Olivia Hill’s Southern Message of Hope
By Ray Rico In a Tennessee political landscape that has often made national headlines for legislation targeting transgender people, Nashville
Ray Rico
September 14, 2026
Profiles
Read the true life stories of our LGBT+ advocates, youth, seniors, allies, and trans community in the Mid-South.
Friends For All Names Amna Osman, President and CEO, Marking Next Chapter in Memphis Leadership
Memphis, Tenn. — Friends For All today announced that Amna Osman has been named President and CEO, marking a new
Focus Mid-South
April 21, 2026
Lena Chipman: Leading Out Loud
by Vaniel Simmons Lena Chipman, they/she, is a bisexual, transgender woman currently running for Shelby County Commission District 13. Having
Vaniel Simmons
March 10, 2026
More than Cosmetic: An Interview about Healthcare with Massage Therapist Ben Young
by William Smythe Sometime in 2019, I woke up with sciatica. It got so bad I could barely walk most
William Smythe
January 16, 2026
Advocacy in Action: Young Voices Leading the Way
by Vaniel Simmons In its simplest form, advocacy means speaking up—whether for yourself or on behalf of others—to help meet
Vaniel Simmons
November 12, 2025
Small Acts of Kindness: How the Mama Bears are Changing the World
by Chris Pepple In 2014, Liz Dyer had a simple but powerful dream: to create a private Facebook group where
Chris Pepple
September 30, 2025
WeCare TN Enters Its Change Era with the Southern Trans Celebration
by Tricia Dewey Jasmine Tasaki, executive director of WeCare TN, has entered her change era. She is ready to change
Tricia Dewey
September 4, 2025
Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth: Essential Mental Health Resources
by Jennifer Ferren, LPC-MHSP, NCC, ACS In today’s world, young people face an array of challenges that significantly impact their
Jennifer Ferren
May 28, 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,
Ray Rico
May 8, 2025
Painting with Bold Colors: An Interview with Like Really Creative’s Zack Orsborn
By William Smythe When I first met Zack Orsborn, it was through my own creative club, Memphis Writers. Started by
William Smythe
May 8, 2025
Emergency Resources for Trans Folks In The Mid-South
With rapid new challenges facing our trans and nonbinary communities, here’s an overview of easy-to-access immediate support. Compiled by OUTMemphis
Focus
April 7, 2025
