Peach v2.40

Skin Deep Troye Sivan’s Queerness In Full Bloom

Get Your Face Pride Ready

Introducing: Mitzi Pennington’s Inspired Thots

Sheltered Under the Rainbow

CONTENTS OCTOBER 3, 2018

V2-40

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EDITORIAL

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SALES Andrea Dwyer andrea@peachatl.com

From the Editor Most (gay) guys have a pretty good handle on how to care for their skin and hair, but with the upcoming Pride, we thought you could use a little extra help to get your face ready so you can look fresh throughout the entirety of the marathon party event. So look for some good grooming guides, tips, and products throughout this issue.

We also have an exclusive interview with out queer-pop artist Troye Sivan, who has risen to stardom within the last few years, partly because of his relentless resolve to stay true to himself and own all of his sexuality – and even singing about bottoming!

In this issue, we also introduce Mitzi Pennington, who is the sassy alter ego of contributor Mirza Muftic. Her experience and sense of enlightenment explores the concept of ‘friend-zoning’ in her inaugural column.

That and so much more in this well-groomed issue of Peach is bound to make you prettier just by picking it up!

Enjoy, Peaches!

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CONTRIBUTORS Chris Azzopardi Mark David Gibson Jamie Kirk Branden Lee Mirza Muftic

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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.

6 | 10.03.18

Something to Dye For T-Shirt Dyeing With HOMO

Join AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) and HOMO for a workshop and get your gloved hands wet with the dyeing process.

Learn the essentials to inspire your next creative project, and walk away with your very own T-shirt just in time for Atlanta Pride! Nicholas Komor, founder and creative force behind Atlanta-based brand Homo, is designing and working in this medium to appeal to homos interested in reclaiming the word. Secret: everyone is homo (sapien).

Please note this is a hands-on workshop. Gloves and aprons will be provided, but please wear stain appropriate clothes and shoes, and leave your valuables behind.Tickets (starting at $20) can be purchased at atlanta.aiga.org.

About HOMO Based in Atlanta, Georgia, HOMO is led by Nicholas Komor and has a twofold mission: to reclaim and reframe the word “homo” and change the way we perceive each other. Learn more at everyoneishomo.com.

About AIGA Atlanta AIGA advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force.

As the largest community of design advocates, they bring, we bring together practitioners, enthusiasts, and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create the vision for a collective future. The Atlanta chapter of AIGA was founded in 1988. More at atlanta.aiga.org.

What: Something to Dye For - T-Shirt Dyeing With HOMO When: Wed, October 10, 2018, 6:30 – 8:30 PM Where: Miami Ad School @ Portfolio Center

125 Bennett Street Northwest Atlanta, GA 30309

8 | 10.03.18

Nina Simone : Four Women

By Christina Ham

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SHAVE IT, DON’T SAVE IT

By Branden Lee Branden Lee is a writer and actor living in Atlanta. Follow Branden on Instagram and Twitter @Brandensss. Watch Branden on his YouTube channel SexxxPerTease.

10 | 10.03.18

As the cooler temperatures of Autumn and Winter are quickly approaching, it’s common to neglect shaving. Winter is associated with hibernation, getting hairier to get warm, and letting the hair grow where it wants. Well, gentlemen, you’re not an animal. You still need to groom. Here are some hairy places you better not neglect this winter.

EYEBROWS Eyebrows have become their own separate entity in the beauty industry that requires their own specialist to maintain. No one wants a unibrow, and no one wants to have sex with a guy with one. Your face is always your most important feature, so make sure you aren’t letting your brows go neglected.

NOSE HAIR AND EARS It’s always distracting when you can see someone’s nose hairs poking out through their nostrils.

Make sure you have a trimmer for them. Nose hairs do help

protect from getting sick, but it’s still important to cut them down every few months or weeks. Also, out of control ear hair doesn’t only happen to senior citizens. Make sure there is no rabid ear hair growing out of place, and keep it well groomed.

PUBES Fellas you should know to keep your pubic hair well maintained.

No one wants a hairball, and have to spend time picking pubes out of their teeth after going down on you. You’re lucky if your furry forest crotch doesn’t scare guys away, but on the other hand, you shouldn’t go overboard either.

Most guys do seem to prefer some hair down there, but make sure it’s decent.

ASS HAIR It’s more acceptable than ever to declare your love for eating ass. Even straight people are doing it (just ask Gabrielle Union).

So make sure your ass is well-groomed.

If your ass is so hairy that you have ‘stuff’ getting caught in it, there’s a major problem. Shave it all off!

FEET This should be obvious.

No one wants a hobbit with hairy feet.

Make sure your toe nails are trimmed, and there’s not a single follicle on your feet.

peachATL.com | 11

Sheltered Under the Rainbow

By Mark David Gibson As an Atlanta native, Rick Westbrook has seen the growth and progress that has been made over the years regarding the advancement of LGBTQ equality. Having worked at Pets Are Loving Support (PALS), Positive Impact, as well the founder of both Atlanta Sisters and Lostn-Found Youth, he has been in the non-profit sector for many years – and now he is ready to embark on a new journey to help his community.

Please explain in one or two sentences why you decided to step down as Executive Director of Lost-n-Found Youth and pursue the Rainbow House Coalition?

When I left Lost-n-Found Youth, it was as I said in the letter I put out to the community. I simply wanted things to work faster and in a different direction with an emphasis on housing/shelter. I promised the youth I would be back soon.

Well, it has been a little over three months, and it is time. I promised my fiancé (now husband) that I would relax and figure out what was next. I relaxed while thinking what was still needed in Atlanta and it always came back to support our youth and the need for safe, secure housing.

Tell us about the background for this new non-profit project, Rainbow House Coalition?

When dealing with housing issues the trend from the federal government down to state and local lately has been housing first. The problem with this is that federal money is hard to come by with dwindling budgets. Atlanta and the southeast always seem to get very little of it compared to other regions, according to the Continuum Of Care, (CoC). The problem here is compounded with the fact of little to no affordable housing. There are youth that have jobs but still live under a bridge because they cannot find anyplace affordable. Housing first programs work well to a point. But the youth aren’t required to have a job, they are encouraged to get one, but it is not a requirement.

So, when the money for the program runs out, they are back on the street. We have to rethink ways to attack this epidemic completely.

Based on my experience, and with the assistance of friends, thought leaders, they have helped me define my 12 | 10.03.18

new vision, and I am proud to announce the “Rainbow House Coalition” is formed with one goal and mission in mind – housing. The best thing about this expansion of my vision is connecting all the wrap-around services available in the metro Atlanta area, so in addition to safe, secure housing, the youth will benefit from these services.

When did you announce the launch of the non-profit?

We were excited to announce the new coalition initiative on October 1st, 2018. The initial announcement was a Facebook Live event, as well as press releases. I felt the timing was right in October that hosts national “Coming-Out-Day.” Now is the time for boots on the ground, grassroots fundraising from October 1st and the end of the year, with the goal in mind to launch the first endeavor.

What void do you hope to fill with the Rainbow House Coalition?

We are going to change the model that is currently in place and elevate it. We will take the youth that have jobs and provide housing.

They will sign a rental agreement and pay rent weekly. Half will go towards housing bills, and the other half goes into a trust savings account for them. When they leave, they get their money in the trust back and will also have a rental history to transition into a community of their choice. I believe this model will also benefit the homeless issue at large – let Atlanta be the beacon of hope on the hill.

Anything you’d like to add?

My life’s work and mission is to eradicate homelessness for LGBTQ youth of Atlanta. We have about 48 hours or less to intercede before something horrible happens to these young people. Rainbow House will provide the first line of defense with safe, affordable housing and a viable solution to temporary problems for our young people.

These are not somebody else’s kids; these are our kids.

“Until we all have a place to lay our head at night…”

- Rick Westbrook, Founder & Executive Director, Rainbow House Coalition Photo: Brian Sawyer

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Get Your Face Pride Readyr

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

Exfoliate

Time to scrub away dull cells and reveal the fresh-looking skin below. Use an exfoliator 2-3 times in the week leading up to Pride. Don’t ever rub hard, but be gentle!

With Pride just around the corner, it is time to get ready. The extra parties, the lack of sleep, and more hours spent outdoors are bound to leave signs on your skin, but luckily you can prepare, so your skin will have the best defense, to begin with.

Clarins Men Exfoliating Cleanser, $25

Eye Contact

Moisturize Relentlessly

Your eye area reveals signs of late nights and excessive partying, but you can quickly freshen up the eye area with these patches that will boost the skin.

A little extra moisture never hurt any skin, so be mindful of giving your skin lots of extra moisture to prepare for Pride shenanigans.

Dr. Jart+ Dermask Spot Jet Cheek & Eye Lift, $12

Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly

by Clinique, $28

Concentrate!

Glow

Not enough pool time before Pride? Get that sun-kissed glow with a self-tanner that will gradually give you a hint of color.

Always use on clean skin, and don’t forget to wash your hands!

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad For Face (20 pcs.), $38

Mask On

If you tend to get oily skin, you can help remove excess oil and balance the skin, so it looks nicely matted come Pride.

Bulldog Oil Control Face Mask, $8

A serum is a concentrated skin treatment that targets specific skin concerns – so it’s perfect to use as extra care before Pride comes along. This one refines any skin type, so skin tone is even.

Osea Brightening Serum, $60

Mask Off

For some extra glow and clear-looking skin, this peel-off mask will refine and refresh your skin. Also, it is perfect for freshening up the skin after a night out, so have it handy for Pride.

Origins Ginzing Peel-Off Mask, $28 Photo: PR

14 | 10.03.18

ENTERTAINMENT COCA-COLA STAGE NISSAN PARTNERS OF PROGRESS STAGE HEINEKEN STAGE BEBE REXHA, MIKE POSNER, CECE PENISTON, MADISON BEER ADA VOX, DJ JOHN MICHAEL, LOGAN HENDERSON MICHEL JONS BAND, STARLIGHT CABARET, DJ TRACY YOUNG BRYCE VINE, SOCIAL HOUSE, AJ MITCHELL, RAHBI AFRICAN SPACE PROGRAM, BRODY RAY, HEATHER MAE LILY ROSE, CHELSEA SHAG, MICHELE MALONE SHOOTING STARS CABARET, QUEER YOUR GENDER DANCE PARTY SWEET TEA, OUT FRONT THEATRE, EXQUISITE GENDER ALISSAH BROOKS, J. TAYLOR, DANII ROUNDTREE, J LINE

FOR THE FULL TALENT LINEUP AND SCHEDULE, PLEASE VISIT ATLANTAPRIDE.ORG/ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER12-14,2018 atlantapride.org

Sensually Scented

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

The change of season calls for more complex and deeper scents – and the trend right points towards a new-found sexiness and sensuality. So even though the temperatures might drop, you will turn up the heat with these sexy scents.

Salvatore Ferragamo UOMO Eau de Parfum, $72

Bvlgari Man Wood Essence Eau de Parfum, $76

Missoni Parfum Pour Homme Eau de Parfum, $89

Goop Edition 03 Incense, $165

Hermès Eau de Citron Noir Eau de Cologne, $130 16 | 10.03.18

Tom Ford Signature Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum, $175

Photo: PR

7

Sunday, October 14 | 10:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Empire State South | 999 Peachtree St., N.W., Atlanta, GA Celebrate Atlanta Pride at the 17th Annual HRC Atlanta Pride Brunch, the official brunch of Atlanta Pride! Guests will be treated to two hours of complimentary cocktails and a delicious Southern brunch catered by Empire State South - while watching the Atlanta Pride Parade from the best location on the parade route!

Join us for fun, music, brunch, cocktails and more - as we celebrate our PRIDE! 100% of the proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign’s essential 2018 election work in Georgia and around the country.

10:30AM: Doors Open | Cash Bar Available 11:30AM - 1:30PM: Brunch Service

11:30AM - 1:30PM: Open Bar 2:00PM: Event Ends

Tickets: Each ticket includes brunch catered by Empire State South, bottomless cocktails and annual HRC membership or renewal.

General Admission: $100 - Includes brunch & bottomless brunch cocktails.

VIP Admission: $150 - Includes reserved seating, designated VIP servers and VIP gift bag.

Host Committee: $400 – Includes 2 VIP tickets, print, digital & social media recognition.

Tickets are transferable, but non-refundable. Please contact hrcprideatlanta@gmail.com with any questions. *The Atlanta Pride Parade will pass by the event beginning at approximately 12:30 p.m.

For sponsorship inquiries or other questions, please email hrcprideatlanta@gmail.com

Buy tickets today at www.hrc.org/atlpridebrunch THANKS TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS Presenting

Platunum Recreate PMS(from pdf )

THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY SPONSORS

*sponsors as of 8-28-18

Gold

Advancing LGBTQ Equity

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Just in time for Pride, the LGBTQ Institute in downtown Atlanta will host a diversity forum, and the popular Pride party, Papa, has chosen the organization as their beneficiary. Peach spoke to Executive Director, Ryan Roemerman, who also serves on the Mayor’s new LGBTQ Advisory Board.

Tell us about the background for the LGBTQ Institute?

The story of human and civil rights would not be complete without discussing the ongoing work to achieve LGBTQ rights, which is why the LGBTQ Institute was established at The Center.

Tell us a little bit about the work the LGBTQ Institute does?

We connect academics and advocates to advance LGBTQ equity through research and education focused on the American South.

Atlanta is seen as a hub for civil rights – is it also a center for gay and equal rights?

In many ways, Atlanta is a hub for civil rights and equal rights for LGBTQ people. However, the South is under attack most often when it comes to anti-LGBTQ legislation, even though more LGBTQ people live in the South than anywhere else in the country. That’s why the LGBTQ Institute focuses on education and research. As they say, “what gets measured is what gets done.” Research is an important tool that helps tell our stories, reframe narratives, and dismantle systems that discriminate against LGBTQ people.

where folks can network and help us celebrate the LGBTQ Institute’s third anniversary!

The Papa Hero party has chosen the LGBTQ Institute as their beneficiary – how was this connection made?

I’ve known Tang Nguyen for a while, and he and Rob Jameson, who are helping produce the event, reached out to me. They were impressed with our work and wanted to help support it.

What are some future projects for the LGBTQ Institute?

We’ll be releasing more data from our Southern Survey around the life experiences of transgender Southerners, and producing reports for each of the 14 Southern states we surveyed. Our goal is to have this data serve as a tool that can be used by our 140+ state and local partners on the ground as they develop their policy initiatives, grassroots strategies, and fundraising campaigns.

What is the best way to support the LGBTQ Institute?

The best way to support our work is by making a donation by visiting lgbtqinstitute.org. You can also follow our social media (IG: @lgbtq_institute) and stay up-to-date on our work and ways to get involved.

See more of Ryan as this issue’s Peach of the Week on page 30.

Just in time for Pride and National Coming Out Day, you are having an LGBTQ Diversity in Business Forum – tell us a little about that?

This will be our third annual forum. This year we’re releasing our first-ever Business and Employment Report based on our survey of 6,500+ LGBTQ people across 14 Southern states. CNN’s Victor Blackwell and CBS46’s Thomas Roberts will moderate discussions with business and community leaders.

Afterwards, we’ll have cocktails and hors-d’oeuvres

18 | 10.03.18

Photo: Center for Civil and Human Rights

Troye Sivan’s Queerness In Full Bloom

By Chris Azzopardi

Nobody is stopping Troye Sivan except for maybe Troye Sivan. No queer-averse label bosses, no identity-stifling pressure to be anything but who he is: the LGBTQ community’s precious paradigm of unapologetic, unicornian queerness.

But even with the YouTube-launched pop fixture’s steady mainstream rise, with assists from Ariana Grande on a single featured on his sophomore album, Bloom, and a live duet at a recent Taylor Swift concert, the 23-year-old’s follow-up to 2015’s Blue Neighborhood refuses to sacrifice self for commercialism.

And he won’t stop there this time, not during this album cycle (or ever): In the seductive video for the album’s first single, “My My My!,” Sivan works a room doused in the carnal grit and flashing lights of a gay bar’s seedy backroom – and also an entire street – in a blistering heat as hot as the shirtless guys feeding his desire.

He’s coy about its subject matter, but Sivan wrote an entire song about bottoming too. Its gay-sex specificity perhaps lost on heterosexuals, the

anthemic send-up is concurrently a love song and the most liberating of queer secrets. Giggling, he tells me, “That was the goal.”

Sivan’s transparency is hardwired: He truly can’t be anything but himself. This is clear on Bloom, but holds true during conversation, as Sivan talks about deriving power from femininity, working through residual queer issues, and dealing with the fear of shooting “My My My!” with a crew of dudes bigger than him.

Did you imagine you’d be answering all these questions about sex after “Bloom” was unleashed into the world?

No way. Honestly, I never would’ve thought I would have written that song. That song came out of a session that I felt wasn’t going too well. It was me and my best friend (and producer) Leland, us being like, “OK, well how do we make the most of this day? Let’s just start messing around and having fun.” And we wrote it that night – never, ever thought that it would see the light of day.

We ended up with something that I thought was really, really cool and interesting and real.

Photo: Hedi Slimane

20 | 10.03.18

Mainstream culture has come around to same-sex love, but gay sex is still taboo. Does your frankness about gay sex on this album feel radical or political?

Not really. I wanted to make music for people like me.

The first album I was conscious of trying to keep things really digestible for as many people as possible. This time around I had a different set of goals, which were to really, actually, accurately represent where I feel like I am in my life. And if it’s talking about going out and partying, or if it’s talking about staying at home and cooking in the kitchen – or if it’s talking about sex – whatever it is, I wanted a 20-year-old queer person to hear this and be like, “Oh yeah, this is, like, legit.”

What influenced you to deliver something more queer-specific?

It was having all of these really inspiring experiences and meeting all of these really inspiring people. You know, whenever I start writing music, my number one goal, always, is to keep things honest and real, because I think it’s the only way to stay relevant and stay true over a long career. I wanna be doing this for the rest of my life, and I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to be thinking about cool concepts and things like that for the rest of my life. But I’ll always be able to speak about where I am in my life, that’s always gonna be there. So I fall back on that, and I wanted to not hold anything back. It’s so cool to me to be able to celebrate all of those things I was celebrating in my real life. So, why not go for it and talk about that on the album?

When did the album’s more defiantly queer narrative begin to take shape artistically?

It was probably just the moment where I had immersed myself in the LGBTQ community. When I think about my real life, I have almost exclusively queer people around me in L.A. I’m living in this little bubble right now where I forget sometimes that it’s a thing and that there are, like, straight people in the world (laughs).

I’m sure that you’re reminded when you perform in small towns that aren’t like West Hollywood.

Right, exactly. And then I travel to somewhere like that or I’ll go home to Australia – or I’ll just read the news – and very quickly get reminded just how lucky I am and how specific my experience is. But my hope is that it’s an experience of hope for people, that they hear this and feel like, “Oh, that’s possible and I can go and live this happy and healthy and fulfilled, fun life.” And see that there is, 100 percent, another side to the world.

Is your goal to make gay radio smashes?

I actually don’t know. For me, I’ve walked this line between having a really young, active online audience – a similar audience that you would see at an Ariana Grande or Justin Bieber show – and then also wanting to do these really subversive queer pop songs. I think my approach to it is not thinking too much about what I want commercially, just letting things happen, making stuff that I like. Hopefully if I like it, somebody else is gonna like it.

You have a role in the forthcoming film Boy Erased, starring Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe as parents who send their child to a conversion-therapy camp. What about the film resonated with you?

The script. I just couldn’t put the script down. It really tore at me. Then I read the book and started immersing myself as much as I possibly could in that world. My coming out experience – and the moment where I accepted my sexuality as something that I couldn’t change – was a weight off of my chest. This wasn’t for me to deal with; it was more for everyone else. I had come to the point where I had accepted it within myself, and then it was about navigating through the rest of the world: my family, my friends.

So, the thought of going to a program like the one in the film at that crucial, vulnerable moment and being told, “No, this is 100 percent back on you, and you’re filling a God-shaped hole in your life with these tendencies” was one of the most harmful and hurtful things that I can imagine. It’s been proven to be ineffective and extremely dangerous, and you’re signing these kids up for an impossible task. It really hit home and struck a chord with me, and I haven’t wanted anything as bad as I wanted this role in this movie, so I just auditioned and thankfully got the part.

Your sister once caught you in a vulnerable state, dancing to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” When did you become comfortable with that kind of vulnerability on stage?

It’s still really new to me. I think the “My My My!” video was a huge step for me personally; that was a moment where I really had to actively pep talk myself into it. I knew that was the way I naturally wanted to move to the song, and that was the way the song made me feel, but that didn’t make it any easier to do in a big group of people – especially with burly cameramen! (Laughs) It was scary! But when I pushed through, I felt how amazing it felt. It felt so right, and now I have to retrain my brain a little bit to be able to do that on stage and to be able to do that in front of other people.

You were scared of your feminine attributes as a child. Can you tell me about your journey to embracing femininity? And when you do embrace it now, how it makes you feel?

I was really scared of it in my childhood, and it was something that I definitely tried to shy away from. Now, I celebrate it as such a source of power for myself. I feel so liberated and free, and I’m having fun. And femininity is magical. Who wouldn’t want to be feminine?

How would you compare where you were to where you are now?

It’s like night and day. It feels really artistically inspiring to me, really personally inspiring. And I’m just much happier.

As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. Reach him via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com and on Twitter (@chrisazzopardi).

peachATL.com | 21

AGLCC COMMUNITY AWARDS DINNER PHOTOS: Sher Pruitt

22 | 10.03.18

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peachATL.com | 25

THE RAINBOW BALL AT OUT FRONT THEATRE Photos: Sher Pruitt

26 | 10.03.18

Thank You, Atlanta!

Our mission is to bridge communities to brighten the lives of Georgia's children in need.

24,372 Backpacks Donated Since We Started

See you next year!

Ryan is originally from Iowa, and he has lived four years in Atlanta. He runs the LGBTQ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights where he heads the work of connecting academics and advocates to advance LGBTQ equity through research and education focused on the American South. He likes hiking and spending time with friends – and he’s a big movie buff. Other hobbies include kayaking, reading, painting, drawing, and traveling. You can follow this purposeful guy on Instagram @rm_roe.

Ryan Roemerman

30 | 10.03.18

e d i r P A a T t N n a TLlA At IN

O IS ALM

Congratulaaons to our Friday and Saturday Hostess for Winning Miss Gay U S of A at Large – Shavonna B Brooks!

Midtown Moon

1492 Piedmont Ave NE F, Atlanta, GA 30309

RE ST HE

But What Does the Inside Look Like?

By Jamie Kirk When thinking of the word grooming, we likely all begin to think about manscaping, haircuts, tanning, sparkling white teeth and obviously #gymflow. But I wanted to take a different approach and literally look at this from the inside out. Taking care of ourselves is much more involved than just looking at the exterior. Looking at people for face value does not even scratch the surface of the baggage they are carrying or the burdens they could be hiding.

I love the analogy: “You can’t tell how well a car will run, just by looking at the paint job.” Social media absolutely reinforces this (in a not-so-good-way) notion of looking good on the outside and feeling like shit on the inside. The idea that we can take 15 pictures, use a filter, and even crop out a muffin top, is insane. At the end of the day, sometimes even we look at the photo and say “wow, you look marvelous” - in my Billy Crystal voice. But does the photo really depict the state of affairs of how the person is handling this thing called LIFE? My point is that the outside often does not align with what is happening on the inside. If we are stressed out, unemployed, struggling with an addiction, in an abusive relationship, etc., no amount of grooming is going to help resolve or correct these life issues. We have to make time and take time out to groom the inside also.

How to Groom the Inside By taking time to be selfish and only focus on ourselves. Not our wife, husband, partner, kids, school or work! Taking a day off and hang out with ourselves. Being present and coming up with a plan for our next “right” move. Going for a run, going to Starbucks and reading a book, sitting at the park, doesn’t matter. The key is to spend quality time with the most important person on earth - YOU. 32 | 10.03.18

How to Keep the Inside Maintained Duh, just like going to the barber shop, going for a massage, getting our hands and hoofs done, we have to maintain the inside stuff too. Taking a yoga class, worship, and being deliberate of doing things that keep you on track. Just going on a diet is not enough if you don’t have an accountability partner, so it is essential that you have goals that occur in steps regarding your inside grooming.

And similar to the outside, you will know when it’s time to have a tune-up.

How Will I know When It’s Time For a Tune-Up? Very similar to when you know you need to make a dental appointment or when you need to go to the eye doctor, you know. You become cranky, irritable, sleep less, eat more, whatever that looks like for you. When these things creep up, it’s time to take a step back and get the inside looking as good as the outside.

At the end of the day, grooming and self-care are essential to be available for others and yourself.

And the good news is that each grooming regime is different for everyone. It’s not like a fad diet you can follow, and it’s not like a weight lifting app you can download; self-grooming is about “self” and whatever you need, and more importantly, whatever works.

As you continue to look for ways to perfect what people see, take some time to improve what you feel.

Jamie Kirk works for a software company and is a certified spinning instructor. He also enjoys yoga, swimming, bicycling and running. He aspires to start a blog about what we put in our bodies not only fuels our body but our mind and spirit as well. Follow Jamie on IG @tysonsdad

Adventures in Friend-Zoning A good friend of mine recently went on a fourth date with a man and shared with me her disappointment that he never attempted a kiss or even cop-a-feel. She was worried he placed her in the “Friend Zone”. Being a good friend, I texted him via her phone (while she was in the bathroom) to find out what his intensions were.

He seemed flirty but couldn’t bring himself to make a move or even send a lewd message. Not even a dick pic! I’ll admit I don’t know much about the heterosexual male, but it seemed out of character.

His final text was “thank you for being a friend”.

How would I explain to her she got Golden Girl-ed? As she feared, my friend was in the Friend Zone.

To help her out, I had to dig deep. So I reached into my Merkin Birkin and got to thinkin’. I would take her out for a treat. In my personal experience, getting friend-zoned was never a permanent sentence. Finding that special someone, like all other aspects of life, requires perfect timing. Waiting for that perfect moment is what’s hard. I took her out for a night of drinks at a local strip club. I find when you’re faced with something unpleasant, it’s best to pass the time distracting yourself from it until everything works itself out. I could see her mood lift with every shot of tequila and every dollar bill she tucked into a G-string. We laughed, bonded and threw up a little.

Spending that night with my friend reminded me of a married couple I know who, when they first met, were in relationships already. Two years went by and they found themselves running into each other on a camping trip, but both were single this time around. They quickly hit it off after that. By remaining friends, time eventually showed them they were meant to be more. If you are getting to know someone, and it hasn’t gotten to the romance, but you see something there, stay the course.

You never know when life will throw you Cupid’s curveball.

People are ever-changing creatures. We change our hair, try on different styles of clothing, take up a drug habit just to see how long until we beat it, etc. Not getting an instant connection doesn’t mean it will never happen. Sometimes to get your perfect partner, you’ll have to be Romy & Michelle before you become Romeo & Juliet (minus the Act 3 ending). Getting friend-zoned can also be a good sign to take some time and find out what you want out of your own life and see if this other person is a good fit. I found out my good friend, who is a day-time barista, has an unhealthy love of collecting Japanese cartoon memorabilia. I asked her if there was room for this man, she went on four dates with, amongst her ever-amassing collection? What if he prefers a minimalist life style, or worse, what if he has an even bigger collection of kawaii crap?

Our night out ended on a good note and my friend continues with her platonic dates, while relieving sexual frustration through strip clubs and drinking. Sometimes, facing the disappointment of not getting romantic advances from someone you’re attracted to can be tough. It might not go the way you want, but it will always go the way it should. I hope if you find yourself in the Friend Zone, you enjoy your stay. It’s not permanent and you never know where it will lead to.

Yours in friendship,

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.

34 | 10.03.18

Mission Statement

Preserving Culture And Identity of Gay Georgia

• Diversity Cafe - a LGBTQ Bistro in Hartsfield-Jackson Airport • GayDM - a new gay EDM festival coming to Atlanta in 2019

Become a member and have your voice heard. Join at gagapac.com @gagapacGA

GAGA - Gay Georgia PAC

gagapacGA

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

peachATL.com | 37

Oct 3 – Oct 10

Kali Uchis: In Your Dreams Tour

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in

The Colombian-American singer and songwriter pres- Concert ents her genre-defying mix of R&B, Latin, and reggae at Brought to you by CineConcerts, the Atlanta Symphony the Tabernacle.

Orchestra is playing the score to the Harry Potter live, while the movie is screened in the concert hall.

Friday, October 5, 8 pm

The Tabernacle

Friday, October 5, 8-11 pm The Atlanta Symphony

STAFF PICK!

Rocky Horror Drag Queen Bingo Dammit, Janet! It’s time for a one-way ticket to Transylvania to experience a bingo night in support of PALS that is truly out of this world, baby – so come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab! Tickets through palsatlanta.org.

Tuesday, October 9, 7:30 pm LIPS Atlanta

Mayor’s Inaugural LGBTQ Reception

LGBTQ Diversity in Business Forum

Mayor Bottoms hosts the inaugural LGBTQ reception, Join The LGBTQ Institute at The Center for Civil and Huwhich will be an evening of celebration, as Atlanta Pride man Rights for the third annual business forum for an week is kicked off at City Hall. exclusive briefing about the center’s first-ever Business and Employment Report. Tickets via lgbtqinstitute.org.

Monday, October 8, 6-8 pm

Atlanta City Hall

38 | 10.03.18

Tuesday, October 9, 2-5 pm LGBTQ Institute

HEIFER REVIEW AT COWTIPPERS PHOTOS: Andrea Dwyer

40 | 10.03.18

proudly supporting our community since 1991! we love you!

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

Charles Allen Dr. NE

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 11 12

10 th & Piedmont Campagnolo Einstein's 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 | 10.03.18

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

Ponce De Leon Pl. NE

Spring St. NW

17

76 4th St. NW

16 17 18 19

G’s Midtown Henry’s Joe's on Juniper 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

37

e

ge

Rd

on tC ir .

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

32 33 34 35 36

Midtown Moon Felix's The Hideaway Mixx Oscar's

805 Lambert Dr. NE, Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd 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 37 Cowtippers 38 Eclectic Bistro

Fitness 30 Gravitee Fitness

NE

.

clubs 28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

e. nt mo ed

39 38

Retail 26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

41

Pi

28 20

Dining 24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

Av

ge Rd Brid hire

r.

E

Ches

.N

.

25

BJ Roosters Opus 1 Tripps Woof's

31 Manifest 4 U 42 The Den

35

24

id Br

Dr

Rd

BARS 20 21 22 23

40

32

oe

hir

36

nr

dm

es

ll D

31 er

Mo

Pi e

29

Ch

idde

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27

33

. NE

Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

22

42 L

ul

IX

34

x Rd

Fa

26

BL

Le no

30

Lambert Dr.

PU

St.

.

A l co

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.

Bars & Clubs

EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD

Retail

MIDTOWN

MARY’S

MIDTOWN

amsterdamatlanta.com

1287 Glenwood Ave SE

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

communitashospitality.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

MODEL T

991 Piedmont Ave NE

699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

modeltatlanta.com

EINSTEIN’S

MY SISTER’S ROOM

1077 Juniper St NE

66 12th St NE

frogsmidtown.com

mysistersroom.com

TEN ATLANTA

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

CHESHIRE

SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO

ANSLEY BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1447 Piedmont Ave NE

GCB & PLEASURES

brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

FROGS CANTINA

Fitness

931 Monroe Dr

MIDTOWN

G’S

communitashospitality.com 219 10th St NE

HERETIC

HENRY’S

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

132 10th St NE

BJ ROOSTERS

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

hereticatlanta.com

barkingleather.com

henrysatl.com

URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

bjroosters.com

joesonjuniper.com

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

1049 Juniper St NE

OPUS 1

LA HACIENDA

Spas/Baths/Adult

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

1931 Piedmont Circle N

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

WOOFS

LAS MARGARITAS

76 4th St NW

2425 Piedmont Road NE

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

CHESHIRE

ANSLEY

ROXX

MANIFEST 4U

MIDTOWN MOON

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

ANSLEY

FELIX’S

COWTIPPERS

1086 Alco St NE

TRIPPS

woofsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

lahaciendamidtown.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com

cowtippersatlanta.com

THE HIDEAWAY

1600 Piedmont Ave NE

1544 Piedmont Ave NE

DEKALB

MIXX

LIPS ATLANTA

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

3011 Buford Hwy NE

mixxatlanta.com

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

44 | 10.03.18

atldragshow.com

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

flexspas.com

manifest4u.org

2103 Faulkner Rd NE

THE DEN

thedenatlanta.com

2135 Liddell Drive NE

HELP WANTED

FULL TIME DESK CLERK POSITIONS AVAILABLE

8-4pm and 12-8am

Please apply online at Flexspas.com

Hot Tub and Swim Spas

60% OFF RETAIL AquaLivingStores.com 404-382-5329

BUTCH Rubdown • Model Kink/BDSM • Master/Slave Nude Pics in (My Place) only to discuss call 24/7

AID Atlanta NEEDS YOU!

AIDS Walk Atlanta and 5K Run is looking for hardworking individuals like yourself to help us on race day October 21,2018 Head to our website to sign up today aidswalkatlanta.com and click VOLUNTEER.

In Midtown off Cheshire Bridge Rd CALL NOW ! Butch 404.494.6696 peachATL.com | 45

10 GROOMING HABITS EVERY GUY SHOULD GET INTO

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK BETTER YOU FEEL BETTER

Get a haircut regularly

Learn to shave like a pro Moisturize!

Mask for masc

Manage facial hair

Use a face scrub

Sunscreen!

Wash your face before bed

Tame your brow 46 | 10.03.18

Do a little manscaping

Playmates and soul mates...

Call 855-566-4448

Atlanta:

678-528-2525

18+ MegaMates.com

11pm Thursdays

peachATL.com | 47

Text your Peach Pits to 256-60-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com Illustrations by: Jerel Ely

‘Please, be strong,’ I whispered to my margarita...

Saw a photo of you and you still can’t produce a smile that doesn’t look like a smirk Him: Are you ok?

Me: Yeah, fine Him: sure?

Me: Just… FINE! Him: You seem jealous

Current situation: Frozen coffee - 1 Pants, shirt and car seat - 0

Me: I’m not, I’m fine!

Him: Give me a kiss then Me: WHY DON”T YOU GET A KISS FROM THAT UGLY GUY WHO LIKED YOUR INSTAGRAM POST INSTEAD!

Your ex asking to stay friends after you break up is like kidnappers asking to stay in touch after they let you go.

Just because something was built mid-century does not make it a mid-century modern!!

Looking back at my FB posts I fu**ing swear too d**n much! S**t!

I cherish the moment when you see an ex, and you think ‘whatever was I thinking?’

Why did I leave Atlanta? Waffle House now has a drive-trhu!!

48 | 10.03.18

NO COVER

NO COVER

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

You’ll hope for a day that will be a scorching hot ball of fire. What you’ll get will be the complete opposite, and it’ll be hard to keep your eyes open. Get in a vigorous workout to break the fog. Follow that with a few lattes and you’ll be good to go for the rest of the day.

You may have to establish yourself as group leader today. Your pals won’t have a problem with that, as they don’t want the responsibility. Rule with the wisdom of Solomon today. It’ll be far more effective than being bitchy and mean, although not as much fun.

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

Sometimes a guy needs to let go of unneeded attachments. Sometimes a guy carries around too much extra baggage. Sometimes a guy needs to know when to just let go. This could be you today.

So took a hard look at your personal baggage, and just let go.

Your boyfriend will create problems for you today. His demands will be outlandish and his mood foul. It’s never easy being the whipping boy, but grit your teeth and hang in there.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

You’ll express your opinions in loud and forceful tones today. People have come to expect that of you, but you still seem able to strike a few raw nerves. So expect today to be scrappy, with people telling you to put up or shut up. That second choice would probably be smarter and a lot less painful.

Annoying and meddlesome people will sorely test your sense of humor today. They’ll eventually work your last nerve, bringing you to the brink of explosion. Chant your mantra to get through this trying day. Then go home and pop ‘The Golden Girls’ into the DVD player.

Now that’s funny!

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

Buy a gift for the person you love best today: Yourself.

You spend so much on others it may be time to treat yourself. You won’t get extravagant but you deserve something special.

You keep a finger on the pulse of technology, and no one can accuse you of being a dinosaur. They can, however, rightfully accuse you of being a nerd. But you take that as a compliment, so wear your badge with pride today. Go out and show guys a nerd can be sexier -- and a lot smarter -- than an Abercrombie model.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

You’ll need supreme confidence in yourself to get through some tests today. They’ll seem daunting, but success will open a lot of doors. That will be something you could really get used to, especially after having so many slammed in your face in the past.

Sudden changes may rock your world today. You’ll be blindsided by most of them, but keep on keeping on.

No matter how harsh, changes are a part of life. Dealing with them in a mature and professional manner is the only way to get though them.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

Your plans to be organized will go quickly out the window today. This may cause some dizziness and disorientation. Repeated tries to bring things back to an even keel will be futile. This sounds like a good time to curl up in the fetal position.

Mind your own business today and don’t involve yourself in drama and catfights. Let the rest of them slug it out while you focus on your own life. The hammer will fall, but not on you, and you’ll come out of it smelling like a rose and first in line for good karma.

50 | 10.03.18

WHAT happened was . . .

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.

My boyfriend and I have been together for years now, and even though we have a strong bond, my partner has also brought up the possibility of opening up the relationship to others. The only thing is I really don’t want to. I am totally sexually satisfied with my boyfriend, we have sex often, and I enjoy the connection I have with him – and only him. I’m not a jealous person, but I just don’t need more. Am I completely outdated, and should I consider this?

Sincerely Mr. Bond Dear Mr. Bond I think you are on to something here, that seems to become more and more of a dilemma in especially gay couples: Since so many are opening up their relationship to forego sexual exclusivity, it also seems like monogamy is being viewed as almost puritanical and definitely deprivational and outdated. Maybe your boyfriend is observing what ‘everybody else’ is doing, and that’s why he is bringing it up? Could he be sexually bored even though you imply that your sex life is going well? This is a golden opportunity for you both to voice some of the wishes – and possibly concerns? – you have in your relationship. It may seem like opening up the relationship is an easy way out to add a considerable amount of spice to the relationship, but what you also add is the potential for jealousy, distance, and hurt feelings. As gay men, we are apt to think something is wrong when the initial spark and the ‘hotness’ of it all dies down, and because gay sex is so readily and easily available, sometimes we forget that there is a real strength in getting closer and more connected to someone. But beyond the allure of multiple sex partners, there is also a path to a rich and deep connection to someone, if monogamy is the way you choose. And that sort of intimacy is not only physically but also emotionally arousing.

I work as a cop, and even though strides have been made regarding equality and gay rights within the force, the day to day side of things is still very homophobic. I have only come out as gay to a very few select people, but because I hear daily homophobic

52 | 10.03.18

slurs, I am hesitant to come out fully at work. Any advice on how to tackle this?

Sincerely Under the Police Gaydar Dear Under the Police Gaydar First of all, you need to get in touch with your LGBT liaison within the Atlanta Police Department – the first one was named in 2014, and even though the primary function is to act as a liaison to the LGBT community, the person is also in charge of recording discrimination and hate speech within the APD. As to coming out at work, you have observed yourself, that even though protections are in place, it is not always easy to be out and proud in the workplace. There is a lot of power in being your true and authentic self, but you also need to be careful. Coming out in a highly homophobic environment could make your work very difficult, and even be dangerous. So seek out your allies, and get the support you need, and then do what is right for you.

Thank you for your service!

My boyfriend’s ex is moving, and for a few weeks, he has nowhere to stay. My boyfriend has offered him to stay with us, and even though I really don’t want him to crash with us, I don’t want to be that bitch either. One of my biggest insecurities in our relationship has always been that there are still feelings between the two.

Should I just disprove myself and let him stay with us?

Sincerely Air Boy’n’Bye Dear Air Boy’n’Bye No! No, you should not let the ex-boyfriend of your current boyfriend stay with you. Make it absolutely clear that it’s a NO-go. Be that bitch, by all means. It is very commendable that you are even considering this, and that you think that you could use this to somehow work through your emotions, but you will only invite emotional stress and hurt feelings into your life. So hard no. Very. Hard. No. NEED ANSWERS? REACH OUT TO US, AND YOU WILL GET THEM! SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO OUR EDITOR AT MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM.

!

E R E I M E R P N R E ST A E H T U SO

Journey back to the Upstairs Lounge and see what has been gained and lost in the ďŹ ght for eqaulity.

Oct. 25 - Nov. 10, 2018

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

Sponsored by Jay Reynolds, Michael Barnett, Reuben Reynolds & Bill Casey

www.OutFrontTheatre.com