Georgia Voice 07/07/23, Vol. 14 Issue 8

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys.

If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.  BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information about

BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.  Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5.  If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2023 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0292 04/23

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5/11/23 12:25 PM

#1 PRESCRIBED

HIV TREATMENT* *Source: IQVIA NPA Weekly, 04/19/2019 through 01/20/2023.

ELIAS SWITCHED TO BIKTARVY Listen to REAL STORIES being told by REAL VOICES.

No matter where life takes you,

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Person featured takes BIKTARVY and is compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and at BIKTARVY.com.

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5/11/23 12:25 PM

voice

georgia VOLUME 14• ISSUE 8 About the cover:

GUEST EDITORIAL

DRAG IS NOT A CRIME

Cover photo by Just Toby

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4 EDITORIAL JULY 7, 2023

Could you imagine a world where drag queens were terrorists, corrupt, dangerous, rapists, serial killers, pedophiles? The reality of our world is all of that exists, and none of it comes from drag queens.

“Drag queen” has become a buzzword for legislators who are leading efforts of queer erasure and attacks on the LGBTQ community. With five bills advancing in Georgia, there are needs within the community to better understand, support, and uplift queer and trans folks in drag, as well as LGBTQ young people. The growing stigma around queer youth and efforts to eliminate resources for queer entertainers is surreal, but there are collective efforts to combat the misinformation about drag queens, queer entertainers and queer youth.

Drag culture has long been an expression of artistic creativity and self-empowerment and a celebration of diversity. Drag provides a platform for individuals to embrace their identities and challenge societal norms.

However, recent legislative attempts to police and ban drag performances in Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and West Virginia have sparked widespread controversy.

Drag is an art form that blurs the lines of gender expression, has a rich history and plays a vital role in LGBTQ culture.

It allows individuals to embody different gender identities, explore their creativity, and challenge conventional norms.

Drag performers use elaborate costumes, makeup, and larger-than-life personas to captivate audiences with their one-of-akind characters. The artistry of drag extends beyond mere entertainment; it serves as a

PHOTO BY JUST TOBY

powerful tool for self-discovery, acceptance, and community.

way, serving as a powerful reminder that drag is not a crime, but an essential form of artistic expression that deserves protection.

The antidrag bills that have been introduced often target public spaces and seek to regulate drag performances under the guise of protecting “public decency” or preventing “harmful influences” on children. These bills fail to acknowledge the positive impact of drag culture and perpetuate harmful stereotypes about gender expression and sexuality. By attempting to censor drag, these bills undermine the fundamental principles of freedom of expression and equality.

Drag culture for me represents an important aspect of self-expression, creativity, and LGBTQ+ empowerment. These bills pose a significant threat to the freedom and rights of drag performers, perpetuating discrimination and stifling artistic expression. Instead, we are failing to focus on other issues like gun control, despite there being 48,830 gun-related injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC.

I have traveled across the country touring with “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and I have experienced individuals and communities that have organized protests to voice their support for antidrag bills. These demonstrations have terrified me; I have had a gun pointed at me and been called horrible names simply because I support drag. At the same time, I have seen my community protest these bills in a peaceful and loving

Legislation that targets drag performances not only infringes upon the rights of individuals, but also sends a harmful message to society. By restricting artistic expression, these bills contribute to the erasure of marginalized voices and perpetuate a culture of intolerance. It is essential to champion inclusivity and challenge these regressive policies to ensure a more equitable and compassionate society for all.

THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM

NEWS BRIEFS Staff reports Read these stories and more online at thegavoice.com

Supreme Court Rules Against LGBTQ Community in 303 Creative v. Elenis The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a graphic designer who denied service to same-sex couples.

In 303 Creative v. Elenis, the Court ruled that the First Amendment protected Lori Smith, who didn’t want to make wedding websites for same-sex couples despite Colorado’s nondiscrimination law, which bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

“The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority 6-3 decision.

The three dissenting, liberal justices deemed the decision as “unprecedented” and said in their dissent that the decision deems the LGBTQ community as secondclass citizens.

“Today the Court, for the first time in its history, grants a business open to the public a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. “Today is a sad day in American constitutional law and in the lives of LGBT people. The immediate, symbolic effect of the decision is to mark gays and lesbians for second-class status.”

Jeff Graham, the Executive Director of Georgia Equality, said the ruling emphasizes the need for non-discrimination laws in Georgia.

“This ruling renews our urgent call to lawmakers for a comprehensive, statewide non-discrimination law in Georgia that will help ensure no one is turned away because of who they are or who they love,”

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Supreme Court Justices ruled against the LGBTQ community in 303 Creative v. Elenis.

OFFICIAL PHOTO

he said. “Just earlier this month, we won in passing a non-discrimination ordinance in the city of Tucker, and we won’t stop until every Georgian — including all LGBTQ Georgians — has equal protections under law. As we continue this fight, we’re calling on every business owner across the state to condemn discrimination and affirm that, regardless of this ruling, all people — including LGBTQ people — are welcome and supported in our communities.”

Club Q Mass Shooter Sentenced, FBI and DOJ Open Investigation “I was in [the] middle of pouring a drink when this monster came into this safe space and began hunting us down,” said Michael Anderson, a bartender at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Anderson was among the survivors of the mass shooting at the club on November 19, 2022, which resulted in five deaths and 25 others injured. Daniel Aston and Derrick Rump, who both worked at Club Q, and customers Kelly Loving, Raymond Green Vance and Ashley Paugh all died in the attack. Anderson spoke at the June 26 sentencing hearing of Anderson Lee Aldrich.

The Club Q bartender spoke of his close

friends and co-workers, Aston and Rump, who were killed.

“I’m the only one who got to clock out that night,” Anderson said. “I will never forgive this man. He has broken this community into pieces.”

Aldrich, 23, pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and 46 counts of attempted murder — one for each person at Club Q. Aldrich was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to the massacre. Judge Michael McHenry sentenced Aldrich to an additional 2,208 years in prison for the attempted murder charges.

Aldrich, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, also pleaded no contest to “bias-motivated crime” charges and received a four-year sentence for the bias-motivated charges, which are similar to hate-crime charges in other states.

The FBI has confirmed that the agency opened a federal investigation into the Club Q shooting in November 2022 after the sentencing.

Prosecutors could not seek the death penalty because in 2020, Colorado abolished the death penalty, the 22nd state to do so.

JULY 7, 2023 NEWS 5

NEWS

Across the Country, GOP-Led State Legislatures Push Anti-Drag Legislation freed after the Civil War — was the first person recorded in the United States who referred to himself as a drag queen. In recent decades, drag has become more widely accepted and popular, thanks in part to shows such as “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which have shown drag to wider audiences and helped normalize an art form that was kept under wraps for so long.

Sukainah Abid-Kons On March 2, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed into law Tennessee Senate Bill 3, commonly referred to as the “Anti-Drag Bill.” While the bill never explicitly mentions drag performances, the carefully constructed language is undeniably meant to target drag performances, banning “adult cabaret performance” as well as “male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest,” from being performed in public or spaces where children are present. Had the bill gone into effect, it would have stopped any drag performances at festivals or parades, as well as drag story hours for children, which have become an increasingly popular way of showing kids a more diverse portrait of their communities.

While the bill was supposed to go into effect on April 1, Tennessee district judge Thomas Parker blocked its enforcement on the basis that the bill’s language is “unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad,” as stated in Parker’s decision ruling. Any law that seeks to restrict free speech must be precise and state exactly why that form of speech violates the First Amendment, which the Tennessee Republican Party failed to do.

Last year, Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis tried to pass a law restricting minors from attending drag shows, even threatening to require Child Protective Services to investigate parents who took their children to drag shows, but the bill was unsuccessful. DeSantis proposed another bill in 2023, which was also struck down by a Florida judge.

But while Tennessee’s law has been temporarily blocked, the bill came incredibly close to

6 NEWS JULY 7, 2023

The June 9 show “Drag Down South,” hosted by the Atlanta Eagle, showed support for the Atlanta’s drag community in light of the anti-LGBTQ legislation passed in many states nationwide. hit TV show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which highlighted the need to combat these bills on the season 15 finale in April.

Apart from politicians, many celebrities are also taking up the mantle of activist alongside RuPaul in speaking out against antidrag and anti-LGBTQ laws, such as Mark Ruffalo, who shared on his Mastodon account:

In a news and commentary piece published on the ACLU website, digital producer Johanna Silver explicitly condemned these bills.

“We can’t sit back and watch our trans brothers and sisters and favorite drag artists be attacked,” he said.

“These bills censor a fundamental human right to freedom of expression and attempt to remove LGBTQ people from public life,” Silver wrote.

In May, big Hollywood names such as Charlize Theron, Jesse Eisenberg, and Billy Eichner — among many others — participated in the “Drag Isn’t Dangerous” telethon, which raised more than $500,000 to be donated to LGBTQ charities and organizations.

PHOTO BY RUSSELL BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

being put into effect, with the judge’s decision handed down only days before it would have been enforced. While Tennessee’s attempt at banning drag has failed, it has not stopped other GOP-led state legislatures from using similar language and methods to author and bring forth other antidrag laws. In Florida, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, South Carolina, and Kentucky — among others — similar bills have been brought to the house floor and are being discussed.

The similarities between the various bills are apparent and concerning to many members of the LGBTQ community and its allies.

Language such as “adult performances,” “adult cabaret,” and “sexually explicit performances” are used in all these bills in an attempt to target drag shows. The ACLU has condemned the bills and started a Drag Defense Fund to help support lawsuits that challenge the proposed laws. They also partnered with the

Additionally, California and Arizona governors Gavin Newsom and Katie Hobbs have both called out GOP state legislatures for what Newsom described as an “assault on the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Trans community.” Governor Hobbs has vowed to veto an antidrag bill that has been advanced to the Arizona Senate.

Other activists have critiqued these bills for trying to ban what is essentially an art form in the LGBTQ community, and one that has a long history in the United States.

The use of the word ‘drag’ to refer to drag performances can be traced all the way back to the 1870s. In the 1880s, William Dorsey Swann — a formerly enslaved man who was

While these bills are being proposed across the country, along with other anti-LGBTQ bills, organizations like the ACLU have made it clear that they plan to fight in every state to ensure that every resident in America maintains their rights to freedom of speech and expression.

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COMMUNITY

PFLAG Celebrates 50 Years of Cultivating LGBTQ Allyship and Family Katie Burkholder Since its inception in 1973, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has been at the forefront of fostering LGBTQ allyship. The group was founded in Los Angeles by Monty Manford and his mother Jeanne after Monty asked her to march with him at the 1972 Christopher Street Liberation Day March and she agreed on the grounds that she could carry a sign explaining that she was there for her gay son.

What started as a small meeting of LGBTQ people, families, and nonfamily allies has grown into a national organization with over 400 chapters, including 14 in Georgia: Athens, Atlanta, Blairsville, Carrollton, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milledgeville, Peachtree City, Rome, Sandy Springs, Savannah, and Woodstock. This year, the organization is celebrating 50 years of allyship, connection, and support for LGBTQ youth.

PFLAG creates a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ young people and their families who may struggle to find support elsewhere.

Even though five decades have passed since PFLAG was first formed, legislation introduced across the country has increasingly made that support just as valuable, if not more than, it was in 1973. According to the Human Rights Campaign, over 520 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year. A record 70 have been enacted, including 15 banning genderaffirming care for transgender youth, seven requiring or allowing the misgendering of transgender students, and four censoring school curricula.

For Jason Arnold, a Board Member of PFLAG Atlanta, his connection to PFLAG

8 COMMUNITY JULY 7, 2023

Jeanne Manford marches with her son, Morty, in the New York City Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade on June 28, 1972. PHOTO BY PFLAG is deeply personal. After his husband died from cancer in 2020 (shortly after Arnold’s own battle with cancer), he was determined to become more involved with the LGBTQ community and pursue a legacy like that of Judy Colbs, the late President of PFLAG Atlanta.

“I don’t know if it’s because I saw my own mortality with my husband dying and my own cancer battle, but I was like, I have to leave a legacy of something other than that I just existed,” Arnold told Georgia Voice. “I want to live. I want to make a difference.

I want queer youth to know that they are seen, and they are loved and valued, and I have just fallen in love with what we do [at PFLAG] and how we do it.”

Through support groups for trans teens and parents of trans children, as well as others,

PFLAG harnesses the power of conversation to facilitate more understanding, acceptance, and love for the LGBTQ community — a power recent “Don’t Say Gay” and similar antiLGBTQ laws targeting youth seek to diminish.

“When I came out at 14 or 15 in rural Alabama, I woke up in the middle of the night and I told my mom I was gay,” Arnold said.

“She was like, ‘Can we talk about it tomorrow?’

We didn’t talk about it for five months.”

Unfortunately, Arnold says the landscape for some LGBTQ youth reflects that of his own youth. For many attendees, PFLAG serves as more than a support group; it’s a family.

“This beautiful soul suddenly started crying [at a meeting],” he said. “She was like, ‘I’m a woman, I’m Black, and I’m gay. Why does God hate me?’ For 30+ years in my life, that’s

how I felt for being gay. I cannot believe that in 2022 that is still something that exists, that people hate their children.”

In celebrating PFLAG’s 50th anniversary, the Atlanta chapter is looking to get more people involved. This can look like becoming a member, participating in events, walking in the Atlanta Pride parade with the organization, donating, or simply having the difficult conversations that are at the heart of PFLAG’s mission.

“It’s okay to say, ‘I don’t understand this,’” Arnold said. “If you don’t understand somebody’s story, ask: ‘Tell me your story.

Tell me who you are and let me adapt myself to you.’”

To find a PFLAG chapter near you, visit pflag.org/findachapter.

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THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE ATLANTA BRAVES 2023 PRIDE NIGHT. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK AT TRUIST PARK SOON!

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COMMUNITY

Conference Fighting Racism in the LGBTQ Community Comes to Atlanta Katie Burkholder According to a study done by Northwestern University, Black queer men reported the highest levels of racial and ethnic stigma in LGBTQ spaces. That’s why, for the last four decades, the National Association for Black and White Men Together (NABWMT) has been combating racism within the LGBTQ community through education and connection. This year, NABWMT is hosting its 42nd annual conference in Atlanta.

The event, which will be held at the Atlanta Airport Hilton from July 26 to 29, will tackle racial issues and foster community while raising funds for scholarships and other work NABWMT does.

“A woman came to me once, and she was in tears,” Nat Martin, the co-chair on the conventions planning committee and a member of People of All Colors Together (PACT), Atlanta’s chapter of the national association, told Georgia Voice. “And she says, ‘Oh my gosh, I realized I’m a racist!’ And I say, ‘Yes, ma’am, that may be true, but that’s not all you are. You can change.”

It is that humanity that is at the center of NABWMT and the convention. While the conference will be educational, with keynote speeches and caucuses, it also promises to be a fun and social opportunity for people to learn from one another through empathy and togetherness. The docket includes a red-carpet event, a talent show with drag performances, and a visit to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

“It’s like a family reunion type [of event],” Herman Sivells, another member of the conference committee and PACT, said. “A lot of the guys [have known each other] for years. I’ve known Nat for about 30 years

10 COMMUNITY JULY 7, 2023

IMAGE BY SHUTTERSTOCK.CM / ZINA LEONOVA

now … A lot of the guys view it as kind of a vacation, a family vacation, where you know the people and you just see them once a year and get to enjoy yourself.”

Despite what the name may suggest, the conference will extend beyond gay men. Trans issues will be the topic of many discussions, and speakers include trans HIV advocate Tori Cooper and Monica Kaufman Pearson, the first woman and first nonwhite person to anchor the daily evening news in Atlanta.

That’s because NABWMT is dedicated to change on all fronts, from racism and homophobia to sexism and transphobia —

change which Martin and Sivells say will take both work and time.

“One of the members in our local organization, he has a son or grandson who would ask him, ‘Why do you still need that?

Because [interracial relationships are] pretty much accepted now, right?’” Sivells said.

“But there are still a lot of problems.”

“I love Amazon because I can go on the computer, and I can say I want this thing and it’ll be here tomorrow,” Martin said.

“Real life doesn’t happen that way. I tell people all the time, [we need] real change in real time. If I am awful to you for 10 years,

and in the tenth year I say, ‘Hey, you know what? I’ve been a complete ass. I need to walk that back. I’m not going to be an ass anymore.’ And then for the next 10 years, you don’t tell me about what a jackass I was and what sort of things I did that made me [a jackass], 10 years down the road nothing’s changed. I think that’s the real problem in the United States … We want change [at the snap of a finger]. It doesn’t happen like that.”

First-time attendees of the conference and people under the age of 35 receive discounted registration rates. To learn more and register for NABWMT’s 42nd annual conference, visit nabwmt.org.

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JULY 7, 2023 ADS 11

COMMUNITY

ONE ON ONE WITH A

Brand-New Drag Queen Omari Thurston

Drag is a special pillar of the queer community unlike any other. It’s an art form where people can feel free from judgment to express themselves as they truly are. Drag represents an opportunity for many, like Lolita Teddy, to find confidence in themselves and pursue the lives they want to lead.

Lolita talked with Georgia Voice after her first drag performance at The Rex Factor Open Drag at Mary’s to discuss what the experience was truly like for her.

You’re only 23 and about as new to the scene as it gets; you just had your debut performance less than two weeks ago! How does it feel?

It feels amazing to finally do it and just to have done it in general. It’s an amazing experience.

How long was drag something that you thought you might be interested in, and how long was it before it became something that you knew you would do?

I’d been interested in it since I was like, I think I was 15, back in high school. I had actually been practicing my makeup since then and even stuff to do with hair and outfits and all.

To finally do it after almost eight years [of dreaming about it] is just everything.

How long ago did you make the decision to make your debut?

As soon as I realized there was an opportunity for an open drag show, I was like, ‘I might as well finally do it.’ I had a little bit more confidence than I used to, and I have more

12 COMMUNITY JULY 7, 2023

moral support and just support in general around me, so why not?

What inspired you to go from patron to performer?

I just, like any drag performer, how could I not love attention?! You’re literally performing in front of a whole audience of people. It’s just always something I’ve been captivated by, especially after seeing it in person after a while, I just had to see myself do that same thing as well and partake and be a part of the community more than ever.

You say the idea has been eight years in the making. What were some of the difficulties you faced as you were making the decision to finally go for it?

I would say the biggest one was probably support and knowing where to start honestly.

There were no real directions of “Ok go here.

Start here. Talk to this person.” Those types of things are really helpful for me. So, I think finally going out to more queer spaces really helped with that and building more support.

Also, finally coming to terms more with my gender identity and not feeling like I’m performing my gender. I am my gender, and then I am performing.

Many people in the community find drag to be more than just a show. It’s a space and style that’s curated by us and for us in the queer community. It’s a safe space for self-expression, it’s a celebration of identity for some people, a time for union in the community. Before you made it to the stage, what did drag mean for you as a queer person?

Lolita Teddy PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM I would say, in the words of RuPaul, drag is every day. It’s how you decide to present to society, it’s about how you dress, it’s how you decide to be perceived in the world – whether it be in person, online, when you go to work, when you go to the grocery store or wherever. I feel like, drag to me at this point in my life is just about showing up as yourself whether it be performing on stage or presenting yourself to the world.

Take me back to the night of your debut.

You’ve talked a lot about identity. I’ve heard in some cases of performers when they get into drag, they get into character, while some people are just getting into their true self. What was your headspace like for the first time?

For me, it wasn’t like uncovering my full self, but I was getting into a part of me, you could say like an enhanced version of me

– especially with the style that I performed with that night. Aside from that it still feels like me at the end of the day. Not to say that I perform my gender identity, but it is perceived to a degree that there’s a certain way I have to look.

Do you ever think about being an inspiration for people who may have trouble getting over the hump?

I do think about it every so often, especially as someone who I would say is hyper feminine as well as someone who is trans and of Mexican descent. I want to be an inspiration and someone to look up to, but I know at the end of the day, I’m still human and I’ll mess up and have my moments. But I do want to inspire people and say, “Hey if you can see yourself in me to whatever degree and that inspires you that’s awesome.”

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THURSDAY, JULY 20 WESTSIDE 6-10PM | The Foundry at Puritan Mill

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JULY 7, 2023 ADS 13

CULTURE

THE LIFE AND LAUGHTER OF

Mr. Charlie Brown

Charlie: That’s my whole life. My father told me laughing your way through life would be so much easier, and you go to the pier and wave goodbye to those not laughing.

Katie Burkholder

In his fifth decade of performing, there is no drag queen quite as prolific as the “Bitch of the South,” the iconic Mr. Charlie Brown. A pillar of Atlanta’s LGBTQ history, Charlie is exploring the entirety of his life — from his childhood in rural Tennessee to Mr. Charlie Brown’s Cabaret at Backstreet — in his upcoming memoir with the help of LGBTQ journalist Rich Eldredge.

Amid shopping the manuscript, Rich and Charlie sat down with Georgia Voice to talk about the interviewing and writing process, Atlanta’s LGBTQ history, and the very essence of Charlie Brown: laughter.

Quotes have been edited for clarity.

To start at the beginning, tell me how this partnership came about.

Charlie: Rich reached out to me and Fred, my partner who was a DJ at Charlie Brown’s cabaret at Backstreet … We was talking, and Rich said, ‘When you gonna write your book?’ I think my partner Fred said, ‘Why don’t you do it? Why don’t you be his ghost writer?’

Rich: I had known Charlie since the 1990s, when I was writing a column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution called Peach Buzz.

And Charlie Brown’s Cabaret at Backstreet was one of the focal points for us, because Backstreet was a 24-hour club, it was massive, and they were attracting all kinds of celebrities. In our business of journalism, there are certain people that you meet and you interview and you walk away and us reporter types, call them quote machines.

Charlie Brown is a quote machine.

Charlie: So, Rich said he would [write my

14 CULTURE JULY 7, 2023

Charlie Brown and Rich Eldridge at TEN in Midtown when Charlie returned to the stage in 2022 after four years away from performing. PHOTO COURTESY OF RICH ELDRIDGE book]. He said, ‘I’ll call you next Monday at 11 o’clock.’ And we would talk for an hour, an hour and a half, and he would tape it.

And he’d say, ‘Okay, next week, we’re [going to talk about this period of time], and it would give Fred and me time to sit and talk about that period. We’d write down notes about the best things that happened and how the movement was growing in Atlanta.

I looked forward to Monday every week with nothing else [to do but] talk with Rich. Our personalities really clicked.

What was the writing process like?

Rich: We did weekly interviews for seven months. Instead of ‘Tuesdays with Morrie,’ it was Mondays with Mr. Charlie Brown. It was

the same level of reflection and insights and life lessons but with one of the leading drag performers in America. Every week served as a queer history lesson for me. We had so many laughs [in 2020], at a really perilous time of American life when we were scared to go outside and scared to go to the grocery store. Fred and Charlie and I would get on the phone every week and we would laugh.

Some weeks we would cry, just reflecting on decades and decades and decades of gay history — some of it really quite painful to go back through, especially since Charlie was such a formidable force in HIV/AIDS fundraising. But I don’t care what we were talking about, we would always find there would be intervals for laughter.

What can readers expect from the book?

Rich: We open the book about 20 minutes before Janet Jackson is due to arrive at Backstreet and Charlie has just gotten word backstage that he’s got to clear out the front tables on a Saturday night in a jam-packed Charlie Brown’s Cabaret. We take the reader through what that felt like that night and what that scene was like, and then we go back to December 29, 1949, in Westmoreland, Tennessee, and Charlie’s literal birth. As somebody who has covered Charlie for decades and knows the Mr. Charlie Brown drag persona, I was really fascinated to dig into Charlie’s first years in rural Tennessee and how he became a proud, out guy in that time period, in that part of the world.

Charlie has never been closeted and took his licks when they came. But he has lived unabashedly out and proud his entire life.

This is really three books rolled into one.

It’s an LGBTQ history. It’s a history of a trailblazing drag performer who first stepped on stage in the early 1970s and continues to entertain in 2023. It’s also this really beautiful, touching, very funny love story between these two men.

As someone who has both lived it and now read it, what is the central conceit of the life of Mr. Charlie Brown?

Charlie: If you cannot laugh at a fat, 73-yearold, bald-headed man, you don’t need to be around me. Like Rich said, I’m open. I’ve been openly gay, I’ve been in love most in my life. I love life. I love making people laugh.

Charlie Brown’s a fat, jolly old man, and in drag she’s a bitch!

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CULTURE

ALT3R: ATLANTA’S FAVORITE (AND MOST SERENDIPITOUS) DRAG SHOW Adalei Stevens

WUSSY Mag put on the first ever Peachies Awards earlier this summer. The sold-out event, hosted by EllaSaurus Rex and Drew Friday, honored and celebrated Atlanta’s LGBTQIA+ nightlife scene at City Winery with a red carpet and live performances.

Some awards categories included Favorite Comedian, Bartender of the Year, Favorite Club Kid, Drag Artist of the Year, Party of the Year, and Favorite Drag Show.

ALT3R won the first-ever Peachie for Favorite Drag Show, and the show lives up to the title. The alternative, witchy drag show is only about a year old, but the energy of the performers and host is infectious to everyone who watches.

Founders Hera Kane, Kiki’s Dream, and Katrina Prowess first performed together in October 2021 at Star Bar for a Pride event.

The success of the event urged them to create ALT3R, and by January 2022, they secured monthly, themed shows at Star Bar. “[Star Bar] used to be a place for metal and hard rock shows, and hard to break into with a primarily straight audience,” Hera told Georgia Voice. “So, when we did the Pride event, it was just a one-night gig … Afterward, Amy and Dusty [the owners of Star Bar] were supportive and accepting of our style of performance.

They were just like, ‘Do whatever you want.

You always have our support.’”

“We wanted to forge a new format for a drag

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show, where it’s like going to a concert,” Katrina said. “We can give our fellow performers room to breathe, to do whatever kind of performance they want to do, and it still feels part of the theme.”

Hera agreed with her co-host. “It’s amazing watching someone be so true to themselves.

You don’t need an expensive gown and diamonds. I don’t want to see diamonds. I want to see ripped-up stuff, and I want to see them rolling around on the ground and yelling. It creates a reaction to seeing someone be themselves. It’s magnetic, and what I feel makes drag unique, special, and magical.”

The girls call themselves a sisterhood, akin to an otherworldly trinity.

“We’re very Charmed,” Hera said. “I think every time you get into makeup or get together with your girls and do a number, there’s something new you can learn from. That’s the great part about having a sisterhood. Even when you feel like you’re stuck, they’re there to help and remind you who you are ….

From left: Hera Kane, Katrina Prowess, and Kiki Dreams PHOTO BY ADALEI STEVENS song tonight [at the Rawr XD show on June 21], and apparently today is her birthday.

We had no idea. Synchronicities are always there … A lot of things have fallen in line very serendipitously.”

Even their ALT3R story, from inception to their win, seems to be guided by fate.

When deciding a theme for every show, the ALT3R girls allow intuition and serendipity to guide them.

“Nicole Paige Brooks was one of the first drag queens to interact with [me and Katrina], and she was the one to hand us the Peachie,” Kiki said. “So, it was a major full-circle moment …

Yeah, we won an award, but to be in a room with so many people in the scene that we’ve looked up to for years and to be recognized in that way felt like our hard work paying off. It was a dream come true.”

We’ll say, ‘This [theme] feels right,’ or one person will text an idea and someone else will be like, ‘I was just about to say that!’”

Katrina said. “We’re doing a Rebecca Black

“Out of nowhere, all of this is happening.

It’s very wild and we’re very grateful,” Katrina added. “We’re so thankful to WUSSY, EllaSaurus Rex, Brigitte Bidet,

“We’re like Pokémon,” Katrina said, “evolving into bigger and better bitches.”

and everyone that’s helped us … Our fellow nominees were people that we were going to watch before we even started. We’ve looked up to a lot of people.”

“It feels like it’s bigger than us. It really is,” Hera said. “We felt able to create a safe space for queer people that come to the show. We want them to say, ‘Okay, I’m allowed to go out and feel safe. I’m allowed to dance and be myself,’ when the world is saying horrible things, and spreading terrible lies about who we are. Drag is not a crime. It’s a blessing.”

ALT3R is every third Wednesday of the month at Star Bar (437 Moreland Avenue in Little Five Points). The ALT3R girls look forward to their individual projects, including Kiki’s music and Hera’s screenwriting, as well as several events for Atlanta Pride in October. To stay up to date, follow @alt3rdrag, @hera.kane, @kikis. dream, and @katrinaprowess on Instagram.

JULY 7, 2023 CULTURE 15

CULTURE

MEET THE

Kings of Manhole Luke Gardner

Atlanta’s drag king scene has grown exponentially in the past few years, and the king-centered show Manhole has played an integral role in that growth. As the city’s first monthly show featuring all-masculine drag, Manhole has filled a hole in the Atlanta drag scene.

The show was started in November 2021 by king Mr. Elle Aye, who started the show on a quarterly basis as a way to celebrate and grow the local king scene. As for the name, that idea started as a joke between Elle Aye and his fiancé, drag queen Taylor Alxndr.

“Kings don’t get booked as often as queens do, and when they do, not very often are they paid appropriately,” Elle Aye told Georgia Voice.

“I wanted kings to have the space and the opportunity to make the same as queens do.

This year going into the second year — because the show brought more kings and made the king scene grow — we are able to go monthly and book out-of-town talent as well.”

With the show happening monthly this year, Elle Aye created a cast of three kings: Aries Alxndr, Deacon Slanders, and himself. Not only is this cast blazing trails by being the first regular king show in Atlanta, but it is also the first show in town with a main cast of all transmasculine performers.

Other performers rotate and have included new kings as well as seasoned performers like the well-known king, Tenderoni.

“Next month we have a newer king, Pressure

16 CULTURE JULY 7, 2023

K,” Elle Aye said. “Sometimes we’ll have a theme. For International Sex Workers Day, sex workers hosted the show, and we performed sex-positive numbers. For Cinco de Mayo, we had an all-Latin show. You can expect campy, funny and silly from Deacon, pop punk from Aries, and for me to be sensual and working the crowd.”

So, who are the kings of Manhole?

Deacon Slanders Deacon started doing drag in December 2021 after seeing local king Mystery Meat perform earlier that year. Mystery Meat soon became Deacon’s drag dad, and less than a year later Deacon decided to enter Atlanta’s annual drag competition, Dragnificent, created by local Ru girl Phoenix. He won and is thus far the only king to ever do so.

“I connect my three Cs — camp, concept, and either costume or comedy,” Deacon said.

“I like storytelling through specific songs, and I put a lot of work into costuming. I do a lot of character numbers, [especially ones] people never would have thought of with the song [I use.]”

Deacon has performed as a scary Ronald McDonald, as Inspector Gadget, and in a threefoot tall hat channeling Doug Dimmadome from Nickelodeon’s “Fairly Odd Parents.” At last month’s sex-work-themed Manhole show, he proudly showed off his body.

“It felt really good and correct,” Deacon said. “I felt so comfortable being post-top surgery, like I could do whatever and be that confident and at peace.”

Mr. Elle Aye performs with Taylor Alxndr at a Manhole show PHOTO BY NECROMANNY

Aries Alxndr As the “Pop-punk Papi of Atlanta,” Aries’ drag celebrates his Mexican heritage and love for pop-punk and boy bands. His performances often include song mixes with incorporated monologues. Aries’ drag journey began in 2017 as a queen, but he began doing king drag in 2019 at Mystery Meat’s king competition, “Macho Man Brawl.”

“It’s been really cool seeing Atlanta’s king scene grow over the past few years,” Aries said. “A lot of it has to do with visibility — the representation is helping. We are having a renaissance, and Manhole is a big part of that. I love seeing drag kings represented everywhere!”

Aries has also created a show, the familyfriendly “Cabbage Patch” drag show, which includes performances for all ages and sometimes even story time for kids. He is also the father of Atlanta’s iconic House of Alxndr, which is mothered by Taylor Alxndr, Elle Aye’s fiancé and local drag queen and organizer.

Mr. Elle Aye Elle Aye’s drag includes Latin and burlesque influences and, of course, his incredibly stamped mug with razor-sharp contours.

He started drag in early 2019 while living in Athens. That March he performed in the same Macho Man Brawl show as Aries. In April

2020 he moved to Atlanta, where his career has taken off with king competitions, Wussy events, shows at Mary’s and My Sister’s Room, and the support of the House of Alxndr.

On New Year’s in 2021, he proposed to Taylor on stage at the Masquerade, officially solidifying their status as Atlanta’s drag power couple. Since then, he went on to win Mx. Macon 2022, a mixed drag pageant held in Macon, and is considering entering the Mr. Gay America pageant next year.

Manhole is held at Noni’s, an Italian restaurant and inclusive venue on Edgewood Avenue.

“The owners are gay, and some [ of Noni’s employees] are performers, like Saliva Godiva and Cistofer,” Elle Aye said. “Noni’s has been part of the community for so many years. I can’t put into words how great they treat us. Even on a bad night, it’s a good night. It’s always fun.”

All three kings heaped praise on the restaurant, describing the venue as one of the best places to perform.

The next Manhole show is Friday, July 7 at 10:30pm. Doors open at 9. To support each king and find out about their upcoming performances, follow them on Instagram at @mr.elle.aye, @deaconslanders, and @ ariesalxndr.

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ACTING OUT JIM FARMER

Ariana DeBose Visits Atlanta, Intersex Doc ‘Every Body’ Opens, and ‘Wicked’ Returns to Town “We have been around everywhere,” Weigel said. “It blows people’s minds when they learn that we are as common as redheads.

This isn’t some new-fangled thing that people in hip liberal coasts are doing. There are intersex people all across the South. The more we fix the utter lack of representation, the more of us will share our stories.”

Jim Farmer Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, who hosted the Tony Awards a few weeks ago, was in Atlanta recently for a ribboncutting ceremony at the OMEGA boutique and a dinner that evening. Between gigs, DeBose — an OMEGA brand ambassador — took time to talk to reporters.

The actress’s first major professional musical was in 2011 with the Alliance Theatre’s “Bring It On,” featuring music by Tom Kitt and LinManuel Miranda, lyrics by Amanda Green and Miranda, and book by Jeff Whitty. Buoyed by strong reviews, the show made it to Broadway in 2012. DeBose calls the Atlanta gig the real start of her career. She’s also been in the blockbuster “Hamilton,” the film version of the queer-themed “The Prom,” and won her Oscar for Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.”

It’s been important for her to be out.

“When I won an Oscar, I didn’t expect that,” said DeBose. “To be the first AfroLatino and the first openly queer women [of color] to win an Oscar was huge. It was huge for my communities. I think that is largely because of representation.

If you can see it, you can be it. Now I’m in this new chapter of my life where I am symbolizing possibility for some people, and I take that very seriously. With the myriad of LGBTQ legislation that we are seeing, it is important to use my platform to talk about what it is to vote and the importance of how it affects other people and what true allyship looks like.”

The new documentary, “Every Body,” is an extraordinary look at the lives of intersex people. The subjects are actor/ screenwriter River Gallo, political consultant Alicia Roth Weigel and Ph.D. student Sean Saifa Wall.

18 COLUMNIST JULY 7, 2023

Justin Wirick has been with the national tour of “Wicked” since January 2010. He has chosen to make the gay favorite musical, in town now via Broadway in Atlanta, a huge part of his career.

Ariana DeBose COURTESY PHOTO Wall lived in Atlanta from 2012 to 2020.

According to director Julie Cohen, her friends at NBC News asked her to look through their archives for material that might make a potent film. She immediately gravitated toward the stranger-than-fiction story of Dr. John Money and his unorthodox treatment of patient David Reimer. “It has relevance to the modern day with our expanding understanding of gender,” Cohen said.

Producer Tommy Nguyen was aware of the high statistics of intersex people beforehand.

“It was important to put it up front in the film,” Nguyen said. “I knew this was going to be the new frontier in the rights movement.”

Cohen realizes there is not much representation of intersex individuals.

“People are wary of the complexity of the story and until recently there has been a fairly small population of intersex people willing to talk about their life stories,” Cohen said.

“This is changing dramatically and rapidly.”

For intersex people, growing up can be difficult. “A lot of times, for many they don’t really know themselves,” said Nguyen. “They piece together their story themselves. All three [here] had to rely on themselves. That is such

a sad story to be so alone discovering who are you. Thank God there are now more resources and places to go on the internet.”

Weigel was the first to get involved, impressed with the work Cohen has done with politics and gender equity. She was supposed to be in a similar film, but that didn’t happen. The vibe here was different — and right. Wall calls Cohen a documentarian he could share his story with and lean into it.

Gallo was the last to get involved. “I had some reservations at first,” they said. “A lot of my work is self-scripted, so I had to trust someone else with how they shaped my story.”

Often when intersex issues have been addressed, they have not been brought up as intersex. Its subjects have been called hermaphrodites or people having male and female sexual organs.

“There are some real inaccuracies which feed those stereotypes and misconceptions,” Wall said. “I hope this will be the first doc to honor people’s lives and experiences. We are not mythical. We need more media that humanizes intersex people.”

Another misconception is that intersex people are new.

“I get to be onstage eight times a week and ‘Wicked’ is a show that, for right now, is not going anywhere, so it has offered me as an artist such consistent work,” he said. “There are shows that open and close in 30 days, shows that stay open for a year or tour for a year. Not only was this my dream job and show, but it has given me stability as an artist.”

He is part of the ensemble and on the dancer track.

He keeps the gig fresh by remembering that, although the show is the same each night, it is a completely different audience every time — sometimes with different performers — and it’s his job to respect that. “It’s fun to sing and dance and act and do what we love, but there are days when it’s hard and that is when the craft comes in and the work.” Wirick is also the “Wicked” rep who works gathering collections for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. On July 24, cast members of the “Wicked” tour will collaborate with Joining Hearts on a onenight cabaret benefit, Witches Night Off, at Lips Atlanta.

MORE INFO “Every Body” is now in Atlanta cinemas “Wicked” runs July 5–30 at the Fox Theatre THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM

ZooATL-Svanna-Nights-Hero-GA-Voice-Print.pdf 1 6/23/2023 12:10:53 PM

What’s your superpower? Whatever it is, your secret is safe at Superhero Night! Enjoy meet-and-greets with strolling characters, dynamic superhero performances, live jams from RTW and DJ DMark, activities, and endless photo opportunities. Costumes are encouraged! For guests 21+ only.

M

M

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Buy tickets at zooatlanta.org/savannanights

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JULY 7, 2023 ADS 19

BEST BETS THE BEST LGBTQ EVENTS HAPPENING IN JULY Jim Farmer

So to Speak Conversation July 25, 7:30pm Virtual

Wicked

July 5-30, 7:30pm Fox Theatre

Charis welcomes Terrance Hayes in conversation with Jericho Brown for a celebration of “So to Speak,” a powerful, timely, dazzling new collection of poems, and “Watch Your Language: Visual and Literary Reflections on a Century of American Poetry,” a fascinating collection of graphic reviews and illustrated prose addressing the last century of American poetry from the National Book Awardwinning author of “Lighthead.” This virtual event is co-hosted by the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. RSVP for this meeting at https://www.crowdcast.io/c/ terrance-hayes-and-jericho-brown

“Wicked,” the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz … but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another girl, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood — and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships … until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

Adult Summer Camp July 8, 11am to 4pm Grounded Wellbeing

Sponsored by Atlanta Pride, the Adult Summer Camp – open to anyone 18 and over who identifies as queer and/or gender expansive – at Grounded Wellbeing will offer a diverse range of activities designed to promote self-expression, connection, and healing. Some of the exciting activities planned for the day include tie-dying, vision boarding, meditation, board games/video games, and process groups. Participants can look forward to engaging in these activities as they create meaningful connections and explore their identities within a supportive and affirming environment. Check-in begins at 10:30am.

What We Are Up Against: An Activism Cabaret July 9, 4pm 7 Stages

What We Are Up Against: An Activism Cabaret is a fundraiser and awareness event for abortion access, trans rights and Stop Cop City. Comedian Mark Kendall is the host and the event features burlesque, storytelling, music, comedy and more.

Beach Blanket Bingo July 11, 7:30pm Lips Atlanta

Hostesses Bubba D. Licious and Erica Lee and special guest performers will delight, amaze, and shock you as they call bingo, put on a show, and help raise money for Pets Are Loving Support (PALS).

Warp Zone July 12, 9pm Heretic

Warp Zone Gamer Night is tonight!

Mommie Dearest July 13, 7pm Plaza Atlanta

20 BEST BETS CALENDAR JULY 7, 2023

The National Association of Black and White Men Together

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

July 26-29 Atlanta Airport Hilton

Hosted by PACT Atlanta (People of All Colors Together), the National Association of Black and White Men Together is this weekend, Atlanta Airport Hilton. For more information or a schedule, visit www.nabwmt.org.

Wicked

July 5-30, 7:30pm Fox Theatre

“Wicked,” the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz … but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another girl, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood — and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships … until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” (Photo by Broadway in Atlanta) Hosted by Dotte Com & Hera Kane, WUSSY MAG presents a screening of the camp classic “Mommie Dearest.”

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Magic Mic

Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus kicks off its Magic Mic three-week karaoke competition tonight at the Atlanta Eagle, with additional nights July 20 and July 27.

Actor’s Express opens “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” tonight. Join “internationally ignored” rock singer Hedwig as she searches the world for stardom and love in this groundbreaking musical that has become one of the great cult classics of all time. A rock and roll explosion for anyone who has ever felt like a misfit, the musical will have you singing along and unleashing your own inner rock star.

PFLAG Support Group

LGBTQ Book Club

The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children meets in person today.

The LGBTQ Book Club, sponsored by Charis Books and More, is a group for LGBTQ folks and allies to read queer-themed books and books by queer authors. The goal is to have diverse thought-provoking discussions about queer identity, history and topical issues. All are welcome to join. This month’s book is “My Autobiography of Carson McCullers: A Memoir” by Jenn Shapland.

RSVP in advance for this meeting at- https:// us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArc-tpj0sG9CEz7Hs8nlSv7If2kYsGsIp.

July 13, 8pm Atlanta Eagle

July 16, 2:30pm Spiritual Living Center

Trans and Friends

July 17, 7pm for youth, 8pm for adults Charis Books and More 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.

July 20 through August 19, 8pm Actor’s Express

July 22, 10am Virtual

Footloose

July 26, sundown Corner of 10th and Peachtree

Midtown Alliance and Out On Film team for an outdoor screening of the classic “Footloose.”

Explore Georgia: Connecting Travelers in GA to Destinations and Experiences July 27, 2pm Holiday Inn & Suites

OUT Georgia Business Alliance and Discover DeKalb present Explore Georgia: Connecting Travelers in GA to Destinations and Experiences.

Tutti Frutty

July 29 Piedmont Park Greystone Pool House

It’s one of the year’s biggest fundraisers.

The Joining Hearts weekend’s main event — Tutti Frutty! — is today, featuring DJs GSP and Brian Kent at the Piedmont Park Grey Stone Pool

Ariana Grande Brunch

July 30, 2pm ATL Comedy Theater Underground

God is a woman, and her name is Ariana Grande! Come worship at the altar of Ariana at this special drag brunch — featuring all the hits from “My Everything,” “Dangerous Woman,” “Sweetener,” “Thank U Next” and more.

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LGBTQ NIGHTLIFE FORECAST JULY 7-21 Katie Burkholder

Trivia

July 12, 8pm Woofs

Queer Bait July 7 Mary’s

Every Wednesday with Matthew.

Maryoke

Gay pop videos with DJ Headmaster every Friday. $5.

July 12, 9pm Mary’s

Alt3r

Queer Bait

July 7, 9pm Star Bar

July 14 Mary’s

The theme is Broadway! Catch performances from Hera Kane, Katrina Prowess, Kiki’s Dream, Guyza Manelli, Yutoya Leon, EllaSaurus Rex, Christina Leon, and Bella Trix. $5 cover, show starts at 10pm.

Gay pop videos with DJ Headmaster every Friday. $5.

Don Diablo

Cholo // Latinx Queer Dance Party July 7, 10pm The Basement

This inclusive and non-traditional Latin dance party is made for the queerdos in mind! Expect cumbia remixes, neo-perreo, reggaetoneras, and more with DJs La Superior, Geexella, and Nena Linda.

Tickets at basementatl.com.

Dance // ‘90s and ‘00s Dance Party July 8, 10pm The Basement

Party the night away with the best ‘90s and ‘00s dance music. Tickets at basementatl.com.

ICON

July 8, 11pm Future Atlanta

Celebrate some of the greatest musical icons with DJ Ana Paula. Tickets at future-atlanta.com.

XION

July 9, 3am Future Atlanta

With Marti Frieson. Tickets at future-atlanta.com.

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July 14, 11pm District Atlanta

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Tickets at bit.ly/DONDIABLOATL2023.

ICON

July 16, 3am Future Atlanta

XION

July 8, 11pm

Danny Kim makes his Atlanta and XION debut.

Tickets at future-atlanta.com.

Future Atlanta Celebrate some of the greatest musical icons with DJ Ana Paula. Tickets at future-atlanta.com.

(Photo via Facebook)

Ruby Redd’s Drag Liquid Brunch July 9, 1pm The Hideaway

This all-you-can-eat brunch buffet includes performances by Lacey Bruce, Tristan Panucci Dupree, Maya Ross Monroe, Tatianna Dejour, and Celeste Sinclair Dupree and music by DJ Sugarbaker.

Frutty Tea July 9, 7pm Atlanta Eagle

Mug Check!

July 16, 8pm My Sister’s Room

$10 beer bust and $20 margarita bust. Music by Val Verra.

The monthly open stage drag show is BACK for everyone, from newcomers to tenured talent!

Shameless Sundays

Karaoke

July 10, midnight Future Atlanta

Hosted by Kyra Mora and Tristan Panucci. No cover!

Karaoke

July 10, 7:30pm The T

July 17, 7:30pm The T

Trivia

July 19, 8pm Woofs

Every Wednesday with Matthew.

JULY 7, 2023 LGBTQ NIGHTLIFE FORECAST 21

THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID MELISSA CARTER

Beware of Scammers Melissa Carter She was embarrassed to tell me, and once she did, I understood why.

My friend of 20 years, a smart woman who has worked with technology for most of her career, got scammed out of $500.

My friend is now in her 70s and received a professional-looking email from a popular computer security company that told her she owed nearly $1,000 on her account. An older person on a fixed income, her initial reaction was panic and a desperate need to remain in good standing with her credit. In a knee-jerk response, she clicked on the link in the email, which directed her to connect with someone who could help her pay off this balance.

Instead of a credit card, the representative instructed her to go to a local drug store and use gift cards to pay off her debt. When she attempted to buy these gift cards, her bank stepped in and stopped the process.

Unfortunately for her, the bank didn’t step in until $500 had already been spent.

Common sense would sniff such a scam out right away. Why not simply log in to your account and see what you actually owe or wait for a charge to appear and dispute it with your bank? And once you have to physically go to a store to initiate an alternative transaction, how could you not question if it’s legitimate? Fear is common sense’s mortal enemy and a primary driver when it comes to money. She may have briefly questioned what she was doing, but the fear of owing that much money took over and led her to make a terrible decision.

She’s not alone. The Federal Trade Commission reports consumers of all ages reported losing nearly $8.8 billion to scams just last year.

When it specifically comes to tech scams, AARP reports this category is the most often reported against people 60 and older, resulting in $588 million in losses in 2022. Here is AARP’s advice for keeping yourself safe:

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PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / ALEX VOLOT

• When in doubt, shut it down. If you can’t close a browser window to get rid of a fake virus-warning pop-up, try to reboot the computer.

• Don’t ever call the phone number in a popup. Legitimate tech companies will never ask you to call a phone number or click a link.

• If you get an unsolicited call, email or text message telling you that there’s a problem with your computer, ignore it. Real tech support staffers will never contact you out of the blue.

• Be wary of anyone requesting remote access. Don’t let an unknown, unverified person get into your computer or device.

• Resist pressure. The FBI notes that scammers urge targets to act quickly to protect their computer or bank accounts. That sense of urgency is to prevent you from having time to think clearly and question their behavior.

Decisions based on fear usually aren’t the correct ones and scammers know this. By initiating a “fight or flight” response in victims, these companies steal not only money from seniors’ pockets, but also their self-confidence. It’s not my job to make my friend feel stupid, and empowering older people, especially LGBTQ senior citizens that are often overlooked, to feel armed with knowledge and support is the best way to reduce the impact of these crimes.

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JULY 7, 2023 ADS 23