10/10/14, Vol. 5 Issue 16

Talk

can be the perfect foreplay.

Protect yourself and your partner. Talk about testing, your status, condoms, and new options like medicines that prevent and treat HIV. Get the facts and tips on how to start the conversation at cdc.gov/ActAgainstAIDS/StartTalking

Follow us online at:

facebook.com/StartTalkingHIV

@TalkHIV

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For model year 2015 or later vehicles sold or leased byFinancial an authorized BMW centerBMW on orofafter July 1, 2014, BMW coverage is notare transferable subsequent Special lease and finance offers available through BMW Services. ©2014 North America, LLC. TheMaintenance BMW name,Program model names and logo registered to trademarks. purchasers, owners, or leasees. Please see bmwusa.com/UltimateService or ask your authorized BMW center for details.

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O F D E C AT U R

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10.10.14

IN THIS ISSUE OF GA VOICE NEWS

6 | News briefs 8 | Georgia transgender community in danger of voter disenfranchisement 10 | Supreme Court decision bodes well for Georgia gay marriage case 16 | Jerusalem House’s iconic Halloween party helps those in need

EDITORIAL

20 | Editorial: Atlanta Pride is our time to shine 21 | British Consul General part of first foreign government to march in Atlanta Pride parade 21 | Cancer survivor Stan Fong on taking pride in taking care of yourself The lesbian-led Fat Bottom Girlz motorcycle club joins the Dykes on Bikes to lead the Atlanta Pride parade. (Photo by Marilyn Nieves/SuspendedImage.com.) Page 45

Photo via YouTube

OUTSPOKEN FRIENDS & FOES IN THEIR OWN WORDS

“I’m blown away by this.

It is a watershed moment for the entire country.”

“Because of [her white] background and upbringing, Jennifer acknowledges her limited cultural competency relative to African-Americans and steep learning curve, particularly in small, homogenous Uniontown, which she regards as too racially intolerant.”

— From a lawsuit filed by lesbian couple Jennifer Cramblett and Amanda Zinkon against the Midwest Sperm Bank in Downers Grove, Illinois, for allegedly giving them sperm from a black donor.

Official photo

“I don’t want to be labeled gay, I want to be a human who loves humans.

I’m tired of being labeled, I’m an American. I’m not an African-American; I’m an American.”

— Actress Raven-Symone in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. (Oct. 6, MTV)

Photo via Facebook

— James Esseks, a lawyer who heads the American Civil Liberties Union’s legal efforts concerning same-sex marriage, in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to let stand rulings that allow same-sex marriage in Virginia, Utah, Oklahoma, Indiana and Wisconsin, and will likely lead to marriage equality in several more states. (Oct. 6, The Washington Post)

ATLANTA PRIDE

25 | Local favorites light up the Pride stages 26 | Snellville couple fight for family as plaintiffs in marriage equality lawsuit 28 – 29 | Celebrating 44 years of Atlanta Pride and who we are 32 | Trans, Dyke Marches ensure visibility for everyone 34 | Atlanta Pride festival map and parade route 36 | Atlanta Pride events calendar 40 | Atlanta Pride by the numbers 43 | Comedian, actress Sandra Bernhard coming to town to benefit AIDS Walk Atlanta 45 | Fat Bottom Girlz lesbian motorcycle club ready for Pride parade

A&E

47 | Theater: ‘The Doctor, the Devil, & My Dad’ a time-bending experience 48 | Food: Places to dine away from the Pride pack 52 – 58 | Calendar

COLUMNISTS

62 | Funny Story: Topher Payne returns to talk about being back on the market after eight years 64 | Outside the Box: Bill Kaelin on how is unplugged adventure conquered hate with love 66 | Femme Folio: New columnist Kirsten Ott Paladino on learning the feminist truth through a lie 68 | Sometimes ‘Y’: Ryan Lee on feeling most at home as ‘Other’

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GA VOICE | 6

10.10.14

NEWS

NEWSIN BRIEF CATHY WOOLARD, ALEX WAN THINKING OF MAYORAL RUNS IN 2017?

Johnny Fambro

LONGTIME HIV AND LGBT ACTIVIST JOHNNY FAMBRO DIES AT 63

Johnny Fambro of Macon, a longtime LGBT and HIV activist, died Oct. 3, 2014. He was 63.

According to his obituary, he died of a massive heart attack.

In 2011, Fambro was honored by Georgia Equality with its Guiding Star Award at its Evening for Equality event. At his request, there will be no service. Instead, Fambro asked for people to help a homeless person.

Fambro was the executive director of the Central City AIDS Network and Rainbow House. He also at one time owned a gay bar, organized against Anita Bryant and worked to provide free and confidential HIV testing in the central Georgia city.

At the 2011 Evening for Equality awards, Fambro, seated in a wheelchair, drew a standing ovation from the crowd for his decades of work on HIV and LGBT issues in Macon.

Fambro’s diverse work ranged from organizing against Anita Bryant, to owning a gay bar, to creating an HIV program when he saw his friends begin to grow sick and die from the disease, to running for office as an openly gay candidate and continuing to grow the city’s AIDS organization.

Fambro, who charmed the crowd with remarks that were both amusing and inspiring, humbly accepted the award three years ago by claiming that he got it for being “lazy”—that with so few people doing anything to fight for HIV and LGBT rights, he could do a little and be seen as doing a lot.

“I do accept this in the name of all the people who died for this award, for all of the people who have helped, for all of my friends who have died, and friends I have never met.

It was not me who did this. It was all of the people who stood behind me on cold and rainy nights,” Fambro said in 2011.

— Dyana Bagby

Georgia’s socially conservative political blog the Peach Pundit reported Oct. 1 on six potential candidates reportedly telling supporters they’re making a run to succeed Mayor Kasim Reed in 2017.

The list includes lesbian former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard; openly gay Atlanta City Councilmember Alex Wan is also mentioned as a possible candidate.

Others on Peach Pundit’s list: City Council President Ceasar Mitchell; Councilmember Felicia Moore; State Rep. Margaret Kaiser; Councilmember Kwanza Hall; and Councilmember Mary Norwood, who had a strong showing against Reed in 2009.

If Wan or Woolard were elected, he or she would of course become the first openly gay mayor in Atlanta history and would join the two other out gay mayors of major U.S. cities, Annise Parker in Houston, who was elected in 2009; and Ed Murray, who was elected mayor of Seattle last November.

Wan told the GA Voice that it’s still too far out to consider a run for mayor.

“Whoever wrote that admitted that it’s so speculative. It’s still four years out. I’m overwhelmed with what all I have to do right now to even think about 2017,” he said.

“It’s not on my radar but it’s funny that people are putting me on the radar. It’s flattering but just so much can happen over the course of a year, two years, three years.

Peoples’ situations change, political environments change. There clearly are people who are already starting for 2017 and that’s great for them.”

Woolard also told the GA Voice now was too early to consider a run.

“It’s way too early to begin speculating about the 2017 mayoral campaign. It’s certainly nice to be noticed, but I’m focused on growing my business right now and working really hard on this election and hoping for some big wins here in Georgia!”

— Patrick Saunders

Cathy Woolard and Alex Wan

www.theGAVoice.com

JUDGE DISMISSES FENUXE COUNTERCLAIMS IN MESSY PRIDE MEDICAL LAWSUIT

A DeKalb County Superior Court judge dismissed Fenuxe magazine’s attempts to add on salacious counterclaims to a lawsuit filed by Pride Medical last year alleging the glossy men’s magazine deceived advertisers about its distribution in order to charge higher rates.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Becker made the ruling Sept. 29.

“It was the ruling we expected. We had hoped it would come sooner. And now we are proceeding on the advertising fraud case with TW Media (parent company of Fenuxe) without the other d ist r act ion s,” said Michael Welsh, attorney for Pride Medical.

Welsh said the lawsuit alleging advertising fraud is still in discovery with likely a couple more months of investigation to take place.

“We’re glad that now the case has been cleaned up by the judge so we can move forward,” he said.

Attorney Todd J. Poole, who is representing Fenuxe and its owner, Tyler Calkins, could not be immediately reached for comment. In court documents, Fenuxe has denied the allegations of fraud.

Pride Medical Inc. filed a lawsuit against Fenuxe magazine and its parent company, TW Media, on Nov. 8, 2013, alleging the magazine defrauded Pride Medical by exaggerating distribution numbers so it could charge higher rates for advertising.

On Dec. 9, 2013, Fenuxe and its owner, Calkins, fired back in a nasty counterclaim, denying Pride Medical’s allegations and also claiming Lee Anisman, who has since retired from Pride Medical, threatened to rape him and ruin his business.

Pride Medical [which advertises with GA Voice] and Anisman filed an objection to the counterclaim on Dec. 17, 2013, and said Fenuxe and Calkins were attempting to turn the ongoing litigation into a “Jerry Springer”-like atmosphere to avoid revealing what the lawsuit is actually about— alleged fraud by the magazine against advertisers.

In her order, Judge Becker stated, “[T]his court finds that Tyler Calkins is wholly unconnected to the action … and that the relationship between the two [Calkins and Anisman] is of a personal nature. The issues between those two parties are not related to the transaction that makes up the complaint in this action.”

— Dyana Bagby

GA VOICE | 8

NEWS

10.10.14

www.theGAVoice.com

Georgia transgender community in danger of voter disenfranchisement Local groups launch efforts to address problem in advance of Nov. 4 general election

BY THE NUMBERS

11,230

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com The National Conference of State Legislatures has five categories to grade the ID requirements for voting in each state. The states with the most requirements fall in the “strict photo ID” category, and Georgia is one of the ten states that have that distinction. One organization estimates that 4,400 members of Georgia’s transgender community are in danger of being disenfranchised in the general elections on Nov. 4 as a result.

The report was issued by the Williams Institute, a national think tank based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) that focuses on LGBT issues. It is an update of a 2012 report the group issued covering the same issues.

The problem that’s causing the concern about disenfranchisement is when a transgender individual’s gender marker on their identification documents doesn’t match their gender identity or expression. So when they show up to the polls and the poll worker checks their ID and it doesn’t match, they could harass them about it and even refuse to let them vote.

“That may mean that the poll worker might question the validity of the ID they’re presenting or the validity of the voter who’s trying to cast the vote,” says Georgia Equality executive director Jeff Graham. “While everyone wants to be vigilant to protect against voter fraud, it has a disproportionate impact on transgender individuals.”

Some in the transgender community say the possibility of what might happen at the polls is too much to deal with, especially with the various other forms of discrimination that are unique to them.

“It really depends on the person working at the polling location,” says Cheryl Courtney-Evans, executive director of Transgender Individuals Living Their Truth (TILTT).

“I’ve had one person [at the polls] who paid attention to the point that they said, ‘Ma’am they made a mistake on your ID,’ and I said I couldn’t change that and that they made a mistake. They still let me vote. It just depends on the poll person and if they have a problem, but who wants to risk it?”

Transgender activist Jamie Roberts is also concerned about the issue.

Georgia’s transgender voting-eligible population

39

Percentage of that population with no updated ID or records

4,400 Transgender activist Jamie Roberts is concerned about trans voters being turned away at the polls on Nov. 4. (File photo)

“I’ve heard about a lot of people being turned away at the polls,” Roberts says. “Because of the kind of alienation that trans people experience, a lot of them just don’t bother to vote.”

TRANSGENDER VOTER ID TOOLKIT CREATED

Georgia Equality has launched efforts to address the problem. There is a Transgender Voter ID Toolkit available on the group’s website and in a hard copy version at their offices at the Rush Center. The toolkit was distributed at the recent Southern Comfort transgender conference and has been shared with the leaders of local transgender organizations.

One of the main messages Georgia Equality is trying to get out there is to change the gender marker on your ID. “That’s going to be the best way that identification and appearance and identity all match,” says Graham.

However, changing the gender marker on your ID can be a complicated process.

“Getting the gender marker changed on your state ID or driver’s license varies from state to state. Here in Georgia the criteria is presentation of documents that would confirm that you are or have had gender reassignment procedures done,” Courtney-Evans

says. “And basically that’s the only way here in Georgia that it can be changed. That can be an expensive proposition for many people.”

So Georgia Equality is also pushing another option for the transgender community: vote absentee.

“By voting absentee, it’s as simple as filling out a form and sending it into the Secretary of State’s office or the county voter registration office,” Graham says. “Then you fill out the ballot and send it back in the mail at least a week in advance of the general election on Nov. 4.”

Courtney-Evans concurs with Graham.

“We can avoid any of those problems by merely voting absentee,” she says. “Then you don’t have to worry about your presentation.

Anybody who’s nervous or afraid about what might happen at the polls and wants to take part in the political process should go ahead and vote absentee.”

Of course the root of the problem is Georgia being in that select group of states labeled with “strict photo ID” status, but there’s skepticism over that changing anytime soon.

“At this point in time there’s no serious effort to loosen voter ID requirements and I don’t anticipate they will come up anytime in the near future,” Graham says.

Estimated number of transgender Georgia voters who are in danger of being disenfranchised on Nov. 4 *All according to the Williams Institute report “The Potential Impact of Voter Identification Laws on Transgender Voters in the 2014 General Election”

Georgia Equality’s Transgender Voter ID toolkit includes: Trans voting guide n Voting while trans checklist n Why trans people should care about voting n Why it’s important to update your ID before voting n Absentee ballot application n Potential impact of voter ID laws on trans voters in the 2014 general election n A model policy for states with voter ID requirements n

The toolkit is available at www.georgiaequality.org or as a hard copy at Georgia Equality’s offices at the Rush Center.

GA VOICE | 10

NEWS

10.10.14

www.theGAVoice.com

Supreme Court’s decision not to take up gay marriage case bodes well for Georgia Legal experts: Marriage equality may come slower to all states, but it will come

Hecht chimed in on the Supreme Court’s decision and called on Olens to quit defending the ban.

“Today’s ruling confirms what we already knew: that these bans are unconstitutional, and that the Attorney General should quit spending state resources defending an unconstitutional law and should focus on protecting children and elder Georgians from abuse,” Hecht told the GA Voice.

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com The surprising news on Monday, Oct. 6, that the Supreme Court decided against taking up a marriage equality case this term cleared the way for same-sex marriage to be legalized in 11 more states, which would bring the total up to 30—and the attorneys behind Georgia’s federal class action marriage equality lawsuit want to make sure their court knows about it.

Lambda Legal filed a notice of supplemental authority with the U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia on Monday, “to put the court on notice that the Supreme Court denied all these cases,” senior attorney Beth Littrell told the GA Voice.

Littrell pointed out that the Supreme Court didn’t make this decision based on the merits of the cases.

“At the same time, I think it does send a message to federal judges who are ruling in these cases that are still pending that they’re likely to be on the wrong side of history if they uphold marriage bans,” she said.

And while today’s decision put the nationwide legalization of marriage equality on the backburner, it bodes well for individual statewide cases like Georgia’s federal class lawsuit, Inniss v. Aderhold, Littrell said.

“While it would have been wonderful if the court took one or all of these decisions and ruled in [the LGBT community’s] favor, what happened today is the second best out-

Republican Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, left, continues to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage while his Democratic opponent, Greg Hecht, right, supports gay marriage and called on Olens to stop spending tax payers dollars for the defense. (File photos)

‘SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WILL SOON BE A REALITY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY’

Lambda Legal attorney Tara Borelli with Michael Bishop and Shane Thomas, two of the plaintiffs in the federal class action lawsuit seeking to overturn Georgia’s same-sex marriage ban. (Photo by Dyana Bagby)

come, which allowed these good decisions to stand,” she said.

“That’s a very good sign. Thousands and thousands of couples will be able to marry across the country including the Deep South.

I predict that this will be a very good outcome—a slower process but in the long run a very good outcome.”

tionality of Georgia’s marriage ban.”

Democratic attorney general candidate Greg Hecht has received widespread praise from the LGBT community for his vow to drop the state’s defense of the same-sex marriage ban should he be elected to office.

Hecht faces off against Olens on Election Day Nov. 4.

GEORGIA ATTORNEY GENERAL OLENS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ELEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT CASE COULD HAVE MAJOR IMPACT ON GEORGIA CASE

Legal experts say today’s decision puts more pressure on Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, who has faced criticism for his decision to defend the state’s 2004 same-sex marriage ban.

“It strongly strengthens my argument that the AG should not defend the case,” said Eric Segall, a law professor at Georgia State University and a constitutional law expert.

“The Supreme Court, faced with lower court cases all of which overturned bans on samesex marriage, didn’t see fit to weigh in.”

Constitutional scholar Anthony Kreis agreed.

“It is abundantly clear—now more than ever—that the Supreme Court will not uphold marriage bans barring a major change in the makeup of the Court. The probability of success for the State in either the District Court or the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is virtually zero. As such, Attorney General Olens should immediately reverse course and decline to defend the constitu-

The next date to keep an eye out for in the Inniss case is Oct. 22, the deadline for the state to file a reply to Lambda Legal’s response to the state’s July 21 motion to dismiss the suit. Then it’s in U.S. District Court Judge William Duffey’s hands from there.

Littrell also said to keep an eye on Brenner v. Scott, the Florida marriage equality case pending before the Eleventh Circuit Court, which is the federal court of appeals that has jurisdiction over Georgia and Alabama as well. A U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of marriage equality in Florida in August, which the defendants then appealed to the Eleventh Circuit the following month.

“If that decision comes out before ours is decided, it will have a big impact on what happens in our case,” Littrell said. “That would create precedent that Judge Duffey would be required to follow.”

Florida officials have until Oct. 15 to file the next brief in that case.

Hillel Levin, associate law professor at the University of Georgia and an expert on same-sex marriage rulings, also weighed in on the Supreme Court’s decision.

“The Court’s decision to not take up the issue of same-sex marriage for now has no direct legal implications on the Georgia case, but it does have some important indirect implications,” he said.

First, had the Supreme Court taken one or more of the cases—as many expected— the current case would likely have been stayed until the Court rendered its decision and possibly been rendered moot altogether, depending on what that decision said, he explained.

“By electing not take up any of the cases, the Court made it much more likely that the Georgia case will move forward. There’s now no reason that it shouldn’t,” Levin said.

Second, the immediate effect of the Court’s decision not to rule on the legal question is that same-sex marriages will go forward in several more states, he added.

“As more and more states recognize same-sex marriages, and as more and more same-sex couples tie the knot, it will become more and more likely that Georgia and other holdout states will come to recognize these unions,” he said.

“This could happen in various ways. The social pressure to accept and respect these unions in Georgia will grow; people will increasingly see these marriages as no big deal, thus reducing opposition; and, if and when the Supreme Court ever does decide to take up the issue, it will have a more difficult time undoing the facts on the ground,” Levin said.

In other words, according to Levin, the Court’s “decision not to decide” does not merely keep the status quo.

“Rather, as a practical matter, it makes it ever more likely that same-sex marriage will soon be a reality all over the country— albeit through a more gradual and organic process than if the Court had taken up the issue and rendered a clear decision mandating recognition countrywide,” he said.

What is STRIBILD? STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. It combines 4 medicines into 1 pill to be taken once a day with food. STRIBILD is a complete single-tablet regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines.

STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses you must keep taking STRIBILD. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids.

Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? STRIBILD can cause serious side effects: • Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired, unusual (not normal) muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold especially in your arms and legs, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Serious liver problems. The liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and fatty (steatosis). Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice), dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored bowel movements (stools), loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach pain.

• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking STRIBILD for a long time. In some cases, these serious conditions have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions.

• Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you also have HBV and stop taking STRIBILD, your hepatitis may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking STRIBILD without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health. STRIBILD is not approved for the treatment of HBV.

Who should not take STRIBILD? Do not take STRIBILD if you: • Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, cisapride, lovastatin, simvastatin, pimozide, sildenafil when used for lung problems (Revatio®), triazolam, oral midazolam, rifampin or the herb St. John’s wort.

• For a list of brand names for these medicines, please see the Brief Summary on the following pages.

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What are the other possible side effects of STRIBILD? Serious side effects of STRIBILD may also include: • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do regular blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with STRIBILD. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD. • Bone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.

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Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking STRIBILD. The most common side effects of STRIBILD include nausea and diarrhea.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? • All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection.

• All the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how STRIBILD works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Do not start any new medicines while taking STRIBILD without first talking with your healthcare provider.

• If you take hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc).

• If you take antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD. • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking STRIBILD. • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed.

HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. Also, some medicines in STRIBILD can pass into breast milk, and it is not known if this can harm the baby.

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

Please see Brief Summary of full Prescribing Information with important warnings on the following pages.

STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used as a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

I started my personal revolution Talk to your healthcare provider about starting treatment.

STRIBILD is a complete HIV-1 treatment in 1 pill, once a day.

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Patient Information STRIBILD® (STRY-bild) (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) tablets Brief summary of full Prescribing Information. For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

What is STRIBILD? • STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. STRIBILD is a complete regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines.

• STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. You must stay on continuous HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.

• Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do not share or reuse needles, injection equipment, or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them. Do not have sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? STRIBILD can cause serious side effects, including: 1. Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in some people who take STRIBILD or similar (nucleoside analogs) medicines. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: • feel very weak or tired • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain • have trouble breathing • have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting • feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • feel dizzy or lightheaded • have a fast or irregular heartbeat 2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take STRIBILD. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of liver problems: • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) • dark “tea-colored” urine • light-colored bowel movements (stools) • loss of appetite for several days or longer • nausea • stomach pain You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking STRIBILD for a long time.

3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and take STRIBILD, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking STRIBILD. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before.

• Do not run out of STRIBILD. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your STRIBILD is all gone

• Do not stop taking STRIBILD without first talking to your healthcare provider • If you stop taking STRIBILD, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking STRIBILD Who should not take STRIBILD? Do not take STRIBILD if you also take a medicine that contains: • adefovir (Hepsera®) • alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral®) • cisapride (Propulsid®, Propulsid Quicksolv®) • ergot-containing medicines, including: dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), and methylergonovine maleate (Ergotrate®, Methergine®) • lovastatin (Advicor®, Altoprev®, Mevacor®) • oral midazolam • pimozide (Orap®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®) • sildenafil (Revatio®), when used for treating lung problems • simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®) • triazolam (Halcion®) • the herb St. John’s wort Do not take STRIBILD if you also take any other HIV-1 medicines, including: • Other medicines that contain tenofovir (Atripla®, Complera®, Viread®, Truvada®) • Other medicines that contain emtricitabine, lamivudine, or ritonavir (Atripla®, Combivir®, Complera®, Emtriva®, Epivir® or Epivir-HBV®, Epzicom®, Kaletra®, Norvir®, Trizivir®, Truvada®) STRIBILD is not for use in people who are less than 18 years old.

What are the possible side effects of STRIBILD? STRIBILD may cause the following serious side effects: • See “What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD?” • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you start and while you are taking STRIBILD. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD if you develop new or worse kidney problems.

• Bone problems can happen in some people who take STRIBILD. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones.

• Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine.

These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known.

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

The most common side effects of STRIBILD include: • Nausea • Diarrhea Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

• These are not all the possible side effects of STRIBILD. For more information, ask your healthcare provider.

• Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including: • If you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis B infection • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking STRIBILD. - There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

• If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take STRIBILD. - You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

- Two of the medicines in STRIBILD can pass to your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in STRIBILD can pass into your breast milk.

- Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements: • STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how STRIBILD works.

• Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following medicines: - Hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc) - Antacid medicines that contain aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD - Medicines to treat depression, organ transplant rejection, or high blood pressure - amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®) - atorvastatin (Lipitor®, Caduet®) - bepridil hydrochloride (Vascor®, Bepadin®) - bosentan (Tracleer®) - buspirone - carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®) - clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Prevpac®) - clonazepam (Klonopin®) - clorazepate (Gen-xene®, Tranxene®) - colchicine (Colcrys®) - medicines that contain dexamethasone - diazepam (Valium®)

- digoxin (Lanoxin®) - disopyramide (Norpace®) - estazolam - ethosuximide (Zarontin®) - flecainide (Tambocor®) - flurazepam - fluticasone (Flovent®, Flonase®, Flovent® Diskus®, Flovent® HFA, Veramyst®) - itraconazole (Sporanox®) - ketoconazole (Nizoral®) - lidocaine (Xylocaine®) - mexiletine - oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) - perphenazine - phenobarbital (Luminal®) - phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) - propafenone (Rythmol®) - quinidine (Neudexta®) - rifabutin (Mycobutin®) - rifapentine (Priftin®) - risperidone (Risperdal®, Risperdal Consta®) - salmeterol (Serevent®) or salmeterol when taken in combination with fluticasone (Advair Diskus®, Advair HFA®) - sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®) or vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®), for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). If you get dizzy or faint (low blood pressure), have vision changes or have an erection that last longer than 4 hours, call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.

- tadalafil (Adcirca®), for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension - telithromycin (Ketek®) - thioridazine - voriconazole (Vfend®) - warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) - zolpidem (Ambien®, Edlular®, Intermezzo®, Zolpimist®) Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking STRIBILD without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Keep STRIBILD and all medicines out of reach of children.

This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about STRIBILD. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can also ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about STRIBILD that is written for health professionals, or call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.STRIBILD.com.

Issued: October 2013

COMPLERA, EMTRIVA, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, HEPSERA, STRIBILD, the STRIBILD Logo, TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2014 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. STBC0111 10/14

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NEWS

10.10.14

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Costume capers help house those in need Jerusalem House’s iconic Halloween party takes a trip through time

DETAILS Traveling Through Time by Jerusalem House

Oct. 26, 7 p.m. to midnight W Atlanta-Midtown 188 14th St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30361 Tickets $65 in advance, $75 door, $250 VIP www.jerusalemhouse.org/halloween

By MATT SCHAFER Jerusalem House’s annual Halloween gala goes time-traveling this year as guests are asked to come as their favorite historical character.

The 15th annual party titled “Traveling Through Time” has secured its place on Midtown’s seasonal party calendar not only by raising funds for individuals living with HIV, but also for its elaborate costumes and theming.

“It’s like one of those parties you see on TV where someone really goes out of this world and does the hair, costume, makeup, everything and you think ‘Who really does that?’” says fashion writer E. Vincent Martinez of Fashionado.net. Well, this is the party where people really put that much time and effort into their costumes, and everything is just out of this world.”

On Oct. 25, the Great Room of the W At-

Each year, Jerusalem House throws one of the best Halloween parties in Atlanta to raise funds to help its mission of helping those with HIV/AIDS. (File photo)

lanta-Midtown will be transformed into a time-traveling oasis. Different areas will be transformed to resemble visions of the past, present and future, but with an open bar, food, and DJ Bill Berdeaux providing music.

Jerusalem House Development Director Jon Santos said the team is presenting a blend of times and styles with a Steampunk feel.

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Santos is tasked with raising private funds to cover Jerusalem House’s services, which are offered to men and women with a positive HIV diagnosis in Atlanta.

At any given time approximately 250 people, 80 of whom are typically children, rely on Jerusalem House for shelter.

“We have four programs, two of which are what we call our facility programs, where we actually own the building, one is for single adults, and the other is for single mothers, or single grandmothers in some cases, with children … The other is our master lease program where we hold the lease on a number of rental units,” Santos said.

The “scattered site” program houses about 140 people across Metro Atlanta, and is starting to feel the pinch of rising rents.

“One of the challenges that we have with the master lease program is that rental unit

costs are just skyrocketing here,” Santos says. “The reality of the situation is that we have some federal money for that, but the prices just keep going up and so we have to pay more just to stay at the same level.”

A successful Halloween party means that Jerusalem House can pay for projects not covered by federal, state and other sources of dedicated funds.

“Overall, it’s probably the equivalent of running the scattered site program, for a year for about three units. It might not sound like a whole lot, but consider all the costs of running your house for a year, and multiply that by three,” Santos explains.

COSTUME CREATIVITY

Those coming out in costume will be eligible for one of the richest Halloween door prizes in Atlanta, as nearly $3,000 in cash and prizes will be available. As one of the judges for the contest, Martinez said he wants to be impressed.

His fellow judges include head judge Jovita Moore of WSB-TV, Trinity K. Bonet, who was featured on Season 6 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Bill Kaelin of Bill Kaelin Marketing, Mitchell Anderson of MetroFresh, and Naked Healthy founder Adam Gates.

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GA VOICE | 20

EDITORIAL

10.10.14

THE GEORGIA VOICE

PO Box 77401 | Atlanta, GA 30357 404-815-6941 | www.thegavoice.com

EDITORIAL

Editor: Dyana Bagby dbagby@thegavoice.com

Deputy Editor: Patrick Saunders psaunders@thegavoice.com Art Director: Rob Boeger rboeger@thegavoice.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Jim Farmer, Vandy Beth Glenn, Shannon Hames, Bill Kaelin, Ryan Lee, Steve Warren

BUSINESS

Publisher: Tim Boyd tboyd@thegavoice.com

Managing Partner: Christina Cash ccash@thegavoice.com Sales Manager: Marshall Graham mgraham@thegavoice.com Sales Executive: Anne Clarke aclarke@thegavoice.com Business Advisor: Lynn Pasqualetti Financial Firm of Record: HLM Financial Group

In loving memory of Mike Ritter, 1965-2014 National Advertising: Rivendell Media, 908-232-2021 sales@rivendellmedia.com

FINE PRINT

All material in the GA Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the GA Voice. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. We also do not accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

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

A single copy of the GA Voice is available from authorized distribution points. Multiple copies are available from the Georgia Voice office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to reach a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 26-issue mailed subscription for $60 per year.

Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Tim Boyd, tboyd@ thegavoice.com Postmaster: Send address changes to the GA Voice, PO Box 77401, Atlanta, GA 30357. The GA Voice is published every other Friday by The GA Voice, LLC. Individual subscriptions are $60 per year for 26 issues. Postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices.

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

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

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Atlanta Pride is our time to smile The march to equality is measured not only in legal battles but also in gay parades

By DYANA BAGBY dbagby@thegavoice.com I was at the recent East Atlanta Strut, staking out the perfect spot to snap some photos of the parade, when a young woman asked me, “Is this the gay parade?”

“Um, no. It’s gay-friendly, but it’s not the gay parade,” I answered.

She was a member of the Kennesaw State University track team who volunteered to help with crowd control during the Strut parade.

She and several other track teammates were ers and ropes attaching two of them together, allowing duos to try to hold back hundreds of people from spilling out into the streets and into the paths of marchers. Or trucks. Or Captain Planet.

“Oh, I was told it was the gay parade,” she said.

How sweet, I thought. This parade takes place on one of the smaller streets in Atlanta, Glenwood Avenue, and there are maybe a few thousand people lined up to watch it. And it’s over in 30 minutes.

How can you live in Atlanta, regardless of your age, and not know about this huge, gigantic Pride parade that takes over downtown one day a year, I thought. No bamboo poles are big enough to control the crowds watching the Atlanta Pride parade that takes, like, three hours The Atlanta Pride parade attracts tens of thousands of people who line the streets and sidewalks and climb light poles and balconies and anywhere else they can to catch a glimpse of the “real” Gay Pride Parade—people like muscle men in their skimpy underwear or parents carrying signs saying how much they love their gay son.

But wait a minute, I thought while standing on the curb next to the judge’s truck on Glenwood Avenue. We were standing across the street from Mary’s and just down the street from My Sister’s Room, two of the city’s most popular gay bars. And there were four drag queens, Queens of the Strut, who rode in all their glory in the parade with a contingent of gay softball players. There were probably plenty of other gay people in the parade, too, but they didn’t have that fact emblazoned across And I realized, you know, the East Atlanta Strut is a pretty darned gay parade. Obviously.

It’s a lovely parade with no major corporate tronic dance music, no leather daddies sportNo, that parade with those elements is for

us, the LGBTQ people who embrace all our communities at least once a year during the Atlanta Pride parade, where we cheer each other on, we run into the street to hug our friends, we

Pell died unexpectedly on Nov. 24 of last year.

In 2012, Pell won the popular Food Network competitive cooking show, “Chopped.” GA Voice named her our 2013 Person of the Year and the

and we smile a lot.

Atlanta Pride, and its parade, are a time for

softball season to Pell. Pell was also named GA Voice’s Best Chef in 2011 and 2013, and she was a founder of the now defunct Mondo Homo, an alternative queer art and music festival.

Faisal Alam, a public speaker and project consultant. Alam is a gay Pakistani who founded the Al-Fatiha Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the cause of LGBT Muslims.

Stephanie Guilloud, co-director of Project South: Institute for the Elimination of Poverty & Genocide.

Tony Kearney, events and fundraising consultant who is also known by his alter-ego, drag queen Wild Cherry Sucret.

Sheila Merritt, project manager and event consultant. censed clinical psychologist, Rock Bridge Psychological Associates LLC. -

for full equality. The glitter, the drag queens, the music, the dancing—the spirit of this weekend cannot be underestimated.

We need Atlanta Pride.

So when you see the Bucket Brigades in Piedmont Park, please donate at least a few dollars, cluding the Atlanta Pride Committee. When you see new and local music acts on stage, applaud them for having the guts and gumption to want to share their talent. Hug a parent who is standing next to their transgender or gay child and thank them for their support.

And when you see yourself in the faces of those around you while watching the parade, be sure to cheer everyone on and smile.

After all, nobody doesn’t smile at a parade.

CELEBRATE ATLANTA PRIDE PARADE’S LOCAL GRAND MARSHALS:

This year’s Atlanta Pride grand marshals are a diverse group. Make sure to give them ing Georgia’s same-sex marriage ban who are grand marshals.

Named posthumously as a grand marshal is lesbian chef Ria Pell, the owner of popular breakfast and brunch spot Ria’s Bluebird.

fundraiser for Lost-N-Found Youth.

-

at Emory University.

Georgia Safe Schools Coalition, a “partnership of educators, community organizations, and safe school activists dedicated to raising awareness about issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth and families.”

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OP-EDS

10.10.14

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The Brits are coming to Atlanta Pride First foreign government to march in parade

By BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL JEREMY PILMORE-BEDFORD As the British Consul General in Atlanta, I’m honoured the Consulate is making history as the first foreign government to participate in the Atlanta Pride Parade this year.

We are joining almost 200 different organisations on Sunday, Oct. 12, to show our support because it is important to do so. The British government is committed to protecting and promoting human rights. Gay rights are human rights.

As my Prime Minister said, “The introduction of same-sex civil marriage says something about the sort of country we are. It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth.

It also sends a powerful message to young people growing up who are uncertain about their sexuality. It clearly says ‘you are equal’ whether straight or gay.”

Several organisations now rank the UK as the best place in Europe to be gay. Sadly, this has not always been the case. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the death of Alan Turing, the father of modern computing, whose incredible code-breaking efforts helped win

The British government marched in the Washington, D.C., Pride parade in June. (Courtesy photo)

World War II. Despite his invaluable contribution to the war effort, he was persecuted for his sexuality, along with thousands of others whose stories are less well known.

However, the UK has come a long way in my lifetime towards more equality, from decriminalizing homosexuality in the ‘60s, to the royal pardon of Alan Turing in 2013. Same-sex mar-

riage is now legal in England and Wales, and Scotland will start recognising same sex marriages later this year.

Still, there are 70 countries that criminalises being gay, and in seven of them it is punishable by death. I have served in several countries where the gay community is forced underground and to live in fear or to flee their home.

I have seen firsthand the corrosive effect that bigotry and hatred can have on society. So even as we celebrate back at home, let’s remember those who have to live under very different circumstances. And let us continue to clear the road ahead for more progress around the world.

A hundred years from now, the institution of same-sex marriage will seem as inevitable and natural as it today feels essential and hardwon. Nearly 70 percent of all Britons support gay marriage today. The figure rises to 80 percent of 18-34 year olds. I predict we will see these numbers of support increase each year and around the world. This evolution of equality is what we celebrate at Atlanta’s Pride Parade.

I am pleased to say that the British Consul General in Atlanta is not alone in celebrating Pride. My colleagues in Houston have already participated in their city’s pride parade, and this will be the second year for the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. and our Consulate in New York City.

I’m proud to see my country celebrating this historic milestone in Britain and abroad.

This year, the Advocate, an American LGBT-interest magazine, listed Atlanta as the fifth most LGBT-friendly city in America. I’m glad to see so many large companies participating in Atlanta’s Pride Parade, including Delta, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta MINI dealers, and InterContinental Hotels Group.

We are all stronger and richer for embracing difference, whether at home or in the workplace. Many congratulations to those of you getting married at home in the U.K. or abroad. Cheers!

Taking pride in taking care of yourself Cancer came as a reminder that it’s OK to slow down in fight for equality

By STAN FONG A few weeks ago, I found myself staring at eyebrow stencils online, wondering if I would be able to pull off realistic-looking eyebrows using something called a “Brow Sculpting Marker” by Laura Geller.

I spent hours agonizing over whether or not to press “buy” with the Overnight Shipping option before I realized that I would most likely give myself mismatched eyebrows. So I did the sensible thing recommended by a support group for men without eyebrows and ordered a try-on kit from Warby Parker.

That day was also my 30th birthday, and I

was really missing my eyebrows. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Large B-Cell Lymphoma. For those who were as ignorant as I was about medical jargon, it meant I had C-A-N-C-E-R. What I had attributed to just really bad allergies and “normal” chest pains turned out to be a mass the size of a baseball in my chest.

What followed in very quick succession were appointments with an oncologist, scans, a biopsy, and treatment. In the beginning, I was determined not to let the medical issues affect my life. I found myself sending emails to clients from my hospital bed, trying my best to keep things as normal as possible for as long as I could. But the truth about cancer treatment is that it takes a lot out of you. And there is no such thing as a completely normal life while you are going through treatment.

For six months, it was appointments every week with my oncologist, and week-long hospital stays for my chemo treatments. I shaved my head earlier in anticipation of the hair loss, and eventually the eyebrows and facial hair

went as well.

Despite going through all of this, I had a lot of things to be grateful for. For the first time, I had health coverage, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. I had doctors I trusted enough not to second-guess their opinions with Google searches. I had friends who were willing to listen to my cancer jokes, family with whom I finally had a relationship and who stayed with me in my hospital room despite my protests, and activists and leaders in the community who kept reminding me that it was OK to take care of myself.

As someone who believed that being a supporter of the community meant volunteering and giving my time to organizations like Atlanta Pride, Lost-N-Found, and the National Queer and Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), the last part was the most important. Taking care of myself meant that I had a responsibility to make sure that I was at my best for the causes I believed in, and if that meant taking a break, recuperating, and dealing with something like cancer,

then I had to do it.

Throughout my treatment, I had reminders of why I loved my community. One of my hospital rooms at Emory Midtown Hospital had what I described as a “perfect” view of the start of the Atlanta Pride Parade on Peachtree Street in front of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. When the chemo started to affect my eating habits, James at the Health Initiative got me in touch with the wonderful Lynne at Sawicki’s in Decatur, who prepared for me nutritious meals with my chemo treatments. NQAPIA released PSAs this summer of Asian parents who love their LGBTQ kids. This made me cry, as I had family members who stayed with me in the hospital, despite my protests.

Through the magic of modern medicine and the support of my friends and family, I am relieved to say that I am now officially in full remission. It took cancer to remind me that it was OK to take care of myself. As I walk around the Atlanta Pride festival this weekend, maybe a drag queen will take pity on me and show me how to give myself fabulous eyebrows.

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ATLANTA PRIDE

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ATLANTA PRIDE

Local favorites light up the Pride stages From hip-hop to rock to theater to country to drag, locals stepping it up this year

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Their collaborations with The Mad Violinist, including a bananas cover of Rihanna’s “We Found Love.”

Fun fact: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra canceled the opening of their season. Symphony Crack Orchestra is playing Pride Oct. 11. Coincidence? We think not.

By PATRICK SAUNDERS There’s been so much talk about the big names at the top of this year’s Atlanta Pride’s entertainment lineup, like Colbie Caillat, Meghan Trainor, Lea DeLaria and Amber. But there’s an eclectic group of talented acts preceding them that will be entertaining the masses this weekend as people wind their way through the park checking out the booths, visiting friends, people-watching or chowing down on a funnel cake washed back with a cold beverage.

So here’s a handy reference guide to the other acts gracing the Bud Light and CocaCola stages this weekend so you’ll walk out of the park Sunday night with a bunch of new favorites to add to your playlists.

BUD LIGHT STAGE SATURDAY

Fabrefaction Theater – 12 p.m.

Who they are: Critically acclaimed theater company founded in 2004.

Based in: Atlanta What they’re known for: Loving them some gays. They’ve hosted Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus concerts and numerous LGBT-themed works, including a gay prep school version of “Romeo & Juliet” called “Shakespeare’s R&J” this past February.

Fun fact: “When you’re a Montague, you’re a Montague...”

Fabrefaction goes mash-up this fall as they present a version of “West Side Story” based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet,” premiering Oct. 23.

Legendary Children Atlanta – 1 p.m.

Who they are: Gay photographers document Atlanta’s drag queen scene. Shows include a mix of a photography exhibit and performances.

Based in: See “Legendary Children Atlanta.”

Known for: Their inaugural show last fall, which drew just the right mix of acclaim and controversy.

Fun fact: They’ll be in the park all day Saturday for Pride in their “photo booth and drag exchange,” where you can get a drag makeover from Atlanta’s favorite queens, get your picture taken with the ladies and swap drag accoutrement.

Ricky Simone – 1:45 p.m.

Who she is: A black, lesbian human rights activist, hip hop artist and poet who delivers positive, motivational lyrics in her music.

Based in: Athens, Ga. Known for: “Gay Is The New Black,” a track she wrote to address the hate the LGBT community faces.

Fun fact: This is Simone’s second year in a row as a Pride performer.

Michael Powers – 2:30 p.m.

Who he is: Country music artist who has opened for big time acts like Darius Rucker, Kellie Pickler and Rodney Atkins.

Gurufish – 4:45 p.m.

Who they are: Poppy funk music with a touch of jazz and glam rock for good measure.

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Queue up “Pimp St.” for a good idea of what to expect from Gurufish.

Fun fact: They’ve shared the bill with acts like The White Stripes, LMFAO, and Cypress Hill.

Count Elton John among the fans of power pop trio Kick The Robot, who play the Coca-Cola stage Saturday afternoon.

(Publicity photo)

Based in: Nashville, Tenn.

Known for: A unique mix of covers on his YouTube channel, including songs from country acts like Miranda Lambert and Carrie Lambert as well as those by the likes of Sam Smith, John Legend and Beyonce.

Fun fact: Powers was one of the 40 picked out of 15,000 hopefuls at auditions for “American Idol” in 2011 in St. Louis, making it to the Hollywood rounds.

Monica Mason – 3:15 p.m.

Who she is: R&B singer/songwriter who occasionally mixes in higher energy cuts with shade of house music in them.

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Comparisons to Yolanda Adams, Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan.

Fun fact: She’s performed with Gladys Knight, The S.O.S. Band and CeCe Peniston, among others.

Wesley Cook – 4:10 p.m.

Who he is: A pop rock singer/songwriter in the vein of Paul Simon, Jason Mraz, John Mayer and Dave Matthews.

Based in: Atlanta Known for: “It’s You,” a breezy, melodic love song which was written based on a three-second observation at an airport.

Fun fact: Rolling Stone magazine praised the upbeat positivity in Cook’s music, Georgia Music Magazine said he may be the next big thing and MTV2 featured him as an “Artist on the Rise.”

Known for: Entering soiree. Turning key. Starting party.

Fun fact: A tongue-in-cheek 2007 interview she gave to Creative Loafing ended up starting a flame war.

SUNDAY

DJ Canvas – 4 p.m.

Who she is: Party-starting DJ who’s played Mary’s, Noni’s, Star Bar, last month’s Creative Loafing Best of ATL Party and several other local spots.

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Causing people to throw their hands in the air and wave them around as if there are no repercussions.

Fun fact: This is her second year in a row playing Pride.

COCA-COLA STAGE SATURDAY

Maria Gabriella Band – 2 p.m.

Who they are: Folk rock indie five-piece fronted by the Nicaraguan-born Gabriella and often compared to Melissa Etheridge.

Based in: Atlanta/Columbus, Ga. Known for: Take a listen to “Young,” an upbeat acoustic guitar-driven cut featuring a keytar!

Fun fact: They’ll also be playing the Crush Party at My Sister’s Room on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Neil Cribbs – 5:10 p.m.

Who they are: Blues and Americana musician with a comfortably gritty voice whose influences include The Beatles, Joni Mitchell and Cat Stevens.

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Check out the song “Windshield” off his EP of the same name. It’s a “sippin’ sweet tea on the porch” kind of track that will play well Saturday afternoon in the park.

Fun fact: Voted “Best Local Folk Act” in Creative Loafing’s “Best of ATL 2013.

Cousin Dan – 3 p.m.

Who they are: One part R&B singer songwriter, one part electro pop balladeer.

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Get your electro pop fix with “Something In The Water,” which shows the range in Cousin Dan’s voice.

Fun fact: His Facebook biography reads, “Cousin Dan was born a full grown man with a mustache that the ladies just couldn’t resist.”

Queer Your Gender Dance Party with DJ Ree de la Vega – 6:45 p.m.

Who she is: One of Atlanta’s biggest party starters.

Based in: Atlanta

Symphony Crack Orchestra – 3:50 p.m.

Who they are: Electronic acoustic instrumental band that describe themselves as “Skrillex meets Jimi Hendrix meets Beethoven.”

Kick the Robot – 5:50 p.m.

Who they are: This power pop trio of youngins is influenced by groups like the Foo Fighters and The Beatles.

Based in: Dacula, Ga. Known for: “Can’t Get Enough” off their 2013 album “Music to Fight the Future,” which shows off singer Jesse Scarpone’s smooth falsetto.

Fun fact: Count Sir Elton John himself among Kick The Robot’s many fans.

SUNDAY

Michel Jons Band – 4 p.m.

Who they are: High energy dance band with the motto “We play Patsy Cline to Tina Turner to Beyonce.”

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Causing conga lines at weddings.

Fun fact: They cover Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” so expect that nugget to be dusted off come Sunday.

DJ Citizen Jane – 5:20 p.m.

Who she is: Former singer and musician turned DJ who has played Pride festivals across the country, including June’s NYC Pride.

Based in: North Miami Beach, Fla. Known for: There’s a lot of Latin influences in Citizen Jane’s music and there’s not a better example than the Latin mix of “Lady Killer”.

Fun fact: Was nominated for Best DJ at the Pink Flamingo Awards, presented by Miami’s LGBT Visitor Center.

Yacht Rock Revue – 6 p.m.

Who they are: These light rock superheroes are a can’t miss. Keeping the flame of Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross and Hall & Oates alive.

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Check out YouTube for the one-two punch of Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison” followed by Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose,” from their annual holiday special at the Variety Playhouse last year.

Fun fact: Among their many accolades is an award for “Best Place to Get Drunk With Your Dad.” Starlight Cabaret – 7:25 p.m.

Who they are: You need to ask? It’s the annual drag blowout that always closes out Atlanta Pride weekend with a bang, and some glitter.

Based in: Atlanta Known for: Bringing together kings and queens from all across the city’s various troupes for a night of good old fashioned shenanigans.

Fun fact: They just finished picking up all the false eyelashes and Ace bandages from last year.

GA VOICE | 26

ATLANTA PRIDE

10.10.14

www.theGAVoice.com

ATLANTA PRIDE Snellville couple fight for family in marriage equality lawsuit Plaintiffs Christopher Inniss and Shelton Stroman on courtship, son, legal battle

PRIDE PARADE GRAND MARSHALS

The plaintiffs and the attorneys representing them were among those selected as grand marshals for this year’s Atlanta Pride parade on Sunday, Oct. 12. Marching alongside Inniss and Stroman will be:

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com Inniss is not a common name. In Georgia, however, it is a name headed for the history books.

Christopher Inniss, 40, and his partner, Shelton Stroman, 42, are fighting alongside seven other plaintiffs to finally bring marriage equality to the Peach State.

Inniss got the call about being named the lead plaintiff the day before the April 22 press conference announcing the filing of the suit by Lambda Legal.

“The lead lawyer called and asked if I minded my name being on it. I was fine with it, but I was surprised,” Inniss tells the GA Voice as he sits alongside Stroman in the living room of their Snellville home. Their 10-year-old son Jonathan plays in his room upstairs.

“It is weird because my name is already not a common name, so when I see it, it’s very strange,” Inniss continues. “It kind of causes anxiety, like we have to win now because I don’t want my name to be down in law books if we lose. But I’m pretty confident. We’ve got great lawyers.”

On Oct. 6, the Supreme Court declined to take up the issue of marriage equality for the current term, meaning that if and when same-sex marriage comes to Georgia, in all likelihood it will happen due not to a nationwide decision but to the current federal class action lawsuit, known as Inniss v. Aderhold.

TOGETHER 13 YEARS

The two met through a mutual friend who saw a possible connection between the two after noticing their homebody tendencies.

“He was saying I was just like his friend Chris, and he said, ‘He’s boring too, y’all should meet each other,’” Stroman says.

So Inniss and Stroman went out to a movie and then dinner together, where they talked to each other for hours and shut down the restaurant. Inniss says the first thing he noticed about Stroman was his smile. However, Stroman had a slightly different impression.

“When I first met him, I was like, ‘Oh, my God. Nerd!’” Stroman says with a laugh. “But then we talked and I was blown away by all the things he talked about. His personality and the conversation was the first thing that made me more attracted to him.”

n Rayshawn Chandler, 29, and Avery Chandler, 30. The two legally married in Connecticut on June 26, 2013, and are planning to have children, according to the suit. n Michael Bishop, 50, and Shane Thomas, 44, have been together for eight years. They have two young children. They filed for a marriage license in Fulton County Probate Court on April 10 and were denied.

Shelton Stroman and Christopher Inniss, plaintiffs in Georgia’s federal class action marriage equality lawsuit, with their son Jonathan. (Photo by Patrick Saunders)

The two even talked about marriage and children on that first date, and they had aspirations in common. They went out again the very next night and things took off from there. Three months later they moved in together, and 13 year later, they are raising a family—and suing the state for the right to legally marry in Georgia.

ADOPTION FRUSTRATION

Inniss and Stroman started seriously talking about adopting about a year after they moved in together, and unfortunately, going through Georgia’s foster care system was a bust. They went through eight weeks of classes to become certified, then attempted to adopt several times but kept getting rejected at every attempt.

“Almost every time, the reason was that these kids needed a mom and dad,” Inniss says.

After a year of frustration, they found an adoption agency called Abby’s One True Gift that matches birth mothers with parents.

They applied, and within a week there was a match with a birth mother who liked them.

Within months, they got the call that their son was being born. They jumped in the car and made the trip to a hospital in Louisiana and, after jumping through a series of hoops, met Jonathan.

The couple says he’s a happy-go-lucky boy who’s big into sports and video games and is a straight A student.

“He loves for us to love him,” Inniss says.

ATTEMPT AT NAME CHANGE GOES HORRIBLY WRONG

But Inniss and Stroman still experience hardship due to their sexual orientation. A

case in point being Stroman’s attempt to legally change his name to Inniss. A Cherokee County judge (whose name neither recalls) berated Stroman when he made the request.

“He said, ‘In this courtroom, I am God and you will not make a mockery of this judicial system by wanting to change your name to another man’s name,’” Stroman says.

It’s just one of many reasons the couple needed the protections and rights that a legal marriage entails, but they never had designs on having such a high profile role in making it happen.

“Our thoughts were that we would ride on the coattails of someone else or some other plaintiff,” Inniss says. “We never really thought it would be us.”

But friends of the couple mentioned that they should contact Lambda Legal to look into what kinds of couples the organization was looking for to file suit in Georgia. They were a great fit for the case, but were concerned about the safety of their family and how the experience would affect Jonathan.

But an unforgettable conversation with their son allayed their fears.

“When we started talking to him and I asked him about marriage, he quoted Dr. Seuss, saying, ‘A person’s a person no matter how small.’ I was blown away,” Stroman says. “He always talked about his friends’ moms and dads and how they talked about marriage and he wanted the same thing for us. I understood then that he knew what we were going through and wanted us to be married.”

COUPLE BONDS WITH FELLOW PLAINTIFFS

With a wall of cameras facing them

n Jennifer Sisson, 34, whose wife, Pamela Drenner, 49, died after a long battle with ovarian cancer on March 1. Due to Georgia law, she was forced to choose “never married” as Drenner’s marital status on the death certificate, causing her tremendous pain, according to the lawsuit. n Beth Wurz, 41, and Krista Wurz, 39, were married in October 2010 in New Hampshire, and have seven children, including five placed with them through foster care. Krista and some of the children are denied health coverage through Beth’s job because of Georgia’s same-sex marriage ban. n Southern Regional Office of Lambda Legal that is based in Atlanta, including Senior Staff Attorney Tara Borelli, Staff Attorney Beth Littrell, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney Gregory Nevins, and legal assistants Tyleis Speight and Elijah Davis.

courtesy of the local and national media at Lambda Legal’s Midtown offices to cover the announcement of the lawsuit on April 22, the two stepped up to the microphones together and fought back tears as they told their story, including Jonathan’s Dr. Seuss quote.

Inniss and Stroman have bonded with the fellow plaintiffs who stand alongside them in this fight to strike down Georgia’s same-sex marriage ban. They consider the group as family, and try to get together as schedules allow. But they don’t talk about what you think they would talk about.

“We usually talk about anything but the case,” Stroman says. “Like now we usually talk about being grand marshals at Pride.”

And if the plaintiffs prevail in court, Stroman will get that name change to Inniss, forever linking the family to its namesake case.

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GA VOICE | 28

ATLANTA PRIDE

10.10.14

www.theGAVoice.com

ATLANTA PRIDE

A look back at where we’ve been Celebrating 44 years of Atlanta Pride and who we are This year marks the 44th annual Atlanta Pride festival. And what a long, fabulous trip it’s been to get here.

In 1968, when lesbians, gay men, drag queens and gender non-conformists fought back against a police raid at the New York Stonewall Inn, they

1970

On the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, about 100 activists march down Peachtree Street. The march received no media coverage, and no known records remain.

1971

Democratic party activist Bill Smith legally incorporates the revolutionary Gay Liberation Front, following the trend of GLF groups springing up around the country. GLF sponsors Atlanta’s first “Gay Liberation Day march down Peachtree Street to Piedmont Park. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covers the march and estimates attendance at 50; GLF estimates 125.

1972

Over 300 march in the next Gay Pride, which is covered widely by local television. GLF again sponsors the event, but dissolves the next year. Charlie St. John is appointed by Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell to the city’s Community Relations Commission. He is the city’s first openly gay appointee. Pride is viewed by some gay businesses as too radical, and two large gay bars throw out activists distributing Pride fliers.

1973

Gay Pride continues to grow, although some marchers wear paper bags over their heads to demonstrate the dangers of coming out. Gays picket the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after Charlie St. John is fired from his job as a copy carrier for distributing Gay Pride fliers. The GBI searches St. John’s apartment on drug charges many believe to be fabricated.

had no idea they would be kick starting a movement that continues to this day, one that spread throughout the nation and the world. October marks LGBT History Month and it is crucial we remember our history and honor those who came before us.

Planning Committee renames itself the Gay Rights Alliance.

1977

Stung by controversy from the year before, Mayor Jackson issues a “Human Rights Week” proclamation instead of “Gay Pride.” About 1,500 attend Pride, in which the Gay Rights Alliance carries a banner calling for national gay rights legislation and an Atlanta gay rights ordinance (not passed until 1986). At Pride, Gil Robison announces the formation of a gay political group, First Tuesday.

1978

Anita Bryant visits Atlanta to give the keynote address at the Southern Baptist Convention at the World Congress Center. A protest at Bryant’s June 11 visit takes the place of the usual gay Pride celebration, and police estimate 2,000 march on the World Congress Center.

1979

Pride is put together by those helping organize the First National March on Washington for Lesbian & Gay Rights. Ten years after the Stonewall Riots, Pride’s theme is “Lavender Anniversary.” Estimated attendance ranges from 700 to 1,000.

1980

A new decade brings a new name for Gay Pride, now dubbed “Lesbian Gay Transperson” Pride day—the “LGT” is

The Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance, formed in 1972, fields the first openly lesbian softball team to play in the city league, and helps coordinate Lesbian & Gay Pride Day.

1981

LGT Pride attempts to advertise on MARTA. The fundraising and publicity committee reports that initial discussions are “positive,” but MARTA officials later refuse to allow the words “lesbian, gay, transperson” and suggest “free-thinking, free-spirited persons” instead. LGT Pride events include a street festival on 7th Street and a march from Piedmont Park to City Hall; an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 attend. The Gay Atlanta Minorities Association boycotts Pride, citing racism.

The Georgia Department of Human Resources begins tracking AIDS cases in the state, and three are reported.

1982

Pride’s theme is “Stonewall Then, Atlanta Now,” and 4,000 participate in a rally at the State Capitol; there is also a carnival on Peachtree Place. The Atlanta City Council issues a Lesbian Gay Transperson Pride proclamation without the signature of Mayor Andrew Young, who contends approval is not needed for “private sexual practices.”

1983

1984

1975

Lesbian/Gay Pride parade and rally takes place on July 3, with the theme “Once more, with feeling.” This time, Mayor Andrew Young obliges with a “Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Day” proclamation. Speakers include Sonia Johnson, an exMormon feminist and third party presidential candidate. Attendance estimated at 1,500.

Local gay media outlets founded in the year before now cover Pride, with attendance estimated at 600. The Barb bills itself as “the groovy newspaper covering Atlanta and the Southeast”; Cruise is a gay bar guide.

1976

sometimes also interpreted as “Let’s Get Together.” Over 1,200 attend. The Gay Atlanta Minorities Association sponsors a rap session on “Black Lesbian/Gay/Transperson survival in the ‘80s.” Pride’s theme is “International Gay Solidarity Day.”

Pride theme is “Out Front, Out Loud, Outstanding,” and the first “Stop AIDS” banner appears in the march. Attendance appears to drop, estimated by police at 2,000. The Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance hosts a candlelight Dyke March from Candler Park to Little Five Points; the event will be resurrected 10 years later. Headline in the June 26, 1983, issue of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Gays becoming key factor in city politics.”

1974

Gay Pride celebrates the theme “Christopher St. South” with 1,000 marchers. Mayor Maynard Jackson issues a “Gay Pride Day” proclamation. Angry conservatives form Citizens for a Decent Atlanta, call for Jackson’s resignation. The Gay Pride

The Armory bar’s double-decker bus stands out on Peachgree Street during the 25th anniversary of the Gay Pride Parade on June 25, 1995. (Photo by Atlanta Journal-Constitution, courtesy Georgia State University)

Beauty queen, singer and anti-gay activist Anita Bryant talks with her husband, Bob Green, June 19, 1978, at the Southern Baptist Convention, Atlanta. (Photo by Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographs, courtesy Georgia State University via Georgia LGBTQ Archives Project)

1985

Mayor Andrew Young proclaims first Gay Pride Week in Atlanta; the first community memorial for those who have died of AIDS is held.

1986

Pride theme is “Forward Together” as speakers gather on the steps of the state capitol; most of the organizers are also working on the Second National March on Washington, which takes place the next year. Coke reportedly offers two trailers for the rally, until the company finds out the subject; then Coke offers to donate ice cream, safely without the corporate logo. (Ten years later, in 1996, Coke will become a major corporate sponsor of Pride). The week’s events include a statewide gay rights conference, picnic in the park, women’s softball, and gay church and atheist events, but only about 2,000 participate on the actual Pride day.

1987

Pride organizing is a last-minute effort, with only about 500 showing up for a rally on the steps of the state capitol. Speakers include Leigh VanderEls, a lesbian mother who lost custody of her son and, with her partner Christina Cash, founded Southern Voice.

1988

In the midst of the AIDS crisis, Pride theme is “A Celebration of Life.” About 1,000 march from the Civic Center to Piedmont Park. The first Pride Prom, a gay dance, is held.

1989

On the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Pride theme is “Stonewall: Reasons to Remember.” Mayoral candidate Maynard Jackson campaigns for gay votes at Pride, although once elected, he doesn’t appear the next year.

1990

Pride draws 5,000 to Piedmont Park, as a billboard reading “Gay America Loves You” is erected over Interstate 75/85 during the summer. Of the 14 invited speakers, only four are gay or lesbian — most are politicians seeking votes. In a reaction to the problem, Pride later enacts a policy prohibiting candidates from speaking from the Pride stage, but the policy creates its own controversies in later years.

1991

Theme is “Be There, Be Aware, Be Counted,” and Pride attendance makes its first giant leap, to an estimated 30,000. Grand marshals are Charlie St. John and Cheryl Summerville, who was fired from her job as a cook at Cracker Barrel for being gay. Fourth Tuesday hosts a lesbian and gay business event during the first weekend of Pride. The Atlanta Pride Committee officially incorporates

ATLANTA PRIDE

ce.comwww.theGAVoice.com

as a non-profit with 501(c)3 status. Front Runners hosts the first Pride 5K Run/Walk.

1992

Pride takes another huge leap: An estimated 60,000 attend in Piedmont Park. Theme is “Take Pride: Celebrate Your Individuality.” Controversy abounds: AIDS activists protest a comment by a Pride co-chair that they interpreted as AIDSphobic, while supporters of Samantha Claar, a lesbian running for state legislature, launch a “Let Samantha Speak” movement to protest Pride’s policy against political speeches.

1993

Pride is dedicated to the memory of Venus Landin, an African-American lesbian who dies as the victim of domestic violence. Theme of “It’s Time to Tell America” builds on excitement of those who attended the 1993 March on Washington.

Also building on a successful March on Washington event, Atlanta holds the “Dyke March” on Saturday night. Pride gains its first major, national corporate sponsor: Bud Light.

Overall Pride attendance grows to 100,000, but Pride organizers prove to have been too ambitious in purchasing t-shirts and other merchandise to sell to the crowds. Perhaps due in part to excessive rain over the weekend, Pride is left with thousands in unsold merchandise, a huge debt and eventually a lawsuit from an unpaid t-shirt manufacturer. A settlement is eventually reached, with the Pride Committee getting a year to pay back the tab.

1994

Pride’s theme is “From Stonewall to Atlanta,” with events scheduled two weekends early so that Atlantans can attend the Stonewall 25 and Gay Games in New York City. Attendance estimated at 150,000. Pride Committee brings in enough revenue to pay off 1993 debt and 1994 expenses. Pride schedule expands to include Friday night, for a total of three days of events in Piedmont Park.

1995

Atlanta Pride celebrates its 25th anniversary with the theme “From Silence to Celebration.” Attendance estimated at 120,000. For this festival, the Atlanta Pride Committee hires its first paid employee, part-time executive administrator Hubert Alexander. AIDS Survival Project takes over responsibility for organizing the Pride AIDS Candlelight Vigil.

1996

Atlanta’s own Indigo Girls headline the Pride stage in Piedmont Park, setting a new attendance record of 300,000 for the festival. In keeping with the 1996 Olympics, beginning later in the summer, Pride theme is “People of the World: Listen, Think, Act.” For this festival, Pride hires its first full-time executive director, Donna Narducci.

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of Stonewall; for the time being, the parade remains at noon.

1999

Theme is “Prideful Past, Powerful Future.” The last Pride of the century — and the 30th anniversary of Stonewall — brings rain, with attendance estimated by organizers at an ambitious (and disputed) 200,000. Pride includes a greatly heightened focus on families and children, with a “Children’s Kamp” and a series of workshops and child-related activities scheduled throughout the weekend. For this festival, Pride hires two part-time employees, a festival director and a finance director.

2000

With the B-52s as Sunday afternoon’s headline band, the 30th annual Pride festival sets a new attendance record, with organizers claiming 400,000 attended the weekend events.

A mixture of sweltering sun and cooling drizzle greet revelers at Pride’s new location in Piedmont Park’s meadow, and a dazzling rainbow arcs over the park Sunday night to send the event out in memorable gay style.

2001

The Pride parade is the largest in the event’s history, with over 150 entries. Although the weekend’s theme is “Educate, Celebrate, Participate,” it could have been “Gay Political Power,” as the weekend drew more candidates campaigning for gay votes than ever before. All three major contenders for Atlanta mayor — including Shirley Franklin, who won in November with strong gay support — stumped during the festival, along with at least a dozen City Council candidates.

2002

Pride celebrates the theme “The Power of Pride” and draws counter-protesters for the first time in recent memory. About a dozen members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas — led by Rev. Fred Phelps, famous for his “God Hates Fags” website and picketing Matthew Shepard’s funeral — turn out Sunday morning to jeer at the beginning of the Pride parade. In response, members of local MCC churches pray and take communion on the opposite street corner from the Phelps clan.

2003

This year’s theme of “Freedom to Be,” selected months before the festival, gains added significance when the U.S. Supreme Court overturns anti-gay sodomy laws in a landmark June 26 decision — the day before the Pride festival begins.

2004

With the ultimately successful amendment to ban gay

1997

Pride celebrates theme of “Generations of Pride,” but a more apt theme might be “Triumph Over Fear” — the bombing of the Otherside Lounge, a gay bar, in February has security tight and many participants on edge. Stage speakers repeatedly warn those attending to keep coolers, backpacks and other personal items with them and report any suspicious activity, but no incidents are reported. As people turn out perhaps to send a message to the bomber, organizers say attendance again hits 300,000.

Atlanta Pride was booted from Piedmont Park in 2008 due to a major statewide drought, but the fest returned to the park the following year and is now held in October. (File photo) marriage in the Georgia Constitution looming on the November ballot, Pride celebrates the theme of “Equality = Justice,” and organizers predict a more “political” tone to the festivities. But heavy storms dampen more than just the politics of Pride: Friday night’s Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert and Sunday night’s closing Starlight Cabaret are rained out, as are many other performers and activities throughout the weekend. Attendance estimated at only 100,000.

2005

Atlanta’s own Indigo Girls return to the Pride stage for the first time since 1996, packing the park for their Friday night set. Organizers estimate 30,000 attended the Indigo Girls’ show, Pride’s largest Friday night crowd ever; they estimate total attendance throughout the weekend at 320,000.

2006

Atlanta Pride celebrates its 36th anniversary with the theme “Pride 365: Live. Love. Be.” For the second time in three years, weather is the main story: Friday events are called off after a storm topples the main stage shortly after opening ceremonies; Saturday night’s entertainment is cut short by rain; storms start during Sunday’s parade, canceling the rest of the festival.

2007

This year’s theme is “Our Rights, Your Rights, Human Rights” and the first Human Rights Exhibit that shows the fight for LGBT equality across the globe becomes a part of the festival. U.S. Rep. John Lewis gives a rousing speech from the Coca-Cola stage and attendance is estimated at 200,000.

2008

A presidential election is months away and the theme this year is “Your Vote, Your Rights, Your Future.” Due to a major statewide drought, city officials ban all large festivals from Piedmont Park. Atlanta Pride is forced to move to the Atlanta Civic Center and is held over the Fourth of July weekend. The venue and date change as well as heavy downpours leads to very low attendance and the fest suffers severe financial losses leaving it in bad shape for the following year.

Executive Director Donna Narducci resigns and James Parker Sheffield is named the new director.

1998

With the theme “Unity Through Diversity,” Pride draws an estimated 220,000 to the park. But extreme heat throughout the weekend prompts some participants, and later organizers, to seriously consider moving the festival to the fall or changing the Sunday afternoon parade to a night parade. But organizers later decide to keep the festival where it is, on the anniversary

10.10.14

After the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2011, openly gay Georgia servicemembers marched in the 2012 Atlanta Pride parade. (File photo)

2009

Atlanta Pride returns to Piedmont Park but must be held over Halloween weekend. Rainy and chilly weather keeps attendance low. This year’s theme is “Pride Begins with You.”

This year also marks the first year the Friday opening night party is at the Georgia Aquarium rather than the park and attracts hundreds of people. The Trans March becomes a part of the fest. Organizers say Atlanta Pride is regaining momentum and is back on track financially.

2010

Atlanta Pride returns to Piedmont Park but is held in mid-October to coincide with National Coming Out Day and continues to be held during the weekend of National Coming Out Day. Pride organizers claim the 40th anniversary of the fest is the most financially successful one in its history with number of attendees returning to pre-2008 numbers.

2011

Controversy rocks Atlanta Pride this year — the fest conflicts with Yom Kippur and there is outcry from the city’s LGBT Jewish community. Also, Dan Matthews, a senior vice president of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, publishes an opinion piece on Huffington Post saying Pride’s kickoff party at the Georgia Aquarium was a bad call because the event is “a celebration of freedom in a building that creates captivity” and the loud noise from the music also harms the animals. Despite the hiccups, Pride is considered a major success with huge crowds and the largest parade to date.

2012

The Atlanta Pride Committee hires Buck Cooke as the new executive director for the weekend fest. Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls rocks her hometown crowd on the Coca-Cola stage. This year’s parade is even larger than 2011, making it the largest ever with more than 200 entries. Some 4,000 people attend sold-out Georgia Aquarium kickoff party. Actress Jane Lynch calls for Pride to move its kick-off party out of the Aquarium on behalf of PETA and a planned protest by PETA fizzles with only a handful of protesters showing up.

2013

PETA continues its attacks against Atlanta Pride’s kickoff party at the Georgia Aquarium with fashionista Tim Gunn this time asking the party be moved. However, the party sells out again. A muddy Music Midtown in Piedmont Park shortly before Atlanta Pride causes some worry, but it’s another successful year for the largest Pride fest in the Southeast.

—Sources: Laura Douglas-Brown; Georgia Voice archives; Dave Hayward; Maria Helena Dolan; Atlanta Pride Committee.

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ATLANTA PRIDE

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ATLANTA PRIDE

Taking it to the streets Trans, Dyke Marches ensure visibility for everyone

By JACY TOPPS Visibility and inclusiveness have always been two of the main goals of Atlanta Pride and nowhere is this more apparent than during the Dyke March and Trans March.

While the Dyke March wasn’t officially part of Pride celebrations until 1993, Atlanta was ahead of the curve. Organized by the Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance, Atlanta’s first Dyke March took place in 1983.

“The Dyke March is an opportunity for all women loving women, trans-inclusive, of any race, culture, orientation, ability, health, socioeconomic level, family structure, faith, or age to come together and be proud of who we are,” says Laura Barton, event manager for Atlanta Pride.

In an effort to reclaim the derogatory term “dyke,” the name itself has become an example of activism and protest.

DETAILS Trans March

Saturday, Oct. 11 1:15 p.m. — Assembly begins at the Charles Allen Gate 1: 45 p.m. — Step off

Dyke March

Saturday, Oct 11 5:30 p.m. — Assembly begins at the Charles Allen Gate 6 p.m. — Step off

“I think the Dyke March is encouraging gay women to celebrate the word and diminish the negative connotations that are often associated with it, and to increase visibility within our community,” says Christin Christo, who will be marching for the first time this year.

The Trans March organized to bring awareness to the LGB communities attending Atlanta Pride that the “T” is not silent.

“The Trans March is particularly important because unfortunately we still live in a society where trans people are systematically marginalized,” says Barton.

This is the sixth year of the Trans March and the first year the march will take place on the streets around Piedmont Park rather than through the park. (File photo)

The Atlanta Trans March is celebrating its sixth anniversary this year. Due to increased attendance, Atlanta Pride is taking the march to the streets rather than through the park as in years past. The march is expected to bring upwards of 200 attendees this year.

“I’m excited to march because the oppression of transgender people is something that is still tolerated under some of the current laws and policies. I hope that our presence will help encourage a more respectful dialogue about transgender inclusion within

the larger LGBTQ movement,” says Sebastian Beckham Nix, an activist whose truck will be leading this year’s march.

Atlanta Pride is the official sponsor for both marches and will be providing a trolley for those who cannot march to ride in as well as a DJ and chant leaders for each of the marches.

Both marches path start at Piedmont Park’s Charles Allen gate and travels up 10th Street and back into the park from the 14th Street entrance.

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ATLANTA PRIDE

10.10.14

www.theGAVoice.com

ATLANTA PRIDE FESTIVAL R = O= Y = G= B = P =

ATLANTA PRIDE PARADE ROUTE

RED BOOTHS ORANGE BOOTHS YELLOW BOOTHS GREEN BOOTHS BLUE BOOTHS PURPLE BOOTHS

All Listings as of September 24, 2014.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens

If you can’t find the booth you are looking for, look for PRIDE INFORMATION volunteers in bright pink shirts roaming the park.

Happy Pride EVERYONE! Parking Handicap Accessible Bike Valet Police First Aid

Atlanta Botanical Gardens

ALL PARKING ENTERS HERE

tR

d.

ATM

Pi

ed

m

on

Baby Changing Station Restrooms Food Vendors Free Water Station Information

MAGNOLIA HALL

Piedmont Driving Club

HOW CLE S

Active Oval Playing Fields

COME OBSERVE SUKKOT WITH SOJOURN

STAGE VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN

CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES

GREYSTONE POOL HOUSE GREG BARRETT OPERATIONS CENTER KIDS PROGRAM (SATURDAY)

Pied

Park Drive

Lake Clara Meer

YOGAGA YOGAHOUR (SATURDAY)

mon

t Rd

.

CAR & M

14TH Street

OTOR CY

14TH Street Gate

Tennis & Basketball Courts

LEGENDARY CHILDREN ATLANTA PHOTO BOOTH AND DRAG EXCHANGE (SATURDAY)

Playground CULTURAL EXHIBIT CAMPUS PRIDE COLLEGE FAIR (SATURDAY)

12TH Street Gate THE DOCK

YOUTH LIBERATION SPACE

Sponsored by

The Meadow

Lake Clara Meer

VIP HOSPITALITY CENTER VIP VIEWING AREA

Come visit our booth or march with us!

Meadow Overlook

10TH Street

Charles Allen

COCA-COLA STAGE ATLANTA PRIDE TRANS MARCH & ATLANTA PRIDE DYKE MARCH ASSEMBLY

10TH Street

www.thegavoice.com

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ATLANTA PRIDE

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ATLANTA PRIDE EVENTS CALENDAR

Clockwise from top left: Lea DeLaria of ‘Orange is the New Black’ is a grand marshal in this year’s Atlanta Pride parade; Legendary Children will have a photo booth set up in the park on Saturday; and the popular Heaven party is Friday at Park Tavern.

FRIDAY, OCT. 10

Atlanta Pride VIP/Sponsor Party 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Georgia Aquarium www.atlantapride.org Official Atlanta Pride Kickoff Party 7 p.m. – 11: 30 p.m.

Georgia Aquarium 50 Shades of Orange with Lea DeLaria Doors open at 8 p.m.

Brought to you by MSR and Traxx Girls My Sister’s Room www.mysistersroom.com Official Atlanta Pride Kickoff Afterparty with DJ Chris Cox 9 p.m. – 3 a.m.

Jungle www.jungleatl.com

DJ Dani Toro 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Heretic www.hereticatlanta.com

9 p.m.-3 a.m. with DJ Vicki Powell and Ambrosia Salad Mary’s http://tinyurl.com/l3egflx

Heaven Pride Party 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

With DJ Yvonne Monet Sexiest angel contest at 11:30 p.m.

Erotic performances from Melissa Coffey & The Liquid Sky Aerial Troupe Park Tavern in Piedmont Park http://tinyurl.com/mnxuupo

DJ Corey David spinning at after hours club Xion 3 a.m.-7 a.m. www.cariocaproductions.com

TEN Atlanta DJ Daryl Cox (inside) DJ Rob Ansley (patio) www.facebook.com/TenAtlanta Fruit Salad: Pride Weekend + Libra Birthday Celebration

SATURDAY, OCT. 11

YoGaga Yoga Hour 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Piedmont Park Athletic Fields New York Life Kids Programming 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Piedmont Park (playground and greystone area) Georgia Safe Schools Coalition Youth Liberation Space

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (repeats on Sunday) Piedmont Park Dock Pride Marketplace 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (repeats on Sunday) Piedmont Park Community Health Expo 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (repeats on Sunday) Piedmont Park (blue market booths) Cultural Exhibit – Deconstructing Binaries 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (repeats on Sunday) Piedmont Park (bridge over Lake Clara Meer) Legendary Children Photo Booth and Drag Exchange 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Piedmont Park Bandstand

ATLANTA PRIDE

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10.10.14

GA VOICE

Car and Motorcycle Show 10:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Roadway inside Piedmont Park between 12th and 14th St. gates

ATLANTA PRIDE

Atlanta Pride Commitment Ceremony 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

W Atlanta Midtown

Saturday Fabrefaction Theatre – 12 p.m.

Legendary Children Atlanta – 1 p.m.

Ricky Simone – 1:45 p.m.

Michael Powers – 2:30 p.m.

Monica Mason – 3:15 p.m.

Wesley Cook – 4:10 p.m.

Neil Cribbs – 5:10 p.m.

Queer Your Gender Dance Party with DJ Ree de la Vega – 6:45 p.m.

ENTERTAINEMENT LINEUP

BUD LIGHT STAGE

Pride Saturday TEN Atlanta Party starts at noon DJ Daryl Cox and DJ Rob Reum (inside) DJ Neon outside Atlanta Pride Trans March 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Starts at Charles Allen Gate at Piedmont Park, ends inside park at 14th St. entrance Campus Pride College Fair 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Large tent near playground and greystone pool house Atlanta Pride Dyke March 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Starts at Charles Allen Gate at Piedmont Park, ends inside park at 14th St. entrance Queer Your Gender Dance Party 6:45 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Bud Light Stage, Piedmont Park Pavilion The Official Women’s Event of Atlanta Pride “The Crush Party” Doors open at 7 p.m. with celebrity, DJ, model and host Ruby Rose Also the Maria Gabriella Band My Sister’s Room Big Pride Dance Party 9 p.m.

Atlanta Eagle No cover www.facebook.com/atlantaeagle

The Official Atlanta Pride closing party on Sunday features duo Rosabel. (Publicity photo) Pride Saturday with DJ Manny Lehman 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Jungle DJ Phil B and Fort Troff night Opening set by Robert Ansley 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Heretic Girl Pride 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Go-go dancers, DJs and performers Amsterdam Atlanta http://tinyurl.com/mgvpnt8 Jox Sox Cox party at BJ Roosters Come dressed in favorite sports attire Special guest DJ Chi Chi Larue 9 p.m. www.yelp.com/biz/bj-roosters-atlanta Paoulo spins at Xion after hours club 3 a.m.-7 a.m. www.cariocaproductions.com

SUNDAY, OCT. 12

Atlanta Pride Parade 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Peachtree Street and 10th Street to Piedmont

Park www.atlantapride.org Pride on the Patio to watch the parade 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Livingston Restaurant + Bar VIP patio seating for $45 per person, brunch buffet for $25 DJ Yvonne Monet Reservations required Call 404-897-5000 or email info@livingstonatlanta.com with subject line PRIDE www.facebook.com/livingstonatgt

COCA-COLA STAGE

Official Atlanta Pride Brunch: 13th Annual HRC Pride Brunch 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Empire State South www.facebook.com/hrcatlanta

Sunday House Music – 3 p.m.

Michel Jons Band – 4 p.m.

DJ Citizen Jane – 5:20 p.m.

Yacht Rock Revue – 6 p.m.

Lea DeLaria – 6:55 p.m.

Starlight Cabaret – 7:25 p.m.

Pride Parade Patio Party at HENRY’S Midtown Noon to 4 p.m.

Brunch and dancing With DJ Vicki Powell www.henrysatl.com Pride Sunday TEN Atlanta Party starts at noon Chi Chi Larue spinning 3 to 5 p.m.

Music by DJs Daryl Cox, Rob Reum and Rob Ansley Sunday Pride T Dance 2 p.m.

With DJ Pat Scott Cookout after the parade Free hot dogs, hamburgers, chips Atlanta Eagle

DJ Chi Chi Larue spins tracks on Saturday night at Jox Sox Cox party at BJ Roosters. (Publicity photo)

Sunday House Music – 3 p.m.

DJ Canvas – 4 p.m.

Sunday Service at Church 6 p.m.

With DJ Vicki Powell and special guests DJ Ambrosia Salad and DJ Stanley Frank Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium

Saturday Maria Gabriella Band – 2 p.m.

Cousin Dan – 3 p.m.

Symphony Crack Orchestra – 3:50 p.m.

Gurufish – 4:45 p.m.

Kick the Robot – 5:50 p.m.

Meghan Trainor – 6:50 p.m.

Amber – 7:25 p.m.

Headliner- Colbie Caillat – 8:25 p.m.

www.sisterlouisaschurch.com B.I.G. productions presents Bear Invasion Atlanta Bucks’ Edition DJ Sean Mac 7 p.m.-3 a.m.

Heretic Starlight Cabaret 7:25 p.m. – 9:25 p.m.

Coca-Cola Stage, Piedmont Park Meadow Official Atlanta Pride Closing Party with duo Rosabel Atlanta’s DJ Martin Fry opens 9 p.m. – 3 a.m.

Opera www.gayboyproductions.com Alain Jackinsky spins at Xion after hours club 3 a.m.-7 a.m. www.cariocaproductions.com

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GA VOICE | 40

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ATLANTA PRIDE

www.theGAVoice.com

ATLANTA PRIDE BY THE NUMBERS How many people estimated How many at last year’s Atlanta Pride? golf carts used by volunteers?

OVER 250,000

34

How many walkie-talkies used for volunteers to stay in touch?

???

How many volunteers are needed during the weekend?

Approximately 275 volunteers who fill over 500 shifts during the week of set-up, the festival itself, and cleanup.

134

How many people participated in the Commitment Ceremony last year?

How many participants in 30 COUPLES the Atlanta Pride parade?

5,000

How many hours to complete the Atlanta Pride parade?

• From set-up to cleanup, it takes over 8 hours.

• It probably only takes 30 minutes for a group to walk the route in the parade.

• It’s about 3 hours for all of the groups to go through the route as a whole.

COMMUNITY

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Sandra Bernhard is your woman Comedian, actress coming to town to benefit AIDS Walk Atlanta

Proceeds for the weekend’s events will go not only to AID Atlanta, but also to AID Gwinnett/Ric Crawford Clinic, Aniz, Jerusalem House, Living Room, Open Hand and Positive Impact.

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com

‘ROSEANNE’ ROLE A RARITY IN EARLY 1990S

S

he’s a comedian, actress, singer, girlfriend—Sandra Bernhard isn’t one to be tied down to just one label. And if she had to choose a letter from the LGBT acronym, she’ll accept the “B.” “I guess I would say I’m bisexual even though I’ve been with my girlfriend for 15 years,” she tells the GA Voice. “I still have my attractions to people, but when you’re in a committed relationship, you’re in a committed relationship.” Her girlfriend is former Vanity Fair publicist ans writer Sara Switzer.

One label she is happy to take on is Mistress of Ceremonies for this year’s AIDS Walk Atlanta and 5K Run set for Oct. 19 in Piedmont Park.

But before she takes up her helm as the Mistress of Ceremonies and grand marshal of AIDS Walk Atlanta, Bernhard will perform two intimate shows at the W Atlanta-Midtown on Oct. 18 to benefit AIDS Walk Atlanta.

And she’s looking forward to getting back to Atlanta after so many years away—in 2008 she sold out two shows at an 800-seat venue; in October she’s playing two shows with seating capped at 250.

“It’s always a great market for me.

Atlanta’s always been a sophisticated market for performers. It’s one of the great hubs of the South. It’s great to have that city in your back pocket as a performer,” she says. “I’ve been involved in AIDS fundraising for many years. It’s a no-brainer. It’s a good tie-in with the show and the event.”

The 2013 AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run raised more than $1 million for AIDS service organizations throughout metro Atlanta, and organizer AID Atlanta is hoping Bernhard’s name will help them attempt to repeat that success.

AIDS Walk Atlanta is in its 24th year of raising funds to help those in the Atlanta area affected by HIV/AIDS, and it has become the largest AIDS-related fundraiser in the Southeastern U.S.

Bernhard, 59, gained fame doing stand-up comedy in the 1970s before getting her big break in 1983 by being cast in and receiving critical acclaim for Martin Scorsese’s film, “The King of Comedy.”

That led to consistent work in television and film throughout the 1980s, 1990s and up to now, while turning her stand-up routine into full-on performance art in the meantime.

But the LGBT community likely remembers her for a role that was unlike any other at the time—that of Nancy Bartlett on “Roseanne,” the first openly lesbian recurring character on American television. Mix in a couple of appearances as herself on “Will & Grace” and a well-publicized friendship with Madonna that led to an appearance in the 1991 documentary “Truth Or Dare” and it becomes apparent why AID Atlanta wanted Bernhard on board as grand marshal for a fundraiser that greatly affects the LGBT community.

Bernhard says her character on “Roseanne” wasn’t originally intended to be gay.

“It wasn’t premeditated. Originally my character comes on to marry Tom Arnold’s character, and he’s such a brute that she decided to go with women,” she says. “It was never like we were going to do some big political thing or hit people over the head. It worked because it was fun and crazy and compelling and human. I think people got a kick out of the character and the sexuality just added a wow factor to the whole thing.”

“In terms of my following, people loved it,” she continues. “In terms of the ‘Roseanne’ viewers, they came to expect things that were cutting edge and over the top, so the combination was kind of perfect.”

The landscape for LGBT characters in television has changed dramatically since then, with a recent GLAAD report showing a near-record amount of the community represented in various roles throughout network, cable and streaming programs. The progress hasn’t gone unnoticed by Bernhard.

“I think television is really opening up

and blossoming,” she says.

“People portray all kinds of characters that are really evolved. I don’t think it has to be an obvious ‘Oh, we’re really here to say something.’”

It’s a little known fact that Bernhard once turned down a role on one of the most iconic gay-friendly shows ever—that of lawyer Miranda Hobbes on “Sex and the City.”

“I didn’t find it particularly interesting and the money wasn’t there,” she explains. “You always look back and say, ‘Ah I should have done that.’ But of all of the characters [in the show], I found her very one note and sour.

The show was fun, but you can’t look back and beat yourself up.”

CONTINUING THE MISSION

The booking of Bernhard to benefit AIDS Walk Atlanta happened in large part thanks to sponsor Laughing Skull Lounge, according to Kristen Petillo, vice president of corporate giving and events for AID Atlanta.

And Petillo is quick to point out why it’s crucial to support HIV/AIDS fundraisers like AIDS Walk Atlanta.

“Stigma. Lack of access to care. Apathy. Complacency,” she says. “Those are just a few of the many reasons why AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run remains so important.

“It’s true that many are living longer lives with proper treatment regimens but those regimens are very costly and so many people cannot afford them,” she adds. “The keys to reducing infection rates are to continue prevention education in our communities and to ensure that those who are HIV positive remain consistent with their medication treatment regimen with helps to reduce transmission of the disease to another.”

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Comedian/actress/singer Sandra Bernhard performs Oct. 18 and will be grand marshal of the AIDS Walk Atlanta 5K & Run Oct. 19.

(Publicity photo)

Sandra Bernhard

Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Altitude (top floor of W Atlanta-Midtown) Tickets $98.80 www.sandrainatlanta.com

AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run

Sunday, Oct. 19 Meadow at Piedmont Park 1 p.m. — 5K run begins 2 p.m. — 5K walk begins www.aidswalkatlanta.com

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Fat Bottom Girlz has over 200 members through their MeetUp group.

Fat Bottom Girlz always sends a sizable contingent to ride with Dykes on Bikes in the Atlanta Pride parade. (Photos by Marilyn Nieves/SuspendedImage.com)

Fat Bottom Girlz make the world go round Lesbian motorcycle club leads Dykes on Bikes in Pride parade

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com

Dream Gomez (bottom right) founded Fat Bottom Girlz in 2008.

One of the group’s most popular rides is down to Joliet, Georgia, where “Fried Green Tomatoes” was filmed.

I

f you’ve ever snagged a spot near 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue to watch the Atlanta Pride parade, you’re familiar with the sound that signals the beginning of the festivities.

An army of women atop their beloved motorcycles simultaneously revs their engines, and the crowd roars in approval as another Pride parade begins.

Those women are in the Dykes on Bikes contingent of the parade, and a sizable share of them are part of the 200-plus-member lesbian motorcycle club Fat Bottom Girlz. It is currently the only active lesbian motorcycle club in Atlanta after Sweet Vibrations, whose members included state Rep. Simone Bell, recently ceased cruising.

East Atlanta resident Dream Gomez founded the club in 2008, and explains the makeup of the group like this: “It’s women, trans-inclusive and it’s lesbian-led and woman-centered.”

Gomez started the group shortly after she started riding and discovered very few women who were members of other riding clubs and she couldn’t find any active

DETAILS Fat Bottom Girlz

www.meetup.com/fatbottomgirlzmotorcycle-group/

women groups out there.

“It’s parallel play,” Gomez says, explaining the allure of the group. “You get to be with people doing the same thing you’re doing but you’re still controlling your own ride. And it’s a way to get out and socialize.”

The number of group rides can range anywhere from once or twice a month, to six or seven times a month, and the number of riders ranges from just a couple all the way up to 30. The type of ride varies from a quick impromptu ride around the city to much longer distances.

“One of the popular rides is down to Juliet, Georgia, where ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ was filmed,” Gomez says. “We’ve even done some vacation trips where 10 or 15 of us have rented a house and gone to the beach for a week.”

There are members of all ages in Fat Bottom Girlz but the majority range from their 30s to 60s. And the day jobs are all over the place.

“Photographer, archeologist, teacher, data entry, between jobs. I’m a computer systems engineer,” Gomez says. “If you can manage to get a bike then that’s all it takes really.”

So far around 30 of the Fat Bottom Girlz are signed up to ride with Dykes on Bikes in Sunday’s parade, so listen up for when they unleash that familiar roar.

Tickets

s as low a

$25

The quintessential story of family, friendship, and steely Southern sisterhood.

Featuring

Becky Ann BAker

MAry PAt GleASon

ZoË WinterS

Beth Broderick

deirdre lovejoy

SArAh StileS

October 22–November 9 Tickets @ 404.733.5000 Series on the Alliance Stage

alliancetheatre.org/steelmagnolias | Groups 404.733.4690

Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

By Robert Harling Directed by two-time Tony Award® winning actress Judith Ivey

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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THEATER BY JIM FARMER

‘The Doctor, the Devil, & My Dad’ a time-bending experience 7 Stages production explores mysteries of universe Heidi S. Howard can’t easily describe the new play she is directing, but she knows it’s one of a kind. The out artistic director of 7 Stages says the just-opened “The Doctor, the Devil, & My Dad” isn’t altogether a comedy and isn’t really a tragedy either.

“It’s human and truthful and real, kind of hysterical and heartbreaking at the same time,” she says.

Playwright Suehyla El-Attar wrote “The Doctor, the Devil & My Dad.” Howard and El-Attar have been working in the Youth Creates program at 7 Stages for the last six years, creating original shows with kids every summer.

“Through that time we have grown to respect each other’s work and have become close friends,” Howard says. In February 2012, El-Attar’s father passed away. Howard says felt she knew him via El-Attar.

“She is an amazing storyteller; she would

DETAILS ‘The Doctor, the Devil & My Dad’

7 Stages 1105 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 Through Oct. 26 www.7stages.org

‘Lasso of Truth’

Synchronicity Theatre 1545 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309 Through Oct. 19 www.synchrotheatre.com

Nick Tecosky stars as Doctor Who in the new 7 Stages production of ‘The Doctor, the Devil, & My Dad.’ (Courtesy photo)

tell stories about how she was dealing with her family, with her being the primary caretaker during his illness,” Howard says. The stories El-Attar would tell about growing up in a Muslim household would either make Howard laugh or bring her to tears.

“It was like I was there in the room,” Howard says. She was fascinated by the anecdotes—how father and daughter would watch “Dr. Who” together; stories of how ElAttar’s father said he could not wait to die, but

when the time was close he became scared.

Howard loved hearing about the family’s Muslim traditions as well.

“The day he died, he had to be buried within 24 hours,” says Howard. “I found myself visiting his grave and Suehyla was telling me about her experiences. I told her she had to put it on the page.”

Although the play is based on those anecdotes, the main character is fictional.

Summer (played by Stacy Melich) is a young woman whose father has passed. At the funeral, she uses fantasy to deal with her grief.

Characters such as Summer’s version of The Devil (played by Gina Rickicki), Doctor Who (played by Nicholas Tecosky) and others be-

gin to appear, with Topher Payne playing the character of The Man. “I wanted Suehyla to use fantasy to be able to connect this universal feeling in a creative way,” says Howard.

“Death is a universal experience,” she adds. “We go through our rituals. The mourning process is a human experience. Anyone can relate. In the LGBT community we are very quiet about losing our partners.”

Although she had been serving in some capacity for several years at the theater, Howard officially took over as artistic director about a year and a half ago. “Angry Fags”

by Topher Payne was the first big show under her name.

“The last year and a half has been fantastic,” she says. “I have been able to be challenged. I wake up every morning and say ‘What is my life?’ And I get to come in and do what has kept me here from the beginning. I walked into a spot that keeps the doors open for artists to bring in ideas. I make sure I am accessible.”

7 Stages has always been known for edgy fare, and Howard has no interest in breaking that tradition. “I want to continue to look at what (co-founders) Del (Hamilton) and Faye (Allen) did and push the boundaries about what theater is,” she says.

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Eating my words BY CLIFF BOSTOCK

Places to dine away from the Pride pack Take a break at restaurants for a breath and a bite Pride is upon us. Ground Zero has always been Midtown and you can expect the restaurants to be packed, with long waits.

That’s not terrible, since the whole mood of the weekend is festive.

But suppose you want a break, maybe to get to know your new crush—the person you met 15 hours earlier behind a portable potty in the park? Here are five inexpensive places that I recently visited. They should give you some space to breathe and enough quiet to chat.

The Crazy Cuban (290 14th St., 404-6077348, crazycuban.com). This is open only for lunch, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday. It’s between Midtown and West Midtown, so the Pride crowd will likely be thinner. You order from a menu of mainly traditional grilled and pressed Cuban sandwiches, all of them well under $10 and available in combos with black beans and rice, the only side dish beside chips.

You can get lettuce, tomato, jalapenos and onions on your sandwich, even though that is taboo in Cuban culture. My favorite is the roasted, marinated pork with Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles. Skip the lettuce stuff— these aren’t submarines—or you’ll overwhelm the taste of the marinated, juicy pork. Almost all seating here is on a covered patio.

Queen of Sheba (1594 Woodcliff Drive, 404-321-1493, qsheba.com). Atlanta has many Ethiopian restaurants and this is usually rated among the top three. If you’re a stranger to this cuisine, you should know that the typical eating implement is your hand. You tear off pieces of spongy sourdough bread called “injera” and scoop up the stews, roasted meats, and vegetables. Don’t worry, you can get forks and knives if you prefer.

Recently a friend and I ordered two flaky pastries as appetizers. One was filled with lentils, onions and green peppers. My favorite was the beef tartare—raw ground beef seasoned with a spiced butter and mysterious powder.

Both are served with a very spicy red sauce.

My entrée was sautéed shrimp with chopped onions and peppers. My friend’s stew of lamb chunks seasoned with garlic, ginger, and turmeric was the more exotic and better choice.

Plenty of vegetarian dishes are available too.

Chai Pani (406 W. Ponce de Leon, 404-378-4030, chaipanidecatur.com). You can get to Decatur easily via the MARTA rail system. There are a lot of restaurants there but this relatively new one that serves Indian street food has gotten a lot of attention. Indeed, well-known Esquire critic John Mariani raved about it in January. (This is the sister operation of the same name in Asheville,

The Iberian Pig’s Wagyu-beef burger is a popular plate; Chai Pani is known for its Indian street food; Ethiopian restaurant Queen of Sheba offers excellent choices; and the Crazy Cuban’s sandwiches offer delicious choices. (Photos via Facebook)

N.C., which has also received huge numbers of rave reviews over its five years.) What’s the deal? Instead of the usual masala-this-andtikka-that, Chai Pani, serves “hyper-authentic” small plates. Still, some have a Southern twang, like Bombay chili-cheese fries with lamb hash—regarded as the best dish by many. Another favorite is trendy kale fried in chickpea batter. You’ll also find exotic sandwiches, crepes filled with savory stews, and a few thalis – the traditional sample plates.

There are lots of vegetarian options.

The Iberian Pig (121 Sycamore St., 404-371-8800, theiberianpigatl.com). Even more convenient to the Decatur MARTA station, the Iberian Pig riffs on classic Spanish food. I don’t know anywhere else in our city that serves the cured meat of the famous acorn-fed Iberian pig. You would be a fool to eat here and not order it. Ditto for the fa-

mous sheep-milk Manchego cheese. I also love the Drunken Goat, which began showing up in Atlanta markets a few years back.

It’s aged 75 days and soaked in red wine for three days. Tapas can be kinkier, like roasted pork cheeks with a poached egg and black truffles or grilled octopus with “jalapeno and Benton’s bacon pesto, potato confit, grilled lemon” and more. Main plates are limited and less threatening to the shy of palate. There’s a Wagyu-beef burger with bacon-onion relish, Mahon cheese, and butter lettuce, served with eggplant fries.

This restaurant is moderately expensive, compared to the rest.

Chef Liu (5283 Buford Hwy., 770-936-0532).

I dine every Friday night with a group of friends. In three years, I think we’ve visited this restaurant more than any other. I’ve written about it before, but I’d hate for Pride

visitors hungry for Chinese food to miss it. You’ll need wheels to get there, since it’s on Buford Highway, which is crowded with ethnic restaurants of every type. Chef Liu specializes in dumplings of all kinds. Everyone’s favorite is Xiao Long bao buns, which are filled with a dollop of seasoned ground pork. The delicate orbs pop open in the mouth and release a tablespoon or so of an intense broth. Absolutely don’t miss them. I also like the cold sesame noodles with red pepper, the fennel dumplings, the scallion pancakes, and the grilled lamb dishes. Whatever you eat, you’re going to like it.

Cliff Bostock, PhD, is a longtime Atlanta dining critic and a former psychotherapist who now offers collaborative life coaching, specializing in clients with creative blocks of all sorts.

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This year’s Tour features eight homes that highlight the wonderful diversity of architecture and dÊcor in Ansley Park.

October 18 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm October 19 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Tickets $20 in advance; $25 on-site

SCADpads, three fully functional residences the size of a parking space, are included on the Tour. This is a unique opportunity to experience lifestyles at completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

for tickets and details, visit

ansleytourofhomes.com

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3 DAYS 90 RESTAURANTS 300 DELICIOUS BITES

You’re invited to the 2014 GLAAD Atlanta Benefit!

Wednesday, October 29th 6pm - 9pm The Estate on Piedmont 3109 Piedmont Rd. NE | Atlanta, Ga 30305

Wilson Cruz, Red Band Society Tony Conway, A Legendary Event

Kat Graham, The Vampire Diaries

Octavia Spencer, Red Band Society

Hosted by the GLAAD Atlanta Leadership Council: Mimi McCain & Frank Mendez, Co-Chairs Celebrate national and local leaders who advance the LGBT equality through the media.

The event will launch GLAAD’s Southern Stories program which aims to drive cultural change in the American south. You will enjoy cocktails, wine, hors d’oevres along with the inspiring speeches, special guests, honorees and entertainers.

Tickets: $99 per person or $175 for a pair go to www.GLAAD.org/atlanta to purchase tickets Sponsored by:

October 24, 25 & 26

MIDTOWN at Tech Square

TasteOfAtlanta.com

Honorary Co-Chairs:

Sam Champion, The Weather Channel

ATLANTA’S PREMIER FOOD, WINE, BEER & COCKTAIL FESTIVAL

Pick up the 25th anniversary edition of

the Gay Community Yellow Pages

at atlanta pride

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Event spotlight

bout Tell us aBT event your LGays to submit your

ow There are tw inclusion in our online r fo t n event ve e T LGB ubmit your S . rs a d n le ail and print ca eGAVoice.com or e-m h .t w . w info to w AVoice.com ditor@theG details to e (Publicity photo)

Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

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FRIDAY, OCT. 10 Serenbe Playhouse is presenting an encore of its “The Sleepy Hollow Experience” through Nov. 1, at 8 p.m., www.serenbeplayhouse.com

Photo via Facebook

FRIDAY, OCT. 10 AND SUNDAY, OCT. 11

Join Actor’s Express for “Simply Barbra,” Steven Brinberg’s highly acclaimed one-man show in which he plays the diva. 8pm. www.actorsexpress.com

THURSDAY, OCT. 16 Jean Kelley of Atlanta, hostess of the locally produced “Sing for Your Life” competition and now a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” joins Clara Hong and Barry Brandon in concert at Jungle Atlanta, 8 p.m., Jungle, www.jungleatl.com

SOMETHING GAY EVERY DAY!

Bookmark www.thegavoice.com to get your daily dose of local LGBT events.

File photo

FRIDAY, OCT. 10

For those not attending the Atlanta Pride kickoff party at the Georgia Aquarium, there’s the Australian Pink Floyd Show at 8 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, www.foxtheatre.org

FRIDAY, OCT. 17 The Third Friday Film series screens the Oscar-nominated “Winter’s Bone,” sponsored by the Social Justice Guild, at First Existentialist Congregation, 7:30 p.m., www.firstexistentialist.org

Fourth Tuesday Happy Hour is an evening of fun for female friends—lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer—whether you are single or in a couple. 6-9 p.m. at MIXX, www.facebook.com/ FourthTuesdayAtlanta

SATURDAY, OCT. 11 AND SUNDAY, OCT. 12

Atlanta Pride Weekend at Piedmont Park is

held in conjunction with National Coming Out Day, www.atlantapride.org

is tonight at My Sister’s Room, hosted by Ruby Rose, 7 p.m., www.mysistersroom.com

SATURDAY, OCT. 11

DH Manny Lehmnan spins at Jungle, www.jungleatl.com

Corey David spins at Xion at 3 a.m., www.xionatlanta.com Meak Productions, Inc. via History of Black Gay America in partnership with MoJAM Entertainment,presents the 10th anniversary celebration reception for filmmaker Maurice Jamal, with special guests, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Hyatt Atlanta Midtown, http://atlantamidtown.hyatt.com/ en/hotel/home.html The official women’s party for Atlanta Pride

Join DJ Phil B at Heretic Atlanta, 9 p.m., www.hereticatlanta.com Porn goddess and DJ Chi Chi LaRue visits BJ Roosters for the Jox Sox Cox event, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA, United States 30324

SUNDAY, OCT. 12

Special guest Paulo gets folks dancing at Xion at 3 a.m., www.xionatlanta.com

BEST BETS

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Photo via Facebook

The independent film “Pride,” winner of the Queer Palm at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, continues at the Midtown Art Cinema, www.landmarktheatres.com

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MONDAY, OCT. 13

Making Space: A Community Writing Group for Activists, Healers, and Every Day Heroes, Is a writing group for those who work, move or spend time serving others through human service and community professions. This is Charis Circle From Margin to Center Literary Program.

The suggested donation is $10. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Charis Books, www.charisbooksandmore.com

TUESDAY, OCT. 14

Georgia author Grace Hawthorne discusses her new book “Shorter’s Way: a Political Love Story About Rambunctious Georgia Politics in the 1920s,” 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books, www.charisbooksandmore.com Cockpit Atlanta is the home for YouTubesday ‘90s mix with VJ Ayem, www.facebook.com/ cockpitatlanta.com

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15

Join Charis for a celebration of and discussion about the Amelia Bloomer Project, a collaborative annual project by the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association, which creates an annual booklist of the best feminist books for young readers, ages birth through 18. This is a Charis Circle Strong Families, Whole Children Program and the suggested donation is $5.

7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

THURSDAY, OCT. 16

SAGE’s social hour features games and conversation, followed by the general meeting, 10 a.m., Philip Rush Center, www.rushcenteratl.com Charis and Cliterati pair up to present an inviting and fierce open mic and reading series on

THURSDAY, OCT. 16

Tonight’s performance of Cirque du Soleil’s “Amaluna” benefits CHRIS Kids with showtme at 8, www.chriskids.org/cirque

the third Thursday of every month. Hosted by the anarchic spoken word team of Karen G and Theresa Davis, members of the Art Amok Slam Team, this series cultivates the voices of authors, novices and an assortment of poets, songstresses and storytellers. In honor of Atlanta Pride we encourage community members to bring their

favorite poem or short prose piece exploring LGBTQ themes to share at open mic. This is a From Margin to Center Literary Program; suggested donation is $5 Charis Books, 7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

File photo

Phoenix of RuPaul’s Drag Race brings her sass to her Dancefloor Divas show, 11:30 p.m., Burkhart’s, www.burkharts.com

FRIDAY, OCT. 17

Out artist Cathe Hall Payne opens her “The Sugar Bean Sisters” at Onstage Atlanta tonight, running through November 8, 8 p.m., www.onstageatlanta.com Blake’s hosts Glitter Bomb, 75 minutes of high-energy illusion, at 11 p.m., www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

SATURDAY, OCT. 18

SATURDAY, OCT. 18

The Little Five Points Halloween Festival and Parade take over the eclectic neighborhood from 3-11 p.m. with the infamous parade beginning at 4 p.m. There will be live music, food vendors and more, l5phalloween.comchriskids.org/cirque

safe space for all gender varieties, identities, and expressions. Suggested donation is $15 with all money going to AIDS Walk Atlanta (please bring cash). 12:30 p.m., Candler Park. In case of rain, the event will be held at Tough Love Yoga, www.toughloveyoga.com Honor those who have died without health insurance at a silent candelight vigil, Capitol Building Exterior, Washington Street. Bring a white candle. 6 p.m. For more information, contact expandgeorgiamedicaid@gmail.com Sandra Bernhard comes to the ATL for two shows at the W Midtown, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., benefitting AIDS Walk, www.sandrainatlanta.com “The Doctor, The Devil & My Dad” continues at 7 Stages, with out Heidi S. Howard directing, 8 p.m., www.7stages.org

Lift Up Atlanta is sponsoring an Empowering Women Today for a Better Tomorrow workshop hosted by Onyx Keesha, founder of MPower.

There will be motivational speakers and spoken word. Tickets are $8 in advance, $15 at the door, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the Phillip Rush Center, www.facebook.com/atlantas.womyn

The Unofficial AIDS Walk Freak Show Ball raises money for AIDS Walk. It’s a party packed with Drag Star Edie Cheezburger, Dominatrix Goddess Phoenix, Marilyn Chen, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Sissy S Tea, VJ Anthony, Funk Master Romeo Cologne, DJSeraph Atlanta, Ritual Oni, and go-go dancer

HomoFlow, a special yoga event benefiting AIDS Walk Atlanta, is hosted by Elizabeth and the Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. This is a

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All pride.

No prejudice.

Stainless steel link bracelets from Room 101:Join the Conspiracy.

Amsterdam Walk . 500 Amsterdam Ave . Atlanta . 404/892-8294 Decatur Square . 117 East Court Square . Decatur . 404/370-3979 www.worthmorejewelers.com

www.theGAVoice.com

Sharing knowledge. Broadening perspectives.

It creates a richer community for all.

For more than 140 years, BB&T has supported the goals of our clients, friends and neighbors by sharing financial knowledge and guidance. We also support the individuals and organizations that broaden our perspectives and strengthen the diverse fabric of our communities. That’s why BB&T is proud to be a part of this day of pride and celebration, inviting the community to join us for this fun and unique event.

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Proud to support the 2014 Atlanta Pride Festival

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sensation Angie Starr. The night starts with DJ Seraph Atlanta spinning at 9 p.m. VJ Anthony will continue until 3 a.m. in the morning. World class guest dominatrix Goddess Phoenix will be performing on stage and in the dungeon with additional guests, The Loft at

Center Stage, www.centerstage-atlanta.com Legendary Children Atlanta presents Freakshow, a cabinet of curiosities—a feast for the senses!

Nicole Paige Brooks is back to be the twisted ringleader for the evening. Featuring a menagerie of performers, oddities from antiquity, kings and queens of drag, fortune tellers, sword swallowers, aerialists, dancing go-go clowns, and other freaks of nature! DJ Vicki Powell + DJ King Atlas + DJ Silk Wolf will be making you sweat under the big top! 10 p.m. – 2:30 a.m., Masquerade, www.masqueradeatlanta.com

SUNDAY OCT. 19

The 24th annual AIDS Walk brings out thousands of people to Piedmont Park to raise money for AIDS service organizations, www.aidswalkatlanta.com The lesbian-themed “Lasso of Truth” closes at Synchronicity today, 5 p.m., www.synchrotheatre.com “Laughter Matters,” an evening of live music, comedians, raffles, heavy hors d’oeuvres, libations and more is an event to benefit the Ben Marion Institute for Social Justice.

www.theGAVoice.com

Tickets are $65 in advance, $75 at the door. www.benmarioninstitute.org/ At the “Late Night With the Boys – Confessions of a Leather Bar Chanteuse” event, Alex Bond and Ken Hornbeck read from Ms. Bond’s novel. A hit at numerous festivals in the U.S., this book reading transports listeners back to Dallas 1977 with delightful and poignant tales of a Southern Chanteuse and her gay family-of-friends in this pre-AIDS wildly magical era. Directed by Justin Anderson, benefitting the Phillip Rush Center. Tonight and Oct. 26 at 7 p.m., www.rushcenteratl.com $2 well drinks are on tap all day and night at Sunday Funday at Bulldogs, 893 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309 Atlanta’s Angelica D’Paige and friends — including Brent Star and Destiny Brooks — purr up fun at Sex Kitten, with $5 burgers and Smirnoff cocktails, 8 p.m. at 10th and Piedmont, www. communitashospitality.com/10th-and-piedmont/ promotions/Sex-Kitten-with-Angelica-DPaige

MONDAY, OCT. 20

The Stars of the Century drag show is every Monday at Jungle, 10 p.m., http://tinyurl.com/ matzdvf

TUESDAY OCT. 21

The Atlanta Zine Library, Atlanta Zine Fest, and Charis Books & More are partnering to form a zinester writer’s group geared at 11-19 year olds. Zine content is the focus of this group. Each month we will highlight a specific aspect of zine culture, including perzines (personal zines), feminism and queer politics, music fanzines, and so on. This is a Charis Circle Whole Children, Strong Families Program. The suggested donation is $5 but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Meets the third Tuesday of every month from 5 – 6:30 p.m. New members always welcome! $5 suggested donation. Suggested ages: 11 – 19, www.charisbooksandmore.com

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22

Join Charis in celebrating the publication of the first history of the United States told from the perspective of indigenous peoples. Today, in the United States, there are more than five hundred federally recognized indigenous communities and nations comprising nearly three million people. In “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States,” Dunbar-Ortiz challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how policy against the indigenous peoples was genocidal and imperialist—designed to crush the original inhabitants. This is a Charis Circle From Margin to Center Event. The suggested donation is $5. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books, www.charisbooksandmore.com Scare-A-Bear brings together local bears, meeting at Woof’s at 7 p.m. and the going to Netherworld Haunted House at 8 p.m.,

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https://www.facebook.com/events/ 461120690693780/?ref_dashboard_ filter=upcoming Get your bingo on tonight at Joe’s on Juniper at 8 p.m., www.joesonjuniper.com

Ruby Redd hosts bingo 8:30 p.m. at the Hideaway, www.atlantahideaway.com

THURSDAY, OCT. 23

Join Charis in welcoming Robbin Shipp, one of the co-authors of “Justice While Black,” a first-of-its-kind essential guide for AfricanAmerican families about how to understand the criminal justice system, and about why that system continues to see black men as targets and as dollar signs. The book provides practical, straightforward advice on how to deal with specific legal situations: the threat of arrest,

www.theGAVoice.com

being arrested, being in custody, preparing for and undergoing a trial, and navigating the appeals and parole process. This is a Charis Circle From Margin to Center event and the suggested donation is $5. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books, www.charisbooksandmore.com Every Thursday is 3 Legged Cowboy Night with free dance lessons from 8 – 9 p.m. at the Heretic, www.hereticatlanta.com Decadence: A Night of Drinking and Debauchery is every Thursday starting at 10 p.m., hosted

by Adam Bland and Ashley Mitchell with beats by DJ Daryl Cox. A wet underwear contest begins at 11 p.m., with a cash prize and dancers galore, TEN Atlanta, www.tenatlanta.com

UPCOMING FRIDAY, OCT. 24

The award-winning, gay themed film “Lilting” opens at the Midtown Art Cinema, www.landmarktheatres.com

SATURDAY, OCT. 25

Traveling Through Time, produced by Jerusalem House, is Atlanta’s premier open bar Halloween party. This 15th annual event includes a renowned costume parade and contest with $3,000 in cash and prizes to the best individual, best group and best Haloween Krewe. 7 p.m., W Atlanta Midtown, www.watlantamidtown.com

Shopping and dining on Sycamore St. Leon’s Full Service

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29

GLAAD Atlanta, presented by Ketel One Vodka, The Coca-Cola Company, and A Legendary Event, is a celebration of national and local leaders advancing LGBT equality through the media. During a night of exceptional honorees, special guests, and inspiring speeches, your attendance will help GLAAD extend its long history and successful track record of advocating for LGBT equality on critical cultural frontiers through the media. GLAAD Atlanta will serve as a launch pad for GLAAD’s Southern Stories Program which aims to drive cultural change in the American south.

3109 Piedmont Estates and Gardens, 6 – 9 p.m., www.legendaryevents.com The Revival: a QWOC Poetry Salon featuring guest poet Jericho Brown -Charis welcomes T. Miller, Queen Sheba, and Be Steady to town for a poetry concert like no other. Part of a nine city tour, featuring guest poet Jericho Brown. Free to Georgia Tech students, www.gatech.edu

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

LOCA

shop, sip, see what’s hip

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More than 200 independent shops, services and restaurants make Decatur dynamic, delicious, and decidedly different.

Terrific Thursdays Look for sales,

snacks, and seasonal shopportunities in November and December.

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Visitors Center

113 Clairemont Ave. Tues.-Sat. 10 am-4 pm visitdecaturga.com

10/6/14 5:23 PM

Out director David Crowe stages “The Elephant Man” at Georgia Ensemble Theatre, 8 p.m., www.get.org Black women are strong. At least that’s what everyone says and how they are constantly depicted. But what, exactly, does this strength entail? And what price do black women pay for it? In “Too Heavy a Yoke,” the author, a psychologist and pastoral theologian, examines the burdensome yoke that the ideology of the Strong Black Woman places upon African American women. Chanequa Walker Barnes demonstrates how the three core features of the ideology-emotional strength, caregiving, and independence-constrain the lives of African American women and predispose them to physical and emotional health problems, including diabetes, hypertension, and anxiety. This is a Charis Circle Founding the Future of Feminism event, and the suggested donation is $5. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books, www.charisbooksandmore.com

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FUNNYSTORY The gay divorcee

Back on the market after eight years

Answers to the most commonly asked questions about my divorce: I’m fine. He kept the house. I kept the dog. We both live with roommates. No, really, I’m fine.

Money is tight, but a person can adjust. No, we’re not divorced yet, because we married in Massachusetts, which does not have a residency requirement for matrimony, but does for divorce. And we cannot divorce in Georgia, because our marriage license is not recognized here. So we’re in purgatory, but we try to have a sense of humor about it. He’s dating someone now. The guy he’s dating seems nice (we have friends in common, because of course we do.) I am also dating someone, and of course there’s a story there.

The day came when I decided I’d spent enough time eating my feelings and bingewatching episodes of “Scandal.” I had myself a dating app-download orgy. Grindr, Tinder, Scruff, OK Cupid, I got ‘em all.

Took a bunch of PG-rated selfies (I made the executive decision not to photograph my junk. My penis is better at live shows than camera work, like Bernadette Peters.)

I wrote some witty profiles, and dove back into the pool. My favorite app was OK Cupid, because it had quizzes. I like quizzes. I could while away an afternoon finding out the answers to which Golden Girl I am or what US city I should live in. So the notion of a quiz that would eventually match me with a nice fellow? Hell yes, that sounded awesome.

Here’s the thing nobody prepared me for: The guys on those sites? I ALREADY KNEW THEM. I had it in my head that there would be this huge list of unknown men who would magically materialize when I was ready to get back on the market, but I was so very wrong. There was the guy from my old dentist’s office, and that guy who I think slept with my old roommate, and half the guest list from The GA Voice awards. And there, of course, was my estranged husband. We were a 30 percent match. OK Cu-

Topher Payne’s new audio book, ‘Funny Story: The Incomplete Works of Topher Payne,’ is now available at listenupaudiobooks.com.

pid was far more effective at evaluating our compatibility than our marriage counselor had been.

I’d been off the market for almost eight years. I tried to wrap my brain around the idea of asking people I’d spent time with socially if they would now like to see me naked. I just couldn’t do it. It felt impolite.

When I did encounter a handsome stranger, I’d happily chat with him online for hours, but lose my nerve when he raised the possibility of meeting in person. It was just too real. I thought I was ready. I wasn’t.

I deleted my apps.

Eventually, I met up with a guy who I’d promised to take out for ice cream eight years ago, proving that I will eventually get around to honoring my promises if you just wait long enough. He is good and decent, and has the best eyebrows I’ve ever seen on a human. He’s thoughtful to me and to my dog, and is willing to accept that for the foreseeable future, he’s dating a guy who also has a husband. I think that’s asking a lot, and he’s pretty classy about it.

So. My thoughts on Pride this year: I’m proud that my husband and I set out to go through this experience with respect for each other, and have thus far managed to do it. I’m proud that I came to a point of understanding that our marriage failed, but we are not failures. And I’m so humbled by the kindness and patience that was offered while we experienced a profound change of life. This is the spirit and support that we celebrate each year. This is what we mean when we refer to “our community.” I’m so grateful. And proud.

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o Dress up for our sp

oktacular

! r u o H y p p a Y n e e w o l l Ha ThursDay, Oct. 30, 6:30-9 p.m.

$20 ion

donat fits bene

2014

ontest! canine Costume C Treats! delicious Spirits & .org Tickets: forthekid

PIEDMONT BARK | AMSTERDAM WALK | 501 AMSTERDAM AVE.

Due to state regulations, no pet will be allowed in the facility without proof of current vaccinations.

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OUTSIDE THE BOX Real time

Unplugged adventure conquers hate with love My job can consume me 24 hours a day.

My hours are flexible because I am my own boss, but with the invention of the iPhone I usually work in some capacity almost seven days a week.

I have become a part of the culture in which my phone is always in my hand. It goes everywhere I go and documents my every step, becoming my digital diary, and I can literally feel lost without it.

It was important, when my boyfriend and I decided to take our first real vacation together, that we went to a place where cellphone service would be spotty. We wanted to tune in to each other and tune out the rest of the world.

In order to truly go off the grid, I challenged myself to completely turn off my phone and disconnect from all social media for five days.

Shawn and I have a lot in common. We enjoy hanging out with each other and normally don’t have any problems communicating, but vacations can take togetherness to a whole new level. Social media and smart phones have become a sneaky way to secretly disengage, so I wondered if we would still feel the same way about each other without our wireless devices as a distraction in the very secluded Sedona, Arizona.

With one deep breath, my phone went into “airplane mode,” and I embarked on an adventure into the wild, even though I was “roughing it” with 5-star service.

Disconnecting to connect with my BF was initially pretty simple due to the 360-degree views of towering red rocks that are among the seven wonders of the world. You feel like you’re on Mars. The canyon formations that are said to have special energy transmitters, called “vortices,” that inspire feelings of strength and can help with your spiritual connection instead of your internet connection. Out of habit I wanted to take photos of what I was seeing and share them with the world, but instead of hitting the “like” button to express our approval, we let our heads shake in silent disbelief.

Our trip was filled with adventures that we shared with each other instead of sharing with the world, including horseback riding in the mountains of Flagstaff, an offtrail 4-wheel-drive jeep adventure, yoga and Southwestern food that was fantastic even

Photo by Lisa Jordan Bill Kaelin is the owner of Bill Kaelin Marketing Events and Consulting Agency in Atlanta. www.BillKaelin.com

without posting the foodie pic on Instagram.

For our final adventure we set off to hike to the top of Bell Rock, which looks like an awkward but gorgeous big blob and reminded us both of the mashed-potato sculpture in the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

The Bell Rock is fairly easy to climb, with edges wide enough to make a person who’s deathly afraid of heights feel somewhat secure. The magnificent beauty makes you realize how insignificant everything is in the grand scheme of things; including my need to constantly update my “friends” on Facebook about my experiences.

Along our way to the heart-dropping crest, I was in awe of the handcrafted art until I saw that hatred can exist in the middle of nature as well as in a “newsfeed.” Shockingly, standing out like a sore thumb was a swastika built from the same sacred red stones we had walked on. Instinctively, I wanted to blast out to my 5,000 followers about my frustration with the injustices of the world, but instead, without a word we dismantled the hostility with our own hands and used the same stones to create our own “comment” with one simple word: “LOVE.” It may not have become a meme, but our message was loud and clear to anyone who came across our non-digital footprint.

Ironically, the power I felt from this poignant moment allowed my acrophobia to subside, giving me the strength to climb higher. When we finally reached the summit, instead of posting a selfie, I took a deep breath and soaked in how love can conquer hate. When I tuned in by turning off, I learned how to use my own internal hardware to store and process the best vacation ever, forever, in real time.

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FemmeFOLIO Trash talk Learning the feminist truth through a lie

Meet your future with confidence.

LESLIE A. COOK, JD, CFP®, CDFA™ Financial Advisor 825 Juniper Street Atlanta, GA 30303 404.564.4265 leslie.a.cook@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/leslie.a.cook

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Not all lesbians are feminists. We should be, but we’re not. Even I didn’t know what the term truly meant until the last few years. I’m sharing with you my own insecurities on the topic not because I’m proud, but the opposite: I’m actually horrified when I think back on all my anti-feminist activities over the years.

How could a female, especially a womanloving femme like me, act out as an antifeminist, you might wonder? I certainly haven’t intended to be such a drag on our movement. I earnestly want there to be equal pay for each gender, as well as the gender-neutral and those on the fluid scale of gender identity. If you believe that, you’re a feminist, right? Don’t you need to just believe that women deserve everything that men have?

In theory, yes. But we’ve got to do more to fight for our equality, not just believe that we deserve it.

I’ve sadly realized how I’ve failed my fellow feminists in years past by perpetuating the stereotypes of genders, including the terrible notion that you need anyone to play the role of a “husband” in a marriage or that I needed to tone down my outspokenness in former office jobs when the men wanted to talk. If I stated my opinions in the same manner as a man, I was considered “eager” or, worse, “a bitch.” A male boss could tell his employees, “Get it done.” And he’s patted on the back for being a good boss. A woman at the helm? She’d better pad her request— not an order, mind you—with a please and a thank you, and oh, what a nice job you’ve done. Otherwise, now we’re bordering on being called a “bossy bitch.” And I’ve been called that and worse while pushing my elbows into boardrooms and consequently being thrown out. Once I was even escorted out with a box of my belongings for daring to challenge the queen in charge at a big-fishsmall-pond magazine; heaven forbid we encourage our own to shatter that glass ceiling.

I think what I feel most guilty about in my failure at feminism is how I approached my marriage in the beginning—and then I lied about it. On national TV. To TJ Holmes on CNN!

Kirsten Ott Palladino is the editor in chief and cofounder of Equally Wed Magazine. She is joking in this week’s column, but if you must shout at her for making light of a real issue, you can reach her via email kirsten@equallywed.com or Twitter at @kirstenop.

It was August 2010, and my wife and I had been invited into the studio to speak about marriage equality and Equally Wed, our newly minted wedding magazine for same-sex couples. The network sent a sleek black limo to fetch us from our office, and we took a nice air-conditioned ride to the CNN building. We were pretty hyped about the experience and the national exposure we’d be garnering. My error was committed innocently enough, but when TJ asked Maria and me to describe our relationship, I leaped at the opportunity to prove how normal we are, so that society would see just how deserving we are of equal rights to that of our heterosexual brethren. And how did I accomplish this task I’d assigned myself? By telling TJ that we were a traditional couple, and to further illustrate this point, I said that Maria takes out the trash. Wait, what? That’s not even true.

Most weeks, it’s me lugging those plastic bags to our plastic bins and at that point in our life, I was usually the one pushing it in the thick night air or early mornings down the driveway to the curb for the sanitation crew to empty it out. And then within 10 hours, I’d pull it back in, parking it under the gardenia bush on the side of our house. But did I share that with millions of viewers when I had the chance? No. I further perpetuated the idea that there’s a man and a helpless woman by his side in every relationship, no matter the gender.

Which is bullshit. Which is why I stopped taking out the trash.

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SOMETIMES'Y' That’s so Ryan Feeling most at home as ‘Other’ When Raven Symone announced on national television that she was “an American, not an African American,” Oprah Winfrey warned, “Oh, girl, don’t set up the Twitter on fire.”

Just the night before the interview aired, the internet reminded me how bothered people can get when you avoid defining your ethnicity.

A guy sent me a flattering message on a gay dating site and after I responded with thanks, he asked, “So what are you mixed with?”

“Just ‘other,’” I replied.

“C’mon, tell me,” he persisted.

“Other.”

About half an hour later I noticed that our conversation disappeared, as had his profile from the list of those I had viewed.

He blocked me, which might have been surprising if I didn’t know how much race matters to everyone.

Our exchange—his question, my response, his insistence and dissatisfaction— was an online rendition of my real-world experience since childhood. One of the reasons I know race matters to everyone is because on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis, I am asked by strangers to clarify my race/ethnicity/heritage/nationality/origins—a question almost inevitably prefaced or followed by some version of, “Not that it matters.”

Prior to adulthood, this felt like a benign routine of growing up “mixed.” However, the endurance of this inquiry—as well as its priority, often coming within seconds of meeting someone—turned exhausting and troublesome.

This sifting of my identity is not necessarily malicious or bigoted; boxes and definitions provide stability.

But questions about my ethnicity became unbearable when an increasing number of people deemed my response insufficient, even when my answer offered specific, Census-certified categories. Then, after several years of angst and a few months before my 27th birthday, I learned that the story of my birth—the plot, the players—were different from what I had always understood.

I woke up one morning as one ethnicity,

Ryan Lee is an Atlanta writer.

and went to bed that night as another. More precisely, in the seven years since then, I’ve considered myself ethnically homeless.

The term’s somber connotation might overshadow its liberating essence. Yes, there has been loss and estrangement outside the shelter of labels; but there is also a freedom to pursue an authentic self, with fewer guideposts or restraints.

I recognize the absurdity of playing coy about my ethnicity, and the peevish novelty of meeting someone who seems to be closeted about his skin color.

However, there is no category or combination thereof that fully captures my experience or sense of self. Providing an answer that satisfies you would guarantee misunderstanding; answering in a way that leaves me comfortable requires the sharing of more information about me, my family and my journey than any passing acquaintance is entitled to know.

This rejection of a race classification for myself should not be mistaken as blindness toward the influence of ethnicity and skin color in our society. I understand that Ryan and Raven’s choice to resist ethnic definition does nothing to alter how other people view us, and subject us to privilege or prejudice based on that perception. Centuries of race-based human interactions are unchanged by the literal post-racial identity that I am exploring.

Although we reached a state of colorlessness via different routes—Raven seems to have arrived voluntarily, while I have voluntarily accepted my place—our position opens us to the usual criticisms of self-loathing and utopic delusion. Symone, whose ethnicity seems a bit less ambiguous than my own, has been accused of forsaking ancestors and being ashamed of her roots—concerns that I’ve meditated over when deciding what to claim and what to forgo.

But lineage, while important, is not something I have the luxury of hitching my identity to. For now, “Other” is where I feel most comfortable.

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