Peach Magazine V4-26 - Hey Mister DJ

Hey Mister

DJ

Circuit Journey

Nick Stracener Turns Tables and Heads

LGBTQ Superheroes

A New Class of Diversity and Inclusion

Look for the Good Jason Mraz

The Bi Musician on Pride and Protesting

Contents JULY 8, 2020

V4-26

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Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director mikkel@peachatl.com Brian Sawyer

From the Editor

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Through these shaky times, I have spent a lot more times outdoors going on walks in my neighborhood and on more planned hikes. I have also fixed up my bike, so that I could go on rides through the city. In other words, being outside has helped ground me and give me much-needed exercise (since I am not ready for the gym yet), all while social distancing. Check out our list of things to do outdoor in Atlanta on page 36.

In this week’s celebrity interview, Chris Azzopardi talks to Jason Mraz about coming out as bisexual, Pride, protesting and our current uprising. We also have an interview with DJ Nick Stracener, who is also our cover model, about his journey into the world of circuit parties.

That and so much more in this issue of Peach - enjoy!

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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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FEST With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many of your favorite entertainers and drag queens, who you would normally see performing at bars and clubs all over the city, have been forced to cancel their shows. Luckily, Digital Pridefest, founded at the onset of the pandemic to accommodate virtual LGBTQ Pride celebrations, has gathered some of the best talent from all over the country to continue to celebrate your community intimate live streams.

With a gorgeously curated list of the best performers, entertainers, and drag queens from across the country and the world, Digital Pridefest continues the Pride celebration online.

Each performance promises a high production value, so you will be just as entertained as if you were live at the shows.

The concept is simple: you buy your ticket for a show, which streams at a specific time just as you would if they were in-person – now, you’re just not in the same room, which is still the safest thing to do. You can even tip the entertainers with pre-

purchased ‘sequins,’ and if your friend Anita Ticket needs a ticket (we all know her!), you can even pay it forward, so that those who can’t afford it can get a ticket at no cost to them.

The list of entertainers is impressive, including Miss Cracker, Manila Luzon, Latrice Royale, Trinity the Tuck, and Ginger Minj, to name just a few of the American queens, we know and love from RuPaul’s Drag Race. But the list doesn’t stop at the American border; comedienne, chanteuse, and fervent ally, Deven Green, (who is also a contributor to Peach Media’s GOLIATH Magazine) performs songs from the UK and Canada with Handsome Ned (July 11), and UK Drag Race queens Cheryl Hole (July 17) and Divina De Campo (July 11 + 25) are each part of July’s fierce lineup of international-class entertainment.

Please tune in to Digital Pridefest today, check out some of your favorite performers, and let those sequins rain down over them!

WHAT Digital Pridefest at digitalpridefest.com WHENOngoing now and throughout July (more dates and performers added continually) HOW Log on to digitalpridefest.com and purchase your sequins that you can use to buy tickets for shows and tip performers with.

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WHERE DOES THE GOOD GO?

JASON MRAZ KNOWS

The coronavirus pandemic has forced Pride events around the world to go virtual this year. For Jason Mraz, that means he can, for the first time, take part in the annual summer festivities. After all, thanks to the virus, the “I’m Yours” singer-songwriter can’t tour in support of his latest album Look for the Good. Usually, he says, he’s on the road during Pride season.

“I’ve got friends and neighbors who invite me every year, but my schedule never allowed it,” Mraz says during our recent Zoom call. This summer, he says, he’s “probably gonna hole up with my friends and neighbors and do the virtual Pride event and go hard.”

From his home studio in San Diego, Mraz, 43, discussed his side hustle – food agriculture – as a metaphor for the fight for racial and LGBTQ justice, how Mister Rogers inspired his latest album, why he’s thanking his childhood bullies who used to call him a “fag,” and his journey to being openly bisexual.

Jason, how are you and your family doing? And the avocado farm?

I’m fine. I’m a bit of an empath, so yeah (gets choked up) ... feeling pretty terrible about what’s

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By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Jen Rosenstein

going on. I’ve tried to use my superpowers for good.

I’ve tried to sing songs of hope and positivity and peace and joy. So, you know, thinking about how I’m going to keep singing and breathing life into a better future. We have a little apricot tree, which for the first time is producing fruits. It really is a pleasure and a privilege to work in food production and to work with the Earth and to have that level of peace, and that interaction with nature.

I once read that one of the best things to do is to go outside and just lay on the ground. Just feel the Earth underneath you.

So nice. I think one of the best things to do is just lay down in general, which I always forget. I’m always on my feet. I’m always going, going, going.

A cool thing I like to do when I lay down on the Earth, especially at night, is remember that we’re not necessarily sitting on top of the globe; we’re kind of stuck to perhaps the side of it, or depending on how it’s photographed, maybe we’re on the bottom of it. Who’s to say the poles are really on top and bottom? We’re floating in a vacuum of space. There’s really no up or down. So when I’m laying on the side of the Earth, I like to imagine I’m on the side of it, just dangling. And if you put your feet up, you’re really dangling out into the universe, which is this big vast ball of confusion. It’s a good thing.

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I know right now is not really the time to lay down and be quiet and look at the stars, but let’s talk about food for just one second. You can’t grow food overnight. It takes time and it takes rest, it takes daylight and it takes darkness; it takes the earth to regenerate and renew itself. That said, everyone who’s out there fighting for justice right now, also remember to stay hydrated and get good sleep and stay rested so that a season of this can continue and real transformation and regeneration can occur.

They say that if you’re not taking care of yourself, you can’t take care of other people.

That’s right. The flight attendants tried to teach us well. Secure your oxygen mask first before securing others. But, nowadays, careful how you even say that, because there’s been plenty of people who never even had an oxygen mask to begin with. So here we are in a whole new educational America.

There really couldn’t be a better time for this album.

You couldn’t have predicted that this is where we would be, and yet it feels like this album could have come out of this very moment. Can you talk about your headspace when you decided to write this music and how relevant it is to what we’re going through right now?

In 2016, after the election that year, my heart exploded and I started writing different kinds of songs. I knew that 2020 was going to be another engaged election year, so last year I just started putting all this together. I teamed up with Michael Goldwasser of (reggae collective) All-Stars – he’s a phenomenal reggae producer – and we put a phenomenal band together. We thought, “The sound of reggae and all the different genres inside of it are so danceable and also beloved around the world; let’s make a full album of reggae tracks and at the same time let’s try to breathe life into some issues we care about through these songs and lyrics and offer it to the world in 2020 because we know it’s gonna be heated, we know there’s gonna be debates, we know there needs to be radical change and recognition for many.” We, of course, didn’t predict this level of radical change. But I’m glad to see an uprising. I really am.

I’m not an anarchist, but I am glad to see America getting its education and an invitation for new ways to mobilize, strategize, react, use our resources, use our powers. So Look for the Good was intended to be that. It was intended to be this little album of songs that are easy to dance or march to, to remember to stay positive while you’re out there using your voice or your time for the greater good.

With everything feeling so heavy right now, where do you find the good?

Well, if I’m not on the internet (laughs), I’m at my piano, usually. And it’s kind of a new instrument for me. It has a different voice, it has a different weight. So that’s been my peace. That’s been my little church.

And then on the internet, I go for peace. I follow (civil rights activist) Shaun King and the NAACP and I just want to educate myself more on how I can better use my internet resources. I feel like the battlefield

for a more equal and just America is not (only) on the streets, it’s also on the internet. Because we’ve clearly seen propaganda come our way to heighten our president and those initiatives, but we also need the propaganda or the internet content and bravery and songs and sharing to heighten the injustices and to advance equality.

Here’s something interesting: about 10 years ago I took a trip to Ghana and I got to visit “the door of no return,” which is what they would call the door that slaves were passed through; if they went through that door they were going to be boarded onto a slave ship and exported out of Africa to either London or the United States. It was an intense place. But the thing that helped abolish slavery was the printing press. This blew my mind. A printing press. Because suddenly now we’ve got newspapers and we can make more people aware of what a slave ship looked like, what humans look like stacked in a boat, and how harsh the conditions are. And it started to touch people’s hearts. And eventually people said, “Enough is enough. Why are we doing this to other human beings?”

So we are experiencing the same thing right now with the level of communication that we have, the many cameras and eyeballs and engaged people we have. We have all these microprinting presses all over the planet exposing the harsh realities and brutalities that people of color and (the) LGBT community as well have experienced. This type of hatred and bigotry. So I feel like this is a huge awakening. There’s a huge new printing press. Sorry.

Your original question: What am I doing to look for the good…

Yeah, you said you’re at the piano, making some music and writing some songs.

That’s really where my best spirit is enjoyed is at the piano because I can transmute my fear and my pain into something more pleasant. Our life experience is going to be the result of our thoughts and our speech, our beliefs and our actions and our attitudes. I feel that music – and art in general – is such a great way to access and get all five under control: your thoughts, your speech, beliefs, your actions, your attitude. Then your life experience gets completely transformed and gets basically connected to that big planet that we’re dangling on, and that universe that we’re praying to and wondering, “What the eff is this all about?” Beliefs that we can truly live in a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, peaceful world. All of that can come together through music.

I think music has the power to get through to people when other means of communication cannot. Do you recognize that as a musician?

It’s not as easy to memorize a quote, but what is it about a melody that allows it to sink and stay with us? I don’t know the science behind it, but I’ve been experimenting with it since I was a little kid and it’s a magical phenomenon that we as humans get to experience. It’s a language that transcends the words even. And it’s a human phenomenon. And I’m so thankful that it exists. Imagine if we only had to deal with speeches. That would be a miserable existence.

What does the rainbow on the cover of Look for the Good represent?

I got this idea from a Mister Rogers album cover. He has an album that says “Mister Rogers knows you’re special” and it has a little mirror on the cover and also a little rainbow around it. I was really touched by that, and I was really touched by his work.

And even the song “Look for the Good” is a bit of a reference to an interview I saw with him.

I guess it was his mother who told him, when watching the news, if something bad is on the news, look for the heroes. Look for what’s good on the news.

And that inspired the songs.

That inspired the album cover.

Really it inspired who I am as an entertainer. So the album cover was really meant to be a reflection back on the viewer to see the good in themselves.

We’ve had some phone interviews in the past, and I’ve sort of seen you come fully into yourself.

(Smiles.) Getting there.

The journey of you being an out public figure took some time. I was looking back at some of our conversations and you dropped a couple of hints. In 2010, you told me you didn’t like feeling another man’s facial hair on your skin. And then in 2012, you said you’d been asked to join in on a threesome with a couple, but it wasn’t a reality at that point.

And then, in 2018, we got the news that you were bisexual (via a Pride Month poem Mraz wrote for Billboard). Why, at

that moment, did it seem like the right time to come out as bisexual?

I wanted to be careful (because of) my family, which is probably a struggle a lot of people have. And when I say this, it’s not because they wouldn’t love me for who I am. I was afraid to say who I was when I was younger. I was afraid to explore it because I thought exploring it was the wrong thing to do because of things I heard when I was growing up and because of how I saw society react to the LGBT community. So I thought if I go down this lane, I was taught that it was not a good path. And so for me to come out and say I was taught that that’s not a good path is potentially causing harm to my mother who raised me well, so I never wanted to put her in a position that made her feel or look like a bad parent. Same to my stepfather or my stepmother or my father. I had four parents.

They’re not all to blame. I’m not going to throw any of them under the bus.

So it was just growing up in a kind of community where I didn’t feel safe to go down that path and explore some intuitions that I had. So I closeted it. I suppressed it. I put it aside. And as I go through life, and as I started having experiences, it’s in my programming, it’s the systemic issues of going through life and thinking, “This is not healthy.”

But the more I went through life and the more I became supported and supportive of the LGBT (community), I realized I was safe, I was home, and enough is enough.

Silence doesn’t do anybody any good. And it wasn’t doing me any good. It wasn’t giving me the opportunity to have more of the experiences I wanted to have in my life. And as I was getting older, I thought, “Jesus, am I gonna waste my whole life on fear? Or can I step into this and be proud of who I am and see where this takes me, see where this journey takes me, see what kind of new friendships I form, see the level of love that I’m capable of that I’ve not given myself permission for?” That was my journey.

Honestly, I thought, “I’m gonna

have to wait until my parents leave the planet before I get to be who I am.” I didn’t want that. I wanted them to see who I am while they’re still alive and I want to be who I am while I’m still alive. It gave me even more empathy and more compassion for those who are taking that journey every day, and for the out community who just lives bravely in this world every day. So it was time for me to come out.

If I was really going to use my superpower for good, it was time for me to start addressing who I am, because authenticity is the new reality.

2020? How can I look for the good in my past? And I knew I needed to figure out: How can I look for the good in the trauma of my high school bullies? And if I can, it’s that drive; they gave me that drive. And I hope that they’re embarrassed or sorry or feel like total failures because their bullying did nothing but help me change the world.

So finally on this album, working with this phenomenal reggae band and having 10 years to really build the song, (and) I listened to a lot of gospel music, especially on Sundays, I was able to weave some of my gospel influences into this song “Gratitude” and do my best to try to look for the good.

Check out the Zoom video portion of this interview online at peachatl.com, where Jason Mraz talks to Chris Azzopardi about his struggles to come out, why he eventually did, and Pride.

My last question is Pride-related. What message do you want to send out to the LGBTQ community?

Because Pride is different this year.

We’re going virtual. A lot has changed.

Thank you for sharing Just because it’s going that. It takes me to the virtual does not mean last song on the album, that Pride is still not “Gratitude.” I don’t a protest. And the think I’ve ever thought battlefield is not just on to give gratitude to the the streets, it’s on the bullies who called me internet; it’s amplified a faggot when I was a when our voices kid, which you do on come together. So my the song. Can you talk message to people this about how that song year is to keep going came about and how and go harder than you were able to get ever. I honestly feel to a place where you like what’s going on could show gratitude in the world is getting to the people who closer to the Equal ridiculed and put you Rights Amendment down as a kid? and that’s been a long I can’t fight violence time coming. The last with violence, and I time the Constitution can’t just call names was amended and back to the people ratified was in the ’90s who’ve called me and it had to do with names. So rather than Congress’ salaries. name-calling, I tried Who gives a fuck about to look for the good that? So I think what’s in the situations that really heating up is I experienced in high going to get us closer school. to the Equal Rights I didn’t want to go Amendment. So my back and attack that message to Pride is, person. I just wanted to even though we may demonstrate that I was not be in the streets, go better than that person harder than ever. And and that all that energy who knows? This thing they put into tearing me down was a waste of their energy because all might spill over into the streets anyway because the I’ve done is build myself up to be a bigger, better, internet can’t hold us. It can’t. stronger, more active person. I’ve known that for a long time I did want to put that in song, so I started This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. this song back in 2010. I played it live a few times, but it never really found its home on an album.

That’s what this album project was. How can I look for the good in this? How can I look for the good in

Exclusive Video Content at Peachatl.com!

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.

Nick Stracener was introduced to the dance floor at 18 when he went to his first rave in his hometown of Lindale.

Texas. “I was so fascinated by the sounds I heard,” he remembers. He moved to Dallas soon after and quickly ingratiated himself within the circuit community. “Circuit music is so powerful and liberating because it’s easy to dance to and live your fullest fantasy. There are so many different types of circuit music and it’s really fascinating how unique they all are.”

Nick’s unique sound is best described as a combination of indigenous rhythms with lots of sultry uplifting, female vocals. He aims to take revelers on a journey with high energy beats mixed with slow moments so that they can fully experience different emotions. To him, dance music is therapy and a way to escape life’s biggest hurdles.

His latest remixes are Lindsay Lohan’s “Back to Me” and Lady Gaga’s “Rain on Me.” Would you call DJing and producing an art?

Yes, in different ways. A DJ has the ability to showcase their talent by taking the listener on a journey with their set. Learning to read a crowd is a talent in itself. Producing is all expressing yourself. You are in complete control of your track from start to finish. You have so much freedom to make a song sound exactly as you picture it in your head.

How would you describe your approach to making music?

To me, DJing and producing is all about having fun. If you don’t have fun with it, what is the point in doing it? Also, if you’re not having fun, the crowd most likely isn’t either. Your mood directly affects the crowd.

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Hey Mister

DJ

Nick Stracener Turns Tables…and Heads

By Doug Booth

www.peachatl.com

What came first for you?

DJing came first. I ventured into producing because the pandemic put a halt to playing live for people.

I’m really glad that I have learned how to do both though because they are equally important.

Which is your real passion?

Nothing can quite compare to the feeling of being on stage, playing your music and putting a smile on people’s faces.

Take us through a day in your life.

How do you spark the creativity?

I honestly wish I had a routine! I juggle way too many tasks. I’m a flight attendant full time so I make time to DJ and produce when I’m not flying. I try and always set aside a couple hours a day to work on producing music or on practicing.

My creativity comes from wanting to do something unique that hasn’t been done before so I try to make each remix and each set a little different while remaining true to my sound.

Have you ever tried producing in the buff to get yourself in the mood?

I have, actually! It’s quite fun and cozy. Just me and my blanket, laptop, and headphones.

Can you explain why some DJs strip down to their skivvies in the DJ booth? Is it to feel more intimate with the music?

It’s usually super hot in the DJ booth and we want to feel a little cooler.

Also, it feels quite liberating. The main reason, though, is that many DJ’s want to feel like they are part of the crowd.

Can you describe your state of mind during a DJ What will be your next music project? set?

I’m starting my next set as we speak and I’m I am 100% focused on making sure every continuing to put out a remix or two every month! transition is seamless and that I’m reading the I also want to produce my own song from scratch, crowd correctly, giving them what they don’t even top to bottom with a friend as the vocalist. That know they need. I take my DJing very seriously will be something a little further down the road, but I have fun with it. but it’s in the works.

What are some of the considerations that go into Visit nickstracener.com/djnickstracener. Follow deciding which track to play next?

Nick Stracener on Instagram @thenickstracener.

When I’m DJing, I have a list of a few songs that I for sure want to play that night, but I don’t ever have a set order that I’m going to play them in. I found out quick that if the crowd is loving a particular genre, or era of music, or style, that I should stick with it a little bit before switching over to whatever song I thought I was going to play. Nothing ever goes as planned. It’s mostly improvisation.

Do you spin private dance parties for your partner at home?

Oh, he gets to hear way more of my music than he probably wants to!

We have friends over occasionally but I haven’t actually DJ’d a house party at our house yet.

What are fun things you and your partner like to do together when no one else is looking?

We like to play with our two fur babies, Oliver and Olivia, who are the absolute sweetest puppies in the world. They actually don’t mind the circuit music, which is a plus. I call them my circuit puppies.

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A New Class of LGBTQ Superheroes

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt=

Fernando Velez is the founder, creator, and writer of Kraven Comics that publishes the Class6 comic book series featuring a cast of LGTBQ (and allied) superheroes. Peach spoke to the creative mind about the deep-rooted idea for Class6 and why LGBTQ representation is extremely important in the comic book industry.

F

ernando, you are the creator of the LGBTQ comic book series Class6 – tell us a little bit about the background for it. How did you come up with the idea?

After my brother died at six (I was five at the time), my mother dedicated herself to raise funds to buy toys for children who were sick in the hospital. Back then, I would dress up as a clown and give out the toys, and I learned that we all have the power to be heroes, be kind, and light up the day of a sick child.

When I was 15, I liked to write scripts and came up with my first character, Kraven. Growing up gay in a small town with conservative traditions wasn’t easy.

I started to imagine a different reality to escape from my actual reality of not being accepted, undergoing weeks of conversion camps and psychiatric hospitals.

I envisioned an alternative reality to escape to and started writing ideas of how my world could be different; how I could be a hero and not be what people were telling me that I was. During this time, I tried to commit suicide three times until I decided that I’d rather have people hate me for who I am than love me for something I am not. I left my island when I was 18 without help from anyone, not knowing anyone outside of Puerto Rico. I started naming everything Kraven - my pets, my emails - so I wouldn’t forget about that young Fernando and stay true to myself. I started Kraven Magazine when I was 21 and ran it for five years before closing it to focus on comic books. I

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decided to combine real-life LGBTQ heroes with current events and a touch of science fiction to create stories that would empower the LGBTQ youth while creating awareness of what our LGBTQ community has been through and continues to go through. And this is how Class6 was born.

LGBTQ superheroes are traditionally just hinted and rarely confirmed, yours are fiercely and unapologetically LGBTQ. Why is it so important to display this kind of representation?

The comic book industry can be very racist and homophobic.

Big comic book companies are afraid to give us a proper representation because that could mean losing their fans. They would rather stay silent than lose money. I want Kraven Comics to stand for what we believe, empower the community, and be strong. Class6 means so much to me because it’s more than a comic book. I created it for my young self and all the youth who needs a hero to look up to represent them.

How has the reception been of Class6?

The response from the LGBTQ community has been great, very positive, engaging, and promising. Some fans have messaged me saying they didn’t even know about some of the issues we have highlighted in the series. Also thanking me for opening their eyes to the challenges of the gay community and that they will be more active in helping our community. On the other

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hand, we have received some messages, including threats, negative and hateful comments. I’ve been told to ignore them, stay calm, and be careful with my responses since I represent Kraven Comics. To me, that is the problem. If we remain quiet, the hate will continue.

What are some of your favorite storylines from the series?

One of my favorite storylines is when Queen Izaar tells Noah why she saves the reptilian race children, the enemy’s children in episode 7. “Every living thing in the universe is important. Reptilians are just as important as humans. These children do not hold hate in their hearts. In the center of the earth, their new world, the inner word, they will live in peace alongside humans.” With all the hate happening in the world, I like to remind people that we didn’t know hate; hate was taught. Another storyline is the first encounter of Neveah and Eron, where Neveah, who is trans, has her turning point to become a superhero and has to set aside her personal emotions.

You have chosen to self-publish the comic book series through crowdfunding – how has that worked out?

We have been selling the series digitally for some time now but learned there is a strong market and desire for a printed version as well. We decided to combine the first six episodes of Class6 into a printed book format with a total of 280 pages titled Special Edition Mid-Season One. We created a Kickstarter campaign to get us started, we are expecting the books by August 1, and we will start distribution.

What is your message to the LGBTQ community with this comic book series?

Our main message is anyone can be a hero, whether a bear, drag queen, transgender, lesbian, bi-sexual, twink, Black, Latino, Asian, old, young. We are all unique in our own special way. I want LGBTQ youth to know there is no need to hide, and there is a large community that has their back. I want the youth who are lost and wanting to commit suicide to understand we are all part of something greater, that their lives matter, and they are needed. I want everyone in the comic book industry to see an LGBTQ comic book that is inclusive and diverse and can provide entertainment, not only for the LGBTQ but for everyone.

How can you get your hands on Class6?

Our Kickstarter campaign has ended with a 113% success. You can continue to enjoy the perks of

Kickstarter on kravencomics.com until August 1.

After August 1, you can buy the book for $25 from our website. A complete list of comic book stores that will carry our books will be released August 1 as well. The books are currently available digitally ($9.99) on platforms such as ComiXology, iBooks, and Google PlayBooks.

Do you have any exciting future projects you can reveal?

We do. Besides working on the next 30 seasons of Class6 which will contain 12 episodes each, we are also beginning to work on making a free miniseries about the everyday lives of the characters from Class6 with the sole purpose to focus on one LGBTQ issues and to bring LGBTQ conversations to the comic book industry. Also, one of our artists is a Drag Queen named Petra la Transfor (@petralatransfor), and we are working on making a special segment with her reviewing the episodes to interact more with the community.

In closing, anything you’d like to add?

I want to thank every person who has opened up to me to talk about their life. It inspires me. Also, to all my friends who got involved and invested in this project. To the fans and all the supporters and such a special thanks to my partner Waiyen Wong to make this happen. To our amazing team of Latino artists, my penciler Doris Marcano, my colorist Daniel Grimaldi, my art director Marifer Bohorquez, and the inking team Geomar Gonzalez, Elizbeth Mavarez, Claudia Viale, John Grenadito and Pedro Latouche. They are the best! This is their first comic book, and we have become family these past five years. They are the soul of Class6.

Learn more and order your issues at kravencomics.com

JULY 8 - 15

Due to the ongoing pandemic, please keep yourself updated on the status of an event!

OUT Georgia Ambassador Program Training OUT Georgia Business Alliance is relaunching its Ambassador Program and recruiting Ambassadors to represent and better inform the state’s only LGBTQ+ and Ally Chamber of Commerce in 2020 and beyond. If you’re interested, register at outgeorgia.org.

Thursday, July 9, 12 – 1 pm Zoom Session Lips Grand Reopening Lips Atlanta will reopen so that they can bring you the best in drag dining once again. The ladies of Lips can’t wait to get back on stage to entertain you – for reservations, call 404-315-7711. Social distancing protocols will be in place.

Thursday, July 9, 7 – 11 pm Lips Atlanta

Friday Happy Hour + Queer Bait Yes, Mary’s is open again, but since they are still operating at a limited ticket-only capacity, they will continue to stream their Friday night happy hour programming with DJ sets throughout the night. If you can’t join the party in person, join it online!

Friday, July 10, 6 – 11 pm twitch.tv/marysatlanta

Encanto with DJ Edil Hernandez & DJ Nina Flowers Straight from the “Island of Enchantment,” Fuego Productions brings you DJs Edil Hernandez and Nina Flowers to bring you a slice of Puerto Rican vibes to dance the night away as if under a spell.

100% of donations to this livestream go directly to Joining Hearts.

Sunday, July 12, 8 pm – 12 am twitch.tv/fuegoproductionsatl fuegoproductionsatl.com/zoom

MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

14

Amsterdam Ave.

12th St. NE

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Spring St. NW

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Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

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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

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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

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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

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36 38

Retail

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

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20

Dining

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

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20 BJ Roosters 21 Sequel 22 Tripps

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

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ANSLEY

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MIDTOWN MOON MIDTOWN 1492 Piedmont Ave AMSTERDAM amsterdamatlanta.com NE 502 Amsterdam Ave. FELIX’S NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE ATLANTA EAGLE atlantaeagle.com THE HIDEAWAY 306 Ponce De Leon 1544 Piedmont Ave Ave NE NE BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlan- MIXX mixxatlanta.com ta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave 227 10th St NE NE BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com FRIENDS NEIGHBOR1510 Piedmont Ave HOOD BAR NE friendsonponce-atl. com WOOFS 736 Ponce De Leon woofsatlanta.com Ave NE 494 Plasters Ave NE MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com EAST ATLANTA, 66 12th St NE GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD TEN ATLANTA tenatlanta.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE MARY’S marysatlanta.com 1287 Glenwood Ave THE T SE modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH CHESHIRE sisterlouisaschurch. com HERETIC 466 Edgewood Ave hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge SE Road SWINGING RICHARDS swingingrichards.

BJ ROOSTERS com bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge 1400 Northside Dr Road NE NW

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SEQUEL 1086 Alco St NE TRIPPS 1931 Piedmont Circle N

LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com 3011 Buford Hwy NE

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10TH & PIEDMONT 10thandpiedmont. com 991 Piedmont Ave NE EINSTEIN’S einsteinsatlanta. com 1077 Juniper St NE FROGS CANTINA frogsmidtown.com 931 Monroe Dr G’S gsmidtown.com 219 10th St NE

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

HENRY’S henrysatl.com 132 10th St NE

GCB & PLEASURES brushstrokesatlanta. com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

JOE’S ON JUNIPER joesonjuniper.com 1049 Juniper St NE

BARKING LEATHER barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A

LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com 900 Monroe Dr NE

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10 OUTDOOR ACTiViTiES TO DO WHiLE SOCiAL DiSTANCiNG With coronavirus cases going up and restrictions likely to be reinforced, we all have to move a little bit differently during this time. Luckily, there are plenty of things to do outdoors that are safe while observing social distancing – and don’t forget to wear a mask if you are among other people!

1. Explore local breweries to-go style Enjoy them in a nearby green space 2. Go to a drive-in movie Several movie theatres now offer drive-in options 3. Walk the Beltline and Piedmont Park Seek out the less congested areas 4. Go on a hike – perhaps the Doll’s Head Trail?

5. Social Distance Yoga at piedmont Park or Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park

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6. Dine al Fresco A friendly dinner party outdoors 7. Outdoor Happy Hour Meet your friends BYOB-style 8. Walk & Talk That phone meeting? Do it while you’re walking!

9. Tour Atlanta on Bike You can cover a lot of ground on two wheels 10. Be Part of a Protest Demonstrations and Protests are ongoing – be a part of the change!

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37

Babe, I could really use a hug A hug?

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

A mask is not a political statement – at this point, it’s more like an IQ test

Yeah, a really big,sleeves long By cutting off the hug! of all your t-shirts?

Ok...I’m making tank tops Yes, and crop tops.

A hug will relieve my stress

Yes, it sucks that all events are canceled, but that isn’t keeping a lot of you from participating in the increasingly popular herd immunity festival!

By hug you mean BJ, right?

Well, yeah....

If you haven’t seen me in a while, I’m fat now. You don’t have to tell me. Thanks in advance.

I think we need to stop calling it ‘work from home’ and start calling it ‘living at work’

If you post any more humblebragging photos of your privileged, spoiled life, I will block you.

When this is all over, I still want you to stay away from me

Today I learned that the average person has 8 different sexual partners in their lifetime. Today, I also learned that I’m a whore.

38 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) Building towards the future of a relationship takes more than looking at the big picture.

Focus on the grand scheme of things today, but pay attention to the little details that have emerged while you have sheltered in place together, as they are just as important.

Achieving this balance should put you on the road to unlimited devotion.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) You may feel detached from your friends today, and you’ll wonder why they never call or text. But communication goes both ways, and perhaps you’re the one who isn’t good at staying in touch. Pick up the phone and call and text some of them today. They’ll be glad to hear from you after all this time.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

A profound session of illicit intimacy has you wanting more today, but you also know that social distancing will prevent you from getting more. Besides, such are the pitfalls of getting involved with someone who’s already involved, and this will really drag you down today. It’s easy to advise you to get over it, but we all know how hard that can be.

An urge to feel socially useful in these times of civil unrests and protest will have you pitching in where you can today. Check out where you can volunteer or participate in a protest or march – your your selflessness will be welcome and much needed. The looks of sincere gratitude and thanks are all the reward you’ll need.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

People’s ranting and posting on social media has you take a deeper look at some of your relationships today. You realize you may be carrying a lot of excess baggage that’s weighing you down. Relinquish unneeded online friendships, and jettison anyone who’s not adding anything positive to your life. You’ll be surprised at how much you throw away.

Don’t let others use you as a doormat today.

Stand up for yourself and show them you’re stronger than they think. They may gain newfound respect for you, and you’ll never have to worry about having sand kicked in your face again.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

The call of the wild may have you feeling restless today after sheltering in place for so long. So heed it! Head into the great outdoors -- perhaps a long hike or leisurely bike ride are in order?

Pick something fun and frisky you can enjoy with a very special, masked friend.

You’ll bustle about like a drag queen in a wig store, and then throw a hissy fit when no one can keep up with your high energy hustle today. Keep a check on your aggressions losing your temper won’t get you the things you want any faster, or have people paying attention to you.

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

Make yourself available to gentlemen suitors today. Accept all invitations to social distancing walks, coffees, or whatever outdoor and safe activities they suggest. But turn down offers to take things further. You’re a respectable gentlemen after all, and it isn’t safe just yet for to jump into the sack with just any Tom, Dick or Harry.

Your career may have slowed down some due to the Covid crisis, and you may hate it when your friends become successful, but it’s better to be happy for them than to resent them.

Don’t let jealous feelings towards others derail your relationships today. Perhaps your envy is a manifestation of anger towards yourself for not doing as well as them.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

Men will be mysteriously drawn to you today.

They will stare at you and look you up and down in knowing ways. You’ll be flattered by all of this attention at first, until you realize that your fly is unzipped. How embarrassing is that?

Stop thinking only of yourself today and start doing things for others. There are hundreds of men in your own community who could use a helping hand, or just someone friendly who’ll have compassion for their plight. It doesn’t take much to help, just a little time and basic human understanding – and that 20th social media post can literally wait.

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.

After sheltering in place for months, I am tentatively coming out of my hibernation in the sense that I am starting to see this guy (who has also been isolating for months now).

He’s really great, and we connect on so many levels, but there is one thing that I can probably best describe as body chemistry: I don’t like his smell, and with the few sexual advances we have made, it seems I don’t like his taste either! I’ve never had this happen to me before, so I’m a little surprised that it seems like my body is rejecting this guy whom I otherwise think is cute, sexy, and funny – unless I get close to him, and the first thing I think is that he somehow smells and tastes weird. It’s not a hygienic issue, because he does shower, so could it be a chemical thing?

Sincerely Post-Iso Palate

At the onset of this global pandemic, my boyfriend and I decided to shelter in place together. We did it for the apparent reasons of sharing this strange time with someone else and seeing if we were compatible living together so that we could take next steps in our relationship. My boyfriend is 12 years older than me, and he takes antidepressants, but during our time in isolation, he also disclosed that he uses ED meds because of the anti-depressants. I am totally fine with that, but occasionally his lack of erection before the ED meds kick in gets him so frustrated that they end up doing nothing for him – and then he shuts down completely and refuses to talk about it. I’ve tried to explain to him that I don’t mind and that maybe we can try other stuff that takes focus away from his dick, but at that point, he is just sullen and angry with himself. As I said, I don’t care whether he has to take ED meds or not, but I am starting Dear Post-Iso Palate to get worried about his resistance to talking to me It seems like you do have chemistry, just not the about it and working together to get through this. body chemistry kind! The way you react to him What can I do? is similar to how you react to foods you don’t Sincerely Careful Next Steps like, so, yeah, that can be a problem. You say it’s not for lack of hygiene, but then you need Dear Careful Next Steps to consider if he is taking certain medications, As a preface as to how it would be for you to live what he eats, if he smokes, or consumes a lot together, the weird and upsetting times we are of alcohol. All things that can affect your body living in don’t present the ideal circumstances chemistry and affect the way you smell and to test it out. However, you have good reason to taste! You should also consider if this is your evaluate the reasons why you are together with subconscious mind freaking out a little to be this guy. Is he otherwise emotionally present and intimate with another human after isolating for warm, or do his pouty and quite honestly immature so long? Or maybe this is an unconscious way tantrums go beyond the bedroom? If the inability to recognize that you need to pass on this guy? to communicate and even find common ground to Clearly, you are trying to convince yourself that solve relationship problems doesn’t just pertain to this guy is all right, but maybe you are creating his dick problems, then you probably have more these subliminal messages to yourself to strike issues than those bedside frustrations. Maybe he those warning bells a little louder. There is no needs to see a urologist, or perhaps he needs his doubt there is such a thing as body chemistry anti-depressants and ED meds adjusted so that between two people – I can’t stop smelling my they work better together. Still, you must overcome boyfriend! – but is it enough to terminate a this barrier of not talking about it and the fact that relationship? You are going to have to trust your he refuses to experiment with other things that heart or guts on this one. Or your nose. might take him out of his head and into his body.

Tell him about your concerns and let him know that you need to see some change if you want to take any next steps in this relationship that extend beyond this global health crisis.

NEED ANSWERS? SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM 40 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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