V10-44 11-04-26
We Are All Community Heroes
Brian Falduto: Born To Run Wild
Scott King’s Tribut to Indigo Girls
Plus Photos & More
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Queerly Beloved We Are All Community Heroes Edited Mikkel Hyldebrandt In a world that feels increasingly divided, uncertain, and overwhelming, simply showing up for one another has become an act of courage. This year, DAVID Magazine’s Queerly Beloved celebration recognizes the everyday heroes who keep our LGBTQ+ community alive. All of us.
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than to drive them further apart. Turn very year, DAVID Magazine has on the television, open a news app, or made it a tradition to recognize scroll through social media, and you’re the individuals who go above and immediately confronted with another crisis, beyond for our LGBTQ+ community another controversy, another reason to through our Queerly Beloved feature. The activists, advocates, organizers, volunteers, worry about what tomorrow might bring. business owners, artists, and everyday change makers who dedicate their time, The United States finds itself entangled in energy, and hearts to making Atlanta a multiple international crises, while tensions better, safer, and more inclusive place for at home continue to rise. And at the center all of us. We’ve been privileged to tell their of it all is a president whose increasingly stories, celebrate their accomplishments, erratic rhetoric and actions seem to and shine a spotlight on the extraordinary generate fresh uncertainty almost daily. work happening throughout our community. For LGBTQ+ Americans, this isn’t But this year feels different. Not because simply political theater or something we there aren’t incredible individuals deserving can casually debate over dinner. The of recognition. There absolutely are. And consequences of political decisions not because the work being done is any can be deeply personal. Our rights, our less important. Quite the opposite. This relationships, our families, our healthcare, year, Queerly Beloved is about something our identities, and our ability to live bigger. It’s about recognizing that the openly and authentically are all part of very definition of a community hero has the conversation. And frankly, it’s tiring to expanded. constantly feel like your existence is up for discussion. Because in 2026, with everything happening around us, perhaps the greatest There is a particular kind of exhaustion that act of heroism is simply continuing to show comes from having to defend progress up. And that makes all of us community you thought had already been made. From heroes. wondering whether protections you’ve come to rely on will still exist tomorrow. From watching hard-won victories become When the World Feels Like Too Much political bargaining chips. Add the everyday Let’s be real for a moment. It’s exhausting pressures of work, finances, relationships, and simply trying to navigate life, and out there. it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling The political climate has become an almost overwhelmed. unbearable cycle of outrage, uncertainty, Yet somehow, through all of this, we keep and division. The election season brings going. We get up. We go to work. We care another relentless barrage of campaign for our families. We check on our friends. messaging, pointed attacks, heated We support our neighbors. We go out, debates, and political rhetoric that seems connect, celebrate, volunteer, donate, designed less to bring people together
organize, and advocate. We continue to live. And perhaps we don’t give ourselves nearly enough credit for that. The Quiet Courage of Showing Up
that’s understandable. After all, it’s difficult to completely disconnect from the realities of the world, even when you’re surrounded by music, dancing, rainbow flags, and thousands of people ready to celebrate.
When we think of community heroes, we often imagine grand gestures. Someone leading a march, raising thousands of dollars, launching an organization, or standing at the forefront of a movement. Those contributions are extraordinary, and they deserve every bit of recognition they receive. But heroism doesn’t always come with a microphone, a title, or a standing ovation.
But it wasn’t what might have been missing. It was what was still there: the community. The connections, the embraces, the familiar faces, the strangers becoming friends, and the joy of seeing people express themselves freely, without apology or explanation. The simple but powerful reassurance that we are not alone.
It’s being the person who listens without judgment, who speaks up when someone makes a cruel remark, or who makes a young LGBTQ+ person feel seen, accepted, and valued. It’s choosing kindness when the world seems determined to reward cruelty. And sometimes, heroism is simply finding the courage to walk out your front door and be unapologetically yourself.
This year reminded us that Pride isn’t measured by the size of the party. It’s measured by the strength of the community that shows up for it. And Atlanta showed up.
Pride doesn’t always have to be the biggest, loudest, or most extravagant Sometimes it looks like checking in on a celebration to be meaningful. Sometimes friend who’s struggling or supporting a its greatest power lies in the quieter queer-owned business when you could moments of recognition and belonging. A just as easily shop somewhere else. It’s smile exchanged in a crowd. A hug from showing up for a fundraiser even when you’re tired, volunteering a few hours when someone you haven’t seen in months. your schedule is already packed, or making The comfort of being surrounded by people who understand, without needing room at your table for someone who everything explained. doesn’t have family nearby.
We Have Always Known How to Survive
If there is one thing LGBTQ+ history has taught us, it’s that our community knows how to endure. We have survived discrimination, criminalization, violence, None of these things will necessarily the devastation of the AIDS crisis, and make headlines. But together, they form countless attempts to push us back into the foundation of a thriving community. the shadows. We have fought for visibility, Because community isn’t something dignity, equality, and the right to love and that just exists. It’s something we create, nurture, and protect every single day. And live on our own terms. And through it all, that, perhaps, is what Queerly Beloved has we have built something remarkable. always been about: recognizing the people who make our community what it is. This Chosen families. Support networks. year, we’re recognizing that those people Organizations. Businesses. Cultural are all around us. spaces. Traditions. Celebrations. Places where people can find belonging when the world outside doesn’t always offer it. Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community is a living example of that legacy, but none of it exists A Different Kind of Pride by accident. Perhaps one of the clearest examples of this quiet resilience was Atlanta Pride this Every bar that opens its doors, every year. For some, Pride may have felt a little organization that provides support, every artist who shares their voice, every more subdued than usual. Perhaps there was less extravagance, a slightly different volunteer who gives their time, and every person who chooses to participate helps energy, or a sense that the celebrations sustain the community we cherish. And were taking place against a heavier that participation matters now more than backdrop than in years past. And maybe
ever, because the spaces and connections have each other. we sometimes take for granted are only as strong as our willingness to support them. So here’s to the community heroes of 2026. To the loud ones and the quiet ones. We don’t all have to be activists. We don’t The organizers and the supporters. The all have to be outspoken. We don’t all have trailblazers and the people working behind to agree on every issue or approach the the scenes. The ones who lead and the challenges ahead in exactly the same way. ones who simply lend a hand. To everyone But we do have a responsibility to one who continues to choose connection over another: to remain engaged, to make space isolation, compassion over cruelty, and for differences, to protect those who are hope over despair. most vulnerable, and to recognize that our individual experiences may vary, but our This year, we aren’t just celebrating a collective well-being is deeply connected. handful of community heroes. We’re celebrating an entire community that And to remember that resilience isn’t just refuses to give up on itself. Because it about surviving difficult times. It’s about isn’t simply about being recognized for making sure we don’t lose ourselves, or extraordinary achievements. It’s about each other, along the way. being part of something extraordinary. Queerly Beloved, This One Is for All of Us So this year, Queerly Beloved, we are taking a different approach. Rather than singling out a select group of individuals, we’re turning the spotlight toward something bigger. All of us. The people who continue to show up, even when they’re exhausted. The people who refuse to let fear dictate how they live. The people who keep our gathering places vibrant, our organizations functioning, our friendships strong, and our community connected. The people who celebrate queer joy in a world that sometimes seems determined to diminish it. And yes, even the people who need to step away, take a break, and recharge before they can show up again. Because being a community hero doesn’t mean being endlessly strong. It doesn’t mean having all the answers, attending every event, or carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. It means understanding that you matter. That your presence matters. That the small ways you contribute to the lives of others have a ripple effect far beyond what you might ever see. We are living through complicated, unsettling times, and there is no telling exactly what comes next. But there is something I feel certain about. Our community has weathered storms before, and we will continue to find ways to navigate whatever lies ahead. Not because we are invincible or because we never get scared or discouraged, but because we
And this year, dear community, that means you. All of you. You are seen. You are valued. You are Queerly Beloved.
Born to Run Wild Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt
healthy dose of self-acceptance to a genre Some of us spend our childhoods trying desperately to fit in, only to spend our adult that hasn’t always made room for voices like his. lives figuring out how to stand out again. For queer country artist Brian Falduto, that journey has become the inspiration behind His latest release, “Run Wild,” is the final his latest single, “Run Wild,” a deeply single from his upcoming EP, I Could Be personal love letter to his younger self and Happy, arriving November 13. And while a powerful reminder to LGBTQ+ youth the song is rooted in Falduto’s personal everywhere that being yourself is always experiences, its message is one that will worth celebrating. resonate with anyone who has ever felt the need to hide a part of themselves to Best known to an entire generation as the belong. fabulously outspoken Billy, aka “Fancy Pants,” in the 2003 cult classic School of A Love Letter to the Kid Within Rock, Falduto has come a long way since delivering one of the film’s most memorable At its heart, “Run Wild” is about reclaiming lines. Today, he’s carving out his own the freedom and fearlessness of childhood, space in country music, bringing queer before the expectations of others taught storytelling, emotional vulnerability, and a us to question who we were. It’s about recognizing the ways we protected ourselves growing up and giving ourselves permission to finally let those defenses down. For Falduto, writing the song was an unusually organic and emotional experience. “’Run Wild’ is the most personal song on the EP, my personal favorite, and the only solo write on the project,” he shares. “Much like some of the markers of my music career (‘God Loves Me Too,’ ‘Same Old Country Love Song’), it just kinda came to me. I wrote it over the course of three
“In a way, releasing ‘Run Wild’ on the heels days while traveling solo upstate a few years ago, and it felt like one of those rare of ‘You’re Tacky & I Hate You’ feels like the creative moments when I became a vessel rest of the story for people who grew up watching me in School of Rock,” Falduto for something that needed to be said, which is really my ultimate goal as an artist; explains. “’Tacky’ reconnects people with the kid they remember, while ‘Run Wild’ to be open to those moments when they tells the story of what happened to that kid come.” and what comes next.” The result is a tender country ballad that He continues, “Looking back, the filming speaks to the complicated relationship of School of Rock was around the last time many LGBTQ+ adults have with their I remember feeling completely unfiltered younger selves. It’s an acknowledgment as a kid. As I got older and started of the dreams that were postponed, the identities that were suppressed, and the joy receiving messages about who I should and shouldn’t be, I learned to hide parts of that deserves to be rediscovered. myself away.” But rather than dwelling on what was It’s a painfully familiar experience for many lost, Falduto focuses on what can still LGBTQ+ people. That moment when the be reclaimed. The song’s message is freedom of childhood gives way to the ultimately one of hope, healing, and the realization that being different can invite understanding that it’s never too late to become the person you were always meant judgment, rejection, or worse. to be. For Falduto, music has become a way to reconnect with that fearless younger From Fancy Pants to Finding Freedom version of himself. Of course, Falduto’s journey toward self“’Run Wild’ is a letter to that younger expression comes with a particularly version of me, thanking him for doing fascinating Hollywood backstory. what he needed to do to protect me, and reminding him that he doesn’t have to work More than two decades ago, he became so hard anymore. He’s safe now, and it’s an unlikely queer cultural touchstone time to let him run free.” as Billy in Richard Linklater’s School of Rock, starring opposite Jack Black. His flamboyant, fashion-loving character was unapologetically expressive, delivering the now-iconic insult, “You’re tacky and I hate you,” with the kind of confidence many queer kids could only dream of possessing. Earlier this fall, Falduto revisited that moment with “You’re Tacky & I Hate You (School of Rock Reunion),” a playful country reinterpretation of the famous exchange, complete with a guest appearance from Jack Black himself. The song, which puts a queer spin on the spirit of Dolly Parton’s legendary “Jolene,” reunited familiar faces from the film for a nostalgic music video featuring recording-session footage and then-andnow moments. Related social content has accumulated more than four million views across platforms, introducing Falduto’s musical evolution to longtime fans and a new generation. But while “You’re Tacky & I Hate You” celebrates the kid audiences remember, “Run Wild” explores what happened after the cameras stopped rolling.
A New Chapter, on His Own Terms With I Could Be Happy arriving November 13, Falduto is embracing an exciting new creative chapter that blends country, bluegrass, groove-driven anthems, classic crooner influences, and intimate storytelling. He’ll celebrate the EP with a special release concert at New York City’s The Green Room 42 on November 21, performing new original material alongside the cover songs that inspired it. The evening will also feature a special appearance by NYC drag chanteuse Castrata, adding another fabulous layer to the celebration. For an artist whose career began with a character celebrated for being unapologetically different, the journey feels beautifully full circle.
Making Space for the Next Generation Falduto is also ensuring that the song’s message reaches beyond his own personal journey. In connection with the release, he’s partnering with national LGBTQ+ education organization GLSEN, which works to create safer and more inclusive school environments for LGBTQ+ students. The partnership feels especially meaningful at a time when queer and transgender youth continue to face challenges surrounding visibility, acceptance, and their ability to express themselves openly. By connecting “Run Wild” with GLSEN’s mission, Falduto is transforming a personal reflection into something bigger: a message of encouragement for young people who may still be navigating the very struggles he experienced. “And for anyone who ever felt empowered by that expressive, flamboyant kid on screen, I hope this song reminds you that you don’t have to hide yourself away, either. It’s time to run wild.”
And perhaps that’s the most compelling part of “Run Wild.” It’s not simply about looking back at the kid you once were. It’s about recognizing that the freedom, imagination, and authenticity you possessed back then never really disappeared. Sometimes, they were simply waiting for you to feel safe enough to let them out again.
“Run Wild” is available now on streaming platforms. Brian Falduto’s EP: I Could Be Happy It arrives November 13th, with a release concert at The Green Room 42 in New York City on November 21st.
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Sing Local, Act Global: Indigo Girls’ Queer Legacy in Atlanta and Beyond By Scott King Amy and Emily make me want to do better. Not the internet made finding your people as easy as just be a better man. Not even a better gay man. finding a Wi-Fi signal. Not even just a better human being. A human And they did something more interesting than doing. The human being is the soul. The human simply represent us doing is the corporeal shell’s holy work. But relax. It’s only life after all. They invited us to participate. The Indigo Girls have occupied a peculiar place in There is a difference between visibility and American music for nearly four decades. They were responsibility, between announcing who you are alternative before alternative became a marketing and deciding what kind of world you want to help category, survived grunge, rode the Lilith Fair create. The Indigo Girls’ music has always carried wave, and outlasted the cultural moment that made that tension. Personal feeling sits alongside political women with acoustic guitars and complicated conviction and activism; intimate relationships feelings briefly fashionable. They’re still here, still exist within a larger moral universe. The songs ask touring, still turning heads. The industry keeps us to look inward, certainly, but they don’t let us changing the vocabulary, but Amy Ray and Emily stay there indefinitely. Saliers have never seemed particularly interested in asking permission to exist. Being is the soul. Doing is the body’s holy work. Perhaps that’s part of their queer legacy: they were The work is imperfect. The people are imperfect. never just a product of a moment. They helped The point is to keep doing it. make a world. The Indigo Girls have been part of that larger I grew up in a place where difference could be possibility: proof that queer artists can remain dangerous, or at least an invitation to violence. I rooted in a place while speaking to people who remember getting punched in the face by a guy may never set foot in it. Local identity becomes on my high school tennis team for talking about something you carry outward, not something that Buddhism and spirituality. Not for coming out. confines you. Not for holding hands with another boy. Not for even declaring myself a Buddhist as opposed to a Being an Indigo Girls fan and living in Atlanta Christian. For TALKING about Buddhism. proper is kind of like being a kid in a vegan candy store. You can have all the yumminess you want, “You need Jesus!” he said, as he spar on the and it’s still good for you. ground. And a good punch to the face, apparently. The songs of Amy and Emily have an uplifting That’s how aggressively suspicious my hometown and wholesome lilt to them without being wholly could be of anything that strayed beyond its narrow optimistic or holier than thou. boundaries. Songs like “Galileo” ask “How long till my soul So I went looking for the sacred and the spiritual gets it right? Did any human being ever reach the wherever popular culture happened to leave it lying highest light?”It shows searching without reaching around. I found it in Jack Kerouac and the Beats, in the destination, but without disappointment in Madonna’s painted-on late-’90s Kabbalah, and in your own inability to transcend completely in one the Indigo Girls gravel road spirituality. As the song lifetime. And fan favorite “Least Complicated” goes, “And then you had to bring up reincarnation sums it all up like this: “What makes me think I over a couple of beers the other night “ I cannot could start clean slated? The hardest to learn was think of a better distillation of the ethereal and the the least complicated.” You’re never quite done, quotidian all in one singke line. Thank you, Emily! but you’re also never really just beginning. It’s always just been. And it keeps going. Amy and Emily offered a spirituality that didn’t require me to abandon my questions or my zip code, All of these songs inspire questions, contemplation, disguise my sexuality, or pretend the universe was and aspiration itself. And they often leave the less mysterious than it seemed. Their songs made listener reeling. room for contradiction. You could be skeptical and hopeful, angry and compassionate, queer and Not because they have all the answers. Because searching. You could believe in something without they keep asking the questions, keep making the having to prove it to the guys on the tennis team. music, keep showing up. That mattered. The Indigo Girls emerged from Atlanta’s musical ecosystem, but their influence has always exceeded geography. Their songs traveled into college dorms, lesbian bars, protest marches, church basements (that’s not a typo growing up in the Christian church there were many integrals fans in the pews of my church people who are religiously in politically moderate or liberal who also appreciated a band that wasn’t trying to murder you with distortion and guitar feedback), and the private interior lives of people trying to figure out who they were. They became part of the soundtrack to queer self-discovery long before
It’s only life, after all. And we still have work to do.
Scott King lives, writes, werques, and reads in Midtown Atlanta.
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Did we do it? Did we save the daylight? It’s NO-vember, so don’t ask me for sh!t. One man’s *ss is another man’s pleasure. Or whatever the saying is.
I feel like I have rabies but like emotionally.
The only AI I support is anal intercourse. In most gay relationships, there is one partner who tops, and one who has a personality. “That is a lot of tequila. Is this a gay bar?” Oh, it’s topless bar. I thought you said tapas…
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