2024 Issue 2 Mar/Apr Focus - Mid-South Magazine

Serving the Mid-South LGBT+ Community and its Allies | Mar+Apr 2024 

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NERD 

LO NORMAN 

MASKED MULTI- 

HYPHENATE NERD 

OF YOUR DREAMS 

THE MEMPHIS CHESS 

CLUB, NATURALLY 

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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 

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4 Nerd Music | | Mar+Apr Nov+Dec 2024 2023 | | 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! 

Quailvarious Brown 

(they/them) 

Quailvarious Brown is writer and 

journalism student at University of 

Memphis. Originally from Union City, 

TN, they now live in Memphis. 

Tricia Dewey 

(she/her) 

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. 

Minnassa Gabon 

(she/her) 

Minnassa Gabon is a Southern 

Californian now living in the Mid- 

South. She is the C.E.O. of Minnassa 

Wellness, a psychic intuitive, 

Reiki Master, and the Chair of 

OUTMemphis’ Senior Services. 

Jordan Occasionally 

(they/he) 

Jordan Occasionally, or JD, is an independent dance 

pop/R&B artist and activist from Memphis, TN. A beloved 

community organizer, they also serve as an Artist Advisor 

on the Music Export Memphis Board. 

William Smythe 

(he/him) 

William is a local writer and poet. He has been 

published in multiple magazines, both online and 

in print, and works with the community creative 

workshop collective, Memphis Writers. 

Other Contributors 

Salamander Brandy 

Kelly Seagraves 

Jonathan Cross 

Kim Strickland 

Have a story that needs to be told? Pitch your story ideas to editor@focuslgbt.com 

Mar+Apr 2024 | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 5

CONTENTS | Mar+Apr 2024 

5 CONTRIBUTORS 

7 THEME: NERD 

8 COMMUNITY 

How Memphis Public Libraries became an oasis 

for LGBTQ+ readers 

12 TRAVEL 

Three outdoor enthusiast groups share the many 

nerdy wonders of Memphis’ nature scene 

16 COMMUNITY 

Nerd Night, and the deep history of the renowned 

Memphis Chess Club 

18 ORIGINAL MEMPHIS 

Our We Saw You OUT series documents proud 

LGBTQ locals. Look out for yourself or a friend! 

20 LIFE 

Lo Norman: streamer, filmmaker, masked 

multidisciplinary artist, and self-proclaimed nerd 

24 ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT 

Theater nerds of Opera Memphis delve into the 

fascinating and surprisingly queer world of opera 

28 LIFE 

Let’s come together to understand the facts and 

realities of the HIV/AIDS epidemic 

30 MUSIC 

Our new column featuring Jordan Occasionally 

highlights 8 amazing songs by LGBTQ artists 

32 ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT 

An essay and artwork as part of Prism Pages, No. 11 

36 LIFE 

Psychic intuitive Minnassa Gabon shares March + 

April horoscope readings for every sign! 

38 LIFE 

Don’t panic this tax season: Nerd out with these 

useful financial tips 

ON THE COVER 

Lo Norman 

photo by Jasmine Smith 

Find the story on page 20 

ON THIS PAGE 

photo courtesy of 


Find the story on page 16 

6 Nerd | Mar+Apr 2024 | focuslgbt.com

theme 


community 

Reading 

the 

Rainbow 

Memphis Public Libraries, Safe Havens 

for LGBTQ+ Book Lovers 

by Kelly Seagraves 


Rainbow Storytime with drag performer 

Moth Moth Moth 

photo courtesy Jamie Griffin 

1st page and above: Pride Fest 2023 at 

the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library 

photos courtesy Dylan Miller 

Butterfly at Pride Fest 2023 

photo courtesy Jamie Griffin 

Memphis is lucky. Our 

library system is unique in 

that it's the only system in 

the United States to have 

won the National Medal 

for Museum and Library 

Services twice. Our libraries 

serve as community hubs, 

offering socially conscious 

programming to address 

the needs of our city's 

diverse population. Over the 

past decade, there has been 

a growing emphasis on 

LGBTQIA+ inclusivity within 

our library spaces. Queer 

book nerds rejoice, for in 

the cozy corners of our local 

libraries, the presence of 

LGBTQIA+ literature offers 

the opportunity to find a 

voice that resonates with 

your own. 

I recently had the honor of 

speaking with several staff 

members at the Benjamin 

L. Hooks Central Library, 

located in Midtown at 3030 

Poplar Avenue, about their 

initiatives to create a safe 

and welcoming environment 

for the Memphis queer 

community - especially the 

bibliophiles among us. 

When asked about 

visual markers indicating 

the library's commitment 

to LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, 

Dylan Miller, Public 

Services Supervisor for 

the Humanities, cited their 

use of creative, colorful 

LGBTQ-focused book 

displays. These displays are 

not limited to Pride Month, 

either! No, these bookish 

beacons of queerness are 

scattered throughout the 

library year-round, and cater 

to all ages. 

"When people come in, 

if they see those books, 

they'll notice and know 

that it is a safe, welcoming 

space for them," says 

Jessica Clark, Public 

Services Supervisor for the 

Children's Department. 

As we spoke, I couldn't 

help but notice Jessica's 

rainbow lanyard. On that, 

she remarked," Yeah! 

Staff members often wear 

lanyards adorned with pride 

symbols, signaling to visitors 

that they are approachable 

and supportive!" 

The library takes a 

proactive approach to 

ensuring its collection 

is diverse and inclusive, 

catering to the interests and 

identities of book nerds of 

all ages. Jessica informed 

me of a massive diversity 

audit that was recently 

conducted for the children's 

department. Staff members 


went through their entire 

collection, book by book, 

analyzing representation 

on book covers, authorship, 

and content. This audit 

later informed substantial 

book orders to fill gaps 

in their collection. While 

these projects are 

enormous, time-consuming 

undertakings, the staff 

agreed they are crucial to 

keeping the library a space 

where representation and 

diversity are honored. Dylan 

noted that they hope to do 

diversity audits for other 

departments, as well as 

other branches within the 

library system, in the future. 

When it comes to 

LGBTQIA+ events, the 

library shows up and shows 

out for the community with 

an annual Pride Fest. It's an 

event funded by the Friends 

of the Library, a flagship 

initiative active since 2019. 

The festivities begin with a 

themed night time affair for 

adults called "Proud Out 

Loud," featuring a dance 

party and drag bingo. The 

following day is the main 

event, which features games 

and fun activities for all 

ages. There, the library 

hosts an array of local nonprofit 

organizations and 

businesses, inviting them 

to set up tables and forge 

face-to-face relationships 

with community members. 

To top it off, through a grant 

provided by International 

Paper, the library was able 

to distribute around $2500 

worth of books last year to 

children, tweens, and teens. 

Pride Fest is big with 

teens and tweens, many of 

whom show up hand-inhand 

with a date wearing 

pride flags as capes. 

"It's so fulfilling to see 

because you can tell that's 

possibly their first Pride," 

Jessica shared. 

Supportive parents of 

LGBTQIA+ kids often attend 

and will pull staff members 

aside to thank them for 

hosting such a wholesome, 

all-ages event. 

The most beloved event 

among younger attendees 

is Rainbow Family Story 

Time, which started with 

the first Pride Fest and 

has continued monthly at 

different library branches 

ever since. The goal is 

to reach diverse families 

throughout Memphis, 

addressing specific themes 

such as "love is love" 

and transgender family 

experiences. 

Dylan Miller beamed as 

she recounted the Rainbow 

Family Story Time at 2023's 

Pride Fest. "Each year that 

we've had it in person, Miss 

Mothie (a well-known local 

LGBTQIA+ activist and drag 

performer) comes through 

the meeting space, and we 

do a little parade. This was 

Jessica's idea, and I love it!" 

Jessica and Dylan 

described how the kids 

proudly marched through 

the room waving little pride 

flags, following Miss Mothie, 

who danced ahead of them, 

while the crowd clapped 

and cheered them on. The 

room was light with joy and 

laughter … and bubbles. 

Yes, bubbles. Because what 

kind of Pride parade doesn't 

include a bubble blower? 

With the help of a grant 

from the American Library 

Association (ALA), Cossitt 

Library hosted a weeklong 

event centering the Black 

queer community. The event 

series featured a workshop 

on writing love letters to 

yourself, a Black Queer 

History talk, a "Celebrate 

Yourself" portrait workshop, 

yoga and self-care lessons, 

a movie night, an outdoor 

open mic night, and a panel 

discussion about cultivating 

creative dreams. 

Beyond its programming 

and events, the library is 

committed to supporting 

its LGBTQIA+ staff 

through its Spectrum 

Employee Resource 

Group, an employee-run 

initiative for all City of 

Memphis employees. The 

group offers networking 

opportunities, with HR and 

DEI (Diversity, Equity & 

Inclusion) representatives 

present to address 

questions and concerns. 

The library also provides 

comprehensive training for 

supervisors and managers 

on equity, diversity, and 

inclusion, emphasizing a 

zero-tolerance stance on 

bullying and harassment. 

A notable aspect of staff 

support is the explicit HR 

policy addressing the rights 

and resources of trans or 

non-binary staff members. 

This internal policy ensures 

a smooth transitioning 

process within the 

workplace, and the library 

emphasizes the importance 

of respecting pronouns and 

names. Anthony Lucatelli, 

a Library Customer Service 

Assistant at Central who 

identifies as non-binary, 

described the policy as 

"heartening," as it lays out in 

no uncertain terms that all 

employee gender identities 

are valid and accepted. 

They went on to say, "I've 

seen it in practice! Across 

MPL, pronouns, names, and 

identities are respected." 

So, my little bookworms, 

in case you were looking for 

another reason to browse 

the stacks in search of 

your new favorite fantasy 

romance or sci-fi novel, let 

this be your reminder that 

the library is a safe space for 

ALL who visit. 

ALL ARE WELCOME! 

PRIDE-THEMED 

LIBRARY CARD CONTEST 

FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS 

MARCH 12 • 6 PM 

BENJAMIN L. HOOKS CENTRAL LIBRARY 

CARDS WILL BE IN CIRCULATION IN JUNE 

Follow on Instagram @memphislibrary for updates. 

Library signage by Jessica Clark 

photo courtesy Laura Bontrager 


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travel 

Blue Tones in 

Green Spaces 

Outdoor enthusiasts in Memphis 

on the many wonders of nature 

by William Smythe 


Growing up in Memphis, one of the most forested cities 

in the South, if not the United States, I have developed a 

fondness for nature. 

Dad took my sisters and me for regular walks, 

enlightening us about all these green spaces. Sometimes, 

it was just an overgrown vacant lot. But we went for hikes, 

too, along the Old Growth Trails in Overton Park. There, 

I admired tall poplars, rich oaks, and sweetly-scented 

hickories. Ferns and ivy tickled my hands. It became a 

refuge. 

Back in college, I would find myself roaming the Montana 

hills and valleys, just breathing in the Douglas pines and 

arrow leaves whenever I had a bad day. So, I reached out 

to Queer Memphis Hikes, curious if they shared that solace. 

"Nature doesn't judge who you are or how you show up," 

Jazmin and Iris of Queer Memphis Hikes tell me. 

Jazmin and Iris said going for regular hikes helps them to 

tune in to themselves and each other. Some of the things 

that stand out to them have been the many ecological 

features endemic to the Mid-South's green history. 

"Like, woah," the two exclaim. "Look at that cool rock! 

How many million years ago was it formed?" Or, even, 

"Why do swamp oaks have those weird but funky exposed 

roots?" 

Queer Memphis Hike members are either amateurs 

or experts, many of which are mycologists and 

paleontologists who are familiar with the local plants and 

wildlife and can even break down the small animal tracks 

around our feet as we walk. 

"Some point out mushroom varieties at T.O. Fuller State 

Park. Other members track native flowers and plants. 

We've even had entomologists give us insights about 

the critters above our heads. It's fascinating how people 

interact with nature, some even stopping to take photos, 

able to capture small changes in our landscape," they said. 

The hiking group has spent time around Meeman-Shelby, 

going out to explore the trails in the scorching summer or 

cool spring and fall mornings. But perhaps soon, they'll 

check out Konstantin Dimopoulos's new exhibit Blue Trees 

along the Wolf River Greenway. Dimopoulos, the visual 

artist responsible for Blue Trees, hails from a desert in 

Egypt, where he did not see rain until he was five. 

"It's interesting," says Dimopoulos, "that the Sahara, and 

most parts of now-desiccated northern Africa, had once 

been green and alive, pocked with lakes, rivers, grasslands, 

and forests. So many places change quickly." 

While living in Colorado, Dimopoulos learned about 

deforestation caused by the mountain pine beetle. 

"One in 14 trees are dead in Colorado," he informs me. 

"In fact, that number has increased to about 30 percent 

since 2010." 

Blue Trees is Dimopoulos' response to this phenomenon. 

By painting the trees with non-toxic chalk paint, parts of 

that state's ecology stand out. Since blue trees don't exist 

in nature, it causes the hiker to stop and focus on the trees 

around them, admiring the beauty while it's here. 

Nature doesn't 

judge who you 

are or how you 

show up. 

Konstantin Dimopoulos’ installation, Blue Trees 

all photos courtesy of William Smythe. 


Rather than 

adapting nature 

to our cities, we 

should probably try 

adapting our cities 

to nature! 

"The reality is none of our forests or landscapes are free 

from ending up like deserts. We must become aware and 

work to preserve trees globally and locally," he says. Blue 

Trees grew from the Denver area of Colorado to all over 

the country, leading us to the exhibit along our Wolf River. 

"A lot of people ask me why Memphis, Germantown? It's 

a beautiful city, first of all. But, it's the people we met who 

made the difference," says Dimopolous. 

People like Cat Peña, a Public Art & Design Manager in 

Memphis, who took a big risk to bring this work to our city. 

"Initially," Dimopolous admits, "we began the installation 

as a guerrilla work. But it has morphed and organically 

changed into an installation that brought inclusion with 

communities, with cities." 

Dimopolous isn't alone in bringing art to nature, however. 

Local art company Belleau+Churchill worked alongside 

him to bring their project Tree Tones to fruition. They, just 

like their contemporary, try to bring the hiker's attention to 

parts of our local environment. 

"For us, nature is an inspiration but also a refuge. 

Nature gives us opportunities to slow down, reset, and 

refresh. Walking is important to us. We talk a lot on walks. 

Sometimes, it's ideas. Sometimes, it's about what we're 

observing. Being in nature helps us practice mindful 

looking and listening." 

For their project, certain trees are set to specific tones 

inherent to those species themselves: Bald Cypress, 

Hackberry, Hickory, PawPaw, Sweetgum, and Water Oak. 

But, they aren't just interested in bringing us to nature, but 

also nature to us. When I asked if they had any suggestions 

for how the city can adapt to nature, Belleau + Churchill 

suggested: "Rather than adapting nature to our cities, we 

should probably try adapting our cities to nature!" 

"Nature is everywhere," say Belleau + Churchill. 

"One thing that immediately stood out to us when 

we first moved to Memphis is the number of trees in 

neighborhoods and the size of those trees. There's a 

direct correlation between the number of trees in a 

neighborhood and health outcomes for residents, with 

more trees equating to better health. Things like pollinator 

gardens or even replacing lawn grass with clover or native 

ground cover bring birds, butterflies, and bees and even 

reduce excessive lawn care. Even just mulching your leaves 

will invite nature back into the city. Leaving leaves on the 

ground over winter provides habitat for fireflies." 

One thing these Memphis Queer Hikes, Konstantin 

Dimopoulos, and Belleau + Churchill can definitely agree 

on is that nature is necessary to our lives, whether it's 

through health, appreciation, art, or even our mental well 

being. 

I'll leave you with this quote from Robert Lydon provided 

by Dimopoulos: "We need all art as we need all nature; 

there is a balance in both." 

And indeed, that is on display with the Blue Trees and 

Tree Tones installations, standing proudly at the blessed 

banks of our Wolf River. 

Belleau + Churchill’s installation, Tree Tones 


MARCH 3, 2024 

4:30-7:00 PM 

MEMPHIS SPORTS & EVENTS CENTER 

995 Early Maxwell Blvd, Memphis, TN 38104 

Scan the QR Code 

for more details and to 

purchase tickets! 

TEP 

GUMBO 

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A Benefit for the Tennessee Equality Project 

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community 

Let’s 

"Rook 'n 

Roll" 

Behind Memphis Chess 

Club’s fascinating history 

and Nerd Nite 

by Ray Rico 

The Memphis Chess 

Club, the second-oldest in 

the United States, is more 

than just a chess haven; 

it's a lively, welcoming 

community hub and cafe 

with a deep cultural history. 

Beyond the game of 

kings, this club in downtown 

Memphis offers a unique 

blend of intellectual 

stimulation, camaraderie, 

and an inclusive 

environment. They have a 

full menu with delightful 

options and delicious drinks. 

They even have guest 

memberships, merch, and a 

reward program for patrons. 

But you don't have to be a 

member to play or eat. 

Nerd Nite is Memphis 

Chess Club's monthly 

gathering, inspired by 

the Nerd Nite at the now 

defunct bar, Rec Room. 

The night is a gateway 

for first-time visitors to 

learn about Chess Club. 

But Nerd Night delves into 

all sorts of fun intellectual 

spaces outside of matches. 

These monthly Nerd Nites 

are known for seamlessly 

combining the worlds of 

chess and nerd culture with 

events like "mini TED talks," 

where enthusiasts delve 

into niche topics anywhere 

from chess, roller derby, 

metallurgy, Memphis history, 

and more. And each night 

maintains a family-friendly 

atmosphere. Speakers have 

included notable figures like 

best-selling author Scott 

McEwen and commentator 

Otis Sanford, and the group 

is constantly planning more 

to feature. After each talk, 

a Q&A session is held to 

foster a welcoming space 

for all curious minds. They 

even have musical acts to 

excite the crowd. 

While most topics are 

embraced, the emphasis is 

on accessible intellectual 

talks. The club aims to 

align these events with its 

mission of supporting chess 

development and building 

a sense of community. 

For instance, every 

purchase during Nerd Nite 

contributes to supporting 

chess tournaments and 

maintaining a dedicated 

brick-and-mortar venue—a 

rarity even in larger cities. 

As for the future, the 


remains open to new ideas. 

The upcoming speakers 

for Nerd Nite are typically 

announced on social media. 

Jim Adelman, the driving 

force behind Nerd Nite, 

always seeks passionate 

individuals who are willing 

to share their knowledge. 

The club encourages 

anyone interested, whether 

a chess player or not, to 

reach out and get involved. 

In essence, the Memphis 

Chess Club, with its 

dynamic Nerd Nite and 

multifunctional space, 

stands as a beacon of 

intellectual exploration, 

community engagement, 

and chess appreciation. 

To stay updated, learn 

more, and be part of this 

unique experience, you can 

join the Nerd Nite Memphis's 

Facebook group. You can 

also explore their monthly 

events on social media 

platforms and their website, 

memphischessclub.com. 

FRI • MAR 15, 2024 

7-9P 

Monthly on the third Friday 


photos courtesy of Memphis Chess Club 

Memphis Chess 

Club History 

1877 

1907 

1914 

The Memphis Chess Club is founded by a group 

of local businessmen led by Dudley Saunders, the 

club's first President. The MCC meets in various 

locations, including the historic Exchange Building 

and Downtown YMCA, now their neighbors along 

Madison Avenue. 

Memphis Chess Club co-hosts the World Chess 

Championship match between Emanuel Lasker 

and Frank Marshall, with games in the Chamber of 

Commerce on Monroe Avenue. 

MCC President Bradford Jefferson wins the Western 

Open, receiving two sterling trophies now displayed 

in the MCC headquarters. Bradford's sister, Rosa 

Jefferson, edits a chess column in the Memphis 

Commercial Appeal from 1903 until the early 1930s. 

Western Open aka 15th U.S. Open in Memphis TN at Business Men's Club (1914) 

1978 

2020 

The MCC hosts the U. S. Junior Championship at 

Memphis State University (now the University of 

Memphis). 

After years of planning, Casey Hill and club officers 

Jonathan Wade, Alex King, and Gary Pylant 

reinvent the MCC as a full-service chess club and 

cafe located at 195 Madison Avenue—returning 

downtown where it all started! 

* Compiled from the research of MCC Historian Dwight Weaver. 

INTO CHESS? 

Check out the Memphis 

Chess Club Newsletter 


original memphis 

We saw 

you 

OUT 

We love finding our people out in the wild! 

If FOCUS has stopped by to say hello to you 

while at any of the great LGBTQ events here in 

Memphis, odds are we’ve asked to document 

your good time. See if you spot yourself, a 

friend, or someone you’d like to get to know! 


life 

Lo Norman: 

Masked Multihyphenate 

Nerd 

of Your Dreams 

Why multi-talented artist and 

streamer Lo Norman reclaims 

the once derogatory term 

by Quailvarious Brown 


Self portrait from Lo’s photography portfolio 

Cel Shade performs at David Yancy fashion show 

Poison JamZ album cover by Cel Shade 

Lo at TONE Memphis 

Self-described nerd Lo Norman (she/they) embodies what 

it means to be an artist. In an age where things can seem 

rushed or unoriginal, the imaginative universe Lo's created 

lets them do all she loves and show off her creativity, which 

isn't limited to just one thing. Lo is a live streamer, music 

composer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist. It's only 

natural that her versatile abilities have brought her such 

special opportunities and supporters. As a live streamer, Lo 

enjoys playing obscure and underground games on Twitch 

and YouTube under the tag This Is LowKey. 

"I love everything from action-adventure, horror, RPGs, deep 

storylines, retro stuff, geek culture & all types of weeb shit," 

says Lo. 

She started streaming online nine years ago with her 

partner for fun. 

"Back then, when we started, there was no incentive to 

make money from it," says Lo. "We just wanted to play with 

our friends." 

The This Is LowKey moniker is a conjunction of their names, 

Lolo and Key. Key also goes by the tag Bathwaterwhiskey. 

The pair began building their platform with classics like 

Final Fantasy IX and Sonic the Hedgehog. 

Lo says when it comes to finding people to connect with, 

there is nowhere like Memphis. She is embraced by the local 

nerd community here, which allows her to thrive in a city full 

of captivating and gifted people. 

"If you don’t have that community of people who aren’t 

going to judge you, then there will be nobody to support 

you and get your stuff seen," says Lo. 


I surround myself with like-minded people, and it really helps 

me stay motivated when I see and hear what they got going on. 

Beyond streaming video games, Lo's creative realm 

extends to experimental music and performances under 

the alias Cel Shade. 

"If you had to put a genre to it, it would be vaporwave," 

says Lo. 

Lo says it is hard to define her experimental music style. 

Especially as Cel Shade adds an extra dimension to her 

music through an innovative use of visual elements, like Y2K 

imagery, themes of arcade and cyber core, and liminal space. 

"Project Pat is my inspiration, musically," Lo says, "Soundwise, 

we are very different, but he is my inspiration because 

we are both Memphians." 

Lo has released 13 albums, with Poison JamZ, released 

June 2021, being the most recent, as well as other 

albums released under another alias. She enjoys letting 

her imagination blossom in all of her art, especially 

photography. Lo describes it as manipulative photography 

that usually involves themes like social commentary, race 

relations, and dark subject matter. 

"I try to paint this world in my photography and take you to 

this other realm," she says. 

Recently, a once-in-a-lifetime artistic opportunity presented 

itself when Lo and her co-director, screenwriter and partner 

Juniper Crawford, were awarded a $15,000 IndieGrant 

courtesy of Indie Memphis. 

Lo and Juniper’s short is now one of 25 projects awarded 

the IndieGrant, an initiative that helps fund short films 

made in Memphis. 

"I felt honored, proud, and seen," Lo says. "I get to turn my 

queer horror into a reality and see it on the big screen." 

They did not have high hopes when they submitted their 

queer horror script to Indie Memphis in August of 2023. Lo 

and Juniper had to wait three months for Indie Memphis's 

response to determine if they would win. Lo admits that 

the adventure of making their forthcoming film, "Friend 

Shaped," has been quite mind-boggling. 

Lo’s love of music, art and horror is evident in the intense 

way she talks about the subjects, and is why she doesn’t 

mind being called a “nerd.” 

Originally derogatory, people like Lo are reclaiming the term 

“nerd.” Being a nerd is no longer something to be ashamed 

of. The term is not a ticket to eat lunch alone while crying 

in a dirty bathroom surrounded by profanity smeared on 

the walls with a sharpie. Nerd culture is just a parallel to 

what queerness is, which is being unconventional and 

authentically yourself. 

"Being a nerd is just being yourself and truly being a fanatic 

and passionate about something you like," Lo says. 

Follow Lo at @lolodahoho_ for updates on shows and her 

and Juniper’s upcoming film, Friend Shaped. 

CORRECTION: Our NERD print issue fails to credit Juniper 

Crawford as co-director to the upcoming film, Friend 

Shaped. This fact has been corrected in both our virtual 

issue and blog post. 

All photos courtesy Lo Norman 


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arts+entertainment 

Opera, 

Oh, Opera! 

Opera Memphis, La Calisto, and the 

unique queerness of theater 

by Tricia Dewey 

Pinafore. All photos by Ziggy Mack 


Pagliacci Serse, Opera Neo, August 2021. Courtesy Stephanie Doche Opera Memphis 

Art starts telling us that things exist on a spectrum. 

When a piece is written, if approached appropriately, it really 

goes toward basic ideas of what it means to be human. 

Now, this is asked with the utmost respect: Is there 

anything nerdier than opera nerds? Ned Canty, Opera 

Memphis' General Director and Stage Director for the 

upcoming La Calisto, along with Jonathan King, Opera 

Memphis' Music Director, both embrace that idea. 

Canty says, "I think of a nerd as someone who is deeply 

in love with a type of art or culture that does not fit into 

traditional notions of what 'real men' or 'real women' 

should be into. The most important tenet for me is that 

you love the thing without worrying about whether other 

people think you should." So, in other words, don't worry 

about flying your opera nerd flag. 

The city of Memphis has dramatically benefited from 

opera nerds since the founding of Opera Memphis in 

1956. The Metropolitan Opera and other companies 

had performed in Memphis before, but Opera Memphis 

brought opportunities for year-round opera performances 

not yet seen before. Canty says Opera Memphis has 

grown and evolved since then, most recently moving 

its headquarters from East Memphis to the PeCo 

neighborhood in late 2023, closer to the art center of 

Memphis. The 2023-2024 season brings a mix of opera 

standards and more modern offerings, such as the 

"Variations on a Theme" series, which presented various 

music connected to the words of poet Langston Hughes 

last month. 

Both Canty and King agreed that opera could be viewed 

as a kind of heightened musical theater. Canty says that 

many people have stereotypical ideas about opera that 

have been established by popular culture from Looney 

Tunes' Bugs Bunny to Seinfeld to Pretty Woman. However, 

those stereotypical notions only represent a small slice of 

the genre. In the course of a three- or four-year production 

cycle, Opera Memphis presents a mix of standards that 

people know well like, Carmen and La Boheme, balanced 

by either Opera Memphis original works or relatively new 

pieces. This season, Opera Memphis was interested in 

La Calisto. It's a baroque opera that is rarely performed, 

especially compared to romantic pieces of the 19th and 

20th centuries, but is quite interesting to watch due to the 

cultural and societal questions it raises. 

Canty says opera is relevant now because "art starts 

telling us that things exist on a spectrum. When a piece is 

written, if approached appropriately, it really goes toward 

basic ideas of what it means to be human. In the case 

of La Calisto, which was written 400 years ago, it looks 

at ideas of what it means to be a man, or a woman, or a 

lover, or a follower, or any of these things, basic questions 

that every person, every human being, every society asks 

themselves." In prehistoric times, people answered these 

questions with the gods, who turned into the Greek and 

Roman gods, who turned into the characters in this opera. 

La Calisto is part of Opera Memphis' Masterworks 

series and will be performed with period-appropriate 

instruments. In La Calisto the character of Santorini, the 

little satyr, is a boy going through puberty. Characters like 

that were often played by women for comedic purposes. 

The casting also plays with voice and costume, similar to 

some characters in Shakespeare and other theaters. 

Another interesting characterization is that of Jove, 

who transforms himself into the character of Diana to 

seduce Calisto. The same singer plays both Diana and 

Jove, who looks like Diana. Canty says the casting begged 

the question about drag performance, a hot topic now 

for several state legislators. Just this past June, Memphisbased 

drag group Friends of George won a lawsuit that 

deemed a recent anti-drag law unconstitutional. 

Canty concluded, "The characterizations in La Calisto 

highlighted the notion that a really wide variety of drag 

and gender fluidity was happening for hundreds of years 

in this art form and others, and that it was (a) something 

to celebrate and (b) underlined how ridiculous that law 


Serse, Opera Neo, August 2021. Courtesy Stephanie Doche 

Pinafore 

was. The question is, what does it mean to define yourself 

in one way and have someone else define you in another 

way? They are basic human questions that are not new and 

have not been scattered into people's minds by a liberal 

conspiracy." 

Looking forward in opera, Jonathan King is hoping to 

bring awareness to transgender issues. He says, "As a 

community we're discovering and working through how 

we celebrate and utilize transgender singers. One opera 

I am thinking of most is Stonewall from 2019, which is 

about the Stonewall Riots in New York City in the 1960s. 

It incorporated a transgender role played by an actual 

transgender singer in the opera, and I think this just 

continues this narrative that has been around as long as 

opera and stage performance has been around." 

King is in his first year with the company, and in his 

first directorship, he feels joyful and fortunate to be in 

Memphis. He started in music as a pianist, then realized 

his love for collaboration with other musicians. King 

loves to sing and began exploring the genre of opera. He 

describes opera as an over-the-top experience, "I mean, 

it's just singers singing their hearts out about the most 

passionate subjects of love, lust, and murder, and all these 

things. It's just larger than life in so many ways. And once 

I got hooked on those two things together, working with 

singers, the love of the story, and the dramaticism of the 

story, it was kind of a no-brainer for me." 

Canty has been at Opera Memphis since 2011 after 

first training in theater as an actor and then as a director. 

Canty enjoys interacting with singers, many of whom have 

expressed their gratitude for the time he takes talking 

about their motivation, characters, and backstories as an 

opera director, a thing not all directors offer. Canty is not a 

singer but is glad to bring his rare skill set to opera. He was 

a freelance director for a very long time before making the 

choice to find a company to direct. Then, Canty needed a 

city with at least one of everything: a symphony, a ballet, 

and "a place big enough to have those things and small 

enough that I could get to know my audience." Luckily, 

there was Memphis. 

"When I tell my colleagues that people come up to me 

at Kroger and tell me what they thought about the last 

show, some of them think I'm complaining about that, 

and it's the opposite. You want a city where you can get 

to know the people, where it's your job to serve them. 

That's one of the best parts of Memphis," said Canty. 

Canty is figuring out how this opera art form fits within 

a city of music like Memphis, "I am a musical omnivore and 

always finding the links and similarities between opera 

and rock, soul, gospel, hip hop, and the blues, of course, 

everything that we do here musically in Memphis with our 

history, exploring the overlap. How does opera intersect 

with those things?" 

What is the path to becoming an opera nerd? Well, 

Canty says that he didn't like the first opera he ever saw, 

so he suggests testing out a couple types of opera—a 

serious opera, a comic opera, an opera in English. Opera 

Memphis tries to program one of each every season to 

provide an on-ramp for audiences. He says he directed La 

Calisto for the first time in Portland, Oregon in 2007, and 

there were many people in their 20s and 30s who were 

not a stereotypical opera audience. Some of them had fun 

dressing up in Victorian tailcoats and the extremity of this 

idea of opera. 

Some of these stories are over 2000 years old but have 

lasted, which speaks to their universality. Canty describes 

La Calisto as an opera that alternates between comic and 

serious. It's about falling in love, falling in love with the 

wrong person sometimes, what it feels like to love that 

person, maybe to lose them, and what happens when the 

people whose job it is to protect all of us are not as good 

at their job as they should be. It's also similar to Percy 

Jackson's books, with gods and goddesses in the opera 

allowing a real immediacy to the story. 

"La Calisto is a little more adult in theme than 

something like the Percy Jackson books, but if you like a 

good, sexy, lusty, pot-boiler of a show with some magic 

and some dancing and some singing, you would be 

hard-pressed to find anything better," said Canty. 

Actually, it may be time for all of us to start flying our 

opera nerd flag. 

La Calisto will be at Playhouse on the Square on 

March 22-23 with English subtitles. 


CROSS THE 

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Shelby County, like many other communities within our Tri-State areas, grapples with challenges posed by the HIV 

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Recognizing the importance of support, Shelby County 

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MSML 

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Ryan White/EHE Program 

SOURCE: CDC HIV Surveillance Report. www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/hiv-surveillance/vol-34/content/tables.html 

TESTING SITES: endhiv901.org RESOURCES: 

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music 

Queer Up Your Playlist 

Attention music nerds and lovers... 

This one's for you! 

by Jordan Occasionally 

Queer Up Your Playlist is our new series featuring cleverly curated music by LGBTQ artists— 

many of them local, all of them southern. Each issue'll have a freshly curated list by a local 

musician or music expert (available to listen via the QR code), starting with Jordan Occasionally! 

Jordan Occasionally (they/he) is a Memphis-based independent dance pop/R&B artist and 

activist with over 1.5 million streams. The recent Memphis Flyer 20 under 30 recipient serves as 

Artist Advisor on the Music Export Memphis Board, was featured in Genius Open Mic Stage, and was 

nominated for the Trailblazer Award in our 8th annual Focus Midsouth Award ceremony. While you're 

listening to their top 8, be sure to check out Jordan’s new single, Say Less. It’s a vibe. 

Casual by Chappell Roan 

First of all, "knee deep in the passenger's seat and you're 

eating me out, is it casual now," is a lyric I wish I could've 

written. When I found out Chappell Roan was also from 

Tennessee, I was instantly obsessed. The music video for this 

song features a black siren who lures men to their death but 

makes out with women. It's just so sapphic. How could I not 

enjoy it?! There's a reason why they call her a princess. 

G.A.Y. by Chris Pierce 

First of all, the title of this song was enough to get me to 

press "Repeat." I found Chris Pierce on TikTok and met him 

in Toronto at last year's NXNE Festival when we were both 

headliners. Watching him perform "G.A.Y.," which stands for 

"Gay and Young," was a blast. His high-heeled boots and crop 

top shirt made me fall in love with the pride that this song 

brings. Such a hit. 

Glow 88 by Ariel J 

I'm always here for a feel-good rap anthem, and "Glow 88" 

by Ariel J is just that. It's about three minutes of confidence, 

and every lyric could be a caption. I love Queer rappers 

that know their worth, and Ariel J is definitely not one to be 

messed with. This song is perfect for any feel-good playlist 

because it's about self-worth and knowing what you deserve. 

I love when lesbians talk their ish. 

Green Ribbon by Louise Page 

"I wanna see you dance the way you dance in your 

kitchen!" Louise Page is full of feminist anthems. One 

thing Louise always does best is keep the spirit of live 

instrumentation on recordings alive. So many songs these 

days have fake instruments, but not Louise Page's. You'll hear 

a fiddle, a trumpet, and a live piano all on the same track. 

The music video features gorgeous drag queens, too, so you 

know I had to stan. 

Just We by Mak Ro ft. 

Jordan Occasionally 

Maybe I'm a little biased, but I had to add a verse to this 

song once I heard the Afrobeat feel. This song feels like 

drinking mimosas with your bae under umbrellas on the Miami 

beach. I'm a sucker for Mak Ro's breezy vocals layered over 

string instruments. It just screams "sex-y!" Definitely add this 

to your spring playlist. 

Papa Please by Talibah Safiya ft. 

MadameFraankie 

The Talibah Safiya and Madame Fraankie combo has yet to 

be topped. I got a chance to watch them perform this song 

before it was released at Talibah's album release party, and I 

was instantly hooked. Listening to this duo is always a spiritual 

experience, and the constant time changes in the song show 

so much skill that can't be put into words. They are singlehandedly 

bringing blues back to the mainstream. 

Tiptoe by Celest 

There's something so sultry about sweet singers like Celest. 

She just leaves me hanging on every word with this song. 

Knowing that she produced and wrote this all by herself is 

enough to make me a stan. Celest is bringing romance back to 

R&B. No shade to hook-up culture, but this song makes you want 

to fall in love and embrace cuddle season with matching pajamas 

and promise tattoos. Anyone else feel like falling in love? 

Warm by Tangela 

I first met Tangela when she was my roommate for the 

NXNE Festival. Moreover, when I first heard this song, my 

entire soul was warm. Tangela is a boss on the stage, mixing 

her vocals live and hitting notes that are out of this world. Her 

range is insane, and did I mention she's a rapper? Honestly, 

what can't she do? This whole E.P. is underrated, and I think 

everyone should give it a listen. 

photo by London Porchia (@Londonz.eye), 

courtesy Jordan Occasionally 


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arts+entertainment 

no. 11 

Black Otaku 

by Salamander Brandy 

Ever catch yourself daring to live your dreams? To bring 

the driving forces of your imagination into reality. The 

attempt is the difference between labor, that is art and 

labor that simply works. Good art challenges us to think 

differently and moves us emotionally. For me, Anime has 

helped shape me and my view of the world. My love for 

Anime has moved me to want to live to create a more 

colorful reality. Anime is short for animation, but with 

the connotation of being produced in Japan and, more 

recently, Korea. Anime and Manga (the comic version of 

Anime) break through their medium and always have had 

a profound effect on our reality. 

That's where I am at in my life. I want to create a work of 

art that tears the line between reality and fiction and has 

them bleed into each other. That's the reason I love Anime 

because it already brings reality into its fiction, and by 

watching our bit of reality reflected in it can prompt us 

to change it. Anime, more often than not, takes whatever 

the subject matter is and doesn't dumb it down for the 

audience just because it's animated. We are allowed to 

think about real-world concepts and their consequences 

from a safe distance and contemplate solutions before we 

may have to deal with them in our reality. 

I've always been a fan of Anime, especially since my 

uncles who helped raise me were Otaku, who knew the 

best video shops and were a part of the early online 

community. So I had access to a large collection of old 

Anime and became an Otaku, too! What is an Otaku? It is 

the Japanese version of the word "nerd," but more with 

the connotation of being obsessed with a certain aspect 

of pop culture. Both terms have an older denotation 

for someone on the autistic spectrum. I feel the term 

Otaku is appropriate when referring to myself because 

the aspect of pop culture I'm obsessed with is Anime. 

It's like the word "Trekkie" for people like my mom and 

older uncles who love Star Trek. I love Anime. I study 

how it's made and am engrossed by the people who 

make it. When the world was cold and callous towards 

me, Anime was there for me. At my lowest point, I was 

introduced to concepts that would be considered foreign 

here in the West. Anime like Kare Kano or His and Hers 

Circumstances made me feel less lonely because Anime 

exposed me to stories about, or made by, people who 

went through similar hardships in their lives. I try to apply 

the lessons I learn watching different Anime to my life. 

Seeing another culture from the outside allowed me to 

better understand my own and helped me to realize that 

Christianity wasn't for me. I became more cognizant that 

I wasn't inherently evil. I was born Black and feminine in a 

culture that hated femininity on a planet being choked to 

death by white supremacy. 

I'm a Black Otaku. I love the medium but have my 

critiques. I believe to be a true fan of any medium of art, 

philosophy, or political belief, criticism is needed to keep 

them from falling into stagnation and irreverence. That's 

how you keep the fascist out. I'm willing to point out the 

problematic element of any given work. Like the fascist 

undertones of Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan or the 

occasional panty shot of underage characters instead of 

having an actual plot in the story. These things need to 

change in order for Anime to grow. 

As an adult, I am able to bring these criticisms to the real 

world and challenge the hetero-sexism that plagues my 

life. On that note, shows like Revolutionary Girl Utena is a 

super queer Anime that challenges gender roles and gives 

examples of toxic relationships to stay the hell away from. 

Read the rest of the story on focuslgbt.com. 

Salamander Brandy is the Executive Director of the Path of the Holy Hands 

church, the former co-chair of the Memphis-MidSouth DSA, a member of 

Black Lives Matter Memphis and the New Black Panther party. She was 

born and raised in the city of Memphis and is the descendent of Elwood 

Higginbottom, a hero who was lynched by the city of Oxford, Mississippi for 

trying to start a union for sharecroppers. She is on a mission to spread peace 

on planet Earth and to get justice for her family. Until she completes her 

mission, she won’t stop even after her last breath. 

Want to see our full collection of The Prism Pages? Visit our website. 

The Prism Pages is a 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? Email editor@focusmidsouth.com. 

This section is brought to you by the Focus Center Foundation 501(c)3. 

To learn how to support this and become a sponsor, please email info@focuscenterfoundation.org. 


Enter a digital universe born of my tweenage years, where the 

past and the future collide in a mezmerizing dance between preapocalyptic 

innocense and post-apocalyptic introspection. My art 

transcends mere visual representation; it is a living testament 

to the cyclical nature of human existence, weaving a narrative 

that serves as both a captivating history lesson and an enigmatic 

fortune teller. 

— by Jonathan Cross, IG: @oo01010o 

This section is brought to you by the Focus Center Foundation 501(c)3. 

To learn how to support this and become a sponsor, please email info@focuscenterfoundation.org. 


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life 

Minnassa Wellness 

HOROSCOPES 

Psychic intuitive, Minnassa, shares her astrology 

readings for a better March and April 

PISCES 

FEB 20 - MAR 20, 2024 

Element: Water 

Quality: Mutable 

Ruling Planet: Neptune 

Traits: Creative, intuitive, empathetic, 

compassionate, and moody 

New Moon in Pisces: March 10, 2024 

ARIES 

MAR 21 - APR 20, 2024 

Element: Fire 

Quality: Cardinal 

Ruling Planet: Mars 

Traits: Confident, courageous, bold, honest, 

and impatient 

New Moon in Aries: April 8, 2024 

Spring Equinox (Astrological New Year) 

March 19, 2024 – 10:06 pm (Central) 

Lunar Eclipse (March 25) and Solar Eclipse (April 8): transformation, change, spiritual growth. 

Are you an astrology nerd? 

Do you know your big 3: Sun, Moon, and Rising?! How about your North and South nodes? Hunty, there 

is so much more to astrology than your sun sign! Get the facts! Here is a great place to start the journey 

on learning more about your personal astrology: astro.cafeastrology.com. 


ASTROLOGY FOR ALL SIGNS 

ARIES 

(Fire-Cardinal) 

You’re on Fire! Aries season is your time to do it BIG! 

Allow that fire within to guide you to inspired and 

transformative action! 

LIBRA 

(Air-Cardinal) 

Think about it! Take your time. Change your 

perspective and look at this situation from a higher 

vantage point. . 

TAURUS 

(Earth-Fixed) 

Make that move! As you take that step of faith, the 

resources and support you need to move in opulence 

will be there. 

GEMINI 

(Air-Mutable) 

Let it all go. Get out of your head and face forward. The 

time of looking back and living in the past is over. Set 

your face toward the sun and go! 

CANCER 

(Water-Cardinal) 

Collaborate! You don’t have to do it all by yourself. 

Open your heart and make room for those who see 

you and believe in you to offer support and take action 

with and for you. 

LEO 

(Fire-Fixed) 

Oh, yes! Step into your Divine Feminine power: 

Create and celebrate. 

VIRGO 

(Earth-Mutable) 

Rest, relax, and renew. Now is the time to revel in what 

you have created. Now is the time to allow the seeds 

you have planted to begin to sprout. Time to chill! 

Mindfulness in the Workplace 

SCORPIO 

(Water-Fixed) 

Look back for motivation not condemnation. 

Remember the dream in your little kid heart? 

Reconnect with it and bring it to life! 

SAGITTARIUS 

(Fire-Mutable) 

It’s your time to ROAR! Step into your power and move 

like you are the King of Fire! 

CAPRICORN 

(Earth-Cardinal) 

Happy, happy, joy, joy! Take time to celebrate the good 

you have drawn into your life. Yeah baby–it’s all good!! 

AQUARIUS 

(Air-Fixed) 

Oh what a tangled web we weave…Yes, you created a 

mess. Take a step back and breathe. Now clean it up! 

PISCES 

(Water-Mutable) 

Pisces this is your season. Enjoy it all. Connect with 

your heart, set your intentions, and with grace and 

ease manifest your best life! 

@MinnassaWellness 

* These horoscopes are for entertainment and inspirational purposes only. 

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2024 Issue 2 Mar/Apr Focus - Mid-South Magazine

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