2024 Issue 1 Jan/Feb Focus - Mid-South Magazine

from the editor
the team
MANAGING EDITOR
Jasper Joyner
(they/them)
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
+ AD DESIGN
Daphne Butler (she/her)
DIGITAL MARKETING
COORDINATOR
Kelly Seagraves (she/they)
DISTRIBUTION
+ SUBSCRIPTIONS
info@focusmidsouth.com
Happy new year! We’re so excited to
share with you all Focus has planned
for 2024. But first, let’s recap 2023.
Last year, Focus shared 34,200 print
issues around the city of Memphis!
We had 1.56 million page views in
2023! And many of you followed our
newsletter, which featured a reader
favorite highlighting all of the
LGBTQ+ films at the 2023 Indie
Memphis Film Festival.
We celebrated our local LGBTQ
community in a big way with the 8th
Annual Focus Awards, shining a light
on activists, artists and trailblazers in
and around the Midsouth. We also had
the privilege of showcasing awesome
queer writers and poets at our Prism
Pages pop-up in January.
In 2024? Focus is all about
community. Expect even more
event-centered coverage both here in
print and online that encourages
everyone to connect in creative, fun
and safe spaces. Follow our
newsletter for biweekly event roundups,
exclusive digital content, and
local LGBTQ news.
And also get ready, because we want
to hear from you! Check out our Black
History Month piece (page 26) on
how to submit your LGBTQ+ events
for possible print or digital coverage.
As always, we’re constantly committed
to sharing your inspiring stories,
brilliant artwork, moving poetry and
prose. And we cannot wait to share all
of our awesome 2024 issue themes.
Next issue is all about LGBTQ+ Nerds!
As always, you can submit your ideas
and art to Focus via the Editor email
to your right.
Thank you all for 2023. Now time for
more in 2024!
Warmly,
Jasper Joyner, Managing Editor
OPERATIONS
+ PROMOS
Ray Rico (he/him)
Focus ® Mid-South is all about LGBT + people and their allies… their work, play,
families, creativity, style, health and wealth, bodies and souls. Our focus is on you.
Focus ® Mid-South is published bi-monthly and distributed free throughout the
greater Mid-South area. Focus reserves the right to refuse to sell space for
any advertisement the staff deems inappropriate for the publication. Press
releases must be received by the first of the month for the following issue.
All content of this magazine, including and without limitation to the design,
advertisements, art, photos and editorial content, as well as the selection,
coordination and arrangement thereof, is Copyright ©2024, Focus ® Mid-South.
All Rights Reserved. No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted
without the express written permission of the publisher. For a full list of our
editorial and advertising policies, please visit focuslgbt.com/policies.
PICK UP + GIVE FOCUS
Pick up a copy of Focus ® Mid-South at locations near you. Check out
focuslgbt.com for the most up-to-date list of spots where the magazine is
distributed. Want to carry Focus ® Mid-South? Call us at 901.800.1172 or email
info@focuslgbt.com.
Give a subscription to someone, or treat yourself. Yearly subscriptions are $25;
subscribe on focuslgbt.com.
Published by
Ray Rico Freelance, LLC
901.800.1172 | info@focuslgbt.com | focuslgbt.com
STORIES: editor@focuslgbt.com
BE PART OF THE MARCH+APRIL ISSUE
NERD
ADVERTISING
+ FINANCE
billing@rayricofreelance.com
Deadline for story and advertising submission is February 9, 2024
4 Creativity | Jan+Feb 2024 | focuslgbt.com