Focus Awards 2020 Virtual: Rollin’ Out the Winners

It was an evening of glitz, glam, phenomenal honorees, and….roller skating! Yep, Focus publisher, Ray Rico, in a dramatic performance that would have dominated at the Oscars, decided to ‘roll out’ the stress of creating a ‘Virtual Focus Awards 2020’ with a roller skating dream sequence set to Olivia Newton John’s Xanadu (with parody lyrics). Memphis producer Savannah Bearden was a crucial partner in this couple’s skate, weaving together all the virtual parts into a DeMille- esque vision.

Did Rico really stress? Probably. Did he love every minute of producing the virtual ceremony? Absolutely!! It was his, and the community’s, opportunity to honor the great work of LGBTQ+ persons and allies in the Mid-South. And thanks entirely to COVID-19, it was all presented during Mid-South Pride’s own virtual Pride Week celebration.

Congratulations to all of our nominees and a special nod to this year’s honorees.

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

People’s choice: jerred price
business of the year: d.r.u.s. bar
Person of the year: johnathan underwood
As the People’s Choice winner, Jerred was awarded $7,500 to give to the charity of his choice. Jerred selected the Elton John AIDS Foundation to receive the award.

Wanna see the entire virtual presentation, including Rico on skates?

Watch it now on YouTube: