Our Community, Our Health: How to Join the Movement to End HIV/AIDS This story by The Shelby County Health Department was featured in our MARCH/APRIL print issue. Shelby County, like many other communities within our Tri-State areas, grapples with challenges posed by the HIV epidemic. Recent data reveals 353 new cases in the past year, with a prevalence rate of 26.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking second. By year-end 2021, reported cases reached 7,567, equating to a rate of 566.3 per 100,000 individuals. This emphasizes the urgency for a collective response. The Shelby County Health Department ..read more

After nearly 150 years, the Memphis Chess Club is still going strong. The Memphis Chess Club, the second-oldest in the United States, is more than just a chess haven; it’s a lively, welcoming community hub and cafe with a deep cultural history.   The Memphis Chess Club History. The above information is compiled from the research of MCC Historian Dwight Weaver. Beyond the game of kings, this club in downtown Memphis offers a unique blend of intellectual stimulation, camaraderie, and an inclusive environment. They have a full menu with delightful options and delicious drinks. They even ..read more

20+ awesome LGBTQ Memphis happenings for this mid-late April event guide Bi the Way is our biweekly event list where we share all the best local LGBTQ+ and queer-inclusive happenings in Memphis and the Midsouth in the next two weeks.  Now, here are 25 amazing events—from Cooper-Young’s annual Porchfest, to super queer theater, dance parties, art shows, and more!   Ongoing Drag Race Watch Party at DRUS Bar | Fridays, 7PM | 21+ | Free | Join iconic host India Taco as you cheer on your fave drag performers every Friday, til’ RuPaul crowns season 16’s winner! “Memphis 2024” Art Show ..read more

Wicked, now back in Memphis, remains a Broadway fave among LGBTQ communities Wicked the Musical is back in Memphis! The beloved Broadway hit returned to the Orpheum this April for the fifth time, reminding us just how magically fun it really is—and why so many queer people love it! Wicked is loosely based on the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which comes from the 1900 classic book by L. Frank Baum. But this Broadway play, adapted from a Gregory Maguire novel by Winnie Holzman, is absolutely its own revisionist story in that it takes a totally different turn and perspective.  With captivating ..read more

Queer Up Your Playlist with music recommendations from artist Jordan Occasionally Queer Up Your Playlist is our new series featuring cleverly curated music by LGBTQ artists—many of them local, all of them southern. Get ready for our very first installment with handpicked music recs from Jordan Occasionally—featured in our MARCH/APRIL issue. Jordan Occasionally (they/he) is a Memphis-based independent dance pop/R&B artist and activist with over 1.5 million streams. The recent Memphis Flyer 20 under 30 recipient serves as Artist Advisor on the Music Export Memphis Board, were featured in Gen ..read more

HIV/AIDS Awareness Advocates Show Up for Change in Tennessee at Day on the Hill As I walked into the bustling streets of downtown Nashville, TN on Tuesday, March 26, the air was filled with anticipation and purpose. I was among a group of about 144 advocates from various corners of the state, all gathering for a common cause—to voice our opposition to bills that threatened the rights and well-being of our communities. Organized by coalition partners for Tennessee AIDS Action Network’s HIV Advocacy Day on the Hill, this gathering promised to be a pivotal moment in our ongoing fight for justice ..read more

While some of the proposed bills have been tabled, others target trans people and pride flags This story was originally published by MLK50: Justice Through Journalism. Subscribe to their newsletter here. by Sono Motoyama A scene from last year’s Trans Day of Visibility tea time at the Enchanted Tea Lounge. Photo by Andrea Morales for MLK50 When a group of LGBTQ advocates held an online press conference earlier this month, it was to sound an alarm. At the time, 34 bills characterized by the American Civil Liberties Union as anti-LGBTQ had been introduced by the Tennesse ..read more

Salamander Brandy on Otaku, the Japanese for the word “nerd,” and how anime helps her envision a more colorful world. Ever catch yourself daring to live your dreams? To bring the driving forces of your imagination into reality. The attempt is the difference between labor, that is art and labor that simply works. Good art challenges us to think differently and moves us emotionally. For me, Anime has helped shape me and my view of the world. My love for Anime has moved me to want to live to create a more colorful reality. Anime is short for animation, but with the connotation of being produced i ..read more

Our review of the delightful Zanna Don’t: A Musical Fairy Tale, presented by Emerald Theatre Company Presented by Memphis’ Emerald Theatre Company, Zanna, Don’t is a heartwarming and spirited musical that shines bright.  Zanna, Don’t! cast and crew photo, courtesy Hal Harmon. The musical (written by Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaris) initially opened Off-Broadway in March 2003 and has been running in various theaters ever since. Set in a world where same-sex relationships are the norm, the imaginative premise and heartfelt message of Zanna, Don’t are brought to life in this Memphis rendit ..read more

Opera Memphis delves into La Calisto, a brief history of opera, and what it means to be a theater nerd. Now, this is asked with the utmost respect: Is there anything nerdier than opera nerds? Ned Canty, Opera Memphis’ General Director and Stage Director for the upcoming La Calisto, along with Jonathan King, Opera Memphis’ Music Director, both embrace that idea.  Canty says, “I think of a nerd as someone who is deeply in love with a type of art or culture that does not fit into traditional notions of what ‘real men’ or ‘real women’ should be into. The most important tenet for me is that yo ..read more