Peach v2i42

Walk the Talk After Pride Recovery

Fitness | Nutrition | Grooming Fall 2018 Reading List

The 28th AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run

THE WORLD BELIEVES, NOW MORE THAN EVER, THAT EQUALITY ISN’T AN OPTION, IT’S A RIGHT. TANNER, MACY’S EMPLOYEE

We are proud to join pride parades across America and celebrate pride all year long.

FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT

macys.com/events

amerejuve MEDSPA look good feel good

Amerejuve is celebrating Gay Pride with BOGO SALE on the following:

Gay Pride

Laser Hair Removal Body Sculpting IPL EMatrix SkinPen Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion B12 energy Shots Facials Skin Rejuvenation

Buy a syringe of Juvederm, get 10 units of Botox FREE!

770.509.0000 www.amerejuve.com

4774 Lower Roswell Rd Marietta, GA 30068

1720 Powers Ferry Rd, SE Marietta, GA 30067

3822 Roswell Rd, Suite 112 Marietta, GA 30062

2476 Canton Rd Marietta, GA 30066

2550 Cobb Pkwy SE, Suite 202 Smyrna, GA 30080

NEW LOCATION

CONTENTS OCTOBER 17, 2018

V2-42 PEACH ATL MEDIA, LLC 1874 Piedmont Ave NE Suite 580-E Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 814-3014

OPERATIONS Jeff Anderson

Sales and Development Director

jeff@peachatl.com

18

8

EDITORIAL

Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director mikkel@peachatl.com Rodney Belcher Graphic Designer

rodney@peachatl.com

EVENT MARKETING Thomas Le tomthomas@peachatl.com

32 From the Editor

Darren Floro-Bryant Scott King Branden Lee Mirza Muftic Gregg Shapiro

DISTRIBUTION Brian Harmon

NATIONAL AD REP Rivendell Media 908.232.202

EDITOR PHOTO

Rikke Falck-Larsen

COVER

Happy Post-Pride, Peaches!

Photographer: Martijn Smouter Model: Laurens Lindeman Gear: TEAMM8

Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director

peachatl.com

Andrea Dwyer andrea@peachatl.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Now that Pride is over, I am still riding the wave of that unique euphoria that only Pride can give you. The celebration, the letting loose, feeling bolder and more beautiful and loving yourself inside and out. Just being queer AF and not giving a damn albeit for a few days is quite the high! But although colorful, dazzling, and brilliant, it also comes an end.

So with the euphoria, there is a touch of the post-Pride blues too – no doubt induced by the lack of sleep, extra hours, and the multitude of amazing parties day and night, but also because it is kinda back to reality and time to pack away the rainbows.

Or is it? Because even though the everyday beckons there are still many things you can carry with you from Pride. First of all, the spirit of open-mindedness and inclusivity is something you can take with you. Now that you have been exposed to all the people behind the letters of the LGBTQ+ acronym there is no time like the present to consider how you can support all the groups within our vibrant community.

Because when we stand together we are not only strongest – but, as Pride proves it, we have the best and gayest ol’ time possible too!

ONLINE

SALES

PRINT

At Distribution Points Across the City

SOCIAL

FB:facebook.com/peachatlmag

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 | 10.17.18

Taste of Atlanta 2018 Taste of Atlanta is the city’s must-do food, wine, beer and cocktail festival that showcases the diversity of Atlanta restaurants and attracts food lovers from Atlanta, the Southeast and beyond.

The Three-day food, craft beer, wine, and cocktail event is held at Historic Fourth Ward Park and showcases more than 90 restaurants who offer sample-size tastings of their menus to guests. The hottest local restaurants and chefs will provide samples, delicious drinks, live cooking and demos, and cooking classes which makes Taste of Atlanta the best way to experience the plethora of Atlanta’s bustling and vibrant restaurant scene.

Experience the talents of local chefs including Chef Seven Chan of Poke Burri, Chef Stephen Franklin of DAS BBQ, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Marisa Moore, and Tregaye Fraser, the winner of Food Network Star, Season 12.

This year’s festival also has new additions which include the Race for the Taste 5K Fun Run, Atlanta Chef Pop-Up Area, and ‘Brunch All Day’ on Sunday, October 21.

For more information and passes ($25-$190), visit tasteofatlanta.com.

The What, When, and Where What: Taste of Atlanta 2018 Food Festival When:

Friday, October 19th 6:30-11pm Saturday, October 20th 12-6pm Sunday, October 21st 12-6pm

Where:Historic Fourth Ward Park Day and weekend passes at tasteofatlanta.com.

8 | 10.17.18

Nina Simone : Four Women

By Christina Ham

SEPT 25 - OCT 21

Southwest Arts Center Ticket Starting at $20

USE PROMO CODE

PEACHATL FOR $5 OFF

ADULT TICKETS

1.877.725.8849 | truecolorstheatre.org peachATL.com | 9

CURING THAT PRIDE HANGOVER

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 | 10.17.18

Gay Pride in Atlanta is a wild and crazy weekend full of debauchery. With all debauchery comes the hangover and ‘mourning’ period afterward. Here’s your go-to guide for everything that will help give you a full body recovery after getting rammed during Pride.

ELECTROLYTES Chances are you had a ton of alcohol during pride, and your body hurts.

Time to boost your immune system with tons of electrolytes.

Whether you prefer Gatorade, Pedialyte, or Powerade, your body needs it. Give yourself that boost of energy with some rehydration.

Also, take a few days off from drinking. Your liver will thank you later.

ABSTINENCE In addition to taking a respite from alcohol consumption (until the next weekend rolls around), take a break from sex. Atlanta is the gay capital of

the south, and tons of hot men from all over flocked to the city for Pride. With so many hot new men in the town, no one is judging you for having as much sex as possible. It’s Pride, after all. Just give your hole or dick (or both for you verse queens) a break.

No one’s saying take a month or weeks off from sex, but a few days would suffice to give your private parts some rest.

MENTAL HEALTH DAY Now and then everyone needs a mental health day. If you’re hungover and sore all over, you’ll definitely need one post pride. Don’t take one if it will get you in trouble with your job, but if you’re feeling completely drained, you should take time for yourself. Mental health days provide time to catch up with ourselves.

Catch up on your

favorite shows. Clean up around the apartment. Do things you’ve been neglecting. Heal yourself.

PLOT YOUR FUTURE GOALS Pride is all about celebration, and can represent some of your greatest memories with friends, family, and romantic partners but it can also bring back dreaded memories. Don’t let the negativity bring you down. Reevaluate your life, your year, and your future.

Think of everything you want to accomplish by the time the next Pride rolls around. Maybe experience Pride in a different city. Plan a trip with friends. Think of what you want to do differently and take to the next level by the next time Pride rolls around in 2019.

peachATL.com | 11

Raising Funds Like a Walk in The Park

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

As the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in Georgia, the AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run raises critical funds for AID Atlanta and other participating organizations. Peach talked to Steven Igarashi-Ball, the Assistant Event & Teams Manager whose primary project is AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run.

Tell us about the AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run. This year marks our 28th year, so we’ve been fighting HIV/AIDS almost the entire time that the disease has been around. Our event raises critical funds for AID Atlanta and ten other participating organizations. These funds are important because they are unrestricted dollars, and agencies can use them for any need. I’m excited that this year, we have increased our participating organizations from seven to ten – meaning that donations go even further to helping our community.

Tell us about the work of AID Atlanta.

AID Atlanta is the largest and oldest AIDS service organization in the city. We were started by a grassroots effort from a group of friends, and we have grown a lot since those early days. We have served the city for 36 years – as long as HIV/AIDS has existed. Today, we operate a full-service clinic and on-site pharmacy, in addition to providing free HIV testing and STI testing and treatment. I’m also proud that we operated the city’s first PrEP clinic, not operated by the Department of Health.

What does an event like the AIDS Walk mean to AID Atlanta?

Our event means HOPE. We don’t have a vaccine or a cure yet, but we are moving in the right direction. We’ve made huge advances in treatment, and PrEP has been game-changing. Still, HIV infection rates in Georgia are much too high. We need people to be reminded that HIV is still a concern. Our event is important, not only for the funds that are raised – every dollar stays right here in Metro Atlanta - but for the spotlight that it shines on AID Atlanta and our ten other participating organizations. Our event is a reminder that there is work left to be done.

12 | 10.17.18

What is the highlight of the AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run? After 28 years, we are constantly looking for ways to make our event feel new and exciting. A highlight of this year is our Ambassador, Feroza Syed. As a trans woman who is both Muslim and a person of color, her viewpoint seems really relevant for today’s political climate. This year, we are also extremely excited about the musical celebration we have planned following the Walk/Run. All registered participants will be able to enjoy performances

by Grammy Award-winning Gospel, Urban Contemporary, and R&B artist Erica Campbell, rapper and star of VH1’s “Love & Hip-Hop Hollywood” Milan Christopher, and local favorites Electric Avenue: The 80’s MTV Experience. The amazing Gary With Da Tea will host the whole thing, and it promises to be a lot of fun for our participants.

Why is it so important to participate and support this event?

Georgia is number five in the nation for new HIV infections. Federal and state funding for HIV/AIDS is being cut, and people continue to be infected at alarming rates. We need our friends and neighbors to support the work that these organizations are doing 365 days a year. We need them to show up and remind people that HIV/AIDS hasn’t gone away. Most importantly, we need you to help us fundraise for these organizations.

How do you participate in the event?

Participation is easy. You can register online at www. aidswalkatlanta.com to join us as Walker, Runner or Volunteer! If you can’t physically join us, you can even participate as a “Virtual Walker.” Join us on Sunday, October 21st in Piedmont Park. The Run kicks off at 1pm, and the Walk kicks off at 2 pm. Then, join us back in the park for our musical celebration to finish the day!

We are the Atlanta HIV, PrEP and PEP pharmacy experts!

• Free and complete coordinaaon of benefits to ensure that you can afford your medicaaon and have liile to no out-of-pocket cost • Clinical support from pharmacists who are experts in HIV, PrEP & PEP and who will explain your medicaaon therapy so that you can achieve the best results • Ideally located in Midtown, at the interseccon of Piedmont and Monroe, with free parking and easy access to Marta

Big enough to serve, small enough to care!

1529 Piedmont Ave NE Ste C Atlanta, GA 30324 404-461-9105 | www.alliancecrx.com

Pride R & R - as in Recovery and Recreation

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt You may have spent Pride weekend partying it up Friday, Saturday, and Sunday day and night – but with a little reparative grooming and some thoughtful nutrition, you’ll have the perfect cheat sheet to help erase all signs of a super fun weekend in no time!

Nutrition Fat and Protein Make sure you eat balanced meals with plenty of protein and healthy fats that will help your digestive system regain its balance.

Eat Your Veggies Vegetables in your diet help to replenish vitamins and provide fibers so that your battered digestive system can get back on track. Because your stomach is already a little sensitive, help it on the way by preparing your veggies by boiling or steaming them.

Raw is a bit too rough.

Hydration Think about (non-alcoholic) hydration before, during, and especially after drinking. Try this ultra-hydrating drink: Half water, quarter coconut water, quarter orange juice and a pinch of salt. Mix and drink!

Get on the beet!

Drink beets as juice or eat them in a salad. Beets cleanse the liver and support its function.

Pop an Extra Pill … of vitamins that is! Your vitamin reserves are depleted after days of drinking, so get them reloaded back in your system.

Caffeine A cup of joe may just be the thing to give you a little extra energy boost to get you through the day.

Continued on pg. 16 >>>> 14 | 10.17.18

UNITY=BEAUTY

HELMEThairworx.com

helmethairworx

Grooming

Hydrate!

Basically, dehydration is the reason why your skin looks terrible when you wake up. Your entire body needs to be re-hydrated, so apart from drinking plenty of water, give your skin plenty of moisture too.

Keep It Clean No matter what you do – or how drunk you are – you should wash your face before going to bed.

Especially, if you want to look refreshed in the morning, despite a rough night.

Sukin Men’s Facial Cleanser, $13

Overnight It If you have been going hard for a few days, your skin will benefit from an overnight treatment like an overnight mask that balances and hydrates skin while you sleep it out.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, $28

Brickell Daily Defense Face Moisturizer SPF 15, $32

Go for the C Products that contain vitamin C help fight free radicals and ease on inflammation that can break down collagen in the skin.

Ole Henriksen C-Rush™ Brightening Gel Crème, $44

Scrub Away It is not only good for your skin, but it will also feel like you are scrubbing away last night’s shenanigans. Use a face scrub and body scrub gently on the skin which can already be a little tender.

Scotch Porter Charcoal & Licorice Exfoliating Face Scrub, $22

16 | 10.17.18

fitness The Pride festivities are over, and you are tired. You want to get a good simple workout to keep you motivated and moving forward towards your fitness goals and lifestyle. So, let’s keep it simple, efficient and effective!

Recovery Workout Complete!

By Darren Floro-Bryant Photo: DFB Fitness Alternating Incline Dumbbell Air Punches, followed

by Incline Bench Reverse Fly, then Seated Incline Alternating Dumbbell Bicep Curls with Tri-cep Flex, completed with a Narrow Grip (hands on dumbbells) Push-Up. Do a set of Iron Chairs (or wall sits) for 30 seconds then repeat circuit 3 times.

Circuit 1 3 sets | First set 12 reps - Second set 15 reps – Third set 20 reps • • • • •

Push-Ups (hands on the grips of the dumbbells) Bent-Over Dumbbell High Rows (Scarecrows) Dumbbell Hammer Curls (together) Bent-Over Single Arm Tricep Kickbacks Bodyweight Squats

Start with the Push-Ups (hands on the grips of the dumbbells) by keeping your hands on the grips of the dumbbells for the push-ups; it helps mimic a dumbbell chest press on a bench. It also allows for easy transition into the Bent-Over Dumbbell High Rows (Scarecrows). Bend over with a flat back and grip the dumbbells with your arms extended toward the floor. Drive your elbows up towards the ceiling, until your elbows are bent at 90 degrees and the back of your arms are in line with your shoulders like a scarecrow. Then stand up and get right into Dumbbell Hammer Curls (together) by keeping your palms facing in, gripping the dumbbells like you are holding a hammer. Curl up to slightly past 90 degrees, lower and then repeat.

Next, place one dumbbell onto the ground and bend over, tighten your core, and begin the Bent-Over Single Arm Tricep Kickbacks. Start with a shoulder-width stance and stabilize your torso by placing your free hand onto your knee. Starting with the arm holding the dumbbell, hold the elbow up towards the ceiling, extend the arm back to full extension from the elbow, lower, and repeat (switch arms once reps are completed). Finish the circuit with a set of Bodyweight Squats, giving the upper body some active recovery time.

Circuit 2 3 sets | This circuit is time-based - First set: 30 – Second set: 40 – Third set: 50 • • •

• •

Alternating Incline Dumbbell Air Punches Incline Bench Reverse Fly Seated Incline Alternating Dumbbell Bicep Curl with Tricep Flex Narrow Grip (hands on dumbbells) Push-Up Iron Chairs (or wall sits)

18 | 10.17.18

The Alternating Incline Dumbbell Air Punches is a great exercise because it really engages the full body in a fastpaced, explosive style exercise by focusing on control and form, but still finding a way to generate power. Doing the Incline Bench Reverse Fly on the incline bench helps eliminate the use of momentum. Doing Seated Incline Alternating Dumbbell Bicep Curls with Tricep Flex on the incline bench gives you a greater range of motion for your curls, especially when adding the tricep flex at the bottom. After you’ve engaged the triceps during the bicep curls, doing the Narrow Grip (hands on dumbbells) Push-Up, will intensify the focus on the triceps throughout the move. The set of 30-second Iron Chairs (or wall sits) allows some rest for the upper body but still helps keep the heart rate elevated, and the core engaged, before starting the circuit again.

Finish To finish, focus on a little core and balance work to help keep the metabolism fired-up and help build the foundation of any and all exercises.

30-second Elbow Plank superset with a 30 second Dead Bug Hold.

Do these two exercises back to back, three times each. Then finish with a set of bird dog holds for 30 seconds and bird dog crunch and extensions for 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side.

Further Reading: Fall 2018

By Gregg Shapiro

Musically Inclined Brilliant queer singer/songwriter Ezra Furman, whose latest album is the amazing Transangelic Exodus, is the latest musician to put pen to paper for the acclaimed 33 1/3 book series. Via “close listening and personal reflection”, Furman takes on the late Lou Reed’s groundbreaking 1972 album Transformer (Bloomsbury Academic, 2018).

Published in time to coincide with the centennial of her father composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein’s birth, Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein (Harper, 2018)

by Jamie Bernstein, deals openly and honestly with her father’s homosexuality.

Poet and writer Laury A. Egan has returned with her seventh book, the novel Fabulous! An Opera Buffa (Tiny Fox Press, 2018), in which struggling opera singer Gilbert Eugene Rose, who doubles as divine drag queen Kiri De Uwana to make ends meet, finds himself entangled in a dispute between a female mobster and an opera producer.

Powerful Sisterhood In A Certain Loneliness: A Memoir (University of Nebraska Press, 2018), Sandra Gail Lambert, who contracted polio as child, writes about “the intersection of disability, queerness and female desire” in a series of “meditative and engaging memoir-in-essays”.

Cultural anthropologist Esther Newton has written some of the most important books in the queer canon, including Mother Camp and Margaret Mead Made Me Gay. Her latest, out in November, is My Butch Career: A Memoir (Duke University, 2018) details “her struggle to write, teach and find love” while surviving a period of

20 | 10.17.18

intense 20th century “homophobic persecution”.

Including a great deal about gay and lesbian rights, Divided We Stand: The Battle Over Women’s Rights and Family Values That Polarized American Politics (Bloomsbury, 2018) by Marjorie J. Spruill, takes readers back more than 40 years, tracing the rise of and ongoing struggle between the women’s rights movement and the conservative women’s movement that stood in opposition.

Funny That Way Gay writer and performer David Sedaris, who has the uncanny ability to make readers laugh and cry, sometimes within the same piece, is back with Calypso (Little, Brown, 2018), a new collection of work, many of which are set at Sedaris’ North Carolina beach house, the Sea Section (kid you not!), including the hilarious same-sex marriage essay “A Modest Proposal”.

With My Life As a Goddess: A Memoir Through (Un)Popular Culture (Atria Books, 2018), featuring a foreword

by Mindy Kaling, gay comedian/writer Guy Branum proves that David Sedaris hasn’t cornered the market on humor as he regales us with his life story, from his humble beginnings in Yuba City, California to finding a place to fit in while in school at Berkeley to his present life filled with laughter and success.

Based on the live show and podcast created in 2009 by gay comedian and writer Kevin Allison, the book Risk! True Stories People Never Thought They’d Dare to Share (Hachette, 2018), edited and with an introduction by Allison, features pieces by gay contributors Dan Savage, David Crabb and Walter Zimmerman, as well as Aisha Tyler, Lili Taylor, Michael Ian Black and Mark Maron, among others.

Poets’ Corner The author of more than 20 books, Eileen Myles, in the midst of an especially productive period (see Afterglow and I Must Be Living Twice) brings us Evolution (Grove, 2018), consisting of more than 70 poems as well as a couple of essays.

Gay poet/playwright/editor/publisher Raymond Luczak delivers his most experimental collection of poetry in A Babble of Objects (Fomite, 2018), featuring several visually stimulating poems including “Garbage”, “Threads”, “In The Guns Section” and “Scanner”.

History of Violence (Farrar. Straus, Giroux, 2018), translated from the French by Lorin Stein, about a 2012 sexual assault experienced by the writer.

Crudo (Norton, 2018) is the debut novel by nonfiction writer Olivia Lang, set during the “horrifying summer of 2017” written in the voice of “a commitment-phobic peripatetic artist who may or may not be” the late Kathy Acker (who died in 1997).

Winner of the 2017 Cave Canem Poetry Prize, selected by Vievee Francis, “Living Queer Black poet from Chicago” Julian Randall’s electrifying debut collection Refuse (University of Pittsburgh, 2018), “set against the backdrop of the Obama presidency” touches on the biracial poet’s journey through “family, sexuality and a hostile American landscape”.

Trans Voices Rutgers University sociology professor Arlene Stein, author of Unbound: Transgender Men and the Remaking of Identity (Pantheon, 2018), presents a sociological examination of how the new generation of transgender men view themselves, the world in which they live and the impact they have on society.

One half of the music duo Too Attached, award-winning Canada-based trans artist Vivek Shraya’s I’m Afraid of Men (Penguin, 2018) delves into the ways “masculinity was imposed on her as a boy” and how it “continues to haunt her as a girl” while proposing a means to reimagine gender in this century.

Sketchtasy (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2018), the ninth book by gender queer writer and activist Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore is a novel that vividly revives `90s gay culture, as experienced by Alexa and her pals, warts and all.

Fictional Forays When it was first published six years ago, Michael Lowenthal’s The Paternity Test (University of Wisconsin Press, 2012/2018), now available in paperback, was hitting shelves just as the unjustly canceled Andrew Rannells sitcom The New Normal (which also had a similar gay fathers/surrogate mother theme) was premiering on NBC. We’ve come a long way since then (see same-sex marriage), but the subject matter of LGBTQ parenting is still as timely as ever.

A few years older than Wyatt, 19-year-old Jake is the protagonist of the Y/A novel Never Rest (Lethe, 2018) by award-winning writer Marshall Thornton, in which Jake, undergoing experimental treatments for leukemia, discovers he’s attracted to another patient, and realizes he is experiencing a frightening transformation. Édouard Louis, author of the international hit The End of Eddy, returns with the nonfiction novel peachATL.com | 21

DIVERSTY IN BUSINESS FORUM AT THE LGBTQ INSTITUTE PHOTOS: Thomas Le

22 | 10.17.18

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR MAX "NANA" WESTLAKE AT THE HIDEAWAY PHOTOS:Andrea Dwyer

Frank Santore, CMT Professional Massage Therapy Frank Santore, LMT

60 min massage - $85 90 min massage - $120 Book your appointment today!

franksantore.com Call 404-343-4280

Georgia State License Number: MT000673

24 | 10.17.18

- since 1997 -

- since 1997 -

Named People Magazine’s “Best Wedding Cakes in Georgia!” www.metrobakery.com

WOOFS Photos: Andrea Dwyer

26 | 10.17.18

peachATL.com | 27

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!

15th Anniversary

53,10 Toys

We went back to the drawing board to Dona bring you a brand new experience and Since We St this year will be like never before...

Toy Part

December 2018! & Happy Pride from your friends at forthekidatl

Cody was born and raised in Southern Louisiana and moved to Atlanta in July 2016 to pursue a career in Onsite Management. His hobbies include going to the gym, traveling, decorating and shopping. He also enjoys hanging out and spending time with his friends which is often done over a nice dinner or out dancing. He is passionate about helping others, and he lives as much as possible by the golden rule of treating others as one would wish to be treated. Check out Cody’s Instagram @cody.roys.

Cody Savoy

30 | 10.17.18

COSTUME CONTEST HOSTED BY SHAVONNA B. BROOKS

Midtown Moon BEST COSTUME WINS $100 CASH PRIZE HOSTED BY TRASHETTA GALORE AND PRIZES FOR 2ND AND 3RD PLACE

One In 35,000,000

Love, Loss, and the One

By Scott King

36 years into the AIDS epidemic, there are approximately 35 million dead. Taking a cue from the Stephen Spielberg masterclass, I would like to shine a cinemascope light on one beautiful soul we lost to this terrible plague.

I met James when I was 18. 18! I think it was my third trip to the queer bar.

I was not scared. It was 1999. He was dressed in all black, very chic, including some fabulous Prada cowboy boots. His straight friend brought me over to the table.

He had grown up in my hometown but had escaped right after high school for the big city lights. I was hypnotized by him. More than anything, I wanted to touch him.

Gently.

So we did. He taught me how to roll a blunt. He taught me how to kiss without sucking his face off. For some reason, I had my guitar with me. I played for him. He kissed me, gently, and said, “You are so beautiful. And I mean this has nothing to do with this,” he said, tapping my body to show that he meant the compliment for my soul, not my corporeal shell. “It’s you. It’s you. It’s you that is beautiful. Never lose that.”

Not to be vain or anything, but I knew exactly what he meant. We had a Bonnie and Clyde Romeo and Juliet type of romance all throughout my senior year of high school. He was in and out of town trying to live his life and reconnect with his family. He would leave notes, love letters, on the windshield of my car. It was dangerous, exciting, and beautiful. It was ours.

The exigencies of life pulled us apart. I wasn’t so dumb as to erase his number from my address book that I took to college. I called him after 9/11 to make sure he was okay. We reconnected, then drifted apart again. It was all good.

Then, in 2008, when I was in Vermont for grad school, I received a DM on Facebook. It was James. One of my Burlington gays had been chatting with him, and James had seen me in dude’s friends list. He was so excited that he had hung up on that poor lonely homosexual up in Burlington, who now hated me. It was worth it.

James and I chatted for hours, running out of breath like children excited to tell you about their day. Among other things, James told me that he had tested positive in 2002. He told me all about it, and he seemed to be doing okay. It took me aback, but I took it in stride.

After a couple of weeks on DM, I made the smart decision

32 | 10.17.18

Scott King’s milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. He could teach you, but he’d have to repeal and replace. Scott King is, like, a really smart person.

to drive down to Poughkeepsie and see him. It was like my teenage dreams come true into full adult stud life.

Nothing had changed, it had only gotten better. We were both gorgeous and beautiful, and we took lots of pics. I couldn’t believe it was real.

I graduated law school and moved back down south to study for the bar exam. J was in and out of Tennessee visiting his mother and trying to get better with the doctors. I could tell that he was going downhill and not really following doctor’s orders. Even if I’d had more energy and free time, I don’t know if there’s anything I could have done for him. James was still the dreamer - I jokingly referred to him as an escape artist - that I had met in 1999. That was who he was. It was alluring and endearing, but it was also frustrating.

I let go. I let him live out his final months as he wished.

I did, however, get to see him in the hospital on Valentine’s Day 2010. He had lost about 40 lbs. from his lean frame. The nurses had shaved his beard into a mustache, so he looked like the very first AIDS patient.

I walked into the room and said hello and brought him flowers.

I sat and told him that I had passed the bar and was moving to Atlanta. “Oh my God! You LOOK like a lawyer,” he said. “If I wasn’t about to die, I’d climb out of this bed and ...”

I started laughing, and then tears welled up. “Aww,” he said. “Don’t be a little bitch. Come here and give me some sugar.”

Even though he was a couple days away from death, his spirit was still in there. I was in awe.

James died two days later in bed at his mom’s trailer.

In 36 years, 35 million lights have been extinguished by AIDS. James’s light was but one of them.

He still burns deeply inside of me.

Be Your Better Best A good friend of mine recently went on a fourth date with a Two weeks ago, I had a bit of a reality-celebrity-check.

Donald Trump texted me! Or so I thought until all of America also got the same message. Apparently, all those e-mails I hand-wrote to get onto The Apprentice meant nothing to him!

Just when you think you know a guy, am I right? I quickly noticed I couldn’t respond to his message as it was not a text message at all, but rather an American Horror Story: Apocalypse doomsday alert no one wanted. I’m big on responding to texts. I’ll even respond to my Pizza Hut delivery tracker to see if it’s a real person writing me. (It’s not) I always found it courteous to respond to everyone who took the time to write you, even if ‘they’ were an automated program. And if you become known as a timely text responder, you can send a big message to someone when you leave them on ‘read.’ This week’s thot of inspiration comes from a friend who (for reasons I’ll never know) reached out to me for help.

The troubles began when my friend accidentally sent an upset message to the wrong person. The issue he was having was that the message he sent was ABOUT the person he sent it to. We’ve all been there before. I once texted my mom ‘what are you wearing’ aiming the question to a trick I was chatting up. My friend’s issue escalated by the fact that what he actually sent was a Memoji video of himself complaining about the recipient. And the Memoji was for me, asking to help him regarding a different problem he had with that same individual! I got sucked into a conversation I wasn’t a part of just like the time I got sucked into buying ‘free hugs’ on eBay. I had a good laugh at his expense, then proceeded to fix the situation. The original issue dealt with assumptions we make about our friends. In conclusion, stop making assumptions about your friends and always check before you do something! The end.

Now that I’ve fixed my friends’ initial problem, I wanted to talk about Memojis while avoiding his second problem. I love Memojis! They are, I feel, Apple’s greatest triumph. They give you the ultimate face filter! Even Snapchat, the company that unintentionally spearheaded ‘Snapchat Filter Plastic Surgery,’ must be envious. Here lies a program that lets you create an animated emoji in the likeness of yourself, or of your greatest fantasy. I would like to make a note now that my friend’s Memoji was of a young Dominique Deveraux, but without the Petrossian Beluga. The wonderful thing about Memojis is they fix the emotional ambiguity problem a regular text has. Even a normal emoji can get confusing.

Do you want to make a salad or have sex? Or both? The Memoji will clear up any confusion.

It was this lack of emotional ambiguity that has my friend in a tizzy as he said some not-so-nice things in the glamorous likeness of Alexis Carrington’s greatest enemy. And, with October being National Bullying Prevention Month, I had to explain to my friend what our First Lady, Melania, has finally started tackling: bullying is bad. Many of you might remember when Melanie first said she would start an anti-bullying campaign back in 2016, and two years later, we have the first attempt with her “Be Best” campaign. Although I feel she’s coming for Spider-Man’s “Be Better” campaign on the PlayStation 4, I found it was simple and direct enough to inspire my friend in his future Memoji escapades.

And so, I made a Melania-moji to tell my friend (in my BEST Eastern European accent) “Be Best, even when your best is not better.”

Yours in being best,

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 | 10.17.18

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 17 – Oct 24

La Choloteca

Annual Little 5 Points Halloween

Come join the inclusive Latinx party where you’ll dance Festival & Parade to the classics of salsa and merengue and groove to the It is not only the largest Halloween parade in the Southcumbia and soulful boleros. east but also a cute festival where the businesses and Thursday, October 18, 10:30 pm – 3 am restaurants welcome the influx of visitors to the neighborhood. The parade is from 4-6 pm on Euclid Avenue.

MJQ Concourse

Saturday, October 20, 12-11 pm Little Five Points

STAFF PICK!

28th Annual AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run Join the fun 3.2-mile run/walk through the historic Piedmont Park & Midtown Atlanta neighborhoods, which also happens to be the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the Southeast. Register at aidatlanta.org.

Sunday, October 21, 11 am - 5 pm Piedmont Park & Midtown Atlanta

Ru Paul’s Drag Race: Werq The World

Sofi Tukker - Treehouse World Tour

Center Stage presents Werq the World on with the finalists of Season 10 of the popular drag contest extravaganza! Michelle Visage hosts the show with sickening performances by Season 10 finalists Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Eureka, and Kameron Michaels along with fan favorites Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi, and Violet Chachki.

Get your tickets via Ticketmaster.

Sofi Tukker is bringing their renowned tour in celebration of their debut album, Treehouse, to Atlanta. The duo has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket will go to support a local LGBTQ organization and the Trevor Project.

Friday, October 19, 9 pm

Terminal West

Center Stage Atlanta 38 | 10.17.18

Wednesday, October 24, 8:30 pm

CELEBRATION OF LIFE OF CHRIS MCKINSTRY AT AMSTERDAM PHOTOS: Andrea Dwyer

40 | 10.17.18

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 | 10.17.18

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

kn

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 | 10.17.18

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 WAYS TO RECOVER AFTER A PARTY WEEKEND

PRIDE WAS FUN, BUT THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!

Sprite + Antacid = Settled stomach

Take your vitamins Got some sleep

Drink plenty of water Exercise lightly

Herbal tea instead of coffee

Don’t plan too much

Eat probiotics

Eat nutritiously 46 | 10.17.18

No alcohol for a while

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

Pride is over. Wake me up in time for Halloween.

Asking for a friend: How long after sex is it ok to ask him to leave?

Me: I really wasn’t all that drunk Him: You were hugging a guy with a bear, calling him your Bear Daddy Top!

Isn’t it funny how taste buds change?

Me as a kid: I hate vegetables Me as an adult: I love eating a**

Me: And your point is?

I don’t feel bad about having a lot of fun during Pride – you don’t look back and remember the nights you had plenty of, do you now?

Part of me says I have to stop drinking. The other says ‘Don’t listen to him, he is obviously drunk!’

My current body type is like you can tell I work out, but you can also tell that I don’t say no when someone offers me a cookie…

If my boss knew just how ineffective I was on the Monday after Pride, he would have given me the day off!

When your co-workers ask you Monday, Tuesday, AND Wednesday morning if you went out last night, it means I had an excellent pride weekend!

48 | 10.17.18

50 | 10.17.18

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

You’ll have to be the group leader today, simply because no one else wants to. This unwanted responsibility will only complicate your day. Don’t let frustration get to you, though. You may be a man of action, but you’ll have to be a hand holder today if you want to get anything done.

Romance can be like a game of chess. There can be much jockeying for position that’s determined by a rigid adherence to strategy. But there’s always something that’s left to chance, and you can go from a king to a pawn in no time flat.

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

You’ll be forced to deal with power struggles on all fronts today. Whether at home or amongst friends, everyone will want the upper hand. It’ll be up to you whether you let them have their way, or whether you open your can of whoop-ass and show them who’s the boss.

That home makeover you had planned may be met with resistance by your partner or housemate. When sharing a living space, you must remember that your vision may not jibe with those you live with. Expect some give and take, but that living room shrine to Kylie Minogue may not happen any time soon.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Trying to influence people to see things your way will be an uphill struggle today. Your arguments will have to be sound and your passion obvious if you want others to fall into place. But despite all of your commitment, expect to still be dateless by the time next week rolls around.

You can add to your list of credentials if you get creative in your dating strategies. Dinner and a movie is so cliche, so bring something new to the table. A homecooked meal will be much more impressive, and then you’ll have him right where you want him.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

Today will be a good one to volunteer your services to a worthy cause in your community. There are men out there who need your help, but pride may keep them from asking for it. There’s sure to be an AIDS hospice that needs the help of compassionate men just like you.

Be wary of new financial schemes today. There are smooth talking wolves who will convince you that you’re doing the right thing. But a fool and his money are soon parted, and you can buy yourself a designer dunce cap with what little dough you have left.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Patience is not one of your strong points, but that’s what it’ll take to develop relationships with men other than yourself. Rushing in will have you missing the subtle nuances, or seeing the warning signs of a disaster that’s just waiting to happen.

High energy levels will propel you through a hectic day.

You’ll be a dynamo of action, and you’ll get so much done in a short time that you’ll finish all your errands and chores early in the day. Then you can crash on the couch and do absolutely nothing.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

Nothing tears people down easier than harsh critiques of their performance. It’s even worse if those assessments come after a romantic encounter. In those cases, learn to say something constructive, or don’t say anything at all.

It could be stimulating to kick back and daydream about your future today. But be realistic when inventing future scenarios. Changes of job or living venue are reasonably attainable goals. But jetting off to California to marry David Duchovny might be best kept in the dark recesses of your mind.

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.

Last year I was in a relationship with a guy who abused and punished me emotionally. It wasn’t a long relationship, but he left me deeply scarred and hurt.

Now I met this guy who by all measures is a great guy - and the complete opposite of the last guy! Loving, caring, and honest, and just wonderful. But I can’t help myself from having thoughts that my new guy is playing me and being dishonest – even though he proves again and again that he is simply a good guy.

I know that my destructive thought pattern is a result of my last relationship, and I really want to break this cycle, but I keep defaulting to my negative thinking.

Please help me break this cycle!

Sincerely Bona Fide Bae Dear Bona Fide Bae Having your trust broken as severely as you have experienced is really hard. It takes time to rebuild that trust to other people, and of course, your guard is bound to be up much quicker because of it. You are lucky to have met someone who can maybe help you break this cycle so that you can learn to trust and love again. Remember, whatever your ex did, it has nothing to do with your new guy. So first of all, don’t compare or transfer any of the emotions from your past relationship to your new one. Sure, it is way easier said than done, but one way you can work through this is being honest towards your new guy and let him know that you have had these experiences with your ex and that they have emotionally scarred you – but also let him know that he is actively helping you regain trust and confidence.

Honesty and openness in a relationship paves the way for a much better foundation for a deeper relationship – and it is definitely easier than being shady and dishonest!

Me and my (maybe ex) boyfriend had a major falling out this weekend. We were supposed to hang out, have dinner, and then go out, but he all of a sudden had a ‘work emergency.’ So I went out to dinner with some friends and ignored his texts all night. Well, it turns out he was able to leave early and then tracked me on my phone to find me at a bar where I was flirting hard with this other guy he knows I think is really hot. So, we got

52 | 10.17.18

into an argument, and then had a screaming match, and then he shoved me. Twice. I stormed off and told him never to contact me again. Now he has been texting me saying he is sorry, and that he wants me back, but I think that it’s over. Physical abuse is a no-go, right?

Sincerely Mismanaged Dear Mismanaged Should your (maybe ex) boyfriend have shoved you?

No. Should you have ignored all his texts? No. Should you have flirted with another guy if you knew that would hurt him? No. Should you have fought and escalated the fight while out? No. As you can see, there are many steps to this conflict and a lot of things that could and should have been avoided. One thing is certain: You both have a really poor way of handling conflict, and you both actively escalate instead of working to deflate a situation. That on its own are not the best precursors for a healthy relationship. So maybe this break is for the better. Hopefully, you will both take the time to learn a little about what you don’t want in a relationship, and even though this entailed a whole lot of unnecessary drama, it still revealed some true colors. On both sides.

I was just at a nude gay campground, and I freaking loved it! The sense of freedom was incredible. I know the season is about to end for camping, but I want to get out there much more – where can I find campgrounds and like-minded people?

Sincerely Nature Calling Dear Nature Calling Gay camping is a very overlooked segment of the gay travel industry, but I also think it is emerging. An excellent resource is the website gaycampingusa.com which has a fairly comprehensive list of gay campsites across the country. With that resource, you can pretty much plan out an entire road trip featuring only gay campsites!

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