#ItsPrideYall2024 VIP Tickets $150 - Grab yours while they last!!!
#ItsPrideYall2024 VIP Tickets $150 - Grab yours while they last!!!
Join us for the second annual It’s Pride Y’all Panel Discussion Series aimed at fostering dialogue and inspiring action. Panel discussions will take place in the first floor event room of The Faulkner in Downtown Jackson. Panels are free to attend and the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions after the moderated discussion. Panels will not be recorded or streamed so that audience members can rest assured they are in a safe space and participate freely.
The Mental Health and Legislation Panel will bring together influential speakers who will share their resources unique to the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ people and talk about Mississippi’s recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and what we can do for the upcoming legislative session. Featured panelists are Representative Fabian Nelson, Pile County Supervisor Justin Lofton, Licensed Master Social Worker Dr. Nancy Keys, and Certified Peer Support Specialist Jacob Thomas. Join us on Saturday, September 28, at 9:00 AM at the Faulkner! Free to attend!
Dr. Nancy Keys is a mother, daughter, Youth leader, and an active financial member of the Zeta Sorority, Inc. She is a therapist, business owner, and licensed master social worker. Nancy is dedicated to helping individuals by providing community resources and facilitating support groups, particularly for those dealing with trauma and issues related to self-acceptance. In her therapy practice, she employs the Big and Little Rock method to help individuals effectively navigate what can be changed and what needs to be accepted. This method has allowed Dr. Nancy Keys to witness personal growth and instill hope in others by fostering a solution-based mindset.
Fabian Nelson is a Mississippian through and through. He has earned degrees from American Public University, Jackson State University, and Holmes Community College. He holds a Master of Business Administration, with a Concentration in Entrepreneurship, a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and an Associate of Arts in Business Administration. In 2009, Fabian founded Mississippi United Realty, where he now serves as the Managing Broker.
Fabian's political career began in 2023 when he was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. He proudly represents the people of Mississippi House District 66 and won by one of the highest margins in the state for a non-incumbent Democrat candidate. House District 66 encompasses parts of south Jackson, Byram, Terry, and Utica. As a legislator, Fabian serves on the Housing Committee, Technology Committee, Military Affairs Committee, and Judiciary B Committee. During his first year, he has been vocal on several issues that are affecting his state.
In his first session, Fabian authored and co-authored over fifty bills. One of his bills paved the way for the largest capital investment in Mississippi's history, a ten billion dollar Amazon data center. Fabian is an advocate for victims of domestic violence and harm reduction initiatives. He authored HB 1137, legislation that expands the availability of Narcan to combat the fentanyl crisis. This legislation passed both chambers unanimously.
Outside of his political duties, Fabian enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, spending time with his amazing children, and working on community service projects in his community. Fabian and his family attend Jackson Revival Center Church in Jackson, MS.
Justin Lofton, a native of the Burgland community in Pike County, is a highly skilled nonprofit leader, business and political consultant, and entrepreneur. As a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Organizational Management from Lipscomb University and ongoing studies for a Master of Regional and Urban Planning at Jackson State University, he possesses extensive knowledge and expertise. Justin has a proven track record of achieving results and demonstrating visionary leadership. He has collaborated with state lawmakers on various public policy initiatives, including efforts to improve healthcare accessibility. He is a passionate advocate for public safety, criminal justice system reform, responsible government expenditure, and the advancement of local small businesses and emerging industries to stimulate the local economy.
Currently serving as the Director of Digital Education at Teen Health Mississippi, Justin plays a crucial role in developing and customizing training programs to empower youth advocates, professionals working with youth, and parents. In November 2023, Justin achieved a historic victory by unseating a 24-year incumbent to become the Pike County Supervisor for District 1.
This groundbreaking win marked him as the first openly gay politician in Pike County and the first openly gay county Supervisor in Mississippi, solidifying his status as the second openly gay politician in the state. Since taking office, Justin has served as the President of the Pike County Board of Supervisors taking on some of the county’s biggest challenges. In nine months, he has led the Board through several accomplishments including breaking ground on a new jail, expanding mental health access and workforce training opportunities for incarcerated persons, embarking on the county’s first zoning and planning strategy, establishing a process for collecting outstanding fees and fines, increased salaries across county departments, and developed the county’s first comprehensive crime strategy.
Justin’s personal mission is to do the most good for the most people, and he believes that we are the manifestation of our resilience, not the victims of our circumstances.
Jacob Thomas has lived all over the Magnolia State! From humble beginnings in Star, to Brookhaven, Hattiesburg, and Biloxi, he has chosen Jackson as his home, having fallen in love from a very young age. Over the past four years, Jacob has planted himself in the Capital City and its LGBT+ community by serving on the Capital City Pride Committee (2022/2023), working with famed gay film director Christopher Wesley Moore, bartending at Shade Pub and Nightclub, and performing as local drag artist Calamity Jane Van Cartier.
By day, Jacob works as a Certified Peer Support Specialist for Methodist Children's Homes of Mississippi, providing therapeutic services to a diverse group of youth in Child Protection Services custody. By night, he is expanding his scope of practice by pursuing a Masters in Clinical Counseling from Delta State University. Advocacy and political engagement are cornerstones of counseling, and Jacob dreams of healing, uplifting, and liberating his LGBT+ kin in Mississippi by embracing these cornerstones. Suffice it to say, he is elated to be on this panel!
The LGBTQ+ History in Mississippian Panel will bring together three individuals who have made and are making history in Mississippi and share their stories about early LGBTQ+ rights and activism as well as how we continue to make history. Panelists include Jack Myers, Gus Daniels-Washington, and Charlene Barker. Join us on Saturday, September 28, join us at 10:00 AM at the Faulkner! Free to attend!
Jack Myers was born in Pelahatchie to hard-working parents. He trained to be a radiologic technologist at University of Mississippi Medical Centers (UMMC). After a while, he realized he wanted to create places where gay people like himself could congregate.
Shortly after his 21st birthday, Jack and a business partner opened Mae’s Cabaret, the first of several ventures he would own over a 50-year stretch, including Jack’s Saloon, Star Restaurant, Jack and Jill’s, People’s Café, and JC’S.
In the 1980s, he witnessed firsthand the intolerance toward people with AIDS. His cousin’s death affected him deeply. Jack found countless ways to combat the epidemic, including raising money to open Sandifer House, a home for men rejected by their families. It was named after Eddie Sandifer, a local gay activist. Mississippi's first LGBTQ+ shelter, the Jack Myers House, is named in honor of his kindness and generosity.
Gus Daniels-Washington (they/them) is the executive director and founder of JXNOLOGY, a youth-led and trans-led artivism and wellness collective for young emerging activists and artists ages 16 to 30. They are an intuitive professional with over six years of experience in youth, community, and education advocacy, including domestic and global education reform.
Gus has organized more than 80 facilitated sessions involving youth, parents, education leaders, and community leaders to assess and survey developments in mental health, education, and social issues. They have led strategic planning for conflict resolution among people of diverse cultures and understandings.
Throughout their career, Gus has designed over 100 events and projects addressing critical social issues such as racism, sexism, privilege, and educational innovation. Their professional training includes Program Facilitation Training, Advocacy Training, Community Development Training, and Mental Health First.
Charlene Barker, formerly Charlene Smith-Smathers, has been involved in political activism since the mid 1980’s. Born in Arkansas and raised in Mississippi, she married a man at eighteen, and felt sure she was on the right track for seventeen years.
Then, at Mardi Gras 1986, she faced the reality of alcoholism and made the decision that would change her life forever. Meeting Dee Smathers at Gay Alcoholics Anonymous in Houston, she plugged straight into Equal Rights’ very own Goddess! From that day forward, Charlene was marching around with a sign more often than you can imagine. Coming out as gay and getting sober turned out to be just the ticket, for a future of adventure.
From Act-Up in Houston including a trip to shut down the Centers for Disease Control for the rights of Women with AIDS, to helping other alcoholics and volunteering in fundraising for that, life was busy. “There was more to do when we returned to Mississippi, and there seems to always be more to do.”
The Drag 101 Panel will bring together three talented drag artists - Jackson’s own Penny Nickels and Seraphina along with Mr. Will Ryder from Memphis. Penny Nickels will host this panel where we will learn the behind the scenes art of performing drag and proper etiquette at drag performances. Join us on Saturday, September 28, at 11:00 AM at the Faulkner! Free to attend!
Penny Nickels is a drag artist performing and hosting in Mississippi and Louisiana for the past 5 years. Known for her over-the-top fashion and feathered backpieces, Penny combines her love for the showgirl aesthetic and vintage glamor.
She began drag in 2019 as an outlet to create and showcase her sewing talents, but soon realized drag gave her opportunities to advocate for mental health awareness in the LGBTQ+ community. She hosts a free monthly trivia with MS Capital City Pride at Hal & Mal’s to create a safe space for everyone.
Outside of drag she has a thriving business creating custom garments for friends, other performers, and Mardi Gras Krewes. Penny most enjoys bringing drag to events and spaces that do not typically showcase the art form such as JXN Roller Derby, the Mississippi Museum of Art, and Hal’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade (on skates). She is excited to facilitate the Drag 101 Panel and share her knowledge and passion for the art of drag!
Will Ryder (Rylan Herrada), the 2024 Grand Marshal for Mid-South Pride is a known Drag King who has been performing in Memphis, Tennessee, for sixteen years. He is known as “The King of the Castle,” and his signature stoned-out hats, shoes, and electrifying performance style. Outside of performing, he is a proud barber and does a lot of ground work within the LGBTQIA+ community.
With an immeasurable amount of time volunteering with different LGBTQIA+ organizations and being a visible transman, Will puts as much power as he can back into his beloved community. His most proud accomplishment is a drag king troupe called “The Dynasty,” which he developed in 2016. It’s a cast of Drag Kings who are the highlight of the nights they perform.
His motto: “To inspire is to be inspired.”
Séraphina was born in Jackson, raised in Ocean Springs, and returned to Jackson from the Gulf Coast two years ago. She is currently double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Chemistry, graduating in 2025. Her dream is to be a pediatric surgeon. Séraphina had an organic chemistry internship and traveled Europe and South America studying Spanish.
She never knew about the gay scene growing up other than what was on Tumblr and TV, but she fell in love with drag watching RuPaul’s Drag Race her freshman year. It was a few more years before she tried drag herself, but at a Hattiesburg show in 2019, Séraphina was born in the spotlight! She’s performed in Pensacola, Mobile, New Orleans, and Hattiesburg. Her performances are high energy and emotional. “Sometimes drag feels like the only way I can express myself.”
Séraphina wants to change the perspective of drag. “I can’t change how people think, but I can show them drag isn’t a crime. I honestly hope to inspire others who want to do drag to just do it! Everything isn’t going to be perfect when you start but remember: diamonds are found in the rough.”
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