2021 Issue 5 Sep/Oct - Focus Mid-South magazine

Serving the Mid-South LGBT+ Community and its Allies | SEP+OCT 2021 

MEET MEMPHIS’ BELOVED 

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ENVIRONMENT FOR FUN, SOCIAL GAMES 

CARMEN MARIA 

MACHADO 

LGBT WRITER WILL VISIT MEMPHIS

WE IMPACT COMMUNITIES 

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CONTENTS 

SEP+OCT 2021 

15 

18 

30 

36 

6 MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

7 THEME: YOUR BEST LIFE 

8 ASK ALLIE 

Protecting your questioning child can be 

tricky, especially when it comes to obtuse 

family members. Allie explains. 

12 FAITH+SPIRITUALITY 

Social justice is not just for the ‘woke.’ 

In religions world wide, the practice has 

been around for centuries. 

14 FOCUS SOCIAL MEDIA 

See what others are saying about us. 

15 PET FOCUS 

It’s fun to have a pet who can perform 

tricks, at’s beneficial for the pet – it keeps 

them engaged mentally. We have some 

tips for training your party animal. 

16 COMMUNITY 

(When there’s no COVID) there’s a 

Memphis women’s soccer league having 

fun both on and off the field. 

18 HEALTH+WELLNESS 

Menopause is cause for joy (no more 

monthlies) and sorrow (no more babies). 

We explain what’s happening when Aunt 

Flo is no mo’! 

23 LIFE 

Miss Mothie interviews one of her own 

drag mothers, Fantsia Bordeaux, for a 

delightful look in to the performer’s life 

on stage. 

26 LGBT YOUTH 

High school can be rough for LGBTQ 

students. In college, Say buh bye to those 

a-holes and join a Gay Straight Alliance. 

We’ve got contact info for you! 

28 LGBT ALLY 

Phancy Photo Booth was born when she 

gave up a stable career and decided to 

take on a new career challenge. Make 

that challenges, plural. 

30 ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT 

Carmen Machado is famous for her LGBT 

books. Meet her in print here, and get the 

details on her upcoming visit to Memphis. 

32 LGBT ALLY 

Kathy Fish is a Memphis financial advisor 

and ally practicing in Memphis In this 

issue, she outlines how to plan for 

marriage, parenting and aging. 

36 COMMUNITY 

Meet Neal Holmes, OUTMemphis’ new 

Director of Community Services. 


We review the new guidance on blood 

donations by MSMs and hook you up with 

a study to learn more. 


Pop culture staff picks! 


Men who transition can face unique 

challenges with their new identities, right 

down to their voice. A university clinician 

can help transwomen match their voice 

to their identity. 

44 IN MEMORIAM 

Bruce Bui 


We give a special nod to the Olympics 

with this issue’s crossword. 


Food, glorious food! You bring us 

nourishment and joy, and if we’re 

thoughtful about you, you bring us into 

healthy older age. 

ON THE COVER 

Memphis’ Drag Artist Grande Dame, 

Fantasia Bordeau. 

Photo by Marcus Menefee. 

www.marcusmenefee.com 

@marcus_menefee 

Page 4 / focuslgbt.com / SEP+OCT / YOUR BEST LIFE

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

families, creativity, style, health and wealth, bodies and souls. Our focus is on you. 

team 

PUBLISHER 

Ray Rico 

EDITOR+ 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR+ 

EDITORIAL DESIGN 

Joan Allison 

ADVERTISING DESIGN 

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INTERACTIVE 

+ SOCIAL MEDIA 

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ADVERTISING+FINANCE 

Leila Hinkle 

info@focusmidsouth.com 

901.800.1172 

DISTRIBUTION 

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Randall Sloan 

Leila Hinkle 

RE:FOCUS PODCAST 


Goldie Dee 

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contributors 

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

greater Mid-South area. Focus reserves the right to refuse to sell space for any 

advertisement the staff deems inappropriate for the publication. Press releases 

must be received by the first of the month for the following issue. All content of 

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art, photos and editorial content, as well as the selection, coordination and 

arrangement thereof, is Copyright ©2020, Focus ® Mid-South. All Rights Reserved. 

No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted without the express 

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policies, please visit focuslgbt.com/policies. 

PICK UP + GIVE FOCUS 

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Twitter: @focusmidsouth, #focusmidsouth #focusmemphis 

Joan Allison 


KeOnte Criswell 

Tricia Dewey 

Kathy Fish 

Sarah Rutledge Fischer 

Marcus Menefee 

Moth Moth Moth 

Robin Beaudoin Ownby 

BE PART OF OUR NEXT PUBLICATION 

‘RESCUE ME’ (PETS!) 

NOV+DEC 2021 

Submit story ideas: editor@focuslgbt.com 

Editorial submission deadline: October 1, 2021 

Advertising inquiries: sales@focuslgbt.com 

Ad space reservation due: October 1, 2021 

Proud Member 

Olivia Roman 

Chris Reeder Young 

Certifying LGBT Businesses. Connecting Our Communities. 

YOUR BEST LIFE / SEP+OCT / focuslgbt.com / Page 5

FEATURED WRITERS IN THIS ISSUE 

FOCUS® 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Moth Moth Moth 

We rely on community contributors for Focus 

magazine news and stories. A huge thanks 

to these dedicated writers! 

Chris 

Olivia 

Robin 

KeOnte 

LB Photography 

KeOnte Criswell is a retired 

Air Force sergeant and 

fabulous 40-something 

mother and grandmother 

who is passionate about 

feminism, equality, and 

brunch. When she’s not out 

organizing chaos, she can 

be found sitting in stillness. 

Tricia Dewey is a longtime 

Memphis transplant, who 

has grown to admire the 

grit and grind. She is also a 

mom, wife, runner, reader, 

recovering lawyer, tree 

hugger, and ally. 

Sarah Rutledge Fischer is a 

native Memphian currently 

living near the Gulf Coast. 

When she isn't penning 

advice as Allie or writing 

other pieces for Focus, 

Sarah runs a local chapter 

of Prism United, a nonprofit 

focused on serving the 

needs of LGBTQ+ youth. 

She is also an artist and 

art teacher, specializing 

in intuitive paintings and 

figurative drawings. 

Moth Moth Moth AKA 

Magical Miss Mothie is a 

happy groovy little bug who 

bakes, writes, and twirls for 

a living! She’s the leader of 

the Joy Nation! And your 

best friend. 

Robin Beaudoin Ownby 

is a lifelong Memphian 

by choice. She attended 

Memphis College of Art 

where she received a 

B.F.A., and studied Special 

Education at the University 

of Memphis, working in 

education and nutrition 

before finding her calling in 

parenting and journalism. 

She is a regular contributing 

editor with Memphis Health 

+ Fitness magazine. When 

not on the Memphis scene 

for work, Robin stays busy 

traveling and enjoys every 

moment with her two 

children, two rescue dogs, 

and husband. She also 

enjoys gourmet food, live 

theatre, writing reviews, and 

reading. 

Olivia Roman is a student 

at the University of 

Memphis who loves a good 

story. She is currently 

pursuing a B.A. in English 

and minoring in nonprofit 

management. 

Chris Reeder Young is an 

applied anthropologist and 

has lived in Memphis for 16 

years. 

Got a story that needs to be told? Pitch your 

story ideas to Joan at editor@focuslgbt.com 

Sarah 

Tricia 


theme 

None are as old 

as those who have 

outlived enthusiasm. 

– Henry David Thoreau 


life 

by Sarah Rutledge Fischer, (she/they) 

Dear 

M.I.M. 

Dear Allie... 

After a long year of distancing, we are 

travelling to see my siblings, but I’m worried 

that our family reunion is going to be a 

family disaster. 

I love my brother, but we don’t always see 

eye to eye. Usually, I let his comments slide, 

but the political has become personal. Last 

week my brother posted a meme mocking 

transgender people and LGBTQ life. The 

thing is—my teenager recently came out to 

me as questioning their gender and wanting 

to use they/them pronouns. 

I don’t know what to do. Is there a way 

to set boundaries with my brother without 

making him defensive and confrontational? 

How do I protect my child from their uncle’s 

harmful jokes without outing them before 

they are ready? Is there a way to address 

this that leads to understanding instead of 

conflict? 

Yours, 

Mom In the 

Middle 

Dear M.I.M., 

The hardest thing about setting 

boundaries, especially with family, 

is accepting that we cannot control 

other people’s reactions. Of course, 

there are ways to be rude and ways 

to be polite. But at the end of the day, 

the only one who can control your 

brother’s reaction is your brother. And 

in this scenario—in which your brother 

is making jokes that could harm you 

and your child—his comfort is my 

lowest concern. So instead of wasting 

any more ink on his reaction, let’s 

discuss the boundary and then talk a 

bit about you and your child. 


SHUTTERSTOCK 

You have two basic boundary options: 

an explicit boundary and a secret one. 

If you choose the first, you will establish 

a specific boundary, communicate 

the boundary to your brother, and be 

prepared to act if he violates it. For 

example, “While we are together, I do 

not want any comments or jokes made 

in front of me or my child that disparage 

or make fun of women, LGBTQ+ people, 

or people of other races. If you cannot 

manage to respect this, we will leave.” 

The best part of an explicit boundary 

is that, once you have communicated 

it, everyone knows where you stand. 

But there are downsides that should 

be considered. First, if your child is 

not ready to be out to the family, this 

kind of boundary could leave them 

feeling very exposed. Second, if your 

family is not accustomed to people 

setting boundaries, it could be a jarring 

interaction for everyone. No matter 

how calm and polite you are, they may 

frame your attempt to set a boundary 

as initiating conflict or being dramatic. 

It isn’t, but don’t waste your time and 

energy trying to convince them. 

The other option is to set a private 

boundary around yourself and your 

child that establishes you as their fierce 

champion in a secret battle against 

bigots. This option requires a lot of 

trust and advance conversation with 

your child—maybe the creation of some 

secret code words and inside jokes. 

The downside of this option is that your 

child may be exposed to your brother’s 

bigotry. The upside is that your child can 

remain safely in the closet until they are 

physically, mentally, and emotionally 

ready to be out. 

To choose the right type of boundary, 

discuss the situation with your child. Be 

honest—share your concerns and listen 

to theirs. Consider not only what they 

can endure, but what they shouldn’t 

have to. Choose the boundary together. 

Then, continue checking in and listening 

to your child before, during, and after 

the visit. The process of developing a 

separate and independent sense of self, 

called individuation, can leave even the 

best-loved teenagers feeling uncertain 

of their parental ties. Make sure your 

child knows that your discomfort is 

about fear of conflict and not about 

them or their identity. Also, no matter 

which type of boundary you choose, 

make sure your child knows that you are 

prepared to leave at any time if they do 

not feel safe. 

Finally, treat yourself with compassion 

if you are struggling with the idea 

of setting this boundary. Glennon 

Doyle once said “When it comes to 

authenticity: Family is not the starting 

place; family is the final frontier. 

Practicing authenticity with family is like 

practicing cat grooming in a lion’s den. 

If you’d like to practice being real and 

vulnerable and yourself—don’t start with 

your family, start with your mailman.” 

The same goes for boundaries. This is 

hard stuff. 

Talk to your child. Honor their feelings. 

Be firm with your brother and gentle 

with yourself. That should get you 

started. 

Your friend, 

Allie 

To submit your own question, email 

Allie at Allie@focusmidsouth.com. Focus 

Mid-South reserves the right to edit 

letters for length and clarity. 


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faith+spirituality 

It is one thing to say with the prophet Amos, “Let justice roll down like mighty waters,” 

and quite another to work out the irrigation system –William Sloane Coffin, Jr. 

RELIGIONS’ RESPONSIBILITY TO 

SOCIAL JUSTICE 

by Tricia Dewey | photos provided by Wohlner, Mathes, Dewey and Cornish 

With more than 700 religious 

worship spaces in the greater 

Memphis area, Memphis has 

been called the “buckle” of the 

Bible Belt. The Memphis 

religious world has a long 

legacy of social justice 

beginning with the “martyrs of 

Memphis,” the Episcopal Sisters 

of St. Mary, who gave their lives 

while nursing the poor and 

dying during the yellow fever 

epidemic of 1878. In 1918, Dr. 

William Fineshriber of Temple 

Israel became the first local 

man to speak publicly in favor 

of women’s suffrage. Martin 

Luther King delivered his 

Mountaintop Speech on April 3, 

1968, at Mason Temple, the 

night before he was 

TRICIA DEWEY 

Pastor Fisher 

assassinated. King said, 

“Something is happening in our 

world. The masses of people 

are rising up.” One day later, 

300 clergy, including Rabbi 

James Wax of Temple Israel, 

marched from St. Mary’s 

Cathedral to City Hall to ask 

Mayor Henry Loeb to negotiate 

to end the sanitation strike. 

Most recently, in 2020, Black 

clergy wrote to Memphis city 

leaders asking for reforms to 

prevent police brutality. 

Pastor Earle Fisher, Senior 

Pastor at Abyssinian Baptist 

Church in Whitehaven, points 

to texts such as Luke 4 where 

Jesus reads from Isaiah 61: “The 

spirit of the Lord is on me 

because he has anointed me to 

proclaim good news to the 

poor.” But to Fisher the specific 

texts also give way to the 

notion that the scriptures 

themselves are grounded in 

social justice. “I think the 

perception that people have 

relative to social justice, 

religiosity, spirituality, black 

liberation theology is that 

somehow it’s an addendum to 

scriptures when in essence it’s 

the foundation of what the 

scriptures are.” 

Social justice work at 

Abyssinian Baptist has evolved 

over the past 10 years, Fisher 

says, and includes the images 

they project during services 

wearing traditional African 

garb, their purposeful 

references to the Black 

Messiah, and their efforts to 

contract with minority and 

Black business owners when 

needed. “We try to be 

intentional about our mission 

and our vision….But beyond 

that it’s a commitment to not 

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


just raise the spiritual 

consciousness of the 

community but also the social 

consciousness of the 

community.” For Fisher there is 

no line between social justice 

and the church. “Within our 

pastoral preaching, direction, 

and material are the themes, 

the projects, the programs that 

we feel are uplifting and 

enlightening and empowering 

to the black community 

especially, but not just to the 

black community…. We make 

sure that we are centering our 

offerings on those who are 

most directly impacted.” 

Abyssinian Baptist adopted 

every neighborhood school and 

hosts quarterly conversations. 

They partner with SisterReach, 

a reproductive justice 

organization, and with voter 

empowerment organizations 

like #UPTheVote901. 

#UPTheVote901 is a 

nonpartisan group founded by 

Fisher designed to produce 

more political power, 

information, and voter 

representation and increase 

voter turnout in every election. 

A part of this quest for social 

justice ministry or black 

liberation theology is seeking to 

not just speak truth to power, 

but speaking truth with power 

and empowering the people 

who have been rendered 

powerless. “So in essence,” 

Fisher says, “it’s a vehicle to 

help us enact the principles and 

realities of the gospel.” 

For Associate Rabbi Bess 

Wohlner of Temple Israel, the 

oldest and largest Jewish 

congregation in Tennessee, 

Judaism’s commitment to 

social justice originates from its 

core story – the Exodus from 

Egypt. She says that at its 

heart, the story reminds us that 

Rabbi Wohlner Rev. Mathes Rev. Cornish 

change is always possible; if 

the status quo is unjust, the 

system can be dismantled. The 

Torah reminds people to 

protect the vulnerable and that 

justice is something to be 

pursued. Another foundational 

social justice text comes from 

the Mishnah in Pirkei Avot 2:16 

(The Ethics of Our Ancestors), 

which says, “It is not your duty 

to complete the work and 

neither are you free to desist 

from it.” She explains, “Our 

tradition is clear. We 

acknowledge the world is full 

of injustices, so much so that it 

can be overwhelming. 

However, this quote instructs, 

we humans are required to do 

something to address them. 

Doing nothing is not Jewish.” 

Looking for these social justice 

opportunities has led Temple 

Israel to larger community 

groups of faith like 

Metropolitan Inter-Faith 

Association (MIFA) founded in 

1968, which provides direct 

service to underserved 

communities, or that work for 

systemic change like Memphis 

Interfaith Coalition for Action 

and Hope (MICAH), which 

former Associate Rabbi Katie 

Bauman helped to found. 

At Church of the Holy 

Communion, an Episcopal 

church in East Memphis, Senior 

Associate Rector Rev. Hester 

Mathes looks to the words in 

the baptismal covenant for her 

inspiration. One of the 

questions is, “Will you strive for 

justice and peace among all 

people, and respect the dignity 

of every human being?” and 

the answer is, “I will with God’s 

help.’’ Mathes says, “To me 

that’s loaded into the very 

understanding of what it 

means to take on and want to 

be a part of a community of 

faith….To me these vows 

basically call us for a life 

beyond ourselves.” For an 

affluent mostly privileged 

congregation, she says, it is 

important for us to remind 

ourselves that we are not 

chipping in with a solution “but 

in the process of saying this is 

what we have to offer, we’re 

saying that we have to learn 

and listen as well.” To Mathes, 

justice is that right for each 

person to feel seen, heard, and 

worthy, whether working on 

Team Read or on meals for 

Constance Abbey or with 

MIFA, “basically it’s making 

sure that we’re a part of 

helping people gain access to 

the tools that they need to be 

independent, self-sufficient, 

healthy, and safe.” 

Senior Minister Cheryl 

Cornish of First Congregational 

Church in Cooper-Young says, 

“At First Congregational we 

believe every person 

represents the face of God, and 

we work very intentionally to 

create an inclusive community. 

We value diversity of all kinds, 

we want racial diversity, we 

want economic diversity. We 

have had a formal statement 

welcoming the LGBTQIA 

community to the 

congregation since 1990, and 

of course we’ve had women in 

leadership for the last century.’’ 

First Congregational believes 

that to follow God means to 

love justice and to seek mercy 

as the prophets say. First 

known as Stranger’s Church, 

First Congregational was 

founded when Memphis fell 

during the Civil War, to reach 

out to freed slaves. From the 

beginning, this church had a 

ministry of welcoming the 

stranger. As Rev. Cornish says, 

“Above all, we see the work for 

justice and peace as a work of 

joy. It’s really a joy to bring 

people together for common 

purpose and cause and I would 

say our worship services reflect 

that. The ethos of this 

congregation is one of deep 

friendship and community and 

joy.” 

It can take many forms and a 

variety of inspirations, but 

these clergy and their 

congregations in Memphis are 

on the front lines of speaking 

and living truth to power. 


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pet focus 

KEEP THE FUN IN 

DOG TRAINING 101 

Teaching your dog new tricks 

can be great fun for your 

dog—and for you. And training 

dogs is not as difficult as you 

might think. That’s because their 

needs and wants are simple: 

food and a good pack leader. 

Once you understand how to 

motivate your dog using these 

basic dog needs, you’ll soon 

have a dog who’s well behaved 

and who has his own bag of 

‘party tricks’ to show off. 

There are a few people that 

believe it’s demeaning to the 

dog to teach them tricks, but 

dogs mental exercise. Combine 

that with their love for praise 

and food and you’ll see your dog 

grow to love your training 

routine. Whatever you decide to 

teach your dog, both of you will 

benefit from the interaction as 

they learn that you are a strong 

pack leader. 

Start off their training by 

doing something simple like 

having your pup fetch 

something by name, or teaching 

your dog to shut a door. 

With any trick, split it into 

small sequences and teach each 

one a step at a time. If the task is 

complicated, start with the last 

sequence first, then add the 

previous element to the 

beginning and build up from 

there. This method is called 

‘back-chaining.’ It is excellent 

because the dog always ends 

with the familiar part. Rather 

than waiting until the whole 

sequence is learned, give him/ 

her a reward at every step for 

getting closer and closer to your 

goal. With each step, ask a little 

more of your dog. 

Other tricks could include: 

• Sit/stay 

• Roll over 

• Catch 

• Give a paw 

• Open a box 

• Find members of your 

family or a toy by name 

• Bark on command (you can 

use this to teach ‘quiet’ on 

command) 

• Weave through your legs 

• Jump over objects 

• Crawl under a low object or 

a chair 

The use of clickers can work 

well. You can purchase these at 

most pet stores. Attach it to a 

wrist bracelet so that at the 

exact time your dog performs 

the behavior you can squeeze 

the clicker. Immediately give a 

tiny morsel of a really good 

treat, even if he is still some 

distance away from his goal. 

Soon your dog will understand 

that at the exact moment they 

perform the target behavior 

(because you have ‘marked’ it 

with the clicker), they’ll get a 

treat! Every other trick becomes 

easier to train. 

If you have a dog that’s not 

particularly motivated by treats, 

withold his breakfast on training 

day so that he has a bigger 

appetite and motivation to earn 

treats. Be sure to feed them 

after the training session! 

While ‘tricks’ can be fun they 

can also be a benefit to anyone 

that is disabled. For example, 

dogs can be trained to pick 

things up off the floor for their 

disabled human companion. 

They can be trained to open a 

refrigerator door. The list is 

nearly endless. 

For people who are sight 

impaired, the use of seeing eye 

dogs can help them navigate the 

world. Training a seeing eye dog 

starts just like family dogs do, 

with simple-to-learn tricks that 

graduate to more advanced 

training. 

For any dog, the whole 

process should be imaginative. 

Think of what your dog enjoys 

and develop this to include a 

whole collection of tricks. For 

example, a dog that naturally 

raises its paw up in what looks 

like a high-five gesture can learn 

to do it on command. In this 

case, you’re simply giving a 

name to a behavior that you 

want to encourage. 

Make the training fun. Your 

dog will enjoy learning 

something different and will 

certainly enjoy all of the praise in 

getting something right. Use 

patience, persistence and praise 

while training. Always reward 

the target behavior with a treat, 

and always end training with a 

play session. 

The payoff? A content and 

mentally stimulated dog who will 

look to you for leadership. 

Pet Article courtesy of pet-articles. 

blogspot.com. Edited by Joan Allison 

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

community 

MEMPHIS’ 

LAID BACK 

WOMEN’S 

SOCCER 

LEAGUE 

by Joan Allison | photo courtesy of LBL 

In Memphis, organized soccer 

for girls goes all the way back to 

the early 1970s. Back then, 

choices for player were limited to 

four recreational teams for girls 

through the Southeast Memphis 

Soccer Association (SEMSA): 

Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. You 

bought your own team-colored 

shirt from a store, threw on a pair 

of shorts and sneakers, and 

played a game that most of the 

players’ parents had no idea 

about. I remember fondly that 

most (if not all) of the referees 

spoke in thick foreign accents. 

The coaches were parents of the 

players and came from places 

that were definitely not in the 

South. 

As the years passed, the 

soccer opportunities for girls 

grew. These days, girls can play 

for fun, for their school, and for 

some serious competition on 

travel teams. Teens and women 

can also play on area teams, both 

women and co-ed. 

But what became of the girls 

who started it all? Many are still 

playing here in Memphis (or at 

least they do when there’s not a 

pandemic). They’re in recreation 

leagues, intramural college 

teams, D1 college teams, indoor, 

outdoor...you name it. If girls and 

women want to play soccer in 

Memphis, they can. 

One local Memphis league is 

catering to women who want to 

play without competitive 

pressure. Some of the league’s 

players knew little about soccer 

when they joined the league and 

some knew much. But they all 

wanted the same things: 

comraderie, exercise, and social 

time. The league is called the 

Laid Back League, or LBL. 

The Laid Back League kind of 

grew out of the O35 (over age 

35) indoor soccer league whose 

lineups featured tough 

competitors with impressive 

soccer resumes, and some 

enthusiastic competitors who 

were there to have some fun. It 

was soon clear that for some, a 

different mission was needed. 

Something more relaxed, more 

like easy, fun pick up games 

(though LBL has five teams, each 

with about 10 players on the 

roster). 

Paula Seward was a player in 

the O35 league. In 2014, she and 

fellow O35 players, Carrie Hough 

and Carolyn Grisanti, decided it 

was time to bring play down a 

notch. “We knew we wanted to 

take a different approach and 

create an environment that 

wasn’t focused on winning or 

losing,” Seward said, “but more 

on learning the game and having 

fun. Laid Back League was born 

from that desire. 

“The name was intentional and 

reflected our approach. Many 

women who played with LBL also 

played in the 035 league but we 

wanted our name to be indicative 

of what you could expect when 

you stepped on the field,” 

Seward said. 

Players are straight allies, or on 

the rainbow. Informally, 21 is the 

minimum age, but Seward says 

most players are between 30 and 

50. The league welcomes anyone 

who identifies as female and 

wants to play soccer. 

Seward says that players don’t 

have to be in great shape, but 

having some level of cardio is 

helpful to enjoy the game more 

and help prevent injury. For those 

players who’d like more training, 

LBL usually hosts three practice 

or clinic sessions a year in 

addition to games. 

No fancy equipment is 

required, but players need shin 

guards and a ball (size 5) to 

practice with. Tennis shoes are 

OK, but you can also invest in 

shoes that are specially made for 

indoor soccer. These can be 

found at all sporting goods 

stores and are usually cute 

enough to wear off-field. 

The league used to play its 

games at Midtown’s Greenfield 

Arena, but Greenfield closed at 

the beginning of the COVID 

outbreak. Now, the same folks 

from Greenfield are building a 

new facility off of Summer 

Avenue, north of Broad, and the 

league will play there when it’s 

completed and safe to return to 

indoor athletics. 

“We started this league as 

much for the opportunity to play 

soccer as the opportunity to 

build and become part of a 

network,” Seward said. “We have 

come to love the word “huddle” 

thanks to Brooke Baldwin’s book 

by the same name, and we think 

we were building a huddle in 

2014, before we had a word for it. 

“Meeting new people and 

making friends as an adult is 

hard, but that’s exactly what we 

wanted to do. We wanted to 

create this group of strong, 

powerful women who had a 

space to play a sport but also 

find community. We’ve 

celebrated weddings, babies, 

promotions and big life changes, 

but we’ve also supported each 

other through divorces, job loss, 

or losing a parent or loved one. 

“We have also held some 

pretty epic social events — 

progressive dinners, World Cup 

watch parties, bike rides to 

Panchos (across the Big River 

Crossing in Arkansas), and 

karaoke parties, to name a few. 

During COVID, we also did a 

‘Guess the Baby Photo’ contest 

that was a ton of fun! 

“The socialization and 

community is probably more 

important than actually playing 

soccer... We wanted to build 

something that could grow and 

evolve when that time (to quit 

playing) comes. LBL may not 

always be soccer, but we will 

always find a way to have 

something that we can call our 

own. Something that gives us the 

opportunity to continue the 

friendships and connections that 

we’ve built.” 

Because they’re without a 

playing field and because COVID 

is still causing problems for 

sports such as indoor soccer, LBL 

is not registering players at the 

moment. 

laidbackleague@gmail.com 

INDOOR SOCCER 

BASICS 

Indoor soccer can be played year 

round with the arena air 

conditioned or heated. It’s a 

much faster game than outdoor 

soccer. Indoor fields are typically 

a hard surface that is likely 

covered with an artificial surface 

resembling grass. The field is 

about the size of a basketball 

court A match is played between 

two teams, in two 30-minute 

halves. Each team has about six 

players, including the goalkeeper. 

During the match unlimited 

numbers of substitutions are 

permitted. Some leagues use 

referees, but the LBL does not. 

Also, the LBL doesn’t keep score. 


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health+wellness 

Shutterstock 

MANAGING 

Courtesy of CHOICES 

MENOPAUSE 

by Kemetra King, CNM, APRN, MSN, RN (she/her) 

CHOICES: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health 

What is menopause? 

Menopause is defined as the 

time in life when the ovaries 

stop producing estrogen and 

progesterone and a person 

stops menstruating. It marks 

the permanent cessation of 

ovulation and menstruation. 

How do I know if I have gone 

through menopause? 

You can only know that you 

have gone through menopause 

after you have gone for at least 

12 consecutive months without 

having a period. 

One exception to this has to 

do with taking hormonal birth 

control. This type of medication 

will alter your monthly bleeding 

such that you may go through 

many months or years without 

bleeding but have not 

completed menopause. 

When you stop these 

medications or have the 

contraceptive device removed, 

you should re-start bleeding 

within 3-6 months or sooner. If 

you don’t re-start bleeding 

within 12 months of stopping 

one of these hormonal 

methods, you should make an 

appointment to be evaluated 

with a healthcare provider. 

What age does menopause 

usually occur? 

On average, women’s final 

menstrual period is around 51 

years of age but can occur 

between 45 and 55. If you have 

stopped having menses and 

you are under age 40, and you 

are not pregnant, have not had 

surgical removal of your ovaries 

or uterus, and are not on a 

hormonal contraceptive as 

discussed above, you should 

make an appointment to be 

evaluated with a health care 

provider. 

What is perimenopause? 

Perimenopause is the time 

around menopause during 

which your body is 

transitioning. The transition 

from producing eggs in your 

ovaries every month to no 


ESTROGEN HORMONE LEVELS 

Vitamin E to treat vaginal 

dryness, hot flashes, Benefit: 

Topical vitamin E oil applied to 

the vagina helps improve 

lubrication and may also 

reduce hot flashes. 

Shutterstock 

Yoga, Aerobic Exercise, 

Breathing Exercises to treat 

mood swings, sleep disruption. 

Benefit: Exercise and 

meditation reduce irritability, 

even hot flashes, in some 

women. Yoga combines both 

exercise and meditation into 

one activity. Exercise also helps 

most people sleep better. 

longer producing eggs does 

not happen overnight. Just like 

puberty, perimenopause 

happens over a period of 3-5 

years for most people. During 

this time you may experience 

menopausal symptoms and 

menses may become irregular. 

This is the moment in time 

where some people will think 

they have gone through 

menopause therefore they can 

no longer get pregnant. This is 

a misconception, even though 

your periods are irregular or 

have skipped several months 

does not mean you are not 

ovulating; thus pregnancy can 

occur. 

How do I know I am going 

through perimenopause? 

Primary signs are: 

• Irregular menses (periods) 

and eventual stopping of 

menses 

• Menses can be lighter or 

heavier than normal. They 

can be shorter some months 

and longer other months 

• Skipping monthly periods 

Other signs: 

• Possible weight gain 

• Mood changes 

• Unwanted hair growth or 

thinning and hair loss 

• Visual changes 

• Dental changes 

• Dryness of the skin 

• Decrease in elasticity of the 

skin 

• Urinary changes such as not 

being able to hold urine for 

long periods of time 

• Hot flashes 

• Vaginal changes such as 

dryness, itching, burning, or 

irritation 

How can I get through 

perimenopause and 

menopause in good health? 

The keys to good health at 

any stage of life are to eat 

plenty of fruits and vegetables, 

maintain a healthy weight, 

exercise to maintain muscle 

strength and bone health, and 

stay connected with friends, 

family, partners, and your 

community. 

Avoid triggers for hot flashes 

such as diary, hot drinks, spicy 

foods, alcohol and emotional 

upset. If you are a smoker, stop 

smoking. Increase mindfulness 

exercises such as yoga or 

meditation. If you need help or 

are struggling with symptoms, 

contact your healthcare 

provider. 

Are there natural ways to treat 

my menopause symptoms? 

Some women decide to treat 

their symptoms with herbs and 

dietary supplements instead of 

hormone replacement therapy. 

There are a number of natural 

options for the treatment of 

menopausal symptoms. 

Black Cohosh to treat hot 

flashes, night sweats. Benefit: 

Black cohosh is derived from a 

species of buttercup. Studies 

have had mixed results on 

whether black cohosh is 

effective in reducing hot 

flashes. Some studies indicate 

it may help with mild hot 

flashes and night sweats for 

short-term treatment. May 

lower blood pressure, as well. 

In rare cases, hepatitis has been 

reported. 

Evening Primrose Oil 

increases vagninal lubrication, 

treats anxiety, hair loss, 

insomnia and joint pain. 

Soy to treat hot flashes, night 

sweats. Benefit: Soy has 

isoflavones, which are 

phytoestrogens (plant 

estrogens). Some studies have 

observed that soy may be 

effective in reducing 

menopausal symptoms. 

However, other studies have 

found no benefit. Only food 

forms of soy, like tofu and soy 

milk, are recommended. Soy in 

tablet or powder form is not 

advised. 

Flaxseed, ground or oil to 

treat Hot Flashes. Benefit: 

Flaxseed has omega-3 fatty 

acids and lignans, which act as 

phytoestrogens. Results from 

studies have been mixed, but it 

may help symptoms in some 

women. It is also believed to 

help lower cholesterol. Avoid 

whole flaxseed because it is 

difficult to digest. 

Cold Drinks: to treat Hot 

Flashes, Night Sweats. Benefit: 

Cold drinks help you feel 

cooler. Avoid caffeine and 

alcohol, which are diuretics that 

encourage dehydration and can 

aggravate hot flashes. Try cold 

water or fruit juices with 

antioxidants and vitamins. 

Warning: while the 

supplements mentioned above 

are among the most commonly 

used supplements to help 

control menopause symptoms, 

it’s important to note that 

research is still ongoing to 

determine their effectiveness. 

To date, no supplement has 

consistently been shown to 

work better than placebo in 

managing symptoms. 

Also, keep in mind that 

dietary or herbal supplements 

may have side effects or 

interactions with each other or 

with other drugs. Some may be 

unsafe to take due to certain 

medical conditions. Consult 

with your doctor before using 

them. 

Where can I get more 

information about 

menopause? 

www.menopause.org is a 

good website. 

CHOICES is a nonprofit 

reproductive and sexual health 

center providing a range of 

services, including menopause 

management. 

Our care is inclusive of 

everyone. Call 901-274-3550 or 

visit www.memphischoices.org. 



AGING 

WHERE? 

NOT ON 

MY WATCH 

by KeOnte Criswell 

For us over 40 dolls, we know all too 

well how much the skin changes. Long 

gone are the days when we could stay out 

all night, sleep for 5 minutes, splash water 

on our faces, and be at work the next day 

looking bright-eyed and perky. Now, 

even with a solid 7-step skincare routine 

and a full night’s rest, someone will 

occasionally ask “Are you feeling okay? 

You look a little tired.” Yes, Jerry, I’m 

fine! I’m just old. Also, I’ll be napping in 

my car at lunch. 

Since time will inevitably march across 

all of our faces (don’t you love a good 

Steel Magnolias reference) here are a few 

foods to help slow down Fatha Time. 

• Red bell pepper: These girls are 

carrying. They’ve got a high content 

of vitamin C (you need this for 

collagen production) as well as 

carotenoids. They’re incredibly 

versatile as well. They can be 

cooked into dishes (have you tried 

them in sautéed spinach?) or you can 

eat them raw with hummus, in a 

salad, or on their own. You have to 

admit, red bell peppers get that 

crudite party popping. 

• Blueberries: I’m not a big blueberry 

fan but toss them in pancakes, 

muffins, or smoothies and I’m all in. 

While they may not be my zuzh (it’s 

a word, just trust me), I appreciate all 

blueberries have to offer. These tiny 

girls have vitamins A and C and also 

anthocyanin, an age-defying 

antioxidant. I don’t have to like you 

to respect you, Miss Blueberry. 

• Fortified plant-based milk: I’m not a 

vegan/vegetarian doll at all. I 

developed an intolerance to lactose 

in my 40s. We all know how 

important vitamin D and calcium are 

for bone health but did you know 

there’s a link between gut health and 

acne? Before I was diagnosed with 

IBS, I was constantly fighting acne 

despite a pretty healthy diet and a 

consistent skincare routine. It was 

all because I had a leaky gut. This 

allowed harmful bacteria byproducts 

to get into my bloodstream 

and make their way to my skin. The 

girls were starting a protest on my 

face! “No more cow’s milk!” So 

friends, if you’re having breakouts 

around the cheekbones (stomach), 

eyebrow area (gallbladder), or 

jawline and chin area (hormonal 

imbalance/diet) consider making the 

move from dairy. 

• Dark, leafy greens: I know you’ve 

heard it a thousand times about how 

‘these vegetables are full of good B 

vitamins and vitamins A, C, E, and K.’ 

You also know they have a bunch of 

carotenoids antioxidants that 

protect cells (remember, cells 

replicate every day so play nice with 

them). And maybe you just don’t 

like spinach and kale no matter how 

well it’s sauteed and seasoned with a 

little olive oil, a dash of sea salt, and 

a pinch of red pepper flakes. That’s 

okay! We’re Southerners and we 

love a good batch of collard/turmip/ 

mustard greens. They count also. I 

know I said I’m not vegan/vegetarian 

but I do dabble. My favorite way to 

cook greens is with chicken broth, no 

meat. I know what you’re thinking. 

Trust me when I tell you it’s still 

fabulous and hasn’t got my Southern 

card revoked. 

• Red wine: I bet you thought I was 

going to say water. Yes, water is the 

BEST girl on the block. She is Queen 

B. You don’t need me to tell you 

that. Let’s talk about my underrated 

homegirl, red wine. She has a high 

concentration of the polyphenol, 

resveratrol, in her bag (swag). 

Polyphenols are antioxidants that 

boss up on those naughty free 

radicals that don’t want to see you 

win. After you’ve had a long hard 

day of peopling and adulting a glass 

of your favorite red wine can help 

you relax, unwind, and de-frown your 

face helping to stave off wrinkles. 

Word on the street is that Oregon 

pinot noirs are high in polyphenols 

and European wines have a higher 

polyphenol concentration than 

American wines. Personally, I love a 

good a Spanish wine, how about 

you? Before you go off to indulge, 

let me share with you the wise words 

of the king of R&B, Bobby Brown: 

drink responsibility. Yes he meant 

responsibly and yes he was stone 

cold sober at the time. Despite the 

flawed delivery, he’s right folks. 

Drink responsibly and in moderation. 

If you’re not a drinker, go for some dark 

chocolate. My personal fave is 

Ghirardelli’s dark chocolate with sea salt 

and caramel. Gather your coins because 

she is not a cheap chocolate but she’s 

truly one of the best. 


Here are a wide array of foods with their nutritional information. But don’t get stressed about eating healthy. Simply eat a wide 

variety of fruits, vegetables and lean meat and drink lots of water for the best diet possible. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 


life 


MEMPHIS DRAG SUPERSTAR 

Fantasia Bordeaux!!! 

story by Moth Moth Moth | photos by Marcus Menefee 

“I take more stock and pride 

in compliments such as people 

enjoy my spirit or my aura or 

my wisdom.” 

This is all about Fantasia 

Bordeaux. 

In the cast of 901 beauties 

from across ages, Fantasia 

sticks out. Always. A woman of 

impressive grace and stature. 

Sporting trunkfuls of lovingly 

crafted drag. Jumpsuits and 

gowns that do indeed hit the 

floor. Hair that was always a 

little 70’s or 90’s or styled in a 

classic soft wave. 

Not long after seeing “Truth 

or Dare” when it was originally 

in theaters, Fantasia entered 

the world of gay bars and 

clubs and has been an 

underground superstar since. 

Steadily helping to forge the 

zeitgeist of Memphis Drag. 

“Actually seeing gay men 

and men kissing and that sorta 

thing, it was a sorta shock for 

me. I was 23 years old when I 

got out of college, and I was 

like now what? I had all this 

free time on my hands. It was 

one of the first times I went to 

the movies by myself — to see 

“Truth or Dare” — and low and 

behold, some of the people 

that I saw in there WERE at 

the first club I went! So I saw 

that film, and I started to try to 

recreate some of the 

costumes. And I went to the 

clubs and started dancing. My 

fashions started evolving from 

that point forward. Then I got 

behind the sewing machine 

and started from a straight 

stitch and stretch fabric and 

went from there.” 

After that, Fantasia began to 

pick up bar tab shows in local 

drag venues. She developed 

her own takes on the works of 

Madonna and Janet Jackson. 

And became known for not 

only her beauty but also her 

smooth moves. 

You’ll find Fantasia chilling 

like the home girl she is, 

watching the other birds peck 

about. Fantasia is the rare bird 

that finds herself outside the 

pecking order. 

“I learned early on that you 

click into Fantasyland when 

you enter the club, and you 

click out when you leave the 

club. And people want to get 

to know the glitz and glamour 

and ‘celebrity’ side of drag. 

But in my mind, I’m like, ‘child I 

have to go home and do this 

and that. Gotta cook and get 

ready for work.’ That’s always 

what is going through my 

mind when people are thinking 

they are hanging out with this 

superstar.” 

I, of course, know the 

dazzling truth of Fantasia. 

Superstar she is. Ungrounded, 

she is not. Fantasia strikes a 

balance in her life outside of 

the world of performance and 

drag. 

Fantasia perhaps has the 

steadiest personality of 

anyone I have met. 

“Soak your oats.” Was the 

first piece of advice Fantasia 

ever gave to me. She meant to 

sit back. Allow things to 

unfold. “You can’t bully time.” 

So yes, you may find her 

sipping on a watered down 

drink every once and a while, 

looking stunning in a bell 

bottom jumpsuit and sly smile. 

Fantasia’s air of mystery and 

ability to influence the drag 

newcomers is legendary. She 

is the High Priestess of a chill 

vibe baby. 

Fantasia showed me that the 

things you save for the stage 

are magical. But overall it’s 

best not to be blinded by 

sequins and a little cash here 

or there. She is in it for the fun 

and the art. 

Her career continues to span 

and one would assume that 

she had many a crown. She of 

course competed in a 

few pageants. But 

crown chasing just 

ain’t her style. Same 

with many other 

opportunities that 

other queens jockey 

for. She has been a 

cast member before. 

But is best as a free 

agent, able to come 

and go. Doing the 

good work of the 

gorgeous good time 

girl. 

I am always curious 

about the intentions 

of drag queens. It’s a 

strange art form 

attracting polymaths 

of all kinds but also 

people with no 

personality or skills at 

all. Really it’s about 

the experience at the 

end of the day. The 

worst performer may 

be doing their best to 

break through. The 

best performer might 

be bored. 

You can bet that 

Fantasia is finding a 

way to have fun, 

otherwise she would 

not be in front of you 

inviting you to have 

some of the fun in 

Fantasyland. But don’t 

forget you have so 

much richness in the 

mundane moments as 

well. 

So what is in it for 

Fantasia? 

“Drag (itself) was never my 

intention or purpose. I would 

see celebrities that I admired 

and female dance artists, and I 

wonder ‘wow, what would it be 

like to be a superstar or to 

have fans’. After going out to 

courtesy Fantasia Bordeaux 


the gay bars, I kinda started 

evolving into eventually what 

being a drag performer was. I 

would dress cute and more 

flamboyant going out to the 

clubs and that would draw a 

little attention. I always 

listened to dance music at 

home. I wanted to go to a club 

and dance to that music 

around other people. The first 

time I went to a gay bar all my 

fantasies were fulfilled.” 

Fantasia’s perspective is so 

valuable in this rat racing era 

of drag with every girl vying 

for some form of break 

whether it be from social 

media, a club, a show, or a 

pageant. 

Fantasia is looking to have a 

fun night, to make a little 

money, and then to log out of 

the fantasy. That’s not to say 

one shouldn’t have vision and 

be ambitious in drag, just 

staying balanced is important. 

Especially in heels this high. 

If you’ve never seen Fantasia 

perform then I suggest you 

find a flyer with her name on it 

and go!!!! Words are only 

going to be so useful. A night 

of Fantasia performances will 

include hot dance tracks every 

table will know, remixes 

galore, and that dazzling smile 

every time she steps from 

behind the curtain. 

“The Fantasia Two-Step” is 

legendary among the many 

girls who have had the 

pleasure of working with her. 

Fantasia is so smooth she can 

two step and twirl and before 

you know it, there ain’t a tip 

left. 

“If you can transport people 

to Fantasyland for a minute, 

then you did your job. And 

that has been my mission to 

perform and entertain. First 

and foremost I have to 

entertain myself. To this day, I 

still find it fun. Sometimes it 

can be a chore. Getting older 

and moving these bones ain’t 

as easy as it used to be and 

staying out late when you are 

usually in bed is not as easy as 

it used to be. But I continue to 

do it ‘cus it is still fun. And I 

still have people saying they 

enjoy my performance. So I 

guess when they say they’ve 

stopped enjoying my 

performance then I guess I’ll 

stop.” 

Fantasia chuckles. 

“I can’t quite move like I 

used to, and I wouldn’t say it 

has dampened my spirit. In my 

mind I can still do it but in 

reality it’s like ‘ohhhh I don’t 

think so’. But I do have a goal 

to try to slightly get back there 

at least a couple times before I 

bid the stage farewell.” 

“An older body cannot do 

the same thing that a younger 

body can. But at the same 

time, I still see some 

counterparts who are killing it 

and at a more mature age and 

I never give up hope! Gotta 

commit to the treadmill and 

backing away from the table. I 

think I’m going to get a little 

more energy going there. It’s 

just going to take my 

commitment to get myself into 

that space.” 

I feel that Fantasia takes far 

too little credit for the 

wonders she creates for the 

stage. 

More than anything it 

inspires and excites me to 

know that my friend is 

someone who has mentored 

so many through whispered 

conversations and wily scary 

and astute observations of our 

queer ecosystem. Who has 

twirled, vogued, and two 

stepped her way into the heart 

of all who are lucky enough to 

see her. 

There have been many 

guiding hands of Memphis, and 

in our LGBTQIA+ community, 

but this I can say for certain. 

Having a beautiful experience 

in these spaces of historical 

cross over, is never lost on 

someone like Fantasia. 

Someone with her vision and 

integrity can only live on as an 

example of the true Memphis 

Queen’s Queen: an amazing 

home girl with great taste in 

tunes, excellent fashion design 

skills, and moves that can turn 

a party upside down. 

A blast of warm gorgeous 

light. She is Fantasia Bordeaux. 

The past. The present. And the 

future of Memphis Drag. 

An older body cannot do the same thing 

that a younger body can. But at the same 

time, I still see some counter parts who are 

killing it and at a more mature age and I 

never give up hope! 

—Fantasia Bordeaux 


lgbt youth 

COLLEGE 

GSA GROUPS 

KEEPING LGBTQ STUDENTS 

SUPPORTED AND SAFE 

by Olivia Roman 

The Rhodes College Pride group marched alongside several other 

college GSA groups in the 2018 Memphis Pride parade on Beale 

Street. Photo ©Kevin Reed Photography 

“Back to school” commercials 

have once again begun 

interrupting our radio waves and 

social media feeds, reminding 

students that the much-dreaded 

return to the classroom is 

drawing closer. However, for 

incoming college freshmen, the 

start of the fall semester is an 

eagerly awaited time of great 

excitement and new 

opportunities, in which they can 

pursue their own interests and 

create like-minded social circles. 

This is an especially anticipated 

day for LGBT+ freshmen across 

the Mid-South, as the culturally 

diverse environment of a college 

campus makes it easier to find 

the welcoming and affirming 

community that their former 

high schools often lacked. This is 

the primary function of gaystraight 

alliances (GSAs)—to 

connect LGBT+ students and 

provide them with a sense of 

belonging and the freedom to 

express themselves, especially if 

they faced opposition when 

doing so in the past. 

Unfortunately, this is often the 

case for LGBT+ students in our 

part of the Bible Belt. 

I have spent the majority of 

my undergraduate career 

working within the University of 

Memphis’ Stonewall Tigers GSA, 

in which most of the members 

are from either remote rural 

areas or bustling urban 

communities within the tri-state 

area. Whether they went to high 

school here in Memphis, off in 

the stretches of Dyersburg, 

Tennessee, or in the busy small 

towns of southern Mississippi, 

their reasons for seeking out the 

GSA are remarkably similar— 

where they were, questioning 

conservative views on religion 

and/or politics was 

unacceptable, and this culture of 

intolerance allowed homophobia 

to flourish and characterize 

much of their lives within and 

outside the classroom. The 

apathy of these communities 

towards those who deviate from 

traditional norms encourages 

bullying, which LGBT+ students 

suffer at disproportionate rates. 

For example, according to the 

2018 LGBTQ Youth Report 

conducted by the Human Rights 

Campaign, 70% of surveyed 

students have been bullied at 

school due to their sexual 

orientation, and only 26% report 

feeling safe in the classroom. 

One would think that this 

disparity would prompt state 

legislatures to enact laws and 

policies protecting these 

students from discrimination in 

school, however, this is not the 

case. Out of all the states 

bordering Tennessee, only 

Arkansas and North Carolina 

have adopted anti-bullying laws 

to protect LGBT+ students, 

leaving the majority of them 

attending school in the Mid- 

South and surrounding areas to 

figure out how to deal with 

harassment and ostracization 

alone. Even then, signing 

equitable bills into law does not 

automatically shift the 

sociopolitical climate of that 

specific state. 

Rather than be discouraged to 

the point of inaction by the state 

of LGBT+ youth protections, 

many ambitious students have 

taken the initiative to create 

positive change in their corners 

of the south. Vaniel Simmons, 

secretary of Rhodes College 

GSA, recalls how his background 

influenced his drive to stay 

involved in creating safer 

environments for students like 

himself. “I came from a very 

small town in rural Arkansas, and 

when I attempted to start my 

own GSA there, I was told by the 

principal that my ideas were 

“too progressive” for the town. 

So it was very important to me 

that I chose a college that had a 

great support system for LGBT+ 

students.” Emily Campbell, 

current president of the 

University of Memphis’ 

Stonewall Tigers GSA, also cites 

her place of origin as a key 

factor in her decision to join the 

GSA, saying “Coming from 

Madison, Alabama, I didn’t feel 

like I had many opportunities to 

interact with others in the LGBT+ 

community until college, and I 

thought the University of 

Memphis GSA would be a great 

place to do that.” Both happily 

report that within their GSAs 

they’ve found strong communal 

environments in which they’ve 

been able to cultivate 

meaningful relationships, with 

Campbell describing it as “the 

center of [her] social and 

extracurricular life.” 

It is not uncommon for a GSA 

member to refer to the 

organization as their “chosen 

family,” as it often functions as a 

social, emotional, and (at times) 

financial support system, 

especially for those who come 

from less accepting areas and/or 

have been shunned by their 

relatives due to their sexuality. 

However, as with families, 

dysfunction and disagreement 

occasionally arise during 

interactions between members 

of differing ideologies and 

perspectives, allowing the 

organization to revisit how they 

define and live out their 

commitments to inclusion and 

tolerance. Anonymous members 

from more isolated areas, as well 

as those with families that are 

more culturally and religiously 

conservative, have privately 

expressed that they feel as if 

their voices and experiences 

have been ignored if not 

outright silenced by those who 

are “in the loop,” with a more 

mainstream view of LGBT+ 

politics and a preference for 

focusing on more secular issues, 

such as the ever-evolving field of 

gender identity. Hyperfixating 

on topics such as this detracts 

attention from fostering an 

environment that is truly 

supportive for LGBT+ people of 

every race, class, and religious 

persuasion. This oftentimes is 

what makes it difficult for 

students of color to feel 

comfortable and represented in 

GSAs. Stonewall Tigers GSA’s 

former events coordinator, Iasia 

Peoples, spoke on this, saying 

“Many students of color who 

were previously involved in the 

GSA have told me personally 

that the reason they left was 

because they felt like the 

interests of the GSA’s white 

students were prioritized over 

their own. Some even didn’t 

return after the first meeting 

because they could tell that their 

experiences as queer people of 

color would not be reflected.” 

An incorrect assumption 


sometimes made by those in 

identity-based organizations is 

that sharing one identity with 

the membership enables them 

to fully understand each 

members’ unique experience 

and the adversities they face, 

even if they are of different 

races, sexes, and walks of life. 

The belief that one person 

should be able to speak for 

everyone can lead to the group 

centering only one voice, 

whether or not that is their 

intent. Stonewall and other 

GSAs have found that the best 

first step to amending this issue 

and supporting members who 

feel as if they’re slipping through 

the cracks is open and honest 

conversation. Simmons remarks 

on how that has positively 

affected Rhodes GSA, saying 

“The LGBTQ+ experience is not 

a universal one by any means, 

but we had a bond and 

understanding with one another 

and the time we took to just talk 

with one another really fostered 

that sense of community.” When 

the membership and leadership 

work together to maintain open 

lines of communication and to 

create a space that values each 

individual, the GSA experience is 

much more positive and 

impactful for all involved. 

I have yet to meet a single 

current or former member of a 

GSA who would not recommend 

getting involved in the group to 

LGBT+ students, especially 

incoming freshmen, myself 

included. Perhaps I am biased— 

like Campbell, the GSA became 

my core social group, and it is 

through that organization that 

I’ve had life-changing 

experiences and made lifelong 

friends. Former Stonewall Tigers 

vice-president Andrew Phifer 

said it best: 

“My college GSA was one of 

the most important aspects of 

my life, and I’ll be eternally 

grateful for the people it 

brought into my life, the 

memories I made there, the life 

lessons I gained, the 

professional experience from 

running a student organization, 

and the opportunities it has 

presented me… I wouldn’t trade 

any of it for anything else. I think 

all college students should get 

involved on campus, but I think 

something like a GSA is so 

important for an incoming 

LGBTQ+ student. Seek out your 

community. It just might change 

your life and be the best 

decision you’ve ever made.” 

LGBT + STUDENTS: 

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR CAMPUS GSA! 

THIS LIST WILL HELP YOU GET CONNECTED 

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS 

Stonewall Tigers 

WEB: memphis.campuslabs. 

com/engage/organization/ 

Stonewall 

TW: stonewallgsa 

FB: Stonewalltigersgsa 

INSTA: stonewalltigersgsa 

EM: StonewallTigersGSA@ 

gmail.com 

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS 

UNIVERSITY 

Safe Zones 

cbu.instructure.com/ 

courses/5072/pages/safezones 

EM: kjames2@cbu.edu 

Gay Straight Alliance 

cbu.edu/gay-straight-alliance 

INSTA: cbugsa 

EM: jhaggard@cbu.edu 

RHODES COLLEGE 

Rhodes Pride 

Main Site: linktr.ee/RhodesGSA 

FB: rhodescollegepride/ 

sites.rhodes.edu/lgbtq 

INSTA: rhodesrainbowroom 

EM: rhodescollegepride@ 

gmail.com 

SOUTHWEST TN COMM. 

COLLEGE 

Southwest Pride 

southwest.tn.edu/clubs/ 

Contact: Dustin Williamsdwilliams67@southwest.tn.edu 

UNIV. OF TN HEALTH SCIENCE 

CENTER 

UTHSC Unite 

FB: facebook.com/groups/ 

UTHSC.Unite/ (closed group 

for UTHSC staff/faculty/ 

students and local healthcare 

providers) 

WEB: uthsc.edu/unite/index. 

php 

INSTA: uthscunite (all are 

welcome) 

PH: 901.448.3254 

EM: unite@uthsc.edu 

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 

UNIVERSITY 

MT Lambda 

facebook.com/mtlambda 

Mtsu.edu/mtlambda/ 

Linktr.ee/mtlambda 

MTSU Student Union Building 

CSIL 315 

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, 

Transgender, Queer & Intersex Life 

INSTA: vulgbtqilife/ 

TW: vulgbtqilife 

WEB: vanderbilt.edu//lgbtqi/ 

EM: lgbtqi@vanderbilt.edu 

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT 

GROUPS 

Vanderbilt Lambda 

Association (Lambda) 

FB: VULambda 

INSTA: vulambda/ 

TW: VULambda 

Contact: vulambda@gmail.com 

GRADUATE STUDENT 

GROUPS 

Divinity School: Office of 

Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual 

Concerns (GABLE) 

Divinity School: Office of 

Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual 

Concerns (GABLE) 

FB: groups/GABLEatVDS/ 

anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/ 

organization/gable 

TW: @vds_gable 

Contact: gablevanderbilt@ 

gmail.com 

SCHOOL OF NURSING, 

VUSNPride 

WEB: nursing.vanderbilt.edu/ 

advantage/organizations/ 

lgbtq/index.php 

Faculty Advisors: Laura 

Woodwick, Student Leadership, 

laura.c.woodwick@vanderbilt. 

edu; Dr. Tom Christenbery, tom. 

christenbery@vanderbilt.edu 

ARKANSAS STATE 

UNIVERSITY 

Arkansas State University 

Gender & Sexuality Alliance 

TW: astate_gsa 

INSTA: astategsa/ 

FB: astateequality/ 

EM: gsastate@gmail.com 

NORTHWEST COMMUNITY 

COLLEGE 

Student-led effort to create 

a group. Join the closed 

Facebook group for the latest 

information. 

FB: groups/381786231896726/ 

EM: Faculty Advisor Glynda 

Hall, ghall@northwestms.edu 

UNIV. OF MISSISSIPPI 

The M-Pride and Allies 

Program 

WEB: https://lgbtq.olemiss. 

edu/university-organizations/ 

Undergrad: UM Pride Network 

FB: https://t.co/ 

uYUeoiMw8a?amp=1 

School of Law: OUTLaw 

IG: outlawuofm 

Faculty Advisor: cadence@ 

olemiss.edu (Cadence 

Pentheny, Coordinator, 

LGBTQ+ Programming & 

Initiatives) 

MISSISSIPPI STATE 

UNIVERSITY 

F.L.A.R.E. – Fostering 

LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Resources, 

and Environments 

WEB: lgbtqmsu.org/ 

INSTA: flare_msu/ 

orgsync.com/123582/chapter 

TW: flaremsu 

FB: groups/lgbtqunion/ 

EM: flaremsu@gmail.com 

Safe Zone Advisory Board 

FB: MSstateSafeZone/ 

EM: safezone@saffairs.msstate. 

edu) 

Mississippi State University 

College of Veterinary Medicine 

– 

Broad Spectrum 

WEB: broadspectrumvsa. 

blogspot.com/ 

TW: BroadSpectrumVS 

FB: 

groups/1077157502343598/ 

EM: BroadSpectrumOutreach@ 

gmail.com 


lgbt ally 

JUST GETTING THE PARTY STARTED: 

CATHY MULLIS WOOD’S 

PHANCY PHOTO BOOTH 

by Robin Beaudoin Ownby | photo by Madison Yen-Collins 

Recognizable by her 

trademark accessory, the cat ear 

headband, Memphian Cathy 

Mullis Wood, 58, is owner and 

operator of Phancy Photo Booth 

and Phancy Yard Cards, and 

soon to launch Phancy Foam 

Parties. Changing careers at 

nearly 50 takes some elbow 

grease and imagination, and 

Wood has developed the 

formula for a successful 

celebration business. Since 

October 2012, Wood has 

averaged 100 events a year, 

except in 2020, where she only 

did five events and opened 

Phancy Yard Cards. Switching 

from events to the decorative 

Yard Cards has taken some 

adjusting and has blossomed 

into an exciting addition to her 

business. 

How did you get started in this 

business? 

Divine intervention, if you 

believe in that. I stumbled upon 

a Nikon reflex camera on eBay 

(it was mislabeled, so I got it 

cheaply), bought a used 

telephoto lens, and found 

someone selling their photo 

booth business for an egregious 

amount of money (I was 

employed at FedEx, and not 

making the money I needed). I 

talked to my husband about it, 

researched photo booth 

companies in Memphis, and 

spent about $100 to build a 

website. I started getting 

bookings even though I didn’t 

have a lot of equipment, so I 

borrowed $5,000 from my 

parents and bought a proper 

photo booth. We ordered it and I 

picked it up in Atlanta, and it 

wouldn’t fit in the car! I strapped 

it to the roof and brought it back 

to Memphis, learned the 

software, bought a used Honda 

Odyssey van for $1500, and two 

weeks later I quit my job at 

FedEx. I learned I could make 

more money working just one or 

two days a week than full-time 

at FedEx. I was caring for an 

infant grandchild, so the 

schedule worked well, and 

everything fell into place. 

Phancy Yard Cards saw great 

success during 2020. Do you 

think this trend will carry on, 

even after the pandemic? 

The pandemic pivot from the 

photo booth to yard signs led to 

creating sign arrangements for 

birthdays, anniversaries, 

graduations, divorces, with 

‘Divorced AF’ and ‘Straight 

Outta Marriage’ signs popular in 

Memphis. Recently I did a 100th 

birthday for a pastor! We made a 

welcome home for the military, I 

did a ‘Holy cow somebody’s 40!’ 

in cow print theme and special 

cow print cards. Any event 

needing a little spice: baby 

showers, back to school, prom, 

proposals, etc. 

I think it will slow down a little 

bit after the pandemic, but there 

will be a market for it because 

people want to celebrate. A lot 

of celebrations are becoming 

more intimate, so for milestones, 

I think it will be a trend that 

continues. If someone keeps up 

with their inventory and keeps 

up with market trends, the 

business can be viable in the 

future. 

What makes for a successful 

and engaging party? 

I’ve worked with LeBonheur, St. 

Jude, the Peabody, West Clinic, 

as well as the Focus Awards, Big 

Gay Dance Parties, and lots of 

weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, Eid 

events, Indian weddings, a 

Persian wedding, Christian 

parties, I will do it all, as long as 

people are respectful. Memphis 

has a very diverse community, 

and I just love meeting people 

that aren’t just like me. 

Make an event your own (we 

have custom backgrounds) and 

after 9 pm send the kids home 

so the adults can let loose. What 

makes people stick around at a 

party is good music, open bars, 

and if I were ever to plan a party 

it would be only beer and wine 

(nobody gets too sloppy on beer 

and wine). 

Say you’re having a laid-back 

party, and you want fun things 

to do: have a couple of bars 

outside, a nice DJ or small band. 

Our printed photos are such a 

great keepsake. I explain to 

brides who want to give out 

wedding favors, let this be the 

favor. It’s entertainment for your 

guests, and people will KEEP 

them because it has their faces 

on it! 

What’s the craziest request 

you’ve ever had? 

A big convention company, 

Freeman EXP, was hired to do 

the LinkedIn convention in 

Nashville, and they wanted a 

specific product called NEON 

video light painting, where you 

do slow exposure and write 

words with it. They wanted FIVE 

booths, and they wanted three 

booths that offered printed 

flipbooks. I didn’t have that 

product, so I found it, built the 

booths, the license was $3,000 

per unit and the company 

worked with me. I did the bid, 

which was HUGE, and required 

five people to work with me for a 

week. This company wanted so 

much money for this software to 

print the books. From that I 

learned I didn’t charge enough, 

but that was the most 

outrageous job. 

Why should someone have a 

photographer or photo booth 

at their event? 

Why? Social media presence! 

We offer options where you can 

email or text photos and 

boomerang GIFs to themselves, 

as well as printed photos to take 

home. Photos can be branded, 

we have roving photographers 

roam the event, and the guests 

give the photographer their cell 

phone number. Those are great 

for corporate events. The reason 

you have a photo booth is for 

entertainment and marketing! 

Again, people don’t throw away 

a picture. We can do 5x7 photos, 

perforation, ticket design where 

a ticket tears off from the 

bottom of your photo. We can 

do 4”x12” mega strips. 

What to you makes people look 

or seem younger than they are 

in your photos? There are poses 

and we can have beauty filters 

built into the booth. 

There’s an effect in black and 

white with a white backdrop 

(affectionately called the 

“Kardashian Effect”). Mainly, 

having FUN and letting your 

exuberance shine through is so 

much more engaging. If 

eyeglasses don’t have a nonreflecting 

coating on them- I tell 

folks to take their glasses off or 

tilt their head so they don’t get 

that glare. I’ve learned how to 

hold a prop and stand and turn 

and twist my body. If it bends, 

bend it! Stick your butt back, 

lean forward, tilt your waist 

(contrapposto), and people who 

are smiling and laughing 

ALWAYS look younger. 

phancyphotobooth.com 


GET SERIOUS 

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Take care of yourself and each other. 

Talk about safer sex and HIV prevention— 

like using condoms. 

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arts+entertainment 

CARMEN MARIA 

MACHADO 

Ready to set the Memphis Imagination Ablaze 

by Moth Moth Moth | photos courtesy of the author 


Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties, was published by Graywolf 

Press in 2017. In 2018, the New York Times listed Her Body and Other 

Parties as a member of “The New Vanguard,” one of “15 remarkable 

books by women that are shaping the way we read and write fiction 

in the 21st century.” A television show based on Her Body and Other 

Parties is currently in development at FX. 

There is this galaxy of authors 

who have been freeing my mind. 

They form this pathway of 

elements in my cognition as a 

writer and reader. A George 

Sanders book that I borrowed 

permanently from an extremely 

lovely and brilliant professor of 

mine back in the day. These 

stories introduced me to a world 

of kinda postmodern magical 

realism…or something. There 

were not good words to 

describe. All I new was this 

author had been on to 

something. A familiar sensibility 

to Octavia Butler’s bending of 

genre to create new possibilities 

in works like Bloodchild. 

Soon after college I found my 

way to authors Karen Russel and 

Kelly Link. Artists tackling these 

huge loaded emotional ideas 

through unique mixtures of sci-fi 

and fantasy and horror and 

folktale. 

But all roads thesedays lead 

to Machado. Carmen Maria 

Machado to be exact. Machado’s 

work stands out from her crowd 

of contemporaries, a group who 

could be possibly maybe 

catagorjzed as nervous brilliant 

folks who write really oddball 

stories that leave you thinking, 

laughing, spooked, and a little 

turned on. 

I believe, personally, that you 

the reader can benefit from 

becoming friends with 

Machado’s velvet prose. You can 

begin when University of 

Memphis hosts Machado for an 

event on November 11. 

“I think Carmen Maria 

Machado is going to light 

Memphis on fire,” says Mark 

Mayer, Professor of Creative 

Writing at UofM. It’s that 

program that will host her visit. 

“I see Carmen as one of the 

great literary innovators of her 

generation. She’s fearlessly, 

diabolically inventive. No one 

writes about the body, about 

sex, about violence and 

belonging quite like Carmen 

does. I think she’s the perfect 

writer to bring to Memphis—a 

gothic, splendid city for a 

gothic, splendid writer.” 

With an intro like that there 

isn’t much for me to say. So I 

suppose I can skip to the rabid 

fanfare. 

An air of change surrounds 

Machado’s work. Ready your 

senses for a writer who finds 

herself in a galaxy of writers 

unchained by genre. This star 

system includes the likes of 

George Sanders, Kelly Link, 

Karen Russell. But make no 

mistake, Machado is a universe 

unto herself. 

To say that Machado writes 

bodice rippers would be 

somewhat of a misstep. There is 

sex, and she is a master of that 

wild, running barefoot through 

the forest with hair on fire 

feeling. You know, that good 

reading material that makes the 

realism of your body and 

experience a little more magical 

through exposure to text alone. 

If a bodice were present I 

would say it is folded neatly in a 

drawer, possessed by a 

thousand ghosts, and is 

psychically influencing the 

neighborhood. These stories 

have humor, levels, and a 

enough sensuality to keep you 

coming back. When I say stories 

I of course reference her book 

of hits, “Her Body and Other 

Parties,” released in 2017, this 

simpering collection will appeal 

to anyone who is down for a 

good time yet can keep up with 

the intellect winking from 

between the words. 

There are dark, deadpan, 

almost humorless stops within 

the storytelling that I have 

become obsessed with. You can 

hear the author hit the cymbals 

to signify the punch line, but 

only after the house has gone 

ablaze. 

Sample the syrup of this 

writing in your mind and I 

believe you’ll be obsessed with 

the sensations Machado can 

conjure. 

Also available is “In The 

Dream House,” a memoir that 

experiments with form and 

expectations, often in a choose 

your own adventure style that 

really tickled my imagination. 

To say the least. This author is 

rad. Memphis will love her. 

Please let her work set your 

imagination – and loins – aflame. 

Carmen Maria Machado is the author of the bestselling memoir In the Dream 

House and the award-winning short story collection Her Body and Other 

Parties, both winners of the Lambda Literary Award and both icons of queer 

literature. She has been a finalist for the National Book Award and the winner 

of the Bard Fiction Prize, the Brooklyn Public Library Literature Prize, the 

Rathbones Folio prize, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the National Book 

Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize. 

Machado will give a reading of her work, Thursday, November 11 at 6:30PM 

in the University of Memphis University Center Theatre. 

This event is free and open to the public. 


3by Kathy Fish, Fish and Associates Inspired Financial Planning 

lgbt ally 

Estate Considerations 

for LGBTQ + persons 

A will is a great starting 

point but is by no means 

the only documentation 

that may help ensure that 

your end-of-life wishes are 

respected. Because estate 

strategy is a tricky topic, 

working with professionals 

may be the best way to 

ensure that your legacy is 

handled the way you want 

it to be. Your financial 

professional may be a great 

resource as you start to 

explore your options 

for your partner 

and your family. 

Choosing to Say I do— 

or I don’t 

If you are a member of the 

LGBTQ+ community, your 

financial and estate needs may 

present different challenges 

from other married and 

partnered couples. We 

celebrated when the 2015 

Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme 

Court decision made LGBTQ+ 

marriage legal and paved the 

way for many LGBTQ+ couples 

and families to have their 

unions protected at a federal 

level. However, these couples 

may face particularly 

complicated issues when it 

comes to establishing a 

workable estate strategy. Let’s 

take a look at some 

considerations you should 

keep in mind. 

Getting married is one of the 

biggest commitments that you 

can make during your lifetime. 

While many married people 

end up living happily ever 

after, over half of marriages 

end in divorce. Marriage isn’t 

the right choice for everyone, 

or for every partnership. The 

Pew Research Center confirms 

that 45% of Americans say 

that the make-up of a 

partnership or a family doesn’t 

matter, which means there’s 

less societal pressure to 

cement a partnership with 

marriage. 1 

However, there are benefits 

to getting married that extend 

Shutterstock 

beyond celebrating your 

commitment. The unlimited 

marital deduction allows 

married couples to make 

unlimited interspousal 

transfers of property without 

incurring a tax, either during 

their lifetimes or after one of 

their deaths. Its important to 

note as well that the unlimited 

marital deduction only applies 

to a spouse who is also a U.S. 

citizen. 2,3 

Keep in mind this article is 

for informational purposes 

only and is not a replacement 

for real life advice. So make 

sure to consult your tax, legal 

and accounting professionals 

before modifying your estate 

strategy. 


life wishes are respected. 

Because estate strategy is a 

tricky topic, working with 

professionals may be the best 

way to ensure that your legacy 

is handled the way you want it 

to be. 

Your financial professional 

may be a great resource as 

you start to explore your 

options for your partner and 

your family. 

There are several types of 

documents that may help with 

your estate strategy: 

Family Matters 

One challenge is the care 

and custody of minor children. 

Your surviving partner may 

have to deal with unexpected 

conflicts, such as family 

members contesting a will or 

filing for legal custody of your 

children. 

At minimum, a basic will is 

needed to establish 

guardianship for your children. 

Without a will, guardianship of 

minor children will be left up 

to the courts to decide, and 

even if there is a surviving 

spouse, the court may 

determine that it’s in a child’s 

best interest to be placed with 

another family member. 

If one of you is the biological 

parent, then it’s important to 

consider having the nonbiological 

parent file for legal 

adoption. 

Establishing the surviving 

spouse as a legal parent may 

also help smooth any asset 

transitions from parent to 

child. 

Handling End-of-Life Care 

For LGBTQ+ couples, 

handling your end-of-life 

issues may be very important, 

especially if you aren’t 

married. Making decisions for 

a spouse or partner in a time 

of need can be difficult and 

complicated, even more so for 

unmarried couples, where the 

Shutterstock 

Shutterstock 

spouse or partner may not 

automatically be the legally 

recognized decision-maker. 

Documenting your preferences 

for care may make a huge 

difference. 

A will is a great starting 

point but is by no means the 

only documentation that may 

help ensure that your end-of- 

• Durable Financial Power of 

Attorney: A durable 

financial power of attorney 

designates someone (your 

spouse or partner) to make 

financial decisions on your 

behalf should you be 

unable to do so. 

• Health Care Power of 

Attorney (or Health Care 

Proxy): Whether you are in 

a domestic partnership, 

married, or unmarried, a 

health care power of 

attorney is used to 

designate your partner or 

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• HIPAA Privacy 

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power of attorney and/or 

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• Health Care Directive: This 

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choices for your partner and 

your family. 

1. PewResearch.org. April 10, 2020. 2. IRS.gov, March 3 2020. 3. Wealthenhancement.com, June 2,2020 

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra 

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Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate 

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community 

OUTMEMPHIS’ NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES 

NEAL HOLMES 

I want to make impactful touch points in the community 

for people to see our organization as ‘the go-to place’ 

for LGBTQIA+ resources in the Mid-South. 

story and photos by Tricia Dewey 


As the New Director of 

Community Services for 

OUTMemphis, Neal Holmes 

feels the power of his ancestors 

in his work. “I’ve always felt the 

presence of those who have 

come before me,’’ he says. “No 

matter where I’ve worked or 

lived, I feel like I have the spirit 

of my ancestors uplifting and 

guiding me.” 

Holmes brings this sensibility 

to Memphis most recently from 

Pittsburgh, where he was a 

therapist and hospital 

administrator. Even though he 

lived in Pittsburgh for close to 

16 years, he considers himself a 

Southerner, hailing originally 

from Louisville, Mississippi, and 

attending an HBCU college in 

Mississippi, Jackson State 

University. He believes that his 

life and professional work 

experience will serve him well 

in his new leadership role at 

OUTMemphis. 

“I want to make impactful 

touch points in the community 

for people to see our 

organization as ‘the go-to 

place’ for LGBTQIA+ resources 

in the Midsouth.” 

Holmes hopes to collaborate 

with many community partners 

and if needed have honest, 

frank, and difficult 

conversations. He is looking 

forward to this aspect of his 

work. “I enjoy dealing with and 

navigating conflict. Maybe 

that’s my past therapeutic 

background, but I truly believe 

that we all have preconceived 

notions and biases that we all 

have to check every single day. 

So, I want to be open to doing 

that in my work and being 

transparent in that way.” In 

part, that has been the reason 

for his excitement about his 

new position: “as an out gay 

person of color working in the 

community I want to 

collaborate with allies to 

develop external partnerships 

through community outreach.” 

His role will be twofold at 

OUTMemphis: assisting with 

programs and services related 

to community engagement and 

to assist with forming external 

partnerships with organizations 

and allies to enhance current 

programs and services. He will 

manage the programs and 

services that are sexual health 

and trans related in the Cooper 

location; that does not include 

the Metamorphosis Housing 

Project program 

(OUTMemphis’ program for 

youth facing homelessness). 

His work includes oversight and 

budgeting of senior programs. 

He will also manage 

OUTMemphis’ “virtual desk’’ 

for staff to respond to inquiries 

about various LGBTQIA+ needs 

throughout the Midsouth 

region. 

Recently Holmes met with 

The Haven, which works to help 

eliminate HIV in the Midsouth, 

with Choices, which is a 

long-time ally, and with several 

mental health organizations to 

get a feel for their therapeutic 

approach and their fee 

structure. He is also updating 

the online resource guide for 

any LGBTQIA+ identifying 

organization that is a safe 

space and making new touch 

points for community partners. 

In addition to the 

programmatic work, Holmes 

wants to be out and about. “I 

really enjoy meeting with 

community members and 

having conversations about 

how we can collaborate. I really 

want to understand our needs 

within the community and how 

we can address them in a 

systematic way. I want to try to 

break down as many 

microaggressions and 

macroaggressions as I can 

within systems. Understanding 

how to navigate them will take 

time and patience. However, at 

the end of the day, I hope we 

can come to a middle ground 

where there will be some 

understanding, compassion, 

and room for growth.” 

Recently Holmes spent time 

with two participants at the 

newly opened Youth 

Emergency Center (YEC), 

OUTMemphis’ facility that 

provides housing or drop-in 

services for youth ages 16 to 

24. He says, “It’s very 

emotional for me to work in 

this space, because I myself 

experienced homelessness 

when I was a teenager. Having 

a resource like that would have 

meant the world to me.” Luckily 

Holmes had mentors who 

helped to guide him, but the 

YEC can help transition 

participants to more 

permanent housing or provide 

a drop-in center for youth 

during the day, filling a critical 

need for LGBTQIA+ youth. 

There is no shortage of work 

waiting for Holmes, especially 

with the added complexity of 

the pandemic. He embraces 

the challenge and promises to 

lean into tough conversations. 

“I think it’s really important for 

me to be mindful of the impact 

I can have working here in this 

position as a member of the 

leadership team. I take my role 

very seriously. It’s an honor for 

me to work with our awesome 

staff. I feel like I’ve been 

entrusted with a calling to 

serve….I am humbled and 

excited to be in this role, and I 

am empowered in my identity 

as a person of color to continue 

the community advocacy work 

that others have done before 

me for all members of our 

community.” His ancestors are 

surely cheering him on. 



LGBTQ HEALTH 

BLOOD 

DONATION 

POLICY 

FOR GAY AND 

BISEXUAL MEN 

by Chris Reeder Young 

The early 1980’s were both a 

terrifying and confusing time 

as the HIV/AIDS epidemic 

surged through communities. 

Medical institutions, public 

health leaders, and blood 

donation suppliers raced to 

make sense of it all. 

Amidst the quick reaction to 

manage potential HIV 

transmission in the blood 

supply, public health leadership 

and scientists made policy 

recommendations to ban men 

who have sex with men 

(termed MSM in policy) from 

donating blood. So, while little 

was known, much effort to 

address HIV transmission in the 

blood supply was placed on 

the assumption that banning 

MSM was the only 

“trustworthy” line of defense to 

prevent exposure as the time 

period lacked the advanced 

screening and cultural 

understanding we have now. 

The most recent U.S. Food 

and Drug Administration (FDA) 

policy on MSM blood donations 

was revised in April 2020 that 

changed a December 2015 

twelve-month deferral policy to 

a three-month deferral policy. 

The blood donor questionnaire 

states the following: if a person 

who is MSM, whether Assigned 

Male at Birth (AMAB) or 

Assigned Female at Birth 

(AFAB) has sex with another 

MSM, then they have to wait 

three months while abstaining 

from sexual activity before 

donating blood. This is a 

limiting policy. 

This policy ignores that 

people can be sexually active 

and safe simultaneously, and 

indeed ignores many 

heterosexual risk scenarios. 

Scientific communities are 

piloting blood donation 

processes that identify 

individual risk rather than 

leaning on the assumption that 

all MSM are high risk even if 

they are in committed 

monogamous relationship and/ 

or use safe sex practices. This 

is an effort to be more 

inclusive, less discriminatory, 

and also encourage more 

blood donation via previously 

excluded populations. For 

example, a UK study found that 

a shift from their five-year 

deferral policy for MSM to a 

one-year deferral policy 

generated a 46% increase of 

MSM who could donate blood 

safely. 

The ADVANCE Study 

in Memphis 

Regardless of sexual identity 

and orientation, some aspects 

of the current policy makes 

potentially eligible gay and 

bisexual men blood donors 

completely ineligible (e.g. a 

sexually active monogamous 

couple) when the US is in a 

blood supply crisis. 

One of the first steps in 

changing the deferral policy is 

to update the intake donor 

history questionnaire that a 

person fills out before 

donating. The FDA is funding a 

study called Assessing Donor 

Variability and New Concepts 

in Eligibility (ADVANCE) that 

will pilot a more inclusive 

questionnaire for individuals to 

Shutterstock 


define their own sexual 

histories more thoroughly. 

To help implement the study 

and to connect with people 

whose experiences will inform 

the study most effectively, the 

FDA is working with the three 

of the largest US blood 

donation centers, Vitalant, 

OneBlood, and the American 

Red Cross in areas of the 

country with documented high 

rates of HIV acquisition, which 

includes Memphis. Each city 

and blood donation center is 

working with LGBTQ+ anchors 

in those areas and is seeking to 

cumulatively enroll 2,000 

MSM/gay/bisexual men who 

meet the study eligibility 

criteria. 

In Memphis, Vitalant is 

working with LGBTQ+ anchors 

such as Friends for Life, the 

Corner, and OUTMemphis on 

outreach efforts to recruit at 

least 250 participants. One 

participant, Shahin Samiei, 

shared that he chose to 

participate in the study 

because “the cultural context 

of blood donation is rooted in 

1980’s fear and that the current 

scientific policy is lagging 

indicator of science and 

harmful stigma, not a reflection 

of organized steps in the right 

direction toward equity and 

safety in blood donations. It’s 

wild that we have enough data 

in the last 40 years to update 

policy, and we are still in the 

same place profiling and 

stigmatizing MSM who could 

donate blood. The ADVANCE 

study is an opportunity to 

change those policy features 

by removing sexual health 

stigmas through open and 

honest individual questionnaire 

assessments and utilizing our 

voices to inform official policy 

spheres with the FDA. We 

know so much more, we can do 

so much better, so by golly, 

let’s do it.” 

Dr. Brian Custer, Director of 

Epidemiology and Policy 

Science at Vitalant Research 

Institute (VRI) San Francisco 

and Vice President of Research 

and Scientific Program at 

Vitalant highlighted that the 

Memphis ADVANCE Study is 

seeking to enroll 250 

participants to go through a 

mock blood donation process, 

wherein MSM fill out a pilot 

questionnaire and consent to a 

blood draw (not a full blood 

donation). The questionnaire 

assesses individual and 

personal risk factors and the 

participant is fully informed of 

the testing of the blood draw. 

The aggregated analysis of the 

work in Memphis and other 

study locations will inform 

what “higher risk” behaviors 

actually means in relation to 

HIV/AIDS prevalence given safe 

sex practices and behaviors 

such as monogamy. 

Custer continued to share 

that there are social and 

political pressures to expand 

and include current evidencebased 

policy in order to 

address discrimination and 

inequities in blood donations, 

especially when groups refuse 

to host donations on the basis 

of old, exclusive policy. He 

shared, “Memphis has a 

significant [blood] shortage, 

and even if the FDA changes 

the blanket deferral policies on 

MSM, we will still have some 

shortages. Working to address 

dated policy will also help to 

attract allies who currently may 

not be donating because they 

are acting in solidarity with 

MSM. Currently, three out of 

four units of blood transfused 

in Memphis do not come from 

Memphis. The need for blood 

for transfusions is not going 

away. This pilot is also opening 

conversations about how we 

get as many people as possible 

to be donors in a way that is 

safe and fair to all.” 

After the 2016 Pulse Club 

Massacre in Orlando, people 

lined up to donate blood. 

Unfortunately, MSM were 

deferred based on restrictive 

and discriminatory guidelines 

when they could have 

otherwise donated to a disaster 

in their own community. The 

need for improved blood 

donation policy couldn’t have 

been more crucial. “Accidents 

and traumas happen every day, 

there were huge groups of 

people who were trying to 

donate to the Pulse victims but 

couldn’t because of policy that 

was set in stone. Piloting 

studies like ADVANCE can chip 

away at that stone”, Samiei 

shared. 

Catherine Sullivan, 

Epidemiology Research 

Associate with Vitalant, shared 

one instance where a terrible 

tragedy could inform more 

honorable blood donation 

policy. On the fifth 

anniversary of the Pulse 

Massacre, members of 

Congress issued a letter to 

thank and encourage the 

FDA for the ADVANCE 

study as it reflected a 

“willingness to engage in 

discussion related to the 

deferral policy, but 

emphasized that reductions 

in the deferral period should 

not be tied to sexual 

orientation or disaster-based 

supply issues. An individual’s 

risk profile, regardless of 

sexual orientation and based 

on scientific and 

technological progress, 

should guide the policy.” 

This congressional support 

made huge strides in 

piloting work that could 

improve the blood donation 

supply and donor equity. 

The Future of Blood 

Donation Policy 

Sullivan emphasized that 

working with LGBTQ+ 

centers is significant to the 

success of a study like this, 

“I feel fortunate to be able to 

work with the Corner, 

Friends for Life, and 

OUTMemphis. One of our 

considerations for 

implementing the study 

includes where to meet with 

participants and making sure 

that it is as welcoming as 

possible for anyone who may 

identify as LGBTQ+, and a 

blood donation center doesn’t 

feel very welcoming. That 

makes a big difference for 

people’s willingness to join the 

study and the Corner is ideal 

for this as I meet with 

participants and encourage a 

comfortable environment.” 

As a public health researcher 

and participant, Samiei said, “if 

more folks talk about these 

things, and the types of 

inclusive details on the sexual 

history questionnaires, it will 

encourage people to stay 

tested, be more comfortable, 

and it can inform conversations 

about health disparity and how 

certain groups of people are 

treated differently in healthcare 

policy. This could make 

profound changes for future 

MSM blood donations. It can 

keep the supply safe while also 

saving lives. We are generating 

science and conversations that 

are proximally and distally 

addressing future public 

policy.” 

Thanks to science, 

epidemiology, and LGBTQ+ 

infused voices that inform the 

collective understanding of 

HIV/AIDS, the US has strategies 

on how to keep donors and 

recipients safe. However, we 

still have a way to go for 

improving strategies. There are 

still elements of inequitable, 

archaic assumptions that limit 

MSM from donating more 

immediately to the much, much 

needed blood supply. This 

study is pivotal for changing 

policy to include more blood 

donors, to save more lives, but 

also expanding public health 

discussion around HIV/AIDS. 

For more information, please 

visit: https://advancestudy.org/ 

or call Catherine directly at 

901-529-6363 

Eligible participants can 

earn up to $85 for 

participating in the pilot study. 

Shutterstock 


art+entertainment 

SNEAK PEAK 

Curated by Chellie Bowman (she/her) 

Looking Back: 

Part of pop culture is reimagining now some of 

our most cherished literary figures of the past. In 

recent years I’ve come to find that many of the 

beloved novelists and poets I was introduced to 

in my youth were actually queer! Here are a few 

authors I’ve been rereading through an LGBTQ 

lens. 

Walt Whitman. Last year I learned that arguably 

one of the most famous and well-known poets of 

all time was gay. How did I not know this? Brian 

Selznick (2019) has published a beautiful book 

entitled “Live Oak, with Moss” that features twelve 

of Whitman’s poems that more openly explore 

same-sex love. I highly recommend checking it out 

in addition to Whitman’s own collections. 

Lorraine Hansberry. Perhaps one of the most 

famous American playwrights. We all had to read 

“A Raisin in the Sun” in school, right? But did you 

know that Hansberry was a radical activist for gay 

rights in addition to being a civil rights advocate 

and is widely assumed to be family? I plan to find 

and devour a good biography on her. 

Willa Cather. On my latest trek down to Violet 

Valley Bookstore in Mississippi, I learned about 

Cather’s relationships with women and snatched 

up a few of her books I didn’t already own. I’ll be 

revisiting these classic stories—admired for carving 

out a nuanced space for those considered “other” 

in the American ordinary—in a whole new light. 

See also: Evelyn Waugh, Margaret Wise Brown, 

James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Virginia Woolf, 

Oscar Wilde, Alain Locke, Frederico García Lorca, 

Tennessee Williams, E. M. Forster, Emily Dickinson, 

Edna St. Vincent Millay, and many, many more! 


Organize 

Educate 

Advocate 

We need volunteers throughout the 

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Voice Training for 

TRANS WOMEN 

by Chris Reeder Young | photo by Feliza Vasquez 

When my editor 

pitched for a 

contributor to 

write about the 

Transgender Voice 

Development 

Program at the 

University of 

Memphis (UM), I 

realized how little 

I knew and how 

much there is to 

know about one 

of Memphis’ most 

affirming and 

compassionate 

community clinics. 

Trans and gender 

non-conforming 

individuals come 

here to work with a 

speech pathologist 

to develop their 

voices in ways that 

are most matched 

with who they are. 

With any 

healthcare or allied 

health affirming 

therapy, the issue 

of cost barriers and 

affordability will 

arise for advocates 

who seek to inform 

equitable policy. 

We know that LGBTQ+ 

healthcare policy is paramount 

to saving lives. The most 

powerful and effective policies 

are bolstered by the voices of 

the people who will be most 

impacted by that legislation, 

and oftentimes their stories 

are disproportionately 

sorted to the margins. As 

we know, bigoted, top-down 

legislation is the most harmful 

for LGBTQ+ individuals and 

Tennessee is no stranger to 

witnessing problematic and 

voiceless legislation slink 

across desks. 

Human-centric policy and 

Marisa Actis made her gender transformation about three years ago. Her voice, 

however, didn’t naturally sound feminine. Here she works with University of Memphis 

speech pathologist John Sandidge to train her voice to match her new identity. 

programming will always save 

lives and the best practices 

will always begin with the 

human voice. 

Marisa’s Voice 

When Marisa Actis and 

her spouse Krystal moved to 

Memphis 13 years ago, Marisa 

found a career at St. Jude in 

chemistry. Although she is 

originally from Argentina, and 

she had been in the U.S. for a 

while “Memphis felt like home, 

and my spouse and I both 

blossomed together here.” 

For the last 10 years, Marisa 

has been exploring what 

gender meant to her. Three 

years ago, she realized that 

transitioning was where her 

path was headed. She and 

her spouse reached out and 

got involved with Memphis 

LGBTQ+ networks for genderaffirming 

support and began 

her journey. Marisa saw an 

article one day and learned 

about the Trans Voice 

Development Program. 

John Sandidge (MA 

CCC SLP) and his team at 

the Memphis Speech and 

Hearing Center (MSHC) 

started working with Marisa. 

The program focused on 

vocal warm-ups, 

cool-downs, and 

developing habits 

that matched 

feminization for 

Marisa while also 

protecting her vocal 

cords. 

“I had friends who 

had transitioned 

and done some 

voice development 

programs, whether 

it was self-taught 

through YouTube or 

with a specialist. I’m 

someone who does 

better when I have 

an instructor or 

someone to guide 

me on a personal 

level...this program 

helped me feel 

supported, and it 

was all so intriguing 

and validating. 

“One of the 

things I learned 

from John and his 

students during 

the program is to 

be patient and take 

care of my voice so 

I can develop it into 

something that is 

right for me.” 

The MSHC program not only 

focused on skilled, clientcentered 

care but on honoring 

who a person is, the time 

that that person may need in 

the program, and that one’s 

experience not be bound by 

the limitations of cost. 

John’s Voice 

With a life influenced by 

David Bowie, watching drag 

shows, and living queer 

dynamics in Memphis as well 

as Los Angeles, John is a 

witness to the evolutions of 

trans communities and what 


eing trans means to so many. 

He shared that “this isn’t dress 

up. It’s someone who believes 

they aren’t who their assigned 

body has been, and through 

speech and voice therapy, we 

can help people be who they 

want to be.” 

As a professor and clinical 

practitioner, John emphasizes 

that providing this allied health 

support to trans people can 

improve safety and wellbeing 

in many ways. “Once their 

voice is intact, they can fully 

live as their true ‘vocal selves.’ 

It’s incredibly important to 

provide this support; it’s 

extremely rewarding, and 

we are saving lives. We are 

welcoming. We are a safe 

space.” 

Accessing voice 

development therapy can 

be hit or miss for individuals 

who are starting their journey. 

“There’s a lot of snake oil on 

Youtube; I’ve watched it,” 

John says. “It’s always pitchbased 

and that can really 

damage your voice and body. 

There’s so much erroneous 

information, and if you don’t 

know what you’re looking 

for, you can’t tell what true 

vocal training is and what 

could damage you. A speech 

pathologist who is able to 

personally and patiently work 

with you on your vocal goals 

is something that everyone 

deserves and should be able 

to access and afford.” 

Voice-Informed Policy and 

Affordability 

Health insurances, whether 

it be Medicare, Medicaid or 

single-payer, are all different 

when it comes down to 

coverage for gender-affirming 

care. The goal one day is 

for federal policy to be as 

inclusive as possible so that 

people can get the care they 

need no matter where they are 

in the U.S. or what coverage 

they have. 

From a national perspective, 

Title VII prohibits denying 

the right to federally funded 

services, including Medicare 

or Medicaid, based on a 

person’s “sex.” Of course 

it doesn’t mean a person’s 

gender-affirming healthcare 

will be covered or even 

acknowledged, so federal 

efforts to mandate inclusion 

have carried to some state 

and single-payer policies but 

are not as substantial as trans 

healthcare advocates would 

like for those policies to be. 

The Patient Protection and 

Affordable Care Act (ACA) 

requires that “a health plan or 

health insurer that receives 

federal financial assistance 

from the Department of 

Health and Human Services 

(HHS) cannot categorically 

exclude all services related 

to gender transition and/ 

or make coverage decisions 

in a manner that results in 

discrimination against a 

transgender individual.” This 

of course is a step in the right 

direction but there needs 

to be more equitable trans 

coverage. Although some 

states are evolving, an average 

of 18 states have affirmative 

coverage for transition-related 

care for Medicaid and/or 

coverage requirements for 

private payers (Tennessee is 

not one of the states btw). 

Where there is momentum 

around the specific inclusion 

of gender-affirming voice 

therapies, there can still 

be barriers to accessing it 

such as transportation to 

appointments. 

Thinking from a state 

perspective, advocates see a 

lot of variations in true access 

and affordability, especially 

for single-payer policies. To 

explore this variation and 

future impacts, researchers 

conducted a cross-sectional 

study of 150 insurance 

companies and healthcare 

payers to analyze the equality 

of state-by-state coverage 

for gender-affirming surgery 

and voice therapy. Only four 

(2.7%) had affirming policies; 

113 (75%) had no policies, and 

lagging coverage for voicemodifying 

surgeries and 

therapies were inconclusive. 

Until policy is further 

developed, and for those with 

private/single-payer insurance, 

advocates suggest exploring 

the following questions for 

navigating the system: 

n What services may or 

may not be covered for 

transition-related care? 

n If voice therapy is denied, 

how can it be appealed? 

n What provider types are 

eligible to deliver services 

for transition-related care? 

To fill some of the gaps in 

access, the Transgender and 

Legal Defense and Education 

Fund has identified some 

details about voice therapy 

and surgery coverage. 

Thinking locally, if a person 

doesn’t have insurance or 

if insurance doesn’t cover 

services that the MSHC offers, 

their Board of Directors offers 

a Client Assistance Program 

(CAP) that can clients cover 

costs if they qualify. 

“Most of the time (voice 

therapy) is not covered,” John 

said, “but we have a wonderful 

cost services program so 

anyone who comes into the 

clinic can at least apply. 

There’s no guarantee they 

will qualify, but it’s a start, 

and the MSHC can work with 

you. Health insurance should 

cover these things, and there 

will be evolution in insurance 

hopefully one day. 

If you are a full-time 

student at (UofM), it’s free 

to participate in the voice 

program, and we do take 

insurance if you have a policy 

that covers the voice therapy.” 

Getting services covered 

by insurance is a challenge, 

Marisa added. “I’m thankful 

that my insurance covered 

this program...it’s a wonderful 

program and the staff are 

supporting and affirming to 

who I am.” 

The Impacts of Voice in 

Memphis 

With UM being a longstanding 

epicenter of 

graduated education in 

communication sciences and 

disorders, the program is 

growing. “The more graduate 

students we have,” John says, 

“the more we can serve the 

community.” 

Clients at the MSHC also 

include persons with language 

disorders, swallowing 

disorders, developmental 

disorders affecting language 

and cognition, and persons 

learning to speak with their 

cochlear implants or hearing 

aids. 

“This program impacted 

me in so many ways,” Marisa 

shared. “I have received a 

lot of help from LGBTQ+ 

networks on how to file name 

changes and make affirming 

changes, but the voice training 

is so important because when 

I’m talking on the phone 

and making appointments 

for a name change or other 

affirming process, part of 

what others pick up on when 

they meet me is to try to 

figure out my identity. The 

conclusion people make about 

one’s identity is not just what 

they see but also what they 

hear. Being able to use your 

most authentic and affirming 

voice to communicate what 

you’re trying to do is such an 

important part of life. Being 

able to present my true self 

is very important as I face 

society and as I advocate for 

myself.” 

Future Voices 

Addressing economic and 

legislative barriers to genderaffirming 

resources like 

surgeries and voice therapy is 

an important part of improving 

healthcare inequities in 

LGBTQ+ communities. 

Leveling disparities through 

inclusive and affirming policy 

isn’t just for folx accessing 

these valuable and life-saving 

health resources now but for 

future generations as well. 

Marisa shared that these 

affirming therapies allow 

people to “be themselves and 

express themselves, especially 

in public. Having the platform 

to speak while using the voice 

that fits you gives you a safety 

blanket.” 

To learn more, call the MSHC 

at 901 678-2009 or visit: 

www.memphis.edu/mshc/ 

To donate to the CAP 

program, visit: https:// 

securelb.imodules. 

com/s/1728/interior. 


in memoriam 

In Loving Memory 

STANFORD 

ALLISON 

BRUCE BUI 

January 13, 1977 - July 31, 2021 

Until we are together again, we won’t grieve 

because you are gone; we’ll be grateful 

for the joy we had together when you were here.

CROSSWORD 

ACROSS 

1 “Spartacus” or “Ben-Hur” 

5 Russian river 

9 Oscar Wilde forte 

14 Bride and bride’s vehicle 

15 City near Tahoe 

16 Use for a bed 

17 Eric Radford, at the Olympics 

19 Change the constitution 

20 Husband of a Duke 

21 Zippy flavors 

23 USMC barracks boss 

24 Adam Rippon, at the Olympics 

27 Poorly endowed Dickens 

character? 

30 Movie house guides 

31 “Where did ___ wrong?” 

32 Town in da Vinci’s land 

35 Michelangelo’s David, and more 

36 Like some memories 

38 Guitar of Shakespeare’s day 

40 Gus Kenworthy, at the Olympics 

47 Most like the Family Stone? 

48 “Jailhouse Rock” star 

50 Light trucks 

53 Thumbs-up 

54 Bowie collaborator 

55 “Rita Will,” for one 

58 Jason went cruising in this 

59 Belle Brockhoff, at the Olympics 

62 The whole shebang 

63 Portable erection 

64 In harmony 

65 Right, to the ass 

66 Brian of figure skating 

67 Drops down 

68 Cause of Venus envy? 

AT THE OLYMPICS 

DOWN 

1 “East of Eden” director Kazan 

2 Maplethorpe photos, e.g. 

3 “Da Doo Ron Ron” beginning 

4 Systematize, as rules 

5 Grecian vessel 

6 They are but openings 

7 Lend it to Marc Antony 

8 “SNL” producer Michaels 

9 Hooch holders 

10 Prepare to shoot straight 

11 Get inside of again 

12 Gay men’s chorus event 

13 Sign at a bank 

18 Antigay crusader Bryant 

22 NASA outfits 

25 Bunkmates on base 

26 You might say it when you get it 

27 Lover’s spat, e.g. 

28 “Firebird” composer Stravinsky 

29 Zip 

33 Racism and homophobia 

34 Bird feeder food 

37 Place for Susie Bright’s drawers 

39 Barely makes, with “out” 

41 Enjoy the bedroom 

42 It’s not a mistake at the Red Cross 

43 Affirmative to a male crossdresser 

44 Ingrid’s “Casablanca” role 

45 Dame Edna 

46 One of Cindy Brady’s curls 

49 Wraps for female impersonators 

50 Trattoria topping 

51 Boyd’s “Gay Priest: an ___ 

Journey” 

52 Fowl places 

53 “___ we a pair?” 

56 Roughly 

57 Porn star Ryan 

60 Not well endowed 

61 Second pitches for Bernstein 

SOLUTION IS ON PAGE 10 


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2021 Issue 5 Sep/Oct - Focus Mid-South magazine

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