Known across the world as the Birthplace of the Blues and the Home of Rock n’ Roll, Memphis was home to many music legends including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Al Green, and Justin Timberlake, to name only a few. Beyond being a musical city, it’s also known for being home to some of America’s best barbecue, some of its friendliest people, and for being a city full of rich history and plenty to see and do.
A Look at Memphis’s History
Memphis was named after the Egyptian city which sits on the banks of the Nile River. Though its history is not as long as that of its namesake, it is still a city with a rich culture and history and a very unique personality. The city was first founded in 1819 on land previously inhabited by the Chickasaw tribe. Andrew Jackson, who later became a United States President, was one of its founders. After its founding, the city grew rapidly as a result of the southern cotton industry, and because of its strategic location for both railroad and river transportation. It continued to grow steadily as a city of industry and culture – producing some of the finest musicians in the country, and growing into its unique personality. Today, it is a thriving, diverse, and welcoming city where all can feel at home and find their place.
A Few Fun Facts About Memphis
Read more fun facts about Memphis here.
Memphis’s LGBTQ Community
Memphis is a city that loves and supports its LGBTQ community with a variety of resources, including:
PFLAG Memphis is the city’s local chapter of the national PFLAG organization, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. PFLAG is well-known for its mission of supporting LGBTQ people, friends, family, and allies across the country in a wide variety of ways. With 500 chapters and more than 200,000 members in the United States, PFLAG plays a critical and important role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community.
What's the Weather Like in Memphis?
Those who live in Memphis can expect to experience all four distinct seasons each year. Summers can be quite warm and humid, with high temperatures in July reaching around 91°F. Low temperatures in the winter typically drop to around 30°F. Spring and fall are typically mild and pleasant, and great times to enjoy the outdoors. Memphis receives around 54 inches of rain on average, per year, and about 3 inches of snow.
Can’t-Miss Events in Memphis
Mid-South Pride is Memphis’s annual LGBTQ pride celebration, and this diverse, community-oriented festival is one that you’ll definitely want to put on your calendar. With live entertainment, parades, parties, family-friendly activities, and more than 200 vendors, there’s something for everyone to enjoy here!
The Cooper-Young Festival is a popular Memphis festival that not only features live music and dancing, but is also host to a large number of arts vendors, crafts vendors, and food vendors. It is one of the Memphis area’s largest festivals, and one of its best.
Where to Live in Memphis
Memphis is a sprawling city with many wonderful neighborhoods. Although there is no one particular "gayborhood," there are a few neighborhoods that are particularly popular with the LGBTQ community, including:
The Midtown area is known for its older, historic homes located within walking distance of many restaurants and other boutique businesses. It features many older homes and historic areas and is not far from the downtown area which is full of LGBTQ-friendly businesses, entertainment, and art galleries. Overall, it’s a stylish neighborhood that’s very diverse and relaxed. The median listing price of homes currently for sale in Midtown is approximately $230,000.
The Cordova area, which is located near Memphis, was originally a very small farming community. Eventually, however, its population steadily grew until it became one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the entire state. This is a quieter area, perhaps best-suited for older gay couples looking to settle down and lead a quiet family life. The median sale price of homes in the Cordova area over the last year was $245,000.
Germantown, Tennessee, not far from Memphis, is an ideal destination for the young LGBT community. Germantown's nightlife not only bustles with life and color from the city's many gay-friendly bars and dance clubs - it also is chiefly dominated by retail and commercial outlets, which means that Germantown is a supreme shopping destination. Germantown offers a very relaxed lifestyle in terms of fun and entertainment, and also offers an alternative job market, since it is a fairly urbanized, non-industrial area. The median list price of homes in the Germantown area over the last year was around $425,000.
Arts and Entertainment
Beale Street is truly one of the most iconic streets in America. Know as the street that is the home of the blues, it’s chock full of blues bars, restaurants, nightspots, and life. It’s truly the heart of Memphis, and strolling along its sidewalks is one experience you won’t want to miss.
Known as the LGBTQ film festival of the mid-south, Outflix has been presenting amazing LGBTQ films to the greater Memphis community for more than two decades. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a show – or several – for yourself.
Parks and Recreation
The Bluff City Sports Association is Memphis’s LGBTQ recreational sports organization. Its mission is to provide a friendly and safe space for the LGBTQ community to participate in sports. Offering softball, golf, kickball and other sports, the group accepts players of all skill levels, and it’s a great way to make new friends, get some exercise, and have some fun.
Home of the King of Rock n'Roll, Elvis Presley, Graceland is a can't-miss destination when in Memphis. Touring the home and the grounds is a unique experience that offers insight not only into the life of Elvis himself, but also into the history of rock and roll, and the important role that Memphis played in that history. It's a wonderful and iconic Memphis destination that you won't want to miss.
Memphis Nightlife
The Pumping Station is a great LGBTQ spot located in the heart of the Crosstown neighborhood. It’s known for its fun special events, its friendly crowds, and for giving back to the community with regular fundraisers too.
Located in Midtown, Dru’s Bar is a popular LGBTQ nightspot known for its friendly atmosphere, loud jukebox, good beers, and excellent karaoke. The bar also offers frequent events including drag shows, comedy shows, and other activities.
Contact a Memphis Gay Realtor Today
If you're ready to make a move to Memphis, at www.gayrealestate.com, we're here to help you take the first step toward finding an agent who knows and loves the community, and who can help you find a home and a neighborhood you'll love. We're proud to have a network of excellent realtors in Memphis, and we would love to help connect you with the right one. Contact a Memphis gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
