Georgia Voice - October 2025

PRIDE GUIDE 2025

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Pride celebrations are more important than ever

COLLIN KELLEY

Welcome to our biggest issue of the year as we celebrate Pride across Georgia. We’ve got your guide to the Atlanta Pride festival (starting on page 8) on Oct. 11-12, as well as a preview of events happening in Savannah, Brunswick, Carrollton, and Avondale Estates.

This year’s Atlanta Pride theme, “Rooted in Resistance,” has taken on even more urgency as the Trump administration continues its rhetoric and assault on the LGBTQ+ community.

In particular, the demonization of the trans community continues unabated, with reports that the FBI is considering labeling transgender people as “violent extremists” in the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk and the August school shooting in Minneapolis. Of course, the Kirk killer was not trans, but that didn’t stop the right-wingers and associated media from initially labeling him as such.

A report that the administration was also considering a gun ban for trans

Collin Kelley Executive Editor

Beth McKibben

Editor-in-Chief

Sr. Editor Food & Dining

Cathy Cobbs

Managing Editor, Reporter Newspapers

Sammie Purcell

Associate Editor

Staff Writers

Katie Burkholder, Bob Pepalis, Logan C. Ritchie, Sarra Sedghi

Contributors

Melissa Carter, Dave Hayward, Maria Helena Dolan, Chris McCain, Isadora Pennington, Gregg Shapiro, Laura Scholz

people was met with condemnation, even by the NRA.

The scapegoating and fearmongering on social media about trans people committing mass murders has reached a fever pitch, despite easily Googleable facts disproving this harmful misinformation.

According to FactCheck.org, there have been 5,748 mass shootings from January 2013 to September 2025, and only five of the shooters have been confirmed as transgender.

After you’ve checked out the Pride festival guide, be sure to keep reading, especially Dave Hayward and Maria Helena Dolan’s pieces (pages 18 and 20, respectively) that shed some light on the beginnings and early days of Pride and when resistance also meant arrest.

This issue also has a big feature on the rescue of the century-old RandolphLucas-Jones House by two gay men who refused to watch it be demolished like so many other historic Atlanta homes and buildings (page 30).

Contributor Gregg Shapiro has a fun Q&A with The B-52’s Kate Pierson about her new solo album and the band’s upcoming concert at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre with Devo (page 32).

You’ll also want to check out the

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dining section to see a list of eight new restaurants opening this fall in ATL and an interview with author Erik Piepenburg about his new book, “Dining Out,” which looks at beloved gay restaurants from the past and today, including The Colonnade (page 50).

It’s been a busy lead-up to Pride with the Voice receiving the 2025 Legacy Award from the NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists and the Out on Film festival.

I highly recommend seeking out the documentary, “I Was Born This Way,” about Carl Bean. The out performer had a big hit in the ‘70s with the historic gay disco anthem “I Was Born This Way,” but gave up stardom to create the Minority AIDS Project in the ‘80s and to found the Unity Fellowship Church. The song would go on to inspire Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and remains a beloved club classic. The film was a poignant and affirming way to kick off this year’s Out on Film.

If you’re heading to Atlanta Pride, make sure to look for our booth at Piedmont Park and wave to our staff marching in the parade.

Happy Pride!

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IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

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ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

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BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

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 Have any other health problems.

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POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

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HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5.

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, Gilead, and the Gilead logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2025 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0869 07/25

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Happy Pride, Atlanta!

Fifty-five years ago, a group of local activists came together and made a choice to organize and push back on the threats and challenges facing LGBTQ+ people.

In the wake of the Stonewall Uprising and Atlanta’s own “Lonesome Cowboys”

raid, our community chose to gather – and that gathering grew into what is now the largest free Pride celebration in the nation. From the start, Atlanta Pride has been more than a festival: it is a declaration that our community’s roots run deep and our

resolve endures.

In a moment when LGBTQ+ people in Georgia, and across the country, are facing renewed political attacks on our rights, our families, and even our history, our 2025 theme, Rooted in Resistance, reminds us that choosing Pride is not a neutral act. That choice is a declaration that we will not be erased, a commitment that we will not retreat, and a promise that we will move forward –together.

When you march in the parade, cheer for your favorite drag performer, bring your kids to the Family Fun Zone, or hold hands with someone you love in Piedmont Park, you make a choice—and that choice is

resistance. Each time you choose Pride, you create a future where authenticity, joy, and equity are not up for debate.

Atlanta Pride is a space for the community, and we are grateful that you have chosen to join us. This weekend, we hope you reconnect with old friends, discover local artists, tap into new ways to advocate, and recharge for the work ahead. We are strongest when we show up for one another – when we choose Pride.

This weekend is possible thanks to our sponsors, community partners, performers, and especially the dedicated volunteers who chose to make this weekend unforgettable. To every person who chooses to contribute, thank you. Your contributions of time, talent, and treasure ensure that Atlanta Pride remains accessible and free for all to attend. Choose to imagine what is possible when we remain rooted in resistance and refuse to give up. Choose resistance. Choose Pride.

Chris McCain (he/him) Executive Director Atlanta Pride

Chris McCain

2025 Atlanta Pride Events Guide

Party With Pride!

Official Atlanta Pride Kickoff Party

Friday, Oct. 10

7 to 11 p.m.

Georgia Aquarium

Celebrate pride, connection, and pure party vibes at one of Atlanta’s most iconic LGBTQ+ events! Georgia Aquarium is transformed into an electric, underwater playground filled with dazzling décor, high-energy music, and thousands of aquatic animals as your backdrop. Whether you’re reuniting with old friends or making new ones, this award-winning celebration promises an unforgettable night in the largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere.

Feel the beat with four live DJs spinning across unique spaces throughout the Aquarium, turning every corner into a dance floor. For 2025, we’re amped to welcome DJ Shane Marcus (New York City), DJ Kevin DuRard (Atlanta), DJ Brian Rojas (Deep South), and DJ Amy Alderman (Richmond, VA). One of these sets will be tucked away in a hidden location—beneath 6.3 million gallons of water—for a truly immersive dance experience you won’t want to miss.

Official Kickoff After Party

Friday, Oct. 10

11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

The Heretic

Don’t miss the biggest party of the weekend! DJ Joe Gauthreaux and DJ Stan Jackson perform at the Official Pride Kickoff After Party.

Electric Circus (Official Atlanta Pride Women’s Event)

Saturday, Oct. 11

10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

My Sister’s Room (MSR)

Hosted by My Sister’s Room (MSR), this is the main event for nonbinary, trans, and queer women.

Fun For The Whole Family

Family Fun Zone

Saturday, Oct. 11

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 12

1 to 5 p.m.

Picnic Pavilion

Kids of all ages are welcome! The Family Fun Zone offers a safe space for families. Enjoy Drag Story Hour, a pop-up library, face painting, crafts, games, and

much more!

Drag Story Hour

Saturday, Oct. 11

Noon to 1 p.m.

Picnic Pavilion

Bring your friends and family to enjoy stories, coloring sheets, and lots of fun! Drag Story Hour Atlanta invites you to join our host, Tugboat, who will be reading books and serving looks.

Teen Lounge

Saturday, Oct. 11

3 to 5 p.m.

Greystone Patio

Atlanta Pride offers a safe and affirming space for those who identify as LGBTQ+ and are allied with the community. Our younger community members (youth aged 11-17) are invited to relax on Greystone’s Patio. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the Festival while finding connection and community with old and new friends.

Marches & Parade

The Atlanta Pride Festival is the largest annual LGBTQ+ event in the South. While Atlanta Pride boasts the largest parade in the city, the Festival also offers the opportunity for three marches during the weekend – the Trans, Bi+Pan, and Dyke marches.

Trans March and Rally

Saturday, Oct. 11

1:15 p.m.: Assembly and Rally

1:45 p.m.: March steps off Charles Allen Gate

A community-led march that honors, celebrates, and raises visibility for Trans and nonbinary people. This march uplifts the beauty, diversity, and resilience of the Trans community while creating space to demand visibility, equity, and justice. All trans people and trans allies are invited to join us with positive banners and signs. We encourage individuals to make and bring signs supportive of trans issues. This march is hosted with the support of numerous community organizations.

Bi+ Pan March and Rally

Saturday, Oct. 11

3 p.m.: Assembly and Rally 3:30 p.m.: March steps off Charles Allen Gate

Organized by and for the community, this march celebrates Bisexual and Pansexual identities, affirming their place and pride within the LGBTQ+ family. Bi+ Pan folks of all gender identities, expressions, and allies are welcome to march! This march is hosted with the support of Bi+ Georgia. Participants are

encouraged to bring signs and banners with messages that support the Bi+ Pan community.

Dyke March and Rally

Saturday, Oct. 11

4:30 p.m.: Assembly and Rally 5 p.m.: March steps off Charles Allen Gate

A community-driven march dedicated to the empowerment of women, femmes, and their allies. This inclusive event brings together women-loving women (transinclusive) and femme-identified people to foster solidarity, strength, and visibility. This march is dedicated to empowering the women of Atlanta and beyond. The Dyke March, with its focus on women, unites to create an atmosphere of inclusion and community. This march is hosted in cooperation with Atlanta Dykes on Bikes, who lead the march on their bikes. You’re welcome to walk if you prefer!

Atlanta Pride Parade

Sunday, Oct. 12

Noon: Parade steps off Peachtree Street / Tenth Street

The annual Atlanta Pride Parade, presented by Delta Air Lines, is the largest in Atlanta. Join tens of thousands of spectators as we stand “Rooted in Resistance!” Celebrate your pride in the streets of Midtown with your family, friends, and neighbors!

Atlanta Pride is committed to ensuring these events remain safe and inclusive for all participants. Hate speech, harassment, and targeted disruption, whether verbal, written, or symbolic, have no place here. This includes language or actions that demean, intimidate, or incite harm toward individuals or groups based on identity.

Our community standards apply here:

■ Be kind and respectful to all

■ Celebrate without disrupting others

■ Stay in public areas and follow staff guidance

■ Support authorized vendors only

Help keep this space safe and inclusive

Any violation of these community standards may result in immediate removal from the event at the sole discretion of Atlanta Pride.

The marches take place on public city streets, and all state and city laws will be enforced along the route. All participants and spectators must follow lawful instructions from festival staff and public safety officials.

If you need help or see something concerning, notify a staff member or volunteer immediately. Together, we can keep these marches spaces of empowerment, visibility, and solidarity.

Festival Areas

Yoga

Saturday, Oct. 11

9 to 10 a.m.

Dockside

Join us for an all-levels yoga class on the dock.

AIDS Memorial Quilt

Saturday, Oct. 11

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oak Hill

Featuring panels specific to Georgia, this display is part of the National AIDS Memorial’s efforts to bring the Quilt to communities across the United States to raise greater awareness and education about HIV/AIDS and to remember those lost to the pandemic.

LGBTQ+

History Display

Saturday, Oct. 11

11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 12

3 to 8 p.m.

Visitor’s Center

Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community has a rich and vibrant history that is “Rooted in Resistance!” Atlanta Pride is all about celebrating and preserving our past, and we’ve partnered with Georgia State University’s Library Special Collections and Archives to make it happen. Stop by the Visitor’s Center to check out an exciting display of archival treasures that tell the story of LGBTQ+ life in Georgia and the journey of Atlanta Pride itself. Discover how you can leave your own mark on history by donating your personal mementos to keep our community’s legacy alive!

Car and Motorcycle Show

Saturday, Oct. 11

10:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Roadway inside the Park between 12th and 14th Street Gates

Special thanks to the Lambda Car Club and the Lost Boys Motorcycle Club. Antique, classic, specialty-interest cars and motorcycles will be displayed.

Artist Market

Saturday, Oct. 11

11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 12

3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Mayor’s Grove

Atlanta Pride partners with various local artists to showcase their wares. Enjoy the art and purchase something to take home with you!

Pride Recovery Meetup

Saturday, Oct. 11

Noon to 2 p.m.

Greystone Patio

Atlanta Pride strives for all community members to feel supported during the festival. This intentional space will serve as a time to gather and find mutual support. The meeting is open to those on all paths of recovery. This event is offered in partnership with Inclusive Recovery Athens and will take place on the Greystone Patio.

Wellness Zone

Saturday, Oct. 11

11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 12

3 to 8 p.m.

As an outdoor event, Atlanta Pride recognizes that warm weather conditions may impact sensory experiences. We know that having a place to take a break and a respite from the heat and sounds can be critical for those with sensory sensitivities and make the difference for someone wanting to attend Pride. This year’s Wellness Zone is available for those needing a haven, respite, and a place to decompress and relax. The Wellness Zone will be located by the Coca-Cola Stage and our Family Fun Zone.

Surrounded by curtains to create shade and separation, the wellness tent is enclosed to allow guests to enjoy the cooler, dark

space while our volunteers welcome you with noise-canceling headphones, sensory and fidget toys, and a space to calm yourself.

Community Entertainment Highlights

Shooting Star Cabaret

Saturday, Oct. 11

4:15 to 6:15 p.m.

Community Stage

Hosted by Mona Lott, the Shooting Star Cabaret features the rising stars of local Atlanta drag and performance art.

Queer Your Gender Dance Party

Saturday, Oct. 11

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Community Stage

Queers of all stripes will be getting down to the sounds of DJ Ganymede at this free event. All are welcome!

The CandyBox Revue

Sunday, Oct. 12

4 to 5 p.m.

Community Stage

The Candybox Revue redefines Burlesque entertainment by challenging society’s perspective on what is worthy of being represented onstage and in the performing arts community. These

performers are Rooted in Resistance, showing that Burlesque is a vital, vibrant, and powerful art.

A Chaka Moment… in the Park

Sunday, Oct. 12

3 to 7 p.m.

Coca-Cola Stage

Chaka Khan Hacienda, one of Atlanta’s favorite queer parties, comes to the park and closes out Pride weekend with AJA, from RuPaul’s Drag Race Allstars Season 10, Jonte’ Moaning, Divoli S’Vere, Montre, Ree de la Vega, JB Gotit, and La Cochino!

Sweet Tea: A Queer Variety Show

Sunday, Oct. 12

5:15 to 6:45 p.m.

Community Stage

Join us for an Atlanta Pride installment of SWEET TEA, produced by TAYLOR ALXNDR of the House of ALXNDR, Atlanta’s longestrunning queer variety show.

Starlight Cabaret

Sunday, Oct. 12

7:15 to 9:15 p.m.

Coca-Cola Stage

Closing out the yearly

Atlanta Pride Festival on the CocaCola stage, the Starlight Cabaret is the LARGEST outdoor drag show in the United States. Hosted by Phoenix, Atlanta Icon, and RuPaul’s Drag Race alum, the Starlight Cabaret boasts over 20 drag acts at the top of their craft who live and work in the Atlanta Metropolitan area.

Courtesy Atlanta Pride

The 2025 Pride Parade

Get ready for the Atlanta Pride Parade—the Festival’s biggest and most fabulous event! With over 100,000 people flooding the streets of Midtown Atlanta, it’s the city’s largest parade. On Sunday, Oct. 12, the Atlanta Pride Parade steps off at 12 p.m. from the Civic Center MARTA Station, makes its way north on Peachtree Street, east on 10th Street, and ends at the Charles Allen Gate of Piedmont Park across from Midtown High School.

Check out www. atlantapride.org for a detailed map and come join the party! Bring your friends, your pride, and your loudest cheers—let’s make some noise and show our support for the community!

Parade assembly begins at 8 a.m., with nearly 300 groups and more than 5,000 participants marching before a crowd of 100,000 spectators. Streets along the route in Downtown and Midtown will be fully closed during the four-hour event, and 10th Street will remain closed for one hour afterward to allow crowds to clear safely. Attendees are encouraged to take MARTA and other public transportation. Only pre-registered entries will be permitted in the parade.

Meet the 2025 Grand Marshals

By Katie Burkholder

Every year, Atlanta Pride names a group of individuals and organizations as Grand Marshals of the festival and parade. These community members represent bold activism, cultural preservation, and a commitment to amplifying and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community in Atlanta and beyond. This year’s Grand Marshals exemplify the 2025 Atlanta Pride theme, “Rooted in Resistance,” an homage to the activist history of Pride.

“Our Grand Marshals showcase the incredible range of work being done across our community, from preserving our past to shaping a more just and inclusive future,” said Chris McCain, Executive Director of Atlanta Pride. “Each of them is a reminder that Pride is not only a celebration, but a call to action. They embody the strength, brilliance, and resistance that have always defined our movement, and we are proud to honor their contributions on one of the biggest stages in the Southeast.”

Atlanta Pride’s 2025 Grand Marshals

Georgia LGBTQ History Project

The program launched on September 2, 2015, just a year after the Center’s opening.

“From connecting academics to advocates through our LGBTQ+ Southern Surveys documenting queer life in the South, to more recent efforts cultivating the next generation of advocates in response to intensifying threats to LGBTQ+ freedoms, the Institute seeks to be a leading program advancing true liberty and justice for all,”

Tim’m T. West, the Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Institute, told Georgia Voice. “…We march with pride when some would prefer we retreat into silence. We march for the ancestors and ‘transcestors’ who came before us, and for the generations yet to come, who deserve a world where thriving does not require bravery.”

PALS Atlanta

belonging and compassion. Shannon Bradley May Known to many as Sha Sha Sugarbaker, Shannon Bradley May has been a passionate HIV/ AIDS advocate for nearly 30 years through his work with AID Atlanta and the Starlings fundraising collective. His grassroots efforts and drag performances bring joy, awareness, and action to the fight against HIV.

alternatives, and centering justice-impacted people, queer and trans communities of color, and immigrants in the fight for liberation. As a public theologian, I see Pride as sacred liturgy – a living ritual of resistance and renewal. As the first ever Afro-Latina transsexual Grand Marshal, I feel an immense responsibility to be a bridge and a rallying call within the Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ communities for solidarity in the fight for not just our rights or dignity, but possibly our very existence.”

Lena Lust

The Georgia LGBTQ History Project is a collective of archivists, librarians, and volunteers dedicated to preserving Georgia’s LGBTQ+ past. Through advocacy, education, and personal archiving, the project ensures that the stories and materials of queer Georgians are saved for future generations.

“We are deeply committed to preserving the oral histories and archival records of LGBTQ+ Georgians,” Tom Dibble Dempsey, a member of the Georgia LGBTQ History Project, told Georgia Voice. “By safeguarding personal narratives—from mid-century activists to today’s trailblazers—we ensure that future generations can stand on the shoulders of those who came before, rather than rediscovering lost chapters.”

LGBTQ+ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights

This vital program connects LGBTQ+ history to present-day advocacy through educational initiatives, civic engagement, and social programming with a particular focus on the U.S. South. In 2025, the Institute celebrates its tenth anniversary.

Founded in 1990 during the height of the AIDS crisis, PALS has provided pet food and veterinary care for individuals living with HIV/ AIDS, cancer, and other challenges. The organization has hosted the country’s longest-running drag bingo event for 28 years. This year, the organization celebrates thirty-five years of service.

“PALS Atlanta is incredibly honored to have been chosen as a Grand Marshal for Atlanta Pride 2025,” Tommy Burkhalter Lázaro, the Executive Director of PALS Atlanta, told Georgia Voice. “This is our 35th anniversary as we have been working in Atlanta’s LGBT community since 1990. Pride this year is extremely important as things seem to be getting darker in our country and we need beacons of light and sources of joy to overcome the fear and sadness that seems to radiate throughout our society. Atlanta Pride and PALS

Atlanta will always be beacons of light for our community and for our PALS clients. Our organization is about the love and companionship between humans and their pets, and that type of bond, friendship and love is needed now more than ever.”

Jere Chang

A beloved Atlanta-based educator and content creator with nearly four million followers, Jere Chang uses humor and honesty to inspire inclusive teaching practices. She is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ equity in education and is reshaping classrooms to center

“I was honestly surprised when I learned I’d been selected as a Grand Marshal,” May told Georgia Voice. “I’ve always preferred to do the work quietly, behind the scenes, so to be recognized for my community work — particularly with AID Atlanta — is a true honor. To me, this moment is about more than recognition; it’s about using this platform to keep hope alive for people living with HIV/AIDS, to keep the conversation going, and to rally more people to get involved at a time when nonprofits are facing cutbacks… With this opportunity, I want to use my voice to call in allies, to encourage them to speak up, and to hold accountable the public figures and politicians who would rather silence us than see us thrive.”

Richard Ramey Owner of the Atlanta Eagle and The Flower Cottage, Richard Ramey has spent decades building community and safe spaces for Atlanta’s LGBTQIA+ population. He is the founder of Drag Down South and a tireless advocate for queer visibility and empowerment.

Dr. Christy Perez

Dr. Christy Perez is an AfroLatina trans theologian, historian, and abolitionist whose advocacy and writing are grounded in healing and transformative justice. She serves as Chief Administrative Officer at Poder Unides, an organization empowering trans people, and supports trans and justice-impacted communities across Atlanta.

“Being named a Grand Marshal is both a milestone of personal redemption and a public affirmation of the work I’ve committed my life to,” Perez told Georgia Voice. “My journey shows that we are never defined solely by our hardest chapters, but by the futures we choose to build. Through Dreaming Justice Project and SNaPCo, my focus is on reimagining safety as a public health issue, advancing abolitionist

The drag persona of Lester West, Lena Lust is a legendary performer whose career has spanned nearly five decades. A fixture of Atlanta’s queer nightlife since 1977, Lena continues to perform today and is celebrated as a community elder, HIV-positive activist, and drag mother.

Raquel Willis

An awardwinning author and activist, Raquel is a national leader in the movement for Black trans liberation. She is the author of “The Risk It Takes to Bloom” and serves as executive producer for iHeartMedia’s Outspoken podcast network. Raquel was named to the 2025 TIME100, a list of the 100 most influential people of the year, and previously served as a Grand Marshal for NYC Pride.

Russ Youngblood

A longtime community photographer and journalist, Russ Youngblood has documented Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ life since the 1990s.

His upcoming book, “What I Saw,” is a visual love letter to queer resilience and joy in the South.

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to have been selected as a Grand Marshal for this year’s Atlanta Pride Parade. Having had the privilege of photographing decades of parades and Atlanta Pride events, I still get goosebumps and emotional each year as I walk down Peachtree Street,” Youngblood told Georgia Voice. “I also believe that we are entering a crucial era where it is vital for us to reassert ourselves and unite as a cohesive community to ensure our rights are not compromised or diminished. I look forward to contributing to this important effort as a Grand Marshal.”

FRI OCT 24 DEC 17

PLEASE

DEC 1

A Pride Giving Guide

By Katie Burkholder

While Pride is a celebration, the festivities are “rooted in resistance” as this year’s Atlanta Pride theme attests.

Amid the joy and fun, this month is also an opportunity to reflect on the work that remains to be done for the LGBTQ+ community – and the organizations spearheading this important work.

This year, celebrate Pride by supporting the organizations advocating year-round for a world where all people can be safe, secure, and celebrated.

Atlanta Pride

This year, Atlanta Pride is urging attendees to “choose Pride” by donating to support the country’s largest free Pride event. Over the last 55 years, Atlanta Pride – Georgia’s oldest LGBTQ+ non-profit –has grown to welcome over 350,000 visitors and host the city’s largest parade. Donate: atlantapride.org/donate.

Georgia Equality

Georgia Equality is the leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the state. The organization works year-round to pass pro-equality legislation and elect LGBTQ+-inclusive elected officials. They also conduct voter registration and education activities, provide information to decision makers, and organize and mobilize LGBTQ+ residents and allies through the

Equality Foundation of Georgia. Donate: georgiaequality.org/donate.

Lambda Legal

Lambda Legal is a national organization working to achieve full recognition of LGBTQ+ civil rights through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. The organization is currently representing the LGBTQ+ community in 83 active cases. Donate: lambdalegal.org/donate.

Latino LinQ

For the last decade, Latino LinQ has advocated for equity for the Latinx and LGBTQ+ community in Georgia. Their work includes sharing information and resources about rights to translation and interpretation services when accessing government services, creating safe spaces through their community support group, partnering with health care institutions on community health research, and assisting community members with access to critical health care. Donate: latinolinq.org/donate.

The LGBTQ+ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Another of this year’s Grand Marshals, the LGBTQ+ Institute advances equity through advocacy, storytelling, and critical programming like You(th) Belong, a monthly series created by and for LGBTQ+ youth in Atlanta; the Ignyte Conference, bringing

Pride Across Georgia Communities celebrate throughout October

By Katie Burkholder

While Atlanta celebrates its LGBTQ+ community Oct. 11-12 with a two-day festival and parade, other cities across Georgia are also celebrating Pride this month.

These Pride organizations, all recipients of Atlanta Pride’s Pride Across the Peach State grant, embody the mission of uplifting the LGBTQ+ in more rural cities and reflect Atlanta Pride’s commitment to building a stronger, more connected movement throughout Georgia.

Avondale Pride on the Green

Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

64 N Avondale Rd.

Avondale Estates will host an all-day party that includes a kids’ music class led by Miss Ashley, line dancing led by Toni Ralston, and a pet costume contest sponsored by Second Life – plus music from DJ Zen G, local food, and an after-party at Nite Owl Kitchen. Learn more on Instagram @avondaleprideonthegreen.

Carrollton Pride

Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

University of West Georgia Campus Ballroom

The Carrollton Pride Festival is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the west Georgia area. Enjoy talented artists

together LGBTQ+ activists, health leaders, and community advocates; the Bayard Rustin Society, a giving circle supporting LGBTQ+ justice through collective philanthropy; and the Southern Survey, a research initiative amplifying the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ Southerners. The center is temporarily closed for renovations, but will reopen on Nov. 8. Donate: civilandhumanrights.org/donate.

PALS Atlanta

One of this year’s Atlanta Pride Grand Marshals, PALS (Pets Are Loving Support), is a nonprofit providing ongoing care and support for the pets of Atlantans living with critical illnesses like HIV/AIDS and cancer, those with disabilities, seniors aged 65 and older, and U.S. veterans. PALS provides pet food and basic care, vaccination clinics, and more. Donate: palsatlanta.org/donate.

Queer Hands

Have you ever felt fearful to invite maintenance, repair, lawn care, or other service workers into your home for fear of being discriminated against, harassed, or

misgendered? Fear no longer. Queer Hands is a queer-powered, trans-led nonprofit work cooperative providing all kinds of handy work, from junk removal and home repairs to cleaning or pet care. Donate: queerhandsatl.com/donate.

Voices of Note

With queer arts under attack, supporting LGBTQ+ arts organizations is more important than ever. Voices of Note, the parent organization of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, aims to change hearts and minds through music. With over 260 singers, staff, and board members, Voices of Note is the largest community music organization in the Southeast. Donate: voicesofnote.org/donate.

showcasing their work, food trucks, and a community market featuring more than 40 local merchandise vendors, advocacy groups, and health and wellness partners of the LGBTQ+ community. This event is free and family-friendly.

The fun continues at 8 p.m. with a drag show starring Naja Iman Supreme, Tulita Peppsii, Tucker Aye ALXNDR, Luna C, Lady Symphonique, Ivana Hero, Alabama, and Eartha Slitt. Get more information at carrolltonrainbow.com.

Boro Pride Festival

Oct. 4, 3 to 10 p.m.

Statesboro Mainstreet Farmers Market

Head down south and join Statesboro Pride for a day of celebration, unity, and visibility. This year’s theme is “Pride is a Promise,” a reminder that Pride is a continued commitment to equality and community. The festivities include live music, vendors, food, and family-friendly fun! More details at statesboropride.org.

Athens Gender-Affirming Name Change Clinic

Oct. 10

700 Sunset Drive, Ste. 302

OUTlaw, an organization dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights within the University of Georgia’s law school, the Athens Pride and Queer Collective, and

Inclusive Recovery Athens are providing free assistance with the legal name change process by connecting 14 local trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals with an attorney who will provide legal advice and brief services. Find out more at facebook.com/outlawuga.

Golden Isles Pride

Oct. 11, 4 to 9 p.m.

Newcastle Street

Break out your rainbow sweaters and come down to Little Zooks on Newcastle

Street to help celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Brunswick. There will be dancing, live music, vendors, food, activities, and more. Get more details on IG @ goldenislespride.

2nd Annual Savannah Pride Vogue Ball

Oct. 18, 4 p.m.

Savannah Civic Center

Get ready to slay the runway and show off your best moves! This year’s category is Rainbow Realness: in honor of Pride, all categories will be based on the color contestants choose for their houses. More than $6,000 in prizes will be awarded across 12 categories. Entry is free; RSVP at eventbrite by searching for the event name.

26th Annual Savannah Pride Festival

Oct. 25, noon to 11 p.m. Forsyth Park

Pride in the Haunted Hostess City includes drag performances, hosted by Blair Williams and Chi Chi Bonet Sherrington; a cabaret; a neurosensitive market and vendors including food trucks, small businesses, and non-profits; music from DJ Nebula Beatz and DJ Bobby Presley; and as the sun sets, a foam and glow party, perfect for this year’s theme of “Illuminate.” Get all the details at savannahpridecenter.org.

Courtesy PALS Atlanta

Courtesy Boro Pride

HAPPY PRIDE, ATL ANTA!

On These Shoulders We Stand

Early roots of Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ movement

By Dave Hayward Coordinator, Touching Up Our Roots

The origins of Atlanta and Georgia’s LGBTQ+ rights movement stretch back to the upheavals of the 1960s, when a handful of activists began laying the groundwork for visibility and justice.

Among the earliest leaders was Lorraine Fontana, co-founder of the Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance (ALFA), the state’s first lesbian organization. Abby Drue became the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve at Atlanta City Hall, working under three mayors and later leading the Ben Marion Institute for Social Justice. Gus Kaufman wrote for the alternative newspaper The Great Speckled Bird and went on to become a visible activist known for his political advocacy.

Their contemporaries included fellow writers Berl Boykin and Steve Abbott, who co-founded the Georgia Gay Liberation Front (GGLF), with Kaufman later joining. Boykin, who also helped organize Atlanta’s first Pride march, recalled the American Civil Liberties Union refusing to secure a permit in 1971, declaring, “You are not a minority.” That year’s march proceeded on sidewalks, stopping at traffic lights to avoid arrests for jaywalking. In 1972, through the tenacity of organizer Charlie St. John and others, the GGLF finally obtained a permit for the state’s first sanctioned Pride march.

Other key figures shaped the movement’s early years, including two noted people of color. Mary Louise Covington, a New York activist who later moved to Atlanta, aided those arrested during the

Stonewall Inn uprising by delivering food and clothing to the jailed demonstrators. Lendon Sadler, remembered as both radical and approachable, was an Atlanta native who split time between Georgia and San Francisco, influencing early organizing.

The GGLF also reflected diversity within its leadership. Judy Lambert, a bisexual married woman, co-chaired the group alongside co-founder Bill Smith and her husband Phil Lambert. Performer Paul Dolan, known by the stage name Severin, embodied early non-binary expression through “cosmic drag” performances that became staples of rallies and benefits.

The GGLF’s internal tensions surfaced by 1973, when Smith and Severin clashed over direction and tactics. The group dissolved soon after, with activists Linda

Regnier and Victor Host forming the Gay Rights Alliance to carry the Pride movement forward.

Atlanta’s early activism was also tied to broader cultural movements. Writer Steve Abbott, who helped found the GGLF before relocating to San Francisco, became the subject of national attention decades later through Fairyland, his daughter Alysia’s memoir adapted into a film produced by Sofia Coppola.

These pioneers helped establish a foundation for LGBTQ+ rights in Atlanta. Lorraine, Abby, and Gus remain activists today, passing on their knowledge and stories to continue the history of equality and visibility.

Find out more at Touching Up Our Roots, Georgia’s LGBTQ+ Story Project, at touchingupourroots.net.

Abby Drue

Lorraine Fontanna LorraineSeverinFontanna Bill Smith

The 1972 Pride Parade

My First Arrest: A story of civil disobedience in Washington D.C.

By María Helena Dolan

This is my first arrest. The jail is gritty and grimy, but it’s filled with incredible Queer spirit. It’s Oct. 13, 1987, and I’m in Washington D.C. for the second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights with more than 700,000 fellow Queers and allies. I’m taken into custody on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on the charge of civil disobedience.

I’ve made my way inside the jail and am standing in line to await fingerprinting. A baby dyke in line lets out a joyous squeal: “Hi, Mom!” Her mom and her gay brother are there, too—all ACT UP members. Family values, indeed.

I’ve gotten separated from my group, The Shameless Hussies, but I declare my own name proudly.

Then the question comes: “Do you want to go to trial?”

“I don’t know. How long will it take?”

“You’ll stay overnight, then see the magistrate in the morning.”

I haven’t eaten in hours, so I say, “Here’s my $100, I’m leaving.” Cash only, of course.

Exiting via the stairs, people who still await processing and loved ones behind sawhorses clap, hug me, and carry on. It’s this kind of energy I loved then and still do.

I’m here with all these other Queers

to protest the 1986 ruling in Hardwick v. Bowers, the 1986 SCOTUS ruling against Atlanta resident Michael Hardwick, who was arrested in his home for consensual sodomy with another man. The insanity of the ruling against Hardwick, who spent four years of his life in various courts in the pursuit of justice, is worthy of an arrest.

Michelle Crone, an organizer of the 1987 march, deserves recognition here. She’s the gentle, but persistent voice of experienced reason. Anarcho-Insurrectionists want to storm the Supreme Court, but that means nightsticks, tear gas, and lots of physical homophobia acted out.

Michelle explains that wave after wave of civil disobedients, quietly arrested, will have a bigger impact. So, we report to All Souls Church for our 12-hour training. We’re schooled in what to expect and how to act – no hands in pockets, no lip! We learn how civil disobedience has changed the course of American history.

I see a small nucleus of sister floorsitters forming. We exchange information about why we’re here, and about our lives in Boston, New York City, Atlanta, and Jersey. Together, we come up with our name, The Shameless Hussies.

The next morning, we gather in the park across from the courthouse. Sawhorses funnel us forward as spectators cheer us

on and breathe in a moment of freedom. There’s swagger, trepidation, the furious and the curious. Marshals with clipboards take names. Legal observers mingle.

Police mass thickly in lines before the giant bronze doors, riot helmets and vests on. Some don surgical gloves. Blood boils. But a defusing chant rings out: “Your gloves don’t match your shoes!”

Throughout the action, a Black police captain in an impeccable uniform and ramrod spine walks through the thicket of police. Homophobia hangs in the air, hard

Parton

expressions and mutterings. In a low voice, he advises his men: “Keep your opinions to yourselves.”

Seeing people arrested, I turn back to the crowd and yell the name of the person being taken away, and hear shouts of encouragement ring out. Slogans and chants erupt.

I finally sit down on the steps with my sisters. We hold hands, sing, chant. A cop with a bullhorn brays that we’re in violation of “section 40” of some code and “if you do not leave, you will be arrested.”

There’s a cop for each of us: “You’re under arrest, please come with me.” If you continue to sit, he literally picks you up under the armpits, then twist-ties your hands behind your back. Some are dragged. I say, “I have a bad back. I’ll stand.” My cop looks relieved—he’s been picking people up all morning. I still get a twist-tie.

As I was waiting for my turn to sit on the steps of the courthouse, I saw the inscription carved into the marble: Equal Justice for All. Unless you’re a Queer, I thought. Thirtyeight years later, we’re still fighting and protesting for that equal justice.

Maria Helena Dolan remains an activist in Atlanta and, along with the LGBTQ+ History Project, is one of this year’s Atlanta Pride Grand Marshals.

Book by Patricia Resnick

Maria Helena Dolan with Liz Hill at the 1979 March on Washington.

ATLANTA IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR ATLANTA IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR

ENDORSED BY FORMER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTS CATHY WOOLARD AND FELICIA MOORE

15+ years of policy experience— served as an Ash Fellow in the Obama Administration Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University

Founder and Executive Director of nationally recognized Center for Civic Innovation Expert in budgeting, data, and community engagement

ATLANTA DESERVES HONEST, ETHICAL, AND EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP

As City Council President, Rohit will strengthen:

Affordability and economic mobility

Investments in local businesses

Sicilian Carnevale February 13-20, 2026

Embark on an unforgettable Sicilian adventure! Discover the charming city of Acireale and the breathtaking landscapes of Mount Etna. Indulge in delightful wine tastings and immerse yourself in the vibrant Carnevale celebrations. Wander through the ancient streets of Ortigia, savoring seaside lunches and rich history. Enjoy hands-on experiences with olive oil tastings, local cooking classes, and farm tours. Conclude your journey in the stunning Baroque beauty of Ragusa Ibla. Join us for a week of culture, cuisine, and celebration in Sicily!

■ Historical Carnevale in Acireale – an experience you will never forget!

■ Take a tour of Mount Etna

■ DOP wines of Etna and the influence of volcanic soil and unique climate

■ Tour Ortigia, A Unesco World Heritage Site

■ Chiaramonte Gulfi Carnevale/Sagra della Salsiccia

Trips Starting at $3,999 | 7-Day Itinerary

More voices for the community

After serving as one of the first out morning radio hosts in the country, I certainly thought there would be a line of LGBTQ+ media personalities to follow. That ended up not being the case, and I saw the results of that at a recent event where I was asked to speak. I even heard myself say to the audience, “This makes me want to be back on air,” before expressing my concerns.

For those unfamiliar with my tenure in Atlanta radio, I served on the morning shows of 99X, Q100, and B98.5 and spoke honestly about being a lesbian on each.

The main benefit of being out on the air was the privilege of representing our community. I’m sure several would not be comfortable with that responsibility, but I embraced it and respected it. Despite our community being diverse in its own way, and my not having the same opinions or experiences as every gay person in the city, it was important that one of us was talking about their life in a normal way without shame or justification.

THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID MELISSA CARTER

People often ask how I was treated because of my sexuality, and I can honestly say each station was accepting and supportive, as was the majority of the audience. There were a few listeners who had issues with my openness, yet didn’t abandon listening to the show. In fact, I found I had more pushback by being an opinionated woman in general than by being a lesbian specifically.

I was recently asked by the Atlanta chapter of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance to speak at an event highlighting the importance of straight allies in our lives. I brought with me Jeremy Powell, current Director of Podcasts at GPB and former radio producer for B98.5 and 99X, as my ally, and we fielded questions about our friendship.

During one question regarding coming out, I told the audience of the positive experience with my family and how you don’t know the outcome of that conversation until it happens. My family happened to embrace me while other panelists told the tragic and common story of abandonment by their family members. I said I realize I’m now old enough to be a mother to many in the audience, and if they needed a surrogate

mother to care for them, I’d be happy to volunteer. The tears I saw reminded me of the aforementioned importance of representation.

Many in attendance are anxious about the state of our country and the impact our current administration could make on gay marriage. I found myself frustrated by the constant presence of worry in the lives of LGBTQ+ members, and more importantly, the lack of national leadership in this

community. We are devoid of those loud voices from the past in most minority groups today, including our own, leaving many to feel isolated and hopeless.

That’s why I said to the crowd, “This makes me want to be back on air,” since those who aren’t afraid to speak their truth need to get louder. We need people to step forward, tell us we’re going to be ok, whatever happens, and remind others we exist and are important. If not you,

Melissa Carter during her tenure on “The Bert Show.”

New chairs for Out Georgia’s trans, non-binary initiative

By Katie Burkholder

TGX360, OUT Georgia Business Alliance’s initiative for trans and gender expansive (TGX) individuals, has announced that two new co-chairs will be heading the program.

TGX360’s goal is to make employment and entrepreneurship more accessible to trans and non-binary Georgians. On Sept. 4, the LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce announced that Aquila Brennan and Hiroko “Hiro” Ortiz would co-chair the program.

Brennan is a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Army and now works in public relations as a principal consultant in the Aquila Group. Ortiz, a native of Japan who moved to the U.S. for college and made their way to Atlanta after graduation, is a former business owner with a background in corporate and nonprofit work.

The co-chairs told Georgia Voice that they want to use these new positions to give back to their communities.

“Having been in the military for a long time, the desire to serve my community is a really big driving force for me,” Brennan said. “All that really pushed me into saying yes, because that’s a gap in my life that doesn’t get filled by the military anymore.”

“I wanted to do something for my community, meaning people who are non-binary or gender expansive but don’t

identify as transgender,” Ortiz added.

Launched in 2021, TGX360 delivers wrap-around career services, start-up coaching, micro-grant pathways, and employer inclusion training aimed at closing the equity gap and accelerating the growth of TGX-owned businesses across Georgia.

According to statistics from the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey, 18 percent of respondents were unemployed, 34 percent were experiencing poverty, and 11 percent had lost their jobs because of their gender identity or expression. The program, as well as OUT Georgia in general, operates with the mission of integrating LGBTQ+ people into the business world and advocating for rights through economic empowerment and education.

“TGX360 is all about empowering trans and gender expansive people,

whether they’re entrepreneurs or professionals, giving them a place to network with people like them and not like them,” Brennan said.

“From a personal perspective, one of the things that I want to accomplish is to serve as a bridge to help non-trans and non-genderexpansive people tell and amplify our stories to the wider public. For me, storytelling is essential to the human experience. If we are to be seen as human, we have to tell our stories.”

Ortiz echoed this sentiment, saying they hoped to connect OUT Georgia with nonLBGTQ+ organizations and businesses to bridge the gaps between employees and business owners.

While TGX360 and OUT Georgia focus specifically on business, Ortiz and Brennan recognized the relationship between business and politics, saying they planned on advocating for people to vote for LGBTQ-friendly candidates and educating people on the intersections between policy and economics.

“Unfortunately, just by virtue of the fact that we are transgender, gender expansive, or otherwise LGBTQ+, our existence, anything we do, is unfortunately political,” Brennan said. “However, for me, I do believe that economics, entrepreneurship

and professionalism are going to be ways in which we can fundamentally improve the lives of everyone, not just LGBTQ+ people.”

To learn more about TGX360 and OUT Georgia Business Alliance, visit outgeorgia.org.

IGNYTE conference mobilizes youth leaders Oct. 9-12

By Katie Burkholder

While the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is temporarily closed for expansion, the organization’s work continues. From Oct. 9-12, the Center’s LGBTQ+ Institute hosts the 2025 IGNYTE conference, a four-day experience uniting emerging LGBTQ+ youth leaders, experience advocates, and business trailblazers to reimagine equity across generations.

The conference, which coincides with the Institute’s tenth anniversary, will offer attendees access to workshops, conversations, and keynote speakers driving impact across the South and beyond.

Featured speakers include Vince Tripi, the founder of Expanding Horizons and curator of Blossom and Wilt: Queerness Under Fascism; Briona Simone Jones, PhD and lead researcher for “Southern Strong: An Analysis of Displacement Amongst LGBTQIA+ College Students”; and Zayn Azoulay, the Public Policy and Research Manager at the National Youth Advocacy Corps. There will also be visual exhibits on display by Tripi, Brandon “LaSalle” Moultrie, and Camil Williams.

There will be eight workshop tracks for attendees: NAESM: Wellness is a Community Effort, Out Georgia’s “Out and In Business,” You(th) Belong Kickback, National Youth Advocacy Corps, Georgia Youth Advocacy Academy, Queerspawn Unite!, Bayard Rustin Society “Angelic Troublemakers,” and Friendzoned’s Fall into Community: Stories, Supplies, and Supper.

The event will be youth-focused, incentivizing attendees under 30 with a $50 ticket price, compared to the $100 ticket for adults over 30. The programming will prioritize mentorship, intergenerational collaboration, and youthled transformation.

The festivities conclude with attendees invited to march with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in the Atlanta Pride parade on Oct. 12. To learn more about IGNYTE 2025 and register, visit lgbtqinstitute.org/ ignyte-2025.

Aquila Brennen and Hiroko Ortiz

TRAILBLAZERS

Gone With the Wind remains one of the most talked-about films in cinema history. At the Road To Tara Museum in Jonesboro, Georgia, new exhibits spotlight the groundbreaking contributions of African American actresses Hattie McDaniel the first Black person to win an Academy Award—and Butterfly McQueen These powerful exhibits explore their lives beyond the screen, honoring their resilience, talent, and impact on the entertainment industry and community. Join us in recognizing the stories that history nearly forgot—and the voices that helped shape Hollywood.

News Roundup

FBI could label trans people as ‘violent extremists’

The nation’s leading LGBTQ advocacy groups are sounding the alarm over reports that the FBI may soon classify transgender people as a threat group — a move advocates say would be unconstitutional, dangerous, and rooted in political retribution.

The warning comes after a story earlier this month by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, who reported that two anonymous national security officials said the FBI is considering treating trans subjects as a subset of its new threat category. That classification — originally created under the Biden administration as “Anti-Authority and Anti-Government Violent Extremists” (AGAAVE) — was first applied to Jan. 6 rioters and other right-wing extremists.

After pardoning all of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, the Trump administration shifted the FBI’s terminology, replacing AGAAVE with “Nihilistic Violent

Extremists (NVEs),” or, in some cases, “Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violent Extremism (TIVE).” The possibility of such a label follows several high-profile media errors in which reporters incorrectly linked Charlie Kirk’s shooter to the transgender community, fueling anti-trans rhetoric on the far right.

Washington Blade

Passport policy back at SCOTUS

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow enforcement of a passport policy requiring applicants to use male or female sex markers that match their birth certificates, rather than their gender identity.

According to the Associated Press, the Justice Department is seeking to overturn lower-court rulings that blocked the rule after lawsuits from transgender and nonbinary citizens. Plaintiffs argue the policy violates constitutional rights, while the administration contends the government cannot be forced to accept what it calls inaccurate sex designations on official documents.

The rule stems from a January executive order in which Trump declared the United States would recognize only two sexes, male and female, based on “immutable biological classification.” The State Department later changed its passport application rules to comply.

—Georgia Voice

Walk Music Festival and 5k Run on Sept. 27, raising $1 million for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services. The event at Piedmont Park attracted thousands of attendees with performances by award-winning artist CeeLo Green, internationally acclaimed trombonist and trumpeter Trombone Shorty, and Orleans Avenue.

AIDS Walk raises $1 million

The LGBTQ+ community and its allies gathered for the 34th Annual AIDS

The money will be split among 12 organizations:

AID Atlanta, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Aniz Inc. Bridge of Light, Center for Black Women’s Wellness, Georgia Equality, I Am Human, LostN-Found Youth, LGBTQ+ Institute, Positive Impact Health Centers, and Trans Women of Color Healing Project. These funds are unrestricted, meaning each organization can use the money for operating costs like rent and employee paychecks that are often not covered by grants.

—Georgia Voice

Courtesy Jenni Girtman/Atlanta AIDS Walk

Saving a Landmark

The Randolph-Lucas-Jones House is a success story for historic preservation

By Collin Kelley

The 101-year-old Georgian Revival-style home at 78 Peachtree Circle looks like it's always been there. Sitting atop a small rise, fronted by magnolias and other mature trees, the three-story house blends perfectly into the historic Ansley Park neighborhood.

But natives of a certain age will remember that the house used to be two miles away in Buckhead and, like many of the city’s historic homes and buildings before and since, was facing demolition.

That is, until a fateful night in 2012,

the city.

When the Lucas family sold the property to the 2500 Peachtree Condo Association in 1998, the house was moved slightly forward on the lot and was meant to be used as a clubhouse and event facility, but by 2013, it had applied for a demolition permit. That’s when Norwood approached Smith and Jones.

when Roger Smith and his husband, the late preservation advocate Christopher M. Jones, were at a function at the Atlanta History Center and were approached by City Council member Mary Norwood.

“Mary came up to us and pulled Christopher away into a corner for a private conversation,” Smith recalled. “She told him the house was going to be demolished, and I think he decided that night we had to save it.”

The next day, Jones and Smith were taking a tour of the Randolph-Lucas House, which had been a fixture at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Lindbergh Drive

since 1924 - even after condos were built directly behind it. The house would become a literary landmark in 1988 after a painting of it appeared on the cover of Anne Rivers Siddons’ bestselling novel “Peachtree Road” and was a primary setting in the story.

Designed by P. Thornton Mayre, the home was originally built for attorney and businessman Hollins Nicholas Randolph, the great-great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson. Randolph and his wife lived in the home for a decade before selling it to Margaret Lucas in 1935. Her husband, Arthur, operated several cinemas around

Smith remembers being surprised that the interior of the house was in relatively good shape despite years of no upkeep. “My mother was with us, and she just had a fit over it,” Smith said. “Christopher was planning on saving it, and my mother was planning on moving in.”

Shortly thereafter, Smith and Jones found the lot in Ansley Park and convinced developer John Wieland to not only sell them the property but also allow them to move the house across what was about to become the One Museum Place condos. There was plenty of city red tape to cut, and Jones was “constantly on the phone” over permissions and hold-ups.

A year later, the house’s top two floors were separated from the ground floor and loaded onto trucks for the move to Ansley Park. The move took hours, with Georgia Power crews moving electric lines as it inched down Peachtree. Smith and Jones sold their home on Beverly Road and moved into an apartment building on 16th Street, located behind the lot, to oversee the

Skip the Traffic

The front facade of the Randolph-Lucas-Hones House in Ansley Park. (Photos by Isadora Pennington)

Roger Smith and Olivia on the main staircase. Inset: Christopher Jones.

renovation of their new home. It was not an easy time.

“There was this misnomer that we had all this money to do this project, when actually it was a shell game every month to see what we could pay for and complete,” Smith recalled. “This wasn’t your usual renovation; it took care and planning and research to get it just right. Every step felt like pushing a ‘55 Buick uphill. But it was worth every cent.”

A few years into the renovation, Smith recalled that Jones started to have migraine headaches. As the stress of renovating the house wore on, Smith’s beloved mother died, and then Jones’ migraines became worse. He was eventually diagnosed with aggressive cranial lymphoma. “It broke my heart,” Smith said candidly.

Jones died in January 2019, just a few months shy of the main renovation being complete. He never got to live in his dream house.

“That's been a blow,” Smith said. “Christopher was the mastermind who made it happen. The house dominated our lives for the last seven years of Christopher’s life, but I have no regrets. I’ve enjoyed being here every minute. I wouldn't take anything for all the memories. That’s why Christopher’s name needs to be on the house. It wouldn’t be here without him.”

This past July, the city of Atlanta designated the Randolph-Lucas-Jones House as a landmark building, preserving it from demolition or exterior alteration. Smith said the Atlanta Preservation Center and its executive director, David Y. Mitchell, were instrumental in getting the designation.

“The Randolph-Lucas-Jones House

was one of the last remaining residential mansions along Peachtree,” Mitchell said.

“The condo association wanted to demolish the house, but Christopher Jones and Roger Smith courageously decided this was not acceptable. We are indebted to these two men for putting aside the arguments and economic fears of how and ensuring that we now have an example of why Atlanta is amazing and beautiful in perpetuity.”

And while safe, Smith carries on with renovations to the home with Jones’ spirit in mind. There’s no doubt, he would be pleased.

The main floor, which Smith opens for special events like the Piedmont Ball, is meticulously restored to its former glory with period-appropriate furniture and decorative plaster walls. The original mechanisms to close the heavy exterior shutters were also carefully restored, Smith’s grandmother’s chandelier hangs over the formal dining room table. A large, gourmet kitchen planned by Jones also seamlessly meshes with the historic elements of the house.

The second floor is also complete with two bedrooms, but the third floor, which will eventually become the primary suite, is still in the works. A garage and lap pool at the rear of the property are also future projects.

“Part of the mission of this house is to be an ongoing story about historic preservation in Atlanta,” Smith said. “I love opening this house to the community so people can see what's possible. Because of Christopher’s vision and tenacity, this home is a permanent piece of Atlanta history. And for 101-years-old, she’s doing well.”

The house at its original location on Peachtree Road. (Courtesy Roger Smith)

The front parlor.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Rainbows’ Bright: A Q&A with Kate Pierson

By Gregg Shapiro

It’s likely a testament to the commitment of the members of The B-52’s that each of its remaining long-term members – Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider,

and Cindy Wilson – has only released two albums apiece under their own names over the course of the band’s 45-year recording career.

Pierson’s latest album, “Radio & Rainbows,” arrives almost a decade after 2015’s “Guitars & Microphones” (anyone else see a pattern here?).

Dedicated to Pierson’s wife, Monica Nation, the album takes Pierson in a variety of musical directions, including dance (“Take Me Back to the Party,” cowritten with Jimmy Harry, and the soaring “Wings”), the suitably spooky “Every Day Is Halloween” (co-written with and featuring Sia), the island breeze of “Pillow Queen” (don’t miss the music video!),

the funky “Dream On” and “Living In a Monet” (featuring queer musician Gail Ann Dorsey), as well as the colorful title cut.

Pierson, who played some solo shows over the summer, is joining her B-52s bandmates for what sounds like an amazing tour as they hit the road with Devo.

Kate, your 2015 solo debut album was titled “Guitars & Microphones” and your 2024 follow-up solo album was titled “Radios & Rainbows.” What can you tell us about your fondness for the coordinating conjunction?

“Guitars & Microphones” is the name of one of the songs on my first album. I didn’t plan on that being the name of the album, but it had a good ring to it. The song itself is pretty autobiographical in a lot of ways, about my childhood and having a protest band with my friends in high school. That song meant a lot to me. Then I thought, “I have a song called ‘Radios & Rainbows’ might as well…” That song means a lot to me, too, because it has a lot of political references in it and it’s prescient, if I may use that word, with rainbows and rainbow flags. I think it’s good.

You co-wrote the song “Every Day Is Halloween” on “Radios & Rainbows” with Sia, with whom you also co-wrote six songs on “Guitars & Microphones.” What do you like best about collaborating with her?

That was also [written] with Sam Dixon. I love to collaborate. The way The B-52’s have always written has been, with some exceptions, by jamming together. Even the instrumental part usually started as kind of jamming. We’d all jam together, and that way, a very unusual, collective unconscious and consciousness comes forth, that melds the craziness of all our minds. All this stuff that is swirling in our brains comes out in a very unconscious way – an unconscious way from the subconscious. That kind of template has always worked for me. But when I started working with Sia, she had already cowritten a lot of songs with these different sorts of star songwriters: Jimmy Harry, who wrote with Madonna, and Chris Braide, who works with Lana Del Rey and a lot of other artists, and Sia, of course, I was kind of terrified. We would go to the writing session, and I didn’t know who this person was, but it worked every time. The new music video for “Pillow Queen” features drag queens Billy LaMour and Raja Gemini, and the song “Mister Sister,” about a drag queen called Debbie Delicious, appeared on “Guitars & Microphones.” Please say a few words about the role that drag queens play in your life

When The B-52’s formed, people

said Cindy and I were drag queens! I think drag queens have always been so important to the gay community, as have trans people, and the whole rainbow of different LGBTQ+. We’ve always had trans people and drag queens in our lives, and as friends. They were always friends. Going to the Pyramid Club or different clubs in New York, there’d always be a drag queen. It was just a natural part of the whole community. Who would ever dream that they would be pilloried and treated today as outcasts? It’s just horrible! But back then, it was such a joyful part of the community. Drag queens have always been important and friends. Of course, RuPaul was in our “Love Shack” video. We went to see RuPaul back when we lived in Athens. RuPaul had a band called Wee Wee Pole and we went to see them perform. RuPaul was so amazing and positive and wonderful. I always saw drag queens as fairy godmothers. The performances, the joy, and the fun of drag queens were always present. Drag queens have always been a symbol, kind of the face of Pride parades and performances.

You mentioned the title track and the song “Dream On,” both of which sound, to my ears, like you are making a political statement. Am I on the right track, and if so, how important was it to you to include a song such as this one on the album?

I think it’s very important to speak out now. As The B-52’s, we never wanted to hit people over the head with political messages, but we definitely had them in there. Especially on things like “Channel Z” and other songs that referenced politics. It’s never a conscious decision, especially on the “Radios & Rainbows” album. In fact, I was re-recording some demos I had at Dreamland, where we recorded “Comic Thing.” I asked [B-52’s collaborators]Tracy Wormworth, Sterling Campbell, and Ken Mauiri to jam. We were there in the studio, and they started playing a riff, and I spontaneously came up with lyrics for “Dream On,” suggested by the music. The idea may be in my consciousness somewhere, but I had no intention of writing a political song like that. Then I had to rearrange the parts a little bit, and I had a lot of fun with that song. It sort of harkens to Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power.”

Just a little over three years ago, the B-52’s announced its farewell tour. However, this fall you and the band will be embarking on a concert tour with Devo. Not that I want the B-52’s to ever stop performing, but how did this change come about?

Well, I always said it was the “Cher-well Tour.” I never said farewell, actually.

Kate Pierson performs with The B-52’s on Oct. 25 in Alpharetta at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre.

The Lavender Bookshop offers queer books and community in Marietta

By Katie Burkholder

After the pandemic pushed them out of a job in tech, Sara Williford found work at a used bookstore.

Williford curated popular displays of queer books for customers who didn’t want to painstakingly sift through the entire store to find the queer literature they were looking for. After experiencing “legitimate and not so legitimate” pushback from management about the LGBTQ+ displays, Williford knew they needed to quit and open their own bookstore in Marietta.

Williford opened the Lavender Bookshop in October 2024, and there’s only one qualification to be included in their shelves: have a queer main character. Of course, that means queer authors inevitably line the Lavender bookshelves, but Williford isn’t interested in policing authors’ sexualities or forcing anybody to come out; if you write about queer people, your book can be for sale, regardless of your own sexuality or gender identity.

In 2023, Cobb County fifth-grade teacher Katie Rinderle was fired for reading her class “My Shadow is Purple,”

a picture book by Scott Stuart with a non-binary protagonist. A year later, Cobb County School District removed 26 books from all schools for “sexually explicit content.” These books included titles with LGBTQ+ themes like “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, and “Juliet Takes a Breath” by Gabby Rivera.

Amid this assault on LGBTQ+ books locally and nationwide, Williford says they “provide [the] service” of connecting young people and families in the area with queer books they might not be able to find at school or in mainstream bookstores. They’ve recommended books for helping an

entire family understand and embrace a child’s new transgender identity and connected non-readers with queer stories that sparked a new love for reading.

Along with a vast and diverse inventory of queer literature, the Lavender Bookshop also offers multiple

book clubs throughout the month –including separate clubs for sapphic romance, Achillean romance, sci-fi/ fantasy, non-fiction, YA for teens, and transgender stories – as well as nonreading events like craft circles, Magic the Gathering nights, open mics, improv club, and a monthly local artist mart.

“I think COVID really drove home how important those kind of community spaces are for a lot of people,” Williford told Georgia Voice. “People are always saying they want third spaces. They want queer spaces that aren’t focused on alcohol, queer spaces that aren’t adultonly.”

Williford said they want the Lavender Bookshop to be a third place – one of the ever-dwindling free public spaces that aren’t home or work where people can convene – so all their events are free, and regulars often come to the store just to hang out, play games, or read together.

The Lavender Bookshop is located at 1289 Roswell Rd in Marietta. To shop online, visit lavenderbookshop.com. To keep up with events, follow them on Instagram @lavenderbookshop.

Sara Williford (Courtesy Lavender Bookshop)

By Katie Burkholder

The work of late Atlanta photographer Al Clayton is on exhibition at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art through Dec. 7.

“Al Clayton Photography: Lost and Found” presents a look at life in 1980s Atlanta with more than 35 black-andwhite photographs and contact sheets celebrating drag icons like Mr. Charlie Brown and RuPaul, club kids at Backstreet, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Also on display are a special selection of Clayton’s own belongings, including cameras, loops, and other equipment, giving a look into his artistic process.

Included in the exhibit are photographs from Clayton’s never-beforeexhibited ‘90s series “Lost Things,” seven carefully arranged tableaus composed of discarded items found around Atlanta.

Along with capturing Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community, Clayton

photographed historical events like the civil war in Biafra, a Ku Klux Klan rally in Stone Mountain, and the careers of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. He also made an impact on the expansion of the U.S. food stamp program with his photography book “Still Hungry in America,” according to an AJC interview with Jennie Clayton, the artist’s daughter.

On Nov. 13, Clayton will give a lecture about her father’s work in the Skylight Gallery with special guests at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.

The exhibit is produced in partnership with Lost-n-Found Youth, an Atlanta organization providing services to homeless LGBTQ+ youth.

To learn more about the exhibit and the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, visit museum.oglethorpe.edu.

Mr. Charlie Brown puts on his makeup. (Photo by Al Clayton)

RuPaul in the 1980s. (Photo by Al Clayton)

Queer photographer releases portrait book of Atlanta creatives

By Katie Burkholder

In his first book, queer Atlanta fine art photographer David Clifton-Strawn celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of Atlanta’s arts scene. “After a Long Intermission: Portraits from Atlanta’s Creative Community” presents 100 portraits of painters, sculptors, writers, burlesque performers, dancers, actors,

gallerists, and other beloved and influential artists who call Atlanta home.

CliftonStrawn’s journey to releasing his debut book was a long one, as its title alludes. He started as a photographer in his early 20s but fell away from the medium after his partner died from AIDS. He picked the camera back up in his 50s to start this project, but got sidetracked again by the COVID-19 pandemic. After receiving the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ 202223 Emerging Artist Award, he was inspired to complete the project he describes as a celebration of the people who make up Atlanta’s arts community.

“When I was photographing people, we would usually sit around [in my studio]

for a coupleof hours just talking and getting to know each other before we even started shooting,” he said. “We had great conversations about their viewpoints on art and their own practice and process.”

“After a Long Intermission,” CliftonStrawn says, embodies the quote from the iconic portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz: “When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I’d like to know them.” In his work, Clifton-Strawn hopes to make his subjects feel comfortable with the vulnerability of being photographed so that he may capture something true about the people they are.

“I want to try to capture something that reflects my experience of being with that person,” he said. “I want it to be about them, I want them to be celebrated in the pictures.”

Among the 100 artists and creatives photographed in “After a Long

Intermission” are Krista M. Jones and Royce Soble, both of whom join Clifton-Strawn as members of the queer artist collective FRANK; vocalist Robin Latimore; muralist Joe Dreher; painter Michi Meko; sculptor Kevin Cole; drag queen Brigitte Bidet; High Museum of Art photography curator Gregory Harris; and photographer Chip Moody.

To learn more and to purchase a copy of the book, visit davidcliftonstrawn. com.

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David Clifton-Strawn with the portrait of Michael Rooks on the cover of “After a Long Intermission.” (Photo via Instagram)

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My Sister’s Room in Midtown Atlanta is hosting The Prelude: A Pride Kickoff on Oct. 9. Doors open at 8 p.m. See all the Pride-related activities on IG @ mysistersroom_msr.

Metropolitan Studios is hosting the 4th annual Queer Prom on Oct. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. at 1259 Metropolitan Ave SE. Bring a date, come solo, or with friends for a night of gay anthems and enjoy cocktails and treats. Visit metrostudioseav.com for details and tickets.

Lips Atlanta is hosting an Over the Rainbow Brunch on Oct. 11 and 12 in conjunction with Atlanta Pride. Call (404) 315-7711 or book your reservation at LipsATL.com.

Athens Pride & Queer Collective is partnering with Rainbow Kitten Surprise for their upcoming “Thanks For Coming” tour stop at the Classic Center on Oct. 16. More details on IG @ athensprideandqueercollective.

The Georgia Tech Pride Alliance is hosting a series of events in October in conjunction with Atlanta Pride, including a brunch, a runway show, and its own PrideFest event on Oct. 17. Get more details on IG @pridealliance.gt.

The “Rocky Horror Show Live” returns to Club 1 in Savannah Oct. 17-31. Get tickets at rockyhorrorshowlive.com.

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Gloom & Doom’s Monsterf**ker Pride: A Halloweeen Burlesque Show is set for Oct. 18 at 9 p.m. at Red Light Cafe on Amsterdam Walk. From vampires and demons to mermaids and succubi, we have a menagerie of monsters trained in the art of “scarousal.” Get tickets at redlightcafe.com.

Mona Lott, Jacqueline Daniels, and Sable Vesper Void are hosting Drag Bingo at Downtown Drafts, 115 Bradford St., in Gainesville, GA on Oct. 19 starting at 4 p.m. Get more details on IG @lott_ent.

The “Rocky Horror Drag Show” is coming to Lore Atlanta on Oct. 21 at 9 p.m. with an interactive cabaret celebrating the 50th anniversary of the cult classic film. More details on IG @lore.atlanta.

Out Front Theatre will present “9 to 5: The Musical” Oct. 23 to Nov. 8, featuring songs from the film and new ones written by Dolly Parton especially for the show. Out Front is located at 999 Brady Ave. Tickets are available at outfronttheatre.com.

For even more events, visit thegavoice. com and be sure to sign up for our weekly Crosswalk newsletter while you’re there.

Keep your eye out for these 8 Atlanta restaurant openings this fall

By Beth McKibben

As we enter the final quarter of 2025, restaurant openings are only ramping up. The Rough Draft dining team has been tracking a growing list of upcoming restaurants, but the following eight restaurants are the ones we’re most looking forward to opening.

From a trifecta of Lao, Thai, and Khmer food in Chamblee and Greek dishes and cocktails in Midtown to a dessert bar in Poncey-Highland and Neapolitan pizza in Dunwoody, put these restaurants on your opening radar this fall.

Naga Bistro

Lao, Thai, and Khmer (Cambodian) 2201 Savoy Dr., Chamblee nagabistroatl.com

The owners of Lao restaurant Snackboxe Bistro in Duluth were expected to open Naga Bistro in Chamblee in late September. Taking over the Wild Ginger Thai Cuisine space on Savoy Drive, Naga Bistro will include a full bar and serve a combination of traditional and fusion Lao, Thai, and Khmer (Cambodian) dishes. While all three cuisines will be served here, Khmer fare takes pride of place at Naga Bistro. (Think prahok ktis, a savory minced pork dip, and kathiew, a Cambodian beef noodle soup with a pork bone broth.)

Buddy Buddy

Greek comfort food and cocktails 931 Monroe Dr., Midtown

IG: @buddybuddyatl

Veteran Atlanta bartender Nick Chaivarlis was expected to open Buddy Buddy by the end of September in the

former Tapa Tapa space at Midtown Promenade. Expect martinis served three ways, along with other classic and original cocktails incorporating wash techniques, infused base spirits, and house-made syrups and cordials. Food will merge Greek street food with the homestyle dishes Chaivarlis grew up eating, including avgolemono (lemon chicken soup), yemista (stuffed peppers), and a roast lamb entree spiced with garlic, aleppo, and oregano chermoula served with Greek lemon potatoes, fried couscous pearls, and a feta beet salad.

Spring 2nd Branch

Korean cuisine and hot pot 113 Church Street, Marietta spring2ndbranch.com

The long-awaited second restaurant from Chef Brian So should open in midOctober, just around the corner from his Michelin-star restaurant Spring in Marietta. Located on Church Street in a newly redeveloped retail strip, also home to Contrast Artisan Ales, Spring 2nd Branch (or Bōm, meaning “springtime”) will serve simmering Korean hot pot, dolsot bibimbap, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), mandu (dumplings), and other Korean dishes So grew up eating with his family.

Bar Ana

Desserts and cocktails

939 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey-Highland IG: @barana.atl

Award-winning pastry chef Claudia Martinez and El Ponce owner Rosa Thurnher will open Bar Ana in October, a dessert and cocktail bar taking over the former El Bar space beneath El Ponce. By day, Bar Ana will act as a coffee shop run

by Ivan Solis of Recuerdos Cafe. At night, the space transforms into a cocktail bar serving sophisticated desserts. Look for a dessert tasting menu, too, consisting of a rotating collection of signature desserts and pastries from Martinez.

Varuni Napoli

Neapolitan pizza

High Street, Dunwoody

Anticipated by the end of 2025 IG: @varuninapoliatl

There’s a glut of great pizza joints in Metro Atlanta serving a variety of styles, including Neapolitan. But few pizzerias centered on Neapolitan-style pies measure up to those served at Varuni Napoli. Having grown up in Naples, owner Luca Varuni knows the right ingredients matter for proper Neapolitan pizza. Every year, he travels back to Naples for San Marzano

tomato harvesting season, spending time there sourcing ingredients that meet his exacting standards to keep his two intown pizzerias supplied for months. A third location of Varuni Napoli will open by the end of 2025 at the High Street development in Dunwoody, becoming the first location of the popular pizzeria outside the Perimeter.

Sugar Loaf

Ethiopian-Albanian, breakfast and lunch, pastries, coffee 780 Memorial Dr., Reynoldstown IG: @sugarloafatl

Nebi and Lindsay Berhane describe Sugar Loaf as “Southern-inspired” and “globally influenced,” with food and flavors

Continued on page 46

Grilled steak accompanied by Cambodian and Lao dipping sauces. (Courtesy of Thip Athakhanh)

Bibimbap. (Courtesy Spring 2nd Branch/Bom)

Yuzu cheesecake with passion fruit sorbet. (Courtesy Bar Ana/Claudia Martinez)

HAPPY PRIDE ATL

Continued from page 44

tapping into their Ethiopian and Albanian heritages. Later this year, the couple will transform their farmers market stall into a permanent restaurant in Reynoldstown, serving breakfast and lunch, including Sugar Loaf’s sought-after biscuits, like the tasso ham and cheese on an Ethiopianspiced dabo biscuit. An expanded menu will also feature caramel-topped “sticky buna” infused with Ethiopian coffee, Liege waffles, Ethiopian lentil salads, Oklahomastyle fried onion smashburgers, and a zesty Albanian chicken sandwich.

Some Luck

Thai street food, cocktails 644 North Highland Ave., Poncey-Highland IG: @someluckatl

Chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter, owners of Summerhill Thai restaurant Talat Market, will open Thai bar Some Luck this fall in Poncey-Highland. Taking over the Highland Ballroom Lounge, next door to Steven Satterfield’s Madeira Park, Some Luck will serve a decidedly Thaifocused menu featuring bar snacks, noodle soups, wings, and late-night food inspired by dishes found at street stalls throughout Thailand. Expect quick-fired, stirred cocktails mixed with Thai ingredients and base spirits like rum, along with pitchers of ice-cold Singha beer and local beers on

Bottle Rocket

Sushi, burgers, and cocktails, neighborhood bar 231 Mitchell St., South Downtown bottlerocketatl.com

Castleberry Hill neighborhood staple and game day favorite Bottle Rocket will pull up stakes for nearby South Downtown this fall. Located between Tyde Tate Thai Kitchen and Spiller Park Coffee, Bottle Rocket will reside on the ground floor of a renovated early 20th-century storefront on Historic Hotel Row. Known for its eclectic menu of sushi, burgers, and cocktails, the move to South Downtown will increase seating capacity at Bottle Rocket, allow for a better bar layout, and see the menu expand to include lunch and weekend brunch.

Ham and cheese, buttermilk, and pimento cheese biscuits at Sugar Loaf.

(Courtesy of Sara Cunningham)

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‘Dining Out’ explores gay restaurants past and present

By Katie Burkholder

In his debut book “Dining Out,” journalist Erik Piepenburg tells America’s LGBTQ+ history through the beloved restaurants of the past and present.

Inspired by a story he wrote for the New York Times in 2021 about the closure of gay restaurants, Piepenburg traveled to nine states and Washington, D.C., to learn “everything [he] could” about the restaurants the LGBTQ+ community called home.

“These were places where gay people could go and experience everything under the sun,” Piepenburg told Georgia Voice. “You could go there to laugh with your friends, you could have a really good meal, you could cry over a breakup. During some of the worst years of the AIDS crisis, they were safe spaces for people who were sick or taking care of people who were sick.”

From Hamburger Mary’s in San Francisco to Laziz Kitchen in Salt Lake City, “Dining Out” explores the role of the gay restaurant – whether LGBTQ+owned or queered by the locals – in the cultivation of LGBTQ+ culture and the fight for gay rights using archival material, original reporting and interviews, and firstperson accounts.

While Piepenburg found that gay restaurants were far from dead, like he believed it to be in 2021, he told Georgia Voice that it looks far different today than it did in its “heyday” from the ‘70s to ‘90s. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the digital age fostering more online ordering and food delivery, the restaurant in general, he says, has become more service than third place. For the LGBTQ+ community specifically, the safe spaces sorely needed in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s are not entirely necessary in major cities anymore.

“We don’t feel the need to go to a restaurant that is just for gay people or just for lesbians anymore because at so many restaurants, it’s okay to hold your partner’s hand,” Piepenburg said. “But go to smaller cities, and that’s a very different story.”

Still, Piepenburg says the gay restaurant is “timeless,” both in major cities and small towns.

“What is timeless about gay restaurants is that they serve purposes that gay bars really can’t or don’t. What I love about gay restaurants is that generally, they are for people of all ages. You could be a teenager and too young to get into a gay bar, or you could be an elder and you don’t want to go to a gay bar because it’s too expensive, it’s too loud.”

Included in Piepenburg’s culinary journey are four Atlanta establishments: the now shuttered Gallus and Silver Grill and the still operational Colonnade and Su’s Chinese Cuisine.

“Dining Out” is available to purchase at Charis Books and More.

Erik Piepenburg

The long-gone Gallus restaurant at Cypress and 6th in Midtown. (Courtesy Touching Up Our Roots)

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Atlanta restaurants introduce budget-friendly menus

By Laura Scholz

At Avize, the Westside fine dining restaurant recently named one of Bon Appétit’s “Best New Restaurants in America,” Chef Karl Gorline serves modern Alpine dishes with luxe ingredients like foie gras and American Wagyu. But Bar Avize, the restaurant’s sibling next door, has become just as much of a destination for its fancy takes on comfort food, including caviar-topped chicken nuggets and a viral, $20 “NYC Happy Meal,” featuring a broccoli Caesar salad, truffle fries, and a mini martini. Across Atlanta, restaurants like Bar Avize are launching weekly specials, swapping finerdining dishes for nostalgia-fueled plates, and offering budget-friendly tasting menus and

meal deals in hopes of attracting price-conscious diners back to the dining room and boosting sluggish sales.

Greg Best, a partner at Krog Street Market’s Ticonderoga Club, told Rough Draft these recession indicator menus are the direct result of skyrocketing food costs, tariffs, and recent declines in consumer restaurant spending.

“The sector, at large, is taking a massive hit now,” said Best of the country’s current uncertain and chaotic political and economic climates. According to CNN’s analysis of Commerce Department data, the first half of 2025 marked one of the weakest growth periods for U.S. restaurants and bars in the last decade, even slower than the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.

Best said Ticonderoga Club, which also closed for four months in 2022 and 2023 due to a water main break, has experienced a significant drop-off in customers this year, including many multi-week regulars.

“We had a brief period of time after the height of Covid where people wanted luxe (food) again,” he said. “But I think right now the average dining public is getting fatigued, and when times are hard, people want nostalgic foods. They want the mac

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and cheese, the burgers, and the pizza,” he continued.

In August, Ticonderoga Club revived its popular pop-up, Captain B’s Fish Camp, to try and draw more business during the restaurant’s slower days and offer more affordable options on the menu to new and existing patrons. The menu features what Best calls “well-sourced, comfortlevel seafood,” available for takeout and dine-in service on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings from Ticonderoga Club’s “Pineapple Room”.

“We’re trying to be smart and fall back on things that our customer base has reacted positively to in the past,” he said of Captain B’s. “It’s also a new opportunity for guests of ours to get the Club experience without the same price tag of sitting down and doing a full dinner.”

Captain B’s “Country Boy,” for instance, is a Mississippi-style catfish sandwich on white bread and costs $16, and can come with sides like hushpuppies or coleslaw for $4 each.

Chef Deborah VanTrece, owner of Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours in Blandtown and Oreatha’s At the Point in Cascade Heights, is also adding more affordable dishes to her restaurants’ menus.

“Honestly, this has been the slowest summer I’ve ever had since I’ve been open, and we are definitely feeling the pinch and adjusting our menus accordingly,” she said.

menu is still a luxury, but attainable, especially for special occasions. And while Lazy Betty also serves a $285 eight-course tasting menu in the dining room, the bar features a scaled-down, four-course version for $170 per person.

Lazy Betty chef and co-owner Ron Hsu said the concise tasting menus at the bar give people the chance to experience the restaurant without the time commitment— or price tag—of the full, eight-course tasting experience, which can last for more than two hours.

At Little Bear in Summerhill, Chef Jarrett Stieber has served an affordable tasting menu since the restaurant opened in February 2020.

“So many people are turned off by fine dining because it seems pretentious,” explained Stieber. Little Bear’s four-course, prix-fixe menu with an amuse bouche is just $75, significantly less expensive than most tasting menu experiences at restaurants in Atlanta.

“We can charge $75 and make a good profit margin and make interesting food that’s a bit more approachable without sacrificing attention to detail and quality,” he said.

Like Ticonderoga Club, Little Bear is experimenting with a new service format, opening for dinner on Monday nights, starting on Sep. 29. Stieber’s goal is to draw an industry crowd similar to Gigi’s Italian Kitchen in Candler Park, while offering a dining option on a day when most restaurants are closed.

Like Best, VanTrece believes consumers are becoming price-conscious at the same time restaurant owners like herself are facing rising food costs and challenges sourcing menu items due to ongoing tariffs. For example, one of Oretha’s most popular cocktails, My Okassan, uses a Japanese whisky that took six months to procure due to tariffs and shipping delays.

“So much [of my menu] depends on what products are available or what we can afford, so we’re constantly changing everything, making it all subject to availability and pricing,” VanTrece said of sourcing ingredients and navigating price adjustments.

Recently, she subbed a strip loin for filet mignon in one of Twisted Soul’s most popular dishes, the Steak Lady D, the restaurant’s play on classic steak Diane. The decision to switch from strip loin to filet mignon came down to the price of meat rising by $3 a pound in a single week.

VanTrece is trying to fill her menu with comforting, budget-friendly staples, like rice and potatoes, and started offering a $15 blue plate special during lunch service at Twisted Soul.

“I’m constantly paying attention to what’s moving and what isn’t [on the menu], and switching things out, which in the past I didn’t really worry about so much, and I could give things time to catch on,” VanTrece said of her menu development strategy these days.

Michelin-starred Lazy Betty in Midtown is another Atlanta restaurant adding more budget-friendly options for customers. The restaurant recently launched a four-course dessert tasting, a menu of four rotating sweets from pastry chef Lindsey Davis, available only at the bar. Davis offers desserts like an elevated take on a cookies and cream bar that hints to nostalgia, but stays true to the fine-dining aesthetic of Lazy Betty.

At $110 per person, the dessert tasting

“This is a way for us to grow and generate revenue and expand as a business without killing what makes us special,” said Stieber. “It’s more logical to open an extra night or two rather than jam more seats in and have inconsistent service.”

Monday nights at Little Bear will feature off-menu specials, plus industry discounts and drink specials, like a rotating staff-choice beer and a shot.

While VanTrece does not plan on adding service days, she does plan to experiment with additional offerings, including opening on Thanksgiving for the first time this year, serving affordable to-go meals for families, and starting a monthly, multi-course supper club dinner.

“I think it could be another great way to bring people together and offer some fun things that are off-menu,” said VanTrece of the potential supper club.

According to Best, Captain B’s has been a hit so far at Ticonderoga Club. So much so that he and his partners are prepared to mix things up again, if needed, potentially launching other restaurant-within-arestaurant concepts. That could include the return of Chef David Bies’s Hootersinspired sports bar, Coach B’s Sports Bar & Grill, or an Indonesian street food stall.

“The trend in Atlanta for quite a while now has been about what’s new on the pop-up landscape or on social media, but we’re tenured enough in this game to feel confident in understanding how to pull levels and push buttons that will lend us some flexibility [as a restaurant],” said Best.

All restaurants can do right now, Best said, is continue to weather whatever storms arise and meet their customers where they are, because hospitality remains the throughline no matter the challenges.

Fried catfish and beer-battered cod sandwiches from Captain B’s at Ticonderoga Club (Courtesy of David Bies)

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