Category: Memphis Gaydar

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Scenes From the Memphis Marriage Equality Rally

About 50 people gathered on the front lawn of the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center Monday night to celebrate the upcoming oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court same-sex marriage case that involves a couple from Memphis.

Memphians Ijpe DeKoe and Thom Kostura are plantiffs in the case, and they’re represented by local attorney Maureen Holland. They flew to Washington D.C. last week to prepare for oral arguments, which begin on Tuesday, April 28th. The Tennessee case is lumped with same-sex marriage cases from Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan, all of which are on appeal after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld marriage bans in the four states last year.

The Sixth Circuit’s decision was a split from other appellate courts, the rest of which have ruled to overturn marriage bans. Marriage equality advocates believe the Supreme Court’s decision in this case will decide the fate of marriage in the country. A decision is expected by June.

“This is history,” MGLCC executive director Will Batts told the crowd. “I’m not going to quote the vice-president, but this is a big effin’ deal.”

Same-sex marriage is legal now in about three-fourths of country, and only 13 states — including Tennessee — continue to ban it. So far, 65 courts have ruled in support of same-sex marriage, and only one court — the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals — has ruled to uphold a gay marriage ban. That’s the decision that involved Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky that is being appealed to the Supreme Court.

“Now is the time for the Supreme Court to finish the job on marriage,” said the Tennessee Equality Project’s Jonathan Cole.

Gwendolyn Clemons, co-founder of Relationships Unleashed (an LGBT radio program on KWAM 990), told the crowd that, in order to win equal rights, they must make their voices heard.

“We have to be visible. We can’t hide anymore,” Clemons said. “The only thing that belongs in a closet is clothes.”

“And shoes,” added her wife Shawn. 

“We’re in our civil rights movement. If you’re ready to march, we need soldiers,” Clemons added.

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Memphis Marriage Rally

Maureen Holland, Ijpe DeKoe, Thom Kostura

Advocates of marriage equality will gather at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper) Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. for a rally kicking off the marriage equality case before the U.S. Supreme Court. The nation’s high court will begin hearing oral arguments in the case on Tuesday, April 28th.

Memphians Ijpe DeKoe and Thom Kostura are plantiffs in the case, and they’re represented by local attorney Maureen Holland. They flew to Washington D.C. last week to prepare for oral arguments. The Tennessee case is lumped with same-sex marriage cases from Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan, all of which are on appeal after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld marriage bans in the four states last year.

The Sixth Circuit’s decision was a split from other appellate courts, the rest of which have ruled to overturn marriage bans. Marriage equality advocates believe the Supreme Court’s decision in this case will decide the fate of marriage in the country.

Monday’s rally, hosted by the Tennessee Equality Project, will feature a performance by the Neshoba Unitarian Universalist show choir. Attendees are encouraged to bring signs and posters showing support for equality.

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Memphis Couple Will Travel to D.C. for Supreme Court Same-sex Marriage Case

The Memphis couple and their attorney involved in the same-sex marriage case that will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court were honored in a ceremony hosted by Freedom to Marry on Tuesday afternoon at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center.

MGLCC Director Will Batts, Southerners for Freedom to Marry Campaign Manager Amanda Snipes, attorney Maureen Holland, plaintiffs Ijpe DeKoe and Thom Kostura, and Tennessee Equality Project’s Anne Brownlee Gullick and Skip Ledbetter

Ijpe DeKoe and Thom Kostura, plantiffs in the Tennessee same-sex marriage case, and attorney Maureen Holland are flying to Washington D.C. this week. The high court will hear oral arguments in the case on April 28th. The Tennessee case is lumped with same-sex marriage cases from Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan, all of which are on appeal after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld marriage bans in the four states last year.

The Sixth Circuit’s decision was a split from other appellate courts, the rest of which have ruled to overturn marriage bans. Marriage equality advocates believe the Supreme Court’s decision in this case will decide the fate of marriage in the country.

“We come together today as hopeful that soon the harmful marriage ban and all of the marriage bans across the country are struck down, and the days of married couples being treated like strangers will be relegated to the history books,” said Amanda Snipes, campaign manager for Southerners for Freedom to Marry, which hosted the ceremony Tuesday afternoon.

Holland said there are 48 lawyers working on this case, and she expects the Supreme Court to issue a decision by the end of June.


“My greatest wish for you is that by June, you are as married in this building as you are on the base,” said Tennessee Equality Project’s Anne Brownlee Gullick, addressing DeKoe and Kostura. DeKoe is on active duty in the Army Reserves, and since the federal government recognizes same-sex marriages, the couple is considered to be married when they visit a military base. DeKoe and Kostura married in New York in 2011.


DeKoe said they realize that they’re at the center of what could be a ground-breaking case that has potential to end marriage discrimination across the country once and for all. 


“We’re at the center of this giant hurricane,” DeKoe said. “We realize how big it is. It’s going to be a crazy day in Tennessee and across the country when this decision comes down in our favor. And I’m excited for it.”

Although the high court is expected to rule in favor of marriage equality, Holland said that, in the case that it does not, there is a back-up plan.

“The lawyers don’t stop. We’ll continue to bring cases,” Holland said. “We’ll continue our fight, but we’re hopeful that we will join the 36 other states that recognize same-sex marriage, so Thomas and Ijpe won’t have to continue to engage in ‘Are we married? Are we not?’ when they cross a state boundary.”

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Cherry’s Femme Fatale Party

This month’s Cherry party, billed as a “lezzie shindig,” has a Femme Fatale theme celebrating “all the bad girls that make life worth living,” according to host Julie Wheeler.

They’ll have the usual burlesque and drag show, but this time, there will also be a belly dancing performance. The party starts at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28th, at Earnestine & Hazel’s.

The show will star the current reigning Miss American National Star Jade Porchett (of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame), plus drag performers Shannon “WillRyder” Herrada and Akasha Cassadine. The burlesque performance will include a Cherry debut by Fatima Fox. The belly dancers will be from Pyramid Dancers. There will be live music by Gina Sposto, and as always, Cherry will be hosted by singer/comedian Wheeler, who just returned from LGBTComedyfest in Michigan.

Since Earnestine & Hazel’s only sells beer, guests are invited to BYOB for free. But beer and set-ups will be sold.

There will be two shows, and they begin at 9:30 and 11 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $20 for VIP.

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“Love Doesn’t Hurt” Benefit

The Shelby County Family Safety Center has a special emergency fund for victims of same-sex domestic violence, and this weekend, the organizers of the “Love Doesn’t Hurt” fund will be holding its third annual benefit event. It will be held on Friday, March 27th at Club Spectrum at 7:30 p.m.

The benefit includes live entertainment and guest speakers from the district attorney’s office, as well as speeches from victims of domestic violence. The cover charge is $7.

Funds raised this weekend will be used for LGBT victims of domestic violence to provide emergency shelter, transportation, food, clothing, and relocation. In 2012, Phyllis Lewis, a domestic violence witness coordinator for the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, started the “Love Doesn’t Hurt” fund.

“In the first case we dealt with, the person had completely left the home and needed somewhere to go,” Lewis said. “We housed that person in a hotel for a week, and then they decided they wanted to leave Memphis. So we helped that person get out of town. We want them safe from violence. The last thing we need is another homicide.”

They also collect hygiene products to hand out to victims.

“When you’re running from your wife, you’re not going to think about grabbing some deodorant,” Lewis said.

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Gay-Straight Alliance Mixer

GenQ, the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center’s (MGLCC) group for college-age LGBT young adults and their straight allies, will begin hosting a series of mixers for students from local Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs). 

Many colleges have LGBT/straight ally social clubs, and the GSA mixers are designed to help members of various GSAs meet and socialize over snacks.

The GSA mixers will be held on the third Friday of each month at the MGLCC (892 S. Cooper), and the first one will be held on Friday, March 20th.

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LGBT Theater Weekend Round-Up

There are a couple of LGBT plays scheduled for this weekend and next:

* Emerald Theatre Company, the city’s LGBT theater troupe, will perform Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays at TheatreWorks from March 13th-22nd. The show is actually performed in nine mini-plays — some about wedding ceremonies, one from the perspective of a right-wing conservative who has new gay neighbors, and another about a Jewish mom who wants her gay son to hurry up and tie the knot with a successful man, among others.

The show starts on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission is $20 at the door or $15 in advance. For more information, go here.

* Friends of George’s will present DragNificent at Evergreen Theatre from March 13th-22nd. The show features sketch comedy and musical productions and features special guests Sister Myotis and CazaTeatro Bilingual.

The cast includes Allysun Wunderland, Camille Collins, Gina Lola Jupiter, Coco Collins, Bruce Bui, Diane Thornton, Monica Sanchez, Bella Duballe, Misty Meanor, Will Ryder, Freak Nasty, Chris
topher Cox, JR Stone, Courtland LeNeill, Dorimar Ferrer, Lucero Cardenas, Angel J. Otero, Hortenzzia Arbza, and Louis Arismendi.

The show begins at 8 p.m. For more information, go here.

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Oral Arguments in Tennessee Marriage Equality Case Set for April

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The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in marriage equality cases from Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio on April 28th.

These cases, which include a couple from Memphis as plaintiffs, are expected to possibly end discriminatory marriage laws across the country. If the high court rules that bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, such bans would be overturned in states that still have them in place. The court is expected to issues its decision by the end of June 2015.

The case is being taken up by the Supreme Court following a November 6th, 2014, decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold marriage bans in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. That decision was in conflict with four other appeals courts across the country which invalidated marriage bans in other states.

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Cherry’s “Love Or Lack Thereof” Burlesque Party

Whether you spent Valentine’s Day cuddling with your SO or cuddling a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, the monthly Cherry party for lesbians and their friends is offering a Valentine’s-themed do-over. And this time, everyone, single or not, will get to see some skin.

That’s because the monthly party features a burlesque show with Kitty Wompas, Requi Emma, Macc Onner, Spyke Styletto, Vivi Ven Detta, and Gypsy Magnolia. Catch the action at the 5 Spot inside Earnestine & Hazel’s on Saturday, February 28th. Doors open at 8:30 p.m., and there are two burlesque shows — one at 9:30 p.m. and another 11 p.m. Admission is $10 for general admission and $20 for VIP.

The 5 Spot should have their liquor license by then, so drink specials are planned. For food, they’ll be offering Soulburgers, oysters on the half shell, Thai sandwiches, and BLT’s.

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“Relationships Unleashed” To Host LGBTQ Empowerment Workshop

“Relationships Unleashed,” the new LGBTQ radio talk show on KWAM990, will host the first annual #IAmUnleashed LGBTQ Life Empowerment Workshop on Saturday, March 28th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 325 Wagner St. in downtown Memphis.

The workshop will include presentations on healing your inner child, discovering the meaning of your gift, and empowering your inner self. There will also be an open discussion about HIV/AIDS awareness. The workshop includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

Although the workshop will be in March, the hosts, Davin and Gwendolyn Clemons, are asking those interested to register online as soon as possible because seating is limited. Attendance is free.