Peach v4-15 - Keep It Up!

Keep It

Up!

Posed in the Nude

How Naked Yoga Can Help Heal You

A Song About Samantha Telling a Trans Woman’s Story

Interview: Melissa Etheridge How She Learned to Let Go of Fear

SPRING2020 AVAILABLENOW

ABETTERBUZZBRANDGOODS.COM

15% OF ONLINE ORDERS

DONATED TO GIVING KITCHEN* Giving Kitchen (GK) is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources in order to create a community where crisis is met with compassion and care. *

DONATION PERIOD ENDS APRIL 3

Contents

APRIL 15, 2020

V4-15 PEACH ATL MEDIA, LLC 925b Peachtree St. NE, #168 Atlanta, GA 30309

22

8

MANAGING PARTNER Brian Sawyer brian@peachatl.com

OPERATIONS Jeff Anderson Sales and Development Director

jeff@peachatl.com

32

12

EDITORIAL Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director mikkel@peachatl.com

From the Editor

Brian Sawyer Graphics

A few months ago, you probably couldn’t imagine where we are now with a new reality of quarantine and social distancing.

The constant and looming fear of being amid a global pandemic is not easy to handle, and already are people voicing concerns about the implications this new world order will have on their mental well-being. So, this issue will hopefully be a welcome mental break as well as a guide to how you can best preserve your mental health while hunkered down a home.

In our celebrity interview, Chris Azzopardi speaks to LGBTQ icon Melissa Etheridge who has chosen to focus on the ‘beautiful change’ the COVID-19 pandemic will bring. We also list the things you can do to feel productive while hunkered down, we give you ten things you can do to nurture your mental health, and we spoke to yoga instructor Michael West about the healing powers (naked) yoga.

And that is, of course, not all, so be well, and enjoy this issue of Peach.

SALES | DISTRIBUTION Andrea Dwyer andrea@peachatl.com

CONTRIBUTORS Chris Azzopardi Mike Lowe Mikey Rox

NATIONAL AD REP

Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director IG @hyldebrandt

Rivendell Media 908.232.202

ONLINE

PRINT

SOCIAL

peachatl.com

At Distribution Points Across the City

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 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

A Song About

Samantha

By Mike Lowe Photo: Noa Griffel

On a couch inside the Manhattan offices of Atlantic Records, Benjamin Scheuer beams with cautious optimism. Already a Drama Desk Award winner for his one-man musical The Lion, Scheuer saw the release of his first single for Canvasback/Atlantic Records, “I Am Samantha,” in late March. Accompanying it is a groundbreaking music video, which was filmed in Atlanta by transgender director T Cooper and features a cast of 27 transgender actors.

The song would not exist were it not for Samantha Williams, a trans woman Scheuer struck up a conversation -- and, subsequently, a friendship -- with at a coffee shop in Manhattan’s West Village several years before.

Below, Scheuer and Williams open up about how one simple conversation over coffee two summers ago blossomed into a life-changing experience for both of them.

BENJAMIN SCHEUER: I lived in the Village in New York City for 14 years. I was a regular at Joe Coffee, on the corner of Waverly Place and Gay Street. I would go in and do a lot of my work there -- writing songs, working on writing theater. I like talking to strangers, and I met a lot of folks who became dear friends.

SAMANTHA WILLIAMS: I had been working at that coffee shop since 2013.

BS: And I had been a regular since before then. I knew Samantha before her transition. We were talking in the summer of 2018 and the song “Sean” by the Foo Fighters was playing.

SW: I happened to be working with a co-worker named Sean. So Benjamin, Sean and I were joking around about how there’s a song about Sean, there’s a song about Maria, there are 25 songs about Mary -- but there were no songs about Samantha.

BS: I said, “I can try to write a song with the name Samantha in it. Tell me about your name.”

SW: One of the first things that piqued your interest was how I had chosen my name. I said, “I did...and I didn’t.” My mother felt that she was carrying a girl, so she and my father only came up with one name when she was pregnant.

BS: I’m fascinated by stories of identity and selfactualization. The story that Samantha told me is one of the most powerful ones I had ever heard. In having the honor and responsibility to do my friend justice in telling her story in my medium, which is music and

HURT AT WORK?

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

#KELLIECARES! www.hensoninjurylaw.com kellie@hensoninjurylaw.com

Serving the Midtown community for over 15 years!

Call Attorney Kellie Henson for your free consultation today!

404.795.5100

Don’t deal with the insurance company alone -- let Kellie get you the benefits and settlement you deserve!

lyrics, I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to do the best job I could. I did feel a real kinship to you because you’re a storyteller and a writer.

to hear each other’s stories and to just hang. Benjamin got his guitar out and everyone was singing along to the song. It felt like a retreat, almost.

SW: That’s an aspect of our relationship; we are fellow writers.

BS: I found it deeply moving to be backstage on the set.

Some of the cast members were in their late 60s and some were teenagers in high school -- all of whom were out; all of whom were joyful; all of whom came together to create a piece of art about self-actualization. I met the parents of the teenagers who are in the video. Of course, they need to have guardians if they’re under 18 and on a film set.

BS: Samantha and I went to lunch several times. I took out my iPhone, pressed record and said, “Leave nothing out.” As I was working on the song, my wife was pregnant with our first kid. I was anxious that I wasn’t going to do a good job being a dad. My kid’s a year old now and the joy of my life. And the story that Samantha told me about her relationship with herself was also very much about her relationship with her parents. So to me “I Am Samantha” is really a story about parents and their kids.

SW: With my parents, you have the two polar-opposite examples of how one might react to someone coming out. My mother expressed some concern for my safety, but also said, “You know what you’re doing. If this is what you need to be happy…” I went back to Cleveland, where she works at a CVS, to surprise her. She hadn’t seen me in a while. After the initial minute of her not realizing it was me, she proudly introduced me to her co-workers as her daughter. In that same visit to her store, she texted my father: “Would you like to see your daughter?” You see the three ellipses bubbles, and after 15 minutes he comes back with, “I’d rather not.”

BS: I’d finished, or so I thought, writing the songs for a record to be released on Atlantic. So I was writing “I Am Samantha” without any sort of pressure from anyone to make anything for any commercial purpose.

I finally brought it to them like, “Hey guys, I wrote a song about a friend of mine. Just thought I’d share it with you”. They came back and said, “We think this is the best song you’ve ever written! We think it should be the first single on the record. Can we organize lunch with Samantha? We’d like to meet her.” Then they did something that really inspired my confidence -- we all went to lunch at Morandi on Waverly Place, just around the corner from where Samantha and I met at Joe Coffee. They said, “Samantha, tell us your whole story.”

SW: You would think all the grownups would talk and the girl who the song was about would just sort of soak it in. But I have things to say and they all listened. They all wanted to know what I thought. That was a powerful indicator as to what they felt about the material and how they wanted to go about releasing it.

BS: For the video, a woman based in the UK named Katie McCullough runs a company called Festival Formula. I worked with Katie on five music videos for songs that I made, most of which were based around a theater piece I did called The Lion. When she was in New York, we sat down and we had a cup of coffee and I said, “I’ve got a song I wrote about a friend who is a trans lady, and we want to make a music video. We should get a trans director on the project.” She said, “I just saw the most extraordinary documentary called Man Made, about trans bodybuilders. Then I saw the director of the film, T Cooper, give a talk about it. He is your guy!” And so we got in touch with T Cooper.

T cast Samantha as herself and hired 26 other trans performers. As far as I understand, this is one of the first music videos to have an all-trans cast.

SW: I knew that I was going to be surrounded by more trans individuals than I ever had been. I was excited for that, but I was also just thrilled to go see Atlanta and have the whole experience. I had no idea how moving it would be to see how much everybody wanted to be there, how eager they were to get to know each other,

SW: That was one of the most moving parts for me. It’s a song, in some ways, about parents and children. To see these teenagers and their parents interact as if it’s the most normal thing in the world -- it’s just a mother and a daughter; it’s just a mother and their son -- is something I never could have imagined happening to me as a teenager. I got to take a long walk with the mother of one of these trans teens and tell her what it meant to me to see her interact with her daughter.

This child gets to grow up with that affirmation and that acceptance.

BS: When I was in high school, I not only didn’t know anybody who was trans, but I didn’t know what trans was.

SW: Same here!

BS: Basically, when we were filming, I got into Atlanta from London, I walked off a plane and into a cab, and then into a family. I was amazed by how welcoming and generous everyone was to me. I’m a cisgender, white, heterosexual guy. I would be totally understanding if there was a little bit of skepticism about, “Why is this guy, Benjamin Scheuer, part of this story? Why is this guy telling this story?”

SW: I don’t think there was even a whiff of that on the set.

BS: None of that. But can I ask you, if that question was put to you, what would you say?

SW: Well, you’re a storyteller. You’re curious. You’re open. You ask a lot of great questions. And I think that the idea you can only tell your own story is an idea that people express nowadays. But as a writer, I just find that to be a silly notion. If you’re willing to put the time and the work in to understand what you’re talking about, not only can you tell a moving story about somebody’s pain and triumph, but you can also shine a light on something that your audience might get a chance to see from your perspective.

BS: I mentioned earlier that I was writing the song when my wife was pregnant with our first child. Samantha’s story resonated with me as one of self-acceptance and also accepting your family, as well. I knew I had to put some of my own fears into the lyric in order for it to feel raw and real and necessary for me as a writer and a performer. In doing so, I found common ground with Samantha’s story -- not through the specifics of her transition, but through the elements of going through what she went through. What did I learn from hearing Samantha’s story? What have I learned about her, my friend Samantha -- but also about my understanding of relationships with parents and kids? What have I learned about myself? I think those are necessary questions to ask if one is to do the work of serious writing about a real person.

“I Am Samantha” (Canvasback/Atlantic Records) is available now, and you can watch the video on all streaming services and at benjaminscheuer.com.

How Melissa Etheridge Learned to Let Go of Fear

By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Lauren Dukoff

In solidarity with our shared struggles right now, we applaud the decision of Q Syndicate, who provided this article with LGBTQ+ icon Melissa Etheridge, to grant access to their extensive article catalog, that was exclusive to Peach pre-Corona, to all LGBTQ+ publications in the Southeast. That means that you may have read this interview in other Atlanta outlets. You can read the full, unabridged interview at peachatl.com. Thank you for understanding!

Throughout her dynamic three-decade career, can do to keep this from spreading is to keep Melissa Etheridge has beat cancer and away from each other. weathered the devastating emotional toll of the AIDS crisis. Having overcome her own But you’re doing what you can to connect with battles, the music legend consequently became fans on social media. How about connections in a beacon of strength, resilience and survival your personal life? Is your family with you? and has turned her tribulations into musical Yes. My two older kids – one is in New York catharsis.

City and she got out and went to a friend’s in Washington D.C. and she’s staying there. I have Given her collective courage in facing life’s another in Denver and he’s OK. I wish they were most unexpected challenges, I decided to turn all here. My two little ones are here with my to her recently. I wrote to the music legend and wife, so we’re camping out here. And we take LGBTQ activist on Twitter to ask if she’d be walks and do stuff – and we’re six feet from willing to speak to me about how she’s handling our neighbors, but we’re all much more friendly the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic and because it’s that connection that we miss. its resulting fallout the day after a national shutdown that closed schools, workplaces, I remember you told me about three years ago restaurants and forced promoters and artists when Trump got elected, “I will not fear.” With to cancel tours. Etheridge was about to play a this, are you scared? Do you fear? And if not, long stretch of shows in the United States and how did you get to that place of fearlessness?

Europe, but that was canceled too.

I have many choices of how to respond or react to this virus, to everything that’s going on with During our interview, Etheridge brought her cool it. I could be very fearful. I could be fearful head and optimistic outlook as we discussed the unsettling state of our dramatically changed world.

How are you? And I mean that.

You know, we are all well. We’re in the new day, the new world, like all of us, and trying to figure this all out, but we’re all good.

You were about to go out on tour when some shows began being canceled because of COVID. Yeah, yeah. Well, it was gonna go till May and then I was gonna have a little bit off in May and June, and then I was gonna go over to Europe at the end of June and come back to America.

And you thought, for a time, that you’d brave it.

(Laughs.) Yeah. I was like, “No, no – I’m not scared of nothing!” But then, all of a sudden, it was like, “Oh, no, never mind. I get what we’re doing now.” It became that the thing that we 12 | follow us @peachatlmag

for my health, fearful for our system. I could choose fear. Or I could look at it and go, “OK.” And sometimes it’s hard to do this, to say, “I’m going to look at this and I’m going to see what is the loving outcome that can happen here.” And I choose to do that every day.

www.peachatl.com

We will be forced to make major shifts in these various paradigms once we get through this.

Yeah. Big corporations are not gonna have anybody to buy their products soon if they don’t look and say, “Something’s gotta change.” And we’re going to change leadership. I truly believe that. I truly believe there will be a huge leadership change and it’s gonna be people with new ideas and new ways of doing this. So this sort of quantum leap that we all felt could come since 2012, there’s big change coming, and we all wanted it. It’s sort of like this big bow that’s been pulled back really far and finally there’s gonna be so much desire for that change now because of understanding how interconnected we are. We’re gonna see that change, and 10 years from now we’re gonna look back and go, “Wow, it was really, really hard but I’m glad it happened because these changes were made.” So that’s how I don’t fear. I constantly think, What’s the good?

Look for the helpers. Find the Italians singing on the balcony. There’s beautiful things that show what our humanity is. That’s what we can do now. That’s how you don’t fear.

What did you learn about pandemic panic from living through the worst of the AIDS pandemic?

That there are really good, smart people in the world who were made for this, who were made to make change and to put pressure on government and institutions to change.

Really smart people that were born for this.

And they’re rising to the occasion right now.

we were fine. But the thing that we always like to do is go to the market a lot because we like really fresh produce and fresh food and that’s the hard part. But I can’t find brown rice anywhere! So I’m hoping we can replenish and everybody will be OK. And I have to make sure we have salad every day because this is not the time to not be healthy, so fresh produce is the thing.

What are you most grateful for right now?

My wife. Social media. I’m glad I got Netflix.

And I’m really grateful for the neighborhood I live in. If I gotta be here every day, I’m grateful for my yard and my house.

What words of wisdom would you like me to send out to the LGBTQ community?

I would say a couple of things. Just because we’re isolating, don’t emotionally isolate. It’s easy for some of us in the LGBTQ community to do that. Find a way to connect with people.

Find the people you can check in with every day and do that. Telephones, social media, whatever the way. And take care of yourself first. Stressful times really lower our immune system, so it’s super important to drink a lot of water and to stay hydrated and exercise.

Taking a run, taking a walk. Really, really important. And also know that change happens – change always happens. And we’re in the midst of it. These are historical times. Come from love. And be smart and stay healthy but understand that this too shall pass. It always does, and it will. And there’s great change coming because of it.

Good change. Beautiful change. For all of us.

A song that helped get you through your battle with cancer is helping me get through this, and it’s Patty Griffin’s “When It Don’t Come Easy,” from her album Impossible Dream, which I’ve had in heavy rotation while physically distancing. Where does a song like that take you?

Sometimes I don’t know what it is about a song that can do that, but a song can just hit a part of your emotional center and it can be in the voice, it can be in the music, it can be when she just sings, “If you get lost, I’ll come out and find you; if you forget my love, I’ll try to remind you, stay by you when it don’t come easy.” Just knowing that one human being sang that to another human being, and then just knowing that it exists in our emotional world can fill that part of you up. So, I’m so grateful for all the other musicians who have inspired me and do that because that’s our job, and it’s our time to do our job now.

Then you might start jotting down some song lyrics?

Oh yeah. I was already in my writing mode.

I was already starting to write for my next album. This is going to be a very interesting album. (Laughs.)

What were your quarantine essentials? Did you make a run over the weekend?

I actually just went this morning because we have a really great pantry. Because I have two kids, I kind of keep things stocked, so

As editor of Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.

His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

|

13

6 Productive Ways to Spend Your Time During the Coronavirus Crisis

By Mikey Rox

As we all hunker down to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, here are a few ways you can cope and stay productive for sanity’s – and humanity’s – sake.

1. Take free online classes Your mediocre SAT scores may not have gotten you into the Ivy League school of your dreams (don’t feel bad – mine didn’t either), but the internet doesn’t give a hoot about aptitude tests.

You now can take online courses from the likes of Harvard, Columbia and Princeton, among other top institutions, without paying a dime or leaving the comfort of your home. More than 450 free courses are available in a collection on Class Central (classcentral.com), in categories that range from computer science and engineering to humanities and art and design. Learn about the United States health policy (which is more topical than ever in these wild times we’re living in), take an intro to classical music, or brush up on Buddhism and modern psychology. You’ll also find LGBTQ courses, including the titles “Queering Identities: LGBTQ+ Sexuality and Gender Identity” and “Monitoring the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons.”

2. Get a head start on your taxes The IRS is expected to postpone the tax deadline (that announcement was not made as of press time, however), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use your time off to get your financial life in order. Doing it now will help avoid the crunch later, provide your accountant a head start before everyone makes their own mad dash, and it’ll be one less burden hanging over your head during this already stressful time of extreme uncertainty.

You likely won’t get much assistance from library resources this year considering the wide-ranging closures, which is something to consider if that’s help you typically rely on.

3. Hit some of your local trails and practice other self-care Curfews have been instituted in several states already – and that practice shows no sign of slowing as COVID-19 continues to spread widely and rapidly. While social distancing has been encouraged, it doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself in the house for the foreseeable future.

There’s always nature, and it’ll do you good to get out and stay active so long as you’re not spreading germs with person-to-person contact or congregating in groups of more than 10, per instructions from the White House. Take a private hike, clear your mind, and recognize that this temporary interruption in our lives is just that – temporary. Fresh air and sunshine will be necessary to fight the doom and gloom of news and social media. Other self-care to practice

includes getting regular exercise (gyms like Planet Fitness are offering free streaming workout class to members and non-members alike), maintaining proper hygiene (take a shower and get dressed every day), and treating yourself to mind- and body-soothing activities like at-home facials, partner massages, meditation and yoga.

4. Update your resume and plan new goals If you’ve been considering a career change, take this time to update your resume and set new goals.

It may take a while for the economy to get back on track after this crisis has ended, but we will bounce back, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be prepared to hit the ground running when we do.

5. Finish your home projects C

Have any half-finished projects around the house?

Most of us do. Grab what you need from the hardware store and get to work.

M

Y

6. Unplug from all your devices a few hours every day CM

MY

The worst way to spend your time during this recommended period of self-isolation is with your face buried in a phone or television while your hands are shoveling snacks. Constant inundation of negativity combined with inactivity will only make you feel worse – if not increase your paranoia – and nobody needs that. Limit yourself on screen time (sex apps are not the answer to your boredom right now, by the way), look around to see what you can accomplish in your safe space (a clean, organized home will immediately improve your mood – I promise), and resolve to focus on the positive. It may not seem like it on the surface, but there’s still plenty of that left if you look for it right where you are.

CY

CMY

K

Grab a coffee, take the survey, make a difference.

Take the 14th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey

ÂŽ

LGBTQsurvey.com LGBTQ research helps non-profits, universities and businesses better understand and serve our community.

Download survey results free of charge at cmi.info.

Your information is confidential, used for research purposes only.

You will not be contacted for marketing purposes.

Proudly LGBTQ-Owned and -Operated A pioneer in LGBTQ research since 1992.

MASK4MASC REALNESS

16 | follow us @peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

Celebrating 30 years of Pets Are Loving Support

Hosted by Bubba Dee

Prom Night

Drag Queen Bingo May. 12, 2020

and Erica Lee

For tickets visit our website www.palsatlanta.org

Erectile Dysfunction or Peyronie's Disease Got Yo

u Do

Newest PATENTED Process and Treatment Program

?

wn

• Atlanta's Trusted Leader • No Drugs, No Needles and No Surgery • Fast, Safe, Effective, In-Office Treatment Program • Non-Invasive Solution Natu • Natural, Long-term results • Improves satisfaction and performance • Greatly enhances sensitivity

Call 470-747-8400 x-105 To Set Up Your Consultation With Our Doctors Atlanta Health Clinic LLC 2480 WINDY HILL RD SE, STE 404 MARIETTA, GA 30067

www.AtlantaHealthClinic.com

THE PETS THAT ARE THERE FOR US THROUGH ALL OF THIS!

Thank you to Alli Royce Soble, Buzz Busbee, Benjamin Herron, Mike Ashley, Craig Krause, Brian Sawyer, and Bill Kaelin for letting us use their photos.

CARSON COWAN REALTOR® c. 404.998.9944 / o. 404.874.0300 / carson@carsoncowan.com / CarsonCowanRealEstate

Atlanta Fine Homes, LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.

18 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

FREE HIV TESTING FREE PrEP PLUS, low-cost STI screening 678-365-4300 523 Church St. Decatur, GA 30030

50 TH ANNIVERSARY ATLANTA PRIDE CELEBRATION

OCT.10-12,2020 | atlantapride.org

    

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

Nathaniel Hodges Nathaniel is a Georgia native, he works for Salesforce, and he is married to Conal Charles. In his spare time, he is deeply involved with the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, where he is not only a member but holds the position of Vice-Chair for both the men’s chorus and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus (voicesofnote.org). He is also founding member of Atlanta Ho Sho (hoshoatlanta.com) - Atlanta’s only live-singing, choreographed drag troupe whose live shows are as raunchily hilarious as they are popular. His current favorite quarantine pastime is planning one hell of a vacation for when this is all over!

@natto78

22 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

Posed in the Nude

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

Michael West is a licensed massage therapist and yoga instructor, and he runs Spana Massage & Yoga Studios, where he normally practices various classes, including nude yoga.

Peach talked to Michael about the healing power of (naked) yoga, and how you can join a class even though you are socially distancing.

What was your journey to becoming a yoga instructor and massage therapist?

I grew up in the suburbs and then relocated to the Buckhead area several years ago. Back when I first began my yoga journey, I got to experience Nude Yoga studios in Decatur and could tell right away it was a much different vibe; when it became possible for me to host after becoming certified as an instructor, I set intentions for my studio to be the kind of welcoming environment and challenging but approachable fitness experience I had enjoyed in other nude studios. My life changed when I discovered that I not only enjoyed massage as a self-employment venture, but that I could be successful at it. Along my journey of healing others with massage and experiencing the benefits of yoga for myself, I realized I could teach others to heal themselves.

You are a huge advocate for nude yoga – apart from no clothing, how is it different from ‘regular’ yoga?

Why Nude? Great question, though not everyone needs an explanation; there is a freedom we all have experienced regardless of what we’re doing naked. But there’s also something figurative about

stripping down to your true self and taking time out to be more present, vulnerable, and willing to work on YOU, without judgment.

What are some of the most common misconceptions of naked yoga?

Men often equate nudity with a sexual experience; perhaps they wonder if they can expect sex during or after class. To these, I ask: when you go on a first date, do you expect sex to happen? And if it doesn’t happen, do you feel like it was not worth your time? Hey, I was once that student, so I get it! Just check your intentions, because although you’re free to connect with others physically, there’s a lot more to the experience of a nude yoga session than the opportunity for titillation or sex; there’s the workout itself, but also the vibe you won’t get anywhere else in your local gay community; at least not at an event in which you meet new guys! And not to say that you won’t connect with someone or be touched in a supportive and sensual way by the instructor or fellow student; I encourage it. What I have discovered is that when you drop the expectations, you can set yourself free of the anxiety of “do I get to have sex?“ How do I get started with nude yoga?

Currently, you can connect the SPANA Nude Yoga Atlanta Meetup page - just go to Meetup.com and search for us there or follow on Instagram @5pana. From there, you will be directed to a subscription page for my live stream and pre-recorded nude yoga sessions; I also have a YouTube channel @theAtlantaBanana with clothed sessions for all levels, beginner to advanced. You may also reach me at michaelleewest@gmail.com.

24 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

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

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

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

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

Since our regular lineup of community events is on hold for now, here are a few events that can help support your mental health.

April 15 – April 22 Free

Nightly

Mind-Body

Meditation

Morgan Rysdon, nationally certified Alexander Technique teacher and founder of Center Studio, has created Your Daily Calm, a free nightly mind-body meditation via Zoom to help everyone relax and restore at the end of their day. Morgan guides everyone through 30-minutes of a relaxing mind-body focused meditation every night and promises you’ll be breathing deeper and feeling calmer by the end. Learn more at atcenterstudio.com.

Every Night at 8 pm (EST) via Zoom Zoom Meeting ID: 682 582 1729 Password: 213006

OUT Georgia Virtual BBL If you feel your career needs a little boost during these uncertain times, you can register for the Business Builder Lunch hosted by OUT Georgia and network on a smaller, more intimate level through Zoom. Bring your own lunch and keep building connections during social and physical distancing. More information and meeting details at outgeorgia.org.

Wednesday, April 15, 12 pm Zoom Meeting 2 am

Free Circuit/Yoga Fusion Class If you need to sweat away your worries, this is the class for you.

Yoga instructor Michael West (read more on page 24), and personal trainer Aktzi Mushin have teamed up to bring you a live fitness class that combines sweat-dripping strength training followed by restorative yoga.

The class is free on YouTube Live, and you join in regardless of fitness level because the class focuses mainly on body weight exercises and movement. Find Michael West on YouTube @theAtlantaBanana and Aktzi Mushin on FB @fitPERU. Monday, April 20, 6 pm YouTube Live @theAtlantaBanana

MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

14

Amsterdam Ave.

NE ve . tA

Piedmont Park

on

11

dm

6 12th St. NE

18

Pi e

Juniper St. NE

14th St. NE

7

9

2

10th St. NE

10

. NE

19

oe Dr

e. NE Piedmont Av

Juniper St . NE

Peachtree St. NE

3

Monr

Charle s Alle n Dr . N E

12 W. Peachtree St. NW

15

16

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

Spring St. NW

17

4th St. NE

8

13

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

4

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

BARS 1 2 3 4

Amsterdam Blake's Bulldogs Friends

6 My Sister’s Room 7 Ten Atlanta

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

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

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

clubs 13 Atlanta Eagle

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

fitness

retail 8 Barking Leather

9 10 11 12

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

spa/bath 15 Flex Spa

28 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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

www.peachatl.com

When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com

Cheshire 23

ansley 21

idg

eR

tC ir .

NE

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

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

Spa / bath 2135 Liddell Drive NE

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

Dining 38 Eclectic Bistro

Fitness 30 Gravitee Fitness

e. nt mo ed

d.

clubs 28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

39

36 38

Retail 26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

41

Pi

20

Dining 24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

Av

ge Rd Brid hire Ches

28

25 r eB

E

35

24

BJ Roosters Sequel Tripps Woof's

42 The Den

26

.N

.

r.

Dr

Rd

BARS 20 21 22 23

40

32

oe

hir

36

nr

on

es

er

Mo

dm

Ch

ll D

kn

27

33

. NE

Pi e

29

idde

ul

31

IX

34

x Rd

Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

22

42 L

Fa

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 The T

1287 Glenwood Ave SE 466 Edgewood Ave SE 1400 Northside Dr NW 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE

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

SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO

1400 Northside Dr NW

ANSLEY

BULLDOGS

Dining

BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR

FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

MIDTOWN

1447 Piedmont Ave NE

736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

10thandpiedmont.com

atlantaeagle.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

BLAKE’S ON THE PARK

blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE

893 Peachtree St NE

friendsonponce-atl.com

466 Edgewood Ave SE

swingingrichards.com

10TH & PIEDMONT

MY SISTER’S ROOM

991 Piedmont Ave NE

66 12th St NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

mysistersroom.com

TEN ATLANTA

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

THE T

modeltatlanta.com

EINSTEIN’S

1077 Juniper St NE

GCB & PLEASURES

brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

BARKING LEATHER barkingleather.com

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A

Fitness

931 Monroe Dr

MIDTOWN

frogsmidtown.com

G’S

CHESHIRE

219 10th St NE

gsmidtown.com

HERETIC

HENRY’S

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

132 10th St NE

henrysatl.com

BJ ROOSTERS

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

1049 Juniper St NE

bjroosters.com

boynextdoormenswear.com

FROGS CANTINA

465 Boulevard SE

hereticatlanta.com

2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

joesonjuniper.com

URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

SEQUEL

LA HACIENDA

Spas/Baths/Adult

TRIPPS

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

LAS MARGARITAS

76 4th St NW

1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Circle N

WOOFS

woofsatlanta.com

2425 Piedmont Road NE

lahaciendamidtown.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

flexspas.com

CHESHIRE

ANSLEY

ROXX

MIDTOWN MOON

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

THE DEN

DEKALB

2135 Liddell Drive NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

FELIX’S

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

THE HIDEAWAY

LIPS ATLANTA

thedenatlanta.com

atldragshow.com

3011 Buford Hwy NE

1544 Piedmont Ave NE

MIXX

mixxatlanta.com

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

30 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

Massage Bodyworks

by David $80 per hour 1st time $60 w/Peach ATL ad David cell 205-206-5218 cylondk1@gmail.com Located in Atlanta on Ponce De Leon Ave NE

Georgia Body Works.com Mobile Fitness and Massage “I come to you, so let’s get started!”

678-557-1780

Personal Training • Massage • Entertainment georgiabodyworks.com

Hannah’s Painting

678.850.1703 hannah.hannahspainting@gmail.com Interior | Exterior Painting Pressure Washing & more member OUT Georgia Alliance

ADVERTISE

HELP WANTED

FULL TIME DESK CLERK POSITIONS AVAILABLE

8-4pm and 12-8am

Please apply online at Flexspas.com

In Atlanta's premier

LGBT MAGAZINE for as little as

35 per week!

$

Email jeff@peachatl.com for more information.

Hot Tub and Swim Spas

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

10 Things that Will Help You Stay Mentally Healthy During This Crisis Heal and cope with the stress of dealing with a global pandemic

Social distance doesn’t mean social isolation Reach out to friends and family through technology Create a routine Get up, shower, get ready for the day Be mindful of those who need help Be willing to help those considered at-risk Break up your day Find tasks that gives you a mental switch-up Exercise!

Destress, relax, and recharge with exercise Eat healthy Sure, you may snack more, but try to vary your diet Drink alcohol – in moderation!

Alcohol is a depressant, so too much can affect your mood Sleep well Make sure you get enough sleep – maybe with a nap or two!

News in moderation Getting bombarded with constant death tolls is exhausting – turn it off!

Take one day at a time Don’t project far into the future. This is temporary, and we are all in it together 32 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

WE'RE HIRING Playmates and soul mates...

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

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

One Year Sales Experience Required EMAIL YOUR RESUME TO

Jeff@peachatl.com

Atlanta:

678-528-2525

18+ MegaMates.com

You look at little tired I am!

E-mail your Peach Pits to mikkel@PeachATL.com

Didn’t you sleep?

Sometimes I wonder… if my gym is thinking about me too?

Just six Hours?

Minutes!

I have washed my hands so much I have uncovered a nightclub stamp from 25 years ago

If you don’t want to gain weight while housebound, wear your swimsuit instead of your PJs

Can’t go outside, no movies, no restaurants – this is just like dating my ex

Why be eye candy when you can be soul food?

Now that the gyms are closed, this summer is going to be all about personality

Stop asking to see what’s on my camera roll. I’m a gay, single man.

You do the math 34 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22) You will be indecisive today, and for once, that will be a good thing.. Oh, you might try to do some online shopping today, but you won’t be able to decide between the many brands, so you scroll on. Your partner will breathe a sigh of relief when nothing will be delivered to your door over the next days – except for that t-shirt you just had to have.

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22) You will have a deep appreciation for male beauty in all it’s glory today, and you will flirt shamelessly online and through social media.

You will want to revel in hot guys, preferably with their shirts off, or wearing as little as is legally possible. So get that body electric, but keep it to your significant other(s) or stay online!

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

You often use your considerable charms to get what you want, and you don’t give much in return, other than a pat on the butt, and cab fare. Worse, you’ve stopped feeling guilty about it some time ago. It’s when you stop treating humans like humans that you stop being human yourself. Think of that today, before your reputation as a user comes back to haunt you.

Decisions will be difficult today, as your mind will be as cluttered and unfocused as the movie adaptation of ‘Cats’. You’re not sure why this is, but you better snap out of it, as your day will demand clarity of thought. Do the best you can today, and put up a professional front.

After work, relax, lie on the couch and stream an episode of ‘Stranger Things’, and stay away from ‘Tiger King.’

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

You met at the gym, and soon became workout partners. Now you’re separated, but still working it, and now you are getting more intimate in the digital world. As with all exercise, all this physicality is going to take strength, stamina and the ingestion of lots of protein. Hopefully this relationship will last and grow when you are allowed to be together again. If not, you may have to find someplace else to work out.

You may have to be judge, jury and executioner today as friends ask you to intervene in a dispute. You don’t like being in the middle, but you’re just so wise! Weigh all arguments, and take a recess if you must, but don’t use that as an opportunity to exclude yourself from the argument. Resign yourself to the fact that someone is going to be upset by your decision.

That’s when it’s time to remind everyone you were just the middle man!

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

You love the excitement of starting new projects.

It’s finishing them that you’re not crazy about.

The same goes with your men. You like being flirty and come-hither, but you lose interest once they get interested. Work on developing some focus today. Otherwise, people will know you by the trail of unfulfilled dreams and unrealized goals that you leave behind.

Now is the perfect time to start a new project around the house, but your partner isn’t keen on turning the back yard into a petting zoo. And who can blame him; all those animals can leave quite a stink. Scale down your plans today, and run them by him first. Chances are he may have creative suggestions you may have overlooked.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

You have an acute sensitivity to the aesthetics of your home, and you demand the same in your partner. A marriage to Martha Stewart won’t be happening anytime soon, although what a wonderful dream that is. There’s bound to be a guy like you out there, and today’s a good day to look for him. So, who in your feed has done a home makeover during this quarantine?

You may want to have your head in the clouds today, but you will need to have your feet squarely on the ground. Personal issues will demand your full attention, and you will need a sharp focus to deal with them. The view sure is pretty from up there, but you won’t be able to see the small details. Come back to earth today, take care of your business and then return to the clouds above.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

You have an amazing balance in your life. On the one hand, you’re kind and supportive, on the other, you’re selfish and greedy. Which side do you think people like best? It depends which one you decide to show on any given day. Think about who you want to be today, remembering, of course, that it’s always better to give than receive.

You may not follow the latest decorating trends, and that could explain why your home is so 1970’s. Maybe no one told you, or you just didn’t notice, but the ferns, beanbag chair and donut phone went out with disco and the Carter Administration. Some home improvement may be needed to bring that seventies house into the twenty-first century.

Get some expert advice before you start.

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.

I am a man in my fifties, and I prefer dating guys much younger than me.

Just recently, I met this 23-year-old on one of the apps, and we have been hooking up quite a bit. He says he identifies as straight, and this is his first experience with gay sex, but I can’t help feeling that I’m being played a little bit, because the way he performs in bed does not seem like a first-timer at all!

He says it because he doesn’t have to perform like he does with a girl, and being allowed to be submissive turns him on like nothing else. He is not asking for money or anything, but I feel like he is not telling me the truth about his sexual prowess. Should I call him out?

Sincerely Dunious Daddy Dear Dubious Daddy Maybe he has had experiences with other guys – and maybe he hasn’t. Your hunch is probably right, but then again, if he is playing a little game that turns him on like nothing else, as you say, and you are both getting some amazing sex out of it, maybe you shouldn’t try to fix it if it isn’t broken? If you are keeping this casual, the fact that he may be playing a little pretend doesn’t really matter. If he identifies as straight, he may have a few issues with coming to terms with his gay sexuality, so a little back story could maybe help him in a situation like this to keep things casual – and exciting! Now, if you intend to make things more serious with him, you should talk to him about this, but without accusing him of anything.

Being in isolation, I masturbate a lot. The other day when I was masturbating, I had been edging for a long time, so when it was time to climax, I expected this massive load. Instead, only a few drops came out, and I was honestly disappointed, but then also a little worried. Am I producing enough semen, and are there ways to increase your ‘load’?

Sincerely Hopeful Erupter Dear Hopeful Erupter There are several reasons for wanting to increase your ejaculate volume like fertility reasons or simply just sexual pride (I want to shoot a massive load!).

If your concerns are pride-related, you’ll be happy to know that there are ways to increase volume. If you are worried about your fertility, you will also be relieved to learn that volume has virtually nothing to do with how fertile your semen is. There is, simply put, no relation to health or fertility judging by the amount of ejaculate a man produces, and the average amount of ejaculate is just what equals a teaspoon-full. Which isn’t a lot in the first place. But still, our culture is obsessed with shooting this huge load, which is a whole other story that has deep cultural and even religious roots. And then there’s the entire porn industry that idolizes vast amounts of semen. So, with all that in mind, don’t be too hard on yourself and your small(er) load; you’re probably totally within the norm, but your expectations have just been a little warped. That being said, here are a few tips on how you can increase your ejaculate volume: 1. Stay hydrated: Inadequate water in your system can affect your whole body, including your semen.

2. Take vitamins: Semen is partly comprised of vitamin C and zinc, so take away any of the components, and you will get a poorer result.

3. Eat well-balanced: As with anything health-related, a healthy diet is essential, and balanced nutrition keeps testosterone levels balanced.

4. Stop smoking: Smoking is terrible for you and has even been suspected of decreasing secretions in your body – and semen is a secretion!

5. Do kegels: if you don’t know what they are, look them up! The exercises may not help with volume but will help to ejaculate the full volume.

Now, shoot away!

NEED ANSWERS? SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM 36 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

WE WILL REOPEN SOON BIGGER AND BETTER

WELCOME

TO YOUR BEST LIFE. OUR UNIQUE SERVICES INCLUDE: • EMSCULPT • MALE FACIAL SCULPTING • MALE FACIAL REJUVENATION • MALE HORMONE OPTIMIZATION SEXUAL WELLNESS & • SEX ENHANCEMENT • HAIR RESTORATION WITH PRP • BOTOX & DERMAL FILLERS • LASER HAIR REMOVAL • HYDRAFACIAL & CHEMICAL PEELS

INTRODUCING

BODY CONTOURING A STATEOFTHEART, NONINVASIVE BODY CONTOURING TECHNIQUE THAT BUILDS LEAN AND TONED MUSCLE 3235 ROSWELL ROAD, SUITE 400 ATLANTA, GA 30305 404481668557 REGENMEDSPABUCKHEAD.COM