03/31/17, Vol. 8 Issue 3

SAY “I DO” IN DEKALB

Your Celebration Begins Here DeKalb County offers everything you need to host the weddng you’ve always imagined.

You’ll find a wide array of wedding venues whether you’re thinking about an intimate chapel ceremony, rustic, nature-inspired nuptials or a lavish and elegant celebration of the century. Visit us at DiscoverDeKalb.com/lgbt

#DISCOVERDEKALB

GEORGIANEWS

Atlanta-area attorneys seek to fill gaps in same-sex family law Two cases pending in Georgia courts want non-biological parent to have access to parental rights

motion for contempt of the standing order.”

Because of the two emergency filings, Chris said the Cobb County judge granted each party equal visitation.

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com Two loving parents, plus a child, equals a family — no matter what the parents’ sexes are.

When two loving heterosexual parents separate, married or not, both parents are able to pursue custody. But for two loving same-sex parents, the non-biological parent does not have custodial rights protected under Georgia law.

Enter three attorneys who want to address that discrepancy: Denise VanLanduyt, Chris Hobson and Sarah Hobson.

“All these things are taking place prior to marriage equality,” VanLanduyt said. “Because there was no equity in the law, there was no ability for the non-biological parent to establish parental rights. The non-biological parent who has been held out to be a parent has no rights.”

Her client, Maribel Faubert-Rocha, said she’s not the only one going through this type of case and won’t be the last.

“We decided to create a family together and the laws should protect both the parents and the child,” she said. “Bottom line, for me, this is just a mother trying to get rights to her son.”

We are family?

“It’s a situation that we’re finding a lot of same-sex couples in,” VanLanduyt said.

“These two women met in 2008, a long seven years before that civil rights landmark decision comes down. No ability to marry, but they want to have a family.”

VanLanduyt’s client and her then-girlfriend went through in-vitro fertilization and had a son. Her client, Faubert-Rocha, is the non-biological mother.

“Their relationship deteriorated and they separated. As part of the separation, they entered into an agreement, a contract that we call a parenting agreement,” VanLanduyt said. “It’s the same agreement that divorcing moms or dads enter into.”

Then the biological mother chose to opt out of that contract, and refused to allow Faubert-Rocha to see their son. VanLanduyt filed

Atlanta-area attorneys VanLanduyt (pictured) and husband-and-wife team Chris and Sarah Hobson are fighting for their clients’ rights to custody, challenging ‘gaping holes’ in Georgia family law in the process. (Courtesy photo)

“Because there was no equity in the law, there was no ability for the non-biological parent to establish parental rights.

The non-biological parent who has been held out to be a parent has no rights.”

—Decatur attorney Denise VanLanduyt

an action for custody, and the judge dismissed it, saying there was no action they could take.

“I’m like, how is she supposed to do this then? If you’re raising this child and the child knows her as the mom, how do we get her recognized as the other legal parent?” VanLanduyt said.

VanLanduyt’s case is based on the 14th Amendment. In her interpretation, the government cannot come in and tell a parent how to raise a child without cause.

“The question is, can you, by contract, share your parental rights, which are constitutionally protected [for the biological parent], with a person of your choosing? And then when you do that, do you have to continue down that path?” VanLanduyt said.

The Hobsons’ client, Linda Hayden-Lanier, is in a similar situation. She and her partner separated, entered into a parenting schedule where both had time with their two children. Soon

after the agreement was reached, Hayden-Lanier’s partner notified her — as per their agreement — that in 50 days, she planned to move across the country with the children.

Chris said they immediately filed a second-parent adoption case, a different route than VanLanduyt took. He said the judge wanted the biological mother to determine whether or not she’d consent to the second-parent adoption. During that time, a standing order was issued, requiring the children to stay in Georgia while the adoption case was pending.

Hayden-Lanier’s partner decided against the second-parent adoption.

“Strategically, we dismissed the second-parent, and refilled a petition for custody to mirror the argument of [VanLanduyt’s] case. That case was pending and at that time hadn’t gone before the Supreme Court,” Chris said. “The mom filed an emergency motion for release of the standing order … We filed an emergency

An unknown timeline VanLanduyt’s case began in Bartow County, which referred it to the state Supreme Court. Oral arguments for that case were heard March 20.

“The issue, or the determination, before the Supreme Court is, can you do this? Can you come to the court and ask for parental rights to be recognized via a contract?” she said. “They’re just answering a legal question of whether or not you can actually do this. If they answer ‘yes, you can transfer part of your parental rights by agreement,’ then it has to go back to Bartow County for a hearing.”

At that hearing, the Bartow County court would determine whether or not there was “a clear and definitive and unambiguous intention” between the biological mother and Faubert-Rocha to create a family.

“My best guess is they could have until the end of this year, which the difficult part about that is that another 12 months goes by with no decision and the child goes another 12 months without any kind of consistency or surety in his life,” VanLanduyt said.

The Hobsons’ custody case is also in legal limbo, as their judge wants to wait and see how the Supreme Court handles things.

“The Supreme Court could dismiss [VanLanduyt’s] case and say they don’t have grounds, but they could give direction to the superior courts on how best to handle it; or they could say that my client does have rights because they signed a parenting agreement,” Chris said.

Ultimately, Hayden-Lanier — and Faubert-Rocha — want to be recognized as their children’s mothers, Sarah said.

“We’re trying to explore avenues at which the law would provide visitation and custody rights to the non-biological, same-sex parent,” she said.

For other parents who find themselves in similar situations, Faubert-Rocha advises getting as much legal information as possible.

“I didn’t think that it would lead to this and I don’t think any parent goes into a relationship and making it out, thinking this is going to happen,” she said.

4 News March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

GEORGIANEWS

GOP senators make pitches for anti-LGBT language, ‘religious freedom’ bills Medical marijuana legislation expected to pass, fate of adoption bill unclear

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com Things got heated during the last two weeks of the Georgia legislative session as some legislators made last-ditch efforts to push through discriminatory language and bills.

Brunswick Republican Sen. William Ligon’s amendment to House Bill 159, a complete overhaul and revamp of Georgia’s adoption policy, was seen by many as anti-LGBT as it would allow adoption agencies — even those that operate through taxpayer funds — to pick and choose parents based on their “mission.” Ligon addressed the Senate on a point of personal privilege on March 28, the second-to-last day of session, urging

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them to take into account what he meant by this amendment.

“The amendment does not exclude anyone from adoption,” he said, citing a Supreme Court decision that said “religious organizations and persons have every right to expect First Amendment protections as they continue to seek the family structure that they have long revered.”

He said he looks forward to working through this issue in the coming year. As of press time, it was unclear whether HB 159 would make it through the Senate without Ligon’s amendment — as suggested by its original author, Rep. Bert Reeves (R-Marietta) — or tabled entirely until next year.

Ligon is also a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 233, a so-called “religious freedom” bill that aimed to reference federal religious freedom accommodations in state law. Sen. Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) took to the well on March 28 to make a final push on its be-

half, and his multi-year mission to pass this type of legislation in Georgia. SB 233 did not make it out of committee this year, following opposition from faith leaders, civil rights activists and Gov. Nathan Deal, who also spoke out against Ligon’s amendments to HB 159.

On the House side, Senate Bill 16 passed and is headed back to the Senate, where it is expected to be passed and signed by Deal.

SB 16 is a compromise bill related to the Georgia Low THC Cannabis Oil Registry, which adds AIDS patients to a list of those eligible to use that form of medical marijuana to ease their symptoms.

Several other LGBT-related bills, including both the House and Senate bills calling for comprehensive civil rights, sparked discussion this year, but did not make it out of committee. They could be re-introduced in 2018, as Georgia’s legislative terms span two years.

Georgia Senators William Ligon (pictured) and Josh McKoon both took to the well on March 28 to make final pleas for discriminatory legislation. (File photo)

March 31, 2017 News 5

GEORGIANEWS

Iconic Atlanta gay bar celebrates milestone 30th anniversary Details

Atlanta Eagle owner, patrons weigh in on bar’s impact, Atlanta Leather Pride

Eagle Anniversary, Atlanta Leather Pride Events

By ROBBIE MEDWED Atlanta’s most famous gay bar has seen it all, and this month, the Atlanta Eagle is reaching a new milestone: 30 years serving the city’s LGBT community – or, more specifically the leather and and fetish community.

The dark, stucco building at 306 Ponce de Leon Avenue first housed Renegade’s, a gay country bar opened by the Eagle’s first owner, Jay Evans, that lasted less than six months. Evans previously owned the Texas Drilling Company (where Highland Tap is now). When Renegade’s failed, he decided to paint everything black and re-open as the Eagle – though according to Robby Kelley, who purchased the bar with his partner (and current owner) Richard Ramey after Jay died of AIDS soon after opening, Jay often joked that if the Eagle failed, he’d “find a poodle, dye it pink, put it up on a pole and call it ‘The Pink Poodle on Ponce.’”

Ramey and Kelley found their way to the Eagle when they were officers in the Southern Bears Club. The Eagle has long been a home to sports teams, interest clubs and other LGBT community organizations. The manager running the bar after Jay’s death floated the idea of ending the club nights, which would have effectively severed the relationship with the many community organizations that called the Eagle home. Ramey refused to allow that to happen, and together with Kelley, purchased the bar – and fired the manager.

‘We embrace everyone’ As much as the bar may have changed since then – a fresh coat of paint, a redesign of the outdoor signage to add the bar’s name – the essence has remained the same, Ramey said.

“People are still looking for a place to be themselves,” he told Georgia Voice. “We embrace everyone. If you’re a drag queen, or a leather man, or you have a specific fetish, there’s a place for you at the Eagle.”

Michael Baker, an Athens resident and

The Atlanta Eagle will celebrate its 30th anniversary on the same weekend of Atlanta Leather Pride, April 7 – 9. (Photo by Robbie Medwed)

longtime Eagle patron, first fell in love with the bar in 1999 when he lived in Atlanta.

“My weekends would start at Hoedown’s, and then I would end my nights on the dance floor at the Eagle. I used to play on both of the Eagle softball teams,” he said.

Baker also echoed Kelley and Ramey’s favorite points of pride: “I have always found it one of the most welcoming bars in the city, and walking in after a few weeks without a visit feels like coming home.”

2009 raid, a look into future Thirty years in business is almost unheard of for a gay bar in Atlanta, and in some ways the Eagle has seen enough ups and downs for twice that time period. Its most famous moment came in 2009 when the Atlanta Police Department’s Red Dog Unit raided the bar, acting on a tip that there was nudity, sexual activities and drug use on the premises.

“They threw us to the ground, searched everyone and everything in the bar, kicked us and stepped on us, and called us names like it was the 1950s,” Kelley remembered.

The Eagle, with the help of lawyer Dan Grossman, successfully sued the city of Atlanta

and the police department, proving the charges against the bar and its patrons were false. Ramey is proud of the results of the lawsuit, noting that “the Red Dog Unit was disbanded, which was good for the entire city. This was a unit that was going after young African-Americans in other parts of the city and at other bars, too. I’m glad we helped to end that.” The APD still uses The Eagle raid in its training activities – as an example of what not to do.

Soon after the court case resolved, Kelley sold his ownership stake to Ramey and moved to Texas. The two enjoyed an 18-year business relationship and a 13-year romantic relationship and still speak fondly of each other.

Ramey spoke confidently about the bar’s future. He has plans to bring the bar a bit more up-to-date and freshen some things up, but the core of what the Eagle is will always remain the same, even as a new landlord brought questions of redevelopment.

“The new landord, Dr. Shahzad Hashmi, refused to purchase the buildings without guaranteeing we’d stick around,” Ramey said. “He’s completely supportive of us and wants us to remain successful. We’re not going anywhere.”

The Atlanta Eagle’s 30th Anniversary Party coincides with the Atlanta Leather Pride celebrations and its centerpiece events, the Mr. and Ms. Atlanta Eagle and Mr. Southeast Rubber 2017 contests at the Eagle. Those reaching for a title will need to score well not just on leather/rubber attire, but audience appeal, general confidence and personality.

Attendees to the full weekend of Atlanta Leather Pride events can expect parties featuring DJ Neon the GlowgoBear, bootblacking, BDSM demos, BBQ lunches, a wrap-up brunch at Roxx Tavern and, of course, lots of leather and kink.

Proceeds from Atlanta Leather Pride are donated to a charity each year, and 2017’s beneficiary is the Sharon St. Cyr Fund, which provides grants to organizations for American Sign Language-interpreting services for the deaf and hard of hearing and provides hearing aids to those who are hearing impaired.

Atlanta Eagle 30th Anniversary Weekend Kickoff Party Friday April 7, 2017 10 p.m. – 3 a.m.

Atlanta Eagle www.facebook.com/ events/769468693208113 Atlanta Eagle 30th Anniversary Celebration feat. Mr. & Ms. Atlanta Eagle Contest and Mr. Southeast Rubber Contest Saturday, April 8, 2017 7 p.m. – 3 a.m.

Atlanta Eagle www.facebook.com/ events/1849664321942351

6 News March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

NEWSBRIEFS Woman admits to causing death of drag queen Lateasha Shuntel The woman accused in the death of beloved Atlanta drag performer Lateasha Shuntel pleaded guilty to eight felony counts on March 14, and admitted her actions led to Shuntel’s death in November 2015.

Deanna Roberts, a Florida resident who lied to her victims about being a licensed medical professional, illegally transported liquid silicone to Atlanta and injected it into the bodies of at least four victims. She was taken into custody in May 2016.

Between April 2004 and December 2015, Roberts purchased at least 178 gallons of liquid silicone, a substance that is regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, and “may be legally injected directly into the human body only as a treatment for certain eye conditions,” according to a statement from the US Department of Justice. In order to purchase the liquid silicone, Roberts submitted an affidavit to the company that falsely represented her intentions, saying she did not intend to inject the silicone into humans.

On Nov. 16, 2015, Roberts injected Shuntel with liquid silicone. The next day, Shuntel complained of tightness in her chest and shortness of breath, “symptoms that are consistent with the presence of liquid silicone in her lungs.” That day, she publicly Roberts in a Facebook post.

She died a day later, and an autopsy confirmed her death was caused by “silicone polymer embolization.”

Her lungs, liver, kidney, heart, Lateasha Shuntel brain and spleen all contained the substance. The medical examiner believes that in one of her 10 injection sites a blood vessel was punctured, which carried the silicone throughout Shuntel’s bloodstream to her lungs and other organs.

Robert’s other three victims, who were not named in the statement, did not die from their injections. However, she was still charged in those cases with felonies for possessing, transporting and illegally injecting the liquid silicone, as well as additional felony charges for the illegal interstate commerce. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Rafer Johnson, the openly gay mayoral candidate for South Fulton, did not garner enough votes to make the runoff on April 18. (File photo)

Openly gay candidate loses South Fulton mayoral election It was a hard-fought battle for Rafer Johnson, the openly gay mayoral candidate for the new city of South Fulton. Johnson came in third, and in a live Facebook video, thanked his supporters, his husband and volunteers for their work to get him to that point.

Candidates Bill Edwards, a former Fulton County commissioner, held a strong lead, but did not cross the 50 percent threshold.

He and Benny Crane will be on the runoff ballot April 18, along with all of the city’s City Council races. Early voting for the runoffs begins on April 10, with polling locations in Roswell, College Park and Atlanta.

“Regardless of the outcome, we built many friendships and raised the bar for elections in our city. This is only the beginning — together we will raise a city we can be proud of,” Johnson said in a statement on his Facebook page. “I thank all of the candidates, it is nothing easy to throw your name on the line. [A] bigger thanks goes to the families that supported the candidates and the volunteers who made magic happen.”

He reminded voters to choose the right leadership for South Fulton, and though he did not endorse either Crane or Edwards, he did endorse City Council candidate Carmalitha Gumbs for district two.

Republican introduces pro-gay bill State Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) in-

troduced legislation that would prohibit discrimination against public employees based on their sexual orientations and ban discrimination in public accommodations.

Golick told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he hopes to take up the measure during next year’s legislative session, making it the third such State Rep. Rich Golick civil rights bill to land on the General Assembly’s feet for 2018. This bill does not address gender discrimination, as do its predecessors, Senate Bill 119 and the House companion bill 488.

If Golick’s bill passes, it would expand protections under the Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978 and would create a new provision that “bans state officials from discriminating against gays and lesbians because of their sexual orientation.”

“Corporate America has led on this particular issue for a while, and the state of Georgia would do well to follow that example,” Golick said.

Golick also introduced a separate bill that would prohibit hotels, restaurants and other service venues from discriminating against customers based on their race, religion, color or national origin.

March 31, 2017 News 7

Outspoken PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365

EDITORIAL

Editor: Patrick Saunders psaunders@thegavoice.com Deputy Editor: Dallas Anne Duncan dduncan@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Ashleigh Atwell, Cliff Bostock, Melissa Carter, Jim Farmer, Shannon Hames, Ryan Lee, Robbie Medwed, Matt Schafer, Dionne N. Walker, Simon Williamson

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Art Director: Rob Boeger rboeger@thegavoice.com

BUSINESS

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SALES

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FINE PRINT

All material in Georgia Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Georgia Voice. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied.

The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons.

We also do not accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by Georgia Voice, but we do not take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. Guidelines for freelance contributors are available upon request.

A single copy of Georgia Voice is available from authorized distribution points. Multiple copies are available from Georgia Voice office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to reach a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 26-issue mailed subscription for $60 per year. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Tim Boyd, tboyd@thegavoice.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Georgia Voice, PO Box 77401, Atlanta, GA 30357. Georgia Voice is published every other Friday by The Georgia Voice, LLC. Individual subscriptions are $60 per year for 26 issues. Postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices.

The editorial positions of Georgia Voice are expressed in editorials and in editor’s notes. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Georgia Voice and its staff.

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8 Outspoken March 31, 2017

Strange bedfellows and good jeans

BY PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com

“To my surprise, this would be one day the AFA and I were on the same page, because the topic was the American Health Care Act and the various hosts and callers were all strongly against it. I was against it for different reasons of course, but it was an eerie feeling nonetheless.”

One of the things I like to do any time I’m making a road trip in the South is to scroll through the radio dial to see what local stations I pick up. I like finding out what kind of music is popular in certain areas, and if I’m in a rural area, that usually means about as many country stations as I would expect (a lot) and more hip-hop and R&B stations than I would expect.

But more interesting to me is picking up broadcasts of random religious right stations that I wouldn’t typically get in Atlanta.

Such was the case last weekend on my way down to Orlando for the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association’s (NLGJA) 2017 LGBT Media Journalists Convening when I picked up American Family Radio, the official radio station (that I did not know existed) of the American Family Association, the longtime anti-LGBT hate group.

To my surprise, this would be one day the AFA and I were on the same page, because the topic was the American Health Care Act and the various hosts and callers were all strongly against it. I was against it for different reasons of course, but it was an eerie feeling nonetheless.

But there was still enough bigoted venom being thrown in there in one form or another, so after an hour or so of that, I flipped through the dial and was cleansed by the soothing sound of Audie Cornish’s voice on NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

President Trump and the Republicans

would bail on the healthcare bill the following day of course, something I found out about during one of the many worthwhile panel discussions at the NLGJA event.

On a lunch break during Saturday’s session, I ended up sitting next to Matt Foreman, senior program director of the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund – the primary funders behind the event. Foreman is in charge of the Fund’s support for LGBT rights, one of three causes the Fund supports along with immigration rights and education equity.

I was curious what drove the Haas family to support LGBT rights. Was a son or other family member gay? It turns out that wasn’t the reason. Walter Haas, who died in 1995, was best known as president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., which is based in San Francisco. Haas and his family had a front row seat to the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS starting in the 1980s and they were moved to take action in support of the LGBT community in response.

And that support continues to this day with events like the Journalists Convening.

I have numerous takeaways from the event, most of which would bore you to tears because they’re about the journalism process, but hopefully you’ll notice some new things in our coverage coming up soon that are directly a result of the Journalists Convening.

Meanwhile, we’ve got a 20-page pull-out section for our annual Wedding Issue for you. Take in the tips and trends and enjoy!

FEEDBACK Re: “Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee adds anti-LGBT provision to adoption bill,” March 16 “This is just another negative we will have to make it through since we now have a president who cares for no one but himself and wants the whole to suffer under his dictatorship. We will all make it through this and will resist. God will carry all his people through and we will prevail. God always prevails.”

-Denise Neill via Facebook “There’s been plenty of ‘traditional man and woman’ families that have been horror stories. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with parenting skills. People are so blind ...”

-Barbara Long via Facebook “This is terrible. How dare you.”

-Steven McFee via Facebook Re: “Catching Up with Ramon Johnson, president of Morehouse Safe Space,” March 16 “I can remember living in Atlanta back in the 1990s when Morehouse was notoriously anti-gay … My, my … how times have changed.”

-Anthony Vicari via Facebook Re: “Anti-LGBT adoption bill sent back to committee for being too ‘extreme,’” March 21 “Deal sees the millions the state will lose! Nothing to do with his ethics!”

-Kim Sisson via Facebook Re: “Georgia GOP senators make lastditch pitches for anti-LGBT adoption language, ‘religious freedom’ bills,” March 28 “Apparently, they’ve missed what is going on in North Carolina … not to mention the NCAA bypass that will cost the state for the next SIX YEARS.” -Patt Copeland-Griggs via Facebook Want to be featured in Feedback? Leave a comment to a story via social media or on our website, or email editor@thegavoice.com with the subject line “Feedback.” www.thegeorgiavoice.com

IN THE MARGINS

By Ashleigh Atwell

We should all be intersectional feminists Ashleigh Atwell is a queer lesbian writer and organizer born and raised in Atlanta, GA.

Since my last piece, at least three more transgender women have been killed.

I wrote about how allies need to do better to ensure the safety of our transgender siblings. My article was one of hundreds that have been written about this topic, but some people don’t seem to get it. Despite having Google at our fingertips, people choose to be willfully ignorant.

One of those people, sadly, is writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. In early March, she gave an interview during which she said, “I think if you’ve lived in the world as a man with the privileges that the world accords to men and then sort of change gender, it’s

difficult for me to accept that then we can equate your experience with the experience of a woman who has lived from the beginning as a woman and who has not been accorded those privileges that men are.”

The backlash was swift. She went on to publish a lengthy Facebook post and refused to apologize because she felt like she didn’t do anything wrong.

“What’s interesting to me is this is in many ways about language and I think it also illustrates the less pleasant aspects of the American left, that there sometimes is a kind of language orthodoxy that you’re supposed to participate in,” she wrote. “And when you don’t, there’s a

“Weapons are only a small part of what is killing trans women. Ignorance and hatred chooses the direction of those items.” kind of backlash that gets very personal and very hostile and very closed to debate.”

That statement sounded close to GOP logic, but nonetheless, it was disappointing.

Like many, I wasn’t introduced to her until I heard a snippet of her speech on Beyonce’s “***Flawless.” Although I am a card-carrying member of the Beyhive, I was interested to know more about the voice behind those words. I’ve been casually following her career ever since. It was nice to see a black woman, especially an African one, get credit for her work and her assistance in bringing other sisters into feminism, even at a basic level.

That said, a huge part of feminism is a willingness to grow and learn. I’ve messed up plenty of times to get where I am now. I’ve been problematic and still am, but I am willing to own up to my mistakes, even if I don’t understand them at the time. Adichie’s refusal to apologize displays an unwillingness to learn that leaves a horrible taste in my mouth. Weapons are only a small part of what is killing trans women. Ignorance and hatred chooses the direction of those items. I don’t think Adichie is disposable, as the kids would say, but sista girl has a long way to go. She once said that we should all be feminists. She was-half right. We should all be intersectional feminists.

On April 18th, vote Jon Ossoff for Congress.

Washington should be accountable to you.

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Paid for by Jon Ossoff for Congress

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March 31, 2017 Outspoken 9

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Your Wedding Day

Money matters to address before tying the knot

By MERCEDES M. RICHALETTI, MBA, EA HLM Financial Group Finances are one of the main stressors of relationships, so it is wise to enter your union with a full picture of each other’s financial situation.

If you are unfamiliar with your sweetheart’s credit profile, you may want to go over this with each other. If there are outstanding collections or credit issues prior to marriage, they can affect the two of you negatively in the future. If you have a joint bank account and wages or assets get garnished for outstanding taxes or debts, then the issue becomes a joint issue. If you want to buy a home together, but one of you has a low credit score, your interest rate would be based on the lower of the two

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scores and could affect your total interest paid over the life of the loan.

Sit down with your partner and lay all the financial cards on the table, from monthly spending to future goals. Talk to each other about your money management styles and really understand the way each of you thinks about money. So often, we are afraid to bring up touchy subjects and we even avoid them altogether, which can spell disaster for a new marriage. Set a budget together, set some short-term financial goals and some longterm financial goals.

Use whatever tools necessary to give you both a clear view of the present financial situation and the future will be much easier to prepare for. Don’t be afraid to open up the discussion. It may be hard to broach, but

you will be so much happier going into the commitment with a clear view of finances and what they mean to each of you.

One of the main questions our firm is asked is whether or not a couple should file a married filing jointly tax return or a married filing separately tax return. Keep in mind that once you file a joint tax return, you are both equally and solely responsible for the tax due on the return, even if it was generated by one spouse and not the other.

One of the other things to consider is that now that you are married, filing a joint tax return may push you into a higher tax bracket.

It may also eliminate some of the adjustments and/or deductions for things like student loan interest, child tax credits, health care credits, rental losses, etc. If you are both high-earning, then you may now be subject to alternative minimum tax and your exemptions may be limited. Many think being married will save tax, but this is often not the case.

March 31, 2017 Your Wedding Day 13

Your Wedding Day

Van & Stacie June 25, 2016

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com

V

an Le and Stacie Gawrysiak’s paths led them to a spectacular scene last year exchanging vows cliffside in Big Sur, California, but where that path began was quite common for numerous Atlanta lesbian couples over the years – they met through mutual friends at My Sister’s Room.

They had their first date soon after meeting in fall 2004, but it took a few months to get on the same page with the terminology.

“She wouldn’t even call me her girlfriend for like six months. She would say ‘my GF.’ She would never say the word ‘girlfriend,’” Le told Georgia Voice, laughing.

Flash forward to summer 2014, with the relationship having long been established.

Gawrysiak surprised Le with a trip down to Brunswick, Georgia and a stay at the treehouse community The Hostel in the Forest.

Gawrysiak had more surprises in store, like when she asked Le if she wanted to go skinny dipping in the lake – Le later said she should have known something was up by that point.

“Under the stars and the moon and on a floating dock, she asked me to marry her,” Le said. “And I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ probably like 10 times before I said yes. I was in shock. It was so magical. There was a full moon, no cell service, no distractions ... no clothes.”

Gawrysiak’s plan was in motion for a couple of months by that point, but she knew she had a promise to keep to Le before proposing.

“I had to ask her dad before I asked her.

Dude, that was tough,” Gawrysiak said laughing.

Big Sur was an easy choice as a wedding location for the couple, continuing their mutual love of the outdoors.

“It’s basically where the forest meets the beach. The venue just spoke to us because it had those elements that we were really looking for, which were something quiet and intimate but also just beautiful, magical grandeur,” Le said.

Vendors Photographer

Bogdan Condor Photography

Hair and Makeup

Kathy Tepedino, Cut Atlanta

Attire

Van’s Dress: David Tutera Stacie’s Outfit: Ellen DeGeneres

Cake

Jamie Jarrard, Sea Stars Catering

Venue

The Wind and Sea Estate Big Sur, California

As for pre-ceremony preparations, Le and her bridesmaids were busy with hair and makeup while Gawrysiak and her bridesmaids and groomsman were ... not.

“There is a big difference between the ‘groom’ side and the ‘bride’ side,” Le said.

“The groom side gets ready in like one hour and they start drinking immediately.”

Everybody was ready and the ceremony was set to begin when, 30 seconds before Le was to walk down the aisle, her matron of honor (and oldest sister) stepped on her train and the entire thing ripped off. However, that sister was also a surgeon, and she immediately put her skills to use.

“She ran inside and got her emergency sewing kit and sutured my train back on,” Le said, but the haste had a price that the couple can’t stop laughing about while recalling it nearly a year later. “Because she was doing it so fast, she stuck me in the ass. Everybody heard me screaming, even Stacie on the other side.”

That would be the only hiccup of what the couple described as a fun, emotional day.

And just like Gawrysiak had surprises that day in Brunswick the previous year, Le had one as well. After Le and her father finished the father-daughter dance, they did the whip nae nae and the stanky leg together.

“Imagine an old Asian guy in a tuxedo, he

Van Le and Stacie Gawrysiak married last June at a specactular cliffside spot in Big Sur, California. (Photos by Bogdan Condor Photography)

maybe weighs like 80 pounds, and he’s doing the whip nae nae with me,” Le said.

After that, it was Le’s sisters’ turn to surprise as they did a choreographed dance to Jessie J’s “Price Tag,” from the famous final performance in the movie “Pitch Perfect.”

Like many couples who have experienced

a wedding day together, they say it went by in a blur because so much was happening. But they were able to soak it in the following day.

“The day after was almost as good as the wedding day because you’re way more relaxed,” Le said.

“You feel free!,” Gawrysiak chimed in.

14 Your Wedding Day March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Your Wedding Day

With this ring, I thee wed Atlanta jewelers weigh in on wedding, engagement rings for 2017

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com There’s a lot of tradition associated with marriage: the proposal, the exchanging of vows and rings. But for LGBT couples with same-sex spouses, the tradition is, well — there isn’t one.

Which means there’s lots of room to be creative, especially in the ring department.

“Tradition says a guy asks a girl and gives her a ring. Well, what do we do? Usually you have someone that does the asking, and whether it’s a boy or a girl, they usually ask with a piece of jewelry,” said Jonathan Shapero, owner of Jonathan Buckhead in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.

Regardless of gender, coordinating seems to be the game these days, as partners choose not to wear exact matches of each other’s wedding band or engagement ring.

“Today we’re seeing a lot of partners getting a lot of diamond-centered or colored stone-centered with a beautiful mounting made,” said Harris Botnick, owner of Worthmore Jewelers in the Ansley area of Atlanta. “Usually the bands for the wedding are made to go with the rings and each wearer’s is individual.”

Heavy metal and ‘man-gagement’ rings Shapero coined the term “man-gagement” ring because when it comes to tradition with men, there’s no such thing as an engagement ring followed by a wedding ring.

Botnick said most men still want the romance of proposing: opening the box and popping the question. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

“You can buy bands anywhere from under $100 on up. Guys will start with bands like that if they’re going to have a ceremony and then they’ll come back and get something with or without precious stones,” he said.

The contemporary metals are things like titanium, cobalt, tungsten carbide and tantalum, which have unusual textures, patterns and colors that make striking statements.

Botnick also carries one-of-a-kind rings made using a Japanese technique called mokume gane. Those allow spouses to get mirror images of each other’s rings.

“Yellow gold is starting to have a comeback,” Botnick said. “In other parts of the US and the world especially, yellow’s been strong. Atlanta is usually five years behind Miami, New York.”

White gold and platinum still dominate for wedding and engagement rings, and rosegold is popular for women’s rings. Mixing metals, where a ring is made of twisted bands in different colors of gold, is also fashionable.

Shapero said for women who want an edgier band, there are alternatives to the traditional solitary diamond and smaller band and the more masculine, thick bands.

“I did a beautiful wedding set, for instance, for an attorney and her girlfriend.

The girlfriend wanted a diamond engagement ring and a diamond wedding band, and the attorney wanted a wide platinum, substantial band with some diamonds,” he said. “It’s a beautiful ring and it’s still a feminine ring, but it doesn’t evoke the same message as an engagement ring and a wedding band. It’s stronger, bolder. So there are designs for girls that fit into a whole different category if they choose.”

One-of-a-kind rings for one-of-a-kind love Botnick said the main trend in 2017 is a lot of customization and personalization of rings.

(Top, from left) Contemporary metals offer wedding and ‘man-gagement’ rings in unusual patterns and textures. The peachy-pink morganite stone is popular for women’s engagement rings. Makume gane, a Japanese technique, creates one-of-a-kind bands that come with or without added stones. (Bottom) Classic architecture with modern,customized flair are the 2017 jewelry trends, as are stone-studded bands for men and edgier brides. (Photos by Dallas Anne Duncan)

“I think that it surprises people truly how inexpensive custom is. They think, ‘I’m customizing something totally from scratch; I’m going to do something totally out of my range,’” Botnick said. “We love custom too because that gives us a chance to really get to know the customer and make something totally unique to them.”

He said customizing rings can range from a complete build to altering an existing ring that gets a bride or groom what they want for closer to their budget. Shapero echoed his statements, saying that semi-custom and classic styles are the way to go.

“For girls, classic and traditional simply means an engagement ring with a single solitaire stone and possibly side diamonds or possibly a diamond halo around the center stone, and then a matching wedding band,” he said.

Because the wedding jewelry will be worn daily, Shapero also advises couples not to do something “far-out,” but said it’s possible to add modern flair to classic architecture. In

additional to the contemporary metals popular today, colored stones are another way to personalize rings. Black, blue and yellow diamonds are trending, and for a brighter pop of color, Shapero recommends sapphires that come in every shade of the rainbow. Rubies, also a variety of sapphire, are an option as well. He said the semi-precious stones may get damaged more easily, but jewelers will have those available too.

“We do a lot of ladies’ pieces with morganite, which is a really pretty peachy-colored stone that was originally called pink emerald,” Botnick said, adding it got its moniker from its most famous collector, J.P. Morgan.

No matter what a couple wants in their jewelry, Botnick said it’s important to note the lingo has changed since 2015.

“We don’t have to say these are ‘commitment bands’ anymore. These are wedding bands,” Botnick said. “We’re signifying our love for each other. We’re making a commitment, as any couple would.”

March 31, 2017 Your Wedding Day 15

Your Wedding Day

Be runway-ready on your wedding day This year’s top fashion for brides, The more you know Kleinfeld’s top three tips to picking the grooms and attendants perfect attire

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com Saying yes to your future spouse is a pretty easy decision. Saying yes to the perfect dress or suit to wear for the occasion, however, is less so. Georgia Voice sat down with both an up-and-coming wedding designer and a bridal couture expert to preview what’s hot for the upcoming wedding season.

The elegant bride

“Dresses that aren’t white are super-in this year on runway,” said Josiah Loyarr, co-founder and executive designer of Atlanta and Nashville-based Ninth & Everett: A Design Firm. “People are getting married in navy dresses … or also ombre dresses that start white at the top and fade into gray or fade into blue.”

Unusual elements like feathers and colored lace are also gracing dresses, as are design elements like low-cut fronts, deep sheer panels and low backs. Mara Urshel, co-owner of Kleinfeld Bridal in New York, said capes, detachable trains, sleeves and bling are also must-haves for brides.

Urshel said for lesbian couples, both brides will work with consultants to ensure their dresses are complimentary, but reflect the wearer’s personality.

The edgy bride

“Pantsuits are a really big trendy thing regardless of sexual orientation,” Loyarr said.

“Fortunately, because gay marriage has been legalized for two years now, I feel like several wedding dress designers that are higher-end are catching on to the potential that there’s a market for women who are getting married to other women.”

These suits are not so much a blazer

1. Make sure you have enough time to shop. Many brides don’t realize that it takes six to nine months to order a designer dress. Sometimes four to six months is OK, but you will be limiting your selection based on what’s available.

2. Know your budget and be honest. Many couples forget they have to pay for alterations, headpieces, etc.

Accessories can add up quickly.

3. Keep an open mind. Listen to your consultant and try on what she suggests.

Some dresses do not look as good on the hanger as they do on the body. and tie like a men’s suit, but rather a trendy trouser with a vest — elements of menswear, but not 100 percent menswear, Loyarr said. For something more along the lines of a traditional men’s suit, he recommends edgy brides look into companies such as Alton Lane, which custom-create a suit to the bride’s body type and style, instead of purchasing a men’s suit and tailoring it.

Urshel said designers including Lakum, Christian Siriano and Roland Mouret also designed both two-piece pantsuits and jumpsuits for brides-to-be.

The grooms and groomsmen

Custom suits are also a hot commodity for grooms. Coordination is in — matching blazers, but perhaps one groom has a tie and cummerbund and his husband a bow tie and suspenders — and complete matching is out. Loyarr said another trend for men is colored and patterned socks, giving outfits a

Colored lace, sheer panels, sleeves and pantsuits are hot trends for 2017 for brides.

For grooms, coordinating — but not matching! — attire and accessories is fashionable.

(Photos courtesy Pnina Tornai for Kleinfeld; Olia Zavozina; Tony Ward for Kleinfeld; Kelly Faetanini; and Ashley Lane Photography)

hint of personality.

Vests are in for groomsmen, as are matching elements that coordinate with those of the grooms they’re standing with. For example, only the grooms may be wearing boutonnières, or the grooms may have ties of one color and groomsmen another color in the wedding palette.

The bridesmaids

“It’s definitely in this year for bridesmaids to get to choose their dress, when

they’re given a color,” Loyarr said. “That way girls with different body types can wear the same color, but they don’t have to be matching, exactly.”

For trendy wedding parties, Pantone’s color of the year, “greenery,” is expected to be popular in both fashion and décor. Loyarr said that if a couple wanted a green-heavy wedding, bridesmaids could wear coordinating colors like cream or gold, and accessorize with mixed metals.

18 Your Wedding Day March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Your Wedding Day

Price & Carlos

T

Oct. 22, 2016

here’s a Josh Groban song that begins with the lyrics, “When you say you love me, the world goes still, so still inside … for a moment, there’s no one else alive.”

For newlyweds Price and Carlos Correa, it wasn’t the “I love you” that first enveloped the two in a moment where no one but each other was there. Rather, it was when Carlos sang a Josh Groban song to his future husband, mere hours after they met.

“I just got goosebumps,” Price said. “That was when I knew I couldn’t imagine my life without him, and it was weird because I’d only known him for like, three days. I had this glimmer of this life.”

The two met at a party in Dallas, Texas, and first ran into each other outside of their hotels. While driving to lunch later with mutual friends, Price remembers glancing back at Carlos in the mirror.

“It’s funny because I remember thinking he was really handsome. He kind of like, winked at me. I asked, ‘Are you flirting with me?’” Price said.

The memorable Josh Groban song followed. That was in 2010, and the two were finally married in October 2016.

For nearly a year, the Correas managed a long-distance relationship. Carlos worked for Delta at the time in Atlanta, and would fly back and forth to Arkansas to visit Price.

“I did tell Price that I wasn’t going to get married until it was recognized in the state [of Georgia]. Why get married and then it’s not recognized at home?” Carlos said.

The day same-sex marriage became legal, they set their wedding date.

“We had already picked out our invitations and everything. The moment we knew, we ordered everything,” Price said. “I honestly didn’t think I’d see it in my lifetime.”

He said he had boxes color-coded of what was going where and to which table, but still had nightmares they’d run out of food or alcohol.

“I was so mortified that we’d get there and we wouldn’t have anything in time,” Price said.

There wasn’t anything to worry about: Carlos’ Puerto Rican family took it upon www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Vendors Photographer

Jack & Jenna Photography

Hair

Themselves

Makeup None

Attire

Themselves

Cake

Cakes by Anna

Jewelers

Larson Jewelers

Venue

Delta Flight Museum

themselves to make the whole thing go off without a hitch, leaving the grooms stressfree on the day of their wedding.

“From the moment we got engaged, we started calling each other ‘husband’ just because we never though it would be legal.

It was so funny… we didn’t have our rings [to exchange], we were still wearing them,” Price said. “We were holding each other’s hands, slipping the rings off and putting them right back on.”

Carlos called Price the calm to his storm — one really organized and a planner, one chronically late — and said one of his favorite memories of them together was getting Price to understand his job as a flight attendant.

“He didn’t understand what I did. I took him on his first trip internationally. He’s never been outside of the US,” Carlos said.

“That was just exciting and such a great experience — business cabin and all of that.

We went to Manchester, UK, and it was just so awesome.”

The two recently celebrated their “honeymoon” with a return trip to that destination.

On a normal date night, the Correas love eating out and visiting the Atlanta Eagle and other bars around town.

After years of calling each other ‘husband,’ Carlos and Price Correa were finally able to make their titles legal. The two flight attendants were appropriately married at the Delta Flight Museum last October. (Photos by Jack & Jenna Photography)

They’ve been through a lot in their nearly seven years together, and the two relish being each other’s rock no matter the trials.

“He taught me how to be more patient and understanding, because I was so high-

strung when we met,” Price said. “We built a house together, we’re getting ready to adopt, we have wonderful jobs. It’s been phenomenal. It’s been a wonderful ride so far.”

—Dallas Anne Duncan

March 31, 2017 Your Wedding Day 19

What is TRUVADA for PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)?

TRUVADA is a prescription medicine that can be used for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection when used together with safer sex practices. This use is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This includes HIV-negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex, and male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV-1.

Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA for PrEP? Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: u You must be HIV-negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. u Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.

While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: u You must continue using safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. u You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. u To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: • Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners.

• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior.

• Have fewer sex partners.

• Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. u If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1.

If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: u Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, cold or blue hands and feet, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or fast or abnormal heartbeats. u Serious liver problems. Your liver may become large and tender, and you may develop fat in your liver. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain. u You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time. In some cases, these serious conditions have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions.

u Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you also have HBV and take TRUVADA, your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider. If your healthcare provider tells you to stop taking TRUVADA, they will need to watch you closely for several months to monitor your health. TRUVADA is not approved for the treatment of HBV.

Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP? Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you also take lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) or adefovir (HEPSERA).

What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP? Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: u Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA for PrEP. u Bone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. u Changes in body fat, which can happen in people taking TRUVADA or medicines like TRUVADA. Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA for PrEP? u All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. u If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Pregnancy Registry: A pregnancy registry collects information about your health and the health of your baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take medicines to prevent HIV-1 during pregnancy. For more information about the registry and how it works, talk to your healthcare provider. u If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. The medicines in TRUVADA can pass to your baby in breast milk. If you become HIV-1 positive, HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. u All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. u If you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA for PrEP, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include ledipasvir with sofosbuvir (HARVONI).

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page.

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Have you heard about

TRUVADA for PrEPTM? The once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when used with safer sex practices.

• TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex.

• You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.

visit start.truvada.com

3/16/17 4:48 PM

IMPORTANT FACTS (tru-VAH-dah)

This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP

Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.

• Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: • You must continue using safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1.

• You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • Tell your healthcare provider if you have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away.

• If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

• See the “How to Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP" section.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

• Bone problems.

• Changes in body fat.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomacharea (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.

TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Buildup of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, cold or blue hands and feet, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or fast or abnormal heartbeats.

• Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain.

• Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have HBV and take TRUVADA, your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time.

ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP (PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS) TRUVADA is a prescription medicine used with safer sex practices for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults at high risk: • HIV-1 negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex.

• Male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not.

To help determine your risk, talk openly with your doctor about your sexual health.

Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status.

• Take lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) or adefovir (HEPSERA).

TRUVADA, the TRUVADA Logo, TRUVADA FOR PREP, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and HEPSERA are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: April 2016 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0084 03/17

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BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

• Have any other medical conditions.

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you become HIV-1 positive because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.

HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1.

• Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• You must practice safer sex by using condoms and you must stay HIV-1 negative.

HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners.

• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior.

• Have fewer sex partners.

• Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV-1 infection.

• Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit start.truvada.com for program information.

3/16/17 4:48 PM

Your Wedding Day

Mary & Katrina

W

Nov. 11, 2016

hen it comes to weddings, vision and planning are key, but Mary and Katrina Thompson’s nuptials also took luck and the kindness of colleagues to come off as planned.

Mary and Katrina had a burgundy vision of a very spiritual ceremony full of their friends and family, but two things just weren’t coming together – a diamond that was out of Mary’s budget and a tuxedo.

Keeping with tradition, Mary was adamant that Katrina not see the flowing, burgundy dress with a lace overlay and jacket, which she found after a fairly brief search through the web.

“One day, I’m scrolling through Facebook and saw my wedding dress,” Mary said.

After that she contacted dress designer Taejah Thomas of Needles and Thread Inc. and her work was essentially done. Katrina however, had a much longer road to walk.

“I knew I wanted a tux, but I knew I didn’t want a boxy suit that looked like a man, and I had problems finding the right color,” Katrina said. “I didn’t want to go into a store because I felt it would be cut for a man, so I went online and there’s actually a lot of companies that make tuxedos for women … but, given the color scheme, it was very difficult to find what I was looking for.”

Katrina searched pretty much everywhere and ended up cutting it close.

“Up to two weeks before the wedding, I didn’t have anything,” Katrina said. “Fortunately, Taejah, the same designer who had designed Mary’s dress was like, ‘I can make you a tux.’”

Finding the right stone is difficult for most people, but when you work in the diamond industry, the self-imposed pressure might cripple someone.

“I am a certified rough diamond evaluator,” Mary said. “I work extensively with Sierra Leone and Lesotho, and I knew that I could not afford the sort of stone I wanted to give her. So, I just sort of put it out there [in her circle of professional contacts] and it took a while, but one of my colleagues said, ‘Yep, we have them www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Vendors Photographer

Friends and family

Hair

Mary’s hair, Shajuan Payne of Loksensations.

Katrina’s hair, Rhonda Hunter

Makeup

Mary, Gregory McGrady, Katrina, Terrisa Flowers

Wedding Stylist Terrisa Flowers

Attire

Custom-made by Taejah Thomas Needles and Thread Inc.

Jewelers

Helzberg Diamonds

Venue

Le Bam Studios

so come pick them up.’ So, I flew to Germany to get them, and then got them cut.”

The diamond she saw in her mind’s eye was a clear two-karat stone with a radiant cut.

“Diamonds are very much part of who I am, and I believe they are very much part of the of the person. I don’t mean that in a hokey way, but every diamond is different, each one is individual,” Mary said. “Those stones that I got for her were mined for her, and created millions of years ago, so those are her stones.”

With those details in place, the rest of the ceremony went off without a hitch. Although they are both active in New Covenant Church of Atlanta (New Covenant Bishop Randy Morgan and his husband, Apostle Johnny Blaton, performed the ceremony), they wanted to have a more magical venue and picked Le Bam Studios to host their 125 guests.

“When everyone arrived, just by the way everything was done and everything was presented, they just knew they were going to have a good time,” Mary said.

Well, not everything went exactly to plan.

Mary (l) and Katrina Thompson had a burgundy vision of a very spiritual ceremony with friends and family, which took place last November at Le Bam Studios in Midtown Atlanta.

(Courtesy photos)

They meant to have a fairy tale exit, but accidentally bought something that’s illegal in Georgia.

“Towards the end of the ceremony, we wanted to have a grand exit, so we bought a bunch of sparklers so we could sort of walk through an aisle of sparklers,” Katrina said.

“So, we’re getting ready to walk down this

aisle and security came to us and said these aren’t sparklers, these are fireworks, and you can’t use these because it’s dangerous. Fortunately, they had some sparklers left over from another wedding, I think, and they swapped them out and we got the exit we wanted.”

—Matt Schafer

March 31, 2017 Your Wedding Day 23

Your Wedding Day

5 Delectable Wedding Cakes and Sweet Treats Cake Pops (right)

Couples are going gaga for these delicious bite-sized treats, also known as cruffles. They’re less messy than a traditional layer cake and offer plenty of creative options to step up the presentation factor.

(Sweet Cheats)

Traditional Layer Cake (above)

Old souls unite! A traditional layer cake is always a solid bet for the wedding day. But the traditional route doesn’t mean you can’t flaunt your style with various flourishes. Ask your baker about ways you can personalize the cake to best display the love you two share. (Metrotainment Bakery)

Croquembouche (left)

This feast for the eyes and mouth is the wedding cake of choice in France. Pastry balls are delicately placed into a cone and bound with spun sugar or threads of caramel. Magnifique! (Alon’s Bakery)

Hybrid Cake Pops/ Layer Cake (left)

Can’t decide between a traditional layer cake and the more trendy cake pops? Why not do both?! This hybrid cake pops/ layer cake is sure to satisfy the sugary desires of both parties on the big day.

(Sweet Cheats)

Macaron Tower (left)

For the couple that favors simplicity over whimsy. And a macaron tower has the added benefit of allowing a couple to have their baker get more creative with the color scheme if they choose. (Alon’s Bakery)

24 Your Wedding Day March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Your Wedding Day

Donald & Pedro

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Nov. 25, 2016

onald Miller-Cao and Pedro Cao have been married twice in 25 years, both times to each other.

Living on the cusp of marriage equality, Donald and Pedro confronted a question familiar to many established samesex couples: once marriage equality became reality in 2015, should they marry again?

The answer they landed on was a small, legally binding marriage in New Jersey, the state where they met and spent most of their married life before moving to Marietta a few months after the landmark Supreme Court ruling giving them equal rights.

Having originally exchanged rings in 1995, there wasn’t exactly a roadmap to follow in 2015. It wasn’t technically a vow renewal, and strictly speaking it wasn’t a second marriage, since their first wasn’t legally binding, but two things pushed them forward.

“Basically, there were two reasons,” Pedro said. “We had been together for 25 years, and we love each other. The second reason is more pragmatic, to make sure we have equal representation under the law.”

They split up the work in an amicable way. Pedro handled what he wanted and Donald, well, did the things Pedro didn’t want to.

“Pedro wanted to be in charge of the food, music and the tuxedos, and I did everything else. I had to take care of the cake, the venue and everything else,” Donald said, noting that one of the most frustrating things was finding a venue for a fall wedding that fell in their price range. “I kept flying to New Jersey and looking at traditional venues. For the time of year, they still wanted $109 per head with a minimum of 100 people, and that just wasn’t what we wanted.”

After several trips, Donald landed on The Frog and The Peach restaurant in New Brunswick, New Jersey. That venue served as their wedding and reception area, and allowed for their desired 50-guest party.

“It was one of my favorite places when I lived in New Jersey, it was convenient for our friends and family, and so it was just per-

Vendors Photographer

Friends and family

Hair

Themselves, but use Aveda products

Makeup None

Attire

Joseph Abboud Formal for tuxedos and bow ties were Tuesdays Bow Ties

Cake

Roxanna Cakes. Elizabeth, New Jersey

Jewelers

Jewelery Doctor. Metuchen, New Jersey

Venue

The Frog and The Peach.

New Brunswick, New Jersey

fect,” Donald said.

For Pedro’s part, he decided to rent tuxedos, and wanted the cake to represent both of their cultures. Donald is American, and Pedro emigrated from Cuba in 1973.

“We wanted to have flavors for the Americans and flavor for the Latinos,” Pedro said, noting that they went with a layered cake with chocolate and raspberry mousse, and coco loco cake.

Their baker surprised them with sugar replicas of themselves holding American and Cuban flags, respectively.

The couple wanted a simple ceremony, but they also benefited from a cost perspective by being men. There was no dress to buy, they eschewed hair and makeup stylists and asked their friends to take pictures instead of hiring a wedding photographer.

They also pushed back their honeymoon almost a year so that they could build up vacation time.

Although there were legal and pragmatic reasons for the wedding, there have also been unexpected emotional repercussions as well.

“We’ve been together for so long that our

Pedro Cao (top picture, left) and Donald Miller-Cao married once in 1995 and then again in 2015 when it was legal. (Courtesy photos)

daily life hasn’t changed very much actually,” Pedro said. “But for me, it changed emotionally because once you stand in front of a

public body and proclaim your love for someone, it does change you.”

— Matt Schafer

26 Your Wedding Day March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Your Wedding Day

From left: When shopping for wedding flowers, be aware of options like peony roses instead of peonies, using succulents and the color green in bouquets and centerpieces.

(Photos by Drew Newman and Andrea Taylor Studio)

Floral on fleek Top three trends from an Atlanta florist

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com Larry Hammack, owner of Foxgloves & Ivy Floral Design Studio in Atlanta’s Little Five Points, gives you the floral facts you need to know before walking down the aisle.

1. Accents are succulent

“What we’re seeing is a move to a little bit more relaxed, natural design. I think the trendiest thing, the most popular, is not even a flower. It’s a succulent. People are just going crazy for succulents in wedding bouquets, in arrangements, cake décor. The whole thing with succulents started in Europe about 10 years ago. I think it’s a texture thing and they also provide that bluish to gray, greenish gray color you don’t naturally find in flowers.”

2. “Greenery” doesn’t have to mean greenery

“With the new and more relaxed design, we can incorporate more unusual greenery in there. It doesn’t have to be just greenery, it can be succulents, seed pods. Greenery costs per stem, just like a flower does. Examples are eucalyptus, ferns, fiddleheads and moss.

The trend toward using green as a color is still going strongly. That started 10 or 15 years ago. Chartreuse came in with a bang www.thegeorgiavoice.com

for everything, including flowers. Flower growers are able to grow green varieties.

There’s some beautiful hydrangeas coming in that are called mojito. Chrysanthemums and Fuji mums now have a green revert. We always try to put some of that in every arrangement to make all the other colors pop.”

3. Be open-minded and aware of options

“Typically if flowers are important, they need to spend between 8 to 12 percent of their total budget to make a nice impact. It’s important to have a feel for the look that you’re going for. It’s almost at a point where brides have too much information available for them. A bride comes in and says, ‘I like this look.’ What can we do to translate that to your budget?

It’s up to us to know what’s available when. The beauty about a global economy is they grow flowers in Holland 12 months in the year, South America 12 months a year under glass. Seasonally, once the spring gets here, we get flowers that are grown locally here in the metro area all the way up to Alaska. Probably the most requested flower by brides is a peony. They peak at Mother’s Day. If a bride is getting married say in August and she wants that look, then we can turn around and we can show her examples of garden roses called peony roses, which have that form and shape, but they’re a rose. You still have the feel of that big, fluffy flower.”

March 31, 2017 Your Wedding Day 27

Your Wedding Day

Kitchenware dominated the list of most popular wedding registry items at Target. (Photos courtesy Target)

Top Wedding Registry Gifts Top 10 Most Popular Wedding Registry Items at Target

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com 1. Pyrex 18-Piece Storage Set ($29.74) 2. Luxury Solid Bath Towels by Fieldcrest ($8.09 – $19.99)

Top 5 Most Popular Wedding Registry Categories at Macy’s 1. Kitchen Electrics 2. Glassware 3. Cookware 4. Bath Towels 5. Vacuums

3. KitchenAid Five-Speed Hand Mixer ($39.99 – $59.99)

7. Lodge Cast Iron 12-Inch Skillet ($19.99)

4. Crock-Pot Six-Quart Programmable Cook & Carry Slow Cooker ($49.99)

8. KitchenAid Ultra Power Plus 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer ($299.99)

5. Grey Pot Holder by Threshold ($5.99)

9. Copper Moscow Mule Mug

by Threshold ($9.99)

6. Ninja Professional Blender 1000 ($72.10)

10. AirBake Pizza Pan ($6.89)

28 Your Wedding Day March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Kathy Griffin to the rescue Activism in Trump’s America... and a potential new reality show?!

By CHRIS AZZOPARDI Of course Kathy Griffin’s manager asks if our conversation is being recorded – have you heard her talk? Luckily, the celeb-skewering, gayloving, Trump-hating comedienne’s filterless mouth moves at a meteoric pace, which is good news for anyone who wants to know her thoughts on the practicality of celebrity activism, her idea for a “My Life on the D-List” spinoff and watching “Feud” with the gay mafia.

I caught up with Griffin, who discussed all the above just days after being honored with the Vanguard Award by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus on March 12 for her ardent and unwavering role as an ally in the LGBT rights movement. She shared her insight into what the hell we do – and what she’s doing – now that Donald Trump is running this country.

What does it mean to you to be an activist and a celebrity with the kind of platform you have in the Trump era?

I think people that believe in any kind of nuanced thought, who can handle a thought, know that, yeah, a celebrity can actually provide a real service for a cause. Celebrities sort of apologize all the time, but we’re voting citizens like anybody else. I defend my right to speak CONTINUES ON PAGE 32

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

March 31, 2017 A&E 31

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

about things as a celebrity or as an offensive comic or whatever you wanna call me. I’ve toured this country so many times, and I’ve also performed in Iraq and Afghanistan for the troops. I’ve performed in a prison. I’ve performed at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. So, I kind of feel that’s what I bring to the table – that I’m really, really proud of.

Every city has a different vibe. I can kind of tell in the first few minutes of the show what they’re gonna be into. But some audiences really want to hear a lot of Trump material, some wanna hear a lot about my mom, some wanna hear a lot about, you know, my new neighbors Kim Kardashian and Kanye West [laughs], which is hilarious to all parties. My material is definitely new, so if you’ve seen me five months ago, five years ago or 10 years ago, you’re definitely gonna see a new show. And even though I’m supporting the book, I’m not, like, just sitting there reading from the book. I’m doing all different stuff.

Sometimes in my shows I’ll actually talk about the kind of activism that I’m up to, and I’ll try to make it funny. Like, I had a oneday show in Mexico, where, by the way, I spent the whole day apologizing to the whole country; I just walked around stage saying, “Lo siento [for] Señor Cheeto.” But I bought a bunch of Mexican postcards and those, for example, are fun to mail to legislators that are maybe not helping the LGBT agenda. You can march, you can call, you can send letters, send postcards.

Kathy Griffin is on tour now promoting her latest book, “Celebrity Run-Ins.” (Photos courtesy Kathy Griffin)

Who do you plan on inviting to your “Fire Island” viewing party?

Well, first of all, the gay mafia is real. I’m a product of it and it exists. So, actually, on the Twitter, I just got a tweet from Jai Rodriguez, the original “Queer Eye,” saying “overdue for a Kathy Griffin mafia night at her house,” so it’ll be Jai Rodriguez, Chris Colfer from “Glee,” Lance Bass and their plus-ones, and they’ll all come over to my new house and we’ll sit in my fabulous screening room – and then we’ll watch “Feud.” But that’s just a typical night for me.

“Feud” is so your show. You must be eating that up.

Oh yeah. I’m eating it up almost as much as Jessica [Lange] and Susan [Sarandon] are eating up the scenery. Actually, we all have indigestion from how much eating of the scenery we’re all doing.

Do you think it’s time “D-List” makes a comeback?

Well, I sort of would love to do something similar. I mean, the challenge is, would anyone really let me do a reality show? Because “D-List” really was unscripted, and now they’re all scripted and you can see them reading a teleprompter in the interviews and stuff. I’d love to do, like, “D-List to Legend,” where I’m trying to become a legend and I’m

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

trying to surround myself with, I don’t know, Sidney Poitier, Mick Jagger and Cher. Like, all right, maybe I’m not A-list, maybe I’m B, but it’s time for me to become a legend. I think there could be some comedy there. If nobody wants to do it, I’ll just have to be a living legend in my mind and rock my 50city tour and my bestseller, which Anderson Cooper told me he just read his section and then closed it.

Ha, I believe it! Well, great to talk to you again, Kathy. Thanks for your time and for being on the frontlines of the gay movement.

I feel we’re all kind of reenergized. Our work is not done. But I couldn’t feel like I was in better hands with the LGBT community. I always say this community knows how to litigate and get shit done and get moving and galvanized and get together when the rubber hits the road, and the rubber has hit the road, my friend. So, I’ll see you at the next act of resistance… or we’ll be sharing a jail cell. One or the other.

With a TV to watch “Feud.”

[Laughs] That’s all I ask.

To advertise, contact: sales@thegavoice.com

PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT CONTACT: SALES@THEGAVOICE.COM 32 A&E March 31, 2017

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

ACTING OUT

By JIM FARMER

‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ to rock The Fox

It’s one of the most celebrated stage musicals of the last 20 years, and its central character is an iconic figure in the LGBT community. “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” comes to the ATL next week as part of its first national tour. Originated off-Broadway in 1998

by John Cameron Mitchell, the show finally landed on Broadway in 2014, where it won a Tony Award for both Best Musical Revival and for its then-star Neil Patrick Harris.

As part of the tour, actor Euan Morton steps into the role of the infamous Hedwig, who, after moving to the United States to be with a soldier and surviving an unsuccessful sex-change operation, searches for an ex-lover turned rock star. The role came, Morton told Georgia Voice, in a “boring and traditional way.”

“I auditioned for it,” he said. “They asked me to audition before, but I was busy with something else and later they called up again, which was very flattering. It went very well. I got a callback and had to do a dance audition, which was not my forte, for John Cameron Mitchell and the entire team. And they called up later and said the job was mine.”

The tour started last fall with “Glee” star Darren Criss in the role. Morton took over in San Diego in November, and has been performing ever since. He admits that the physicality has been more demanding than the emotional heft.

“The emotional stuff is acting and it’s real, but it’s easy to put down,” he said. “It’s not something I take home with me. The physical stuff is harder. It can be tiring to do all this and sing these songs eight times a week. ” It takes Morton about an hour-and-a-half or so to become the character each night. He has to be exact because Hedwig fans know what she looks like.

“A lot of my job is done if my wig and costume people are convincing because people will buy what I am selling,” he said.

The actor’s version of the character showcases both Hedwig’s masculine and feminine side, and he also plays her with curiosity and boldness.

“I want people to find her personable,” Morton said. “I don’t think she is out to be that aggressive. She says things that she thinks are www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Euan Morton takes on the iconic starring role in ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch,’ playing The Fox Theatre April 4 – 5.

(Photo by Joan Marcus)

Details

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” April 4 – 5 Fox Theatre 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308 www.foxtheatre.org

funny, but it’s not shock value – it is who she is.”

What has endeared “Hedwig” to fans over the years is its universality. Despite her rough exterior, Hedwig is ultimately someone audiences can empathize with.

“It’s about a person who loves and longs and has joys and fears. I think people can relate to the human emotions of the show, and to the problems with the parents and the problems with a lover,” Morton said. “You don’t expect to like Hedwig necessarily. She is not the type of woman you’d stop to help in the street. But I think people eventually love her and once you fall in love with someone, it’s hard to turn away.”

The actor said he feels that aspect is one reason it has been so well-received in the LGBT community. What Hedwig is saying is that we are not different.

“If you are willing to look past the presentation, beyond the insanity, you’ll find we are the same,” he said.

What has also endeared fans is the beloved score. Morton’s favorite numbers are “The Origin of Love” and the reprise of “Wicked Little Town,” which he called the transformative moments of the show.

March 31, 2017 Columnists 33

EATING MY WORDS

By CLIFF BOSTOCK ATLANTA’S FIRST URBAN WINERY, INTIMATE MUSIC VENUE, RESTAURANT & PRIVATE EVENT SPACE

New Chef

new menu new culinary direction

Come See Us! 650 NORTH AVENUE NE, SUITE 201, PONCE CITY MARKET | CITYWINERY.COM | 404.WINERY1

Going vegan at Herban Fix I detested vegetarian cuisine most of my life. I hated protein sources like squishy tofu and tempeh masking as meat. I love vegetables, but most early vegetarian chefs grossly over-seasoned everything, usually with Southwestern spices. It didn’t help, of course, that until the organic/local food movement, veggies often didn’t have their full natural flavors – especially if frozen, as most were.

Over time, I’ve come to enjoy vegetarian food. Chefs have gotten more dexterous, including vegan chefs, who forbid eggs, dairy and meat. Still, when I want to eat vegetarian, I usually go to an Asian or Indian restaurant.

The cuisine of those regions is plant-based and manages, by some mystery, to use plenty of spices that enhance rather than disguise flavors. Unless they are catering to Americans, they don’t try to disguise tofu as meat.

All of this is by way of introducing Herban Fix Vegan Kitchen (565-A Peachtree St., 404-815-8787, herbanfix. com). The pan-Asian restaurant, open about a year, is strictly vegan and mainly glutenfree. Its chef/owner is Wendy Chang, whose earlier ventures, Tamarind Thai in Midtown and Eurasia Bistro in Decatur, earned high marks with most critics.

The restaurant is located in the space that was formerly Dogwood – long-departed, although a few of its gigantic flower photos remain. The space is airy with a loft dining area overlooking the main dining room. Coral is the ubiquitous color. In short, this is not a posthippie café. It falls into the newish category of “casual fine dining.” Most shareable appetizers are under $10 and entrées are under $20.

Though there are a few dishes featuring faux flesh, the vast majority of the menu is all about plants, and that’s what four of us stuck to when we dined there last Friday. With few exceptions, the food was wonderful – so wonderful that I didn’t feel guilty about forcing my friends to eat vegetarian food. It was also gorgeously plated.

Consider my entrée – a king oyster mushroom glazed and cooked until crispy, served over barely braised spinach leaves and a sesamesoy jus. I admit that the dish was a bit sweet for my taste – as were several others – but it was

The bibimbap is a Korean favorite served at Herban Fix Vegan Kitchen, minus the traditional egg and meat, of course. (Photo

by Cliff Bostock)

otherwise delicious and startlingly beautiful.

As much as I loved that, I think the best entrée on the table was the bibimbap – the Korean favorite served in the traditional stone bowl, but minus the egg and meat.

The dish is a remarkable play of textures and flavors from crispy and charred to chewy and nutty. The restaurant’s pad Thai, featuring tofu, is pretty average.

Starters are all over the place. My favorite side dish was a plate of grilled and sliced eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash. Pungent and a bit sweet. The don’t-bother-starter is the ordinary dumplings with (annoyingly mild) kimchi. The absolutely-don’t-miss starter is the pan-seared scallion pancakes.

Made with a mysterious flour, the pancakes have a slightly chewy texture and are served in a stack sprouting greens here and there.

There are plenty of desserts. I ordered a monumentally huge slice of gluten-free caramel cake. It wasn’t bad, but didn’t hold a candle to my friends’ carrot cake.

Service, by the way, is great. I’m sure I drove our server crazy asking what was what in every forkful of food. She was extremely knowledgeable and did not force me to eat Spam. Vegan dining has come a long way since the days of yore. You should definitely visit.

Cliff Bostock is a former psychotherapist now specializing in life coaching. Contact him at 404-518-4415 or cliffbostock@gmail.com.

34 Columnists March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for March 31-April 13

BETS T ES

EVEN FRIDAY, MARCH 31 – SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus presents a new work of choral theater based on author David Levithan’s National Book Award-winner “Two Boys Kissing.”

The book follows the stories of two gay teenagers who decide to break the world record for the longest kiss, two other teens who are falling in love and the story of a teen whose online life is discovered by his parents. These stories of family, first love, bravery and pain are watched over by a Greek chorus of gay men who died of AIDS. A powerful work that speaks to people of all generations and walks of life, AGMC hosts performances Friday night at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, 1026 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30306. More information can be found at www.voicesofnote.org/events/ two-boys-kissing

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

Join Charis Books and More for a night with Arun Kundnani, who will read from and sign “The Muslims Are Coming: Islamophobia, Extremism and the Domestic War on Terror.” In a narrative spanning the United States and the United Kingdom, the book examines the activities of hate groups which have re-aligned themselves with former enemies and of law enforcement agencies, both of which now target Muslims [immigrants and native born] in Europe and the United States, 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com Sponsored by MAN UPP and Joe Whitaker, the DILF Underwear/ Jock Party takes place tonight at the Heretic. Wear your favorite undergear, jock strap and harness and be ready for a

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

Atlanta Opera opens its new take on “Don Pasquale” with a performance at 8 p.m. tonight, through April 2, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339, www.cobbenergycentre.com (Publicity photo) hot night – and some hot dads – with music by DJ Corey Craig of New York, 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.hereticatlanta.com,

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Want inspiration? Want a happier life?

Come to the Rainbros Quarterly Launch Event. Think a TED Talk format, but from amazing people who live here in our LGBT community, 2 – 4 p.m., Out Front Theatre Company, 999 Brady Ave. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318, www.outfronttheatre.com The premiere of “All Male, All Nude,” presented by Out On Film, looks at how one of the best-known gay strip clubs in the world landed in the heart of the Bible Belt.

Directed by Gerald McCullouch. 6 p.m., followed by a reception and an after-party, Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, 931 Monroe Drive N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.outonfilm.org

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Heidi Howard directs actress Tara Ochs in the one-woman show “White Woman in Progress,” 5 p.m., 7 Stages, 1105 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.7stages.org

MONDAY, APRIL 3

Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies.

Charis Books and More provides a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. 7 – 8:30 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com The PFLAG support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people and their parents and family meets tonight from 7:30 – 9 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (Room 209/210), 1605 I-85 Frontage Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, www.uuca.org

TUESDAY, APRIL 4 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

She’s back! The iconic stage version of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” hits the ATL at the Fox Theatre tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., with such classic songs as “Wig in a Box” and “Midnight Radio,” 660 Peachtree St. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30308, www.foxtheatre.org

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

It’s 404 Day! Celebrate all things Atlanta with this celebration of music, arts, food dance and more. 1 p.m. – 4 a.m., 327 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, GA 30312, www.facebook.com/ events/814045862028800

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Pardon Moi French presents “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant Willam Belli at Jungle Atlanta, with featured performances by Destiny Brooks, Evah Destruc-

CONTINUES ON PAGE 36 March 31, 2017 Best Bets 35

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LGBT EVENT

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Recording artist Deborah Cox takes over the Whitney Houston role in the stage musical “The Bodyguard,” closing today with 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. performances, Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30308, www.foxtheatre.org (Publicity photo)

Submit your LGBT event for inclusion in our online and print calendars by emailing event info to editor@thegavoice.com CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 tion, Mrz. Carter, Paris Nicole Brooks and Phoenix. DJ Scott Robert from Orlando will also rock the house. 7 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, 2115 Faulkner Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.jungleatl.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

Building on the activist tradition of consciousness-raising groups, each month Charis invites community members to join “The Personal is Political: Feminist Vent,” a lightly facilitated group to talk about personal issues or societal issues they are trying to deconstruct. The group uses intersectional feminist strategies as tools to talk through these issues. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www. charisbooksandmore.com Join comedian Brent Star for a fabulously free, fun Drag Bingo Thursday Nights at Pallookaville, 8 – 10 p.m., 17 N. Avondale Plaza, Avondale Estates, GA 30002, www.facebook.com/ events/375975529462191 Oglethorpe University sponsors a drag show benefiting Real Youth Atlanta, which provides free services and programs to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults tonight at 8:30 p.m., with donations accepted at the door, Lupton Auditorium, 4484 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30319

FRIDAY, APRIL 7 – SUNDAY, APRIL 9

Atlanta Leather Pride is this weekend at the Atlanta Eagle, with all sorts of activities. 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.atlantaeagle.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

Actor’s Express presents “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” about an Elvis impersonator who, through a chain of events, turns to drag performing. 8 p.m. curtain tonight, running through April 16, 887 W. Marietta St., Atlanta, GA 30318, www.actorsexpress.com

36 Best Bets March 31, 2017

Morph, an inclusive and intentional safe space for queer people of color in Atlanta, and Speakeasy Promotions present Morph 7 with Kingdom and other special guests at Aisle 5, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m., 1123 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.facebook.com/ events/572077566319070 Be part of the biggest and best party of the year as Atlanta Eagle celebrates 30 years. DJ Ron Pullman is kicking off the weekend tonight with no cover, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.atlantaeagle.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Join today’s March Against Hate!

Local Georgia activists join forces with major groups to show the world that we can overcome the discrimination many people face on a daily basis. As one force, it can be a force that cannot be broken, 1 p.m., Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. West N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313, www.facebook.com/ events/622489591277830

Charis Books and More welcomes bestselling author Anne Lamont to Central Presbyterian Church to discuss her newest book, “Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy.” Full of Lamott’s trademark honesty, humor and forthrightness, “Hallejah Anyway” is profound and caring, funny and wise, and a hopeful book of hands-on spirituality. Tickets available at www.eventbrite.com/e/hallelujah-anyway-an-eveningwith-anne-lamott-tickets-32704363632, 7 p.m., 201 Washington St. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. www.cpcatlanta.org Sing “Summer Nights” and more as Serenbe Playhouse stages an outdoor version of “Grease,” directed by Serenbe artistic director Brian Clowdus, tonight at 8 p.m., running through April 16, 10642 Serenbe Lane, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268, www.serenbeplayhouse.com Queer pop heartthrob Ssion is coming to The Heretic for “Sprung,” a queer Bacchanal and special DJ set/dance party with special guests DJ Esme and King Atlas and hostesses Dax Exclamationpoint, Kryean Kally, Michael Kemp, Pity

EVENT SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Funny man Leslie Jordan returns to Atlanta for his new show “Straight Outta Chattanooga,” 8 p.m., Le Fais do-do, 1611 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd.

N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318, www.facebook.com/events/775345442606142 (Publicity photo)

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Soiree and more. 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.hereticatlanta.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

DJ Dee Martello spins for the early morning partiers, 3 a.m., Xion Atlanta, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook.com/ events/409744476056905/

MONDAY, APRIL 10

Bill Berdeaux hosts All Music Monday at Blake’s, 227 10th St. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

to enjoy a good cocktail? Lawyers and non-lawyers alike are invited to join the Lambda Legal Atlanta Leadership Committee Defending Equality Atlanta Happy Hour at Ten Atlanta for drinks and complimentary appetizers, 990 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Hipster Yard Sale ATL has joined up with Friends of Chapel Hill Park in South Decatur for another festival market event. Hipster Yard Sale ATL is an

open event to vendors and patrons alike.

Vintage clothing, vinyl records, local art, handcrafted home goods and any manner of esoteric ephemera as well as your standard yard sale kitsch are available.

Food vendors and live performances will be on site as well. Free to the public. $50 vendor fee will go to support Friends of Chapel Hill Park’s Fishing Pier Building Initiative. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Chapel Hill Park, 3985 Lehigh Blvd., Decatur, GA 30034, www.facebook.com/ events/270489726730911

For 30 years, The Atlanta Gala Dinner and Auction has grown to be one of the largest fundraisers in the country for the Human Rights Campaign. The event, which includes a live and silent auction and black-tie dinner, celebrates excellence in the LGBT movement, successes in HRC’s pursuit of equality and refocuses the organization for the fight ahead. 6 p.m. 12 a.m., Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Ave. N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303, www.facebook.com/ events/1700014050315975

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

Come sing showtunes with Chad at Oscar’s tonight, 8 p.m., 1510 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30324, www.oscarsatlanta.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

Bring out your inner Melissa Etheridge at karaoke night at My Sister’s Room, with no cover and food and drink specials, 9 p.m., 66 12 St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mysistersroom.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

SAGE Atlanta’s social hour begins at 10 a.m., followed by a program/meeting at 11 a.m., Phillip Rush Center Annex, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.rushcenteratl.org

UPCOMING SATURDAY, APRIL 15

For All Humans presents ICON a celebration of Janet + Michael Jackson, with the likes of performers Jai Myers, Andi Monroe, Star Martin, Sami Michelsen, Naomi Vul Seyy, John James, Michael Robinson, Biqtch Puddin’, Steven Glen Diehl and Gwendolyn Van Cartier. Doors open at 10:30 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, 2115 Faulkner Road. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30324, www.jungleatl.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

The Democratic Party of Georgia’s 2017 State Dinner will take place tonight with a special guest – Congresswoman Maxine Waters. The dinner will be held from 6 - 9 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta located at 265 West Peachtree St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303.

More information can be found at georgiademocrat.org/dinner17 Confused about what is going on? Looking for more information about what is being done to protect your rights? Just wanting

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March 31, 2017 Best Bets 37

THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

By MELISSA CARTER

Confessions of a New Age experimentalist

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My cat watched me standing half-naked in our bathroom. I was trying to figure out how to climb over a piece of outdoor furniture I just wedged in the tiny space, after which I would attempt this for the first time.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

First, you need to know I am a part-time New Age experimentalist. In other words, I make efforts to learn out-of-the-box thinking and only try it out for a limited amount of time. For instance, I spent a year as a member of a Body & Brain facility, where I learned Dahn yoga techniques and participated in a weekend workshop of Finding Your True Self. I have had several experiences speaking with tarot card readers and psychics, and made sure to get my chakras cleaned before attempting to have our son.

Frequenting New Age bookstores, my library consists of such books with titles like “Autobiography of a Yogi,” “Introduction to the Alexander Technique,” and “Reiki for Beginners.” Friends have even termed my activities and attitudes “hippie-dippie,” since some things I do in my spare time don’t always match the no-nonsense persona I give on air. Open to learning most of these ideas, I will attempt to utilize their suggestions at least once whether that be diet, mental exercises and, at times, physical ones.

That is how I ended up engineering this recent feat in my bathroom. It consisted of a five-gallon bucket, a wrought iron lawn chair, a towel, tubing and a plastic board.

“The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity” suggested regular colon cleansing was a key to better health and longevity, and gave information on how to perform this task in the privacy of your own bathroom.

Enthusiastic, I purchased the board and tubing from a reputable company and was preparing to spend the next 40 minutes reading a book and flushing my lower half. What I didn’t do was measure the length of the board that would be placed between the chair and toilet,

“Friends have termed my activities and attitudes ‘hippie-dippie,’ since some things I do in my spare time don’t always match the no-nonsense persona I give on air.” only then realizing my bathroom was not as big as the example pictures. I also realized I didn’t have a proper chair inside the house, so the outside iron chair was the only option I had.

My Siamese stuck it out to watch his ridiculous human maneuver these items in a very Tetris kind of way so I could try and get the job done, which is why I had to climb over the chair to get to my resting place since there was no more room to walk. After I finally got it going, the actual technique worked somewhat, but once I realized I had been there for over an hour and the bucket wasn’t even halfway emptied, I gave up and stored the items for a future, much bigger home, where I could execute it properly.

After all this experimenting and the many investments I have made in said board, crystals, stones, essential oils, juicers, herbs, raw foods, foot patches, Neti Pots, wooden pillows, yoga clothes and pressure point socks, what have I learned? So far there is no real device or practice that solves all your problems, but my curiosity will no doubt keep up the search, much to the amusement of those around me … two and four-legged alike.

Melissa Carter is recognized as one of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta and has been heard over the years on B98.5 and Q100. In addition, she is a writer for the Huffington Post. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCarter.

38 Columnists March 31, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

SOMETIMES ‘Y’

By RYAN LEE

The pain and politics of ‘popper nostril’ Among the good fortune I’ve experienced, some of the most appreciated was going through puberty without relentless acne. That doesn’t mean I avoided embarrassment from my zits, since even though I averaged less than five a year, they often arose close enough to my nostrils to be mistaken as boogers.

However, I have new, adult worries about what people might mistake as boogers: popper nostril.

I’ve been struggling a bit with Single Parent Syndrome the past few weeks; the months I’ve spent as my nephew’s legal guardian have been the most endearing of my life, but they’ve also been the most demanding, and compound my mourning the freedom and flexibility of being a childless, unpartnered man. So when we were at the Atlanta Auto Show with my cousin and her young son, and she asked if my nephew could spend the night at their place so the boys could play video games, I almost cried tears of gratitude.

Before my nephew’s overnight bag was fully packed, I was casting a bat-signal to prepare for my unexpected night of nostalgic indulgence. Perhaps one explanation for my merciful experience with acne was a traffic jam in my waist region that prevented hormones from making it to my face.

The switch from having sex several times a week (the most discrete unit of time I can think of) to now feeling lucky if I get lucky every other month means I wasn’t my usual self during my impromptu hook-up. For instance, I didn’t even remember that I usually don’t enjoy poppers during sex until I was inhaling some Rush and, thanks to my clumsy, unfamiliar motions, felt it splash into my nostrils.

I grabbed my shirt to wipe the liquid off my nose, and braced myself for a week of people saying, “You have something in your n— oh, no, sorry, that’s a chemical burn from sniffing illegal-but-commercially-available amyl nitrites so you can feel lightheaded while being an absentee slut.”

I have no issue with people knowing I am a sexually active man, or even a stereowww.thegeorgiavoice.com

“It sure feels euphoric when you take that big whiff of toxic gases, whether emanating from a bottle of Rush or the biggest loudmouth in American history, until you realize your face is on fire and everyone’s about to know you’re an immoral skank.” typically promiscuous gay man, but nothing screams “SKANK!” like the rash and peeling of popper nostril. It’s as tacky as having a Pangaea-sized hickey on one’s neck, but impossible to cover up with a turtleneck.

Normally, my goatee is useful in casting shadows to mute the redness blaring from the rim of my nostrils, but I shaved my mustache while getting ready for the auto show, as I’ve been doing since November in response to Trump’s election victory. I’ve learned that my “look” can be updated as frequently as fashion seasons, and in an attempt to weaponize my ethnic ambiguity, to discomfort Trump supporters and real-world troll them, I’ve been wearing my facial hair so that everyone’s first impression is that I am a Muslim.

“He’s probably a Syrian refugee,” Trump supporters will whisper to each other, now adding, “and Hannity said all members of the Jihadlamist Brotherdom have those red marks on their noses.”

It’s hard to find laughs during these times, but I’ve been tickled watching Trump supporters deal with a sort of political popper nostril. It sure feels euphoric when you take that big whiff of toxic gases, whether emanating from a bottle of Rush or the biggest loudmouth in American history, until you realize your face is on fire and everyone’s about to know you’re an immoral skank.

Ryan Lee is an Atlanta writer.

March 31, 2017 Columnists 39

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