This Labor Day Weekend will mark the 25th Anniversary of Atlanta’s Black Gay Pride Celebration, a legacy of activism, inclusion and excellence in the city’s lgbtq movement for people of color. For the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Black Pride, the host organization, Atlanta Black Pride, Inc. along with the original founders, In The Life Atlanta Foundation (founded & launched in 1996), will bring another round of Empowering seminars and Entertainment experiences in various locations across Metro Atlanta, in addition to select events presented by legendary nightlife promoters, guest producers and non-profits.
The Atlanta Marriott Suites in Midtown, located 35 14th Street, will be the Host Hotel & location for Workshops, Seminars & Community Events produced by the host organization such as their signatures, SpeakFire, The Literary Cafe, and the Annual Fashion Show. Additional features include the return of NOH8 Campaign, the Health & Life Expo, the return of their Annual Film Festival (which will be online), along with the LGBT Greek Events. Some events will be held at different Atlanta locations and the Host Hotel. Also, The Cast of new Reality Series, Women In The Life will be present throughout the celebration as the Official Brand Ambassadors.
(visit the website for details: www.atlantablackpride.org).
Traxx Girls & Rockstars Production will once again host their Labor Day Weekend events at vairious venues in Atlanta and their New Host Hotel Location, The W Midtown Hotel, located 188 14th Street NE.
Traxx Girls featuring DJ/Reality TV Star and Entrepreneur, Melissa Scott, is the #1 Pride Event for Lesbian/Bi Women under the legendary brand, PURE HEAT which features various parties with Celebrity Stars and their Annual Black Pride Booze Cruise at Lake Lanier.
Rockstars Annual LABOR DAY ROCK handles all events for Gay/Bi Men. Their Signature UPGRADED Events (which will happen on Thursday & Saturday) will feature celebrity guests such as The City Girls, along with a Special Appearance by Hip-Hop ICON Trina on Monday’s Annual White Party at Club Opium’s New Location in Underground Atlanta. (visit the website for details: www.atlantablackprideldr.com)
We will also see the return of the Annual Pure Heat Community Festival at Piedmont Park on Sunday, September 5th from Noon - 8 PM featuring various celebrity guests and performers with Special Honors going to Hip-Hop Legend DA BRAT, Atlanta’s LGBT Rep, Malik Brown and many others. (visit the website for details: www. atlantaprideweekend.com).
The Vision Community Foundation will return with their Annual iElevate Conference, held for the 1st time during Labor Day Weekend, starting on Wednesday Sept.2nd - Sunday, September 5th at the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel (located on West Peachtree Street). This conference will feature a host of events starring Celebrity Guests, Renowned Speakers & Authors; a FASHION NIGHT SALUTE, Co-Hosted by Iconic Actress, Vivica A. Fox, and other VIP’s is slated to honor the Architects of Fashion, Art & Film; and a special Speed Dating event by Atlanta’s own, Better Way To Meet. (visit the website: www.ielevate.org for more information & registration).
JT Events, the steward of the historic SkateBoyzATL brand, and the #1 promoter for the legendary & historic Marquette Lounge (Atlanta’s 1st & Oldest Black Gay Nightclub since the late 60’s), will host the Annual Skate Night as the Official Black Pride Kickoff on Wednesday, September 1st at Metro Skates on Metropolitan Pkwy. Also, The Marquette will continue their 50 Years with their Wasted Wednesdays and Annual Black Pride Block Party.
Blue Diamond Entertainment’s Annual PRIDE25+ (Annual Black Pride for Women) will once again present their Annual Renowned All-White Party for Mature Women LIVE at 595 North Event Center (located near the corner of Northside Drive and North Avenue). As always, Blue Diamond will be partnering other Female promoters for a variety of Day & Nightlife Parties for the weekend, some of which will be a part of the Pure Heat lineup.
Legendary RT Parties in partnership with Mixx Atlanta Restaurant & Lounge, home of Destination Fridays and Parties for the Grown & Sexy on Sundays for Men over 30, returns with their Black Pride events, including their Sunday’s with DJ Sedrick. Visit: www.atlantablackpride.com for details.
Lil Nas X and Chill
by Scott King
Lil Nas X is in your face and queer, and it’s no big deal. Which is, of course, a very big deal.
“I watched the ‘Montero’ video by Lil Nas X and all I got was this lousy T-shirt and now I’m also gay and love Satan.”
That’s what another T-shirt says. Both of these things are true.
Deal with it, America. A gay Satanist exhibitionist is the biggest pop star in the world. He understands metaphor. He understands irony. He understands duplicity. He’s like Madonna if Madonna had emerged 40 years after Madonna. He also understands that Madonna already happened. The Madonna Highway has been built, so now he can just cruise down his own old (yet
new) town road at his own pace – while everyone else scrambles to keep up.
As a teenager in the 2010s, Montero Hill attended high school in the northwest Atlanta town of Lithia Springs. He dropped out of extracurriculars in order to spend more time “studying the internet.” He made memes. He grappled with and then accepted his sexuality. He built profiles online based on comedy videos and Nicki Minaj fanpages. Then he pursued music.
In 2018, he bought a drum beat online, one that sampled Nine Inch Nails no less, for $30. The rest, as they say, is queer history.
But it wasn’t. Not yet. “Old Town Road” climbed the genre charts in the spring of 2019. Eventually it got “disqualified” from the country music charts for reasons that were definitely not tied to race. But this catchy earworm of a tune was a uniter not a divider, because, at the end of the day, who doesn’t just want to ride a pony? “Old Town Road,” and specifically the remix with
Miley Cyrus’s dad, Billy Ray, went to number one on the Billboard charts for a record-shattering 19 weeks. 19 weeks! That’s almost five months! My nephews were singing it all summer.
It’s a catchy tune. And Lil Nas wears eye-catching outfits. Fittingly, on the last day of Pride month 2019, in conjunction with his appearance at the Glastonbury Festival with Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus , he came out on Twitter.
After that came the Grammys, VMAs, accolades and artistry. Lil Nas’s performances and public persona became more and more deliciously, decadently and delightfully gay queer and camp. Lil Nas X is proof that you can have a sense of humor and take yourself completely seriously at the same time. Billy Porter did the same thing, but the effect was never funny. Lil Nas X is fucking hilarious.
That’s the world we live in. A then-20year-old with an ear for catchy tunes and a dynamic online personality can take over the pop world in six months. After this initial splash, for the past two years we have been treated to hit singles ranging from the oh-so-emo “Panini” to the Miltonian histrionics of “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
But is it really that surprising that two of the biggest pop stars of the last 10 years, Miley and Lil Nas X, are both queer and both respect pop music history? Miley covered “Doll Parts” on Howard Stern. Lil Nas X pals around with and sticks up for Madonna when the kids try to rebrand her with trendy buzzword pejoratives like “appropriationist” or troll.
What Miley and Nas also have in common is skipping the self-flagellation and hand wringing that, since Ellen in 1997, has often accompanied a mainstream celebrity’s coming out. Lil Nas’s celebratory queerness isn’t defiant, it’s just celebratory. It’s joyous. As the OG casual queer Walt Whitman once wrote, “We convince by our presence.”
I’m convinced. Even hipsters like
Lil Nas X. His numerous hit singles straddle the fence between the banal and the transcendent. I mean, come on – the first seven seconds of his record-shattering hit samples Nine Inch Nails. They are Nine Inch Nails. He is Nine Inch Nails. With a manicure.
Two years later, flamboyant and pitchperfect queerness seems to be Lil Nas X’s brand, and his soul. If you’re a public figure who is Black and you ever talk about being Black, there is a segment of the population that says, ‘Oh, all he does is talk about being Black. Same for if you’re queer or Latinx or female or whatever. You know the drill.
But Lil Nas X refuses to give a fuck. He just does his thing. He knows that some of you love it, some of you hate it, some of you don’t care, and some of you can’t believe it. Lil Nas holds all this wisdom in his adorable sardonic smirk.
Did I mention how hot he is? He’s the kind of hot where I don’t even hate him for being hot. He’s just hot, and it makes me happy.
Thank you for being so fabulous, Lil Nas X. Maybe we’ll meet one day and fall in love. All the little girls dream about this with their favorite pop stars, so why can’t I? I just hope they appreciate you on Raya.
A Black Pride Memorial Bio Tribute written by Miko Evans for Meak Productions, Inc. Photos sponsored by Visuals By Dre’
Effectively known as “The ARTivist”, Antron-Reshaud Olukayode (April 26, 1984 - November 12, 2017) was an accomplished poet, author, HIV/AIDS activist, blogger, self-taught multidisciplinary artist, vocalist, music producer, creative director of BOS+AROS, and Buddhist practitioner. Born in Gainesville, Florida as Antron Reshaud Brown, He attended Buccholz High School, and following graduation in 2002, enrolled at the University of Florida, and studied part-time at Santa Fe Community College in Arizona.
On February 16, 2006, with four boxes, $200 dollars and a Greyhound ticket in hand, Antron left for Atlanta, Georgia. Activism and sharing his poetry were the last things on his mind, however a good friend, Kelvin Barlow got a glimpse of Antron’s work and introduced him to legendary writer, and mentor, AID Atlanta’s program manager, Craig Washington.
He released his first collection of poetry, “Bohemian Rebel: Naked and Exposed Vol. 1.” Over the next three years, Antron produced “The Rising Vol. 2,” a collection of poems and proses about his years being homeless, and his first written stage play, “TRANS-ition,” the story of a teenager transitioning from male to female. He also created his first one man show, “Evicted,” about enduring homelessness while HIV positive.
In 2016, Antron joined the World’s 1st LGBTQ EXCLUSIVE Talent Agency, Meak Productions, Inc., where he was deemed Mr. Fall Quarter 201617, and became a special guest hightlight in the Agency’s pioneering campaigns, Suit & Tie/Black & White and NIGHTLIFE. Using art to connect with people and spread awareness, he premiered his multimedia exhibition, ANTRONICA later that year. In 2017, he was admitted to the hospital in October for Cancer while pursuing a degree at
the SAE Institute Atlanta. He was expecting to only stay a week, until his condition worsened. Due to not being able to attend his graduation from SAE Institute, the hosptial staff dressed him in his Cap & Gown and live streamed him during the graduation ceremony.
After a month long stay at the hospital, and with only 3 days to live, his family took him back to his hometown in Florida where he made his transition in hospice on November 12, 2017. To listen to Antron’s Music, click here: https://soundcloud. com/antron-reshaud-olukayode
NOTE: This is the Edited version of Antron-Reshaud. Read the FULL BIO TRIBUTE online at: www.peachatl.com
Because we all need a wise, Lesbian BFF!
Dear Lesbo
My wife & I are in an inter-racial marriage and we have this ongoing dilemma around this time of year I am hoping you will help me with. This week is Black Pride and I really want to support her and be with her throughout the festivities, however at times I feel stared at, and insecure around this crowd. My question is should I stay or should I go? I don’t want to hurt her and I love our relationship. Am I just being a WHINY WIFE???
HELP.....Love Whiny
Dear Whiny
Pull up your big girl pants and get your dancing partying shoes on. This line-up this year rocks. If people are looking at you it’s only becaiuse y’all are such a hot couple. I am sure in your marriage you do things for eachother you may not really want to. This is not the time for that. I promise a great time will be had, invite your friends and hit the parties, the brunches, the BOAT Party and all the festivities. Hold that wife close and strut together all weekend long.
Dear Lesbo
By Marci Alt
My boss keeps hinting he is gay... He knows I am in a relationship and I believe he is just fishing for the fun spots and happening hangouts to hit up. Should I help or will this jeopardize our professional relationship?
Scarey Stud
Dear Scary
It sounds to me like that line has already been crossed. If you want just point him to this magazine as all the happening in ATlanta is right in these pages. Let him know you are not single and it feels a little inappropriate as he is your boss..
Thanks so so much to my colleagues at Peach Atl. I am so happy to work with so many people that truly take care of me always. I want to thank y’all for your continued support for Ask the Lesbo as I love to write this. keep your questions coming I promise I’ll keep answering... Happy Black Pride now get out there and have fun this weekend
Lesbo
Photo: Meak Productions
LET’S CHAT
Wassup N’ ATL’s Annual Manual Labor, Trailblazers of the Best in LGBT & Exotic Entertainment since 2002, returns this Labor Day Weekend with Special Guest: DIAMOND From Crime Mob along with other Guest Exotic Dancers and Performers sponsored by Guaranteed Entertainment and Hot Boyz ATL. A New addition to this year’s Manual Labor will be their Big Block Party at the Historic Pal’s Lounge on Auburn Avenue. The Microtel Inn & Suites in Buckhead is the Official Host Hotel for Wassup N’ ATL. (Visit: www.wassupnatl.com for details and passes.)
Fab5ATL, founded by Promoter Icon, Romeo Michael will present its Annual COLORS Black Pride Weekend, featuring events in partnership with RT Parties, Sean Karta Promotions and others. Famously known as the home of the weekly IN DA CUT (Strippers Show), Believe Night Club, and Secret Saturdays, this year’s event will feature special celebrity guest and appearances by Bia, Kali, Dream Doll & City Girls. (Visit: www.celebratingblackpride.com for details and passes)
Deemed by Meak Productions as the Prince of Atlanta’s Exotic Gay Entertainment Scene, Elijah “Superman” Ebony & his Amazing Friends will be LIVE & IN FULL EFFECT throughout this Labor Day Weekend presenting the Best in Adult Entertainment Events (some events will be in partnership with Club 840 ATL, The Cartel, the Original Founders (ITLA), RT Parties & Fab5ATL).
BARS
2
iend
BARS & CLUBS
MIDTOWN
ATLANTA EAGLE CLOSED atlantaeagle.com
306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE
BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE
FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl. com
736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE
TEN ATLANTA tenatlanta.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE
modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE
hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road
of Gay
bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE
DINING
MIDTOWN
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
HENRY’S henrysatl.com 132 10th St NE
JOE’S ON JUNIPER joesonjuniper.com 1049 Juniper St NE
LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com 900 Monroe Dr NE
CHESHIRE
LAS MARGARITAS lasmargaritasmidtown.com 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE ROXX 1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
DEKALB
LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com 3011 Buford Hwy NE
RETAIL
MIDTOWN
BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
CHESHIRE
SOUTHERN NIGHTS
VIDEO 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
ANSLEY
BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1447 Piedmont Ave NE
GCB & PLEASURES brushstrokesatlanta. com 1510-D Piedmont Ave. NE
FITNESS
URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com 500 Amsterdam Ave N
Beyonce's Birthday is September 4th but we're celebrating early with a trivia night ALL ABOUT QUEEN BEY!!
Because our trivia nights have become a big night at GyM, we will be selling tickets moving forward to ensure everyone who comes gets a seat! A ticket not only reserves your seat but also gets you 2 tacos and 1 Espolon Margarita! We are selling a limited number of early bird tickets so grab one (or 6) while they're still available.
Teams of 1-6 welcome, 21+ only
Signups begin at 6:30, trivia starts right at 7:00 and will be done by 9:00.
The Art of Banksy @ Westside Cultural Arts Center | Starts Sept. 2nd
Highly successful, Banksy is regarded as one of the most valuable artists of our time. The Art of Banksy: Without Limits shows more than 110 of the artist’s works, such as his original art, prints on different kinds of materials, photos, sculptures, and much more. Some of his works have even been reproduced with his stencil technique especially for the exhibition. The show promises a genuinely impressing experience, and is a “must see” to celebrate Banksy’s art and carry it out into the wider world.
Get your tickets here ⇨ http://bit.ly/BanksyWithoutLimits
DragonCon | Sept. 2nd - Sept. 6th
Dragon Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe. Call us a phenomenon, call us one of the most well attended pop-culture conventions in the country, call us the most fan fun you can have in five days.
Gwinnett Pride @ Thrasher Park in Norcross | Sept. 4th (11 AM- 7 PM)
In 2019 Visibility Club brought LGBTQ+ visibility to Gwinnett County with the first Pride event ever in the county, Norcross Pride, this year we're expanding the whole county! Join us for the first-ever Gwinnett Pride! With live music, food and drinks and the sense of community that defined our first event.
Get all the details at http://gwinnettpride.us
Alan Collins presents Ana Flor | Sept. 5th (10 PM - 3 AM)
Join Alan Collins and the staff at the Heretic for some great music and energy this Labor Day Weekend!
Dear Peach,
I have lived in Atlanta for quite some time now and I cannot help but think that I am missing out on things to do here. I don’t feel like there is a lot going on, or maybe I am missing the mark on where to find events to go to?
Any advice on some places to check out or resources to find new things to do?
Well, if you think there aren’t things to do in Atlanta, you might be looking in the wrong places but you also could be seeing the effects of Covid, and how it has drastically changed going out in the city.
The city is bustling with tons of things to do but you have to look for them. There are apps and websites like Meetup (Online) and Fever (AppStore) that you can find things going on around town, but you have to look.
I would also suggest maybe joining one of your local sports groups if you consider yourself sporty at all. Having a group of friends who attend events together can create a solid network of supportive people around you.
All in all, expand your social circle first and I am sure the events will come quickly.
WHAT JUDGING WORLD BEAR WEEKEND TAUGHT ME ABOUT INCLUSIVITY
BY: CHRIS GONZALEZ
These past few weeks I have had the distinct honor of traveling around the country to bring “bear yoga” to bodies that may not have experienced it before or were too nervous to try a traditional class. In the midst of all that, I was also about to pass on my title of World Cub to my successor. If you haven’t been to a Leather, Bear or Drag contest… they all typically run fairly similar. World Bear Weekend however runs over three days with a series of categories including Formal Wear, Bar Wear, Title Wear and Theme Wear. The contestants had to do raffle ticket sales, judges interviews and other events as well to rack up points to earn the title of World Bear, Cub or Pet.
As a judge, I looked forward to learning more about the contestants. I was schooled this past weekend in classes held on Pup Play where there were more similarities than differences in the headspace that I get into as a “Boy” and they do as Pups or whatever pet they identify as. I was also taught a very valuable lesson on inclusivity simply by the use of they/them pronouns by two of our contestants: one trans and one nonbinary. But, not everyone was respectful of their preferred choice of pronouns. I repeatedly saw instances where the individuals felt uncomfortable because there were attendees at the event who did not respect their presence in this inclusive space. So to this, I say:
We as a society need to take a moment and look around at the state of our world. As we all struggle to make it though day by day, what benefit does treating someone disrespectfully do for you?
Do you gain a bit of power by treating someone disrespectfully? Do you truly feel better than someone by putting them down? If you answered yes to either one of those questions, you need to ask yourself, “Why”? It takes a little bit of respect to make someone feel included in a space where they’ve already been ostracized Chances are that at some point in your life, you were also pushed to the side and seen as less than. So, why would you push that feeling on someone else?
Throughout the weekend of World Bear I met so many individuals who were different than me. I hosted a Naked Cocktail hour where someone who was biologically female attended and was welcome with open arms by other attendees. I hosted Naked Yoga where an individual who only had top surgery, felt comfortable to attend and enjoy the benefits of the class surrounded by friends for support. Imagine if we all had experiences like THESE instead of the ostracization of one another. If there were spaces that were TRULY all inclusive, regardless of race, age, gender expression, etc.
So, how can you create a safe space for those around you to be authentically themselves? If there’s ever an ongoing challenge to tackle wherever you are, it’s this. Educate yourself. Humble yourself. Take a breath and realize that we are all just trying to navigate this world as best as we can.
You are going to have a blast from your past, Virgo. There is going to be a representation of a new beginning in your life and it has to do with reaccepting this person back into your life. Even though they may have damaged you in the past, you are stronger now. Take back control.
Someone that you know seems to have an issue with the way that you are running things currently. While you normally wouldnt be concerned with the pettiness of this discomfort, this person means a lot to you and you dont want to damage that relationship. Learn to negotiate this week and bring a level head to your authority.
Curiosity killed the cat, Scorpio. You seem to be increasingly suspicious of people around you and that is leading you to believe that people have it out for you. This is not the case. Breathe and just trust the universe to take care of you in the meantime. Noone wants to hurt you, despite how malicious you think people may be.
You feel like a mind-reader this week, Sag. You think that you know everything about everyone around you but you are in for a few surprises. Those around you that might be holding some things back, are definitely going to show you their true colors. This could be a positive or a negative, depending on how involved in your life they are.
Your passion is shining through this week and those around you, notice. It is a time of dedication and revisiting your passion. Nothing else matters at the moment, and all you can do is allow your authenticity to shine through. If you supress these feelings, you will feel an overwhelming "what if" feeling. Steady yourself and prepare for a fun week of revisiting old hobbies and interests.
You are going to have a blast from your past, Virgo. There is going to be a representation of a new beginning in your life and it has to do with reaccepting this person back into your life. Even though they may have damaged you in the past, you are stronger now. Take back control.
Someone that you know seems to have an issue with the way that you are running things currently. While you normally wouldnt be concerned with the pettiness of this discomfort, this person means a lot to you and you dont want to damage that relationship. Learn to negotiate this week and bring a level head to your authority.
Curiosity killed the cat, Scorpio. You seem to be increasingly suspicious of people around you and that is leading you to believe that people have it out for you. This is not the case. Breathe and just trust the universe to take care of you in the meantime. Noone wants to hurt you, despite how malicious you think people may be.
You feel like a mind-reader this week, Sag. You think that you know everything about everyone around you but you are in for a few surprises. Those around you that might be holding some things back, are definitely going to show you their true colors. This could be a positive or a negative, depending on how involved in your life they are.
Your passion is shining through this week and those around you, notice. It is a time of dedication and revisiting your passion. Nothing else matters at the moment, and all you can do is allow your authenticity to shine through. If you supress these feelings, you will feel an overwhelming "what if" feeling. Steady yourself and prepare for a fun week of revisiting old hobbies and interests.
