JUL - AUG 2022
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW!
Dyllón Burnside POSE Star Releases New Music Of 2022 “Superpowers” ○ SINGE R ○ACTOR POSE and American Horror Stories talent Dyllón Burnside returns with his first new music of 2022, the inspirational Pride-themed anthem “Superpowers.” “Superpowers” is written by Dyllón Burnside, Jeremy Dussolliet and Tim Sommers, with production from the trio plus Kinetics and One Love.
2 0 2 2 Tr i s t a t e B L AC K MEMPHIS People, Purpose & Power “Better Together”
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ROE VS. WA D E A Supreme Disser vice
CHOICES & Planned Parenthood TN & N. Mississippi speak out
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TIMEEKAH MURPHY Celebrity Stylist Doing It Her Way in High Fashion & Streetwear
SUE THE PRIDE IS LIVINCGALLY I
T AUTHEN
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CON TEN TS
Ad Deadline August 12, 2022
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ALL PHOTOS OF DYLLÓN BURNSIDE BEXX FRANCOIS LLC
08‐10 Cover Story Dyllón Burnside POSE Star 06 | Editor’s Letter Gwendolyn D. Clemons Live Before It’s Too Late!
07 | Editor’s Letter Dr. Davin D. Clemons What is PRIDE to Me?
14 | Spirituality Beth Trouy Living Your Truth Will Set You Free
12
Community News
Tristate Black Pride Memphis Arts + Education + Advocacy
16 | CHOICES 17 | PLANNED PARENTHOOD 21 | Community News Monica M. Pickett A Deeper Love
22 | Special Contributor Brodderick D. Roary Loving Your Authentic Self
11 20
Health & Wellness
4
Dr. Umieca Hankton Freedom in Living Authentically | CONTENTS
Fashion News Timeekah Murphy Celebrity Stylist
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CONTENTS |
5
Listen honey, in the words of Beyoncé “I’m telling everybody, you won’t BREAK MY SOUL!” Palliative nurse Bronnie Ware just
bed had developed illnesses relating
“The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.”
they carried as a result. It’s important
released her highly acclaimed book Nurse Ware spent several years
working in palliative care, caring for
patients in the last 12 weeks of their
lives. During this time, she would record their dying epiphanies which gathered so much attention that she decided to write this book. As for me it certainly
grabbed my attention because one’s mortality is imminent.
THE 5 COMMON REGRETS OF THE DYING 1. I wish I’d had more courage to live a life true to myself, not the life
others expected of me. This is the
most common regret of all. As for me I refuse to give anyone power and
dominion over my life anymore. I lived under that cloud when I didn’t know any better but baby I am as free as
free can get. This number 1 regret of
Live ''Your'' Life Before It’s Too Late Gwendolyn D. Clemons MBA, MSM, PRC
Editor in Chief of TUV Media
6
| EDITOR’S LETTER
the dying should definitely give pause and something to think about now that you know!
2. I wish I hadn’t work so hard. This regret may be hard to believe
to the bitterness and resentment
to speak your truth, even if you lose friends or relationship, please don’t bottle your feelings up, LET IT OUT! 4. I wish I stayed in touch. Ware
shared that people at the end of their lies also regretted losing
touch with friends and significant
others. We are all busy or take for
granted that tomorrow will also be here to do a thing. But none of us
know for sure so making a concerted effort now will eliminate the need for regretting such a matter now. I must do better with this one!
5. I wish I had let myself be happier.
Ware shared that may of her patients expressed that they were afraid
of change and stayed stuck in old
patterns and habits. Many failed to
realize that until the end of life that happiness was a choice. Life is a
fleeting moment, and then you wake
up to find that years have passed and that there are more days behind you than in front you!
because we are taught daily to
I don’t know about anyone reading
recorded fact that at the end of
that these 5 regrets gave me some
“GRIND!” Nevertheless, it’s a known life many regretted missing out on their children’s youth, partner’s
companionship, or stopping to smell the roses for themselves. Take out
the time you need folks for what you may deem the little things now.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. It was reported that
many of the patients on their dying
this article, but I am here to tell you fuel and food for thought! I refuse to
let another day in my life go by where
I fail to acknowledge the person that I am because I am worried about what others think of me. In actuality, most
people aren’t probably thinking nothing
about you. I believe we anticipate things too much and create entire scenarios about this & that for no good reason.
Pride to me is surviving molestation,
image, after our likeness.” In my
trauma, church rejection, family
will be no PRIDE in self. But once this
rape, physical abuse, childhood
rejection, etc., well that’s the story of my life regarding my sexual
orientation and PRIDE. Many people think PRIDE is this huge party, with a parade going down the street,
shows with drag queens and drag kings performing but in actuality it’s more to the story than being Gay. I know the history of PRIDE is correlated to Stonewall but
trust and believe there were many
unreported Stonewall’s before this reported incident. No shade!!
PRIDE is respect for yourself and
not letting others define you solely
based off of your sexual orientation. Listen to me! You are more than your sexual orientation! You are
somebody special with gifts, talents, anointings and the world is awaiting
your arrival, so please stop listening to the naysayers. Now is the time
automatically comes in as self love, self conscious, black power
,etc.
Because you are a God made in the image of BIG GOD! Message!!!!
PRIDE is also standing up for what’s right and doing what’s right in this
fight for equality for all human kind. But, this is even more true for the minority communities to realize.
In the words of the great Michael Jackson, “all I have to say is that they really don’t care about us!”
PRIDE is building our own tables
of financial resources, businesses, schools, churches, Black Wall
Street, entrepreneurship, etc; This
is the game changer and the power move that is needed in America in order to make power brokers respect our PRIDE! PERIODT! So, join the movement of
attention from the universe.
which is YOU! In the words of the
In this current movement of PRIDE in America and this era of our lives
it’s more important than ever to join the campaign of self affirmation.
Life is beautiful but life will screw
you up and spit you out without any apology. So, this self affirmation journey will be rewarding and
fulfilling which will help make you in the image of your creator. For
discovering the greatest love of all great Whitney Houston, “Because
the greatest love of all Is happening to me / I found the greatest love of all Inside of me / The greatest love
of all Is easy to achieve / Learning to love yourself, it is the greatest love
of all / And if, by chance, that special place / That you've been dreaming
of Leads you to a lonely place / Find your strength in love.”
the Bible declares in 1 Samuel 16:7 – “For the Lord sees not as man
sees: man looks on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Many LGBT
people
have and still are struggling to
believe that God loves them just
as the way they are. For the Bible
Dr. Davin D. Clemons
proclamation is realized the PRIDE
to wake up and go find your PRIDE
before someone else attracts your
What is PRIDE to Me?
opinion until this is realized there
declares in Genesis 1:26-27 – “Then God said, “Let us make man in our
I am truly Unleashed!! Say it loud “I’m BLACK GAY AND PROUD! EDITOR’S LETTER |
7
I wrote this song to my inner child. To the young man who was told that he was flawed because he was different. I learned that my differences were not a source of weakness but were, in fact, my Superpowers!
DYLLÓN BURNSIDE POSE and American Horror
Stories talent Dyllón Burnside returns with his first new music of 2022, the inspirational Pride-themed anthem “Superpowers.”
“Superpowers” is written by Dyllón
Burnside, Jeremy Dussolliet and Tim Sommers, with production from the trio plus Kinetics and One Love.
COVER STORY |
9
Q: How much of the character Ricky Evangelista that you played in POSE is relatable to the real you? I get this question a lot. Ricky and I are very different. We come from very different
backgrounds and have very different lived
that, that every project should be that way,
authentic and be approached with curiosity and ease. Doesn’t mean it will be easy!
Prideland was not easy to make at all! But
there was an ease about the process that
made it magical. I want that in everything I do.
experiences. I think what makes us similar is
that we are both artists and like all people, we both want to love and be loved.
Q: What are your newest projects since
SCAN HERE TO LISTEN TO SUPERPOWERS
POSE has ended? I have filmed two new series for streaming. American Horror Stories came out last summer, and my latest project will be
streaming in the fall 2022. I’ve also been working a lot on my music, developing
my sound with my producers, growing as
an artist and getting my project to a solid place. I’ve been touring, performing at
music festivals, producing video content for the songs. I’m also producing and
developing film/TV projects and doing a lot of advocacy work.
Q: How did the Prideland project come about and how do you feel about its success? Prideland was birthed out of my experience growing up in the South. My friend Jon
Reynaga approached me with the idea saying we should go down South and investigate what it’s like for LGBTQ+ folk living there. The success of the project was really
shocking. I never imagined we would win an Emmy award for it, I just thought this was
a really important thing to do and it was a
natural authentic expression. I learned from
10
| COVER STORY
@DyllonBurnside #BurnsideSuperpowers All Photos Of Dyllón Burnside BEXX FRANCOIS LLC
This song is for everyone who has been marginalized, bullied, or attacked because of who they are. It is an anthem for the strong, the survivors, for the everyday superheroes fighting on the battlefield of life.
By Umieca N. Hankton, Ph.D.
f I possessed the power to present each of you with a unique gift, it would be the gift of living
authentically and unapologetically. Why? There’s liberation in your truth and your
willingness to live audaciously and without pause permits others to do the same. However, living authentically requires a substantial amount of bravery, vulnerability, and a willingness to be
stretched outside your comfort zone. Liberation is freeing, but it’s not free. Undoubtedly, there is a cost to owning your narrative. Yet, despite
inflation, please consider the benefit(s) of paying the price to be made free by your truth.
Living authentically is an outward demonstration
of an inward reality. Living an authentic life means
who you are and what matters to you directly aligns with how you show up in the world for yourself and
others. It reflects the causes that touch your heart,
open your wallet, and move you to action. Those who walk in their liberating truth move with certainty and
their “yes” means yes, their “no” means no, and their
“you tried it” means tread lightly next time. One of my favorite quotes from Hamilton the Musical is, “Dying is easy; living is harder.” What an absolute truth, and yet, I witness so much vitality and vibrancy in those willing to risk it all to live their undeniable truth.
What are you ready to risk in order to remove the
• Be open to taking a deep dive into the most
inner parts of yourself and be willing to give voice to what you find.
• Seek support from those living healthy,
authentic, and vibrant lives. Take thorough
notes of what you observe and ask questions. • Consider both the costs and the benefits of living authentically. Take time to determine
what is acceptable to you, and how you want to show up in this world. If you must move slowly,
do so, but MOVE according to what honors and feels good to you.
• Take ownership of your narrative and engage in truth-telling. No one deserves to tell your
story but you, and who better to tell the story than the author.
• Create opportunities for yourself to try something
new. If you ask me, fear and bravery feel the same. So, ask yourself, when was the last time you did something for the first time?
You, my friend, will experience the fruits of
your intentional works when you openly live
your truth. Remember, living is an action verb. So let’s actively LIVE authentically,
unapologetically, and with vibrancy!
shackles placed on you by family, the church,
accepted your inner truth? What truth(s) have you
tried to smother or hide in hopes that others would
never discover? How are these hidden truths hurting you or preventing you from thriving?
. Hankton N a
h .D. ,P
more fully, if you bravely owned, nurtured, and
Umie c
society, or yourself? How could you live differently,
Time is indeed filled with swift transitions.
Your future self needs your present self to move into the position of readiness to thrive. Listen,
there are self-righteous supremacists in black coats working through the night to rob you of your right to live freely. But, once you decide to live your truth outwardly, participation in your physical and psychological liberation
takes place and the shackles of oppression and other people’s opinions loosen.
Dr. Hankton is a licensed clinical psychologist
and the executive director of UNH Counseling
Services. UNH Counseling Services is a private behavioral health agency that focuses on the
health and wellness of Black women, LGBTQ+, clergy, and college students. Dr. Hankton
provides clinical services to those located in TN, LA, TX, GA, WI, AL, D.C., IL, MN, & KY.
Authentically
I
Freedom in Living
HEALTH & WELLNESS |
11
Tri-State
BLACK PRIDE JUNE 16-19, 2022 • TRISTATEBLACKPARADE.COM
12
| THE UNLEASHED VOICE
Majjicshoots Visuals by Amirah King THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
13
Living Your Truth Will Set You Free By Beth Trouy
There we are alone with God whose voice echoes in our
depths.” It says further that
we are obligated to follow our
conscience even if it does not align with those around us.
We are obligated to follow our conscience even if it opposes
teachings of the Church. In fact,
to fail to follow one’s conscience is a grievance and dishonor
to our Creator. Furthermore, it says, not following our moral
conscience is as much a sin as doing harm to another. For, we
are harming ourselves when we deny our inner truth.
T
he word truth doesn’t seem to have the indelible power
it once had even just a decade ago. Now, we all seem to be at odds, more than ever before,
in agreeing to what is the truth. I always thought that valid
statistics, video evidence, and
a trusted authority were all that
were needed to agree to fact. Not so anymore. We can manipulate stats to fit our opinion. We alter videos. We stretch the truth
to fit our platform. It’s hard to know where to turn, and who
to trust. Integrity seems to be
taking a back seat to influence
and popularity. How can we set
our moral compass when “True
North” seems to be negotiable? Growing up Catholic, I was
fortunate to have been taught
the process of discernment of inner truth. The beauty of this process is that my inner truth
14
| SPIRITUALITY
may not be yours; even though
Statistically speaking, the
the same set of information,
is 6 to 8 times higher than the
we both may have been given
morals or teachings. Now don’t
let this confuse you to think this means you can make up your own statistics or version of
facts. No, this truth is more the
inner core of one’s conscience in discerning what one’s
personal truth of who we are
called to be in this world. For
people with sexual orientation
variances or gender dysphoria, figuring out this truth can be
life or death. Society can give a person a lot of conflicting information depending on
where you look. For someone
confused and unsure, knowing what is “right” and how best to find it, can be a trial. You
see, if we live the life we think others think we should, we aren’t really living at all.
suicide rate for LGBTQ persons national population and nearly 50% of transgenders attempt
suicide. Only in living our truth
as we are created, will we thrive. How then, do we know and
find our truth in a world full of conflicting information?
Finding truth today is a journey that requires careful research. Finding our inner truth can be
even more difficult with all the conflicting information. Is it
natural? Is it a defect? Being
misled by fake news, misguided
ministers and just bad theology, it can be nearly impossible to
discern. Add in some low self-
esteem and insecurity and it can
Unfortunately, churches can
be deadly. The best suggestion
for affirming information on
and go, as the Church says, to
many are leaving organized
alone with our Creator. In deep
Church also has its many, many
conversation with God, while
gender norms, but one area it
we have learned, we will know our
the examination and primacy
of our souls, we will know our
“conscience is a person’s most
passage can be found in section
be some of the worst sources
is to turn off the outer chatter
this subject. It’s no wonder so
our inner sanctuary where we are
religion altogether. The Catholic
contemplation, discernment and
faults regarding sexual and
sorting through the information
gets right is its teachings on
true selves. There, in the quiet
of conscience. It teaches that
truth. Interestingly enough, this
secret core and sanctuary.
1776 of the Catholic Catechism. The truth will set you free.
Prevent HIV with pride. There are many options to prevent HIV. Choose the method that works for you.
LEARN MORE AT CDC.GOV/STOPHIVTOGETHER
@StopHIVTogether • @StartTalkingHIV @CDCHIV • @StartTalkingHIV @CDC_HIV THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
15
Tennessee Six-Week Abortion Ban Takes Effect Court lifts block on six-week ban following Supreme Court ruling
will continue to see many, many
barriers to care – including
huge abortion deserts in parts of
people, and people with limited
states ban abortion, creating
this country resulting in serious
harm to people and their families. We will do everything we can to
maintain as much abortion access in Tennessee as possible—for as long as possible."
“Abortion bans rob people of
speak out
Tennessee & North Mississippi 16
| THE UNLEASHED VOICE
six weeks into pregnancy took
“It is unconscionable that
the state before many people
abortion in their communities
today’s order, the Sixth Circuit
Parenthood remains committed
the law – granted nearly two years
and Mississippi access abortions
providers in the state – following
are open for non-judgmental
Friday overturning Roe v. Wade.
financial and logistical support."
at risk for banning or severely
"This is a dark day for Tennessean's
abortion after approximately
effect, prohibiting abortion in
Tennesseans will lose access to
even know they are pregnant. In
because of this decision. Planned
vacated an injunction blocking
to helping people in Tennessee
ago in a case filed by abortion
outside our state, and our doors
the Supreme Court’s decision last
information, resources, and
restricting access to abortion.
reproductive freedom," said
The case that initially blocked
and CEO of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the American
Civil Liberties Union, and the
ACLU of Tennessee on behalf of the Memphis Center for
Reproductive Health, Planned
Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, Knoxville
Center for Reproductive Health, carafem, and two individual
abortion providers in Tennessee. QUOTES FROM ATTORNEYS, ADVOCATES, AND PLAINTIFFS: “This is just the beginning,”
said Rabia Muqaddam, senior staff attorney at the Center
for Reproductive Rights. “We
the capitol, and to the ballot box, until we have the power to make
the best decisions for ourselves and our families."
for the communities we serve in
Ashley Coffield, president and
Tennessee and North Mississippi.
for Reproductive Rights,
our own bodies to the streets, to
their lives, and their futures,” said – Today, Tennessee’s ban on
this law was filed by the Center
will take the fight for control of
“This 6-week ban going into effect
CEO of Planned Parenthood of
Tennessee is one of many states
incomes. With our partners, we
their ability to make the decisions that are best for themselves,
06.28.2022 (PRESS RELEASE)
communities of color, young
Alexis McGill Johnson, president Federation of America. "They
have had their autonomy stolen
from them by politicians. We are exploring all options not only to
ensure that patients can access abortion, but to hold leaders
will be nothing short of devastating Tennessee,” said Melissa Grant,
chief operations officer, carafem. “Since the Supreme Court’s
decision, we have been flooded with phone calls from patients
urgently trying to find out their
options and our staff has worked around the clock to serve them. Unfortunately, this latest court decision means many will no
longer have any option other than carrying to term against their
will or fleeing the state if they
need care beyond six weeks in
pregnancy, before many even know they’re pregnant. In my more than 30 years in health care, nothing
has been as hard as turning away patients from the care they need
because politicians interfered with
private health care decisions. We’ll continue doing everything in our
power to serve patients up to six weeks of pregnancy.”
accountable for robbing the people of Tennessee and Mississippi of their rights. This is not over." "This six-week ban forces
people to carry pregnancies to term against their will and to
face the resulting life-altering consequences,” said Hedy
Weinberg, ACLU of Tennessee
executive director. “The ban will
disproportionately impact those
who have always faced systemic
Savannah Bearden Director of Communications Pronouns: she/her
Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi D: 901.725.3049 P: 866.711.1717
CHOICES to Expand to Carbondale, Illinois
Almost 4,000 people a year depend
Our legacy of responding to the
a clinic. But we’re taking action
and we will provide abortions in
now that CHOICES is expanding
our community who needs an
on CHOICES for abortion care,
Memphis up until the moment that these new bans go into effect.
Even then, CHOICES Memphis isn’t
needs of the community remains into Southern Illinois, and as such we’re proud to announce that in
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
05/09/2022 - Memphis, TN
– Today, CHOICES: Memphis
Center for Reproductive Health announced its plans to open a
clinic in Carbondale, IL in response to the impending abortion ban in TN. The new clinic will be
operational this year to provide
access to abortion care for people
in the Southeast, and the Memphis clinic will remain open continuing
going anywhere. Our Memphis
clinic will remain open to provide all the other important services,
ranging from no-cost birth control, gender affirming care, midwifery, and general reproductive health care. Marching boldly forward to care for our community is
simply who we are, and that’s why CHOICES is proud to announce that we are opening a clinic in Carbondale, Illinois.
addition to abortion care, our new Carbondale clinic will provide
gender affirming care from the first day we open our doors in August 2022. And we won’t stop there.
CHOICES is committed to being an
asset to the communities we serve,
and we believe deeply that abortion belongs within the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. So, we’ve developed a phased approach
Reproductive Health, we pride
ourselves on our long history of
firsts in response to the needs of
our community. Founded in 1974, CHOICES was the first abortion
provider in Memphis. In the early 2000s, CHOICES accomplished more firsts for our community,
stop on the Amtrak line, this facility will be the Southernmost abortion provider in Illinois, a lifeline for
people in the Southeast who need an abortion. Moreover, Illinois is a
shining example of how states can protect abortion access and the
right to abortion without restriction. A 2019 state law protecting access to abortion makes the state, in the words of Gov. Pritzker, “beacon of hope for [people] who need reproductive health."
for transgender individuals,
incredible heart of the Carbondale
care for people living with HIV, and fertility assistance for same sex
couples. Most recently, CHOICES built the first birth center in
Memphis and became the first
nonprofit in the US to offer full-
spectrum reproductive health care,
ranging from abortion to midwiferybased birth and perinatal services, all under one roof.
community can be, and we have no doubt that we can make it through this storm together.
sexual and reproductive healthcare
The location is what originally
contraception and preconception
already know how powerful our
community. A three-hour drive
including introducing genderaffirming hormone therapy
dire, but not without hope. We
CHOICES is an independent,
is recognized as an essential
At CHOICES: Memphis Center for
The situation in Tennessee is
us to continue to provide abortion
from Memphis and Nashville and a
that will retain the right to abortion.
take all of us working together.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CHOICES envisions a world where
IL, the closest state to Tennessee
communities — and it’s going to
including a birth center.
care for folks in our Memphis
essential abortion care in Southern
they’re ready, and live in thriving
MEMPHIS CENTER FOR
midwifery care. CHOICES’ bold
in Memphis and create access to
and patient-centered space when
at our new clinic with the goal of
becoming a full-spectrum provider,
to critical reproductive health care
need, build their families in a safe
ABOUT CHOICES:
Our new Carbondale clinic will allow
plan will ensure continued access
abortion can get the care they
to gradually increase services
to provide essential reproductive and sexual healthcare, including
so that every single person in
drew us to Carbondale, but the community is what let us know
we had found a second home for
CHOICES. Jennifer Pepper, CEO of CHOICES, stated, “We are excited
about the opportunity to serve the Carbondale area and surrounding
communities. We’ve been traveling to Carbondale since November of
2021 and could not have imagined a warmer welcome from the
community leaders, healthcare professionals, and nonprofits with whom we met.”
human right, and we will never stop working to realize our vision.
In Tennessee, you don’t need to look far to imagine what
abortion access will look like if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Abortion care is
already out of reach for so many people. Even though abortion
is legal, politicians have passed
laws and created obstacles that treat people differently. Young
people, people living in poverty, and people of color must work
twice as hard to make it past the
barriers to receive care. That need is going to grow in the wake of the
human rights crisis caused by lack of access to abortion care.
nonprofit reproductive health
clinic dedicated to empowering individuals in the Mid-South to
make informed choices for and
about their reproductive health.
Offering services such as abortion care, hormone management for
transgender patients, HIV testing and prevention, gynecological
wellness care, no-cost birth control, and midwife-led prenatal care
and births, CHOICES’ model of
comprehensive, patient-centered care is making waves in the
reproductive and sexual health
community. With the opening of
their new health and birth center in 2020, which includes the first
licensed birth center in Memphis, CHOICES became the only
nonprofit health care provider in the country to offer both birth services and abortion care under one roof.
We know that people with
privilege have the access and possibilities necessary to
overcome the barriers anti-
choice state lawmakers put in
place because they can afford to spend the money, take time off
work, arrange childcare, and do what they need to do to get to
Holly Calvasina Development Director hcalvasina@memphischoices.org (901)-274-3550 x 246
THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
17
18| CONTENTS
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THE UNLEASHED VOICE | 19 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH BROAD
Hype”, Bazaar, BET, Vogue,
Compulsive, Sheen, Paper,
Voyage LA, Influencer, Hello Beautiful, Essence, Travel Noire and more.
When Timeekah Murphy first realized she wanted to get
involved in fashion design, she was stationed at Fort Hood
Texas in the army and had no
idea she'd one day be designing
iconic pieces for stars like Cardi B and Beyoncé. At the time, she simply knew she wasn’t being represented as a masculine
female in the styles available. She carried this passion for
gender fluid fashion into the
I design clothing that everyone can feel comfortable in, be stylish and make heads turn all at the same time
creation of her own clothing
line, Alani Taylor, named after her daughter after her birth
Timeekah Murphy The Embodiment of Fashion & Entrepreneurial Success
T
imeekah Murphy (Army
Veteran, Celebrity Fashion
Designer, Actress, Influencer), the founder of Alani Taylor
that celebrates “reworked
proportions,” Alani Taylor Co. is geared as both a high fashion and luxury streetwear brand
bringing gender neutral fashion to the mainstream.
Q: What was your inspiration to start a fashion Line? A: “I started teaching myself how to sew because I didn’t
want to look like everyone else. I love androgynous fashion
and I’m a masculine woman,
so I wanted to be comfortable in my clothing and still know that I’m a woman.
Co., a luxury high fashion
that has designed for the
A: There are a lot of men and
as Beyoncé, Cardi B, Nick
that fit them in a comfortable
streetwear company owner
Androgynous Fashion Line?
most influential celebs such
women that can’t find clothes
Timeekah has been featured
on media outlets such as AT&T Dream in Black Future Maker Commercial, HBO Max “They
| FASHION
offers gender-free clothing
Q: Why did you create an
Cannon, Da Baby and more.
20
in 2016. The brand proudly
way. I get a lot of women all the time that come up to me and
say ‘I finally found clothing that
hides my curves as a masculine woman and I’m so glad.’ So,
they are more confident, they
walk with their head high, and they get that confidence they
always had inside. Clothes can make you stand tall or slouch.
Alani Taylor helps you stand tall with your head high.”
Q: What can one expect when buying Alani Taylor’s fashions? A: Alani Taylor’s high fashion line is high-end luxury with
designer price tags. It features dropper pants, jackets, and long shirts with plenty of
texture and layering in gender
fluid styles and bold colors. The streetwear line features shorts, pants, hoodies, and shirts that
come in unisex sizes, as well as
kidswear with similar cuts and a vibrant aesthetic.
For more info on Timeekah
Murphy and her brand, please visit her website:
www.alanitaylor.com
Pride
A Deeper Love By Monika M. Pickett
his can’t be happening! Not now, God. Of all times…I
found myself unable to walk
unassisted two weeks from Pride. The constant pain in my legs
reminded me that something
as simple as an infection could
wreak havoc on my compromised immune system. My doctors
that my body and mind were tired. I felt like I was wasting
away, physically, mentally and
emotionally. Battling a chronic illness was taking its toll.
I didn’t know if I had any more
fight in me. I needed this win to keep from giving up.
hastily scheduled a battery of
I reminisced on my childhood. I
was having a flare up due to my
who liked other girls. I dreamt
tests to determine whether I
brain disorder, Neurosarcoidosis. My stomach dropped as
conversations of hospitalization and surgery surfaced.
I was running out of time. I threw myself into editing the final
draft of the third installment
of my Pretty Boy Blue trilogy,
The Evolution of Nikki Blue to
submit the draft to my publisher as my friend confirmed my live
reading on the first Saturday of
Gay Pride at his restaurant. That day happened to fall on my 55th
birthday. I was in awe of how God had lined people up in my life to
help make my dreams come true. The excitement was heightened by the impending birth of my
third grandchild. The thought of
my grandchild being born on my birthday was more than I could have ever dreamed of. Joy and adrenalin overshadowed the
I chose without judgement or
discrimination. I wanted to be a
role model for others who were struggling with their sexuality. I wanted to love and be loved,
freely. I longed to be an example of what is possible. I thought of my ancestors whose shoulders I stand on…like the late James Baldwin. Would he be proud of me for accomplishing all the
things society said I couldn’t? Would my existence dredge
up his experience of moving to Europe when his own country
did not celebrate him as a Black, gay author? I thought of LGBTQ
advocate and playwright, Lorraine Hansberry. Would she inspire me to pursue my dreams of
welled with tears as I admitted
helped pave the way for me to
become who I’m becoming. In that moment, I thought of my legacy. I realized that my legacy is not
my own. I thought of the deeper
love I have for my grandchildren, specifically the one who will be
my Gemini twin. Would he or she
rarely celebrated?
Mind” Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, forefront of the Stonewall Riots that incited a new era of the LGBTQ movement in 1969.
ka ni
M. Pi
ck
have similar characteristics of
mine? Would they be as fearless
as I had been in my youth? When
I am long gone, my grandchildren will be able to boast that their
grandmother lived her authentic
life during a time when it was not widely accepted.
that pulsed through my body. I
boldly craft narratives that are
two Transgender women at the
canceling the event. My eyes
tell in their fight for equality. They
out and proud lesbian author to
Would she encourage me, an
concern that I was not well
mind. She begged me to consider
I imagine the stories they could
I woke up the morning of my event
I thought of Marsha “Pay it No
enough weighed heavily on my
available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble.
becoming a playwright?
pain as I remained determined
to achieve my goals. My sister’s
The Pretty Boy Blue trilogy is
t
was days away. Anxiety set in
of being able to love whomever
et
distract myself. The deadline to
thought I was the only little girl
Mo
T
and ignored the aches and pain smiled when I thought of God’s
Grace and Mercy. To celebrate my
55th birthday on the first Saturday of Gay Pride as I launched my
third novel, while waiting for my
grandchild to enter this world was a blessing I will cherish forever… and that is why this Pride has a deeper love for me.
Monika M. Pickett is a veteran of the United States Army. She is the author of the #1 International Best-Selling novel Pretty Boy Blue, Second Edition, and its sequel The Darkest Shade of Blue, and finally The Evolution of Nikki Blue the Trilogy is available on Amazon. Pickett is an advocate for the LGBTQ community. For more information on Monika M. Pickett, please visit, MonikaMPickett.com
THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
21
LOVE YOUR
Authentic S EL F By Brodderick D. Roary
22
| THE UNLEASHED VOICE
The most important relationship you will ever have in life is the one you have with yourself.
they serve you or not. Are these
if you do not work on building
TO LOVE YOUR AUTHENTIC
they kind and loving, are they
chances are you will not be
OTHERS THE GIFT OF
loving towards yourself and try
You can’t ignore the role
own best friend because the
this. Whether we are talking
thoughts good thoughts, are
empowering? If not, let them go and shift your focus from the
things you think are wrong with you to the things that are okay, towards those things that are
unique and beautiful about you. If you do not know what those
things are, go ask those closest to you and you will soon find
out what an incredible being they think you are.
IF YOU CONTINUE TO LOOK DOWN ON YOURSELF, EXPECT OTHERS TO DO THE SAME To love your authentic self, you
need to cut yourself some slack. Do not be afraid to express
Y
ou want someone out there to love you. But do you love
your authentic self? Can you
look in the mirror and honestly
say to yourself: ‘I love you?’ You cannot expect others to love
you when you do not even love
to start seeing yourself as your
forgiveness plays in all of
moment you do, you will realize there is no friendship more
valuable than the friendship you have with your own self.
What are the things you love
to do and what is keeping you from doing them? What are
the excuses you are using not to do them? Can you let go of
the excuses and start spoiling yourself from time to time? I think you can, and I also think you should allow yourself to BE HAPPY.
afraid to be who you are, and act
IN YOURSELF
of people who act the way others
yourself and to grow. Take the
SELF, LEARN TO INVEST
the way you feel. The world is full
Make the time to learn about
want them to and are not being
time to nurture your dreams
true to themselves … they do not have to live their life that way.
accept yourself completely and
STOP UNDERVALUING
FORGIVENESS.
speak your mind, and do not be
mirror back at you how poorly
Things You Can Do to Love Your Authentic Self
genuinely happy. Be kind and
TO LOVE YOUR AUTHENTIC
I can tell you from my own
you yourself think of yourself.
SELF, GIVE YOURSELF, AND
yourself, do not be afraid to
yourself. For, in the end, you will only encounter people who will
and improving this relationship,
experience the moment you
the moment you start honoring your TRUTH, more and more
people will be drawn to you, and not only you will realize there is
being so harsh on yourself. Start
The most important relationship
own thoughts and see whether
one you have with yourself and
and that is perfectly fine, so stop
O YOURSELF
paying close attention to your
you will ever have in life is the
exercise it. Because by not
forgiving others, and yourself
you are keeping yourself from
experiencing and living life fully. Ask yourself:
• Who are the people you need to forgive, and why?
• Do you I need to forgive myself?
• Is there something from the past that has not yet been
healed because it has not yet been forgiven?
• Can I forgive them? • Can I forgive myself?
opening and life-changing way
time at all to waste on things
that hinder you from becoming
your authentic self. And all your focus, energy, and attention will be directed towards the improvement of yourself.
a happier and more fulfilling
BECOME A FRIEND
why it is imperative that you
so, you will have little or no
making them happen. By doing
this love on to others.
You are not perfect, nobody is
power of forgiveness, and
When you forgive, you set
If you only do this one thing,
YOURSELF
it is crucial to understand the
and goals; and commit to
so much about you to love, but you will also start projecting
about others, or only yourself,
yourself FREE. And an eye-
to see things would be to regard the people you need to forgive
as teachers of much-needed life lessons. This way it will become easier for you to forgive so that you can find the strength to
move on and enjoy your life.
I promise you, you will live
I hope these things will inspire
life. And many of the people
your heart a little so that you
around you will admire you and feel inspired by your actions and behaviors.
and empower you to open
can love yourself more. Being
yourself is the greatest gift you can give yourself and the world because the world needs more authentic and real souls.
THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
23
MEMPHIS CENTERED
MEMPHIS PROUD
INTERGENERATIONAL CONVERSATION PANEL SERIES A Live Webinar Series: 6:00 ‐ 7:00 pm CT July 14 ‐ August 11 ‐ September 8 The Turley Memphis Center at Rhodes College, in partnership with the Museum of Science and History (MoSH), presents a live webinar series where panelists come together to discuss important topics in the local and national LGBTQ+ community. This series is a part of the Memphis Proud: The Resilience of a Southern LGBTQ+ Community on exhibit at MoSH from June 4th to September 26th. These virtual conversations will be live at 6:00 pm CT on the second Thursday of each month from July to September. Register to receive login information for each panel.
How LGBTQ+ Community Spaces Changed in Memphis Thursday, July 14th @ 6 pm CT
This panel gives a look at the way that LGBTQ+ people have and continue to make a community in Memphis. The panel will cover the different social spaces that made huge impacts in Memphis as well as other ways in which LGBTQ+ people have made community, such as PRIDE and places like Meristem Book Store.
Registration Link
Rethinking the AIDS Epidemic: Detaching HIV/AIDS from the LGBTQ+ community Thursday, August 11th @ 6 pm CT
The HIV/AIDS crisis nearly led to the loss of an entire generation of LGBTQ+ people and has caused more to live in fear of physical intimacy. In addition to this internal loss, LGBTQ+ people still carry stigma created by fear mongering during the heat of the crisis by certain institutions. This panel will address the pain associated with the epidemic but also show a view forward of how we can stop the stigma and combat HIV/ AIDS as a country.
Registration Link
For more information contact: Iris Mercado at mercadoi@rhodes.edu All events are free and open to the public. Reservations required. Co-Sponsored by the Department of History, the Chaplain's Office, LGBTQ+ Working Group, and the Gender and Sexuality Studies Program.
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| THE UNLEASHED VOICE
Loud and Proud, We Rise! Thursday, September 8th @ 6 pm CT
This panel is an opportunity to explore the different ways that frontline LGBTQ+ activists are fighting. These panelists represent different sides of LGBTQ+ activism which creates a diverse picture of what all the word "activism" can mean.
Registration Link
