Ambush Magazine is pleased to announce Teryl-Lynn Foxx as the recipient of the 2022 Gay Appreciation Award for Lifetime Achievement.
As a trans woman of color, Foxx has been a pioneering trailblazer in the field of entertainment. Her legendary career as an entertainer began in 1980 when she gave her first performance at Rosemary Pino and Margie Normand’s lesbian bar, Club 621. Her talent was obvious, and Foxx fell in love with performing. She then began entering pageants and earning titles as well as other awards.
Foxx is a former Miss Gay Louisiana U.S. of A. (1992), a former Miss Liberty International, Miss Clikque International, Miss Gay Mississippi U.S. of A. (1994), Miss Tennessee Continental (1996), Gay Easter Parade Grand Marshal III (2001), King Cake Queen X (2003), Miss Essence Classic International (2014), and Miss Continental Elite (2016). Foxx also placed in the top five at Miss Black Universe. Fellow contestants describe her as “a natural.”
She also won multiple awards for “Entertainer of the Year” at the local Gay Appreciation Awards. In fact, former Ambush owner and producer of the GAAs, the late Rip Naquin, appointed Foxx to the GAA Board of Directors in order to give other entertainers a chance at winning the “Entertainer of the Year” award. Not only was Foxx a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the GAAs, she also, along with the late Lisa Beaumann, hosted the GAAs for many years.
In 1990, the late Tommy Elias hired Foxx to join “The Ladies of Oz.” Foxx was the first black performer in that long-running show.
Before she found success on the stage, Foxx had two unsuccessful career starts, first as a teacher and then as a nurse’s assistant. In 1981, she received a B.S. Degree in Speech Education and began working as a teacher but was fired because she was transitioning. Not deterred by this setback, Foxx returned to school to become a nurse’s assistant. Despite having graduated as valedictorian of her class, employment eluded her, again because of prejudice and discrimination regarding her gender identification. She then turned to sex work for income, a fact over which she says she has no shame or regret. It was through performing and living as a woman, however, that Foxx found, in her own words, her “authentic self.”
A native New Orleanian, Foxx is a member of The First Emanuel Baptist Church, where she serves in the music ministry. She is currently working on establishing her bridal consultant and event planning business.
Founded by the late Marcy Marcell and later sold to Ambush, the GAAs acknowledge and honor those in the LGBTQ+ community who are not often recognized for the outstanding services and efforts they provide.
The 2022 GAAs will be hosted by French Quarter personalities Jeffrey Palmquist and Frank Perez. The awards show takes place on Saturday, August 20, at Oz.
