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Serving the <strong>Mid</strong>dle <strong>Tenn</strong>essee LGBT+ Community and its Allies | NOV+DEC <strong>2022</strong><br />
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TENNESSEE<br />
HUSTLE<br />
YELLOW &<br />
LAVENDER<br />
INCLUSIVE<br />
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TIPS FOR QUEER FREELANCERS
P R E S E N T E D B Y<br />
WORLD AIDS DAY<br />
GETTING TO ZERO<br />
D E C E M B E R 1 , 2 0 2 2<br />
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CHOICES | focuslgbt.com
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focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 5
22<br />
CONTENTS | NOV+DEC <strong>2022</strong><br />
18<br />
7<br />
THEME:<br />
8<br />
ASK<br />
TENNESSEE HUSTLE<br />
ALLIE<br />
Self-preservation or family time during the<br />
holiday season?<br />
10 LIFE<br />
Advice for those considering a more<br />
sustainable work model<br />
12 LIFE<br />
Bakery owners Ryliegh Vieria and Lucy Pazos<br />
offer queer Nashville something special<br />
16 HOROSCOPES<br />
What do the stars have in store for us these<br />
next two months?<br />
18 COMMUNITY<br />
Independent textile artist Katrina Perdue on<br />
her mending practice<br />
12<br />
20 LIFE<br />
Business + Finance Podcast Roundup<br />
20<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
Ryliegh Vieria and Lucy Pazos<br />
photo by Josh Bethea<br />
6 <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle | focuslgbt.com
theme<br />
"<br />
Everything we<br />
make is hand-rolled,<br />
hand-crafted and<br />
made with so<br />
much love."<br />
- Ryliegh and Lucy,<br />
Yellow & Lavender Bakery<br />
Delectable vegan treat from an East Nashville BIPOC &<br />
queer-owned bakery. Find the story on page 12.<br />
photo courtesy of Yellow & Lavender<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 7
life<br />
Self-Preservation<br />
During the Holidays<br />
by Star McGill Goudey<br />
Dear Allie,<br />
I am a single, 24-year-old who has made steps in the past year to go nocommunication<br />
with my family due to their non-support of my being trans. But the<br />
holidays are approaching and I’m feeling the pull of sentimentality–and guilt. My mom<br />
has said that it’s just an evening and I should be able to take time out for family. She<br />
said they promise not to talk about my being trans, and that I should just forgive and<br />
forget for the holidays. Here’s the thing. That one evening? I spent weeks anxiously<br />
thinking about it, and afterwards I spent weeks trying to process and heal. I came<br />
out in spring of the previous year and that holiday season is not something I want to<br />
repeat.<br />
Time has passed and I’ve worked on acceptance with my family but it’s just not<br />
there yet. This tells me that it’s going to be the same, if not worse than last year<br />
despite her promises. I don’t have it in me to be drained that way again. I have friends<br />
who have invited me to their celebrations. Somehow I still feel guilty and that I<br />
should just chin up and be part of my family like they want. I feel like I owe it to them,<br />
but I feel like I owe it to myself to take care of me–and that feels selfish. Have any<br />
guidance?<br />
Yours,<br />
Am I Selfish?<br />
8 <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle | focuslgbt.com
Dear AIS,<br />
Holiday self-preservation. I feel you, AIS. Sadly, we<br />
don’t get to choose our genetic family. I’m so glad you<br />
reached out! I think you are in good company here no<br />
matter the circumstances of the whys. Memories and<br />
the pursuit of that special ‘holiday glow’ can make it<br />
even more painful. If you are trying to make yourself<br />
do something you think you should, it’s hard to think<br />
clearly about what it is you actually want to do. I think I<br />
can provide you with some suggestions that may help.<br />
First, give yourself permission to feel this way! It’s<br />
all perfectly valid! You asked if you are being selfish– I<br />
believe that selfishness is a construct often used to<br />
control people’s actions, to guilt them into doing what<br />
someone wants. I challenge you to let go of that word<br />
and to instead embrace words like self-care, selfpreservation<br />
and self-love. It has been revolutionary<br />
for me to do so. So no, I absolutely do not feel you are<br />
being selfish for considering your needs first! In fact, I<br />
am very proud of you!<br />
You included some phrases from your family<br />
that were warning signs for me. Their words seem<br />
manipulative and not in honor of boundaries. And it<br />
seems, as you say, you have been working towards<br />
no contact, that you do have some solid boundaries<br />
in place. The holidays aren’t going to make those<br />
intrusions of boundaries go away. You can’t dress<br />
things up in sparkly lights and glittering ribbons and<br />
ignore how someone makes you feel the other 364<br />
days of the year. No matter how much your mom<br />
wishes it so. I know you know this, because you are<br />
considering not going.<br />
In order for you to stay healthy and happy you need<br />
to know what it is that you need. What is it that you<br />
want out of the holiday? Is there a specific food or<br />
tradition that makes you feel warm inside? What makes<br />
a holiday special for you in regards to your beliefs and<br />
expectations? Is there certain family in particular you<br />
want to visit? Answering these questions can help you<br />
sort out how you feel from how you think you should<br />
feel. What level of sadness and regret do you think you<br />
would feel if you didn’t go? No, not what they try to<br />
heap onto you, how you really feel inside.<br />
If you decide to go, are there any family members<br />
you are in contact with who fully accept you? Would<br />
they be your buffer-buddy at the gathering and is that<br />
enough support? Try letting your family know ahead of<br />
time what topics are off limits and have a few phrases<br />
on the ready if they don’t follow them. “If you continue<br />
to bring this up, I am leaving the conversation”, “This is<br />
not something I will discuss” and “I understand that you<br />
are upset but this is my decision” are some good ones.<br />
Rehearse them so that they don’t feel awkward to say.<br />
Set an amount of time you want to be there and have an<br />
exit plan, one to two hours can be more than enough.<br />
Be mindful of your triggers and give yourself permission<br />
to walk away from them. And, if you consume alcohol I<br />
would recommend not having any at the gathering so<br />
that you are clear-headed. Most importantly, have a selfcare<br />
plan in place for after the gathering so that you can<br />
begin to regulate and balance.<br />
If you decide not to go, think about those questions<br />
you answered earlier and use them to shape what you<br />
need. You mentioned the celebration with friends you<br />
were invited to. Can you bring that special dish? Share<br />
that tradition? And if that’s not appropriate, can you<br />
invite friends over for your own celebration? Or maybe,<br />
you want to create a solo holiday that is peaceful and<br />
luxurious. Beginning new memories and traditions can be<br />
exciting! You have the freedom to create a joyous holiday<br />
time for yourself and I think that is magical.<br />
I hope I have given some perspective and some<br />
thoughts for your journey. It sounds like you are coming<br />
into this holiday season being more authentically yourself<br />
than you have ever been before. I’ll say it again, I am so<br />
proud of you! Celebrate you this season, too. Appreciate<br />
yourself and how far you’ve come. You spoke out here<br />
for your own needs and health and that is audacious and<br />
amazing! So many of us stand here with you in this as<br />
well as we face our own holiday season. You aren’t alone,<br />
none of us are. Go make this season magical for yourself<br />
as you glow more brightly than those sparkling lights we<br />
all adore.<br />
Your friend,<br />
Allie<br />
To submit your own question, email Allie at<br />
allie@focuslgbt.com. <strong>Focus</strong> <strong>Mid</strong>-South reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity.<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 9
life<br />
A More Sustainable Work Model<br />
for Queer & Trans People:<br />
Tips for Folks<br />
Interested in<br />
Freelancing<br />
by GK Gurley<br />
The global pandemic’s lockdown changed the way<br />
many of us approach our work. A remarkable amount of<br />
businesses and organizations shifted to work-at-home<br />
formats, and even now many remain work-at-home. For<br />
many queer and trans people, this has been a blessing.<br />
Employers based out of more progressive areas hire<br />
remotely, and freelancing is a much more sustainable<br />
career option. But regardless of in-person or remote<br />
work, infrastructure in <strong>Tenn</strong>essee does remarkably little to<br />
protect its workers.<br />
<strong>Tenn</strong>essee is a right-to-work state, meaning a person<br />
hired by an employer or company subject to a collective<br />
bargaining agreement can decide whether or not to join<br />
a union and pay its dues. Regardless of that individual’s<br />
choice, there are some benefits provided by a collective<br />
bargaining agreement applicable to everyone, but far less<br />
than offered by union protection.<br />
Many Southern states are right-to-work states, and<br />
those in support of that legislation view it as freeing<br />
and appreciate the option rather than compulsory<br />
union memberships. However, many see states with this<br />
legislation as anti-union, attempting to save money rather<br />
than prioritizing the rights of their workers. Like too many<br />
systems in this country, this disproportionately affects<br />
BIPOC and LGBTQ+ employees. There are far fewer<br />
protections against workplace injustice without union<br />
membership and involvement.<br />
<strong>Tenn</strong>essee is also, sadly, an at-will state, meaning an<br />
employer can fire you without giving you a reason. On paper,<br />
an at-will state employer cannot fire you “illegally”: they<br />
cannot fire you for your religion, race, sexual orientation,<br />
gender, etc. But again, that is on paper. Employers can easily<br />
get around firing based on discrimination, and if they are<br />
sued for wrongful termination, many employers are able to<br />
weasel out of the lawsuit by later providing vague claims of<br />
“just cause” in that employee’s termination.<br />
I have personally been let go for my gender identity<br />
and sexual orientation, and I know many others who have<br />
as well, and I cannot name a single instance where the<br />
person terminated received anything from a wrongful<br />
termination lawsuit.<br />
Basically, employment rules are vague, and right-towork<br />
states have a culture of neglecting basic employee<br />
rights. Since this infrastructure has remained largely<br />
unchallenged, it does not seem to be going anywhere, and<br />
many of us have turned to freelancing.<br />
Self-employment, contractor positions, and freelancing<br />
are hardly a last resort. The freedom to make your own<br />
rules, express yourself, avoid public bathrooms, and<br />
focus on the work you enjoy is a much more sustainable<br />
work model for many queer and trans people. It certainly<br />
comes with its own challenges, like unsteady pay and no<br />
guarantee of a payoff, so below are a few tips for those of<br />
you in freelancing or contemplating it.<br />
10 <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle | focuslgbt.com
First, create and find your own professional support<br />
system. Inclusion <strong>Tenn</strong>essee is a great place to start for<br />
those living in <strong>Mid</strong>dle <strong>Tenn</strong>essee. With regular support<br />
group meetings, their whole vision and purpose is to<br />
provide a space for people to connect, network, and share<br />
resources. While not necessarily workplace-focused, there<br />
are plenty of staff, volunteers, and participants to support<br />
you and point you to the resources you need. For those<br />
living in Memphis, OUTMemphis’ support services and the<br />
<strong>Mid</strong>South LGBT Chamber of Commerce networking events<br />
are a good place to get going.<br />
Second, know the platform you are using inside and out.<br />
While sites like Etsy are popular, and super queer, they take<br />
quite a percentage of each sale. If you are looking to create<br />
a subscription service for your customers or consumers,<br />
Patreon is user-friendly, quick to respond to any of your<br />
complaints, and much quicker to protect you against<br />
online harassment compared to OnlyFans and social media<br />
apps. They also take much less of a cut than Etsy does.<br />
Whatever your work and whatever your chosen website<br />
platform, research its help and IT support center, and read<br />
user agreements carefully so you aren’t blindsided by fees.<br />
Third, and most obvious, know what you have to offer<br />
and the customer you are offering it to. Developing clear<br />
marketing for yourself does not have to cost you an arm<br />
and a leg. Have a simple graphic, accessibility across<br />
social media, and prepare a good hook and elevator pitch<br />
for your business, services, or product. The more you<br />
hone and understand who your target demographic and<br />
clientele are, the quicker and easier your promotion will be.<br />
Working smarter like this will hopefully make your output<br />
and sales move faster.<br />
If you have questions or concerns about a potential<br />
employer or partnership with another business, Glassdoor<br />
is a much better place to research than Google reviews or<br />
Yelp. Past and present employees post their experiences,<br />
and while some posts might be exaggerated or missing<br />
the full story, you can glean a lot from others’ experiences.<br />
Reading through a job posting to see if they include and<br />
emphasize a non-discriminatory clause is a good idea, too.<br />
Regardless of your work status, know who represents<br />
you and has your interests at heart, be it a local<br />
organization, a state-funded organization, or legislator.<br />
We all deserve more people in our corner than there are<br />
in this state, but the more familiar with your rights and<br />
protections you are, the better prepared you will be for any<br />
discriminatory workplace scenario.<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 11
community<br />
Yellow &<br />
Lavender<br />
The Delicious, Inclusive,<br />
Vegan Bakery that Queer<br />
Nashville Deserves<br />
by GK Gurley<br />
12 <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle | focuslgbt.com
photo by Josh Bethea<br />
We built this space for us to escape toxic<br />
work environments and to be proud of our<br />
work, but we also built it for Nashville’s queer<br />
community. We deserve something that is<br />
not just a nightclub or a tourist grab.<br />
- Ryliegh Vieria & Lucy Pazos<br />
Almond Croissant - Twice Baked<br />
photos courtesy of Yellow & Lavender<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 13
As Nashville has grown, so has its queer community.<br />
While queer people inhabit all areas of <strong>Tenn</strong>essee, there<br />
are not nearly enough spaces for us to gather, by us and<br />
for us. While places like Lipstick Lounge, Canvas, Tribe,<br />
and Play have queer nightlife covered, Nashville needs<br />
more queer-owned and queer-curated spaces of all kinds,<br />
for all kinds of people and interests.<br />
Ryliegh Vieria (they/she) and Lucy Pazos (they/them)<br />
expanded their baking business to open a shop in East<br />
Nashville because they saw a need for queer people to<br />
gather, and because they love what they do.<br />
"We’ve been open for about two months,” said<br />
Ryliegh, “but we’ve been a business for two years. We<br />
wholesale at Honest Coffee Roasters in L & L Market in<br />
West Nashville, Hearts in East, Headquarters Coffee in<br />
West, The Loading Dock in Wedgewood-Houston, and<br />
Matryoshka in South."<br />
They prepare sweet and savory baked goods, like<br />
croissants, cinnamon "cinny" rolls, pop-tarts, focaccia,<br />
muffins, gluten-free options, savory options, and more.<br />
And their vegan substitutes are... a secret!<br />
"I've been baking vegan for about two and a half<br />
years," Ryliegh said, "and I find it so simple! There<br />
are little to no challenges baking vegan rather than<br />
non-vegan."<br />
Their shop is welcoming, inviting, and sweet. Two<br />
couches sit under displays of local artists' stickers, and<br />
the display case is lovingly arranged and, may I say, hard<br />
to resist. They also carry a wide range of iced coffees,<br />
nitro coffees, and cold brews. Their upbeat music vibes<br />
are a good energy boost, too.<br />
"We built this space for us to escape toxic work<br />
environments and to be proud of our work, but we also<br />
built it for Nashville’s queer community. We deserve<br />
something that is not just a nightclub or a tourist grab."<br />
Beyond their business partnership, Ryliegh and Lucy<br />
have a loving relationship, too.<br />
“It is the best work environment either of us has ever<br />
experienced,” said Ryliegh. “You already know that<br />
14 <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle | focuslgbt.com
Pride Cake<br />
person’s needs, wants, likes, and dislikes so it makes<br />
working together easier in that sense. It also truly puts<br />
you and your relationship to the test. We still struggle to<br />
find time for ourselves on the days during the week that<br />
we take off from the business. For 5-6 days a week, we’re<br />
non-stop business focused, so it’s really hard to turn that<br />
off for 1-2 days and be able to have the energy to focus<br />
on what you need as an individual and also a couple. Not<br />
to even mention our pets!”<br />
Working together has been a breath of fresh air for both<br />
of them, and having a shop rather than only wholesaling<br />
has allowed them to connect with their customers and feel<br />
the love from their East Nashville community.<br />
Beyond their shop, you can find them at a variety<br />
of local festivals and events, working their booth and<br />
waving their pride flag loud and proud.<br />
"We participated in a festival last year that took place<br />
in East Nashville. We were set up as the closest vendors<br />
to the street and the first vendors you saw as you walked<br />
into the event. Naturally, we hung our pride flag, as we<br />
tried to do at all of the markets and events we’ve been<br />
a part of. After we sold out, a person walked up to us<br />
and asked, 'What did you make/sell today?' We told<br />
them what our specials were for that event and after a<br />
moment they responded, 'I saw this event on Instagram<br />
and wanted to come, but I didn’t know if I would feel<br />
safe, and then when I drove by to scope it out, I saw<br />
your pride flag and immediately felt safe.' That is why we<br />
are so vocal and so loud about being queer-owned and<br />
about our space being a safe space. Everyone deserves<br />
that, and very unfortunately, the queer community<br />
isn’t necessarily used to feeling safe in certain places in<br />
<strong>Tenn</strong>essee. We are here trying to change that."<br />
You can find their shop in Riverside, off of McGavock<br />
Pike. They are open Thursday through Sundays, and<br />
available for catering. Follow their mouth-watering<br />
Instagram @yellowandlavender_ to see what treats await<br />
you and peruse their catering and wedding cakes!<br />
La Playa Croissant Sandwich<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 15
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HOROSCOPES<br />
Astrology Readings by Minnassa<br />
OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21<br />
SCORPIO<br />
Element: Water<br />
Quality: Fixed<br />
Ruling Planet: Pluto<br />
and Mars<br />
Traits: Determined, loyal,<br />
ambitious, honest, and<br />
jealous<br />
New Moon in Scorpio:<br />
October 25<br />
Scorpio ushers in Eclipse Season with<br />
a New Moon/Solar Eclipse at the end<br />
of October. This mysterious water sign<br />
is inviting us all to dive deep into the<br />
waters of transformation. The invitation<br />
is magnified by the Full Moon Lunar<br />
Eclipse on <strong>Nov</strong>ember 7th. Pluto, the<br />
ruling planet of Scorpio and the Lord<br />
of the Underworld, will bring to light<br />
that which is hidden and needs to be<br />
uncovered for healing. Be honest with<br />
yourself; what unhealthy ways of being,<br />
communicating and/or thinking would<br />
you like to release from your life before<br />
the beginning of 2023? Allow the<br />
transformative and renewing waters<br />
of Scorpio to wash over you and wash<br />
away that which no longer serves you.<br />
NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21<br />
SAGITTARIUS<br />
Element: Fire<br />
Quality: Mutable<br />
Ruling Planet: Jupiter<br />
Traits: Optimistic, lovers<br />
of freedom, intellectual,<br />
honest and easily bored<br />
New Moon in Sagittarius:<br />
<strong>Nov</strong>ember 23<br />
<strong>2022</strong> is coming to a close. Allow<br />
the afterglow of the Thanksgiving<br />
holiday and the final holidays of<br />
light (Hanukkah & Christmas) to<br />
ignite the Sagittarius optimistic<br />
energy within all of us. As we head<br />
into the dark of Winter use that<br />
optimistic energy to create your<br />
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represented by the tarot card –<br />
The Chariot. This is a sign to move<br />
forward boldly, holding the reins of<br />
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Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!<br />
Blessed Kwanza!<br />
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community<br />
Mending Consumerism through Independent Makers:<br />
Textile Artist Katrina Perdue<br />
on Re-use and Repair<br />
by Mud<br />
photo by Jesse Butcher<br />
18 <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle | focuslgbt.com
What started your<br />
mending practice?<br />
My dad passed away,<br />
and it was a very fast and<br />
intense period of time and<br />
I found myself with a lot of<br />
his clothing and a lot of his<br />
denim. I was like, well, I can<br />
just take his pocket off to<br />
mend my own clothes. I was<br />
thinking about having him<br />
with me and literally using<br />
the cloth that he wore in my<br />
own clothes. Thinking about<br />
the context of care, I found<br />
another form of healing<br />
in repairing an object. I<br />
definitely felt that it was<br />
healing through grief.<br />
Did you receive higher<br />
education?<br />
I don't have an art degree.<br />
I'm one of those outliers,<br />
but I did get a degree in<br />
American studies at Towson<br />
University in Maryland. I<br />
think Memphis is also a<br />
great city for that–you don't<br />
have to have the degree<br />
to do the practice and be<br />
taken seriously as much as<br />
you might in other cities. I<br />
do a lot of what some of my<br />
peers call art.<br />
How did you transition from<br />
a personal, utilitarian need<br />
for mending to a service<br />
that you provide for others?<br />
I was working a desk job<br />
and liked it, but I realized<br />
that I was really starting to<br />
enjoy my mending work.<br />
Some people were like, oh,<br />
that looks cool and I have<br />
a pair of jeans or I have this<br />
or that. It was a lot of word<br />
of mouth and I started to<br />
take in and realize, OK, this<br />
is a service– I can't really do<br />
this for free. I had a really<br />
hard time figuring out how<br />
to charge my friends. So,<br />
I did a mending pop up at<br />
the Crosstown Concourse<br />
in February of 2016. I was<br />
going to test it out and see,<br />
is there any traction here?<br />
For the workshop, I just<br />
decided to sit there and<br />
mend. I didn't really do a<br />
lot of advertising. A couple<br />
of my friends posted that I<br />
was there, and then people<br />
started to show up that I<br />
didn't know. I left with duffel<br />
bags of stuff to fix.<br />
What fears did you have<br />
when your practice took<br />
off?<br />
I didn't have a studio.<br />
I was working from my<br />
home, and there was this<br />
growing interest in it feeling<br />
like an art practice to me.<br />
It can be something I do<br />
as a service, but it can also<br />
be a connection to an art<br />
practice. I couldn't afford<br />
photos by Katrina Perdue<br />
an outside studio space<br />
and I really couldn't justify<br />
it, right, I just kept thinking,<br />
how can I? It's very hard,<br />
especially when finances are<br />
an issue. I definitely have<br />
had moments of, what am<br />
I doing? So yeah, it's tricky<br />
you know. How can I put the<br />
money into that when I need<br />
the money for this?<br />
What is your relationship<br />
to the materials you mend<br />
that are not commission<br />
based?<br />
If I look at my work from<br />
the angle of sustainability,<br />
the textile crisis and waste<br />
crisis, we're seeing we<br />
have so much to do. I find<br />
sustainability essential in<br />
terms of my values, but<br />
also, why go spend money<br />
on materials we can find?<br />
You know, Memphis is just<br />
great. Buy nothing– you just<br />
drive around and you'll find<br />
it. But there's also a deeper<br />
part of it; I feel connected<br />
to these things. There's this<br />
challenging part of mending<br />
that I love, trying to figure it<br />
out and so that even though<br />
it's not a textile, I can stitch<br />
it like that. So that idea of<br />
returning something to its<br />
original use I really love. Or<br />
maybe even a different use.<br />
Yeah, an alternative. I feel<br />
like there's a little humor<br />
involved and some of it's not<br />
for everyone. It's the idea<br />
of thinking, what can we do<br />
outside of what we can do<br />
with this material on its own.<br />
We can keep the things in<br />
use, whether it's as news or<br />
as an art piece or, you know,<br />
just a piece to think about.<br />
I find that it's a lifestyle<br />
choice. It feels so soothing<br />
and like a way to be.<br />
You have an upcoming<br />
exhibition at Crosstown<br />
Arts in Memphis, what are<br />
you hoping to get out of it?<br />
Part of this exhibition<br />
is sort of now trying to<br />
look at all this work I've<br />
done for seven years or<br />
so, finding those common<br />
themes and trying to write<br />
about it more— to come<br />
and read about my work in<br />
other ways.<br />
Learn more about<br />
Katrina’s work on her<br />
website katrinaperdue.com.<br />
Her solo exhibition 'Mending<br />
in a State of Abundance'<br />
opens at the West Gallery at<br />
Crosstown Arts in Memphis<br />
on <strong>Nov</strong>ember 18, <strong>2022</strong>, and<br />
runs through March 5, 2023.<br />
Follow her on Instagram<br />
@katrinaperdue.<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 19
life<br />
Business and<br />
Finance Podcasts<br />
with a Queer <strong>Focus</strong><br />
by Star McGill Goudey<br />
According to PodcastHosting.org's research, as of October <strong>2022</strong>, there are more than 2,000,000 podcasts and over<br />
48 million episodes. As someone in business, what might this mean to you? Well, you may want to step into the world<br />
of podcasting to build your brand for one, but how about a little inspirational listening from queer entrepreneurs and<br />
business qwners? Whether you are an established business owner or an entrepreneur with a start-up, hearing the stories<br />
and journeys of others is a source of inspiration and encouragement. Sometimes it seems queer business owners are in<br />
the shadows. These podcasts are a great example of who is really out there!<br />
SHEN AND SHAN SHOW<br />
“Highlighting the stories, businesses, and careers of<br />
LGBTQ+ professionals and entrepreneurs. With a little<br />
rainbow inspiration, we can be successful and our true<br />
selves!”<br />
This show has interviews with queer entrepreneurs<br />
that you can also watch on YouTube. The hosts, Shen &<br />
Shan, have backgrounds in financial literacy, real estate,<br />
education, and community outreach all with a heavy focus<br />
on families. Reading their About page is a MUST!<br />
Episodes include interviews with self published authors,<br />
dancehall owners, chefs, commercial cleaners, musicians,<br />
educators, medical professionals, filmmakers, nail<br />
technicians, apothecary owners and so many more. Topics<br />
like brand building, community building, business strategy,<br />
marketing, sales, and insurance are covered.<br />
20 <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle | focuslgbt.com
THE FOCUS GROUP<br />
You may recognize Tim Bennett and John Nash as<br />
the duo behind Subaru’s 15-year advertising of the<br />
perfect vehicle for the LGBTQ consumer. It is a weekly<br />
program with interviews, guest appearances, and current<br />
happenings around the world from a queer perspective.<br />
591 episodes and counting means you are sure to find<br />
something of interest!<br />
THE OUT ENTREPRENEUR<br />
BRINGING OUR WHOLE SELVES TO WORK |<br />
CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADING LGBTQ BOSSES<br />
“The Out Entrepreneur is a weekly Podcast where<br />
Rhodes Perry connects with today’s most authentic<br />
LGBTQ entrepreneurs. The show was created for you, the<br />
LGBTQ entrepreneur, business owner, or start-up founder.<br />
It was also designed to inspire more people to consider the<br />
entrepreneurial journey.”<br />
This podcast has 203 episodes that feature topics such<br />
as: knowing if running a family business is what you want<br />
to do, empowering marginalized communities, business<br />
law, and how to do radio. Rhodes Perry hosts professionals<br />
in the fields of self development and business building as<br />
well. A little something for everyone.<br />
QUEER MONEY<br />
“Queer Money is dedicated to the intersection of<br />
personal finance and being LGBTQ. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,<br />
Transgender or Queer, we all have money needs. Let's<br />
build a financially strong LGBTQ community.”<br />
David Auten and John Schneider (aka The Debt Free<br />
Guys) host this show. I include it here because personal<br />
finance is an important part of being a solid business<br />
owner. Topics covered include retirement savings, financial<br />
self-advocacy, trade work versus college degrees, samesex<br />
social security challenges, finding your purpose, and<br />
investing. This podcast boasts 341 episodes so far!<br />
I encourage you to check these out and find a drive-time or a work-time to listen, because you never know what<br />
random piece of information is just what you needed to hear to solve that big problem or spark a new project. Also, the<br />
more you hear about the success and failures of other businesses the better you can shape your own.<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 21
Be<br />
PrEPared.<br />
Learn more about<br />
HIV prevention at<br />
Planned Parenthood.<br />
866.711.1717<br />
PlannedParenthood.org/<strong>Tenn</strong>essee<br />
at<br />
Jerry's<br />
Artarama<br />
713 Main St., Nashville, TN<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 22
CROSSWORD<br />
ACROSS<br />
1 Buffy creator Whedon<br />
5 Group of openly gay lions?<br />
10 Fag ____ (women with gay<br />
friends)<br />
14 Milk go-with<br />
15 Like phone sex<br />
16 Area east of the Urals<br />
17 Choice #1, on 53-Across<br />
20 Flynn role opposite Davis<br />
21 Officer in the navy (abbr.)<br />
22 Use a rubber<br />
23 It may be tidy<br />
25 Mouthful, for the bull<br />
26 Start of Choice #2 on<br />
53-Across<br />
31 Chinese tea<br />
33 Dance in a Cole Porter title<br />
34 Tree on a shady street<br />
37 Big wheels at sea<br />
39 Areas for Dr. Kerry Weaver<br />
40 Spock portrayer Leonard<br />
42 Humorist Bombeck<br />
43 End of Choice #2<br />
45 Mark with a branding iron<br />
46 "Milk" actor James<br />
48 Bearse of "Married ... with<br />
Children"<br />
50 "____ On Down the Road"<br />
52 Sourpuss<br />
53 Netflix gay coming-of-age<br />
series<br />
58 Mapplethorpe's "Man in<br />
Polyester ____"<br />
59 Compensate<br />
60 Hot stuff<br />
62 Fairy tale bad guy<br />
63 Send, as to a specialist<br />
64 Nathan of “Modern Family”<br />
65 "Fer ____!"<br />
66 "The Cat in the Hat" author<br />
67 " ____ of Seventeen"<br />
DOWN<br />
1 Singer Feliciano<br />
2 Shaft output<br />
3 Minute parts, briefly<br />
4 Most in need of BenGay<br />
5 Homophobe Robertson<br />
6 Inventive Goldberg<br />
TWO CHOICES<br />
7 Club for Sheehan<br />
8 Calendar boxes<br />
9 Keebler cookie maker<br />
10 Tracy Turnblad has a big one<br />
11 On an Atlantis cruise<br />
12 Pink lady liquors<br />
13 "Quills" subject<br />
18 They're way out<br />
19 Cartoonist David<br />
24 West of Hollywood<br />
25 Cigarette pkg.<br />
26 Hayek of "Frida"<br />
27 "Firebird" composer<br />
Stravinsky<br />
28 Richard Simmons, to fitness<br />
29 Serpent's sound<br />
30 Aden is its capital<br />
31 Nick Malgieri, for one<br />
32 "Cabaret"'s "Mein ____"<br />
35 Dryer batch<br />
36 Vidal's Breckinridge<br />
38 Hall & Oates song about a<br />
fellator?<br />
41 Allie on "Weeds"<br />
43 Rock and Doris, frequently<br />
44 Literary mag for nags?<br />
47 The Batmobile, e.g.<br />
49 AAA handout<br />
51 Lauded makeup maker Lauder<br />
52 Dairy Queen stack<br />
53 Bonneville of "Downton<br />
Abbey"<br />
54 Land of Sinead O'Connor<br />
55 It's a curd in the kitchen<br />
56 Yellow-brick way<br />
57 Carol, for example<br />
58 Signal that goes either way<br />
61 Supporter of Spencer-Devlin<br />
FIND THE SOLUTION<br />
ON PAGE 22<br />
focuslgbt.com | <strong>Tenn</strong>essee Hustle 23