PUBLISHER’S NOTE
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Mid-June to mid-July were not my most productive days at work.
It would be easy to blame a house sale, moving, and some bigger-than-expected renovations, but the truth is, like many of you, I was glued to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
I was lucky enough to attend three matches, including the knockout round between England and DR Congo, which was the greatest sporting event experience of my life. That’s mostly because I was there with a British friend who, despite nearly starting a fight when the Three Lions looked like they might lose and someone told him to “sit down,” quickly shifted to childlike joy when Harry Kane saved the day.
Some news about the news
While drama continues to engulf some national news organizations, it’s shaping up to be another good year for local news, including our team at Georgia Voice and Rough Draft.
Rough Draft Atlanta is one of 12 publishers in the country chosen for the
Editorial
Collin Kelley
Executive Editor
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Editor-in-Chief
Sr. Editor Food & Dining
Cathy Cobbs
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Staff Writers
Katie Burkholder, Logan C. Ritchie, Sarra Sedghi, Hayden Sumlin
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2026 Google News Initiative Growth Catalyst Cohort.
As the announcement explains, “Over the next year, these organizations will receive funding from GNI and coaching support from Blue Engine Collaborative as they pursue expansion into new communities. Together, they represent a wide range of business models, markets, and audiences, but share a common goal: bringing high-quality local journalism to more people.”
Local is hot
People who follow the media business often ask me what the difference is between Rough Draft and Axios, the national media company that is owned by Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises. I’m flattered by the question because it means that people are thinking of us in the same breath as one of the biggest players around.
The answer centers on the analogy of your favorite local coffee shop and Starbucks. The Seattle-based coffee behemoth created a world where consumers don’t bat an eye at an $8 oat milk latte, allowing independent coffee shops to thrive.
Similarly, Axios, via its 2020 acquisition of the trailblazing Charlotte Agenda, set the market for personality-driven, daily, local newsletters, and the growth of companies like 6AM City has validated it. Newsletter advertising is now one of the fastestgrowing segments in digital media, growing
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30% annually. Beehiiv, a platform popular with independent media startups, reported nearly 140% growth in paid subscriptions.
So, it’s understandable why industry pundits took note of the recent news that The New York Times is launching a local newsletter in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
I think The Times, arguably the most successful media business in the world, moving into the local space is actually a reason to celebrate. It’s a very loud signal that there’s a demand for reliable, nonsensational local news, and it supports our focus on newsletters as a key distribution channel.
Sure, competition can be annoying, but it should be something that makes us all better. The Times’ move will put a brighter spotlight on local newsletters. I have no insight into whether it will come to Atlanta or not, but with everything happening in our state, I would not be surprised.
Still, we diversify
All of these reasons are why we are increasing our efforts to grow our direct relationships with our audience through newsletters, the Rough Draft Dinner Club, and a membership program we are continuing to build.
Whether it’s Rough Draft or another independent, local media company, please do what you can to support local.
Thank you again for reading. Please let me know what you think by emailing me directly at keith@roughdraft.news.
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KEITH PEPPER
Atlanta Black Pride celebration set for Sept. 2 - 7
By Collin Kelley
Atlanta’s largest annual celebration of Black LGBTQ+ culture will return over Labor Day weekend as Atlanta Black Pride marks its 20th anniversary with six days of events expected to draw thousands of visitors from across the United States to the city.
The 2026 Atlanta Black Pride celebration is scheduled for Sept. 2-7, with organizers planning a mix of community programming, entertainment, health initiatives and nightlife events centered in Midtown and other locations across metro Atlanta.
The annual festival has grown into one of the nation’s largest Black Pride celebrations since its founding in 1996.
This year’s official host hotel is The Starling Atlanta Midtown, which will serve as a hub for many of the weekend’s activities. Organizers have themed the 2026 celebration “Strength in Unity,” commemorating two decades of Atlanta Black Pride programming while emphasizing community, visibility and celebration.
Festivities begin Wednesday, Sept. 2, with a Roll Call Skate Party and a live LGBTQ+ dating and relationship event called “Shoot Your Shot” designed to
help attendees connect before the holiday weekend.
On Thursday, Sept. 3, the Mayor’s Atlanta Black Pride Weekend Reception will be held at Atlanta City Hall from 6 to 9 p.m., hosted by Mayor Andre Dickens. The event will feature performances, guest speakers, health services, politicians, activists, and more.
There’s also a late-night kick-off party planned for Thursday from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. at a location that was still to be announced as Georgia Voice went to press.
The weekend shifts into high gear Friday through Sunday with the ABPW Influencers Gala, drag
brunches, day parties, and nighttime dance parties at Opium, The Bank, and Bamboo.
The Pure Heat Community Festival will take place Sunday, Sept. 6, from noon to 8 p.m. at Pi edmont Park with live music, DJs, food, vendors and more.
On Monday, Sept. 7, a barbecue is planned at a location to be announced, along with a closing “White Party” at Revel.
Some events were still in the planning stages, so be sure to visit atlantablackprideldr.com for tickets, more information, and updates.
Additional Black Pride Weekend events are also being planned at venues including Heretic, BJ Roosters, MJQ, and more. Visit atlblackpride.org for tickets and details.
Atlanta mourns LGBTQ+ lobbyist Larry Pellegrini
By Katie Burkholder
Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ advocates are mourning the loss of Larry Pellegrini, who made history as one of the first openly gay lobbyists at the Georgia State Capitol.
For four decades, Pellegrini was an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, working with organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center as a legislative advisor; Queer Nation, the LGBTQ+ rights group leading the 1991 Cracker Barrel boycotts; and the Georgia Rural Urban Summit.
Pellegrini was the first political director of Georgia Equality, hired in 1997, and mentored now-Executive Director Jeff Graham.
“[As political director], he helped mentor me and we organized a multiyear campaign that led to increasing state funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program,” Graham said in a statement shared to social media.
“Larry was there as a trusted advisor and friend when I first came to Georgia Equality in 2008 – introducing me to legislators and helping to secure funding for our voter engagement work during a critical election year.”
In a 2019 interview with Georgia Voice, Pellegrini described his experience overcoming the homophobia he faced while lobbying at the Capitol.
“Some of the legislators, after I introduced myself, they tore up my card,” he said. “In the elevator, I got spit on. I didn’t internalize it. I took it more as a challenge of outmaneuvering
our opponents.”
LGBTQ+ and allied lawmakers remember Pellegrini as a “giant” who tirelessly fought for equality for LGBTQ+ Georgians.
“Georgia will feel the loss of my dear friend and fellow activist for a very, very long time,” State Sen. Kim Jackson said. “… May you rest in eternal peace, Larry. May our lives and work be a testament to all that you taught us. And may we always carry your peace with us.”
“During my early days lobbying
at the Georgia State Capitol, I had the privilege of working alongside Larry through the Georgia Rural Urban Summit during Women in the Halls weekly lobby days with Planned Parenthood,” Rep. Nikema Williams said. “Larry taught me that lasting change is built by bringing people together, investing in relationships, and never losing sight of the communities we serve.”
A memorial service for Pellegrini will be held Aug. 21 from noon to 3 p.m. at The Trolley Barn in Inman Park.
Larry Pellegrini (File)
Trans Joy partners with Infinite Realities for new monthly event
By Katie Burkholder
Trans Joy, a grassroots organization providing free intergenerational spaces for trans, gender-expansive, and allied people, is partnering with Infinite Realities in Tucker for new monthly drop-in hours.
The organization’s drop-in at Infinite Realities is one of the two monthly events it hosts, along with a Happy Hour at Felix’s. Trans Joy launched the drop-in hours in February, partnering with the Afghan American Alliance at the Clarkston Community Center, but had to pivot after the Afghan Alliance lost funding and had to downsize.
Adam Kaylor, the co-founder of Trans Joy, approached Infinite Realities owner Chris Brennaman about moving the dropin hours to the comic book store. The first of the new drop-in events was hosted on July 2 and was a “huge success,” Kaylor said, with around 25 attendees.
Trans Joy’s drop-in hours act as a casual safe space for trans people and their allies to meet one another and find community.
“We like to make sure that it’s as accessible as possible, and with the comic book store that’s even easier,” Kaylor said. “You can literally just browse comics if you want and not talk to anybody. I
bring all my crafts, so there’s coloring and you can make a bracelet… You can do whatever you want. The idea is that we’re creating a safe space for you to exist and be seen and get comfortable knowing other trans people. It really is powerful.”
The drop-in hours begin at 6 p.m. after the store closes, ensuring safety for transgender attendees – especially young people – who may feel scared of being in a public space. Everyone is invited, regardless of age or identity.
“We want to make sure that it’s a safe space for our siblings and their families and other people to observe,” Kaylor said, “because they need to see us the same way that the 12-year-old trans boy needs to see that you can make it to 46.”
During the next three drop-in events – August 6, September 3, and October 1 – attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a community art project. “Showcasing Our Superpowers” invites visitors to design superheroes from cutouts of comic books donated by Infinite Realities, hand-drawing, or a combination of the two.
The final project will be digitally mapped and projected on the Church at Ponce and Highland on November 21 for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Those unable to attend will also be able to participate at Trans Joy’s booth at Fayette Pride on Aug. 1.
Other forthcoming Trans Joy events include a get-together with TransParent, a field day, a pool party, and a board game bananza. All Trans Joy events are free to attend, but spots can be reserved at trans-joy.com.
Adam Kaylor (Provided)
Infinite Realities in Tucker. (File)
Terror attack at Berlin Pride
Police shot and killed the suspect in the July 25 terror attack at a Pride Festival in Berlin, Germany. The suspect, believed to be a member of the Islamic State terror group, drove a vehicle into a crowd before attacking people with a bladed weapon near Brandenburg Gate. One woman was killed, and 29 were injured in the attack.
Washington Blade
Vigil held to remember Janness
Friends of Katie Janness gathered in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park on July 26 to mark five years since she and her dog Bowie were murdered there. The case remains unsolved by authorities, and a reward for information has been increased to $25,000. The Atlanta Police urged anyone with information regarding the case to call Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-
rights complaint with the Office for Civil Rights against the City Schools of Decatur in Georgia, alleging that the district’s policies violated Title IX and Title VI.
The complaint, filed on June 24 as first reported by Decaturish, claims the district violates federal civil rights by requiring its schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms and compete on sports teams aligning with their gender identity.
Georgia Voice
Atlanta LGBTQ+ Center hires
The Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority hired new team members to support the development of Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ Community Center. Chiquita Dent is the new Director of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, who will lead the development of the upcoming capital campaign to fund the project. Hannibal Hendrix Jr., a student at Morehouse College, was also hired as a Summer Fellow.
violence survivor, and member of the LGBTQ+ community who is currently detained at Stewart ICE Detention Center in south Georgia.
Binam was previously held at Irwin County Detention Center for two years, where her fallopian tube was allegedly removed without her consent. According to the GoFundMe page in support of Binam, she is currently experiencing abdominal pain and fears seeking medical care due to medical mistreatment.
― Georgia Voice
New trans-centered home repair nonprofit launches in Atlanta
By Katie Burkholder
Atlanta has a new transcentered home repair
late April, the nonprofit is already booked out for the next month, and its leaders have big plans for the future.
Later this year, T4T Repairs will partner with Southerners on New Ground to provide workshops for trans people on home weatherization and accessible
Next year, T4T will launch an apprenticeship program in partnership with the Trans Housing Coalition to teach trade skills to trans and gender nonconforming people facing homelessness. As the organization grows, the board will always be made up of 50% workers so that their interests can’t be overridden.
Nicky and Sam think of the apprenticeship program and future structure of T4T as part of the legacy they hope to leave for trans people for years to
“As trans people, it’s unfortunately a privilege to survive,” Nicky said. “It really shouldn’t be that way, it shouldn’t be so crazy, but we really are trying to create groundwork for a future where gender non-conforming people can thrive, where they can be in community.”
More information and updates can be found on Instagram @t4trepairs. Donations to support the development of the apprenticeship program and sliding scale services offered to people of color can be made at t4trepairs.com.
Nicky (left) and Sam, the leaders of T4T Repairs. (Provided)
Noël Heatherland (pictured) spoke during the Binam press conference on July 8. (Photo by Arie J. Parker)
Trans basketball league empowers, protects transgender athletes
By Katie Burkholder
For transgender people, participating in sports is a complicated and often dangerous endeavor. While legislative attacks against trans young people participating on teams that align with their gender identities are ever increasing, trans adults also face challenges in participating in sports, even for fun. Recreational leagues are often gendered, forcing nonbinary players to misgender themselves to participate and trans people to feel uncomfortable at best, unsafe at worst.
The Trans Liberation Basketball League (TLBL) is a space where transgender athletes don’t have to worry about this. The collectively run, DIY league has been a safe space for trans people of all athletic abilities to connect and compete since 2023.
The league was born out of the organizing energy around the Stop Cop City and similar activist movements.
“There was a lot of energy in Atlanta at the time of people trying to create things that they felt passionately about,” Santana, one of the players in the league, told Georgia Voice.
Thus, the collectivist mindset common among grassroots activism permeates the league. There is no hierarchy, and everybody looks out for one another. For
the trans and non-binary people in the league, it’s more than a hobby: members share resources and protect one another, creating a safe space for everyone to be their full selves.
“I just wanted a space where I could just be my free self and not have to codeswitch or have to diminish myself, make myself feel small to make other people feel confident,” Dee, another player, said. “…It’s a space where we can just be our free and true selves and not have to worry about safety, because we have people there who are going to protect us.”
With increasing attacks on transgender rights on the local and national scale and decreasing public support for the LGBTQ+ community, safety is a primary concern for trans people.
“The truth is that being social is not safe [as a trans person], particularly around strangers,” Miss Kay, another member of the league, said. “…But going to the Trans Basketball League, I can put my guard down. I can be relaxed and not have to worry about where the threat is.”
While the TLBL represents safety and community for transgender Atlantans, it’s also an opportunity for members to simply have fun.
“People show up to feel joy,” Santana said, “that’s what they’re there for.”
The TLBL plays during the spring and fall on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The league consists of two divisions: a competitive structured division, and a casual division more akin to pick-up games for people who want a less intensive experience.
Those who are interested in the competitive division will have to register before the season starts. Registration forms will be announced and made available through the group’s Instagram @transbasketballatl. All casual players have to do is show up.
Those who don’t want to play basketball at all can still join the league, whether as an organizer, administrator, referee, scorekeeper, medic, or in another capacity relevant to their skills. If you want to join, TLBL will have you.
Lucille’s gift shop offers body positivity, inclusivity
By Logan C. Ritchie
Inclusive, body-positive, and soaked in luxurious hues of gold, pink and purple, Lucille’s gift shop is now open in Candler Park at the corner of Clifton Road and McLendon Avenue.
Lucille’s is the brainchild of Kristen Eber, who opened Rosefinch Spa in 2016 just three blocks away. Named for a bracelet she found at a flea market, Lucille’s aesthetic is effortless, French, and captivating.
The shop carries a line of gifts including size- and gender-inclusive lingerie, books, jewelry, and personal care products. Many of the gifts focus on the senses and pleasure, leaving the gift-giver feeling like they’ve found “the perfect thing.” All of the fragrances, incense, and candles are non-toxic.
“The idea is that gift giving is an art form, and finding that perfect special thing for someone you love and care about is a lovely thing to do,” Eber said.
Eber has curated a collection “for all gender presentations” from local and regional vendors, like lingerie from Trashy Diva in New Orleans and On the Inside in Asheville. Lucille’s carries bralettes for smaller-chested people, underwear with smoothing pockets, and boxers for a masculine-feminine mix.
“Everything is very stretchy and very inclusive, so wherever you are in your gender journey, we’ve got something for you,” Eber said.
Books about bodies, sexuality, and romance are scattered throughout the shop. Behind a velvet curtain in the back, Lucille’s has a private collection of adult items with “a femme and female perspective.”
“We wanted to create a safe, beautiful space where lesbians, non-binary people, cis women, and straight women can come in, talk about, and buy these items. They can have a real conversation with another woman who knows what they’re talking about,” Eber said, adding that her business
The Hoop Alchemists, the winning team of the TLBL’s sixth season. (Photo via Trans Liberation Basketball League.)
Lucille’s Gift Shop owner Kristen Eber (Provided)
The commercial block in Candler Park is owned by Clay Harper and Mike Nelson. It has been slowly changing since Flying Biscuit moved to DeKalb Avenue in 2024 after 30 years in business. Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party moved to Grant Park, Kelly’s Closet relocated within the strip, and Little Tart is set to open in the fall with a sandwich shop and wine bar.
“[Clay and Mike] are really dedicated to revitalizing Candler Park. They made me a really good offer to take this space because they believed in my vision,” Eber said.
Lucille’s is a collaborative project for Eber, who grew up in Intown, then worked in Candler Park at the Flying Biscuit, Mooncake boutique, and Salon Red. She’s brought on Lindsay Champanis and Krislynn Hayter, who both work at Rosefinch and Lucille’s.
The final member of Lucille’s team is sexual health educator Sam Herman, who will teach classes on sexual health, intimacy, relationships, and more starting in the fall.
“My true gift in life is knowing when to call in other really talented people and say, ‘You’re really good at this. Do it,’” Eber
laughed.
Eber said the neighborhood’s reception has been “overwhelmingly positive” aside from a couple of concerned text messages. A post on Candler Park’s social media page explained that history in the neighborhood. She said she aims to be respectful.
“No one’s going to see anything they don’t want to see, and that’s why we have the curtain … I don’t want anybody to be offended,” Eber said.
Lucille’s has big plans for 2026: a grand opening party in August, a book club, classes, private shopping, bachelor parties, and date night collaborations with nearby businesses. Stay tuned into Lucille’s joie de vivre on Instagram @lucillesatlanta.
A body-positive gift shop opened in Candler Park by Kristen Eber of Rosefinch Spa. (Courtesy of Lucille’s)
ART & ENTERTAINMENT
Out on Film announces new executive director, festival theme
By Sammie Purcell
Out on Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ film festival, has named former nonprofit executive Cindy L. Abel as its new executive director.
Out on Film launched the search for its new executive director back in April. Justice Obiaya, the organization’s first-ever executive director, stepped down in March.
According to Out on Film, Abel brings more than 25 years of experience to the role, her career spanning nonprofit, corporate, and entertainment sectors. She previously served as co-chair of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, was the first executive director of Georgia Equality, and has held leadership positions with Stonewall Cincinnati, the Atlanta Film Festival, and Women in Film & Television Atlanta.
Abel said she felt drawn to the role
because she felt like she was the right person to help shepherd the organization through its next steps.
“The more I learned about where the organization was, I saw a place where I could bring my communications experience. I could bring my filmmaking experience, from the filmmaker’s point of view,” she said. “I could bring my experience in change management, as I saw that the organization was really ready to go to the proverbial next level.”
In 2007, Abel founded Atlantis Moon Productions. She has directed and produced numerous documentaries. She has attended the festival as a fan before, but her relationship with Out on Film also includes the festival screening two of her films: “Breaking Through,” about the first openly LGBTQ+ elected officials, and “Surviving the Silence,” about two women struggling with being gay in the military.
“They helped us get an audience,” Abel said about Out on Film. “They helped us reach out to that audience in ways that we might not have been able to, and so for us that was really huge to have that partner.”
Out on Film’s 2026 festival will run from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4, and this year’s festival theme is “The World We’re Making.” The theme is meant to celebrate the world that LGBTQ+ filmmakers and audiences create through art, creativity, and shared experience.
The first two films selected for this
year’s festival were announced in July.
Directed by Sam McConnell, “Test” stars Brock Yurich as an amateur bodybuilder in rural Ohio grappling with his dysfunctional family and his own emerging sexuality. “Dreamers’ comes from writer/director Joy GharoroAkpojotor and follows a Nigerian immigrant in the U.K. who is detained and placed in an asylum removal center.
Find out more at outonfilm.org.
Out Front Theatre reveals campy, queer lineup for 11th season
By Katie Burkholder
Out Front Theatre, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ theater company, has announced the show lineup for its 11th season.
The 2026/27 season kicks off in October in time for Atlanta Pride with “Once Upon a One More Time,” a campy musical setting the fairy tale stories we all know and love to the music of Britney Spears.
“This is a great way to kick off the 11th season,” Paul Conroy, the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Out Front, told Georgia Voice. “It’s so femalefocused, so queer-friendly, so ridiculous and silly… This is a good way for people in the queer community and allies of the queer community, regardless of how old they are, to experience something fun.”
The season continues with the world premiere of a Liza Minelli holiday show, a bedroom farce, and a modern successor to “The Boys in the Band” before closing out with “The Big Gay Jamboree” in May, a musical Conroy says is perfect for fans of “Titanique” and “Oh, Mary!”
All the shows in Out Front’s 11th season are silly, campy, and fun, as part of Out Front’s mission to share queer joy with audiences.
“Producing, being a part of, and even going to see queer theater is a political statement which is why it’s always so wonderful to see so many artists come out, so many audiences come out,” Conroy said. “It’s powerful to sit in a room with a hundred-something complete and utter strangers and all of you laugh at the exact same time at the exact same thing.”
The 2026/27 season begins on Oct. 22. Out Front Theatre Company’s 2026/27 Season
Once Upon a One More Time
Oct. 22 – Nov. 7
This jukebox musical reimagines classic fairy tales through the music of Britney Spears, as familiar princesses set out to rewrite their own happily-ever-afters. Featuring 23 of Spears’ biggest hits, the show blends pop nostalgia with comedy, romance and empowerment.
Liza’s Christmaz with a Z: A Gay Fantasia on Holiday Themes Dec. 3 – 19
A snowstorm traps Liza Minnelli in a New York City gay bathhouse, where an outrageous cast of characters—including Bette Midler, Barry Manilow and Truman Capote—creates a holiday spectacle. This campy comedy delivers over-the-top laughs, sequins and festive cheer.
Lipstick
Jan. 28 – Feb. 13, 2027
A simple dinner between two women spirals into a fast-paced farce when exes, friends, family and unexpected visitors keep interrupting the evening. Filled with queer humor and heart, the play celebrates love, identity and chosen family.
Pure Glitter
March 11 – 27, 2027
A surprise anniversary party brings together six gay men whose relationships are tested as secrets and long-held tensions come to light. The comedy balances sharp wit, pop culture references and emotional moments in a celebration of friendship and resilience.
Big Gay Jamboree May 6 – 22, 2027
After a wild night out, Stacey wakes up trapped inside a classic Golden Age movie musical where everyone communicates through song and dance. This irreverent musical comedy follows her hilarious quest to escape the glittering fantasy world.
Cindy L. Abel
Best Bets
The inaugural Fayette Pride celebration is Aug. 1 from noon to 5 p.m. on the courthouse square in Fayetteville, GA with a parade, market, entertainment, special guests and more.
Athens Pride & Queer Collective is hosting Generations of Pride, a potluck and gathering, on Aug. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Sandy Creek Park. There will be food, fun, games, and storytime from multigenerational members of the LGBTQ+ community. Find out more on IG @ athensprideandqueercollective.
Visionary Justice StoryLab’s “Resisting
Narratives of Erasure Short Film Showcase” will celebrate original work from emerging Southeastern filmmakers whose intersectional and QTBIPOC stories challenge dominant narratives and expand what’s possible on screen. The event is Aug. 20, 7 p.m., at Tara Theatre. Visit visionaryjusticestorylab.org for more information.
Charis Books & More in Decatur, GA will host a screening of the documentary “Can’t Stop Change: Queer Climate Stories from the Florida Frontlines” followed by a Q&A and discussion on Aug. 21 starting at 7 pm. Visit charisbooksandmore.com for more information.
Trans Joy, This Doesn’t Define Me, and Atlanta Freedom Bands will host an all-gender Pool Party on Aug 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Milam Park Pool Center in Clarkston, GA. RSVP and get more details at trans-joy.com.
The Draaag Atlanta Bar Crawl is Aug. 22 hosted by Mona Lott. Stops on the tour include Felix’s,
The T in Grant Park, Woof’s, and the Atlanta Eagle. Tickets are available at bit.ly/ atlbarcrawl822.
Long Story Books will present a screening of the documentary “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” on Aug. 23, 2:30 p.m., at Plaza Theatre. Georgia Poet Laureate Chelsea Rathburn will introduce the film. Get tickets at plazatlanta.com.
Find more events at our Instagram @thegeorgiavoice.
Lavender Fest returns Aug. 5-9
Qreative Voices will present the third annual Lavender Fest, an Atlanta-based performing arts festival showcasing queer talent from across the United States, which will run from Aug. 5 - 9 at Out Front Theatre Company.
This year’s festival theme is “Unerasable,” and the lineup includes eight shows produced by LGBTQ+ artists.
All performances will be staged at Out Front Theatre’s main stage and Triangle Cabaret. The festival will open with Ruby Redd’s Birdcage Bingo at the Atlanta Eagle on Aug. 5. All tips will support Qreative Voices and Lavender Fest.
Get tickets and more details about the lineup at lavender-fest.com.
“Can’t Stop Change: Queer Climate Stories from the Florida Frontlines” (Courtesy Charis)
“Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” (Courtesy Kino Lorber)
D I N N E R
W I T H F R I E N D S w i t h ot h e r R o u g h D raf t re a d e rs
The answers to these puzzles are on page 16
A cancer diagnosis inspired the opening of this Midtown coffee and skate shop combo
By Katie Burkholder
On a weekday afternoon, a local coffee shop is bustling. Two friends order a drink, sit on the couch, and talk without looking at their phones. A customer stands at the counter having a friendly conversation with the owners. Others grab a book to read, or a puzzle from one of the shelves and set about completing it.
What seems like a scene straight out of a 1990s sitcom – a fantasy of connectivity amid the dwindling of third places in many cities – is an actual reality at Schāf Shop in Midtown.
had six months to live.
Part coffee shop, part skate shop, owners and wives Lindzey and Taylor Schaffer opened their dream coffee shop earlier this year, prompted by a lifethreatening cancer diagnosis six years ago. Creating their dream shop
In 2018, Lindzey went to the doctor after being sick and experiencing pain in her chest. Fearing breast cancer, she asked for a mammogram. Due to her age – she was only in her late 20s – she was denied. The doctor chalked her pain up to anxiety. During a snowboarding trip in 2020, Lindzey’s body finally gave out. Then she received the diagnosis: stage IV breast cancer – and it had spread to almost every bone in her body. Now paralyzed from the waist down, the doctors told Lindzey she
“I was told to say my goodbyes,” Lindzey told Georgia Voice. “I said, ‘Well, we’re not going to do that. I’m going to beat this.’”
She was ready to fight.
Spurred on by the diagnosis, the Schaffers said they wanted a chance to live out their dreams. One of those dreams was tying together Lindzey’s passion for skateboarding with Taylor’s dream of owning a coffee shop. To help fund the shop, Lindzey founded an apparel company with her sister. Taylor focused on Lindzey’s health and healing, including walking her up and down a hill every, single day.
The couple married in 2024. Then they launched the Schāf Shop pop-up at My Sister’s Room on Crescent Avenue, while continuing to search for a permanent
home for their business.
The Schaffers found that space on Juniper Street in Midtown, opening Schāf Shop this year on their anniversary: Valentine’s Day.
The Schaffers believe Schāf Shop is more than just a coffee shop. It’s a place where people can find their home away from home and connect with others.
“They feel comfortable here, they can be themselves,” Lindzey said. “There’s new people here every day, and we’re learning everything about them as we grow with them. We’re growing with the customers, and they’re not really customers. They’re our friends.”
Six years after her breast cancer diagnosis, Lindzey is still fighting. But the Schaffers don’t plan to slow down on pursuing their dreams, or moving forward
with their future projects at Schāf Shop. Look for the launch of a new nonalcoholic cocktail menu soon, along with extended weekend hours and free community events. The Schaffers will also begin partnering with the new nonprofit Healing the Neighborhood to provide food, showers, haircuts, and clothing to unhoused Atlantans.
But they’re not stopping, setting their sights beyond Atlanta. By February 2028, the couple hope to expand Schāf Shop to New York.
“When something so serious changes your life, you realize the time you have here is very short,” Lindzey said. “Don’t waste time not being you, because you don’t know how much time you have.”
Schāf Shop, 905 Juniper St., Midtown. Open daily. Follow on Instagram @schafshopatl for updates.
Taylor and Lindzey Schaffer are co-owners of Schaf Shop on Juniper Street in Midtown. (Photos by Ansley Kelly)
Joystick Gamebar’s next chapter begins this fall in East Atlanta Village
By Beth McKibben
Edgewood Avenue cocktail bar and gaming lounge Joystick Gamebar will relocate to East Atlanta Village (EAV) later this fall.
The bar, which includes old-school arcade and pinball games and regularly hosts gaming clubs and game nights, pulled up stakes on Edgewood after 14 years there.
Joystick will take over the former East Side Lounge space across from The Earl in the heart of EAV and will feature new games, updated food menu, and the addition of a third partner in the business. Why relocate?
Co-owner Johnny Martinez said the decision to close on Edgewood and relocate wasn’t one he and Joystick partner Brandon Ley took lightly. The decision
Answers for puzzles on page 14
was a slow burn over several years that factored in a pandemic shakeup, rising and unforeseen costs like a doubling power bill and hiring security, and a capacity cap that often restricted earning potential for the Edgewood Avenue bar.
“We never really recovered from the pandemic. Our sales never got above 85% of where we were before it,” Martinez told Rough Draft. “There are limits to what a small business can absorb. Joystick only has an occupancy of 98 people. No matter how busy we are, there’s a ceiling on what we can earn. But there hasn’t been the same ceiling on our expenses.”
While large crowds from unpermitted street parties sometimes turned Edgewood into a parking lot, and a handful of recent shootings caused challenges, Martinez said those issues had little to do with the final decision to move Joystick further east. With the bar’s lease up in February, the timing felt right.
“We love Edgewood. We wouldn’t have spent 14 years here if we didn’t. One thing I hope people understand is just how many people have worked incredibly hard to keep this street alive,” Martinez said of businesses like his, including Our Bar, Church, Lore, Pisces, and Edgewood Pizza.
He personally served on the city’s Edgewood Security Task Force to represent the interests of the corridor’s small business owners.
But now Martinez and Ley are focused on the future and the next iteration of Joystick Gamebar. Like the neighborhoods surrounding Edgewood Avenue, Martinez said, EAV is full of people who care about where they live and support local businesses.
What to expect in EAV
Not much will change in terms of the design or the vibe at Joystick in EAV.
People can still expect to find a mix of classic arcade games and pinball machines, including the possible return of a pinball cult classic: Dolly Parton. Gaming
consoles will become permanent fixtures at the bar, along with gaming tournaments and events co-hosted with businesses like True Fire Tactics.
“We’re still going to focus on quality beer, wine, and spirits, along with creative cocktails. We’ll be bringing back some of the cocktail favorites we’ve created over the years,” Martinez said.
Kysha Cyrus will join Martinez and Ley as a partner and help oversee the food at Joystick in EAV. Cyrus worked behind the bar at Joystick for years, before opening cocktail bar Mambo Zombi with Martinez and Ley above their Edgewood Avenue beer bar, Georgia Beer Garden. (Both Georgia Beer Garden and Mambo Zombi have since closed.)
“Our priority is getting the doors open as quickly as possible, and because our permanent grease trap won’t be installed until later, we won’t be opening with a fryer,” Martinez said.
Rather than seeing the kitchen’s temporary limitations as a problem, Martinez said Cyrus got creative with the food menu. Think potato chips with melted blue cheese and grilled cheese waffle sandwiches with condiments like bacon jam. Once the grease trap is installed, Cyrus will expand the food menu to include dishes requiring a fryer.
Leaving Edgewood Avenue after all these years is bittersweet, but Martinez said he and Ley are optimistic about its future.
“Look at what Church has built over the years. Look at Lore and the incredible community they’ve created,” Martinez explained. “Pisces continues to bring new people to the neighborhood with lines down their block. Our Bar is one of the hardest-working businesses in Atlanta. Edgewood Pizza has become a neighborhood institution.”
“You’re seeing renovated apartment buildings, new retail, and more people choosing to invest in the corridor. There are a lot of people betting on Edgewood’s future,” he added.
By Sarra Sedghi
The original location of MetroFresh permanently closed at Midtown Promenade, nearly five months after sustaining damage from a fire. The One Midtown Plaza location on Peachtree Street will remain open.
Out actor/restaurateur Mitchell Anderson opened MetroFresh in 2005, drawing customers to the Monroe Drive shopping center long before Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, and the Beltline existed there.
In addition to being one of Midtown’s best lunch deals, as an LGBTQ-plusowned restaurant, MetroFresh also offered residents and visitors to the neighborhood
a welcoming and inclusive environment in which to dine. The restaurant hosted weekly trivia and karaoke nights, and celebrated 20 years in Midtown last October.
“What I have always been most proud of is that MetroFresh represents exactly what Midtown Atlanta is, in all of its diversity and its special quality of the kind of people who live here,” Anderson told Rough Draft. “It’s old and young, and artistic and professional, and gay and straight. It’s cool to look out [on] a busy Tuesday afternoon and see so many different kinds of people enjoying each other’s company.”
Joystick became a hangout for gamers and attendees at conferences like DragonCon and MomoCon. (Courtesy Joystick Gamebar/Facebook)
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GEORGIA VOICE RESOURCE GUIDE
This list of resources for the LGBTQ+ community in Atlanta and Georgia will be regularly updated on our website, thegavoice.com.
LGBTQ+ Arts Organizations
Atlanta Queer Arts Alliance aquaa.org
Atlanta Freedom Bands atlantafreedombands.com
Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra atlantaphilharmonic.org
Full Radius Dance – DisabilityInclusive Dance Company fullradiusdance.org
OurSong — The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chorus oursongatlanta.org
Out Front Theatre Company 999 Brady Ave NW outfronttheatre.com
Out On Film outonfilm.org
Southern Fried Queer Pride southernfriedqueerpride.com
Voices of Note – Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and Atlanta Women’s Chorus voicesofnote.org
Business Organizations
Atlanta Business League – Blackowned businesses
931 MLK Jr. Drive SW atlantabusinessleague.org
Atlanta Women’s Network facebook.com/ atlantawomensnetwork
Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
270 W Peachtree St NW ghcc.org
Greater Women’s Business Council 600 Peachtree St NE #440 gwbc.org
Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals maapatl.org
OUT Georgia Business Alliance outgeorgia.org
Urban League of Greater Atlanta 230 Peachtree St #2600 ulgatl.org
Health Organizations
The Galano Club, Inc.
LGBTQ+ 12-step recovery programs 585 Dutch Valley Rd NE galano.org
AID Atlanta
1438 W Peachtree St NW aidatlanta.org
Aniz, Inc. Support Services Agency
236 Forsyth St SW #300 aniz.org
Emory Hope Clinic
500 Irvin Ct #200 hopeclinic.emory.edu
Empowerment Resource Center
230 Peachtree St NW #1800 erc-inc.org
Feminist Center for Reproductive Liberation
1924 Cliff Valley Way NE feministcenter.org
Georgia Harm Reduction Coalition
1231 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW georgiaharmreduction.org
Latino LinQ latinolinq.org
LGBTQ Therapist Resource lgbtqtherapistresource.com
NAESM, Inc.
315 14th St NW naesminc.org
Open Hand Atlanta 1380 West Marietta St NW openhandatlanta.org
PALS Atlanta - Pets Are Loving Support 1530 DeKalb Ave NE #A palsatlanta.org
Planned Parenthood
Marietta: 220 Cobb Pkwy N #500 East Atlanta: 440 Moreland Ave SE plannedparenthood.org
Positive Impact Health Centers 523 Church St positiveimpacthealthcenters.org
SisterLove, Inc. 1237 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW sisterlove.org
Someone Cares
1950 Spectrum Cir #200 s1catl.org
Status: Home 2700 Cumberland Pkwy SE #220 statushome.org
Thrive SS Inc. thrivess.org
Outside Atlanta
Armstrong University Gay-Straight Alliance facebook.com/ groups/215098925217918
Athens Pride & Queer Collective athenspride.org
Augusta Pride prideaugusta.org
Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer – Augusta 557 Greene St mccoor.com
Metropolis Complex – Augusta All-male gay resort 1250 Gordon Hwy metropoliscomplex.com
Mountain Light Unitarian Universalist Church – Ellijay 2502 Tails Creek Rd mluuc.org
Nacoochee Presbyterian Church 260 GA-255 North nacoocheepresbyterian.org
Augusta University Lambda Alliance
augusta.presence.io/organization/ lambda-augusta-universitys-gaystraight-alliance
Boybutante AIDS Foundation –Athens boybutante.org
Carrollton Rainbow carrolltonrainbow.com
Chattahoochee Valley Pride, Inc. –Columbus facebook.com/p/ChattahoocheeValley-Pride-100068922227587
Club One – Savannah
LGBTQ nightclub 1 Jefferson St clubone-online.com
Colgay Pride of Columbus, GA colgaypride.org
Common Ground – Athens facebook.com/ commongroundATHGA
CSRA Safety Net – Augusta csrasafetynet.org
First City Network 109 Seminole St firstcitynetwork.org
Forgiving Heart United Church of Christ – Columbus 2946 Grant Rd
forgivingheartchurch.com
Gay Augusta Guide augusta.gaycities.com
Gay Savannah Guide savannah.gaycities.com
Georgia Mountains Unitarian Universalist Church – Dahlonega 3155 Morrison Moore Pkwy E gmuuc.org
GLOBES at UGA uaaglobes.wordpress.com
High Street Unitarian Universalist Church – Macon 1085 High Street highstreetchurch.org
Live Forward – Athens 2500 W Broad St Ste 300 liveforward.org
Macon Pride maconpride.org
Oz Campground – Unadilla 50 GA-230 ozcampground.com
PFLAG Blairsville pflagblairsville.org
PFLAG Brunswick facebook.com/PFLAGBrunswick
PFLAG Johns Creek pflagjohnscreek.org
PFLAG Macon facebook.com/PFLAGMacon
PFLAG Peachtree City 225 Market Place Connector #1053 pflagptc.org
PFLAG Marietta 3755 Sandy Plains Rd pflag.org/chapter/marietta
Savannah Pride Center
5859 Abercorn St Bldg 3 savannahpridecenter.org
SCAD Queers and Allies instagram.com/scadqanda
South Georgia Pride – Valdosta southgapride.com
Swiftwaters Campground and Cabins – Dahlonega Campground for women 830 Swiftwaters Rd facebook.com/p/SwiftwatersCampground-andCabins-100069458875646/ UGA Pride Center pride.uga.edu
UNG Gender and Sexuality Alliance instagram.com/ung_gsa
Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta
3501 Walton Way Ext uuaugusta.org
Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah 311 East Harris St uusavannah.org
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens 780 Timothy Rd uuathensga.org
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Columbus
PFLAG Rome pflagromega.org
PFLAG Savannah 1305 Barnard St Box 3057 pflagsavannah.org
Queer Student Alliance at UWG westga.edu/academics/universitycollege/ids/gender-studies/queerstudent-alliance.php
Rome Pride romegapride.org
Roswell Empowered IG @roswell_empowered
8827 Heiferhorn Way uucolumbusga.org
VSU Pride Connection instagram.com/vsu_pride
Political Organizations ACLU of Georgia acluga.org
Georgia Equality 1530 DeKalb Ave NE #A georgiaequality.org
Georgia Log Cabin Republicans georgialogcabin.org
Athens Pride
Southern Fried Queer Pride
Georgia Rural Urban Summit actionnetwork.org/groups/georgiarural-urban-summit-grususaction-ga
Georgia Stonewall Democrats georgiastonewall.org
Human Rights Campaign –Atlanta hrcatlanta.com
Lambda Legal Southern Regional Office
1 West Court Sq Ste 105 lambdalegal.org
SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW 1065 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW #200 sparkrj.org
Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia stonewallbar.org
Young Democrats of Georgia LGBTQ Caucus instagram.com/ydglgbtq
Religious Organizations
All Saints’ Episcopal Church 634 W Peachtree St NW allsaintsatlanta.org
Atlanta Friends Meeting 701 W Howard Ave atlantaquakers.org
Atlanta Shambhala Center 1447 Church St atlanta.shambhala.org
The Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Rd NW cathedralatl.org
Central Congregational United Church of Christ 2676 Clairmont Rd central-ucc.org
Clifton Sanctuary Ministries 369 Connecticut Ave NE cliftonsanctuary.com
Congregation Bet Haverim 2074 Lavista Rd congregationbethaverim.org
Drepung Loseling Monastery 1781 Dresden Dr drepung.org
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church 1026 Ponce De Leon Ave NE druidhillspresbyterian.org
Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation – Marietta 4010 Canton Rd emersonuu.org
The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2089 Ponce De Leon Ave NE epiphany.org
First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta
470 Candler Park Dr NE uua.org/offices/organizations/firstexistentialist-congregation-atlanta
Gentle Spirit Christian Church 1500 McLendon Ave NE gentlespirit.org
Hapeville First United Methodist Church
3510 Atlanta Ave hapevilleumc.com
Inman Park United Methodist Church
1015 Edgewood Ave NE inmanparkumc.org
Kadampa Meditation Center 741 Edgewood Ave NE meditationingeorgia.org
New Covenant Church of Atlanta 1600 Eastland Rd SE newcovenantatlanta.com
Northside Drive Baptist Church 3100 Northside Dr NW northsidedrive.org
Oakhurst Baptist Church 222 East Lake Dr oakhurstbaptist.org
Ormewood Church 1071 Delaware Ave SE ormewoodchurch.org
Park Ave Baptist Church 486 Park Ave SE parkavebaptist.com
Shrine of Immaculate Conception 48 MLK Jr Dr SW catholicshrineatlanta.org
Soka Gakkai Buddhist Center 421 17th St NW sgi-usa.org
Saint Mark United Methodist Church 781 Peachtree St NE stmarkumc.org
St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church 1790 Lavista Rd NE stbartsatlanta.org
St. John’s Episcopal Church 3480 E Main St stjohnscollegepark.org
St. John’s Lutheran Church 1410 Ponce De Leon Ave NE stjohnsatlanta.org
St. Luke Lutheran Church 3264 Northside Pkwy stlukeatlanta.org
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 435 Peachtree St NE stlukesatlanta.org
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church –Dunwoody 4755 N Peachtree Rd
stpat.net
The Temple 1589 Peachtree St NE the-temple.org
Trinity Center for Spiritual Living 1095 Zonolite Rd NE tcsl.life
Trinity United Methodist Church 265 Washington St SW atlantatrinity.org
Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of Atlanta 2650 N Druid Hills Rd uuca.org
Unity North Atlanta 4255 Sandy Plains Rd unitynorth.org
Service Organizations
Atlanta Pride Committee atlantapride.org
Charis Circle 184 S Candler St chariscircle.org
CHRIS 180 1030 Fayetteville Rd SE chris180.org
In The Life Atlanta
1530 DeKalb Ave NE facebook.com/inthelifeatl
Lost-n-Found Youth 2585 Chantilly Dr NE lnfy.org
Raksha, Inc. raksha.org
Solutions Not Punishment
Collaborative
snap4freedom.org
Southerners on New Ground 1201 W Peachtree St #2300 southernersonnewground.org
SAGE
Resources for LGBTQ elders sageusa.org
SOJOURN sojourngsd.org
Touching Up Our Roots tuorqueeratlanta.org
ZAMI NOBLA zaminobla.org
LGBTQ+ Sports Organizations
All Stripes
LGBTQ fan organization for Atlanta United group.chant.fan/allstripes
Atlanta Bucks Rugby Club atlantabucksrugby.org
Atlanta Poolplayers Association atlanta.apaleagues.com
Atlanta Rainbow Trout atlantarainbowtrout.com
Atlanta Roller Derby atlantarollerderby.com
Atlanta Tennis Team Association atta.org
Dogwood Invitational Bowling Classic dogwoodbowl.org
Front Runners Atlanta frontrunnersatlanta.org
Gay Gamers of Atlanta and Friends meetup.com/gaygamers
GO Kickball gokickball.com
Hotlanta Soccer facebook.com/ groups/34244209984
Hotlanta Softball League hotlantasoftball.org
Hotlanta Squares
LGBTQ square dancing hotlantasquares.org
Hotlanta Volleyball Association opensports.net/hotlanta-volleyball
National Gay Flag Football League nffla.com
Southern Softpaw League southernsoftpaw.com
Wilderness Network of Georgia meetup.com/wildnetga
Transgender Organizations LaGender, Inc. facebook.com/lagenderinc
Sigma Epsilon
Support group for cross-dressing adults
sigmaepsilonatlanta.org/public
Trans Housing Atlanta Program transhousingatlanta.org
TRANScending Barriers instagram.com/transcendingbarriers
St. Mark UMC of Atlanta
Atlanta Pride Committee
