From winners to amazing performances: All you need to know about the Focus Awards 2024
The 9th annual Focus Awards were held on Friday, August 23rd, and like the theme “A Mystical Evening” suggests, they were an absolute extravaganza!
The Focus Awards are the most esteemed honor given to the Mid-South’s LGBT+ people, organizations, and allies who have made a major positive impact on our communities by their achievements, advocacy and leadership.
This year, our community gathered at Ballet Memphis dressed to impress for the awesome night hosted by Allysun Wunderland, Eli Townsend, and Trevor Birchett. Attendees heard from nonprofits, the night’s winners and presenters, enjoyed circus-inspired fun, tarot cards, and a theatrical show amid the ceremony.
Here’s a look inside our amazing event—from the night’s honorees to the wonderful half time show:
Focus Awards 2024 Honorees
The People’s Choice Award
Any LGBT+ person or ally of any age. Nominations will be submitted online. Top vote-getters will be sent to a panel of judges for final determination of the winner:
Diana Duke, benefitting Friends for All
Headliners Memphis, benefiting Headliners Memphis
Aubrey Ombre, benefitting Mid-South Pride
Jad Davis, benefitting Fellowship of Avalon – ATC (Winner)
JR Stone, benefitting Friends of George’s
Sam Tubikh, Community Alliance for the Homeless
Brennan Villines, benefitting Friends for All
Zoloft, benefitting My Sistah’s House
Winners of the night
Champion of the Year
Awarded to an LGBT+ person or ally aged 30 or older whose work has created opportunities, or will have long-lasting benefits in the Mid-South LGBT community:
Winner: Dr. Rosamund Garrett
Heart of Gold Award
An ally of any age whose work has created opportunities, or will have long-lasting benefits in the Mid-South LGBT community:
Winner: Krista Wright-Thayer
The Trailblazer Award
Awarded to an LGBT+ person aged 30 or younger whose work has created opportunities, or will have long-lasting benefits in the Mid-South LGBT community:
Winner: Blue Suede Sisters
Legacy Award
Chosen by the Publisher, this award recognizes a person or persons, community group, business or ally whose work or community involvement will have long-lasting benefits in the Mid-South LGBT+ community:
Winner: Choices
Publisher’s Award
Chosen by the Publisher and the Managing Editor, this award recognizes a person or persons, community group, business or ally whose involvement in Focus Mid-South magazine’s editorial content is exceptional because of the frequency of submissions, quality of writing, depth of research on a topic, or superior artistic contributions:
Winner: Daphne Butler
Entertainer of the Year Award
The Entertainer of the Year Award is presented to an individual who has exhibited the best performance in their creative field throughout the last year:
Winner: Will Ryder
Thank you to the night’s sponsors!
The friends, businesss, organizations, and partners who help us put on this fun and inspiring night are very important to us. Our annual Focus Awards and night of celebration would not be possible without them. Here’s a list of our wonderful sponsors from this year, in no particular order:
Utopia Animal Hospital
Fish and Associates
Tennessee Equality Project
Dr. Thomas Ratliff
Opera Memphis
Planned Parenthood
OUT Memphis
Lena Chipman & Amanda Banker
The Pumping Station
Thanks again to all who attended in celebration of MidSouth’s LGBT+ communities. See you all next year!
Follow @focusmidsouth for more!
