Category: Memphis Gaydar

This month’s installment of Cherry, a party for LGBT folks and their allies, combines the usual burlesque show with a few rousing rounds of bingo.

The text from host Julie Wheeler’s promotional email is pretty swell with its references to bingo-loving old lady names. So we’ll let her explain (below) how the night will go down. The party starts at 9 p.m. on Saturday, January 25th at Side Street Grill’s RedBar. Also, this month’s event will feature a newly built stage for the burlesque performers.

“Get ready to kick off your fuzzy slippers and put on your party clothes, Pearl! It’s time to come down to CHERRY’s Burlesque Bingo Show in the RedBar at Side Street!

Now don’t get us wrong, Hazel, this isn’t serious Bingo. But you will have a chance to win fun prizes — all while you watch a burlesque show! I’m sure you’re saying, ”Deloris, this is right up my alley!” Well, Betty, in honor of the new year, we’ve decided to do things a little differently. We’re going to start off with a smaller show of burlesque mixed with bingo and then we have an intermission. This will give you time, Ernestine, to mingle with the other players and performers while partaking in an adult beverage or two.

And just when you start to lose interest in the person flirting with you, Petunia, it’s time for the final small bingo burlesque show with different prizes and some of the same stars doing a completely different act!

And don’t worry about being able to see all the action, Gertrude, we’re building a little stage to put it up high for all to see! All this plus, in between shows (and afterwards!), we’ll have some of the hottest dance music & drink specials to get you off of your feet and dancing! So, whatever your name is, just make sure you get down to the RedBar at Side Street (35 S Florence) on Saturday, January 25th for CHERRY’s Bingo Burlesque Show & Party! Doors@8pm Shows@9&10:30 21+ $10 (cash only at the door). See You There!”

The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) is hosting a “Red Alert” party to kick off the season of lobbying for pro-equality legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly.

On Monday, January 13th, TEP is urging their supporters to wear red clothing to Side Street Grill’s Red Bar from 5 to 7 p.m.

The meet-up is intended as a symbolic “red alert” to let people know that the General Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday, January 14th, and TEP supporters should expect to be prepared to support pro-equality bills (such as a bill that would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to school policy on bullying) and anti-gay bills (such as Knoxville Senator Stacey Campfield’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would ban discussion of homosexuality in schools).

For a more in-depth look at what to expect on gay rights issues in 2014, check out the Flyer’s New Year’s prediction coverage.

Business owners across Tennessee who want to show customers that they support equal rights will soon be able to do so with Tennessee Equality Project Foundation’s “Equality Means Business” window stickers.

The stickers are intended to show that a business does not discriminate in hiring and treatment of workers regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Business owners can also add their names to TEP’s list of businesses that support equality on the organization’s public Facebook page.

The “Equality Means Business” campaign kicked off on December 30th in honor of TEP’s 10th anniversary.

Honorary co-chairs for the initiative are entrepreneurs Martha Boggs in Knoxville and Randy Rayburn in Nashville and graphic designer Ray Rico (Ray Rico Freelance) in Memphis.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, 61 percent of Fortune 500 companies have non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Business owners who would like a window sticker should email TEP’s executive director Chris Sanders.

Juicy Jim’s, a pizza parlor and bar on the Highland strip, has been hosting LGBT Sundays for a few months now. And this Sunday, December 15th, they’re dedicating the drag show party to evil Disney villains.

Performer Bella Duballe will be the Queen of Hearts and Maleficent, and Aubrey Boomboom-Santangilo is Ursula. Other performers include JackRock as Captain Hook and the party hostess, Adrianna LaGlamour, as a mystery villain.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. The cover charge is $5, but University of Memphis and Rhodes College students get in free with a college I.D.

The fourth annual Tennessee Equality Project Gumbo Contest still has a few slots open for gumbo teams. The contest will be held at Bridges on Sunday, February 23rd from 4 to 7 p.m.

At the contest, teams of any size present their gumbos, which are prepared off-site, to participants who purchased tickets to sample. Those participants vote on their favorite gumbo, and the winner is given a People’s Choice Award. Gumbos are also ranked by a team of judges, and there’s a team spirit award for the best table decorations.

Gumbo teams are given three tickets for tasting other gumbos for the People’s Choice Award. Entry for teams is $25. For more information on registering, go here.

(Full disclosure: I participated in this event last year, and I’ve registered for the 2014 contest as well).

• Anu Sava

Australian-born singer-songwriter Anu Sava, who currently resides in Nashville, will be playing a couple of shows in Memphis this month.

Sava, formerly of the Aussie punk band Girl With Cake, is touring to promote her latest release “Buried.” She combines live instruments and synthesizers to create a sound that is similar to Cat Power or Bat for Lashes.

Sava is set to perform with KockSmashR on Saturday, December 7th at 7 p.m. at Java Cabana. She’ll also play at the P&H Cafe on Saturday, December 14th with the Zigadoo Moneyclips.

The monthly Cherry party will have a holiday theme this weekend at the Dublin House (2021 Madison).

The party on Saturday, November 30th will feature drag and burlesque performances by Kissame Suga, Will Ryder, Iris Le’Fluer, FreakNasty, Fiona Nix, and Bianca Bruchette. And as always, Julie Wheeler will host the show. There will be holiday food and drink special before, during, and after the show. And the party continues into the wee hours of the morning with live DJs.

Doors open at 8 p.m. Show starts at 9 p.m. Cover charge is $10.