laws 

and regulations were, stating “the 

system is set up for wealthy people 

to run.” His campaign and those 

of other grassroots candidates 

rely on donations from private 

citizens like us to support them. 

Since our interview Hansen 

himself has taken a pledge not 

to accept “contributions from 

the oil, gas, and coal industry, 

instead prioritizing our families, 

climate, and democracy over fossil 

fuel profits.” This is the kind of 

authenticity he was talking about, 

that he represents, and that we 

need. 

In response to specific LGBT 

legislative concerns, Hansen 

relayed that he is focused on 

getting the Equality Act – which 

adds sexual orientation and gender 

identity/expression to the Civil 

Rights Act – passed to prevent 

discrimination towards LGBTQ 

citizens in employment, housing, 

education, etc. Additionally, 

Hansen is deeply concerned about 

the systemic lack of hate crimes 

being acknowledged and reported 

in Alabama, citing the murder and 

assault of several trans people in 

Birmingham alone last year. 

To learn more about 

Michael and/or donate to his 

campaign check out his website 

hansenforalabama.com/ 


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lgbt youth 

GEORGE 

BOYINGTON 

by Melinda Lejman | photos by Joan Allison 

George Boyington doesn’t look sick. Recently 

elected as parliamentarian to the Shelby County 

Young Democrats, and a Focus Trailblazer 

Award nominee, Boyington appears fresh and 

alert in a summer suit and browline eyeglasses. 

However, recent threats to Obamacare weigh 

heavy on his mind. Born and raised in Memphis, 

Boyington has battled a rare brain disorder since 

childhood and requires ongoing medical care. 

Recently, his Facebook post went viral when he 

learned that the house had voted to repeal the 

Affordable Care Act (ACA). “I don’t appear to 

be ill, and I wanted to share my testimony,” says 

Boyington of his motivation to post on social 

media. 

“We need to get together and 

stop this. Health insurance is 

life for many of us.” 

Boyington has always 

been politically minded. By 

day he works as a political 

consultant and spends much 

of this time in and around city 

hall. He chose public service 

because he believes it’s the one 

career path that touches on 

everything else. An only child, 

Boyington was homeschooled 

during high school due to his 

health. “My life is really tied 

into having access to care, and 

that fact that they would want 

to take that from anyone, it’s 

fundamentally wrong.” 

Using his voice and “getting 

on his soapbox” is just one way 

Boyington works to resist the 

threats to health care, as well as 

LGBT issues. In 2014, he served 

on Mayor Wharton’s LGBT 

Task Force which gave him 

substantive experience in LGBT 

policy. “You’d be surprised at 

what we can do and what we 

can’t do,” says Boyington. “A 

lot of what a local government 

can do is tied by how restrictive 

Republicans in Nashville are, 

but just the same, there are 

a lot of things we can do.” 

Specifically, Boyington points 

to the appointment of Davin 

Clemmons to serve as LGBTQ 

liaison to the Memphis Police 

Department, and a formal 

policy written to address 

transgender city employees 

during their transitioning. 

It’s not simply about public 

service, however. Boyington’s 

ex-wife is a transgender woman 

who called him in tears the 

day Trump was announced the 

winner of the 2016 presidential 

election. “The first thing I said 

was, ‘Go get your passport, go 

get your documents, go get 

everything in order, because 

you might not be able to get 

these things later.’” Refusing 

to so much as acknowledge 

Gay Pride month in June, 

Trump appears to be amping 

up anti-LGBTQ sentiment with 

his recent ban on transgender 

military service. After the 

election, Boyington remembers 

the reluctant hopefulness 

of many in the community. 

“Everybody was like, ‘It 

might be ok, just wait and 

see,’” recalls Boyington. “But 

sometimes you have to take 

people at their word. He said 

he was going to come for us, 

and he’s been very consistently 

coming.” 

At a time when the 

Democratic party across 

national, state, and local 

levels are planning for a 

sustained resistance, Boyington 

advocates for ongoing and 

consistent action. “Vote early 

and vote often,” he says. “Local 

government is the foundation 

of everything that goes on 

nationally 

If we had people there every 

day to hold government’s 

feet to the fire, they would be 

afraid of us,” says Boyington. 

“Right now, I don’t think they 

are, because we’re not there 

in those numbers every week 

to let them know we will hold 

them accountable.” 

According to Boyington, 

representatives aren’t being 

held accountable at the ballot 

box, and points to low voter 

turnout in the last presidential 

election. In addition to voting, 

Boyington stresses the 

importance of getting involved 

in your issues. “I am at city 

council and county commission 

meetings almost every time 

they are held, and one thing 

I notice is the regulars, the 

lobbyists, elected officials, 

those with something on the 

agenda, and nobody else.” 

However, the resistance is 

sprouting up in grassroots 

activism more and more 

often. “One thing I’ve been 

encouraged to see is that 

people have been out there in 

the streets,” says Boyington, 

referring to recent ICE raids in 

Memphis and his role on the 

rapid response team. “I was so 

proud of people for mobilizing 

and getting engaged,” says 

Boyington. “This is an example 


of what we can do whenever an 

issue arises.” 

While Democratic 

organizations throughout 

Shelby County and Tennessee 

are gearing up for the 2018 

elections, Boyington thinks 

it’s too soon to be making 

endorsements for Democratic 

candidates. Pointing to past 

candidates who were DINOs 

(Democrats in name only), 

Boyington emphasis the 

importance of new party 

candidates doing the work 

on issues that matter to 

constituents. “We had big 

business Republicans looking 

to advance in progressive and 

Democratic communities who 

basically put a “D” in front of 

their name just to win in those 

areas,” says Boyington. 

Today, Democrats are 

looking for more to get an 

endorsement. “We made a 

pledge that you have to come 

to the party, you have to tell 

us what you’re doing to do in 

advance of the Democratic 

platform,” says Boyington. 

“And then, based on our 

responsibilities as elected 

officials, we will decide if we 

give you that Democratic 

endorsement. It’s not automatic 

anymore.” 

Despite his concerns over 

the future of health care, LGBT 

issues, and the hard work 

ahead for the Democratic party, 

Boyington is overall hopeful. 

“Elections don’t happen 

overnight,” says Boyington. 

“What we’re doing today forms 

the resistance for the 2020 

presidential election.” He also 

believes that in the end, the 

battle over health care will 

end in favor of those who so 

desperately rely on it. “In the 

end, I believe that it’s going to 

be better and stronger than it 

was before,” Boyington says. 

“How we get there and when 

we get that better thing, I can’t 

say. There might be a long road, 

but it’s what the American 

people want.” 


Building 

the Gayborhood 

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Affiliate Broker 

54 South Cooper • Memphis, TN 38104 

Cell 901.500.6192 Office 901.278.4380 

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food+drink 

RIO MIX FIT 

Midtown Nursery is growing 

a food truck business! 

by Robin Beaudoin | photos by Joan Allison 

Owner Sarah Ishisaki explains how she seals in juices on kebab meat. 

Midtown Nursery 

7 South McLean 

Nursery open 9-6 for the 

summer season 

Instagram: @riomixfit 

Inspired by the beautiful 

Copacabana beach in Rio de 

Janeiro, Brazil, Rio Mix Fit Food 

truck has brought a tropical 

taste of Brazil to midtown 

Memphis. Sarah Ishisaki grew 

up in Brazil’s shoreline state of 

Sao Paolo, in the cities Rio de 

Janeiro and Campinas (home 

of the Brazilian soccer team 

and stadium). 

Food truck owner Sarah 

Ishisaki, worked with Midtown 

Nursery owner and partner 

Mike Earnest on the purchase 

of the truck, and she designed 

the wrap décor herself. 

The artist/chef wanted to 

transport guests to Brazil with 

the colorful, bright, sunny 

décor. She strives also to 

put that feeling into her food. 

Portuguese style breads, 

vegetarian curries including 

coconut and grilled bananas, 

and a special açaí bowl. Ishisaki 

glows over her food, Açaí, from 

Brazil- everyone really likes 

to eat açaí to start your day, 

because it brings energy for 

all day. 

Ishisaki made her way to 

Memphis while helping a friend 

move here from California, 

and stayed here, after making 

wonderful friends in the 

community. She met partner 

Mike Earnest through mutual 

friends, and they have been 

living together for a year, 

working together ever since. 

Earnest has had food trucks 

lease space in his parking lot 

before, but the food truck and 

small stage setup is new to his 

nursery (and any nursery of 

which he knows). 

“This food truck was my 

idea,” brags Earnest, who 

loves Brazil, and plans to 

make another visit this winter. 

Ishisaki recalls the excitement 

upon hearing his idea, “He 

had this wonderful place in 

midtown, and thought, ‘we 

need to have food from Brazil 

here’. Ishisaki was grateful for 

Earnest’s business knowledge, 

and his support through 

getting started. 

“She had owned several 

restaurants in Brazil, so I know 

she knew the food business,” 

recalls Earnest. He has his 

own favorites from Rio Mix Fit, 

“All the kebabs are good, and 

I like the pork loin sandwich 

(topped with black olives with 

herbed mixed greens).” Ishisaki 

takes great care to serve the 

very best, and even grows her 

own herbs. The nursery and 

food truck team has begun to 

host Brazilian entertainment, 

such as music and capoeira 

demonstrations on Friday and 

Saturday nights. Follow 

@riomixfit on Instagram to find 

out the next date, and have a 

taste of Brazil. 


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transfocus 

CAIT 

BRENNAN 

Trans musician is 

Ardent about her 

Memphis ‘family’ 

by John Paul Keith 

photos by Michael Ging of 

Michael Ging Photography 

Cait Brennan’s story is 

an inspiring one. A musical 

prodigy from a very young 

age, she was raised as a boy 

in rural Arizona, and began 

rebelling against her assigned 

gender in her teens. She 

spent a lot of her youth on the 

road with her grandmother, 

a traveling seamstress in the 

thoroughbred horse racing 

business. Conservative 1980’s 

Arizona wasn’t quite ready 

for a trans artist writing glam 

and power pop tunes, and Cait 

kept her music to herself and 

some close friends for most of 

her life. 

After a career as an 

actress and screenwriter in 

Los Angeles, she made the 

decision to share her music 

with the world. In 2014 at the 

age of 45 she released her 

debut album, Debutante, to 

universal critical acclaim. She 

recorded her most recent 

album, Third, at Ardent Studios 

in Memphis. The album’s title 

is a nod to another album 

recorded at Ardent, of course: 

Big Star’s Third, and she 

has since recorded another 

upcoming album at Ardent. 

What brought you to Memphis 

to make Third? Was there 

anything besides the obvious 

Big Star connection? 

So many things brought me 

to Memphis – family history, 

musical history, a little bit of 

kismet – but the main thing 

that sparked it was Jody 

Stephens. My musical partner 

Fernando Perdomo and I were 

in LA recording with Andy 

Paley for a Sire/Warner Bros 

demo deal that ultimately 

didn’t pan out. By a weird 

coincidence, I won two tickets 

to a GRAMMY® Museum event 

honoring the 50th anniversary 

of Ardent Studios. I ended 

up talking with Jody, and he 

suggested that when it was 

time to make my next album, 

we should come to Ardent. 

What were your impressions 

of recording here? Did they 

differ from experiences 

recording elsewhere? If so, 

in what ways? 

From the moment we walked 

through the door at Ardent, 

they made us feel like family, 

and that’s a pretty amazing 

family to be welcomed into. 

Adam Hill, Jody, Addison 

Hare, everyone there was 

so generous with their time, 

insight, and that absolutely 

singular stellar and unique 

collection of gear that sounds 

like nothing and nowhere else. 

The humor and heart of our 

friends there was a very good 

match for who Fern and I are 

as people. We just love what 

we do and have fun doing it, 

and that’s how everyone was 

at Ardent too… that kind of 

indefinable Memphis feel just 

lifted everything we did. 

Did you get a chance to get 

out much while you were 

here, or were you mostly in 

the studio? 

Oh, we definitely got out and 

experienced Memphis. We 

saw a bunch of bands, ate at 

about 300 different “best in 

town” restaurants, grabbed 

as many records as we could 

carry from Goner and Shangri- 

La, lots of time at the Stax 

museum, visiting Sam Phillips 

Recording and Royal Studios, 

ice cream at La Michoacana, 

(thrift stores)... Memphis has 

so much vital history but it’s 

also the future – that’s where 

our hearts are at too. 

You came back to Ardent last 

month to record your next 

album. What brought you 

back? What kind of record 

did you make? 

We had an album release 

show at Bar DKDC – we 

wanted to thank our Memphis 

friends for all the love, and 

we had so many amazing 

guests playing in the band 

that night, from Robert and 

Candace Mache to Van Duren 

and Vicki Loveland to Adam 

Hill and Jody Stephens – it’s 

crazy, I got to be in a band 

with Jody Stephens for one 

night, and we did “I Am The 

Cosmos”, so my life is pretty 

much complete. Growing up in 

a trailer park in the middle of 

the Arizona desert, you don’t 

really ever think you’re going 

to play the greatest song you 

ever heard with one of your 

all time heroes. We’re really 

grateful for the life-changing 

experience, and I have a 

sneaking suspicion that the 

next time I come to Memphis 

it’ll be to stay. But we’ll see 

what the future brings. 


informed decisions. 

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Office: 901-766-9004 

585 South Perkins 

Memphis, Tennessee 38117 

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NOW HERE 

IN MIDDLE 

TENNESSEE 

CHECK US OUT ONLINE 

focusmidtenn.com

community 

RECREATING THE GAY 

AMERICAN T DANCE 

story and photo by Mark Benton 

Christian “Cashmere” Assandria was asked by the owner of Alchemy/Growlers 

to manage a Sunday entertainment venue at Growlers Sports Pub in May. He 

quickly thought about the days when Sunday T Dances were the norm and 

a booming business. He wanted to recreate that passion and bring the 

entire community of Memphis together. He became aware that many 

performers in “Drag Entertainment” lacked a place to showcase their 

talents. Memphis has always been known since the 70s as a premier 

place for female impersonation extravaganza and entertainment. 

Back in the 70s and 80s Georgia’s Crisco Disco was one of the 

best Drag venues in the South. Christian decided to embrace a 

philanthropic dynamic into recreating the Sunday T Dance. 

Focus Magazine sat down with Christian and discussed his 

foray into envisioning and creating a wonderful Sunday Gay 

T Dance for a wider audience. One that not only entertains 

but happen on a Sunday afternoon and gives back to 

community organizations and their represented charities. 

What is your vision of 

recreating the old American 

Sunday T Dance? 

I’d like to take a concept 

that’s established and maybe 

a bit of a lost art and improve 

upon it to appeal to the whole 

community. Young and old. 

Do you plan to reach out 

towards the organizations 

or charities that are not 

specifically LGBTQ specific? 

Starting out I’ve reached out 

to organizations that are near 

and dear to the community to 

create a crowd. Once it kicks 

off I’ll be glad to reach out to 

all kinds of organizations 

How valuable in your opinion 

is it to be a forum for new 

talents in the Female Drag 

entertainment venue. Giving 

room to cultivate the art 

form? 

A lot of drag performers in 

Memphis and the surrounding 

area don’t have a home to 

express their creative outlet. 

My idea with the rotating line 

up is to give those people a 

chance to show what they’ve 

got and pull in their circle 

So, the owner of Alchemy 

who owns Growlers basically 

came to you to reinvent 

their Sunday business. What 

made you think of a Sunday 

T Dance Forum? 

T Dance is something we 

tried at alchemy first and 

worked for a while but people 

seemed to lose interest. I 

hope with this ever changing 

and evolving show, we can 

hold people’s attention a little 

longer 

How have your patrons 

(who aren’t specifically 

LGBTQ) responded?) to the 

entertainment? 

I have had plenty of non-gay 

patrons come in and say they 

really enjoyed the show. Even 

outside of Growlers there’s a 

lot of buzz 

What does it mean to you to 

offer a philanthropic aspect 

to a business? 

The focus of these events 

is to bring our community 

together. What better way to 

do that than by adding the 

philanthropic aspect. I want 

people to feel good about 

coming out and supporting a 

good cause 

How receptive are the 

organizations that have 

reached out to Growlers? 

Every organization that I’ve 

reached out to so far has been 

very excited about doing a 

show, and the donors have 

been very gracious to the 

cause 

How often will the Sunday 

T Dance be scheduled? 

Sunday T Dance will be the 

first Sunday of every month 

What do you love most about 

your job at Growlers? 

To summarize everything, I 

think my favorite part is after 

a show when I’m thinking of 

everything that could have 

been done better, the amount 

of positive feedback I receive 

is overwhelming and reassures 

me that what I’m doing is 

making people happy. That in 

itself is the biggest reward for 

me. 


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Memphis 38120 

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P R E S E N T E D BY 

BENEFITING MEMPHIS PAWS, INC.

pet focus 

Heeere, Burger! 

COMPETITION BENEFITS MEMPHIS PAWS PET ADVOCACY 

story by Melinda Lejman | photos courtesy of Best Burger Fest 

One thing Memphis does 

exceptionally well is food. 

With over two dozen Memphis 

restaurants featured on the 

Food Network’s website, and 

an annual barbeque championship 

bringing in over 100 

teams from all over the world, 

you might imagine Memphis a 

haven for food done right. We 

also know how to give back to 

the community. According to 

the Chronicle of Philanthropy, 

Memphis is ranked as the second 

most charitable city out 

of 50 metropolitan areas. So 

it should come as no surprise 

that in our city, cooking and an 

appetite for philanthropy go 

together like butter on biscuits. 

Best Memphis Burger Fest, 

an annual burger competition 

that raises money for local animal 

care organizations, is the 

prime example of how good 

food can bring people together 

for a cause. The festival is a 

fundraiser of Memphis Paws, a 

nonprofit organization formed 

with the mission of increasing 

responsible pet ownership and 

providing support for rescues 

and animal organizations in 

the Memphis Area. Since its 

inception, Memphis Paws has 

donated over $40,000 to area 

animal organizations. 

Seth Agranov, co-founder 

and president of Memphis 

Paws, is in prime planning 

mode for the 6th Annual 

Memphis Best Burger Fest, 

which will be held at Tiger 

Lane on October 7th. The 

festival promises something 

for everyone, and includes live 

music by Star & Micey, local 

beer, a family-friendly kid zone, 

and a cornhole tournament. 

Those looking for a little VIP 

treatment can head to the VIP 

section and enjoy a burger bar, 

Jack Pirtle’s chicken, cocktails, 

and beer from High Cotton 

Brewery. 

The competition itself draws 

around 40 teams who compete 

in up to three burger 

categories: the classic cheeseburger, 

a specialty category, 

and a veggie burger. Teams 

can also compete in a bloody 

mary competition. “Teams 

have really gotten serious 

about this,” says Agranov. 

“They spend a lot of time and 

money practicing, bringing in 

quality ingredients, and we 

try to match them with quality 

judges.” While certification 

isn’t required, they do find 

judges from the Memphis BBQ 

network, Kansas City Barbeque 

Society, and Memphis in 

May Barbeque Fest. “We even 

look for people who are state 

certified,” says Agranov. “So, 

people who really know their 

way around food.” 

Trophies and cash prizes are 

given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place 

in each category, and anyone 

who wants to try for Grand 

Master status must compete 

in all three. Past teams have 

even qualified to compete at 

the World Food Championship. 

This year’s event will also 

include a slider eating contest 

sponsored by Slider Inn, as well 

as a charity Bobbing for Burgers 

event. With a ticket price of 

just $10 for general admission, 

this fundraiser is a no-brainer. 

In addition to admission, 

teams help raise money with 

donation boxes at the event. 

While there will be some 

food for purchase, most 

attendees will fill up nicely on 

samples provided by cooking 

teams. “We work very hard 

to make sure Burger Fest has 

something for everyone,” says 

Agranov. “The adults have a 

great time while the kids are 

exhausted from all the activity, 

and no one leaves hungry.” 

To order your tickets, got to 

bestmemphisburgerfest.com 

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lgbt senior 

CHUCK SAYLOR 

INDUCTED 

INTO GAY SOFTBALL 

HALL OF FAME 

by Anita Moyt | edited by Sarah Rutledge Fischer 

photos courtesy of Chuck Saylor 

The 2017 Gay Softball 

World Series will be hosted in 

Portland, Oregon, September 

3 to 10. On September 5, at 

the Tiger Woods Center, Nike 

Campus, one of Memphis’ 

own, Chuck Saylor, will be 

honored at the NAGAAA Hall 

of Fame dinner when he will 

be inducted into its prestigious 

hall of fame. 

According to its website 

at www.nagaaasoftball.org, 

the North American Gay 

Amateur Athletic Alliance 

(NAGAAA) was formed in 

1977, and is an international 

sports organization dedicated 

to providing opportunity 

and access for the LGBT 

community to participate in 

organized softball competition 

in safe environments. 

There are more than 17,000 

players from 46 cities across 

Canada and the United States 

who participate in member 

leagues, and the best of these 

teams converge once a year 

for head-to-head competition 

at its annual Gay Softball 

World Series. 

Saylor was nominated for 

this award by Terry Brown 

and Chris Balton. (Balton was 

inducted into the Hall of Fame 

in 2015.) 

“People are submitted to 

the Hall of Fame committee,” 

Saylor explained the 

process,”and its choices 

are submitted to the voting 

members of NAGAAA. Twothirds 

of those votes have to 

vote yes to induct an individual 

into the hall of fame. The first 

inductee was in 1997.” It should 

be noted that the inductees 

never see the submissions. 

“The world series is for 

the best of the best,” Saylor 

continued. “Teams are 

considered for the world 

series if they have won the 

tournament for whatever 

city they represent,” he 

explained. “Umpires are 

selected every year, also, 

based on recommendations 

by other people and cities. I 

was actually asked to umpire 

in 2007; our commissioner 

submitted my name.” Saylor 

will be umpiring his tenth year 

in Portland. 

Saylor has been and is still 

part of the Memphis softball 

leagues, both as player 

and as umpire, as well as 

administratively. 

“I play on our league on 

Sundays,” Saylor said. “I umpire 

city games and world series. 

I umpire more than I play.” 

However, Saylor is prevented 

from umpiring in the league 

he plays on, due to conflict of 

interest regulations. 

Saylor was instrumental 

in forming a softball team 

specifically for the Memphis 

gay, lesbian, bisexual and 

transgender community. 

“I started the first team 

in 1993,” Saylor said. “The 

Cruisers were not part of 

NAGAAA; we played in the 

Memphis City League. Later 

that year we found out there 

was a gay league in Nashville. It 

was pre-internet days and we 

didn’t know about NAGAAA 

yet. In 1993, 1994 and 1995, we 

drove twice a month to play 

in the Nashville League; and 

they would send one team to 

Memphis once a month. 

In 1996, there were enough 

teams and interest that the 

Bluff City Sports Softball 

League was formed for the 

Memphis teams. Saylor is 

presently its commissioner. In 

1998, Bluff City Sports joined 

NAGAAA, not an easy feat. 

“We applied for 

membership,” Saylor explained. 

“We went to tournaments and 

made our presence known. 

We held two tournaments 

here. They watched how we 

were doing and saw us in 

other cities. They already have 

a fairly good idea about you 

by then (when you apply for 

membership).” 

Saylor continues to support 

and promote gay softball in the 

Bluff City. 

“Memphis is a small city,” he 

said, explaining gay softball 

here.” We have had seven 

teams the last two years. We 

want to increase and reach 

people to join and learn. We 

held our first skills clinic in 

March, before we started 

playing. It was for anyone who 

hadn’t played before to learn 

how to throw and hit and the 

basics of softball. 

And how does Saylor feel 

about the honor? 

“It is a surprise,” Saylor 

concluded modestly. “All I can 

say is thank you and I’m very 

humbled by the whole thing.” 

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

travel 

The Wolf River Conservancy is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the Wolf River and its watershed as a sustainable natural resource. 

Original Memphis 

WOLF RIVER + WOLF RIVER CONSERVANCY 

story by Melinda Lejman | photos courtesy of Wolf River Conservancy 

WOLFRIVER.ORG 

September is a unanimously 

anticipated time of year 

for Mid-Southerners. As 

temperatures fall, families 

return to a more predictable 

pace, patios once again take 

center stage as the optimal 

gathering place for social hour, 

and the scenery begins to 

hint at a debut of vivid reds, 

oranges and golds. It’s easy 

to take all of this for granted 

as a reward for surviving the 

sweltering heat of the Memphis 

summer. It’s also the perfect 

time to take advantage of 

outdoor recreation, as cooler 

temps and dazzling displays 

of foliage entice even the 

most steadfast lounger to get 

outside. 

The Wolf River is a gem, 

partially hidden but crossed 

almost daily by the thousands 

of commuters who pass over 

one of its bridges. Maintained 

by the Wolf River Conservancy, 

the spring-fed river rises in 

North Mississippi, making 

its way through Fayette and 

Shelby County, and eventually 

emptying into the great 

Mississippi. Formed in 1985 as 

a land trust with the express 

purpose of protecting the 

river and its watershed areas, 

the Wolf River Conservancy 

now protects 16,000 acres 

of river and floodplain from 

being developed or destroyed 

through mining. “We focus on 

conservation, recreation, and 

education,” says Jim Gafford, 

the Conservancy’s Outreach 

Director. 

It wasn’t as simple as 

forming a trust, however. The 

land had to be bought from a 

timber company and the price 

tag was $4 million. The state 

provided $3 million towards 

the purchase of an initial 4000 

acres of river and land around 

the Beasley Plantation in 

LaGrange. The Memphis Board 

of Realtors allocated $10,000 

as well. “I guess they’ve got 

environmental awareness in 

their blood,” says Gafford. 

As the deadline approached, 


and the Conservancy was 

still far from closing the 

gap in funding, they were 

saved by the goodwill of an 

unlikely donor. Babe Howard 

of Millington Telephone 

stepped in despite advice to 

the contrary from financial 

advisors and family, and the 

land trust was formed. 

The river was once called 

Neshoba, a Native American 

word for grey wolf. From 

Michigan City, Mississippi to 

downtown Memphis, the Wolf 

offers ample opportunity to 

enjoy the great outdoors and 

witness firsthand its wonder. 

The Ghost River section, 

which starts in LaGrange and 

meanders to Bateman Road, 

offers a smooth ride and 

picturesque views of cypress 

trees and wildlife. This ninemile 

section is the hallmark of 

the Wolf and showcases five 

distinct ecosystems, including 

bottomland hardwoods, 

shrubby wetlands, cypresstupelo 

swamp, open water 

swamp, and grassy wetland. 

On the first Saturday of 

every month, the WRC hosts 

group paddles open to 

members of the Conservancy 

from all skill levels. The 

class-one river promises no 

whitewater, but fallen trees and 

debris can sometimes make for 

an interesting trip, so it’s best 

to check the website for details 

beforehand. If you’ve always 

wanted to canoe the Wolf, but 

don’t have much experience, 

there’s no reason to be 

intimidated. “Every trip we get 

people who have never canoed 

before and a lot of people who 

have never been on the Wolf,” 

says Gafford. “If we can just 

get them on the water, then 

they’ll quickly learn.” 

Every WRC paddle is 

led by a certified guide 

who demonstrates safety 

precautions and ensures no 

one is left behind. Canoes, life 

jackets, and shuttle service 

are all included. Pack a lunch 

(and a change of clothes, 

just in case!) and you’ll be 

set for an enjoyable float. 

If you’re renting from an 

outfitter you can make similar 

arrangements. Be sure to 

check out the WRC website 

prior to your trip for more 

information on what to expect. 

“It’s had a bad rap for all 

these years” Gafford says of 

the historical perception of 

the Wolf. “That had to do with 

the fact that we had a lot of 

agricultural runoff, chemicals, 

things like that.” However, 

water quality is improving. 

“We’re getting better,” says 

Gafford, “Even if we have to 

have laws that make us do it.” 

The WRC isn’t just a 

river show. The Wolf River 

Greenway is perfect for hiking, 

biking, and enjoying the 

hardwood and wetland areas 

along the river. This corridor 

of protected green space 

links with the Shelby Farms 

Greenline and will eventually 

connect neighborhoods from 

downtown to Collierville. 

Nature lovers won’t want to 

miss the Greenway Arboretum 

located near Walnut Grove and 

Shady Grove in East Memphis. 

This level one arboretum 

includes over thirty different 

species of trees native to the 

area. 

As almost any Memphian 

can attest, there’s something 

for everyone in our beloved 

city, no matter age or interest, 

and the Wolf River and its 

Greenway are no exception. 

Make the most of the great 

outdoors this fall and embrace 

the wilderness that makes 

Shelby County an attraction to 

natives and visitors alike. 

UPCOMING WRC EVENTS 

• Become a WRC member and join an 

upcoming First Saturday paddle. 

Membership begins at $35 for individuals. 

• Check out WRC’s Drink a Beer, Save a River 

series in collaboration with Memphis Green 

Drinks! 

• Sign up for the Fall Eco paddle on Saturday, 

October 21. This fundraiser is a short trip 

through the Ghost Section of the Wolf River 

and includes gear, a guided tour, and a 

catered dinner. 

• Enjoy the Fall Colors paddle on Saturday, 

October 28. 

• Mark your calendars for the WRC’s annual 

Greenway Soiree on Saturday, November 11. 

This fundraiser supports the programs of the 

Conservancy and includes live music, a live 

and silent auction, dinner, and drinks. 

• The WRC also facilitates team building 

events, youth and adult education programs, 

and many volunteer activities, such as an 

annual tree planting and river clean-ups. 

The Mineral Slough trail and boardwalk (above) traverses a 

bottomland hardwood swamp characteristic of the Wolf River 

floodplain. The Ghost River section is an area where the river 

seems to disappear, widening into a swamp. Otherwise, there 

are several spots along the river to take out for breaks and 

photos. Though paddling is not too difficult, navigation is tricky, 

especially the Ghost River section. Guided paddle trips are 

plenty through the area outfitters (see list below). The Wolf has 

been named one of the best wetland canoe trails in the country. 

LOCAL CANOE 

OUTFITTERS 

• Wolf River Canoe Trips: 901.877.3958 

• Ghost River Rentals: 901.485.1220 

• Outdoors, Inc., 

Union Ave. and Cordova locations 

901.755.2271 (Cordova Location) 

• Allen’s Kayaking Adventures 

202.717.5701 

For more information on WRC events and programs, go to wolfriver.org 


calendar 

SEPT+OCT MUST-DO EVENTS 

By Robin Beaudoin 

WITH AUTUMN COMES FESTIVALS AND HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS IN EVERY 

CORNER OF THE MID-SOUTH. MANY EVENTS ARE FREE OR LOW COST. SEIZE THE 

OPPORTUNITY TO SOAK UP SOME CULTURE AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING. 

SEPT 9-10 

GERMANTOWN FESTIVAL 

GERMANTOWN CIVIC CLUB COMPLEX 

7745 POPLAR PIKE 

Family-friendly fun for all, featuring weenie dog races, local 

performances by dance and gymnastics groups, rides and 

games, shopping (pottery, jewelry, clothing, and home décor), 

and booths sponsored by Germantown High School students. 

FREE. Germantownfest.com 

SEPT 16 

COOPER-YOUNG FESTIVAL 

9AM-7PM, FREE 

One of Memphis’ largest festivals turns 30 and continues to 

grow! Sponsored by the Cooper-Young Business Association. 

Over 435 artisans offer art, crafts, and food. 

SEPT 19-24 

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S 

THE KING AND I 

ORPHEUM MEMPHIS 

Enjoy a love story between an English Governess and the King 

of Siam. Tickets: orpheum-memphis.com 

SEPT 30 

FREE CONCERT AND TWILIGHT 

SCREENING 

LEVITT SHELL 

The classic film Mary Poppins at the Levitt Shell. The story of 

a British family who comes to love each other more deeply 

through the watchful eye and colorful adventures of “practically 

perfect” nanny Mary Poppins (played by Julie Andrews). 

Family friendly. Free music and movies: levittshell.org 

SEPT 29 - OCT 1 

14 TH ANNUAL MEMPHIS PRIDE FEST 

FRI 

SAT 

SUN 

9pm Loud & Proud Big Gay Dance Party @ New Daisy 

10am-5pm Pride Festival 

10am-5pm @ Robert Church Park 

1-2pm Pride Parade on Beale St. 

1pm Pride Brunch at Celtic Crossing 

4pm Pride T-Dance @ Alchemy 

OCT 13-15 

PINK PALACE CRAFTS FAIR 

AUDUBON PARK 

45th annual. Presented by Bank of America. Hands-on learning 

for kids, a variety of food, live music, and one of the oldest 

and largest juried art exhibitions in the country. Come for the 

shopping, stay for the donuts! Tickets are cash only, purchase 

on site. More info: memphismuseums.org 

OCT 24 

FOO FIGHTERS 

FEDEX FORUM, 8PM 

Rock out to Foo Fighters classics and new favorites from Sonic 

Highway album. Tickets: ticketmaster.com 

OCT 27 

MYSTIC KREWE OF PEGASUS’ 

ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY: 

WITCH’S DUNGEON 

THE GALLERY ON MADISON SQUARE, 8PM 

Celebrating the impending Mardi Gras ball theme, “A Journey 

to Emerald City.” Enjoy drag, celebrate with Dorothy and Toto, 

and dance the night away. Games, prizes, open bar $30. All 

proceeds benefit the Metamorphosis Project. Tickets available 

soon: brownpapertickets.com 

Have an event to list? Do it online at focusmidsouth.com/submit 

play 

safe 

Looking for a good time? Make PrEP part of your plan.

BOGO! 

Buy one App or Flight, get one FREE! 

Valid only at Flights at Sam’s Town Tunica. 

Valid through October 31, 2017 

FOCUS 

Must be 21 or older. Must present to B Connected Club to redeem coupon. 

Buy one, get one of equal or lesser value. Dine in only. Management reserves 

all rights. One coupon per patron. Don’t let the game get out of hand. 

Gambling Problem? Call 1-888-777-9696 

1477 CASINO STRIP RESORT BLVD | SamsTownTunica.com

F PROOF 

ROOF PRO 

OF PROOF 

PROOF PR 

OOF PROOF 

PROOF P 

POPLAR AVE @ GROVE PARK ROAD SOUTH 

Charming. Unique. 

Distinct. 

Babcock Gifts 

Baer’s Den 

Blu D’or Interiors 

Chico’s 

Cotton Tails 

Dinstuhl’s Candies 

Fleet Feet Sports 

Frost Bake Shop 

The Grove Grill 

Hot Yoga Plus 

IBERIABANK 

J. Jill 

J McLaughlin 

James Davis 

Joseph 

King Furs and 

Fine Jewelry 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: 

/laurelwoodmemphis 

@shoplaurelwood 

Libro 

Opening August 2017! 

Mona Esthetics 

Novel 

Opening August 2017! 

Orvis 

Panera Bread 

Pavo Salon.spa 

Q4Fitness 

Rafferty’s 

Restaurant & Bar 

Sachi 

Sissy’s Log Cabin 

Soma 

The Stovall 

Collection 

Talbots & Talbots 

Petites 

Turkoyz 

Turkoyz @ Home 

@ShopLaurelwood 

LAURELWOODMEMPHIS.COM 

OO

2017 Issue 5 Sep/Oct - Focus Mid-South Magazine

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