Q ATLus Magazine | March 4, 2021

March 4, 2021

Strong

SUIT

Dress Up and Keep ThemTalking

Just What Becomes An LGBTQ Legend?

A Balenciaga Serves Legislative Realness 20 Questions & More Queer Dating Games

Inspired &

INSPIRING

ALL DRESSED UP with nowhere to go? Nu-Uh. It’s nowhere to go and all dressed up! Q ATLus reaches into the dark wardrobe and pulls out inspiration at a time when hoodies and sweatpants have seen too much light.

Dressing for errands may be new, but the inspiration of icons in 10 Q Things is historic. Get tips from those legends before jumping into a local star.

Trans Gold Dome liaison Jennifer Barnes-Balenciaga helps form proactive policy, even as she joins the fight against the trio of anti-trans bills outlined in Q News.

Q Advice this week channels gay mind readers, and Q Events stays busy during downtime. Soak it all in, and come back for more next week.

Until then, catch us on social media and theQatl.com every day.

Reach out any time via mike@theQatl.com.

RICHARD CHERSKOV PUBLISHER & SALES RICHARD@THEQATL.COM 404-917-9678 JOHN NAIL ART DIRECTOR JOHN@THEQATL.COM

MIKE FLEMING EDITOR MIKE@THEQATL.COM RIVENDELL MEDIA NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM 212-242-6863 theQatl.com 5

INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 4 ISSUE 15

MARCH 4, 2021

BE ICONIC

What Makes a Legend?

COVER

19

8

Well Suited

Dress For De-stress

11

14

NEWS

COMMUNITY

Three Anti-transgender Bills

Trans Under the Gold Dome

Trans Trio 10 Q Things.................8 Q News......................11 Q Community............14 Q Events....................23 Q Map........................24 Q Advice....................29 6 theQatl.com

Capitol Realness Q ADVICE

Fortune Tellers

Stop Trying to Predict the Future

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Q

10 THINGS

What Becomes A

L E G E N D? Chart a path to extraordinary with inspirational tips from famous faces

By Mike Fleming

Adapt & REINVENT Freddie Mercury

Take RISKS & Act BOLDLY

Marsha P. Johnson

Be ORIGINAL Oscar Wilde

8 theQatl.com

Do What You LOVE

Audre Lorde

Show DETERMINATION Harvey Milk

Act OUT

Silvia Rivera

Play Your OWN GAME Rita Mae Brown

LIFT UP Others Bayard Rustin

Be UNPREDICTABLE & UNAPOLOGETIC Divine

Aim HIGH

Martina Navratilova

theQatl.com 9

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NEWS

Q

Chanel Haley, Gender Policy Manager at Georgia Equality (Photo courtesy Haley)

Trans TARGETS Trio of GOP bills take aim at transgender students and children

By Matt Hennie A GEORGIA LAWMAKER INTRODUCED legislation on Feb. 10 that would imprison doctors who provide gender-affirming care to trans youth.

It’s the third anti-trans proposal filed by lawmakers in February.

The measure from state Rep. Ginny Ehrhart, a Republican from Marietta, would prohibit licensed medical professionals from giving hormone treat-

ments to or performing gender affirmation surgery on transgender people under the age of 18.

Healthcare professionals who violate the law would be charged with a felony and face a prison term of up to 10 years. They would lose their medical license if convicted.

The legislation also creates a private cause of action, which would allow “any individual aggrieved” by the gender-affirming care to sue for damages and attorneys’ fees. It includes five co-sponsors, all of whom chair House committees and several who are members of Republican leadership – Reps.

Mark Newton, Rick Jasperse, Micah Gravley, John Carson and Karen Mathiak.  theQatl.com 11

ANTI-TRANS BILLS continued

Republican state Reps. Philip Singleton, Ginny Ehrhart and Rick Jasperse have each filed 2021 bills targeting transgender people.

“Wrong-headed bills that attack vulnerable marginalized communities, like trans kids, have no place in a caring and compassionate society where every person is valued and respected,” said Chanel Haley, Gender Policy Manager at Georgia Equality.

“Decisions about medical treatment for transgender youth should be made by a medical doctor, in accordance with the current medical best practices and the youth’s parents,” Haley added.

STUDENT ATHLETES TARGETED

The two other anti-trans bills making their way through the legislature are aimed at trans athletes in schools and colleges.

A day before Ehrhart introduced her legislation, Jasperse introduced House Bill 372. The measure would ban trans athletes from competing in local school systems. Ehrhart is a co-sponsor, as are state Reps. Jason Ridley, Mike Cameron, Rick Williams and Steve Tarvin.

On Feb. 4, state Rep. Philip Singleton, a Republican from Sharpsburg, introduced House Bill 276.

The measure would prevent transgender women from competing in female sports at public and private schools and colleges. It would also allow cis-gender female athletes to sue schools if they can prove they were denied an opportunity to participate in sports by the inclusion of a trans woman.

Jeff Graham, Georgia Equality’s executive director,

12 theQatl.com

called the trio of bills “an attack on transgender kids.”

“It stigmatizes transgender kids, and it stigmatizes the medical care and the parents that are doing their best to protect their kids and make their kids’ lives better. These sorts of political attacks on children are just absolutely shameful,” Graham said.

Ehrhart is developing a lengthy anti-LGBTQ track record. She compared transgender people to moose during her 2018 campaign, vowed to revive a push for anti-LGBTQ “religious freedom” legislation in the 2019 session, spoke out against a bill that would ban conversion therapy for minors during a hearing at the state Capitol in 2019 and targeted doctors with a “trans panic” bill in 2020.

Co-sponsors of all three bills have similarly anti-LGBTQ histories under the Gold Dome.

Singleton voted against a historic LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes bill that passed with bipartisan support and co-sponsored a bill that critics said could lead to discrimination against LGBTQ students on college campuses.

Jasperse co-sponsored Ehrhart’s “trans panic” bill in 2020 and pushed back on adding LGBTQ protections to a student scholarship bill in 2017.

He, Ehrhart, Ridley and Tarvin all voted against the hate crimes bill.

Read more about the bills and efforts to fight them on Project Q Atlanta, Atlanta’s best source for local LGBTQ news and features. theQatl.com

Q

COMMUNITY

Balenciaga in

Jennifer Barnes-Balenciaga with Rep. Park Cannon

“Georgia flipping blue is an amazing sentiment — if legislators use this movement as a bipartisan signal to unify to better help their constituents.” ­— Jennifer Barnes-Balenciaga 14 theQatl.com

the HOUSE

By Mike Fleming

MUCH HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER since state Rep. Park Cannon first made Jennifer Barnes-Balenciaga the only state-level LGBTQ liaison in Georgia. Still, a lot hasn’t.

“The change that I have seen is certainly a still developing one,” Barnes-Balenciaga told Project Q. “Georgia flipping blue is an amazing sentiment — if legislators use this movement as a bipartisan signal to unify to better help their constituents.”

A longtime member of the ballroom house of Balenciaga, she is also director of the commemorative Crystal La’Beija Organizing Fellowship (CLOF). As a trans woman, her perspective was part of the conversation from Day 1 of meeting Cannon.

Barnes-Balenciaga also counts the 2019 creation of wider access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis as a big win during her tenure at the Capitol.

“Now onto making sure all persons of trans experience receive adequate research and dissemination of forthcoming PrEP medications,” she said. “So we can end this HIV pandemic still plaguing our communities, especially those of black and brown people so intensely.”

LGBTQ liaison blazes trails under the Gold Dome

First elected in 2016, Cannon is one of seven LGBTQ lawmakers at the Gold Dome. As Cannon’s LGBTQ liaison, Barnes-Balenciaga personally helped Cannon spearhead an effort to officially recognize Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Day of Remembrance in Atlanta.

“I was a previous graduate of the Youth HIV Policy Advisors at Georgia Equality, and I was paired up with Rep. Cannon as her advisor on HIV policy development in 2017,” Balenciaga-Barnes said.

“It’s absolutely amazing working with not only state Rep. Park Cannon, but our whole team is amazing.” she added. “She’s a trailblazer.”

WORK TO DO

“Georgia has a lot of work to do on inclusion of all transgender persons in documentation,” she said. “DMVs still have by-laws that discriminate against gender marker changes.”

Three years and multiple conversations, bills and policies later, Barnes-Balenciaga is especially proud of advancements she helped shape for trans people as well as people with HIV in Georgia.

The 2021 session includes a bill to do just that. It’s the kind of challenge and responsibility — “Countless resolutions for so many awesome constituents of District 58 and Atlanta” — that keep Barnes-Balenciaga coming back to the Capitol, she said.

The staffer and Cannon work intentionally on inclusion and to get other policy makers to embrace equity, Barnes-Balenciaga said.

“We have to get other politicians to be equitable to all persons,” she said. “The atmosphere in Georgia and beyond has got to reflect all the persons they are due to serve.”

Barnes-Balenciaga also encouraged everyday LGBTQ voters to stay engaged in politics beyond each election cycle. It’s as simple as identifying your representatives, making contact and showing up for the process.

“Visit your state Capitol after finding out your legislators in your district,” she said. “Your presence is needed. Volunteer!” theQatl.com 15

18 theQatl.com

COVER

Q

Dress It

UP

Hats and suits lift your mood and your profile

By Mike Fleming

A FULL YEAR NOW INTO CORONAMESS, athleisure and waist-up workwear are kings, and there are fewer places that require a look. It’s a reality that needs a reality check.

Let’s stop staring longingly into the dress-up section of our closets. Every once in a while, we can commit to dive into the dark recesses of the wardrobe and pull out something fabulous.

Dust off that hat. Suit up. Match your facemask to the ensemble. Dress with purpose for no purpose at all.

So what if the grocery store is your sole outing? You’ll feel better for the effort, and you’ll look better while you shop.

Does it attract second glances? Good.

Like the song says, let’s give ‘em something to talk about.

Turn the page for looks that inspire pre-2020 you, the one who deserves to come out of the closet, so to speak. 

theQatl.com 19

DRESSED UP continued

Classic

20 theQatl.com

Cool

theQatl.com 21

DRESSED UP continued

Bold Elegance

22 theQatl.com

Q Events

The Best LGBTQ Things to Do in Atlanta This Week

SATURDAY, MARCH 6 DJ Christie

This internationally

THURSDAY, MARCH 4

renowned Latina

Spark Game Night

knows what ladies like: Reggaeton,

DJ Darlene finds you playing games with the

bachata, bossa nova…

Jameson Wheel of Prizes and other surprises @ Hideaway, 8 p.m. facebook.com/atlantahideaway

FRIDAY, MARCH 5

It’s the first of a monthly

Latin Night series @ My Sister’s Room, 10 p.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 8

Ha Ha Hapeville

Rain Beau’s End

What started in a gay

Sean Young returns in

couple’s backyard now

this intimate drama

brings lots of laughs out

set in the ‘90s about a

in public while you imbibe

beer @ Arches Brewing, Hape-

ville, 8 p.m. douglasdeweyatl.com

female couple with an

adopted son misdiagnosed

with a predisposition for violence. Streams online @ Lesflicks, all month.

Glitz

Dinner and a show

every night. Come see

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

why they call it “the

best place to celebrate

anything” @ Lips.

lipsUSA.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 6 Joe Pacheco In town from NYC, this DJ spins. So do you, honey.

So do you @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com

Good Judy Podcast

Tune in every Tuesday for a new guest from the

world of queer culture with your hosts Brigitte Bidet and Ellasaurus Rex. Catch up on past episodes now, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Trivia Tuesday

Drop in on a full afternoon and evening of spe-

cials, and don’t forget Trivia Tuesdays with a $50 bar tab prize @ Hideaway, 9 p.m. Happy Hour

specials every weekday, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. facebook. com/atlantahideaway

theQatl.com 23

on tA ve .N E dm Pi e

4

9

11th St. NE

8

10th St. NE

Amsterdam Ave.

Dr. N E

Piedmont Park

14th St. NE

12th St. NE

12

Mon roe

West Peachtree St. NE

E

75

t. N eS tre

85

ach Pe

Spring St. NW

Q Atlus Map

10 5

Virginia Ave. NE

1 9th St. NE

227 10th St. NE 2. Bulldogs Bar 893 Peachtree St NE 3. Friends on Ponce 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 4. My Sister’s Room 84 12th St 5. X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave. NE 6. Atlanta Eagle 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

24 theQatl.com

 Bars

 Restaurants North Ave. NW

North Ave. NW

 Clubs  Retail/Services

Not Shown

Future (opening soon) 50 Lower Alabama St SW, Suite 180

8. Henry’s Midtown Tavern 132 10th St NE

Mary’s 1287 Glenwood Ave SE

9. Joe’s onRalph Juniper McGill Blvd. NE 1049 Juniper St NE

Sister Louisa’s 466 Edgewood Ave SE

10. Zocalo Mexican Kitchen & Cantina 187 10th St NE Highland Ave. NE 11. Barking Leather After Dark 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE (inside Eagle) 12. Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

The T 465 Boulevard SE Swinging Richards 1400 Northside Dr NW Lips Drag Show Palace 3011 Buford Highway NE Lost ’n Found Youth Thift Store 2585 Chantilly Dr NE

Ponce De Leon Pl. NE

3

Key

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

7. Flex 76 4th St NW

Ponce De Leon Pl. NE

r. NE roe D Mon

Charles Allen Dr. NE

11 6

St. Charles Ave.

Glen Iris Dr. NE

1. Blakes on the Park

NE

NE

Piedmont Park

Piedmont Ave.

Spring St. NW

7

2 Juniper St. NE

85

Peachtree St.

75

West Peachtree St. NE

8th St. NE

Lin

dbe

rgh

Dr.

1

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Lidde ll D

Ch

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ulk

9 NE

5 4

Leno x Rd .

Lam

Manchester Rd. NE

Dr.

Fa

ircle NE nt C mo d e Pi

P

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10

NE

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ista

85

rt

ve. sA ter

Lav

Alco S t. NE

Piedmont Ave. NE

3

NE

8 E

d. N eR

dg

Bri

Key

 Bars  Restaurants  Clubs  Retail/Services

Cheshire Bridge Road 5. The Heretic 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

9. Gravity Fitness 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

2. Tripp’s Bar 1931 Piedmont Circle NE

6. Las Margaritas 1842 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

10. Southern Nights 2205 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

3. Woof’s Sports Bar 494 Plasters Ave NE

7. Roxx Tavern 1824 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

11. Tokyo Valentino (Cheshire Bridge) 1739 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

4. BJ Rooster’s 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

8. 2Qute Hair Salon 1927 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

nr Mo

3

5

Pied

4. Oscar’s 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

tA ve .N E on ed m

r. NE

Pi

5. Barking Leather 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 6. Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE

D Monroe

Piedmont Park

1. Felix’s on the Square 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

3. Midtown Moon 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

8

6

Ansley Park 2. The Hideaway 1544 Piedmont Ave NE

E

4

r. N

7

D oe

2 1

Morningside Dr. NE

mon t

Ave. NE

1. Sequel Bar 1086 Alco St. NE

Key

 Bars  Restaurants  Clubs  Retail/Services

7. Brushstrokes 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 8. Equilibrium Fitness 1529 Piedmont Ave NE

theQatl.com 25

Q Atlus Map Directory The businesses on the preceding pages are integral parts of Atlanta’s LGBTQ landscape. Those listed in boxes are consistent Q partners and community allies.

BARS, CLUBS & RESTAURANTS Atlanta Eagle 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE BJ Roosters 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Blakes on the Park 227 10th St. NE Bulldogs Bar 893 Peachtree St NE Felix’s on the Square 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Friends on Ponce 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Future 50 Lower Alabama St SW, Suite 180 Henry’s Midtown Tavern 132 10th St NE The Heretic 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road NE The Hideaway 1544 Piedmont Ave NE Joe’s on Juniper 1049 Juniper St NE Las Margaritas 1842 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Lips Drag Show Palace 3011 Buford Highway NE Mama’s Cocina 1958 Piedmont Road NE Mary’s 1287 Glenwood Ave SE Midtown Moon 1510 Piedmont Ave NE My Sister’s Room 84 12th St Oscar’s 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Roxx Tavern 1824 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

26 theQatl.com

Sequel Bar 1086 Alco St. NE

Sister Louisa’s 466 Edgewood Ave SE Swinging Richards 1400 Northside Dr NW The T 465 Boulevard SE Tripp’s Bar 1931 Piedmont Circle NE Woof’s Sports Bar 494 Plasters Ave NE X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave. NE Zocalo Mexican Kitchen & Cantina 187 10th St NE

RETAIL & SERVICES 2Qute Hair Salon 1927 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Barking Leather 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Barking Leather After Dark 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE (inside Atlanta Eagle) Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE Brushstrokes 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Equilibrium Fitness 1529 Piedmont Ave NE Lost ’n Found Youth Thrift Store 2585 Chantilly Dr NE Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

ADULT Flex 76 4th St NW Southern Nights 2205 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Starship Galaxy/Starship Novelties 2273 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Tokyo Valentino 1739 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

Q Advice

Mind READER WTF did he meant by that?

Q

After a long-term relationship, I’m back out meeting people, having fun and going on lots of dates. As you might imagine, some are duds, some are studs.

I’ve been off the market long enough that I forgot about so many games and jumping hurdles. Did he just pull a bait and switch?

Is this asshole “negging” me?

What did they mean by this comment or that? Is this a date or an interview?

Afterward, how long should I wait before texting or texting back? Should I bother texting a second time if there’s no response? How much flirting is too much? When should I bring up sex?

Speaking of sex, I might be DTF on a first date, and I might not.

Are they? How can I tell?

Even when a date seems to be working, it’s work. How can I curb my over-analysis and just have fun?

Dear Clueless: I’m not a mind-reader, but I can predict frustration until you realize that you aren’t a mind reader either.

How can you tell what they mean, feel and want?

Ask. Communication is key to easing your mind, learning more and paving the way to potentially getting closer.

Unlike a job interview, you’re not required to answer every question. Cut through the crap and confusion

with questions of your own. Not sure what they mean? Get clarification.

Maybe there actually is an ulterior motive in something they said. Crack open passive-aggression with direct action: “I’m not sure how to respond. Tell me more.” You can even straight-up ask, “What do you mean exactly?”

Most people will clarify, and when they do it’s fine.

When confronted, schemers will reveal themselves pretty quickly as well.

Sexual politics can be complicated. Hormones and attractions affect emotions, our insecurities and confidences collide, and the other person’s do too.

Fortunately, communication is at the ready again. Say how you feel and what you want. Ask how they feel and what they want.

If you don’t match, it’s better to know than wonder.

The same goes for texts. Relax, be yourself and communicate based on that, not on what they might or might not be thinking. Feel like texting? Text. Keep it simple and light. Want a response and didn’t get one back after a day?

Send it (and drop it if you still don’t hear back).

“Hey I’m still thinking of you. You interested in getting together again?”

They might say no. Good, you can move on. They might also say yes. Good, you can move forward.

When taken logically, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain by being direct. Ask, listen, follow up, and nearly everyone will show you who they really are.

Q Advice is intended for entertainment, not professional counseling. Send your Qs to mike@theQatl.com.

ILLUSTRATION BY BRAD GIBSON

theQatl.com 29