Issue 699 June 6 – 13 | 2012
David | Atlanta
CONTACT Advertising | sales@davidatlanta.com Classifieds | classifieds@davidatlanta.com Editor / Press Releases | press@davidatlanta.com Calendar Listings | calendar@davidatlanta.com
Issue 699 | June 6 – 13 | 2012
STAFF David Thompson | Publisher david@davidatlanta.com
David Magazine
650 Hamilton Ave. Suite H Atlanta, GA 30312 404.418.8901
Contents
Maximillian Corwell | Editor-in-Chief max@davidatlanta.com Joseph Brownell | Arts & Entertainment Editor | Web & Social Media joseph@davidatlanta.com
8 WTF!?! Tidbits 10 Scene@ Blake’s 12 WTF!?!? 18 Stonewall was A Riot: LGBT History 24 Putting the ‘T’ back: Cheryl Courtney-Evans 28 LGBT Politics In & Beyond the Obama Years 35 Ben Cohen goes Out in the Stands 38 Scene@ Fantasy Girls 40 BarTab Map: Guide to Gay Atlanta 42 BarTab Week: Calendar 44 Music Review: Brandi Carlile 47 Top 10 Tracks 52 Creep of the Week: Tony Perkins 55 Comic: A Couple of Gays 56 Central Alabama Pride is Back 58 Fairyscopes 60 Scene@ Joining Hearts Foam Party 61 Classifieds 62 Bitch Session
Kiki Carr | Art Director | Assistant Editor kiki@davidatlanta.com Elijah Sarkesian | Design Intern Chip O’ Kelley | Operations chip@davidatlanta.com Steve Tyrrell | Account Management steve@davidatlanta.com Writers Rian Ashlei Chris Azzopardi Corian Ellisor Van Gower Richard Marshall Stasha Oakley Troy Ordami Elijah Sarkesian Columnists Luis Chiruco Dustin Shelby Brent Star Tristan Timothy Lucas Witherspoon Randall Carpenter | Photographer Julio Saldana | Photography Intern Jamie Scarbrough | IT Rivendell Media | National Ad Rep 908.232.203 Add us on Facebook! DavidAtlanta Add us on Twitter! DavidMagazineGA
The content of this Publication is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed by any writer, advertiser, or other person appearing in the Magazine are not necessarily those of the Publication, its management or staff. The information and materials appearing in the Magazine are not guaranteed or warranted as to accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered for a particular purpose. It shall be your responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through this Publication meets your specific requirements. The Publication is not responsible for claims made by advertisers, content of information, changes, events, and schedules. The Magazine contains information and material which is owned by or licensed to the Publication, including but not limited to articles, advertisement, design, layout, graphics, and logos. No part or portion of this Publication may be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of the Publisher. Unauthorized use of this Publication may give rise to claims for damages and or criminal offenses. Your use of the information or materials in the Publication is strictly at your own risk.
6 | davidatlanta
davidatlanta | 7
WTF!?!? Tidbits Jenna Jameson was arrested in Orange County on suspicion of DUI
after her car rammed a pole (that joke writes itself) around 1:30 AM. She sustained minor injuries, for which she refused treatment, and was released shortly after being booked. Look, I get it, I was dismayed to have to pay a $60 cab fare (sans tips) the other night, but I’m also not a multimillionaire like Jenna. I’d expect this from a Penthouse Pet, but not the Queen of Porn.
On the topic of reckless driving, Amanda Bynes has allegedly been involved in ANOTHER hit-and-run incident. As you may recall, she was busted on April 6 for DUI after sideswiping a cop car (which came a week after she was pulled over for talking on her cell phone and pulled off as she was being ticketed, and was followed by her being photographed running over a curb while on her cell phone on April 12) but this incident allegedly occurred on April 10, four days after her DUI. Amanda won’t be charged with any crime in the April 10 incident, however, because police don’t have another independent witness to verify the accident. I should mention, by the way, that Amanda says she’s a non-drinker. With that being said, I’d sooner let a drunk Lindsay Lohan be my designated driver than a sober Amanda Bynes. I’ll just put it out there: Zac Efron gets pissed on in his new film, The
Paperboy (albeit by Nicole Kidman). Now I’ve never been into water sports per se, but if anyone had the ability to turn me on to golden showers, it would be Zac Efron. Consider me sold on seeing this movie.
Justin Bieber could be facing criminal battery charges after a
physical altercation outside of a mall in Calabasas with a photographer. After the paparazzo blocked Justin’s car as he took photos, Justin got out and some sort of scuffle ensued. I picture this fight going one of two ways. Either Justin was like an unassuming squirrel you calmly approach to admire, until its rabid ass latches onto your face and claws you, or it was like being reprimanded by a 14-year-old girl. I’m going to go with the latter.
Us Weekly delivered yet another hard-hitting investigative report when they journeyed into the depths of Kim Zolciak’s handbag and discovered Q-tips, spearmint gum, and a wooden spoon intended for her kids “if they get fresh.” I see she still managed to leave her dignity at home.
by Lucas Witherspoon
8 | davidatlanta
10 | davidatlanta
WTF!?!?
My First Gay Resort
I
n terms of consensual sex, I’m no prude; I say to each their own—let your freak flag fly. That’s why, when I visited my first gay resort a few years ago, I was certain I could not be phased by my friend’s forewarnings that it was not a place for the faint of heart. He was telling me of all people to brace myself to be surrounded by a bunch of horny, drunk, gay guys? Child, please. When we got there, the place was kind of unassuming, and certainly not what I’d define as a “resort,” but I figured I was with my friend who I’ve never had a bad time with, even in the most miserable of locations, not to mention there would be a constant flow of booze the entire weekend, and I had already been pre-gaming the entire way there as is. Besides the lobby featuring an array of lube, porn, and poppers, the place seemed like a pretty ordinary hotel. After a few drinks and the realization that, in my drunken haste during packing, I’d only packed one swimsuit that was, by comparison, modest, we headed to the nearest store so that I could hopefully find one that was a little more slutty. H o w e v e r, that place happened to be Wal-Mart, a.k.a. the bane of my existence and the only place in this town that sold swimsuits. At this time, I had about a 26-inch waist and was still in a boys size 16. Since it was Wal-Mart, all of the boys swimsuits were knee-length and usually featured some sort of flame decal, so, in my desperation, I headed to the girls section. After being eyed down by a dozen or so people who were undoubtedly memorizing my face with every expectation
12 | davidatlanta
of seeing it on To Catch a Predator (I was an adult male browsing girls swimsuits), I had to settle on a pair of Hannah Montana brand bottoms that I’m pretty sure I’ve also seen in an Andrew Christian catalog at some point. Anyway, I’d obviously worn Speedos before and figured these bottoms couldn’t be any different. Not so. Once I put them on, I realized that if I took too long of strides while walking, my balls would literally fall out. Regardless, we headed out to the pool. Every head turned to face me in my multicolored neon Hannah Montana makeshift Speedo. In that moment I felt like Paris Hilton in her Carl’s Jr. commercial. All I needed was a wind machine, to move in slow motion, and a light layer of sweat to glisten in the sun. Me, being the friendly person I am, managed to make a few friends (because, you know, they weren’t solely interested in my penis or anything), and after hours of poolside drunkenness, everyone moved to the bars. That was my first taste of the hot messness that was to ensue over the course of the next 72 hours. After hitting the bars and getting sufficiently wasted, my friend convinced me I absolutely needed to experience the bathhouse on the premises. Now, I have never been and will never be a fan of bathhouses (but again, to each their own), but my friend explained that this bathhouse had to be experienced to be believed, and that there was zero eroticism involved in witnessing it. The cracked out nature of it all sold me, and thus marked my first time inside of a bathhouse. That first night set me up for what the rest of the weekend would be like, and I honestly have to say it’s one of the most amusing and compelling weekends of my life. I’ve since been to a few legitimate gay resorts (actual resorts) that have also proven to be a lot of fun, but I still look back fondly on my first ever gay resort experience… and am still trying to scrub my mind of the image of the guy getting fisted. by Lucas Witherspoon
davidatlanta | 15
L
themselves away from the prying eyes of disapproving society, government, and men in blue. by Van Gower
ast weekend, Americans celebrated Memorial Day, the annual holiday that calls for the remembrance of those brave men and women who served in the military and fell in service to their country. In June, however, gay Americans commemorate a different kind of memorial: Stonewall History Month. It’s a time when – individually or collectively – they reflect upon a sweltering June night in New York City 43 years ago when a massive contingent of gay patrons of the Stonewall Inn bar struck back against an oppressive and abusive police force. It is a night that is widely regarded as the flashpoint that sparked the modern gay rights movement. The 1960’s, particularly the late Sixties, was a tumultuous and violent time in American history. The black civil rights movement, demonstrations against the Vietnam War, and ongoing animosity directed toward the hippie counterculture by the conservative establishment all contributed to a prevailing sense of dread and tension. There was also still a climate of strong-arm persecution and intimidation by the authorities against homosexuals in public in the late Sixties, an atmosphere that had first gained momentum in the 1950’s. This was especially the case in places like bars, where those in the GLBT community gathered to fellowship and be
18 | davidatlanta
Stonewall was a riot But that tide began to turn when – in the early hours of June 28, 1969 – New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn gay bar in Greenwich Village, sparking six days and nights of demonstrations and full-scale riots. The police pushed the queers, but were pushed back in a mighty show of force that stunned police, demonstrating gays’ refusal to be persecuted any longer. At first, the spontaneous uprising was led only by the bar’s pissed-off patrons, which included working-class trans women, drag queens and homeless gay youth who frequented the bar seeking camaraderie. “We were scared drag queens. The police could beat you when they wanted to. Gay-bashing was a city sport,” said Martin Boyce, a Stonewall veteran, in a June 28, 2009 anniversary interview on NPR’s All Things Considered. “We wanted to be free. We just wanted not to be attacked, not to be tormented, not to be reminded every day that we were freaks.” As for the teenage street boys, for whom the unlicensed Mafia-run Stonewall Inn was an unlikely haven of sorts, time spent in its dark, seedy, dingy interior was far better than being out in the dangerous New York streets, where their very lives were at risk. “People were dying all the time, and you didn’t
know how they died. They were just fished up out of the river,” Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt, another original Stonewall demonstrator, told All Things Considered in 2009. As word of the riots spread like wildfire among the rest of New York’s gay population, the number of demonstrators grew exponentially. Far from being a unified community, the crowds were merely hundreds of individuals tired of police brutality. As with so many such rebellions and melees, exactly at which precise moment the opening salvo was lobbed and by whom has perhaps never been known, and is best left to myth and legend. Few original participants likely remain today to give detailed eyewitness accounts, but at some point immediately after seven plainclothed police officers and one uniformed officer entered the Stonewall Inn, announced a raid, demanded identification, and escorted patrons outside onto the sidewalk for interrogation or into waiting paddy wagons, all hell broke loose. “A number of incidents were happening simultaneously,” riot participant and gay rights activist Craig Rodwell told Socialism Today in July 1999. “There was no one thing that happened or one person, there was just… a flash of group, of mass anger.” Some hazy accounts in the 43 years since the Stonewall rebellion have claimed that it was one defiant drag queen who planted herself bravely and firmly between the advancing cops and the other patrons. Others have credited a butch lesbian who resisted arrest. Rumors have even circulated through the years that a large group of grief-stricken gay men had attended the funeral of Judy Garland in Manhattan’s Upper East Side on July 27, just one day prior to the uprising, and were sufficiently bereft at the loss of their icon that they were ready for one thing to trip their hair-trigger switches. Whatever the actual first act of defiance was, a gauntlet was thrown down, and the crowd sufficiently incited to fight back. By most accounts, the titanic wave of homosexuals surged forward en masse toward the police officers, hurling bottles, rocks, trash cans, davidatlanta | 19
See the Documentary Stonewall Uprising (2010) Documentary about gay life in the 1960’s, and the Stonewall riots in New York City that started the modern gay rights movement. Friday, June 15, 2012, 7pm 470 Candler Park Dr., NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 Molotov cocktails, and other projectiles. The rebels shoved, punched, and allegedly even bit officers. Cars were stomped and windshields were smashed. Manic rallying cries of “Gay Power!” and “Freedom!” could be heard. Patrons who had been incarcerated in the paddy wagons were freed by their compatriots after the police retreated inside the empty Stonewall and barricaded the doors for their own protection. Specially trained riot police troops who were called in to quell the violence on Christopher Street weren’t entirely successful with their intended mission, as historian Martin Duberman recounts in his 1993 book Stonewall. “In their path, the rioters slowly retreated, but - contrary to police expectations - did not break and run… [they] scattered to avoid the billy clubs but then raced around the block, doubled back behind the troopers, and pelted them with debris. When the cops realized that a considerable crowd had simply re-formed to their rear, they flailed out angrily at anyone who came within striking distance,” Duberman writes. It was a pattern that repeated several times: the riot police seemingly dispersing the rioters, only to have them resurge with increasing anger and violence. At one point in the fearsome fray, according to Duberman, “the police whirled around to reverse direction… [and] they found themselves face-to-face with their worst nightmare: a chorus line of mocking queens, their arms clasped around each other, kicking their heels in the air Rockettes-style and singing at the tops of their sardonic voices: “We are the Stonewall girls We wear our hair in curls We wear no underwear We show our pubic hair... We wear our dungarees Above our nelly knees!” 20 | davidatlanta
at First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta, as part of their ongoing Third Friday Film Series. Popcorn and refreshments available. Co-Sponsored by the Atlanta Pride Committee.
Hear from a Participant After the film, hear from Mary Louise Covington, a long-time NYC activist who supported those arrested during the rebellion.
Aftermath and Legacy The fever pitch of anger and defiance that characterized the Stonewall rebellion eventually abated, and six days later it was all over. And although police raids on other New York gay bars continued, they went largely unnoticed when compared to Stonewall. In the relative calm after the storm, a new era of gay power was dawning. Civil rights marches of varying sizes began as soon as early July 1969. In June 1970, the first official gay pride march in the United States was held in New York to mark the one-year anniversary of the riots; it was attended by some 10,000 people. That same year, gay pride marches were held in Chicago and Los Angeles. As momentum built over the next two years, cities worldwide that began holding their own marches included Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, London, Miami, Paris, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.
Upstart gay newspapers – some underground, some not – also soon found their way into the hands of eager readers. In subsequent years, countless books and documentary films have been released, serving as popular historical documents of the Stonewall uprising. Although some gay organizations like the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis existed prior to Stonewall, their modus operandi were deemed too pacifist-leaning and furtive by the new crop of in-your-face activists energized for long-term battle by the Stonewall rebellion. To that end, a number of new gay rights organizations like the Gay Activists Alliance and the militant Gay Liberation Front formed, inspiring a legacy of similar groups in cities across the country to this day who continue to tirelessly advocate for full equality and inclusion for GLBT’s across all spectrums of public life.
Serious and Celebratory In most major U.S. cities, annual gay pride celebrations are held to commemorate the Stonewall rebellion and are traditionally held in June, culminating around June 28, the date the first riot began. To learn more about some of the events planned for this years Stonewall events in Atlanta, check out atlantapride.org/about/stonewall-events-june
davidatlanta | 21
Putting the ‘T’
back in Stonewall How the Transgender community shaped Stonewall for everyone
An Interview With Cheryl Courtney-Evans
A
by Stasha Oakley
s we come upon the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the LGBTQ community reflects on the actions of the patrons at New York City’s Stonewall Inn. These fierce, intense demonstrations set in motion the modern day LGBTQ rights movement. While trans women were at the forefront of the Stonewall Riots, they are often mis-categorized as “drag queens” or simply ignored by both mainstream and gay & lesbian media. Cheryl Courtney-Evans, founder and executive director of the trans community organization TILTT, opens up about the effects Stonewall had on her and how she’s gained inspiration from the riots to dedicate herself to an all-inclusive, unifying brand of activism.
Living in Kansas at the time, did the Stonewall riots have an immediate effect on your life and the lives of the LGBTQ community around you? Cheryl Courtney-Evans: The Stonewall Riots came the year I graduated from high school. While there was a small 1 inch by 1 inch piece in the local newspapers, there was somewhat more coverage on the national television news but they didn›t want to give the LGBT community too much attention. At the time, the terms “transsexualism” or “transgenderism” were not known categories. Christine Jorgensen, with her sex reassignment surgery in 1952 was unknown to those of us in 24 | davidatlanta
the ‘hood and we were all relegated to drag queen status. So for us Stonewall was an uprising of drag queens and impersonators. In our clubs and among one another we reveled in it but among the community at large we kept quiet about it. It had no real immediate effect on our lives in general other than a temporary jubilation.
Can you remember first hearing about the event? Some people have said that it didn›t receive great national attention at the time and was only later identified as a catalyst for the gay rights movement. The first I remember hearing of Stonewall was through a television news broadcast. It only lasted a couple of minutes and I can›t remember any camera footage. There was something about “female impersonators and homosexuals having a skirmish with New York policemen...” At the time national attention was being given to the Mattachine Society and Daughters of Bilitis. It is debatable whether they were the start of the movement or the Stonewall Riots. I feel that the legal actions resulting from the Stonewall Riots were the real catalyst for the so-called Gay Movement. [Stonewall was] four days and nights of rioting by people who were openly defying the status quo, rather than stealthily and quietly trying to assimilate the society at large. It had a greater effect of making things happen, rather than simply providing ‘supportive groups’ for some [primarily white gays and lesbians].
While trans women were at the forefront of the Stonewall Riots, they are often mis-categorized as “drag queens” or simply ignored… Do you think that that trans women, particularly trans women of color, are accurately portrayed and given proper gratitude for their contributions during the Stonewall riots and the activism that followed? No I don›t. First of all, too often the term “person of color” is automatically assumed to mean African American/Black. Sylvia Rivera, who was identified as “the drag queen who struck the first blow (hit the policeman with a high heel)” was of Puerto Rican & Venezuelan descent. I would imagine she would be considered of color. I suppose that would depend on who you talk to and how they prefer to see her. Just as there are some gays and lesbians who would prefer to see the Stonewall Riots as an action of drag queens, gays and lesbians, rather than transgenders (who cross-identify), gays and lesbians. So unfortunately I don’t think the transgender community has received the credit it deserves and has been pushed to the rear of the movement. Even as recently as Atlanta Pride 2011 there was a small contingent of transgenders who marched through the festival at the park where there were laughs, jeers and foolishness rather than respect from [some of] the gay community. There is not much outcry at the atrocities that happen to us or attention to the Transgender Day Of Remembrance. There are still gays and lesbians who will say they don›t understand where the “T” fits.
Has the legacy of the women at the Stonewall riots had an influence on your growth as an amazing Atlanta activist? As a transwoman of color thinking back to Stonewall I see Sylvia Rivera as [a woman] of color, and by her own words she saw herself as a
transwoman rather than a drag queen or impersonator. I’ve drawn pride from the transgender participation in the Stonewall Riots. However, as I don’t have a separatist bone in my body, I realize that transgenders were not the only ones involved. It was the first action where all members of the LGBT acronym were involved (however the “T” has since been left out too often). I always want to build bridges across the gap. I think the acronym “GNC” should be adopted wherever possible. A Gender Non-Conforming community could make how we all fit together more understood. Cross-identified transgender individuals may have any of the sexual orientations (gay, lesbian or bisexual) and all members of the LGBT community are non-conformists with regard to the traditional gender binary practices of the community at large. It is the out, proud & together spirit of the Stonewall Riots that has had the tendency to make me feel this way and I feel it can happen again with work.
LGBT Politics
In & Beyond the Obama Years
S
by Elijah Sarkesian
aying that the political landscape has changed for the LGBT community over the past four years is a rather significant understatement. During the four years of President Barack Obama’s administration, LGBT political issues have shifted on a number of issues, on both state and national levels. When it comes to tackling LGBT issues, the Obama administration has often angered members of the community by not acting on issues immediately. Activists have taken issues like marriage equality, the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and pressured Obama and Congress to act. While progress has moved more slowly than many would like, the administration’s movement on a number of issues is substantial. Still, the administration has a significant amount of work ahead of itself.
Progress in the Obama Administration? The most notable change to date is the end of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Originally introduced in 1993 by President Clinton as a “compromise measure,” DADT was a primary target by LGBT activists in the first few years of the Obama administration, and was a campaign issue for Obama during the 2008 presidential election. The topic of repeal during the administration finally came up during Obama’s 2 0 1 0 State of
the Union address, where the president stated, “This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.” Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs supported Obama in his statement. Subsequently, the Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate tried to end the policy by attaching it to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2011. The specific wording provided for the repeal of the DADT policy following a study by the Department of Defense to ensure the change would not harm military effectiveness, with a 60 day waiting period following the study’s submission. While the measure passed in the House, a filibuster led by Sen. John McCain blocked it in the Senate. When debate on the Defense Authorization Act was blocked by filibuster during the lame duck session in 2010, Senators Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins introduced a stand-alone bill that tackled the issue. The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 subsequently passed the House and Senate, and was signed into law by President Obama on December 22, 2010. Full implementation of the repeal occurred on September 20, 2011. This relatively lengthy approach to dismantling DADT is characteristic of what conservative gay writer Andrew Sullivan describes as Obama’s “long game.” Rather than create a change by executive order, which many people hoped Obama would do, Obama was able to get his (Republican) defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs to make moves arguing for repeal. The process made its way through the legislative branch, which ensured debate and made passage look impossible at times. But it was accomplished. And because of the manner in which it was accomplished, the change took on a far more durable form than a simple executive order.
Similarly going through the “long game” procedure is the Obama administration’s take on the Defense of Marriage Act. While not targeting the act directly with proposed legislation, President Obama has called for the repeal of DOMA. More notably, the Justice Department said in February 2011 that it would no longer defend DOMA in court because it deems the act unconstitutional. The latter move has met with criticism, particularly from House Republicans, who are pursuing a legal defense of the law. Another area where Obama deserves credit is the removal of the HIV Travel Ban in 2010. The ban, which came into play in 1987, barred HIV-positive foreigners from obtaining permanent immigration status or entering the country without special waivers. While previous presidents made efforts to lift the restrictions, these efforts were ultimately futile. The ban itself, as well as the effect of its lift, significantly affects bi-national couples and families. Between DOMA and the HIV Travel Ban, bi-national couples in which at least one partner was HIV-positive lived in fear of being split apart, assuming they chose to live in the U.S. Lifting the ban has made it easier for
bi-national couples to avoid this problem. Finally, there’s the recent news of Obama’s stance on marriage e q u a l i t y. While Obama agreed that same-sex couples had the right for civil unions, he spent much of his first term talking about an “evolving” view on marriage e q u a l i t y. That is, until early May. That’s when Obama came out in support of marriage e q u a l i t y. Again, Obama’s words do not come with pending legislation – in this case, he believes that states have the right to decide on the issue. Still, the position is notable.
Where the Obama Administration Disappoints Of course, just because the Obama administration has helped make remarkable strides for LGBT equality, that doesn’t mean everything has worked out well. The most notable failure in regards to LGBT issues during the Obama administration is easily the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Or, more specifically, the failure to pass ENDA. davidatlanta | 29
As a proposed bill, ENDA has been proposed in every Congress since 1994, save the 109th Congress. For a variety of reasons, the bill has never been enacted into law. More recently, though, activists have pressured President Obama to sign an executive order prohibiting discrimination against LGBT individuals who work for federal contractors. Amongst those pressuring Obama were all four openly gay members of Congress. While not as encompassing as ENDA, which would cover public and private employment, an executive order would at least protect individuals employed by groups working for the government. The lack of movement on ENDA is not limited to one party, it’s worth noting. While many Republicans are opposed to ENDA, some Democrats have also avoided the act; otherwise, the bill could have theoretically been signed into law during the first few years of the Obama administration, when Democrats held control of both houses of Congress as well as the presidency.
30 | davidatlanta
Separately, there’s the issue of Obama’s stance on marriage equality. While Obama supports same-sex marriage, his position on letting states decide on an individual basis is disheartening to people in states where same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned, such as in North Carolina, where Amendment One passed the day before Obama’s announcement. An increasing number of Democrats in Congress are starting to get behind a push for marriage equality on the national level, and one wonders if Obama should get on board with the plan.
Looking Beyond 2012 As the 2012 presidential election looms ever larger over the political horizon, it’s important to assess the state of LGBT political issues, as well as what the community stands to gain or lose depending on the outcome of the election. With DADT officially no longer an issue, and with marriage equality slowly but surely becoming more of a mainstream idea, the primary topics
that LGBT activists appear to be focusing on are the repeal of DOMA and the enactment of ENDA, both of which still require significant long-term work. That’s on top of lower-profile issues, including a number of issues that deal specifically with the trans community, such as ease in legally changing identified gender. With the strides in progress made over the last four years, it may feel safe to assume that progress would continue under a second term for President Obama. That very well may be the case. While he failed to enact an executive order related to the topic, Obama is in support of an inclusive ENDA. Additionally, Obama has singled out DOMA as a target for repeal in a second term. This stands in stark contrast to Obama’s main opponent in November, former Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney. Romney is one of several candidates from the Republican primary who signed a pledge from the National Organization for Marriage that called for a Federal Marriage Amendment, which would override states that currently endorse same-sex marriage. Romney is also opposed to civil unions in place of same-sex marriage, though he supports some domestic partnership benefits. Of course, selecting a candidate should encompass more than their stance on LGBT issues. Within the community, this area is commonly filled with members of the Log Cabin Republicans and GOProud, among other groups. As of press time, neither group has endorsed Romney. Regardless of political affiliation, though, with more rights being afforded to the LGBT community, it’s up to the community at large to continue pressing for our rights.
YOUR IMAGE IS OUR BRAND Laurie Edward
www.laurieedward.com
& www.christophermacken.com
Photography • Image Consulting • Styling Team Head Shots • Modeling Consulting • Model Recruiting Branding Consulting Laurie Edward - 404-664-3438 | Christopher Macken - 478-696-6083 davidatlanta | 31
Out in the stands AT TURNER FIELD
ATLANTA BRAVES VS ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27TH | 7:00 PM Choose from three Out in the Stands Ticket Packages: VIP Ticket Package - $200 • Ticket to a catered party suite • Two drink tickets • Exclusive Meet & Greet with Ben Cohen, England rugby World Cup Champion and Chairman of StandUp Foundation
Outfield Ticket Package - $35 • Outfield ticket • Pre-Game Patio Event • Two drink tickets at the patio
Upper Box Ticket Package - $20 • Upper Box ticket • Pre-Game Patio Event • One drink ticket at the patio
All tickets include a charitable donation to the StandUp Foundation! Stop by the pre-game patio between 5:00-7:00PM for music, food, and your chance to win Atlanta Braves and Ben Cohen autographed memorabilia. All orders must be received by Monday, June 25th. For more information, or to secure your tickets, please contact Stacey Nicely at 404.614.1325 or via e-mail at stacey.nicely@braves.com.
Atlanta Gets a Double Dose of Queer Ally Ben Cohen
B
by Joseph Brownell
en Cohen isn’t just another celebrity philanthropist; he’s the first sports figure to focus his charitable efforts in support of the LGBT community. Cohen lends his celebrity to events designed to raise awareness for LGBT equality and Atlanta will get a double dose of Ben Cohen this month. First up, Ben Cohen’s StandUp Foundation in conjunction with Atlanta Pride and Out on Film present a fundraiser screening of the documentary Legalize Gay on Monday June 11th at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. Legalize Gay was first screened at last year’s Out on Film festival and follows a “new generation of activists- gay and straight- as they campaign for LGBT equality in marriage, non-discrimination in sports and at work, same-sex sex education, standing up to bullying and forging inclusive college campuses. “
There are three options for tickets all of which include the pre-game patio party. For $20, you can get an upper box seat and one drink ticket for the patio. For $35 you can get an outfield seat and two drink tickets for the patio. Finally, a $200 VIP ticket allows you to watch the game in a catered party suite, 2 drink tickets for the patio party and a private meet and greet with Ben Cohen. Tickets must be purchased prior to Monday June 25th. For more information, or to secure your tickets, please contact Stacey Nicely at 404.614.1325 or via e-mail at stacey.nicely@ braves.com.
In addition to the film, Cohen will be on hand for a post-film Q&A. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 at www.legalizegayatlanta. eventbrite.com. Proceeds from tickets sales will benefit all three organizations. Atlanta will get another visit from Ben Cohen when he teams up with the Atlanta Braves for their ‘Out in the Stands’ against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday June 27th. There’s a pre-game patio party from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm that features drinks, food, music and chances to win autographed Braves and Ben Cohen memorabilia.
Enter to win tickets – visit www.davidatlanta. com/2012/05/bencohen and fill out the survey davidatlanta | 35
38 | davidatlanta
Lindbergh Rd
P
Rd
r cht ee C
ea
d
e re
AlcoC8
C12 C11 C6
La V ista R
C13
d.
Wood lan
d
e Av
Rd
C3
85
Liddell
re C5
shi
Che
Rd
tree
Sheridan Rd
C2
C7
mere ind
Peac h
W
ck Ro
A29
Boulevard
d A ve elan
Av e
LITTLE FIVE POINTS
d
10
y Freedom Pkw
cli
Ave NE
NE
Bedford Pl
Mor
Pie
dm
on
t
Barnett St
Penn
ve
Piedmont Ave
Highland
Eu
Ave
Juniper St
Spring St
Crescent
Cypress
Argonne Ave
Northside Dr
W Peachtree St
St
Peachtree
St
Av
e y NE E Freedom Pkw Freedom ■ Carter Presidential Park d Ralph McGill Blv Willoughby Way NE Library
eth
Edgewood
North Ave
ab
Courtland
75
P32
King Center ■ Ave E33
A
Techwood
E ve N nd A
P31
Eliz
Auburn
St Charles
Ponce De Leon Ave
od wo
Peachtree Center MARTA ■ P'tree M Center
7th St
P30
■ 85 Civic Center
42
Virginia Ave VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS
10th St
M14 M17 M16 8th St M15
6th St 5th St 4th St
am Ave
hley Ave As
Centennial Olympic Park ■ Aquarium ■ ■ Georgia CNN ■ Dome Center
11th St
MARTA North Ave
MARTA M Civic Center
y urtena Co
Lin
North Ave
Ams t
M18
M20 ■ Fox Theatre M
A22
Piedmont Park
hla N Hig
M21
Botanical ■ Garden
er d
Georgia Tech ■
Jo
BARTAB | map
A alb M DeKMARTA Inman Park
A
14th St
MARTA M Midtown
h
Rd
Dr
High Museum & Woodruff Arts Center ■ MARTA M Arts Center
Rd
roe
Av e
75
s
n
o ns
Mon
A24 A26 A23 A28 A25
M19
ing
id Mornings e Spr ing
Ansley Mall ■
85
Spr
236
k
C9
A27
Simpson
C10
Rd er lkn Fau
9
MARTA Lindbergh Center M
Hw y rd Bufo
Sidney Marcus Blv
Bri dge
Damron Company, SF, CA, 2010
Rd
Piedmont
DETAIL
©
237
ATLANTA
enox
Pharr Rd
to East Atlanta
E33 E34
map courtesy of
damron.com
CHESHIRE BRIDGE & BUCKHEAD C1 Beluga Martini Bar 3115 Piedmont Rd www.
ANSLEY A22 Amsterdam 502 Amsterdam Ave. www.amster-
C2 BJ Roosters 2345 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www.
A23 Burkhart’s 1492 Piedmont Ave. www.burkharts.
C3 Bliss Atlanta 2284 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www. C4 Club Rush (formerly Chaparral) 2715 Buford Hwy
A24 Felix’s 1510 Piedmont Ave A25 Mixx 1492 Piedmont Ave - B www.mixxatlanta.com A26 Oscars Atlanta 1510 Piedmont Ave NE www.
C5 Heretic 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www.hereticat-
A27 The Hideaway 1544 Piedmont Rd NE, Suite 124
C6 Jungle 2115 Faulkner Rd. www.jungleclubatlanta.
A28 Brushstrokes/Capulets 1510 Piedmont Ave.
C7 Las Margaritas 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd. www.
A29 Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Rd. www.boynext-
belugamartinibar.com
myspace.com/bjroostersatl blissofatlanta.com
www.chaparralalternative.com
lanta.com com
lasmargaritasmidtown.com
C36 Mood Lounge 3081 E. Shadowlawn Ave. NE C8 Opus 1 1086 Alco St. C9 Tripps 1931 Piedmont Circle www.trippsatlanta.
damatlanta.com
com
oscarsatlanta.com
www.atlantahideaway.com
www.brushstrokesatlanta.com door.biz
com
PONCE P30 Atlanta Eagle 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. www.
com
P31 Friends on Ponce 736 Ponce de Leon Ave.
com
P32 Model T’s 699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE #11 www.
org
P30 Rawhide Leather at the Eagle 404.881.0031
C10 Woofs 2425 Piedmont Rd NE www.woofsatlanta. C11 Gravity Fitness 201 Faulkner Rd. www.gravityatl. C12 Manifest4U 2103 Faulkner Rd. www.manifest4u. C13 Southern Nights Videos 2205 Cheshire Bridge
atlantaeagle.com
www.friendsonponce-atl.com
modeltatlanta.com
Rd. www.southernnights.com
MIDTOWN & WESTSIDE M14 Blakes on the Park 227 10th St. www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com
M15 Bulldogs 893 Peachtree St. M16 Daiquiri Factory 889 W. Peachtree St., 30309
facebook.com/pages/The-Daiquiri-Factory M17 Gilberts 219 10th St. www.gilbertscafe.com M18 Joe’s on Juniper 1049 Juniper St www.joesonjuniper.com M19 Swinging Richards 1400 Northside Dr. www. swingingrichards.com M20 XS Ultra Lounge 708 Spring St., 30308 www. traxxatlanta.com M21 Flex 76 4th St. www.flexbaths.com
EAST ATLANTA E33 Mary’s 1287 Glenwood Ave. www.marysatlanta. com
E34 My Sisters Room 1271 Glenwood Ave www. mysistersroom.com
E35 The Cockpit 465 Boulevard Ave. www.thecockpitatlanta.blogspot.com
OTHER LeBuzz 585 Franklin Rd SE # A-10 www.thenewlebuzz.com
davidatlanta | 41
BARTAB | week MONDAY
BLAKE’S Brain Freeze Trivia w/ Mary Edith Pitts @ 11pm $250 prize, then New Drag on the Edge w/ Shawnna Brooks BURKHART’S Blue Monday Karaoke with Angelica D’Paige 11:30pm COCKPIT Big Red Cup Mondays All Day & 1/2 Price Appetizers 5-8pm EAGLE Comedy TV- Free Pool FELIX’S Free Pool FRIENDS Bad Boy Brian opens at 2pm HERETIC Come play with Eddie 4pm-11pm HIDEAWAY $2.50 Domestic Beer JUNGLE Stars of the Century Show 11pm MODEL T’S Wheel of ? with Elvis 9pm
TUESDAY
BLAKE’S I Gotta Sing! Hosted by Jerry Cyccone (Karaoke) 11pm BURKHART’S Trivia Tuesday Karaoke with Angelica D’Paige 11:30pm Club Rush HipHop til 4am, $5 COCKPIT DUDE: 80s Party, 9pm & 1/2 Price Appetizers 5-8pm EAGLE Tuesdays with Tony FELIX’S Smirnoff Martini Night FRIENDS Let’s Make a Deal 6pm HERETIC Two step Tuesday free 2 step lessons 8pm open dance till 11pm HIDEAWAY Service Industry Night Employee Prices. Trivia w/ Will 9pm MODEL T’S Texas Hold’em Poker 9:30pm SWINGING RICHARDS No Cover Before Midnight, $5 After
WEDNESDAY
BLAKE’S 5-9pm Doug’s Mid-Week Weekend party pop hits, Feathers & Flesh Revue 11pm BURKHART’S Humpday Karaoke with Darlene Majewski 11:30pm COCKPIT Balls Deep Karaoke, 10pm with Mikey and Wesley & 1/2 Price Appetizers 5-8pm EAGLE 80’s Music with Travis
42 | davidatlanta
got an upcoming event? calendar@davidatlanta.com
FRIENDS Team Trivia 8pm HERETIC H.U.M.P. Dress Code Party w/ DJ Lydia Prim. 25¢ Keystone Light Draft all night long. No Cover! HIDEAWAY Craps & Blackjack with Miss Lauren MODEL T’S Virtually Famous Karaoke with Pat & Tina 10pm SWINGING RICHARDS 2-4-1 VIP Room XCESS ULTRA LOUNGE Raquell Lord’s The Main Event Talent Show @ 10:30pm, Sign Up by 9:45pm. Also Sophia Mcintosh & The Fabulous 5 +1 @11:30pm, 18+
THURSDAY
BLAKE’S $5 burgers all day, Texas Hold’Em Poker 7pm, Shawnna Factor Show 11pm BURKHART’S Twisted Thursday with Phoenix 11:30pm COCKPIT Dirty Boy Bingo, 9pm w/ Ruby Redd EAGLE Karaoke with Mikey FELIX’S Karaoke w/ Brett & Tyler 10pm FRIENDS Where Girls Who Like Girls Meet Girls all night HERETIC 3 Legged Cowboy Night 9pm. Free Dance Lessons 8-9pm. No Cover! HIDEAWAY Levi & Leather Night JUNGLE Cherry Pop Thursday! LAS MARGARITAS Crazy Bitch Bingo 7:30pm MODEL T’S Wheel of ? with Michael 9pm SWINGING RICHARDS 2-4-1 VIP Room & 2-4-1 Door Entry XCESS ULTRA LOUNGE Turnt Up Thursday, No Cover, Hip Hop, Rnb & Reggae
FRIDAY
BLAKE’S 5-9pm TGIF with Doug & Max, 1/2 price appetizers Kitty LeClaw’s Meow Mix 10:30pm BURKHART’S The Fab Five with Angelica D’Paige 11:30pm Club Rush Got Leche? til 4am, $10 COCKPIT DJ Diablo Rojo + guest VJ’s & DJ’s EAGLE DJ Dance Party
FRIENDS Happy Times with Bad Boy Brian & Ken HERETIC DJ Lydia Prim no cover B4 11pm HIDEAWAY After Work Martini Madness JUNGLE Club Night, Various DJ’s MODEL T’S Morning Bagels / Texas Hold’em Poker 9:30pm SWINGING RICHARDS T-Shirt Review, $10 Cover
SATURDAY
BLAKE’S Pitcher Perfect afternoon Absolut cocktails by the pitcher, Jealouse’s Daring Divas 10:30pm BURKHART’S Extravaganza with Shavonna B. Brooks 11:30pm Club Rush Dance Party COCKPIT Rotating VJ’s & DJ’s (resident DJ Diablo Rojo) EAGLE DJ Dance Party FELIX’S Karaoke w/ Brett & Tyler 10pm FRIENDS Open @ noon with Bob Brewer HERETIC Varies: Club Night or 3 Legged Cowboy Night - 10pm JUNGLE Club Night, Various Guest DJ’s. MODEL T’S Sexy & Know it Party 9pm SWINGING RICHARDS T-Shirt Review, $10 Cover XCESS ULTRA LOUNGE Man 2 Man, Free 4 Men 25+ B4 12am
SUNDAY
Burkhart’s Armorettes Drag Show BLAKES ON THE PARK Sunday Funday DJ Bill Berdeaux 3pm, DJ Daryl Cox 7pm Club Rush Hip Hop w DJ Truz, no cover COCKPIT PBR Beer Bust -- Open & Pouring FELIX’S Bloody Mary & Mimosa Wallet Pleasers FRIENDS Bad Boy Brian’s Smirnoff B Mary Bar 12:30pm HIDEAWAY Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar 12:30pm LAS MARGARITAS All You Can Eat Brunch 11am-3pm MODEL T’S Sunday Dinner w Ron 3:30pm
Music Review
Brandi Carlile Bear Creek There are very few artists that I follow blindly and whose musical evolution I’ll defend to the death. These artists include Jewel (yes, 0304 was a good album), Alanis Morissette (have you heard the Under Rug Swept album) and now Brandi Carlile. I was swept away by the grit and soul in Carlile’s voice when I saw her at the Paste Music Festival back in 2005. Her debut album, Brandi Carlile, had just dropped and she hypnotized the crowd with “Throw it All Away”, “Fall Apart Again” and her soul stirring cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”. Carlile seemed poised for major success with the release of The Story, whose title track found itself in the plum spot of being Grey’s Anatomy Season 3 go-to track. Carlile continued wrapping me in her pop-rock cocoon with “My Song”, “Turpentine” and “Hiding My Heart’- the latter of which Adele covered on the UK bonus track version of her worldwide hit 21. Carlile followed up The Story with 2009’s Give up the Ghost arguably her best effort to date. From album opener “Looking Out” to mid-album
tearjerker “That Year” to “Before it Breaks”, Carlile’s voice and songwriting were in top form. I was ready dip my toes into Bear Creek. Unfortunately at first listen, the waters are just a tad bit too cold and choppy for me. Carlile’s vocals on Bear Creek lack some of the fire shown on her previous efforts. “Raise Hell” which made Miranda Lambert look like she was just playing outlaw in concert, comes across watered down on record. “Hell” could’ve easily been the album’s best track. Additionally, the album treads too many musical grounds. There are identifiable country influences from Carlile’s childhood, but tracks like “100” could be on the latest Keane record. “100” is one of my favorite tracks on the album but seems out of place when listened to with tracks such as the Americana/folksy style of “Hard Way Home” and “Keep Your Heart Young”- the latter of which would’ve fallen right into place on Bright Eyes’ 2005 album I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. Other notable tracks include ballads “What Did I Ever Come Here For” and “I’ll Still Be There”. It’s on these tracks where Carlile’s voice showcases some of the spunk we’ve become accustomed to. The sparks these tracks ignite fizzle though when bookended with simple songwriting as evidenced in “Hearts Content”. Fans of Carlile will either fall into two camps with Bear Creek: those who immediately embrace the wide spectrum of sounds that are contained on the album and those who will be slow to warm to it. Like any body of water, the current and temperature take some getting used. Either way you’ll end up liking Bear Creek just not necessarily loving it.
Grade: C+
44 | davidatlanta
Protect Your Monster
by Richard Marshall
davidatlanta | 45
Top 10 Tracks 1. Every Night I Say A Prayer – Little Boots 2. Big Hoops (Bigger The Better) – Nelly Furtado 3. Milla Jovovich – Electric Sky 4. Where Have You Been – Rihanna 5. Warrior – Mark Foster, A-Trak, and Kimbra 6. Never Gonna Let You Go – Esthero 7. Timebomb – Kylie Minogue 8. Risk For You – Wolfette 9. Blessed – Jill Scott 10. Guardian – Alanis Morissette By Dustin Shelby. Check out more music at Dustin’s blog at www.echodust.com
davidatlanta | 47
davidatlanta | 51
Creep of the Week
Tony Perkins by D’Anne Witkowski I wince every time I see Tony Perkins’s face on TV. Perkins, the president of the vehemently anti-gay Family Research Council, often has a microphone shoved in his face whenever there’s a marriage equality story. It’s as if newsrooms across the country feel compelled to “balance” these stories by calling Perkins to argue against any and all humanity afforded to homos. Invariably Perkins spews misinformation. Sadly, his statements often go unchallenged. Ideally you shouldn’t be able to go on TV and make claims that have absolutely no support without bullshit being called. But that’s not the world we live in, which is why people like Perkins are interviewed at all. So bravo to CNN’s Brooke Baldwin for not allowing her on-air time with Perkins to be monopolized by his baseless rhetoric. On May 24, Baldwin interviewed Perkins regarding President Obama and Colin Powell declaring that they were cool with marriage equality. Perkins is, unsurprisingly, not happy about two prominent black men saying such things. After all, the largely white evangelical right wing that Perkins speaks for tries very hard to bond with black religious leaders through a mutual dislike of homosexuals. In fact, the first thing Perkins mentions to Baldwin is that he’s in D.C. with a bunch of pissed-off black pastors. He says, “A lot of these African American pastors are saying look, ‘Marriage is very clearly described in the Bible.’ The president has basically drawn a line in the sand and said, ‘Hey, are you gonna cross it?’ And these pastors are gonna cross it.” Perkins goes on to say it doesn’t matter what Obama said because Americans are against him on this issue “based on the polling data.” Baldwin then points out that, actually, the most recent polling data puts support for marriage 52 | davidatlanta
equality at 53%. “Most people in the country don’t agree with you,” she says. Perkins dismisses it all outright. The only number that really matters, he says, is 30: the number of states that have passed anti-gay marriage amendments. Except that isn’t the only number that matters. The lesbian and gay civil rights movement is moving so rapidly that the number of people who support equality rises daily. Were we to “do over” many of the statewide votes that resulted in anti-gay “victories” we wouldn’t win them all, mind you, but the number of people voting against equality would be much lower. So when Perkins points to the number 30 he’s staking his claim on a moving target. I’m no Nate Silver, but it’s important to look at who votes in many of these elections. Marriage equality brings out people with strong feelings. Especially on the anti-gay side. The voice that isn’t counted, however, belongs to the “don’t-give-a-shits,” sometimes referred to in classier circles as the “moveable middle.” I strongly suspect that folks who don’t feel like they have any skin in this game (literally) would be much more inclined to tell a pollster that marriage equality should be legal than rush out on their lunch break to their polling place to fill out a ballot. The most telling part of the Baldwin/Perkins exchange is when she asks him if he’s ever been in the home of a married gay couple. He says no. She then asks what he would say to such a couple re: his views that their marriage harms society. Perkins dodges the question, basically saying that this issue is about public policy, not people. If this sounds strange, it should. After all, without people you wouldn’t be able to make, nor would you need to make, public policy. It’s just that Perkins doesn’t count lesbians and gays as people.
54 | davidatlanta
davidatlanta | 55
Central Alabama Pride Is Back
T
by Elijah Sarkesian
he city of Birmingham is preparing for the annual Central Alabama Pride Celebration, held each year in early June. This year’s festivities are being dubbed the “Eight Days of Pride.” After starting this past Sunday, June 3rd, the week is wrapping up with a number of events. Wednesday’s main event is a fundraiser for PFLAG at The Edge Theater, beginning at 6:45 PM. The fundraiser also serves as a film screening for Love Free or Die, which chronicles the life and work of Bishop Gene Robinson. As the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, Robinson’s story touches on the issues that exist between the LGBT and religious communities. The film received the Special Jury Prize for Documentary at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Thursday marks the Annual Roller Disco Party at Skates 280. Admission is free, and Pride organizers are promoting the event as fun for families and open to all ages. Friday’s festivities are split between two events. The first, a VIP Party, takes place at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and begins at 6PM. Tickets to the dance are $100, and are available for purchase online. The second event, the Pride Dance, starts at 7PM at Covenant Community Church in Center Point. Saturday and Sunday mark the week’s biggest events. On Saturday, the 24th Annual Pride Parade will make its way through Birmingham. The parade, which utilizes a “Mardi Gras” theme, begins in the Southside of Birmingham. The line-up begins at 6PM, while the parade
56 | davidatlanta
Birmingham Days of Pride Wed 7pm Love
Free or Die film Thurs Roller Disco Party Friday 7pm Pride Dance Saturday 6pm
24th Annual Pride Parade Sunday 1pm PRIDEFest itself begins at 8PM. The parade, which originated in 1989, found itself in the midst of a legal battle back in 2009. The trial, and subsequent legal settlement, came about as a result of former Mayor Larry Langford’s decision to neither sign a proclamation nor provide a permit for the parade or for gay pride, citing religious beliefs. Sunday wraps up the Central Alabama Pride Celebration with PRIDEFest, which begins at 1PM at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Park. Originally called “Day in the Park,” PRIDEFest is the longest-running portion of the Central Alabama Pride events, dating back to the first organized Pride event in Birmingham in 1979. All in all, Central Alabama Pride’s schedule of events provides a variety of events that should provide something for all of the celebration’s attendees. Atlantans who are looking for something to do over the weekend can take advantage of the relatively short commute and check out what fellow members of the LGBT community are doing in Birmingham.
FairyScopes
ARIES (March 20 – April 19): Do not flirt at work. The gym maybe, but neither now. You seem to be mixing up flirtation with argument. Instead of trying to pick someone up you might rather pick a fight. Feistiness has its charm, if you can get the right balance.
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): You are cute, charming and wonderful, but working it is going to draw unwanted attention and costs. Just be yourself without the self-conscious effort. If your usual divertissements just annoy you, try out some new amusements. GEMINI (May 21- June 20): A new relationship may be in the offing, or an old one is just off. Keeping your home together can require hard work (the easy part) and diplomacy (not so easy). Focus your criticisms on yourself. CANCER (June 21- July 22): A new exercise program can do you a world of good, but start out easy! Learning a new skill can help you take advantage of changes at work. Your insights to team dynamics can also secure your position, but you don’t have to share them. LEO (July 23 – August 22): A binge with your friends can get mighty expensive and lead to arguments. Before going out, think hard about whose company you value and why. Sometimes it’s best to “have previous plans.” Political action is good. Criticizing your comrades, not so much. VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): You’re good with the boss. Don’t do anything that could look like you’re kissing up. Tips from experts can make your work more effective and less stressful. Some adventurous fun with your family can also turn things around for you.
58 | davidatlanta
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): Temptation to argue comes out of your own anxieties. Give yourself and everyone else a break by focusing on your own problems and unburden yourself with a therapist, a favorite aunt, or a good stand-in. SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): You can be a fierce advocate for the queer community or your own part of that. Be careful not to overplay your hand. Speak up for universal rights and equality over privilege and you’re sure to make your case. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 20): Your partner or other connections can help you find a new job; move quickly. You may be a bit selfish in appraising your relationship, but if you’re not good for each other move on. CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19): Focus on foresight and good behavior. Rash actions and outspokenness can undermine your work and get you into trouble with your boss or clients. Remember your colleagues are on your team. Approach problems as a healer, not as a critic. AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): You’re itching for a good fight, but can too easily land in a bad one. To fix economic problems be a healer, not a warrior. You can get more flies with honey instead of vinegar without compromising your principles. PISCES (February 19 – March 19): Where has your life been heading and where do you want it to grow? Reexamine your priorities and goals. Domestic comforts and lessons are a basis for growing in new directions, not a cozy nest to hide in.
Scopes brought to you by Jack Fertig, professional astrologer since 1977. Visit his website at www.starjack.com.
60 | davidatlanta
massage / body work
Midtown In-Law Suite for Rent Over 800 sq ft. Pvt.Bd/Ba. Your own living rm, new kitch, W&D, storage. No pet/drugs $599+ dep +1/3 Utils. No smoking. Chad 404-401-1710 Home Improvement
Classifieds
RENTALS
FULL BODY/SWEDISH MASSAGE $40 first timers (Shaving) Piedmont Park @ 10th Great Studio 404.872.5671
I WANT TO CUT YOUR GRASS! Reliable, Dependable Lawn & Yard Care. Now Accepting Clients. Brad 404-664-3846 Trim Carpentry & Design Home Remodeling Custom Closets ,Crown Moulding, Custom Built-ins ,Paint, Kitchen, Baths, Quality Work Clever Designs LIC .REF Dave 404-409-4119
Models + Escorts
Slender males 18-27 sought for artistic nude photos. Email:
virtuosoprod@mindspring.com SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
Houseboy Seeks Home ITP or Close By
Live-in personal assistant, No Sex, professional, cleancut, educated, 28 & GL. Will take care of household and chores in exchange for room/board.
LittleJock10@yahoo.com
Need a Roommate? Looking for Work?
Reach thousands of LGBT readers weekly across the Southeast. Rates as low as $20 a week. Email classifieds@sovo.com
classifieds@sovo.com | 404.418.8901 x3
License - MT #003122
davidatlanta | 61
Bitch! Session
Dear gay youth, when you’ve reached the point where you think leaving this life is your only option, it’s not. I may not know you, but I love you. I’ve been there. Life gets better. No one has power over you unless you let them. So don’t. Xoxo
Bath salts don’t eat people, people eat people. Y’all zombie ass freaks.
Bravo to DC Comics for making The Green Lantern gay!!! Us dorks are very excited right now. To the so called “DJ” we don’t care to hear how many dancers you need on the bar.
Keep talking, I always yawn when I am interested. Note to the botoxed/facelifted queens over 40 from ATL.... Pensacola was cool a decade ago...quit trying to relive your “glory days”!
If you think we don’t see you buying drugs in the bar, you are sadly mistaken.
Gotta Bitch? Text 404.969.BTCH
Text 404.969.BTCH 404.969.2824 or email
aka aka
bitch@davidatlanta.com
62 | davidatlanta
People are into some nasty ass fetishes, when did normal sex go extinct?!
Oh honey, don’t worry. Any friend of yours – is a friend of yours, not mine. I found love for about 24 hours in Pensacola. I can’t remember his name now. What a great time! Can’t wait till next year!
You aren’t Mother Theresa hunnie, you are a damn cocktail server. Now bring me my martini!
Pensacola each year is just a giant clusterfuck of male egos. I have been around theater queens my entire life and I have NEVER seen this much she-said-he-said spy-vs-spy soap-opera drama!
Sometimes I wish I could trade it all in for round the clock blow jobs on the beach! I WILL pee on you, actually. Details are a little foggy on this, but somebody, somewhere, gave me a handjob … and somebody else is pissed about this. #pensacola Look through your towels and tell us the name of the hotel you stayed at in Chicago. NOTE: Opinions expressed are those of the readers and do not reflect the opinions of David magazine.