02/14/20, Vol. 10 Issue 24

voice

georgia VOL.10 • ISSUE 24

EDITORIAL

YOUR VOICE MATTERS Donald Trump Fails to Mention LGBTQ Community in State of the Union Address Christina Hunnicutt: “Isn’t he the one who cut HIV/AIDS funding to pay for his stupid wall?”

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365

EDITORIAL

Editor: Patrick Colson-Price pcolson-price@thegavoice.com

Carlos H Oliveira: “He must go. Go out and VOTE … In many places medication for chronic diseases are free … Something that the rich USA is ages behind.”

Editorial Contributors: Conswella Bennett, Cliff Bostock, Melissa Carter, Dallas Duncan, Aidan Ivory Edwards, Stefanee Escay, Jim Farmer, O’Brian Gunn, Ryan Lee, Rose Pelham, Zoe Seiler, Berlin Sylvestre, Dionne Walker, Cristina Williams-Fontanez

Iowa Results Up in the Air Amid Reports of Technical Difficulties Carlos H Oliveira: “How amateur. This is just ridiculous.”

PRODUCTION

Art Director: Rob Boeger rboeger@thegavoice.com

ONLINE

Digital Content Senior Staffer: Katie Burkholder kburkholder@thegavoice.com

BUSINESS

Principal/Publisher: Tim Boyd tboyd@thegavoice.com

SALES

Sales Executive: Dixon Taylor dtaylor@thegavoice.com

Sales Executive: Jim Brams jbrams@thegavoice.com

Business Advisor: Lynn Pasqualetti Financial Firm of Record: HLM Financial Group National Advertising: Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 sales@rivendellmedia.com

FINE PRINT

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4 Editorial February 14, 2020

Late Lifters Patrick Colson-Price

I hate to be that guy but it’s time we start calling those gym-goers out who disrespect the sanctity of our workout spaces. I’m talking about those late lifters who seem to think they have the right to continue working out after gym hours.

Here’s a little bit of a back story: I recently got a part-time job at a local gym here in Atlanta. I figured why not work somewhere that I frequent quite often. It’ll be a good experience, right?

For the most part, the new gig has been quite enjoyable except for one annoying thing that normally happens every night that I close up shop. We close the gym at 11pm and I’m very adamant about leaving a few minutes after the clock strikes eleven. But for a handful of gym members, it seems like they mistake closing time for an annoying fly, that won’t leave them alone. I’m that fly and I won’t leave them alone until they’re out.

One member, in general, was still working out as the clock struck eleven, so I politely walked up to him and commented that it was time to wrap up. I was being generous seeing as it was already past 11pm, but he commented, “I’ve just got one more set.”

My reply was shock and anger because he disregarded my time and the fact that our gym was officially closed. I told him that he couldn’t finish the set and that the gym closes at 11pm for a specific reason, not a minute before or a minute after.

Why am I so anal when it comes to closing time? Well for starters, I just moved to an apartment in East Atlanta which is significantly further away than where I used to live. My commute to and from my parttime gig can be quick if there’s no traffic or a nightmare in rush-hour traffic. Closing at 11pm puts me at home around 11:30pm, and that’s the earliest I could arrive. I’d rather not have to wait around for someone finishing their last set because they mismanaged their time. If you want to lift longer, show up earlier. If you can’t fit a workout in before closing time, just take the night off and save me the headache of chasing you around the gym telling you it’s time to go.

Among the number of things you could do to irritate the gym staff at your local gym, remember to put yourself in their shoes.

Would you want to hunt for dumbbells to put up at closing time because gym members failed to do so? What about cleaning up nasty used paper towels left behind by sweaty members? Remember, kindness goes a long way, and with your kindness to me, I’ll pay it back to you tenfold.

Waiting Your Turn Shelly DeWitt: “I just assume that all the other Atlanta drivers have a pistol on the seat or in the glove compartment, so I keep my road rage to myself.”

Jessy Briton Hamilton: “I always tell people, Atlanta’s a great city with great people. If you can get over the traffic, it’s a great place to live!”

Toni Debbie Cane: “That is why some of the best NASCAR drivers come from Atlanta!”

Sanders Campaign Defends Accepting Joe Rogan Support Amid LGBTQ Backlash Doug Michael Lucas: “There’s a difference between them not denouncing him and what they did do which was to say, ‘Hey this guy likes us! Watch his podcast!’ A very insulting move for LGBTQ people like myself and black people alike.”

Lykania Shk: “He struggles with identity issues and intersections.”

Rush Center Names Simone Bell as New Interim Executive Director Tracee McDaniel: “Congratulations, Simone Bell! Hopefully, history doesn’t repeat itself and the Board of Directors won’t start resigning, because there’s a person of color in charge. She needs our support regardless.”

Want to be featured in Your Voice Matters?

Leave a comment to a story via social media or on our website, or email editor@thegavoice.com with the subject line “Your Voice Matters.”

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

CELEBRITY CLOSE-UP!

Celebrity Brief (LOVERS EDITION)

Love is in the air! Your favorite LGBTQ celebrities and public figures talk their relationships, the secrets to a successful marriage, and why wedding bells might not be in their futures.

“For me, marriage is more about equal rights than the act of getting married ... So it’s important to break down that barrier.

I’m more interested in having a loving, healthy, long-term relationship with someone I might want to have kids with someday.”

– Out actress Ruby Rose on marriage (Cosmopolitan)

“To be honest with you, I don’t see myself having a relationship with anybody in the future. It’s not what I’m looking for. I’ve got so many other things in my life. On a scale of one to 10, that’s a one. I’ve been married three times. I’ve been down that road. I’m 70 years old, I want to enjoy my life and I have great friends. I don’t even think about it.”

– Caitlyn Jenner on romantic relationships (OK Magazine)

“I think the secret to a relationship is just perseverance, you know? It’s not always pretty – but he’s pretty, so it makes it easy.”

– Neil Patrick Harris on marriage with husband David Burtka (Entertainment Tonight)

“Portia understands me completely. In our vows, she recited a quote – ‘It is good to be loved. It is profound to be understood’– and to me, that’s everything. What ‘I love you’ really means is ‘I understand you,’ and she loves me for everything that I am. She supports me and makes me happy.”

– Ellen DeGeneres on wife Portia de Rossi (Good Housekeeping)

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“I didn’t marry the loudest man, but I definitely married the man who makes me feel more valued and loved than I have ever felt my entire life. That’s why I’m willing to share him with the country, because that’s what America deserves, too.”

– Potential ‘First Gentleman’ Chasten Buttigieg on husband Mayor Pete (Instagram) (PHOTOS VIA FACEBOOK; INSTAGRAM)

February 14, 2020 Celebrity Close-Up! 5

NEWS

Out On Film Approved for $10,000 Grant Film festival now qualifies for future Oscar considerations

Jim Farmer COURTESY PHOTO

Zoe Seiler Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ film festival, was recently approved for a $10,000 Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant will support the organization’s 33rd annual film festival.

“The grant is really going to help us support our festival. It’s going to help us continue to have a platform, to screen all these films, to pay for these films, to have a venue for these films. More importantly, it’s going to help us hopefully enhance all the visiting filmmakers that were able to get.”

Overall, the NEA approved 1,187 grants for 2020 to support arts projects in every state, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Twenty-three organizations in Georgia, including 14 in the Metro Atlanta area, received grants from the NEA. The NEA was established by Congress in 1965 and is the independent federal agency whose funding and support provides opportunities to participate in the arts, exercise imagination, and develop creative capacities, according to the NEA website.

The Art Works funding category supports projects that focus on public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the nation; creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence; learning in the arts at all stages of life; and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life.

“The arts are at the heart of our communities, connecting people through shared experiences and artistic expression,” said Arts Endowment chairman Mary Anne Carter. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support projects like Out On Film.”

Out On Film started in 1987 and has grown into an 11-day event that takes place over three venues. Last year, over 125 films were a part of the festival and were a combination of narrative films, documentaries, and short films.

Out On Film has applied for this grant before but this year marks the first time the organization has received a grant from 6 News February 14, 2020

the NEA, making it the only LGBTQ organization to receive a grant this year.

“The grant is really going to help us support our festival. It’s going to help us continue to have a platform, to screen all these films, to pay for these films, to have a venue for these films. More importantly, it’s going to help us hopefully enhance all the visiting filmmakers that were able to get,” said Jim Farmer, festival director of Out On Film.

“The grant is important to Out On Film because grants make a difference in whether festivals can produce or not,” Farmer said.

“To get a grant like this, especially one on a national level is just very affirming for us

because I think we do really great work and it’s nice to see us get recognized on a national level,” he added.

– Jim Farmer, festival director of Out On Film Academy rules,” Farmer said in an email.

Farmer also hopes the grant will lead to continued support from the NEA as well as other national organizations.

Around the same time the NEA grants were announced, Farmer also found out that Out On Film will now be an Oscar-qualifying film festival.

“Recipients of Out On Film’s Drama Shorts award will be eligible for consideration for the Best Live Action Short category of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the

Farmer said the organization is excited for this year as it will be busy with almost every month and the film festival, which will be held Sept. 24 through Oct. 4.

“Money is always nice to be able to allow us to do more,” Farmer said. “To be able to hopefully have more filmmakers, reach more people, do more outreach, and find some of those underrepresented audiences and voices that are out there. But just as important as the money, it’s just a recognition on a national level that what we’re doing is vital and important.”

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

NEWS

Fighting Climate Change with Art Women’s Caucus for Art of Georgia to host One Earth/ One Chance event

“The Air We Breathe”

by Kirsten Stingle COURTESY PHOTOS

Katie Burkholder ​ ccording to the Climate Clock, a website A that tracks worldwide carbon emissions, we have about twelve years until the effects of climate change are irreversible. With many desperate for change, some are turning to art as activism; the Women’s Caucus for Art of Georgia (WCAGA) will be hosting One Earth/One Chance, an art exhibit of over 100 artists, to stand for an end to climate change.

“Humanity is a Disappointment”

by Carolyn Rasche

“Through history, artists have always influenced politics,” Callahan McDonough, WCAGA’s Art + Activism co-chair and curator of the exhibit, told Georgia Voice. “What I have found over and over again is that we as artists create something visually that is evocative – psychologically, emotionally, sometimes spiritually.”

According to McDonough and Pat Del Rey, PhD, the founding director of the Institute for Women’s Studies at the University of Georgia and a self-proclaimed “ecological feminist,” climate change is a direct result of patriarchy, heteronormativity, and capitalism – forces that alienate, exploit, and silence not only women, but the LGBTQ community and other oppressed groups as well.

“Feminism developed initially to analyze why women were being dominated [by men],” Del Rey told Georgia Voice. “Ecological feminism says it’s not just the domination of men over women; it’s that those men in power control everything below them. They control the whole ecological world we live in: human beings, animals, children, nature, plants, the earth. The ecological feminist says that we’re all a part of this dominating hierarchy, that the patriarchy is exploiting all of us.”

Del Rey likened the environmental movement to the grassroots movements for LGBTQ equality: both are matters of survival and fights against erasure.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

“The Three Graces”

by Rose M. Barron

“The invisibility is so critical,” Del Rey said.

“That’s how patriarchy works: privilege is blinding. You’ve got to make [the problem] visible – that’s what the LGBTQ movement has done and that’s what we’re doing now.”

“People don’t realize that it’s their survival at stake,” Del Rey continued. “It’s extreme.”

One Earth/One Chance combats the invisibility and divisibility of patriarchy to bring people together in the name of real change.

“The only thing that has ever changed people is the people, the grassroots [organizers],” McDonough said. “When there’s so much pressure from the people that it’s overrunning even the most conservative [of them], at some point there will be change.”

The free exhibit, which is on display from Feb. 19 to March 30, features art from a diverse array of artists. The featured pieces

relate to the artists’ personal impressions, thoughts, and experiences of the beauty of nature or its current destruction.

“You will see in this show a number of pieces that are purely abstract,” McDonough said.

“There will be other art that’s more in your face with the ‘F you, climate change!’ [message], and there will even be some art made of nothing but recycled material. It will be very diverse.”

The event will be capped off with a panel of climate experts on March 12 who will discuss more explicitly both the urgency of climate change and the real, doable solutions we can adopt. McDonough says the combination of the emotionality of the art and the reality of the panel will inspire visitors to act.

“We’ve got a really potent formula, because people are coming in to experience the art, and then they’re going to go into the panel discussion and get more succinct information

about the urgency of what we’re going through, which is critical; we have about a tenyear window,” McDonough said. “If we don’t do something really dramatic and aggressive now, then we may come to a tipping point that’s out of our control.”

“We’re trying to amplify both the urgency and the solutions,” McDonough continued. “[Climate change] is an emergency, but we really can still lower the temperature and reverse it. My goal is to get us in action.”

One Earth/One Chance will be on exhibit at GSU’s Clarkston Campus (3735 Memorial College Ave. Parking Lot #3) from Feb. 19 to March 30. The opening will last from 6-9pm on the 19th, and the expert panel will be held at the same location on March 12 at 7pm.

The opening, exhibit, and panel are all free and open to the public. For more information and to view the list of artists and panelists, visit www.wcaga.org.

February 14, 2020 News 7

ASK THE DOCTOR

How to End Atlanta’s HIV Epidemic Katie Burkholder HIV infection remains a serious public health issue in the state of Georgia. In 2015, Georgia was ranked the fifth-highest in the nation for new HIV diagnoses, after Florida, California, Texas and New York. There were over 2,500 new diagnoses of HIV in 2015 in Georgia and the majority were men.

The highest percentage of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses was seen among those aged 30 to 39. Atlanta ranked fifth among metro areas for new HIV cases with a rate of 25.8 new diagnoses for every 100,000 residents – more than twice the national rate.

Monitoring the HIV epidemic and understanding the burden of HIV in Georgia are essential for the 2020 National HIV/AIDS Strategy goals of reducing HIV infections, increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes for those with HIV, reducing HIVrelated health disparities and achieving a more coordinated response to the epidemic.

Opportunities to curb the rate of new infections in Georgia include:

• Treatment as Prevention (TasP): prescribing antiretroviral medications to those who are living with HIV in order to reduce the amount of virus in their blood to undetectable levels so that there is less risk of transmission of HIV • Increasing the number of people who are tested for HIV and made aware of their diagnosis • Access to quality health care, including insurance coverage, medication accessibility and increasing the number of qualified HIV providers available to give care • Addressing mental illness and behavioral health issues, poverty, stigma, homelessness, food insecurity, homophobia and health literacy, which will help with better health outcomes and access to healthcare • Decriminalizing HIV, which will lead 10 Health February 14, 2020

to more people becoming aware of their diagnosis without fear of prosecution • Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): medication, along with a comprehensive prevention strategy, to decrease the risk of acquiring HIV Awareness of PrEP among high-risk populations must be increased and affordability of this program must be explained • There also is a need for increased provider awareness, knowledge and willingness to prescribe PrEP, along with comfortably discussing sexual health with an affirming and non-judgmental approach.

As each of these factors is addressed, access to quality care and treatment can become more ensured, and we can move closer to ending the epidemic. As HIV healthcare providers, we work daily to ensure that we move closer to these goals.

Absolute CARE Medical Center & Pharmacy’s Dr. Quintin Robinson is board certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine, and is certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. The boardcertified infectious disease providers and staff of AbsoluteCARE Medical Center & Pharmacy have been dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care to those living with HIV in Atlanta for nearly 20 years.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

HEALTH NEWS

Here Today, Gonorrhea Tomorrow Colder Weather to Blame for Rise in STD Cases?

Stefanee Escay As I collect my thoughts on how to compose this piece, I’m staring out the window at yet another cold and dreary, blah day. Will this yucky weather ever go away? And what is there to do on days like today … Work remotely? Netflix and Chill? Engage in a power nap marathon? Sure, why not? But according to statistics and some not-so-farfetched assumptions, the most popular thing to do when it’s cold out … may just have to do with gettin’ jiggy with it between the sheets. What’s the deal?

Here’s the thing: When the sun is busy playing hard-to-get behind the clouds and temperatures across the Peach State plummet faster than those carefree kids you see in your Instagram feed diving off cliffs in Malta, what do we do? We stay inside, of course.

Maybe we drink a hot toddy or two to stay warm … and then perhaps we get a little frisky (or friski-ER) with our significant other. Why? Because nothing is warmer and cozier than snuggling up next to someone, to enrobe yourself in their affection and most importantly – their body heat. Am I right?

Based on statistics, possibly.

Brittany Rice, Buckhead resident and founder of iHoop Factory, agrees. “When it’s freezing outside and I don’t have to be at work or coaching at any of my camps, I’m at the house,” she said. “If I’ve got good company with me then yeah, I stay in and have all my fun at home.”

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as several state and county health agencies show Georgia ranks among the top “most sexually diseased” states in the U.S. To drill down on that a bit more, a 2015 STD Surveillance Report reveals the Sandy SpringsTheGeorgiaVoice.com

Roswell region of Atlanta, in particular, has consistently had some of the highest STD rates in the entire country. Additionally, this metro-Atlanta region has also been ranked as one of the worst in the entire United States for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

So what does this mean for our LGBTQ community here in Atlanta? Well, that we’re just as bad … if not worse, and that’s because STDs have been significantly on the rise among gay and bisexual men nationally over the last decade.

Real Estate mogul Lonnie Hand chalks up the alarming numbers to the new developments in PrEP medications readily available today.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at risk for HIV take daily medicine to prevent HIV. “So many guys are on PrEP, so they don’t feel like they have to use protection anymore. And there’s really no fear of contracting syphilis or ‘The Clap’ now because they know that’s just an antibiotic shot away. So, even though

we should be … people aren’t worried about gonorrhea,” he said. “They’re just worried about HIV. Antibiotic-resistant strains of common STDs seem to be more and more prevalent in our community. We should still use protection and communicate with our sexual partners. “Condoms” shouldn’t be a bad word but too often we in the community (especially those of us on PrEP) treat it as such. That mindset needs to change.”

I spoke briefly on this topic with Dr. Ken Taylor, OB/GYN and Medical Director for Atlanta-based Chimera Medical Services. He doesn’t believe the rise of sexually transmitted diseases simply has to do with the weather.

“STDs are at an all-time high, so to me, that says people are engaging in sexual activity year-round. Does colder weather make us want to be intimate more frequently? Sure, I can see that,” said Dr. Taylor. “But does that mean the rate of infections transmitted sexually is lower when it’s warmer out? No, not necessarily. The increase of STDs is due to the loss of inhibition, and due to drug use or

alcohol consumption – which is the number one drug for loss of inhibition.”

Making a direct correlation between cold weather and debauchery may be a stretch to some but to others, it makes perfect sense. More babies are conceived in the fall.

Single men and women admittedly exhibit more risqué behavior in the fall and winter.

Oh, and did I mention more than twice as many condoms are sold in the week before Christmas than the week after?

As long as temperatures feel somewhat subarctic to us Atlantans (because let’s face it – we can’t not have four seasons), our rates of STDs will still continually climb like koalas up trees in hopes of escaping the brush fires Down Under.

PRO TIP STD Awareness Week is April 12-18.

For information about getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases, visit AnyLabTestNow.com.

February 14, 2020 Health 11

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

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

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: } Worsening of Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. 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.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. 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.

Get HIV support by downloading a free app at

MyDailyCharge.com

BVYC0103_BIKTARVY_B_10x10-5_GeorgiaVoice_KeepLoving_DR4_r1v1jl.indd All Pages

(bik-TAR-vee)

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY 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. 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%).

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, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP LOVING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

Version date: December 2018 © 2019 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0103 02/19

KEEP LOVING.

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. To learn more, visit BIKTARVY.com.

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

2/20/19 2:54 PM

FEATURE NEWS

The River’s Edge COURTESY PHOTO

Get Away Resort-Style Aidan Ivory Edwards

Cabins are associated with a broad spectrum of matters, some fictitious and the others being unfortunate events. There is the romanticized transcendentalism take, where you are relieved of your everyday anxieties – becoming more acquainted with the phenomena of existing. You find bliss in isolation and using your sensory to determine where they are in the present. This is how Bon Iver wrote his debut masterpiece, “For Emma, Forever Ago.” Then there is the C-list horror film, “Cabin Fever,” where nature happens to give a group of friends a rash that just so happens to kill them. Or the travelers who are unaware of the inbred family who has fastforwarded in the evolution process when it comes to strength and their wood smarts. But The Hills Don’t Have Eyes in Georgia, just 14 Feature February 14, 2020

West Virginia. In most cases, people need a getaway – nothing cathartic or dreamy, just a few days to recuperate and reconnect with sanity after the incessant months of endless firm handshakes, impetuous nods, and sore facial muscles.

The same goes for the beaches, to see the aqua-colored water, smell the acrid fumes, and hear the waves hitting the shore is a form of thoughtless meditation. Here, in the Southeast, we generally don’t have to worry about the weather being an issue because we are exposed to feverish temperatures; it’s all about the change of scenery. The hustle and bustle of the city, along with being subjected to constant judgment, takes a toll on everyone’s mental and physical.

The LGBTQ community may wonder

where to begin. We are all aware of how spotty the South can be when it comes to the acceptance of love. Air B&B does have some accommodations, but the choices are slim picking. Thankfully, there are great options with the help of the internet. One way to find a place is to use the search engine called Mister B&B. Mister B&B is the internet’s primary host when it comes to catering lodges for the LGBTQ community. Yes, it’s the gay Air B&B. The network provides temporary rooms, apartments, hotels, or even entire homes that reassure a friendly environment. The locations vary, but this is the place to go if you’re looking for that Jersey Shore styled house to drink fine wine in.

As far as exclusive communities, Georgia’s most well-known is undoubtedly The River’s

Edge in Dewy Rose, Georgia. It is about two hours east of Atlanta. The camping ground does require a private membership.

However, it is clothing optional. This getaway certainly offers more than your standard mom-and-pop cabin resort because mom and pop are generally dressed like they’re heading to church. Meeting others here is a guarantee. What’s different is that they’ll probably introduce themselves naked.

The location wants to embrace one’s true identity, making you more comfortable in your skin, and letting others as well. It’s not for the prude. The River’s Edge offers tent, RV, and cabin rentals.

The River’s Edge isn’t alone, though.

Another clothing-optional resort is in CONTINUES ON PAGE 15 TheGeorgiaVoice.com

FEATURE NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 Georgia is called In The Woods. It’s located in the Northeast on the Piedmont hills. In The Woods offer trails that have cinematic views, a heated swimming pool, and nearby amenities so that you can take advantage of your leisure. They even have a Wal-Mart nearby; sadly, you have to be dressed.

The Parliament Resort in Augusta, Georgia, is more of a pool-party-based environment, offering a variety of hotel rooms, scheduled parties, and a thriving nightlife that is centered around two nightclubs near the resort. This is a place where you won’t be spending too much of your time in your room if the website’s pictures ring true.

And then there is The Oz Campground. The Oz offers the commodities that both The River’s Edge and The Parliament Resort have – combining the rustic cabin setting with the sunbathing pool life, a hot tub, a dog park for Todd to play in, and a nightclub so that

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The Oz Campground COURTESY PHOTO

the party can continue.

Interestingly enough, the remote location of Blue Ridge, Georgia has become one of the country’s most gay-friendly cities in the

nation, according to the AJC. Blue Ridge is a mountain town, one that could be mistaken for the setting of “Deliverance.”

The dated stereotypes of the LGBTQ community being too fragile to be in

nature are fading away. These options are available year-round, so take advantage of them. Atlanta’s party scene is phenomenal, but treat yourself and get naked in public without receiving a citation.

February 14, 2020 Feature 15

FEATURE NEWS

Let’s Get Stir-Crazy!

How To Recognize and Avoid Cabin Fever

there during the 1900s. Sadly, even in today’s bustling metropolises, cabin fever is a feeling that’s still at large and more likely than not you or someone you know is going through it right now.

Cristina Williams-Fontanez

Present-day Georgia is a far cry from the frozen tundras of Alaska, so it’s impossible to get cabin fever here, right? Not necessarily. During the winter months, the colder temperatures keep people from leaving their warm abodes unless absolutely necessary. January through March months are also considered the wettest in Georgia, which cuts into the enjoyment of fun outdoor activities. And let’s not forget daylight savings time which makes our days shorter and further restricts our access to the feelgood rays of the sun. Also, during the holiday season, some could argue they are trapped in close confines with the same relatives for up to a week at a time, slowly losing their senses and sanity. One could already feel captive just thinking about all of those awkward silences and uncomfortable lines of questioning.

Has this winter season made you feel impatient, irritable or otherwise trapped (figuratively or literally)? Well, you may have a case of cabin fever. The term, that you’ve probably heard at least once or twice in your life, is often used to describe a feeling of isolation or confinement, which for some, may evoke an image of a lone explorer making his or her way across an untamed frontier, building a home in the middle of nowhere, doomed to never bump into another living soul for the rest of their life.

Historically, the term first popped up in colloquial English in 1918, according to the Merriam Webster online dictionary, a time where it must have been extremely easy to find yourself isolated simply by leaving the relative safety of the smaller cities of the time. Heck, the state of Georgia as a whole only had roughly 2 million citizens living 16 Feature February 14, 2020

Though you won’t get the chills or sniffles with this “fever,” there are some subtle symptoms that accompany this annoying sensation, namely lethargy or extreme restlessness

and agitation. A good (yet dramatized and exaggerated) example of this phenomenon would be Jack Nicholson’s character in the cult horror classic, “The Shining,” who slowly descends into madness while living in an isolated hotel with his family in the frozen mountains, haunted by ghosts who met the same fate. Hopefully, these annoying sensations won’t lead you to pick up a sharp object and go on a rampage like Jack’s doomed character, but they can take a toll on your personal relationships if you don’t recognize the symptoms. If you’re snappier than usual at a loved one who is also the only person you’ve seen or interacted with for the last couple of days, it might be cabin fever rearing its ugly head. One could also argue that social media may actually make existing cabin fever worse if you also suffer from a crippling case of “FOMO” from constantly scrolling through your Instagram feeds and wishing you were somewhere, literally anywhere else.

All isn’t lost. WebMD outlines a few things you can do to beat back the feelings of cabin fever.

One of the most tried and true treatments for mental maladies is getting active. Just going out for a quick walk around the corner or exercising at the gym for a little bit will release

a surge of endorphins that will kick away those feelings of restlessness. It seems harder, in this age of Uber, Postmates, and drivethrus, to sneak even some moderate exercise into our daily lives since everything is getting so stinkingly convenient. If you’re feeling trapped, it may be as simple as putting down the phone, leaving the car keys behind, and strolling to the grocery store for your weekly necessities. Another tip is to take the time to hang out with your friends. Turns out that weekly gabfest may be better for your health than you thought! Humans are naturally built to be social beings, and engaging in a positive face to face connection can really help lift your spirits.

Lastly, try and exercise your brain. Pick up a puzzle or create a to-do list of things to try and accomplish either over the week or year.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure it’s something active, not passive. Whether you are choosing to stay stuck inside because of the harsh weather, the threatening flu season or the extremely stressful and depressing political landscape at the moment, remember to treat yourself, exercise your body and brain and you’ll be saying bye-bye to cabin fever in no time!

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FEATURE NEWS

Games to Entertain You Patrick Colson-Price We know it can be difficult to keep the boredom away while cooped up inside on a cold, rainy night, so we’ve got some games that’ll make your night worth staying in!

Celebrity Resume: US Edition Guess the unlikely past jobs of some of your favourite celebrities with the all new card game, Celebrity Résumé. Choose from one of four options on the front of the cards, then flip to reveal the true past jobs, along with the reasons why they had these jobs.

Find here: bubblegumstuff.com Name That Emoticon: US TV Put your Emoticon knowledge to the test with this new and amusing card game.

Common and famous phrases are shown as Emoticon and you simply have to guess the correct phrases. As we all interpret

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Emoticons differently this game is not as easy as it sounds and will result in fits of laughter as the ridiculous guesses ensue. Available in eight different editions so you can test your Emoticon knowledge in multiple areas.

Find here: bubblegumstuff.com Fake News: Trump Edition The #FakeNews guessing card game has finally arrived. This Trump edition is based on the ridiculous statements The Donald has made. Your task is to guess if the statements are true or fake.

Find here: bubblegumstuff.com Eyetoons Card Game Crack the ‘toon’, name the tune! Put your musical knowledge to the test in this fun family card game. Go head-to-head to see who can identify the musical artist and song from the cartoon on the card.

Find here: https://hacche.co.uk/ginger-fox.html

Canine Chaos Card Game Join this A-list cast of canine celebrities for a fast and frantic CARD-SWAPPING GAME of canine craziness. Simple to pick up, difficult to put down. 25 hilarious canine celebrity characters included. Can you claim your way to victory by collecting the most sets? It’s a barking good game! Contents: 100 playing cards.

Find here: hacche.co.uk/ginger-fox.html

Placing the Past Card Game The game of time and risk. How well do you know your major events? How willing are you to take a chance on getting your timeline right? Play your hand of dates in the correct order to gain points, but be careful. Other players can steal your points and if you place any incorrectly you receive no points at all.

Contents: Bell, 240 cards, rules.

Find here: hacche.co.uk/ginger-fox.html

February 14, 2020 Feature 17

FEATURE NEWS

Friday Night Yikes: When Dates Go Wrong Cristina Williams-Fontanez Dating: there are apps for that now. But, just because it’s easier to get a date than it’s ever been, has the awkward and stressful practice of dating really gotten any better? Well, just in case you felt singled out as the unluckiest single person in Georgia, we’re here to show you that no, in fact, there are a lot more dating nightmares happening around you than you think!

For example, James, a 40-year-old Augusta resident, experienced an evening he would never forget while in his early twenties. He decided to go out on a date with a slightly older man and while he thought dinner was fine, it was the events that unfolded after dinner that left him speechless. After finishing their meal, his date’s sister called and informed her brother that she was getting fired from Burger King and needed to be picked up immediately. Unfortunately, the Burger King in question was forty minutes away. Normally, that’s when you would say thank you and call it a night, but that was impossible for James. “My cell had died and 18 Feature February 14, 2020

he had picked me up for the date, so I was pretty much trapped with him from the get-go,” he admits. So, he had to tag along.

Now, this all sounds innocent enough, but apparently, James’ date was really upset with the manager at the Burger King for firing his sister, so much so that his attitude became more threatening. “Along the way, he told me of the tire iron and heavy chains in the back of his pickup truck that he was going to use to beat up his sister’s manager.” Now, before you go looking for a true crime podcast detailing a tragedy that befell an Augusta Burger King, thankfully, the date calmed down and picked up his sister without incident. But the drama didn’t end there. “It was on the way there when he decided to tell her that she was actually an aunt, as he had gotten a girl pregnant several years earlier while in high school and she began crying that she had missed out on seeing her nephew for so long”, James recounts. That was quite the bombshell to drop while on a first date! Don’t worry about James though; he has a happy ending. “[I am] really thankful I have a boyfriend now to not have to worry about weird first dates like that.” James is also the Augusta Pride

President, so kudos to you James!

According to a recent study by Wallethub, Atlanta ranked as the top U.S. city for singles in 2019, which isn’t hard to imagine since Atlanta has great nightlife, plenty of things to do, both indoors and outdoors, and fantastic eateries all around it. And also, in case you didn’t hear, Georgia Voice shared the news earlier last year that the South has the largest LGBTQ population in the nation, which leaves plenty of room for thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dates that can go horribly wrong.

Aaron Arzate, a 29-year-old marketing research professional from Atlanta, had a memorable evening out as well, for all the wrong reasons. His story begins with a guy that he met while at a club. Apparently, the guy really liked Aaron and kept pestering him for a date. “Against my better judgment, I agreed to go on one,” Aaron recalls. But, things were bumpy from the get-go. “Long story short, I arrived and began to look for my date and didn’t see [him] anywhere so I sent a text. [I] waited 30 mins and no response.

I thought to myself ‘I got stood up!’.” First impressions are always key, but in this case, the date messed up the first, the second, and probably the third impression by the end.

Aaron’s date finally showed up, spouting excuse after excuse as to why he was late when something indefensible happened. Aaron says, “that due to rushing he forgot his wallet at home.” Facepalm. At this point, Aaron felt he had given his date ample chances and signed off. “I pulled out a $50 [bill] from my wallet and said ‘I hope this covers some of your meal, if not then good luck’.” Aaron also shares some words of wisdom to those who would try and follow in his forgetful date’s footsteps. “Moral of the story is don’t be late, it’s disrespectful to the other person, and then [don’t] assume they’re ok with paying for your food on a date YOU invited them on.”

I personally want to thank James and Aaron who were kind enough to share their dating horror stories with us, which should not act as a deterrent, but only as a lighthearted commentary on the unexpected twists and turns one might encounter on their road to coupled bliss. Happy Dating!

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A&E FEATURE

Queering Up the Queue LGBTQ movies and TV shows perfect for those rainy days

“AJ and the Queen”

“The Queen” COURTESY PHOTOS

O’Brian Gunn Some of us (myself included) like the time of year when the temperature drops and abundant rain gives us a reason/excuse to indulge in our homebody tendencies. The colder months of the year are also the perfect time to knock out the many titles in our Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime/etc. queue. If you’re looking to queer up your queue, here are several movies and TV shows for your consideration.

“The Queen” (Netflix) Those looking to learn more about the history of drag may want to check out Netflix’s “The Queen.” The documentary chronicles the days leading up to a 1967 drag pageant called Miss All-America Camp Beauty Pageant, organized by a queer rights activist named Flawless Sabrina. Andy Warhol funded the film, which was made before the Stonewall riots at a time when dressing up in drag was against the law.

“Moonlight” (Netflix) A coming-of-age film not to be missed, “Moonlight” is the story of Little, Chiron, and Black, three names for the main character that mirror his transitions from youth, adolescence and young adult. The central character navigates his sexuality and identity while enduring emotional, mental, and physical abuse. The film takes a deep dive into black masculinity and black vulnerability. Baptize your eyes and heart in the melanin-infused waters of a film experience like none other.

“The L Word: Generation Q” (Showtime) Catch up with the women of “The L Word in Generation Q,” set 10 years after the original series. Bette, Alice, and Shane return, and the show brings in several new, younger characters. Rather than focusing 20 A&E February 14, 2020

“The L Word: Generation Q”

on coming out or finding identity, the show instead explores what comes after, and all the messy drama that often goes with it.

AJ. The dramedy explores their friendship and Ruby’s shared gospel of affection and acceptance.

“The Handmaiden” (Amazon Prime) A South Koren erotic psychological thriller, “The Handmaiden” is inspired by writer Sarah Water’s Fingersmith. The film/ lesbian awakening narrative focuses on a noblewoman, her eccentric uncle and the two criminals looking to con them out of their fortune. Definitely not for the prudish, “The Handmaiden” most certainly lives up to its erotic promise. Come for the con and intrigue, stay for the artistic sensuality.

“The Untamed” (Netflix) Fans of homoerotic undertones, martial arts and the supernatural may find the perfect show in the Chinese series “The Untamed.” The show follows Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, two supernaturally powered “cultivators” from different worlds and backgrounds tasked to work together to untangle mysteries and murders, all while exploring the depths of their exceedingly close “friendship.” The sparks and magic fly on and off the battlefield in this yaoi/boy love drama.

“AJ and the Queen” (Netflix) In “AJ and the Queen,” RuPaul plays Ruby Red, a bombastic drag queen who’s hit a rough “snatch” in life. Ruby travels to clubs across the nation in a beat-up RV, accompanied by a 10-year-old orphan named

“Pose” (Netflix) If you’ve seen the documentary “Paris Is Burning,” then you owe it to yourself to check out “Pose,” a show that follows a cast of queer Black and Latino characters in 1980s

New York City. Lauded for its generous casting of transgender actors, “Pose” not only explores the ballroom culture, but also the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the ’80s.

“Queen Sugar” (Hulu) Produced by Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey, “Queen Sugar” is a drama series set in rural Louisiana. The racially progressive show follows the lives, trials, tribulations and triumphs of the Bordelon family. The series begins with Charley Bordelon and her son Micah returning home to her sister Nova, an activist and journalist, and brother Ralph Angel, a single father, as they come together for the sake of their dying father. Besides being the first show to have female directors for each episode, “Queen Sugar” also has the distinction of being one of the few shows with a queer black woman, Nova Bordelon.

Happy watching!

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A&E FEATURE

Read Your Way Through Cabin Fever O’Brian Gunn Maybe you aren’t quite in the mood to bingewatch TV shows or watch movies when the temperature plummets. Instead, you may feel tempted to read your way through the winter, diving into narratives that focus on queer characters. Here are a few titles to either get you started or add to your existing TBR pile.

“I’m Afraid of Men” If you’re looking for a quick, insightful, and illuminating non-fiction read, I highly recommend Vivek Shraya’s “I’m Afraid of Men.” At only 96 pages, the book focuses on Shraya’s balancing act of not being feminine enough as a girl and too 22 A&E February 14, 2020

feminine as a boy. The trans artist explores the nuanced themes of transphobia, homophobia, misogyny and psychological trauma. Prepare to question your definition of gender, and maybe even your own identity.

“An Unkindness of Ghosts” In Rivers Solomon’s “An Unkindness of Ghosts,” readers embark on a spacefaring vessel arranged much like the antebellum South, with darker-skinned passengers on the lower decks and lighter-skinned passengers inhabiting the top. The main character, Aster, is neurodivergent and gender nonconforming.

She also finds herself sparking off a civil war

against the ship’s leaders and their oppressive moral restrictions.

“Sorcerer of the Wildeeps“ and “A Taste of Honey” It’s exceedingly rare to read fantasy stories about queer black men falling in love.

That’s why I mention Kai Ashante Wilson’s “Sorcerer of the Wildeeps” and “A Taste of Honey” every chance I get.

Both stories take place in the same universe, and both are brought to life with healthy doses of magic, unapologetic (and refreshing) black dialect, worldbuilding and sensuality that make the novellas into

instant classics. Look no further if you’re in the mood for the stories about the descendants of gods, necromantic horrors, royal families and forbidden love.

“Pet” While aimed at young adult readers, Akwaeke Emezi’s “Pet” is noted for having a young main character, Jam, who’s a black trans female with a best friend who has three parents, one of whom identifies as they/ them. The city of Lucille is free of monsters, or so Jam has been led to believe. That’s before she comes face-to-face with a creature with claws and horns. Together, they hunt a monster, one that no one believes exists.

Happy reading!

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JIM FARMER ACTING OUT

“Flawless” COURTESY PHOTO

Atlanta’s Jewish Film Festival When the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival – the city’s largest film festival – returns every year, it brings with it a diverse slate, including LGBTQ selections. This season is particularly rich.

Among the offerings is Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon’s “Flawless,” which was nominated for 12 Israeli Academy Awards, including one for transgender actress Stav Strashko. Strashko plays Eden, who joins a Jerusalem school and quickly befriends two other female students, without telling them she is transgender. All three are longing for money to get cosmetic surgery to enhance their bodies. The film starts off somewhat like a “Mean Girls” or “Clueless”-esque comedy. “Ouch – you hit my inner Beyoncé,” says one of the snarky main characters. Yet the film gets a lot darker when the girls become so desperate for larger breasts that they are willing to travel to Ukraine and risk their own lives. The film, anchored by a strong ensemble led by Strashko, has a lot to say about identify and acceptance. It’s a satisfying, savvy film that I enjoyed immensely.

Other LGBTQ titles include “The Art of Waiting,” “Black Mercedes,” “The Glass 24 Columnist February 14, 2020

Room” and the acclaimed documentaries “Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn” and “Oliver Sacks: His Own Life.”

The festival runs Feb. 10 – 27.

One of the best lesbian-themed films of the last decade or so, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” opens Feb. 21 in the ATL. The film won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and played a handful of LGBT film festivals last year, including Out On Film, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. Set in France at the end of the 18th century, the film follows a young painter – Marianne, played by Noemie Merlant – who is summoned to paint a picture of a bride to be – Heloise (Adele Haenel) – without her knowing. Marianne arrives pretending to be a companion, yet over time, the women begin to develop feelings for each other. Director Celine Sciamma, best known for the wonderful “Tomboy,” makes the film elegant and suspenseful with an unforgettable, haunting final scene. France submitted the drama “Les Miserables” as its official entry for this year’s Academy Awards instead of this film and it’s a near crime. For all the talk about female-driven films that didn’t get their due in 2019, this is at the top of the list. Don’t miss it.

MORE INFO “The Art of Waiting” Feb. 14 at 11am, UA Tara Cinemas Feb. 15 at 5:55pm, Plaza Theatre Feb. 23 at 8:05pm, Regal Perimeter Pointe Feb. 26 at 12:20pm, Midtown Art Cinema “Black Mercedes” Feb. 17 at 7:10pm, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Centre Feb. 18 at 12:50pm, Regal Perimeter Pointe Feb. 20 at 7:10am, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Centre Feb. 26 at 2:45pm, Midtown Art Cinema Feb. 27 at 7:20pm, Midtown Art Cinema “Bully. Coward. Victim.

The Story of Roy Cohn” Feb. 24, 7:20pm, Regal Perimeter Pointe Feb. 25, 1pm, Midtown Art Cinema Feb. 25, 7:20pm, UA Tara Cinemas “Flawless” Feb. 15 at 8:20pm, Plaza Theatre Feb. 16 at 3:45pm, UA Tara Cinemas Feb. 17 at 11am, UA Tara Cinema Feb. 17 at 1:40pm, Regal Perimeter Pointe “The Glass Room” Feb. 16 at 8:20pm, UA Tara Cinemas Feb. 21 at 1:30pm, Midtown Art Cinema Feb. 22 at 8:35pm, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Centre Feb. 23 at 11am, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Centre Feb. 27 at 12:40pm, Midtown Art Cinema “Oliver Sacks: His Own Life” Feb. 18 at 7:10pm, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Centre Feb. 19 at 2:35pm, UA Tara Cinemas Feb. 22 at 5:50pm, UA Tara Cinemas “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” Opens Feb. 21 at the Midtown Art Cinema

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ARTS AT A GLANCE FEBRUARY 14-MARCH 7

UPCOMING

FRIDAY, FEB. 14

Based on Alison Bechdel’s bestselling graphic memoir of the same name, the LGBTQ-themed “Fun Home” took Broadway by storm and cemented itself as one of the landmark musicals of our time. Alison dives into her past to trace the sequence of childhood events that made her the adult she is today. In doing so, she initiates a journey of reconciliation with her late father, whose mercurial and secretive personality kept the two apart at the precise moments they should have been closest.

8pm, through Feb. 16 Actor’s Express Inspired by the real letters between Mary Woolley and Jeannette Marks spanning from 1899 to 1937, the fast-paced comedy “Bull in a China Shop” asks: What is revolution? What does it mean to be at odds with the world? How do we fulfill our potential? And how the hell do we grow old together?

8pm, through Feb. 15 Out Front Theatre Company

SATURDAY, FEB. 15

After breaking box office records week after week and receiving unanimous raves on Broadway, “Hello, Dolly!” is now touring America, paying tribute to the original work of legendary director and choreographer Gower Champion.

7:30pm, through Feb.16 Fox Theatre Atlanta’s largest film festival, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, continues through Feb. 28 with several LGBTQ films including the coming of age dramedy “Flawless.”

8:20pm Plaza Theatre

SUNDAY, FEB. 16

Set in the not-too-distant future in Seoul, Korea, “Maybe Happy Ending” follows two obsolete helper-bots who are living an isolated existence in a robotsonly housing complex on the edge of the city. Oliver is waiting for his former-owner to come looking for him, and Claire is just … waiting. When the two discover each other across the hall, they have a surprising connection that challenges what they believe is possible for themselves, relationships, and love. This award-

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FRIDAY, FEB. 28

Mix and mingle with LGBTQ+ business professionals, allies, non-profit leaders, and more at OUT Georgia’s February 2020 Fourth Friday, hosted by Creative Approach.

5:30 – 7:30pm Bi+ Georgia and Out Front Theatre Company, Atlanta Pride Committee, Southern Fried Queer Pride, and The Counter Narrative Project invite you to “In Vibrant Color: Celebrating Queer Black Cinema” which will include a screening of the 2015 HBO Film “Bessie” about Bessie Smith, the openly bisexual Empress of The Blues. A post-film discussion panel will feature Ashleigh Atwell, Craig Hardesty, Khafre Abi and Leo Hollen moderated by Taylor Alxndr.

6:30pm Out Front Theatre Company

EVENT SPOTLIGHT MONDAY, FEB. 17

Wussy Mag, Out On Film and Plaza Atlanta present “Queers on Film,” – a monthly series of LGBTQ+ arthouse and independent classics. Tonight’s film is the classic 1970 William Friedkin drama, “The Boys in the Band.” “The Boys in the Band” is based off an off-Broadway play and often lauded as one of the first major American film releases featuring gay characters. In 2018, the play was revived on Broadway and will soon be adapted for Netflix by Ryan Murphy. The event will feature a post-film discussion with Jim Farmer from Out On Film. 7:30pm. Plaza Theatre (Publicity photo) winning musical imagines a magical and bittersweet reawakening to the things that make us human.

2:30pm, closing today.

Alliance Theatre The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children meets today from 2:30 – 4pm Spiritual Living Center

MONDAY, FEB. 17

Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues.

6:30 – 8pm Charis Books and More

TUESDAY, FEB. 18

Celebrate the lives and legacies of two of our most beloved literary ancestors with this evening of selected readings by Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison and bring your own favorite passages to share.

7:30 – 9pm Charis Books and More

SATURDAY, FEB. 29

SUNDAY, FEB. 23

Join the Black Lesbian Archives at Charis Books for the Grassroots Tour Stop. The BLA was created to build community, educate and preserve our culture. For this tour, stop come through to the Grassroots Zine Making Creatives Incubator. Come learn more about the BLA tour and create your own zine.

Materials will be provided but feel free to bring whatever you would like. This event is free and open to the public.

3 – 5pm Charis Books and More

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26

The Race Conscious Parenting Collective is designed to support the ongoing development of white parents and educators of white, multiracial children, and children of color, who are seeking to unlearn and dismantle white supremacy within their families, schools, neighborhoods and faith communities. Parents and educators of color are welcome to attend and participate if desired. However, the aim of this group is for white parents to develop tools and skills to teach themselves and their children how to fight systemic racism.

7 – 9pm Charis Books and More

Atlanta Prime Timers meets today at 3pm.

Phillip Rush Center Annex The ATL LGBTQ+ Book Club is a group for Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ folks and allies to read queer-themed books and books by queer authors. The goal is to have diverse thought-provoking discussions about queer identity, history, and topical issues.

Participants meet and often go to lunch after. February’s book is “Juliet Takes a Breath” by Gabby Rivera.

10 – 11:30am Charis Books and More

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

The Auburn Avenue Research Library will host Dr. Maisha S. Akbar, who will discuss her latest publication, “Preaching the Blues: Black Feminist Performance in Lynching Plays.”

“Preaching the Blues” examines several lynching plays to foreground black women’s performances as non-normative subjects who challenge white supremacist ideology.

Maisha S. Akbar’s scholarship re-maps the study of lynching drama by examining plays that are contingent upon race-based settings in black households versus white households.

3pm

February 14, 2020 Arts at a Glance 25

CLIFF BOSTOCK EATING MY WORDS

Chom Chom PHOTOS BY CLIFF BOSTOCK

Falafel in Buckhead, Shaking Beef on Buford Cliff Bostock

This week, I’m sharing first looks at Mamoun’s Falafel and Chom Chom Vietnamese Kitchen. Both are cheap and somewhat exotic – great for a date with someone you likely will never see again.

Mamoun’s Falafel: If you know anybody from New York, they can likely tell you about Mamoum’s, which opened in 1971 in Greenwich Village. It’s generally credited with introducing Americans to falafel, the Middle Eastern favorite of deep-fried patties made from ground-up chickpeas. The restaurant has 10 locations, including this first one in Atlanta. Five more franchises will open in Atlanta and Athens.

The new Atlanta location is in Buckhead on Northside Drive. It’s the usual non-descript décor with lots of windows and a counter to place orders. Besides falafel, the restaurant offers kebobs and shawarma folded into pitabread sandwiches or served on combo plates with traditional spreads like hummus and baba ganoush.

I ordered the falafel plate, of course, and I give it mixed reviews. If this were the only place to get falafel in Atlanta, as it was in 1971

Wontons and a Soft Shell Crab @ Chom Chom

Falafel Plate with Hummus, Baba Ganoush, and Rice @ Mamoum’s Falafel

New York, I might be more enthusiastic, but falafel is everywhere now and I’ve had better. What supposedly makes Mamoum’s falafel better than others is the huge amount of parsley that turns its interior a vivid green.

It is seasoned with garlic, onions, cumin, turmeric, and cardamom. It’s nicely crunchy, but the spices are really mild. (There’s a superhot sauce available to step up the flavor.) The baba ganoush, made from eggplant, and the hummus, made from chickpeas, were both unfortunately bland – almost tasteless. The plate was served with an extremely thick slice of pita to scoop the spreads.

and a sweet syrup. Not bad, but I’m betting the baklava is better. Actually, I’m betting everything gets better. (1269 Northside Dr., 404-390-3007, mamoums.com).

My friend ordered the falafel plus shawarma.

That’s lamb cooked on an upright rotisserie and shaved off in thin slices. It had better taste than many I’ve sampled over the years, but it was dry as hell. Finally, I tried one of the dessert pastries – a mabrumeh, which is twisted filo dough topped with mixed nuts

Chom Chom Vietnamese Kitchen: As I’ve written many times, Vietnamese food is my favorite on the planet. It’s an indigenous cuisine that the French slightly hybridized during their long occupation of Southeast Asia. This newish restaurant is located in a towering white building that seems completely out of place in its location a block from Buford Highway. I guess it’s an example of the gentrification that is now creeping outward everywhere.

This is not another pho café. There are a few soups on the menu, but this is not the place to go for that. There are however, plenty of my favorite bowls of rice noodles (bun) with fresh herbs. I usually top the noodles with

Shawarma with Falafel @ Mamoum’s Falafel

a few chunks of spring rolls, grilled shrimp, and some caramelized pork. During my one visit here, I ordered the Hanoi bowl with lemongrass pork sausage patties, pork belly, bean sprouts, garlic, noodles, and herbs. The problem (for me) was that all of the ingredients were plated separately, so you have to dip here, dunk there, scatter everywhere. I’d definitely go for one of the menu’s composed bowls unless you enjoy working for your noodles.

We also tried the shaking beef – cubes of tenderloin cooked rare in a “shaking” wok.

It was perfect. For starters, I recommend the soft shell crab and the crispy wontons filled with pork. Take home one of the banh mi (sandwiches), perfect for midnight gluttony.

(2390 Chamblee Tucker Rd., 470-375-3190, chomchomatl.com) Cliff Bostock is a longtime Atlanta restaurant critic and former psychotherapist turned life coach; cliffbostock@gmail.com.

26 Columnist February 14, 2020 TheGeorgiaVoice.com

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NIGHTLIFE AT A GLANCE FEBRUARY 14-29 FRIDAY, FEB. 14

Cupid put down his arrows and decided to make people dance this yeah! Mark your calendars for Bless Yr Heart – A Queer Valentine’s Dance Party put on

by Southern Fried Queer Pride. The event celebrates queer love in all of its forms: relationships, self-love, community love, and more. The night will feature DJ sets by chel xi (PRISM) & Jsport (Club Morph) and performances by Evangeline Laveau, JayBella Banks, La Reina, Paege Turner, and SZN ALXNDR as well as a super queer, kitsch photo booth.

10pm – 2am The Bakery Atlanta Get your love day on with a twist. Enjoy Ritual’s Moulin Rouge Valentine Day Party with DJs Ghost and Codec.

10pm – 3am Heretic Atlanta

SATURDAY, FEB. 15

Deep South presents Horse Meat Disco tonight, with Cody and Phoenix at the door.

Initially established in 2003 at The Eagle in London’s Vauxhall, Horse Meat Disco has evolved into a powerful force in queer and club culture as a whole, while staying local to its original home. Co-founded by James Hillard and Jim Stanton, and encompassing residents Severino and Luke Howard, the crew continue to maintain not only the weekly party but several residencies

in cities across the world, alongside a kaleidoscope of club appearances, festival dates and specially curated mixes.

10pm – 3am Heretic Atlanta

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19

Gather your buds and play Texas Hold ‘Em Poker tonight.

7:30pm Blake’s on the Park

THURSDAY, FEB. 20

It’s February, y’all! It may be cold outside, but the show upstairs is hot. Come out to Amen: A Drag Show and Competition to see your favorites JayBella Banks, Molly Rimswell, and Taylor Alxndr host and perform Downtown’s best drag show.

Contestants for February are Christina Leòn, Debbie Malibu, Demi Valentine, Lisa Couchlocker, Mr. Elle Aye and Pynk S. Dime.

11pm – 2am Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium Glitz is back again with an all-black cast. February’s theme is The YeeHaw Agenda! Dust off those cowboy boots, put on your ten-gallon hat, lasso a friend, and join us for a night of country bops and black excellence.

11pm Mary’s

SATURDAY, FEB. 22

Jujubee from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is coming to town for a hilarious night of comedy queens. The event features comedic drag performances from some of your favorite local performers – Brigitte Bidet, Phoenix, Iv Fischer, Miss He, Mo’Dest Volgare, Molly Rimswell, TJ Maxxx, SHI, Dynisty St. James, and more.

9pm – 2am My Sister’s Room

EVENT SPOTLIGHT SUNDAY, FEB. 16

DJ Kevin DuRard returns to Xion after hours for another morning full of top-notch music. 3am – 7am. BJ Roosters (Photo via Facebook)

Bearracuda, in its fifth year, is back for its first party of 2020. Join DJ Matt Consola for the Winter Beef Ball.

10pm – 3am Heretic Atlanta

MONDAY, FEB. 24

Feeling frisky? Fetish Monday returns tonight at the Atlanta Eagle.

7pm

EVENT SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY, FEB. 21

The Glitz and Glam shows at Lips Atlanta are filled with over the top glamour, big hair, high heels, and a lot of duct tape, hosted by Mr. Charlie Brown. 7:30 and 10pm (Photo via Facebook)

TUESDAY, FEB. 25

Fire up those brain cells – it’s time for Trivia Tuesdays with DeWayne Morgan.

DeWayne will be testing your knowledge of past and present events. Sure, maybe you know the members of the band ABBA, but will you know what African country has Cairo as its capital city? DeWayne does and he’ll lead you through four levels, each one harder than the last. Think you have the game won? Not so fast. The last question of the night is where you can bet it all and win or sink to the bottom. Celebrate the win with a $50 bar tab.

8:30pm The Hideaway Atlanta

THURSDAY, FEB. 27

Enjoy R&B Thursdays with DJ Bomshell Boogie at My Sister’s Room.

Come release your inner Tina Turner at Pussycat Karaoke with host Angelica D’Paige Brooks.

10:30pm Midtown Moon

UPCOMING SATURDAY, FEB. 29

Ooo, Heaven really is a place on Earth! Come get your wings and learn how to fly at Queer Heaven – part drag show, part live music, part dance party. The event features live music

by Taylor Alxndr and Klypi and drag performances by Jade Nite, Lisa Couchlocker, Miss He, Molly Rimswell, and Mr Elle Aye. 10pm – 2:30am The Caledonia Lounge

28 Nightlife at a Glance February 14, 2020 TheGeorgiaVoice.com

NIGHTLIFE SPOTLIGHT

Jujubee PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

Drag Yourself Out to See Jujubee Cristina Williams-Fontanez

One of the most unforgettable queens to ever grace the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stage is heading to Atlanta. Jujubee, who appeared on season two of the fabulous TV series, will take time out of her busy schedule to greet her fans and entertain all of us Atlantans at LMAO with Jujubee. It’s been a whirlwind of a year already for the drag superstar as earlier this month she performed in Hawaii, she has guest starred on RuPaul’s Netflix series “AJ and the Queen” and is starring in an upcoming TLC show entitled “Dragnificent,” where she will use her fashion expertise to help fans in dire need of transformations, both inside and out.

This event is being hosted by Atlanta-based TheGeorgiaVoice.com

magazine Wussy, who focuses on queer art and pop culture. The venue, My Sister’s Room, is quite the iconic location as well.

They’ve won all sorts of awards and accolades like Best Bar Food, Best Late Night as well as being featured on a list of the Top 10 Lesbian Bars in the World. They’re no strangers to putting on drag shows, having played host to more RuPaul alums like Miz Cracker and Monet X Change.

Jujubee will be performing at My Sister’s Room on Feb. 22, along with some other notable local acts including Brigitte Bidet, Phoenix, Iv Fischer, and more. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, and if you are feeling so inclined, there is an option for a Meet and Greet package that begins at 9pm so get to the venue early.

Showtimes will be 10:30pm and midnight.

February 14, 2020 Nightlife Spotlight 29

MELISSA CARTER THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

Fire Drill Bootcamp I admit I was never a committed athlete. I have athletic abilities when pushed, but have never developed an interest in sticking with a sport very long.

However, I understand the importance of physical health and admire my friends who dedicate their mornings or evenings to this task. I recently realized, however, there’s nothing like a fire drill at work to get you motivated to stay in shape.

I had just arrived at work and made my way first to the break room to grab a cup of tea. Still donning my coat the alarm rang, and I joined several colleagues down the nearby stairs to the lobby. Most of the time when fire drills occur in our building we are given some warning, like it will happen sometime that day or week.

This had not been planned and was caused by elevator repair that had been taking place.

When we began to gather in the freezing temperatures outside the building, management hurried to let us know we could go back to our offices because of the false alarm. I happened to be in the back of the crowd heading out the door, which meant I was the first to return to the stairwell.

There’s a pressure knowing you have to ascend the stairs ahead of a crowd of people.

Add to that these people are your colleagues and know where to find you to give you shit for losing your breath up the stairs, and there’s a real panic about to take place. Mind you, I am not one who uses the option of 30 Columnist February 14, 2020

taking the stairs instead of the elevator to stay in shape so this was new terrain for me.

I looked for the usual signs. Breath begins to resist entering your lungs as if you’re no longer worthy, you start seeing stars here and there as oxygen is no longer able to reach your stressed brain. Your calves remind you of glue that at once was fluid but now is hardening with each step. The flop sweat is last to come as you surrender to the hand rails and motion everyone to go on without you.

Yet, I found none of these symptoms. Just because I’m not athletic doesn’t mean I’m not competitive. I refused to allow my body to fail this task and kept a steady pace all the way to our floor, and only when I stopped climbing and was walking to my desk on even ground did I feel a little winded and wobbly. Relieved, I was grateful I didn’t bring attention to myself amidst such peer pressure.

This is probably a good time to say our office is on the 4th floor. However, that was still a great accomplishment for me to hold my own that far. It is also a good reminder that there may be opportunities for me to have to step up physically in an unexpected situation and I can’t let myself or those around me down. I’m also getting to the age where I can’t let my future old lady body down by not taking those exertive steps now, whether figuratively or literally.

One of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta, Melissa’s worked for B98.5 and Q100.

Catch her daily on theProgressive Voices podcast “She Persisted.” Tweet her! @MelissaCarter TheGeorgiaVoice.com

RYAN LEE SOMETIMES ‘Y’

Bare-Naked with No One to Fuck I was having second thoughts about the accommodations I made for a trip to Miami when my friend reassured, “How bad could an American hostel be?” The answer, I’ve learned, is not awful until you want to have some out-of-town sex.

This was my first time traveling for a marathon, and I limited how much I spent for the trip since it was more an extended weekend than a vacation. I flew into Fort Lauderdale for a third of the cost of landing directly in Miami, and rented a hostel bed from AirBnB instead of booking a hotel room.

“Was this home used as a hostel before AirBnB existed, or did you all convert once that came along?” I asked the innkeeper while we were on the backyard patio overlooking Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood.

“This used be crack house,” he replied in amused, abridged English. He began to wave his hand to signal the past, and said, “This area, bad.”

Suddenly the venue’s décor (and shoddy plumping) made sense. Nothing blurs the line between griminess and charm like gentrification.

The biggest risk in my hostel experiment was possibly sharing a space with folks brimming with the rowdiness a trip to Miami deserves.

Thankfully all three of my roommates were in town for the marathon as well, so after a nearby Grindr quickie it was lights-out in our dorm at nine o’clock on Saturday night.

The early bedtime didn’t help as we all missed our goal times on the sweltering course. I won’t bore you with a breakdown of my disappointing run, except to never underestimate how powerful a stranger’s affirmation – “You got this!” or “Way to TheGeorgiaVoice.com

work!” – can be to someone who is struggling.

My roommates were pleasant, but by Sunday afternoon the bunk-bed ambiance triggered latent anxiety of being cock-blocked in my college dorm. It began to feel blasphemous to take a mostly platonic trip to South Beach, and my lone regret from the hostel was not having privacy for when certain urges or app chimes inevitably pinged.

“Sorry, can’t host” is a phrase I’ve rarely typed since I was 24 years old. The most promising escape from the carnal cabin fever overtaking me was Haulover Park, Miami’s “clothing-optional” beach where either I would find a guy to sync libido cycles, or the nudity on display would drain all desire from my genitalia.

Unsurprisingly, most of the bodies at Haulover Park were not the type that sexually stimulate me. I’d guess more than a hundred people were at the beach, but wasn’t able to get an accurate count because I worried the wrong gaze would make people think I was a pervert – or worse, a tourist.

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So I laid on the sand and pretended like getting my taint tickled by an ocean breeze was part of my daily routine. There were about a half-dozen guys who I would’ve like to have done more traditional nude activities with, but I was strangely uncertain about how to initiate an encounter.

My fluency in the codes and protocols of sex in parks or public restrooms didn’t translate to when everybody was already naked. Is that guy adjusting his balls as an invitation, or just to ensure a full-body tan?

A light drizzle prompted me to leave the beach before finding any playmates, which might’ve been a bigger washout than my marathon setback. Fortunately, Miami had a couple more strangers shouting affirmations like, “Keep pushing!”

February 14, 2020 Columnist 31