voice
georgia VOL.10 • ISSUE 7
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EDITORIAL
Editor: Patrick Colson-Price pcolson-price@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Cliff Bostock, Camryn Burke, Melissa Carter, Mariah Cooper, Aidan Ivory Edwards, Jim Farmer, Luke Gardner, O’Brian Gunn Elizabeth Hazzard, Ryan Lee, Rose Pelham, Jamie Roberts, Berlin Sylvestre, Dionne Walker
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4 Editorial June 7, 2019
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
The Power of LGBTQ History Patrick Colson-Price I figured I’d share a special story from my time as a reporter in Palm Springs. Each news station I’ve worked at has brought me one or two memorable pieces, but none of them beats this one. If you’re not aware, Palm Springs is a place where many LGBTQ men and women go to retire and enjoy their later years of life. For others like me, it was a place I’d heard about through friends of mine who were older in age. They said it was an amazing town with beautiful sunrises and beautiful men. I had to experience all of that and more, but there’s something else I learned during my time in the desert. I learned how important history really is when it comes to the growth of our community in 2019. It started at a place called Stonewall Gardens. It’s an assisted living community for the LGBTQ community, and the name is quite fitting especially for two men, Richard Pass and Dick Busby. I first heard of them through staff at Stonewall Gardens. Dick was a resident at the facility while Richard volunteered throughout the week. Neither one had any idea just how connected they were to each other, but the night of June 28, in New York City’s Greenwich Village, their fight for equal rights began at the same time. This is where the story gets really interesting, and as they were telling me this, I think I had to pick my jaw up off the ground because I was truly speechless. Dick was visiting New York City from Los Angeles, and Richard was living in the Big Apple at the time of the riots. Richard told me he was in the back room of the Stonewall Inn that night making out with some guy, and when he emerged back into the bar, it was almost empty. That’s when the raids were taking place, he says. Outside of the bar, Dick and several of his friends had made their way to the village for another drink at Stonewall when he noticed cops loading drag queens and others into the backs
Courtesy photos
Dick Busby (above left) and Richard Pass (above right) reminisce about the Stonewall riots of 1969.
of paddy wagons. Minutes later, a full-blown riot began, lasting for nearly four days. They lived two very different lives for 50 years, never knowing who each other was until one afternoon at Stonewall Gardens. I remember there was a painting hanging on the wall in the community room where meals were served and games were played. The picture was of the Stonewall Inn. It’s actually where I did the video interview for my story, and I remember Dick pointing to it saying that picture was how he realized he and Richard were there on the same night but in two different locations. I couldn’t speak afterward because all I had were tears flowing down my face. I think I cried several times that day and felt such a release of emotion knowing that I live this life now because of the fight others put up 50 years ago. It goes down as one of the most powerful, emotional stories I’ve ever done as a reporter. It’s just another moment where I realized how important it is for everyone in our community to know our LGBTQ history. I felt honored to be sitting in the presence of two men who witnessed history and were able to share the intimate details of their personal fight for equality. You could hear the emotion
in their voices and see the happiness on their faces as they reminisced on a time that was scary yet liberating. If only the younger men in our community could take time to listen and learn what it took to get where we are today, I think we’d all be more grateful to love who we love and live how we live. Here’s what we should take away from the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots: Enjoy the parade in New York but remember, it started as a protest and march for injustice against our community. As for those who experienced the birth of the Stonewall movement or even lived through the AIDS epidemic in the ’80s and ’90s, be an open book to those younger than you. Share your stories, your memories, your emotions, your defeats, and your triumphs. If you’re part of a younger generation, don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn about the battles fought so that you can hold your partner’s hand while walking down the street or get married to the person you love. It’s a two-way street for us all and no one should steer away from teaching or learning. It’s how our community will stay strong, resilient, and continue to fight in the face of hatred and inequality. TheGeorgiaVoice.com
NEWS
MISS TERRA COTTA SUGARBAKER
Drag Queen Story Hour
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK
Comes to Atlanta City Hall Katie Burkholder Mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms will be hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour, featuring local drag queen Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker, on June 29 at Atlanta City Hall. After the Alpharetta Library Branch dropped Miss Sugarbaker’s drag storytime event from its calendar, Mayor Bottoms quickly tweeted, inviting the drag queen “and all of our LGBTQ friends” to City Hall to have an
event there. “I think it’s about who we are as a welcoming city,” she told the Georgia Voice regarding her invitation. “We can’t just say we are a welcoming city. We need to reflect that in our actions. It helps erase some of the discrimination and hatred.” Now, the event has been officially announced. From 10am to 12pm on Saturday, June 29, people of all ages can gather at Atlanta City Hall to hear a story from both Miss
Sugarbaker and Mayor Bottoms and celebrate the diversity of Atlanta’s LGBTQ community. Guests will also enjoy free face painting, fun activities, playtime with popular Atlanta mascots, snacks, and more.
The event is free but requires guests to RSVP. Those interested in attending can RSVP to the event. You can find that event link on our website, thegavoice.com.
Trump’s PRIDE T-shirt Faces LGBTQ Backlash Patrick Colson-Price
statement on gay marriage is historic for a sitting Republican President. And as far as I know, he’s the first sitting or former Republican president to make a solid affirming statement supporting same-sex marriage.
President Donald Trump has released a new LGBTQ Pride t-shirt in time for Pride month – a decision that’s got some Georgia LGBTQ advocates confused and upset. “The T-shirt design is colorful, but there is a major flaw; it lacks a barbed wire border. It’s unsurprising President Trump would seek to profit off the pain he’s caused,” said Juliana Illari with the Georgia Stonewall Democrats Board. “The administration’s shameful record, especially its relentless attacks against the transgender community, speaks for itself. Vice President Pence, especially, remains an implacable foe of all LBGTQ+ people.” The shirt features a watercolor rainbow design and the phrase “LGBTQ for Trump.” The back bears the Trump-Pence campaign logo and phrase, “Make America Great Again.” “Show your pride and your support for Trump with this exclusive equality tee,” the description of the shirt reads. While 6 News June 7, 2019
But according to GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project, the Trump administration has issued 108 attacks on the LGBTQ community and counting while in office. These attacks include banning transgender troops from the military and cutting funding for worldwide HIV/AIDS treatment. President Trump campaigned in 2016 on the promise of supporting the LGBTQ community, he has passed a number of antiLGBTQ laws since taking office. But Georgia Log Cabin Republicans President, Jamie Ensley, says its a step in the right direction by the Trump Administration. “We applaud the fact that a Republican president is celebrating gay pride with an inclusive message for LGBTQ supporters,” said Ensley. “President Trump’s recent
Ensley’s response, “President Trump has launched a global effort to end the criminalization of homosexuality and to end HIV/AIDS. He also appointed California LCR member Ric Grenell as Ambassador to Germany (I believe the highest presidential appointment for an openly gay man) and most recently our former LCR ED Clarke Cooper as Assistant Secretary of State. There’s a lot to celebrate for LGBTQ Trump Supporters including this T-shirt. “ GLAAD issued a statement criticizing the
administration’s hypocrisy for releasing the merchandise while not fighting to protect LGBTQ Americans. “The Trump Administration is trying to pull yet another con job on LGBTQ Americans. but like their other desperate ploys, this idea will fall flat,” said GLAAD Chief Programs Officer Zeke Stokes. “Trump should hold the sales pitch and try issuing a statement honoring June as National Pride Month and the countless of LGBTQ Americans who fought tooth and nail for the level of acceptance our nation sees today.” The Human Rights Campaign also came out in opposition to President Trump’s new merchandise. “From day one of this administration, Donald Trump and Mike Pence have ruthlessly attacked the rights and livelihoods of LGBTQ people,” said Charlotte Clymer, press secretary for HRC. “They have ignored anti-LGBTQ atrocities in Chechnya and anti-trans violence here at home.” TheGeorgiaVoice.com
NEWS
Remembering the Pulse Nightclub Massacre Patrick Colson-Price
PULSE VIGIL FILE PHOTO
It’s been nearly three years since 49 people were killed when a gunman opened fire inside of the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Hours after the shooting, LGBTQ communities around the country including in Atlanta held memorials for those who were injured and lost their lives. For Bruce Garner, the chair of the commission of LGBTQ ministries for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, he learned of the shooting minutes before a sermon at a retreat in North Carolina. “I was about to step into the pulpit to deliver the service. One of the altar servers showed me his cell phone with the message that the massacre had occurred. Let’s just say I changed the way I started the sermon,” said Garner. When he returned to Atlanta, yet another memorial had been planned at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. This time, according to Garner, allies of the LGBTQ community decided to step forward and lead. “It was done by straight people. They did not want anyone of us to deal with putting together a service. They wanted the service to be for us and for our comfort and benefit,” he said. “Having allies who are willing to step up to that level, to say we are here for your support, it was very moving.” As this somber anniversary approaches during Pride month and on the heels of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Garner says the message will be one of inclusion and acceptance. “As it turns out, the readings for June 12 honor the first indigenous person according to the Episcopal Priest. The reading from the gospel is a passage where Jesus tells his followers, that blessed are you when people revile you, hate you and exclude you on the count of my name and the fact that you’re TheGeorgiaVoice.com
following me,” he said. He refers to gay Christians being labeled outcasts by non-gay Christians and those in the LGBTQ community for their beliefs. While this isn’t a specialized memorial service, the anniversary of the shooting does coincide with the church service. The church will remember those lives lost by joining with organizations around the world in tolling the tower bell 49 times to honor the memory of the 49 people killed, demonstrate support for the survivors, and spread compassion and love in the community and beyond. “People are being persecuted for who they are and it’s still happening now. That’s why we are honoring the 49 people who were murdered,” he said. The service is planned for Wednesday, June 12 at All Saints’ Atlanta at 634 West Peachtree ST NW, with the tolling of the Bell at 11:50am and Holy Eucharist at 12:05pm. The church also invites volunteers to join at 11:45am in the bell tower to help us toll the bell. For more information, contact Bruce Garner at bruce.garner@att.net. The service is free and open to all regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/ expression, race, ethnicity, differing ability or any other characteristic. June 7, 2019 News 7
NEWS
Protecting Our Trans Community Rose Pelham Since 2015, the year after The Advocate began releasing annual lists of murdered transgender people in the United States, 109 murders of transgender people have been reported. The vast majority of victims are young, black transgender women and transfeminine people, and just more than half were killed in the south. Four were killed in Georgia; Nino Fortson, Ava Le’Ray Barrin, TeeTee Dangerfield, and Candice Towns. Nino Fortson, the oldest of the group, was a transmasculine person killed in Atlanta. He had a partner and children, and was a part of the drag ball community. Ava Le’Ray Barrin, the youngest, was only seventeen when she was murdered. TeeTee Dangerfield was a shop steward, workers’ rights advocate, and union organizer who worked at The Mustard Seed restaurant. She was known for caring for, and advocating on the behalf of her co-workers. Relatively little is known about Candice Towns but that she had previously been targeted by gun violence, likely for being trans, before being murdered in 2017. Since the election of Donald Trump, two transgender women have also died while in ICE custody. Their names are Roxana Hernandez and Johana Medina. Both were denied medical care for HIV/AIDS until shortly before they died. Hernandez, who died in 2018, was forced to spend five days in a freezing room with lights that never turned off just before her death. Medina died on the first day of pride month this year. The Transgender Law Center is currently pressuring ICE to release more information on the deaths. In each of the last three years, 27 transgender people were murdered, according to the lists published by The Advocate. It is unknown whether this number, which is higher than in preceding years, represents an increase in the number of transgender people murdered, increased reporting of murders, or both. Virtually all authorities on the subject consider the current number of reported murders to be inaccurate, due to widespread underreporting of transgender murders to the police, as well as 8 News June 7, 2019
COURTESY PHOTOS
Clockwise from top left: Dane Martin, 31, was fatally shot on January 6 in Montgomery, Alabama; Jazzaline Ware, was found murdered in her Memphis apartment in March; Ashanti Carmon, 27, was fatally shot in Prince George’s County, Maryland, on March 30; Claire Legato, 21, was fatally shot in Cleveland on April 15; Muhlaysia Booker, 23, was fatally shot in Dallas on May 18; Michelle ‘Tamika’ Washington, 40, was fatally shot in Philadelphia on May 19.
the frequent misidentification of transgender murder victims by both the police and local news sources.
about 5 percent of the total US population has been incarcerated.”
This year, six transgender women have been reported murdered so far, all of whom are black. Of the 109 murder victims since 2015, at least two-thirds, or approximately 72 people, were black, whereas only about 12 were white and not Hispanic or Latina. After accounting for the demographic composition of the United States according to data from the last census, this indicates that black transgender people are twenty-seven times more likely to be murdered than white transgender people who are not Hispanic or Latina.
The reason Stryker gives for the disproportionate incarceration of black transgender people is the ongoing criminalization of prostitution, which many trans women are forced into in order to survive. This has historically led police to assume that trans women, particularly black trans women, in public are automatically engaged in illegal activity. Stryker’s incarceration statistics are echoed by a report co-authored by Southerners on New Ground and The Transgender Law Center, which states that “52% of [transgender people] of color reported experiencing high levels of violence by law enforcement.”
This extreme disparity in who is murdered, as well as the national underreporting of transgender murders, can only be understood in the context of the ongoing criminalization of black transgender people. According to Susan Stryker’s Transgender History, “Sixteen percent of all transgender people have been incarcerated, including more than 20 percent of trans women and almost half of all black trans people. By comparison,
Considering both the national incarceration rate, and the amount of police violence faced by black transgender people in the south, the reason that so many murders go unreported to the police should be self-evident. At the same time, the problems of police violence against, and the rampant incarceration of, black transgender people likely only compounds the problem posed by violence from strangers. According to the same report, “58% of trans
women and femmes reported experiencing high levels of violence by strangers.” Trans women and transfeminine people of color, particularly those who are black, face a perfect storm of violence not only from society at large, but also from the people who are charged with solving their murders. In recent years the Trump Administration has led the attack against transgender rights including the removal of protections for transgender people seeking healthcare. While the federal government is no longer acting to protect transgender people in the way it had during the Obama administration, Brian Kemp’s election win places transgender people in Georgia in added danger. While many trans activists hold out hope, many are doubtful he’ll sign protections for transgender Georgians into law even if they passed the majority-conservative General Assembly. The Georgia Voice reached out to Chanel Haley, Transgender Inclusion Organizer for Georgia Equality, about her organization’s work to combat anti-transgender discrimination and reduce the numbers of transgender murders in the state. She replied “No comment.” TheGeorgiaVoice.com
STONEWALL
Atlanta City Hall Honors LGBTQ Trailblazers Patrick Colson-Price Pride month is already underway with cities across the country honoring the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in many different ways. But here in Atlanta, city leaders are creating a monumental exhibit to highlight the trailblazers for LGBTQ rights over the past fifty years. The Georgia Voice caught up with Malik Brown, LGBTQ Affairs Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office, about the significance of this exhibit and how the LGBTQ community and its allies can understand just how important Pride month really is.
Main photo: SYLVIA RIVERA AND MARSHA P JOHNSON Inset photo: HARVEY MILK SCREENGRAB PHOTOS
What is the importance of this exhibit and how do you think members of the community will take in such powerful images from such a monumental period in time for the LGBTQ community? “It’s incredibly important to highlight the lives and stories of the people who have brought LGBTQ Equality to where it is today. Not only to honor their legacies but to educate people on our history. I hope that members of the Atlanta LGBTQ community will walk away from this exhibit learning about at least one changemaker that they didn’t previously know. We have such a vast and diverse community and there have been so many people contributing over the decades. I learn about new and amazing people all the time — many who have not received the attention and widespread praise they deserve. The City of Atlanta has an opportunity to highlight LGBTQ champions, both well known and obscure, and I’m proud the Mayor has given us the opportunity to do that. I can’t wait to see all these diverse faces displayed in City Hall and I hope everyone will stop by and explore them.” Where did this idea come from? How long will the exhibit be up and running? “This idea is part of the Mayor’s One Atlanta initiative to shine a light on often forgotten communities and to build a bridge towards greater inclusiveness across the entire city. After we invited the entire community to celebrate Atlanta Pride at City Hall last October, including City Hall’s first ever drag 10 Stonewall June 7, 2019
performance, Mayor Bottoms asked us to do more to tell the stories of extraordinary LGBTQ people. The changemakers were identified by the City of Atlanta staff and members of the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board. The exhibit will be displayed within Atlanta City Hall from Friday, June 21st to Friday, June 28, from 9am to 5pm. Sadly, City Hall isn’t open on the weekends so won’t be open on Saturday (6/22) and Sunday (6/23).” What kinds of images are you using for the exhibit? “We’re going to use powerful photos of each changemaker including influential figures like Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, and Sylvia
Rivera. Each of the 50 changemakers represents hard-fought battles that have faced the LGBTQ community since that first brick was thrown outside of the Stonewall Inn in 1969. And with each battle, victories and defeats have continued to push LGBTQ rights to the forefront of a nation plagued with inequality. It’s important for our Atlanta community to know just how much of an impact each changemaker continues to have in 2019 and how their ability to not be silenced, allows each member of this community to harbor the same rights as our hetero counterparts. “ How have the Stonewall Riots changed the way the LGBTQ community is viewed and protected here in Atlanta? “The Stonewall Riots changed the LGBTQ
community everywhere. Atlanta was one of the cities that had a Pride gathering the year immediately after Stonewall — a lot Atlantans don’t realize that. The 50 people in this exhibit have all moved LGBTQ equality forward in their own way, and we feel it daily here in Atlanta. We were the first city in the Southeast to incorporate LGBTQ people in civil rights protections 20 years ago this year. We all have a long way to go, but every move forward is on the shoulders of activists in Atlanta, New York and across the country. Atlanta’s LGBTQ history is being by collected, cataloged and shared by groups like Touching Up Our Roots and at Emory University’s Rose Library. I think it would be great to share more of Atlanta’s own impressive LGBTQ stories at City Hall in the future.” TheGeorgiaVoice.com
PRIDE
ATLANTA PRIDE FILE PHOTO
Looking Forward to Atlanta Pride 2019 Katie Burkholder Atlanta is no stranger to celebrating and fighting for its LGBTQ community. Launching only two years after the Stonewall Raids on 1969, Atlanta Pride – originally the Georgia Gay Liberation Front – is renowned as one of the best Pride celebrations in the country. Both the local and national LGBTQ communities anxiously await the festival and parade throughout the year, and this year is no different. We sat down with Jamie Fergerson, the Executive Director of Atlanta Pride, to find out what we can expect to see at the 49th Atlanta Pride, as well as what the organization has planned to commemorate Pride month across the city. Although Atlanta’s official Pride isn’t until fall – October 11-13, to be exact – the city isn’t sleeping on June, the national month of LGBTQ celebration and remembrance of Stonewall. “Every year we have a full month 12 Pride June 7, 2019
of activities in June for Stonewall Month,” Fergerson told the Georgia Voice. “This year we’re amping that up even more than normal.” And she’s not lying – this year, the Atlanta Pride Committee is doing something never before seen in Atlanta. “We are hosting a Stonewall for the first time,” Fergerson continued. “It’s a march put together on the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. It’s going to be on June 30th.” Don’t get it confused; this isn’t the same as the parade we’ll see in October, but rather a march and rally. “We’re inviting people to come out and speak on the topics that are important to them and to our community,” she said. The march isn’t the only way they’re commemorating the historic Stonewall Riots. “We haven’t announced a lot of our programming yet, but we do have a lot of art installations and parade installations that will specifically honor the 50th anniversary of Stonewall,” Fergerson said. “We are
also doing some work with ‘Out on Film’ around the anniversary of Stonewall. It will be a theme you’ll see throughout our magazine, performances, and programming throughout the week.” Because this year marks such a momentous anniversary of the gay rights movement, many, including Fergerson, are reminiscing on the years past and the progress that has been made.“50 years is a great marker where we can take a moment to see where we are and how far we’ve come,” she told us. “We’ve come a long way. Our events are bigger, we have a bigger voice, but we’re still dealing with homophobia, biphobia, racism, and sexism. Over the long term, we have a lot to celebrate and there’s a lot of work that we still need to do.” As for this year’s Pride celebration, Atlanta’s got a lot to look forward to. Registration for the parade – which will close out the
festivities on October 13 – is already full, with approximately 300 entries, surpassing last year’s levels. The festival will also tout a star-studded list of Grand Marshals, individuals and non-profits recognized by the community for their work advancing the LGBTQ community across the city and state. This year’s Grand Marshals are Dr. Annise Mabry, Rev. Dr. Beth LaRocca-Pitts, Chanel Haley, Emily Halden Brown, Feroza Syed, Rev. Kimberly Jackson, Latino LinQ, Raksha, Royce Mann, The Honorable Stacey Abrams, Stephanie Cho, and Thrive SS. As always, the Atlanta Pride Committee strives to cater to the community and include all in their celebration. “We are a community movement, so we have to respond and listen,” Fergerson said. “I think that respectful dialogue is really important. Being open and accessible to all members of our community is important. All voices from our community are welcome.” TheGeorgiaVoice.com
PRIDE
Show Your Pride ATL Style Katie Burkholder
Happy Pride month! Although Atlanta’s heat pushes the official celebration to October, Pride is still going strong this month as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots with film screenings, dance parties, political activism, and more! Atlanta’s offering up some fantastic Pride events this June, so come on out and celebrate the history, the community, and of course, your Pride. Sexy Saturday Burlesque Show your Pride Edition: June 8 The Candybox Revue Burlesque troupe’s monthly show at My Sister’s Room gets a rainbow twist! Start your Pride month with a bang — wear your best rainbow gear and enjoy sexy performances by Candi LeCoeur, Frankie Love, and more! The show starts at 10:30 pm. More information: MySistersRoom.com 50 Years of LGBT Cinema: June 14 and 15 Out Front Theatre Company celebrates Pride month with four free screenings of LGBTQ-themed films and documentaries. On June 14, you can see Living with Pride at 100 at 7 pm, a documentary following Ruth C. Ellis, the oldest living lesbian activist, and The Watermelon Woman at 9 pm, a movie following Cheryl as she goes in search of the identity of the Watermelon Woman – a black lesbian actress from the 30’s. On June 15, see Save Me at 5 pm, about a sex and drug addict forced into conversion therapy by his Christian-run ministry, and Brother to Brother at 7 pm, a drama following a black writer and a gay teenager, both homeless during the Harlem Renaissance. More information: AtlantaPride.org 2019 Pride Run: June 15 Celebrate the community, get some exercise, and raise money for a good cause – sounds like a win-win-win to us! This 5k, hosted by Atlanta Pride Run and Walk and Atlanta Pride Committee, raises money for Atlanta’s LGBTQ community. The race takes place at Piedmont Park from 8 am to noon TheGeorgiaVoice.com
2019 PRIDE RUN COURTESY PHOTO
and costs $30 to participate. Register: FrontRunnersAtlanta.org Rainbow Pub Crawl: June 15 My Sister’s Room hosts the second annual Rainbow Pub Crawl, featuring 10 different Midtown bars. Sign-up for the crawl begins at 7 pm at My Sister’s Room, and the crawl ends at Ten Atl at midnight. Pub crawl guests receive waived covers and exclusive drink specials! Early bird tickets are only $10, so get yours now! Tickets: MySistersRoom.com GRRL CRUSH: June 22 What better way to celebrate Pride than dancing the night away – for those 21+, that is! Atlanta Pride Committee and My Sister’s Room host the party, featuring DJ sets by Whitney AbstraKt and Ree de la Vega, as well as other special guest performers. Doors open at 10 pm, pre-sale tickets are $10 and $15 at the door. Tickets: FreshTix.com/events/grrl-crush OutRising: June 23 The Fox Theatre and Lexus commemorate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall Pride at the
Fox Theatre’s rooftop Marquee Club. Enjoy light bites, cocktails, sets from Anonima and Alexander, and free merch from Lexus while soaking in the views of Midtown. Tickets for the event, which lasts from noon to 4 pm, are $20. More information: FoxTheatre.org HAWT SAUCE: June 28 Not only is the Atlanta summer hot, but so is the dance floor! Head over to The Bakery Atlanta for Southern Fried Queer Pride’s official queer dance party. The 18+ event features sets by Jsport, Malcriada, and Whitney AbstraKt. Doors open at 10 pm and the suggested door cover is $7 to $20. More information: SouthernFriedQueerPride.com SWEET TEA – A Queer Variety Show: June 29 Sothern Fried Queer Pride hosts Atlanta’s longest-running queer variety show at The Bakery Atlanta. Celebrate Atlanta’s vibrant LGBTQ community, as well as the history behind the month, by enjoying the talents of performers like Edie Bellini, Gabbie Watts, Perka Stex, and more! Doors open at 9 pm,
the show starts at 10 pm. The suggested door cover is $7 to $20. More information: SouthernFriedQueerPride.com Heavy Syrup Tea Dance: June 30 Want to join in on the festivities but not a night owl? This event is perfect for you! Southern Fried Queer Pride closes out their festival with this evening event. Come out to The Bakery Atlanta from 4 pm to 9 pm for yard games, sprinklers, food vendors, and live music. Enjoy the Atlanta summer sun alongside the city’s LGBTQ community. More information: SouthernFriedQueerPride.com 2019 Stonewall March: June 30 The Atlanta Pride Committee is honoring the legacy of Stonewall by gathering Atlanta’s best activists and organizations for the firstever Stonewall Pride march and rally. Lineup for the march will begin at noon at the North Avenue MARTA station and step off is at 1 pm. The march ends at Piedmont Park, where a rally will commence with speakers from the community. More information: facebook.com/events/433953584038180/ June 7, 2019 Pride 13
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POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: } Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. } Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. } Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. } Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. } Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. } The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY. HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food. GET MORE INFORMATION } This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. } Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5. } If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
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PRIDE
Gear Up For Pride!
There’s no shortage of rainbow apparel for this month, so we’re here to give you some of the most talked about items to help you show your PRIDE loud and proud!
Target Pride Striped Rainbow Drawstring Bag $13 Target Pride Collection From adult to kids clothing, swimsuits, accessories, and pride staple outfits, Target is taking another step in supporting the LGBTQ community this pride month with their newest collection. Target is a proud supporter of GLSEN with a $100,000 donation to help their mission of creating safe and inclusive schools for all! Visit their Pride page at target.com/c/pride/-/N-5589f!
2(X)IST Pride Catalina Swim Short $75 2(X)IST turned their Catalina Swim Short into a celebration of love. They’re also donating $1 from every item purchased in their Pride Collection to the following charities: The Audre Lorde Project, TGI Justice Project, and Montana Two Spirit Society. Find these colorful shorts on 2xist.com!
Rainbow Disney Collection Mickey Mouse Plush $24.95
Converse 70 PRIDE High Top $100 In celebration of Pride, we’ve remixed our iconic high top Chucks with a bold rainbow and glitter design. A shimmering lightning bolt brings rocker vibes while rainbow accents at the toe, heel, patch, laces and sole honor LGBTQ pride. The love parade is on. Let’s march! Go to converse.com/shop/pride to shop even more shoes and apparel to celebrate Pride! 16 Pride June 7, 2019
Rainbow Disney Collection Key chains, clothing, Mickey Mouse ease, bookbags, and stuffed animals with a rainbow theme? You bet! Disney has officially entered the Pride game, rolling out apparel and accessories that benefit GLSEN through June 30! Go to disney. com and search Pride! TheGeorgiaVoice.com
PRIDE
Celebrate Pride Month With These LGBTQ Reads! Patrick Colson-Price
Pride month will be a busy one, so we suggest taking some down time to enjoy a little reading! Here’s a list of several LGBTQthemed books to give you the history of where our pride comes from and where its leading us to!
The Stonewall Reader
foreword by Edmund White For the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, this is an anthology chronicling the tumultuous fight for LGBTQ rights in the 1960s and the activists who spearheaded it, with a foreword by Edmund White. The Stonewall Reader is a collection of first accounts, diaries, periodic literature, and articles from LGBTQ magazines and newspapers that documented both the years leading up to and the years following the riots.
We Are Everywhere
by Matthew Riemer & Leighton Brown A rich and sweeping photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement, from the creators and curators of the massively popular Instagram account @ lgbt_history, released in time for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Through the lenses of protest, power, and pride, We Are Everywhere is an essential and empowering introduction to the history of the fight for queer liberation. Combining exhaustively researched narrative with meticulously curated photographs, the book traces queer activism from its roots in latenineteenth-century Europe–long before the pivotal Stonewall Riots of 1969–to the gender warriors leading the charge today. TheGeorgiaVoice.com
The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle
by Lillian Faderman The sweeping story of the modern struggle for gay, lesbian, and trans rights from the 1950s to the present—based on amazing interviews with politicians, military figures, legal activists, and members of the entire LGBT community who face these challenges every day. The fight for gay, lesbian, and trans civil rights — the years of outrageous injustice, the early battles, the heartbreaking defeats, and the victories beyond the dreams of the gay rights pioneers — is the most important civil rights issue of the present day.
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out
by Susan Kuklin Author and photographer Susan Kuklin met and interviewed six transgender or genderneutral young adults and used her considerable skills to represent them thoughtfully and respectfully before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference. Portraits, family photographs, and candid images grace the pages, augmenting the emotional and physical journey each youth has taken. Each honest discussion and disclosure, whether joyful or heartbreaking, is
completely different from the other because of family dynamics, living situations, gender, and the transition these teens make in recognition of their true selves.
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance. When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right. June 7, 2019 Pride 17
FEATURE
Pensacola: MUST-GO-TO for 2020! CITY’S MEMORIAL WEEKEND PARTY ONE OF THE TOP LGBTQ EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY Patrick Colson-Price There’s something special about welcoming in the official start to Summer under beautiful blue skies, surrounded by thousands of men in speedos, with magical turquoise-colored waves crashing onto a pristine white beach. If that hasn’t sold you yet, just wait. For nearly 50 years, Pensacola Beach has been the site of fun in the sun for the LGBTQ community, even when it started with just a few friends of Pensacola couple Ray and Henry Hillyer. It’s now considered the unofficial Pensacola Pride weekend even though the city’s actual pride event is in mid-June. Although there’s not a festival or parade, there’s plenty to classify the holiday weekend as one of the top pride events in the country. It’s one of the prime vacation spots for members of the LGBTQ community across the Southeast. The weekend does compete with events like International Mister Leather in Chicago and a big circuit party event weekend in San Francisco, but for those on the east coast, Pensacola is the place to be. It’s a trip that’s better taken with a group of friends, as the Portofino Island Resort (host resort) can get quite expensive for accommodations depending on the size of your group. Jay Watkins, who teaches U.S. history at Georgia State University, told the Pensacola News Journal back in 2016 that weekend events have created a place where gay, lesbian, transgender people can come together openly and celebrate their lives and culture. “A lot of people might not look at beach parties as political acts or civil rights acts but there was a lot of value in providing a space where people could be open and come together as a community,” Watkins told the News Journal. “I’ve heard story after story about people who came to the events, and that gave them the courage to come out, and gave them consciousness that they took with them when they left.” 18 Feature June 7, 2019
“Pensacola is definitely top 3 fun in the sun weekend trips to make during the summer. It’s a perfect trip for close friends and for making new ones from all around the world. Whether your playing in the sand at Pensacola beach or chilling by the pool at the Portofino. Kicking your feet up with your crew at a summer beach house or dancing the night away with a hot summer romance at one of the tent beach parties. Fun is inevitable! If you don’t believe me, give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.” —Brandon Marcano For those looking to enjoy the beach during the day, it’s more than just a beach umbrella and a few chairs. Groups go all out bringing double tents, large speaker systems, tent decor, flags for their respective cities, and even activities for beach passersby. Expect southern hospitality at its finest where tent-goers will welcome you to their abode with food, drinks, hugs, kisses, and even a few gropes all in good fun. Feeling even friskier? Several tents this year posted “Shots for Cocks” in hopes of getting glances at beach manhood. There’s even a lesbian area where women of
all backgrounds mingle with one another and even oil up in KY jelly wrestling matches. Again, all in good fun, visitors on Pensacola Beach choose to let loose and make the most of their weekend away from home. But it’s not just about the beach for some visitors in Pensacola. Many come for the parties, music, and DJ lineup, and it’s all thanks to Johnny Chisholm, owner of NOLA Cafe on Pensacola Beach. He’s organized a weekendlong series of circuit parties for nearly 26 years, and each year his parties continue to grow.
There’s now a huge white tent at the beach’s Park East that houses all of the evening festivities. The daytime T-dances are held at the Portofino Island Resort’s main pool. There’s no shortage of fun for visitors looking to soak up the daytime sun and dance the night away under the stars. The DJ lineup was stellar this year with DJ Drew G, Will Love, Blacklow, Grind, Joe Ross, Toy Armada, Alain Jackinsky, and Australia’s Kitty Glitter taking visitors on a journey the ultimate journey of sound. Friday night’s headliner, Joe Gauthreaux, continues to come back because of the crowds and the energy, plus he’s a local favorite as he’s now based out of Atlanta, Georgia, which is a quick six-hour drive away. CONTINUES ON PAGE 19 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
FEATURE
Joe Gauthreaux COURTESY PHOTO
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 “It’s a very special weekend for me also because it was one of the first places I played 20 years ago,” said Gauthreaux. “The start of my career as a “touring” DJ started in Pensacola, and it makes me so happy to say the party I played in 1999 (an after-hours party) was produced by Johnny Chisholm.” Gauthreaux attributes the magical weekend to a perfect storm of music, men, and a master plan to create the ideal vacation spot for folks around the country. “There are friendly boys, parties that are lit - but don’t get too crazy til all hours so that you miss the daytime fun, and it’s all in a very unique setting,” he told the Georgia Voice. “There’s something really magical about playing music and dancing on a beach that can feel like it’s in the middle of nowhere.” But can anything compare to miles of extravagant tent setups decked out in rainbow flags, men and women in skimpy bathing suits (some topless and nude), and blaring circuit music from makeshift DJ booths? It’s
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
essentially an LGBTQ paradise of acceptance and inclusiveness that lands ferociously on the sands of Pensacola Beach once a year. Whether sexy men or women are your prerogatives, or you want to dance the day and night away with some of the world’s top DJs, or you simply want a relaxing day under the sun, it’s all here. Forewarning though as taking it all in can be extremely exhausting but for many who’ve experienced such an intense weekend, as they leave this makeshift safe haven, they admit they’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
“HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH” COURTESY PHOTOS
June 7, 2019 Feature 19
FEATURE
International Mr. Leather 2019: A Class of Diversity Patrick Colson-Price The world of leather has long been a place where men of different shapes, sizes, colors, and leather getups get to express themselves as a whole to those in the scene and outside of it. Over Memorial Day weekend in Chicago, the annual International Mr. Leather competition which brings men of leather from around the world together, showcased yet again just how diverse the sub-genre of the LGBTQ community really is. Jack Thompson, the reigning Leatherman of Color 2019, beat out nearly 70 other titleholders to win International Mr. Leather 2019. This year’s competition in its 41st year marked the first time a trans man of color has won the title. Thompson’s win follows the win of Tyler McCormick who was the first trans man to win International Mr. Leather in 2010 according to Out. Thompson, who is black, stood above his competitors during the physique competition where he wore a leather Transgender Flag jockstrap. He spoke to Out after his win about feelings of inadequacy, saying he often felt, “not strong enough, not black enough, not smart enough.” “There are people in this room right now that don’t believe I’m man enough to be on this stage,” he told Out. At Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend in April, Thompson told Out that he was initially afraid that a rumored IML policy would bar him from competing. That policy was said to require all contestants to have a male gender marker on their government-issued ID. Thompson was assured by IML organizers that this was never a policy of the event. “If you’re enough for you, then you are 20 Feature June 7, 2019
enough, period,” he said on stage. “I’m Jack Thompson and I’m a proud biracial, openly transgender, HIV-positive man and I am enough.” he closed. The speech was the only speech of the night to receive a standing ovation. David Campbell, Mr. Atlanta Leather 2018, competed alongside Thompson, a competitor he said owned his identity and allowed the judges to see that diversity as a strength. “He fit in because he was so upfront and genuine. Being a trans person of color was a huge part of his identity. There was never a flinch or hesitation when talking about it. That’s what made him so approachable,” said Campbell. He met Thompson for the first time at MidAtlantic Leather in Washington, D.C. earlier this year, and immediately, the two hit it off. “I was really excited that the two of us were going to be in the same class together,” he said. Months later, reconnecting at IML, Campbell knew something was special about his 2019 class. He’d been attending IML for years, but this year, he was in a different role as a competitor and he got to see just how diverse his competitors were. There were two trans contestants, men of all shapes and sizes, and a sense of brotherhood that didn’t allow competition to separate them from a bigger goal; to empower everyone in the leather community. “I’m a little bit bigger than some of the contestants,” he said. “I had some guys say seeing guys of my body type makes me feel more empowered here in the community. In a
Above: International Mr. Leather winner for 2019, Jack Thompson (Center). Inset: International Mr. Leather winner for 2018, David Campbell. Courtesy Photos
broader sense, to have a trans person of color now making a statement for other people that the doors are open and you have a place here.”
are looking forward to what he brings to his title year. While we should be rejoicing, we now must take time to address transphobia from the leadership of SECC.”
The backlash came against now-former Southeast Conference of Clubs president Craig MrCode after he posted a news article after Thompson’s win, saying the decision was politically motivated. He was ousted less than 24-hours after his posts were made.
On Tuesday night, Sir Wayne released an official SECC statement regarding its former president’s comments. “SECC wishes to express our deepest disappointment in the recent posts from Craig MrCode regarding Jack Thompson, the current Mr. International Leather 2019,” he said. “His comments conflict with the inclusive nature of our by-laws and the spirit of our family in Brotherhood/Sisterhood. The post stands in direct opposition to the conference’s purpose of encouraging diversity and inclusion.”
“I am happy for the winner, BUT it is International MR. Leather,” MrCode wrote in his initial post which has since been deleted. Thompson was the first Black trans man to win the title. “He identifies as a man. But not born a man. I feel that the decision is politically motivated. Now this is just my opinion,” stated MrCode in his Facebook post. Immediately, members of Thompson’s class, previous title winners, and other members of the leather community stepped forward to stand behind the newly crowned IML winner and to take a stand against transphobia. Merlin Onyx, president of ONYX Southeast, posted to the organizations Facebook page after seeing comments made by MrCode. “You can, therefore, imagine the shock and dismay we experienced when Craig expressed his opinion on our new Mr. IML 2019, Jack Thompson, who is a full brother of ONYX and proud transman,” said Onyx. “We couldn’t be any happier with Jack and
Nitro Hankinson, president of Atlanta Leather Pride, told the Georgia Voice, “If you meet the qualifications of the title, who is anybody to question that? One of the guidelines for entering the competition is that you have to be legally identified as a man, and Thompson identifies as a man.” Campbell says through this entire experience and even a handful of negative comments towards Thompson, the exposure of IML’s diversity has benefited the leather community as a whole. “There were two trans contestants, and I just think about how many people saw them up on that stage, and say I now have a place in this community, and they might not have felt like that before,” he said. TheGeorgiaVoice.com
ACTING OUT
“Tales of the City” Revisits Gay San Francisco’s past Jim Farmer Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City” books, the first of which was published in 1978, gave many readers their first wellrounded cast of LGBT characters. The 1993 miniseries did the same for TV viewers. Now a new incarnation is back, debuting on Netflix June 7. Many of the iconic performers are back, including Laura Linney as Mary Ann Singleton and Olympia Dukakis as Anna Madrigal. The action resumes as Mary Ann comes to San Francisco after leaving 20 years ago to celebrate Anna’s 90th party and gets caught up with her former friends — and new ones — at 28 Barbary Lane. Among the new faces, Murray Bartlett joins the cast as Mouse while Ellen Page plays Mary Ann’s daughter Shawna. Alan Poul has been involved with all three previous series and is back now as a producer and director for three of the episodes, including the first two. “Basically, after we finished ‘Further Tales,’ the third series in 2001, we were trying to move on with the same team with ‘Babycakes,’ the fourth book,” he says. “It didn’t seem to come together. I didn’t think about continuing the story much after that until a few years ago. Andrew Stern, one of our producers, asked if I wanted to do it again and we tried to determine what form it would take. Do we go back and remake it for a new generation or do we continue the story? My feeling is — as long as we have Laura Linney, no one else can play Mary Ann. Laura came on immediately as did Olympia Dukakis and Armistead. We put together a pitch and took it out. Netflix was always the place we wanted to go.” The series would not work, he acknowledges, without Linney and Dukakis. “I think they are both brilliant actresses,” Poul says. “They have TheGeorgiaVoice.com
grown with their characters through all three series. When you have that kind of continuity, there’s an indelible sense of attachment between them and the characters. They have played these people and earned their right to continue. It would be sacrilegious to see someone else playing the roles.” In working with showrunner Lauren Morelli — one of the writers for “Orange is the New Black” — and an all-queer writing room, it was always clear that Shawna was going to be the major character in their new version. “We thought of Ellen and talked to her and she was interested. It was written for her. When we began building the younger generation, many of the characters are in the books but there are others that we created. What was important for us was that we be able to show the range of thought about sexuality that comes with a new generation. I am older and I come from a binary world that no longer holds. Because of the brave younger people who are forging their own future in terms of
sexuality, that is something we wanted to depict honestly and proudly.” The creative team did make the decision to have a new Mouse. It was tricky though since the character has a complicated life. “While he is a delightful person, Mouse has always had an underlying layer of sadness and loss. We wanted to cast a queer actor and we had a lot of enthusiastic response but when we got in a room with Murray, it was clear. What he did was totally separate from what he did with Dom in ‘Looking.’” It’s been important for Maupin — who was on set a few weeks — to reflect diversity in the new series. “Armistead has said that in 1976, he was writing from the perspective of a white man in a pretty white world — a binary gay, lesbian, straight world. Across the years, he has worked diligently to broaden that and bring in more diversity. In 2019 it was a huge concern for us, but our interests dovetailed nicely.” June 7, 2019 Columnists 21
ACTING OUT
Rocketman: The Elton John Story Jim Farmer In the new film “Rocketman,” which opened last week and is now playing in metro Atlanta area theaters, Taron Egerton plays legendary musician Elton John. The film covers John’s life as he grows up and becomes a rock phenomenon, as well as his friendship with longtime lyricist and friend Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell) and his realization of being gay. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, the film has gotten strong critical attention to match its impressive early box-office numbers. Matt Vaughn, a producer friend of his, worked with Fletcher on the film “Eddie the Eagle,” which also starred Egerton, and green-lit the project “half an hour after” he read the script. “He came to me and said I should seriously think about it.” Fletcher recalls. “I knew that Taron playing Elton was a genius idea already.” Fletcher came aboard soon after. Fletcher feels that Egerton brings a lot to the role. “There is a kind of authenticity about him and a vulnerability and I think it is something he and Elton have in common. Elton always wears his heart on his sleeve and is always open about who he is – and the life he has led. As an actor, Taron can 22 Columnists June 7, 2019
switch between extreme emotions almost in the blink of an eye.” The film’s musical numbers are particularly inspired, with a catalog of John’s best-known songs. “I knew what I wanted each one to do and how they moved the story,” Fletcher says. “I feel they had to be quiet and intimate and contained.” Yet some numbers feature actors spontaneously bursting into song in the street. “I embraced it fully and didn’t shy away from any of those opportunities. It was about embracing them head on and celebrating the music, which is what separates the film from a standard biopic. I didn’t see this as a biopic, but a memory of a man trying to unpack his past.” It was important for the director to make an R-rated film and not gloss over aspects of John’s life, as many thought “Bohemian Rhapsody” did. “That was what Elton set out to do,” says Fletcher. “The film sets out to show the highs and lows. The lows were not PG. If you think about the rock and roll lifestyle and the talents that have been lost to various abuses and self-destruction – there is no way of sugarcoating it.” John was on set some but also was busy with his farewell tour. “He was there during
the script process and when it was being developed and was free and easy about how we should interpret things. In the day to day, he let us get on with it. His husband (David Furnish) was there more than he was.” Fletcher feels the film honors John’s legacy as well as his ease about being out. “As a musician, he is out there entertaining millions of people. As for his personal life, he has been front and center about his sexuality and advocates for people being able to love whom they want to love. He is happily married with children and is no different from anyone else. He lives his life as he is and is happy doing so.” In 2017, Fletcher was called in to finish the film “Bohemian Rhapsody” after Bryan Singer was released for a myriad of reasons. He looked at it as a warm-up to his work on “Rocketman,” which he takes more pride in. “That film was not my vision. I came in to get the nuts and bolts of that production, to finish it over the line and be conscious to honor that vision and work with those actors and that crew. But I was about to start my own project that I was passionate about. They are different beasts. ‘Rocketman’ is a musical and a fantasy.” TheGeorgiaVoice.com
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, ATLANTA!
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EATING MY WORDS
Tex Mex Atlanta Style Cliff Bostock
I couldn’t wait to try Ford Fry’s new Tex-Mex restaurant, Little Rey, but I admit I was nervous. Many decades ago, I landed in Houston, Texas, as the editor of a big glossy magazine. The last thing I looked forward to there was the food. Back then, when most Americans referred to Mexican food, they really meant Tex-Mex, and the closest we got to that was Taco Bell. God did not give me a cast-iron stomach, so the piles of raw onions, greasy ground beef, beans, lettuce, orange cheese, and nose-bleeding chili powder, all piled into stale hard shells, made me instantly ill. Imagine my horror when my new Houston friends made things worse by introducing me to the monstrous Frito Pie. They dumped all of the above ingredients into a bag of Fritos and handed me a spoon to eat the crap directly from the bag. Fancy versions were served in a bowl. With time, I discovered that “true” Mexican cooking is considerably different from TexMex. But I also discovered a lot of brilliant, cliché-busting varieties and cousins of TexMex, especially so-called Southwestern cuisine (like that at Taqueria del Sol). One of my favorite Houston spots, not extraordinary but always reliable, was Ninfa’s. It’s this restaurant that came instantly to mind when I first saw the words “al carbon” on the exterior walls of Little Rey (meaning “Little King”). Ninfa’s was credited with originating tacos al carbon, whose meats – soon to be called fajitas – were grilled over smoky wood and spilled into tortillas.
a salad, or some queso. Or you can order something like the traditional pozole — a broth tinged with guajillo chiles, afloat with the chicken, hominy, cabbage, and cilantro.
Fry already has two Tex-Mex restaurants in operation — The El Felix and Superica. Like all of his other restaurants, they are very popular and the food is reliable. I visited El Rey twice during the first 10 days of its operation. The building was most recently a late-night bar that was closed because the go-go-girls were having to pay to work there. The re-do is amazing. The interior is wide open and full of funny art, including a portrait of a chicken lecturing Felix the Cat. The front patio offers a gorgeous view of Tokyo Valentino. The rear entryway is lettered with “COMIDA DEL CIELO.” That means “food from heaven.” Is it? Not yet. The place, according to everything I read, has been overwhelmed with huge crowds. But that wasn’t the case when I visited for a late lunch and dinner around 9 on a Saturday night. You place your order at
a counter, fetch your plastic utensils, find a seat, and wait to hear your name called. The big deal here is the chicken al carbon. You order a whole or a half chicken that’s been grilled and smoked over oak and mesquite. It comes with tortillas, smoked onions and jalapenos, ranch beans, and cilantro-lime rice. I was also given a bag of chips and some red and green salsas. I have no idea if this was a gift or a screw-up in the kitchen. The chicken is moist with oily, browned skin. You pluck the flesh and roll it into tortillas if you like. There’s no salsa bar —just the basic red and green — so you don’t get to play much with the flavor. This, honestly, is a problem. The chicken is delicious, but the mesquite flavor is relentless. The tiny side dishes add some variety but not enough. My suggestion is to split half a chicken with your dinner date and also order some tacos,
The restaurant offers six tacos on the lunch/ dinner menu. Two feature al carbon meats – the chicken and steak. They come with smoked onions, but you can add jalapenos and queso. Three traditional tacos include carne asada, brisket, and chopped chicken. My favorite by far is the sixth, the Oaxaca, which includes poblanos, mushrooms, and salsa verde. The tortilla is stiff with melted cheese. In all honesty, though, I’ve never seen a kitchen have such difficulty with a taco. I literally had to take it back to the counter both visits to get all the ingredients included. I’ve not tried the restaurant’s breakfast tacos or huevos rancheros. You may want to wait a few weeks before visiting Little Rey. If you go sooner, you’ll likely have to drink two or three margaritas while you wait. That could get messy but the food will taste even better. Cliff Bostock is a longtime Atlanta restaurant critic and former psychotherapist turned life coach; cliffbostock@gmail.com.
MORE INFO Little Rey 1878 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 770-796-0207 LittleRey.com
24 Columnists June 7, 2019 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
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BEST BETS Our Guide to the Best LGBTQ Events in Atlanta for June 7-20 Friday, June 7
The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (AGLCC) hosts the LGBT Business Summit, a daylong conference and expo, covering topics relevant to the Southeastern LGBTQ business community. Tickets include networking, expo, general sessions, reception, keynote presentation and more with interactive panel discussions and national business leaders and an overview of the state of today’s LGBTQ economy. 1- 7:30pm Atlanta Marriott Northeast Join MAAP tonight for its monthly It’s Friday — Mix, Mingle and Network session. Leave the work week behind, start your weekend right, and connect with other like-minded LGBT and straight professionals over drinks, laughter, and good professional conversation. Pre-register now at https:// maap060719.eventbrite.com. 6 - 8pm TEN Atlanta Joe Whitaker Present’s DILF Atlanta “Do Me Harder” party where jockstraps and underwear are the clothing of choice! DJ John LePage from San Francisco spins the beats all night long! 10pm - 3am Heretic Atlanta
Saturday, June 8
Enjoy food, drink and wine at Food That Rocks, a celebration of Sandy Springs. 6:30 - 11pm City Springs City Green Female icons of the music world thrill us all. Come celebrate some of the most powerful female legends the world has ever known with Legendary, the Atlanta Women’s Chorus entertaining close to their season. 2 and 8pm Out Front Theatre Company Woofs Atlanta hosts a Beer Bust fundraiser for The Hotlanta Volleyball Association tonight. 4 - 7pm “Altar Boyz” is a foot-stomping, rafterraising, musical comedy about a fictitious Christian boy-band on the last night of their national “Raise the Praise” tour. The Boyz are five all-singing, all-dancing heartthrobs
EVENT SPOTLIGHT Friday, June 7
Onstage Atlanta continues Topher Payne’s comedy “Morningside” — directed by Cathe Hall Payne — this evening. 8pm, through June 29 from Ohio: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham. With their tight harmonies and spectacular choreography, the musical will delight audiences of all ages. 8 pm, through June 22 Marietta Theatre Company Elevate your nightlife this Saturday night with digital soundboard maestro, Mike Pope! Enjoy hot tunes, hot men and hot times! 10pm - 3am Heretic Atlanta DJ Eric James will be heating up the Best Dance Floor in Atlanta all night long! As always, NO COVER! 10pm - 3am Atlanta Eagle
Sunday, June 9
The longest running Sunday night weekly camp drag show in Atlanta and beyond
— the Armorettes — continues tonight, raising money for charity. 8pm Midtown Moon
Monday, June 10
A musical fantasy about the rise of singer (and part-time Atlanta native) Elton John, “Rocketman” continues today in metro Atlanta theaters.
Tuesday, June 11
Get ready for a trip back to the 1950s — slick your hair back in duck tails, grab your leather jackets, put on your poodle skirts, and get ready to party like Sandra Dee at the ‘50s Sock Hop Drag Queen Bingo Night. Lambda Car Club will have some classic cars in the parking lot before the games begin, so it’s going to be a fun night at the hop. 6:30pm
Lips Atlanta
Wednesday, June 12
Robert Ray will present an all new Broadway style cabaret show at TEN Atlanta tonight, with special guests including Truman Griffin, Matt Broker, Rick Mallory and Clay Mote. 7 and 9pm
Thursday June 13
Horizon Theatre has opened the LGBTQ-themed “The Cake.” When Della, a North Carolina baker and devout Christian, is asked to bake a wedding cake for her best friend’s daughter, she is overjoyed. That joy is short-lived, though, when she learns that the intended is another bride. Struggling to reconcile her deeply-held belief in “traditional marriage”
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26 Best Bets June 7, 2019 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
BEST BETS 10pm - 3am Heretic Atlanta
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 and the love she has for the woman she helped raise, Della finds herself in strange new territory. Inspired by a story still in the headlines, this is a new play by Bekah Brunstetter (TV’s “This is Us”). 8 pm, through June 23
Sunday, June 16
Don’t miss DJ Abel as he keeps the music going continues behind the DJ booth at Xion after hours. 3am - 7am BJ Roosters
Friday, June 14
The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children opens its doors tonight. 2:30 - 4pm Atlanta International School
Out On Film and Atlanta Pride conclude its “50 Years of LGBTQ Cinema” free film series this weekend, with two screenings tonight — “Living With Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100” at 7pm and “The Watermelon Woman” at 9pm, “Save Me,” “Brother to Brother” and “Shelter” on Saturday and “Saturday Church,” “Rafiki” and “Pride” on Sunday. Out Front Theatre Company Pride Night at the Atlanta Braves game includes a pre-game party and a Braves Pride T-shirt. 7:20pm SunTrust Park OurSong celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising with the Southeast premiere of Q uiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall. After years of injustice, the LGBTQ community in New York City took fate into their own hands and provided us with a path towards change and acceptance, a path of R adical Change that continues today. Created by 26 LGBTQ choruses around the US, Quiet No Morefeatures the voices of diverse LGBTQ composers, including Julian Hornik (“Dear Evan Hansen”); Our Lady J (“Pose,” “Transparent”); and Mike Shaieb (“‘Through A Glass Darkly”). The Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus and the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus will also be honored. 8pm tonight and June 15 First Baptist Church of Decatur Steaming up the best dance floor in Atlanta, the Latin Dance Party always brings in the sexiest men around with DJ Moose behind the DJ booth! No Cover! 10pm - 3am Atlanta Eagle
Saturday, June 15
Celebrating its 29th year, The Atlanta Pride Run & Walk is an annual 5K race and walk organized by the Front Runners
Monday, June 17
EVENT SPOTLIGHT Wednesday, June 12
Charis welcomes Koe Creation to share “The Heart Holds Many: My Life as the Nonbinary Millenial Child of a Polyamorous Family,” her story of growing up as the child of a queer polyamorous family. Many of us were asked by our mother to do the dishes as children. Perhaps some of us would be asked more than once. Koe was the type who’d get asked by three times, by three different mothers. Crowded parent-teacher conferences, queer youth summer camp and parental adoptions over potluck dinner were typical of Koe’s upbringing in a queer, polyamorous family. 7:30 - 9pm Atlanta running club. Front Runners Atlanta is a running, walking and social club for the LGBTQ community and its allies. 8am Piedmont Park
powerful music from LGBTQ composers, including two world premieres, two Atlanta premieres, and several exciting pieces. 6pm Church at Ponce & Highland
Join the Atlanta Rollergirls today for two Pride Expo Bouts. 5pm Yaarab Shrine Center
Georgia Equality presents its annual Evening for Equality, in which guests will gather to recognize and celebrate the many victories helping to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for Georgia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) communities and our allies. The Allen Thornell Political Advancement Award will go this year to Hon. Stephe Koontz. 7pm Loews Hotel Midtown Atlanta
Atlanta Freedom Bands will mark a half century of activism, acceptance, and advancement at its “Stonewall 50 Celebration.” The evening begins with a “Stonewall Stories — From Christopher Street to Peachtree Street” panel of speakers discussing the history and influence of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising on the LGBTQ+ community at large and here in Atlanta. Then AFB’s 70-piece Concert Band will take the stage with
The Tribal Bitch, DJ Paulo, returns to Atlanta after spinning at WorldPride 2019! He’ll get the energy pumping into the early morning hours!
Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. 7 – 8:30pm Charis Books and More WUSSY MAG + Out On Film and Plaza Atlanta present “Queers on Film,” a new monthly series of LGBTQ+ arthouse and independent classics at the Plaza Theatre. Tonight, as part of Stonewall Month activities with Atlanta Pride, is a newly restored version of the 1990 documentary “Paris is Burning’,” featuring a Q&A with some of Atlanta’s most Iconic house members — Andre Mizrahi (House of Mizrahi), Tony Revlon (House of Revlon)and Kierra Focks (House of Escada). Free 1-min HIV testing services will be provided by Someone Cares LGBT & Ally Resource Center. 7:30pm Plaza Atlanta
Tuesday, June 18
Feeling frisky? Disrobe and join the fun at Underwear Night at the Atlanta Eagle. 7pm
Wednesday, June 19
Based on true events, “A Southern Fairytale” artfully illuminates the challenges facing a young, gay Christian growing up in the Deep South. As we accompany the protagonist through multiple journeys into and out of the closet, audiences experience the very real impacts
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28 Best Bets June 7, 2019 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
BEST BETS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28 of conversion therapy, excommunication, and a father who believes that a demon has possessed his son. Written and performed by Ty Autry, the show explores the trauma of rejection by those we love through the character of Alex Belmont. 8pm Out Front Theatre Company
Stonewall event presented by Lexus today. Revel in sounds by special guests DJs Anonima & Alexander atop the Fox Theatre’s iconic rooftop overlooking the Midtown skyline while enjoying light bites, curated cocktails, free swag provided by Lexus. Noon The Marquee Club
Saturday, June 29
Coro Vocati, a leading Atlanta-based professional chamber choir, is proud to announce its upcoming production of “Considering Matthew Shepard,” a powerful and emotionally gripping musical journey about the life and legacy of hatecrime victim Matthew Shepard. Pairing chamber choir and rich orchestrations with compelling multimedia visuals. This special
event honors the 20th anniversary of Shepard’s tragic death, an act that shocked the world and led to the creation of The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Coro Vocati’s performance marks the work’s professional premiere in Georgia. 8 – 11pm Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center
Queerly Beloved Revue and My Sister’s Room present the rowdy Queer AF!. 9pm
Thursday, June 20
Play Texas Hold ‘Em poker and stick around for The House of Brooks drag event. Blakes on the Park
Upcoming Saturday, June 22
Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus’ “I See You: 50 Years After Stonewall” pays tribute to brave activists from diverse ethnic, racial, sexual, and gender identity backgrounds. Together, they ended the silence with their voices, their actions, and the coming together of a liberation movement. This concert weaves a story through LGBTQIA history, recounting the struggle of early activists who sacrificed to protest police brutality and unjust treatment of a marginalized community. What once was routine police raids of gay establishments in the 1960s sparked a revolution for the modern fight for LGBTQIA rights. “I See You: 50 Years After Stonewall” features pieces such as “Over the Rainbow” (paying tribute to Judy Garland), “Sticks and Stones” from the musical “I Am Harvey Milk”, and “I Am What I Am” from “La Cage Aux Folles.” 3 and 8pm St. Luke’s Episcopal Church “Socks and Jocks” returns after a successful night over Superbowl Weekend! DJ Neon the Glowgobear is at it again behind the DJ booth bringing you the hottest beats all night long! No cover! 10pm - 3am Atlanta Eagle
Sunday, June 23
Don’t miss the 50th anniversary of
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THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID
The Q-Tip From Hell Melissa Carter I have had my share of doctor visits. From being diagnosed with IBS as a seven-year-old, and then kidney failure at 27, much of the first half of my existence included interactions with those dressed in white coats and scrubs. I am not bothered by bedpans, enemas, shots, Neti pots, catheters … you name it. However, there has been a change to how doctors and nurses do this one task, and I got to tell you I’m not a fan. Spring has been hard on the Carter household. Allergies have gripped both me and my son’s throat and lungs to the point that each of us has developed an infection from them. I with an upper chest cold, and my son’s two bouts of croup, we each had to undergo the same questionable test with similar results: neither wants to go through it again. I’m talking about the throat swab, or as I now call it the Q-Tip from hell. Up until this year, I only remember the strep test being a quick swab and that’s it. Nowadays it lasts far longer, and they jam that stick down your throat to the point of gagging. When I had it done, I was scolded because I backed away from the torture device and the doctor had to grab another stick and try again. I truly thought I was going to throw up all over her, and in hindsight, I should have. When my son had to have it done I assumed it wouldn’t be as bad for him. Surely they wouldn’t put him through the same frustration due to his age, but I couldn’t be more wrong. The doctor needed my help to hold down my child while she shoved that stick down his throat, scrubbing up and down until I saw my son’s face turn beet red with the triggering of his gag reflex. And yet she continued, and when finally done said she hoped she got enough or we’d have to do it again. Mr. Carter pointed his finger at her and said, “If you do that again, I’m going to 30 Columnists June 7, 2019
leave for now,” which for my four-year-old pretty much means f*ck off. I thought, honey that isn’t going to happen again and you better make good use of what you have. Fortunately for her, she had enough spit to conduct the strep test, which of course after all that turned out to be negative. There has got to be a better way to test for strep throat. My son will likely never agree to get his throat cultured again, and I am not looking forward to being the one to bind my son for something that is uncomfortable for him and in my opinion unnecessary. If it’s spit they need, then let’s make it a fun spitting game or find another pleasurable way to find problems within the throat area. The point is for us to want to take care of ourselves, but these experiences will only keep people from coming back. Healthcare is already an increasingly unpopular topic for adults, but by giving young children more reasons to be afraid of the doctor only makes the issue worse. One of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta, Melissa’s worked for B98.5 and Q100. Catch her daily on theProgressive Voices podcast “She Persisted.” Tweet her! @MelissaCarter TheGeorgiaVoice.com
SOMETIMES ‘Y’
The Santa Claus of Stonewall Ryan Lee The marketing of LGBTQ Pride has become so strong that soon we won’t make it through Easter or Mother’s Day before stores erect rainbow-themed displays. While there’s a tinge of progress in Target having kiosks of queer water bottles, beach towels, and men’s rompers, or every shoe company from Adidas to Toms releasing a sneaker that looks like Roy G. Biv vomited on it, the line between support and sucking-up continues to fade. The pandering commercialism of Pride isn’t as nauseating as the opportunistic epiphanies about the value of LGBTQ Americans that politicians experience every June. President Trump tweeting his support for Pride month was as psychotically detached from reality as his every utterance, considering he’s ejected transgender soldiers from the military and allowed medical providers to cite religious beliefs as an excuse to refuse care to LGBTQ patients. The LGBTQ establishment sneered at Trump’s idiocy, but Joe Biden received hoots and cheers at the Human Rights Campaign dinner in Ohio when he vowed to make LGBTQ rights his top legislative priority if elected president and deemed our movement “the civil rights issue of our time.” Instead of reminding Biden that ours was a noble effort for much of the 36 years he spent in the legislative branch while voting for the Defense of Marriage Act and an even crueler version of what moderated into Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the bow-tied rubes rejoiced as if Biden were Baby Jesus, born yet again. Pride long ago evolved into a sort of queer Christmas, and every year there are new reasons to fall out of the holiday spirit. The more mainstream, non-orientational our celebration becomes, the more our story is diluted and distorted, such as when Bill Maher left his HBO audience with the impression the Stonewall Riots were triggered by Judy Garland’s death. If Pride is our holiest season, then Judy Garland is Santa Claus: a retroactively created TheGeorgiaVoice.com
770-321-3433
snappyservices.com Snappy Makes Homes Happy! myth who has become a defining character for why we celebrate. Despite no real-time evidence or testimony to support it, the fairy tale of Stonewall Inn patrons being in a fighting mood because they were verklempt over Dorothy’s death is told by many LGBTQ elders on the night before Pride. Some older LGBTQ folks resent historical research bursting the Garland bubble, which brings us to another bah-humbug for the fiftieth anniversary of Stonewall: it’s hard to meet a gay man over forty who wasn’t at the riots, risking everything for the ignorant and ungrateful generations that followed. “It’s like how every black person over sixty was at the March on Washington,” my friend observed.
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We have many queer ancestors — flaming homosexuals and transgender pioneers, young hustlers and stone butch lesbians — who had no choice but to challenge the world, and others who volunteered to be on the front line in the war for LGBTQ liberation. We have many more who believe attending a ’70s pool party qualifies them as a freedom fighter, but who laid low and accepted the status quo while they waited for children to make the world safer for them. Ever since the opening flames were lit at the Stonewall Inn, our movement has been strengthened and advanced by younger generations. While it is important to revere those young people as they age, it’s also possible our fiercest leader is attending her, his or their first Pride later this month. June 7, 2019 Columnists 31