Here is a breakdown of what’s happening at the center this week.
If you’d like to stay current on the goings-on at OUTMemphis, sign up for our Weekly What’s Happening Newsletter and check out our Calendars for a schedule of upcoming events.
MONDAY 11/11
Colorcopia: Art Class for Seniors
11:00a-12:00p:
Colorcopia is an art class put on by artists from the Dixon Gallery and Gardens for LGBTQ folks ages 55+. Participants will learn how to recreate a piece of art in the Dixon’s collection, gaining new artistic skills in the process.
For more information, contact us via email or check out the Facebook event page.
Trans Awareness Celebration
5:00p-7:30p:
Come celebrate Trans Awareness Week with OUTMemphis!
Perpetual Transition (our core transgender group) invites you to join for an evening of awareness for trans people and issues.
Starting at 5:00p, we will be holding a pot luck, and all transgender folks and allies are invited to join in. Bring your favorite dish (homemade or store bought) to share with friends. We will be engaging in conversation and community discussions about trans experiences.
Then, from 6:00p-7:30p, we will have an open mic set up. We want to hear your stories, poems, music, or anything else you want the world to hear. This is a time for you to tell your stories to the world in whatever way feels most natural.
Join us to spread awareness of the Trans Community!
HIV Testing
6:00p-9:00p:
Knowing your status is the first step in reclaiming your sexual health, which is why OUTMemphis offers free HIV testing every Monday and Wednesday evening from 6:00p-9:00p, no appointment needed!
The test is free, quick, and confidential. The test takes around 20 minutes and includes a confidential sexual health counseling session with one of our highly trained testing staff.
For more information visit our website, Facebook event page, or email us.
TUESDAY 11/12
Volunteer Orientation
5:00p-6:00p:
This is a training to familiarize new volunteers with the organization, and to allow them to ask questions. All new volunteers for OUTMemphis must attend this training before working shifts. These trainings occur the second and fourth Tuesday evening of the month. These trainings are RSVP only.
To apply to be a volunteer, please fill out this application. For other questions, email us.
WEDNESDAY 11/13
HIV Testing
6:00p-9:00p:
Knowing your status is the first step in reclaiming your sexual health, which is why OUTMemphis offers free HIV testing every Monday and Wednesday evening from 6:00p-9:00p, no appointment needed!
The test is free, quick, and confidential. The test takes around 20 minutes and includes a confidential sexual health counseling session with one of our highly trained testing staff.
For more information visit our website, Facebook event page, or email us.
Meristem Book Club
7:00p-9:00p:
The Meristem Book Club is named after the feminist/LGBTQ bookstore that existed down the street from OUTMemphis on Cooper between 1990-1998.
Meristem cells are the point of new growth in some plants – similar to stem cells in humans. Meristem is named after the bookstore to honor our past and to foster hope for our future.
Each month, Meristem reads and explores a different written work by women, LGBTQ, and feminist authors and to foster a community of support with like-minded women.
Meristem is open to lesbian, bi/pansexual, trans, and allied women of all gender identities and expressions.
For more information, email us or check out the Facebook event page.
THURSDAY 11/14
Tai Chi for Health
11:00a-12:00p:
This limited class series is being presented by the Senior Services Committee of OUTMemphis and is open to any who are 55 years of age or more and are LGBTQ+ or Allied.
Tai Chi is a wonderful exercise and movement-based activity for those who have mobility or other physical restrictions. This low-impact activity is perfect for circulation, stretching, joint maintenance, and staying active.
This class is being taught by Maxine Strawder, a licensed Tai Chi instructor. However, she has requested that each class will only meet if at least four people sign up. Therefore, we ask that you please RSVP using the form below. You will be notified if a class you have signed up for does not meet capacity requirements, and the class will be cancelled.
The link to RSVP is HERE.
Seeking Serenity
5:30p-6:30p:
Seeking Serenity is a peer-led community support group for LGBTQ friends and family of people in recovery for alcohol.
Seeking Serenity provides a weekly session for LGBTQ community members who support are associated with problem drinkers to convene for community, discussion, and social support from like-minded people in similar situations. While allies are welcome, Seeking Serenity is centered and gives precedent to the lives and experience of LGBTQ people.
Join us for this weekly, confidential group. For more information, check out our website, Facebook event page, or email us.
FRIDAY 11/15
Delta Trans Masculine
5:30p-6:30p:
Delta Trans Masculine is a peer-led community social group for trans and gender non-conforming folks who identify more on the masculine side of the spectrum. This is a safe place for transmasculine folks to be authentically themselves around like-minded people who share similar identities. This group is open to friends, family, partners, spouses, and supportive allies as well.
For more information, visit our website, email us, or visit the Facebook event page.
GenQ
7:00p-9:00p:
GenQ is our group for LGBTQ and Allied folks ages 18-25. This group meets once per week, and is a safe, closed environment for connection, discussion, and most importantly fun!
Each week, this group meets at OUTMemphis (892 S Cooper), during which time they engage in snacks and drinks, fun planned activities, and discussion, all with peers who understand their experience. This group is peer-led (like most groups at OUTMemphis), meaning that the facilitators of GenQ are also LGBTQ or Allied and 18-25.
This group, being a more mature age group than our other youth services, has a lot more freedom of activity, and will occasionally plan to do non-traditional things such as off-site meetings and activities. These will be discussed beforehand and approved by the group. This group also participates in our Life Hack program, a series of classes aimed at building skills and learning things necessary to being a productive member of society. This includes things like cooking classes, financial planning, anger management, interviewing skills, and many others.
To see Frequently Asked Questions about GenQ, click here.
For more information, visit our website, Facebook event page, or email us.
SATURDAY 11/16
PRYSM
4:00p-6:00p:
PRYSM is our group for LGBTQ and Allied youth ages 13-17. This group meets once per week, and is a safe, closed environment for connection, discussion, and most importantly fun!
Each week, this group meets at OUTMemphis (892 S Cooper), during which time they engage in snacks and drinks, fun planned activities, and discussion, all with peers who understand their experience. Check out the web page for Frequently Asked Questions.
For more information, email us or check out the Facebook event page.
SUNDAY 11/17
TransParent
2:00p-3:00p:
TransParent is a group for parents and caregivers of transgender individuals of any age. This group is meant to be a place for people in this situation to meet others facing similar issues, to learn and grow together, and to ask questions in a safe and affirming environment.
TransParent is facilitated by Dr. KT Hiestand, a certified and licensed psychologist. Please email Dr. Hiestand to RSVP for this group before attending.
To RSVP or for more information, email us.
FU;BU (For Us; By Us)
4:00p-6:00p:
FU;BU is a peer-led community social group for same-gender loving (SGL) men of color. The primary goal of FU;BU is to foster a safe, creative, and positive space for SGL men of color.
FU;BU aims to build positive relationships with self and community through great conversation, while providing a forum for community building and socializing.
For more information, visit our web page, Facebook event page, or email us.
What the LGBTQ+!!!: “L” Edition
6:00p-8:00p @ The Haven (206 G.E. Patterson):
OUTMemphis will be partnering with The Haven Memphis, CHOICES: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health, and Operation Stand Up for this series of panel discussion put on by Love Doesn’t Hurt.
Love Doesn’t Hurt is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses of domestic violence in the LGBTQ community. From Phillis Lewis, their founder:
“Love Doesn’t Hurt helps to provide emergency resources to victims of crime in the LGBTQ+ Community in Shelby County, TN. Through the assistance of our partner agencies working together to provide educational sessions and presentations to promote equality, empowerment, and love while showing the impact that violence has made in the LGBTQ+ Community to help provide inclusive and diverse assistance to victims and survivors. “
“What the LGBTQ+!!!!” is a series of panel discussions, breaking down the acronym into conversations about the individual identities that make up our community. From Love Doesn’t Hurt:
“Through the panels we hope to break down each letter of LBGTQ+ to share what barriers these individuals face not only in their daily lives but how this may affect the resources they may try to seek. Also through the panels we want to open the doors of communication throughout the generations to create emotional intelligence in moving forward to help build stronger relationships, in addition, to tackling common myths within a safe place.“
All meetings will be held at The Haven Memphis (206 G.E. Patterson). The dates for the discussion are as follows:
L: 8/29/19, 6:00p-8:00p
G: 9/26/19, 6:00p-8:00p
B: 10/24/19, 6:00p-8:00p
T: 11/17/19, 1:00p-3:30p
Q: 12/19/19, 6:00p-8:00p
+: 1/16/20, 6:00p-8:00p
MONDAY 11/18
HIV Testing
6:00p-9:00p:
Knowing your status is the first step in reclaiming your sexual health, which is why OUTMemphis offers free HIV testing every Monday and Wednesday evening from 6:00p-9:00p, no appointment needed!
The test is free, quick, and confidential. The test takes around 20 minutes and includes a confidential sexual health counseling session with one of our highly trained testing staff.
For more information visit our website, Facebook event page, or email us.
Perpetual Transition
6:00p-8:00p:
Perpetual Transition is our core Transgender Services peer-led community group, meeting continuously since 2005. PT is a safe and welcoming space for transgender folks of any flavor, identity, expression, or gender to meet and socialize with other like-minded individuals.
PT is open to anyone who identifies as transgender or is questioning, and is a safe and confidential space to ask questions, meet other people, and form bonds with the Memphis transgender community.
For more information, email us or visit the Facebook event page.
Trans ID Workshop
7:45p-8:45p:
The Trans ID Workshop is designed to help transgender individuals navigate the legal documentation and processes of transitioning, including name change, gender markers, and other such paperwork. Where applicable, blank documents and applications will be provided as part of the workshop. See the web page for Frequently Asked Questions.