Category: Memphis Gaydar

Relationships, sex, and books will take center stage at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper) over the next couple days.

* Tonight (March 11th), the Cultivating Priorities in Relationships (CPR) workshop will address the need for healthier relationship choices and maintenance for LGBTQ singles and partners. The eight-week series of CPR sessions meet every second and fourth Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. For more info, email Martavius Hampton.

* “Sex Later in Life: A Session for Mature Men” on Wednesday, March 12th at 5:30 p.m. features a discussion on “how sex can be fun, smart and safer as we age.” Light refreshments will be served. For more info, email Martavius Hampton.

* The Meristem Women’s Book Club meets on Wednesday, March 12th at 7 p.m. They’ll be discussing When We Were Outlaws: A Memoir of Love and Revolution by Jeanne Cordova. Meristem meets on the second Wednesday of each month to discuss works written by women and LGBT authors. Next month (April 9th), they’ll be discussing The Celestial Jukebox by Cynthia Shearer.

The first exhibit of a three-part installation series on the history of Memphis’ LGBT community opens this Friday, March 7th.

The “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” series traces the oral history of the community through diverse viewpoints and voices. Its first exhibit, “Sweet Tea,” will feature five portraits of people who were interviewed for the project along with audio recordings of their interviews about the community’s history. The original works and installations were created by Michael Braden.

Those who attend are encouraged to bring their smart phones and headphones to hear the oral histories. Sweet tea will be served. The opening runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper).

Valentine’s Day has passed, but that didn’t stop Cherry party organizer Julie Wheeler from focusing this month’s LGBT cocktail and burlesque soiree on love or the lack thereof.

“No matter what your relationship status, Valentine’s month can be super tricky. There is so much pressure if you have a sweetheart. And if you’re single, the incessant media blitz of ads for giant teddy bears and flower arrangements can be so annoying.The only pressure you’ll feel at Cherry is that of glass to lips, honey. And anything else you want to touch with your lips is totally up to you,” Wheeler writes in her description for the February Cherry party.

This month’s event will be held at Side Street Grill on Saturday, February 22nd. There will be two burlesque shows, one at 9:30 p.m. and another at 10:30, starring LadyDoo Moi Requi, Emma Foxy Fairmont, Vixen Vega, and others.

Cover is $10. Doors open at 8 p.m.

• Brian Kelsey

Less than a week after State Senator Brian Kelsey of Germantown filed his bill designed to protect persons or religious organizations (both for-profit and non-profit) that choose to deny services or goods in conjunction with a civil union, domestic partnership, or gay marriage, he has pulled his sponsorship.

In the last few days, the bill has made national headlines and evoked a backlash from equality advocates who have dubbed SB2566 the “Turn the Gays Away” Bill. The bill is moving forward though with a new Senate sponsor, State Senator Mike Bell of Riceville in East Tennessee. On the House side, the bill is sponsored by Representative Bill Dunn of Knoxville.

The bill has been placed on the judicial committee calendar, which Kelsey chairs.

Friends of Georges and the production team behind George’s Truck Stop and Drag Bar will present a new drag-themed musical, The Dragnificent Variety Hour, this weekend at Evergreen Theatre.

The original sketch comedy production will feature local drag queens and plenty of over-the-top production numbers.

“We all love shows like The Carol Burnett Show and Sonny and Cher,” says Friends of George’s Tracy Love. “Those shows were so much fun because of all the amazing guest stars and production numbers. We really wanted to create something in that genre.”

Sketches will include “The Tea (a parody of the The View) and “Drag in a Bag” (a parody of the Home Shopping Channel) among others.

The show will go on at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st. Tickets are $20 and are on sale at friendsofgeorges.org and at the box office while they last.