Mike Morgan has been a long-time supporter of the LGBTQ community. He started out in the early 90’s working the “Gay Switchboard” with his then partner John Sparks who passed away of a heart attack in April ’93 at the age of 36. The switchboard was a part of crisis counseling and was partly responsible for giving out information about “Gay Friendly” establishments and bars to those in the Memphis community and to guests visiting from out of town. After his partner John passed away, he started volunteering for The Triangle Journal, a gay publication, with Allen Cook and John Stilwell as the National News Editor. Mike then took a break and traveled out west in ’98 and lived in Denver, Colorado as well as Las Vegas, Nevada for about 10 years combined. Upon returning to Memphis in 2007, he hooked up with Allen again doing stuff for the publication and stumbled upon volunteering for Mid-South Pride thru Vincent Astor who utilized his newly acquired sewing skills to sew the 100 ft. rainbow banner in commemoration of Gary Wilkerson, founder of Mid-South Pride who had recently passed away. After that he joined the board of Mid-South Pride, becoming co-chair/president around the year 2009. At that time, the festival and parade was held at Peabody Park and the parade traveled down Cooper Ave. Mike had dreams, along with the few but strong board members at the time, to grow the festival and parade to more than what it was. In 2010, Mike Morgan’s dreams came true and with an ever growing Board and eager volunteers, the Festival and Parade was moved downtown to its current home at Robert Church Park with the Parade traveling down the Historic Beale St. Mike Morgan stayed on the board for a couple of years, despite personal health issues, and worked to help increase the festival and parade attendance along with solidifying Mid-South Pride’s brand for the future generation whom was willing and enthusiastic to take it over. Mike Morgan has continued to support Mid-South Pride throughout the years in any way that he can. He is loved by the community and the Mid-South Pride board, even so that the current board members of Mid-South Pride affectionately call him “Poppa Bear”.
Mike Morgan has been a long-time supporter of the LGBTQ community. He started out in the early 90’s working the “Gay Switchboard” with his then partner John Sparks who passed away of a heart attack in April ’93 at the age of 36. The switchboard was a part of crisis counseling and was partly responsible for giving out information about “Gay Friendly” establishments and bars to those in the Memphis community and to guests visiting from out of town. After his partner John passed away, he started volunteering for The Triangle Journal, a gay publication, with Allen Cook and John Stilwell as the National News Editor. Mike then took a break and traveled out west in ’98 and lived in Denver, Colorado as well as Las Vegas, Nevada for about 10 years combined. Upon returning to Memphis in 2007, he hooked up with Allen again doing stuff for the publication and stumbled upon volunteering for Mid-South Pride thru Vincent Astor who utilized his newly acquired sewing skills to sew the 100 ft. rainbow banner in commemoration of Gary Wilkerson, founder of Mid-South Pride who had recently passed away. After that he joined the board of Mid-South Pride, becoming co-chair/president around the year 2009. At that time, the festival and parade was held at Peabody Park and the parade traveled down Cooper Ave. Mike had dreams, along with the few but strong board members at the time, to grow the festival and parade to more than what it was. In 2010, Mike Morgan’s dreams came true and with an ever growing Board and eager volunteers, the Festival and Parade was moved downtown to its current home at Robert Church Park with the Parade traveling down the Historic Beale St. Mike Morgan stayed on the board for a couple of years, despite personal health issues, and worked to help increase the festival and parade attendance along with solidifying Mid-South Pride’s brand for the future generation whom was willing and enthusiastic to take it over. Mike Morgan has continued to support Mid-South Pride throughout the years in any way that he can. He is loved by the community and the Mid-South Pride board, even so that the current board members of Mid-South Pride affectionately call him “Poppa Bear”.