Peach Magazine V4-21 - Can You Feel It?

CAN YOU

FEEL T?

Molded for Success Get Intimate with Griff & Rick

Fitness in the New Normal Going Back to the Gym

Circus of Books The Unlikely History of a Gay Landmark

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Contents MAY 27, 2020

V4-20

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EDITORIAL Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director

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mikkel@peachatl.com Brian Sawyer Graphics

From the Editor

SALES | DISTRIBUTION Andrea Dwyer

Here at the beginning of Pride Month, it is clear that Pride festivals across the world are going to be mostly online. And although Atlanta Pride is still struggling to be an in-person event, there is no doubt that the global pandemic will impact the celebration.

So how do you celebrate Pride now that the rainbow parade has been canceled? Check out our list on page 36 on how to commemorate Pride Month. We also recommend Out On Film and the Atlanta Pride Committee’s APC Movie Mondays, and right now, the Outstream Film Festival is ongoing – a fantastic way to catch up in LGBTQ history and the LGBTQ experience through cinema (page 8).

This issue also features sexy Insta stars, Griff and Rick who are getting even more intimate with you (page 16). Rachel Mason tells the story of a gay porn landmark (page 12), and Darren Floro-Bryant guides you to what you should consider if you plan on returning to the newly opened Georgia gyms (page 28).

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CONTRIBUTORS Chris Azzopardi Darren Floro-Bryant

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ON THE COVER Model: RICK & GRIFF

That and more in this issue of Peach!

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

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

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Streaming LGBTQ History June is Pride Month, and by now, it is clear that Pride across the world is going to look vastly different. One of the ways you can still celebrate Pride, support queer artists and filmmakers, and learn more about LGBTQ history and stories is to watch a bunch of LGTBQ-themed films and documentaries while we are all still socially distancing.

Here are two wonderful recommendations for your viewing pleasure.

Atlanta Pride Committee Movie Mondays Under the hashtag #APCMovieMondays, the Atlanta Pride Committee and Out On Film invite you to join the Netflix Watch Party (a Chrome extension for your computer) and dive into some LGBTQ movie masterpieces. They have already shown the critically acclaimed “Evening Shadows”, the fantastic “Lez Bomb,” and the legendary “I Am Divine”.

Check out their #APCMovieMondays Facebook page for upcoming virtual viewing parties.

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OutStream Film Fest Ben McCarthy and Megan Garbayo founded the seven-day virtual OUTstream Film Fest (June 1 – 7) in response to social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 crisis. The festival features queer film, episodic, and short films from all over the world. Throughout the seven days, audiences will have the opportunity to view programs from any device as well as participate in interactive online Q&As and discussions about the state of queer art, film, and media. On June 6, Atlanta’s Out On Film will be hosting the viewing of the 2018 film “Benjamin”, a bittersweet drama-comedy about love, art, and friendship. View the full lineup and how to get passes at outstreamfest.com.

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All models are actors from previous or upcoming productions at Out Front Theatre and photographer Tyler Ogburn captured them at a social distancing photo shoot lounging at a pool wearing nothing but their custom Panopoly mask and swimwear from Boy Next Door Menswear. Â Â Check out peachatl.com for more information about the models and the On May 23, Out Front Theatre Company masks they are wearing and do your launched their MASK 4 MASK fundraiser bidding at mask4mask.givesmart.com. in collaboration with Peach and Boy Next Door Menswear to connect with their audience and to help the theater out during this crisis.

The Fundraiser

All masks are created by residents costume designers Jay Reynolds, and Jacob Lavoie under the name of Panopoly Designs.

With access to costumes and materials, they have created over a dozen face masks that are unique and perfect for special events (at best worn with a disposable mask for added safety).

Photography by Tyler Ogburn All swimwear provided

by Boy Next Door Menswear

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“Right now, the safety and well-being of everyone in our community needs to be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, but I hope that people don’t forget about the arts. Out Front is one of a few local queer arts organizations that are dedicated to telling the stories of our community, and once the pandemic is over, the Atlanta queer community will be greatly weakened if those organizations are no longer around.”

- Paul Conroy, Founder & Producing Artistic Director

How to Bid Go to mask4mask.givesmart.com, to see all of the masks in detail. You need to register to bid, and to receive notifications about your auction item. If you win, you will be notified directly on June 14 when the auctions ends.

In celebration of Pride month and their own 40th anniversary, Boy Next Door Menswear is offering 25% off any regular priced items using the offer code 40LOVE. Offer is valid online at boynextdoormenswear.com or in-store until the end of June 2020.

BOY NEXT NEXT DOOR

MENSWEAR / ATL ATL ANT ANTA A

The Unlikely History of a Gay Porn Landmark

By Chris Azzopardi Photos courtesy of Netflix

G

ay porn is not what straight, religiousconservative married couple Barry and Karen Mason thought they’d become known for. But for over 35 years, they owned a bookstore that sold videos like “Confessions of a Two Dick Slut” and “Meat Me at the Fair” in West Hollywood. And now thanks to their daughter, filmmaker and artist Rachel Mason, her parents’ story is a Netflix documentary.

For the couple, however, selling and producing gay porn was just business as usual. Hard times forced Karen, a former journalist, and Barry, a former special visual effects engineer who worked on Stanley Kubrick’s 2001, to think fast, so they took over Circus of Books, which became a queer cultural institution. Karen and Barry, who still own the building even though Circus of Books closed in 2019, would go on to become wealthy LGBTQ activists and PFLAG parents.

But in the 1980s, the business was kept a secret from their three children, including Rachel and her gay brother Josh, who appear in Circus of Books along with former porn star Jeff Stryker and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner Alaska Thunderfuck. TV titan Ryan Murphy executive produced the film. Here, Mason discusses the power of straight parents as activists, what it says about porn that celebs who shopped at the

store won’t openly admit it, and the awkward dinner table talk her parents have with her partner, transsexual porn star and activist Buck Angel.

It’s funny to hear your mom say in the doc, “I don’t know what you’re gonna make out of all this filming. No one is going to be interested in this.” And now, of course, it’s on Netflix for the world to see.

That’s her whole constant mantra: No one’s gonna care, this is not interesting to anybody. I think that was her way of having a smokescreen.

Of course it’s actually fucking amazing that I’m like, “Deep penetration on these videos you made sent me to college.” How could that not be interesting? You know, I think it’s her way of misdirecting, but also at the same time it could also be true for her: It was not interesting. This was a boring job for many years. (Laughs.)

It’s like when she walks by the dildo wall but won’t look at it.

(Laughs.) I do have to say there’s a part of her, sadly, that is really kind of prudish and disgusted by her whole thing. I find that offensive and sad because I love and appreciate everything that she was involved in, and I actually think that the work she did was critical.

Your mom seems like the kind of person who really knows how to command a room.

She got up on the stage at Outfest and just said, “Had I known you guys were all going to be here, I never would’ve agreed to doing this.”

The audience is laughing and it’s like, “Mom, you just got an audience of 2,000 people to laugh.” But she’s like, “Now can I go? I don’t like this.” (Laughs.) That’s part of her sheer brilliant comedic instincts. She kind of knows, like Woody Allen, that she has this kind of nebbishy, over-the-top insulting quality that is just so funny.

And her dynamic with your father – the way she interjects when he doesn’t tell the full story – is really hysterical.

I think that’s part of their comedic duo vibe that is so amazing. I have to say, I milked it for all that it’s worth in the documentary.

(Laughs.)

How did the idea for the documentary come to you?

It really began in 2004. I had taken a lesbian and gay studies class, as it was called at the time, and it was about just sort of the history of LGBTQ experience. So the teacher, Jonathan D. Katz, a very prominent media studies scholar, his focus was on Robert Mapplethorpe, specifically gay imagery and photography, and the art that wasn’t above ground. It was sort of this subculture, and I remember my parents had Robert Mapplethorpe books in their store and I mentioned it to him. I said, “You know my parents carried his stuff?” And he was like, “What was their store?” And I said Circus of Books and he said, “Wow, Rachel, that is the most important store on the West Coast and that store really helped me to come out.” I think he was himself from LA; I was at Yale at the time. I was like, “What do you know about Circus of Books?”

What was it like to learn about Josh’s struggle to come out during the making of the film?

That was one of the interviews that actually I reshot because I had shot the film in a different way going into it. I was working hand in hand with Cynthia Childs, my producer, and I was going to be more of a distant subject. When I started to cut the film together, the most poignant moments were in all of the different interviews when people would look at the camera or look at me and say, “Your dad was going to go to jail.” I was like, “Shit, they’re talking to me; I need to actually be seen and heard on the other side of this.” I didn’t get that with my interview with Josh.

The second time around, I did the questions, and I didn’t expect my own reaction to be so shocked by what he said.

I was really so blown away, and it was so horrible to hear these things and to look back at myself with a sense of shame that I so was a self-absorbed teenager who loved everything gay and was wanting it, and here’s my poor little brother who’s trying to be so perfect and trying to hold it all together. And here he has this freaky, insane sister being an artist, and maybe that’s what gay looks like to him. And the store is also this crazy place where a lot of people died of AIDS, and he sees that world. So he’s caught in between these images that are not realistic of what he could have for himself as a gay man.

What was it like to hear the stories of your parents’ relationship with those who were dying of AIDS, and how they kind of became surrogate parents to them because their families disowned them?

I feel like that is part of the real untold story and untold chapter in gay history – it’s not exclusive to my parents. When you think back to the AIDS crisis, these men were dying in these horrible situations alone in the hospital because people I didn’t know my parents’ little LA weirdo store were afraid to touch them. The bravery of not would’ve been something anyone would’ve known this far east, let alone at a fancy school like Yale. So it just gave me an impression that I needed to do something about it. And he said, “This is part of gay history. It’s not just a little store. It’s actually the historical record because gay history didn’t have a chance to be documented because it was underground.”

So when the store started to close in 2015, that’s when I started really documenting it in earnest.

just my parents but all the different people who would show up for these men was so profound.

I really have to say I look at my parents in a really heroic light myself at that moment, but I also think back on the fact that there were other people like them.

Before our call, I was talking to my dad. There’s been some tension among family members on Facebook, and we’re still having a hard time wrapping our heads around the fact that some of them still support Donald Trump.

I’ll tell you: My partner and lover is Buck Angel and his parents are Trump supporters. What I think is really fascinating is he talks to them and he actually fully gets into it. I think it’s important to address it full-on and be like, “OK, you can support the guy who is gonna actually take your son’s right to exist.” If you have the stomach to engage, it’s actually a good idea to engage.

Well, our conversation stemmed from a Facebook war with family members who are anti-LGBTQ. My dad commented and said to them that he supports me and who I am, and that what they’re saying could potentially harm LGBTQ people.

That’s very powerful when people like your dad and my mom similarly do that because those are the most important activists. You and me being queer and waving our rainbow flag is actually sort of not really tipping the scale for those people; it’s people like your dad and my mom who are actually saying, “Look, I am still gonna go to church and I’m gonna find it in the Bible where Jesus says we can love everybody. And in the Old Testament, where you can reinterpret the word, the actual definition of what it means to lie down with another man, in fact, and totally recognize that there’s the possibility that we have a wrong interpretation here.”

The film comes at a time when queer spaces are vulnerable to the pandemic and are at risk of closing. Having gone through that experience with your parents, what are you feeling?

First off, my heart’s breaking for all the businesses. I look back at the strange timing: I could’ve never predicted that I’d be making a story about a story that’s unfolding currently, and that we’re in the time of a pandemic and the documentary is entirely basically based in the time of a pandemic for the gay community.

It’s almost like we’re living in that active moment where everyone is deciding the thing that you see my mom trying to decide when she’s talking about whether or not she can close the business. People are wrestling with that. All businesses.

basically do porn at all. So there was a variety.

But probably the vast majority were gay men. I think it’s because that exact neighborhood was called Boystown (laughs) and it was located in a gay boys’ neighborhood. I’m not an expert so you can’t quote me on this, but it’s pretty well known that men are the predominant consumers of pornography, especially in a store where you have to walk in and physically appear. Also, it was a meeting ground. I think it just naturally became a hotspot for gay culture.

Did you try to interview any of these other men?

Yeah, I’ve reached out to a few – again, I won’t say the names – and I’ve noticed things have leaked out here and there and I’m like, “Wow, I don’t know who said that. The gossip mill. I will just say think of a (famous) gay man over 50 and they were in Circus of Books.”

So the gossip is true?

Absolutely. And celebrities who aren’t even straight or gay or male. Rose McGowan posted that she loved the store’s selection of Italian Vogue, and Kathy Griffin posted about how she did her Christmas shopping at the store. So the celebrities who’ve come out, that’s awesome and fun and cool. It does speak volumes that people can’t just jump out and wave the flag of, “Yeah, I went to that store; it’s a porn store.” Because porn still has a stigma. I think that’s what we’re looking at right here, and I really hope to be part of the change that destigmatizes it.

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.

Did you ever wonder why the store catered to gay men and not queer women?

I guess that’s sort of interesting. Certainly there were lesbian clerks and women customers, and there were trans people. They had trans clerks and trans customers, and in fact they had Buck Angel work there – the very first trans guy to 14 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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50 TH ANNIVERSARY ATLANTA PRIDE CELEBRATION

OCT.10-12,2020 | atlantapride.org

MOLDED FOR SUCCESS

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

This week’s cover models are Atlanta-based Rick and Griff, who has reached social media fame by branching out their brand to many platforms – and now they are getting even more intimate.

For those (few) who don’t know you, please make your introductions.

Our names are Rick and Griff TwombleyKing, a married couple who have resided in Atlanta now for over ten years. Rick is a retired professional dancer and acrobat who has performed on stages from Broadway to Cirque du Soleil, and even as Tarzan in Disney’s stage productions around the world.

After retiring from the stage, Rick moved to ATL, where he now owns and operates his training company, Rick Twombley Fitness LLC, since 2011. He is also co-owner and CEO of he and Griff’s new enterprise, Two Kings Unlimited.

Griff is a marketing manager, artist and graphic designer, who graduated with a degree in Landscape Architecture from Clemson University. Aa part of his degree, he spent time overseas working in urban 18 | follow us @ peachatlmag

planning and on unique projects such as redesigning and modernizing the Nile riverfront in Luxor, Egypt.

Griff spent the last several years as a Creative Manager in corporate America but recently retired to dedicate his time as the co-owner and CFO of Two Kings Unlimited.

First off, how are you doing amid this global pandemic?

Since we both work from home fulltime, the sheltering in place has not really changed our daily 9-5 too much. The only noticeable change is to our normal social activities. We were lucky that we closed and moved into our new home in February before the shutdowns started, and we were able to build a fully functional gym on our rooftop deck. That in and of itself was a lifesaver. Also, being able to focus on DIY projects around the house and really turn it into our own www.peachatl.com

perfect oasis away from the craziness has deeper into our personal lives and build a been a lifesaver. connection and feel as if they’re a part of our more “intimate” moments. And at the Your rise to Insta fame started with end of the day, there’s nothing we do on musical-inspired clips, and now your feed Onlyfans or JustforFans for a subscription looks entirely different – how has it been that we (and a lot of gay men) haven’t to be in the middle of it all? been doing on Scruff and Grindr for free, for years. Plus, we’ve always been very That fun, Disney/broadway/goofy sex-positive and confident, have built a entertainment stuff has always been a part large social media following who seem of our brand and still is. In fact, we just to like the sexier side we show, so the posted a car karaoke video on all our social Onlyfans/JustForFans thing and Rick and media outlets. Part of what makes us stand Griff ended up being a very successful out from the crowd is that we’re not just marriage. As of now, our Onlyfans and “this thing” or “that thing.” We don’t fit JustforforFans pages combined have into any box, but instead, have our fingers around 4500 subscribers and continues to in all the boxes (Giggity). We try to always grow every month. infuse every interest, talent, creative idea personality into our work. Being one note or only good at one thing isn’t generally a key to success. But if you can figure out how to be even MODERATELY good at a LOT of things, you can achieve quite a bit of success. It’s called “hustle.” And in today’s world climate, you’ve got to understand how to hustle if you want to get ahead.

You have also ventured into other – perhaps naughtier – areas of social media. How did that come about?

In 2017, a good friend of ours asked if we’d heard of the site Onlyfans, which we hadn’t. Rick looked into it, and we decided to give that a try to experiment and see what we were comfortable sharing with our fans (which ended up being just about everything). At first, we stuck mostly to scantily clad workout videos, nutritional/ cooking demos, sexy photography, etc.

But then we realized there was much more potential to make a space where our fans can still see the latter, but also see a lot

other major projects in the pipeline. There are a few TV shows we’ve been offered and are considering. We’re also continuing to grow our social media platforms and fan pages so that we can bring our followers the content they love. We’re also busy in our “normal” life (which is the 99.99% of our time no one sees on social media).

We’ve been designing our new home, spending quality time with our two kitties Willow and Ripley, and keeping our main focus where it really belongs: on each other and the friends and family who continue to support us on this crazy journey.

Anything you’d like to add?

Speaking of naughty, your next venture is sex toys. Where do you even begin?

We explore a lot of themes across or social platforms. One being the reality that a genuine, fun-loving married couple can also be sexual beings who are not ashamed about celebrating and showcasing the erotic elements that are a huge ingredient in the winning recipe. Our “brand” also addresses how heteronormativity and societal expectations can negatively affect all of us in the gay community. We try our best to be role models to anyone struggling to find their authentic self or where they “fit in” by living our lives very unapologetically, transparently, and with a huge love of adventure. We just hope that we can inspire one person who feels ‘trapped’ or pressured to conform to expectations to do the same, embrace their inherent power, and not be shoved into the boxes society wants them to fit into.

Our followers began asking if we would ever consider developing any sort of merchandise. Inquiries ranged from prints of our photos to t-shirts, workout gear, our erotic playing card set, calendars… but the most requests have always been for sex toys molded from our own, uh...attributes.

The potential for success in providing twokingsunlimited.com something like that to our followers, who also enjoy watching us on our different platforms, seemed too good to pass up. A friend of ours who works in special effects and making prosthetics and such for the film industry approached us and offered to do it, so we said ‘what the hell’ and went for it! The first “batch” of stock sold out in under a week, and we are currently taking backorders while we wait on our fourth batch to be delivered. We are also in production with our own line of onesies, a series of calendars, the erotic playing cards, and our prize project: an erotic coffee table book featuring images from photographers like Mike Ruiz, Michael Stokes, and Mack Sturgis, among others.

So uhm, did you try your sex toy on yourself?

Wouldn’t you?

Now that you have bared it all – what’s next for Griff and Rick?

What’s next for us? The sky’s the limit, really. We have our merchandising and 20 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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COVER MODELS CAPTURES PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICK AND GRIFF'S INSTAGRAM

@RICK _ AND _ THE _ GRIFFOPOTAMUS

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Jacob is an out and proud bisexual/queer cis boy who was Florida-born but Georgia-raised. He identifies as an actor and an aspiring filmmaker/producer and has worked at theaters around Atlanta, like Serenbe Playhouse, Actor’s Express, Syncronicity Theatre, and he will soon be seen in The Boys in the Band at Out Front Theatre Company. He loves watching movies and saw 44 newly released films in 2019 (coming close to his all-time record being 59 films in 2018)! @yakobmckee @yakobmckee @yakobmckee

Jacob McKee 26 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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Health & Fitness in the New Normal

By Darren Floro-Bryant

You may have noticed more and more states re-opening their businesses, Georgia being one of the 1st. Gyms were included in Georgia’s first phase, and many gym owners were left scrambling, trying to navigate through the loose guidelines set out by our government.

This has been both exciting and nervewracking at the same time. Rather than panic, there are still many viable options for you to stay fit and focused on your fitness journey. Online training or selfmotivated home workouts will always be an option.

But, if heading back into the gym is the path you choose, you need to decide what safety procedures and protocols are important to you. At the top of the list should be a gym that puts you and their staff at the forefront of their decisions.

The new catchphrase that is on everybody’s brain and lips is “Social Distancing.” 6 feet was listed in the guidelines outlined by the government. Still, that distance does not account for the heavier breathing that comes with exercising. So, look for a gym that limits the number of people that are in the facility at any given time.

For example, Gravity Fitness immediately implemented an online sign-in system to help limit the number of members in the club with hourly sign-ups. This helped

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ensure they could keep track of numbers and avoid members being turned away at the door if the gym was exceeding capacity, all while still following social distancing guidelines.

Also, it would be important for you to visit multiple gyms to see how they reconfigured the equipment on the gym floor. Are machines and equipment spaced out? If some equipment is too close to each other, is this additional equipment taped off from use? What extras are the gyms you’re looking at doing to allow their members to feel a little more comfortable and safe? Has anything additional been done to help outline social distancing?

Not only is social distancing important on the gym floor, but how have the auxiliary rooms been handled? Have the bathrooms been taken into consideration, or the extra pieces of high use equipment being looked after? Again, at Gravity, every other sink has been taped off to help members give each other space, and high use equipment was moved to a sign-out procedure to allow for sanitation between each use (i.e., yoga mats).

Speaking of sanitization, this is paramount at this time. What have the gyms done to help keep their facilities clean and sanitized for their members? Feel free to ask the owners what steps they took to sanitize their space before the location

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was opened to the members. Find out what procedures and practices they have in place to help keep their facility sanitized as members start coming through the door.

One facility purchased spray bottles and towels for each member that came into the facility, which empowers members to sanitize the equipment before and after each use. In addition to this, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes were placed throughout the gym. One way to make things easy to follow and to help reduce confusion and uncertainty is by creating a sense of comfort. Signs that outline everything from reminders to wash your hands, to clearly label the “home� for certain pieces of equipment, and to thank each member for their help and support through this new normal.

Remaining transparent and keeping members informed allows members to feel that sense of comfort.

Another important procedure you should consider is the sign-in process.

Are all social distancing and safety considerations in place to help keep the members safe as they enter the facility?

Temperature checks are mandatory, is this being done? Are there markings on the floor placed 6 feet apart, allowing the members the space they require? At Gravity, these initial steps and more are in place. Every member must sign a waiver (1st visit only), use hand sanitizer, pick up a sanitizing spray bottle and towel, and then a workout towel at each visit.

In addition to all of this, what has the facility done to help protect you while everyone works out? Are face masks important to you? Is it important for you to have just the staff wearing masks, or do you want to be at a facility where every staff and member is wearing a mask helping to keep each other safe?

Regardless of the procedures and considerations, I discussed above, you need to decide what is important to you, and what level of safety you feel is essential. So do your research and find a facility that fits into your safety requirements. Being an independent personal trainer and seeing the level of concern and professionalism that Gravity has shown makes me very comfortable and confident in choosing Gravity Fitness to train my clients. Remember, your health, safety, and fitness is your responsibility, and you need to do what is right for you.

Good luck, stay safe, and stay healthy.

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June 03 - June 10

Due to the ongoing pandemic, events on this page may get canceled or postponed, so don’t forget to keep up to date by visiting Facebook pages and websites to keep yourself informed on the status of an event.

The Buffy Hour The Buffy Hour is a night of queer comedy, music, drag, and spoken word all about the TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hosted by Powell Mansfield and Brigitte Bidet, the online event will dissect all seasons of the cult favorite, including the highs and lows, heartbreaks, and significant burns.

Saturday, June 6, 8 – 11 pm Facebook Live and Periscope

Synchronici:TEA Fuego Productions brings you DJs from around the globe to entertain you during your Sunday (Stay-At-Home) Funday.

This is a charity event, and the DJs are donating their time to raise money for the cause — 100% of donations go directly to Joining Hearts.

Sunday, June 7, 8 – 10 pm Facebook Live (Fuego Productions)

Big Gay Market Atlanta More than 50 artists, designers, makers, vintage and antique dealers, drag performances, food trucks, and much more make up this LGBQT+ allies outdoor market.

Saturday, June 6, 11 am – 6 pm 8 Heretic Atlanta

Multiplay Tuesdays The Multiplay Tuesdays at the Eagle is back with their LGBTQ arcade and art gallery. Gaming stations include everything from Atari, TurboGrafx, NES, SNES, Genesis, NEOGEO, N64, Dreamcast, PS1, PS2, PS3, PSVITA, PS4, XBOX, and Switch.

Tuesday, June 9, 9 pm Atlanta Eagle

Georgia Primary Election Georgia was initially scheduled to conduct primary voting on May 19, but due to the coronavirus pandemic it has been postponed to June 9. You can vote in-person or by absentee ballot – go to mvp.sos.ga.gov to learn more.

And VOTE! Tuesday, June 9 Learn more at mvp.sos.ga.gov

MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

14

Amsterdam Ave.

NE ve . tA

Piedmont Park

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6 12th St. NE

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Juniper St. NE

14th St. NE

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9

2

10th St. NE

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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 BarkingLeather

9 10 11 12

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

spa/bath 15 Flex Spa

32 | 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

ansley 21

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NE

Piedmont Park BARS 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Cir 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

Fitness 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

clubs

30 Gravitee Fitness

e. nt mo ed

d.

Retail

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

39

36 38

Dining

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

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20

BARS

24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

Av

ge Rd Brid hire Ches

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25 r eB

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Rd

Dr

26 35

24

20 BJ Roosters 21 Sequel 22 Tripps

42 The Den

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33

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34

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Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

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42 L

Fa

BL

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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 Woof's

1287 Glenwood Ave SE 466 Edgewood Ave SE 1400 Northside Dr NW 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE 494 Plasters Ave NE

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

Bars & Clubs

& EDGEWOOD

MIDTOWN

marysatlanta.com

MARY’S

AMSTERDAM

1287 Glenwood Ave SE

502 Amsterdam Ave. NE

sisterlouisaschurch.com

amsterdamatlanta.com

ATLANTA EAGLE atlantaeagle.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

BLAKE’S ON THE PARK

SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH 466 Edgewood Ave SE

SWINGING RICHARDS swingingrichards.com

1400 Northside Dr NW

blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE

BULLDOGS

893 Peachtree St NE

FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

Dining MIDTOWN

Retail MIDTOWN BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

CHESHIRE SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

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

friendsonponce-atl.com

10TH & PIEDMONT

GCB & PLEASURES

MY SISTER’S ROOM

991 Piedmont Ave NE

1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

66 12th St NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

barkingleather.com

10thandpiedmont.com

brushstrokesatlanta.com

mysistersroom.com

EINSTEIN’S

BARKING LEATHER

TEN ATLANTA

1077 Juniper St NE

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A

FROGS CANTINA

Fitness

931 Monroe Dr

MIDTOWN

736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

THE T

modeltatlanta.com

frogsmidtown.com

465 Boulevard SE

G’S

CHESHIRE

gsmidtown.com

URBAN BODY FITNESS

219 10th St NE

urbanbodyfitness.com

HERETIC

HENRY’S

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

132 10th St NE

BJ ROOSTERS

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

hereticatlanta.com

henrysatl.com

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

bjroosters.com

joesonjuniper.com

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

1049 Juniper St NE

SEQUEL

LA HACIENDA

1086 Alco St NE

lahaciendamidtown.com

Spas/Baths/Adult

TRIPPS

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

1931 Piedmont Circle N

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

ANSLEY

LAS MARGARITAS

flexspas.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com

76 4th St NW

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

CHESHIRE

MIDTOWN MOON

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

FELIX’S

ROXX

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

THE HIDEAWAY

DEKALB

1544 Piedmont Ave NE

LIPS ATLANTA

MIXX

3011 Buford Hwy NE

mixxatlanta.com

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

THE DEN

thedenatlanta.com

2135 Liddell Drive NE

atldragshow.com

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

WOOFS

woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE

EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK 34 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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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

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Ten ways to celebrate Pride Month Even though Pride this year looks vastly different, we still have a lot to celebrate and be proud now 51 years after the Stonewall riots and on the 50th anniversary of Atlanta Pride.

Read up on your LGBTQ and Pride History A great resource is our Atlanta LGBTQ Institute - lgbtqinstitute.org Deep dive into LGBTQ Cinema Atlanta’s own Out On Film film festival is a wonderful place to start – outonfilm.org Support the Atlanta Pride Run & Walk Now virtual, you can log your run until June 28 – learn more at facebook.com/AtlantaPrideRun Support local LGBTQ youth centers For example Lost’n’Found Youth or the Philip Rush Center Check out local LGBTQ arts and culture Although it may be virtual, you can still support your local artists Flaunt Your Pride Donning a rainbow is chic and it shows your support!

Volunteer with LGBTQ organizations They all need your help – especially now!

Support Atlanta Pride The committee is still working on an in-person Pride festival, so support their efforts at atlantapride.org Don’t skip Pride this year!

Although there may not be the same parties and events, there are still plenty of reasons to celebrate Pride Join the Global Pride celebration A virtual and worldwide celebration of PRIDE on June 27 – the anniversary of Stonewall! globalpride2020.org

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WE'RE HIRING Playmates and soul mates...

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

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We’re closer to Atlanta than you think!

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

Membership Required *Must be 21 to Enter

The River’s Edge is open and invites you to come, relax and enjoy an escape in the country.

We practice social distancing and work to provide a safe environment.

RV Sites and Tent Sites Available!

706-213-6105 www.camptheriversedge.com

The Rivers Edge Campground, 23111 Pulliam Mill Road, Dewy Rose, GA 30634

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

1920: Alcohol is prohibited 2020: Liqour stores are an essential business during a national health crisis

What if all this virus talk is just a publicity stunt for Gaga’s Chromatica album ??!!

COVID explained in gay terms: you and 10 friends are in your apartment getting ready for the Pride parade. One has glitter. How many end up with glitter on them?

Looking at these poly couples with a husband, a fiancé, and two boyfriends, and I can even get a text back

A lot of you probably had the virus because one symptom is having no taste Remember the Freshmen 15. Well now, it’s now the Corona 25 …

Daddy Joke Alert At first, I thought I was sick because I couldn’t breathe. Then I unbuttoned my pants, and I was fine

Gays can survive four weeks without food, four days without water, and four minutes without attention 38 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) Times are tough for a lot of people right now, yourself included, but today will not be a good one to ask for a loan, unless you like hearing no, no, no! You may have to cut back on spending for a while, making decisions based on need and priority. Learn to live within your means now, and you’ll be able to be a little more lavish later in the year.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) You’ll need to be optimistic today to get through the pessimistic vibe of our new normal. Paint on a smile and bring as much cheer to others as you can – they need it as much as you do. Unlike the doomed ‘Titanic’ captain John Smith, you have the power to stay afloat and influence not only your own mood but also that of others, positively.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

This will be a good day to put some of your ideas you thought out during lockdown into action.

There may be higher-ups who are impressed, and people will suddenly be taking you seriously.

Avoid the inevitable ego swell that goes along with such stature. People paid attention to Iggy Azalea for a while and now look at her.

Personal problems will mount today, and by the end of the day, you’ll wish you were a monk except you’d like to wear something a little more contemporary than those old robes. But, oh wait, you are already living an isolated lifestyle due to the global pandemic! So take a deep breath and seek comfort in the fact that things will look and feel better tomorrow.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

You’ll be the torchbearer today; the one everyone expects to lead them through the darkness and into the light on the other side of this pandemic. You won’t have a problem with that, because it puts you at the center of attention – something you have lacked for months now.

But have a plan before you start. What good is holding the light if you don’t know the way out?

Keeping your impulses under control today could keep you out of a lot of trouble. You feel like you have been a hermit for too long, and you want to shop, drink, eat, and dance it all away. Too much of everything will beckon today, and you’ll want to take full advantage. But a simple ‘no’ could keep you from waking up broke and hungover.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

You breeze into situations with the confidence of a Hollywood celebrity, without the limo and posse, of course. Guys are attracted to your manly poise, but be careful of bending the truth too far now that you emerge from your solitaire with a new and improved confidence. A job where you schedule Zoom meetings puts you on a lot of screens, but not in the manner they think.

Trying to stay in focus today will take all of your mental capabilities. The world is spinning at an incredible pace, and you want to step off the rollercoaster. It’s okay to drift in and out a little today and let fantasy and reality blur. Don’t be alarmed by the vision of your barista in a loincloth brandishing a whip. Whether that turns you on is another story.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

There will be too much going on all at once today, but good luck in trying to put on the brakes. You may be unaccustomed to the accelerated pace after lying low for weeks, but if you stay flexible and go with the flow, you can quickly pick up the pace. Gliding along on a current is a lot more fun than trying to swim against it.

Nothing makes you feel more virile than a vigorous workout. So today may be the day you decide to return to the gym. Breaking a sweat will help relieve stress, and you’ll have plenty of eye candy to keep from focusing on the intense pain you’re inflicting on yourself now that you are not working out at home.

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

Take an active interest in the people you connect with today, even if it is only through social media. It’s always good getting to know people past a surface level – and who knows? You may meet a guy who you’ll want to go deeper with.

Much, much deeper.

Be tolerant of the shortcomings of others today.

Treating people with arrogance gives you an off-putting air of superiority, and it isn’t cute.

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

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 week, I read the advice that was given to a Lonesome Lover about finding a ‘corona sex buddy’ that had been properly vetted and had practiced measures to stay safe and healthy during this pandemic. I totally get that, but I wanted to extend that same question to those of us in a poly relationship: when is it okay for us to sleep with other people? I am at home with my boyfriend, we have been isolating together, and we have sex, but we also have other people in our lives that we have sex with. When is that safe again?

Sincerely Longing Lovers

When my boyfriend gets drunk, he tells me that I’m no good in bed and that my penis repulses him. It’s like he starts a conflict by saying hurtful things, and then he wants to have crazy makeup sex because he also gets really horny when he is drunk.

He only gets this wasted a couple of times a year, but the scenario remains the same. When I confront him about what he said the night before, he is in disbelief and dismisses that he could even say stuff like that, because he can’t remember anything. I am all for improving my performance if I am not giving him what he needs, but I am always upset for weeks about the humiliating comments. So my question is, does he tell the truth when he gets drunk? And how do I better deal with his mean comments?

Sincerely Drunken Lover

Dear Longing Lovers The safest thing you can do right now is to have sex between the two of you and not to include others yet. That you already know and acknowledge. You also understand that it isn’t safe to engage with more sex partners right now, which is why you are not doing it. That being said, you can follow the advice that was given to Lonesome Lover last week, and each find a sex partner that has been vetted and has been practicing all of the recommended health measures to stay healthy. But you have to consider the added risks – just like the single guy last week did. When you go to the supermarket, you put yourself at risk. When you are out in public, you put yourself at risk. When you add a sex partner – possibly two among you – into the equation, you realize that you are putting yourself at a much higher risk of contracting COVID-19. So, the safest thing is to limit sex to between the two of you, and it will be for a long time yet until there is a cure or effective treatment for this serious illness that could potentially kill you. Yes, this piece of advice is borderline contradicting, but no matter what you do, you have to consider the risks and possible consequences of your actions.

Dear Drunken Lover The saying that the truth comes from drunk people and kids is often repeated, but it isn’t entirely reliable. Sure, alcohol lowers inhibitions and messes with your reasoning, but it can also fuel aggression and negative behavior. So you can’t really be sure that what your boyfriend is saying is true, especially because of his ambivalence on the fact that he comments on your performance and wants to have make-up sex with you. One thing you can be sure of is that he says mean and hurtful things to you, so regardless of whether or not it is the alcohol talking, he is the kind of person who would do that – and that’s a red flag. Lowering your inhibitions sometimes shows you the darker sides of a person. The fact that he completely dismisses any altercation the day after is also concerning. Does he think you are just making all this up? Maybe you should try to record the next time he goes off on you again, so you have some proof to show him.

And maybe holding up a phone to record will give him a moment of self-reflection, so the verbal abuse stops. You should also consider alcohol abuse. Not all alcoholism is continuous drinking but rather the extreme behaviors it nurtures. Maybe a good strategy for the both of you would be some couples counseling that would get to the bottom of why he has a need to insult you when drunk, and it could possibly get him some much-needed help with his drinking. This is his problem to fix, and not yours to endure!

NEED ANSWERS?

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