Ask Allie: Starting A Gay-Straight Alliance: What the Law Supports
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer Dear Allie, I’m a sophomore in high school, and I’m gay. I’m out, and it’s not too bad. My friends are great. There are plenty of
March 11, 2019
Sarah Rutledge Fischer
Is a Memphis native who now lives in Fairhope, Ala. She pens the Allie column and writes other stories. She leads her local chapter of Prism United, and is also an artist and art teacher.
Ask Allie: Quiet Your Negative Self Talk
‘Ask Allie’ helps Focus Reader, ‘Never Good Enough’, challenge negative self talk.
January 24, 2019
Ask Allie: Making Office Space LGBT+ Welcoming
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer Dear Allie, I recently took over office management for a small estate planning office in a medium sized city. My boss is an older, straight, white
December 9, 2018
LGBT Ally: Robin Beaudoin
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer | photo by Greg Campbell If you are a loyal reader of Focus Mid-South Magazine, you already know her name. Robin Beaudoin has been a contributing
December 2, 2018
Your Holiday Mom
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer Hello my darling holiday child! Come in, come in from out of the cold! You must be freezing! The wind off the lake can be bitter
November 15, 2018
Ask Allie: Letting Go When a Transgender Child Wants to Change Their Given Name
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer Dear Allie, My husband and I have a wonderful 16-year-old daughter who was born biologically male. She was clear about her gender identity early on,
September 10, 2018
Dear Allie: Gender Spectrum Defined
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer Dear Allie, The other day, I overheard my son describe his new boyfriend as non-binary. I looked it up and understand that it refers to
July 30, 2018
Special Report: Hate Crimes Part Three
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer This is the third and final installment of a three-part series by Focus® Mid-South magazine. We have developed this series in the hope that law
May 31, 2018
Special Report: HATE CRIMES Part Two: Reporting, the TBI, Local Sheriff’s Office, and the Safe Places Initiative
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer This is the second installment of a three-part series by Focus® Mid-South magazine. We have developed this series in the hope that law enforcement and citizens
April 2, 2018
Ask Allie: Faux Pas: Beware Of Your Own Biased Behavior
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer Dear Allie, I grew up in a very conservative family where any deviance from traditional gender roles was considered unnatural and evil. I’ve spent years
March 19, 2018
Not Just Another Dear John Letter
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer These are not the coming out stories of adolescence and youth, full of parental disapproval and schoolyard bullying. These are stories of grown women confronting
February 11, 2018
Ask Allie: Dating: Should I Reveal My Trans Status?
by Sarah Rutledge Fischer Dear Allie, I’m a single transwoman in my 30s. I haven’t really dated since before I started transitioning, but I’m finally ready to dive back
January 16, 2018
