Peach v3i23

CONTENTS JUNE 5, 2019

V3-23 PEACH ATL MEDIA, LLC 1874 Piedmont Ave NE Suite 580-E Atlanta, GA 30324

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MANAGING PARTNER Brian Sawyer brian@peachatl.com

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OPERATIONS Jeff Anderson

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EDITORIAL

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Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director mikkel@peachatl.com

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Brian Sawyer Graphics

Jessica Watson Graphics

From the Editor In case you were wondering why this Pride month is a little extra Prideish this year, it’s because it marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprisings which sparked the LGBTQ movement towards equal rights and the Pride celebrations we enjoy today.

I encourage you to get out there and celebrate Pride with all you’ve got.

There’s a lot of history and many accomplishments to celebrate, but at the same time, I hope you also realize that the events and parties also point to the fact that we live in a time where we still need to fight for the fundamental human right of loving who you want to without fear of violence, ignorance, or discrimination.

So read up on our history, acknowledge the heroes who paved the way for our progress, recognize those who continue to fight for us, and thank those who pursue to educate us all by shining example on our shared path to a more just and inclusive world. I bet you will find all of that in this special issue of Peach!

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Thomas Le tomthomas@peachatl.com

SALES | DISTRIBUTION Andrea Dwyer andrea@peachatl.com

CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Assam Chris Azzopardi Jeff Fuller Mirza Muftic

NATIONAL AD REP Rivendell Media 908.232.202

Happy Pride Month!

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The content of Peach ATL Media is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed by any writer, advertiser, or other person appearing in the Peach ATL Media are not necessarily those of this publication, its management or staff. The information and materials appearing in the magazine are not guaranteed or warranted as to accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered for a particular purpose. It shall be your responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through Peach ATL Media meets your specific requirements. Peach ATL Media is not responsible for claims made by advertisers, content of information, changes, events, and schedules. The magazine contains information and material which is owned by or licensed to Peach ATL Media, including but not limited to articles, advertisements, design, layout, graphics, and logos. No part or portion of Peach ATL Media may be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Unauthorized use of Peach ATL Media may give rise to claims for damages and or criminal offenses. Your use of the information or materials in Peach ATL Media is strictly at your own risk.

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WHAT: 15th Annual Evening for Equality hosted by Georgia Equality WHEN: Saturday, June 15, 2019, 6 PM – 10 PM WHERE: Loews Hotel Midtown Atlanta Georgia Equality invites you to join them in celebrating the past year’s accomplishments and the contributions made by leaders in the LGBTQ community.

The Evening for Equality is the celebration of Georgia Equality’s successes and achievements of the past year. The evening also honors those members of the community that have acted as leaders in the movement to advance fairness, safety, and opportunity for LGBTQ Georgians, and they will be presented with the evening’s Equality Awards. This year’s honorees are Stephe Koontz, The Coca-Cola Company & Cox Enterprises, Jamil Jude, and Toni-Michelle Williams.

Your participation in the Evening for Equality will help support Georgia Equality’s work. Georgia Equality is two organizations that work with a shared vision to achieve equality and opportunity for the LGBTQ communities in the metro Atlanta area. Georgia Equality, Inc. works year-round to pass pro-equality legislation and elect fair-minded elected officials. The Equality Foundation of Georgia conducts voter registration and educational activities, provide information to decision makers, and work to organize and mobilize LGBT residents and allies to advance equality in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the state.

Tickets for the evening are available through georgiaequality.org and are offered in three tiers: General admission ($150), Host Committee Individual ($250), and Host Committee Couple ($400).W

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By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

Dig don’t own a dog (yet). They’re looking to date someone with a dog or find someone to get a dog with in the future. When you’re searching through profiles, you can “Dig,“ “Really Dig,” or “Pass” on the people you see. If you own a dog, you have a special section of your profile dedicated to them.

Once you match with someone, you can open the “dog-friendly locations near you” list and suggest a first date idea right from the messaging area.

You also receive daily deals from different pet companies every day - so you can show up with a unique treat and win over their dog from the start!

We also offer tips and tricks from vets and trainers to make sure the date goes well and provide lots of additional advice and stories at DigDates.com/ Unleashed.

Peach is an LGBTQ publication – does the DIG dating app allow for people to look for same-sex connections?

Absolutely. You can identify as a man, woman, or non-binary, and you can search for men, women, or those who identify as non-binary as well.

Besides attracting dog lovers, what do you think DIG brings to the world of dating apps?

On Dig, you’re narrowing down your search criteria and immediately interacting with people about one of the things that matters most in your world.

Dogs not only give us a hint about our personality (being more compassionate, trustworthy, and responsible), but they also represent how we spend our time and our money, how we keep our home, and other important values. Our users are some of the most dedicated and emotional dog lovers and dog owners out there. They’re eager to find someone who will match their dog forward lifestyle.

Sisters Leigh Isaacson and Casey Isaacson wanted to celebrate the passion and commitment of dog lovers by building a community of single dog-lovers. So, they created the Dig app, a dating app for dog-loving singles looking for other dog lovers. Peach talked to Leigh Isaacson about the ‘pawriginal’ concept.

Social responsibility is also a priority to our users What is the background for creating the DIG dating app?

A few years ago, my sister was dating a guy who tried to be a dog person for her. By the end of the relationship, he didn’t want the dog in his apartment, or he’d put towels down on the couch, so her dog didn’t touch anything. She said, ‘I wish I just knew from the start that this wasn’t going to work because of my dog.’ With our backgrounds, we knew we’d be able to design a great looking app and get the word out in a unique, cost-efficient way while addressing main points in both the booming (75 billion-dollar pet industry) as well as the growing world of niche dating apps. Our huge, dog-friendly events nationwide are exclusive for Dig users, as they provide lots of press and enthusiasm, and offer dog-companies hyperlocal means of getting in front of our dedicated and emotional dog-loving users. Here’s one statistic that really shows us how important this app is: 55% of single adults in the US are pet owners, with dogs leading the way.

Tell us a little bit about how DIG works. Do you have to own a dog, for instance?

Dig is the best way for dog lovers and dog owners to find a compatible match and plan a dogfriendly date. We’re available nationwide on the App Store and Google Play. You do not have to own a dog to use Dig; in fact, 1/3 of the people on 10 | 06.05.19

and us. All dogs we feature in our ads and on our (@DigDates) Instagram are available for adoption.

All events are also adoption events that feature local shelters and dogs that are also searching for love!

What are your hopes for the DIG dating app?

First, we cannot wait for the first Dig dog-filled wedding! We hear stories of people who are meeting through Dig, and even stories of great dates where the “dogs fell in love first.” We want to help make healthier, more compatible relationships that benefit all parties involved. We also know dogs can play an integral role in creating many types of relationships, and that’s something we’re exploring as well through Dig events and dog communities.

Anything you’d like to add?

Dig launches city-by-city with big, dog-friendly events! We recently held two events in the Atlanta area, and we are planning more across the country.

Our events are free, feature adoptable dogs from local rescues, treats from local dog companies, and they are a great way to meet other dog lovers!

Learn more about Dig events at DigDates.com/ upcomingevents. If you’d like to host an event or help us throw one, please reach out!

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Whether you are out and proud or a staunch ally, there’s plenty of reason to rock the rainbow this month: This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations and the Stonewall uprising, and at the same time you support the community as many brands donate to LGBTQ causes. Plus, you show your support while supporting LGBTQ designers and LGBTQfriendly companies! So this year, celebrate Pride and look stylish at the same time.

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photos: PR

BAG FULL OF PROUD

Ikea has created a limited-edition version of their popular Frakta bag displaying all the colors of the rainbow. All proceeds from the sale of this bag will go to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

IKEA Frakta bag, $3.99

PENGUIN GOES ALL OUT

MR TURK ON POINT

Mr Turk has partnered with the Point Foundation to donate %20 of proceeds from sales of their Pride collection to the organization.

Mr Turk Hurley Kaftan, $248

YOUR TRUEST SELF

MeUndies has partnered with out DJ and producer Original Penguin’s Pride capsule collection is a GRiZ to celebrate Pride and to be your most collection of colorful and proud clothing. And it authentic self. supports ALL OUT – the global movement for love MeUndies Pride Men’s Trunks, $26 and equality. Originalpenguin.com Original Penguin Pride Rainbow Stripe Tank, $39 NO MATTER WHO YOU LOVE After briefly being under fire for having their CEO express pro-Trump views, Under Armour is back HIT THE TARGET PROUDLY Target once again hits the mark by offering an on track with an inclusive message and a Pride extensive Pride collection of gender-inclusive collection of sportswear that supports Athlete Ally and their mission to champion equality. clothing and accessories!

Target Pride Adult Striped Gender Inclusive UA HOVR™ SLK EVO x Pride Men’s Sportstyle Shoes, $120 Jumpsuit, $25

FIGHTING LGBTQ HOMELESSNESS

They may be no-show socks, but the special dye technique makes each pair unique to celebrate individuality. Bombas has partnered with the Ally Coalition to bring awareness to homeless LGBTQ+ youth and will donate money from sales in June directly to combat LGBTQ homelessness.

Bombas Pride Ankle Sock, $12 12 | 06.05.19

PRIDE AND BEYOND

Rock this style even when it is not Pride! The 100% Human Collection was created to celebrate human rights and what connects us – and Everlane will donate $5 for every 100% Human product sold to the ACLU. Everlane 100% Human Unisex French Terry Sweatshirt, $50

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PRIDE:

PARTY OR PROTEST? To commemorate Pride Month which this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, we asked columnist Jeff Fuller to reflect on how the concept of celebrating Pride has evolved and what it looks like today. *

By Jeff Fuller

“Burst down those closet doors once and for all and stand up and start to fight.”

- Harvey Milk

PRIDE IS PROTEST

Pride has its origins in protest, the Stonewall Riots of 1969, a time when gay sex was a criminal act in much of the country and the “out and proud” were few and far between.

These brave souls were able to find supportive and accepting communities of kindred spirits in major cities such as New York or San Francisco. Being “out” came with great risk and potential consequences - ridicule, job loss, police harassment, assault, or worse.

Raids on gay bars were frequent; however, in June of 1969, the queers of New York’s Stonewall Inn fought back against a police raid. News of the Stonewall Riots galvanized gays across the country and eventually the world, resulting in annual Pride parades in major cities like New York and Atlanta to demand LGBT rights. These protest parades 14 | 06.05.19

have evolved into the Pride celebrations we know today.

Over the years, Pride has been used to protest Anita Bryant’s anti-gay crusade, the inadequate government response to the HIV/ AIDS crisis, marriage amendments, antitransgender bathroom bills, and horrific acts of violence against our community.

Pride has also been a celebration of our political and legal victories: greater visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQ community in the workplace, the elimination of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and the landmark Supreme Court decisions of Lawrence v. Texas (decriminalizing gay sex); Windsor v. United States (mandating federal recognition of gay marriage); and Obergefell v. Hodges, (providing for marriage equality nationwide).

PRIDE IS PERSONAL

For me personally, Atlanta’s Pride Festival was the first time and place in my adult life that I held someone’s hand of the same gender in broad daylight. I remember how powerful it was to observe hundreds of people who were queer like me and queer in other ways, out having fun in the bright

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sunshine. My coming out process was slow, but events like Pride gave me the courage to accept myself and eventually be open about who I am. Coming out remains an important ritual in our community and Pride often plays a major role in this process by offering a safe and accepting environment.

To those who live in parts of the country where there is no gay community to speak of, Pride festivals are often one of the few chances they have to truly be themselves and connect with others. Pride is especially powerful to youth who may be outcasts in their hometowns but can feel like they belong somewhere when they go to a city to celebrate Pride.

PRIDE IS A PARTY

Pride is also a season of rainbow flags, rainbow socks, rainbow cakes, and rainbow jello shots. Glamorous drag queens present dazzling performances. Half-naked men gyrate on parade floats.

Pride parties can mean gathering in people’s houses for brunch, dancing to the wee hours of the morning to electronic music, congregating on the lawn in city parks, connecting with old friends and making new ones, or witnessing the beautiful parade put on by our queer community. Pride provides enough events and excitement to keep one entertained all weekend long – or in the case of the World Pride in NYC; weeks of events and entertainment.

Some have argued that the meaning of Pride as a protest has been lost in the party atmosphere; that it is just another excuse for excessive drink and debauchery. Some decry the commercialism resulting from sponsorships from major companies that once wanted absolutely nothing to do with anything gay but now promote an event that is becoming increasingly sanitized and deradicalized. Others feel left out, that their voices are not being heard and that Pride has more work to do to be more inclusive.

Amid all the sweat and glitter, it can be easy to lose sight of the political and personal functions of Pride that help build us up as a community.

PRIDE IS A PROTEST AGAIN

While LGBT rights have advanced considerably since 1969, these times call for continued vigilance against forces that 16 | 06.05.19

seek to hinder or reverse these gains. The Supreme Court justice who was the deciding vote and the author of the Lawrence, Windsor and Obergefell opinions has retired and has been replaced by an extremely partisan conservative, credibly accused of sexual assault. In Georgia, the outcome of the governor’s race has resulted in new attempts to enact a religious freedom bill that legalizes discrimination.

Even in 2019, you can still be fired from your job here in Georgia for being gay.

The current administration seeks to ban transgender people from serving in the military, demonstrates indifference to the continuing threat of HIV/AIDS, and fosters an environment hostile to LGBTQ rights.

Pride is also an opportunity to keep these issues in focus as well as other causes that our community cares about: police brutality, racial justice, climate change, sexual violence, and international human rights.

So celebrate Pride, but also allow it to energize you to take action, whether that means voting, writing an article, organizing, serving the community, or raising your voice in protest. Enjoy the plethora of Pride parties, but also take time to reflect on how far we have come as a community in this half century since Stonewall as well as the formidable challenges affecting us today.

Share your own coming out story and listen to others tell theirs. Make people feel included and encourage them to be who they are.

Hold hands. Show your love. Show the world the creativity, diversity, kindness, and love of the LGBTQ community everywhere.

Jeff Fuller is an attorney, writer, travel blogger, historian, and military spouse. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jeff went to college, graduate school and law school in the Southeast. He has called Atlanta home for the last decade but recently moved to DC to follow his husband on his military career. He occasionally blogs at journeyingjeff.com. *This article is an edited version of ‘Pride: The Personal, Political Party’, which was first published in Goliath Magazine, October, 2018.

By Chris Azzopardi

It’s certainly not Carly Rae Jepsen’s fault that the English language is, at least when she needs it most, a total let-down. It offers her scant synonyms for describing what, exactly, she’s checking off on her color-coded poster boards when making an album: “I’m always embarrassed to say, but emotions.”

She giggles, the winsome sound of the greatest pop song not yet written. To hear her floaty laugh is to experience a little miracle, a bit of magic in a time when the world’s lost some of its own – in other words, hearing Carly Rae Jepsen giggle, or say anything, quite honestly, is a lot like hearing her 2015 glitterstorm of pop greatness, E•MO•TION: sweet, bubbly, infectious. A daydream.

Content occupying her own queer wonderland (shh, she’s still our best kept secret), Jepsen’s post“Call Me Maybe” trajectory into gay darlinghood is a strange, beautiful thing considering how truly delicious her escapist bops are: framed around prismatic beats that lean into the retro pop sounds of the ’80s and ’90s, her lyrics speaking to the human condition, the fickleness of love her trademark. Broadening her e•mo•tion board (sex!), Dedicated, Jepsen’s fourth, more-exposed album, is an exciting next step in the 33-year-old industry outsider’s free-spirited career. Recently, 18 | 06.05.19

Photos: Markus & Koala

Jepsen kept it real while talking about how the LGBTQ community’s wholehearted embrace of her is “a beautiful gift in my life,” being more open to showing the public who she is, and almost getting eaten alive by gays (because of course!) during a recent shopping trip.

Are you feeling that gay love when you’re on stage no matter where you are?

I would say one of the gifts of this whole experience, from E•MO•TION on, has been a swell of being accepted and embraced by a community that I have loved since I began, basically. And I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun than when I play a Pride festival; there’s nothing more joyful, and the rooms and the fields are so full of an energy that you don’t get anywhere else, and what a cool thing to be involved in.

I just wonder if, at this point in your career, you can go into a gay bar as yourself and not be gay-mobbed.

I mean, I was in New York recently with my boyfriend and we were shopping and we found what was gonna be a store for everything glitter, based on, like, drag, and I was like, “I better go and see if I can find some sparkly gloves for the Cyndi Lauper event” (on April 29, Jepsen performed alongside Lauper at Carnegie Hall for the New York Pops’ “36th Birthday Gala,

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Hall Full of Stars: The Songs of Cyndi Lauper” concert). I walked in and he just grabbed my hand and slowly walked me out, and he was like, “I love you, but you’re eatenbe in Sara love, Bareilles wantedgonna to seeget herself there,” weshe got summoned noticed by, you like, brave. because Of course, six different people on the way in. I was to do“But the same a bop that take no like, I wantatop the gloves!”

So wouldn’t yeah, sometimes for aanlittle answer, but she’s it’s bit more crazy.been a work in progress herself. She followed her own be-bold guidance And for did her you get thesolo gloves? fifth album, Amidst the Chaos, I got gloves elsewhere; I was really bummed making timely feminist assertions (“Armor”) about it! and using coded language to write songs that could be about love but were actually written, Why do you think gay audiences have embraced you as much as they have? mournfully, longingly, with a specific loved one I have beenBarack asked that question a couple of times in mind: Obama.

Amidst the Chaos is and both times I was perplexed because I don’t Bareilles’ first studio album in sixanswer. years, the know that I have the exact, proper It’s a last being TheI think Blessed Unrest.

(She beautiful gift 2013’s in my life. that, maybe, when I’m thinking shy of alsowriting wrote I’m the music andabout lyricsnot for being Broadway’s what I’m actually feeling and really getting to the Waitress the Musical, which opened in 2015.) heart of all of the insecurities and concerns and wishes and desires I have, all combined at once.

I think maybe authenticity and that realness is something that connects. I’m hoping that’s the reason, but I wouldn’t know for sure.

We also love someone who’s an underdog, and someone who we can claim as our own. I wonder if you think your outsiderness in the pop world has been part of your queer appeal, because I think it has been.

There’s a part of me that thinks that I sort of exist on an island, but it’s how I like it. (Giggles) I don’t think I totally belong in the L.A. world of pop music, but it’s been a really big learning curve for me that’s wonderful and I get to celebrate the world that we’ve created in some way. And it’s a much more comfortable one for me than one – I don’t know, you feel like you lose your identity in the other one, I think. In this one, I feel like identities get to be celebrated for how weird and wacky they become.

You recently told The Guardian you’re “more confident in your weirdness,” and I think that’s something a lot of queer people feel or hope to feel.

It’s funny reading articles back about things that you’ve said, and sometimes in the past I’ve shied away from ever reading anything that someone has printed about me because it’s always felt so false. Lately, with this round, I read things back – and there are mistakes here and there – but, in general, I’m terrified by how real and exposing it all is. It’s like, “Yeah, OK! I made a decision to be really honest and this is how it unfolds.”

Who are your gay icons?

My friend Brandon Hamilton. He was the first man in my life who really taught me about the challenges he was overcoming, and he’s been such a beautiful support in my life and such an inspiration. He would be my number one.

I love that you chose a friend. How about musician-wise?

I’m a huge Cyndi Lauper fan. I was really gifted, because two days ago I got to talk to her on the phone for an hour while she interviewed me (for 20 | 06.05.19

Interview magazine), which I’m still coming to terms with (giggles). I was freaking out. My cheeks were hurting from grinning the whole time. To me, her whole career and the way she embraces the community, and also is just comfortably, at this point her life, killing it and looking for ways to give back and doing gracious things like getting on the phone with me, that’s like, if I could be anything when I get older, I would love to be someone who follows that footpath.

What was your first reaction when you saw Mark Kanemura snatching his wigs to your song “Cut to the Feeling” in his viral video?

(Giggles) Honestly? I was like, we should’ve just had this guy do the video. It’s a thousand times better than anything we could’ve made, oh my god. And then the second thought was, how do I meet him? So it was wonderful: We reached out and just invited him to a festival show and said, “We’d love to invite you (onstage) for ‘Cut to the Feeling’; you can do whatever you want to do; the stage is yours,” and when we arrived that day he was super chill and super calm and acted, in the best way, too cool for school. I was like, “You don’t even know, but this is amazing,” and I was like, “I don’t need to know what you’re gonna do but come on out and do whatever you want.” He blew my mind away, because he came out, and you thought the Instagram video was amazing, the live show was, like, even 10 times better. I had a hard time continuing to sing because I just wanted to laugh out loud and party with him!

“Now That I Found You” was used in the season three trailer for Queer Eye. Was that a big deal for you?

Yes! I love that show! And I love those men! And I love the whole concept of just what the show is doing. I think right now it’s such a wonderful time for people to be making creative projects that are uplifting and inspirational and make you feel good at the end of your day, and whenever I watched it I always felt like (she affects a fairylike accent; it’s magical), maybe the world is a wonderful place! And being a part of that in any way, I was so thrilled.

You’ve been giving us gay content since the gay twist at the end of the “Call Me Maybe” video, with “Boy Problems” and “Party of One” being very LGBTQ-inclusive. Not to mention, your lesbian aesthetic in the former. That mullet! You’re not queer, so where does your queer sensibility come from?

Basically, how are these videos so gay?

(Giggles) That’s an amazing question. I grew up in Canada, and this is gonna sound maybe strange, but the idea of the struggles and the confusion – and even different, fucked-up opinions – didn’t really come into my consciousness until later, when I kind of got to see the world. And I was outraged. And it blew my mind, because it just seemed so normalized to me to not be thinking about any person who loved whoever they loved as anything other than normal. So I think part of that is a bit of the reason why I fight the good fight: to try to make people see it the way I’ve been seeing it my whole life.

After E•MO•TION, an album that’s essentially become

a gay classic, what kind of pressure was on you when recording Dedicated as its follow up?

I wasn’t intending for myself to feel pressure, but I feel like there’s always pressure when you love what you do, and you want it to connect. I think it’s mostly pressure I put on myself versus feeling pressure from the outside world. I wanted to make something very different, I wanted to honor the fact that I was going through a breakup, and some melancholy.

There was some expectation of me to always maybe write the feel-good songs – and I felt good – but I also wanted to indulge the feeling of sad too, which is probably more on the second half of the album. I think I went there. But I feel like honesty is always the best move; being authentic, you can never really go wrong. I’m hoping that by at least being real that will connect on some level to the people who need it.

What was the vibe when you wrote and recorded what I’m already calling the Song of the Summer, “Want You in My Room,” with Jack Antonoff?

The beginning lyric of that song, the lighthouse line about how the idea that when somebody you’re obsessed with, it’s like that light beam comes back to your mind every couple of seconds and they go away and they come right back again – it’s obsessive.

And Jack is always so playful and fun to write with. He was shouting, “I want you in my room!” We were both dancing and I was just shouting, “On the bed! On the floor!” And we were laughing (giggles) and it was like, “Let’s just go there.”

And when I write songs, I always put a word theme afterwards about, “What is this about?” so that the album is made up of lots of different – (giggles) I’m always embarrassed to say, but emotions.

And when I put that song on the billboard of my little list of stuff I was like, “SEX.” “This. Song.

Is. About. Sex.” And it was really fun because I haven’t had something as simple as that.

You’ve said you find inspiration from your friends and their love lives, as well as your own. What kind of conversations had you been having with your LGBTQ friends about love and sex that might’ve found their way into some of these songs?

You know, my friend Brandon and his boyfriend came down to stay with me and listen to some of the first songs as I was working on selecting them, and they were mostly supportive. (Giggles) They were like, “I like this one!” “I don’t like this one!” That kind of stuff. I was like, “Cool cool cool.”

We gay men are good at having opinions.

Which is why I love any friend who’s not afraid to tell me, like, “Please don’t leave the house in that.” Or, “I’m really not a big fan of this.”

At the same time, when they say something complimentary, it means 10 times more.

But I think in the writing of this album, because it took me so long and there were some experiments along the way, there was a real feeling that it was like little snapshots of my life, sort of processing my life as it was happening, so it was very personal. It’s probably my most personal album in a lot of ways. But, at the same time, with everything that I ever write I’m always looking to connect on a bigger level with people who are hopefully feeling similar things, and for that I think I strive to feel less lonely in it.

That feeling of “you are not alone” is something I felt at your show in Toronto.

I can remember the first show that I did in New York at Irving Plaza, or maybe it was the second show. It was a big deal, this night to me, because I was blown away by the size of it – and that they were there for us, and we were headlining. I know

I had played stadium shows

before, but this one felt way more important in all the good ways, and I remember walking out on the stage beforehand, 30 seconds beforehand, and thinking, “I’m terrified.

What if I blow it?” And then hearing the crowd and going out there and feeling like, wait, this is the safest place. This room is so full of love.

I felt like I could fall flat on my face and everyone would cheer and be like, “Stand back up again!” And I felt so grateful in that moment, that somehow in this world the reality that we had created together was one of love and safety and acceptance. I still, to this day, don’t know how that happened. It’s the luckiest gift of my life. I’ve never really been nervous in the same way since. I’ve just felt really accepted.

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As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in GQ, Vanity Fair and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi. peachATL.com | 21

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A SOUTHERN

e l a t y Fair WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY TY AUTRY DIRECTED BY DAVID L. CARSON

The story of a gay Christian growing up in the Deep South

June 19, 2019

Tickets: $15 Out Front Theatre Company 999 Brady Avenue, Atlanta

TALKBACK FOLLOWING SHOW FEATURING

KEVIN GARCIA

MYLES MARKHAM

CHARLES THOMAS

KELLY WENTWORTH

www.OutFrontTheatre.com

WHO CAN I HELP NEXT?

B R I A N S A W ®Y E R REALTOR

Grey, although born in Atlanta, was raised primarily in the north Georgia Mountains.

He works for Cox Enterprises as an IT manager and does lots of diversity and inclusion work for the company. He was the founding co-chair for Cox Automotive’s PRIDE Employee Resource Group. Grey recently completed his M.B.A. in Organizational Leadership, and he enjoys traveling, festivals, fishing, hiking, swimming, exercise, and yoga in his free time. Grey came out as transgender last year and shares his journey through youtube.com/c/greyhardy.

@ greyriverhardy

Grey Hardy

30 | 06.05.19

All the Prides A good friend of mine threw a pride party last year called Stoned-wall. She envisioned a celebration of getting high while remembering the history of the LGBTQIA+ community.

It was a raging success and people don’t even remember what all went down. For the pride partygoer who has other recreational ideas, I’ve asked a few of my biggest partiers and circuit gays for tips on what to get into this pride month.

As most people know, weekends are the main attraction for the month of June, and with every major city throwing their own celebration, which one should you go to?

Atlanta is currently experiencing Hell on Earth™, so we will be celebrating our pride month in October (when God decides to chill for a second, damn!). With the gayest little city in the south closed off, your picks include such locales as: New York City, San Francisco, Miami Beach, and if you want to party with me (shameless self-promotion), come to Nashville where I’ll be joining QDP for their kickoff party.

Joel Thatcherburry, world traveler with an inheritance of several million dollars, suggests New York City Pride. It closes off June’s last weekend and if you’re like Joel, you enjoy taking a mean cocktail of poppers, LSD and molly while strolling through the city’s many illustrious back alleys. He always lives life to the fullest and the twenty-eight-year-old claims if you want to live YOUR best life, just “go with the flow and let your parents take care of the rest”. I’m sure many people think New York is dangerous with muggings and violence, but during pride, your only fear should be missing out on all the awesome fun. If you have a level head on your shoulders, take the last weekend to visit San Francisco. The city’s pride rivals New York’s timeslot, but offers fewer back alleys. Instead, feel free to crash any of the house parties and enjoy your fellow revelers in a safer environment… sort of.

I for one love the beach, so any chance I can get to have a party near the water, I’ll take it.

Miami Beach has something pretty much every weekend, so you can stop by throughout most of June. If you start feeling worn out, my friend Santana Lu says to make a quick trip to Es Seguro, a local bar that houses Miami Beach’s most-popular coke lord: Esteban. He’s worked hard to get to such a title and Santana says you will be up for days, if not weeks.

Nashville is an interesting spot for pride given that it’s smacked into the Bible Belt. But the local gays go all-out. There is a concert headlined by TLC this year, and parties all over the place. The kick-off party is the one to be at, because that’s where I’ll be at. See some great performances on stage, then head over to the photo booth and grab some polaroid pics! And drink the night away.

No matter where you go this year, be sure to not be fully sober, it’s more fun that way. If you’re asking yourself “but what about the sex parties?”, the answer should be pretty obvious.

They’re happening in all those cities, at all hours, all month long. The sex parties started before pride month began. No matter what your taste is, you’ll find someone hosting an orgy at any given moment during pride. Because love is what pride is all about. And isn’t a wildass, drug-fueled, leather-clad train of men just a different way of saying love? I hope you have butt loads of fun this pride!

Yours in priding it out,

Mitzi Pennington is the self-proclaimed sex symbol and advice-giving-guru alter ego of Mirza Muftic. She came from humble roots of middle America and married into money shortly after dropping out of college. Her late husband’s fortune allows her to travel the world and have a sense of enlightenment one normally gets from actually working for their money. Mirza has had none of those experiences in his life. On occasion, Mirza will perform as Mitzi around Atlanta. His other interests/day job include film editing, retouching, and stop-motion animation.

32 32 | 06.05.19 | 04.24.19

,

As a part of our mission to help friends keep friends, we are opening our doors in 2018 to anyone needing to get their pet vaccinated and heartworm tested.

Not only is this a great deal for you, it is also a fundraiser for PALS Atlanta!!

Vaccine Clinic Pricing Full veterinary exam - FREE Dog or Cat Rabies Shot - $15 Dog or Cat Combo Shot - $15 Bordatella vaccination (dogs only) - $15 Heartworm testing (dogs only) - $25 Full year supply of heartworm medication AND a full year of flea/tick preventative - $100 (requires current negative heartworm test)

GRWL...

Atlanta’s Newest Bear Night

Thursdays

7pm - Close Free Pizza @ 8pm Shirts Optional Hosted by Will

Drink Specials

There Are No Strangers Here, Only Friends Who Have Not Met 1544 Piedmont Ave, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 Behind Publix 404-874-8247 facebook.com/atlantahideaway

The rarely thanked gems of the collective rainbow society. Beautiful Queer Females are like a box of chocolates. Sometimes, instead of eating them you lay them out like delightful marshmallow traps for children in an observational experiment. BQF’s or Queer Dears are typically straight but have dabbled sexually in the past and possess a great deal of seductive prowess that make them excellent at sales and lesbian, queer, and gay boy retention. I maintain several Queer Dear relationships— artists, Hello Kitty fanatics, realtors, and nurses. They are all so very useful for the following reasons.

By Kevin Assam, Photo: Alex Holyoake

SILENCING TALKATIVE LESBIANS I love the intelligent and insightful conversations of my lesbian friends. Do tell me more about how dating is so difficult when you refuse to leave your cave and mingle with society. Sometimes, I’m just really hungry and need to properly fantasize about my next meal.

Sushi off of a daddy’s chest? A S’mores Frappuccino with that delightfully bi-curious theater performer? I cannot consider anything however if my train of thought is interrupted by the whiny travails of one lesbian friend.

Enter the BQF. I’ll discreetly send a text asking her to drop every customer she’s handling to join me pronto and nonchalantly sit on my lesbian friend’s lap. The sheer distraction of having such unobtainable booty plop down on the lezzie’s cargo shorts affords me a moment of silence to decide between that two-strawed ménage à deux or the extra spicy Mexican sushi roll.

SPEAKING WITH MANAGERS Even though most of my Queer Dears are introverts, they won’t stand for the mistreatment of nearby male queers — namely me! Whether it be a restaurant that was ill prepared to introduce a new brunch menu or an overenthusiastic bouncer carding me on a slow night, Queer Dears will gamely step forward and utter one of the most combative phrases of middle America, “may I speak to your manager?” As a non-confrontational Libra with a stacked ninth house, I’m game to stir the pot so long as someone else actually serves the soup. Queer Dears are a huge help in getting me the correct order of bacon that I originally asked for or having my non-tagged and no-receipt Andrew Christian undies returned sans question.

SETTING TRAPS FOR BI-CURIOUS MEN Men are funny. Twenty years of being a tattoo artist or building contractor and they think they like girls. Wrong.

At least partially. A well-positioned BQF at a bar or restaurant lures these covert bi-curious men out and into talking to us. These men think they’re here for the 34 | 06.05.19

pretty straight looking female sitting next to me. My ego mischievously whispers that they’re really here for me.

They just don’t know it yet. But I do. I use the time to listen in on the conversation — carefully inserting myself when needed. After my water with lemon starts to condense and leak across the table, I know it’s been a good fifteen minutes. I take my phone out and access the folder with all the horribly logo’d dating and hookup apps and scan the lists of nearby profiles. If the same guy appears, I immediately ask the BQF to switch seats and move in for the kill. If he doesn’t show as anything but a faceless torso, then I nudge my BQF to immediately demand the cheque so we can hit the road.

RECOGNIZING YOUR UNHEALTHY HABITS Gay friends may overzealously point to your expanding waistline. Harsh. Straight friends may spend too much time talking about their own nonsensical Keto diets.

Disappointing. And non-binaries may just continue to scold you as you trip over the pronouns of he, she, they, and X. Expected. Mercifully, BQFs or Queer Dears will gently reach across the table, grab you by the collar in a way that only a seasoned dom would lovingly do, and mention that you’re always taking your food home and rarely clearing your plate at the table. Spot on. It’s an offshoot of social anxiety from that time I had a bit of a wee in the school cafeteria. The trick is that for all their uses listed here, BQFs have double the amount attached to us queer boys. Our fates are intertwined. A rising tide lifts all pink boats. BQFs are concerned with their own public perception and will not tolerate being dragged down by others’ unkempt shirts or unruly thighs.

However, their maternal instinct — typically acquired by caring for small purebred and needy animals — limits their degree of harshness. They will err on the side of gently communicating a stern blast of reality. Though they love themselves more and rightfully so, we come in a not too distant second. Beautiful Queer Females will only let us get so bad before executing a much-needed intervention. Treasure their care and nurture their pride in themselves and you.

PALS Drag Queen Bingo

50s Sock Hop June 11, 2019

For tickets visit our website www.palsatlanta.org Hostess Bubba Dee

You deserve Personalized Care & Individual Attention – that’s what we deliver at Family Health Care of Atlanta • Participating in many clinical trials • Certiied HIV Specialist, American Academy of HIV Medicine • 20+ years experience in Family & HIV Care SPECIALIZING IN DERMATOLOGY, STD’S, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, UROLOGY, PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

June 5 – June 12

Do Me Harder DILF Party You are heavily encouraged to don your jocks and harness at the men’s only night where you can play around and dance to the hot beats of international DJ and producer John LePage from San Francisco.

Friday, June 7, 10 pm – 3 am The Heretic STAFF PICK!

Hotlanta Volleyball Beer Bust Support the Hotlanta Volleyball Team and their upcoming July Hotlanta Classic tournament by joining their beer bust hosted at Woofs. $10 all-you-can-drink beer and their infamous $1 Jell-O shots.

Saturday, June 8, 4-7 pm Woofs on Piedmont

The Possums Present Summer Camp The Possum Show presents: Summer Camp featuring head counselors The Possums and Edie Cheezburger. This immersive theme party will take you on a journey to summer camp and all things campy. The event supports the Rainbow House Coalition. Tickets via variety-playhouse.com Saturday, June 8, 7-10 pm Variety Playhouse

Bottomless Brunch Benefitting PALS Atlanta

Sunday Service 9th Anniversary

Here’s a way to support the vital work of PALS Atlanta: All you can eat breakfast tacos + bottomless mimosas for just $35 - $10 of every brunch go to PALS Atlanta. Pets are welcome on the patio. The event is first come first served.

Sunday Service is one of the longest-running parties in Atlanta, and it is celebrating its 9th anniversary at Church (the bar) and going on three decades of events in the city.

Join the family vibes with music by Vicki Powell and Brian Rojas.

Sunday, June 9, 7-11:45 pm Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room

Sunday, June 9, 112:30 – 2:30 pm Guac Y Margys on the Beltline

38 | 06.05.19

DIVINE'S FACES MAY @ IRISH BRED PUB IN DOUGLASVILLE PHOTOS: ANDREA DWYER

40 | 06.05.19

    

wedding & commitment ceremonies • thirty years experience within our community • in-house award-winning metrotainment bakery • sustainable, local, seasonally-inspired custom menus • experienced, friendly staff of catering professionals • extensive network of award-winning local venues www.epiceventsatlanta.com | 404.991.9128

MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

14

Amsterdam Ave.

NE ve . tA

Piedmont Park

on

11

dm

6 12th St. NE

18

Pi e

Juniper St. NE

14th St. NE

7

9

2

10th St. NE

10

. NE

19

oe Dr

e. NE Piedmont Av

Juniper St . NE

Peachtree St. NE

3

Monr

Charle s Alle n Dr . N E

12 W. Peachtree St. NW

15

16

4th St. NE

8

13

BARS Amsterdam Blake's Bulldogs Friends The Model T My Sister’s Room Ten Atlanta

5

Dining 502 Amsterdam Ave NE 227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 66 12th St NE 990 Piedmont Ave NE

9 10 th & Piedmont 10 Campagnolo 11 Einstein's 12 F.R.O.G.S

clubs 13 Atlanta Eagle

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

spa/bath 15 Flex Spa

42 | 06.05.19

991 Piedmont Ave NE 980 Piedmont Ave NE 1077 Juniper St NE 931 Monroe Cir NE

fitness

retail 8 Barking Leather

4

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

P o n ce D e Leo n Pl . N E

Spring St. NW

17

76 4th St. NW

16 G’s Midtown 17 Henry’s 18 Joe's on Juniper 19 La Hacienda

219 10th St NE 132 10th St NE 1049 Juniper St NE 900 Monroe Dr NE

billards/Darts drag dancers leather non-smoking area Patio

When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com

Cheshire 23

ansley 21

e

on tC ir .

20 BJ Roosters 21 Opus 1 22 Tripps 23 Woof's

Rd

Piedmont Park BARS 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Cir NE 2425 Piedmont Rd NE 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd 805 Lambert Dr. NE, Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd

Fitness 30 Gravitee Fitness

32 Midtown Moon 33 Felix's 34 The Hideaway 35 Mixx 36 Oscar's

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

Spa / bath 2103 Faulkner Rd NE 2135 Liddell Drive NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 1544 Piedmont Ave NE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

Dining 38 Eclectic Bistro

clubs 28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

NE

.

Retail 26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

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39 38

Dining 24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

41

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29

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. NE

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22

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30

Lambert Dr.

PU

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.

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1600 Piedmont Ave NE 1425 Piedmont Ave NE

Retail 39 Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE 40 Brushstrokes/Pleasures 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

Fitness 41 Equilibrium Fitness

1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L

NOT SHOWN

Mary's Sister Louisa’s Church Swinging Richards Lips Atlanta

1287 Glenwood Ave SE 466 Edgewood Ave SE 1400 Northside Dr NW 3011 Buford Hwy NE

peachATL.com | 43

A snapshot of Gay Atlanta’s favorite destinations. View their ads in Peach ATL & visit their websites for weekly event listings.

MIDTOWN

EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK Retail & EDGEWOOD MIDTOWN MARY’S

amsterdamatlanta.com

1287 Glenwood Ave SE

Bars & Clubs AMSTERDAM

502 Amsterdam Ave. NE

ATLANTA EAGLE

marysatlanta.com

SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH

BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

sisterlouisaschurch.com

CHESHIRE

SWINGING RICHARDS

BARKING LEATHER

1400 Northside Dr NW

805 Lambert Dr NE

BULLDOGS

Dining

2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

MIDTOWN

736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

10thandpiedmont.com

atlantaeagle.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

BLAKE’S ON THE PARK

blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE

893 Peachtree St NE

friendsonponce-atl.com

466 Edgewood Ave SE

swingingrichards.com

10TH & PIEDMONT

MY SISTER’S ROOM

991 Piedmont Ave NE

66 12th St NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

mysistersroom.com

TEN ATLANTA

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

CHESHIRE

EINSTEIN’S

1077 Juniper St NE

BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1447 Piedmont Ave NE

GCB & PLEASURES

brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

Fitness MIDTOWN

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

219 10th St NE

BJ ROOSTERS

HENRY’S

gsmidtown.com

bjroosters.com

henrysatl.com

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

132 10th St NE

OPUS 1

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

TRIPPS

ANSLEY

931 Monroe Dr

frogsmidtown.com

G’S

1086 Alco St NE

SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO

FROGS CANTINA

HERETIC

hereticatlanta.com

barkingleather.com

joesonjuniper.com

1049 Juniper St NE

URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

1931 Piedmont Circle N

LA HACIENDA

Spas/Baths/Adult

WOOFS

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

2425 Piedmont Road NE

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

ANSLEY

LAS MARGARITAS

MIDTOWN MOON

76 4th St NW

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

CHESHIRE

ROXX

MANIFEST 4U

woofsatlanta.com

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

FELIX’S

lahaciendamidtown.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

THE HIDEAWAY

DEKALB

1544 Piedmont Ave NE

LIPS ATLANTA

MIXX

3011 Buford Hwy NE

mixxatlanta.com

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

44 | 06.05.19

atldragshow.com

flexspas.com

manifest4u.org

2103 Faulkner Rd NE

THE DEN

thedenatlanta.com

2135 Liddell Drive NE

LUXURY LGBT ALMAR RESORT TIMESHARE PLUS BONUS FOR SALE BEACH FRONT BEAUTIFUL BEACH HOTEL & FOOD CONTACT leonrri@hotmail.com

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peachATL.com | 45

10 ways to celebrate Pride Month 50 years of Pride celebrations!

Read up on your LGBTQ & Pride History

Check out 50 Years of LGBTQ Cinema (outonfilm.org)

Support local LGBTQ youth centers

Support the Atlanta Pride Run & Walk (June 15)

Check out LGBTQ arts & culture!

Join Georgia Equality’s Evening for Equality (June 15)

Volunteer with LGBTQ organizations

Join of the many Pride events (like the Stonewall Pool Party hosted by Deep South, June 23)

Wear inclusive/Pride clothing (check out page 12)

Join the Atlanta Stonewall March (June 30)

46 | 06.05.19

WE'RE HIRING Playmates and soul mates...

WE ARE SEEKING Motivated, Hard-Working, Innovative People to be Our Next Superstar Ad Sales Representatives.

Jumpstart Your Career by Joining Atlanta's Newest Gay Media Company!

One Year Sales Experience Required EMAIL YOUR RESUME TO

Jeff@peachatl.com

Atlanta:

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Get the details on these and other great upcoming events on our website calendar.

We’re closer to Atlanta than you think!

A Weekend Beyond the Ordinary Membership Required Must be 21 to Enter

peachATL.com | 47

Text your Peach Pits to 540-30-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com

Him: Why is the trash full of t-shirt rags?

Me: I’m getting ready for summer!

Don’t study me, coz you will never graduate.

Him: By cutting off the sleeves of all your t-shirts?

Me: Yes, I’m making tank tops and crop tops.

I hate going to the kitchen and finding out I’m the only snack in the house.

Him: But it looks like it’s all of your t-shirts. Why?

Me: IT’S CALLED ROTATING YOUR CLOSET, OK?

Dad Joke Alert To whoever stole my Microsoft Office – I will find you! You have my Word!

I’m sorry, I don’t take orders. Heck, I barely take suggestions!

Cute that you post about your gym progress but don’t pretend it’s to keep yourself accountable – it’s for likes and comments!

Asking for a friend On a scale from 1 to 10 how serious do you think they are about this ‘do not consume with alcohol?’

48 | 06.05.19

Honey the steroid look isn’t working for you – arms should never be bigger than your thighs!

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) Today will not be a good one to ask for a loan, unless you like hearing no, no, no! You may have to cut back on spending for a while, making decisions based on need and priority. So if you don’t eat for the next few weeks you’ll be able to take full advantage of clearance sales.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) You’ll need to be optimistic to get through a potentially pessimistic day. Paint on a smile and bring as much cheer to others as you can. But like doomed ‘Titanic’ captain John Smith, you may have to acknowledge that the ship is going down, and you’ll have to find a ladies dress pronto!

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

This will be a good day to put some of your ideas into action. There may be higher-ups who are impressed, and people will suddenly be taking you seriously. Avoid the inevitable ego swell that goes along with such stature. People paid attention to Corey Feldman for a while, and now look at him.

Personal problems will mount today and by day’s end you’ll wish you were a monk. Except you’d like to wear something a little more contemporary than those archaic robes. And there’s no way you’re cutting your hair. Hmmm, maybe being a monk isn’t such a good idea, after all.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

You’ll be the torchbearer today, the one everyone expects to lead them through the darkness. You won’t have a problem with that, because it puts you at the center of attention. But have a plan before you start. What good is holding the light if you don’t know the way out?

Keeping your impulses under control today could keep you out of a lot of trouble. Too much of everything will beckon today, and you’ll want to take full advantage. But a simple ‘no’ could keep you from waking up hungover in the bed of someone you don’t even know.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

You breeze into situations with the confidence of a Hollywood celebrity, without the limo and posse, of course. But guys are attracted to your manly poise.

Be careful of bending the truth too far. A job at the video store technically puts you in show business, but not in the manner they think.

Trying to stay in focus today will take all of your mental capabilities. There may not be much available so expect to drift in and out today. Fantasy and reality may blur, so don’t be alarmed by a vision of your barista in a loincloth brandishing a whip.

Whether that turns you on is another story.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

There will be too much going on all at once today, but good luck in trying to put on the brakes. Stay flexible and go with the flow. Gliding along on a current is a lot more fun than trying to swim against it.

Nothing makes you feel more virile than a vigorous workout. So find some time today to hit the gym.

Breaking a sweat will help relieve stress, and you’ll have plenty of eye candy to keep from focusing on the intense pain you’re inflicting on yourself.

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

Take an active interest in the people you meet today. It’s always good getting to know people past a surface level. Who knows, you may meet a guy who you’ll want to go deeper with. Much, much deeper.

Be tolerant of the shortcomings of others today.

Treating people with arrogance gives you the offputting air of superiority of an Addison deWitt.

Patience and tolerance are two basic human traits you seem to be in short supply of these days, but give them a try anyway.

50 | 06.05.19

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Trouble in the love department? With sex? Or just people in general? Send us your queries, questions, and problems, and you’ll get answers served straight up and with a little ice.

am in shock. My best friend, who is straight get a lot of erections. Some are because I’m Iattend (I’m gay), told me that he didn’t want to Ihorny, but most of the time, they make me feel my wedding ceremony to my partner of uncomfortable and embarrassed because my seven years. A little backstory: he and I grew up together, and he has been a dedicated ally and support in my whole coming out process, and he has been very supportive of my relationship all the way up until he got an extremely religious girlfriend. Within a few months, he has gone from not caring about me being gay to taking on her (extreme) religious views, and just last week he announced that he doesn’t want to attend the little ceremony me and my partner have planned to get married because gay marriage goes against his religion. Even though it is a small gathering and not at all traditional, I still wanted him to be there, and I guess I saw him as more or less my best man. And now, he is staying away altogether and even disapproving of my relationship and my marriage. I don’t know what to do. I am in shock, and I am angry because I feel like I don’t know this guy anymore. What should I do?

Sincerely Ally-Enated Dear Ally-Enated No wonder you are angry! You are losing your best friend because someone else is influencing him negatively – and it’s working! The shock is apparently still new, so maybe with time, he will change his mind once he realizes that he wasn’t there at an important and defining moment in your life. Of course, there is a slight probability that he has been secretly harboring these antigay feelings for a while, or even that he is struggling with his own sexuality at some level, but for now, all you can do is let things run their course. You can try and talk to him but seeing that he has been so profoundly influenced by his new girlfriend and her warped views, chances are that you can’t get through to him. Yet. So let him know how this affects you. Tell him how you feel without judging or commenting on his views at all. If he is your friend that will sink in at some level, and maybe you will be able to rebuild your trust and friendship in time. If not, you have lost a friend - and perhaps good riddance to that?

erection is difficult to conceal sometimes, and people notice. I am starting to think that I may have a health condition because it seems like I get many more erections than others when I ask my friends and stuff. I am mostly happy that I can get hard all the time and at a moment’s notice, but sometimes it is just too much. I have tried masturbating much more than I do now to keep it down, but it doesn’t really make a difference. Is there something wrong with me?

Sincerely Pitching Tents

Dear Pitching Tents Erections are usually a sign of a healthy bodily function, and most erections are a response to sexual arousal, but some are unwanted – like those you are experiencing – and they can pose a legit problem for a man. But there is nothing wrong with you even though your erections may be more frequent than others. As long as your erection doesn’t last for hours, and they are not painful, you are absolutely fine, and you probably just have the ideal cocktail of testosterone, blood flow, and hormones going on in your body right now. As you know, ejaculating will usually get rid of the erection, but you don’t always want to masturbate or have sex, right? So what can you do with the unwanted erection? First of all, you can consider the underwear you are wearing that can constrain your penis a little, so go for briefs instead of boxers. You can also try to wait it out while covering yourself up, so unwanted attention isn’t drawn to your erection; you can take a minute to meditate or calm down, you can try and reposition yourself so you move clothing that can stimulate or better conceal it, and you can do something that distracts you from the fact that you have a boner. If you are overall happy with having a really well-functioning penis and you are not in pain or experience hour-long erections, you are absolutely fine.

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52 | 06.05.19

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