One of my most favorite artists ever is the rock icon and legend, Melissa Etheridge. Talk about representation! She chose to live her life authentically making no apologies. Being the young, naive person I was, seeing someone like Etheridge live authentically helped a lot of light bulbs click on. I remember coming out and feeling like I had finally found where I fit and the music of Etheridge was truly a huge part of that. Etheridge has always had a way of connecting with her audience through her music and her new album, “One Way Out,” brings us back to classic Etheridge. It’s badass. It’s soulful. It frees you. It makes you want to go out and get a tattoo and a motorcycle. (Well, at least that’s what it does for me.) On another note and coming back to how easy it is to connect with Etheridge, when Lauren and I interviewed her, it was like having a conversation with an old friend. This was truly a cool experience. Thank you Melissa for the interview.
This issue is rocking, not only with Melissa Etheridge, but with a ton of articles on the importance of taking care of yourself. We have experts such as Dr. Benjamin Bashline of Harpeth Valley Dermatology providing tips on how to care for your skin and why you should. Do you like to garden or would like to learn? Check out the article by Master Gardener, Joshua Rigsby. We also bring you the story of Orlando Andrews. At 12 years sober, he now helps others pave a new path and reach emotional sobriety.
We’re also keeping you apprised of the Slate of Hate. It’s not a happy topic, but an important one. There are many elections coming up this year beginning in May for some. Be sure that you are registered to vote in the district you live in and get out there and vote! Many of these legislators simply need to go. They’ve been in their positions way too long and apparently don’t have any new legislative ideas because they keep pushing the same or very similar anti-LGBT+ bills every year. Let’s vote them out and be the state we should be by now in 2022! #TakeOurStateBack
I could keep going because, like I said, this is a jam-packed issue of good stuff. We hope to see you at our inaugural Connect Community Health Fair, sponsored by Medicopy, on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the event website for more information: https://healthfair.weconnect.lgbt/
Read our virtual issue online at weconnect.lgbt/virtual-issue.
Get Connected and Keep Rocking!
