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Photos by: Russ Youngblood
Joining Hearts
Atlanta’s Pride-Fueled Force in the
Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Photos: Russ Youngblood
Since 1987, the all-volunteer nonprofit Joining Hearts has stood at the epicenter of Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ fundraising efforts, channeling the power of joy into impactful philanthropy. Dedicated to raising awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and housing assistance, their efforts have amassed over $3 million in donations to local services. These organizations—AID Atlanta, Positive Impact, and Lost and Found Youth—rely on these funds to provide vital services ranging from healthcare and nutrition to stable housing and youth development.
Big Event, Bigger Impact
Joining Hearts’ premier fundraiser, Joining Hearts Weekend, is more than a party— it’s a movement. In 2024 alone, the event contributed a remarkable $160,000 to HIV/ AIDS causes: $100,000 to AID Atlanta and $30,000 each to Positive Impact and Lost and Found Youth. As infections in Atlanta climb back to levels unseen since the 1980s, this momentum couldn’t come at a more critical time.
The 2025 Weekend: Safari Edition
Returning July 25–27, 2025, the 38th Annual Joining Hearts Weekend™ is themed Safari and features six epic parties designed to attract a diverse crowd of LGBTQ+ adults and allies.
Friday, July 25
� Opening Party at Heretic Atlanta, powered by NYC legend DJ Corey Craig—a kick-off you won’t forget.
Saturday, July 26
� Morning Rave: Xion with Tony Moran at 2069, serving earlyenergy beats.
� Main Pool Party “Safari”: This is the centerpiece—held at the Piedmont Park Greystone Pool House, DJs Erik Vilar (Brazil) and Mike Pope spin on Saturday evening. Doors open from 6–11 PM, with pool access starting at 7:15 PM, supported by complimentary drinks and food.
� Saturday Night Tsunami: Latenight spin from DJ Alex Acosta at Masquerade.
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Late-Night Xion Encore: Another round with DJ GSP at 2069.
Sunday, July 27
�
Wild Tea Dance closes the weekend at MSR with DJ Joe Pacheco—evening vibes to unwind and reflect.
Your Admission to All the Fun
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General Admission (ages 21+ only): Access to all shows and the pool party. New for 2025, the Weekend Pass offers General Admission to all six parties—an over $400 value now bundled into one ticket. Whether you’re dipping into the pool party or dancing until dawn, it’s an invitation to party with purpose.
VIP & Ultra VIP upgrades: These include early entry (5 PM), poollevel access, upgraded food & drinks, private cabanas, personal bartenders, and other high-end perks.
� Benefit with them: A portion of ticket sales supports other events throughout the year—thanks to patron donations that help fund operations and maximize donations to Atlanta-area HIV/ AIDS nonprofits.
Why It Matters—Now More Than Ever
Joining Hearts first lit up Atlanta’s queer nightlife amidst the darkest days of the AIDS crisis in the late 1980s. Though medical advancements have improved outcomes, new infections are surging, and crucial services are being stretched thin. By merging the power of celebration with fundraising, Joining Hearts provides essential support to follow-up care, meal delivery, mental health services, transportation, and housing for those affected.
How You Can Get Involved
� Attend: Tickets and Weekend Passes are available now— don’t miss the chance to make memories while making a difference.
� Volunteer: Every event relies on dedicated hands. Joining the volunteer team starts with signing up online and dedicating your time to support the event. Without volunteers, Joining Hearts simply wouldn’t be able to pull off an event of this magnitude.
� Sponsor or Donate: From local businesses to individual patrons, Joining Hearts welcomes partnerships that help burnish Atlanta’s reputation as a leading HIV/AIDS response hub.
The Takeaway
Joining Hearts doesn’t just host parties— they spark a wave of activism across the LGBTQ+ community. Joining Hearts Weekend™ is your chance to live loud, love hard, and fight smarter. When the music catches your breath and fireworks light the sky, remember this: every ticket, every drink, every dance helps someone access the care and housing they need— and schools them in how love and pride can shape a better world.
Be there. Be proud. Be part of the legacy.
Get your tickets and passes at joininghearts.org.
THE BODY MANUAL Stretch Smarter: The Right Way to Warm Up (and Cool Down)
By Dr. Zachary LaVigne B.S., D.C.
Let’s set the record straight: stretching before a workout isn’t always the best move. In fact, doing it at the wrong time, in the wrong way, might actually make your body less prepared for movement, not more.
Here’s what most people get wrong: they treat all stretching the same. But your body doesn’t respond to stillness and movement the same way. Before you work out, your muscles and joints need to be primed, not put to sleep. That’s why dynamic movement, not static stretching, is the best way to warm up.
Dynamic movements are active stretches that mimic the motions you’re about to do. Think leg swings, shoulder rolls, lunges with a twist, or jumping jacks. They increase blood flow, raise your body temperature, and tell your nervous system it’s go time. This is your body’s natural state of readiness, think of it as how our ancestors moved when they were preparing to climb, hunt, or sprint. No one held a deep hamstring stretch before outrunning a predator.
What you don’t want to do before a workout is force your body into long, still stretches, what we call static holds. Holding a muscle for 30 seconds or more can relax and lengthen it, but doing that before movement can reduce your strength and power. Even worse, if the muscle is cold, you’re more likely to strain it.
bad. It’s just misunderstood. The key is doing it when your body is ready for it, not when it’s cold and stiff.
We weren’t designed to go from stillness to sprinting, or to sit for 10 hours and then dive into a workout without any prep. Our ancestors moved constantly. They walked up to 20 miles a day, naturally flowing between effort and recovery. Their bodies didn’t need a warm-up routine because movement was the routine.
Today, we have to be more intentional. We sit too much, move too little, and expect our bodies to perform on demand. But when we honor the sequence: dynamic warm-up, workout, static stretching, then foam rolling, we’re working with our biology, not against it.
Instead, save those static stretches for later, after you’ve worked up a sweat and used your body. That’s when your muscles are warm and pliable. Post-workout stretching helps restore length to the muscle fibers, calms your nervous system, and reduces that tight, tense feeling that creeps in after a hard session.
And if you’re using a foam roller as part of your recovery, smart move, but timing matters there, too. Foam rolling should come after your static stretches, not before. Static stretching first targets muscle length and can cause a temporary drop in muscle activation; foam rolling afterward helps maintain the flexibility gain while mitigating any strength loss and actively promoting blood flow.
All of this comes back to a simple truth: your body is resourceful. It produces what it needs, lubrication in the joints, strength in the muscles, elasticity in the tissues, but only when you use it properly. Static stretching isn’t
So the next time you head into a workout, skip the toe touches and start moving like you mean it. Your body will thank you in strength, mobility, and fewer injuries down the road.
Dr. Zachary LaVigne B.S., D.C.
Strike a Pose
Nail the Perfect Summer Selfie (Queer Edition)
Summer is the season of sun, skin, and spontaneous selfies—and whether you’re living it up poolside, road-tripping with your besties, or tearing up a dance floor at 3AM in nothing but glitter and vibes, capturing the moment is key. But getting that perfect selfie? It takes a bit more than just front-facing confidence. Here’s your guide to looking fabulous in every summer scenario, especially tailored for the LGBTQ+ community who knows that Pride is a year-round energy.
1. Pool Party Perfection
There’s nothing quite like the golden glow of a pool party selfie—but water, harsh sunlight, and skimpy swimwear can make or break the shot.
� Golden Hour is Your Best Friend: Shoot either early in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower. Harsh noon lighting creates shadows and squinting. Soft sunlight equals smoother skin and fewer edits later.
� Get Wet (Strategically): A little water on your skin can give that fresh, dewy glow. Too much and you risk looking like a wet seal in distress. Pat yourself dry and go for damp, not drenched.
2. Road Trip & Travel Vibes
Travel selfies are all about storytelling—showing where you are, who you’re with, and how gay your getaway is.
� Scenery, But Make It About You: Use that gorgeous beach, mountain, or Pride flag mural as a backdrop, but make sure you’re still the focus. Use portrait mode or tap to focus on your face.
� Car Shots Can Be Iconic: Just make sure you’re not the one driving. Natural light through windows can be magical. Throw on some shades, tousle your hair, and let the queer main character energy shine.
� Angles Matter: Hold your phone slightly above your eye line for that flattering “I just woke up flawless” angle. If you’re shirtless, turn your torso slightly for definition and avoid a flat straight-on look.
� Swimwear Confidence: Rock what makes you feel hot. Whether that’s a Speedo, trunks, or something in between, the best look is one you feel yourself in. Confidence is always the filter you can’t fake.
� Candid Isn’t Always Candid: Don’t be afraid to pose like you’re not posing. Laughing while looking away? Classic. Looking into the distance with a drink in hand? A whole mood.
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Group Shots: Space is your friend. Avoid shoulder stacking—go for layers, levels, and poses. Someone should always be doing something dramatic.
3. Late-Night Party Glam (or Shirtless Chaos)
Whether you’re dancing at a warehouse rave, voguing at a rooftop bar, or lip-syncing for your life at an underground queer party, nightlife selfies capture the energy—and your most chaotic hotness.
� Lighting Is Crucial: Seek out LED lighting, neon signs, or even someone else’s phone flashlight. No shame in asking for help. Red and blue lighting can wash out your features— go for white or warm lighting when possible.
� Shirtless but Not Shapeless: If you’re shirtless, flex just a bit—breathe out slowly to tighten your core and elongate your neck to avoid the dreaded “selfie double chin.”
� Use the Flash, Own the Flash: Sometimes low light demands flash. If so, tilt your
head slightly to avoid a full frontal beam that flattens features.
� Capture the Chaos: Blur, sweat, glitter—if it tells the story of your night, embrace it. The messier the night, the hotter the memory.
Bonus Tips Across the Board:
� Edit Lightly: Adjust brightness, contrast, and maybe use a filter—but let your authentic fabulousness shine.
� Consent Is Key: Group selfie? Always double-check before posting. That’s especially true if someone’s in a harness or having a moment.
� Hashtag Like a Pro: Own the grid with tags like #SummerOfPride, #GayAndGlowing, or #QueerBeachBabes to get seen and celebrate the season.
NEW ONLINE CALENDAR
BARS & CLUBS MIDTOWN
BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE
BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE
FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl.com 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE
X MIDTOWN xmidtown.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE
THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE
CHESHIRE
HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road
BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE
WESTSIDE
MARQUETTE 868 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW
840ATL 840 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd
ATLANTA EAGLE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE
FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE THE HIDEAWAY 1544 Piedmont Ave NE
mixxatlanta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave NE
OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE WOOFS woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE TRIPPS fb: tripps-bar 1931 Piedmont Cir NE EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD MARY’S marysatlanta.com 1287 Glenwood Ave SE
DINING
MIDTOWN
CASA ALMENARA 991 Piedmont Ave NE casa-almenara.com
OLIVE BISTRO olivebistro.com 1050 Juniper St NE #4
LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com
900 Monroe Dr NE
TUK TUK THAI FOOD LOFT TUKTUKATL.COM 1745 Peachtree Rd NW
DEKALB
LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com 3011 Buford Hwy NE
RETAIL
MIDTOWN
BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1000 Piedmont Ave NE, Ste A
ANSLEY
BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
GCB & PLEASURES brushstrokesatlanta. com
1510-D Piedmont Ave. NE
URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbody tness. com
500 Amsterdam Ave N
CHESHIRE
GRAVITY FITNESS gravity tnessatl.com 2201 Faulkner Rd NE
SPAS/BATHS ADULT
FLEX SPA exspas.com 76 4th St NW
SOUTHERN NIGHTS
2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
CELEBRATE PALS WITH FOOD, DRINKS, MUSIC AND DANCING
PARK TAVERN - PIEDMONT ARK - AUGUST 23 - 7 PM
We all have those moments of ‘wait, did they just say that?’ Lucky for you, we compile the best of the best right here on this page. Want to join in on the b*tch session? Submit your own nuggets to info@davidatlanta.com.
Well, that wasn’t very madly in love with me of you.
I’ll admit my biggest flaw is that I think I’m sober until I’m blacked out.
Perhaps I was right in a new and unusual way (realizing I was wrong)
I’m often mistaken for an adult because of my advanced age.
This too shall pass, but like holy f*ck!
I ‘ve decided to stop being sad and start being hot again.
Forget partying like it’s 1999. I want to buy a house like it’s 1999!
The rest of the world is watching America like America watched Tiger King.
