07/05/19, Vol. 10 Issue 9

voice

georgia VOL.10 • ISSUE 9

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

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

EDITORIAL

Editor: Patrick Colson-Price pcolson-price@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Conswella Bennett, Cliff Bostock, Camryn Burke, Melissa Carter, Mariah Cooper, Dallas Duncan, Aidan Ivory Edwards, Jim Farmer, Luke Gardner, O’Brian Gunn Elizabeth Hazzard, Ryan Lee, Rose Pelham, Berlin Sylvestre, Dionne Walker

PRODUCTION

Art Director: Rob Boeger rboeger@thegavoice.com

ONLINE

Digital Content Senior Staffer: Katie Burkholder kburkholder@thegavoice.com

BUSINESS

Managing Partner/Publisher: Tim Boyd tboyd@thegavoice.com

SALES

Sales Executive: Dixon Taylor dtaylor@thegavoice.com Sales Executive: Jim Brams jbrams@thegavoice.com Business Advisor: Lynn Pasqualetti Financial Firm of Record: HLM Financial Group National Advertising: Rivendell Media, 908-232-2021 sales@rivendellmedia.com

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.

To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words and commentary, for web or print, should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address, and phone number for verification. Email submissions to editor@thegavoice.com or mail to the address above.

Join us online: facebook.com/thegavoice twitter.com/thegavoice instagram.com/thegeorgiavoice youtube.com/user/GAVoice

4 Editorial July 5, 2019

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

A Straight Disaster Patrick Colson-Price I’m always one to adventure out into the world of straight bars and clubs just to see what I’m not missing when it comes to nightlife. I remember my time in college at the University of South Carolina where my best friend would drag me out to five points (where all the college bars are), to “party” it up with my hetero counterparts. I was unimpressed during most of our outings but the eye candy from frat jocks made each evening a little more manageable. Still, to this day I can’t understand what is so special about standing around a crowded bar getting shit-faced drunk where you’re barely able to stand up. Don’t get me wrong, it happens at gay bars and clubs too, but there’s something uniquely nauseating when it happens at a straight venue.

Here’s where the story begins. My husband and I visited family a few weekends ago in a not-sogay area of the southeast, but we managed to make the most of it when it came to nightlife entertainment. That Saturday evening, we decided to head out to meet Todd’s niece and her boyfriend at a local hangout spot. I had to “bro it up” a little just to fit in with the allstraight crowd. We entered the restaurant/bar and immediately headed outside to the patio area where we were greeted by burly bearded men playing cornhole and casually dressed women chatting around several different tables. I got into character when introducing myself; my voice deepened and I made sure my southern accent came out a little more. It’s unfortunate I feel the need to do these types of things especially during Pride month, but it’s what you have to do these days went entering into unfamiliar territory.

I quickly escaped to the bar where the female bartenders greeted me with a smile. I grabbed a drink, a few shots, and headed back outside to reunite with our group. What happened next caught me off guard and had me fuming from deep inside. Not even three seconds after coming to a stop at our table, a girl to my left throws a punch hitting me in my upper arm.

It was then followed by the word, “BITCH!” And it wasn’t just any use of the word bitch.

The girl emphasized the ‘B’ so strongly with a nasty tone that, for a second, I contemplated giving her a nice bitch slap in the face. I had to catch myself because those burly bearded men outnumbered me, and plus, I wasn’t going to put my hands on a woman even if she hit me first. Our entire table glared at this girl while her boyfriend next to her yelled at her, “What in the hell was that?” She muttered in a drunken voice, “I thought that was Brad.”

Clearly, my name isn’t Brad and whoever Brad is, he must be an asshole for a girl to throw a punch like that intended for him.

I kept my composure even though my shot was half-full from the force of her punch. The girl approached me a few minutes later, again drunk as hell. She apologized profusely saying I wasn’t a bitch but instead, a queen or maybe even a king. It didn’t make sense, probably because she was intoxicated. I felt sorry for her actually. She sat alone for a short while, eyes closed, swaying a bit, all before she was guided to the parking lot into the passenger’s seat of her car. I was dying to be back in the confines

of a gay bar or club where I knew I’d feel safer.

I know many of you may say, “Well this happens in gay bars and clubs too!” You’re right, it does.

Instead of throwing punches, gay men and straight women abuse their intoxication and proceed with unwanted gropes. The difference is, I’m not afraid to speak up in my gay space and call someone out for disrespecting me or anyone for that matter.

Our LGBTQ bars and clubs are special, and they’re meant to provide a safe haven away from hetero drunkenness and intolerance that plagues many of the straight bars. It’s because of nights like what I experienced a few weekends ago that I strongly believe our gay bars and clubs should be reserved for us and our allies. The bachelorette parties looking to cop a few feels and leave shitty tips for our hardworking bartenders can head back to their straight bars and clubs if they can’t act right.

While I’m all about inclusion and acceptance for our community as most LGBTQ folks are, instances of drunken straight girls acting out in their own habitat is further proof they don’t have a place in our bars and clubs.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

NEWS

Where the Candidates Stand with OUR Community A Recap of the First Democratic Debate Lisa Keen/Keen News Service ​ he first round of Democratic presidential T debates appears to have put U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California at the top of the 23-candidate heap. It saw South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg both winning points and taking hits for acknowledging his failure to adequately address racial tensions in his city. It saw frontrunner, former Vice President Joe Biden stumble badly to explain his past positions regarding race. And in some surprise acknowledgment of LGBTQ issues. ​s the media dust began to settle the A morning after the second debate, most political observers were declaring Senator

Harris the clear “winner” of both nights, which spanned four hours total, with 10 candidates on the stage in Miami each night. ​ arris won big points for shutting down a H prolonged eruption of cross-talking (Harris called it a “food fight”) among several candidates and NBC moderator Jose Diaz-Balart in which nobody could successfully convey a thought.

She racked up some more when she derided President Trump’s frequent boast of a “great economy,” noting that not every family has stocks and many have to work two to three jobs to make ends meet. And she raked in the big numbers when she tackled racism. She shared her personal experiences as a child and noted it was “hurtful” to hear Biden recently bragging

about his success in the Senate working with “two United States senators who built their reputations and career on segregation of race in this country,” said Harris. “​And it was not only that,” said Harris, “but you also worked with them to oppose busing.

And you know, there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day. That little girl was me.” ​ iden tried to recover, saying, “I did not praise B racists” then lurched into a discussion of his early career when he “left a good law firm to become a public defender” during rioting around the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Then he jumped to his time as vice president under President Barack Obama.

When he finally got around to his opposition

to busing, he said he felt the busing decision was one for city councils to make. “​ I did not oppose busing in America,” said Biden. “What I opposed is busing ordered by the Department of Education. That’s what I opposed. I did not oppose —” B ​ ut Harris did not let go. “​ That’s where the federal government must step in,” she said. “That’s why we have the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. That’s why we need to pass the [LGBTQ] Equality Act. That’s why we need to pass the ERA because there are moments in history where states fail to preserve the civil rights of all people.” ​Harris and two other Democratic candidates CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

MICHAEL BENNET (54) Senator from Colorado

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. (76) Former vice president; former senator from Delaware

CORY BOOKER (50) Senator from New Jersey; former mayor of Newark

PETE BUTTIGIEG (37) Mayor of South Bend, Indiana

JULIÁN CASTRO (44) Former housing secretary; former mayor of San Antonio

BILL DE BLASIO (58) Mayor of New York City

JOHN DELANEY (56) Former congressman from Maryland; former businessman

TULSI GABBARD (38) Congresswoman from Hawaii; Army National Guard veteran

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (52) Senator from New York; former congresswoman

KAMALA HARRIS (54) Senator from California; former attorney general of California; former San Francisco district attorney

6 News July 5, 2019

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

NEWS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 on the stage Thursday night –the second night of the debate — signaled their dissatisfaction with Mayor Buttigieg’s supervision of police in South Bend. In talking about busing, Harris noted that, as California Attorney General, “I was very proud to put in place a … requirement that all my special agents would wear body cameras and keep those cameras on.”

Before that discussion, NBC moderator Rachel Maddow had noted that, during Buttigieg’s tenure as mayor of South Bend, there has been “a national debate over race and the criminal justice system, and yet the “police force in South Bend is now six percent black in a city that is 26 percent black.”

“Why has that not improved over your two terms as mayor?” ask Maddow. “Because I couldn’t get it done,” said Buttigieg. That honest acknowledgment of his failure to adequately address the problem seemed to win accolades from many political commentators after the debate. But during the debate, some of his fellow candidates criticized his shortcomings. Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, “Why is it taking so long?”

“We had a shooting when I first became mayor

[of Denver] 10 years before Ferguson [police shooting and riots in Missouri], and the community came together and we created an office of the independent monitor — civilian oversight commission. We diversified the police force in two years. We actually did deescalation training. I think the real question that America should be asking is why, five years after Ferguson, every city doesn’t have this level of police accountability?” U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of California loudly interjected, “You should fire the chief.”

When Buttigieg responded that Indiana law required an investigation and said, “there will be accountability for the officer involved, Swalwell interrupted. “But you’re the mayor,” said Swalwell. “You should fire the chief if that’s the policy and someone died.”

Race and Trans Issues During the first night of the debate on Wednesday, U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey spoke at length about violence against black transgender women in particular.

“We do not talk enough about transAmericans, especially African-American transAmericans...and the incredibly high rates of murder right now,” said Booker. “We don’t talk enough about how many children — about

30 percent of LGBTQ kids — who do not go to school because of fear. It’s not enough just to be on the Equality Act. I’m an original co-sponsor. We need to have a president that will fight to protect LGBTQ Americans every single day from violence in America.” ​ ooker interjected his remarks spontaneously, B in reaction to Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s statements of support for the LGBTQ community. NBC Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd put Gabbard on the spot, asking her to explain why LGBTQ voters should trust her. “​ One of the first things you did after launching your campaign was to issue an apology to the LGBTQ community about your past stances and statements on gay rights,” said Todd. “After the Trump administration’s rollbacks of civil rights protections for many in that community, why should voters in that community or voters that care about this issue in general trust you now?” “​ There is no one in our government at any level who has the right to tell any American who they should be allowed to love or who they should be allowed to marry,” replied Gabbard. “My record in Congress for over six years shows my commitment to fighting for LGBTQ equality. I serve on the Equality

Caucus and recently voted for passage of the Equality Act. “Maybe many people in this country can relate to the fact that I grew up in a socially conservative home, held views when I was very young that I no longer hold today.

“I’ve served with LGBTQ servicemembers, both in training and deployed downrange,” said Gabbard. “I know that they would give their life for me and I would give my life for them. It is this commitment that I’ll carry through as president of the United States, recognizing that there are still people who are facing discrimination in the workplace, still people who are unable to find a home for their families. It is this kind of discrimination that we need to address.”

On the first night of debate, there were other mentions of LGBTQ people but only in passing.

Former Secretary Julian Castro expressed support for transgender women in the context of reproductive freedom, and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota tried to draw a parallel between society’s acceptance of same-sex marriage and the prospects for society to accept gun reform. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio urged Democrats to avoid letting the Republican Party “divide us” based on “who’s gay, who’s straight, who’s a man, who’s a woman.”

JOHN HICKENLOOPER (67) Former governor of Colorado; former mayor of Denver

JAY INSLEE (68) Governor of Washington State; former congressman

AMY KLOBUCHAR (59) Senator from Minnesota; former Hennepin County, Minn., attorney

BETO O’ROURKE (46) Former congressman from Texas; 2018 Senate candidate

TIM RYAN (45) Congressman from Ohio; former congressional staffer

BERNIE SANDERS (77) Senator from Vermont; former congressman

ERIC SWALWELL (38) Congressman from California

ELIZABETH WARREN (70) Senator from Massachusetts; former Harvard professor

MARIANNE WILLIAMSON (66) Self-help author, new age lecturer

ANDREW YANG (44) Former tech executive who founded an economic development nonprofit

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

July 5, 2019 News 7

NEWS

Democratic Candidates Look to Grassroots Campaign Approach for 2020 Dallas Anne Duncan In 2012, CNN decried Super Political Action Committees as “dangers” and “a disaster for democracy.” Gearing up for the 2020 race, a hefty portion of the more than two dozen candidates seem to be taking a stand against them, too.

“No corporate PACs — just people, like you,” claims Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-California) presidential campaign website. “We don’t have to accept a system that drowns out your voice. We can do better.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Massachusetts) splash page claims it’s up to the voters, as she “doesn’t accept contributions from PACs of any kind or federally registered lobbyists.”

Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), former Rep. John Delaney (D-New Jersey), former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) also have statements refusing PAC donations.

Beto O’Rourke’s website simply asks supporters to “join our grassroots campaign.”

‘Not the Billionaires’ “Running a grassroots campaign means running a campaign of, by and for the people.

It means totally rejecting the influence of billionaires, corporations and lobbyists. A grassroots campaign is one that thinks beyond election day and strives to build a base of support that will last for decades,” Nate Knauf, co-founder of the Georgia Tech Young 8 News July 5, 2019

Democratic Socialists of America chapter, told Georgia Voice. “Grassroots organizing is the history of the Civil Rights, feminist, labor and LGBTQ movements, and it’s a critical component of any political force that strives to make lasting change.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont), a democratic socialist, is the candidate Knauf ’s organization endorsed for 2020. His website footer tells visitors it’s “Paid for by Bernie 2020 (not the billionaires).”

They’re different from Super PACs — these became a reality after a 2010 US Court of Appeals decision. Super PACs don’t contribute to campaigns but are able to make “independent expenditures” in federal elections, according to The Center for Responsive Politics. These can include advertising and mailing campaigns either for or against a particular candidate.

said both the Metro Atlanta and Georgia Tech democratic socialist groups are working on efforts to get Sanders in the White House. Warren has an Atlanta organizing event coming up July 15.

On his website, O’Rourke has a lot to say about PACs, and if elected, aims to call for legislation that ends their “inappropriate influence.”

Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and the first openly gay presidential candidate told Washington Blade in February that “we will need help on the ground getting known, making introductions, winning people over.”

As support grows, the next step would be establishing “more of a field organization that will have all kinds of roles for people.”

A spokesperson for his campaign told Georgia Voice “Beto is working at a breakneck pace to ensure we mobilize the largest grassroots effort this country has ever seen.”

Knauf referenced the 2018 win of democratic socialist member Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez (D-New York) as a demonstration that “organized money can be beaten by organized people.”

The spokesperson pointed out that O’Rourke spent the campaign thus far visiting communities nationwide that are “too often ignored or forgotten by those in power.”

“For too long, a small billionaire class has dominated politics through the campaign finance system, which is essentially legalized bribery. Under the current system, politicians are wholly accountable to wealthy donors instead of their working-class constituents,” Knauf said.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Joe Sestak, whose late brother Richard was gay, feels that’s precisely the issue at hand. He told Georgia Voice he believes the next president needs to be willing to be accountable to people above party and above special interests.

According to The Center for Responsive Politics, in 2016 now-President Donald Trump accepted less than $150,000 in PAC contributions, and Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton slightly more than $1.7 million.

“Trust is the biggest deficit we have,” he said.

“The president is not the problem; he’s the symptom of the problem. We have to change the structure. The people at the top, for too long, abided special interests … [Americans] know that something is not right down there — something happened to where leaders are not listening to we the people.”

PACs, which originated in 1944 to raise money for President Franklin Roosevelt’s reelection, are allowed to give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election. This includes primary, general and special elections. They’re able to give up to $15,000 a year to a national party committee, and an additional $5,000 to another PAC.

The LGBTQ Vote Though there don’t seem to be any campaign offices in the metro yet, supporters are gearing up to volunteer. Several candidates promoted debate watch parties in Georgia, and Knauf

Sestak’s July 4 plans included actually running in parades with volunteers to pass out campaign literature.

He added that the amount of “grassroots financial support” received is one way of “showing we belong at the table.”

And for those who want to support a candidate, but aren’t ready to commit to volunteer duties of canvassing for votes and hosting watch parties, there’s the option to wear their vote on their sleeve. Candidate merchandise and promotional items this year are even geared toward specifically harnessing LGBTQ support.

Warren, Booker, Buttigieg, Sanders, O’Rourke, Inslee, Klobuchar, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), former Vice President Joe Biden, former Obama cabinet member Julián Castro, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts) and entrepreneur Andrew Yang each have at least one Pride-themed piece in their online stores. Some are the traditional rainbow, but others include the transgender pride flag and the diversity inclusion rainbow. Gillibrand is the only candidate to have bisexual pride merchandise, and even Trump has Pride-themed T-shirts and hats available this year.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT (…BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE TAKE A DIGITAL DETOX.) We understand you need an info break. Or maybe you were just in the mountains. Either way, Georgia Voice has you covered. Here’s a selection of recent story snippets you might have missed. Find the rest of them and more at TheGaVoice.com, or like us on Facebook for all the latest in local and national news that affects our community.

Staff Reports

LGBTQ Victory Fund Endorses Pete Buttigieg Out presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has been endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund. According to the Advocate, this is the first time the political action committee has endorsed a presidential candidate.

President and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund Annise Parker announced the endorsement at an event for WorldPride in Brooklyn on Friday (June 28).

While the Victory Fund only endorses LGBTQ candidates, they’ll also only endorse someone who is qualified and viable, who has shown an ability to compete.

“He has absolutely done that,” Parker said. “He’s absolutely brilliant.”

PETE BUTTIGIEG

GAGE SKIDMORE/WIKICOMMONS

Buttigieg has made history as the first openly gay participant of a presidential debate. His success not only in the race, but also throughout his life, is why the Victory Fund decided to endorse Buttigieg.

During his campaign, Buttigieg is also still serving as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, which Parker, who served three terms as mayor of Houston, Texas, said is a perfect stepping stone toward presidency.

“There is no better leadership training than being mayor of any size city,” she said. “It’s intense, it’s day-to-day, it’s operational … That same kind of clear-eyed pragmatism … is what America’s longing for in a chief executive.”

Buttigieg is also a Rhodes Scholar and military veteran. “[B]y having Pete in the race, it keeps LGBTQ issues in the mix,” Parker said. “We should all be proud every time that boyish face is beamed into Americans’ living rooms and changes perceptions of who we are in a very positive way.”

Bipartisan Hate Crime Prevention Bill Introduced into House Manifest4U Closes Doors, Plans for Relocation in Near Future Manifest4U has closed its doors after ten years of service to the community according to the executive director, Paul Swicord.

“I would like to begin by saying thank you for helping make Manifest4U so successful,” said Swicord in a letter posted on the business’s Facebook page. “As you know, we are constantly looking for new and better ways to improve your experience on each visit to the clubhouse.”

Swicord says over the past year, they’ve been looking to expand the clubhouse and add new features to help enhance their guest experiences. But because space constraints and limited expansion opportunities, Swicord said the decision to move became necessary.

“It is for this reason that we have made the decision to relocate at the end of our lease (June 2019),” he said.

To celebrate ten years of service, Manifest4U had its final event just four days before the end of their lease.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us to get the new space ready, and we will be announcing the new location soon,” stated Swicord. “Let me be clear, it is our intention to reopen in a new location within the next two to four months.”

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

A bipartisan bill has been introduced into the House of Representatives that improves the reporting of hate crimes and expands resources for victims, according to The Hill.

Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Pete Olson (R-TX) introduced the National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality (NO HATE) Act on Thursday (June 27). The act seeks to prioritize the implementation of the National Incident-Based Reporting System, allowing law enforcement agencies to record and report information about hate crimes to the FBI.

REP. DON BEYER (D-VA)

OFFICIAL PHOTO The NO HATE Act would also provide grants to create state-run hotlines that would also record information about the crimes, while also helping victims and witnesses to get in touch with law enforcement and local legislators and officials.

“The rise in hate crimes in the United States has reached epidemic proportions in the last few years, and we need law enforcement to have every possible tool to stop it,” Beyer said. “By tracking and reporting incidents of hate crimes nationwide, we can know whether we are making progress towards their prevention.”

“Hate crimes have no place in our society, yet sadly they are on the rise,” Olson added. “I see firsthand the impact these hate crimes have on our communities. The NO HATE Act will serve as a vital tool in the fight against hate crimes by improving how law enforcement agencies track and report hate crimes.”

The NO HATE Act has received a number of endorsements from organizations advocating for the LGBTQ community, as well as the Jewish and Muslim communities as well, including the Human Rights Campaign.

“With the spike in bias-motivated violence and harassment across the country, particularly impacting transgender women of color, the need to address the crisis of anti-LGBTQ hate is more urgent than ever,” said Human Rights Campaign’s government affairs director David Stacy. “Without a clearer picture of the full scope of this problem, our policymakers, elected officials, and law enforcement are deprived of the necessary tools to fully combat this epidemic.”

July 5, 2019 News 9

SPOTLIGHT

Emory Law Names School’s

First LGBTQ Female Dean Dallas Anne Duncan

Emory University School of Law played a pivotal role in women’s history for the last century, and it continues to do so in 2019.

This summer, it welcomes its first female dean, Mary Anne Bobinski.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named as dean of Emory Law, and of course to be the first woman dean of the school,” Bobinski told Georgia Voice. “Emory is highly regarded as one of the top universities in the United States. Beyond its reputation for fostering the best in teaching and research, I was also drawn by Emory’s commitment to community engagement, from programs focused on the needs of Atlanta to research shaping national and international debates.”

Bobinski said she, her spouse Holly Harlow and their daughter are excited to explore all that Atlanta and Georgia have to offer after spending a number of years in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Bobinski taught at the University of British Columbia Allard School of Law. She was dean of Allard Law from 2003 to 2015.

“I served for two terms as dean … which was the maximum length permitted by university policies. I enjoyed returning to teaching and research-related activities as a professor, but could not resist the opportunity to join the Emory Law community in this new role,” she said.

Committed to Inclusivity The Buffalo, New York, native earned degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo and Harvard Law School, and prior to her time at Allard Law was a professor and 10 Spotlight July 5, 2019

MARY ANNE BOBINSKI PHOTOS BY DALLAS DUNCAN

senior associate dean for academic affairs at Texas’ University of Houston Law Center, according to an Emory news release. “[I] was in law school as medical researchers began to address the emergence of HIV. I had an interest in the intersection of law and medicine, in LGBTQ issues and in human rights, more generally,” Bobinski said. “I began researching and writing on HIV/ AIDS during law school and, in fact, secured funding from my law school to attend an early conference on HIV counseling and testing led by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] in Atlanta.”

She said her most significant contribution thus far to the field of law is her commitment to advancing human rights. “Atlanta’s history provides so many inspiring examples of this approach,” Bobinski said. “In my own life, I have seen how lawyers, law professors, and community activists played such important roles in advancing legal protections for people with HIV infection and in promoting equality for the LGBTQ community.”

“[I] was in law school as medical researchers began to address the emergence of HIV. I had an interest in the intersection of law and medicine, in LGBTQ issues and in human rights, more generally.”

Emory Law itself has a similar commitment: in 1917, just one year after the school opened, it welcomed not just the first female law student, but the first female Emory student, Eléonore Raoul. According to Emory’s website, by the time Harvard Law admitted female students, Emory Law already graduated 25. The university is still regarded today for its inclusivity and diversity, and in 2015 was named the state’s most LGBTQ-friendly campus.

“Women make up slightly more than half of the entering class of [juris doctor] students and nearly half of full-time faculty members are women,” Bobinski said.

“Moreover, Emory University’s president, Dr. Claire E. Sterk, is an internationally recognized academic leader.”

Sterk was unavailable for comment as of press time, but in the news release said Bobinski’s “track record of inclusiveness and ideals around collective impact will enhance

our program and deepen our relationships with the legal community and abroad.”

The Next 100 Years Emory Law turned 100 in 2016, and as it greets its next century, “deserves an experienced, passionate and forwardthinking leader,” Erika James, dean of Emory’s Goizueta Business School, said in the news release. “I am confident that [Bobinski] will lead the law school with purpose and conviction.”

Bobinski told Georgia Voice her school isn’t content to rest on past recognition.

“The faculty, staff, students, and alumni are energized by the prospect of what Emory Law can achieve in developing 21st-century approaches to legal education, research and community service. I look forward to working with my new colleagues on initiatives in each of these areas,” she said.

Bobinski takes on her new role Aug. 1, 2019.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

FEATURE

LGBTQ Employment by the Numbers In 2019, more workplaces continue to reaffirm their support for the LGBTQ community across the country. In Atlanta, companies like Coca-Cola, UPS, and SunTrust Bank received perfect scores from the Human Rights Campaign. Add that to the perfect score the city of Atlanta received from HRC, and you’ve got the perfect place to work and thrive if you’re LGBTQ. Below, we’re breaking down employment numbers from across the country as millions continue to thrive in their LGBTQ-friendly workplaces!

46: Percentage of LGBTQ

workers who are closeted at work

74: Number of countries prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in employment

93

: Percentage of Fortune 500 companies that have non-discrimination policies that cover sexual orientation

85

: Percentage of Fortune 500 companies that have non-discrimination policies that cover gender identity

<20

: Number of openly LGBTQ directors serving on Fortune 500 company Boards

4: Percentage

of the workforce that identifies as LGBTQ

68

: The lowest number of cents that a member of the LGBTQ community makes for every dollar a straight man earns

21: States that have

protections to prevent anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination

79 100

: Percentage of public universities in the University System of Georgia that have policies prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation 12 Feature July 5, 2019

: Percentage of Georgians who support employment non-discrimination protections in government jobs for LGBTQ people

45

: Percentage of LGBTQ Georgians who reported experiencing homophobia, transphobia, or harassment while on the job

25

: Percentage of LGBTQ Georgians who experienced discrimination in the workplace

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

FEATURE

LGBTQ in the Workplace Katie Burkholder

In a state with no LGBTQ discrimination protections, finding a safe and validating workplace can be difficult for LGBTQ Georgians. The value of a diverse and inclusive work environment is tenfold, both for LGBTQ employees and the company itself. According to GLAAD, working in an LGBTQ-friendly workplace can increase LGBTQ employees’ job satisfaction and work commitment, lead to better mental and physical health, and allow for stronger relationships between co-workers. LGBTQ inclusion can lead to lower legal costs for the company regarding lack of discrimination lawsuits, more work done because of increased productivity, and lower health insurance costs due to increased employee wellness. In fewer words, LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace benefits everyone. Whether you’re an LGBTQ Atlantan looking for a new job or an employer looking to make your company more inclusive, here are six things that constitute a positive, LGBTQfriendly work environment.

1. The company has explicit LGBTQ discrimination protections written into their policies.

This is the most obvious way a company can protect and support its LGBTQ employees.

With only five municipalities in Georgia touting protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity — Atlanta, Chamblee, Clarkston, Doraville, and Dunwoody — being LGBTQ can easily mean termination. When the company has explicitly stated they prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination, you can rest assured that you won’t lose your job for being gay, trans, etc., and you’re protected if you happen to have a nasty homophobic co-worker.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

2. LGBTQ employees can comfortably be out to other co-workers and bosses.

This ties closely into number one. However, coming out at work can be a difficult barrier to cross even with anti-discrimination protections. LGBTQ employees who don’t feel comfortable embracing their full identity at work can experience higher levels of stress and anxiety, according to the Williams Institute, affecting their mental health, work performance, and physical health. Feeling safe not only from explicit discrimination and harassment but microaggressions as well — being treated as the token gay person, receiving inappropriate and prying questions, etc. — can improve both the job experience and your job performance.

BONUS: You’re not the only LGBTQ employee. Of course, with only about 4 percent of the American population identifying as LGBTQ, you may be the only one because of sheer probability. But still, it’s nice to have someone you can relate to.

Solidarity and whatnot.

DOUBLE BONUS: The company has

LGBTQ people in positions of power. There is no better assurance that a company is pro-LGBTQ or you’re safe being out than your boss being an out lesbian or the CEO identifying as trans.

3. Not only does the company have non-discrimination protections, but also benefits for LGBTQ employees.

When a company doesn’t only protect you from discrimination but offers you benefits specific to your identity or orientation, not only does the company want to keep you safe, but they want to keep you happy, too. These kinds of benefits can include

domestic partnership benefits, which allows unmarried couples who share a household to reap the same benefits as married couples, and transgender healthcare coverage, with employee health insurance covering transitional surgery or hormone therapy.

4. The company celebrates or recognizes Pride.

Now, with the popularization of “rainbow capitalism,” this really isn’t a surefire way to tell if a company will really support and protect you as an LGBTQ employee (they may only be interested in the profit).

However, if they make the effort to say, “We support all of you,” by taking part in their local Pride parade or proudly putting rainbows up around the office during June, chances are they’ll support you, too.

BONUS: The company’s charitable arm, if they have one, donates to pro-LGBTQ causes, candidates, or organizations. Lookin’ at you, Chick-fil-A.

5. The company has an LGBTQ employee resource group.

ERGs can be a source of information for all employees, while creating contact with other employees who share your viewpoint or experience. If you’re at a smaller business, you probably don’t have access to one of these.

However, if you’re working at a huge company with numerous other LGBTQ employees and don’t have access to a group, consider talking to the company’s leadership about creating one.

6. LGBTQ employees are listened to and valued, allowing them to create change from within the company.

Chances are, the place you work doesn’t perfectly meet all of these standards. However, as long as you’re respected and your opinions are listened to, you can create a more inclusive environment in your workplace. If you can talk to HR about anti-discrimination policies, speak to leadership about creating an ERG, or rise the ranks and institute change yourself, your place of work can become even more inclusive.

July 5, 2019 Feature 13

FEATURE

Remarkable Human Beings Life as a Volunteer Aidan Ivory Edwards Philanthropy tends to be a term flung around regarding those who are spotlighted for their generous contributions in the form of a check — CEO’s, film stars, musicians, and professional athletes. However, their lavish affluence can be a crucial component to their social influence, but the ethics behind that are irrelevant. Nonetheless, it’s profoundly inspiring, yet it feels light years away from some of us who aren’t as financially secure. There is no definite way of downplaying these admirable donations unless it’s an apparent public relations move.

Either way, the donations certainly help.

But it’s a much more complex issue than money.

Somewhere in the flurry of dollar signs, we understate my wife, Kerri. the essential meaning of She often professed JAMES the word philanthropist. It’s her admiration for RANDY THOMAS a person who assists those in his genuine virtuosity. need. There are other ways that I never knew quite the we can assist people other than money extent of his acts. It turns that have a longer lasting impact; engaging out Randy’s humanitarian efforts in conversation, providing them with a life are immeasurable. He assists those who are necessity, some genuine company, and if it’s homeless, the LGBTQ community, those possible, shelter, even if it’s temporarily. in hospice care, and has helped numerous individuals rebuild the structures of their lives.

These acts are carried out by the everyday I reconnected with Randy recently to speak people in our city. Those whom we graze shirts with him about his aid to the community. To with on the sidewalk, that share the overhead hear the fervency in his voice as he spoke on bar on the Marta train or sit across from us in the topic was inspiring, to say the least. the workplace office. Amongst us, there are heroes that we don’t know made a significant Randy is a Tennessee native, Etowah impact on one person’s life, maybe several, even specifically, a rural town in the eastern part countless lives. Atlanta is flooded with these of the state. He relocated to Atlanta for people, those who deserve the recognition for the first time in 1981 then left for Detroit, their undying selflessness and the support that Michigan in 1984. Ultimately, he returned to Atlanta in 1999 to be closer to his family they provide for the community. in Tennessee. He now lives in Midtown with James Randy Thomas is one of Atlanta’s his husband. Upon returning to Atlanta in remarkable human beings. He goes by Randy. 1999, he began volunteering after noticing I had the pleasure of meeting Randy through that his neighborhood in Midtown, north of COURTESY PHOTO

14 Feature July 5, 2019

the Civic Center, had a homeless population that was in need.

“I was encountering people that I was getting to know, that made me realize there’s a reason that they’re in my path,” he says.

I found myself wondering if this was a weekly facilitation for the community. No, this is embedded into his daily routine. “It’s basically as I walk around and see. I might run home and grab some water and food. I’ll tell them to stand here; I’ll be right back. I’ll give them ziplock bags with socks in them.

If it rains, I’ll ask them how are your socks?”

Randy spoke candidly of his intimate experiences with HIV/AIDS patients in hospice care. “When I first I came back to Atlanta, there were a couple of people who were still involved in the ‘old school’ gay community. There’s a buddy system needed for when people get to a certain point, close to passing, someone just to sit with them,” Randy says. “Even if they had friends and family with them. Sometimes it’s nice to give your friends and family a break.”

Randy considers every aspect of a person’s needs. He knows everyone that he’s helped by name, their demeanor, their likes and dislikes, where to find them, and how they’re currently doing. Yet, he’s adamant that what he does for those in need cannot be matched with what they do for them. “I get so much from all of the people that I meet. I might do something that will help them, but what they give back to me is just incredible.”

I’ve never quite met anyone like James Randy Thomas. He has a warm presence that can alleviate any disquiet from the air, building an invisible shelter where a word is a bond. He is demure about his philanthropy, downplaying it as if he only opens the doors for strangers every once and a while. This humility makes him even more admirable. There is no public relations team coordinating his press release for his humanitarian relief, no viral social media post about his servile do-gooding. He is just being himself, an altruistic human being that we can all strive to be.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

FEATURE

The Art of Working for Free Patrick Colson-Price It’s a space filled with several large lights, a massive black paper backdrop, and several hooks on a brick wall connected to large steel chains. There’s a large a/c unit in the corner of the room set to a brisk 68 degrees to keep clients cool and relaxed. From Brian McCall’s photos, you’d expect his set to be a large industrial space somewhere in the Cabbagetown district, but it’s as simple as his guest bedroom in his east Atlanta home. It’s where his work began as a photographer after years behind a desk in corporate America.

“I started with the US Olympic Softball team in 1996 as the director of PR and marketing.

I would travel with them, tour with them, but we couldn’t afford a photographer, so I started doing photography for the team back then,” McCall said. “In my current role and genre, I started almost three years after leaving the corporate world during a buyout,” he said. “I took a severance, had six months to figure out what my next move was going to be and my passion, and I found it in photography.”

The beginning stages were somewhat difficult, as McCall worked to build his portfolio and gain credibility in this new venture. It meant snapping photos with little to no pay, but would it be worth the effort? It’s what many artists have to do in the beginning of their careers, but for McCall, would it be worth the effort? “I got named as the official photographer for a new leather event coming to town. I was named because I was friends with the person running it,” said McCall. “I just had to build a portfolio.

It was six months out from this event, so I just had friends at the time, come pose and model for me, and I built my portfolio up.”

While McCall got to create his own schedule, work at his own pace in his own home, and build up his clientele, he was doing so without the comforts of a guaranteed paycheck like he’d been used in his past nine to five job. “The stress level really changed,” he said. “Owning TheGeorgiaVoice.com

your own small business, it’s not always that consistent. You’re constantly doing whatever it takes to make it work.”

As time went on, McCall found his niche, turning his once amateur dream into a professional reality, shooting hundreds of clients in many different forms, now with a price. From weddings to headshots, and his specialized kink and fetish shoots, the demand for McCall’s masterfully lit snapshots increased. So did the pay.

“As time has gone along, the comp shoots or time for photo shoots have been reduced.

I can’t afford to do free shoots as often, and I now have a pretty solid portfolio,” said McCall. “If there’s a person that it makes sense for us to work together because they have a big social media follow or it’s somebody that’s going to help market my brand as well, a lot of times I will work with them at a reduced rate or comped rate.”

But McCall says there’s a deeper meaning behind his photography and that makeshift studio in his home. It’s about creating a space of acceptance and confidence many of his clients have yet to find. That is until they step in front of his camera lens.

“What people don’t understand and realize is, the people I work with have never done a photo shoot in a studio. Of those, 90 percent of those people have some type of body

Left: Photographer Brian McCall; Above: McCall on a photoshoot with model.

(Courtesy photos)

dysmorphia that they didn’t feel like they were ready for a shoot or they needed more gym time or needed to lose more weight,” he said.

McCall sits down to talk to his clients about what they want out of their session, highlighting that he rarely does touch-ups to his photos out of a need to give those in front of his camera a sense of their own reality.

“100 percent of people who came in said it changed the way they looked at themselves,” he explained. “It’s something that I’m giving back and helping people through this and they can feel better about themselves.”

country to bring McCall Studios to his clients.

“You have to think outside of the box,” he said.

“Sometimes you have to go to your clients rather than them come to you.”

There’s a consideration for a coffee table book in the near future. It’s a chance for McCall to solidify his name, his brand, and his images into photo history one snapshot at a time.

As technology becomes more advanced, and many look to their smartphones for their own bathroom photoshoots, McCall can feel confident that his work exceeds the special features Instagram or editing apps have to offer. He offers up an experience that keeps him and his clients coming back for more.

“The more that your name is out there and the more people respect your work then they see the value in it,” said McCall. “I feel like I’m way underpriced but I feel like it’s a fair price for the work that I do. People seem to think so as well.”

What’s in store for McCall as he continues to bring kink and fetish masterpieces to the social media world? He’s about to start touring the

CORRECTION

A mistake was made in the last issue of the Georgia Voice where Brian McCall was not noted as the photographer of the last cover. An image of that cover is above.

July 5, 2019 Feature 15

FEATURE

LGBTQ Millennials at Work Rose Pelham LGBTQ college students are not waiting to graduate before entering the workforce, even as the state of Georgia offers them no protection against discrimination in employment. Georgia Voice interviewed three undergraduates attending college in the Atlanta area about their experiences working while studying for their degrees.

Viktor Prince is a 22-year-old transgender man working as a test proctor while studying for a degree in communications at Georgia Perimeter College. He asked to be identified by a pseudonym because he isn’t out as a transgender man at work and could face discrimination if he were outed.

There are no laws protecting LGBTQ workers against employment discrimination statewide, and the most recent attempt to pass legislation protecting LGBTQ Georgians from employment discrimination stalled in the state house. “There are many at the state capitol who do not believe that our diverse transgender community and gendernon-conforming community deserves the same protections as all other communities,” according to representative Park Cannon.

16 Feature July 5, 2019

Despite the lack of protections on the state level, many cities throughout Georgia have passed laws protecting LGBTQ employees from discrimination. In Atlanta, it is illegal for employers to fire workers on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity. The lack of statewide protections, however, means that many employees in other parts of the state face the threat of open discrimination from their employers.

In Athens where Viktor works, employees are only protected from discrimination if they work for the city. This means Viktor could be fired from his job if his transgender status were revealed to his employer.

In order to protect themselves from employment discrimination, many transgender people “go stealth,” or let their employer assume they are cisgender when applying for jobs and while at work. Although going stealth can help transgender people avoid discrimination, it puts pressure on them to keep their transgender status a secret, since being outed could lead to harassment, denied promotions, or even termination.

While Viktor isn’t too worried about being outed at work, he does find it at times

challenging to be a black transgender man in a predominantly straight, white male working environment. He has had to adjust to societal perceptions of black men and says he is concerned about being perceived as threatening, even though his friends know him as a sensitive and soft-spoken person. At his work, Viktor has to conduct “security checks” to make sure test takers are not trying to cheat on their exams.

He says he “never [wants] to come off as intimidating, but can’t help how someone would perceive [him].”

Ray works at a dollar general in metro Atlanta, and when asked if she felt the workplace environment was accepting of LGBTQ people, she said yes and that “the manager of the store is a lesbian.” She says she has not faced discrimination from her employer.

Viktor’s concern for how people perceive him underscores the very real danger faced by black transgender people. Nationally, black transgender people are twenty-seven times more likely to be murdered than white transgender people who are not Hispanic or Latin.

LGBTQ students who intend to remain in academia also say they tend to face less risk of discrimination. Mary Mangual is a 21-yearold English major at Emory University and former writer for the Georgia Voice. She works as a tutor and hopes to go on to work professionally in academia. She is a lesbian and is worried about how gender nonconforming women are treated in graduate schools at the major northern universities she hopes to attend. Nonetheless, she says the culture at Emory is very accepting, especially in contrast to the isolated towns she grew up in.

In Atlanta, LGBTQ college students feel less pressured to pass for straight at work. Ray is a 20-year-old student at Georgia Perimeter College, where she is studying to become an archivist. She identifies as asexual but is questioning her sexuality and thinks she might be bi-sexual. She asked to be identified by a pseudonym to protect her privacy.

But even small towns are becoming more welcoming to LGBTQ people. At the end of the interview, Mary told the story of a conversation between a student she tutored in her hometown and his mother. When the student’s mother asked him if Mary’s gender non-conformity bothered him, he shrugged it off as a non-issue.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

770-321-3433

snappyservices.com Snappy Makes Homes Happy!

$75 OFF

ANY SERVICE CALL, NEW & EXISTING CUSTOMERS

•Heating •Attic Insulation •Cooling •Plumbing •Electrical •Energy Audits

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

July 5, 2019 Ads 17

FEATURE

Life Behind

Cover photo and photo on this page: Just Toby; Opposite page: Courtesy photos

the Drag Patrick Colson-Price

Her name is Phoenix and you might recognize her from Season Three of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but this queen came onto the scene years before, with almost two decades of performances under her sequins studded belt. Take the dress and heels off, wipe the make-up away, remove those lashes, and you’re left with the creator behind the drag, Brian Trapp. He’s a 38-year-old gay man from rural Georgia living his dreams in one of the drag capitols of the country.

From producer to designer, Trapp lives for each performance and continues to spotlight queens from across the city and southeast.

We caught up with Trapp to see what life is like behind all the glitz and glamour!

How and when did you get into the world of drag?

“It started out as a way to sneak into the bars, to be honest, as underage. I’d always been into theatre and dance, and one of my friends obsessed with drag but he could never do it. He talked me into it and it kind of stuck. I started winning little competitions and 18 years later, here I am. I started here in Atlanta. I’m actually from cumming which is about 30 minutes from here. There was a bar called Metro many years ago. It was over on Peachtree Street. They had a Latin night.

My best friend was Latino. We would drive from Cumming to Atlanta just about every Tuesday. It sounds horrible but I would get ready on the mirror in his SUV.”

Do you consider drag as a professional job?

“For me, it’s not just on-stage. I do a lot of off-stage production. I produce a lot of shows.

For ten years, there was a club called Jungle, 18 Feature July 5, 2019

I was the entertainment director for them, and entertainment director for Burkharts.

I did it all. I had 50 girls under me. I ran about eight shows a week. I enjoy that part of it. Drag is changing so much but Atlanta is known for a certain standard of this entertainment industry and a certain quality it brings. I’m big on trying to keep that.”

Is it difficult to rely on drag to pay the bills?

“It can be difficult. I’m fortunate to be in a different area with producing. Atlanta is a great city to do this as a living. People do come out and tip and they do show up.

Maybe not as great as it was a few years ago but people still come out. I always encourage people to come out and support the queens. Don’t come out just when it’s a big named drag race girl and tip them 100 bucks. But they just made $5000 to be here, so make sure you tip your local queens. It’s tough for some people to make a living in this. It’s a hustle, it’s not just showing up and getting paid a lot for one gig. You’re doing five, six, seven, eight gigs a week.

That may sound simple but everything is supposed to be different. That’s a lot.”

Do you feel like certain venues or promoters haven’t allowed you to represent who you, your style and your own vibe?

“It’s a trust thing. Especially with circuit parties, it takes a lot of money and even with any kind of bar, it takes a lot of money to produce and to have your own club. It’s kind of difficult to allow someone to come in and be themselves, and promoters not question it. Keith Allen Young and I have CONTINUES ON PAGE 19 TheGeorgiaVoice.com

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 developed a relationship over the years and now he lets me go do my own thing.”

How do you help people understand that drag is simply just a job and not who you are as a person?

“It’s funny, my dad and I had this conversation the other day. I was saying I was going to meet some friends for dinner.

He said, “So, do they dress up also?” I was like, no dad! My dad knows what I do for a living but he had that perception that drag was 24-hours a day, seven days a week. I told him, it’s just a job. That’s one positive thing that’s come from RuPaul’s Drag Race.

It’s opened people’s eyes to the artform. It’s opened people’s eyes to, you can be a man.

Am I overly masculine? No. Am I overly feminine? I don’t think so. I feel like I’m just a gay man. It’s made people realize that you can still be a normal guy and do drag. You don’t have to be flamboyant and super over the top to do drag. It is that perception that all queens are super feminine and when you get outside of make-up, you’re going to be the same, and that’s not true.

As a drag queen, what does it mean to you to be able to do this as a profession because of the sacrifices from those in the LGBTQ community over 50 years?

“There’s a queen here in Atlanta, her name is Lena Lust, and she’s been doing drag for like 40 years. She’s at Blakes on the Park and she’s told the stories about years ago having to have one article of men’s clothing on to be able to do drag. And they would stop and ask you. One of the reasons Charlie Brown’s name is Charlie Brown is because of that reason. Seeing that kind of stuff, I hope everyone understands how hard these people fought for us to be where we’re at right now.

I think I’m a strong person but trying to put myself in their shoes is just insane.”

Do you think the younger generations are fans of drag or just RuPaul’s Drag Race?

“I would say they’re not necessarily fans of drag, they fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race. There is a difference. You can be a fan of drag and know your history, appreciate all types especially queens that aren’t on drag race, and understand who people like Charlie Brown TheGeorgiaVoice.com

My dad knows “what I do for a

are, who is a legendary queen that before drag race was on tv, she was on television.

Then you have people that are, if you’re not on RuPaul’s Drag Race and you didn’t make it to your top five, they don’t really know who you are. They don’t really care who you are and that is a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Do you get frustrated when bigger crowds come to Atlanta venues for RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants?

“From a business standpoint, no, because that’s what I want and chances are, my hand is in it to bring them. I wear different hats in this industry and sometimes I have to be just a performer. Those moments can be a little frustrating. But when you see people who are literally never out and then come out to tip these Drag Race contestants $100 bills. I’m like, I literally just paid this girl thousands of dollars to be here. We never see you support local girls who are just as good, if not better.

What’s the most memorable moment in your 18 years as a drag queen?

“One of the first times my parents asked to see a photo, that’s always a really cool feeling because me being from Cumming, Georgia, this little country town, it’s a crazy thought.

My dad is a country boy from Georgia, plays sports, seeing where we’re at now is a crazy one. Actually, a story that will always stand out to me is that I just had some new promos done. They were somewhat showing skin, not anything crazy. I thought it might make him at least a little uncomfortable. My dad is in awe of the transformation part of it. He sees his son that he raised, to this. I sent him a photo thinking it was going to throw him off, and all he said was, “Bigger tits son.” It floored me, I didn’t even know how to respond!”

living but he had that perception that drag was 24-hours a day, seven days a week. I told him, it’s just a job. That’s one positive thing that’s come from RuPaul’s Drag Race. It’s opened people’s eyes to the artform.

”

to do drag or have other dreams to make it big?

“She’s amazing with it. My mom always says I look like her. My mom is one of the reasons I think women are some of the most beautiful people in the world. As a kid, I grew up watching my mom styling her hair and wearing make-up, and getting herself together.

I was in awe of her, I just thought she was the most beautiful person in the world. Now, I wear blonde hair most of the time because of her. She’s definitely influenced my drag.”

“Back in my hometown, this just happened.

There’s this girl that’s trans. She came out as a trans and just won homecoming queen at my old high school. The thought of her doing that where I used to go to school is just when I read that, I was just speechless. The strength of that girl to do what she’s done. I want people to live their truth, don’t be scared of who you are, but be safe with who you are. Not everyone wants us to be proud and just be careful right now. Love who you are and accept who you are!”

What do you say to teens struggling with their identities, who aspire

Can’t get enough of Phoenix?! See our full interview at thegavoice.com.

How does your mom feel about your career?

July 5, 2019 Feature 19

FEATURE

The Truth Is Just As Queer As Fiction O’Brian Gunn While it’s great to have queer representation in TV shows, movies, video games and the like, it’s even better when that representation comes from queer creators. Not only is the representation more authentic when it comes straight from the tap, but it also creates opportunities for queer creators, giving them a well-deserved seat at the table.

As a self-proclaimed hoe for books (and to give you some ideas for your summer reading list), here’s a list of queer writers who include queer characters in their stories.

Kai Ashante Wilson If you like quick reads, be sure to put Kai Ashante Wilson at the top of your reading list. Wilson is the author of two fantasy novellas, The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps and A Taste of Honey, both of which take place in the same universe of demigods, necromantic terrors, and magic. Not only does Wilson write in one of my favorite genres, but his narratives also center on the love between gay men of color. Even better is that Wilson’s characters are unapologetically 20 Feature July 5, 2019

“‘round the way,” meaning they make no bones about playing fast and loose with grammar and proper speech. If you’ve seen Moonlight, you already have a solid idea of the experience you’re in for. Prepare yourself for brutal poetry that pummels on one page and pacifies on the next.

Sam J. Miller The Art of Starving was my first introduction to writer Sam J. Miller, and I didn’t expect to enjoy the novel (for some reason) as much as I did. The book focuses on a small-town gay teen whose eating disorder gives him special abilities. Miller based the story on his own struggles with an eating disorder, which becomes apparent as you feel the raw agony spiking through his words. While The Art of Starving is a YA novel, its themes are easily relatable to older readers, especially those who struggle with body dysmorphia.

Another of Miller’s novels, Blackfish City, has queer characters, which I’ll most certainly be adding to my “to be read” pile.

Margaret Killjoy Margaret Killjoy is a transfeminine author

of quick, easily digestible narratives. The Danielle Cain Series focuses on a queer, female-identifying main character who journeys to Freedom, Iowa to solve the mystery of her best friend’s suicide. Joined by a diverse cast of characters, Danielle is plunged into a world of magic, murderous protector spirits, and genuine community.

So far, the series only has two novellas, but they make for ideal reads if you’re looking for stories that have light horror elements and heavy social commentary.

Rivers Solomon What can I say about reading River Soloman’s An Unkindness of Ghosts that fully encapsulates the majesty and power of the literary baby they’ve birthed into the world?

There’s so much, so, so much to appreciate about this story. You’ve got an ambiguously gendered and neuroatypical main character in Aster, and a cast of queer characters who are just as compelling as Aster. The book touches on colorism, gender, religion, and much more. At this point, I feel like it doesn’t even matter what the book is about, it deserves a spot at the top of your reading list.

Marlon James

If you’d like an undiluted shot of Mother Africa added to your fantasy literary cocktail, then you may find Marlon James slakes your narrative thirst. In James’ Black Leopard, Red Wolf, we’re introduced to a hunter named Tracker who’s tasked with finding a missing boy. While James does include queer characters in Black Leopard, Red Wolf, I have to include a content warning for this particular selection. Its pages are packed with rape, incest, bestiality, and misogyny, to name a few. If you aren’t unsettled or triggered by such content, you may enjoy everything else the 620-page tome has to offer.

Sit Down and Take a Read As you continue to explore the world of LGBTQ reads, be sure to swing by your local library or bookstore. Charis Books and More in Decatur houses many of these literary titles with many more queer writers to be discovered within the stores’ bookshelves.

While the above stories may be fictional, the queer representation etched into the pages by their queer authors is magnificently real, and is sure to keep you running back for more.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

ACTING OUT

All About Hair Jim Farmer

It was the show that Brian Clowdus, the openly gay artistic director of Serenbe Playhouse, credits for really putting his theater company on the national map. His 2013 version of “Hair” was a smashing success and now the musical is back as part of the company’s 10th anniversary season.

“Hair”

COURTESY PHOTO

The Tony Award-winning musical is known for his incredible score, with such recognizable songs as “Easy to be Hard,” “Let the Sunshine In” and the titular number. With the 50th anniversary of Woodstock this year, it seemed like a natural for a revival. “The 10th anniversary of Serenbe lined up with the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, so it felt like the universe was saying this was the time to revive it with an even more immersive, exciting cast,” says Clowdus. “I built the entire season around ‘Hair.’”

The musical was the first large scale one the company ever staged. “It was when we said, ‘Let’s do a cast of 20 and do it in an open space,’” Clowdus says. “It defined us as a theater that takes musicals and re-invents them, turning them on their head and making them exciting for everyone. We welcome people that don’t see anything else. You can wear your flip flops and hats to see a show here. That is what we have become known for. ‘Hair’ defined us as that, where the experience happens the minute you get out of your car.”

None of the 2013 cast members are back.

The cast here is all new. “That was very important for me,” says Clowdus. “This cast brings fresh new energy. We have some New York talent as well as Atlanta talent.” Many of the cast members are gay, says Clowdus, including Zane Phillips, the actor playing Claude.” “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Mimi Imfurst has also joined the cast.

Clowdus promises this version will feel like Woodstock. “It’s like you stepped back in time 50 years. You legitimately enter into 22 Columnists July 5, 2019

a wildflower meadow and feel like you are completely transported. We use costumes from photos we found. The stage is a scaled down version of an actual Woodstock stage.

We are using old vintage microphones and old theatrical lighting. It will have the same hippie atmosphere. It is going to feel like you are seeing a really cool concert at Woodstock – and you get to know the rock stars of this tribe. You’ll be entertained.”

He finds that the show is relevant for all audiences, including LGBT ones. “I think that ‘Hair’ as a show really hits home with artists and thinkers and lovers of all walks of life. It transcends theater audiences because that music – so many people who don’t know the musical know the song ‘Hair.’ I also think this is a perfect show for gay audiences to celebrate being free and that there is more fight to be done. It’s a very cathartic show not just for gay audiences but for anyone

who feels liberated or even oppressed.”

Elsewhere, City Springs Theatre Company is closing a strong first season with the perennial favorite “Hairspray.” This version of the Tony Award-winner stars Greg London as Edna Turnblad, a role he has played on the national tour of the musical.

Other cast members include Chase Peacock as Link Larkin, Deb Bowman as Velma Von Tussle and Marcie Millard as Prudy Pingleton. Based on the company’s track record, this should be worth seeing.

SHOWING TIMES “Hair” Serenbe Playhouse Through August 18 “Hairspray” City Springs Theatre Company July 12 -21

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

EATING MY WORDS

Not Just Another Gastropub Cliff Bostock I’ve been trying to get to LLoyd’s since it opened six months ago, but friends have resisted it as “just another gastropub” in our hard-drinking city. I thought this was bullshit, considering that I don’t drink but became an instant fan of the owners’ first spot, the cheap and quirky Victory Sandwich Shop when it opened in Inman Park nine years ago. That was followed by a second location in Decatur and two other oddities -- S.O.S. Tiki Bar and Little Trouble. Besides pub grub, all of these, but especially the new LLoyd’s, share one rather gay feature: irony.

Generally, LLoyd’s employs irony’s subcategory of campy, retro devices to comment on the absurd pretensions of the present. Thus its website contains language like, “What not to expect: craft beer, good looking people, cool music, or anything fussy.” It doesn’t offer a complicated cocktail program and it promises to be a place “where nobody knows your name.” The hetero-campy décor includes lots of knotty-wood paneling, bits of pleather and velvet, and beveled lit signs above the bar that go back, like, as far as the Majestic. My friends and I instantly loved the feel of the place, even though we violated the claim that no good looking people would be present.

The challenge of irony in all its forms is that if you’re taking a swipe at present-day inanities, your retro alternatives better werk, girl. LLoyd’s décor scores. But the menu falters with its entirely prosaic resurrection of mediocre diner food. The point is to produce something so deliciously nostalgic that you will pound the table with your fist and curse the day you spent $20 on a tapas plate of organic micro-greens atop the braised antennae of free-range escargots. LLoyd’s did not come close to pulling that off the evening I visited with two friends. A very meh baked and griddled meatloaf — the star of every retro menu —was served with a repulsively sweet ketchup sauce. My eternally ravenous friend ordered it because it came with allyou-can-eat mashed potatoes. They were dry and tasteless. I remain unconvinced they weren’t instant. My order, the fried chicken

LLOYD’S

PHOTOS BY CLIFF BOSTOCK

sandwich, was frankly an insult. The menu described its breast as “buttermilk-brined, secret-spiced, and deep-fried.” Then it was allegedly coated in “melted cheddar, gruyere cheese, and hot honey mustard.” Nope. The breast was topped with enough tasteless lettuce and tomato to turn the sandwich into a towering pillar. I appreciate the drama, but no flavor was there. (Compare it to the friedchicken sandwich at Little Rey and you’ll see that the theatrical can also be delicious.) My side of mac and cheese was drier than your mama’s three-day-old leftovers.

The evening’s winner was the blue-plate special of roasted chicken whose charred skin was coated in a sweet glaze. My friend chose sides of elote — grilled corn on the cob drizzled with crema, Mexican style — and broccoli grilled to the point of blackened sweetness. I hope you’re noticing the pervasive sweetness of all these dishes.

LLoyd’s hosts snow-crab, prime-rib, and fried-chicken specials respectively on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.

The restaurant is open only for dinner daily, except Sunday when brunch is also served.

That menu features a dish called Bologna Benedict. It includes fried beef bologna, a split and griddled biscuit, a poached egg, creole mustard hollandaise, and chives. Now that sounds like the kind of craziness I love at Victory. I’d order it.

Cliff Bostock is a longtime Atlanta restaurant critic and former psychotherapist turned life coach; cliffbostock@gmail.com.

MORE INFO LLoyd’s 900 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307 404-228-7227 LloydsAtl.com

24 Columnists July 5, 2019 TheGeorgiaVoice.com

Indulge your senses with our sommeliers and winemakers through approachable, interactive tastings for all levels

now open

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY

CITYWINERY.COM | 404.WINERY1 650 NORTH AVE NE , PONCE CITY MARKET, ATLANTA , GA 30308

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

July 5, 2019 Ads 25

BEST BETS Our Guide to the Best LGBTQ Events in Atlanta for July 5-18 Friday, July 5

Support) queens celebrate Diva Night: Madonna, Cher, and Tina! Oh My! Drag Queen Bingo.

7:30 – 9:30pm Lips Atlanta

Hussy presents the second annual Mix Crunchwap Supreme. Do you have what it takes to be the next Supreme? Rounds include repurposed evening looks, talent, Q and A and a mysterious mystery round.

8:30 – 11pm Mother Bar+Kitchen

Wednesday, July 10

Saturday, July 6

Get your Lady Gaga on as Thad Stevens hosts karaoke at My Sister’s Room every Wednesday night.

9pm

Atlanta Bear Fest continues tonight and offers four days of events for grizzlies, cubs, etc., including pool parties and nightly happenings at the Atlanta Eagle.

Bulge presents “How Big Is Your HotDawg” featuring Onyx. This day party will be filled with a host of fun games emceed by Onyx’s premiere MC, Dominion Onyx. DJ Calvin will be the DJ for this event. Added fare includes the Best Wet Bulge contest, The Put the Hotdog in the Hole contest and the Hotdog Eating contest.

3 – 8pm The Hideaway Atlanta Elevate your nightlife Saturday with music

by DJ Mike Pope! No cover!

10pm – 3am Heretic Atlanta Come celebrate the birthday of Ella/ Saurus/Rex tonight at Mary’s Atlanta.

11pm

Monday, July 8

The Atlanta Eagle is the home for Mutt Mondays, hosted by the League of Atlanta Pups. Pup gear is encouraged.

7:30pm

Tuesday, July 9

Where’s the party? Do you believe in life after love? What’s love got to do with it? Find out when Bubba D. Licious, Erica Lee, Desiree Storm, Patsy and the rest of the PALS (Pets Are Loving

It was one of the company’s biggest hits ever and now the musical “Hair” is back at Serenbe Playhouse. Running through August 18, the musical plays tonight.

8pm Wild Flower Meadow at Serenbe

Thursday, July 11

MAAP (Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals), Bill Kaelin Marketing, Georgia Voice, and Out On Film team up to host the Southeast Emmy Awards’ Truth Talk, a “Ted Talk” style event, presenting Jana Shortal.

7pm Lilli Midtown The New Kids On The Block: “The MixTape Tour” packs your favorite ‘80s and ‘90s hits into one evening with New Kids on the Block, Salt N Pepa, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany & Naughty

By Nature.

7:30pm State Farm Arena

Friday, July 12

It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and the “pleasantly plump” teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire: to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. She’s a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart who sets out to follow her extraordinary dreams and win the boy she loves.

Winner of eight Tony Awards including

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Sunday, July 7

A new and campy offering, The Supersized Sunday Show is hosted by Edie Cheezburger (right) with guests Shawna Brooks, Raquel Rae Heart, Raquell Lord, Michelle Paris and Chavon Scott. 8:30pm, Blake’s on the Park (Photo via Facebook/ By Just Toby)

26 Best Bets July 5, 2019

Best Musical, “Hairspray” is piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs.

8pm, through July 21 City Springs Theatre Company/ Byers Theatre

Saturday, July 13

The Georgia Writers Museum, a nonprofit and exhibit space that educated the public about the state’s rich literary heritage, will host a one-day celebration of Alice Walker’s 75th birthday today. Walker, who was born in Eatonton, GA, will travel to her hometown for the festivities. Among the day’s activities will be a screening of the documentary “Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth.” Filmmaker Pratibah Parmar and scholar Salamishah Tillet will discuss the documentary and take audience questions after the screening. Esteemed writers and artists paying tribute to Walker with live readings and musical performances include

CONTINUES ON PAGE 28

BEST BETS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 playwright Pearl Cleage, New York Times bestselling author Tayari Jones, gospel violinist Melanie R. Hill and Walker’s daughter, writer and activist Rebecca Walker. A cocktail reception will also take place with a champagne toast and cake cutting ceremony, followed by a conversation with author Valerie Boyd, author of Walker’s upcoming journals.

10am – 9:30pm Eatonton’s The Plaza Arts Center Hannah Thomas is bringing her own style of music to the roots rock world with a voice reminiscent of young Bonnie Raitt, grit and bravado that draws comparisons to Melissa Etheridge, and the southern rock soul of Chris Robinson. Born in Covington, she grew up on classic rock and country music. Tonight she shares songs from her new LP “Fault Line.”

9pm Eddie’s Attic

Sunday, July 14

Superstar DJ and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season One Runner-up, Nina Flowers, returns to Atlanta to serve up fierce beats at Xion after hours.

3am – 7am BJ Roosters Don’t miss the “Drag Me to the Brunch” event today at My Sister’s Room, with a fabulous buffet and $3 mimosas.

2pm

Monday, July 15

Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues.

6:30 – 8pm Charis Books and More WUSSY MAG + Out On Film and Plaza Atlanta present “Queers on Film,” a new monthly series of LGBTQ arthouse and independent classics at the Plaza Theatre.

Tonight’s screening is the 1991 Gus Van Sant classic “My Own Private Idaho,” starring Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, featuring a post-film discussion with Jim Farmer of Out On Film.

7:30pm The official opening of Moon Bar, a

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Wednesday, July 17

Direct from Broadway! If you want to be part of the party of the summer, get thee to Actor’s Express for the hilarious, sexy Broadway hit “Head Over Heels,” featuring the music of the iconic ’80s band The Go-Go’s. Full of campy fun and romantic entanglements, this wildly entertaining musical romp follows the royal family of mythical Arcadia on a madcap journey to save their kingdom and follow their hearts. Featuring such beloved Go-Go’s hits as “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation” and Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You,” “Head Over Heels” will leave you laughing out loud and humming along. 8pm, through August 15 (Photos courtesy of Actor’s Express)

week-long event, starts tonight. “Lunar” is an immersive art show featuring videos, installations, specialty drinks and a midnight countdown to lift off. This show is put on

by Alan Steadman, Dave Hughes, Cody DeMatteis and Linda McNeil. This night will also feature the official release of Moon Zine, a tribute to the moon landing. Artists include: Albrica Tierra, Candii Allen, Sarah Lashinsky, Jamie Hopper, Lizzy Johnston, Andrew Lawandus, Amanda Schrembeck, James Abercombie, Nate Sekulich, Luke Webster, Katie Greene, Rachel Hortman, Mike Netland, Sam Wagstaff, Estela Semeco, Zachary White, Jason Clarke, Linda McNeil, Mike Bailey, Matt Perry, Ross Zietz, Yoon Nam, Jonny Warren, Jud Vaughan, Brooke Spirckman, Alan Chiang, Beca Grimm, Gray Chapman and Natalia Montoya.

8pm – 2am Mother Bar+Kitchen

Tuesday, July 16

Join DJ Diva Darlene for karaoke.

9pm Felix’s

Thursday, July 18

Get your kicks at Dance Floor Divas tonight, hosted by Phoenix with special guests Destiny Brooks, Trinity Bonet, CiCi Nicole, Alissah Brooks and Angelica D’Paige Brooks.

11:30pm Midtown Moon

UPCOMING Friday, July 19

Winner of eight Tony Awards, “Spring Awakening” is a provocative exploration of the journey from adolescence to adulthood told through an electrifying contemporary musical with a pop/ rock score. Based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play of the same name, it follows the interweaving lives of a group of German teenagers as they navigate issues of sexuality, morality, and adulthood.

Although set in late-19th century Germany, the angst, emotion, desire and romance still ring true today. Onstage Atlanta’s version

of it opens tonight.

8pm, running through August 24 Get ready to celebrate Joining Hearts 32 with two super-star DJ’s, Joe Gauthreaux and Leanh on-stage creating music magic at the official JH kickoff party! For ticket information, visit gaboyevents.com.

10pm – 3am Heretic Atlanta

Saturday, July 20

The Auburn Avenue Research Library in collaboration with Hammonds House Museum will host renowned photographer Adreinne Waheed, who will discuss her book of photography “Black Joy and Resistance.” What can be deemed as a visual representation of Maya Angelou’s “And Still We Rise” through her camera lens, Adreinne Waheed’s “Black Joy & Resistance” masterfully captures “The Souls of Black Folks.

3pm

CONTINUES ON PAGE 29

28 Best Bets July 5, 2019 TheGeorgiaVoice.com

BEST BETS

19

S

BES 2

0

A NT

T

OF ATLA

AWA R

D

Come join us on July 18 at The Georgian Terrace Hotel for

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Sunday, July 21

DJ Pagano returns to Xion after hours to celebrate JH weekend! 3am – 7am BJ Roosters

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28 Come get wet for Joining Hearts 32 to help raise awareness and funds to provide care and housing assistance to people living with HIV/ AIDS in Atlanta. Since 1987 Joining Hearts has donated more than $2.5 million to various local beneficiaries. Enjoy superstar Rick Braile and an opening set by Andres Vergel. Patrons will all enjoy food by Sun In My Belly and end with a fabulous fireworks display.

4 – 10:30pm Greystone at Piedmont Park Keep the party going with the official JH Saturday night party with international DJ Micky Friedmann spinning the beats all night long. Opening set by DJ Mike Pope. Special performance by Phoenix!

For ticket information, visit gaboyevents.com.

10pm – 2:45am Buckhead Theatre Atlanta house legend DJ Ron Pullman returns to town, spinning tonight at Mixx Atlanta.

9pm

Sunday, July 21

Can’t quite satisfy that sweet tooth? You’re in luck because Sugar is back for Joining Hearts weekend as the Official

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

Sunday Tea Dance! DJ/Producer Dan De Leon will spin the beats all afternoon long! For ticket information, visit BeyondProductions Facebook page.

4 – 9pm Loca Luna Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! As part of the Coca Cola Film Festival at the Fox Theatre, “Mary Poppins” screens today — and it’s the Sing-along version!

2pm After an impactful launch in Miami this spring, the Sweet Spot crew is spreading the love this summer with their new Sweet Spot event. Sweet Spot resident joy-makers Deane and DJ Pride are bringing a different flavor and will be joined by Atlanta’s own Brian Rojas. The trio will be pumping a surprising, unpredictable and joy-inducing blend of modern and classic house, soulstirring and vintage jams, connected by a yummy base of percussive fierceness.

2 – 7pm District Atlanta The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children opens its doors tonight.

2:30 – 4pm Atlanta International School

Georgia Voice’s 2019 Best of Atlanta Awards!

We will eat, drink, dance, and present the awards to your winners in Atlanta’s LGBTQ community in Arts & Entertainment, Community, Eats, Nightlife, People, Pet Care, Services, and Shopping!

AWARD CEREMONY HOSTED BY

Brent Starr BEATS BY

DJ Calvin COMPLIMENTARY COCKTAILS BY

Tito’s Vodva, Tower Liquor LITE BITES BY

Henry’s, Las Margaritas, Mediterranean Grill, Highland Bakery, and Metrotainment Bakery RSVP ON FACEBOOK NOW, AND WE WILL SEE YOU JULY 18!!!

COCKTAILS & FOOD 6-8 PM AWARD PRESENTATION 8-8:30 PM DANCING 8:30 - 9:30 PM AND DON’T FORGET TO VOTE BEFORE THE FINAL ROUND ENDS ON JULY 4!!!

July 5, 2019 Best Bets 29

THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

Our Country’s Identity Crisis Melissa Carter Genealogy has been a hot topic for many years, the biggest beneficiary being ancestry.com. My sister has gone much further than looking relatives up online, serving as my family’s true genealogist for decades. She physically goes to courthouses in each state we’ve lived in to look up records that confirm a family member’s identity, and interviews relatives to find out about people she may have missed. This effort of hers has gone on for most of my adult life.

As for my efforts on where my ancestors came from, I once bought kits from AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritageDNA to see if all three would bring back the same results.

The saliva-based tests indeed confirmed what my sister already knew. I am mostly British and Irish, with a little German and Scandinavian in my bones. Sadly, there’s no Cherokee Indian as many Southerners assume they are.

Never do we expect as Americans that our results will come back as North American, and if it did we might even be disappointed or bored by the results, which means the vast majority of us are immigrants and are indeed proud of the fact our genealogy is traced to another country. It’s why I find it ironic that those who lack compassion for the current treatment of immigrant children are the very ones to brag about said genealogy and where their family came from.

When children are held in custody at our southern border, they are not supposed to be detained by Border Patrol agents for more than 72 hours before being sent to the Department of Health and Human Services.

From there, the government finds its nearest relative within our country to house them. If they are instead to remain in detention, the Flores agreement states it should be under the least restrictive conditions possible.

The past few weeks investigators have begun touring these detention centers and interviewed the children, and the findings 30 Columnists July 5, 2019

U.S. BORDER PATROL

WIKI COMMONS

have outraged a large number of Americans.

Lack of toothbrushes, clean clothes, and proper bedding are some of the details that have been revealed.

An 11-year-old said during his interview, “There are little kids here who have no one to take care of them, not even a big brother or sister. Some kids are only two or three years old and they have no one to take care of them.”

It was earlier reported that in each of the past four years, 1,000 or more immigrants children who arrived at the border without parents have been sexually abused while in government custody.

When posting such atrocities online, someone argued that these children’s parents put them in this situation, so why should we give these kids a pass? What kind of identity crisis is our country in? Do we pride ourselves on being the land of opportunity while at the same time building a wall to keep people out? Do we brag about the trip our ancestors took to come to America in order to have a better life, all while making it hard for immigrants to obtain U.S. citizenship?

I understand it’s a complex issue but don’t see an end-result we as a country are working toward. Devolving into a fractured people, some of whom have no compassion for children of a different race, doesn’t suggest we’ll find that shared goal soon.

One of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta, Melissa’s worked for B98.5 and Q100.

Catch her daily on theProgressive Voices podcast “She Persisted.” Tweet her! @MelissaCarter TheGeorgiaVoice.com

SOMETIMES ‘Y’

‘Old Town’ Rapper Rides to New LGBTQ Heights Ryan Lee The fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots offered many promising LGBTQ milestones and ended with a test of how far we’ve truly come. There was so much goodwill on display throughout this year’s Pride season that it was tempting to believe the fight for LGBTQ liberation was over, as if we could forget how personal the struggle is for every individual who has to accept that he or she is different, and who pushes back against the notion that those difference makes him or her evil or flawed, or less than.

The danger and discrimination which remain a daily part of life for many transgender Americans are enough to know it’s too soon for us to take a victory lap. Yet, from the cast of “Pose” leading more than 600 contingents in New York City’s Pride parade (which I’m assuming has finally ended by press time) to transgender reproductive rights receiving (misguided, but well-meaning) attention in a presidential debate, a long overlooked pillar of our community is being heard and heralded at new, encouraging levels.

This year’s Pride was so amplified that we had a legitimate, viable openly gay candidate for president who was out-queered by one of his competitors wearing a rainbow-sequined jacket to her city’s parade. But it was an eleventh-hour announcement from one of our own that reminded us what it means to discover and celebrate one’s fullness, and how exciting and intimidating that process continues to be.

My favorite rite of aging has been detaching from popular music, and not trying to keep up what the kids are listening to these days. Unlike most of my peers, I believe the contemporary catalog is filled with as much artistic merit and cultural worth as those from any era, but I’ll leave it to my niece and nephews to sift through and compile evidence for that argument.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

As someone who doesn’t listen to radio or streaming apps, I had managed to avoid hearing “Old Town Road” for an impressively middle-aged length of time. I eventually clicked on a video of a group of elementary school students erupting into adolescent euphoria during a surprise visit from Lil Nas X, and have been dealing with a “Riiiiddde ‘til I can’t no more” earworm for the past week.

The unlikely summer anthem about life as a hip-hop cowboy has made Lil Nas X the breakout artist of 2019, and his decision to risk his newfound success and adoration by coming out on the last day of Pride month makes an openly gay rapper as powerful a symbol as an openly gay presidential candidate. How many roomfuls of kids lose their shit when Pete Buttigieg pops from behind a curtain at a school assembly?

Old people – most significantly, the 60-andup voting bloc – will decide Buttigieg’s fate, and whether our country is ready to be led by a man who shares his bed and his life’s dreams with another man. Politics is the realm of aged know-it-alls, but music belongs to the youth, and so Lil Nas X’s destiny rests in the hands and playlists of teenagers and twenty-somethings.

It’s well established that tolerance of LGBTQ individuals and equality increases with each successive generation, and Lil Nas X’s bravery allows us to check on whether that acceptance is durable, or can be dismantled as easily as a store’s Pride decorations on July 1. The glow of Pride can obscure how perilous his decision to come out remains, and how there are hardly any reassuring precedents among black masculine men that his career and commercial appeal won’t suffer due to his honesty.

There have been queer artists who have enjoyed adoration on the scale that Lil Nas X has with “Old Town Road,” but too few who made it clear that all of the love in the world counted for little if you consider parts of yourself unmentionable.

July 5, 2019 Columnists 31