The Ostranders Celebrate the People and Stories Behind Memphis Theatre
The Ostranders Celebrate the People and Stories Behind Memphis Theatre
August 14, 2026
Ray Rico
Ray Rico is the publisher of Focus and an award winning communications strategist with more than 20 years of experience in journalism, marketing, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. His writing explores the people, issues, and organizations shaping the Mid South, drawing on a career in public health, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership to inform and inspire readers.
Step Into the “Pride & Progress: The Raging ’20s” at the 10th Annual Focus Awards
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Focus is excited to announce the return of the 10th Annual Focus Awards, taking place Friday, August 21, 2026, at Ballet Memphis. This year’s celebration, “Pride &
July 17, 2026
Candidate Connection with Community at Mid-South LGBT Chamber Event
By Ray Rico MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Community members gathered Thursday evening at The Pumping Station for Candidate Connection, an evening of civic engagement hosted by the Mid-South LGBT Chamber of
July 17, 2026
A Park for Everybody: Shaping the Future of Overton Park
Explore Overton Park’s 125-year legacy and discover how you can help shape future improvements through a community survey and public input.
June 30, 2026
Finding Safety on Stage: Reese Cameron on SIX, Representation, and Creating Space to Belong
by Ray Rico I had the pleasure of speaking with Reese Cameron, they/them, an alternate with the touring production of SIX, ahead of the show’s return to the Orpheum Theatre
April 2, 2026
Pretty Little Room: A Historic Memphis Love Story Finds Its Voice
By Ray Rico Opera often asks us to suspend disbelief and feel something true. With Pretty Little Room, Opera Memphis does something more radical: it asks Memphis to look directly
March 9, 2026
Between Worlds: Wellness and Bisexual Men in Memphis
by Ray Rico ——————————— Conversations about LGBTQ+ health often leave a large gap. We hear about the needs of lesbians, gay men, and transgender people, but bisexuals, especially bisexual men,
January 21, 2026
Blue Suede Sisters: Gender-Affirming Joy in Memphis
by Ray Rico Since 2016, the Blue Suede Sisters, Memphis’ chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, have been bringing joy, visibility, and radical affirmation to the LGBTQ+ community. Their
November 12, 2025
Living Out Loud: Mx. Renae Taylor on Resilience, Advocacy, and Building a Future of Joy
by Ray Rico For over two decades, Mx. Renae Taylor has been a fierce voice for Black trans liberation and HIV advocacy. From their beginnings in small-town Mississippi to national
September 30, 2025
Focus Awards 2025: A Decade of Grit and Glam
by Ray Rico The 10th Annual Focus Awards lit up Ballet Memphis in Overton Square on Friday, August 22, with a night of grit, glam, and heartfelt community celebration. Since
September 4, 2025
MidSouth Pride Parade Returns with Joy and Resilience
By Ray Rico After severe weather and flooding forced its cancellation earlier this month, the MidSouth Pride Parade made a triumphant return on June 21—and the community showed up and
June 25, 2025
Creating Space, Sharing Strength: Jenna Lee Dunn and the Mission to Empower the Trans Community in the Mid-South
by Ray Rico In the shifting tides of today’s South, where visibility often comes with resistance, one woman stands steady, building something bold and necessary. Jenna Lee Dunn is the
May 8, 2025
