Georgia Voice 05/19/23, Vol. 14 Issue 5

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

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

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

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

ABOUT BIKTARVY

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

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

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

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

 Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect 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.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

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

 Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fi ght infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.

 Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

 Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

You are encouraged to report negative side e ects 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.

(bik-TAR-vee)

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2023 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0292 04/23

No matter where life takes you,

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.

Person featured takes BIKTARVY and is compensated by Gilead.

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

About the cover:

Cover Photo by Shutterstock.com/ Towering Goals

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The Best Part of Leaving is Coming Home

One of my favorite parts of traveling is coming home. That may sound like I don’t like traveling, that I can’t wait for it to be over, but the opposite is true. In my editorial for this issue last year, I wrote about my childhood, during which travel was extremely limited, and how I’ve had the privilege to prioritize travel in my adulthood. Some of my greatest memories are of tubing through caves in Belize, coping with my first vicious hangover with Tim Hortons in Toronto, having fish nibble at my toes in a Mexican cenote, getting afternoon tea at the Ritz in London, and reading in the historic upstairs nook of the Shakespeare and Company book shop in Paris.

I had life-changing experiences on all of those trips, and on every single one, I was relieved when I was home again. Not because I had a terrible time, but because traveling is … a lot. Especially as someone with a lower income.

Because I have limited discretionary funds, every trip I go on I plan as though I will never return — because I likely won’t. It’s expensive for me to fly to Europe, so if I ever do it again, chances are I won’t be returning to London or Paris. I don’t have the money for a weekslong excursion, so trying to fit the experience of an entire city into a couple of days can be extremely overwhelming. As someone who errs on the side of introversion, doing multiple activities back-to-back, several days in a row — while also socializing with my travel companions the entire time — can be exhausting for me. There are also the natural stressors of travel, especially with transportation. Flying is a nightmare, and traversing a new city can

be difficult. While in Paris, for example, we went on the wrong train line and were crammed into a bus like sardines at 2am before our flight home at 6am because we didn’t realize the Metro didn’t stay open late, and witnessed traffic that makes Atlanta rush hour seem like child’s play — all in the span of a couple of days.

Coming home to a place that is comfortable after being pushed for days on end to explore someplace unfamiliar, someplace that probably posed several challenges you had to overcome, is such an incredible feeling that it almost makes the trip worthwhile in and of itself.

But I’m not just happy to be home because I’m exhausted and can finally be alone to rest. Traveling makes me grateful for the life I have. I’m excited to come home to take care of my chores, to write and answer emails, to read my books and watch my shows, to sleep and to shower in my own bed and bathroom. As much as I love exploring a new city, I love

coming back to what’s mine just as much.

Travel is not about escaping your life. It’s about expanding your capacity to enjoy the life you have. Yes, it is more stressful and time-consuming than vacationing at a resort on the beach (and sometimes, relaxing with all-inclusive food and drinks is what you need). But I genuinely do think travel is necessary to a good life. You can maximize your trip by minimizing stress — book through a travel company like EveryQueer (page 11) or plan out your trip by plotting your activities on your own map (go to maps. google.com and select “saved” from the side menu, go to the “maps” tab, and click “create your own map”).

As someone who loves nothing more than returning home, I can tell you that travel is absolutely worth the stress. Every new experience, new city, and new memory will only deepen your appreciation for what you call home and make living what may seem a mundane life feel like the gift it is.

Katie Burkholder

PHOTO

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART ATLANTA

Read these stories and more online at thegavoice.com

Mayor Dickens Announces $55,000 in Funding for Trans Community

Mayor Andre Dickens has announced a combined $55,000 in proposed funding to support Atlanta’s transgender community.

The funding was introduced to the Atlanta City Council via legislation sponsored by Councilmember Matt Westmoreland. Once approved, these funds will represent the City’s single largest investment in the transgender community.

“Across the nation, we are seeing a push against the transgender community to eliminate the fundamental right to simply be who they are,” Mayor Dickens said. “Everyone has the right to live their life with dignity and freedom from fear, and our Administration wants the transgender community to know we stand with them.”

Three pieces of legislation introduced to City Council will allocate $10,000 to Atlanta Legal AID Society to support helping trans and non-binary residents through the legal process of changing their names and updating their supporting documents, $25,000 to Destination Tomorrow for a first-of-its-kind LGBTQ mentoring pilot program, and $20,000 to Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) to sponsor up to 25 scholarships for Black Mental Health and Healing Justice Peer Support Training for trans and gender expansive youth.

“We are grateful to receive funding from the City of Atlanta to support the launch of our new LGBTQ mentoring program,” Sean Ebony Coleman, founder and executive director of Destination Tomorrow, said in a statement. “This grant will allow us to expand our services and help to fill the undeniable gap of resources for Trans and Gender Nonbinary/Nonconforming individuals in the South. As the first Trans organization to receive funding from the city, this signifies a growing recognition of the unique challenges faced by our community. We look forward to working with the City of Atlanta and other community partners to further provide LGBTQ individuals, specifically

be able to donate blood just like everyone else.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Thursday that blood donors would no longer be assessed by their sexual orientation, but rather by individual questions to determine risk factors and possible exposure to HIV/AIDS.

“These questions will be the same for every donor, regardless of sexual orientation, sex or gender,” the FDA said. “Blood establishments may now implement these recommendations by revising their donor history questionnaires and procedures.”

Transgender people, with critical in-depth programming. We also urge other governing bodies, particularly in this region, to uplift local leaders supporting the community.” — Sean

Ebony Coleman, founder

and executive director of Destination Tomorrow

“I’m grateful for the leadership of Mayor Dickens and our Division of LGBTQ Affairs in providing resources and support to our trans residents,” Westmoreland said. “As a former teacher and school board member, I am especially excited about the investments in our young people. I hope this reinforces to them that we see them and love them.”

Mayor Dickens also recently appointed trans advocate Dominque Morgan to the Human Relations Commission — the body that investigates and hears complaints regarding discrimination and makes recommendations to the City on how to resolve such complaints.

Last year — through a partnership with FUSE Corps and the Okra Project — Mayor Dickens welcomed the City of Atlanta’s first ever Transgender Affairs Equity Fellow, who works alongside the Division of LGBTQ Affairs to build a playbook to advance equity in Atlanta’s transgender and genderexpansive community.

FDA: Blood Donors Will No Longer Be Excluded by Sexual Orientation

After a decades-long ban and required abstinence, men who have sex with men will

The move began in January, when the FDA first proposed doing away with targeting men who have sex with men and instead asking all donors about new or multiple sex partners in the last three months and their history of anal sex in the last three months. Prospective donors who are on PrEP would also be exempt from donating blood, as “the available data demonstrate that their use may delay detection of HIV.”

“The implementation of these recommendations will represent a significant milestone for the agency and the LGBTQI+ community,” said Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

As a result of the AIDS crisis, the FDA put a lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men from donating blood in 1983. In 2015, the agency relaxed the rules and instead required that men who have sex with men abstain from sex for one year before donating. This time period was shortened to three months in 2020. In the days following the Pulse shooting in Orlando that killed 49 people, rumors circulated that the rules had been lifted — however, the FDA confirmed that no, gay and bisexual men were still unable to donate blood to those who needed it.

On Thursday, the Congressional Equality Caucus applauded the FDA’s update for blood donors.

“For far too long, the federal government used outdated and unscientific fears to determine who can and cannot give blood,” Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Pocan said in a statement. “This recommendation aligns with the LGBTQI+ community’s long-term request for individualized risk-based assessments.”

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens PHOTO BY PHIL MISTRY / PHIL FOTO IS LICENSED UNDER CC BY 2.0.

NAESM to Host 19th Annual National Leadership Conference

Sukainah Abid-Kons

For the 19th year, NAESM, Inc. will host its annual National African American Leadership Conference on Health Disparities and Social Justice from June 7 to 11 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza. The theme of this year’s conference will be “All Hands-on Deck: Deploying a Syndemic Response to HIV.”

The conference will include numerous workshops facilitated by presenters from 20 cities across fifteen states, including Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia.

“It’s the oldest conference for Black gay men,” Doug Anthony, conference meeting planner, told Georgia Voice. “It’s a conference for Black gay men, by Black gay men.”

Anthony added that the target audience is Black gay, bisexual, queer, same-gender loving, and trans men. The aim of the conference is congruent with NAESM’s mission to provide national and local leadership to address the myriad of health and wellness issues confronted by Black gay men through advocacy, services, and education. Additionally, the conference celebrates national brotherhood where Black gay men and allies convene not only to address health inequities, but also to share the same space at the same time in the spirit of love and unity.

From a social justice perspective, Anthony said that the community must be continually steadfast in the pursuit of social justice and nurture advocates who can help lobby for and craft policies to help address these disparities. Disparities which, Anthony said, Black LGBTQ men face today through challenges such as access to health care and

treatment for HIV.

“Each year, under the leadership of Executive Director Alvan Quamina, NAESM sets a conference agenda with a theme to encourage provocative and enlightening discussions with a holistic approach in combating the HIV epidemic and other health disparities” Anthony said. “The conference is allencompassing of a holistic view of how we deal with HIV and health disparities, and on the same token … finding solutions and being lobby in the social justice realm.”

The non-profit that founded the conference, NAESM, Inc., also has a long history of advocating for Black men in the LGBTQ community. It was founded in order to address the health disparities that Black gay men were facing during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the ’80s and ’90s. According to its website, the organization “envisions a Black gay men’s community that

enjoys legal, civic, social, health and wellness equity with all other communities.”

Reflecting on the long history of the conference, Anthony said that the achievement he is most proud of coming out of the event is the Creating Responsible Intelligent Black Brothers Fellowship Program, commonly referred to as CRIBB. The yearlong fellowship is a leadership development course for 10 or more Black gay or bisexual men (ages 19–30) who are selected to participate. The aim of the fellowship program is to “provide Black gay and bisexual men with leadership training and mentoring support that will strengthen their capacity to contribute to local and national efforts in reducing and ending the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, other health disparities, and social injustices, impacting Black communities,” according to the NAESM website.

Anthony said he’s also proud of the CRIBB program because it gives purpose to why we

need our young Black gay and bisexual men to continue the work that others have fought for the right to be heard and seen to bring about change legislatively for access to health care and treatment.

“When you can harness the talent of Black gay youth and groom them into becoming competent advocates of the community to lobby on behalf of Black gay, bisexual, samegender-loving and trans men, that is the beauty of it, because you see the effort of the Fellowship in the Black gay youth leaders of today,” Anthony said.

Along with focusing on important issues such as the HIV epidemic and health disparities faced by Black LGBTQ men, Anthony says the conference will also incorporate a celebration for Pride Month. Atlanta’s Pride festivals usually take place in September and October, so NAESM will be hosting a Pride block party on June 9 to celebrate the month. The party is open to the public and will take place at the Loudermilk Conference Center from 4pm to 9.

Registration for the conference is still open online at naesminc.org/leadershipconference/registration.

Team NAESM PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

“It’s the oldest conference for Black gay men. It’s a conference for Black gay men, by Black gay men.”

—Doug Anthony, conference meeting planner

EveryQueer OPENS

THE WORLD UP TO LGBTQ TRAVELERS

Katie Burkholder

Meg Ten Eyck was working in the world of LGBTQ lobbying and activism with organizations like HRC, GLSEN, and Trevor Project. She was passionate about her work and advocating for the LGBTQ community, but she was burning out. When she took a new job in South Korea, she had no idea that it would lead to founding a travel company where she could follow her passion while still taking care of herself.

While in South Korea, Ten Eyck started a travel diary catering to queer women.

“[A]t the time, there was no information [about traveling] for queer women online,” Eyck told Georgia Voice. “In fact, there was only one lesbian travel blogger, and she had happened to be gay but she didn’t really write about LGBTQ issues. Because of my background in policy and LGBTQ advocacy, I was uniquely positioned to answer a lot of questions that were being asked. So, my site was quickly indexed by Google, and I started getting messages saying, ‘My partner and I are traveling to insert destination here. What are your thoughts?’ And if it had been a place that I had visited, I would respond [with] these really lengthy emails. I kind of realized after getting like three or four [on] the same destination that I should be publishing these.”

From there, Ten Eyck was offered the opportunity for a now-defunct LGBTQ publication based in Europe to cover all European Pride events, and what started as a travel diary over the course of a decade grew into EveryQueer.

EveryQueer is a travel media company teaching queer travelers how to safely see the world. They publish detailed travel content, consult destinations around the world on LGBTQ travel and tourism — from

marketing and professional development training to helping them use local queer resources and entrepreneurs — and now offer worldwide tours specifically catering to queer women, trans, and nonbinary people.

While hearing “LGBTQ travel” might bring some destinations automatically to mind, Ten Eyck and EveryQueer specialize in travel to anti-LGBTQ destinations to expand the horizons LGBTQ people are able to reach.

“I’ve been to probably ten different countries now where it’s illegal to be queer, and I was traveling with very queer-presenting, gender nonconforming partners and friends,” Ten Eyck said. “A lot of people will see that content, and they’re just blown away by it. They’re like, ‘Wow, I want to be that brave, I want to do that,’ without really realizing that there are ways to be able to go on those adventures without being at risk. It’s more about a perception of fear than the reality of danger, but there is definitely a learning curve. There are steps that you can take in order to travel safely and going to more adventurous travel destinations in a welcoming and affirming way.”

All of their tours are designed with LGBTQ travelers in mind, both in inclusion — providing tailored experiences like genderneutral bathrooms, gender-neutral hotel rooms, and other necessary accommodations — and in actual programming. Every tour includes LGBTQ-specific events, parties, history, and/or guides, all curated to the specific destination.

This summer, EveryQueer is partnering with R Family Vacations and Olivia Cruises for an LGBTQ family cruise taking off from Orlando and sailing to the Bahamas, Mexico, and Honduras from July 16 through 23.

“I remember one woman had said that

[an LGBTQ family cruise was] the first opportunity as a child that she had ever had where every family was like hers,” Ten Eyck said. “And I think there’s just like something really beautiful and important about that.”

Later this summer, a group will travel to Playa del Carmen in Mexico for a short and sweet gay Cancun trip from August 24 through 28. Travelers will enjoy watersports, the jungles of Yucatan, the ruins of Tulum, two luxury three-course dinner parties (with a top-shelf open bar), LGBTQ nightlife, and five-star accommodations.

Later this year, EveryQueer will travel to Argentina to ride a float in a Pride parade and soak up the vast LGBTQ nightlife (including Fiesta Rose Girls, the world’s largest monthly lesbian party, bringing in 2,500 to 3,000 guests) and Thailand to take part in the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival and enjoy a Ladyboy cabaret. Early next year, they will travel to Egypt (where it is illegal to be gay) on a river cruise.

EveryQueer offers not only safety and

inclusion to the LGBTQ community, but also the expansion and growth that come with adventure and cultural exchange.

“I think travel opens people’s minds, and I think people deserve to see that,” Ten Eyck said. “We shouldn’t only be limited to the places that have marriage equality. I don’t think it should be just limited to places that are traditional LGBT destinations. Like don’t get me wrong, Ibiza is incredible, right? But what else is there? What are those trips that like change who you are as a person? I want to be able to cultivate those experiences while uplifting our community. It’s kind of redundant at this point to say how many queer women’s spaces are closing, how many bars are shutting down, and how many parties are ending. If I can provide those opportunities for women to bond together, connect to build community, and be able to expand their horizons by seeing the world like that, there’s nothing more rewarding.”

There are still spots available on all of EveryQueer’s upcoming tours. To learn more and book, visit everyqueer.com/tours-events.

CEO of EveryQueer, Meg Ten Eyck PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM

Magical India

HAS EVERYTHING QUEER TRAVELERS WANT

Planning an LGBTQ trip to India, even for the skilled traveler and journalist I have become, has its challenges. In the past — and even now — there are tour operators and hotels that said they were LGBTQ-friendly but turned out only to be after the pink rupee, falling short on how to handle LGBTQ travelers’ needs once queer travelers are on the tour. Finding India’s queer community and businesses, especially for queer women, is getting easier in India’s most populous cities: New Delhi, the capital, and Mumbai, its financial center. Stepping outside these hubs, finding community continues to be a challenge, because businesses aren’t publicly out for safety and financial reasons.

However, over the last 15 years, India has been opening up to queer Western travelers. Since 2009, some LGBTQ travel companies, both Indian- and foreign-owned, have paved the way by planning legitimate LGBTQ-welcoming packaged trips. In 2020, the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association launched its India Task Force (now the India Initiative), of which I’m a member. The initiative is making headway in opening India to queer travelers. In February, IGLTA hosted its first India LGBTQ travel symposium at LaLiT New Delhi and appointed Keshav Suri, a gay man, the new chair of the India Initiative.

The Indian luxury hotel chain is owned by the

LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group and operated by Suri. Suri was one of the plaintiffs in the case that repealed Section 377. The hotel’s nightclub, Kitty Su, hosts drag shows and gay DJs on specific nights.

“It’s the perfect time to come” to India because the country is opening up to LGBTQ people and offers diverse experiences from culinary to wildlife, wrote Robindro “Robin” Saikhom, the founder of Serene Journeys, one of the Indian gay-owned travel companies, in an email interview. “India has virtually everything the world traveler is looking for, all set in a festive, friendly environment.”

I selected New Zealand-based Out in India to help me plan most of my trip in India. I also booked an Intrepid Travel eight-day Golden Triangle tour that started in New Delhi and traveled to Jaipur, known as the “Pink City,” and the Taj Mahal in Agra. Intrepid Travel launched a women-only tour of India in 2020.

To travel to India, Americans need a visa. I used a service, like Atlys or iVisa, but to save money, skip the additional administrative fee on top of the visa fee and get an e-visa directly from the Indian consulate. This can take 24 to 48 hours.

My girlfriend and I traveled to Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik in the Indian state of Maharashtra and Kochi (also known as Cochin) in the state

of Kerala. I traveled on my own to Rajpipla in the state of Gujarat, and then to New Delhi, before joining the tour.

Traveling through India for five weeks was one of the best journeys I’ve ever experienced. I was taken in by the busy streets, the blend of spices that waft into the air from street markets and restaurants, the art and culture, the layers of history, and the friendliness and warmth of its people. I enjoyed meeting many LGTBQ Indians and learning about their fight for LGBTQ rights and their hopes for the future of their movement and country. It was truly an unforgettable adventure.

ART, CULTURE, AND HISTORY

India has a layered history from centuries of invasions, from the Mughals and the British, and people escaping persecution, such as Jews from Israel and the Parsis from Iran, to the country’s own tribes and the enslavement of Africans. Each community left its mark on the artistry, design, and architecture, both in antiquities and in present-day India. In India’s cities, from the palaces and country clubs of the British Raj to the

temples and edifices of the Mughals, art and history were etched in stone and evident in the engineering of each building. It was breathtaking, overwhelming, and thoughtprovoking.

I couldn’t have gone on my first trip to India without seeing the Taj Mahal in Agra. The ivory Mughal mausoleum lives up to its hype from its impressive stance and history. Perched above the Yamuna River, it is stunning at sunset when the marble gets that golden glow captured in thousands of photos, but nothing will ever beat seeing it in real life.

Not as impressive, but close, is the Hawa Mahal (Pink Palace) in Jaipur. It was built of red and pink sandstone in 1799 and is an extension of the Royal City Palace for women of the royal court to enjoy peering out into city life without being seen. There is also the mystical appearance of Jal Mahal (“Water Palace”), settled on top of the water as if it is floating in the middle of Man Sagar Lake;

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

Heather Cassell

India’s Taj Mahal PHOTO BY HEATHER CASSELL

CULTURE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

it is believed to be a former summer palace of the royals built in 1699. The Amber Fort, built in 1592 out of red sandstone, rests on top of a hill over the small town of Amer.

In New Delhi, I enjoyed visiting the Lotus Temple and the famous Sikh temple, Sheeshganj Gurudwara, where they feed 10,000 people daily.

QUEER INDIA

India’s LGBTQ community is vibrant, creative, and full of life. In Mumbai, I spent a fun evening at a lively queer trivia night hosted by Gaysi Mumbai, an LGBTQ group that promotes queer events, at the Independence Brewery Company in Andheri West.

One of the wonderful things about India is the art, culture, and literary scene. I was pleased to discover LGBTQ artists and art experts like Kalki Subramaniam, a transgender woman, gallery founder, and director of Sahodari Art Gallery. The gallery, which features 45 LGBTQ artists — mostly transgender people — is about four hours outside Kochi by car.

In Mumbai and New Delhi, I learned about the city’s LGBTQ art scene and history with gay art historian Aditya Ruia, the owner of Bombay Art Gallery. Ruia also leads an LGBTQ art tour in Mumbai. On one of my memorable nights in Mumbai, I randomly toured Colaba’s Art Deco architecture, art galleries, and boutiques with filmmaker Faraz Arif Ansari.

In New Delhi, Serene Journeys’ Saikhom leads guests through about 55 public murals on the Lodhi Art Public Art Tour. Sambhav Dehlavi, the gay owner and tour guide of Purani Dilliwala Iqbal, leads an LGBTQ history tour through the city.

The tour with Dehlavi was one of the most memorable tours I experienced during my trip. One of the sites he showed me was a tomb of a king and his male or transgender lover buried side-by-side. There were many other sites throughout New Delhi where it is suspected that LGBTQ history took place.

FOOD, BEER, AND WINE

Microbreweries are all the rage in India. Pune

is the birthplace of India’s microbrewery scene. In 2020 there were 12 craft breweries in the city and many more throughout India. My girlfriend and I were thrilled to discover the craft breweries that served excellent beers with delicious bar food. We barhopped through Pune and Mumbai, stopping at Effingut Brewery, Independence Brewing Company and Toit Brewery in Pune, and Doolally Taproom and Drifters Tap Station in Mumbai.

Nashik is the birthplace of India’s emerging wine industry. India’s wine country boasts more than 30 wineries. Nashik was inspired by and has roots in California’s wine country, but it won’t be mistaken for California’s Napa Valley or Sonoma County. Over a quarter century since the first grapes were planted at Sula Vineyards in 1996, to its first bottle crafted and corked in 1999, producing quality Indian wine is still a work in progress.

During the few days that we hung out with my girlfriend’s cousins on her mother’s side of the family in Nashik, we went to Sula and visited York Winery. However, the best Indian wine we discovered was at a bar in Fort Kochi, produced by Big Banyan Vineyard in Bengaluru. It gave us a glimpse of the possibility that India could one day produce California-quality wine.

Kochi, Kerala is where I got my fill of seafood. On the shores of the Arabian Sea, the port town is known for its Chinese fishing nets,

beaches, and backwaters traversed by boat to see the wildlife.

WHERE TO EAT

We cautiously ate our way through India. We took recommendations from friends and looked for modern eateries that we would expect to see back home and places that looked clean. Some of our favorite restaurants included:

MUMBAI

The Birdsong Cafe, a charming organic eatery tucked away on a narrow street in Bandra West; Loya at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel; and Jimmy Boy, a local Parsi restaurant that Ansari introduced me to in Colaba, Mumbai.

PUNE

We happened upon the Pan-Asian restaurant Malaka Spice and enjoyed cocktails at Culture.

KOCHI

In Kochi, we enjoyed freshly caught fish grilled and poached at Fort Cochin around the corner from the Trident Hotel Cochin, where we stayed.

NEW DELHI

I enjoyed a variety of excellent cuisines in New Delhi. On my last night there I ate a wonderful Italian dinner at the lesbianowned Diva restaurant. Chef Ritu Dalmia, one of the plaintiffs in the 377 case that broadened LGBT rights in India, opened

her new restaurant in Greater Kailash-2, an unofficial gayborhood where rainbow flags wave freely outside many businesses. I enjoyed another good Italian dinner at Fat Jar Cafe & Market. LaLiT New Delhi’s Pan Asian restaurant, OKO offers the flavors of Asia and views of the city at the top of the hotel. The Spice Market — Kitchen & Bar in the city’s Southern Park Mall served up spicy tandoori and flavorful dishes.

WHERE TO STAY

In Mumbai and New Delhi, I stayed at the LaLiT Hotel. I also stayed at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, India’s eco-friendly Orchid Hotel, and a vacation rental in Bandra West in Mumbai.

In Pune, we stayed at the Hyatt Pune. In Jaipur, our tour group stayed at the Hotel Arya Niwas, and on our way to Agra we stayed at Hotel Bhanwar Vilas Palace in Karauli, a town in the mountains between Jaipur and Agra.

In Nashik, we stayed at the three-star, business-focused Ibis Hotel.

Getting off India’s beaten path, I stayed as a guest of the LGBTQ Community Ashram, the community center and retreat in Rajpipla owned by gay Indian Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil and his husband, DeAndre Richardson. The ashram was being built on the banks of the Karjan River to provide services for the local LGBTQ community and a retreat for queer organizations.

From Left: Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil’s husband, DeAndre Richardson, Prince Manvendra, Rhea, and Sasheis at the LGBTQI Community Ashram in Rajpipla, in the Indian state of Gujarat. PHOTO BY HEATHER CASSELL

“I stayed as a guest of the LGBTQ Community Ashram, the community center and retreat in Rajpipla owned by gay Indian Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil and his husband, DeAndre Richardson.”

Descanso IS

PALM SPRINGS’ NEWEST GAY RESORT

Descanso is the first resort for gay men to open in Palm Springs in more than 10 years, and “the response has been beyond expectations,” according to general manager Kent Taylor. Weekends are already booked through June, although some weeknights are still available during Pride month.

Taylor said the trend among the area’s gay resorts in recent years has been to go straight, and his property was one of the first to do so. Formerly called East Canyon, it lasted as a straight resort for about four years.

Now, however, the property has been completely renovated and has reopened with amenities “to create a special men’s experience,” Taylor said. Currently the resort features 14 rooms, but two more will come online once they’ve been refurbished to Descanso standards.

Rooms feature king-size beds. There is a heated saltwater pool with a spa. For relief from the heat, an outdoor misting system moderates the temperature. Breakfast and “stay and splash poolside lunch” are included in the room rates. A cantina offers complimentary

snacks and beverages. For dinner, plenty of restaurants are within walking distance.

Many guests arrive by car, and those vehicles can remain parked throughout their stay in the off-street overnight parking the resort provides.

For those who prefer to mix their pool time with sightseeing, there’s plenty to see and do in Palm Springs, and the resort lies just two blocks from the beginning of the city’s commercial area.

First on the list has to be the aerial tramway. Get a fantastic view of the Coachella Valley from 8,500 feet high in the sky. When you reach the top, you can enjoy the trails and hiking as well as a restaurant, bar and cafeteria.

For zoo lovers, the 1,200-acre Living Desert is ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. Visiting in summer when the temperature in Palm Springs often soars above 100 Fahrenheit during the day? Visit the Living Desert at night for a nocturnal zoo experience.

Palm Springs is known for its midcentury modern architecture and its variety of stores that feature furniture from that period. To tour the neighborhoods, Taylor said the

best way is by bike, which Descanso offers complimentary to its guests.

Palm Springs is known as a celebrity hangout and hideaway. Stars have lived in this desert resort, and others have been frequent visitors, since the 1920s. Sonny Bono even served as the city’s mayor. To honor them, the Palm Springs Walk of Stars features blocks of sidewalk stars, including one for Dallas favorite Del Shores (Sordid Lives) at 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive.

Joshua Tree National Park is an hour’s drive from Palm Springs. This portion of the Mojave Desert ecosystem features the spiky Joshua trees, boulders, and a surprising variety of wildlife in this desert habitat.

If you’re looking for museums, Palm Springs has one of the country’s top air and space museums as well as an art museum that’s quite good.

Palm Springs recently saw the 2022 version of its biggest gay event: the White Party, the granddaddy of circuit parties. Palm Springs’ Pride weekend is held during cooler weather; this year it’s scheduled for November 3 through 6. Leather Pride Weekend is October 27 through 30, and Western

Xposure’s Dadfest celebrates daddies on July 4. Descanso recommends the all-day pool party as the best way to enjoy the event.

Next year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival takes place January 4 through 15. It is one of the largest film festivals in North America, attracting 135,000 people.

Many Descanso guests just remain on property during their stay, enjoying the resort experience and walking or taking Uber or Lyft to nearby restaurants for dinner, Taylor said. On its website, staff’s picks of favorite restaurants include something for everyone.

Fisherman’s Market, downtown, is recommended as “a great place for fish and chips [and] grilled seafood” in the desert. Al Dente and Il Corso are staff picks for Italian food. Jake’s is an American bistro, and Johannes is a “local favorite” for modern European cuisine from an Austrian-born chef. The Sandwich Spot also offers “fun concept sandwiches, not your standard sub shop.”

Mexican offerings include La Bonita’s, Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill, home to Palm Springs’ original drag brunch, and La Tablita in neighboring Cathedral City, which is listed as “absolutely a local favorite.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DESCANSO

David Taffet, Dallas Voice courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association

New York City: A QUEER VEGAN HAVEN

Divine Ikpe

With its rich queer history and unmatched cuisine, it’s clear to see why New York City is a huge tourist destination. When I recently returned to the city as an adult after taking part in the tourist attractions during a trip as a child, I chose to simply enjoy whatever the city had to offer me. NYC is so large, with each borough and each neighborhood within each borough offering completely different experiences, that it’s nearly impossible to really experience the whole place in one trip. During my trip, I stayed in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Manhattan alone could be one trip, whereas depending on which part of Brooklyn you’re in, “the city that never sleeps” can actually fall asleep.

New York had so much to offer me as a queer vegan. For simplicity’s sake, I’ll focus primarily on what you should do in the Manhattan area.

CHINATOWN

If you’re like me and don’t want to eat out for every meal when you travel, Chinatown is the most affordable option for groceries. Although I loved Tompkins Square Greenmarket in the East Village, the prices in Chinatown just can’t be beat. There are so many wonderful street vendors with delicious fresh fruit and other produce. Likewise, there is an H-Mart and a magical store called Lily’s Vegan Pantry that has a wide variety of mock meat (many of which I had never seen before) and other Asian vegan goodies. If you want to grab a bite to eat while getting groceries, there is a plethora of amazing restaurants as well.

HARLEM

Harlem is an amazing neighborhood with rich Black history, museums, jazz clubs, and

delicious restaurants. The historic Apollo theater is here and as beautiful as ever. Some museums to check out are The National Jazz Museum (a museum that shows work from Black artists) and The Africa Center. When we went to the Africa Center, it had a large quilt of Black artists, chefs and other influential people on display, as well as Ebony magazine’s iconic test kitchen from the ’70s (which was a favorite of mine as a lover of ’70s and midcentury modern design). Seasoned Vegan and Vegan Hood are Black women-owned vegan soul food restaurants. At Vegan Hood, we got “oxtail,” mac and cheese, and greens, and it was some of — if not the — best vegan soul food I’ve ever had. I dream about that meal often.

GARMENT DISTRICT/SOHO

If you grew up watching “Project Runway” when it was on the air, then you must take the chance to say, “Thank you, Mood!” yourself. Mood Fabrics is in a skyscraper among other businesses, and you have to take an elevator up to it. Once you step out of the elevator, you’re greeted with fabrics galore. If you love fashion, you can visit The Museum at FIT to see old and new collections alike. If all the fashion consumption makes you hungry, there is a revolutionary vegan restaurant with multiple locations in Manhattan called Beyond Sushi. If you’re not in the mood for sushi, Beatnic offers an assortment of great salads and sandwiches.

UNION SQUARE, GREENWICH VILLAGE AND LOWER EAST SIDE

One of the main reasons to visit Union Square is for the iconic Union Square Greenmarket, which operates Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8am to 6pm. This greenmarket has immense vendors for local produce, fresh bread, and more. This area

is also home to some distinctive museums, such as The Museum of Interesting Things Secret Speakeasy and Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, a not-for-profit museum that archives the history of community gardens, squatting, and grassroots environmental activism. Also, one of the most important establishments in queer history, The Stonewall Inn, is here. On Tuesday nights they have a singing competition, “The Next Best Cabaret Star!” and host dance parties on Friday and Saturday nights.

With the city’s rich leftist history, it’s no surprise that there is an abundance of progressive bookstores as well. We visited Bluestockings Books and Printed Matter. Bluestockings is a community establishment that, in addition to being a bookstore and café, also offers mutual aid to locals. Printed Matter has so many insightful books and

zines by local artists. I got a youth culture zine covering the DIY Hardcore scene of the area. Regarding food, there is a fully vegan Mexican restaurant called Jajaja Mexicana, and for people who love to cook, there’s Sullivan Street Tea & Spice Company, which has teas, organic spices, dried herbs, unusual salts and more.

For gay events outside of Stonewall, NYC has a lot to offer. Ginger’s Bar has a beautiful garden and hosts open mics and disco parties. Henrietta Hudson has a jukebox and often plays reggae and hip-hop. Good Judy has vegan food, themed nights, and viewing parties. Branded Saloon is an antique “Wild West” themed bar with a piano that plays ragtime and old Western music, whiskey, and seasonal cocktails. Nowhere in the East Village is a favorite haunt for the creative types, and Julius’ is the city’s oldest gay bar.

New York City PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / IM_PHOTO

STILL MAD ABOUT Belinda

Belinda Carlisle is the definition of a music legend. From her beginnings as drummer “Dottie Danger,” an interim member of L.A. punk band the Germs, to co-founding the all-female band the Go-Go’s, where her trademark vocal belt and distinctive dance moves made her all the rage, Carlisle grabbed our attention and never let go. After three albums with the Go-Go’s, Carlisle launched a successful solo career, even earning a Grammy nomination for the song “Heaven Is A Place On Earth.” She regrouped with her former fellow band members for 2001’s “God Bless the Go-Go’s,” reissued in an expanded edition in 2021, and has toured with the band (who were the subject of an acclaimed 2020 documentary) on and off for years. The host of “Mad About Music” on SiriusXM’s 1st Wave channel, Carlisle, the mother of a gay son, is also known for her activism for the LGBTQ+ community. For her new five-song EP “Kismet” (BMG), Carlisle has teamed up again with Diane Warren (writer of Carlisle’s hit single, “I Get Weak”) for a delightful set of tunes. I spoke to Carlisle ahead of the EP’s release and her upcoming performance at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheatre in Peachtree City on July 1.

Read the full interview online at thegavoice.com.

Your new EP is titled “Kismet,” which is defined as destiny or fate. Would it be fair to say that it was kismet that you would work with Diane Warren again?

It was complete kismet! That’s what it was. I mean I wasn’t planning to really do anything new. My son ran into Diane at a coffee shop in L.A., and she asked, “What is your mom doing? Let’s call her.” She called me and said, “Come to the studio. I have some songs for

you.” I was like, “Oh my God! Do I really want to do this? It’s a big commitment.”

But you can’t say no to Diane. I went to the studio, and she played me the most amazing songs. It was almost like the universe saying you’re not meant to slow down right now. So, here I am talking to you.

I really like the song, “I Couldn’t Do That To Me,” and I’m glad you included a power ballad on the EP. Can you say something about how you approach ballads, as opposed to more rhythmic or rocking tunes? That is really hard to nail, generally, not just vocally, but usually production-wise, too. I’m working with Mati Gavriel, who produced everything. It was like that song had to have a little bit of restraint and then build it, but it was strange because we didn’t know what kind of approach we were going to take with that song. It kind of revealed itself in the studio when I was doing the background vocals on that song. It started reminding me a little bit of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” I wanted it to have that element of restraint. I think we achieved that. I think it’s an amazing song and it’s one of my favorites off the EP.

“Big Big Love” sounds like it could become a summer tea dance classic... [Laughs] I hope so!

Especially in the hands of the right DJ or remixer. What would it mean to you to have the LGBTQ community embrace the song and take it to the top of the Billboard Dance chart? That would be it for me! To be able to walk into a gay bar seeing it on the monitor or blasting? That would be amazing. My son, who you probably know is gay, is like, “Mom! This could be amazing in the clubs.” I hope so!

“Sanity” is by far the most dramatic track on “Kismet.” It’s the kind of number you could imagine a drag queen having a field day with. Have you encountered drag queens doing Belinda Carlisle numbers over the years, and if so, did you have a favorite performer and song?

I haven’t really seen somebody as me singing, no. But I would love that. “I Couldn’t Do

That To Me” would be perfect, or “Sanity” or “Heaven (Is A Place On Earth).” I mean, there’s plenty to pick from through the years. That would be epic.

Speaking of drag queens, the LGBTQ community, especially the drag and trans communities, are under attack from conservatives across the country and around the world. As the mother of a gay son, as well as a longtime ally, do you have any thoughts about that?

I don’t understand nonacceptance. It’s hard for me to get my head around. I think it’s very sad. My son came out when he was 14. What kind of world is he going to live in?

What kind of world is it going to be for him?

Since then, it’s been like ten steps forward and then five back. We’re in five back period right now. It’s heartbreaking. But I think you just have to keep at it. Hopefully, we’ll get to a place where there’s acceptance of everyone. That’s all I can hope for.

Gregg Shapiro

Above: Belinda Carlisle; Left Belinda’s new EP “Kismet” PHOTOS VIA INSTAGRAM

Penelope Cruz and Director Emanuele Crialese Discuss New Film, ‘L’immensita,’ Hannah Gadsby Returns in New Comedy Special

Jim Farmer

In the new film, “L’immensita,” Penelope Cruz does what she has been doing throughout her career: she takes a threedimensional character and finds even new layers.

She stars as Carla in director Emanuele Crialese’s acclaimed new film, set in Italy in the 1970s. Carla and her husband Felice have moved into a new apartment, but their marriage is an unhappy one. Carla’s children are her saving grace. Twelve year old Andrew (Luana Giuliani), who was assigned female at birth, is having issues with his identity.

The Academy Award-winning Cruz has been seen in several LGBTQ-themed films with director Pedro Almodovar, including 2021’s “Parallel Mothers.” The actress said she fell in love with the script, her character and the story.

“It was a privilege to tell this,” Cruz told Georgia Voice.

The character of Clara is a complex one.

“Clara is living under huge amounts of suppression and repression from her own husband and the rest of the family,” Cruz said. “Her only salvation is to keep some sanity in the relationship with her children. It feels more comfortable and that is where she feels understood. She feels also proud that she can understand them, but she doesn’t have the freedom to give them the space to be themselves. She feels in a total prison, and she doesn’t have a Plan B.”

Cruz thinks many women in that situation, not just in the ’70s in Italy, but also today around the world, feel trapped.

“Even the ones that go ask for help, they are totally ignored and it is too late,” she said. “[Carla] didn’t have an option for a divorce, for a different kind of life. She keeps dreaming of a life with her children of a place in the universe where we can be ourselves and feel free.”

At the heart of the film is the bond between a mother and a child. Cruz and Giuliani are wonderful individually and together.

“I think their relationship is very beautiful, but also very sad,” Cruz said. “She understands Andrew, but she is not in a place where she can give that freedom that she needs. It is not allowed. She can really see more than the other adults, but is not allowed to help.”

To Cruz, the most emotional moments in the film are the musical numbers, as the characters dream of what life could be.

Director Crialese is an out trans man. For him, this is a very personal story.

“Every material that I wrote has been personal, but this is more openly personal,” he told Georgia Voice. “I think I waited to

make this film because you need to be able to transcend your own life to make something that can have meaning for people to see and relate to. You also need to add the simplicity of being as direct as possible and as honest as possible in portraying not only the pain in your life but also the joy. It was important to find the balance.”

It was hard to find someone to play Andrew. Crialese saw almost 5,000 kids for the role, and he finally met Giuliani in a motorcycle race competition.

Crialese laments all the labels that society feels compelled to put on people.

“Today we can expand, and finally [evolve],” he said. “We don’t need to put all these names on people. We just need to be. You can explain to a kid what a woman or a man is, but sometimes it is difficult to explain what a human being is like. I feel we have lost track of what our common ground is. When kids see borders, they feel trapped. They want to challenge them.”

In the new and very funny Netflix comedy special, “Something Special,” Hannah Gadsby returns to the stage, this time

focusing on their 2021 marriage to producer Jenney Shamash. It’s something of a departure from their last two specials.

“I wanted to challenge myself,” Gadsby told Georgia Voice. “It’s not easy to do a positive comedy show. People really don’t enjoy other people being happy. I felt really creatively challenged, but it’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to engage with those feelings right now.”

New material for Gadsby always evolves across touring. They start building it on small stages. This show, ironically, started and ended in the same room as the acclaimed “Nanette” and came together in a few weeks.

Gadsby is aware of how many feel inspiration through their work.

“It’s hard for me to understand how I inspire people,” they said. “I am told [that I do], and I believe it, but the parasocial relationship — I am used to being on the other side of it. It’s a strange position to be in. I try to be responsible with that. I wish everyone well. I feel very nervous about it. I hope I am doing more good than bad — that is a goal.”

Their life changed after the success of 2018’s “Nanette,” which won an Emmy and a Peabody Award.

“I don’t even recognize my life anymore,” Gadsby said. “One of the perks is that I am able to take charge of my career a little bit more. I am able to choose what I do and have a bit more creative control. There are stresses involved, but ultimately I feel like I am on a win at the moment.”

MORE INFO

“L’immensita”PUBLICITY PHOTO

Katie Burkholder

Heretic Harness Party

May 19, 10pm

Heretic

With DJ Seth Breezy. Tickets at bit.ly/ HereticHarnessPartyDJSethDreezy.

Hot Mess Dance Pop Party

May 19, 10pm

The Basement

For pop lovers, this is the only night out that you’ll hear a mix, expertly curated by DJ Kimber, of the biggest and latest pop and dance music, from artists like Beyonce, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, and more. Tickets at basementatl.com.

Tacos and Tequilas Bulge Party

May 20, 4pm

The Hideaway

Enjoy outsides bars, food, entertainment, and music from DJ Calvin, all in support of Paragon Cooperative Learning Academy.

Chris Gonzalez IML Send Off

May 20, 5pm

Woof’s

Come by Woof’s to help raise last-minute funds for Chris Gonzalez, Mr. GNI Leather 2022, to compete in the International Mr. Leather competition in Chicago.

Blackout Party

May 20, 10pm

Heretic

With DJ Stan Jackson. No cover!

Meduza

May 20, 10pm

District Atlanta

Tickets at bit.ly/MEDATL2022.

BarbieWorld

May 20, 10:30pm

My Sister’s Room

Come on Barbie, let’s go party! Cartegory is plastic perfection, with performances by Angeria Paria Van Michaels, Bosco, and Malayasia Babydoll Foxx from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” as well as Ada Manzhart, Drew Friday, EllaSaurus Rex, Linda, and Taylor Alxndr. Meet and greets start at 9pm. Tickets at wussymag.com.

ICON

May 20, 11pm

Future Atlanta

DJ Isaac Escalante celebrates some of the greatest musical icons, with a performance by Phoenix from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Tickets at future-atlanta.com.

Super Smash Bros

May 21, 7pm

Joystick Gamebar

Every Sunday, Joystick hosts a knockout Smash tournament! Sign up begins at 6:30pm.

Tuesday Night Trivia

May 23, 8:30pm

The Hideaway

With host DeWayne Morgan. No cover!

Cartridge ATL

May 24, 8pm

Joystick Gamebar

Every Wednesday, Black-owned gamer lounge Cartridge ATL takes over Joystick with lives DJs, food, gaming tournaments, and karaoke!

Maryoke

May 24, 9pm

Mary’s

Open Mic Comedy

May 25, 8pm

Joystick Gamebar

Spend Thursday nights laughing at the best local comedians in town, hosted by Travis Allen.

Country Night

May 25, 9pm

Heretic

Enjoy country two-step, line dancing, and more with the LGBTQ community every Thursday! Don’t know how to dance? Show up for the free lesson at 8pm!

Queer Bait

May 26, 9pm

Mary’s Gay pop videos with DJ Headmaster!

CHUNK

May 27, 1am

Heretic

With DJs Dicap, Brian Roja, and Goldilocks, plus hot Gogo bears! Tickets at chunk-party.com.

The Player Party

May 27, 8pm

The Hideaway

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Mug Check!

My Sister’s Room

May 21, 8pm

Mug Check provides an open stage to all drag performers every month, from newcomers to pros. This month’s event will feature special guest mentor Dotte Com and April’s winner, Nia Simone. Hosted by Taylor Alxndr. (Dotte Com photo via Facebook)

With Ruby Redd. All weekend long, Big Peach softball players can enjoy drink specias with their player wristband!

Blackout Party

May 27, 10pm

Heretic

Music by Eric James. No cover!

The Gaga Ball: A Dance Party

May 27, 10pm

The Basement

Calling all Little Monsters! The Gaga Ball is back! It’s a whole night of music and fashion inspired by Mother Monster herself with DJ Kimber. Tickets at basementatl.com.

InvAsian: Japan Night

May 27, 10pm

District Atlanta

After Momocon, head over to District for immersive Japanese-inspired entertainment and festivities, form martial arts demonstrations and live performances to a vibrant cosplay contest. The mainstage lineup includes Seoulifye, Typhon, Kyon, and Kyd Kong, and on the patio stage is Some Kid. Tickets via Eventbrite.

Super Smash Bros

May 28, 7pm

Joystick Gamebar

Every Sunday, Joystick hosts a knockout Smash tournament! Sign up begins at 6:30pm.

Sunday Night Meat Up

May 28, 8pm

The Hideaway

With DJ Rob Reum.

Tuesday Night Trivia

May 30, 8:30pm

The Hideaway

With host DeWayne Morgan. No cover!

Cartridge ATL

May 31, 8pm

Joystick Gamebar

Every Wednesday, Black-owned gamer lounge Cartridge ATL takes over Joystick with lives DJs, food, gaming tournaments, and karaoke!

Maryoke

May 31, 9pm

Mary’s

Open Mic Comedy

June 1, 8pm

Joystick Gamebar

Spend Thursday nights laughing at the best local comedians in town, hosted by Travis Allen.

Why Travel?

Cliff Bostock

Read the full column online at thegavoice.com.

One day in the 1990s, I was sitting in a rather seedy, ancient plaza in Sevilla in southern Spain. I had rented an apartment nearby for a month to attend flamenco performances at the city’s renowned biennial festival. I was alone but chatting with total strangers, struggling to recover fluency in the language that was my second major in college.

It’s hard to understand this experience if you’ve never had it, but a moment arrived when I felt like more of myself than I’d ever felt. My heart suddenly opened, my breath became deep. The phrase “you’re home” popped into my head. The notion that my soul could have a home that was quite different from the place I actually lived seemed bizarre, but it was so true. For the better part of a decade, I traveled to Spain frequently — but that ended after 9/11, when I went through a nightmare trying to get back to Atlanta with my luggage filled with supposedly suspicious, dangerous books with Arabic titles related to my doctoral dissertation research.

During those years, I traveled elsewhere too, but Spain was not about vacationing by simply losing myself in another culture’s oddities or chilling on a beach. Spain’s oddities, like flamenco, were portals to a much deeper experience of myself. All I wanted to do was fall deeper into the often dark poetic and pagan imagination that seemed so much a part of the culture.

I always took Spanish classes while I was there and frequently wrote papers or talked about the emergence of psychic phenomena in flamenco — music and dance which I’d come to see as something like a somatic psychotherapy that occurred with the performers and audience alike. My teacher invited me to dinner one night with a friend who was a psychologist visiting from another city. At dinner, the shrink asked me what kind of diagnoses I worked with in my own practice. I told him I had a sign in my office that literally said, “I oppose all diagnoses.” I

explained that my clients were creative people who were struggling with “personal growth.” The psychologist laughed, as did my teacher. “Do Americans not have friends to talk to?” he asked me. “What about family?”

I honestly believe cultivation of the imagination is the value of travel. It used to be a required part of education — academically and socially. You don’t have to feel as melodramatically as me that your soul, the part of you in which the imagination lurks, may be homeless where you are. But to have the best experience, I think it’s necessary to travel outside your immediate comfort zone. I mean, I’ve had friends for whom so-called ethnic restaurants on Buford Highway were lightyears from their comfort zone, but once they bothered to have a taste, it became impossible to get them back to Wendy’s.

American exceptionalism is dead. We have lost the ability to talk to one another and even the best-intentioned of our leaders seem to have no idea how inferior our society has become compared to many others around the world. Maybe they are just paid too much money to say so. Travel has become expensive and an angry, inconvenient undertaking for many doing it for business. But we need to find ways to restore its former priority. Every soul needs a home.

Cliff Bostock, PhD, is a former psychotherapist who now offers coaching to people seeking solutions to blocks in creativity related to their work and lives; cliffbostock.com, cliffbostock@ gmail.com; 404-518-4415.

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / GAUDILAB