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georgia VOL.11 • ISSUE 14

ABOUT THE COVER: Cover photo courtesy of Atlanta Pride

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FINE PRINT

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4 Editorial October 9, 2020

GUEST EDITORIAL

Atlanta Pride Committee Wishes You a Happy Pride!

Jamie Fergerson, Executive Director of the Atlanta Pride Committee After a week of setting up in the park, two full days of a bustling festival, and four hours walking up and down Peachtree & 10th shouting “Happy Pride” to sidewalks full of people, my feet are aching, my ear is numb from my radio earpiece, and my voice is hoarse. It is the most complete and satisfying form of exhaustion that I have ever known. I have loved Atlanta Pride since we first met in 2001, and I am grateful every day for the privilege and responsibility of stewarding this organization that has meant so much to so many people.

This year is one like we have never known, and with it comes an Atlanta Pride Celebration like we have never known. In 2020, there will be no parade, no stages, no vendor booths, and no undulating rainbow crowds pulsing through Midtown. But we still need community as much as before.

Atlanta marks 50 years of the Pride movement this year. For the last few years, my team and I have been planning our 50th anniversary wishlist. We dreamed up fireworks, a phenomenal entertainer lineup, epic Get out the Vote rallies, and even our own documentary. In January, all of those plans were in motion. By March, they were put on hold, all of us thinking that surely it would be safe to gather by October, even if we needed to do so in masks or with extra handwashing stations. By early summer, it became clear that COVID-19 would change all of our plans.

Many people have asked me whether it was a hard decision to cancel the in-person Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade. Truthfully, it wasn’t.

I’ve always seen it as my job to prioritize the health and safety of our community at these events, and science is clear that the best way to keep us all safe this year is not to gather in large crowds. But while it was easy to see the

“I’ve always seen it as my job to prioritize the health and safety of our community at these events, and science is clear that the best way to keep us all safe this year is not to gather in large crowds.” right choice, it has also been painful to mourn the loss of the event that we love so much.

Atlanta Pride came from the Georgia Gay Liberation Front’s 1970 rally in Piedmont Park and the Paper Bag Marches for which participants had to conceal their identities for fear of losing their livelihoods. The movement has evolved to our current place, where many of us enjoy more freedom and equality on paper than our siblings who came before us. But our rights are continually under attack. Many members of our community — especially Black and Brown folks, transgender and nonbinary individuals, immigrants, and disabled people — experience violence and discrimination both within our queer communities and outside of them.

And yet despite our struggles — or perhaps because of them — we have also built our own safe spaces and rich culture. From film to drag to online chat rooms to music, we’ve managed to find and support each other. This year is no different. One thing that I have continually said over the last five years is that the mission of the Atlanta Pride Committee is not to put on a festival, parade, or party. Our work is to build community and connections.

Despite all the challenges it has brought us, 2020 has also given us the gift of reflection.

I’m proud to say that our staff and core volunteers shifted all their efforts to building community in a new way with the same ethos. Having done almost no digital programming before this year, we moved all our events online in March and have engaged tens of thousands of people on topics ranging from mental and physical health to gardening and racial justice. Rather than being stifled by being unable to gather in person, our reach has grown in diversity and geography.

It hasn’t been easy, but we have risen to the challenges of learning new technology and rethinking our programming on the fly.

For this year’s virtual festival, we have worked with community partners to produce and promote a packed slate of events. We’ll feature incredible entertainment in the Starlight Cabaret, Shooting Stars Cabaret, and SWEET TEA: A Queer Variety Show. We’ve taken the Family Zone and Gray Pride areas online along with our vendor booths in the Delta Virtual Marketplace, and we’ll have a special wellness focus this year, talking about how our community has been impacted by COVID-19 and how to stay healthy. We also have a few offline, socially distant activities, including a scavenger hunt, delicious catering boxes from our partner Proof of the Pudding, and a virtual 5k. Just like the traditional Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade, there really is a little something for everyone.

I truly hope that next October brings us back to a place where we can gather together in Piedmont Park again, but whether or not that dream materializes, this year has brought me new hope that we can rise together to meet any challenge. Pride celebrations have the capacity to change our individual and collective lives; I know, because Atlanta Pride fundamentally changed mine 19 years ago. I don’t believe this capacity to change is limited by time and place, and I’m excited to see how you all come out and make the most of this year’s virtual celebration. As always, Happy Pride, Atlanta! I’m so glad you’re here.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

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Celebrity Brief (THE PRIDE EDITION)

Happy Pride! LGBTQ celebs discuss what Pride means to them and take the time to unapologetically honor who they are and who they love.

“Pride for me is about living authentically, having the courage and power to stand tall spiritually, emotionally and physically in my truth.”

— Laverne Cox (Instagram)

“Once [my sexuality] was out in the public, I was like, ‘Well, f— you! If you still have a problem with gay people, you directly have a problem with me. Being a fullfledged member of it and claiming it, there was just an elation there, and there still is!”

— Jim Parsons (Variety)

“[Pride is] more than physically parading. It’s a celebration of individuality and a celebration of our community, so anybody can do that in their own way without breaking social distancing or anything like that.”

(PHOTOS VIA FACEBOOK)

CELEBRITY CLOSE-UP!

— Kim Petras (In the Know)

“Pride to me means survival, protest, self-love. It’s a personal experience for all of us. And it’s something that individually we all work really hard to achieve. You have to put energy and practice into your own pride and your own self-love. I love June and I love that we have a Pride Month, but I really encourage you all to practice your pride on a daily basis.”

— Hayley Kiyoko (Billboard)

6 Celebrity Close-Up October 9, 2020

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

NEWS BRIEFS

Activists Want LGBTQ Issues Brought Up in Upcoming Debate, Twisted Soul Hosts Virtual Three-course Dinner Staff Reports

and Pours is partnering with The James Beard Foundation to represent Atlanta in Taste of America, an event bringing chefs and diners from across the country together for a virtual communal dinner.

Activists Urge Moderator to Ask VP Candidates About LGBTQ Issues in Upcoming Debate Following the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, activists are urging the moderator of the upcoming vice presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence to include questions focused on the LGBTQ community.

Led by the Human Rights Campaign, over a dozen LGBTQ and civil rights groups, including the Center for American Progress and the LGBTQ Victory Fund, have signed off on a letter to debate moderator Susan Page of USA Today and the Commission on Presidential Debates imploring the candidates be grilled on their LGBTQ records.

“In your role as moderator, we hope you will ensure the candidates for Vice President address the issues Americans care about,” the letter reads. “In that light, we … implore you to address LGBTQ issues at the upcoming debate. With over 11 million LGBTQ adults able to vote in the upcoming election, and 57 million Equality Voters who prioritize LGBTQ issues at the ballot, it will do our nation and community a disservice to exclude these issues as a part of the conversation.”

The letter goes on to address the Trump administration’s rollback on Obama-era transgender protections in healthcare, saying the move leaves the LGBTQ community more vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic. The letter further references the Trump administration’s opposition to the Equality Act and the scale-back on LGBTQ protections in education helmed by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. The request for more LGBTQ debate questions comes amidst an underrepresentation of LGBTQ issues on past debate stages. In 2016, presidential and vice-presidential debate 8 News Briefs October 9, 2020

On Sunday, October 18, Twisted Soul’s Chef Deborah VanTrece, Chef de Cuisine Robert Butts, and Pastry Chef Lola B. Daniels will work together to create a three-course meal, never before offered at the Atlanta-based restaurant. The meal will be packaged and available for pick-up on the afternoon of October 18 at the restaurant (1133 Huff Rd NW) along with a bottle of Dough Wines 2019 Pinot Noir. Please note guests must be 21 years of age and older to order and pick up a meal kit.

Photo of Harris by Gage Skidmore under CC BY-SA 2.0, Pence photo is public domain

Kamala Harris (l) and Mike Pence (r) will debate October 7.

moderators didn’t ask a single LGBTQrelated question, and of the 1,208 questions asked in the eleven Democratic primary debates this election cycle, only three regarded LGBTQ issues.

The vice-presidential debate between Harris and Pence is scheduled for October 7 at 8pm. It will be hosted at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. It will be streamed live via NBC News here.

HRC Endorses Georgia State Legislature Candidates The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has announced their endorsements for the Georgia State Legislature.

“With patchwork protections at the state level, Georgia’s 356,000 LGBTQ residents still face legal discrimination in many areas of life,” said Melodía Gutiérrez, the HRC Associate Regional Campaign Director. “We need to elect a pro-equality majority in the Georgia Legislature to advance key LGBTQ protections that will ensure every Georgian has full equality. Our slate of endorsed candidates will fight for those protections, and we are

thrilled to be endorsing their campaigns and working with them to deliver victories in the most consequential election of our lifetimes.”

The endorsements are as follows: Kim Jackson (SD-41) Michelle Au (SD-48) Sarah Beeson (SD-56) Mary Frances Williams (HD-37) Connie Dicicco (HD-44) Mary Robichaux (HD-48) Angelika Kausche (HD-50) Josh McLaurin (HD-51) Beth Moore (HD-95) Gregg Kennard (HD-102) Regina Lewis-Ward (HD-109) Robert Trammell (HD-132) The endorsements mark HRC’s efforts to elect pro-equality allies to ensure all Georgians are treated equally under the law.

Currently, Georgia is one of 29 states to not protect LGBTQ citizens with statewide nondiscrimination protections.

Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours Hosts Virtual Three-course Dinner LGBTQ-owned Twisted Soul Cookhouse

“This is an extraordinarily challenging time for local, independent restaurants,” said VanTrece. “We feel truly blessed to partner with The James Beard Foundation for Taste America, and we are so excited to bring you a custom meal never offered at Twisted Soul. Combine that with a bottle of Dough Wines pinot noir, and you have all the elements for an amazing in-home meal that can be shared communally and virtually with many others.”

Tickets to this virtual event are $150. Each ticket includes the meal and wine, as well as access to exclusive coking demos and a national broadcast featuring a lineup of James Beard Foundation friends, chefs, and special guests.

You can view the full menu and purchase tickets to this amazing event by viewing this article through our website, thegavoice.com.

The James Beard Foundation is a non-profit working to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more diverse, sustainable, and delicious.

For more information, visit jamesbeard.org.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

NEWS

A Discussion on Trans Activism Sybastian Smith and Gabrielle Claiborne talk about their backgrounds and work Rose Pelham On September 27 of last year, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced a new initiative to “significantly expand its work dedicated to justice for the transgender community.” According to the announcement, the goals of the new initiative will be to promote the economic empowerment, leadership, safety, and the general public’s awareness of transgender people. Sybastian Smith and Gabrielle Claiborne are both involved in parts of the initiative.

Courtesy photos

Smith (he/him) is a nurse, and in the words of Madeline Roberts of HRC, a “fierce advocate for all trans folks, particularly trans masculine individuals.” He is currently involved in HRC’s public service announcement (PSA) campaign, “See Each Other. Save Trans Lives.” Smith is also an HRC ACTIVATE fellow.

Gabrielle Claiborne (she/her) is the author of Embrace Your Truth and co-founder of Transformation Journeys Worldwide, through which she does transgender inclusion trainings with a wide variety of corporations in numerous industries.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Trans activists Sybastian Smith (l) and Gabrielle Claiborne (r)

For me, the most important takeaway from the workshop was [the importance of ] learning to communicate with each other better, and that means better understanding of our individual experience so we can, although we have many differences, find commonality.

Claiborne: I am the co-founder of Transformation Journeys Worldwide, an inclusion training and consulting firm with a transgender focus. We help a variety of organizations — with the corporate sector being our bread and butter — transform their environments to be more inclusive of trans and nonbinary culture.

To begin with, could you tell our readers about your backgrounds and activist work?

Smith: I am an HRC ACTIVATE fellow of the 2020 class, which is where my work with them began, with leadership training and getting out there to do activist/social justice work.

Pre-pandemic, we were traveling all over the country in order to work with various organizations. Now, we have shifted everything to online to where we are delivering our services through online platforms.

The last particular workshop I did was here in Atlanta focusing on stronger intercommunity relationships so we can show a more unified front in social justice movements. It’s about being more unified in our community, so we can be stronger outside our community.

We have a pretty robust service offering, because we recognize we need to reach our clients where they are. In terms of transgender, nonbinary workplace inclusion, our clients are all over the spectrum when it comes to creating that inclusive workplace culture.

10 News October 9, 2020

[To Smith:] Could you talk about your background as a nurse, and particularly what it means to be a nurse today, [during the COVID-19 pandemic] and a transgender nurse?

Smith: Being a nurse today, particularly in COVID times, it has been a test. It’s been difficult to get in here and stay in it. It’s been hard not to be worried about myself, my family, and what has been going on while I’ve been taking care of other folks. So, it really has been a test for my career and what I really want to do.

Speaking as a transgender medical professional, I feel like it’s so important that we are in these positions that are affecting our lifestyle. It’s important to have trans folks in the clinic, in the doctor’s office, and that’s been my motivation to work in clinics that are servicing LGBTQ folks so that when people come in, they can see a familiar face.

Having a trans person on staff who can advocate for [trans patients] really does help.

[To Claiborne:] What are some of the specifics of your organization’s work?

Claiborne: Recognizing the importance of meeting our clients where they are, a lot

of our clients start at a one-on-one level.

So, we have one-on-one interactions about how to be respectful, where we talk about the importance of language, transition, and share personal stories.

Our audiences are predominately cisgender audiences, so when we are sharing experiences that are unfamiliar to them, the personal story really helps make that connection, and to have compassion. So, we really try to have that personal story in there, and then we lead audiences with a call to action around how to be respectful, how to interact respectfully with the trans, nonbinary community.

Beyond that one-on-one, which is more of a personal competency track, we look at the organizational track, which is policies [and] very focused trainings for [parts of the workplace] like HR and IT, making sure that they do all the things they can do organizationally to create that inclusive workplace culture.

Most organizations want to do the right thing, they just don’t know how to start the conversations. So, that’s when they come to organizations like [Transforming Journeys.]

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

NATIONAL NEWS

GLAAD Poll: LGBTQ Voters Back Biden Over Trump, 76% to 17% Chris Johnson, Washington Blade Despite a recent assertion from Eric Trump the LGBTQ community has “come out in full force” for his dad, a new poll commissioned by the LGBTQ media watchdog GLAAD confirms the opposite is true and LGBTQ voters back Joe Biden over President Trump by a substantial margin.

The poll, conducted by Pathfinder Opinion Research between September 21-25 among 800 LGBTQ adults, found LGBTQ likely voters support Biden over Trump, 76 percent to 17 percent. (Five percent of LGBTQ likely voters said they planned to vote for another candidate, while two percent were unsure.)

Additionally, 81 percent of LGBTQ respondents said they were more motivated to vote than in previous elections and 92 percent said they planned to cast a ballot.

Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of GLAAD, said in a statement on the polling results “LGBTQ voters are poised to make a deciding difference this election year.

“Today’s poll demonstrates a monumental lead for Vice President Biden in the race for President,” Ellis said. “The poll should put to rest the misinformation from unreliable sources about where critical LGBTQ voters stand in this election, misinformation that’s unfortunately been repeated in the media.”

According to a Pathfinder Opinion Research memo, interviews for the poll were conducted online utilizing a national research panel.

LGBTQ respondents. the memo says, were selected to represent the national LGBTQ population based on demographic estimates published by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, and 12 National News October 9, 2020

Photo by Bigstock via Washington Blade

LGBTQ voters back former Vice President Joe Biden (l) and President Donald Trump (r), per a new GLAAD poll.

weighted by gender, age, race, education and geographic region based on Williams Institute data.

• 50 percent had somewhat or very favorable opinions of Sen. Kamala Harris, with 32 percent having very favorable views of her;

Other key findings among LGBTQ respondents in GLAAD’s ‘State of LGBTQ Voters’ poll:

• and 53 percent of LGBTQ respondents reported experiencing anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

• 88 percent of respondents report being registered to vote;

• 57 percent of LGBTQ respondents had a favorable opinion of Biden and 25 percent had an unfavorable opinion;

The poll is consistent with other polling data on the LGBTQ voters in the 2020 election, such as a Morning Consult poll in June finding Biden leads Trump among LGBTQ people, 64 percent to 19 percent, but stands to contrast to an informal survey of U.S. users of the gay dating app Hornet, which found 45 percent of LGBTQ men planned to vote for Trump.

• 13 percent of LGBTQ respondents had a favorable opinion of Vice President Mike Pence, while 65 percent had an unfavorable opinion;

Although that survey was highlighted by Tucker Carlson on Fox News and tweeted out

by President Trump, polling experts rejected the data in interviews with the Washington

• 16 percent of LGBTQ respondents had a favorable opinion of Trump, while 75 percent had an unfavorable opinion;

Blade and one called media coverage on it “clickbaity, sloppy journalism.”

Barbara Simon, a GLAAD spokesperson, told the Washington Blade the LGBTQ media watchdog conducted the poll as part of “ongoing research” and its mission to find accurate data on LGBTQ people, but acknowledged the Hornet survey played a role.

“We kept seeing from the White House press secretary and Ric Grenell and others (including Trump himself) unsubstantiated claims of LGBTQ support … the Hornet poll was in the mix of that,” Simon said.

“Your reporting on the Hornet poll showed why that poll wasn’t reflective, at all (thank you). We wanted to conduct a poll to set the record straight on the misinformation in the media about where our community stands and gauge registration and voter enthusiasm.”

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

I believe that sexual orientation should not influence access or rights. For far too long, even in the Metro Atlanta region, persons along the sexuality spectrum have been forced to live in denial or only partially acknowledging who they are without fear of retribution.

As a member of Congress, I will continue the work for equality in public policy to which I was committed when I served on the Atlanta City Council. My platform and accomplishments are below, but I believe it is important to affirm the beliefs that support my work.

Why Am I Running I am running for Congress to finish the rest of John Lewis’ last year in office. He was a neighbor and dear friend to me and my family. He and his late wife Lillian Lewis mentored me in high school, college, and throughout my 15 years as an elected official on Atlanta City Council and the Atlanta School Board.

For me, serving the remainder of John Lewis’ term in Congress is not an opportunity to start building a political resume or to place a capstone on the end of my career. This is my personal obligation to continue the justice leadership that has always uplifted and fought for the LGBTQ community in the 5th Congressional District started by Ambassador Andrew Young and continued by Congressmen John Lewis.

Accomplishments • Led the installation of Rainbow Crosswalks that laid the foundation for the permanent Rainbow Crosswalks that exist now.

• My District 2 Keep It INtown small business support TV segments featured LGBTQ businesses like Charis Books & More, Highland Bakery, and USpace Art Gallery • Sponsored National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with Alex Wan • Participation in Pride most years unless traveling • Pre-Arrest Diversion that supported transgender community in Congressional District 5 Platform 1) Stronger anti-discrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation 2) Increase funding for federal prisons to properly house and support LGBTQIA+ persons, specifically transgendered persons 3) Restore Obama-era protections for transgendered persons in the military 4) Support birthright citizenship to children born to US Citizens who are in same-sex relationships/marriages and adoption rights for same-sex married couples 5) I will support funding for HIV research and services for those who are positive 6) In Congress, I will partner with Fulton, Clayton, and DeKalb Counties, and the state of Georgia to provide best-in-class services for those living with HIV.

Vote early today so that we win this election on

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COMMUNITY NEWS

The Birth of LGBTQ Social Media Platform

Molly Tommy Steve Kaudy, founder

I recently launched Molly Tommy as a new social media platform for the LGBTQ community.

Everyone’s ambition at some point in their lives should be to make a difference in other people’s lives. An idea can come from past memories long forgotten, a conversation, a dream, old pictures, or new friends.

My idea came from a mixture of family and friends in the LGBTQ community, along with seeing old videos of a couple dear friends from back in the ’80s that are no longer with us. These two friends were Ed and Ronell, whom I met in Southern California at a company I was working at while I was working on my degree at California State Fullerton.

Ronell had recently moved from Detroit, and we hit it off right away. He was about five years older than me, a gospel singer with an amazing voice, and 6 feet and 130 pounds of sharply dressed man. He introduced his partner to me as his uncle. My future wife, Ronell and his “uncle” would hang out often time, dinners, clubs, staying at his place in Palm Springs, but not once would their sexualities be discussed. Ronell was the singer for my wedding, and to this day 33 years later I still watch my wedding video to see him and hear his amazing voice.

Ed had moved from a small town in Penn and was about ten years older than me.

As a history major, he was such a different personality than Ronell. Over the years he became a very good friend to my family, helping to tutor my brothers, coming over to all our family events, and taking trips with my wife. Ed had a “partner” whom we never

met, as Ed did not want anyone to really know he was gay.

allows businesses to connect globally with the LGBTQ community and their allies.

As I look back, I know both Ronell and Ed were troubled by the burden of not being able to be themselves, playing the part our society would accept. I wish they were still with us so they could enjoy the freedom to self-expression that they missed out on.

With our platform, a business owner can post discounts, offer specials, and schedule events. When a guest checks in on the Molly Tommy site, we can also share visits with the owner.

It was in their memory that I had the idea for Molly Tommy.

The history of Molly Tommy dates to the late 18th and early 19th century England, where homosexual men would refer to themselves as “Mollies” and homosexual women would call themselves “Tommies.” During this period, when same-sex activities were illegal and heavily prosecuted, Mollies would meet at underground places called a “Molly House” to dance, commune, and celebrate their culture with their community. We decided to combine both names to honor and celebrate the history of homosexuality.

My vision was to create a totally separate social media platform for the LGBTQ community, their allies, and supportive businesses.

The Atlanta-based company gives the LGBTQ community the opportunity to unite with a sense of purpose and use their voice to engage the community.

Molly Tommy give each user the ability to surf feeds and groups with news, events, perks, chat, a local classifieds marketplace and much more!

Members can communicate directly with their local LGBTQ community and receive discounts from local businesses and event promoters. Molly Tommy also provides a social media platform that

14 Community News October 9, 2020

We started off small, but, based on member feedback, we’ve updated and enhanced the Molly Tommy experience every six months so we can continue to grow and meet the needs of as many people as possible.

Molly Tommy is the new social media platform that was created 100% for you, the LGBTQ community. We are working diligently to make it the most fun, exciting, talked-about, safe, thought-provoking, and change-making social media platform.

For more information on Molly Tommy and to sign up, visit mollytommy.com.

Pride is Ageless in Georgia We make pride a year-round celebration! Like everyone else, people in the LGBT community want to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. AARP is committed to creating a new vision for aging—one complete with diverse stories and innovative ways for everyone to pursue their passions—equally, openly and proudly.

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YOUR VOICE

LGBTQ History Project:

U.S. Supreme Court v. LGBTQ Americans Victoria A. Brownworth

gay clientele in several recent cases. And in Bostock, Gorsuch notes that religious employers may challenge the ruling.

June 30, 1986 was a broiling hot day in Washington, D.C. when the U.S. Supreme Court released the decision in Bowers v. Hardwick, a landmark sodomy decision. The press was huddled under the small bank of trees near the side entrance, waiting for the copies to be handed out. The fate of millions of lesbian and gay Americans lay in the hands of the high court.

The controversial case involved consensual sex between Michael Hardwick and a companion in the privacy of his own home.

An Atlanta police officer, Keith Torick, was serving an invalid warrant for a ticket when he entered Hardwick’s apartment, burst into his bedroom, and found him engaged in oral sex.

Torick arrested Hardwick and the companion, charging them with sodomy, which carried a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Hardwick sued the state of Georgia, asserting that as a non-celibate gay man, his rights were infringed upon by the existing sodomy laws.

Michael Bowers, Georgia attorney general, took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The court found 5-4 for Bowers. Justice Byron White wrote the majority opinion upholding the sodomy laws, saying the Constitution did not support “a fundamental right to engage in homosexual sodomy.”

Chief Justice Warren Burger issued a virulently homophobic concurring opinion in which he asserted that homosexual sodomy was an “infamous crime against nature” worse than rape and “a crime not fit to be named.”

Seventeen years later, the court heard arguments in Lawrence v. Texas. Like Hardwick, the case centered on another 16 Your Voice October 9, 2020

But since Hardwick was overturned, in Lawrence, Obergefell, Bostock and laterally, Oncale, even conservative justices — notably Kennedy, who retired in 2018, and Gorsuch — have found there is a constitutional basis for LGBTQ rights.

Photo by Scott Drake courtesy of LGBTQ History Project

The confirmation of Coney Barrett and the impending shift to a 6-3 conservative court suggests a whole new battle for LGBTQ civil rights may have just begun.

consensual relationship, this time at odds with a Texas law that classified consensual, adult homosexual intercourse as illegal sodomy.

In a 6-3 decision, a very different court than had voted on Hardwick declared that the court had gotten it wrong in 1986. Only three justices remained from the original ruling: Rehnquist, O’Connor and Stevens. Finding for the majority were Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, David Souter, O’Connor and Stevens. The dissents were Rehnquist, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.

Writing for the majority, Kennedy declared “The petitioners [Lawrence and Garner] are entitled to respect for their private lives.

The State cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime.”

In his angry dissent, Scalia wrote “Today’s opinion is the product of a Court, which is the product of a law-profession culture, that has largely signed on to the so-called homosexual agenda, by which I mean the agenda promoted

by some homosexual activists directed at eliminating the moral opprobrium that has traditionally attached to homosexual conduct. … [T]he Court has taken sides in the culture war, departing from its role of assuring, as neutral observer, that the democratic rules of engagement are observed.”

Scalia’s comments in Lawrence v. Texas were again invoked by conservatives unhappy with the court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, which granted LGBTQ people protections against employment discrimination. But that 6-3 decision, written by conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, is predicated upon previous cases the court has rendered on gay rights, as well as previous employment discrimination cases such as Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services.

The court continues to move forward — albeit slowly — on LGBTQ issues. But as was the case in Hardwick, religion continues to infringe on LGBTQ rights. The court has found in favor of business owners claiming religious freedom to not serve lesbian and

Whether that will change in the next few months is now a question with the open seat after Ginsburg’s death. President Trump announced his nominee to replace Ginsburg eight days after her death: Amy Coney Barrett.

Coney Barrett has demonstrated bias against LGBTQ rights in her words, texts and rulings.

She defended the Supreme Court’s dissenters in Obergefell v. Hodges, asserting that the court had no business deciding the case and that it belonged in the hands of voters.

On November 4, the Supreme Court will hear Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, a case that could allow private agencies that receive taxpayer-funding to provide government services, such as foster care providers, food banks, homeless shelters, and more, to deny services to people who are LGBTQ. Fulton is a lawsuit that Coney Barrett may very well decide or a case that will be decided by a 4-4 court. At the heart of the case is whether or not religious groups have a right to cite religious freedom as their rationale for anti-LGBTQ bias.

If LGBTQ people thought the landmark employment discrimination case of Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia set the court on a new trajectory, Fulton, the confirmation of Coney Barrett and the impending shift to a 6-3 conservative court suggests a whole new battle for LGBTQ civil rights may have just begun.

Read the full story at thegavoice.com.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

YOUR VOICE

Nancy Pelosi PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE VIA FLICKR

Our 46th President, Nancy Pelosi Mark Segal Did that headline make you say, no way? Well, it’s very possible, and sooner than you might think. Four months, to be precise. If you’re wondering how this could possibly happen and how Donald Trump might very well lead to the nation’s first woman president, get ready for the roller coaster ride the next 33 days will be.

It all starts on election night. The votes that were cast that day are tallied, but many states have a backlog of ballots that were cast by mail. Still others have additional timelines for the remaining mail-in ballots to be tallied.

This is where Donald Trump’s consistent attacks on mail-in ballots makes sense. Any state he could or does lose, he will file lawsuits to contest that state’s election for any number of reasons. That battle goes on as electors are chosen to vote in the electoral college.

Without a vote by the electoral college, a 18 Your Voice October 9, 2020

“If no presidential candidate is certified by noon on January 20th, the third in line for president, becomes the acting president. The third in line for the presidency is, you got it, Nancy Pelosi.” winner in the election cannot be certified.

Who certifies the electoral college and certifies a new president? The United States House of Representatives, headed by Nancy Pelosi.

There’s a constitutional way to handle this.

Each state gets one vote in the Congress, but that one vote is decided by the states congressional delegation. That delegation is based on the new congresspeople elected this November. Nancy Pelosi decides if a contested congressional race should be seated. It would be a sweet feeling, the Democratic House of Representatives in the same seat that Mitch McConnel is in right now: full, total political power.

Here’s the best part. If no presidential candidate is certified by noon on January 20th, the third in line for president, becomes the acting president. The third in line for the presidency is, you got it, Nancy Pelosi.

It’s my bet that if it gets this far, Trump will concede shortly before that noon timeline.

There is no way he’d allow himself to lose to Nancy Pelosi and usher in the first woman president. He would rather see Biden take that seat than Pelosi. But let’s remember: Donald Trump will go to any length, no matter how destructive, to make sure no Democrat takes office. And it’s up to us to stop him.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

YOUR VOICE

French demonstration against Trump PHOTO BY GUILLAUME DESTOMBES / SHUTTERSTOCK

A Trés Trump Election Buck Jones

Clément works as a bartender at a local Paris café. He’s well read and finishing up his college degree in archaeology. Dashingly handsome, with a shiny vintage motorcycle, he fancies himself as a bit of a bad boy and a ladies’ man, the French version of Indiana Jones. He knows I am an American, and after the latest “outrage du jour” made by Trump, Clément asked, out of genuine incredulity, if I thought Trump was going to win reelection.

“It’s entirely possible,” I said. “I never thought it could have happened in 2016, but it did. I’ve learned my lesson.”

“But … but … HOW?” he asked, gesticulating in that effortless French way with his fingers pinched and thrusting his arms out, as if he were casting away an evil spirit.

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I don’t think he was asking about the mechanics of the antiquated system of the antidemocratic Electoral College. Most French people understand that the U.S. presidential vote is a convoluted mess, and any effort to explain is met with a glassy stare as if you are explaining how algebra works.

No, Clément, like many of us, is at a loss as to how someone with such an odious personality, who has so obviously failed in the basic requirements of leading a country during an unparalleled crisis, could possibly still be polling at around 40 percent. France has had its share of both offensive (Sarkozy) and ineffectual (Hollande) presidents, and both ended their single terms in office with abysmal poll numbers.

The French view Trump as a dangerous buffoon. Pew Research polling across Europe most recently had Trump with an 11% vote of confidence among the French, with the overall positive view of the United States at a paltry 31%, slightly below the median of the

13 other countries it polled (34% approval).

In fact, Trump is less trusted than even Russia’s Putin or China’s Xi.

It is difficult to overstate how much not just Trump, but Trump supporters (the 40% of Americans who delight in him “giving it to the libtards”) has completely destroyed America’s brand around the world. The bartender, Clément, asked about the protests he was seeing online, wary that they might be fake news.

“Is it true that ordinary people can carry assault weapons to a protest?” he wondered.

I paused, because even I had a hard time believing it was possible.

Finally, I nodded.

He shook his head, and then laughed incredulously. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t laugh, but that is seriously —”

“— I know, I know,” I interrupted.

He had many questions. Why Texas, with so many Latino residents, couldn’t give Biden a victory, why absentee ballots were an issue, why do Christians vote for Trump, how it’s possible that Trump could lose the popular vote and still win, why can’t Congress stop him, will the military support Trump … most of which I could explain, but when the words left my mouth, I realized made no sense to someone who lived in a rational world. We didn’t even get into the myriad nightmare scenarios of what would most likely happen following November 3rd when legal suits, court fights, protests in the streets, and constitutional ambiguities will plunge the nation into chaos. Clément sighed.

“He’s not going to leave is he?” he finally asked.

I shrugged my shoulders, doing my best impersonation of a Frenchman.

October 9, 2020 Your Voice 19

REELING IN THE YEARS

Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera:

Two of the Progenitors of the Modern Queer Movement María Helena Dolan Stonewall — the shot heard around the world.

Multiple millions celebrated Stonewall’s 50th anniversary in 2019. And now millions know of the two legendary rebellion queens: Marsha P (“Pay it no mind”) Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Insurgent, incendiary, and finally getting some love and respect. But who were they?

Young Marsha in Elizabeth, New Jersey, had a dream. Immediately after her class of 1963 high school graduation, she moved to New York with $15 and a bag of clothes.

She would dress as she wanted and have the friends she wanted just to lead a larger life.

It wasn’t easy, turning tricks and getting arrested (after her 100th arrest, Marsha stopped counting). She’d occasionally share a flop or hotel room with “the girls,” or have a boyfriend, but mostly she lived on the streets.

One day the 18-year-old Marsha was working 42nd Street and met the also-working 12-yearold Sylvia. It was Sylvia’s second year out there.

They became fast friends, sharing an unshakable trust and, eventually, a vision of a better world.

Tall, dark-skinned and perpetually smiling, it seemed that parties swirled around “The Mayor of Christopher Street.” Everyone who knew Marsha spoke of her generous nature.

When someone complimented an item of clothing she wore, she’d give it to them. But more importantly, she was one of the few drag queens who’d hang with “the street rats,” as they deemed themselves: the very young who were truly oppressed and dispossessed, the same queers and transvestites (self-prescribed) who started the riots.

what black queer feminist thinker Alexis Pauline Gumbs calls the “never straight” — queer pioneers unable or unwilling to hide their difference — which means they forced their queerness to be publicly acknowledged wherever they went ... the ones at the forefront of queer rebellion.

As for Marsha and Stonewall bricks, she repeatedly said, “I did not throw the first brick.

I was uptown and didn’t get downtown until about two o’clock; the place was already on fire.” She did shimmy up a lamppost in heels and drop a brick onto a cop car to great effect.

fished from the Hudson River. Her death was ruled a suicide, but the authorities could not explain how she got a hole in her head.

After much agitation, the case was reopened in 2012, and the cause of death is now officially “undetermined.”

On February 1, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that East River Park in Brooklyn would be renamed in Marsha’s honor, making her the first LGBTQ person to have a New York state park named after them.

Following the eruption, Sylvia beckoned.

Together, they developed a radical declaration called the Street Transvestite Action Revolution (STAR).

Now on to Sylvia, “The Mother of all Transpeople,” known for in-your-face activism on behalf of her people. She saw what needed doing and then set about doing it, whether you liked it or not. Unsurprisingly, she was called “an easy Queen to love and a hard one to like.”

But despite her regal ways, Marsha had addiction and mental health issues, and had been ejected and then permanently banned from numerous bars around the city.

Marsha always insisted, “What’s the point of complaining? It doesn’t get you nowhere.”

After STAR had run its course, Marsha still advocated for various groups. Toward the end of her life, she worked with PWA/ HIV+ people, political prisoners, and gender “non-con” kids.

Sylvia was Bronx born and bred, with a Venezuelan father who left before her birth, a Puerto Rican mother who committed suicide when she was three, and a grandmother (“Abuelita”) always hostile toward the “never

It’s clear both Marsha and Sylvia embodied

We lost Marsha in 1992, when her body was

CONTINUES ON PAGE 23

22 Reeling in the Years October 9, 2020

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

REELING IN THE YEARS

“Sylvia and Marsha’s names are often invoked when ‘Stonewall’ magic is trotted out annually.

But the nitty gritty of their lives and their activism seldom gets mentioned amid the hagiography.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 straight” kid she repeatedly told she never wanted. Sylvia left the home at 10 and hit the streets.

She began turning tricks and taking hormones.

But after a short time, she concluded, “I don’t want to be a woman. I just want to be me. I like to dress up and pretend and let the world think about what I am.

Sylvia always laid it on the line: “Queers grow up being alienated from everyone around us.

You come out, and you’re not the right type of Queer, you’re alienated from your own kind.

Where do you go, what do you do?”

budget of $750,000 has been raised.

Sylvia and Marsha’s names are often invoked when “Stonewall” magic is trotted out annually. But the nitty gritty of their lives and their activism seldom gets mentioned amid the hagiography.

She saw the things stacked against her, the how and the why of her oppression. She identified with the revolutionaries, like the Black Panthers and the Young Lords.

But she did not give them a pass on their homophobia.

Today, their names live on through services existing for their people.

“[The first night,] I was doing black beauties and scotch, and the next thing we knew, we were being raided,” Sylvia said of Stonewall.

“The Queens started being filed out …

Guns were drawn, Molotov cocktails are being thrown (I even threw one), and I’m like … the Revolution’s here. Thank God!” But revolutions are not created and then finalized overnight; they take work. And so the first revolutionary, multi-issue Gay Liberation Front burst into being. Women, men, transgender, no call, artists, musicians, political peoples of all stripes and all colors, people with privilege and without, connecting the dots and mucking about.

MCC New York food pantry? The Sylvia Rivera Food Pantry. Its queer youth shelter?

Sylvia’s Place. and not have to work the streets — Marsha and Sylvia did that for them. Here, the kids could be fed. They could form a family. This was revolutionary!

Unfortunately, their efforts were not supported by the community at large. Still, Sylvia and Marsha kept pushing. Hard.

Sylvia decided to do something about the homeless youth, who’d been among the first to resist at Stonewall. Naturally, she approached Marsha, and they formed STAR.

The last straw came during 1974’s 5th Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally.

Sylvia got onstage amid crowd boos: “I had to fight my way up on that stage … people that I called my comrades in the movement literally beat the shit out of me.” (Her “Y’alll need to quiet down” speech from that moment is on YouTube.) It hurt her so deeply she attempted suicide, and eventually retreated from all the assaults by falling deeply into drugs and alcohol.

They also created STAR House: a Lower East Side wrecked apartment owned by a smalltime mafioso who didn’t provide water. But this was a place where the kids could stay

Sylvia spoke of how she was “dusted off ” for the Stonewall 25 parade, as a Surviving Stonewall Veteran (SSV), and then put back on the shelf.

And then the reformist, single-issue Gay Activist Alliance arose. They sought to accomplish concrete things, and thus wouldn’t consider anything deemed not related to a certain type of gay liberation.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

But Matthew Shepard’s death propelled her back into passionate activism: protests, speak-outs, arrests. She began volunteering at an MCC food pantry, whose recipients were largely the homeless, the street kids, PWAs. She got sober and was hired to direct the pantry. Her activism meant she was once again feeding her kids, and now with an apartment, providing a place to stay.

As she was dying in 2002, Sylvia focused on the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, which would add “sexual orientation” as a protected category under New York State’s Human Rights Law. She extracted promises from the “Pride Agenda” people. Sylvia’s friends reported she was very happy for her trans people, who regard her as “our own Evita.”

Evita has many statues, there are none for our two heroes. Happily, preparations are underway to erect a monument to them, via the She Built NYC committee, and a project

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, begun in 2002, provides access to educational, social, health and legal services for “transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals, while also teaching to engage politically … and empowering them to take action.”

The bilingual Sylvia Rivera Survival and Self-Determination Project is “aimed at helping low-income trans, gender nonconforming, and intersex … people access critical services and benefits needed for gender self-determination.”

We all need our history. Consider one commemoration among dozens during the 50th anniversary observations: the dedication of the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor, an addition to the Stonewall National Monument, and the first U.S. National Monument and Park dedicated to LGBTQ rights and history, run by the National Park Service and just steps away from the Stonewall Inn. This memorial is dedicated to LGBTQ “pioneers, trailblazers and heroes.” Sylvia and Marsha are among the first 50 inductees.

October 9, 2020 Reeling in the Years 23

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.

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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.

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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.

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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, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP LOVING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0218 04/20

NIKKI

KEEP LOVING.

LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2008 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

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.

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See Nikki’s story at BIKTARVY.com.

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YOUR VOICE

Atlanta Pride Parade PHOTO BY ROB BOEGER

Remembering Pride Past Rose Pelham Somehow, I have nearly always found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time for Pride. But the year before I left home for college, I finally got a chance to march in the parade.

I first attended Atlanta Pride not all that long ago in 2015, though the half decade between then and now has brought unimaginable differences. Then, I would have mistaken our present for a dystopian fiction. Now, I can’t help but see our present haunting the past. In any case, I wasn’t long out of my second closet, and my first Pride was also my first experience being myself in public.

Transitioning, at its start, holds a certain terror, particularly in contemplating one’s changed role in the world. It is a position somewhat between images of self, which is made tenuous for all that our society abhors ambiguity. It is a time for which one is often made to feel a problem for not appearing within a binary. In the 26 Your Voice October 9, 2020

dysphoria I experienced then, and the fear I had of discrimination, I overvalued “passing” as a goal, even as I was beginning to see its desirability as an imposition of a hetero/cisnormative society. I had not yet experienced myself as a person among a class of people, and would not truly, until, in college, I lived in an experimental, more or less exclusively transgender housing situation. In community, we gain the perspective to shift our sense of normalcy, which we cannot do alone, even when the idea is beginning to be present. My first Atlanta Pride would be a preview for me of what community would mean.

At the time, I was out as trans at home — more or less — but not to most friends. I had certainly never appeared as myself in public.

I was afraid to appear as a trans woman en route to the parade and decided to change my clothes only after arriving. Finding a public bathroom was a pain, and I had to wait in line at a Subway too overwhelmed with restroom users to demand we all buy something first.

The experience was simultaneously tedious and terrifying. It gave me time to contemplate my fear of how people would react to me.

In the end, however, my anxiety was hardly

justified. It was Pride, after all.

The (now sadly defunct) Gay-Straight Alliance of my high school was to meet me as the parade was forming, where I had arranged for us to march with Georgia Equality. My peers never quite materialized where I expected them. I would later find them after the parade. While they were elsewhere, a member of Georgia Equality helpfully taught me how to properly apply lipstick using a method I still rely on to this day. In fact, I think I still have that very container of lipstick.

The march was an exhilarating experience of being swept along by oneself and by others. It was a beautiful sea of capital-Q Queer people, and in the joy of the crowd one could lose their overwrought sense of self-consciousness.

The fear of coming out I had before that moment was erased. How could anyone not enjoy being out in such company? It was life affirming to be marching surrounded by such proudly gay people.

I didn’t happen to notice that my cheap sandals were inadequate for marching, nor did I notice the Georgia heat and humidity.

We were all having too good of a time.

In reaction against our Queer joy, members of the Westboro Baptist “Church” were camped out at the final bend of the parade route. The photographer ahead of us asked that we slow down so he could get a shot of our contingent against the backdrop of the WBC, but we desired to get past them. It was not that they were threatening, but that they were annoying.

I didn’t fear the WBC back then, and I don’t now. Their inarticulate howling contains something less than the substance of speech.

Attention was what they sought, as it sustained them and made their senseless hate appear as if it had meaning.

We marched on, and in the perspective of the distance we gained, it was clear that the sea of us made a pitiably small island out of them. The conflict would soon be forgotten.

In light of the pandemic, I can’t help but feel a certain nostalgia for the joy of crowds at a time when the fear of COVID-19 didn’t qualify the experience. We were together, physically, as a community, and in being so, we reversed the notion of what it means to be normal.

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We wish everyone a happy and successful PRIDE!

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PRIDE

Atlanta Pride Online

Katie Burkholder

Todrick Hall PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Atlanta Pride Committee (APC) has moved its annual Pride celebration completely online. Even though Pride looks a little different this year, APC has announced a diverse lineup of virtual programming to ensure Pride at home lives up to years past. All through Pride weekend, October 9–11, as well as until the end of October, Atlanta Pride will host virtual events like the Starlight Cabaret, a digital marketplace, wellness programming, and more!

Starlight Cabaret This year’s Starlight Cabaret will be streamed on Sunday, October 11 from 7–10pm. Even though the event is virtual, that doesn’t mean there will be a shortage of talent! The lineup for this show includes a host of the best of the best among Atlanta’s drag performers, as well as some performances and appearances from the following artists: 24kGoldn* Bright Light Bright Light Kristine W Big Freedia Todrick Hall Lewis Capaldi* Zara Larsson* Ava Max* DJ Babey Drew* *These artists appear in partnership with iHeartMedia The event will be hosted by Starlight veteran Genre Monster and RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist Phoenix. You can register for the event and stream it the day of at atlantapride. topeka.live.

Delta Virtual Marketplace On October 10 and 11 from 1–5pm, guests will be able to browse the offerings of the Delta Virtual Marketplace. Along with 30 Pride October 9, 2020

two days of interactive vendor booths and a resource fair, the market includes unique offerings reminiscent of the Pride festival we all know and love.

a cooking segment by the world renowned Big Freedia, a Pride Bingo hosted by Latina lesbian comedienne Sandra Valls, and a pumped up music set by 3 C Productions.

Visit the Family Zone for family fun, crafts, and reading programming from the Fulton, Dekalb, and Clayton counties library systems. Then head over to the virtual Wellness Room, which includes all things wellness: yoga, COVID-19 prevention, nutrition, exercise, and more!

This year, APC is also offering a virtual scavenger hunt from October 8–15.

While the hunt can be completed entirely online, there will also be a few (socially distanced!) in-person clues around town, including some highlighting Pride sponsors like Porsche. Winners will enjoy prizes like a stay at the Marriott, VIP tickets to the 2021 Atlanta Pride festival, Atlanta Pride merchandise, and more!

For our older Pride goers, Gray Pride, presented by AARP, is better than ever. Find

All marketplace offerings will be available through the Atlanta Pride Festival 2020 app.

Pride at Home Party Packs For those planning on hosting their own at-home Pride celebration, APC has partnered with Proof of the Pudding to offer catering packages that include fancy snacks like charcuterie boards and dips, brunch favorites like rainbow fruit skewers and frittatas, and diverse and delicious cocktails. You can order your party pack at proofatl.square.site. Food will be available CONTINUES ON PAGE 31 TheGeorgiaVoice.com

PRIDE

Ms. Terra Cotta Sugarbaker PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 for pickup at Proof of the Pudding (1175 Chattahoochee Ave NW, Building A) on October 9 and 10 from noon–4pm and October 11 from 10am-noon. Proceeds of box sales benefit APC. Atlanta Pride 2020 Calendar From podcasts and voguing to art exhibitions and education, there’s something for everyone this Pride, all COVID-19 friendly!

“While this has definitely been an unusual year for everyone, our team has pulled out all the stops to make sure that this 50th anniversary milestone is memorable,” APC Executive Director Jamie Fergerson said.

“We want everyone to remain safe and healthy, and we also want everyone to have a little fun enjoying the Atlanta Pride Festival in a very different way this year. As always, we have a wide variety of programming that will offer something of interest to everyone

across our wonderful community. Let me be the first to say, HAPPY PRIDE!” Check out this weekend’s schedule and mark your calendar!

Exhibition: High Visibility Opening Night — October 9, 7–9pm Sweet Tea: A Queer Variety Show — October 9, 8–10pm Delta Virtual Marketplace — October 10 and 11 Atlanta Pride Yoga Presented by Kashi Atlanta — October 10, 10am–noon Trans Health Program with Absolute Care — October 10, 12:30–1pm Queer Code Podcast — October 10, 5–6pm Voguing with Jeterbydameter — October 10, 4:30–5pm Shooting Stars Cabaret — October 10, 7–10pm Southern Flex Pride Work Out Hour — October 11, 10–11am Drag Queen Story Hour with Ms. Terra

Cotta Sugarbaker — October 11, 11–11:45am CBS 46 Atlanta Pride Television Special — October 11, 1–2pm AGMC, Our Song, and Voices of Note Performance — October 11, 2:30–3:30pm Starlight Cabaret and Entertainment Block — October 11, 7–10pm Exhibition: High Visibility Artist Talk/

Identity and Queer Performance in Photography — October 15, 7–8:30pm Exhibition: High Visibility Artist Talk/ Exploring Queer, Black Southern Identity Through Photography — October 22, 7–8:30pm All streamed events and more information can be accessed via atlantapride.org.

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October 9, 2020 Pride 31

PRIDE

Atlanta Non-profits Celebrate Pride Conswella Bennett

staying home. “Stay home and watch the virtual events and find community of other ways,” Anderson said.

Earlier this year, Atlanta Pride announced that the 50th anniversary festival would be virtual during the weekend of October 9 through 11.

Charis Books has a number of virtual book discussions scheduled for the month, one of the first being a co-branded event with Atlanta Pride: a conversation between Pamela Sneed and local poet Theresa Davis regarding Sneed’s latest poetic memoir, “Funeral Diva,” about coming-of-age in the AIDS era and its effects on life and art. The conversation will take place at 7:30pm via crowdcast, Charis’ virtual event platforms.

Upon the announcement, some local nonprofits that regularly participate in the festival began to think of ways to still take part in Pride activities and make the anniversary a memorable celebration. One nonprofit organization with a full calendar of events this month month is Lost-n-Found Youth (LNFY), which works to end homelessness among LGBTQ youth.

Another virtual discussion will be held on October 13 at 7:30pm Deesha Philyaw, author of “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” will be chatting with Tamara Winfrey-Harris for a celebration of Philyaw’s highly anticipated collection. The book is a collection of nine stories that features four generations of characters grappling with the church’s double standards and their own needs and passions.

“October is one of Lost-n-Found’s favorite months of the year,” said Nasheedah Muhammad, LNFY’s co-director. “We always look forward to kicking off the month with Atlanta Pride and this year is no exception. We love being part of the celebration of our city’s dynamic LGBTQ community and are proud of the creativity that’s been displayed in ensuring this year’s festivities still go on.”

The inaugural “Running for Home” Virtual 5K kicks off the month’s events. Proceeds from the virtual race, which runs from October 4 to 11, will directly support LNFY’s programs and services and will help offset the decrease in contributed revenue typically received from the organization’s annual gala, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Atlanta Magazine has also selected Lost-nFound as its official charitable partner during the month as part of its Pride activities.

Other Pride activities include a monthlong city-wide photography festival showcasing the work of some of the LNFY youth and acclaimed Atlanta photographer John Stephens. The Atlanta Celebrates Photography project will exhibit some of the photography at the Lost-n-Found Thrift Store and at Park Ave. Baptist Church in Grant Park.

“We definitely have a story to tell and look 32 Pride October 9, 2020

Courtesy photo

Nic Stone, author of, “Dear Martin,” will be signing copies of her newest book, “Dear Justyce,” Friday, October 9 from 5pm to 7pm at Charis Books.

forward to working with our partners to amplify that story,” Muhammad said of the exhibit. “Through these opportunities, we hope we’ll be able to contribute to the destigmatization of homelessness and provide insight into the lives of our youth.

Our youths are the future of the LGBTQ community in Atlanta, and it means a lot to all of us to be part of the future of the LGBTQ community in Atlanta, and it means a lot to all of us to be part of the conversation and celebration.”

For additional information on Lostn-Found and its October events and activities, visit their website at lnfy.org.

For daily updates, follow Lost-n-Found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Another nonprofit organization with a full calendar of Pride events is Charis Circle, the non-profit arm of Charis Books. Charis Books is known not only for its artists, authors and activists from across the South, but also as the South’s oldest independent feminist bookstore.

E.R. Anderson, executive director of Charis Circle, said the queer-owned bookstore celebrates Pride all year long but always looks forward to participating in the festival. He said, however, that they support the festival’s decision to go virtual this year in an effort to keep everyone safe.

“We want the community to stay safe,” Anderson said, adding that it’s an opportunity for people to love and protect people by

The virtual events are free, however donations are accepted. For the list of other virtual discussions and activities, check out Charis Book’s full calendar of events at charisbooksandmore.com/event.

Along with their virtual events, Anderson said there will be some opportunities for safe, socially distanced activities at the store.

People are encouraged to come out on Friday, October 9 from 5pm to 7pm for a drive-by book signing extravaganza with Nic Stone.

Stone is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult fiction. Best known for her first novel, “Dear Martin,” she will be in town signing her newest book “Dear Justyce.”

Charis Books will also host porch popups on Saturdays. The next pop up will be held October 10. Visitors can continue to purchase Pride flags and other accessories, along with books by LGBTQ authors.

Charis Books is located on the campus of Agnes Scott in Decatur at 184 S. Candler St., Decatur, GA 30030.

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October 9, 2020 Ads 33

PRIDE

Walking to End Alzheimer’s Rose Pelham

Austin Blackwell will be a first-time participant in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s this year. His grandmother was diagnosed five years ago. Angela Blackwell, Austin’s mother, joined our conversation part way through. In an interview with Georgia Voice, both opened up about their experiences as caretakers.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Could you start by telling me about your grandmother?

Austin: My Nana grew up in a small town in north Georgia. My mom is her only child, so when she started to show signs of Alzheimer’s, my mom felt we had to take her in and get everything figured out.

Once she moved in with us fully, it was very difficult, honestly — I don’t know the best way to say it — to see someone you care about losing not only themselves but you as well ....

Photos by Austin Blackwell

One of my favorite memories with her once she came to live with us was when my siblings were home from school and I was home from living in the city, and we were just tossing around a basketball. My Nana came outside and said: “What are y’all doing here?” She grabbed it, and threw the basketball, and it went straight in the net! I was amazed … It’s something I will always remember about her.

Above: Austin Blackwell with his grandmother at the memory care unit at Brickmont.

Above right: Blackwell’s sister is seen with his grandmother.

with the letter z at the end. I was, like, “yes, I would love to participate!”

My Nana is now at the memory care unit at Brickmont, and I’ve never met a staff more caring.

Angela: I mostly hope it would raise money to get more research done, because I worry about myself. Am I going to go down the same road my mother did, the same road my grandmother did? I would love to think that research would be able to pick up and really find help so my children don’t go through what I’ve gone through.

How did you get involved in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and what are you looking forward to about the walk?

Austin: This will be my first year participating. I was speaking with John Michael, asking if there were anything I could do. I would love to be a part, and help bring awareness, and be closer to my Nana.

Well, with the pandemic I can’t be closer to her, but he was talking about the Walk [to End Alzheimer’s] and his group Millennialz,

When we talk about Alzheimer’s, many people have a fear of having Alzheimer’s when they’re older or having a relative with Alzheimer’s. Could you talk about confronting that fear?

Austin: I feel like it’s a justified fear, the fear of losing all your memories and everything you have worked your whole life for. I’m not going to say that I haven’t had that fear creep on me every now and then. What I would say to people who have that fear ....

34 Pride October 9, 2020

I think it’s all about surrounding yourself with the people who love, support, and will be there for you. And, I think people need to realize that as a society people have made it this thing that you should hide what you’re afraid of and not talk about it. But with something like this, I think it’s the opposite, I think you need to talk about it and talk to your loved ones so you feel heard and cared about.

Angela: My grandmother has also dealt with Alzheimer’s, so I remember vividly being afraid my mother would end up like my grandmother did. It was huge for me, because I was afraid I would not be able to handle it correctly. So, it was very important to me when I realized we were headed down this road with my mother to have my children understand and be aware.

When I realized it was starting to happen, then it became: okay, this is what we will have to deal with. Now I live with the fear of: “will it be me?” It’s one of those things

“One of my favorite memories with her once she came to live with us was when my siblings were home from school and I was home from living in the city, and we were just tossing around a basketball.” that’s generational — it stays with you.

Is there anything you think our society could do better to help caretakers?

Angela: Wow. There’s so much. Being a caretaker is definitely a full-time job.

You don’t have time to leave the home ....

The hardest thing is having people who can help. Austin was willing to help me, but he has a job. If I were leaving town for a weekend, he would make sure to schedule time off so he could be here to help, but having services where you feel comfortable that someone can come in and help, and give you that break — there aren’t a lot of those out there that are affordable.

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October 9, 2020 Ads 35

PRIDE

A Different Kind of Pride

Reflecting on Drag, Justice, and Community with Paege Turner Allison Radomski When I first met Paege Turner, one of Atlanta’s most ingenious drag performers, the artist was engaged in a very different type of performance. Actually, the two of us looked quite similar, both sporting greasy hair and the dishevelment of those who have slept in their clothes. We joined a few dozen women in a room with concrete walls and scuffed tile and buzzing fluorescent lights. One by one, we stepped forward as a judge announced our bail. It was 10am on a Sunday in June, but instead of celebrating Pride and pouring mimosas, we were in jail after linking arms and blocking the interstate the night prior.

A few months later, Paege and I sat down to reflect on that particular moment. “Rayshard Brooks was a member of my neighborhood,” Paege told me. “When I heard about what happened, I knew I had to be out there.

In the heat of it all, when organizers were telling white protestors to hold the line, I knew I needed to stay.”

But the arrest experience was especially complicated for Paege, who’s nonbinary.

Thanks to our transphobic justice system, Paege got lumped in with a bunch of women, and getting through the jail stint meant that Paege had to play along.

Not that gender performance is necessarily new for Paege, who’s been startling and delighting Atlanta’s audiences since 2016.

“When I used to go out to see drag shows, I never saw the performances that I wanted to see,” Paege explained. “I could tell that I wanted something else. Something a little weirder, something more expressive.”

That longing inspired Paege’s approach to drag, which ranges from creepy to clownish. If you’ve ever wanted to watch a queen grind on stage in a negligee as they claw off pieces of their face, then Paege Turner is definitely for you.

Sensuality is matched only by the macabre, CONTINUES ON PAGE 38

36 Pride October 9, 2020

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October 9, 2020 Ads 37

PRIDE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36 perhaps because Paege’s performances are so keenly attuned to the eeriest elements of our society’s feminine expectations.

When designing a new look, Paege gravitates toward found materials and repurposed trash, which is why they might appear on stage with a mask made of cigarette butts or sport a look that’s part-femme, part-mutant teddy bear. But no matter how Paege chooses to show up, their style defies any and all assumptions of drag.

But donning a green wig or creating a geode-inspired makeup scheme isn’t the same as playing the part of a woman within the criminal justice system. Gender codeswitching isn’t the type of performance that anyone wants to put on, but unfortunately for those within the nonbinary community, it’s an all too common experience.

That’s why Paege uses drag as a way to include excluded folx. “I just threw myself into it,” Paege said. “I started creating spaces for people who are nonbinary and for people who are usually underrepresented, even in gay spaces. When I started organizing my own productions, I wanted to include performers who weren’t getting cast in other shows.”

That urge to establish a more inclusive drag experience led Paege to create Hussy, a show hosted at the Bakery, and No Boys Allowed, a regular event with Southern Fried Queer Pride for non-men. Along with King Perk and Aries Alxndr, Paege has also been a co-host of Cabbage Patch, an all-ages drag brunch geared toward kids and families.

If Paege promotes an approach to drag that pushes boundaries and invites exploration, perhaps it’s because drag was a critical part of their own personal growth. Paege grew up in Griffin, Georgia, only an hour outside of Atlanta but worlds away from the city’s more inclusive culture. Their family was, as Paege puts it, old-school Baptist, and it wasn’t exactly a safe space for a kid to explore gender and sexuality. “Everything with my sexuality was pretty repressed,” Paege recalled.

“I eventually came out as bisexual.”

It wasn’t until Paege moved to Atlanta for college, and then subsequently dropped out, that drag began to feel like a possible outlet.

38 Pride October 9, 2020

“Embracing drag’s inherently activist nature means embracing activism’s many forms, a truth that has become especially clear in 2020.”

“I didn’t know what I was doing with my life,” they said. “And I was feeling so disconnected from myself.”

Paege’s initial drag forays inspired them to start asking questions about their own gender and eventually come out as nonbinary. The playfulness and experimentation of drag became revelatory for them, and it offered that sense of self-connection that was missing for so long. “And it’s not just me,” Paege says. “All of the people I started performing with who identified as cis-gender, none of them do now.”

For Paege, the art of drag is a means of personal understanding, a space of self-acceptance and a strategy for creating a more inclusive world.

Embracing drag’s inherently activist nature means embracing activism’s many forms, a truth that has become especially clear in 2020.

At the heart of it all is a conviction that Black liberation and queer liberation inevitably go hand in hand. “When I was in school, I learned about queer as a political identity,” Paege explains. “Anything that makes you different makes you queer in some way, whether that means being Black or undocumented or whatever. Queer activism is about doing whatever you can to protect all queer bodies.

Intersectionality plays a big part in that.”

Since October is Atlanta’s official Pride month, the LGBTQ+ community has another chance to recognize that Pride will be different this year, both because of the pandemic and the ongoing protests against police brutality. Indeed, perhaps Pride must be different for every year to come if we are to be a true force for racial justice. For Paege, Pride is an opportunity to draw the circle of community even wider, a chance to reexamine the boundaries within ourselves and our world.

“I think I see this as a season for reflection,” Paege said. “Pride is all about community. We have to support each other because we’re all that we’ve got.”

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PRIDE

50 Years of Atlanta Pride in Photos 1977 ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

1980

1982 1991

1986 1990

1989 1993

1994

40 Pride October 9, 2020

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A&E SPOTLIGHT

Charmaine Sinclair Dupree

Takes Over Miss New Face Pageant Conswella Bennett This fall, a popular contest for up and coming drag queens is expected to make its return: the Miss New Face All-Star competition and Miss New Face of Atlanta pageant, which spearheaded the careers of the likes of Violet Chachki and Nina Bo’nina Brown.

Both competitions were the brainchild of the late Regina Sims. Sims was a well-known mentor to drag queens and transgender women who brought the show to Friends on Ponce, the bar she also managed. Sims passed away on April 26, 2020, from cancer, but before her death she passed her beloved Miss New Face All-Star competition and pageant on to a former contest winner and friend, Charmaine Sinclair Dupree.

In an interview with Georgia Voice, Dupree recalled the time when Sims was hospitalized for a fall and she asked Dupree to host the show while she was out sick. Not long after that initial call, Sims called Dupree again, this time to let her know that she would not be returning to the show or the bar that had been her home and family for years. It was during that call that Sims told Dupree it was her wish for Dupree to take over the show and the pageant.

Dupree choked up remembering that final phone call from her friend earlier this year.

“I broke down in tears,” Dupree recalled.

“It wasn’t just someone acknowledging my experiences. Someone believed in me, noticed me, and thought I was good enough.”

Dupree won the Miss Face of Atlanta pageant at Friends on Ponce in 2015. It was during her reign that she was offered the position of show director to the pre-show. She was also host and MC of the talent competition that takes place the second Sunday of every month.

Photos courtesy of Charmaine

CONTINUES ON PAGE 44 42 A&E Spotlight October 9, 2020

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October 9, 2020 Ads 43

A&E SPOTLIGHT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42 While there is excitement around the return of the pageant, Dupree said that this month, the goal is to hold a benefit show in memory of Sims. She has been in talks with the owners of Friends on Ponce and said they are hopeful that the event can be held in October. Many bars and clubs are beginning to open and host socially distanced shows after the COVID-19 pandemic caused businesses, bars and clubs to close temporarily when many cities were shut down because of the virus.

After the Sims benefit show is held, the Miss New Face of Atlanta pageant will be held later in October or November. Winners from previous shows prior to COVID-19 shutdowns will compete for the crown.

Dupree will carry on the legacy of her friend, bringing newcomers in all forms of drag into the spotlight and allowing them a platform for artistic expression.

That’s what drag is for Dupree: an artistic and creative outlet. A makeup artist and hair stylist by trade, Dupree also worked as a cocktail

waitress at the Armory in the late ’80s and ’90s. It was there that she met and became friends with a number of drag performers, many of whom helped to shape the glamour queen persona she exudes on stage.

Back then, Dupree had no desire to become a drag performer. She did admit to wanting to be an actor, but she had problems remembering lines. She thought about being a singer, but had to concede that her voice wasn’t the best. So she dipped her toe into drag after helping a friend with a duet and solo drag act. For the solo, she wowed the audience with a tearaway reveal costume.

A few years later, in 1994 or 1995, Dupree entered a talent show and won first place, but still wasn’t ready to commit to diving fully into the world of drag. Still, she enjoyed the attention and accolades from the audience.

Now, decades later, Dupree is well-known for her elaborate wardrobes and accessories and is working to mentor and help other entertainers hone their craft.

In an effort to combine two of her passions —

entertaining and raising money for Pets Are Loving Support (PALS) — Dupree performs at various charity events. That isn’t where her charity ends, though. Typically, Dupree sells rainbow rhinestone jewelry for folks to wear during the Atlanta Pride Festival, but with no in-person festival this year, she’s transitioned to selling rhinestone masks. The masks can be purchased through her Facebook page during some of her Facebook Live broadcasts or at Midtown Moon every Wednesday in October during Birdcage Bingo.

50

Proceeds of mask sales will go to PALS and be presented to members of the organization at the Christmas show at Lips Atlanta later this year.

Dupree invites all entertainers in the metro Atlanta area, as well as cities outside of Atlanta, to come showcase their talent in the Miss New Face All-Star competitions and take home the crown. For more information, contact Dupree on her Facebook page or visit friendsonponce.com/events.

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October 9, 2020 Ads 45

JIM FARMER ACTING OUT

An Iconic LGBTQ Remake and a New Thriller Two new gay-themed films are both available through streaming services right now, one a remake of an iconic gay classic and the other a chilling suspense thriller.

After its spectacular run as an off-Broadway play beginning in 1968, Mart Crowley’s “The Boys in the Band” became a 1970 film, directed by William Friedkin. Its story of pre-Stonewall men has become legendary, even though in the LGBTQ community it is simultaneously cherished and loathed.

Nonetheless, it was the first play/film that brought together a group of gay men in threedimensional leading roles. Back in 2018 an all gay cast took the show to Broadway to considerable acclaim, with the play winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.

Now with Ryan Murphy as one of the producers and Joe Mantello directing, the work has been filmed for a new generation.

It’s 1968 in New York City and Michael (Jim Parsons), who works as a screenwriter, is hosting a birthday party for Harold (Zachary Quinto). The first to arrive is Donald (Matt Bomer), with whom Michael was once in a relationship. Others soon arriving are Larry (Andrew Rannells), a commercial artist living with Hank (Tuc Watkins,) is a teacher who has just separated from his wife. Other guests include Emory (Robin De Jesus), a decorator with a constant quip on his lips, librarian Bernard (Michael Benjamin Washington) and a young Cowboy hustler (Charlie Carver) who arrives as a gift for Harold.

A night of fun, frivolity and drinking gets more serious when Alan (Brian Hutchison), Michael’s heterosexual roommate, arrives needing to talk. The group move inside and the party turns sour. The claustrophobic nature of the men being inside works quite effectively.

It’s a swell ensemble, and it’s great to see the all-gay cast of the recent Broadway version return for this. Of the large cast, Bomer (unexpectedly flashing some full-frontal nudity), De Jesus (who was nominated for a 46 Columnist October 9, 2020

Publicity photo

The cast of Netflix’s “Boys in the Band.”

Tony for his role) and Quinto are the most convincing. Quinto in particular brings a lot more nuance and soul to the role of Harold than Leonard Frey did in the original.

Rannells is the sole cast member who doesn’t convince. He seems a little out of place amongst the others and his Larry lacks depth.

It’s almost a word for word remake of the original, and the material is observant. “The Boys in the Band” was especially vital when it came out. It was tough to watch back then, and it’s just as tough to watch in 2020. Yet it’s undeniably well executed and Crowley – who sadly passed away earlier this year – and his dialogue crackle, even today.

A rather disturbing little film, “Spiral”

opens with a scene of two young men getting bashed in a parking lot in 1985.

It’s a flashback belonging to Malik (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman). Ten years later he and his boyfriend Aaron (Ari Cohen) have decided to move to a new town to raise their 16-year-old daughter Kayla (Jennifer Laporte). Their first encounter as they are pulling across the bridge into their new location is having a brick thrown at their car.

Malik has some run-ins with some neighbors and later sees some of them hosting an odd party. He begins to sense all is not right in his new home, especially when someone breaks in and spray paints “Faggots” on a wall.

The central couple is clearly defined here.

They are having to face being both a gay and

interracial couple in a conservative town.

Malik is staying at home working on a book and is more aware of the creepy things that are happening around him. There is some tension between the two men, while Kayla begins seeing a local boy. Some comparisons have been made to “Get Out,” but while “Spiral” is long on style it can be a little loose and clunky narratively. The film is directed

by Kurtis David Harder and written by John Poliquin and Colin Minihan, whose 2018 “What Keeps You Alive” worked much better. Yet there’s no denying this gets under your skin.

“The Boys in the Band” is currently streaming on Netflix. “Spiral” is streaming on Shudder.

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October 9, 2020 Restaurant Guide 47

BEST BETS OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST LGBTQ EVENTS IN ATLANTA FOR OCTOBER 9-24 Friday, Oct. 9

Midtown Moon’s Pride Weekend headliner is Kennedy Davenport.

Davenport’s special guest Sunny Dee Lite will be appearing tonight at the Madams Show and Saturday night at The Divas Show. More special guests will be announced soon, 11pm - 2am My Sister’s Room hosts the KIA Comedy Comedy show tonight as well as the Pride Glow Party and Silent Auction Full of sketch comedy, drag and live singing, Ho Sho: Erection Year streams online today and tomorrow.

Find tickets and more information at www.hoshoatlanta.com and www.dunlop-events.com

Saturday, Oct. 10

This week’s edition of Charis Books’ weekly themed pop-up sale on the front porch is Pride-themed. Masks are a must and six-foot markers are placed for social distancing. Only four people allowed on the porch at a time. Credit card purchases only, Noon – 4pm The official women’s party of Pride Weekend at My Sister’s Room kicks off 8pm and goes until 3am Dee Martetto — aka Twisted D — spins at the Heretic tonight at 9pm, with masks required for entrance and strict social distancing enforced

Sunday, Oct. 11

Join Revs. Simon Mainwaring and Natosha Reid Rice in conversation with parishioner and former Acting U.S. Attorney General, Sally Yates, as they explore the theme of Justice and American Identity. Sally served for three decades at the Department of Justice, here in Atlanta and in Washington, with civil rights, criminal justice and prison reform measures among her many achievements. Hosted

by All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 9 – 9:45am Get your dance on the Medusa Productions Tea Dance with DJ Dani Brasil, all the way from Sao Paolo in his Atlanta debut, The Piedmont Room @

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Friday, Oct. 9

Midtown Moon’s Pride Weekend headliner is Kennedy Davenport. Davenport’s special guest Sunny Dee Lite will be appearing tonight at the Madams Show and Saturday night at The Divas Show. More special guests will be announced soon, 11pm - 2am (Photo via Facebook) Piedmont Park, 3 - 8pm.

Gauthreaux, beginning at 3am

X Midtown entertains guests for Pride weekend on its patio, beginning at 4pm

Enjoy All Music Monday at Blake’s on the Park, lasting until 3am

Blake’s on the Park hosts its Super Sized Sunday Show with host Edie Cheezburger and guests including Shawnna Brooks, Chavon Scott, and Raquel Rae Heart, 8:30pm

Tuesday, Oct. 13

Sunday DayDrunk is today, with R&B and pop music videos from the ‘80s and ‘90s, sponsored by Mary’s. Go there in person or visit twitch.tv/marysatlanta

Monday, Oct. 12

Out late? Visit Xion with host DJ Joe

Jam to Retro Video Jukebox at Woofs Atlanta this evening.

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Atlanta’s Political Trailblazers is a conversation among past, current, and upcoming political figures — including Cathy Woolard, Gil Robison, Sam Park, Park Cannon, Alex Wan, and Stephe Koontz — who are leading the way for LGBTQ+ rights and representation in Atlanta. The event is hosted by Rich

Eldredge. Atlanta magazine will donate a portion of the proceeds from this conversation series to help support Lost-nFound Youth, 7:30pm. Find the registration link in the digital version of this calendar on our website, thegavoice.com.

Thursday, Oct. 15

The Alliance Theatre in conjunction with The Counter Narrative Project presents an evening on Black LGBTQ Narratives.

This conversation focuses on the intersections of Black, gay, and trans identities and the legacy and work of Black artists within both the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ rights movement. The event

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October 9, 2020 Ads 49

BEST BETS to participate with the acknowledgment that this is a space that centers Black women’s thoughts, creativity, and lived experiences.

The group is reading short story collections this season and October’s book is “Girl, Woman, Other,” by Bernardine Evaristo This zoom meeting requires a reservation. By joining the Zoom call you agree to abide by the guiding principles of the group and code of conduct, including confidentiality, and will not record audio or video of any portion of the meeting without prior consent of the organizers. Find the registration link in the digital version of this calendar on our website, thegavoice.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 features a screening of a short film from the co-directors of “Hands Up,” introduced by playwright Nathan Yungerberg, and a performance from artist E. Patrick Johnson.

The event is moderated by Charles Stephens of The Counter Narrative Project;; performer and Professor of African American Studies and author of “Sweet Tea” E. Patrick Johnson; playwright and author of “Holes in My Identity” Nathan Yungerberg; actor and drag performer Trevor Perry; and writer, actor and comedian Thandiwe Thomas DeShazor, 7:30pm, Learn more at alliancetheatre.org/events/ black-lgbtq-narratives

Friday, Oct. 23

Friday, Oct. 16

Edie Cheezburger and a sterling cast of queens headline The Other Show, 9pm, Facebook Live

Saturday, Oct. 17

Beginning today and every third Saturday of each month the Men’s Health and Wellness Center opens its door for a Saturday clinic from 10am to 1pm. While breast cancer is normally found in women, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month it’s recommended that men get checked out as well, 2140 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Sunday, Oct. 18

The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children meets virtually tonight from 2 – 4pm, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta. For the meeting link, visit pflagatl.org/ thirdsundayvirtualsupport/ Grab your mask, put on your creepy attire, and get ready to have some spooky fun as PALS Drag Queen Bingo – Rocky Horror Night returns. Erica Lee, PALS queens Patsy Jon Benet and Desiree Storm, and special guest performers (including hostess Bubba D. Licious ) will be serving thrills and chills as they call bingo, put on a show, and help raise money for PALS. Tickets are $20 for 7 games with $550 cash to the winners. New bingo guidelines will be in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The host venue, Lips Atlanta, is complying with public health guidelines from the CDC and City of Brookhaven, and PALS will be taking

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Friday, Oct. 23

The Indigo Girls play a drive-in tonight at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, 8pm (Official photo) precautions in order to ensure the safety of our guests, volunteers, performers, and staff are operating within new guidelines from the State of Georgia. As a result, there will be fewer tickets available (still at the same price of $20/person) and jackpots are reduced by half. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first game begins at 7:30pm.

Monday, Oct. 19

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, 7:30 – 8:30pm, virtually, charisbooksandmore.com/event

Tuesday, Oct. 20

Grab a beer tonight at the Atlanta Eagle, which has re-opened with social distancing precautions

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Don’t miss A Backstreet Reunion,

hosted by Rich Eldredge. Performers, employees, and patrons of the mammoth Midtown disco — including Charlie Brown, Fred Wise, Vicki Vara, Bill Berdeaux — get together and reminisce on its glory days.

Performers, employees, and patrons of the mammoth Midtown disco — including Charlie Brown, Fred Wise, Vicki Vara, Bill Berdeaux — get together and reminisce on its glory days. Atlanta magazine will donate a portion of the proceeds from this conversation series to help support Lost-n-Found Youth, 7:30pm. Find the registration link in the digital version of this calendar on our website, thegavoice.com.

Thursday, Oct. 22

The Black Feminist Book Club reads books by amazing Black women writers, centers the discussion from Black feminist perspectives, and celebrates classic and contemporary Black women authors across genres and styles. Charis Circle board chair Susana Morris is the facilitator of this group. All community members are invited

Out Front Theatre Company presents “Diva: Live From Hell.” As president of the drama club and the star of every school play, Desmond Channing spent most of his short life in the spotlight. But when Evan Harris, a hotshot transfer from New York, challenges his throne, Desmond responds, as any diva would, with lethal force. Now, stuck in the Seventh Circle, Hell’s most squalid cabaret venue, Desmond is forced to relive his disturbing tale of woe. As he presents his one-millionth consecutive show, Desmond performs with a desperate vigor in the hopes that he can prove he’s repented and be freed from this eternal, campy torment. “Diva: Live From Hell” had its world premiere at Theater for the New City in 2017, tonight through Oct. 25, outfronttheatre.com/event/diva-livefrom-hell/ The Indigo Girls play a drive-in tonight at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, 8pm

Saturday, Oct. 24

The ATL LGBTQ+ Book Club is a group for Atlanta’s 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. October’s book is “Ordinary Girls: A Memoir,” by Jaquira Diaz.

For the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, the book club, which normally meets at Charis Books & More, will meet online via Zoom. All are welcome to join. You can find the meetup through the ATL LGBTQ Book Club Facebook page or feel free to reach out to the group facilitator, Shelby, at shelbykurland@gmail.com, 10 – 11:30am

50 Best Bets October 9, 2020 TheGeorgiaVoice.com

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October 9, 2020 Ads 51

MELISSA CARTER THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

PROTESTORS GATHER OUTSIDE THE SUPREME COURT TO PROTEST THE NOMINATION OF AMY CONEY BARRETT. PHOTOS BY SHUUTERSTOCK / STEPHANIE KENNER

The True Definition of Pride Dictionary.com defines “pride” as a “high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.” As we celebrate Pride in Atlanta, I want us to reflect on the word itself and ask ourselves if we really are living a life where we value our own experience and contributions.

nominated by President Trump to replace the iconic RBG and historically, she has not shown the same ideology of equality as Ginsburg. She defended the Supreme Court’s dissenters on the marriage equality case of Obergefell v. Hodges, saying those who want same-sex marriage have every right to lobby in state legislatures to make that happen. She said Title IX protections do not extend to transgender Americans and has even referred to a transgender women as “physiological males.”

With the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her subsequent memorial, I found myself recalling the ways she helped our community. In every Supreme Court case that directly touched LGBTQ issues, Ginsburg joined the majority in ruling in favor of equality. In fact, just two months after she joined the decision that the federal government must recognize gay marriages, Ginsburg officiated the gay wedding of longtime friend Michael Kaiser, making her the first Supreme Court justice to do so. She officiated several more until her death.

Coney Barrett has also been linked for years to the conservative People of Praise, a Christian group that opposes abortion and holds that men are divinely ordained as the “head” of the family and faith. Former members have reported the group’s teachings that wives must submit to the will of their husbands. Oddly, People of Praise has made efforts to erase all mentions and photos of Coney Barrett from its website before she undergoes her confirmation hearings, but I hope we see the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett has been 52 Columnist October 9, 2020

What does any of this have to do with Atlanta Pride? In my view, everything, since

I am of the belief that all things are related, and action (and more importantly inaction) has ripple effects on our everyday lives. For those who are sick of politics and try to have nothing to do with the complexity of it, you need to wake up.

Presidents nominate justices to sit on the Supreme Court, and those nominees must be confirmed by members of the Senate.

Presidents and senators are selected by you, thus, you have an indirect say so in who makes it to the highest court in the land and decides outcomes of our most contested court cases. If you are a proponent of civil rights, immigration rights, LGBTQ rights and women’s rights, all are affected by who is in office and who sits on the bench. If you haven’t voted or have yet to even register to vote, then you have failed at your job.

Politics is the very system that allows the citizens of our country to be the boss, because politicians work for us. Regardless of their arrogance or actions, that will not change as long as we are a democratic nation.

They work for us, but an undisciplined or inattentive boss will allow their employees to

run wild and question your authority.

The positive outcome of this election and President Trump’s revelation that he and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19 is that people are brushing up on their Civics lessons. Who would take over if President Trump became deathly ill, or who would run for President if the worst-case scenario comes true? You now understand the path to becoming a justice on the Supreme Court. I hope in your impromptu research you also discover your role as voter is the most important of all, and that so many people worked very hard for the privileges we as members of the LGBTQ community currently enjoy. However, there are some who could take those away.

You have to decide if you really are living a life of Pride, finding your existence and values to be worth something, or if you instead live life as a victim to your own identity.

Think of voting as choosing you and know that loving oneself produces the most powerful ripple effects there are. That, to me, is what true Pride is all about.

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RYAN LEE SOMETIMES ‘Y’

As Seen on TV Although our society increasingly feels like it is about to shatter, there remains bipartisan, cross-cultural unity in the paranoia many Americans feel toward LGBTQ folks. My social media timeline — which almost exclusively features progressive acquaintances and family members — frequently reads like the newsletter for One Million Moms, a far-right Christian group that believes kids can turn queer after seeing lesbians in a yogurt commercial.

I’ve lived without cable for more than a decade and haven’t seen many of television’s most iconic shows, but I often develop a skeletal understanding of various series by scrolling through the digest of reactions and online discussions they spark. Based on the rhythm of these reactions, a wildly popular TV show usually starts shedding fans toward the end of season one or early in season two when it “starts pushing all of that gay shit.”

“POWER BOOK II: GHOST” PUBLICITY PHOTO

For many, any form of LGBTQ representation is propaganda, part of Hollywood’s plot to confuse their children and undermine their god. However, the sight of a Black gay character triggers a pungent resentment from those who believe such depictions are an assault on Black manhood, a state of being too regularly vilified or emasculated.

Fox’s “Empire” was the breakout show of 2015 as it chronicled a drug-funded music company headed by an ex-con who is shot by her murderous ex-husband in the pilot episode; but as the series began to include more storylines about that dysfunctional couple’s gay son, many viewers suddenly remembered they were sanctified and worried about the immorality being forced upon them and their families.

“P-Valley’s” Uncle Clifford is the most recent Black gay character used as evidence that LGBTQ acceptance has gone too far, because apparently a flamboyant gay man is too 54 Columnist October 9, 2020

provocative for a TV series about a strip club.

The day after an episode of “Power Book II: Ghost” depicted a “gay sex scene” that climaxed in penetrating eye contact, French kissing and shirtless petting, I saw calls for TV monitors to create a specific viewer advisory for samesex intimacy. One of my dearest cousins, who I have no doubt views me with reciprocal favor, recently shared a popular meme where Black shows are used by Hollywood as a Trojan horse to trick Black audiences into accepting the “gay shit” that lurks within the script.

“It irks my spirit! I’m sick of it!” commented a woman who will undoubtedly be voting for Joe Biden next month.

“So unnecessary!” and “So unneeded” wrote two other women who would never consider themselves as bigoted as Trump supporters. A male commenter went full-blown homophobe

As always, children provide ideal cover for adults’ intolerance. Objections to LGBTQ inclusion in television shows center on propriety rather than prejudice, although plenty of folks get as agitated by an LGBTQ character on “Clifford the Big Red Dog” as they do when a so-called gay sex scene pops up on a show for mature audiences.

There is not a Black family, neighborhood or nation without LGBTQ people in its bloodline or borders. Their existence and experiences have long been unspeakable, and I understand how startling it can be to see and hear their stories being told; and the disorientation of something you were always taught was sinful suddenly being celebrated; and how threatening it feels when a group of people whose inferiority you’ve always taken for granted suggests their testimony is as worthy as yours.

Even heterosexuals who might kiki at “Pose” or cry at “David Makes Man” are not necessarily opposed to ghettoizing Black LGBTQ content, where audiences can voluntarily explore such projects but see infusing LGBTQ themes into “normal” programming as invasive.

However, it’s not a coincidence that LGBTQ tokenism on television originated with MTV’S “The Real World.”

LGBTQ characters and storylines have challenged viewers’ preconceptions and facilitated conversations that some families were otherwise unable to have, but we cannot rely on fictional scripts to tell our stories. The more of ourselves, our authentic culture and our pride we share with loved ones and social circles, the less disturbed they might be by what they see on TV.

in response to “Power”: “Them bastards finessed us. Introduced three damn sissies in the same episode.”

TheGeorgiaVoice.com