Fenuxe Magazine Pride Issue 2021

V12-19 OCT 01, 2021

THE BEST THINGS TO EXPECT FROM OUT NIGHT 2.0

CREEP OF THE WEEK LT . G O V . M A R K ROBINSON

CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HERO BAYARD RUSTIN GETS BIOPIC WITH COLMAN DOMINGO SOUTHERN SPIRIT: A VERY QUEER VACAY IN HISTORIC SAVANNAH

Phntasmagorium P Ph tas ta asm sma mag agor o m

Thursday 10/7 @10 PM Sweet Dreams

Music by DJ K Squared

Pride Kickoff Party with Brigitte Bidet

Friday 10/8 at 10 PM Guest Performance Beautiful Nightmare

Music by DJ Skrilla

by Michael Robinson

Aquarium After Party with Molly Rimswell

Saturday 10/9

Day time Chicago House

by DJ Delusional Dreamland Party Mealhouse Mimosa Bar and Day Party Fire Performance 12:30 PM

by Bryce Smithe Pride Glow Party with Nicole Paige Brooks and Alissah Brooks

10 PM

Day time Chicago stylings of DJ Mealhouse

Late night party w/ DJ AF

Sunday 10/10

Dream Come True

Bloody Mary Bar and Day Party

DJ Kinzie Q's 12:30 PM Birthday Pride Closeout Party with Brigitte Bidet Extravaganza 10 PM FelixsAtlanta.info

FelixsAtlanta

FelixsAtlanta

Contents

FENUXE

Published by Fenuxe Magazine Management, LLC © 2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 6050 Dawson Blvd Ste O, Norcross GA 30093 Phone: 404.814.3014 | Fax: 404.814.3014 Opinions and claims made by advertisers are those of the advertisers only. Fenuxe accepts no liability for any claims made by advertisers.

The views and opinions expressed in this issue are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of Fenuxe Magazine Management, LLC.

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THE BEST THINGS TO EXPECT FROM OUT NIGHT 2.0

10

CREEP OF THE WEEK LT. GOV. MARK ROBINSON

12

DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD: CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HERO BAYARD RUSTIN GETS BIOPIC WITH COLMAN DOMINGO

20

SOUTHERN SPIRIT: A VERY QUEER VACAY IN HISTORIC SAVANNAH

VISIT US ONLINE

FENUXE.COM INFO@FENUXE.COM

PUBLISHER Brian Sawyer - Brian@FENUXE.COM

CONTRIBUTORS D’Anne Witkowski Romeo San Vicente Jeff Dorta/Project Publicity Lawrence Ferber GRAPHIC DESIGN Brian Sawyer - Graphic Designer ATLANTA MARKETING Josh King | 404.814-3014 josh@peachatl.com Sales and brand ambassador NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

Fenuxe is proud to support: 2019 Donated Advertising: More Than $80,000

2021

FENUXE

EDITORIAL Mikkel Hyldebrandt - Director mikkel@peachatl.com

*Not a complete list. Please email if you would like a complete list.

5

The Best Things to Expect From OUT NIGHT 2.0 OUT NIGHT 2.0 – the reinvention of the traditional Friday night Pride Weekend kickoff that Georgia Aquarium has hosted over the past 11 years – returns this Friday, Oct. 8, after taking hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s what to expect from this year’s over-thetop extravaganza.

Sharks, sharks and more sharks!

All guests will experience new additions to Georgia Aquarium, including the new SHARKS! Predators of the Deep exhibit featuring four types of shark species in a new gallery with over one million gallons of water. Georgia Aquarium also has a newly renovated ballroom along with a new state-of-the-art guest entrance.

All guests can expect full aquarium touring access plus all of the following offerings: Dolphin Pride Celebration presentation

Stars of the HBO Max hit show “Legendary” will perform at 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Oceans Ballroom. Members of House of Balenciaga, founded by Harold and Raquel Balenciaga in 2002, promise to bring “the glitz, the glamour” during their stage routine reminiscent of the recent voguing dance competition TV show.

Members include House Mother Shannon Balenciaga, Kalik, ChaCha, Jupiter, and Honey.

“I became a member and involved with House of Balenciaga in 2012 after a split with the House of Khan,” Shannon says. “Being a house mother means so much. You have the ability to make change in people’s lives as well as being loved and loving on others.”

The House of Balenciaga will celebrate its 20th year anniversary in 2022 with a grand ball in Atlanta.

“My vision for the House of Balenciaga is to become one of the leading nonprofit organizations to help bridge the gap between the LGBTQ+ and heterosexual communities within the ballroom community,” Shannon adds.

Dolphin Theater opens at 7:15 p.m. Doors close at 7:55 p.m. The show will begin at 8 p.m. sharp.

There will be no late entry due to special effects.

Seating will be provided on a first-come, firstserved basis. Sponsored by BE FLAWLESS Even more fun Facial Aesthetics Libations will flow at several bars within the ballroom.

Dance the night away to three DJs

DJ BRETT OOSTERHAUS (NYC) – Main Central Say cheese at selfie photo-booth stations, sponsored by Peach ATL magazine.

Atrium, 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

DJ VICKI POWELL (Atlanta) – Ocean Voyager Complimentary Pride swag, sponsored by AVITA Gallery, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

DJ NEON (Atlanta) – Oceans Ballroom, 7 p.m. Pharmacy, will be available starting at 10:30 p.m. at the aquarium exit. to 11:30 p.m.

Enjoy a performance by “Legendary”’s For more details and to purchase tickets for OUT NIGHT 2.0 at the Georgia Aquarium, please visit House of Balenciaga www.georgiaaquarium.org/outnight.

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.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your

healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

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:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,

including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

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, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP CREATING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0370 04/21

CHAD LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP CREATING.

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

See Chad’s story at BIKTARVY.com.

Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

Creep of the WEEK

by D’Anne Witkowski

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson

D ea r Re ad er s,

“I t is fla t- ou t ch ild ab us e to m ta ke yo ur ch ild e an d I’l l ex pl ai n it to yo u. th em th ey ha vere n an d te ll he sa ys . “I t’s tim e fo r us to” to at te nd st op sc ho ol . D on ’t ha le tti ng th es e ch ild re n be he sa ys in a vi deve a ch oi ce ,” ab us ed in th es o po st ed

by O K. So te ac hi e sc ho ol s. ” Ri gh t W in g W at ch . ab ou t ra ci sm an d LG BT Q + ng pe op le is ch ild O nc e ch ild re ab us e. Go t it.

Ro bi ns on cl ai mns ge t th er e, te ac h “a bu th at sc ho ol s I di d a Go og h of st uf f ne le se ar ch fo r ab ou t ho w to nc w s st or ie s ab ou ha te A m t ac tu al er ic a. ch ild ab us e Te ac h th em a bu in N or th Ca ro lin nc h of st uf f in ab ou t w hy th ey a, nd in g to ar e ra ci st s. exte gi ve so O ne su ch pe rs m Te e ac h am th pl em a bu nc h of of ac tu al ab us e. on is N or th ab st uf f I am ches Ca ro lin a Bu ou t tra Lt . oo ns si ge ng N O T to sh ar t Go v. nd er is m an d m M ar k ho m os ex ua Ro bi ns on . e y fin di ng s be ca us e th lit I’m sa yi ng to ey ar e th is no w , an d y. o ho rri bl e I’v an d d an d tra gi e be en sa yi ng an Yo u m ay re m em it, an d I do n’ t ca c d si ck . I ca nsaas be r th at in it: re w ho su re yo u, lik 20 16 , N or th Ca ro es ho Th w os ev er e , is th su lin at es a dr ew a lo t pl ac te r re ad in g of at te nt io n to e in a sc ho ol . Thha ve no ab ou t an y of th esaf e ca se s, if yo u er e’ s no st ill cl ai pa ss ag e of H B- 2,its el f w ith th e re as on an yb m th at a ch ild le ar y an yw he re in “b at hr oo m bi ll” th e so -c al le d A m er ic a sh ouod ni ng th at tra ns ge nd er ld th be at te pe op le ex is t so ug ht ch ild ab lli ng an y is ch ild to ke ep tra ns ge ou ab t us tra ou t of pu bl ic nd er pe op le ho m os ex ua lit y ns ge nd er is m , do n’ t w an t toe, th en m ay be yo u — an y of th at al so di tc he d anre st ro om s. It fil th .” as m uc h as yo uprwot ec t ch ild re n y m ea su re s to pr ot ec t LG BT tra ns ge nd er pe opan t to pu ni sh Q + pe op le A le . fro m di sc rim in lo t of rig ht -w in at io n an g d ta to lk ld in g In an ot he r lo ca l go ve rn m po in ts he re ! Le t’s vi de o po st ed by br ea k th em Ri w er en ’t al lo w eden ts th at th ey do w n. gh t W in g W at ch to pa ss , Ro bi ns on su ch m ea su re s. cl ai m s th at cr iti ci sm Te ac hi ng ab ou of hi t A m er ic a’ s “ins re m ar ks is an ef fo rt to A nd ho o bo y, ve ry tim ra ci id st at e fo st or y, no t to pi ss ed . Th e N CAw er e pe op le m en tio n its hi in to si le nc e. ” rc es on th e rig ht pr A es re en fu t, se d is to no ho ld ch am pi on t an ti- A m er ic an . sh ip ga m es no A ls o w or th “I th er e. tin sa id w ha g Br uc e th at Ro bi ca nc el le d a co ncSp rin gs te en A pp ar en tly he ns on is Bl ac k. w ha t I sa idt, I sa id , an d I be lie ve ’s an d m an y pe op le er on t. e Pe of op le fe w Bl ac w er e ca lli ng fo r k A m er ic an s th e ac ro ss th is st at e fe el th a bo yc ot t e ex ac t of no th e st at e. bo th er ed by ci sm . M us t bet sa m e w ay ,” he sa ys , ad di ng ni ce , I gu es s. ra , “I in te nd to do ub Ce rta in ly is ni ce le do w n Bu t th en Tr um fo r on N or m y th ef fo rt ag ai ns t th ro lin a’ s w hi pr es id en cy in p w on th e su pr em ac is tsCa e w ho ge t to po intet th in gs th at ar e go in g on in es 20 16 , an d to ev er yt hi ng w en ou r cl th as ei sr r oo Lt . Go v. as pr oo f th m s. ” tra ns m ea su re st to he ll. A nt i- th ey ar en ’t ra at ci st . ac ro ss th e co un ra m pe d up W hi ch m ea ns try . Th in gs A nd th at LG BT Q + w en t fro m “D on pe op le ar e go in g th ’t en be a pr ou dl y “t ra ns to ha ve to th er e’ an ti- LG BT Q st at s co nt in ue to do ge nd er is m ,” w hi ch e” to “D on ’t a ub le do w n on is w or ry ab ou t pa n’ t th th in ei r g, bu t e kn ow w ha t he w hi chexisis te nc e an d hu m an ity LG BT Q bi lls — ss in g an ti- m ea ns . W e w , fra nk t it. H e th in ks do or sa y so Tr um p w ill th at LG BT Q +ge an d un fa ir. Bu t thly , ex ha us tin g pe op le ar e fil th m et hi ng to D irt at is sa dl y th e di st ra ct ev er yo ne fro m pa yi ng hu . Tr as h. Ga rb ag e. Su b-. w or ld w e st ill liv e in . at te nt io n. ” m an . A ve ry ch ill th in g fo r a pu bl ic of fic ia l to sa y.

D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and Cu t to Ro bi ns on comedian living in Michigan with her wife and th e LG BT Q + co re fe rri ng to A nd in th e ve ry son. She has been writing about LGBT politics “f ilt h” w hi le sp m m un ity as re pe at s it. “A nd ne xt br ea th he for over a decade. Follow her on Ba pt is t ch ur ch in ea ki ng at a ‘fi lth .’ A nd if yo ye s, I ca lle d it Ju ne .

Twitter @MamaDWitkowski th at I ca lle d it ‘fiulthdo n’ t lik e it ,’ co m e se e I am no t fil th . nd ne ith er ar e yo u. Th is is n’ t A so m et hi ng th at I sh ou ld ha ve re ad er s of th istocode cl ar e. Bu t lu m n kn ow th at th er e ar e pe op le w ho do n’ t th in k LG ar e hu m an . Fa BT Q + pe op le in po si tio ns ofr to o m an y ar e po w er w he re w ha t th ey sa y re pe rc us si on s an d do ha s re al fo r LG BT Q + pe op le .

10: fenxue.com

Civil Rights Movement hero Bayard Rustin gets biopic with Colman Domingo

by Romeo San Vicente

Deep Inside Hollywood Bayard Rustin, oneflash of the organizers Dr. Martin Lutherremake King Jr.’s Think back to that of a moment inof2017’s live-action of 1963 March on Washington, less where often itaseemed public fithat gure due to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Beastwas , the one Gaston’s being openly gay at a time before the queer civil rights movement (Luke Evans) sidekickit LeFou Gad) was, in effect, coming as had the momentum built in(Josh the 1970s.

But his Quaker beliefsout were gay. call it philosophy a flash because if youand blinked you missed it –now thatit’s is, part We of King’s of justice non-violence, and if youfor don’t constant LeFou having wild crush time his count placethe in history tothread get itsofspotlight with aa biopic.

We on Gastonask – but another for this another canon couldn’t for that’s a better actorcomplaint to take on role day. thanIt’s Colman Domingo. for Gad “TheisScottsboro Boys,” the openly now: LeFouTony-nominated is gay (but keep up, heterosexual and Evans is the gay actor just has for also been working a you longhave timeall now in background film and TV gay actor, the record).

Nowfor that that – “Zola,” “Euphoria,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and anytime he you can know that Disney+ is developing a six-part prequel series shows up it’s a welcome addition to the project. “Rustin,” the first about the two characters and how they came to be such a villainous produced by the Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, for team.

It’ll also musical, songs from veteran Beautyby composer Netflix, will bebe written by with Dustin Lance Black, directed George Alan Menken.

And we’re telling Disney journey now, because all C. Wolfe, and will focus onjust Rustin’s personal and hiswe’ll public be watching from the Rock social-distancing comfort of our homes and work with King.

Chris co-stars, and, because we’re all queer here, an added bonus the casting of Broadway payingthere’s very close attention that with LeFou better stay very, very, verystar gay Audra in a supporting role. Look for “Rustin” on Netflix or thereMcDonald will be a riot. sometime in 2022.

The Baby-Sitters Club comes to Netflix ‘Hellraiser’ reboot pins Jamie Clayton to star Kids Kids’ literature reboot is no has stranger toAnd independent-minded The ’“Hellraiser” a cast! as we hoped, Clivetomboy Barker characters created–bywho talented and thoughtful authors, such creation Pinhead we always assumed lesbian was queer because, as Harriet Spyaby Louise Fitzhugh andhandled The Baby-Sitters Club come on, isThe there bigger diva?

– will be by none other than “Sense8” andBut “L Word: Q” star Jamie Clayton.

by Ann M. Martin. unlike Generation Harriet, whose adventures spanned Clayton one ofThe our Baby-Sitters favorites among of just two is novels, ClubHollywood’s became an exciting enduringcrop series upcoming artists the game when itincomes throughouttrans the ’80s andwho’re ’90s, changing with a feature film version 1995. to casting, so this news from couldn’t be–more appropriate.

And now comes a series Netflix sametimely name, or naturally – that David Bruckner (“The Night House”) will take on directorial duties will bring the girls up to date for a new generation.

The four mains and “Grand Army” actress Odessa A’zion will star alongside are all relative Kristy, Shayand Rudolph Brandon Flynn newcomers: (“13 ReasonsSophie Why”), Grace Goranas Visnjic (“ER”) Drew as Stacey, Malia Baker We’re as Mary-Anne, and involves Momonathe Tamada Starkey (“Love, Simon”). told the story origin as of Claudia, with Alicia Silverstone Mark the extra-dimensional creatures and known as Feuerstein Cenobites, providing but that could have fully changed since rst learned of you. the grown-up support.

There’s nocourse drop date yet, we but fi that’s Netflix for project.

Hulu gets it in 2022, until literally then there are so many And while you’re waiting, there and are quite a couple hundred sequels the original film to to satisfy catch up on, you can nostalgia easily occupy books into this series, waiting your childhood urge. your time until our favorite monster returns to tear your soul apart.

American Gigolo calling Showtime Ready to love Ben Platt for again in ‘The People We Hate’ Feeling a sense of Well, it’s be because American Gigolo , the Twitter-dunking ondeja-vu?

Ben Platt may trending at theGigolo, moment, stylish 1980 male escortfilm drama starring Richard and Lauren thanks to the divisive adaptation of “DearGere Evan Hansen,” but we’re stillpromising on his team and rooting for the Hutton, keeps to become a TV series and talented then just…actor’s not. In upcoming work, even if we’ll over be very when Richard Linklater its day, the film was obsessed for itsold fashionable details, as well fi shoot-across-the-years “Merrily Rollpleasure, Along” all in asnishes for its his strange straddling of queer panic andWe queer 2040. Sooner on the horizon is Amazon’s “The People That We while objectifying its occasionally nude star. But now comes another Hate at the Wedding.” Production is underway in London for the chance of comedy resurrection at Showtime, where Janney Jon Bernthal (Kristen Ford v ensemble featuring Platt, Allison and (Ford Ferrari) Ferrari ) will star as the sexsiblings worker at who framed for don’t murder.

David Bell.

Bell and Platt play a was wedding they want to Hollander (Ray Donovan) (Ray Donovan ) istheir penning the script updates the story be at alongside Janney, mother.

Clairethat Scanlon directs the adaptation of (and Grantyet Ginder’s where laundry story, is aired to present day set onlynovel, 18 years afterdirty the original so and ensues.

Andmind there’s a supporting includes goodcomedy luck keeping your wrapped around cast that),that as the older, Cynthia Addai-Robinson (“Power”), Karan Soni (“Not sex Okay”), Dustin wiser Gigolo struggles to find his way in the modern industry of Milligan (“Schitt’s Creek”), Goldwyn Richard”), Isaach Los Angeles, all while tryingTony to sort out the(“King truth about who framed De Bankolé (“Black Panther”) and Jorma Taccone (“Popstar”). We him many years We’re not holding our breath for this one hateso weddings, too, ago. but we’ll accept this invite. because we were promised it before, but now that Showtime’s delightfully reality Gigolos is no more, there’s a vacant It’s Lesbian trashy Christmas atseries Lifetime space in our hearts waiting for a hero.

Lifetime’s first lesbian-themed Christmas movie is coming this December, not a moment too soon. Leaving Hallmark in their Joel Booster’s Trip Quibi strides toward story inclusivity, the dustKim when it comes toto bolder network has greenlighted “Under the Christmas Tree,” starring

Elise Tattiawna andBooster Ricki Lake. story revolves ActorBauman, and stand up comicJones Joel Kim (TheThe (The Other Two Two, , which around – get ready for this stuff –the a successful he co-produces) is taking hisgroundbreaking new project to Quibi, streaming businesswoman (Bauman) meeting a Christmas tree curator platform for short-form series.

It’satcalled Trip, , and he’ll write, produce (Jones).

They don’t get along first!Trip They dance around their and star in it,Will a mini-sitcom about friends on vacation in Fire attraction! it all work out in two the gay end?

Will they get together?

Island.

The twist here is that Trip, , while ostensibly about gays doing How will bakery queen RickiTrip Lake employ gingerbread women to typicalthe gayreal things in a gayfall place, is inspired

by Jane Austen’s You’ll Pride make life women in love?

You know the answers. watch it anyway.

It’swait lesbians. them at Christmas and Prejudice (can’t to see We whoneed the Mr. Darcy turns out tomore be). than ever andBooster’s you knowdebut it. Play drinking game yourlooking choice This will mark as the a series creator, andofwe’re on December 19. forward to seeing how much of his stand-up material – which sometimes involves discussions of his religious upbringing and Romeo San Vicente prefers a boozy Christmas pudding on fire. always includes details of his life as a gay, Asian man – will make it into the final product. No matter what, it’s a trip we’re ready to take.

Romeo San Vicente is a full round trip all by himself.

”ENTIRELY FRESH. A REASON FOR CELEBRATION!” –NEW YORK MAGAZINE

RSARY 40TH ANNIVERSARY

18: fenuxe.com

NOV 9-14, 2021 | THE FOX THEATRE FoxTheatre.org/Fiddler

ON SALE NOW!

Southern Spirit: A Very Queer Vacay In Historic Savannah

By Lawrence Ferber

The ghost of Kevin Spacey haunts this room.

Actually, it’s the ghost of a rich, gay antiques dealer and preservationist, Jim Williams, whom Spacey portrayed in the 1997 film ìMidnight In the Garden of Good And Evil,” although the latter seems somehow more likely to impart chills and cringe these days. I’m touring the Mercer-Williams House, one of Savannah, Georgia’s most famous 19th-century homes, including the actual study where Williams shot and killed his hustler boy toy, Danny Hansford (played by Jude Law in the movie, and I’m sure many queens would welcome his spectre), reportedly in self-defense.

Adapted from gay author John Berendt’s bestselling 1994 nonfiction novel, director Clint Eastwood’s movie shined a Hollywood spotlight on Savannah and its quirky denizens, including iconic transgender entertainer The Lady Chablis, who famously played herself, regularly performed at LGBTQ bar Club One and, sadly, passed away in 2016, which helped attract even more millions of tourists annually. In 2019, 14.8 million visitors came for Savannah’s mix of historic architecture, gorgeous willow-draped parks, movie locations (including the spot where Forrest Gump sat on a bench babbling inane philosophies about chocolates), a buzzing riverside entertainment zone and live-and-let-live genteel Southern attitude. Bless their hearts!

Today the lush, compact and walkable port city, hometown of ìRuPaul’s Drag Race” season 8 queen Dax ExclamationPoint and Georgia Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock, boasts an even more progressive open queerness. There’s Halloween weekend’s vibrant Savannah Pride, the hipster Starland District, an influx of creative young energy thanks to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD for short — fashion icon André Leon Talley sits on its Board of Trustees) and, this being one of America’s most haunted cities, an expanding population of spirits (including the drinkable type at Ghost Coast Distillery).

Ultimately, Mercer House — once owned by the family of another iconic homegrown talent, prolific songwriter Johnny Mercer of Oscar-winning ìBreakfast at Tiffany’s” ditty ìMoon River” and Elvis’ ìFools Rush In” fame — proved an illuminating experience replete with photos of Williams and his parties, original antiques, paintings and furniture, especially for fans of the film and book.

But the upper floor, where Williams’ sister still lives, and its working pipe organ remain off limits.

SAVANNAH STAYS

boutique shopping, ghost/haunted (I’ll get to that later!), and openly gay guide Jonathan Stalcup’s engaging Architectural Tours of Savannah, which we joined and enjoyed. Stalcup juxtaposes structures and stories with photos of Savannah’s evolving cityscape since its founding in the 1730s by General James Oglethorpe and, as it turns out, some sassy queer facts if you take him aside post-tour.

Many essential attractions are historic, educational and kid-friendly in nature, including the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, Bonaventure Cemetery, and 100-plus-year-old Leopold’s Ice Cream, which draws snaking, hours-long lines of tourists daily for old-timey frozen treats. It honestly isn’t worth hours-long waits unless you’re the 8-year-old with extremely limited travel and life experience who loudly declared ìThis is the best ice cream I ever ate!” as I consumed a sundae and rolled my eyes so far back the time traveled to 2015 (pro tip: there are two satellite Leopold’s locations at the airport with little to no wait). Yet some of Savannah’s most intriguing musts are surprisingly modern and edgy.

Incorporating an antebellum railroad depot in its design, the contemporary SCAD Museum of Art hosts multidisciplinary, provocative exhibitions by international talents like queer French artist Mehryl Levisse, whose immersive ìWhite Wig,” featuring five sculpted wigs by Parisian drag queens, will be on display through December 12, 2021. Artwork and home goods by SCAD’s own faculty, students and alumni, plus books, accessories and more, fill out sister retail space shopSCAD. Only open Thursday through Sundays, Graveface Museum is destination-worthy for those obsessed with serial killers, cults, sideshows and pinball machines, with a permanent collection of artifacts related to the above, including a pair of underwear worn by lesbian serial killer Aileen Wuornos and artwork by John Wayne Gacy (shockingly, John Waters hasn’t been by yet!), plus a horror-moviethemed arcade and shop.

And Chocolat by Adam Turoni is one of Savannah’s retail musts. A queer chocolatier who channels Southern culture and flavors through his sophisticated, high-quality, artful creations, Turoni’s Historic District Bull Street boutique is designed like a home library, its shelves displaying trays of Red Velvet, Mint Julep and Georgia Peach truffles plus gold-dusted honeycomb bars and much more. To the rear, a glass-enclosed kitchen provides views of chocolate-making in action, while Turoni himself often works the register and can be chatted up.

Another Chocolat location, on Broughton Street, is dubbed the ìDining Room,” while a third can be found in nearby Charleston, South Carolina (there’s a lot of brand crossover between the two sibling-esque destinations, including Savannah Bee Company, Byrd’s Famous Cookies and the trailblazing Husk restaurant).

Private chocolate-making classes with Turoni can also be arranged via the Perry Lane Hotel.

COFFEE AND CUISINE

Many tourists stay around the tourist-heavy, shop-lined River Street, newly developed Plant Riverside district, and adjacent downtown, which all form Savannah’s equivalent of NOLA’s French Quarter and an active port where cargo ships routinely zip past along the city’s namesake river and hotels include an Andaz and new 416-room JW Marriott. However, my husband Matt and I opted for the neighboring, slightly inland Historic District. Its Perry Lane Hotel, which splits 167 rooms between two buildings and boasts a cheeky, upscale camp aesthetic in design, decor and property-wide collection of contemporary art, proved perfect and more chill. Just two blocks from Chippewa Square (site of the Gump bench, a temporary prop), there’s also a rooftop bar and pool where local queers regularly congregate for the gorgeous views and a kiki… but not so much for the pedestrian cocktails, one noted. ìNobody goes there for the drinks!”

However, if you prefer gay B&Bs that capture the city’s historic flavor, and are allegedly haunted to boot, there’s the Foley House Inn, DIGGING YOUR SCENE: SAVANNAH’S TO DO’S To get one’s bearings in Savannah, a tour is well-advised, and there are dozens listed on official tourism website Visit Savannah, from trolley to bicycle to themed walking tours. The latter include Black heritage, food, local indie

Being a coffee snob and caffeine junkie, a priority was finding Savannah’s best cold brew. Conveniently, a branch of popular local cafe Franklin’s was a few blocks from my hotel offering a solid cold brew and yummy pastries. Downtown’s queerowned Blends roasts its own beans, as does Perc, whose owner Philip Brown, a hipster-bear literal daddy, staffs his flagship warehouse-cafe with LGBTQs and is himself the proud father of a trans child. Perc also sells a killer dehydrated instant version, plus excellent bagged beans (Perc expanded to Atlanta in 2020 and opened its second location there in 2021, so this could well become the Southeast’s Stumptown!).

Hungry, we had our first breakfast at local and tourist fave B. Matthews, where reservations are highly recommended during peak hours. Passing numerous rainbow flags, I noticed its listing as both ìLGBTQ friendly” and a ìtransgender safe space” on Google Maps, while the lowcountry Southern-tinged food was excellent. I savored a cheesy, decadent shrimp and grits bowl I would happily return for, plus fried green tomatoes. Another brekkie-must with outdoor seating to boot, The Collins Quarter serves brunch daily and its ìSwine Time Beni” — bacon and hollandaise-topped poached eggs over pulled pork and French toast — is bar none the most decadent, heart-clogging eggs Benedict iteration I’ve encountered. And if you’re hungry and hunty, once a month the Moon River Brewing Company and Club One collaborate for a family-friendly Sunday drag brunch.

Savannah has upped its culinary game substantially in recent years with enterprising young chefs bringing color, presentation and locavore ethos to plates. As a foodie I was psyched to try Husk, and while the interior design proved stunning, drinks lovely, and a bonus to be greeted by a seemingly nonbinary host, the food was hit-and-miss (my boneless heirloom pork entree was shockingly tough, but its side dishes sublime and brightly flavored).

Happily, 2021 arrival Common Thread and Savannah native Zach Shultz’s Cotton & Rye proved high points, with outstanding, fresh, memorable cuisine; request a table with view of the kitchen at the former, and do not sit outdoors during summertime at the latter lest you risk being tormented by hangry flies while eating. As for supporting LGBTQ-owned restaurants, the traditional French Circa 1875 and Italian La Scala Ristorante are the work of gay couple Jeffrey Downey and Donald Lubowicki.

NIGHTLIFE IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL If you’re a natural at networking, befriending queer locals is well-advised, since even before COVID hit private house parties became Savannah’s dominant form

of local socializing and nightlife for LGBTQs (Grindr and Scruff, we’re giving you stink eye). Only one LGBTQ+ bar, the multi-level dancing and drag queen destination Club One, still stands — there are 18+ nights, a plus for SCAD students — since the delightfully divey Chuck’s Bar closed in 2019.

As with many cities, drag shows have become a magnet for godforsaken decidedly un-gay bachelorette parties and rowdy (albeit ally-ish) heterosexuals.

This certainly proved true with Savannah’s Yes Queen! Pub Crawl. My hubby and I were the sole queers participating besides the delightful Venezuela-born queen and aspiring fashion designer leading the tour, Marie Con, and her lowkey boyfriend. It basically entailed Marie creating a loud public spectacle while we searched for her fictitious sugar daddy, Richard, aka ìDick”; stopped at non-gay bars for drink specials; and, at her insistence, grabbed each other’s butts to form human centipedes while crossing the street. It was a bit #MeToo and I really

wished #TimesUp, but I did cull valuable intel from Marie about the scene and local drag collective, House of Gunt, before fleeing early.

We didn’t flee early from another popular and quintessential Savannah after-dark activity: a ghost tour. Although hoping for the guide known as ìPrince,” who styles himself like the iconic late musician, our adults-only Sixth Sense haunted tour was led by the black-clad ìLady Ravenwood,” whose ensemble included an LGBTQ+ rainbow and a shiny pair of steampunk glasses (not sure how steampunk figures in here, but OK).

Being a skeptical Scully to my hubby’s I-want-to-believe Mulder, I rolled my eyes as Ravenwood told us of murder victim ghosts and flashed images of blue orbs hovering on her phone, and I begged for a spirit or demon to attach itself to us to spice things up (ìBurn sage!” my hubby’s fellow true believer friend texted in a panic). Alas, no blue orbs or demons followed us home, but darned if glowing happy memories of Savannah don’t frequently haunt and beckon us back.

NY-raised entertainment and travel journalist Lawrence Ferber has contributed to publications including Entertainment Weekly, New York Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, The Advocate, NewNowNext, The NY Post and TripSavvy.

He also co-wrote/co-created the 2010 gay romcom “BearCity” and authored its 2013 novelization.“It’s especially important to talk about the financial challenges that trans people in our community face. This includes increased reports of lower wages, limited and more expensive housing options, and twice the rate of unemployment. This heavily impacts their ability to build wealth,” she explains.

Intersectional challenges While being LGBTQ+ can underpin unique money issues, queer people of color and queer women often experience additional difficulties around financial matters.

In addition to the financial barriers faced by LGBTQ+ people, queer people

of color also face a racial wealth gap. Employment discrimination, systematic inequalities and disparities in financial education all contribute to this unequal financial playing field.

According to research from the Federal Reserve, the average white family’s wealth is eight times higher than the wealth of an average Black family. The gender pay gap also contributes to excluding women from building generational wealth, according to the latest statistics compiled by Pew Research, which show that women earned 84 percent of what men earned in 2020.

Carmen Perez, creator of Make Real Cents, a personal finance blog dedicated to helping people achieve financial independence, believes it’s important to have experts who are more representative of the people they’re speaking to. “I heard a quote a while ago: ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’

I think that’s really important because eventually, if you don’t have a model to follow, either you have to be the first, or it’s never going to happen,” she says.

As a woman of color and a lesbian, Perez knows firsthand how important it is to address the absence of representation in financial education. “It’s definitely one of the things we have to step back and look at in the LGBT community,” says Perez. “There’s a compounding effect because not only am I part of the LGBT community as a lesbian, but I’m also a minority, and I’m also a woman, and there’s a lot of hurdles up against a lot of folks in this space,” she adds.

With more than 60,000 people following her Make Real Cents account, Perez is playing a part in democratizing access to finance. There, she does everything from break down the cost of credit to explain 401(k) company matches with easy-to-read graphics and Insta stories. Her methods are a world away from the complexity of some traditional financial advisors and tools.

“Millennials are starting to change the money game because we’re delivering advice in a way that isn’t super technical. It can be so overwhelming to watch CNBC with all these screens and tickers that don’t mean anything to you personally,” says Perez.

Increased representation in the finance space means a light can be shone on vital issues, resulting in deeper conversations that make money less taboo. “We’re finding instances where historically people who have been locked out of the finance industry, by design, are speaking up. Unlike some traditional financial advisors that give out all this jargon and talk in all these terms that many may not understand,” says Perez.

Future generations Despite the long-standing barriers facing LGBTQ+ people in gaining access to financial education and financial services, LGBTQ+ personal finance content creators now offer a way for many to improve their financial literacy in more convenient ways than ever before. While investing early and regularly is one of the most effective ways to secure a financially comfortable retirement, it’s never too late to build wealth and support for the next generation of LGBTQ+ people. “[You can] create legacy wealth within the LGBTQ+ community by setting up your estate plan to donate to LGBTQ+ causes that will help homeless youth and [by] giving to local, younger LGBTQ+ folks you know personally,” adds John.

Negotiating the LGBTQ+ generational wealth gap is no small feat. But continuing the discussion around both financial literacy and taking steps to combat systematic financial issues can go a long way to address the financial challenges impacting the LGBTQ+ community.

“The stronger we are as LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, including our financial strength, the stronger we are as a community,” concludes John.

Finbarr Toesland is an award-winning journalist committed to illuminating vital LGBTQ+ stories and underreported issues. His journalism has been published by NBC News, BBC, Reuters, VICE, HuffPost, and The Telegraph.