2022 Issue 4 Jul/Aug Focus - Mid-Tenn magazine

Serving the Middle Tennessee LGBT+ Community and its Allies | JUL+AUG 2022 

Love 

+Politics 

FREE 

QUEER ACTIVIST 

ODESSA 

KELLY 

RUNNING FOR 

CONGRESS 

WEDDING 

PLANNING 

PERSONAL JOURNEY 

SEX + DATING 

RESOURCES

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

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OF SCIENCE & HISTORY 

OPENING JUNE 4TH 

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+ 

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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

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4 QUEER OUR BODIES ARTISTS • OUR | focuslgbt.com 

CHOICES | focuslgbt.com

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focuslgbt.com | Love+Politics 5

22 

CONTENTS | JUL+AUG 2022 

12 7 THEME 

Love+Politics 

8 

ASK 

ALLIE 

New to gay dating 

10 COMMUNITY 

Mothie sends you infinite love 

11 LIFE 

Summer crush? We’ve got some green 

flags to look for! 

12 

LGBT ADVOCATE 

Meet the activist running to be the first gay 

Black woman in Congress 

16 LIFE 

Planning your queer wedding? Learn from 

this writer’s recent experience! 

20 HEALTH+WELLNESS 

Hand-picked resources and media 

recommendations on sex & love 

22 HOROSCOPES 

What do the stars have in store for us 

this July and August? 

20 

16 

ON THE COVER 

Odessa Kelly 

photo by Jack Tumen 

6 Love+Politics | focuslgbt.com

theme 

“Not having found love 

and finding love are wholly 

incommensurable conditions, 

yet you can cross from one to 

the other in a single day.” 

- Kathryn Schulz, Lost & Found: A Memoir 

"Red Speedo. High Heart Rate" 

Acrylic on canvas, 11.5" x 14" 

by Moth Moth Moth 

focuslgbt.com | Sex+Love 7

life 

Dear 

Allie... 

I'm new to gay dating! 

by Star McGill Goudey 

Dear Allie, 

I recently ended a 6 year relationship. Things were 

never quite right and I couldn’t take the next step. 

Through the pandemic I spent months isolated and 

during that time I found a good therapist to work 

on myself with. The short story is that I realized and 

embraced that I am gay. I broke up with my girlfriend 

and we are working on staying friends. I don’t know 

how to date gay men! So much of what I know is 

based on straight relationships and that doesn't 

seem to apply here. Or does it? I know how to use 

dating apps and the local gay bar offers chances to 

meet new people but I’m feeling so stressed! I have 

recently developed a core group of really great gay 

friends and we have all done a lot of talking about 

dating. I want to gather more perspectives. Do you 

have any tips about dating? 

Yours, 

Gay Dating Newb 

Prostock-studio /Shutterstock.com 


Dear GDN, 

Thank you for reaching out! I am so happy for you! You 

are out learning about and becoming your truest self! 

Dating is always challenging, and so is learning something 

new at first. I applaud you too, for seeking out more 

information. It's a trait that will be appreciated by the right 

partner as well! See? You are already off to a great start! 

Please don’t feel alone in recognizing how stressful dating 

was becoming for you. Dating can become all consuming 

and overwhelming. It requires much of our time, emotion, 

and thought. I have some tips I think may help. 

First, it helps to think about how queer people usually 

date from a much smaller pool than the straight people 

around us. So we can often end up dating friends, and 

friends of friends, exes of friends, and staying friends with 

those we have dated. This is why it is important to always 

conduct yourself with honesty and empathy and have 

a good knowledge of yourself, are healing any traumas, 

and know how to put solid healthy boundaries in place. 

Because it takes those traits to function in a healthy way in 

a community. From your letter, it sounds like you are well 

into the self-knowledge journey. 

Another one of the challenges of LGBTQ+ dating, 

especially if you are a late-in-lifer, is that growing up most 

of us were surrounded by our straight peers and family 

members who modeled dating and relationship behaviors. 

Although those may not have been healthy relationships, 

they were at least visible to us in ways queer relationships 

were not. Most likely there were very clear cut gender roles 

which actually aren’t required in relationships. We need to 

pay attention to the messages that we have internalized 

and see if they serve who we are now. 

Many of us have had straight relationships that haven't 

been quite right, although we couldn't yet identify why. It 

can make for a rather unbalanced and possibly unhealthy 

view of what partnering is. I feel it’s very important to 

not try to fit your relationship into a heteronormative 

model, as you have experienced. Your relationships can 

be and look like whatever works for you. Maybe it is poly 

or monogamous, or goes through seasons of both. Maybe 

it is a casual relationship, or maybe it is serious. As long 

as all parties are enthusiastically on board then it can be 

anything that works best to meet all needs. 

Openness and vulnerability can be a challenge. Often, 

if we were raised in the closet or with shaming and 

expectations about our sexuality it can cause us to be 

uncomfortable with intimacy. This may not be true for you, 

but it may be true for someone you are dating. If so, it’s 

going to require compassion and understanding from you, 

so that you are able to be supportive. 

Dating apps are a great tool! I suggest verifying that the 

apps you are using focus on the kind of interaction you 

are looking for. Some are known to be more of a one night 

stand arrangement maker and if you are looking for a long 

term relationship that may not be the best place to look. 

Also, be honest in your profile! Many try to doctor their 

profile to make it seem more appealing. It can turn out to 

be a waste of time as you may match with someone who 

doesn’t truly share any connection points with you. 

You can try meeting prospective partners over a video 

chat first. This eliminates the awkward first time meeting 

up for drinks that might lead to dinner, might last all night… 

or might feel totally wrong and have you looking for a 

polite exit from the get-go. If you are both more relaxed 

and in a low-pressure video chat, the two of you can make 

more plans to meet in person, or to sign off early without 

wasting anyone's money or emotions. 

If you meet over a video chat and it goes well, make 

plans to meet for some kind of beverage. Pick somewhere 

that isn’t so busy and loud that you can’t hear each other 

clearly, but also not so small and quiet that the intimacy 

feels awkward with someone new. Hopefully, you two 

managed to talk about some things in video chat you can 

continue in person. If all else fails, discuss the drink menu 

and location! 

Above all, try to enjoy the process! Don’t see it as an end 

game goal of a serious relationship or marriage. Enjoy the 

new discoveries you will make about your likes and dislikes 

along the way. I hope I have given you some ways to relax, 

just a little. Good luck out there! Somehow I just know you 

will be awesome and find the relationship of your dreams! 

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. 


community lgbt advocate 

MOTHIE’S NOTE: 

Love Brought 

You Here 

by Moth Moth Moth 

You are the result of love. 

Incredible, chaotic, marvelous, intrepid love. The love of a billion years. 

This month Focus encourages you to focus on love. Also sex. And relationships! 

Whether you’re an asexual guitar player into solo tantric masturbation or a 

gorgeous thruple with fluid gender expressions–we see all of you! 

Keep in mind that safe sex is fun sex so always make sure the sling is bolted 

SECURELY INTO THE SUSPENSION POINT! 

And remember that if you and your partner(s) communicate your needs and 

boundaries clearly and honestly then there is a great chance you will walk away 

happy, fulfilled, and supported —and with a limp, given any luck. 

Sometimes love is about growing the relationship you have with yourself. We 

start at the skin but we go so much deeper. People are infinite on the inside. You 

should meet some of the power bottoms I know. 

But maybe your parents didn’t give a damn about you. Maybe you are more of 

a lone wolf. Maybe you are just crabby and need to eat. And if so, we want you to 

still know that you are a product of deep and ancient powerful love. 

There was a time when asteroids pelted the moon and earth for millennia. The 

moon spilled material onto the earth. All of the planets have shared material. The 

chemicals and circumstances of your body are remarkable. So, love it as such. 

Make time in your life of hustling to love your people, and to love yourself. As 

much as you can. 

10 Sex+Love | focuslgbt.com

life 

Summer Lovin’ 

Green Flags for Summer Romance 

by Robin Beaudoin Ownby 

Thinking about sticking with someone new through the swim & patio season? Licensed counselors agree on certain 

“green flags” to look for when considering a potential romantic partner. 

1. They are not afraid to ask what you like, even 

checking in during sex for cues. If you’re giving 

clear “more” or “less” signals, they are responsive 

to those messages. 

2. You seem interested in each other’s fantasies and 

don’t judge if they’re different from yours. An openminded 

lover can make you feel safe and validated. 

3. You are both on the same page regarding 

commitment and exclusivity. Discuss your 

expectations of this romance, what your long-term 

goals are for the future, and re-evaluate every month 

or two so that you’re in the same head space. 

4. Safety is a priority! You know your statuses 

and aren’t afraid to regularly retest. You’ve 

talked about PreP and/or birth control, and take 

medications as directed. 

5. You are respectful of each other’s physical and 

emotional limitations. Physical and mental traumas 

or differences might make certain positions, places, 

or even conversations difficult. Be consistent in your 

behavior to support one another in these moments. 

Ask questions, and give space when asked. 

6. Hygiene! You wouldn’t eat with dirty utensils, right? 

Keep yourselves and your bedrooms clean and 

decluttered to prevent icky, smelly, or awkward 

moments. 

7. Adventuresome partners have the most fun. You 

both/all enjoy trying new things, foods, toys, and 

traveling. All of these keep things interesting. 

8. They don’t talk smack about their exes. Be assured, 

if they talk bad about their ex, one day they’ll speak 

poorly of you. Keep things polite, and leave the past 

in the past. 

9. They’re a good listener. A good listener will fully 

listen without forming their own arguments as you 

speak. They will validate your experiences and use 

your chosen name and correct pronouns without fail. 

Listening shows your esteem for your partner. 

10. They participate equally. A relationship is not 

50/50–it requires 100% from all involved parties. 

This includes coming up with ideas and reservations 

for dates (see our article on Summer Avenue for 

great date suggestions) as well as doing the dishes, 

taking turns driving, and doing the deed. 

Based on advice from Jeff Guenther, LPC 


lgbt advocate 

photo by Sam Angel 

ACTIVIST 

ODESSA KELLY 

Running to be the First Openly 

Gay Black Woman in Congress 

by GK Gurley 


The Supreme Court 

decision in June highlighted 

a harsh reality: there 

are major discrepancies 

between federal and 

state governments, and 

the checks and balances 

that we were taught 

about in school do not 

seem to apply to wealthy, 

conservative agendas. So 

many of us are burnt out 

by politics and devastated 

over the Supreme Court’s 

decision to overturn Roe 

v. Wade. And seeing how 

harshly conservative 

agendas have attacked 

trans and queer youth over 

the past year, it is within 

the realm of possibility that 

marriage equality could be 

in danger, too. 

Despite the chaos and 

uncertainty, Americans 

need to remember that 

the biggest impact the 

government plays in their 

daily lives is on the local 

level. Nashville is in a 

development boom, and 

not necessarily for the 

better. We used to be a 

working class city, but 

most native Nashvillians 

have been priced 

out after seeing their 

neighborhoods gentrified 

beyond recognition. 

A key tenant of American 

politics is “by the people, 

for the people.” But for 

queer people, trans people, 

people of color, and women, 

how often has that been 

true? We need government 

officials who have been 

working hard to better our 

community to be the ones 

elected to make decisions. 

Representation matters. 

Having lived in Nashville 

her entire life, Odessa Kelly 

is one such candidate. She 

is an activist running to be 

the first openly gay black 

woman in Congress, for 

Tennessee’s 7th District. 

"I'm from East Nashville, 

born and raised,” Kelly said. 

“Before it was gentrified to 

the unrecognizable point 

it is now. Growing up, I 

couldn't wait to get out 

and pursue basketball. But I 

stayed in Nashville because 

I loved my community... I 

came out young and felt so 

much acceptance." 

Spending her 

undergraduate time at 

Tennessee State University 

was an eye-opening 

experience on identity, she 

explained. “I came out very 

young, but college was a 

time that I really thought 

about my religion and my 

sexual identity. That led me 

to re-examine basketball, 

too—do I want to be an 

athlete, or do I want to 

pursue something in my 

community?” 

After graduating with 

a degree in Business 

Administration, she worked 

in community centers with 

Metro Parks and Recreation. 

She saw that the school 

to prison pipeline proved 

true for many youth in 

her community, and 

over the years saw a lot 

of problematic changes 

happening in Nashville. 

“There was such a big 

urban core downtown 

of working class people 

who feel safer downtown. 

But now, it has all been 

completely gentrified.” 

Despite loving her job 

and her community, she 

began to additionally pursue 

a graduate degree from 

Cumberland University, 

for two major reasons she 

told me. “I started to really 

look at my job: here I am, a 

person with a city job, living 

paycheck to paycheck… after 

Trayvon Martin’s death and 

losing kids to gun violence in 

my own community center, 

I wanted to be a part of 

changing things.” 

This attitude carries over 

to her campaign. 

“I am running for this seat 

to break down the hurdles 

that I had to get here. We— 

local Nashvillians, people of 

color, queer people—need 

to be in our own seats of 

power.” 

Upon first announcing 

her candidacy she was 

running for Tennessee’s 5th 

District, but she decided to 

shift gears. 

“The 7th District 

Representative right now 

is Mark Greene,” said 

Kelly. “I am running to 

unseat him. He is a wealthy 

conservative, worth $33 

million, who said that being 

transgender is a ‘disease’.” 

She is running a 

grassroots campaign and 

does not take a dime of 

corporate money in order 

to keep her community 

members from being 

exploited. 

Having been a city 

employee for thirteen years, 

she has been through her 

fair share of exploitation 

herself. She took action to 

prevent further harm to 

workers in her community 

by co-founding the 

organization Stand Up 

Nashville (SUN). 


A spectacular and pivotal 

point of SUN is, “we are 

tired of the city prioritizing 

business over people 

for the sake of a dollar.” 

Among all of their projects, 

that running theme shines 

through: the people of our 

community matter more 

than a corporation’s bottom 

line. To this effect, one such 

victory Kelly claimed with 

SUN was a community 

agreement with the Nashville 

Soccer Holdings (NSH). 

Metro Nashville is the 

third largest employer in 

Nashville, and in 2017 amidst 

all of the development, the 

city refused to adjust the 

cost of living for employees. 

Instead, they and the 

Nashville Soccer Holdings 

threw $275 million toward a 

soccer stadium. 

SUN stepped in 

to advocate for the 

stadium workers and the 

community living in the area 

surrounding the stadium 

and won a major victory 

with their Community 

Benefits Agreement. 

Many stadiums hire on 

temp workers, which is 

unreliable and unsteady 

work, often low-paying, 

and in a right-to-work 

state like Tennessee, unfair 

to queer workers. SUN 

advocated that the stadium 

hire workers directly with 

a minimum pay of $15.50/ 

hr., that a childcare center 

on a sliding scale would be 

provided, that there would 

be significant inclusion 

among minority contractors, 

and so much more. To 

read about this CBA, visit 

standupnashville.org. 

From her work with 

SUN to her congressional 

campaign, Kelly maintains 

a positive and hopeful 

attitude about America’s 

political future. “I just 

observe my kids,” she 

said. “I can see the change 

first-hand in the generation 

coming up.” 

Even with a hope for the 

future, she explained that 

political burnout is real. “But 

so is the threat. I see it as 

a divine burden. We have 

to stand up for community 

issues, regardless. We need 

public policy that heals, not 

punishes. That should be 

the role of our government.” 

Both SUN and her 

campaign are local, for 

community donations and 

volunteers. To find out 

how to get involved, visit 

standupnashville.org and 

odessaforcongress.com. 

Her voting base is 

expansive, and her 

campaign needs people to 

canvas with them. Beyond 

that, make sure you and 

everyone you know is 

registered to vote and 

ready to hit the polls on 

November 8th. 

photo by Jack Tumen 


Equity has been our focus 

from the tornado recovery to the COVID-19 

response, access to assistance and support 

does not look the same for all businesses and 

communities. We are dedicated to an inclusive 

and equitable Nashville, where the 

marginalized have an advocate and support. 

Our membership is open to all and we are 

here for you. Join us today. 

We represent over 500+ Corporations, Entrepreneurs, & 

Small Businesses who want to keep Nashville OPEN & EQUAL. 

advocate. educate. connect. 


life 

Throwing the 

Perfect 

Queer Wedding 

for You 

by GK Gurley 


If COVID-19 completely 

derailing and changing 

our lives in 2020 taught 

us anything, it is that who 

we choose to spend our 

time with is sacred. COVID 

has changed the dating 

scene so much, and the 

pandemic seemed to give 

a lot of people permission 

to shed a toxic partner. 

And, on the flip side, it 

pushed loving couples 

even closer together. 

My partner and I were 

one such couple. We lived 

together pre-pandemic, 

but reevaluating our lives, 

work, and the way we 

spend our time connected 

us even further and 

allowed us to plan for the 

future. We got engaged 

at the end of 2021, and 

planning a queer wedding 

has been… enlightening. 

My partner and I are both 

trans, and the wedding 

industrial complex has 

always been such a turnoff 

to us. With marriage equality 

still so new, we never 

thought a wedding would be 

in the cards for us, let alone 

had any idea what we would 

even want it to look like. I 

have intentionally avoided 

weddings for so long, so 

now that I am attempting to 

plan one, it has taken quite 

some time for me to even 

know where to start. 

Even in this internet age, 

queer wedding resources 

are extremely limited, 

especially in Nashville. No 

doubt you will find a host 

of queer musicians and 

photographers to curate 

your wedding, but beyond 

that, it is challenging to 

find vendors or venues that 

you know will be queeraccepting 

without having 

heard first-hand testimonials 

or experiences from friends. 

Lots of queer couples 

have posted wedding blogs 

to offer suggestions for 

queer people specifically, 

but the average price points 

are very high. There are a 

plethora of quality venue 

ideas if you have a large 

budget, but for those of 

us looking to be as costeffective 

as possible, I 

wanted to highlight a few 

suggestions. 

Take note that I have yet 

to include food or baked 

goods in this discussion. 

Unless you do an internet 

deep dive on one particular 

vendor, it is challenging to 

find specific accounts that 

are queer and trans-friendly. 

This will probably be the 

biggest gamble in your 

wedding planning journey, 

so if that is not a risk you 

are not looking to take, 

finding a reception venue 

that is bundled with food 

prepared on-site would be 

your best bet. 

Some such amazing and 

surprisingly affordable 

venues that have hosted 

queer weddings are 

Cheekwood Gardens and 

Arrington Vineyards. The 

price points at Cheekwood 

vary per garden and with 

the size of your guest list, 

but if you are looking for 

a gorgeous ceremony and 

reception in one place, or 

simply to do a ceremony, I 

highly recommend pursuing 

that venue. Arrington is 

also scenic, especially if 

Tennessee rolling hills, 

greenery, and country chic 

is your style. Again, you 

have different price points 

and options. I would also 

suggest them as a bachelor/ 

ette/ex destination! You 

can tour their vineyards or 

just have a good time, and 

maybe catch some of their 

fantastic live music while 

you’re there. 

Finding an officiant 

in Tennessee is a 

challenge, especially one 

understanding of trans 

and non-binary issues and 

relationships. Many couples 

have had to do a courthouse 

wedding before doing the 

ceremony they want so 

that they can get their legal 

paperwork while still having 

the ceremony that feels 

good to them. One would 

think that a pastor of an 

affirming church would be 

able to officiate, and while 

many are willing to do so, 

most denominations have 

rules against them being 

involved in weddings. The 

Human Rights Campaign 

can help you find someone 

if you reach out to the 

Nashville chapter. 

The wedding industrial 

complex impacts all of our 

weddings, whether we buy 

into it or not. I proposed to 

my partner at a state park, 

and the entire time I was 

questioning myself—is this 

a good enough story to 

tell, is this cute enough to 

post about, is this silly and 

pathetic? Thankfully those 

questions were fleeting. 

I reminded myself that 

protected wildernesses 

are our favorite places to 

explore, and the future 

of our relationship is just 

about us. A wedding is 

just a dang party after 

all, but being entrenched 

in the religious, capitalist 

wedding narrative that 

permeates so much of the 

South is still something I 

have to deconstruct for 

myself. 

Regardless of your budget 

or guest list, your wedding 

will be as beautiful as you 

and your partner feel. My 

fiancé and I are still holding 

out for an officiant in Moira 

Rose drag, but beyond 

that, Nashville does have 

great options. The more 

people in our community 

share experiences with 

each other, the more queer 

businesses we know to 

support and hire, so please, 

share your stories with 

your community. Even an 

Instagram hashtag can help 

another couple. 

Shutterstock.com 



life 

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health+wellness 

SEX + LOVE RESOURCES 

EDITOR’S PICKS 

BOOKS 

As a lesbian, these are a few books which are very valuable and special to me. In particular, I cannot recommend Emily 

Nagoski’s book enough. It is wonderful, even life-changing. I’ve included some titles in the “self-help” genre, but also two 

graphic novels that speak to some of the same experiences. Get to reading! - Chellie Bowman 

Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D. 

In this book, Nagoski teaches us everything 

we need to know about desire and our body’s 

sexual response. Although the book is catered 

toward cis women, the revised and updated 

version (2021) does make some strides to 

include and represent trans and non-binary 

folks as well. I honestly think anyone interested in human 

sexuality can and will learn so much from this multi-layered 

exploration into the intricacies of sexual experience. 

My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness 

by Nagata Kabi 

A manga tell-all of a young woman’s struggle 

with depression and sexuality. It’s so, so good– 

you will consume at a rapid pace! 

Lesbian Couples: A Guide to Creating Healthy 

Relationships by D. Merilee Clunis, Ph.D. 

and G. D. Green, Ph.D. 

Because my girlfriend and I are very gay, we read this book 

together. It’s a classic, and while some of the advice is a 

little dated it’s probably the only book on love and sex 

I’ve ever come across which actually speaks to the unique 

circumstances of wlw relationships. It might have been 

written in 1988 (though was updated in the early 2000s), 

but some things never change! 

On Loving Women by Diane Obomsawin 

A short graphic novel I picked up by chance from a lesbian 

book sale. A collection of stories about first love and sexual 

identity. Completely charming. 

SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS 

@queersextherapy: An account that helps you navigate 

and explore your sexuality in an nonjudgmental, safe place 

by providing language and education we need in order to 

understand our queerness. 

@autostraddle: Their instagram account is a great place 

to stay informed when new articles drop. However, just 

head over to their website (autostraddle.com)—they have 

an entire section on Love + Sex and its got everything from 

sex advice to erotica to personal essays on identity and 

queer culture, etc. 

PODCASTS 

@alokvmenon: It feels like everything this trans author 

& activist shares with their followers are beautiful love 

poems to, about, and for us. ALOK has some profound 

and inspirational things to say about gender—and they live 

them out for us to see. 

@nashvillegsa: The Nashville Gender & 

Sexuality Alliance is a great local LGBTQ+ 

community organization. They're also 

active with their meetups—all identities and 

intersections welcome. Substance free. Go 

meet some like-minded queer folk! 

When I’m going through it, what really helps me is hearing about other people’s relationship problems 

that I can relate to. These two podcasts do just that. Even if you’re single with no problems or in a healthy 

relationship, there are so many things to learn from both of these pods. We can all stand to question how 

society and heteronormativity have influenced our understandings of sex and love. 

Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel 

Where Should We Begin is a bit more serious and more 

of a deep dive. Esther is a licensed psychotherapist and 

the podcast episodes are one-time counseling sessions 

with different couples, covering a wide array of issues and 

topics. It feels like you’re a fly on the wall during someone 

else’s most intimate or vulnerable moments. 

Just Break Up 

Just Break Up is hosted by two queer millennials 

who answer letters sent in from listeners about 

their predicaments in love and heartbreak. Great 

advice, with some levity. 

20 Sex+Love | focuslgbt.com

PUBLISHER’S PICKS 

Our publisher, Ray Rico, is passionate about HIV prevention and care. The resources he wanted to share reflect this 

work. Here are some informative and helpful websites to help you learn more about PrEP, a safe and effective daily pill 

that can greatly reduce your risk of HIV infection. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT PREP 

LOCAL NASHVILLE RESOURCES: 

Music City PrEP Clinic 

No cost PrEP prescription. Free HIV + STI testing. 

musiccityprep.org 

Nashville Cares 

Offers PrEP and PrEP 2-1-1 on the spot with no waiting. 

nashvillecares.org 

Planned Parenthood 

Nonprofit organization that provides reproductive 

health care. 

plannedparenthood.org 

PrEP Clinic at the Sexual Health Center 

Patient assistance program for medication costs. $10 

appointment fee. 

nashville.gov/departments/health/clinical-health-services/ 

sexual-health-center/prep-clinic 

PrEP Clinic at Vanderbilt 

Offers approachable, accessible and personalized HIV 

prevention and comprehensive sexual healthcare. 

vanderbilthealth.com/clinic/pre-exposure-prophylaxisclinic-prep 

NATIONAL RESOURCES: 

AIDS.gov 

PrEP information page 

aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/ 

pre-exposure-prophylaxis 

AIDSinfoNet 

Reliable, Up-To-Date Treatment Information 

aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/160 

AVAC 

Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention 

avac.org/ht/d/sp/i/262/pid/262 

Avert 

AVERTing HIV and AIDS 

avert.org/pre-exposure-prophylaxis.htm 

CDC 

Questions and Answers from the U.S Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention. 

cdc.gov/hiv/prevention/research/prep 

PrEP4Love 

The PrEP4Love campaign is brought to you with love by 

members of the Chicago PrEP Working Group. 

prep4love.com 

PrEP Facts 

San Francisco AIDS Foundation PrEP information in visual 

format for MSM and heterosexual individuals, with an 

option for Spanish. 

prepfacts.org 

PrEP Locator 

An interactive website that helps people locate 

PrEP providers. 

preplocator.org 

PrEP Watch 

Interactive webpage with information and resources 

on gaining access to PrEP. 

prepwatch.org 

PrEParing for HIV 

An Epidemic Interventions Initiative by the University 

of California. 

Project Inform - Videos, publications and resources 

projectinform.com/prep 

SFHIV 

City and County of San Francisco Department of 

Public Health’s PrEP information page. 

sfhiv.org/resources/prep 

Talk PrEP 

AIDS Action Committee’s new PrEP campaign 

encouraging everyone to Do It Daily. 

talkprep.org 


Be 

PrEPared. 

Learn more about 

HIV prevention at 

Planned Parenthood. 

at 

McKay's 

866.711.1717 

PlannedParenthood.org/Tennessee 

636 Old Hickory Blvd. 

Nashville, TN 

HOROSCOPES 

Astrology Readings by Minnassa 

CANCER 

Element: Water 

Quality: Cardinal 

Ruling Planet: The Moon 

Traits: Intuitive, 

nurturing, sensitive, 

protective, and loyal 

New Moon in Cancer: 

June 28 

JUNE 21 - JULY 22 

Still in the afterglow of Pride, we now 

step into the deep flow of the water 

sign Cancer. All astrological signs 

are invited to move into the deep 

intuitive and sensitive energy of this 

nurturing and loving water sign. As 

we focus on sex and dating in this 

issue, the moon which rules Cancer 

bids us all to get in touch with our 

Divine Feminine (creative, nurturing, 

and powerful). Whether it’s a romp 

in the sheets or a meet & greet, 

move and groove from a place of 

self-nurturance and deep connection 

to your inner knowing. The month 

ends with Jupiter retrograde in Aries: 

this is the time to focus on where you 

want to grow, and expand your life. 

JULY 23 - AUGUST 22 

LEO 

Sign of the Month: Leo 

Element: Fire 

Quality: Fixed 

Ruling Planet: The Sun 

Traits: Big hearted, 

compassionate, 

courageous, humorous, 

and a natural leader 

New Moon in Leo: July 28 

Fire! Fire! Fire! All Hail the King 

of Jungle – Leo is in the house!! 

Leo is ruled by the Sun and this 

month is the time, honey, to let 

your light shine!! One thing that 

many people don’t know is that 

Leo rules the heart chakra; we 

are invited to open our heart 

to the warmth of the sun that is 

represented by our friends, family, 

and community. This heart chakra 

energy will be amplified when 

Venus enters Leo on August 11th. 

This transit has the potential to 

increase the affection in existing 

relationships over the coming 

weeks. Additionally, the joy you 

feel spending time with loved 

ones will also be enhanced. 

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

CROSSWORD 

HOW NOT TO BE SINGLE 

ACROSS 

1 Gay-friendly student org. 

5 Crystal balls, e.g. 

9 Be a ham in "Hamlet"? 

14 Novel idea 

15 Come quickly 

16 Nathan and family 

17 Facetious "I see" 

18 Nat. counterpart in MLB 

19 Spit out 

20 “I thought I was searching 

for a ____...” 

23 Susan in “All My Children” 

24 Where to get a collar for a 

bitch 

28 Workplace for Michelangelo 

32 Penetrating 

33 Loaded for bear 

35 Top's betting phrase? 

36 “...but maybe what I really 

needed was a ____” 

41 Sign over 

42 He comes once a year 

43 Ashcan targets 

46 Cars from the land of the 

samurai 

50 Product introduction 

52 Poles for your first mate? 

54 Alicia of “Falcon Crest” 

55 Source of this puzzle's quote 

who just came out 

59 Clubs for Cubs 

61 Shore of Palm Springs 

62 Movie theater 

63 Used a forked tongue 

64 “Family Ties” mother 

65 Friendly opening 

66 Slips up 

67 Log Cabin list, e.g. 

68 Type of personal lubricant 

DOWN 

1 Card game with tricks 

2 “Java” trumpeter 

3 Casablanca dirt 

4 When nymphomaniacs 

need sex 

5 Singer Anita 

6 Drivers get off on it 

7 Title used by Uncle Remus 

8 “Take it off!” 

9 Succeeds a la Log Cabin 

10 Like a queen 

11 “A Chorus Line” song 

12 Dick, for short 

13 Hrs. in P-town 

21 Try a Rick Rodgers 

cookbook, e.g. 

22 Three R's org. 

25 TV newsman Brit 

26 Miss in a Cole Porter song 

27 Whitman and Dickinson 

29 It may come before long 

30 Catch them in South Beach 

31 Patron of Ire. 

34 Cube designer Rubik 

36 Like Cary Grant 

37 One who worships someone 

other than the Divine Miss M? 

38 Elite Navy diver 

39 Sexual tail 

40 Watts in King Kong's hand 

41 Not terminal 

44 Hard top 

45 Napped leather materials 

47 Powder for bottoms 

48 Town in da Vinci's land 

49 Balls 

51 Govt. promissory note 

53 Hagar's dog 

56 “Lord of the Rings” singer 

57 Avoid premature ejaculation 

58 Golden showers cry? 

60 Radical org. of the ’60s 

FIND THE SOLUTION 

ON PAGE 19

2022 Issue 4 Jul/Aug Focus - Mid-Tenn magazine

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