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Serving the <strong>Mid</strong>-<strong>South</strong> LGBT+ Community and its Allies | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
FREE<br />
NERD<br />
LO NORMAN<br />
MASKED MULTI-<br />
HYPHENATE NERD<br />
OF YOUR DREAMS<br />
THE MEMPHIS CHESS<br />
CLUB, NATURALLY<br />
NERDING OUT IN NATURE<br />
OPERA,<br />
OH, OPERA!<br />
ADDRESS LABEL<br />
+ MUSIC BUFFS, LIBRARY<br />
HIDE BEFORE PRINT FINAL<br />
RAINBOWS, AND MORE!
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Explore.<br />
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Find.
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<strong>Focus</strong> ® <strong>Mid</strong>-<strong>South</strong> is all about LGBT + people and their allies… their<br />
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4 Nerd Music | | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> Nov+Dec <strong>2024</strong> 2023 | | focuslgbt.com
FEATURED WRITERS IN THIS ISSUE<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
We rely on community contributors for <strong>Focus</strong> magazine news and stories.<br />
A huge thanks to these dedicated writers!<br />
Quailvarious Brown<br />
(they/them)<br />
Quailvarious Brown is writer and<br />
journalism student at University of<br />
Memphis. Originally from Union City,<br />
TN, they now live in Memphis.<br />
Tricia Dewey<br />
(she/her)<br />
Tricia is a longtime Memphis<br />
transplant who has grown to admire<br />
the ‘grit and grind.’ She is also a mom,<br />
wife, runner, reader, recovering lawyer,<br />
tree hugger, and ally.<br />
Minnassa Gabon<br />
(she/her)<br />
Minnassa Gabon is a <strong>South</strong>ern<br />
Californian now living in the <strong>Mid</strong>-<br />
<strong>South</strong>. She is the C.E.O. of Minnassa<br />
Wellness, a psychic intuitive,<br />
Reiki Master, and the Chair of<br />
OUTMemphis’ Senior Services.<br />
Jordan Occasionally<br />
(they/he)<br />
Jordan Occasionally, or JD, is an independent dance<br />
pop/R&B artist and activist from Memphis, TN. A beloved<br />
community organizer, they also serve as an Artist Advisor<br />
on the Music Export Memphis Board.<br />
William Smythe<br />
(he/him)<br />
William is a local writer and poet. He has been<br />
published in multiple magazines, both online and<br />
in print, and works with the community creative<br />
workshop collective, Memphis Writers.<br />
Other Contributors<br />
Salamander Brandy<br />
Kelly Seagraves<br />
Jonathan Cross<br />
Kim Strickland<br />
Have a story that needs to be told? Pitch your story ideas to editor@focuslgbt.com<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 5
CONTENTS | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
5 CONTRIBUTORS<br />
7 THEME: NERD<br />
8 COMMUNITY<br />
How Memphis Public Libraries became an oasis<br />
for LGBTQ+ readers<br />
12 TRAVEL<br />
Three outdoor enthusiast groups share the many<br />
nerdy wonders of Memphis’ nature scene<br />
16 COMMUNITY<br />
Nerd Night, and the deep history of the renowned<br />
Memphis Chess Club<br />
18 ORIGINAL MEMPHIS<br />
Our We Saw You OUT series documents proud<br />
LGBTQ locals. Look out for yourself or a friend!<br />
20 LIFE<br />
Lo Norman: streamer, filmmaker, masked<br />
multidisciplinary artist, and self-proclaimed nerd<br />
24 ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Theater nerds of Opera Memphis delve into the<br />
fascinating and surprisingly queer world of opera<br />
28 LIFE<br />
Let’s come together to understand the facts and<br />
realities of the HIV/AIDS epidemic<br />
30 MUSIC<br />
Our new column featuring Jordan Occasionally<br />
highlights 8 amazing songs by LGBTQ artists<br />
32 ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT<br />
An essay and artwork as part of Prism Pages, No. 11<br />
36 LIFE<br />
Psychic intuitive Minnassa Gabon shares <strong>Mar</strong>ch +<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il horoscope readings for every sign!<br />
38 LIFE<br />
Don’t panic this tax season: Nerd out with these<br />
useful financial tips<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
Lo Norman<br />
photo by Jasmine Smith<br />
Find the story on page 20<br />
ON THIS PAGE<br />
photo courtesy of<br />
Memphis Chess Club<br />
Find the story on page 16<br />
6 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
theme<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 7
community<br />
Reading<br />
the<br />
Rainbow<br />
Memphis Public Libraries, Safe Havens<br />
for LGBTQ+ Book Lovers<br />
by Kelly Seagraves<br />
8 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
Rainbow Storytime with drag performer<br />
Moth Moth Moth<br />
photo courtesy Jamie Griffin<br />
1st page and above: Pride Fest 2023 at<br />
the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library<br />
photos courtesy Dylan Miller<br />
Butterfly at Pride Fest 2023<br />
photo courtesy Jamie Griffin<br />
Memphis is lucky. Our<br />
library system is unique in<br />
that it's the only system in<br />
the United States to have<br />
won the National Medal<br />
for Museum and Library<br />
Services twice. Our libraries<br />
serve as community hubs,<br />
offering socially conscious<br />
programming to address<br />
the needs of our city's<br />
diverse population. Over the<br />
past decade, there has been<br />
a growing emphasis on<br />
LGBTQIA+ inclusivity within<br />
our library spaces. Queer<br />
book nerds rejoice, for in<br />
the cozy corners of our local<br />
libraries, the presence of<br />
LGBTQIA+ literature offers<br />
the opportunity to find a<br />
voice that resonates with<br />
your own.<br />
I recently had the honor of<br />
speaking with several staff<br />
members at the Benjamin<br />
L. Hooks Central Library,<br />
located in <strong>Mid</strong>town at 3030<br />
Poplar Avenue, about their<br />
initiatives to create a safe<br />
and welcoming environment<br />
for the Memphis queer<br />
community - especially the<br />
bibliophiles among us.<br />
When asked about<br />
visual markers indicating<br />
the library's commitment<br />
to LGBTQIA+ inclusivity,<br />
Dylan Miller, Public<br />
Services Supervisor for<br />
the Humanities, cited their<br />
use of creative, colorful<br />
LGBTQ-focused book<br />
displays. These displays are<br />
not limited to Pride Month,<br />
either! No, these bookish<br />
beacons of queerness are<br />
scattered throughout the<br />
library year-round, and cater<br />
to all ages.<br />
"When people come in,<br />
if they see those books,<br />
they'll notice and know<br />
that it is a safe, welcoming<br />
space for them," says<br />
Jessica Clark, Public<br />
Services Supervisor for the<br />
Children's Department.<br />
As we spoke, I couldn't<br />
help but notice Jessica's<br />
rainbow lanyard. On that,<br />
she remarked," Yeah!<br />
Staff members often wear<br />
lanyards adorned with pride<br />
symbols, signaling to visitors<br />
that they are approachable<br />
and supportive!"<br />
The library takes a<br />
proactive approach to<br />
ensuring its collection<br />
is diverse and inclusive,<br />
catering to the interests and<br />
identities of book nerds of<br />
all ages. Jessica informed<br />
me of a massive diversity<br />
audit that was recently<br />
conducted for the children's<br />
department. Staff members<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 9
went through their entire<br />
collection, book by book,<br />
analyzing representation<br />
on book covers, authorship,<br />
and content. This audit<br />
later informed substantial<br />
book orders to fill gaps<br />
in their collection. While<br />
these projects are<br />
enormous, time-consuming<br />
undertakings, the staff<br />
agreed they are crucial to<br />
keeping the library a space<br />
where representation and<br />
diversity are honored. Dylan<br />
noted that they hope to do<br />
diversity audits for other<br />
departments, as well as<br />
other branches within the<br />
library system, in the future.<br />
When it comes to<br />
LGBTQIA+ events, the<br />
library shows up and shows<br />
out for the community with<br />
an annual Pride Fest. It's an<br />
event funded by the Friends<br />
of the Library, a flagship<br />
initiative active since 2019.<br />
The festivities begin with a<br />
themed night time affair for<br />
adults called "Proud Out<br />
Loud," featuring a dance<br />
party and drag bingo. The<br />
following day is the main<br />
event, which features games<br />
and fun activities for all<br />
ages. There, the library<br />
hosts an array of local nonprofit<br />
organizations and<br />
businesses, inviting them<br />
to set up tables and forge<br />
face-to-face relationships<br />
with community members.<br />
To top it off, through a grant<br />
provided by International<br />
Paper, the library was able<br />
to distribute around $2500<br />
worth of books last year to<br />
children, tweens, and teens.<br />
Pride Fest is big with<br />
teens and tweens, many of<br />
whom show up hand-inhand<br />
with a date wearing<br />
pride flags as capes.<br />
"It's so fulfilling to see<br />
because you can tell that's<br />
possibly their first Pride,"<br />
Jessica shared.<br />
Supportive parents of<br />
LGBTQIA+ kids often attend<br />
and will pull staff members<br />
aside to thank them for<br />
hosting such a wholesome,<br />
all-ages event.<br />
The most beloved event<br />
among younger attendees<br />
is Rainbow Family Story<br />
Time, which started with<br />
the first Pride Fest and<br />
has continued monthly at<br />
different library branches<br />
ever since. The goal is<br />
to reach diverse families<br />
throughout Memphis,<br />
addressing specific themes<br />
such as "love is love"<br />
and transgender family<br />
experiences.<br />
Dylan Miller beamed as<br />
she recounted the Rainbow<br />
Family Story Time at 2023's<br />
Pride Fest. "Each year that<br />
we've had it in person, Miss<br />
Mothie (a well-known local<br />
LGBTQIA+ activist and drag<br />
performer) comes through<br />
the meeting space, and we<br />
do a little parade. This was<br />
Jessica's idea, and I love it!"<br />
Jessica and Dylan<br />
described how the kids<br />
proudly marched through<br />
the room waving little pride<br />
flags, following Miss Mothie,<br />
who danced ahead of them,<br />
while the crowd clapped<br />
and cheered them on. The<br />
room was light with joy and<br />
laughter … and bubbles.<br />
Yes, bubbles. Because what<br />
kind of Pride parade doesn't<br />
include a bubble blower?<br />
With the help of a grant<br />
from the American Library<br />
Association (ALA), Cossitt<br />
Library hosted a weeklong<br />
event centering the Black<br />
queer community. The event<br />
series featured a workshop<br />
on writing love letters to<br />
yourself, a Black Queer<br />
History talk, a "Celebrate<br />
Yourself" portrait workshop,<br />
yoga and self-care lessons,<br />
a movie night, an outdoor<br />
open mic night, and a panel<br />
discussion about cultivating<br />
creative dreams.<br />
Beyond its programming<br />
and events, the library is<br />
committed to supporting<br />
its LGBTQIA+ staff<br />
through its Spectrum<br />
Employee Resource<br />
Group, an employee-run<br />
initiative for all City of<br />
Memphis employees. The<br />
group offers networking<br />
opportunities, with HR and<br />
DEI (Diversity, Equity &<br />
Inclusion) representatives<br />
present to address<br />
questions and concerns.<br />
The library also provides<br />
comprehensive training for<br />
supervisors and managers<br />
on equity, diversity, and<br />
inclusion, emphasizing a<br />
zero-tolerance stance on<br />
bullying and harassment.<br />
A notable aspect of staff<br />
support is the explicit HR<br />
policy addressing the rights<br />
and resources of trans or<br />
non-binary staff members.<br />
This internal policy ensures<br />
a smooth transitioning<br />
process within the<br />
workplace, and the library<br />
emphasizes the importance<br />
of respecting pronouns and<br />
names. Anthony Lucatelli,<br />
a Library Customer Service<br />
Assistant at Central who<br />
identifies as non-binary,<br />
described the policy as<br />
"heartening," as it lays out in<br />
no uncertain terms that all<br />
employee gender identities<br />
are valid and accepted.<br />
They went on to say, "I've<br />
seen it in practice! Across<br />
MPL, pronouns, names, and<br />
identities are respected."<br />
So, my little bookworms,<br />
in case you were looking for<br />
another reason to browse<br />
the stacks in search of<br />
your new favorite fantasy<br />
romance or sci-fi novel, let<br />
this be your reminder that<br />
the library is a safe space for<br />
ALL who visit.<br />
ALL ARE WELCOME!<br />
PRIDE-THEMED<br />
LIBRARY CARD CONTEST<br />
FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS<br />
MARCH 12 • 6 PM<br />
BENJAMIN L. HOOKS CENTRAL LIBRARY<br />
CARDS WILL BE IN CIRCULATION IN JUNE<br />
Follow on Instagram @memphislibrary for updates.<br />
Library signage by Jessica Clark<br />
photo courtesy Laura Bontrager<br />
10 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
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travel<br />
Blue Tones in<br />
Green Spaces<br />
Outdoor enthusiasts in Memphis<br />
on the many wonders of nature<br />
by William Smythe<br />
12 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
Growing up in Memphis, one of the most forested cities<br />
in the <strong>South</strong>, if not the United States, I have developed a<br />
fondness for nature.<br />
Dad took my sisters and me for regular walks,<br />
enlightening us about all these green spaces. Sometimes,<br />
it was just an overgrown vacant lot. But we went for hikes,<br />
too, along the Old Growth Trails in Overton Park. There,<br />
I admired tall poplars, rich oaks, and sweetly-scented<br />
hickories. Ferns and ivy tickled my hands. It became a<br />
refuge.<br />
Back in college, I would find myself roaming the Montana<br />
hills and valleys, just breathing in the Douglas pines and<br />
arrow leaves whenever I had a bad day. So, I reached out<br />
to Queer Memphis Hikes, curious if they shared that solace.<br />
"Nature doesn't judge who you are or how you show up,"<br />
Jazmin and Iris of Queer Memphis Hikes tell me.<br />
Jazmin and Iris said going for regular hikes helps them to<br />
tune in to themselves and each other. Some of the things<br />
that stand out to them have been the many ecological<br />
features endemic to the <strong>Mid</strong>-<strong>South</strong>'s green history.<br />
"Like, woah," the two exclaim. "Look at that cool rock!<br />
How many million years ago was it formed?" Or, even,<br />
"Why do swamp oaks have those weird but funky exposed<br />
roots?"<br />
Queer Memphis Hike members are either amateurs<br />
or experts, many of which are mycologists and<br />
paleontologists who are familiar with the local plants and<br />
wildlife and can even break down the small animal tracks<br />
around our feet as we walk.<br />
"Some point out mushroom varieties at T.O. Fuller State<br />
Park. Other members track native flowers and plants.<br />
We've even had entomologists give us insights about<br />
the critters above our heads. It's fascinating how people<br />
interact with nature, some even stopping to take photos,<br />
able to capture small changes in our landscape," they said.<br />
The hiking group has spent time around Meeman-Shelby,<br />
going out to explore the trails in the scorching summer or<br />
cool spring and fall mornings. But perhaps soon, they'll<br />
check out Konstantin Dimopoulos's new exhibit Blue Trees<br />
along the Wolf River Greenway. Dimopoulos, the visual<br />
artist responsible for Blue Trees, hails from a desert in<br />
Egypt, where he did not see rain until he was five.<br />
"It's interesting," says Dimopoulos, "that the Sahara, and<br />
most parts of now-desiccated northern Africa, had once<br />
been green and alive, pocked with lakes, rivers, grasslands,<br />
and forests. So many places change quickly."<br />
While living in Colorado, Dimopoulos learned about<br />
deforestation caused by the mountain pine beetle.<br />
"One in 14 trees are dead in Colorado," he informs me.<br />
"In fact, that number has increased to about 30 percent<br />
since 2010."<br />
Blue Trees is Dimopoulos' response to this phenomenon.<br />
By painting the trees with non-toxic chalk paint, parts of<br />
that state's ecology stand out. Since blue trees don't exist<br />
in nature, it causes the hiker to stop and focus on the trees<br />
around them, admiring the beauty while it's here.<br />
Nature doesn't<br />
judge who you<br />
are or how you<br />
show up.<br />
Konstantin Dimopoulos’ installation, Blue Trees<br />
all photos courtesy of William Smythe.<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 13
Rather than<br />
adapting nature<br />
to our cities, we<br />
should probably try<br />
adapting our cities<br />
to nature!<br />
"The reality is none of our forests or landscapes are free<br />
from ending up like deserts. We must become aware and<br />
work to preserve trees globally and locally," he says. Blue<br />
Trees grew from the Denver area of Colorado to all over<br />
the country, leading us to the exhibit along our Wolf River.<br />
"A lot of people ask me why Memphis, Germantown? It's<br />
a beautiful city, first of all. But, it's the people we met who<br />
made the difference," says Dimopolous.<br />
People like Cat Peña, a Public Art & Design Manager in<br />
Memphis, who took a big risk to bring this work to our city.<br />
"Initially," Dimopolous admits, "we began the installation<br />
as a guerrilla work. But it has morphed and organically<br />
changed into an installation that brought inclusion with<br />
communities, with cities."<br />
Dimopolous isn't alone in bringing art to nature, however.<br />
Local art company Belleau+Churchill worked alongside<br />
him to bring their project Tree Tones to fruition. They, just<br />
like their contemporary, try to bring the hiker's attention to<br />
parts of our local environment.<br />
"For us, nature is an inspiration but also a refuge.<br />
Nature gives us opportunities to slow down, reset, and<br />
refresh. Walking is important to us. We talk a lot on walks.<br />
Sometimes, it's ideas. Sometimes, it's about what we're<br />
observing. Being in nature helps us practice mindful<br />
looking and listening."<br />
For their project, certain trees are set to specific tones<br />
inherent to those species themselves: Bald Cypress,<br />
Hackberry, Hickory, PawPaw, Sweetgum, and Water Oak.<br />
But, they aren't just interested in bringing us to nature, but<br />
also nature to us. When I asked if they had any suggestions<br />
for how the city can adapt to nature, Belleau + Churchill<br />
suggested: "Rather than adapting nature to our cities, we<br />
should probably try adapting our cities to nature!"<br />
"Nature is everywhere," say Belleau + Churchill.<br />
"One thing that immediately stood out to us when<br />
we first moved to Memphis is the number of trees in<br />
neighborhoods and the size of those trees. There's a<br />
direct correlation between the number of trees in a<br />
neighborhood and health outcomes for residents, with<br />
more trees equating to better health. Things like pollinator<br />
gardens or even replacing lawn grass with clover or native<br />
ground cover bring birds, butterflies, and bees and even<br />
reduce excessive lawn care. Even just mulching your leaves<br />
will invite nature back into the city. Leaving leaves on the<br />
ground over winter provides habitat for fireflies."<br />
One thing these Memphis Queer Hikes, Konstantin<br />
Dimopoulos, and Belleau + Churchill can definitely agree<br />
on is that nature is necessary to our lives, whether it's<br />
through health, appreciation, art, or even our mental well<br />
being.<br />
I'll leave you with this quote from Robert Lydon provided<br />
by Dimopoulos: "We need all art as we need all nature;<br />
there is a balance in both."<br />
And indeed, that is on display with the Blue Trees and<br />
Tree Tones installations, standing proudly at the blessed<br />
banks of our Wolf River.<br />
Belleau + Churchill’s installation, Tree Tones<br />
14 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
MARCH 3, <strong>2024</strong><br />
4:30-7:00 PM<br />
MEMPHIS SPORTS & EVENTS CENTER<br />
995 Early Maxwell Blvd, Memphis, TN 38104<br />
Scan the QR Code<br />
for more details and to<br />
purchase tickets!<br />
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CONTEST<br />
A Benefit for the Tennessee Equality Project<br />
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We can bring the best Central BBQ has to offer to any location, or<br />
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request online @<br />
CBQMEMPHIS.COM<br />
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community<br />
Let’s<br />
"Rook 'n<br />
Roll"<br />
Behind Memphis Chess<br />
Club’s fascinating history<br />
and Nerd Nite<br />
by Ray Rico<br />
The Memphis Chess<br />
Club, the second-oldest in<br />
the United States, is more<br />
than just a chess haven;<br />
it's a lively, welcoming<br />
community hub and cafe<br />
with a deep cultural history.<br />
Beyond the game of<br />
kings, this club in downtown<br />
Memphis offers a unique<br />
blend of intellectual<br />
stimulation, camaraderie,<br />
and an inclusive<br />
environment. They have a<br />
full menu with delightful<br />
options and delicious drinks.<br />
They even have guest<br />
memberships, merch, and a<br />
reward program for patrons.<br />
But you don't have to be a<br />
member to play or eat.<br />
Nerd Nite is Memphis<br />
Chess Club's monthly<br />
gathering, inspired by<br />
the Nerd Nite at the now<br />
defunct bar, Rec Room.<br />
The night is a gateway<br />
for first-time visitors to<br />
learn about Chess Club.<br />
But Nerd Night delves into<br />
all sorts of fun intellectual<br />
spaces outside of matches.<br />
These monthly Nerd Nites<br />
are known for seamlessly<br />
combining the worlds of<br />
chess and nerd culture with<br />
events like "mini TED talks,"<br />
where enthusiasts delve<br />
into niche topics anywhere<br />
from chess, roller derby,<br />
metallurgy, Memphis history,<br />
and more. And each night<br />
maintains a family-friendly<br />
atmosphere. Speakers have<br />
included notable figures like<br />
best-selling author Scott<br />
McEwen and commentator<br />
Otis Sanford, and the group<br />
is constantly planning more<br />
to feature. After each talk,<br />
a Q&A session is held to<br />
foster a welcoming space<br />
for all curious minds. They<br />
even have musical acts to<br />
excite the crowd.<br />
While most topics are<br />
embraced, the emphasis is<br />
on accessible intellectual<br />
talks. The club aims to<br />
align these events with its<br />
mission of supporting chess<br />
development and building<br />
a sense of community.<br />
For instance, every<br />
purchase during Nerd Nite<br />
contributes to supporting<br />
chess tournaments and<br />
maintaining a dedicated<br />
brick-and-mortar venue—a<br />
rarity even in larger cities.<br />
As for the future, the<br />
Memphis Chess Club<br />
remains open to new ideas.<br />
The upcoming speakers<br />
for Nerd Nite are typically<br />
announced on social media.<br />
Jim Adelman, the driving<br />
force behind Nerd Nite,<br />
always seeks passionate<br />
individuals who are willing<br />
to share their knowledge.<br />
The club encourages<br />
anyone interested, whether<br />
a chess player or not, to<br />
reach out and get involved.<br />
In essence, the Memphis<br />
Chess Club, with its<br />
dynamic Nerd Nite and<br />
multifunctional space,<br />
stands as a beacon of<br />
intellectual exploration,<br />
community engagement,<br />
and chess appreciation.<br />
To stay updated, learn<br />
more, and be part of this<br />
unique experience, you can<br />
join the Nerd Nite Memphis's<br />
Facebook group. You can<br />
also explore their monthly<br />
events on social media<br />
platforms and their website,<br />
memphischessclub.com.<br />
FRI • MAR 15, <strong>2024</strong><br />
7-9P<br />
Monthly on the third Friday<br />
16 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
photos courtesy of Memphis Chess Club<br />
Memphis Chess<br />
Club History<br />
1877<br />
1907<br />
1914<br />
The Memphis Chess Club is founded by a group<br />
of local businessmen led by Dudley Saunders, the<br />
club's first President. The MCC meets in various<br />
locations, including the historic Exchange Building<br />
and Downtown YMCA, now their neighbors along<br />
Madison Avenue.<br />
Memphis Chess Club co-hosts the World Chess<br />
Championship match between Emanuel Lasker<br />
and Frank <strong>Mar</strong>shall, with games in the Chamber of<br />
Commerce on Monroe Avenue.<br />
MCC President Bradford Jefferson wins the Western<br />
Open, receiving two sterling trophies now displayed<br />
in the MCC headquarters. Bradford's sister, Rosa<br />
Jefferson, edits a chess column in the Memphis<br />
Commercial Appeal from 1903 until the early 1930s.<br />
Western Open aka 15th U.S. Open in Memphis TN at Business Men's Club (1914)<br />
1978<br />
2020<br />
The MCC hosts the U. S. Junior Championship at<br />
Memphis State University (now the University of<br />
Memphis).<br />
After years of planning, Casey Hill and club officers<br />
Jonathan Wade, Alex King, and Gary Pylant<br />
reinvent the MCC as a full-service chess club and<br />
cafe located at 195 Madison Avenue—returning<br />
downtown where it all started!<br />
* Compiled from the research of MCC Historian Dwight Weaver.<br />
INTO CHESS?<br />
Check out the Memphis<br />
Chess Club Newsletter<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 17
original memphis<br />
We saw<br />
you<br />
OUT<br />
We love finding our people out in the wild!<br />
If FOCUS has stopped by to say hello to you<br />
while at any of the great LGBTQ events here in<br />
Memphis, odds are we’ve asked to document<br />
your good time. See if you spot yourself, a<br />
friend, or someone you’d like to get to know!<br />
18 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
life<br />
Lo Norman:<br />
Masked Multihyphenate<br />
Nerd<br />
of Your Dreams<br />
Why multi-talented artist and<br />
streamer Lo Norman reclaims<br />
the once derogatory term<br />
by Quailvarious Brown<br />
20 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
Self portrait from Lo’s photography portfolio<br />
Cel Shade performs at David Yancy fashion show<br />
Poison JamZ album cover by Cel Shade<br />
Lo at TONE Memphis<br />
Self-described nerd Lo Norman (she/they) embodies what<br />
it means to be an artist. In an age where things can seem<br />
rushed or unoriginal, the imaginative universe Lo's created<br />
lets them do all she loves and show off her creativity, which<br />
isn't limited to just one thing. Lo is a live streamer, music<br />
composer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist. It's only<br />
natural that her versatile abilities have brought her such<br />
special opportunities and supporters. As a live streamer, Lo<br />
enjoys playing obscure and underground games on Twitch<br />
and YouTube under the tag This Is LowKey.<br />
"I love everything from action-adventure, horror, RPGs, deep<br />
storylines, retro stuff, geek culture & all types of weeb shit,"<br />
says Lo.<br />
She started streaming online nine years ago with her<br />
partner for fun.<br />
"Back then, when we started, there was no incentive to<br />
make money from it," says Lo. "We just wanted to play with<br />
our friends."<br />
The This Is LowKey moniker is a conjunction of their names,<br />
Lolo and Key. Key also goes by the tag Bathwaterwhiskey.<br />
The pair began building their platform with classics like<br />
Final Fantasy IX and Sonic the Hedgehog.<br />
Lo says when it comes to finding people to connect with,<br />
there is nowhere like Memphis. She is embraced by the local<br />
nerd community here, which allows her to thrive in a city full<br />
of captivating and gifted people.<br />
"If you don’t have that community of people who aren’t<br />
going to judge you, then there will be nobody to support<br />
you and get your stuff seen," says Lo.<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 21
I surround myself with like-minded people, and it really helps<br />
me stay motivated when I see and hear what they got going on.<br />
Beyond streaming video games, Lo's creative realm<br />
extends to experimental music and performances under<br />
the alias Cel Shade.<br />
"If you had to put a genre to it, it would be vaporwave,"<br />
says Lo.<br />
Lo says it is hard to define her experimental music style.<br />
Especially as Cel Shade adds an extra dimension to her<br />
music through an innovative use of visual elements, like Y2K<br />
imagery, themes of arcade and cyber core, and liminal space.<br />
"Project Pat is my inspiration, musically," Lo says, "Soundwise,<br />
we are very different, but he is my inspiration because<br />
we are both Memphians."<br />
Lo has released 13 albums, with Poison JamZ, released<br />
June 2021, being the most recent, as well as other<br />
albums released under another alias. She enjoys letting<br />
her imagination blossom in all of her art, especially<br />
photography. Lo describes it as manipulative photography<br />
that usually involves themes like social commentary, race<br />
relations, and dark subject matter.<br />
"I try to paint this world in my photography and take you to<br />
this other realm," she says.<br />
Recently, a once-in-a-lifetime artistic opportunity presented<br />
itself when Lo and her co-director, screenwriter and partner<br />
Juniper Crawford, were awarded a $15,000 IndieGrant<br />
courtesy of Indie Memphis.<br />
Lo and Juniper’s short is now one of 25 projects awarded<br />
the IndieGrant, an initiative that helps fund short films<br />
made in Memphis.<br />
"I felt honored, proud, and seen," Lo says. "I get to turn my<br />
queer horror into a reality and see it on the big screen."<br />
They did not have high hopes when they submitted their<br />
queer horror script to Indie Memphis in August of 2023. Lo<br />
and Juniper had to wait three months for Indie Memphis's<br />
response to determine if they would win. Lo admits that<br />
the adventure of making their forthcoming film, "Friend<br />
Shaped," has been quite mind-boggling.<br />
Lo’s love of music, art and horror is evident in the intense<br />
way she talks about the subjects, and is why she doesn’t<br />
mind being called a “nerd.”<br />
Originally derogatory, people like Lo are reclaiming the term<br />
“nerd.” Being a nerd is no longer something to be ashamed<br />
of. The term is not a ticket to eat lunch alone while crying<br />
in a dirty bathroom surrounded by profanity smeared on<br />
the walls with a sharpie. Nerd culture is just a parallel to<br />
what queerness is, which is being unconventional and<br />
authentically yourself.<br />
"Being a nerd is just being yourself and truly being a fanatic<br />
and passionate about something you like," Lo says.<br />
Follow Lo at @lolodahoho_ for updates on shows and her<br />
and Juniper’s upcoming film, Friend Shaped.<br />
CORRECTION: Our NERD print issue fails to credit Juniper<br />
Crawford as co-director to the upcoming film, Friend<br />
Shaped. This fact has been corrected in both our virtual<br />
issue and blog post.<br />
All photos courtesy Lo Norman<br />
22 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
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arts+entertainment<br />
Opera,<br />
Oh, Opera!<br />
Opera Memphis, La Calisto, and the<br />
unique queerness of theater<br />
by Tricia Dewey<br />
Pinafore. All photos by Ziggy Mack<br />
24 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
Pagliacci Serse, Opera Neo, August 2021. Courtesy Stephanie Doche Opera Memphis<br />
Art starts telling us that things exist on a spectrum.<br />
When a piece is written, if approached appropriately, it really<br />
goes toward basic ideas of what it means to be human.<br />
Now, this is asked with the utmost respect: Is there<br />
anything nerdier than opera nerds? Ned Canty, Opera<br />
Memphis' General Director and Stage Director for the<br />
upcoming La Calisto, along with Jonathan King, Opera<br />
Memphis' Music Director, both embrace that idea.<br />
Canty says, "I think of a nerd as someone who is deeply<br />
in love with a type of art or culture that does not fit into<br />
traditional notions of what 'real men' or 'real women'<br />
should be into. The most important tenet for me is that<br />
you love the thing without worrying about whether other<br />
people think you should." So, in other words, don't worry<br />
about flying your opera nerd flag.<br />
The city of Memphis has dramatically benefited from<br />
opera nerds since the founding of Opera Memphis in<br />
1956. The Metropolitan Opera and other companies<br />
had performed in Memphis before, but Opera Memphis<br />
brought opportunities for year-round opera performances<br />
not yet seen before. Canty says Opera Memphis has<br />
grown and evolved since then, most recently moving<br />
its headquarters from East Memphis to the PeCo<br />
neighborhood in late 2023, closer to the art center of<br />
Memphis. The 2023-<strong>2024</strong> season brings a mix of opera<br />
standards and more modern offerings, such as the<br />
"Variations on a Theme" series, which presented various<br />
music connected to the words of poet Langston Hughes<br />
last month.<br />
Both Canty and King agreed that opera could be viewed<br />
as a kind of heightened musical theater. Canty says that<br />
many people have stereotypical ideas about opera that<br />
have been established by popular culture from Looney<br />
Tunes' Bugs Bunny to Seinfeld to Pretty Woman. However,<br />
those stereotypical notions only represent a small slice of<br />
the genre. In the course of a three- or four-year production<br />
cycle, Opera Memphis presents a mix of standards that<br />
people know well like, Carmen and La Boheme, balanced<br />
by either Opera Memphis original works or relatively new<br />
pieces. This season, Opera Memphis was interested in<br />
La Calisto. It's a baroque opera that is rarely performed,<br />
especially compared to romantic pieces of the 19th and<br />
20th centuries, but is quite interesting to watch due to the<br />
cultural and societal questions it raises.<br />
Canty says opera is relevant now because "art starts<br />
telling us that things exist on a spectrum. When a piece is<br />
written, if approached appropriately, it really goes toward<br />
basic ideas of what it means to be human. In the case<br />
of La Calisto, which was written 400 years ago, it looks<br />
at ideas of what it means to be a man, or a woman, or a<br />
lover, or a follower, or any of these things, basic questions<br />
that every person, every human being, every society asks<br />
themselves." In prehistoric times, people answered these<br />
questions with the gods, who turned into the Greek and<br />
Roman gods, who turned into the characters in this opera.<br />
La Calisto is part of Opera Memphis' Masterworks<br />
series and will be performed with period-appropriate<br />
instruments. In La Calisto the character of Santorini, the<br />
little satyr, is a boy going through puberty. Characters like<br />
that were often played by women for comedic purposes.<br />
The casting also plays with voice and costume, similar to<br />
some characters in Shakespeare and other theaters.<br />
Another interesting characterization is that of Jove,<br />
who transforms himself into the character of Diana to<br />
seduce Calisto. The same singer plays both Diana and<br />
Jove, who looks like Diana. Canty says the casting begged<br />
the question about drag performance, a hot topic now<br />
for several state legislators. Just this past June, Memphisbased<br />
drag group Friends of George won a lawsuit that<br />
deemed a recent anti-drag law unconstitutional.<br />
Canty concluded, "The characterizations in La Calisto<br />
highlighted the notion that a really wide variety of drag<br />
and gender fluidity was happening for hundreds of years<br />
in this art form and others, and that it was (a) something<br />
to celebrate and (b) underlined how ridiculous that law<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 25
Serse, Opera Neo, August 2021. Courtesy Stephanie Doche<br />
Pinafore<br />
was. The question is, what does it mean to define yourself<br />
in one way and have someone else define you in another<br />
way? They are basic human questions that are not new and<br />
have not been scattered into people's minds by a liberal<br />
conspiracy."<br />
Looking forward in opera, Jonathan King is hoping to<br />
bring awareness to transgender issues. He says, "As a<br />
community we're discovering and working through how<br />
we celebrate and utilize transgender singers. One opera<br />
I am thinking of most is Stonewall from 2019, which is<br />
about the Stonewall Riots in New York City in the 1960s.<br />
It incorporated a transgender role played by an actual<br />
transgender singer in the opera, and I think this just<br />
continues this narrative that has been around as long as<br />
opera and stage performance has been around."<br />
King is in his first year with the company, and in his<br />
first directorship, he feels joyful and fortunate to be in<br />
Memphis. He started in music as a pianist, then realized<br />
his love for collaboration with other musicians. King<br />
loves to sing and began exploring the genre of opera. He<br />
describes opera as an over-the-top experience, "I mean,<br />
it's just singers singing their hearts out about the most<br />
passionate subjects of love, lust, and murder, and all these<br />
things. It's just larger than life in so many ways. And once<br />
I got hooked on those two things together, working with<br />
singers, the love of the story, and the dramaticism of the<br />
story, it was kind of a no-brainer for me."<br />
Canty has been at Opera Memphis since 2011 after<br />
first training in theater as an actor and then as a director.<br />
Canty enjoys interacting with singers, many of whom have<br />
expressed their gratitude for the time he takes talking<br />
about their motivation, characters, and backstories as an<br />
opera director, a thing not all directors offer. Canty is not a<br />
singer but is glad to bring his rare skill set to opera. He was<br />
a freelance director for a very long time before making the<br />
choice to find a company to direct. Then, Canty needed a<br />
city with at least one of everything: a symphony, a ballet,<br />
and "a place big enough to have those things and small<br />
enough that I could get to know my audience." Luckily,<br />
there was Memphis.<br />
"When I tell my colleagues that people come up to me<br />
at Kroger and tell me what they thought about the last<br />
show, some of them think I'm complaining about that,<br />
and it's the opposite. You want a city where you can get<br />
to know the people, where it's your job to serve them.<br />
That's one of the best parts of Memphis," said Canty.<br />
Canty is figuring out how this opera art form fits within<br />
a city of music like Memphis, "I am a musical omnivore and<br />
always finding the links and similarities between opera<br />
and rock, soul, gospel, hip hop, and the blues, of course,<br />
everything that we do here musically in Memphis with our<br />
history, exploring the overlap. How does opera intersect<br />
with those things?"<br />
What is the path to becoming an opera nerd? Well,<br />
Canty says that he didn't like the first opera he ever saw,<br />
so he suggests testing out a couple types of opera—a<br />
serious opera, a comic opera, an opera in English. Opera<br />
Memphis tries to program one of each every season to<br />
provide an on-ramp for audiences. He says he directed La<br />
Calisto for the first time in Portland, Oregon in 2007, and<br />
there were many people in their 20s and 30s who were<br />
not a stereotypical opera audience. Some of them had fun<br />
dressing up in Victorian tailcoats and the extremity of this<br />
idea of opera.<br />
Some of these stories are over 2000 years old but have<br />
lasted, which speaks to their universality. Canty describes<br />
La Calisto as an opera that alternates between comic and<br />
serious. It's about falling in love, falling in love with the<br />
wrong person sometimes, what it feels like to love that<br />
person, maybe to lose them, and what happens when the<br />
people whose job it is to protect all of us are not as good<br />
at their job as they should be. It's also similar to Percy<br />
Jackson's books, with gods and goddesses in the opera<br />
allowing a real immediacy to the story.<br />
"La Calisto is a little more adult in theme than<br />
something like the Percy Jackson books, but if you like a<br />
good, sexy, lusty, pot-boiler of a show with some magic<br />
and some dancing and some singing, you would be<br />
hard-pressed to find anything better," said Canty.<br />
Actually, it may be time for all of us to start flying our<br />
opera nerd flag.<br />
La Calisto will be at Playhouse on the Square on<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>ch 22-23 with English subtitles.<br />
26 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
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Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): Suppresses the virus, reducing viral load and<br />
preventing transmission.<br />
28 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
Empowering<br />
Communities<br />
Taking Steps to End the HIV Epidemic<br />
The Power of Knowledge and<br />
Testing<br />
Knowledge is a fundamental pillar in the fight against<br />
HIV. Shelby County and its surrounding counties<br />
encourage residents to take control of their health by<br />
getting tested regularly. Confidential and accessible<br />
testing centers are established throughout these counties,<br />
providing an essential first step toward understanding and<br />
managing the epidemic.<br />
Transformative Community-<br />
Led Initiatives<br />
Ending the HIV epidemic requires a multifaceted<br />
approach. Community-led initiatives pave the way for<br />
change, dispelling myths, reducing stigma, and promoting<br />
healthy behaviors. These initiatives empower individuals<br />
and foster a sense of collective responsibility.<br />
Breaking the Stigma<br />
The battle against HIV extends beyond clinics. Shelby<br />
County is committed to breaking the stigma associated<br />
with HIV to reach far beyond our Tri-State areas. Through<br />
awareness campaigns, the communities aim to create an<br />
environment where individuals feel supported, free from<br />
judgment, and comfortable seeking testing and treatment.<br />
Providing Support Networks<br />
and Resources<br />
Recognizing the importance of support, Shelby County<br />
has established networks to assist those affected by HIV.<br />
Support groups, counseling services, and educational<br />
resources are readily available. The emphasis is on creating<br />
a community that stands together and provides a safety<br />
net for those navigating the complexities of living with HIV.<br />
Looking to the Future<br />
Shelby County is taking decisive steps to end the HIV<br />
epidemic, focusing on building a future where HIV is<br />
a thing of the past. The community encourages open<br />
conversations, regular testing, and active participation in<br />
initiatives promoting awareness and support.<br />
The journey to end the HIV epidemic in Shelby County<br />
is a testament to the resilience and strength of the<br />
community. By fostering a culture of understanding,<br />
empathy, and collective responsibility, Shelby County<br />
is shaping a future where every individual has the<br />
opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life, free from the<br />
impact of HIV. Together, the community is rewriting the<br />
narrative, ensuring that no one is left behind in pursuing a<br />
brighter and healthier tomorrow.<br />
Michelle Taylor<br />
MD, DrPH, MPA<br />
Division Director/Health Officer<br />
Shelby County Health Department<br />
Rosita Timmons<br />
MSML<br />
Deputy Administrator<br />
Ryan White/EHE Program<br />
SOURCE: CDC HIV Surveillance Report. www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/hiv-surveillance/vol-34/content/tables.html<br />
TESTING SITES: endhiv901.org RESOURCES:<br />
hivmemphis.org<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 29
music<br />
Queer Up Your Playlist<br />
Attention music nerds and lovers...<br />
This one's for you!<br />
by Jordan Occasionally<br />
Queer Up Your Playlist is our new series featuring cleverly curated music by LGBTQ artists—<br />
many of them local, all of them southern. Each issue'll have a freshly curated list by a local<br />
musician or music expert (available to listen via the QR code), starting with Jordan Occasionally!<br />
Jordan Occasionally (they/he) is a Memphis-based independent dance pop/R&B artist and<br />
activist with over 1.5 million streams. The recent Memphis Flyer 20 under 30 recipient serves as<br />
Artist Advisor on the Music Export Memphis Board, was featured in Genius Open Mic Stage, and was<br />
nominated for the Trailblazer Award in our 8th annual <strong>Focus</strong> <strong>Mid</strong>south Award ceremony. While you're<br />
listening to their top 8, be sure to check out Jordan’s new single, Say Less. It’s a vibe.<br />
Casual by Chappell Roan<br />
First of all, "knee deep in the passenger's seat and you're<br />
eating me out, is it casual now," is a lyric I wish I could've<br />
written. When I found out Chappell Roan was also from<br />
Tennessee, I was instantly obsessed. The music video for this<br />
song features a black siren who lures men to their death but<br />
makes out with women. It's just so sapphic. How could I not<br />
enjoy it?! There's a reason why they call her a princess.<br />
G.A.Y. by Chris Pierce<br />
First of all, the title of this song was enough to get me to<br />
press "Repeat." I found Chris Pierce on TikTok and met him<br />
in Toronto at last year's NXNE Festival when we were both<br />
headliners. Watching him perform "G.A.Y.," which stands for<br />
"Gay and Young," was a blast. His high-heeled boots and crop<br />
top shirt made me fall in love with the pride that this song<br />
brings. Such a hit.<br />
Glow 88 by Ariel J<br />
I'm always here for a feel-good rap anthem, and "Glow 88"<br />
by Ariel J is just that. It's about three minutes of confidence,<br />
and every lyric could be a caption. I love Queer rappers<br />
that know their worth, and Ariel J is definitely not one to be<br />
messed with. This song is perfect for any feel-good playlist<br />
because it's about self-worth and knowing what you deserve.<br />
I love when lesbians talk their ish.<br />
Green Ribbon by Louise Page<br />
"I wanna see you dance the way you dance in your<br />
kitchen!" Louise Page is full of feminist anthems. One<br />
thing Louise always does best is keep the spirit of live<br />
instrumentation on recordings alive. So many songs these<br />
days have fake instruments, but not Louise Page's. You'll hear<br />
a fiddle, a trumpet, and a live piano all on the same track.<br />
The music video features gorgeous drag queens, too, so you<br />
know I had to stan.<br />
Just We by Mak Ro ft.<br />
Jordan Occasionally<br />
Maybe I'm a little biased, but I had to add a verse to this<br />
song once I heard the Afrobeat feel. This song feels like<br />
drinking mimosas with your bae under umbrellas on the Miami<br />
beach. I'm a sucker for Mak Ro's breezy vocals layered over<br />
string instruments. It just screams "sex-y!" Definitely add this<br />
to your spring playlist.<br />
Papa Please by Talibah Safiya ft.<br />
MadameFraankie<br />
The Talibah Safiya and Madame Fraankie combo has yet to<br />
be topped. I got a chance to watch them perform this song<br />
before it was released at Talibah's album release party, and I<br />
was instantly hooked. Listening to this duo is always a spiritual<br />
experience, and the constant time changes in the song show<br />
so much skill that can't be put into words. They are singlehandedly<br />
bringing blues back to the mainstream.<br />
Tiptoe by Celest<br />
There's something so sultry about sweet singers like Celest.<br />
She just leaves me hanging on every word with this song.<br />
Knowing that she produced and wrote this all by herself is<br />
enough to make me a stan. Celest is bringing romance back to<br />
R&B. No shade to hook-up culture, but this song makes you want<br />
to fall in love and embrace cuddle season with matching pajamas<br />
and promise tattoos. Anyone else feel like falling in love?<br />
Warm by Tangela<br />
I first met Tangela when she was my roommate for the<br />
NXNE Festival. Moreover, when I first heard this song, my<br />
entire soul was warm. Tangela is a boss on the stage, mixing<br />
her vocals live and hitting notes that are out of this world. Her<br />
range is insane, and did I mention she's a rapper? Honestly,<br />
what can't she do? This whole E.P. is underrated, and I think<br />
everyone should give it a listen.<br />
photo by London Porchia (@Londonz.eye),<br />
courtesy Jordan Occasionally<br />
30 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
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arts+entertainment<br />
no. 11<br />
Black Otaku<br />
by Salamander Brandy<br />
Ever catch yourself daring to live your dreams? To bring<br />
the driving forces of your imagination into reality. The<br />
attempt is the difference between labor, that is art and<br />
labor that simply works. Good art challenges us to think<br />
differently and moves us emotionally. For me, Anime has<br />
helped shape me and my view of the world. My love for<br />
Anime has moved me to want to live to create a more<br />
colorful reality. Anime is short for animation, but with<br />
the connotation of being produced in Japan and, more<br />
recently, Korea. Anime and Manga (the comic version of<br />
Anime) break through their medium and always have had<br />
a profound effect on our reality.<br />
That's where I am at in my life. I want to create a work of<br />
art that tears the line between reality and fiction and has<br />
them bleed into each other. That's the reason I love Anime<br />
because it already brings reality into its fiction, and by<br />
watching our bit of reality reflected in it can prompt us<br />
to change it. Anime, more often than not, takes whatever<br />
the subject matter is and doesn't dumb it down for the<br />
audience just because it's animated. We are allowed to<br />
think about real-world concepts and their consequences<br />
from a safe distance and contemplate solutions before we<br />
may have to deal with them in our reality.<br />
I've always been a fan of Anime, especially since my<br />
uncles who helped raise me were Otaku, who knew the<br />
best video shops and were a part of the early online<br />
community. So I had access to a large collection of old<br />
Anime and became an Otaku, too! What is an Otaku? It is<br />
the Japanese version of the word "nerd," but more with<br />
the connotation of being obsessed with a certain aspect<br />
of pop culture. Both terms have an older denotation<br />
for someone on the autistic spectrum. I feel the term<br />
Otaku is appropriate when referring to myself because<br />
the aspect of pop culture I'm obsessed with is Anime.<br />
It's like the word "Trekkie" for people like my mom and<br />
older uncles who love Star Trek. I love Anime. I study<br />
how it's made and am engrossed by the people who<br />
make it. When the world was cold and callous towards<br />
me, Anime was there for me. At my lowest point, I was<br />
introduced to concepts that would be considered foreign<br />
here in the West. Anime like Kare Kano or His and Hers<br />
Circumstances made me feel less lonely because Anime<br />
exposed me to stories about, or made by, people who<br />
went through similar hardships in their lives. I try to apply<br />
the lessons I learn watching different Anime to my life.<br />
Seeing another culture from the outside allowed me to<br />
better understand my own and helped me to realize that<br />
Christianity wasn't for me. I became more cognizant that<br />
I wasn't inherently evil. I was born Black and feminine in a<br />
culture that hated femininity on a planet being choked to<br />
death by white supremacy.<br />
I'm a Black Otaku. I love the medium but have my<br />
critiques. I believe to be a true fan of any medium of art,<br />
philosophy, or political belief, criticism is needed to keep<br />
them from falling into stagnation and irreverence. That's<br />
how you keep the fascist out. I'm willing to point out the<br />
problematic element of any given work. Like the fascist<br />
undertones of Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan or the<br />
occasional panty shot of underage characters instead of<br />
having an actual plot in the story. These things need to<br />
change in order for Anime to grow.<br />
As an adult, I am able to bring these criticisms to the real<br />
world and challenge the hetero-sexism that plagues my<br />
life. On that note, shows like Revolutionary Girl Utena is a<br />
super queer Anime that challenges gender roles and gives<br />
examples of toxic relationships to stay the hell away from.<br />
Read the rest of the story on focuslgbt.com.<br />
Salamander Brandy is the Executive Director of the Path of the Holy Hands<br />
church, the former co-chair of the Memphis-<strong>Mid</strong><strong>South</strong> DSA, a member of<br />
Black Lives Matter Memphis and the New Black Panther party. She was<br />
born and raised in the city of Memphis and is the descendent of Elwood<br />
Higginbottom, a hero who was lynched by the city of Oxford, Mississippi for<br />
trying to start a union for sharecroppers. She is on a mission to spread peace<br />
on planet Earth and to get justice for her family. Until she completes her<br />
mission, she won’t stop even after her last breath.<br />
Want to see our full collection of The Prism Pages? Visit our website.<br />
The Prism Pages is a literary section in the magazine where original works of poetry and fiction from the community will<br />
be showcased. As a publishing company, we are committed to saving space for up-and-coming LGBTQ+ writers.<br />
Interested in submitting something? Email editor@focusmidsouth.com.<br />
This section is brought to you by the <strong>Focus</strong> Center Foundation 501(c)3.<br />
To learn how to support this and become a sponsor, please email info@focuscenterfoundation.org.<br />
32 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
Enter a digital universe born of my tweenage years, where the<br />
past and the future collide in a mezmerizing dance between preapocalyptic<br />
innocense and post-apocalyptic introspection. My art<br />
transcends mere visual representation; it is a living testament<br />
to the cyclical nature of human existence, weaving a narrative<br />
that serves as both a captivating history lesson and an enigmatic<br />
fortune teller.<br />
— by Jonathan Cross, IG: @oo01010o<br />
This section is brought to you by the <strong>Focus</strong> Center Foundation 501(c)3.<br />
To learn how to support this and become a sponsor, please email info@focuscenterfoundation.org.<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com | Nerd 33
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life<br />
Minnassa Wellness<br />
HOROSCOPES<br />
Psychic intuitive, Minnassa, shares her astrology<br />
readings for a better <strong>Mar</strong>ch and <strong>Apr</strong>il<br />
PISCES<br />
FEB 20 - MAR 20, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Element: Water<br />
Quality: Mutable<br />
Ruling Planet: Neptune<br />
Traits: Creative, intuitive, empathetic,<br />
compassionate, and moody<br />
New Moon in Pisces: <strong>Mar</strong>ch 10, <strong>2024</strong><br />
ARIES<br />
MAR 21 - APR 20, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Element: Fire<br />
Quality: Cardinal<br />
Ruling Planet: <strong>Mar</strong>s<br />
Traits: Confident, courageous, bold, honest,<br />
and impatient<br />
New Moon in Aries: <strong>Apr</strong>il 8, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Spring Equinox (Astrological New Year)<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>ch 19, <strong>2024</strong> – 10:06 pm (Central)<br />
Lunar Eclipse (<strong>Mar</strong>ch 25) and Solar Eclipse (<strong>Apr</strong>il 8): transformation, change, spiritual growth.<br />
Are you an astrology nerd?<br />
Do you know your big 3: Sun, Moon, and Rising?! How about your North and <strong>South</strong> nodes? Hunty, there<br />
is so much more to astrology than your sun sign! Get the facts! Here is a great place to start the journey<br />
on learning more about your personal astrology: astro.cafeastrology.com.<br />
36 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
ASTROLOGY FOR ALL SIGNS<br />
ARIES<br />
(Fire-Cardinal)<br />
You’re on Fire! Aries season is your time to do it BIG!<br />
Allow that fire within to guide you to inspired and<br />
transformative action!<br />
LIBRA<br />
(Air-Cardinal)<br />
Think about it! Take your time. Change your<br />
perspective and look at this situation from a higher<br />
vantage point. .<br />
TAURUS<br />
(Earth-Fixed)<br />
Make that move! As you take that step of faith, the<br />
resources and support you need to move in opulence<br />
will be there.<br />
GEMINI<br />
(Air-Mutable)<br />
Let it all go. Get out of your head and face forward. The<br />
time of looking back and living in the past is over. Set<br />
your face toward the sun and go!<br />
CANCER<br />
(Water-Cardinal)<br />
Collaborate! You don’t have to do it all by yourself.<br />
Open your heart and make room for those who see<br />
you and believe in you to offer support and take action<br />
with and for you.<br />
LEO<br />
(Fire-Fixed)<br />
Oh, yes! Step into your Divine Feminine power:<br />
Create and celebrate.<br />
VIRGO<br />
(Earth-Mutable)<br />
Rest, relax, and renew. Now is the time to revel in what<br />
you have created. Now is the time to allow the seeds<br />
you have planted to begin to sprout. Time to chill!<br />
Mindfulness in the Workplace<br />
SCORPIO<br />
(Water-Fixed)<br />
Look back for motivation not condemnation.<br />
Remember the dream in your little kid heart?<br />
Reconnect with it and bring it to life!<br />
SAGITTARIUS<br />
(Fire-Mutable)<br />
It’s your time to ROAR! Step into your power and move<br />
like you are the King of Fire!<br />
CAPRICORN<br />
(Earth-Cardinal)<br />
Happy, happy, joy, joy! Take time to celebrate the good<br />
you have drawn into your life. Yeah baby–it’s all good!!<br />
AQUARIUS<br />
(Air-Fixed)<br />
Oh what a tangled web we weave…Yes, you created a<br />
mess. Take a step back and breathe. Now clean it up!<br />
PISCES<br />
(Water-Mutable)<br />
Pisces this is your season. Enjoy it all. Connect with<br />
your heart, set your intentions, and with grace and<br />
ease manifest your best life!<br />
@MinnassaWellness<br />
* These horoscopes are for entertainment and inspirational purposes only.<br />
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38 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com