Q
START VALENTINE SEASON WITH LOVE ON THE ROCKS
February 6, 2020
inform | inspire
By
JORGE
The long road to becoming WSB’s first out anchor
LGBTQ-ATLIEN DELIVERS QUINTESSENTIAL KYLIE ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FEST BUT MAKE IT SUPER QUEER STILL USING, OR IS THAT THEIR REAL PERSONALITY?
Q News The Q Q Shots The Queer Agenda The Weekly Print Publication of Project Q Atlanta
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Making
INROADS
LGBTQ authors, anchors and arts buffs cross over into the mainstream FAMOUS POP STARS, local legends and an Atlanta institution are getting the queer treatment, and it’s a sign of the times. Top it off with Valentine-themed events, and it’s all about love in this issue of Q.
PROJECT Q ATLANTA PATRICK SAUNDERS EDITOR PSAUNDERS@THEQATL.COM CONTRIBUTORS IAN ABER LAURA BACCUS GABRIELLE CLAIBORNE BUCK COOKE CHARLES E. DAVIS JON DEAN BILL DICKINSON JIM FARMER BRAD GIBSON JAMES L. HICKS BENTLEY HUDGINS TAMEEKA L. HUNTER HEATHER MALONEY ERIC PAULK KYLE ROSE JAMES PARKER SHEFFIELD VINCE SHIFFLETT ALEXANDRA TYLER VAVA VROOM RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM 212-242-6863 LOCAL ADVERTISING SALES@THEQATL.COM 404-949-7071
MIKE FLEMING
Sure, queers have been talking celebrities forever, movies broke out of the celluloid closet long ago, and gay anchors have been delivering the news since its inception. The difference is that they are out about it, and they are being openly embraced by their colleagues and counterparts.
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
In Q People, Atlanta writer Quentin Harrison introduces his latest Record Redux book on a diva. This time, it’s Kylie Minogue, and it comes with a launch party. And over in Q Festival, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival features multi-layered LGBTQ representation on screen as part and parcel of the event. This week’s Q Cover Story meets Jorge Estevez, the first out anchor in WSB-TV’s 72-year history. He speaks frankly to Q about the yearslong, sometimes-rough road before landing at Atlanta’s standard-bearing news station. All this inclusion may have you hankering for specifically queer spaces. We have it in the Queer Agenda calendar, Q Shots photos, as well as The Q advice column. Speaking of your to-do list, in Q Events we break out the best Valentinethemed events, and we feature venues, retailers and services for the holigay on the surrounding pages. What more could you ask for? Until next week’s print edition hits, the Q News and Community stories flow fresh every day on Project Q Atlanta at theQatl.com, and I’m here for your inquiries at mike@theQatl.com. theQatl.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 7 FEBRUARY 6, 2020
’TIS THE SEASON Valentine Week Events
COVER
19 11
Groundbreaker WSB-TV ’s Jorge Estevez
PEOPLE
13 7
Minoque Redux Quentin Harrison knows his Kylie
25 Spank Tank
FESTIVAL
14
Crossing Over Jewish Film Fest’s LGBTQ track
FEATURES
Q People
7
The Queer Agenda 22
4
Q Shots
25
The Q
30
theQatl.com
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28 Dirty Daddies
LOCATIONS IN
BUCKHEAD • VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS • SANDY SPRINGS
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6
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PEOPLE Q
Spinning
AROUND
Local LGBTQ musicologist drops Kylie Minogue retrospective
By Buck C. Cooke WANT TO TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A CAREER? Then follow the example of Atlantan Quentin Harrison. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of music and pop culture, the author and columnist began publishing his Record Redux book series in 2016 with the Spice Girls, followed by volumes on the careers or Carly Simon, Donna Summer, and Madonna. Now get ready for gay icon Kylie Minogue. “The premise of the line is to create conversations about these female artists and groups that aren’t happening, or to redirect the conversations that are happening to focus on their catalogues in new ways,” Harrison tells Q. There will be 14 books in the series. The fifth volume arrives this month and focuses on the career and discography of Minogue with statistics, insights and reviews of her music. The book stands as the first on the artist by an American, and the first by a person of color. theQatl.com
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Q
HARRISON continued
‘[Minogue] learned to make accessible pop music and then she flipped the script and made some subversive pop music right there in plain sight. There’s something to discover in her music.’ “This project is a bit of history in the making,” Harrison beams.
Minogue fans are living in golden times these days.
In addition to Harrison’s book these last few weeks of the
What has been the publishing process been like? I attempted the traditional route, and it wasn’t working, so I publish independently. I did a Kickstarter campaign to fund the creation on my own terms. Each book is usually an eight-month process, but the Kylie Minogue book took nine to ten months. I wanted to pace myself differently after the Madonna book. What comes next for you and the Record Redux series? There’s a revamp of the Spice Girls book coming up, because there’s so much I want to do with them and I have a certain skillset I’ve developed since the first book. It will feature an updated discography since they have released several new solo albums since the first edition was published in 2016. The next new volume will be Janet Jackson, then Bananarama, Gloria Estefan and Sheena Easton. Other volumes in the series will cover the ‘70s Supremes, Kim Wilde, Sister Sledge, Teena Marie and Joan Armatrading.
year, the Australian pop diva releases an expanded
three-disc edition of her Step Back In Time: The Def initive Collection greatest hits package — including a
40-minute megamix produced by the Freemasons —
and her live double-album and concert film from her Golden Tour.
Why Kylie Minogue? Her career took a different trajectory than most.
She started out as an actress, then she transitioned into being a pre-fab pop star who then took the
reins herself. She is more than a dance/pop kewpie doll. There’s a lot of artistry there.
A theme that emerged with the Kylie book is
“subversive.” She changed the direction of her
career. She learned to make accessible pop music and then she flipped the script and made some
subversive pop music right there in plain sight. There’s something to discover in her music.
Have you met any of your subjects or gotten reaction from them?
I haven’t gotten to meet any of them, but I interviewed Melanie C from the Spice Girls once. Carly Simon sent me an e-mail when her camp got the book. That was pretty cool. 8
theQatl.com
“Record Redux: Kylie Minogue” is available online. Join the launch party on Feb. 8 at Momnoki, look for a discussion panel on Feb. 20 at Noni’s, and follow the Record Redux series at facebook.com/recordreduxseries.
Fresh content served daily theQatl.com
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EVENTS Q
Season of
LOVE
Queer Atlanta rolls out the pink carpet on Valentine-themed events ď ľ
theQatl.com theQatl.com
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Q
EVENTS continued
By Mike Fleming
Love Is In The Air Drag Bingo
EVERYBODY SAY “LOVE!” EVEN IF IT FEELS early, coupled queers have about a week to buy the perfect gift, so basically, it’s never too early to talk about it.
For nearly three decades, PALS Bingo has been a staple in the LGBTQ-ATL. Bubba D. Licious, Erica Lee and the gang keep the laughs coming for this month’s Valentine theme at Lips to benefit Pets Are Loving Support.
But even if you prefer to call Feb. 14 Singles Awareness Day or Independence Day, there’s a queer cupid with a quiver of LGBTQ events aiming its Valentine arrow in your direction. Make sure you get full use of your red and pink attire by dropping these into your calendar. Look for updates in both next week’s print issue and at theQatl.com.
Date Night
Reverie: Love On The Rocks
Q’s own queer comic Ian Aber curates and co-hosts this hilarious show at Argosy every month. This time, it dovetails perfectly for “those who are in love, looking for love or wanting to be made love to by hilarious comedy.”
The annual fete for all comers kicks off Joining Hearts’ 33rd fundraising season. Don your pink and red cocktail attire and mix with your gays and gals. This year, the “Reverie” twist at Frazer Center “reimagines the world if we each elevated our own threshold to love one another, and even ourselves”
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. facebook.com/HotMicComedy
Saturday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. joininghearts.org
Moulin Rouge You can tell everybody that this is your song when Wussy screens the cult classic about starcrossed lovers on the big screen with drag hosts and your best looks at Plaza Theatre. Wednesday, Feb. 12 wussymag.com
Chug! The Valentine Show Molly Rimswell, Taylor Alxndr, Arron Malachi, Tyra Rex and Aries Alxndr charm the drag, and Deku puts a love spell on the music at Georgia Beer Garden. Saturday, Feb. 8, 10:30 p.m. facebook.com/houseofalxndr
Our Founding Valentines For the sixth year, Atlanta Pride honors a slate of groundbreakers that paved the way to today’s LGBTQ Atlanta. This year, they focus on queer pioneers in the arts with a reception at Out Front Theatre Company. Tuesday, Feb. 11. 6:30 p.m. atlantapride.org
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Tuesday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. palsatlanta.org
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Galentine’s Day The gays at Guac y Margys make Leslie Knope proud with you, your besties and drink specials. Thursday, Feb. 13 guacymargys.com
Sweet & Sultry Ariel Allegra headlines this queer burlesque show emceed by the one and only Theresa Davis at Red Light Café. Friday, Feb. 14 redlightcafe.com
Bless Yr Heart Only Southern Fried Queer Pride can put on a queer Valentine dance party like this one at the Bakery. Friday, Feb. 14 southernfriedqueerpride.com
PHOTOS COURTESY TRAINING ROOM ATL
Q
FESTIVAL
At the
INTERSECTION
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival launches 20th LGBTQ-inclusive lineup
14
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Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn
Black Mercedes A young woman’s murder leads a police detective into a murky underworld of sex and intrigue, in this twisting thriller set in Nazi-occupied Warsaw. The chief inspector’s ties to the Polish Underground jeopardize his probe, as he seeks to unravel this noir whodunit layered with hidden identities and startling turns.
An unflinching look at one of the country’s most vilified figures, this riveting profile of the closeted, self-loathing power broker reveals the man behind the Machiavellian mask. From McCarthyism’s chief architect to Trump mentor, Cohn’s amoral career stained U.S. politics. Filmmaker Ivy Meeropol, granddaughter of the Rosenbergs, executed as spies, adds a personal prism to this interrogatory account.
By Mike Fleming
I
t’s the biggest film festival Atlanta sees all year, one of the biggest Jewish film festivals in the world, and it’s known for its inclusivity and broad appeal across demographics. The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival opens its month of compelling LGBTQ-inclusive films, characters and themes of queer interest this week.
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life British-born neurologist and literary giant Oliver Sacks is posthumously feted in this profoundly engaging, deeply personal memoir. Known by the film Awakenings, early fame came from his brilliant writings on cognitive disorders and natural world splendors. Sacks battled drugs, homophobia, and a skeptical medical establishment, and after a terminal diagnosis, vividly faces the meaning of his existence. Atlanta Jewish Film Festival screens at multiple venues around Atlanta Feb. 10 – 27 with special guests and speakers often part of the mix. View the full lineup with showtimes, and buy tickets at ajff.org.
When the 20th annual festival opens on Feb. 10, the evolution of what used to be referred to as “gay movies” is apparent in its lineup. No longer relegated to “special interest” genres only, LGBTQ representation also appears within the fabric of other film narratives. Atlanta Jewish Film Festival not only includes characters, historical figures and themes of same-gender-loving people but also of transgender folks. Out on Film sponsor’s AJFF’s screening of Flawless on Oct. 15 at Plaza Theatre. Here’s the full lineup of the 2020 LGBTQ track:
Flawless
A sisterhood of outcasts seeks to remake themselves in this provocative, poignant, comingof-age dramedy, wherein the trio goes to queasy extremes to bankroll cosmetic surgery and prom dresses. This beguiling, cautionary tale of self-discovery and prejudice features a standout performance by the first transgender woman nominated for Israel’s top acting prize.
The Glass Room An iconic home (the stunning Villa Tugendhat) takes center stage as secret affairs and history’s shifting tides shatter a Czech marriage, in this mesmerizing, erotic wartime saga. A wealthy Jewish industrialist and his gentile wife see their dream house become home to passionate, dark desires as 1930s idealism gives way to Hitler. Based on Simon Mawer’s hit novel. theQatl.com
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• Valentine’s (Feb. 13) • Spring Sports (March 5) • Dining Guide (March 19)
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COVER Q
Welcome South, Brother!
WSB-TV’s first openly gay anchor embraces Atlanta
PHOTO BY PATRICK SAUNDERS theQatl.com
19
Q
ANCHOR continued
J
By Patrick Saunders orge Estevez celebrated his first day on air at WSB-TV on Jan. 13, officially making him the first openly LGBTQ anchor and second Latinx anchor in the station’s 72-year history.
“The nerves were going. The excitement was happening,” he told Project Q Atlanta. “I got the sweats. I got the meat sweats like when you go to a Brazilian steakhouse and they keep giving you meat.” Estevez placed a fan underneath the anchor desk to help with those sweats. And he’s learning other ways to settle in at a new station in a new city since moving here from Orlando in late December with his husband, Enrique Betancourt. The couple initially planned to move on Dec. 27. But on Betancourt’s birthday on Dec. 26, he couldn’t wait. “He woke up and said, ‘I got a crazy idea. Let’s start our new life in Atlanta today. Let’s go. I want to celebrate my birthday starting our new lives.’ And I was like, ‘Alright, let’s go!’ And it began,” Estevez said. But getting to this point in his life and career as an out gay man came with much tougher decisions and consequences along the way. Estevez kept his sexual orientation a secret for several years after moving to Orlando for a job at WFTV in 2001. “I was super in,” he said. “I was in the closet in the back with the old photo albums, under the box, buried in the blanket.” For his 30th birthday in 2005, he told his parents he wanted a big party with meringue cake, guava pastries, croquettes and balloons. “I said that because I had a feeling that would be my last birthday as a family, as an accepted member, as someone who they loved and admired,” Estevez said. “And I was right, because when I came out [in 2006], my father disowned me.” His father, who he considered his best friend, still hasn’t spoken to him — 14 years later. 20
theQatl.com
“I’m fine with that now because I’m older and more mature and I’ve done lots of therapy,” he said. “You can’t change people. You can only change your attitude toward people.” Estevez’s friends and others in Orlando were much more accepting. He quickly became involved in the city’s LGBTQ community after coming out. He also helped the city heal after the Pulse LGBTQ nightclub shooting in 2016 by hosting a vigil that drew over 50,000 people, according to
‘You can’t change people. You can only change your attitude toward people.’ — Jorge Estevez Estevez. WSB announced Estevez’s hiring in November, and he’s been busy getting to know Atlanta since moving with Betancourt into their Midtown home. “The best thing about this place is it is a city in the forest,” he said. “And you have amazing bridges and creeks and railroads and paths and trails and parks, and I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to explore it all.” Estevez documents his Atlanta adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for his 100,000 followers. He’s already visited several LGBTQ favorites, including Piedmont Park, Henry’s Midtown Tavern and the rainbow crosswalks at the intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue. He also wants to get involved in LGBTQ issues in his new home city. “I want to go to the fun stuff too, but I also want to see what we are doing for the youth, or for the older members of our community who often get forgotten or don’t feel like they get enough attention or help or assistance,” he said. Estevez anchors the station’s 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.
PHOTOS BY PATRICK SAUNDERS
weekday broadcasts with Jovita Moore.
At WSB, Estevez joins gay meteorologist Brian Monahan
“We really have gotten so close so quickly,” he said. “She’s amazing. She’s a rock star.”
hosting and appearing at HIV and LGBTQ events.
He’s been met with little resistance being WSB’s first openly gay anchor. “Being the first of anything comes with its benefits and challenges,” he said. “I haven’t seen the challenges. I’ve seen a lot of benefits in that people really don’t seem to give it a lot of attention.”
and anchors — including Moore — with long histories of Atlanta lost an LGBTQ anchor in 2019. CBS46’s Thomas Roberts quit the station in September, just over a year
after joining, and the station dropped gay morning anchor Brandon Rudat in 2014. Gay weather anchor Sam Champion was based in Atlanta until 2016 when he was pushed out at Weather Channel.
PHOTOS COURTESY TRAINING ROOM ATL theQatl.com
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Q
THE QUEER AGENDA
The Best Queer Things To Do in Atlanta February 6 – February 12
THURSDAY, FEB. 6
SUNDAY, FEB. 9 Oscars Viewing Party
Southern Sole
From red carpet to the final curtain, watch the Academy Awards
Bootblack Weekend includes nightly
on the big screen with Out on Film and more @ Plaza Atlanta,
events like Saturday’s centerpiece Raising
6:30 p.m. outonfilm.org
the Bar party @ Atlanta Eagle, through
Southern Sole, Feb. 6
Sunday. atlantaeagle.com
AIDS Watch Georgia
Advocates discuss the road to HIV treatment and prevention
Naked Girls Reading
Oscars, Feb. 9
Get ready for some tasty reads with the LGBTQ-inclusive burlesque crowd @ Metropolian Studios, 8:30 p.m.
@ Atlanta City Hall, 8:30 a.m. georgiaequality.org
metrostudioseav.com
FRIDAY, FEB. 7
MONDAY, FEB. 10 – THURSDAY, FEB. 27
Triad
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
and Robert Sherer get an opening reception
@ multiple venues around town. Read the Q preview in this
The biggest event of its kind is as queer-inclusive as ever
Works by queer artists Jon Arge, Chris Beat
issue. ajff.org
@ Gallery 378, 6 p.m. gallery378.com Pour Some Glitter On Me
TUESDAY, FEB. 11
Triad, Feb. 7
It’s a burlesque tribute to classic rock with a
queer-inclusive cast @ Red Light Café, 8 p.m.
Our Founding Valentines
Atlanta Pride honors its annual selection of
redlightcafe.com
pioneers in local LGBTQ life @ Out Front
SATURDAY, FEB .8 Love on the Rocks
Joining Hearts takes on a “Reverie” theme for this year’s
Theatre, 6:30 p.m. atlantapride.org
DJ Ben Bakson, Feb. 8
PALS Drag Queen Bingo
Bubba’s monthly ball-calling goes Valen-
tine @ Lips, 7:30 p.m.
Valentine kickoff to their fundraising year @ Frazer
palsatlanta.com Find more VDay fun in
Center, 5 p.m. Find more info in this issue of Q.
this issue of Q.
joininghearts.org
Kylie Minogue Party
. Hi c k s
Help author Quentin Harrison celebrate
7 p.m. Read the Q interview in this issue. facebook.com/recordreduxseries
am
Naked Girls Reading, Feb. 9
P
ob hot
mag.com
Designing Women Live
Glamorous
DJ Ben Bakson comes all this way for the latest, greatest iteration of this dance party @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com
The movie you love with the queens and queers you love even more @ Plaza Theatre, 8 p.m. wussy-
yJ
series about pop divas @ Momonoki,
es L
the latest release in his Record Redux book
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12 Moulin Rouge
Gay men in drag performing episodes of
Valentine Chug! Feb. 8
New Wave Video Dance Party
Whether you remember the days or wish you did, join VJ Anthony @ Amsterdam, 10 p.m. amsterdamatlanta.com
the ‘80s classic with Process Theatre Company @
OnStage Atlanta, 8 p.m. onstageatlanta.com
Find an expanded Queer Agenda calendar for the weekend every Thursday at theQatl.com.
Valentine Chug!
Left-of-center queens takes on a V Day theme in the gay-run,
straight-inclusive halls @ Georgia Beer Garden, 10:30 p.m. Q lays out more early Valentines in this issue. georgiabeergarden.com Alexander After Hours
Some DJs only need one name. Dance ‘til dawn @ Xion at BJ Roosters, 3 a.m. facebook.com/xionatlanta 22
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Designing Women Live, Feb. 12
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LEATHER AND LACE AT ATLANTA EAGLE
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Q SHOTS Q
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD theQatl.com
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Q
Q SHOTS
RUBY REDD 20TH ANNIVERSARY AT MIDTOWN MOON
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com 26
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PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
Q
Q SHOTS
DILF-FUKR FRIDAY AT HERETIC
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com 28
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PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
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Q
THEQ?!
All METHED UP
They say they’re clean, so is this just their personality?
and broach it again later.
A friend hid a meth addiction from our circle for about four months before things bubbled to the surface and everything was discovered.
is a fine one, and it’s hard to navigate. Use your best instincts.
Q
He came clean and got clean, but now I’m paranoid that I might be confusing his personality with a relapse. He’s naturally bubbly, highly unfocused and sort of a paranoid conspiracy theorist. His most recent aesthetic is somewhere between shabby chic and Zoolander derelict. How do we ask him gently if he’s using, or how do we trust him again and let it go?
If he’s not ready to confide in you, that doesn’t mean your friendship has to be over. The line between being supportive and pushy Of course, the symptoms you name could be signs of relapse, so you also have to be ready for that to be the issue. If your
friend confides that this is his situation, or if you find direct
evidence, encourage professional help. You can support him, but you’re not qualified to fix him.
Q
My best friend hasn’t been himself, and there may be an ongoing drug issue. He’s been falling off the face
of the planet for days at the time, even worrying his extremely supportive and loving longtime boss.
A week ago, the boss confronted my friend, and he confessed
Dear Bubbly:
to her that there was a prob-
Your concern is probably more common than many of us like to talk about. Queers and meth are a well-documented duo, and relapses are often part of the journey. Be careful, though. As you hint, people in recovery may experience mood swings that take on the appearance of mania or depression, or both. Any number of other challenges might stress him out so much that he lets his self-care and appearance go for a time. As a friend, confronting him without hard facts could cause damage before you have a chance to help. Instead, ask if there’s anything he wants to talk about. Mention your observations, and leave your other friends out of it. If he thinks people are talking behind his back, you’ll only feed his paranoia. Tell him you are concerned about him. If he still avoids it, tell him you’re there for him if he changes his mind. This opens the door for him to come to you, and for you to circle back 30
theQatl.com
lem but that he had begun the
recovery process.
Now he’s disappeared again. I want to reach out to his
boss to find out if she knows
anything. How can I show
her, and my friend, that I care
without overstepping? Dear Bestie:
The desire to compare notes makes a lot of sense, especially since your friend’s recovery is known and new, and because he is missing. Tell the boss what you wrote here: You can’t find your friend and just want to know if he’s OK. It’s reasonable to assume she may have the same concerns and want the same assurances.
Once your friend’s safety is secured, see Bubbly’s letter above. Yours is a supporting role, not a star player in the recovery.
The Q is for entertainment purposes and not professional counseling. Send your burning Qs to mike@theqatl.com.
ILLUSTRATION BY BRAD GIBSON