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MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 MOVIE NIGHT 7:00pm Pumping Station

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 TRIVIA & GAME NIGHT 7:00pm Midtown Crossing FESTIVAL WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 PRIDE SLAM & AND OPEN MIC NIGHT 7:00pm The Haven

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 PRIDE KICKOFF! DRAG SHOW 10:30pm Dru’s Place

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 THE BIG DANCE PARTY 8:00pm New Daisy Theatre

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 PRIDE FESTIVAL 10:00am Tom Lee Park SEPTEMBER 29TH 1:00pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 BRUNCHIN’ IT 12:00pm Dru’s Place

MONDAY OCTOBER 1, 2018 “TOM OF FINLAND” 7:30pm Studio on midsouthpride.org the Square #midsouthpride @midsouthpride Across the Toyota family and in communities around the world, we admire and applaud the differences that make us unique and celebrate the love that drives us all. #LoveDrives TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome to the 15th Annual Memphis Pride Fest ...... 4 Meet the Board ...... 6 2018 Miss Mid-South Pride ...... 7 Miss Chloe LaBeija

Stage Schedule ...... 9 Performing Artists Sock It To Me Burlesque Productions ...... 10 Rodney Ryan ...... 10 Katrina Coleman ...... 10 Tori WhoDat ...... 11 Chinese Connection Dub Embassy ...... 11 2018 Grand Marshals ...... 12 Festival Layout ...... 14 Vendors ...... 15 Parade Route ...... 16 Performing Artists The Grind City Fire & Flow Artists ...... 17 Lisa Michaels, ...... 17 P .A . Schler ...... 17 ED2 ...... 18 Alima Tribe ...... 18 Native Blood ...... 18 Official After Parties ...... 19 2018 Sponsors ...... 20

Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride | 3 Welcome to the 15th Annual Memphis Pride Fest

From your President, I want to welcome you to your 15th Annual Memphis Pride Fest and Parade! Last year we had a record breaking year with over 15,000 people in attendance . The pressure was on to follow up 2017 . When we found out that the park we use, Robert Church Park, was scheduled to be under construction and we needed a new home . The answer was easy, it was time to move to Tom Lee! I first volunteered in 2010, the last year in Peabody Park, and the next year we moved downtown . Mike Morgan, then President, told me that the city tried to get them to move to Tom Lee and that there was no way they could take 4,000 people and a 20 booth festival to a park that big . They would disappear in a park of that size . That’s why they picked Robert Church Park . Our first year downtown we had 80+ booths and 6,000 people . The parade took over Historical Beale Street and slayed it with rainbows . Fast forward to record breaking last year with 125+ booths, 50+ parade entries, and 15,000+ people . This year at Tom Lee there will be two stages with live entertainment, live wrestling matches, kids area, car show, food trucks/vendors, VIP area, adult tent 18+, a cooling tent, over 60 parade entries, and more than 150 booths . I can’t wait to see what the turn out will be this year, but I do know it’s going to be one spectacular Festival and Parade! Thank you to my board members, we are an all-volunteer board, I couldn’t do this without you . I am proud of the work we have all done this year and how hard we all worked to get here . Thank you to our volunteers for helping and supporting pride, it really takes a village to put this on . We at Pride want our community to know that we believe in unity when others try to divide . We support and build relationships that help raise the status of our community in a positive way, always working to provide a safe, inclusive, and loving environment for all to feel PROUD of who they are . I am pleased to present YOUR Memphis Pride Fest 2018! Your President,

VanessaVa n eRodley s s a Rodley

4 | Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride

MEET THE BOARD

The Mid-South Pride Board is comprised of a diverse group of individuals from across the Memphis and area . It takes an enormous amount of work to orchestrate the Annual Festival and Parade every year and the work can feel like it’s never done, but every member will tell you that it is worth every second . The Festival and Parade are major undertakings on their own but the board also takes on cookouts, shot nights, bar events, drag shows, family bowling night, karaoke, balls, proms, park days, dances, and general events, the list goes on . Membership is 100% volunteer, and every member of the Mid-South Pride Board signs on to work endless hours on projects, events, and sponsorships, often times sacrificing personal time with friends and family . Let’s get to know your 2018 Mid-South Pride Board .

VANESSA PHILLIS PATRICK JENNIFER RODLEY LEWIS PEARSON MURRY-RODLEY PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD TREASURER PRESS SECRETARY AND AND FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF THE EVENT COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

JEREMIAH Lexie Kelly Cristin MILLS Sutherland Carpenter Smith SECRETARY AND BOARD BOARD BOARD HEAD OF THE MEDIA TEAM MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER

Stephanie Matthew Stephanie WWhathat Wicker Hollon Herranda aaboutbout yyou?ou? BOARD BOARD BOARD MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER

6 | Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride Mister & Miss Mid-South Pride October 21, 2018 l 7:00 PM DRU’S PLACE l 14 74 MADISON Ave. Reigning Miss Mid-South Pride Chloe LaBeija Greetings and salutations! My name is Chloe LaBeija and I am you current Miss Mid-South Pride . I am currently 29 years old and I have been a Memphis native for the past three years . A local impersonator for a little over two years . My mantra is, and always will be, the sky was the limit . When I think of pride I think of the diversity that this city has to offer it is a melting pot of entertainers both traditional and new age as well as a host of many different cultures of queerness . Memphis is where I call home . I love the smell of barbecue in the air and music in the streets and everywhere I look around, I’m constantly inspired . I’m very excited to be a part Mid-South Pride in its 15th year . My message this year was about oneness, bringing our community together and showing endless amounts of love because it cost no money to be kind . Mid-South Pride has given me an opportunity and a platform to represent my community the best way that I know how and that’s in the art form of female impersonation I’m very excited for this year’s Pride, and I can’t wait to see you all . Love and Light, Chloe LaBeija

Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride | 7

Stage Schedule Main Stage 9:00a Music DJ 12:30p Music 10:00a National Anthem - 1:00p Intermission Parade Welcome 2:10p CCDE 10:15a Grand Marshals 2:55p Grind City Fire & Flow 10:40a Miss MSP (Hulahoop) 10:55a Sock it to Me Burlesque 3:15p Kyndle 11:00a Rodney Ryan 3:50p Midtown 11:30a Tori WhoDat 4:30p PXLS 12:05p Drag 4:50p Thank You 12:15p Katrina Coleman Second Stage 9:00a Music 12:05p Alima Tribe 10:15a P. A. Schler 12:25 Music 10:35a Playhouse 1:00p Intermission Parade 11:00a Drag/Burlesque Show 2:10p Native Blood 11:25a ED2 2:55p Drag The Day Away

is a proud supporter of Main stage PERFORMANCES Sock It To Me Burlesque Productions Sock It To Me Burlesque Productions is based in Memphis, , bringing a variety of shows and performances to stages all over town . Burlesque being the forefront, Sock It To Me brings the beauty of vaudeville back to the stage with theatrical, action packed shows featuring all types of performances!! Belly dance, ballet, boylesque, fire dance, acrobatics - you might catch any of these at one of our shows! The only thing we love more than entertaining audiences is putting new talent on the stage to realize their dreams . The world is one big stage, after all, so let’s put on a show!! Find Sock It To Me Burlesque Productions on Facebook . Rodney Ryan Rodney Ryan is unforgiving songwriting for the little guy . With a mix of 70s and 90s country influences from Waylon Jennings to Emmy Lou, he has managed to craft all new original music with a grit you can only find in the streets and clubs of Memphis Tennessee . After years of playing in rock bands and punk bands, Rodney Ryan has matured into a professional with a lot of songwriting experience (10 albums) under his belt . His upcoming first ever solo album not yet titled reeks of classic country with songs like “Love and Chains” and “What Country Is” but also has a modern vibe and message with his take on the social climate in songs like “Boys Don’t Cry .” Based out of Memphis with no intentions of leaving, his name is sure to show up in every dive bar and local haunt where original music is praised . It ain’t an easy thing to be queer country, but with the support from the all the right people turns out there’s even room at the country music table for a queer . Katrina Coleman Katrina Coleman is the host of the vastly popular You Look Like and former president of the Memphis Comedy Fest (now they just beg donations) . Performing all over the MidSouth, they enjoy whiskey and yelling at people on social media . Navigating life as a real mess, a mother, and trying to figure out how to say, “I’m genderfluid,” without giggling at the fluid part, they are sure to make you feel better about your life while you laugh at the disaster they have made of their own .

10 | Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride Main stage PERFORMANCES Tori WhoDat Tori WhoDat has rightfully earned the spotlight of the Memphis music scene and is destined to be a household name . This young creative was once classified as a Hip-Hop artist but has transformed into an artist that can successfully transcend genres . Tori is truly paving her own lane . She began writing reflective lyrics before the age of fifteen that eventually deemed her the outcast of a blue collar, devout Christian home . These real accounts of her experiences and associated emotions have been shared and appreciated by the LGBTQ community as well as given a different perspective to others . Having moved from New Orleans to Memphis and later Chicago and Baltimore, the heart of this female lyricist is filled with stories of skeletons in the closet, struggles with society and the rollercoaster ride that comes along with grinding and sacrificing for your dreams . On top of being an incredibly talented recording studio artist, Tori’s stage presence has gained much attention and captivated the hearts of many fans and spectators . She began gigging professionally in 2012, with notable performances at A3C Festival, SXSW, Mid-South Pride, Pride, Chicago Pride, , Pensacola Pride, Sundance , Brooklyn Bowl, 101 .9 KISS FM’s KISS Concert and the world famous Apollo Theatre along with opening sets for Juicy J, Machine Gun Kelly, B .o .B ., SoMo, Rae Sremmurd, Flo Rida, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, Riff Raff, Mike Stud, Al Kapone, Lil Wyte, Da Mafix 6ix, Dizzy Wright and many more . Tori WhoDat’s electric energy fills the room and will be an experience you will not forget . Find Tori WhoDat on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: www .twitter .com/toriwhodat, Soundcloud, and YouTube . Chinese Connection Dub Embassy Chinese Connection Dub Embassy are a collective of recording musicians that play all styles of from , to Lovers Rock with there own twist of Memphis Soul . They’ve toured all over the US as well they have opened for countless amounts of Reggae and multi genre artists such as Collie Buddz, The Wailers,Big Sean, T-Pain and more . With the Release of there debut LP “The Firm Foundation” in 2013 and the release of the Mixtape series Farmers Market Chronicles and The Takeover there gearing up 2 New Singles in 2017 to get the world ready for there Up coming 2018 Sophomore project “Strength .” In these times people run to hate more than love and through how we live and our music we plan on bringing Love/Truth & Rights to the forefront Culture in a way it’s never been brought before .

Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride | 11 Grand Marshals 2018 Iris LéFleur Iris Lefluer (aka Joseph Grant) has been performing for the Memphis community since 2009 . Iris has spent his drag career devoting his talents to giving back to our community . Performing in and organizing more fundraisers and benefits than he (or she can count) . Serving with groups like Mystic Krewe of Pegasus, Friends of Georges, Operation Stand Up, Mid-South Pride as well as benefits created to help so many individuals in our extended Memphis family . Currently a show director at Dru’s Bar, Iris has been apart of Backstreet, Metro, Crossroads and Spectrum . Iris is committed to making Memphis a better place and over the years has become a fierce performer and mentor . Constantly working to improve his craft, Iris and Joey strive to push the boundaries of performance and serve as an example both in and out of drag . jasmine-tasaki Jasmine Tasaki is the founder of WeCareTn, an organization created to holistically support trans people . She was born in Memphis 35 years ago and began transitioning at 13 years old . She has survived many barriers and celebrated many small victories to become the advocate and community organizer she is today . Her love for the community and her persistence have afforded her the opportunity to also be the health literacy and advocacy chair for the Memphis Urban league of young professionals . “There is power in community, and it is my goal for us to use our power to elevate our community and to help us thrive .” John Michael Alderson John Michael has spent more than 20 years in development, marketing and public relations, including 8 years of experience helping LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS organizations expand their influence and build resources for the clients they serve . John Michael currently works as the Director of Development and Community Engagement at Friends For Life in Memphis, the areas largest and oldest AIDS service organization . In his current role as a development leader and a grant writer, he had helped grow the agency from $3 .2 to more than $5 .3 million in renewed or expanded funding annually, including more than $500,000 in brand new funds . He has also expanded the agency’s major events to include quarterly Big Gay Dance Parties, designed to empower and unite the LGBTQ community and its allies, and also hosts specialty events like “Clue: The Party .” He is most proud, however, of creating, launching and funding the Status:Memphis Campaign, the Mid-South’s first public awareness campaign focused on recognizing and reducing HIV-related stigma .

12 | Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride IN PRINT + ONLINE | FOCUSMIDSOUTH.COM

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LGBT ASYLUM EL SALVADOR IMMIGRANT SCOTTY JAMES today! SEARCHES FOR FREEDOM AFTER 30 YEARS, MEMPHIS HB 1840 TO BE HIS TRUE SELF STILL HAS ITS FAVORITE A.K.A. ‘THE THERAPY BILL’

BARKEEPER MEMPHOIS COLD REJECTION TO LGBT TENNESSEANS HUMMINGBIRD CHILDREN MUSIC FESTIVAL FESTIVAL NEWLY OUT JANELLE MONAE TO BLOCKING PUBERTY OFFERS HEADLINE FEST STRAWBERRY PLAINS AUDUBON TIME TO UNSURE FAMILIES CENTER TO HOST 3-DAY EVENT FOR CRUCIAL DECISIONS

The podcast that takes you on a whirlwind ride through the world of the Memphis LGBT+ community and its allies. Festival Layout FIND YOUR WAY AT THE 15TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL AND PARADE!

Parade route

BEALE STREET LINE UP @ 12 PM q STEP OFF @ 1 PM

14 | Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride Vendors Goulds Mr Friendly/Team Friendly Flannel Fly 66, LLC Lowes Tennessee UMC Autozone ADULT - Christals Forward Counseling Lamda Car Club Affordable Pest and Termite 1974 Mgmt . The Oaks Buff City Soap Karen Bottle Capps Gold Strike Shelby County Democratic Party GLSEN TN Walgreens First Congo ACLU of Tennessee Neshoba Church Off-Center Rainbow Island Focus Magazine It’s A Memphis Thing Nubian Ray Rico Freelance Friends for Life Heaven Scent Flowers First Tennessee Bank Co-Motion Studios FloydisFirst Fedex Hope House Prida Wear ServiceMaster Free Mom And Dad and Non- Fast Fun & Flirty Nails Mass Mutal Binary Hugs Launch Chiropractic Raymond James League of Women Voters Booth CAB Creation Southern Thunder University of Tennessee Health The Change Project Science Center (UTHSC) Unite Pride411 DaftBoy Christophers sugar shack Yuletide Rise Up America AARP TN The Pumping Station Rainbow Love -- formerly “Good Win Big Gaming Dru’s to Glow” Memphis 901 FC OUTMemphis Starbucks Coffee Company ALSAC / St Jude Children’s OUTMemphis - Trans Services Vicious Fruit Research Hospital OUTMemphis - HIV Testing Choices . Memphis Center for Central Pride Nike Reproductive Health Tri-State Black Pride Pride Info Booth Idlewild Presbyterian Church Coley’s Habits The PAIGE Evergreen Presbyterian Church Memphis-Midsouth DSA Smooth Taste Italian ice Embrace Yourself Mr . Hyde’s Custom Leather Gripps Grills Catering Memphis Womens’ Rugby Club HAND N HAND GRAPHICS Concessions City of Memphis Public Safety Mili’s Flowers and Gifts Playhouse on the Square Recruitment Christopher’s sugar shack Ben Griffith Artist Adult-HOIST Polar Tropical Ice Barronee’s JAMAICAN JERK PIT Ben and Jerrys Bluff City Sports Association DeeLux Travel Mempops Mik Mocha Prints Natural State Bears Smurfeys Smokehouse Halo Cosmetics Catholic Ministry With Gay and Persons Rice Burner New Wing Order Mary Kay Fabulous Flavors ADULT- Memphis Kink Eat At Eric’s The Mystic Krewe of Pegasus Memphis Planned Parenthood, TN & Just Wraps North MS League of Women Voters Awesome Dogs Memphis/Shelby County Toyota Motor Mississippi Churrasco Southwest Tennessee First Unitarian Church of Fresh Gulf Shrimp Memphis Community College Primal Flames Grill Calvary Episcopal Church International Paper Stickem Memphis Friends Meeting Moms Demand Action for Gun Sunsational Sense in America/Everytown Hollywood Feed,LLC for Gun Safety Canvis Southern College of Optometry- BAKES NO MISTAKES Spectrum Tigers Gender and Sexuality Alliance Emory University NORML Memphis Trashboat Holy Trinity Community Church * Subject to change

Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride | 15 Parade Line-up

Miss & Mister Idlewild Presbyterian H&M Mid-South Pride Church First Congo LGBTQ City Laison- Mid-South Free Mom Dabney Ring (and Dad) Hugs Memphis BlakoWt Reloaded - Jsette Team County Mayor Lee Harris Dixon Chipotle Tami Sawyer SisterReach Pride FLag Mid-South Renaissance Faire MillerCoors Lowes The Mystic Krewe of Kiss FM - Brodee Autozone Pegasus Memphis Bluff City Sports Lamda Car Club Friends of George’s Association The Oaks Caza MAGY Gold Strike Goulds Accredo Walgreens Choices . Memphis Center University of Tennessee for Reproductive Health Health Science Center Neshoba Church (UTHSC) Unite Hilton Focus Magazine Arkansas State University First Tennessee Bank Evergreen Presbyterian Gender & Sexuality Church Alliance Fedex CHOICES ALSAC / St Jude Children’s ServiceMaster Research Hospital City of Memphis LGBTQ Eclectic Eye Employee Resource Southwest Pride Group Mass Mutual Church of the River Memphis Womens Rugby Raymond James Club Memphis Galaxy 16 - Jsette Team Southern Thunder Harley Memphis Friends Davidson Meeting (Quakers) Spectrum WSHS Pride411 Planned Parenthood, TN Holy Trinity Yuletide & North MS Hoist Dru’s Toyota Motor Mississippi The Pumping Station OUTMemphis Catholic Ministry With Spectrum Memphis Gay and Lesbian Persons Nike Friends for Life International Paper

* Subject to change

16 | Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride Main stage PERFORMANCES The Grind City fire & Flow Artists The Grind City Fire & Flow Artists are a part of a larger circus and flow arts community here in Memphis . They spin their props – including hoops, fans, staff and poi to name a few – with an effortless grace that masks their years of dedication and practice . You will be mesmerized by how they manipulate and dance with their props .

Lisa Michaels Lisa Michaels, the self described Purple Haired Tramazon, is a post op who uses comedy as a way to inform and enlighten her audiences . She hosts and organizes shows for LGBTQ and Women’s rights groups . She also loves rocking out stages with Midtown Queer . She currently hosts the monthly comedy show Group Therapy . She’s also very shy . . . not!

2nd stage Performances P.A. Schler P .A . is a local comic, activist, and drag nun . They have lived and traveled all over the globe and settled in Memphis five years ago and haven’t been the same since . P .A . is honored to be part of Pride here in Memphis because this is where they came out as non-binary, and the queer community of Memphis welcomed them with open arms .

Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride | 17 2nd stage Performances ED2 ED2 is Soul, Smooth Jazz, Pop, R&B, Ska and a mix of Bossa Nova and Afro Beat band .

Alima Tribe Alima Tribe is a tribal fusion belly dance troupe from Memphis, TN . They perform locally year-round, with occasional gigs out of town . Each member is a full time professional with a passion for dance . This past August, Alima Tribe put on their own full length show . Check them out on facebook at facebook .com/Alima Tribe .

Native Blood Rising up from the depths of the Memphis Mud, Native Blood comes Roaring down the with Face Melting Rock ’N Roll .

18 | Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride MEMPHIS PRIDE FEST OFFICIAL AFTER PARTIES

DRU’S PLACE Doors Open at 1:00pm | Shows Starting at 7:00pm | $10 Cover | 21+ Seeing Red, Rainbow Church Revivial, Drag & More THE PUMPING STATION Pride Night Showdown | Doors Open at 4:00pm | No Cover| 21+ An evening of classics, favorites, new music, and remixes created just for this event with DJ Record Player SPECTRUM Pride After Party| Doors Open at 9:00pm | $10 Cover| 18+ Drag performances & festivities celebrating 10 years. #longlivetherainbowchurch TAG YOUR PRIDE WEEKEND #memphispridefest #memphispride #midsouthpride 2018 Sponsors

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20 | Memphis Pride Fest powered by Mid-South Pride Proud.

Whether it’s in a family of brands or in a community of people, diversity always makes us stronger. That’s why every ServiceMaster company is committed to a culture of inclusion for people of all backgrounds and experiences and why we are proud to support Memphis Pride Fest.

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Saint John’s United Methodist Church St. John’s welcomes everyone. Our hearts, minds and doors are open to people of all ages, races, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, theological identities, economic status, disabilities, and sojourn on the way to recover and wholeness.

SUNDAY SERVICES SUNDAY SCHOOL – 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY WORSHIP – 10:50 a.m.

A blended traditional worship service where all may gather! God invites all people to his table and we invite all people through our doors. Welcome home.

1207 PEABODY AVE. | MEMPHIS, TN 38104 | 901-726-4104 | STJOHNSMIDTOWN.ORG Baker Donelson is proud to support Mid-South PRIDE 20 Mid-South PRIDE 2018!

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THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. Ben Adams is Chairman and CEO of Baker Donelson and is located in our Memphis office, 165 Madison Avenue, Suite 2000, Memphis, TN 38103. Phone 901.526.2000. © 2018 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC Love is love is love. Since the Beginning. Join us on your journey. shadygrovepres.org

Our community ministries include: 5530 Shady Grove Rd. PRIZM (prizmensemble.com), Memphis, TN 38120 Race for Grace (raceforgrace.racesonline.com), Contact: 901-683-7329 and the Saturday Supper Program at St. Luke’s Monday–Friday 9-2:30 p.m. United Methodist Church Worship: 10:30 a.m. on Sundays AutoZoneAutoZone isis defi nedned byby our our commitmentcommitment toto customer service. service. AutoZone is defi ned by our Ancommitment AutoZoner Always... toEmbraces customer Diversity, service.Cares About People and Strives for Exceptional Performance. Just some of the Values we live each and every day. Learn where your can take you. Learn where your DRIVE can take you. Visit AutoZone.com/Careers LearnVisit where AutoZone.com/Careers your can take you.

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