2022 Issue 3 May/Jun Focus - Mid-South magazine

Serving the Mid-South LGBT+ Community and its Allies | MAY+JUN 2022 

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4 Fresh Air! | focuslgbt.com

FEATURED WRITERS IN THIS ISSUE 

CONTRIBUTORS 

We rely on community contributors for Focus magazine news and stories. 

A huge thanks to these dedicated writers! 

Marisa 

ACTIS 

Marisa Actis, a native of 

Argentina, has had the 

pleasure to call Memphis 

home since 2008 and 

works as a researcher at St. 

Jude Children’s Research 

Hospital. In her free time, 

Marisa loves catching up 

with friends at local breweries, kayaking, rock climbing, 

and photography. 

KeOnte 

CRISWELL 

KeOnte 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 

Tricia 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. 

Star McGill 

GOUDEY 

Artist and writer Star McGill 

Goudey has been creating 

for nearly her entire life. 

Since 2013, Goudey has 

lived in her Dresden, TN 

home that she shares with 

her husband and daughter, 

along with numerous horses, 

dogs, chickens, ducks, and cats. As a bisexual in a rural 

area she is always looking for ways to find community and 

help others do the same. 

Tiffany G. Day 

Chrystal Hogan 

Minnassa 

Moth Moth 

MOTH 

Nubia 

YASIN 

Other Contributors 

Moth Moth Moth is a Drag 

Queen, Writer and Visual 

Artist from Memphis, TN 

where they host drag shows, 

contract for museums, and 

secretly write short stories 

about mastodons while 

cuddling with four cats. 

Chris 

REEDER YOUNG 

Chris is an applied 

anthropologist and has lived 

in Memphis for 16 years. 

Nubia Yasin is a Memphisbased 

poet, filmmaker, and 

fine artist. She also serves as 

Chief Storyteller for TONE. 

Robin Beaudoin Ownby 

Katie Pemberton 

William Smythe 

Have a story that needs to be told? 

Pitch your story ideas to editor@focuslgbt.com 

focuslgbt.com | Fresh Air! 5

CONTENTS | MAY+JUN 2022 

14 28 

22 

38 

16 

19 

5 

7 

8 

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

THEME: FRESH AIR 

ASK ALLIE 

Am I still bisexual if I’m married to a man? 

12 COMMUNITY 

A look into the archive of our gay pride past 

14 

LGBT ADVOCATE 

Tamar Love of Mama Honey reflects on the healing 

experience of music 

16 COMMUNITY 

The Overton Park Shell gets a new name and a 

new vision 

19 

LGBT ADVOCATE 

Black-owned bookstore Cafe Noir focuses on 

BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers 

22 COMMUNITY 

What’s on tap for Tri-State Black Pride 2022 

24 COMMUNITY 

Q+A with Queer Skate Memphis, an inclusive 

skatepark community formed during the pandemic 

32 FAITH+SPIRITUALITY 

Book recommendations for navigating a loss of faith 

34 ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT 

We're back with our second installment of The 

Prism Pages, featuring original works of poetry & 

short fiction. 

36 

PET FOCUS 

Volunteer foster parents for MAS save hundreds 

of kitten lives 

38 LIFE 

Marisa Actis gets passionate about the craft 

beer community 

40 HOROSCOPES 

What do the stars have in store for us this 

May and June? 

44 

ORIGINAL MEMPHIS 

The beauty of and history behind T.O. Fuller 

State Park 

46 CALENDAR 

28 LIFE 

Poignant coming out stories from both halves of 

a beautiful couple 

30 TRANSFOCUS 

The ins and outs of legal name change and who 

locally is here to help 

ON THE COVER 

Vicky Fong 

photo by Lizzie Boyer 


theme 

Outdoor public spaces have always been integral to the celebration and activism of our community. 

The above photo is from the 2nd annual Memphis Pride, 1981. 

Photo courtesy of OUTMemphis collection, Special Collections Department, University of Memphis Libraries. 


life 

Dear 

Allie... 

Am I Still Bisexual? 

by Star McGill Goudey 

Dear Allie, 

I am a 34-year-old woman in a happy hetero 

marriage who has only ever dated men. After going 

to therapy to heal some traumas and discover myself, 

I have come to recognize that I am bisexual. It is 

something that I sensed off and on but filed away as 

an impossibility. I love my husband and our life that 

we’ve built over the years. He is very supportive of 

me. I don’t think I want to pursue any kind of open 

relationship although we have discussed it. However, I 

feel like a fraud. Am I still bisexual if I've never even kiss 

a woman? 

Yours, 

Am I A Fraud? 

Dear AIAF, 

I am so happy that you are exploring more deeply 

who you are as a human. It’s hard work sometimes to 

know yourself! First, I want to assure you that you are 

very valid, even if you never physically explore same 

sex attraction with another human. You aren’t a queer 

imposter! I also applaud you for having the courage to 

reach out. I think part of the soul rending struggle when 

coming out later in life is recognizing our own validity. I’ve 

thought a lot about the word audacious lately. It takes a 

lot of audaciousness to own who we are, and to do the 

work required to fully embrace it. It sounds like you have 

a great start on that since you have been in therapy. With 

that in mind, I can offer you some concepts that can 

start you on your journey of acceptance. Have you heard 

of compulsory heterosexuality? This is what many late 

comers to their queer identities have discovered caused 

the disconnect between who they are truly and who they 

sculpted themselves to be. 

Many of us have grown up with compulsory 

heterosexuality (comphet), which may be more accurately 

described as internalized heteronormativity. We learned 

growing up that the only way to happiness and a picket 

fenced yard looked like one man and one woman. If we 

felt attraction or interest in a human of similar gender 

to us we were told that was just how best friends are 

with each other. That we were to cultivate relationships 

with the opposite gender and if there weren’t sparks 

that was okay because its normal not to have a wild sex 

life in marriage. But that isn’t the reality of the human 

experience. Not when it is removed from the lens of our 

cultural norms. When humans are free to be human and 

explore their individual desires and needs the outcomes 

become a rainbow of possibilities. And this is where I 

believe you can find some peace within yourself. 

You are bisexual. Even if you never flirt with a woman. 

Even if you never kiss a woman. Even if you never talk to 

another woman. You are bisexual because you recognized 

within yourself the desire and attraction which is a mind 

and body function that can’t be faked. This is something 

many bisexuals question themselves about. It can help to 

meet some of them and converse about experiences. 

Finding a community is important, virtually, at a local 

club, gay places of business like certain coffee shops. 


Look for local Pride events close to you. You could 

explore your curiosity by reading WLW romance novels 

and watching movies. Becoming part of a local or online 

community is so helpful and aids the sense of belonging. 

I know many humans have delved into their attractions 

and curiosities on TikTok through the pandemic. It is 

where I have been able to hear and interact with more 

LGBTQ+ people than I have ever known. People are 

putting themselves out there and talking about their 

own journeys and emotions and solutions. It is a virtual 

community. You just have to get settled into the right 

algorithm. 

Remember that identifying yourself as bisexual is 

to claim yourself as bisexual. Nothing else is required. 

What is required is that you are loving yourself and being 

true to yourself and that you are being your own best 

friend and advocate. Say it! I am bisexual! I am bisexual! 

Go outside and scream it to the universe, buy a cake 

and blow out candles, and then maybe purchase some 

rainbow gear. 

Whatever you decide, be audacious about YOU! 

Your friend, 

Allie 

To submit your own question, email Allie at 

allie@focuslgbt.com. Focus Mid-South reserves the right 

to edit letters for length and clarity. 

Shutterstock 


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community 

Place Yourself 

Under Open Skies 

by Moth Moth Moth 

To be visibly queer is an act of bravery in itself. In 2022, 

despite the many negative legislation measures being 

taken against us, despite it all, the LGBTQIA community 

is still telling its stories, funding self-support projects, 

advocating for itself, and finding ways to thrive. 

This season's Focus wants to encourage its readership to 

get out and to show pride in open spaces (when, of course, 

it can be done safely). Pride month is coming up and with 

it we have a moment to reflect on the beautiful bodies we 

have —they are beautiful because they brought us this far 

but they are also beautiful because they are beautiful. 

Place yourself under the open sky as often as you can 

this season. Plan picnics with your loved ones. Queer 

people are so often treated apart from nature when we are 

merely an expression of nature itself. 

Love on your queer elders this season. There was a 

time when walking across the street in a swishy way was 

dangerous. Just like women playing close games of pool in 

bars could be dangerous. Shopping while trans can still be 

dangerous. 

When you see these photos of gay people marching in 

1981, know that the right to be under a blue sky belongs to 

everyone, but that's not the way everyone sees it. 

But more people could see it that way, and that is the 

beauty of this community. We bear the thorns because the 

flowers are worth it. 

Photos of Gay Pride 1981, OUTMemphis collection, Special Collections 

Department, University of Memphis Libraries. 


Kenneth Wayne Alexander, 'Tower of Babel' (still), 2021, Digital Collage, Courtesy of the artist 

Another Dimension: 

Digital Art in Memphis 

June 24 - September 11 

Open in Overton Park 

Kenneth Wayne Alexander - Karl Erickson - Coe Lapossy - Sarai Payne - Anthony Sims

lgbt advocate 

PROMETHEAN FIRE 

Tamar Love on Life, Cello, & What’s Next for Mama Honey 


from left to right: Fields Falcone, 

Tamar Love, and David McNinch. 

photo by Jamie Harmon 


I have the most wonderful 

friend to introduce you to. 

She comes with a universe 

of musical experience. 

If you are a cool bean in 

the Memphis music scene 

then you have no doubt 

encountered the flavorful 

movement of Mama Honey’s 

thunderous and dulcet 

sounds. Tamar Love is a 

force of creativity and love, I 

mean, the name is a bit of a 

prophecy. 

“What I would love for 

people to know most about 

me is not just my love for 

music, but the fact that 

I want to serve people 

through music because 

music is healing and when 

people connect with you 

and connect with your work 

that is a healing experience. 

Being a vessel to share light 

and love, as cheesy as that 

sounds, means the world to 

me. That would be the most 

important aspect of what 

I want to share with the 

world.” 

Tamar is joined in Mama 

Honey by bassist Fields 

Falcon, and drummer David 

McMinch. Together they 

created the band in 2018 

and put out their first official 

EP in 2019. 

Tamar has had a long-time 

fascination and passionate 

relationship with music. 

After being connected with 

the cello on a childhood 

field trip she studied it 

throughout college. 

“I was in the 3rd or 4th 

grade and we went to see 

the Jackson symphony 

so it was like a whole 

symphony of people. I saw 

that instrument and it just 

spoke to me. The size of the 

instrument, it’s like a person, 

like holding a person in your 

lap. It has the full range of 

the human voice. When I 

think of the cello I think of 

this bright orange light, this 

inviting warmth. It’s got 

to be the most beautiful 

instrument in the world and 

I’m so lucky to have had this 

in my life.” 

When asked if she dreams 

in cello, Tamar responds: 

“I think I do everything in 

cello. To be honest, the way 

I play the guitar is the way I 

play the cello. The way I sing 

is the way I play the cello. It 

has affected everything that 

I have done. When I speak 

to students, I tell them 

everything I have learned in 

life I have learned through 

music. Sitting down with 

my instrument and figuring 

shit out. I don’t know who I 

would be without that. Cello 

gave me the ability to see 

the world in a completely 

different way. I grew up 

in Jackson, MS. There 

was not a lot of diversity 

there. Being exposed to 

classical music blew the 

doors open to the world. 

Talking about it reminds me 

that sometimes you forget 

because you are inside of it, 

but looking back gives me 

a whole appreciation for my 

journey.” 

On the subject of Mama 

Honey, Tamar reflects on 

the beginnings: 

“We hit the ground 

running. We were not in the 

garage for very long. I wrote 

some songs and we started 

getting out there as quickly 

as we could. To me, I need 

to perform the songs I’m 

working on, I can’t just sit 

on things. We were ready to 

get started with whatever 

we had at the time.” 

I asked if Love had always 

been this giving as an 

artist, always sharing and 

performing? 

“I’ve always been an artist. 

I remember when I was 

younger you would have a 

boom box that you would 

set to record and a second 

boom box, and then you’d 

make a second track and 

put it together. Back in the 

old days when you had to 

piece it together with your 

80s equipment. I kept a 

lot of it to myself though. I 

wasn’t shy about it, it just 

didn’t occur to me to share 

it. I wrote poetry and shared 

it with family members 

and classmates. I would 

sometimes give people CDs 

I created.” 

“Writing music didn’t 

start until I was 20 or 21 

but I wasn’t performing 

them out anywhere. I was 

new to writing songs and 

I hadn’t figured out what 

my sound was like. But I 

eventually figured out what 

my voice was and how 

I’m comfortable sharing. 

Having people in a band 

with me is how I feel most 

comfortable.” 

These next few months 

represent a jump from 

the hard winter of the 

pandemic into a Tennessee 

summertime charged with 

opportunity. 

Mama Honey is looking to 

complement that journey 

with the bands' first fulllength 

album, “Out of 

Darkness.” 

When asked about the 

immediate summer Tamar 

said this... 

“Now Mama Honey is 

recording a beautiful album 

that we are in the process 

of finishing up over the 

next few weeks. We have 

done the recording—Matt 

Qualls is mixing for us—and 

we just got our first song 

back from him and we are 

in love and excited. There 

are other things to do like 

artwork and all that. We are 

hoping to have a spring/ 

early summer release date 

for this album “Out Of 

Darkness” to commemorate 

that the three of us have 

photo by Patty McWhirter Padgett 

come through so much over 

the past couple of years and 

how we are each moving 

forward in our lives. These 

songs, which we have been 

playing live for a minute, we 

wanted to breathe new life 

into and record them.” 

From navigating divorce, 

a member relocating, and 

a journey of sobriety, the 

three stars of Mama Honey 

seek to share vulnerability 

through their music. 

And what about 

performing? 

“We are recording this 

album but we are also 

starting to work on new 

songs to perform live. We 

are excited to have this new 

life in our band. We want 

to do a tour outside of our 

beautiful Memphis! We want 

to bring everyone else a 

little bit of Memphis and let 

people know what’s up!” 

“Out of Darkness” 

the debut album will be 

available from Mama 

Honey this summer on all 

streaming platforms and 

eventually on vinyl! 

You can listen to Mama 

Honey’s music now at 

mamahoneymemphis.com. 


community 

OVERTON 

PARK SHELL 

What's in a Name? 

story courtesy of the Shell 

We recently had the chance to sit down with Overton 

Park Shell Manager of Development Lauren Veline and 

discuss The Shell’s recent big news. 

For those who might not have heard, what's the latest 

at the Overton Park Shell? 

Well, first and foremost, we've returned to our historic 

name! We also have a full schedule of programming 

returning to our stage this year. 

What does this new name/brand mean for Memphis? 

The decision to return to the Overton Park Shell 

name is part of our continued commitment to Memphis, 

ensuring that we are focusing on making the Shell more 

accessible for all of Memphis. 

How does the new name, the original name of 

the bandshell make The Overton Park Shell more 

accessible? 

This decision made by the Board of Directors came 

after months of discussion and discernment. With the 

name change comes the responsibility to focus on 

making the Shell more accessible for all of Memphis 

and a sustainable business model for the organization. 

It also allows the organization to launch a new outreach 

strategy into underserved neighborhoods and zip 

codes of Memphis and Shelby County, while preserving 

the legacy of the historic bandshell. Now that we 

are independent we have more flexibility with our 

programming, and we have more freedom to adapt and 

change what we’re doing when needed. 

Established in 1936, the historic Overton Park Shell will 

continue its mission of free, performing arts concerts for 

Memphis and the surrounding communities every year, 

but will rely specifically on local, Memphis investment 

from local families, foundations, corporations/businesses 

and concert-goers with other revenue streams, like more 

ticketed concerts. 

With summer on its way, what shows/events can people 

expect this year? 

The Orion Free Concert Series, which features over 

30 free shows throughout the summer and fall, will kick 

off at the end of May. We will also have a handful of 

fundraiser concerts in our Shell Yeah! Benefit Concert 

Series, and lots of fun partnership events sprinkled in, 

too. You'll definitely want to keep an eye on our calendar 

at overtonparkshell.org/events. 

What are you most looking forward to this year? 

Getting our programming back in full swing and seeing 

all of you at The Shell again! 


2022 LINEUP 

ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES 

MAY______________________ 

SUNDAY • MAY 29 ...........Memphis Symphony Orchestra 

presents: Sunset Symphony 

JUNE _____________________ 

THURSDAY • JUNE 2 .........................Jackie Venson 

FRIDAY • JUNE 3 .............................Shamar Allan 

SATURDAY • JUNE 4 ..............................Shwayze 

THURSDAY • JUNE 9 ............Sensational Barnes Brothers 

FRIDAY • JUNE 10 .....................The Reigning Sound 

SATURDAY • JUNE 11 ....................The New Respects 

TUESDAY • JUNE 14 .........Navy Week Memphis presents: 

Navy Band Great Lakes* 

FRIDAY • JUNE 17 ........................Battle of Santiago 

SATURDAY • JUNE 18 .......................Isaiah Sharkey† 

THURSDAY • JUNE 23 .......................... We Banjo 3 

FRIDAY • JUNE 24 ......................... The Nude Party 

SATURDAY • JUNE 25 .................Stax Music Academy† 

THURSDAY • JUNE 30 ...................... Making Movies 

JULY______________________ 

FRIDAY • JULY 1 ............................Gabby Moreno 

SATURDAY • JULY 2 .....................Cameron Bethany 

THURSDAY • JULY 7 ................................Celisse 

FRIDAY • JULY 8 ..............................Maggie Rose 

SATURDAY • JULY 9 ........................... The Altons† 

FRIDAY-SUNDAY • JULY 22-24 .......Dreamfest Weekend 11 

SEPTEMBER________________ 

FRIDAY • SEPTEMBER 2 ..................Don Ramon Band 

SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 3 .............Stone Soul Picnic*† 

SUNDAY • SEPTEMBER 4 ................ Occupy the Shell* 

FRIDAY • SEPTEMBER 9 ................Gone Gone Beyond 

SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 10 ..........................TBA 

FRIDAY • SEPTEMBER 16 ........................Don Lifted 

SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 17 ........Country Blues Festival* 

SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 24 ...Memphis PowerPop Festival* 

FRIDAY • SEPTEMBER 30 ...........................Dottie† 

OCTOBER__________________ 

SATURDAY • OCTOBER 1 .....................The Collection 

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 7 ....................... Arlo McKinley† 

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 14 .............North Mississippi Allstars 

SATURDAY • OCTOBER 15 .....................Tuba Skinny 

SUNDAY • OCTOBER 23 ..........Shakespeare at the Shell* 

Subject to change. 

* A partnership production; start time may differ, may feature multiple 

artists, artist lineup may not be available at this time. 

† indicates live interpreter available in partnership with DeafConnect of 

the Mid-South 

Victor Sawyer of Lucky 7 

Brass Band. 

photo by Craig Thompson 

Visit overtonparkshell.org/freeconcertseries for an up-to-date schedule and more information. 


Organize 

Educate 

Advocate 

We need volunteers throughout the 

community to fight for equal rights! 

WHERE IT’S 

ALWAYS 

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JOIN US FOR MONTHLY 

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DINNERS 

VISIT CELTICCROSSINGMEMPHIS.COM 

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IRISH PUB a RESTAURANT | 903 S. COOPER 

CELTICCROSSINGMEMPHIS.COM 

Focus on healing, 

we’ve got everything else. 

Learn more about 

HIV prevention at 

Planned Parenthood. 

We offer a wide range of services, so your family is 

assured of receiving the choices you need. 

866.711.1717 

PlannedParenthood.org/Tennessee 

COMMITMENT, COMPASSION, VALUE, HONESTY & PROFESSIONALISM 

3788 Summer Ave. • Memphis, TN 38122 

(901) 454-5795 • HighPointChapel.com 

3774 Summer Ave 

Mid South 

Memphis, TN 38122 

Mortuary Service 

“When You Need Us, We’ll Be There” (901) 458-8575 

410 US Highway 45 W 

Humboldt, TN 38343 

(731) 694-5251

lgbt advocate 

Spreading the Love of Literature in 

and for Black, Queer Memphis 

by Nubia Yasin 

photo by Catherine Patton 


I first met Jasmine Settles 

years ago, facilitating a 

youth poetry program at 

Hattiloo Theater called 

Write On, Speak Out. In 

my time here as a poet in 

this city, there have been 

so few literary spaces, and 

even fewer literary spaces 

that felt intrinsically Black; 

the circles were tiny. I 

remember being excited 

about the unfamiliar face. 

Here was a woman who 

was young, warm, and a 

brilliant poet. For want of a 

better phrase, I f*cked with 

her heavy. 

It wasn’t long before that 

program dissolved, leaving 

yet another hole in our 

Black literary ecosystem. 

Others followed, and for a 

while it began to feel like 

there really were no spaces 

left. I would see Jasmine at 

events sometimes. I kept 

up with her on the internet 

and through her work 

with her arts organization 

HomeGrown, but I had 

no idea she was also the 

founder of Cafe Noir, a 

developing bookstore with 

a focus on BIPOC and 

LGBTQ+ writers. 

Getting the chance to 

talk with her after so many 

years and so many life 

changes felt like a reunion. 

NUBIA: I wanna start by 

asking, who is Jasmine 

Settles? 

Jasmine: Hmmm, good 

question. I’m stumbling 

on this only because I 

recently just watched this 

video on Instagram that 

was like, "when I ask you 

who you are and you start 

describing actions, you do 

not know yourself." 

Um, who am I? I’m a 

writer. I’m somewhat of an 

environmentalist. 

At this point, Jasmine’s 

son babbles in that sweet 

way that babies do. 

Oh, welp, yeah, I’m a 

mother. Hi, son. I’m a wife. 

I don’t know. That question 

is hard. I don’t think I have 

a core identity other than 

being Black. 

And what did your journey 

with literature look like? 

Another good question. 

I started writing at a young 

age. I’ve always been a 

writer. My grandmother 

introduced me to books at 

a young age. I was reading 

Shakespeare. I visited a 

lot of theaters growing up, 

which I think also shaped 

my writing. I went to school, 

originally, to become a 

physical therapist. I was 

a student athlete through 

college. And once I 

graduated, I was like "oh, 

you know, basketball is 

basically over for me. What 

else can I do? Right? What 

else am I good at?" And I 

think that was the moment 

I was tryna answer the 

question you just asked. 

"Who am I? What am I 

supposed to be doing?" 

And so I mustered up the 

courage to go to graduate 

school for Literature and 

African American lit. I just 

realized I went to graduate 

school for the little girl who 

wanted to be a writer and 

an English teacher. 

And since then, I think 

my relationship to writing 

has been about learning 

I want this space to feel like you’ve walked into your 

grandmother’s kitchen. I want the cafe to feel like you’re 

sitting somewhere in France, but you’re not displaced. 

You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. I want our 

shelves to be mirrors for our community. 

photo by Akina Morrow 


myself. And I’ve learned 

that writing takes a lot of 

reading. It takes a lot of 

reading to be a writer. 

That’s a word. Because 

some folks really think they 

can write and not read. 

Man, let me tell you 

something. On the 

Memphis poetry scene, I 

can tell. I can tell who ain’t 

been reading. 

But, on the topic of 

reading, Cafe Noir is your 

brain child. How did that 

come to be? 

2017, 2018, I walked into 

a graduate class that was 

taught by a Black woman 

who, to this day, I adore. 

And she introduced me to 

Octavia Butler. I was just 

sitting in the class. I had no 

clue what was going on. I 

felt so dumb and lost. I felt 

like I didn’t belong. But it 

was something about her 

introducing me to Octavia 

Butler that made me realize 

even more that there was so 

much discovery to happen. 

And folk who look like me, 

folk who are marginalized, 

folk who are pushed to the 

side deserve to experience 

these types of works sooner 

rather than later. 

I felt like if I were given 

these works earlier in life, 

I would have been able to 

navigate things a little bit 

better. I would have felt 

seen; I would have known 

that these things that are 

happening to me, they have 

happened to someone else. 

I think that was the moment 

I was like I’m gonna open up 

a bookstore. 

Jasmine’s son speaks 

to her again in his bright 

baby language. 

I’m almost done, baby! 

Um, yeah, and sitting 

there feeling dumb and 

ignorant. I know it’s so 

many folks who have been 

in that same position. At 

the time I was like ‘I’m 

trippin. I’m not equipped 

for this’ but looking back, I 

know there were so many 

folks feeling the same way. 

And they deserve to have 

more expansive works 

so that those moments 

aren’t so frequent. Those 

moments can be more few 

and far between because I 

may have experienced an 

entirely new world in this 

book by this author who 

looks just like me. 

So as it stands right now, 

where are you with Cafe 

Noir, and where do you 

hope to be? 

Right now, with me 

working full time and also 

doing all the other things 

I’m trying to do, I would 

say we are operating at 

maybe 10%, right? Cafe 

Noir is a beautiful site to 

photo by Catherine Patton 

log onto, or a page that 

might come across your 

feed. But I envision Cafe 

Noir being a physical 

space that you walk into 

that feels like home. I 

want this space to feel like 

you’ve walked into your 

grandmother’s kitchen. I 

want the Cafe to feel like 

you’re sitting somewhere 

in France, but you’re not 

displaced. You’re exactly 

where you’re supposed to 

be. I want our shelves to be 

mirrors for our community. 

There are queer folks in 

our community. There 

are BIPOC folks in our 

community. And I want 

the shelves to reflect that. 

People deserve to see 

themselves. Representation 

is one of the greatest tools 

for reimagining one’s self. 

What do you feel like Cafe 

Noir brings to the city that 

maybe didn’t exist before? 

First off, I wanna say, 

Memphis is a Black a** 

city. Memphis has been 

Black. Memphis will always 

be Black. Black folks 

saved Memphis charters 

twice. And having a 

Black establishment in 

Memphis, ran by a Black 

woman, highlighting 

Black folk, highlighting 

POC folk, highlighting 

queer folk, it is essential 

to the community. 

Literature is essential to 

the community. Being 

a welcoming space, a 

peaceful space, is essential 

for the community. Other 

cities in the U.S have these 

spaces. And so I think that 

we should have that space. 

Last question, how do you 

think little Jasmine who 

dreamed of being a writer 

and an English teacher 

would feel about the work 

you’re doing now? 

I think little Jasmine 

would be very proud. I 

think she’d be very happy. 

As critical as big Jasmine 

is to herself, I think little 

Jasmine would say ‘wow, 

you did pretty good.’ Even 

if Cafe Noir doesn’t evolve 

into the space I hope for it 

to be, I still tried this. I think 

that counts for something. 

Little Jasmine was told 

being an English teacher 

doesn’t make any money. 

And I think I’ve proved 

them wrong for her. She 

may not teach English in a 

classroom at this moment, 

but she can still spread the 

love for literature. 

You can follow all updates 

related to Cafe Noir on 

their instagram page 

@901Cafenoir. You can also 

see more of Jasmine and 

her work through her arts 

organization HomeGrown, 

@901homegrown. 


community 

The 6th Annual 

TRI-STATE BLACK PRIDE 

by Gwen Clemons 

The 6th Annual Tri-State Black Pride Convention will 

take place June 16th - 19th in Memphis, TN. 

There will be a lot of discussion surrounding the 

celebration of Pride Month in June, especially in 

the Mid-South. One thing for certain: The Cathedral 

Foundation will be in the conversation for stepping into 

the role as torch bearers of the Black LGBTQ community 

in the Mid-South. 

On June 16, 2022, at The National Civil Rights Museum, 

the official opening ceremony will be held, launching 

the 6th Annual "Tri-State Black Pride Convention." A 

rebranding of the former Memphis Black Pride which has 

been held in this region some 20 plus years. 

The theme this year is “People, Purpose, and Power” 

Better Together! One of the main focuses of Tri-State 

Black Pride is to offer Educational Empowerment 

Sessions on how to end HIV stigma and new HIV 

Diagnosis in the Southern U.S. particularly Shelby County. 

Throughout the weekend attendees will be offered 

a variety of events to attend and enjoy a cultural 

celebration of Pride in Memphis. Please visit tsbpride.com 

for more announcements. 

22 Fresh Air! | focuslgbt.com 

Shutterstock

Reserve tickets @ queerprom.org 

QueerProm.org

community 

Q+A with Emily Ward, 

Vicky Fong, and 

Alexa Zabella 

by Chris Reeder Young 

What is Queer Skate Memphis? 

It is a group meant to foster a safe space for queer 

BIPOC skaters of every wheel and all skill levels in the 901 

and surrounding areas. 

When did it start? 

Officially, September 2020. 

Who started it? / Why did it start? 

QSM was started by two queer skaters of color to 

boost and celebrate other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, 

people of color) and queer skaters. It started informally 

in the summer of 2020 during the pandemic roller 

skating resurgence. It became more official in September 

when we realized there was no active or actively inclusive 

skatepark community. It really boomed during the 

pandemic when everyone was homebound and we really 

needed some safely distanced social interaction. 

Why is it important to have spaces like this? 

The same reason why other communities are 

important; connecting with others—specifically for us, 

queer and queer-friendly individuals who love to scoot! 

Is it all wheels? 

Totally! We do tend to draw in more roller skaters but 

we're, if you want to say, wheely not picky about how 

you choose to roll! 

Vicky Fong 

photo by Alexa Zabella 


Is there an age range for folx? 

No age range but we tend to draw a crowd of 20+ 

year olds (some folx even tend to bring their children). 

Why might something like this be good for mental and 

physical health? 

"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you 

happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, 

they just don't" -Elle Woods, Legally Blonde 2001. 

Why might something like this be good for younger 

generations? 

For practical reasons, helping to guide them when 

it comes to knowing the ins and outs of skate park 

etiquette. It’s important also to be examples of how 

diverse and not intimidating the skate park can be. It’s 

so cool to see the younger generation skaters get into it 

because they have a chance to learn it before they get 

grownup bodies and don’t bounce well anymore. It’s also 

a good way to learn social skills and skate park etiquette. 

Hopefully these new generations of people getting into 

skating will help push skating along for the next few 

decades so it doesn’t “die”. And that is good for skate 

companies, derby, skate parks, and skate shops. 

Do you have any skate icons or mentors? 

Vicky and Alexa: It’s Tony Hawk, for the vibes. 

Emily: It’s Lady Trample, Olivia Wardlow, and estrojen; 

but, the skate mentors are all the people I skate 

with currently and have skated with over the past 12 

years. In derby, at parks, in pickup games, on trails, at 

conventions and on street skates. I have learned from 

every skater that has allowed me to teach them, the 

ones who have taught me and the ones who have shown 

me a million different ways to love skating. 

Why is this important to you? 

Vicky and Alexa: Because "sending it" with other 

people who respect you as an individual and share the 

same love for skating is fun. 

Emily: Honestly, it’s important to me because I am in 

love with skating. I want to skate until I’m dead and then 

some. I love it because skating is all about what you put 

into it. I know that I have had so much guidance over the 

years but anything I have accomplished on the track or 

in the bowl—it is something I did. No one can take that 

away or diminish the significance because I started out 

in 2010 very unathletic, scared, introverted, and unable 

to skate. And now, in 2022, none of those are true, and 

I have gained so much from being a skater and all the 

places it has taken me. 

Emily at Tobey Skatepark 

photo by Tasha Margerette 


BOOK YOUR NEXT 

EVENT WITH US! 

WE CATER! 

pavosalon.com 

We can bring the best Central BBQ has to offer to any location, 

or we have several rooms available for private parties. 

Call 901-527-9990 

or make a request online @ 

CBQMEMPHIS.COM 

Inclusive healthcare for 

EVERYONE 

in our community. 

CHOICES is a safe, welcoming clinic that offers comprehensive 

reproductive health care to everyone, including the LGBTIQ+ community. 

We offer sexual health wellness check ups, birth control, hormone 

management, abortion, and birth services. 

MAKE THE BEST CHOICES FOR YOURSELF 

1203 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 

901-274-3550 

Make an appointment online today at memphischoices.org

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library 

MEMPHIS MUSEUM 

OF SCIENCE & HISTORY 

OPENING JUNE 4TH 

FROM THE NEWSEUM/FREEDOM FORUM 

+ 

P R E S E N T I N G S P O N S O R S 

Services. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in 

this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum 

and Library Services. 

WWW.MOSHMEMPHIS.COM 

3050 CENTRAL • MEMPHIS, TN • 38111 • 901.636.2362 

Diana Davies/ Manuscripts And Archives Division, New York Public Library

life 

Dionne 

Millie 

by KeOnte Criswell 

When we don’t have a 

shared lived experience with 

others, it can cause us to 

develop a blind spot. When 

that happens, we tend to 

lack compassion for the 

ways the people around us 

are struggling. Until recently, 

I’d considered myself to be 

very open and accepting. 

That made me blind to 

how difficult it was for my 

LGBTQIA friends and family 

to come out and be out. In 

an effort to understand and 

get educated, I sat down with 

one of my closest friends, 

Dionne, and her wife, Millie, 

and asked if they would share 

their stories with me. 

Dionne is one of the most 

loyal and loving people I 

know. In over two decades 

of friendship, I’ve never 

heard her once say an 

unkind word about anyone, 

no matter how she felt 

about them. Admittedly, 

I had no idea during our 

time on active duty that 

Dionne was gay. I found out 

on Facebook after she and 

the Air Force parted ways. 

Through this interview I 

came to understand that 

just living life as she is, sans 

fanfare or announcements, 

is just part of the package. 

I’d never met her wife, Millie, 

before this interview. I knew 

that if Dionne loved her, 

she must be incredible. 

After speaking with her, 

incredible doesn’t even 

begin to describe her. 

She’s a vibrant, fascinating, 

and energetic being that 

just lights up whatever 

room she’s in. I could 

not imagine anyone not 

loving everything about 

her. Little did I know that 

once she began her story, 

this beautiful stranger 

with whom I had no prior 

emotional connection, 

would take me on a ride 

that would break my heart 

and then put it together 

again. 

Tell me about how you 

came out. 

Dionne: I guess I was 

attracted to women since 

elementary school. Of 

course, that was during 

the ‘80s. I never even 

thought about coming out. 

I didn’t know what the hell 

coming out was. But I had 

the feelings. I got to high 

school and had my first 

experience. I had a couple 

of girlfriends. I had this one 

particular girlfriend that 

wrote me a letter. I brought 

the letter home. I don’t 

know how but my mom 

found the letter. I can’t 

remember exactly what it 

said but I denied everything. 

I said I don’t know why this 

girl wrote me that letter, I 

don’t like girls. I denied that 

****. This was right before I 

joined the Air Force. When 

I left, I just did what I did. 

They didn’t see it, so it was 

like, out of sight, out of 

mind. But gradually over 

the years, I would bring girls 

home here and there. Once 

you’re of age, it’s really 

whatever it is, that’s what 

it is. My mom wasn’t happy 

about it. 

At what point did you finally 

tell her? 

I never verbally said it to 

my mother. She just became 

acclimated to it over the 

years. With me not living at 

home since 19 or so, I didn’t 

have to worry about them 

(the family). I was just doing 

what I did. 

Was it difficult for you to 

navigate life on active duty? 

Because it was “don’t 

ask, don’t tell,” I couldn’t do 

certain things on base. But I 

was still seeing people and 

dating people. 

Millie, did you actually come 

out? 

Millie: I didn’t come out, I 

was outed. My mom found 

out because she saw me 

in a car in a compromising 

position with the girl I was 

seeing at that time. 

That must have been 

awkward. 

She didn’t really react 

in a negative way. She just 

told me to make sure that 

whoever I was with treated 

me right. 

Your parents weren’t 

together by that time, 

correct? How did your dad 

find out? 

They weren’t together 

then. I was living with my 

dad full-time. One morning 

as I was sleeping, he came 

into my room with some 

McDonald’s breakfast for 

me. He also had a camera. 

At the time, I didn’t put two 

and two together. I was 

photo by Alexandsuzannephotography.com 


just sitting there eating my 

McMuffin. He said he’d been 

taking some pictures and 

he wanted to look at them. 

He said, “I was scrolling 

through them and I saw this 

one”. It was a picture of me 

sitting in my girlfriend’s lap. 

I just told him I was sorry he 

had to see that. He asked 

who she was, I told him that 

was my girlfriend. I never 

lied about it, I didn’t deny it. 

How did he react? 

He didn’t find it amusing 

or to be a good thing, at all. 

He started telling me how 

I was taught better than 

that and I’d gone to too 

many Christian schools and 

I know my bible too well 

to be dating girls. He said 

maybe he needed to rethink 

letting me go to Xavier 

because they had too many 

gay people as it is. He said 

I was going straight to the 

pits of hell. 

Wow! 

I only had my permit at 

the time, and he took all 

of my driving privileges 

away. Now he wanted to 

drop me off and pick me 

up and during that time, 

he would just berate me 

and tell me I was going to 

hell. I remember one time 

I told him I’m not talking 

about this anymore. I 

don’t understand what the 

problem is because I’ve 

always been like this. How 

can you tell me there’s a 

God up there, that is all love, 

and he would create millions 

of gay people and then hate 

them and send them to hell? 

That's not a loving God. 

Over time, it just became 

worse and worse. I tried to 

avoid any conversations 

about it. But he was not 

avoiding anything. It didn’t 

matter if it was the middle of 

the night, if I was brushing 

my teeth, he was talking 

about it. And then he got 

to the point where when 

anything went wrong in his 

life, things that didn't have 

anything to do with me 

photo by Alexandsuzannephotography.com 

at all, he would blame me 

being gay. And that's the 

reason why everything was 

going south. 

An incident occurred that 

resulted in me packing up 

whatever I could and leaving 

like a thief in the night to 

my girlfriend's house. We 

hadn't even been dating 

for six months. I didn't 

talk to my daddy for two 

years after that happened, 

which allowed me to, you 

know, start to kind of build 

a little bit of a relationship 

with my mom. When me 

and my girlfriend broke up 

four years later, I moved in 

with my mom. And when 

I finally did start to build a 

relationship with my dad 

again, it was conditional. We 

could have a relationship, 

but I had to “not be gay.” So 

I didn't really talk about it. 

When I finally started dating 

someone else, he was a little 

bit more accepting of her 

because she was feminine 

presenting. We looked like 

we could be just two friends 

hanging out or two sisters 

out or whatever. It didn't 

bother him as much because 

everybody wouldn't look 

at me and immediately 

see “gay” because I wasn’t 

with someone who “looked 

gay.” And he would always 

tell me, “I’m going to pray 

for your soul like any good 

parent would and make sure 

I tell you what's right and 

wrong and let you know 

that what you’re doing is 

going to send you to hell.” 

We went through all that 

rigmarole up until 2019. That 

year, I sat my daddy down 

and told him I was moving 

here. And I was like, I'm 

moving to DC, to be with my 

girlfriend. 

Dionne and I got engaged 

in October that year. I told 

my dad, hey, I'm getting 

married. When it was time 

for me to invite him to the 

wedding, he was like, oh, I 

thought you were already 

married. Why would I get 

married and not invite you 

to my wedding... please! 

Even though I always 

thought my dad isn't 

coming to a (gay) wedding, 

he is not walking me down 

the aisle, I already know 

that. That's okay. I had come 

to a place of peace when it 

came to him not really being 

in my life. Little did I know, 

he was combing through 

his Bible trying to figure 

out how he could make it 

to this wedding. So, the 

night before the wedding, 

my daddy drove 20 hours 

to DC, told nobody, and 

was like, I'm here. You’re 

where?? (Recalling this 

moment elicited the sweet 

girlish giggle of a true 

daddy’s girl). He came 

all the way to DC from 

Louisiana to be at my 

wedding. We're in a great 

place now. 

I wish I had the coming 

out story that was all 

loving and everybody 

just accepted me. I wish 

it didn't take years for my 

coming out story to come 

to a completion. But I 

was 34 years old. My dad 

has finally got to a point 

where he accepts me and 

accepts Dionne. He calls her 

daughter now. 

What would you tell 

other people who may be 

experiencing what you did 

before you were out? 

You have to learn how 

to set boundaries. Also 

speak up for yourself to 

your parents, which is very 

hard. Usually your family 

is the one who is inflicting 

the most trauma and pain 

on you with their own belief 

system. I need people to 

know that you can do it. 


transfocus 

LIFE, LIBERTY, 

AND THE PURSUIT 

OF ONE’S OWN NAME 


For Tess Shelton, the 

battle to win easier name 

changing systems for trans 

people is personal. Tess’s 

girlfriend is trans, and 

through this relationship 

Tess came to understand 

that there are numerous 

cultural and systemic 

cinder blocks in place, 

whether by design or not, 

to trip trans people up 

in their journeys toward 

safety, liberty, and the 

pursuit of fun American 

things. 

Being unable to update 

your ID creates gunk in 

the lives of trans people. 

Trans folks want to go out 

dancing, but it's a bummer 

when the door person 

gets funny over your 

name, picture, and gender 

marker. Trans people 

want to travel and see 

the world, but lord does 

it take time when you get 

caught up with the TSA, or 

the DMV, or when you’re 

applying for a job online 

or doing any number of 

normal life things that are 

boring and cumbersome 

enough without concrete 

transphobia weighing you 

down. 

Tess Shelton is a law 

student working her guts 

out to earn the chops, pass 

the bar, and get out into 

a world that needs young 

queer lawyers terribly. 

She identified the need 

for easier name change 

protocols and set upon 

organizing a way to gather 

and disperse information! 

Through organizing 

many players across the 

board, Tess created a 

vision for a legal clinic 

to help people get over 

some of the systemic and 

jargon-heavy hurdles. In 

conjunction with Memphis 

TransLove they raised 

enough money to support 

over 30 people getting 

their names changed! 

The clinic was put on 

for free (lawyers and 

law students generously 

volunteered their time) 

so all funds went directly 

toward petition filing fees 

for clients who requested 

financial assistance. 

The fundraiser featured 

talented trans entertainers 

from the drag community 

like Al Nite Long and 

Fantasia Bordeaux! The 

Lamplighter Lounge in 

Midtown was the venue to 

be at for such a fabulous 

event! 

It can be tough to know 

where to start or even 

what court to go to for 

something like this. In 

some states, like Arkansas, 

getting your name changed 

is the same process and 

same paperwork from 

county to county. 


Yet in sweet Tennessee, 

every single county has a 

different protocol and a 

different court that handles 

name changes. If your head 

is starting to spin, well 

baby, join the rest of us. 

Thankfully, clever foxes 

like Tess know the jargon 

required to get information 

out of a workforce of 

people that tend to be 

more conservative. 

And really it comes 

down to information and 

feeling confident in your 

knowledge to ask for the 

right things and come 

prepared. 

While you don’t have 

to be a US citizen to get 

a legal name change 

you do need to provide 

lots of different types 

of paperwork which can 

be difficult–from legal 

petitions to government 

IDs to birth certificates 

and in some counties, 

proof of residence. 

Beyond the paperwork 

there are fees that are 

related, and many people 

within the system that 

believe that name change 

is a privilege, not a right. 

But what if a vulnerable 

population is made only 

more vulnerable due to 

a lack of privilege and 

safety? That's why we 

have to work to change 

hearts and minds. It's 

hard enough to find safe 

income as a trans person, 

must our courts also 

devalue their experience 

with hoops of fire? 

Sometimes a person 

can file an affidavit of 

indigency (also known 

as a “pauper’s affidavit”) 

to have fees waived. Fees 

that are also different in 

every single county in TN 

(anywhere from $166.50 in 

Shelby County to $264.50 

in Rutherford County). 

But judges have the final 

say to accept or reject 

these affidavits, and in 

Tennessee, they often go 

unaccepted. 

This is why rallying 

around causes like this 

are important. In a world 

where we have inflation, 

war, post pandemic 

brain fog, it isn't fair to 

burden trans people 

and dehumanize them 

with endless stops and 

loopholes. 

The happy ending to 

this story is that here we 

have Tess, an example of 

the legion of young gay 

professionals who will 

go out and make major 

differences in the world. 

That is something for our 

community to truly take 

pride in. 

Beyond that, after having 

attended a clinic, Tess’ 

girlfriend indeed received 

her name change. 

“I have never seen 

someone so excited to go 

to the DMV before!” says 

Tess when she finishes 

telling Focus about her 

journey. 

Here's to many more 

to come, and many more 

name changes, and many 

changes of heart. 

How do I change my legal 

name in Shelby County? 

You will need to give the Probate Clerk: 

(1) a completed petition for legal name change 

(a fillable PDF is available on the 

Shelby County Probate Court's website, 

shelbycountytn.gov/380/Forms); 

(2) a state or federal ID; 

(3) a copy of your birth certificate; 

(4) proof of residency at least 6 months old, if 

Shelby County is not listed on your ID 

(ex. utility bill, pay stub, lease, W-2, 

homeowners' insurance policy); 

AND 

VOCABULARY 

Affidavit of Indigency/Pauper’s Affidavit 

A formal document declaring that the person seeking 

a legal name change cannot afford the fee to file their 

petition and requesting a waiver or deferral of that 

filing fee. A process that requires sharing some financial 

information with the court. The court gets to decide 

whether to accept or deny this request. 

Chancery Court 

A court that has general jurisdiction over cases that do 

not involve a request for monetary compensation. In TN, 

chancery, probate, and circuit courts have jurisdiction over 

legal name change. In most TN counties, requests for legal 

name change are handled by the Chancery Court. 

Probate Court 

A court that primarily hears cases involving the 

distribution of dead people’s property. TN law gives 

probate courts, as well as chancery and circuit courts, 

jurisdiction over legal name changes. In Shelby County, 

legal name changes go through the Probate Court. 

Legal Clinic 

A program that provides free legal services, often to 

socially and/or economically marginalized people. These 

are useful for providing legal services to people who 

might not otherwise be able to afford them, as well as 

for providing law students hands-on legal education and 

experience working with clients. 

(5) cash or card to pay the $166.50 filing fee 

(no checks).** 

** If you can't afford the filing fee, contact Alex Hauptman from 

OutMemphis at ahauptman@outmemphis.org for financial assistance. 


faith+spirituality 

DECONVERSION BOOK RECS: 

A Resource List for Those Grappling with a Loss of Faith 

by Tiffany G. Day 

Religious deconversion, succinctly defined, is the loss of 

one's faith in a given religion. What is left out of the definition, 

however, is that the circumstances of the loss, the personal 

significance of one's faith, and the ubiquity of the religion 

in one's life mean that the emotional and psychological 

effects of deconversion may take myriad, complicated forms: 

an unmooring severance, a life-saving escape, a gentle 

relinquishing, a profound disillusionment, a liminal state 

between religions or between types of faith. Deconversion 

can feel like all of these at once—a kaleidoscopic experience 

of grief, anger, relief, indifference, gratitude. For many queer 

folx, deconversion can be a necessary first step to coming 

out. It is always an opportunity to start anew; it is loss that 

inspires finding. 

Listed below are a few companion titles for a loss of faith, 

particularly loss of a fundamentalist Christian faith, which is so 

prevalent in our region and, unfortunately, a common source 

of religious trauma from which many in the queer community 

suffer. We hope these selections offer the comfort that comes 

from seeing your own experiences reflected in that of others' 

and guidance for navigating a loss of faith and its myriad, 

subsequent findings—religious or not. 

Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church, ed. 

By Chrissy Stroop & Lauren O'Neal 

This anthology brings together original 

and previously published essays from 

a diverse group of writers on their 

experiences with leaving fundamentalist 

Christianity and with religious trauma. 

Taking a moral stance against the harmful 

fundamentalist and authoritarian varieties 

of Christianity, the editors chose pieces 

that also highlight intersections of 

queerness, spiritual/religious abuse, faith 

loss, and courage. 

Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former 

Fundamentalists and Others Leaving 

their Religion. By Marlene Winell 

Leaving the Fold is a self-help 

psychology book for recovery from 

the effects of an authoritarian religion 

(particularly fundamentalist Christianity). Written by a 

psychologist with over 30 years of experience working 

with clients recovering from harmful religious ideologies, 

herself included, Dr. Winell is known for coining the term and 

concept "Religious Trauma Syndrome." 

Leaving Fundamentalism: Personal Stories, ed. 

By G. Elijah Dann 

The personal stories in this collection 

offer numerous and varied glimpses into 

the thoughts and feelings that leaving 

fundamentalist Christian churches 

can entail—the good and the bad. For 

many of the contributors, though their 

deconversions are still raw, they also 

describe how their lives are continuing 

on post-religious fundamentalism. 

Leaving the Witness: Exiting a Religion and Finding a Life. 

By Amber Scorah 

In Leaving the Witness, Scorah describes how her 

experiences as a covert Jehovah's Witness missionary in 

China ultimately led her to leave the 

faith she had once so ardently held. 

This deconversion created a rift 

between her and her family and home 

community, leaving her to navigate 

this new life alone. This rift, along with 

another subsequent personal tragedy, 

prompted a need for more ways to 

make meaning without the framework 

of her religion. 

Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a 

Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free. 

By Linda Kay Klein 

Described as a blend of memoir, 

journalism, and cultural commentary, 

Klein provides an inside look at religious 

purity culture, which has its roots in 

white evangelical Christian churches, 

and the harm it has caused. Including her 

own account of healing, she offers hope 

for finding freedom and for possibilities 

of sexual and spiritual reconciliation. 

focuslgbt.com | Fresh Air! 32 

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arts+entertainment 

the 

Prism Pages 

Now 

by Chrystal Hogan 

Zealots, threatening with the eternal 

Damnation, 

Salvation; 

Heaven, Hell, the unknown of what’s to come. 

Forever focused on the here-after. 

But what about the here-now? The truth we know today? 

Today. 

A cold winter day – 

Rain, grief, despair, 

The death of my dreams, of trees, of my father, 

Crying, denying, 

Moments of loneliness and moments of sorrow – 

This is the hell of now. 

Now. 

A warm spring day – 

Sun, blossoms, hope, 

New life, new dreams, renewed love 

Walking, talking, 

Moments of laughter and moments of silence. 

This is the heaven of today. 

We make our own. Our today. Our Now. 

Our own heaven and hell, 

Our own salvation, damnation 

Today we know our own truth. We own our known truth. 

We know our now. 

Dedication to a Dead Bird 

by William Smythe 

You're baking on the hot concrete sidewalk. 

Your eyes are glassy. Your neck is twisted. 

I find a magnolia leaf, lift you up, 

carry your pungent body, all bloated, 

and drop you off on the hillside, right by 

the train tracks that run past my parent's home. 

I place you in some tangle of bushes, 

a coffin of rail ties, a mound of loam, 

marking the grave of a brave bird, though dumb. 

The glass was clear. It wasn't his fault, they say. 

No, no, it was never his fault, I know. 

Our young hero was flying fine today. 

I step away with my keening complete. 

And wipe the dirt from off my feet. I sing 

the song of the bird. I sing the song for 

the earth. And I sing. I just keep singing. 

William Smythe is a local poet and 3rd generation Midtowner. 

He is a part of the Memphis Writers, a collection of creatives, 

founded by Daphne Maysonet. His work has been 

featured in the Memphis Flyer, 3 Elements Magazine, 

and other online publications. 

Chrysti, as her friends know her, and her wife have been in 

Memphis for 26 years. She teaches math, writes poetry, and is an 

active member of Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church, where 

she draws much inspiration. 

The Prism Pages is a new literary section in the magazine where original works of poetry 

and fiction from the community will be showcased. As a publishing company, we are 

committed to saving space for up-and-coming LGBTQ+ writers. Interested in submitting 

something? Please email editor@focuslgbt.com. 

This section is brought to you by the Focus Center Foundation. To learn how to 

support this and become a sponsor, please email info@focuscenterfoundation.org. 


Excerpt from 

Flowers on the Plateau 

I was on the verge of quitting. To finish, and cast out of 

my life beakers and labs and empty enclosures. To cast out 

the disappointment of spending so many years swirling 

DNA and inseminating elephant after elephant, only to 

produce another Eldritch horror in formaldehyde for the 

collection. After a night of too much coffee and stimulants 

I once thought I witnessed one of those sad artifacts blink 

and move its foot beneath its trunk as though to suckle. 

Real elephants don’t do that. 

Half-cloned baby mammoths floating in tanks don’t either. 

I wish we could bury them. With gravestones etched 

with proper names. Petunia and Zippy lie here, rather than 

No. 176 and No. 310. It sucks when your vital organs never 

develop. 

Then there are the ones who live and die on the table. 

Never to crack an eye open. The close calls feel more an 

affront to nature than the ones born dead. A spark of life. 

Sparks are all there is. No flame. No real life. No naps in 

the sun. 

There was a morning though. A special morning. 

My Italian stallion boyfriend broke up with me over 

dinner the previous night. He said there was no more 

warmth in me. 

It hurt spectacularly to clutch a pillow and scream into it 

an hour later. I am so empty because I did not know where 

life was any longer. When I folded my ribs and parted my 

lungs there was only empty wet darkness in my chest. 

I gotta stop playing mad scientist. Go teach kindergarten. 

“Last one.” I said eating oatmeal before the sun came up. 

“Last time,” I said, brushing the masticated oats from my 

yellowing teeth. “No notice,” I said, boarding the train. 

• • • • • 

The absolution of humans is only comical. 

Green and khaki scrubs flew about like laundry in a 

hurricane. Masks and tarps. The animal experts all grim. 

The scientists oddly giddy. 

I never want to see another half-formed pink mass of 

flesh with fur. More proof that god does not live within us. 

“Doctor Ike, she is ready.” 

I sighed, and looked on as the midwives surrounded 

Endora. Endora had given birth to no viable offspring. This 

would be the last time we put her through it. After today 

she and I would be free. I hope we both find the handsome 

Italian husbands we deserve. 

For a moment I imagined myself and Endora relaxing 

and sipping mojitos together on a beach. 

Through my scratched glasses I counted the flicking 

lights above just as I have done a hundred times before. 

Screams from Endora. This stinks. And literally always 

stinks. Birth is a carnal and muddy business. 

A wet sloppy sound. 

Rush of scrubs. Weight thumping atop a metal table. 

Most assuredly, dead weight. 


But then another sound. 

I joined the midwives. Most of them are a generation 

younger than I. At least we have colorful hair in common, a 

generational bleed as red as my head. They were feathery, 

and usually did not work here long. 

I heard another wheeze. 

Before me was a body too small to have once been the 

progeny of giants. From pale weak lips, however, came 

more little wheezes. Blood and fluid, of course. 

But there was also breath. 

An underweight mass of flesh and brown fur. With eyes 

blind as the dark of space. Her trunk seemed too big for 

her. But she lived and moved. 

And I did not resign. 

• • • • • 

Endora not only showed signs of irritation at the calf, she 

distanced herself from it. 

I knew this was liable to happen. She had not given birth 

to a baby elephant with all the sounds and smells and 

textures of a baby elephant. 

This was a mammoth. A child from backwards in time. 

The baby didn’t smell like anything on this planet outside 

of the fossil record. 

To me, the baby mammoth smelled like blood, but also 

soil, and maybe like a fuzzy dog in a way. A wicked part of 

me wondered if our human genetic memory had us in the 

room salivating. 

That night I slept in the barn with her, blanketed against 

the winter chills by her fur. 

Elephants, and as it turns out mammoths, are blind when 

they are born. 

She stood so still. Only swaying a little in her doziness. 

That trunk, no bigger around than my bicep, tapped on my 

knee caps and gripped at my boots. Her trunk sniffled at my 

jaw and not so gingerly tugged on my long red hair, freshly 

dyed with candy-colored red. The edges of her trunk were 

so much like a child’s singular hand, waving in a dark room. 

• • • • • 

Flower became everyone’s baby except for Endora 

or any of the other elephants on the compound. Flower 

probably annoyed them too much. 

Still small, but growing fast. Her head became knobbier 

and more pronounced. Wicked smart. No morsel ever safe 

in a pocket or bag. A lover of peanut butter and baths. 

Throughout the day you would see her kick up and run 

across her enclosure. A belt of nature’s trumpet as she did. 

Read the rest of the story on focuslgbt.com. 

Moth Moth Moth is a Drag Queen, Writer and Visual Artist from 

Memphis, TN where they host drag shows, contract for museums and 

secretly write short stories about mastodons while cuddling with four cats. 


pet focus 

Kitten Season: 

Fostering Saves Hundreds of Lives 

by Katie Pemberton, 

Community Engagement 

Specialist at Memphis 

Animal Services 

Last year at Memphis 

Animal Services, the city 

of Memphis’s municipal 

animal shelter, everyday 

people volunteering as 

foster parents saved the 

lives of nearly 600 newborn 

orphaned kittens. Without 

foster families, these tiny 

felines, often affectionately 

referred to as “bottle 

babies,” would die, because 

they’re too little to eat or 

eliminate on their own. 

“On a practical level, 

they’re a lot like human 

newborn infants who have 

to be fed every few hours 

and have their ‘diapers 

changed’,” said MAS Cat 

Shelter Supervisor Dani 

Rutherford. “The best 

caretaker for them is Mom, 

but in situations where Mom 

isn’t available, we rely on 

foster parents to step in to 

save their lives.” 

These kittens are often 

the unintentional offspring 

of community cats who 

have not yet been humanely 

trapped, spayed/neutered, 

and returned to their 

outdoor habitats. Nature 

can be harsh, and there are 

a number of reasons a cat 

may be forced to abandon 

her kittens, from lacking 

maternal instincts to getting 

injured and others. 

Regardless of the reason, 

orphaned newborn kittens 

need a lot of support to 

survive, and that’s where 

foster families come in, 

A foster kitten. photo by Raquel Miranda 

says Rutherford. 

“We provide everything 

you need from the kitten 

formula to the training on 

how to care for the babies,” 

Rutherford said. “Although 

there’s no replacement for 

Mom, our foster parents do 

everything the kittens need– 

from bottle-feeding them 

and helping them eliminate 

every few hours, to keeping 

them warm and making sure 

they’re gaining weight.” 

Nearly 350 foster parents 

helped care for MAS cats 

in their homes in 2021. One 

of those was Mindy Bush, 

an IT professional who lives 

in the Cordova area. She 

started fostering for MAS 

several years ago when she 

saw a plea for bottle babies 

on Facebook. 

“When I saw the post, 

I got a carrier out and 

headed to the shelter. I did 

not think twice about it,” 

Bush said. “I knew nothing 

about neonates—or cats, 

really—but I had the best 

time learning and watching 

them grow.” 

Since then, she has 

fostered around 50 cats 

for MAS and other groups, 

including cats with special 

medical and behavioral 

needs, and of course bottle 

babies. Last year, among 

her foster pets were three 

2-week-old kittens: Juan, 

Jorge, and Jose. 

But newborns aren’t the 

only kittens in need of foster 

homes. MAS took in about 

600 weaned kittens last 

year, too. 

“These kittens are old 

enough to eat on their own, 

but they’re not big enough 

for the spay/neuter surgery 

that a finalized adoption 

requires,” said Rutherford. 

“So they need a safe spot 

for playing and socialization 

that will also keep their 

vulnerable kitten immune 

systems away from the 

shelter environment.” 

Tanisha Keshav, a 

healthcare administrator 

who lives in Germantown, 

recently fostered Hatter, a 

beautiful gray kitten who 

came to MAS at around 

three months old after 

being removed from a 

home with too many cats. 

She cared for him in her 

home for about 2.5 months 

until she found the perfect 

adopter for him. 

“It means the world to me 

to be able to help animals,” 

said Keshav. “To be a 

part of such an important 

transitional phase of their 

lives is rewarding to me in 

a sense that I get to be the 

one to witness their growth 

and their love.” 

The luckiest kittens are 

the ones who stay with their 

mom until they’re weaned. 

When Memphis Animal 

Services takes in a nursing 

mother cat and her babies, 

they much prefer to place 

them in a foster home until 

the kittens are weaned. 

Midtowner and research 

manager April Steele has 

experienced the fulfillment 


Tanesha Keshav with Hatter. 

Newborn kitten bottle-feeding. 

photo by Katie Pemberton 

April Steele with foster kitten. 

of fostering a nursing mom 

and her four babies. 

“Mama was so stressed 

out at the shelter, her 

kittens were sick, and they 

desperately needed to 

be in a quiet, comfortable 

space,” said Steele. “It was 

rewarding to be able to 

make sure this little family 

was cared for at a time when 

they were most vulnerable.” 

Many MAS employees, 

including veterinary assistant 

Laura Crosby, love to help 

beyond their work shifts by 

fostering pets. Crosby has 

fostered around 40 cats and 

kittens for MAS and other 

groups since getting started 

six years ago. 

“Kittens are so fragile, 

and a shelter is no place for 

them to grow up,” Crosby 

said. “Through fostering, 

you are able to enjoy that 

kitten phase that everyone 

loves, send them on their 

way to new families, and 

help the next batch of 

kittens that need you.” 

No matter your lifestyle 

or schedule, there is most 

likely a category of kitten 

you can help through 

fostering, said Rutherford. 

“If you’re really busy, 

maybe a nursing mom 

and babies is right for you, 

because Mom does all the 

work for the babies, and 

you just take care of Mom,” 

she said. “If you can be 

home most of the day and 

night, maybe you could 

consider bottle babies. Or 

weaned kittens are kind of 

a middle ground—they can 

usually keep themselves 

busy as long as you have 

two or three together, but 

they’ll still need plenty of 

socialization and supervision 

from you!” 

There are other ways to 

help orphaned kittens, even 

if you can’t foster. 

“We go through hundreds 

of cans of KMR (special 

Kitten Milk Replacer 

formula) every year, not 

to mention all the other 

supplies we send home 

with our foster families,” 

said Rutherford. “Our foster 

program relies on donations 

of these items to save all the 

tiny lives!” 

Memphis Animal Services 

has wish lists for their 

foster program through 

Amazon and Hollywood 

Feed, and the most needed 

items are powdered KMR, 

PetAg pet nursing bottles 

or kits, Miracle Nipples, 

SnuggleSafe microwave 

heat pads, kitchen scales, 

and both wet and dry 

kitten food. 

Don’t Kit-Nap! 

“If you find tiny kittens all alone outdoors, and they look 

healthy, don’t assume they’ve been abandoned. Mom 

may be around, and she is the very best caretaker for 

them. Keep an eye out from a safe distance to see if she 

comes back. You can even sprinkle flour around the nest 

to see if you see footprints. If she hasn’t come back in a 

few hours, the kittens need your help! Call 901-545-COPS 

to get assistance.” 

-Dani Rutherford, Memphis Animal Services Cat Shelter 

Supervisor. 

photo by Mikaela Williams 

Need your pet fixed? 

Spay Memphis offers high quality, affordable 

spay/neuter services to the public. 

37 Fresh Air! | focuslgbt.com Call for more information 901-324-3202 spaymemphis.org

life 

Pride 

inPints 

by Marisa Actis 

photo by Rosie Schmitz 

With summer right around 

the corner and Pride month 

upon us, what better way 

to enjoy this time of year, 

the many pool parties, time 

with friends, and vacations 

to the beach, than with a 

beer from one of the many 

breweries in the Mid-South. 

Over the years in Memphis, 

I’ve become known for 

my involvement in many 

communities, from the 

LGBTQ+ community to the 

craft beer community by 

sharing my experiences, one 

pint at a time. 

My passion for the 

craft beer scene started, 

as it does for many, in 

college while working on 

my chemistry degree. I 

was curious about the 

science behind beer and 

the differences between 

all the styles found across 

the world, which led me 

to homebrewing in my 

apartment. This passion 

eventually led to taking a 

more active role, sharing 

and blogging about what 

goes into beer and people 

within the community. 

Communities have played 

an important part of my life, 

finding support through my 

transition from the LGBTQ+ 

community and from those 

I’ve met through craft beer. 

Blogging as @transbeergirl 

on Instagram, I’ve been 

able to make my own small 

impact in a community that 

strives to make the world 

of beer more inclusive for 

those whose voices have 

often been ignored. I share 

not only what I’m drinking 

and enjoying around 

town, but also the ups and 

downs I’ve experienced as 

a transwoman. There are 

many in the craft beer scene 

that have helped make real 

change and introduced 

people in underrepresented 

groups to a career in the 

beer industry. It’s not all 

hipster dudes with beards 

that make great beer. 

Groups like the Pink 

Boots Society work to help 

make the beer industry a 

welcoming and supportive 

place for women and 

gender non-conforming 

individuals, to help them 

make their mark and foster 

their creativity. After 

the murder of George 

Floyd in the spring of 

2020, Weathered Souls 

Brewing Company out 

of Texas spearheaded a 

collaborative beer release 

with breweries across 

the country to distribute 

Black Is Beautiful branded 

beers, which helps raise 

awareness of the injustices 

that people of color 

experience while raising 

funds for police brutality 

reform and highlighting the 

contributions from Black 

owned breweries. 

To me, the culture 

around beer is one of 

togetherness, helping 

bring people from different 

backgrounds together 

to find commonalities. 

Having the opportunity to 

enjoy a beer at breweries 

across the country has 

led to some amazing 

interactions with strangers, 

and on some occasions 

fostering new friendships. 

As a transwoman, I know 

that with each interaction 

I have with someone new 

there’s an opportunity to 

make a positive impact and 

dispel misconceptions. I’ve 

often left a brewery or bar 

knowing that I just had an 

enlightening conversation 

with someone new, with 


photo by Marisa Actis 

I’ve been able to make my 

own small impact in a community 

that strives to make the world of beer 

more inclusive for those whose voices 

have often been ignored. 

them likely having had 

their first interaction with 

a trans person, which can 

have a big positive effect 

down the line. These small 

one-on-one interactions 

and conversations can 

help change someone’s 

perspective and open their 

eyes to how others try to 

find their way through life. 

Speaking about the 

people behind beer is one 

thing, but what is it about 

beer itself that I really 

enjoy? The vast diversity 

of flavors you can find 

in a glass, brewed with 

basic and widely available 

ingredients, has always been 

something that I’ve found 

fascinating. During the 

summer time I enjoy crisp 

and clean lagers or a nice 

hoppy IPA. Recently there 

has been a wide selection 

of fruited sour beers that 

can be quite refreshing 

during warm weather, while 

a nice German style wheat 

beer can also quench the 

thirst during the heat of 

the season. When it comes 

to my personal favorite 

styles, the Belgian ones 

have always been at the top 

of my list with their fruity 

and complex flavor profiles, 

from Saisons to Tripels. 

The beer scene in the Mid- 

South has really taken off 

since I first arrived in 2008, 

when all we had back then 

was Bosco’s. We’re now 

spoiled for choices of where 

to meet up with friends and 

catch up over a drink or 

two, while enjoying some 

of the city’s food trucks 

that often show up at these 

locations. As of recent, I’ve 

really been enjoying the 

new Wiseacre downtown 

location with the bright 

taproom often bathed in 

afternoon sunlight, sipping 

on a lager, such as their 

Italian Pilsner, Parti-Colour 

or their seasonal pale ale 

brewed with Earl Grey tea, 

Lord Skylark. Another of my 

favorite places to check out 

has been Hampline Brewing, 

which can be found near 

the intersection of Broad 

and Tillman behind the Rec 

Room. Hampline pumps 

out a wide variety of beers, 

including Hit the Trail, which 

is a wonderfully hoppy pale 

ale, and Peal Out, a tart and 

salty mango apricot gose. 

And if you have a pup in 

your life, this location, along 

with many others across the 

city, are dog friendly. 

On the surface beer 

is often thought of as 

a simple libation that is 

often over enjoyed and 

not thought deeply about, 

but below the surface is 

a community that strives 

to make craft beer a more 

inclusive and supportive 

environment for those 

who have been historically 

underrepresented. 

Cheers with Pride! 

photo by Marisa Actis 


SAVE 

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August 26, 2022 

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TAURUS 

Element:w Earth 

Quality: Fixed 

Ruling Planet: Venus 

Traits: Intelligent, 

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organized, and reliable 

New Moon in Taurus: 

April 30th (Solar Eclipse) 

APRIL 20 - MAY 20 

Now that we are full steam ahead 

in spring, this is a great time to be 

outdoors and to be moving our 

body with sports and play. The Sun, 

Moon, and planet Mercury are out 

and proud and affecting all signs this 

month. Taurus season begins with a 

Solar Eclipse, and ends with a Lunar 

Eclipse. The solar eclipse brings 

opportunities for unexpected new 

beginnings and new paths. On the 

other hand, the lunar eclipse brings 

fated endings and the potential for 

either breakdowns or breakthroughs. 

Honey but that ain’t all. Mercury 

will also go retrograde this month. 

Hmm... all signs will benefit from 

tapping into their inner grounded 

and reliable Taurus energy to 

manage the communication glitches 

and misunderstandings associated 

with Mercury Retrograde. 

GEMINI 

Element: Air 

Quality: Mutable 

Ruling Planet: Mercury 

Traits: Social Butterfly, loyal 

partner & friend, open & 

honest, daring & bold 

New Moon in Gemini: 

May 30 

MAY 21 - JUNE 20 

Not to be outdone by all the 

solar and lunar magic that 

happened in May. June hosts the 

powerful Summer Solstice and 

has a Super Full Moon smack 

dab in the middle of the month. 

It is also a time to celebrate 

freedom: Happy Pride & Happy 

Juneteenth! Summer garden 

parties and freedom celebrations 

are wonderful opportunities for 

all signs to tap into their inner 

Gemini social butterfly energy. 

Saturn begins its annual four 

month retrograde and gives 

us the opportunity to review & 

reassess where we are currently 

in our lives and to reconnect with 

our purpose. 

Minnassa Tarot Professional and Reiki Healer • minnassa.com • Text: 901.257.9816 • @minnassa

Photo: ©iStock/PIKSEL. Model not real Planned Parenthood patient. 

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original memphis 

Discover T.O. Fuller State Park 

story and photos by Tricia Dewey 

T.O. Fuller State Park, 

the only state park within 

Memphis city limits, is 

tucked into a corner of 

South Memphis bordering 

the Mississippi River 

bluffs and floodplains on 

the West and near the 

Boxtown, West Junction, 

and Walker Homes 

neighborhoods on the 

south and east. The 1,138 

acres of bluffs, wetlands, 

forest, and rolling hills 

encompass a recreation 

area with Olympic-sized 

swimming pool, splash 

pad, tennis and basketball 

courts, four picnic areas 

and shelters, 45 overnight 

camping slots, two hiking 

trails, an interpretive 

center, and Shelby Bluff 

Center meeting space. The 

location was said to be 

chosen for its proximity 

to African American 

neighborhoods. In addition 

the land was inexpensive 

and not conducive to 

agriculture. 

Originally named the 

Shelby County Negro State 

Park in 1938, the Civilian 

Conservation Corps (CCC) 

began development with 

an original 44 person crew 

(approximately 130 more 

workers were hired locally) 

to create the first park for 

African Americans east of 

the Mississippi. During this 

time, African Americans 

were not welcome in 

other parks in Memphis 

owing to Jim Crow laws. 

During development of 

the park, while digging 

for construction of the 

pool in 1940, CCC workers 

uncovered a prehistoric 

Native American village 

of the Choctaw, now the 

site of the Nash Museum at 

Chucalissa adjacent to T.O. 

Fuller. In 1942 (several weeks 

before his death), the park 

was renamed for activist 

and educator Thomas Oscar 

Fuller, minister at First 

Colored Baptist Church in 

Memphis, principal of Howe 

Institute, later LeMoyne- 

Owen College, and a writer 

and activist. 

Park Ranger Jimmy 

Warren became park 

manager in 2019 after 

retiring from 25 years 

with the Memphis Police 

Department. For Ranger 

Warren, this work was a 

coming home of sorts–he 

says he grew up in the 

park, spending time there 

on Sundays after church 

and after school. He 

visited Chucalissa, which 

at the time was occupied 

by the Choctaw tribe, 

on school field trips. He 

attended Mitchell High 

School with some of the 

Chucalissa residents. Now 

he is grateful to have a 

chance to give back to 

his very local community. 

“While I was working on 

community policing, and 

working with youth in the 

community, I thought if I 

am able at some point to 

give back and do some 

things in my community, 

that's what I want to do. 

Being the park manager 

allows me to do that, work 

with organizations in my 

community that I grew up in, 

work with some youth from 

this area, and work with 

some of those officials and 

legislators who can assist us 

in helping the park grow.” 

Some of Ranger 

Warren’s goals for the 

park include increasing 

patronage and interest in 

the history of the park and 

the park neighborhood, 

and getting more people 

involved in maintaining the 

Red Buckeye trees showing 

out this spring at the park. 


Ranger Warren stands in front of 

the new ADA accessible trail near 

the Shelby Bluff Center. 

Early spring wildflower Prairie 

Trillium covers the forest floor. 

beauty of the park. He sees 

these goals as a way to 

connect the park’s original 

settlers and local Black 

community to the natural 

beauty and open spaces 

the park provides. 

Despite the setback from 

COVID, park activities have 

returned to full speed. In 

addition to youth activities, 

including teaching about 

ecosystems and the 

importance of open spaces, 

park staff are working 

to reach out to veteran 

groups and senior citizens. 

Over the past year, a 

community cleanup effort 

helped to collect 30,000 

tires on the trail near the 

Shelby Bluff Center. The 

tires were then ground up, 

adhesive was added, and 

the surface was laid down 

as an approximately 2 miles 

of ADA accessible trail 

through what was formerly 

an 18-hole golf course at the 

park, one of the few places 

that African Americans 

could golf in Memphis. 

Currently the number of 

visitors at the park indicates 

an increase of 1,000 visitors 

to the park compared to 

this time last year with a full 

slate of spring and summer 

programming including the 

youth fishing rodeo on June 

11 and the Junior Ranger 

Camp also in June. 

Ranger Warren’s favorite 

part of the park is “all of it.” 

“I grew up coming to T.O 

Fuller. My family church is 

on Weaver Road, which is 

right down the street here. 

My grandmother lived on 

Arrow Road. After church 

we would all gather, we 

could always caddy, we had 

a little pond behind the golf 

course where we could fish. 

We had a jukebox shelter 

where we would have dance 

contests. This place is where 

I grew up.” He is working 

to shine the spotlight for 

future generations on 

the projects, history, and 

natural abundance of T.O. 

Fuller, which is home to an 

occasional eagle, all kinds 

of songbirds, foxes, deer, 

turkeys, bobcats, and a 

striking diversity of native 

flowers and trees. Hiking 

trails range from easy to 

moderate. Ranger Warren 

says the more he ventures 

out in the park the more 

there is to discover. It’s a 

great time to get outside 

and breathe in the history of 

T.O. Fuller State Park. 


calendar 

MUST SEE EVENTS 

by Robin Beaudoin Ownby 


Melissa Etheridge 

8pm 

Graceland Soundstage 

3717 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis 

The signature rasp and mystery of 

Grammy winner Melissa Etheridge 

returns to Memphis at the Soundstage 

at Graceland. 

Parking $10. 

Tickets $39.50-$115.00 available at 

gracelandlive.com. 

photo courtesy of melissaetheridge.com 


Let’s Brunch- Memphis Brunch Festival! 

12:00pm 

Memphis Botanic Garden • 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis 

Taste offerings of the city’s best brunch dishes, sip mimosas 

and bloody marys as part of 12 brunch-themed cocktail 

samples. Proceeds benefit Volunteer Memphis. 21+ 

Tickets $38-45 at letsbrunchmemphis.com. 

June 5 

3rd Annual Craft Food & Wine Festival, 

benefiting Church Health 

2-7pm 

The Columns • 45 S. 2nd St, Memphis 

Sample from small & local vendors of wine, cheese and 

cured meats, and other high-quality craft foods and 

beverages. 21+ Church Health is a local nonprofit, nongovernmental 

organization serving the health needs of 

uninsured Memphians. 

VIP and general tickets available starting at $75. 

craftfoodandwinefest.com. 

June 10-12 

Anime Blues Con X 

Renesant Convention Center • 255 N Main St., Memphis 

A celebration of Manga, Anime, and cosplay, Anime Blues 

Con marks its tenth convention in Memphis this year, with 

costumes, photo ops, and special guests. 

Pre-registration badge for all 3 days is $50, available for 

purchase on site or at animeblues.com. 

June 18 

Memphis 2nd Annual Vegan Festival 

11-6pm 

Memphis Pipkin Building 

940 Early Maxwell Rd., Memphis 

Experience all things vegan! Shopping, live music, and food. 

Tickets $5 on Eventbrite.com. 

* Check out our information on Tri-State Black Pride on the inside front cover and page 22; 

Mid-South Pride activities on page 42. 


GROUNDBREAKING STUDY 

CHANGE 

CONTINUES 

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Are you...? 

A gay or bisexual man 

Between 18 and 39 years old? 

Interested in becoming a 

blood donor 

Able & willing to travel to a 

local study site to participate 

Earn up to $85 for participating 

in the study 

For more information: 

www.ADVANCEstudy.org 

Join the ADVANCE Study, an FDA pilot study to 

consider new approaches for selecting gay and 

bisexual men to be blood donors. 

ADVANCEStudy@vitalant.org 

901-569-4567

NEEDLE 

EXCHANGE 

• Harm reduction supplies 

• Overdose reversal training and 

Narcan kits 

• Treatment & recovery resources 

• Education materials 

EVERY WEDNESDAY 

28 N. CLAYBROOK STREET 


1:00 - 3:00 PM 

3628 SUMMER AVENUE 


6:30 - 8:30 PM 

CONTACT AUSTIN CARROLL @ 901-649-2171 FOR MORE INFORMATION 

HIV & HEP-C 

TESTING 

• Anonymous and confidential 

• Testing also available at both 

needle exchange locations 

EVERY FRIDAY 

1207 PEABODY AVENUE 


10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

ANY QUESTIONS? CONTACT SAM TUBIKH - HIV PREVENTION COORDINATOR 

@ 901-378-2828 

MEMPHISPREVENTION.ORG

2022 Issue 3 May/Jun Focus - Mid-South magazine

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