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GEORGIANEWS
Grassroots political activism swells
Georgia LGBT community playing vital role in number of different actions countering Trump administration policies By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com A large number of Georgians, with voting histories across the political spectrum, aren’t pleased with how President Donald Trump’s handling his new job. These post-election sentiments aren’t anything new — not everyone has liked every president — but what is novel is the way people show their disdain. They’re gathering in front of Congressional offices. They’re sending truckloads of mail. They’re getting “woke” to the idea that maybe, just maybe, if they get out from behind the bubble of social media rants and hold conversations with elected officials and neighbors, they can make a difference. And they’re doing so in droves. “We’re really dismayed by many things that are happening right now. Rather than sitting home expressing our concerns on Facebook, we’re getting out,” said citizen activist Caroline Stover. Even Atlanta’s bakers organized a grassroots “Cookie Grab,” with all proceeds from 500 boxes of treats going toward Planned Parenthood, said Sarah O’Brien, owner of Little Tart Bakeshop. For individuals who want to become politically active, but don’t know where to start, there are groups such as Galvanize Georgia that help point folks in the right direction. “Figuring out where your time is best spent is the hardest part,” said Rich Levy, one of several cofounders of Galvanize Georgia. “Find trusted sources, whether it is groups like ours or following political beat reporters at the [Atlanta Journal-Constitution], whether it’s joining an Indivisible group or doing the diametric opposite of that. There are people who don’t want to be confrontational, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a role.” Holding the powerful accountable “The one thing that Donald Trump has
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done for this country is to get people involved in a democracy again,” said Linda Meredith, one of the five organizers behind the Isakson Accountability Coalition and former founder of ACT UP. “Our whole idea is that what Johnny Isakson … is legislating in Washington, DC, is in no way in the best interests of Georgians,” Meredith said. “We spent a lot of time researching some of his votes since the December Congress began and we paired that with information and data on how Georgians will be impacted by that.” Meredith chose to focus on Isakson because he’s the senior senator from Georgia with “real impact” in what the Republicans do in Congress. Some of the issues the group plans to address are Isakson’s “avid adulation for Tom Price,” his “cheerleading for Jeff Sessions” and his position on healthcare. Even though Meredith is a lesbian, she said her group isn’t bringing up LGBT rights or “religious freedom” legislation in their messaging just yet because he hasn’t spoken out about them. “He needs to meet with his constituents inside the metro Atlanta area because the actions that he is currently taking are bad for Georgia,” she said. “He’s never held a meeting with constituents inside the Perimeter.” Stover, on the other hand, is the organizer of the weekly rallies in front of Sen. David Perdue’s Atlanta office.
Above: Alli Royce Soble organized a ‘postcard party’ that led to over 500 postcards being sent to lawmakers calling on them not to defund Planned Parenthood, repeal the Affordable Care Act and more. The next postcard party is March 12. (Photo by Rob Boeger). Left: Nearly 40 Atlantans gathered at Noni’s on Super Bowl Sunday to write about 500 postcards to elected officials, expressing concern about the Trump administration’s actions. (Photo courtesy Alli Royce Soble)
Nearly 150 people showed up to the first rally at Perdue’s office, touted as part of the “Resist Trump Tuesdays” movement. Originally Georgians gathered to raise concern about the president’s cabinet picks, but as the weekly event evolved, it’s become more of a call to action for Perdue to take time and meet with his constituents. “He says that our rallies are manufactured or that we’re being paid to be there. We really feel that is an incredibly insulting position for our elected official to take, when really we’re a large group of constituents asking for some time with him,” Stover said. Because Perdue is supportive of the Trump administration, she said it’s important he know not all of his constituents agree with measures
they are taking, including the oft-mentioned Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the recently rescinded transgender bathroom guidance documents for schools. “We know that we don’t have a lot of ability right now to affect a lot of what’s happening in Washington DC because we’re in the minority. That is not going to stop us from holding our elected officials accountable for everything and anything,” Stover said. And in north Georgia, Athens 4 Everyone is hard at work putting pressure on Rep. Jody Hice, the Congressman who represents the Classic City, to hold a town hall as well. “We have scheduled our own town hall CONTINUES ON PAGE 4 March 3, 2017 News 3
Left: Louis Gary (r) heads up the Postcard Pink Slips project. (Photo courtesy Louis Gary). Above: Louis Gary (r) took some of his ‘pink slip’ postcards to a President’s Day protest in Atlanta. (Photo courtesy Louis Gary). Below: Transgender activist Gabrielle Claiborne will speak later this month to the National Pride March group about making sure its mission and outcome are trans-inclusive, and there are already groups in Georgia making strides in similar ways. (File photo)
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for Jody Hice. Rep. Hice has been invited, his staff has been notified and we already have 500 people,” Organizational Coordinator Tim Denson said. Protests going postal There are also political actions that don’t require in-person rallies, or even the ability to walk: groups nationwide started organizing postcard parties. “It is something that allows people who may be homebound, who can’t march, to send a message,” said Louis Gary, a gay activist who heads up the Postcard Pink Slips project. “We get feedback from housewives who are not physically fit or mobile at this time and have other responsibilities that don’t allow them to participate. They say this is such a wonderful idea.” Even if they don’t make it to the Oval Office, Gary said the National Archives collects a sample of activists’ mail to elected officials
for posterity’s sake. Pink slip postcards are being sent to the White House and Steve Bannon, the president’s chief strategist. They will be mailed on the Ides of March, also a symbolic gesture. Historically, March 15 is revered as the day Julius Caesar was murdered. “We all know that a pink slip is a termination slip and it’s a type of messaging, so that we can send them a pink slip and put them on notice that we think they are not suitable for the job description,” Gary said. “The messaging has to do with a lot of things we saw during the campaign: sexism, inappropriate and illegal touching of women, warmongering, separatists, xenophobia, homophobia, the whole debate about what is going on with illegal immigration and how we are dealing with it as a nation.” Another Atlanta group, Postcards from the Edge, sends mail to the White House, to Congress, to Speaker Paul Ryan, to Mitch McConnell and to Georgia’s Congressmen. On Super Bowl Sunday, nearly 40 people
She said to be effective, activists must “flood them at their front doors.” “It’s clear that people are clearly unhappy with what’s going on,” she said. “Even if they don’t read one of them, and take it and toss it in the trash, it’s worth the effort to drop a huge stack of paper on someone’s desk and say, this is all from Atlanta. These people are pissed.”
came to Noni’s restaurant on Edgewood Avenue and wrote about 500 postcards. The event was so successful that organizer Alli Royce Soble decided to make it a monthly event. Soble, who identifies as gender queer and nonbinary, said after the election she felt her rights were being “tampered with.” “For the first time in a while I felt like I had to put my activist hat on,” Soble said. “When I feel like there’s an anti-Semite running the country who has a cabinet who is anti-this, anti-that, and I kind of fall under several of the antis as a woman, as a gay person, as a nonbinary person, as a Jew. I’m kind of like, what can I do to help?”
‘A human community’ “Social issues are really civil and human rights issues and those should be federally mandated. I don’t think a ‘social issue’ that has to do with transgender students should be determined on the state level,” Stover said. “We have to remember we’re a human community.” That sentiment is a driving force behind Athens 4 Everyone, a community organization that began several years ago but became more involved with politics after the 2016 election. “We still try to focus on issues that impact the lives of Athenians somehow. Since November, we have expanded that out a little more just because there are so many things coming down from the federal level,” Denson said. “The organizing efforts have had to really kick up for us and people are just comCONTINUES ON PAGE 6
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ing out of the woodwork. Our membership has tripled in the last three months … all of a sudden, people saw us as a way to jump in.” A far cry from its major project to get Athens-Clarke County bus service on Sundays, Athens 4 Everyone organized an Inauguration Day protest that ended up being the largest march in the city’s history. And despite questions raised during the initial large-scale, grassroots responses to Trump, such as the Women’s March on Washington and similar marches held worldwide, about how inclusive such protests are, the human community aspect is moving in a positive direction. Gabrielle Claiborne and Linda Herzer, who co-own Transformation Journeys Worldwide, travel the country speaking about the transgender experience and reminding people that it is just another human experience. Claiborne, who is transgender, will speak later this month to the National Pride March group about making sure its mission and outcome are trans-inclusive, and there are already groups in Georgia making strides in similar ways. “There are groups that are taking steps,” Herzer said. “It’s important to point out and to recognize when people are being left out, but we’d like to be a voice commending those who are making efforts to include trans voices.” New LGBT-led groups, keeping momentum New LGBT-led groups continue to spring up as the need is seen to counter what’s going on in Georgia and around the nation. ATL Activate is one such effort, formed after
“We’re really dismayed by many things that are happening right now. Rather than sitting home expressing our concerns on Facebook, we’re getting out.” —Caroline Stover the inauguration and operating through a closed Facebook group to share daily action steps, post relevant news stories and facilitate community engagement and action. Prima Printing owners (and husbands) Chad Sims and Angel Marcelino allowed the group to utilize a 4,000 square foot warehouse behind Prima’s Midtown office as organizational headquarters and a monthly meeting space. The group’s first coordinated action is supporting 6th Congressional District candidate Jon Ossoff in the Democrats’ bid to flip new Health and Human Services Sec. Tom Price’s former district. Members held a fundraiser featuring Ossoff at a private Midtown residence on March 2. Yet another new LGBT-led grassroots group is Civic Minded Citizens, a group led by gay Atlanta man Lukis Newborn. They host a legislative update with LGBT state Rep. Park Cannon (D-Atlanta) and Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville) along with Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham on March 4 at Joe’s on Juniper, and are helping organize the March for Science Atlanta tak-
Citizen activist Caroline Stover co-organizes weekly rallies at Sen. David Perdue’s Atlanta office. (Photo by Rob Boeger)
ing place April 22. This initial onslaught of grassroots activism is larger than perhaps any other in modern post-election history. What remains to be seen is whether those involved can keep
up this level of momentum as President Trump’s first – and as these activists hope, only – term continues. Patrick Saunders contributed to this story.
6 News March 3, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
GEORGIANEWS
Progressives move to ‘flip the 6th’ District Five Democrats among 19 candidates vying for Tom Price’s vacated seat By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com The battle is on for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. Nineteen candidates threw their hats in the ring to take the House seat just vacated by new Health and Human Services Sec. Tom Price, who represented the region since 2005. Democrats and progressives alike hope the time is ripe to turn the 6th blue. Efforts to “flip the 6th” include volunteer-led voter registration, neighborhood canvassing, and activists and private citizens alike opening their homes for meet-and-greets with candidates. “I think this grassroots progressive movement has sort of bolstered the feeling that we’re not alone, that there are more Democrats and progressives and liberals. We must say there are Republicans who are our neighbors who did not vote for Trump. They did vote for Hillary, and we think those people are equally disturbed by the Trump agenda and want to send a clear message to Washington, DC, that we will not stand for this agenda of hatred,” said Louise Palmer, who monitors the Indivisible Georgia District 6 social media channels along with Amy Nosek. “Realistically, it’s still a bit of a long shot that we still might flip District 6, but as every day goes by and momentum gathers, it looks like it may be a very close race.” Last fall, Palmer and Nosek helped flip Cobb County blue for the first time in about 40 years. Clinton won the county by 2 percent. Trump only won the enRagin Edwards tire 6th District by 1.5 percent. “Forty-nine percent of the district voted for Hillary,” said Richard Keatley, a Demo-
“I think we’re really scaring Republicans. … After we won here in Cobb, politicians nationwide started looking at Cobb County saying, ‘What’s going on here? They’re red.’” —Amy Nosek, an administrator for the social media group Indivisible Georgia District 6
cratic candidate from Tucker. “Why did they vote for Hillary? Was it because they couldn’t stomach the Republican candidate, or were they genuinely moving Democratic?” There are five Democratic candidates who will test that question come April 18, the day of the special election. Including Keatley, who is a former Naval officer and a Georgia State University professor, Ragin Edwards, a technology company executive from East Cobb, feels now is the time to have a woman represent the 6th. Jon Ossoff’s had top-security clearance in Washington, DC, and uncovered government waste as part of his investigative filmmaking career — points he hopes will help draw conservative votes to his cause. “I think we’re really scaring Republicans,” Nosek said. “After we won here in Cobb, politicians nationwide started looking at Cobb County saying, ‘What’s going on here? They’re red.’” Human, civil rights as platform points “We don’t have time to push a progressive agenda — right now we have to be resisting this agenda of hatred,” Palmer said. Keatley, who’s worked with LGBT students over the years, said it’s a trying time to be any sort of minority. “What we’re going to have to do is every
Jon Ossoff, one of five Democrats hoping to win Tom Price’s seat, stands with volunteer Linda Collett of Marietta. Collett was one of nearly 200 volunteers that spearheaded grassroots canvassing efforts as part of the “flip the 6th” movement for Ossoff’s campaign. (Photo by Dallas Anne Duncan)
time something like this occurs, is stand up on a box and decry that thing while working hard to try and … have a victory in another two or four or who knows how many years,” he said. Edwards, Keatley and Ossoff are joined on the Democratic ticket by Dr. Rebecca Quigg and former state Sen. Ron Slotin. Chase Oliver declared as a Libertarian Richard Keatley candidate, and two independents — Alexander Hernandez and Andre Pollard — join as well. On the Republican side, the candidates are businessmen David Abroms, Bob Gray, Bruce LeVell and Kurt Wilson; economist Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan, who is also Georgia’s first Muslim Republican candidate; former Air Force pilot Keith Grawert; former Secretary of State Karen Handel; former state senators Judson Hill and Dan Moody; Amy Kremer, a Tea Party activist; and certified public accountant William Llop. All Democratic candidates, save Quigg, explicitly stated in their talks with Georgia Voice or on their websites that they will stand up for LGBT rights at the federal level, if elected. The Republican, independent and Libertarian candidates were not so evident with pro-LGBT issues on their platforms.
Getting out the vote “The whole ‘flip the 6th’ or ‘turning that seat blue,’ is a movement to show that if you don’t listen to us, we will make sure somebody that does is in power,” Edwards said. Because several of the candidates ran for political office before, their names may be more familiar to voters — especially on the Republican ticket. Palmer said those who want to turn 6 blue are actively involved in “get out the vote” efforts, and several candidates already put canvassers on the ground to distribute literature and make voters recognize their names and platforms come April 18. “Most of those Republicans are going to vote for a Republican no matter what. Our efforts are in getting out the Democratic vote, period,” Palmer said. In late February, Ossoff ’s campaign kicked off a canvassing event with somewhere around 200 volunteers, knocking on doors for exactly that reason. “This is a district with very well-informed voters who have proven that they judge candidates rather than voting for parties. I think we saw that in the outcome of the presidential election,” Ossoff said. “I don’t think it’s so much about the partisan identification of the representative as much as it’s important that it be represented by someone who will effectively represent the concerns of everyone in the district. I’ve never seen grassroots enthusiasm or efforts like this in my lifetime. It’s led by women. And it is powerful.”
8 News March 3, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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NEWSBRIEFS Lawmakers, activists weigh in on state Senate ‘religious freedom’ bill Senate Bill 233, a “religious freedom” bill filed Feb. 21 by Sen. Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone), has local LGBT leaders up in arms and Gov. Nathan Deal wary. Deal told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the state needed to be “extremely cautious” about the bill, and came out the following day saying he planned to take a harder stance on it than originally thought. Last year, Deal vetoed House Bill 757, also a “religious freedom” bill. That bill aimed to protect faith-based organizations from having to rent or allow their facilities to be used for events they found “objectionable,” and they would not have to provide any services “that violate such faith-based organization’s sincerely held religious belief.” In addition, HB 757 allowed faith-based groups to discriminate against potential employees whose religious beliefs or lack thereof “are not in accord” with those of the group. Harbin’s bill, however, seeks to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia “so as to provide for the preservation of religious freedom.” SB 233 is barely a page long, and reads “The provisions of 42 U.S.C. Chapter 21B as such existed on Jan. 1, 2017, regarding government burdens on the free exercise of religion, shall in like manner apply to this state or any political subdivision thereof.” Congressional scholar and law professor Anthony Kreis told Georgia Voice the purpose of this particular RFRA — the shorthand version of “religious freedom” — bill is to ensure that state law mimics federal law, which was a criticism of past such bills introduced at the state level. LGBT activists are also wary about SB 233 and its potential implications. At a Tuesday night panel discussing the proposed Georgia Civil Rights Act, Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, said SB 233 “tilts the scales automatically in favor of people that claim a specific religious exemption.” “What we’re talking about is trying to create loopholes for nondiscrimination protections that don’t even exist,” he said. “There’s no balance under the law to it, and that’s what scares me the most.”
Georgia House announces companion LGBT-inclusive civil rights bill Two weeks after Sen. Lester Jackson (D-Savannah) introduced a comprehensive “Georgia Civil Rights Act” in the state Sen-
Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Smyrna) introduces House Bill 488, the companion piece to Senate Bill 119, the Georgia Civil Rights Act. (Photo by Dallas Anne Duncan)
ate, the House officially introduced its rumored companion bill on Feb. 23. House Bill 488 was named to much applause during a gathering of legislators, LGBT activists and faith leaders in the Capitol Rotunda. HB 488 is sponsored by Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Smyrna), and comes out at the same time as House Resolution 404, which calls for the creation of a bipartisan study committee to examine the need for comprehensive civil rights in Georgia. Rev. Kim Sorrells, Georgia field organizer for Reconciling Ministries Network, said these are “a great effort to do something on the positive side of legislation.” HB 488 and HR 404 dropped days after Sen. Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone) introduced Senate Bill 233, a “religious freedom” bill. Sorrells, who uses they/them/their pronouns, was one of several faith leaders who spoke out at a press conference denouncing SB 233, where the two House pieces were later announced. “Religious freedom is very near and dear to my heart as a pastor. I understand and empathize that people want that to be protected — but it’s not at risk,” they said.
Trump rescinds transgender student protections Much to the dismay of the LGBT advocates who sought to keep guidance barring discrimination against transgender kids in schools, the Trump administration revoked the guidance on Feb. 22.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said a letter rescinding the guidance would come out that day, reiterating the move is based on President Trump’s support for states’ rights. A two-page “Dear Colleague” letter from the administration to schools indicates the Justice and Education Departments “are withdrawing the statements of policy and guidance” assuring protections for transgender students. The guidance based on Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 bars schools from discriminating against transgender students and denying them access to the restroom consistent with their gender identity. Notably, the letter is slightly different from a draft copy MSNBC published earlier in the day. The draft copy says even with the guidance withdrawn, schools “must ensure that transgender students, like all students, are able to learn in a safe environment,” but the final letter replaces the explicit mention of transgender students with “LGBT students.” The final letter also adds the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights will continue to “hear all claims of discrimination and will explore every appropriate opportunity to protect all students” and says the administration is “committed to the application of Title IX and other federal laws to ensure such protection.” The letter was issued just weeks after the White House declared in a statement Trump is “determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community.”
10 News March 3, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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EDITORIAL
Editor: Patrick Saunders psaunders@thegavoice.com Deputy Editor: Dallas Anne Duncan dduncan@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Ashleigh Atwell, Cliff Bostock, Melissa Carter, Jim Farmer, Shannon Hames, Ryan Lee, Robbie Medwed, Matt Schafer, Dionne N. Walker, Simon Williamson
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FINE PRINT
All material in Georgia Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Georgia Voice. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. We also do not accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by Georgia Voice, but we do not take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. Guidelines for freelance contributors are available upon request. A single copy of Georgia Voice is available from authorized distribution points. Multiple copies are available from Georgia Voice office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to reach a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 26-issue mailed subscription for $60 per year. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Tim Boyd, tboyd@thegavoice.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Georgia Voice, PO Box 77401, Atlanta, GA 30357. Georgia Voice is published every other Friday by The Georgia Voice, LLC. Individual subscriptions are $60 per year for 26 issues. Postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. The editorial positions of Georgia Voice are expressed in editorials and in editor’s notes. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Georgia Voice and its staff. To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words and commentary, for web or print, should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Email submissions to editor@thegavoice.com or mail to the address above.
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12 Outspoken March 3, 2017
Full-circle moments as Georgia Voice celebrates seventh anniversary BY PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com
“While there is anxiety that comes with such uncertainty, I know that no matter what comes our way in the following months and years, our community will do what those former SOVO staffers did after being shut down – keep going.” One Monday morning in mid-November 2009, staffers from Southern Voice arrived to work to find the locks changed and a sign on the door saying that the paper’s parent companies, Window Media and Unite Media, closed down. A couple weeks later, those same staffers, along with anxious LGBT community members from around the city, crammed into the sanctuary of First Existentialist Congregation in Candler Park to find out the next steps – if there were any. Southern Voice publisher Chris Cash and editor Laura Douglas-Brown announced the creation of a new publication, but it was up to those assembled to pick a name for it. Three were written on a dry-erase board: GA Independent, GA Compass and GA Voice. A show of hands revealed an overwhelming choice. “And we have a new name,” Cash announced. And that’s where GA Voice – now spelled Georgia Voice after a 2015 rebranding – was born. The first issue came out the following March, and we mark that occasion in our current issue by celebrating our seventh anniversary. I was in the crowd that night at First Existentialist, not as a former SOVO staffer, but as a reporter covering the event for Creative Loafing, which I was freelancing for at the time. Georgia Voice’s leaders and I circled each other for a few years after that in the hopes that we could work together and that finally happened in January 2014. So it’s kind
of a full-circle moment writing about this anniversary as editor of the paper in 2017. Looking back on what things were like when Georgia Voice first came out in 2010 versus now, what’s most striking is where we were in terms of marriage equality. Same-sex couples could legally marry in just five states across the nation that year. By 2013, that number was up to 15 states, then it made a massive jump to 35 states in 2014. The following year, of course, the Supreme Court ruled that marriage equality was the law of the land in all 50. Another notable difference is the conversation around transgender issues – as in, there finally is one of significance. Greater visibility of lesbian, gay and bisexual people was a major factor in people coming around to gay marriage, and you can see the same factor at play as more and more trans people come out. But with that visibility comes danger, as we’ve seen by the number of murders of trans people – especially trans women of color – in recent years. And now, after eight years of forward momentum and progress in a number of areas under President Obama, we’re at risk of stumbling backward under President Trump. While there is anxiety that comes with such uncertainty, I know that no matter what comes our way in the following months and years, our community will do what those former SOVO staffers did after being shut down – keep going.
FEEDBACK Re: “The Otherside Lounge bombing: 20 years later,” Feb. 17 “We don’t want to remember, but we must remember horrible historic events like the bombing of one of our best nightclubs, the Otherside. We should also know how it has affected the lives of two community leaders and friends, Beverly McMahon and Dana Ford, in the generation that has passed since then. The 20 years are as difficult to claim, for me, as the truth that [Eric] Rudolph succeeded in damaging the long-term lives of his victims. Interesting now to note that Rudolph was an American terrorist, not an immigrant. I must not just remember, but thank Bev and Dana for providing a location for our HIV/AIDS prevention work, and our research with African-American gay and bisexual men. As I recall, there was no need for long pleas or explanations as to the nature of our work. Both women were simply willing to provide what we needed to help. Bev and Dana, please know that we don’t just remember the bomb blast, we remember the fun, the clean, well-kept place, the good music, the diverse staff, the good drinks at not too bad prices and your welcome. Thank you.” –Rev. Duncan E. Teague via email Re: “Georgia House announces LGBT-inclusive civil rights bill in wake of ‘religious freedom’ legislation,” Feb. 23 “All a religious freedom bill does is allow discrimination against LGBT people. So sick of ‘Christian’ Republicans trying to force the whole country to follow their bigoted religion. If it was really about religion, they would pass laws allowing people to discriminate against all sinners, which would be all of us. Even if being LGBT is a sin (it isn’t), it is no worse than any other sin.” –Lynn Bradley via Facebook Want to be featured in Feedback? Leave a comment to a story via social media or on our website, or email editor@thegavoice.com with the subject line “Feedback.” www.thegeorgiavoice.com
IN THE MARGINS By Ashleigh Atwell
So-called trans allies have dropped the ball Ashleigh Atwell is a queer lesbian writer and organizer born and raised in Atlanta, GA.
“I challenge anyone who is reading this article to think about what they have done to help the transgender community. In this instance, social media rants don’t count. What have you risked? What resources have you provided?” About four years ago, I wrote an open letter to trans women on my blog after initial charges against Islan Nettles’ murderer were dropped. I wondered why trans women’s murders received little attention as people were “rejoicing over (mostly white) queer people being able to marry and smile for photo ops in various states,” as I wrote. I’ve always wanted to update this post because though my heart was in the right place, I was still using terms like “transgendered” and honey, that ain’t cute. Also, as I read back, it’s self-congratulatory. I was so proud of myself, a cis queer woman, for writing that piece. I cringed when I read “Yes, my sisters. I’ve said time and time again that I consider other black women to be my sisters. That sisterhood isn’t just relegated to cisgendered women and neither is my feminism.” I was back-patting myself for acknowledging someone else’s humanity and trying to single myself out as one of the “good” cis people. It was gross. It was peak ally theater and at this point, that’s the best trans folks get from cis people. In mid-February, the Trump administration announced it wouldn’t honor Obama’s mandate that trans children be allowed to use the bathroom that best coincides with their genders. Prior to this, transgender kids were already catching hell in our schools. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 78 percent of transgender students in grades K-12 have been harassed. Additionally, 35 percent have been physically assaulted and 12 percent have experienced sexual violence. Now the Cheez-It in Chief says they can’t pee where they want. www.thegeorgiavoice.com
I wrote this column on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, and as of that date, five trans women of color had been murdered. The latest victim, Chyna Gibson, was killed on Saturday and Jojo Striker was killed a mere week before that. In that old blog post, I asked, “where are the campaigns and protests for these women?” Then, I proceeded to admonish the black community for its disregard of transgender people. Though it’s true that these women are often murdered by their black and POC male lovers, all of society has failed the trans community. So-called trans allies have dropped the ball, myself included. I challenge anyone who is reading this article to think about what they have done to help the transgender community. In this instance, social media rants don’t count. What have you risked? What resources have you provided? Posting “woke” Facebook statuses is easy, but how often do you share fundraisers for folks to pay their bills or reach their truths? We lose our minds every time Laverne Cox whips her ponytail or Amiyah Scott bats her eyelashes, but what, if anything, would you do if you saw a transgender woman being harassed in public? Did you know there will be a protest against the Trump decision at the Georgia State Capitol on March 13 at 11 a.m.? If you’re free, are you going? Can you answer these questions and truly be satisfied with your answer? If not, you have work to do. If so, you still have work to do. We have work to do until transgender people stop being under attack. When they’re free, we all get free.
Creep of the week
Milo Yiannopoulos faces day of reckoning By D’ANNE WITKOWSKI Remember when Simon & Schuster was going to publish a book by Milo Yiannopoulos and people were all, “But he’s a racist/misogynist/anti-trans hate monger!” And Simon & Schuster was like, “Yeah, but dollars.” But then a recording of Yiannopoulos saying nice things about pedophilia surfaced and Simon & Schuster was all of a sudden like, “No, cuz morals.” Either he was joking, or he used poor phrasing or the remarks were manipulated by selective editing. But it really doesn’t matter why Yiannopoulos said, among other things, that a priest who abused him as a boy is the reason he gives good oral sex today. What matters is that Yiannopoulos has thrown fuel on the “gays are pedophiles” fire that opponents of gay rights drag out at every opportunity. Because sex with kids is bad and people who hurt kids are the worst, therefore gays are monsters. Monsters are, of course, not human, and dehumanizing an entire group of people is a great way to justify systematic oppression and hatred of said group.
We’ve never had more antigay folks in the federal government. Let’s not forget that Steve Bannon is who hired Yiannopoulos at Milo Yiannopoulos Breitbart. And that Bannon is Trump’s right-hand man. So when Yiannopoulos says that Trump is the most progay president ever, don’t fucking kid yourself. So conservatives can clutch their pearls all they want over what they suddenly find so shocking about Yiannopoulos and his views, but he isn’t saying anything they haven’t been saying for ages. Which is exactly why he has been embraced by hatemongers everywhere. Finally, a gay man who says the same hateful shit about gay people that they do! Never mind that the vast majority of gays aren’t like Yiannopoulos and think he’s a garbage bag filled with internal organs. Yiannopoulos, for conservatives, is the True Gay. All the rest must just be fake gay news.
March 3, 2017 Outspoken 13
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Boy Next Door under new ownership New look, appearances by designers coming to Midtown menswear boutique By ROBBIE MEDWED Boy Next Door Menswear, a staple of gay Atlanta fashion for more than three decades, is under new ownership and armed with plenty of plans for the future. The store, which describes itself as a menswear boutique, carries a full range of mens’ fashions from dress wear to casual wear, swimsuits to dress shirts and more than a few styles of underwear, too. Bill Garner, Boy Next Door’s new owner, is an Atlanta native whose family reaches back more than 200 years in the region. He and his husband Ira, who he married in 2016 after being together for 16 years, were longtime customers of the store themselves. Bill tells stories of coming to the store since its opening back in 1980 – and he’s quick to say he plans on honoring its legacy. “When I learned through friends that the store was available, I was excited by the opportunity. It’s always been a great store and has evolved over time. The store has a long history in the Atlanta community and has evolved with the times. We will continue to embrace the many customers and friends of Boy Next door who have always been there while also expanding to keep pace with the growth and changes in Atlanta,” Garner said. Plenty of cosmetic changes are already underway, including fresh paint and a new look. Garner isn’t looking to change everything, but he’s certainly excited to capitalize on his own history with the store and the fact that he’s a local. “We want to assure our customers that they will continue to to receive personal care and attention,” he said. “Now, with local ownership, it will get some additional loving care.”
“We want to assure our customers that they will continue to to receive personal care and attention. Now, with local ownership, it will get some additional loving care.” —Boy Next Door Menswear’s new owner Bill Garner Year-round swimear to continue Garner is quick to point out that it’s the store’s hometown nature and strong relationships with its customers that help Boy Next Door stand out against the competition. “We are very proud of the personal relationships we have with our customers and we reward frequent shoppers through a loyalty program,” he said. That attention to detail isn’t just a result of opening a boutique store in a tight-knit neighborhood. Garner is effusive about his staff and their passion for helping shoppers find the right fashions for the right moment, whether it’s a formal evening or a tropical cruise. “The store manager, Rocky, and his staff are a terrific team,” he said. “Rocky, Tompall, Kyle and Michael all have a keen interest in fashion trends and they enjoy helping with selection, fits, colors and looks that are best for each individual. They are brand experts and always willing to consult and offer suggestions.” In a time when “shop local” isn’t just a hobby but an ideology, Boy Next Door is able to bring new fashions and looks to cater to Atlanta’s gay community in a way that the larger, corporate stores can’t.
Boy Next Door Menswear’s new owner Bill Garner (l) and veteran store manager Rocky Carroll (r). (Photo by Robbie Medwed)
Details
Boy Next Door Menswear 1447 Piedmont Ave. N.E. Atlanta, GA 30309 404-873-2664 www.BoyNextDoorMenswear.com “As an independent boutique, we focus on designers that are unique and amazing,” Garner said. “A lot of thought goes into selecting the best fresh looks and trending styles. We carefully select boutique brands that are best in design and quality.” It certainly doesn’t hurt that Boy Next Door is one of the few stores to stock swimwear and beachwear year-round, which Garner plans to continue. “Our target customer is a man who is a trendsetter, not a follower, who wants to look his best while he is on the go, confidently living life as he chooses,” he said. Designers to make store appearances Boy Next Door plans on bringing the designers of some of its most beloved brands
to the store to meet its customers. Famed underwear designer Andrew Christian begins the series with a book signing in April. And of course, because no Andrew Christian event is complete without ab-laden boys in underwear, he’ll be bringing a model with him, too. Future brand designer guests include 2EROS, BWET and SUPAWEAR. Part of Boy Next Door’s legacy is its contribution to the larger Atlanta LGBT community. It’s often a destination store for tourists coming to town for Atlanta Pride and other events, which makes Garner incredibly proud. He describes Boy Next Door as “part of both the history and the future of the Atlanta LGBT community. Atlanta is one of the few cities with an active community with restaurants, bars, parks and friendships that span decades. We enjoy the diversity within the LGBT community and are pleased with the cooperation among the multiple special interest groups. We welcome everyone to the store – gay, straight, men, women, couples, new to the community, established or just starting out. We are open to all. My husband and I are proud to call this community home.”
14 Community March 3, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
GEORGIA VOICE’S 7TH ANNIVERSARY BY THE NUMBERS
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March 3, 2017 Georgia Voice Anniversary 15
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All about
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Oscar-winning screen icon talks portraying Bette Davis and whether she regrets not voting for Hillary By CHRIS AZZOPARDI
Maybe gay people are customarily compelled to thank Susan Sarandon for her longstanding advocacy, because that’s how I begin my frank, anything-goes conversation with the 70-year-old multihyphenate. After all, no matter where you stand on Sarandon’s divisive decision to vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein in the recent presidential election, we can all agree that the Oscar-winning actress has used her massive screen-icon prestige to aid in the advancement of LGBT rights. She’s been a staunch supporter through the AIDS crisis and the fight for marriage equality – even in times when vocal Hollywood allies were scarce. Reinforcing Sarandon’s pro-queer stance is a breadth of bold, iconic and uninhibited film roles dating back to 1970: Sarandon had CONTINUES ON PAGE 18
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March 3, 2017 A&E 17
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sex with her co-star, Catherine Deneuve, in a lesbian-favorited scene that steamed up 1983’s vamp flick “The Hunger;” as Janet, she got her freak on in the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show;” and then, in 1987, teamed up with Cher for “The Witches of Eastwick” to, presumably, offer fresh fodder to every late-’80s drag queen. Later, in 1995, Sarandon appeared with many of her industry peers in the acclaimed documentary inspired by gay activist Vito Russo, “The Celluloid Closet,” which examined depictions of LGBT characters in Hollywood. The next step in being a gay icon, apparently, is playing one: Starring alongside fellow acting dynamo Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford, Sarandon portrays beloved Hollywood legend and “All About Eve” leading lady Bette Davis in Ryan Murphy’s “Feud: Bette and Joan.” Sarandon was fresh off the set of the FX series when she dished on “Feud,” and numerous other aspects of her storied life and career. The great thing about “Feud” is having you, a gay icon, play a gay icon. I can’t think of many things gayer than that. [laughs] Well, I hope the appeal seems to be broader! I’m hoping we reach out across the aisles to heterosexuals also, because what I think the story is about is a really interesting examination of all kinds of things: power and roles and misogyny and aging. How do you explain the gay fascination with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford?
it, our biggest challenge was trying to make it grounded in reality because they’re so big. Her gestures, everything – I felt like, “Here goes another meme!” [laughs] The question was, are we able to make this into something that people are actually moved by? It’s very funny, obviously, and interesting.
Susan Sarandon stars as Bette Davis in ‘Feud: Bette and Joan’ premiering Sunday, March 5 on FX. (Photos courtesy FX)
Well, I can’t speak for Joan – I can only speak for Bette. But, first of all, being some kind of outsider – she was an intruder at the time, when she was trying to get good parts, because she wasn’t your classic Hollywood beauty. So, she started off as an outsider, and I think that she had a secret, and in the early days of being gay – and still in some places – that has to be a secret. I think she had a lot of secrets, and you sense that she was trying to do things that were not easily done as a woman and as an artist, and she was a very straight shooter. When we were working on
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
Shifting to politics, some LGBT people were disappointed in your decision to cast your vote for someone other than the predicted winner, Hillary Clinton. If you would’ve known that Trump would be elected, and that we’d be experiencing such a threat to human rights, which I know are so important to you, would you have voted differently? This is the thing: To have the conversations about “woulda, shoulda, coulda” opens up everything about the primaries and all kinds of things. The important thing right now is that we stop harping on blame because blame, if you really want me to talk about this election – you know, I was not the person who brought Trump into power. The DNC [Democratic National Committee] has a lot of … there are already suits all over the country about how that was rigged, the primary. So, to talk about this, for me, is a waste of energy. I think right now we’re about to appoint Scott Pruitt, which is the end of the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency], and we’ve got this gal, [Betsy] DeVos. People have to get over what happened, take some personal responsibility for being in a bubble and not paying attention to what was going on in the country, and start applying their anger and their energy to rectifying what’s going on.
We’re at a moment in history where a revolution is taking place. We have a guy in there who is so obvious that he gives you very clear targets – this didn’t happen overnight. In the last eight years, the Democrats have lost thousands of seats. In the last eight years, we’ve put fracking and Monsanto and everybody in place. In the last eight years, there were tons of people deported. This guy is horrible. But this didn’t happen overnight. So what are we gonna do now? This is a moment where we have to start using our energy and the time that we have and the media to divest from our banks that are building these pipelines all over the place, not just in Dakota, which are going to bring down this country. Fracking is going to go full speed ahead. We have to stop that. And we have to protect those who are vulnerable under this administration, and that’s not gonna happen until we let go of what happened before and really dedicate ourselves to making phone calls, putting our bodies in the street and, most of all, taking our money out of organizations, banks and networks that are supporting the actions of this guy. Now that everybody is awake, we have to take that and that fear, and we have to not indulge our depression – not indulge on pointing fingers – and get out there and work with some of the people who are going to be betrayed by Trump who voted for him and use that as a force for real change, because now it can happen. And we’re in a moment in history where you’re gonna either be on one side or the other, and to be quiet or to be depressed or to blame me is not productive, so that’s what I would say about that.
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ACTING OUT
By JIM FARMER
Drag center stage in ‘Legend of Georgia McBride’
Actor Nick Arapoglou jokes that he often finds himself in roles where he has to do a little bit of everything, including some quirky requests. In Horizon Theatre Company’s “Avenue Q,” he handled extensive puppetry and in “The Toxic Avenger” (also at Horizon), he spent much of his time in a big green slimy costume. In Matthew Lopez’s new musicfilled comedy “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” opening March 18 at Actor’s Express, he stretches again, playing the guitar, singing, doing drag and playing a character not afraid to make an ass of himself. His character Casey is an Elvis impersonator working at a bar in the Florida panhandle. Although he loves his job, the crowds are small. With a pregnant wife at home and needing money (and more job security), he decides to fill in for a drag queen who is too drunk to perform, despite the fact that he has no experience. “At first, he has no clue about what drag is, or about the culture,” Arapoglou said. “He is absolutely terrified. It’s a lot of fun, because you can clearly see the character getting stressed out. It’s a little uncomfortable and his masculinity is being threatened. The challenge for him is the love of performing versus having a wife ask why he is doing what he does to make money. He is not homophobic, but there is a fear of what you don’t know.” The actor admits the experience has been eye-opening, seeing drag as the art form it is. “I am still learning about it,” he said. “There was much I did not know about it. I thought it was more about the makeup and costume, but you have to get the walk down and the character. Every character has his or her aesthetic. There are all shapes and sizes. You have to learn to walk in heels. It’s about morphing into someone else, but keeping some of yourself in.” He has become a fan of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and he and the cast – including Jeff McKerley, who plays fellow drag performer Miss Tracy Mills – plan to visit local drag shows. ‘Exit Strategy’ coming to True Colors Another show of interest to the LGBT community is Ike Holter’s “Exit Strategy,” www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Matthew Busch (l) and Ralph Del Rosario star in True Colors Theatre Company’s ‘Exit Strategy.’ (Photo by Greg Mooney)
Details
‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’ March 18 – April 16 Actor’s Express 887 W. Marietta St., Atlanta, GA 30318 www.actorsexpress.com ‘Exit Strategy’ Through March 18 True Colors Theatre Company at Southwest Arts Center 915 New Hope Road. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30331 www.truecolorstheatre.org
being staged by True Colors Theatre Company. Actor Matt Busch plays Ricky, an assistant principal in a school having to close down. As it does, tensions flare in the district, and he is tasked with dealing with all the teachers and their various reactions. The character is gay, something the audience discovers very early on, but who he is in a relationship with is not widely known by his colleagues. “Ricky is uncomfortable showing affection in the workplace, in case it is perceived as an inappropriate relationship,” Busch said. “He pretends that people don’t know about him when in fact they do.” As part of his research, he talked to fellow administrators to get their take on how internal relationships are perceived – and what happens when they are unearthed, as it does in the context of this acclaimed work. March 3, 2017 Columnists 19
SOUNDING OUT
By SHANNON HAMES
Antigone Rising returns to Atlanta with a new mission When Georgia Voice spoke to Kristen Henderson nearly two years ago, we discussed her family life with wife and GLAAD president/CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. This year, she shared a new passion for her band, Antigone Rising: a nonprofit called Girls Rising. The band is bringing its rock/country blend back to Georgia on March 17 at Eddie’s Attic and March 18 at Crimson Moon Café in Dahlonega. We caught up with Henderson to let her fill us in on how the band is using music to empower women on an international scale. Tell us about the band’s 501(c)3 nonprofit, Girls Rising. A few years back, we were touring with the Bangles. We would talk with them about how insane it was that there were no hugely popular all-female bands. They told us that when they heard our first album, they thought that we were going to be the next, big all-female band. It’s always nice to hear, but things didn’t turn out that way at our label. They felt like they were blazing a trail with the Go-Go’s. But when it comes to marketing and things like that, it seems that all-female bands just aren’t as commercially viable. A few months later, we were invited by the US government to travel to the Middle East to do some outreach programs in schools, youth centers, etc. It was like Beatlemania for those kids to see any Westernized band – but especially an all-female band. After these shows, throngs of kids were chasing us. There were moments when it was actually dangerous. How did that translate to what you do here in the US? We wanted to be able to go into schools and meet with groups, empowering them to pursue careers outside of what they typically see for girls. Things like science, technology, math, engineering and the arts. Having this nonprofit is giving us more of a purpose than just making albums, going out on the road and playing music. Now, when we go to a town, we try to bring kids in from a local school or youth center. We’ll have them in for sound check and talk about our experiences as women in a maledominated field.
Antigone Rising’s new nonprofit, Girls Rising, empowers young women to pursue careers outside of what they typically see. (Photo courtesy Blackheart Records Group)
Details Antigone Rising
Friday, March 17 at 7 p.m. Eddie’s Attic Antigone Rising and Michelle Malone Saturday, March 18 at 7 p.m. and 9 pm. Crimson Moon Cafe www.antigonerising.com
Are you going to be doing that in Atlanta? Yes! We’ve got a local Girl Scout troop coming to our sound check. We can’t wait! And whenever we can, we try to bring other women in too. We’ve brought Cady Coleman, a NASA astronaut, to talk to kids. You don’t see many female astronauts. We try to find women who are doing really unique work that isn’t so unique for guys to do. Like a female airline pilot. We want to expose the kids to strong women doing creative and interesting work that isn’t typical of women. Any stories that particularly stand out to you from your outreaches? Yes! There was a women’s center at the top of a mountain in this [Palestinian] village called Ni’lin. – we had to drive up a dirt path to get there. All the women from this town came to this – every woman in the vil-
lage. It was a cultural exchange where they shared their traditions with us and we shared with them. One of the teenage girls was fully covered and had a burqa on – covered in traditional Muslim clothing. She came up to [Antigone Rising drummer] Dena [Tauriello] and me, who were both wearing our Chuck Taylor high tops, and she pulled up her outfit and she had Chuck Ts and blue jeans under her wrap. She was a slam poet and she performed her poetry for everyone. She only spoke Arabic. We didn’t understand the words that she was saying, but the passion and the fire behind it was so intense that we didn’t need to know. We could see her heart in her eyes. She wanted to be strong and empowered and express herself through her poetry. Another time, we were in Tel Aviv and I was being interviewed for a television show like “Good Morning America,” but it was for Israel. It took place in this bombed-out building that they didn’t want to repair because if people knew they were still broadcasting from there, they’d just re-bomb it. I’ve never been in a place like that. I was expecting to get questions like “Where are you performing tonight?,” but this female host started firing questions at
me like, “Why do you think you can come into our country and try to get any of our women to identify with you?” She didn’t look very warm – her delivery felt hostile, but that was my interpretation. I answered, “We’re here to learn from you as much as to be understood by you.” I told her about our cultural exchange in Ni’lin. She seemed to like that answer. Later that night, she and the host of the show came to the show and were really kind and it was a great experience. You said last time we spoke that Atlanta is the band’s Southern home. What do you want to tell your fans here? We do consider Atlanta a second home. We have so many friends and family there – my kid’s cousins live there and we are there every Easter. The audiences at Eddie’s [Attic] bring something really unique because they’re serious about their music. When you find a room like that to play, as an artist, you feel really lucky. The Atlanta audience comes for an experience. We are going to deliver that. For more information about Girls Rising, visit Girlsrising.org.
20 A&E March 3, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
EATING MY WORDS By CLIFF BOSTOCK
Decadent dining in Emory Point Emory Point, a self-described “prestigious” mixed-use development, became a dining destination four years ago with the opening of The General Muir, regarded as the best deli in Atlanta by many. Since then, the number of restaurants has grown to nearly a dozen. Two of the most recent are Papi’s Cuban and Caribbean Grill and Boruboru Sushi Burrito + Bowl. Besides sharing internetfriendly long names, both are also inexpensive and well worth visiting. Papi’s (1540 Avenue Place, Decatur, 404-320-0165, www.papisgrill.com) will not be unfamiliar to Midtowners who visited the original location on Ponce de Leon, which opened a dozen or so years ago. Since then, it grew into a chain of seven restaurants, mainly in the suburbs. I have to admit, I was never very impressed with the original Papi’s. That may have changed with my visit to the new location with three friends. We didn’t get a broad sampling of the menu, but the three items we ordered all rated well. I actually ordered a Puerto Rican dish rather than a Cuban one – mofongo. It’s fried green plantains mashed with pork, garlic and some peppers, usually served in a ball over a slurpable pork broth. It’s available as an app or, as I ordered, an entrée topped with shrimp sautéed in a tomato-based sauce. It could have used a bit more sauce in the absence of the pork broth and I would love to encounter crispy bits of pork fat. But I’ll order it again, for sure. We also ordered masitas de Puerco, which was my favorite dish at Las Palmeras. Masitas are chunks of pork marinated in classic, garlicky mojo. They are pan-fried until they become almost crispy and served with black beans and rice. Finally, we ordered a traditional Cuban sandwich, adequate but not really anything very special. If you want the best there is, go to El Super Pan at Ponce City Market. Boruboru (1568 Avenue Place, Atlanta, 404-458-5518, www.boruboru.com) is destined to become my new object of gluttony, even though I’ve only had one lunch there with greedy friends. It is the latest restaurant to offer the hyper-trendy and healthful poke www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Boruboru’s rice bowls are a hit, like this one with a sautéed soft-shell crab in a bed of shredded cabbage, pickled jalapeños, asparagus and flavorful house dressing. (Photo by Cliff Bostock)
(POH-keh) – a Hawaiian-inspired bowl of raw fish combined with vegetables served over rice. Boruboru’s chef/owner is Michael Rome Noe, who worked at Tomo, one of the city’s best sushi bars. That means the fish is sparkling and the bowls are gorgeously assembled. You can order house-designed bowls or assemble your own. I actually skipped the sushi and ordered the rice bowl with a perfectly sautéed soft-shell crab in a bed of shredded cabbage, pickled jalapeños, asparagus and the mysteriously flavorful house dressing. My friend Brad ordered a salmon bowl with avocado, roasted mushrooms, crispy fried onions and asparagus. His bowl was empty – I kid you not – before Brian and I had four bites. Brian designed his own sushi rice bowl with spicy tuna, avocado, mushrooms, crispy onions and cucumber. You can order your bowls without rice or, most weirdly, as a burrito – known as a sushirrito. No, the wrapper isn’t a tortilla; it’s a sheet of nori, the seaweed wrap. Basically, it’s a take on a classic cone-shaped hand roll. You have to try both. Maybe you could arrange a progressive dinner – perhaps a more delicately flavored sushirrito at Boruboru followed by a weightier burrito at Papi’s. Cliff Bostock is a former psychotherapist now specializing in life coaching. Contact him at 404-518-4415 or cliffbostock@gmail.com. March 3, 2017 Columnists 21
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Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for March 3-16
BETS T ES
EVEN FRIDAY, MARCH 3
Don’t miss the highly acclaimed “Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs” tonight at Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.aso.org
SATURDAY, MARCH 4 – SUNDAY, MARCH 5
The Capital of the South is setting aside March 4 and 5 for “Live the 5th,” a weekend soiree designed to showcase the thriving culture, business environment and diverse neighborhoods of Atlanta’s 5th District. Various venues, www.livethe5th.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 4
Are you ready to take action to protect civil rights in Georgia? Join Freedom School to learn more about how to make an impact and advance civil rights by volunteering with the ACLU. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Blackburn Conference Center, 1405 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309 Join the March Against Hate as local Georgia activists join forces with major groups to show the world that we can overcome the discrimination many people face on a daily basis. As one united front the community can be a force that cannot be broken. 2 p.m., Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313 Join Civic Minded Citizens, Georgia Equality and other local Atlanta charities for a Georgia Legislative Update. Guest Speakers state Rep. Park Cannon (D-Atlanta) and state Rep. Sam Park (DLawrenceville) will speak about the bills that will be presented to the state Legislature during the current session. Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, will explain how our one voice can truly make a difference in local politics and how we
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FRIDAY, MARCH 10
Sandra Bernhard performs her all new show “SANDRA MONICA BLVD: Coast to Coast.” Bernhard is traversing the country taking audiences on a journey to find the soul of America. She takes you to all the places you forgot, but longed to remember in the muted colors of dreamy landscapes. Tonight at 8 p.m., City Winery, 650 North Ave., Ponce City Market, Atlanta, GA, 30308 , www.citywinery.com (Courtesy photo) can unite to continue to make Georgia a place of inclusivity and equality. 6 – 8 p.m., Joe’s on Juniper, 1049 Juniper St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.facebook.com/ events/633287066857328 Pull out those flannels, union suits and skull caps, squeeze into your signature tight jeans and expect a hot logjam full of furry chests and faces, hot daddies, wolves, bears and their cubs at the ManShaft: Lumberjack Edition. And remember, what happens in the woods, stays in the woods, 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., Heretic Atlanta, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 303224, www.hereticatlanta.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 5
DJ Karlitos spins late night tunes, 3 a.m., Xion Atlanta, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook.com/events/252396125172172
MONDAY, MARCH 6
Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies. Charis Books provides a facilitated space to discuss
gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. Whether silently or aloud, please come ready to consider your own gender in a transient world, 7 – 8:30 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBT children meets tonight from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1911 Cliff Valley Way N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329, www.uuca.org
SAGE Atlanta’s social hour begins at 10 a.m., followed by a program/meeting at 11 a.m., Phillip Rush Center Annex, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.rushcenteratl.org
TUESDAY, MARCH 7
Fresh on the heels of his 2015 Spring Conscious Coupling Ceremony, Atlanta’s own Baton Bob – the Ambassador of Mirth – has decided to get into the event planning business himself with his Out of the Box Events. Many of the vendors Baton Bob will be working with will be present today for a preview, including Deb Bowman and the Big Love Band, DJ Bill Berdeaux and Park Tavern, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Ventanas, 275 Baker St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313
Bring out your inner Taylor Swift at karaoke night at My Sister’s Room, with no cover and food and drink specials, 9 p.m., 66 12 St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mysistersroom.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
Join Charis and GA Wand in welcoming Ruadh Swennerfelt to talk about her book “Rising to the Challenge: The Transition Movement and People of Faith.” The author will talk about the hope and possibilities she finds in communities on the front lines of climate change, those that make up the “transition movement.” Swennerfelt chronicles her involvement in the worldwide Transition Town movement, visiting Transition communities and forward-looking permaculture projects across the US, Europe,
CONTINUES ON PAGE 24 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR LGBT EVENT Submit your LGBT event for inclusion in our online and print calendars by emailing event info to editor@thegavoice.com CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 Brazil and Israel/Palestine. The suggested donation is $5. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com
FRIDAY, MARCH 10 – SUNDAY, MARCH 12
Shake the rust off your rackets, come out of hibernation and kick off the 2017 tennis season with your tennis friends and family. Come join ATTA (Atlanta Team Tennis Association) for the 2017 Hooch Doubles Classic. Register now to play in the always competitive and fun-filled men’s, women’s and mixed doubles draws. This tournament serves as ATTA’s club championships. Sharon Lester Tennis Center, 400 Park Drive N.E., Atlanta, GA 30306, www.facebook.com/ events/1132956833488109
FRIDAY, MARCH 10
Nearly two dozen mosques throughout Georgia are taking part in the second annual Visit a Mosque Day, where they will open their doors to help people of other faiths learn about Islam. 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., www.facebook.com/ events/1365707283492074 The Picture Newspaper and Reception/Release Party of Regional Edition exhibition considers the history of Picture Newspaper, an anonymous queer newspaper originally conceived in New York City by Peter Hujar and Steve Lawrence. The publication, which originally ran from 1969 to 1971, celebrated the early work of Hujar alongside Andy Warhol and Diane Arbus. Marcelo Yáñez, a young art historian, gay activist and archivist at NYU, discovered the publication in the closet of Danny Fields, of untold punk fame, and began to extensively research its history. He subsequently elected to recreate the publication, championing contemporary, transgressive queer and transgender photography. The exhibition will be curated by Mo Costello and Marcelo Yañez,
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SATURDAY, MARCH 11
The drama “Exit Strategy,” which deals with education and also has a gay subplot, has an 8 p.m. performance tonight, running through March 19, Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30331, www.truecolorstheatre.org (Courtesy photo) Murmur, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.100 Broad St. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook. com/events/149517382229891 Busted – A Night of Fugly Drag is the official afterparty for the reception of Picture Newspaper and Reception/ Release Party of Regional Edition at Murmur. The event features a full cast of local trans and gender nonconforming performers: Darionce Jackson, JayBella Banks, Koochie-Koochie Ku, Lola Bundy, Mystery Meat, Pity Soirée and Zaida J, with music by DJ Christal Gemme. 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., The Mammal Gallery, 91 Broad St. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook. com/events/228026560937352
SATURDAY, MARCH 11
Enjoy a night with Atlanta’s own Diane Durrett and Soul Suga’. With a blend of raw soulful vocals, sultry tones and strong original songs, Durrett sang with Sting, The Indigo Girls, Gregg Allman, Chuck Leavell and Peter Stroud and opened shows for Tina Turner, KoKo Taylor, Faith Hill, Little Feat, Delbert McClinton, and Derek Trucks, 8 p.m. – 12 a.m., The Vista Room ATL, 2836 LaVista Road, Decatur, GA 30033, www.facebook.com/ events/1326886047376894
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
It’s Round Two of the Postcard Party, aka Postcards from the Edge. Join other politically minded Atlantans to write postcards demanding “no” votes to defunding Planned Parenthood, to repealing the
Affordable Care Act, to privatizing Medicare, having a Muslim ban and creating a wall on the US-Mexico border, 6 p.m., Noni’s, 357 Edgewood Ave. S.E., Atlanta, GA 30312, www.facebook.com/ events/754576418036896
MONDAY, MARCH 13
State legislatures the nation over are making strides to deny transgender folks access to public facilities. So, the trans community will occupy the steps and common area of the Georgia State Capitol to make lawmakers understand the necessity of unfettered access to public accommodations at the No One Pees event. Allies are encouraged to show up in support. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Georgia State Capitol, 206 Washington St. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30334 http://tinyurl.com/ztojslc
TUESDAY, MARCH 14
Come out for #TMITuesdays tonight at the Atlanta Eagle, 7 p.m. – 2 a.m., 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.atlantaeagle.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 – FRIDAY, MARCH 17
The Jane and Harry Willson Center for Humanities and Arts will welcome internationally-acclaimed Irish writer Colm Tóibín to the University of Georgia as the second annual Delta Visiting Chair for Global Understanding. Tóibín will hold public speaking events on and off the UGA campus, as well as participate in more personal interactions with students and
faculty during his visit. 1260 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30602
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15
Atlanta Pride and Out On Film present a screening of the award-winning documentary “Political Animals,” which tells the story of the gay rights movement through the eyes of four elected women. The film features groundbreaking lesbians Carole Migden, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg and Christine Kehoe, who took the fight for the causes most personal to them and their communities off the streets and into the halls of government. Rush Center Annex, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.facebook. com/events/164497684056192
THURSDAY, MARCH 16
Charis and Cliterati pair up to present an inviting and fierce open mic and reading series on the third Thursday of every month. This month’s feature is Tori Grace Nichols. Nichols is a rising performance artist, poet, musician, actor, dancer and activist. They identify as a queer, genderqueer, transracial adoptee living with disabilities. Through their work as an educator and organizer, they have been given insight to the multi-layered, multi issue movements of our time, and our great need for healing. This is a Charis Circle From Margin to Center Literary Event, with a suggested donation of $5. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com
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SOMETIMES ‘Y’ By RYAN LEE
‘Moonlight’ shines through all the shade It feels like “Moonlight” has broken my heart every other beat for the past few months. I was delirious when I reserved seats for an advance screening, hence my friend and I making it to the ticket-taker at Atlantic Station’s Regal 16 before I looked at the printout and realized we were supposed to be at the AMC 14 at Phipps Plaza. By the time we arrived at Phipps, there was a line of about 100 people with “reservations” trying to get into the already full theater. The dejection I felt that night was mild compared to how my spirit sank upon walking in the theater when the movie opened in Atlanta a week later. Given the overflow crowd at the screening, along with the excitement saturating my social media feeds, I braced myself to search for bad seating when my friend and I walked in the theater as the previews were starting. But there were only about a dozen people in the seats, plus a similar number who trickled in during the first act of the movie. It hurt that so few people might hear such a poignant message, that an artistic statement you were passionately anticipating was of no concern to most people, because most people aren’t all that aware of, or interested in, the experiences of black gay men. Every scene and storyline of “Moonlight” rocked my soul during that initial viewing, in the categories featured at awards shows, and the familiar crises that mirrored elements of my adolescence and young adulthood. The emotions were as powerful each time I took a new set of friends to the theater, and the seats were just as sparsely filled. Although I didn’t measure the film’s worth by its box office draw, it was disappointing to realize that there would be no “Brokeback”-level buzz among mainstream LGBT media and culture, and that the movie would go unseen by a majority of black folks who posted about #OscarsSoWhite earlier in the year. In that way, “Moonlight” www.thegeorgiavoice.com
“Black gay excellence – the first all-black cast, and the first LGBT-themed movie to rise to the top of the industry – was undermined and overshadowed, with news reports starting with details of the onstage chaos, then transitioning to the individual awards won by ‘La La Land,’ while a segment of black folks bemoan Hollywood celebrating the supposed emasculation of black manhood.” was an apt metaphor for how black gay men are ignored by both those communities, let alone broader society. It’s now symbolic of larger disconnects after the snafu during the Best Picture presentation at the Oscars, which seemed to be a dramedy of incompetence rather than a racist conspiracy to undermine black gay excellence. Still, black gay excellence – the first all-black cast, and the first LGBTthemed movie to rise to the top of the industry – was undermined and overshadowed, with news reports starting with details of the onstage chaos, then transitioning to the individual awards won by “La La Land,” while a segment of black folks bemoan Hollywood celebrating the supposed emasculation of black manhood. Through it all, “Moonlight” stands as Best Picture, filling my heart anew every other beat. Ryan Lee is an Atlanta writer. March 3, 2017 Columnists 27
Three alluring works celebrating the timeless beauty & power of ballet!
Sponsored by
Featuring selections from Paquita choreographed by Marius Petipa and staged by Gennadi Nedvigin North American premiere of Vespertine by Liam Scarlett World premiere of Denouement by Gemma Bond*
March 17 – 19, 2017
*The world premiere by Gemma Bond is commissioned by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Visit atlantaballet.com/gennadis-choice or call | 1.800.982.2787 for the best seats! Groups of 10+, call 404.873.5811 x207.
Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
Gennadi Nedvigin & Rachel Van Buskirk. Photos by Charlie McCullers.