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Teaming up to face down Atlanta crisis HIV-positive youth pair up with elected officials, clergy in new program
HIV in Atlanta By The Numbers
3,000
Metro Atlanta youth (ages 13-24) diagnosed with HIV in the last five years
By PATRICK SAUNDERS There’s an HIV problem in Atlanta, especially among youth, and the Equality Foundation of Georgia (the education, training and analysis arm of Georgia Equality) is taking it on by introducing a unique new program. The Youth HIV Policy Advisors Program matches elected officials and clergy with HIV-positive youth advocates who will serve as their special advisors on the issue. The youth will work one-on-one with the officials and clergy to address policy barriers to HIV prevention. “There are thousands of youth living with HIV in Atlanta, but not really a consolidated movement to bring them together to center HIV prevention and advocacy,” says Emily Brown, field organizer for Georgia Equality and the coordinator of the Youth HIV Policy Advisors Program. The program, which Brown says has an estimated budget of $20,000, will offer training to the youth advocates through a series of summer sessions, followed by educational sessions with the elected officials and clergy in the fall and culminating on World AIDS Day on December 1 with the second annual World AIDS Day Atlanta Policy & Action Luncheon. “We will have the youth advisers rolling out their policy agenda. There will be 100-plus elected officials, community members, clergy and CEOs of large healthcare foundations in attendance. So that will kick-start the 2016 legislative session with really clear policies for legislators so they have HIV on their mind and know what to do about it once they get started,” Brown says. “We’re looking to create champions within their legislative bodies.” Those champions appear to be needed now more than ever, as witnessed by the Fulton County Health Department’s failure to spend some $8.7 million in CDC grant money earmarked for HIV prevention, according to a recent WABE report. The department falls under the oversight of the Fulton County Board
1/3
Of those youth are receiving the needed care to stay healthy and prevent transmission
47
Percent of gay and bisexual Atlanta men ages 18 to 24 who did not use a condom with casual partners in the last year
Mike Lawrence, a 27-year-old HIV-positive Atlanta man taking part in the program, hopes to help make sure there are more options available for those living with HIV in Atlanta. (Courtesy photo)
5th
Atlanta’s rank among U.S. cities based on rate of new HIV diagnoses
of Commissioners, two of whose members, John Eaves and Joan Garner, have agreed to join the Youth HIV Policy Advisors Program.
my goal is to make sure we have more options than what’s already available, and to further educate people.”
Sources: Equality Foundation of Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Number of qualified youth advocates leads to expansion The Equality Foundation of Georgia ran into a good problem after word of the new program spread throughout the community of HIV-positive youth in Atlanta—too many qualified candidates. “We originally had 12 (youths) and 12 (elected officials), but the choices were so difficult that we decided it would be more valuable to expand the program,” Brown says. Mike Lawrence, an HIV-positive 27-yearold Atlanta Metropolitan State College student, is one of the candidates who made it through the application process and will serve as a youth advisor in the program. “I would liked to see something different happen with the program all throughout Atlanta because there are all types of HIV-positive people and situations out there,” he says. “There are a lot of places around here that say they offer some things but there’s a waiting list or you get denied for some reasons so that’s
‘I’m looking at it as a way to learn from these young people’ The Equality Foundation of Georgia has lined up 20 youth advocates for the program, with 11 elected officials and clergy confirmed, four they are waiting to hear back from and nine total spots left to be filled (see sidebar for full list of confirmed and invited). Brown says they are looking into inviting Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Stone Mountain Mayor Pat Wheeler, East Point Mayor Jannquell Peters and Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson. “A lot of us know people that have HIV, so having the opportunity to spend more in-depth time with someone, it’s like experiential learning,” says Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), one of the elected officials who will take part in the program. State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta), who will also take part in the program, is looking forward to it. “I’m a teacher and teachers know that they get as much from their students as the stu-
Confirmed Elected Officials Participating Georgia State Rep. Simone Bell (D-Atlanta) Georgia State Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D-Lithonia) Georgia State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) Chairman John Eaves of the Fulton County Commission Georgia State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) Georgia State Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) District 4 Fulton County Commissioner Joan Garner Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell Georgia State Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) Georgia State Rep. Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) Atlanta City Councilman Alex Wan
dents get from them,” he says, “so I’m looking forward to not just them shadowing me and asking me questions but I’m looking at it as a way to learn from these young people.”
4 News June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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HOW IRELAND DID IT Emerald Isle voters make history by approving marriage equality By KC WILDMOON Aodhán O’Riordain did what politicians often do. He stood on street corners, rain or shine, handing out flyers and buttons. He traveled from Dublin to Galway to Kerry to Cork. He appeared on panels and at forums, gave speeches to organizations. He shook hands, took selfies and maybe even kissed a baby or two. Ireland’s minister of state for equality, new communities, culture and national drug policy—a long title that could be easily shortened to “minister for all things controversial”—was far from the only one. All across the country, men and women, gay and straight, old and young, urged their friends, their families and complete strangers to vote for the right of gay and lesbian people to marry the partner of their choice. They couched it in terms of equality, and the simple wording of the constitutional amendment they supported said it all: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.” When all the campaigning and voting was done, they had won. Not just won, but won big. With a turnout of more than 60 percent—more in line with national elections than a constitutional referendum— 62 percent voted yes. Only one of the republic’s 26 counties voted no: rural Roscommon, where the no votes won the day, just barely, with 51.42 percent. How did that happen? How could one
Maureen Gowran (front) with her daughter Sandra Irwin-Gowran (right) and her daugther’s partner, Marion Irwin-Gowran, canvassing for marriage equality in Ireland. (Photo courtesy GLEN)
“It was a soft but firm campaign to say ‘This is an equality issue.’ There is an injustice here. It wasn’t enough to know someone who is lesbian or gay. You have to tell them what marriage equality means for you and ask for support.” —Sandra Irwin-Gowran of Ireland’s Gay + Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN)
of the most Catholic countries in the world become the first to accept same-sex marriage on a popular vote? Turns out, it wasn’t as difficult as one might think, but it did take a lot of hard, hard work by civil rights groups, political parties, grassroots organizers, and individual Irish citizens. And lots of conversations. “It was a soft but firm campaign to say ‘This is an equality issue,’” said Sandra Irwin-Gowran of Ireland’s Gay + Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN). “‘There is an injustice here.’” “It wasn’t enough to know someone who is lesbian or gay,” she said. “You have to tell them what marriage equality means for you and ask for support.” “It was rightly framed as equality, full stop,” said Andrew Hyland, communications director of Marriage Equality, which began
formal work on marriage equality in 2008. “LGBT citizens belong in Ireland, their love belongs and their relationships belong—being an equal part of the fabric of Irish society.” “The movement didn’t happen overnight,” he said. It was a long-term strategy of “lobbying, grassroots organization and so much more.” ‘Something quite magical’ Marriage Equality and GLEN joined with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) to form Yes Equality, and before long, Yes Equality groups had popped up all over the country, in every county—at least 58 of them by the end of the campaign. “We couldn’t envision how big the campaign would grow,” Irwin-Gowran said. “It was a phenomenal campaign to be involved in, something quite magical.” Yes Equality groups held fundraisers, wrote stories, and got local press for their events,
creating visibility and getting more people involved. When it came down to the final press, “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people were out canvassing every night of the week.” “They were knocking on doors, asking people to vote yes, answering questions,” she said. “And a lot of these people had never been involved in anything like this before.” Yes Equality provided workshops and canvassing guides, and, it seems, this personal touch had a major role in countering what Irwin-Gowran said had been a “quite nasty, hurtful” campaign by marriage equality opponents. The nationwide conversations, she said, created “a groundswell of love and respect.” “Once the majority of Ireland’s citizens saw this as being just that—a matter of equality—the landslide victory joyfully followed,” Hyland said. CONTINUES ON PAGE 8
6 News June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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Ireland victory decades in the making CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Decades in fight for equality leading up to historic vote But Ireland’s move to equality started long before the May 22 vote. Until 1993, homosexual activity was illegal in the country. That change began in earnest in the 1970s when university lecturer and future senator David Norris founded the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform. Aided along the way by two future Irish presidents, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, Norris eventually took the case to the European Court of Human Rights and won in 1988. During the first decade of the 21st century, Ireland saw a flood of reports and recommendations on changes to family law, some favoring civil partnerships instead of marriage, some favoring marriage, some recommending no change at all. Meanwhile, a small group of activists was hard at work to get Ireland to recognize just one marriage: that of two Irish citizens who were married in Canada. At mid-decade, a government report concluded that allowing same-sex marriage was the only way to achieve equality, but that it was unlikely to pass the required constitutional referendum. The Irish parliament settled on civil partnerships and changes to tax laws, and there was, of course, a difference of opinion. As the government moved forward with a civil partnerships bill, Ireland’s High Court ruled against the lesbian couple who had been married in Canada, saying that the constitution meant for marriage to be between a man and a woman. The group that had been working on that case formed Marriage Equality, with the goal of full marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Those working with the government on civil partnerships saw the effort, for the most part privately, as a stepping stone to full marriage equality. But it wasn’t easy. “It actually split the community a little bit,” said Panti Bliss, Ireland’s most recognizable campaigner. “It was a source of tension for a couple of years. One year at Pride, there was even some booing.” Older, seasoned activists were largely behind the civil partnerships drive. Inspired by work on the issue in the United States and elsewhere, however, a sizable group of younger activists saw that as accepting a second-class status. Even Norris, by then a senator, was ini-
“What really won this campaign was people telling personal stories. The ‘No’ campaign was dry, appealing to constitutional stuff, to family structure. We had real people telling their own stories.” —Panti Bliss, Ireland’s most recognizable campaigner asking them to approve of you. There’s an element of embarrassment.” The effort drew in mothers, sisters, brothers, cousins, friends and neighbors. “My sister, who has never been involved in anything political, she got involved in canvassing in her small town,” said Irwin-Gowran.
A selfie taken by Gerry Adams, head of Sein Fein (left), with drag queen Panti Bliss at the Dublin Castle celebration. (Courtesy photo)
tially opposed to the civil partnerships bill. Bliss—Rory O’Neill when he cast his vote on May 22—said this was the moment that drew her heavily into the campaign. “Part of my role was to sort of ease that tension,” she said. “After all, both sides were working for the same goal.” “And,” she said with a conspiratorial wink, “I’ve always been able to include the younger lot. For them, I have more influence than someone in a suit would.” Lots of knocking on doors Eventually, Norris and some others changed their positions, and civil partnerships were put into place in 2010. But there was a surprise: It had a profound effect on Irish society. Irish citizens suddenly saw friends and family members announcing their partnerships. Greeting cards celebrating civil unions appeared in shops. Very quickly, O’Riordain said, it became a “cultural norm.” “So when it came to the question of marriage, it wasn’t something we were talking about in a complete vacuum,” he said. Although some feared the civil partnership legislation would dilute the vote for same-sex marriage—”it’s too soon,” the mis-
taken belief that partnerships were equal to marriage—the push for equality was on. O’Riordain’s Labour Party joined the more conservative Fine Gael party in a coalition government after the 2011 general elections. One of the conditions: a vote on a marriage equality amendment to the constitution. With a strong push from Marriage Equality, GLEN and the ICCL, a constitutional convention recommended just that, and the Irish government set it up for a Spring 2015 vote. Marriage Equality brought GLEN and the ICCL into Yes Equality as a formal coalition and got to work. A massive voter registration drive—with a big boost from Ireland’s student union—added 100,000 new voters. There were T-shirts, buttons and posters, rallies, articles and talks. And knocking on doors. Lots of knocking on doors. “What really won this campaign was people telling personal stories,” Bliss said. “The ‘No’ campaign was dry, appealing to constitutional stuff, to family structure. We had real people telling their own stories.” As Rory, Bliss was one of those knocking on doors. “They sent me to different canvassing groups every evening,” she said. “It’s hard. You’re knocking on people’s doors
#HomeToVote campaign takes off And then there was social media, harnessed for an Irish referendum in a way it never had before. Even in the final days of the campaign: Thousands of Irish people, who had left the country for jobs during the country’s recession, filled ferries and flights into Ireland, tweeting and Facebooking and Instagramming their journeys with the hashtag “#hometovote.” “We had heard a little about it a while back,” Irwin-Gowran said. “But we didn’t realize the scale of it.” And in the end, that’s how Ireland did it. They worked hard, worked together, worked through difficulties. They told their stories and left it all in the hands of the Irish people, who spoke, and spoke loudly. “I don’t recommend a referendum as the way to go,” Bliss said. “I don’t think the rights of the minority should ever be voted on by the majority.” “That said, it’s a really final and powerful way to do it. Nobody can carp about it afterward. We asked everyone in the country and this is what they said. It’s a done deal. And that’s why it was so emotional when it was all over.” “We turned it around and appealed to people’s generosity and their sense of fair-mindedness,” Irwin-Gowran said. “That’s what made it so magical.” “Equality means there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’, it means ‘we,’” said Hyland. “We have cut the cord of the oppression and shame which has clung to us since the founding of the Irish state. We are free. We are loved. We are equal.”
8 News June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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NEWSBRIEFS Fulton County returns millions in funding meant for HIV prevention The agency responsible for curtailing the exploding number of new HIV infections in Atlanta has been returning sometimes as much or more of the money it receives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) due to failure to spend it. WABE reports that since 2012, the CDC has awarded the Fulton County Health Department grants totaling nearly $20 million to fund HIV prevention efforts. In the first two years, the county spent about half the money, and in 2014 they spent more than half, in the process leaving on the table $8.7 million that should have gone to the fight against HIV. Dr. Patrice Harris, director of health services for Fulton County, tells WABE there are many reasons for the oversight, including the grant’s funding cycle, the amount of time needed to hire and train personnel, turnover and county bureaucracy. Harris is principal investigator of the grant and is responsible for executing the county’s HIV prevention strategy. The health department falls under the oversight of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, whose chair John Eaves tells WABE that he just learned of the spending problems days ago, calling them “inexcusable.” Fulton County readies for same-sex marriage The Fulton County government is making plans to accommodate same-sex couples who plan to marry on the day of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality. In an interview with WSB-TV, Fulton County Chair John Eaves said he is lining up judges who are willing to perform same-sex weddings, and plans are also being made to open the atrium of the Fulton County Government Center for extended hours. “So these are some exciting times with the anticipated decision of the Supreme Court,” Eaves says. He notes that changing the marriage application license is as simple as changing husband and wife to spouse and spouse. And he does expect many same-sex couples are going to want to get married if the Supreme Court rules marriage equality should be recognized in all states. “Typically we are open from 9 to 5, but in anticipation of a sort of deluge of folks who are going to want to do it, we may look at some extended hours,” he says. On June 3, the commission approved a
The Fulton County Health Department reportedly returned $8.7 million in grant money to the CDC that was earmarked for HIV prevention. (File photo)
resolution in support of marriage equality that also asks the Clerk of the Fulton County Probate Court to prepare for expected changes in the legal recognition of marriage for same-sex couples. The resolution was sponsored by Eaves and by openly gay commissioner Joan Garner. Gay school superintendent agrees to buyout after allegations Anthony Pack, the Monroe County school superintendent who came out as gay in March after reports that he used the gay dating/hookup app Grindr, is out of a job in what the school board says is a mutual agreement between the two parties. Pack will take home $172,000 in the deal. “This was an agreement that was mutually arrived at by Mr. Pack and the board,” assistant superintendent Jackson Daniel told the Macon Telegraph; however, he also said he wasn’t sure who initiated discussions about the separation. Pack’s lawyer, David Dorer, says it was the school board that initiated the buyout, with the financial terms amounting to a one-year “salary package” for Pack, whose base salary for the 2015–2016 school year would have been $136,700. The agreement cites a provision in Pack’s contract for “no cause” separations, which states that the board can terminate the contract without cause by giving thirty days written notice to Pack and agreeing to pay a severance of one year of salary and benefits. Dorer told the Telegraph that Pack was not given 30 days notice but did agree to the buyout.
However, not everything is settled between the two parties, as the investigation into Pack’s use of school-issued electronic devices is reportedly ongoing. Pack and Dorer deny Pack has done anything wrong. Georgia rally locations take shape as marriage decision nears As a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the issue of marriage equality looms, plans are starting to take shape about for people to gather in Georgia, either to celebrate or lament. Georgia Equality appears to be first out of the gate, with plans for rallies across the state, with one event planned in Atlanta at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and another in Augusta at the Richmond County Courthouse. Events in Athens, Columbus and Savannah are also in the works and soon to be announced, according to a Day of Decision page recently added to Georgia Equality’s website. Georgia Equality executive director Jeff Graham says the rallies will happen no matter what the Supreme Court’s decision is, and that while they’re still finalizing details for the Atlanta event, there will be attorneys from Lambda Legal and some of the plaintiffs from the Georgia same-sex marriage case in attendance. While the court may issue its decision at any time, most court experts think the big announcement will come at the end of the term in late June or early July. And while many experts predict a ruling in favor of marriage equality, it’s going to be close, with Justice Anthony Kennedy’s vote predicted to be the swing vote.
10 News June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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12 Outspoken June 12, 2015
“This is one way we as Christians can speak out—we have the power of choice. Let’s just stop doing business with those who promote sin and stand against Almighty God’s laws and His standards. Maybe if enough of us do this, it will get their attention.” —Franklin Graham, in a Facebook post announcing he was moving all the bank accounts for his two ministries from Wells Fargo because the company featured an ad with a lesbian couple. Graham moved the money to BB&T, another LGBT-friendly bank that this year hosted a Pride fundraising reception in Miami Beach. (The Charlotte Observer, June 8)
“To make any trans person a symbol for an entire community is an unfair task. No one can speak about the varying, intersecting and layered ways in which trans people experience the world. That is why it’s necessary to create a space for nuance and to amplify the voices of those who often are not heard.”
W LGB of pro test a us ar temp O worry selves gende bitrar to be nicely way w to su in m behav
—Janet Mock in an essay posted on her website in response to the Vanity Fair magazine cover introducing Caitlyn Ev Jenner. (www.janetmock.com, June 3) not so ventu Many house “It was really funny because one of the arguments they when the vote went through was that the church majo came out and said, ‘You know, this was a dark day Char perso for Ireland,’ and all you could see was literally Missi rainbows everywhere, posters of rainbows, T-shirts cere i larger of rainbows, men and women hugging, men and (so m men hugging, women and women hugging, and yet from les, P cut to, ‘This is a dark day in the history of [Ireland].’” T ally d —Actor Colin Farrell when asked about Ireland’s historic vote to approve plain same-sex marriage. Farrell’s brother, Eamon, is gay. (E! News, June 8) is too www.thegeorgiavoice.com
OUT IN THE WILD
By Simon Williamson
No templates needed Simon Williamson lives with his federally-recognized spouse in the wild yonder of Newton County. Follow him on Twitter at @simonwillo. While being LGBT+ people in an unLGBT+ world comes with an almighty load of problems—like the need to constantly protest against laws specifically designed to cock us around—there are benefits to having few templates for our adult lives. One of the major perks is not having to worry about fitting our relationships, or our selves, come to think of it, into pre-ordained gender roles. For example, while society arbitrarily attributes masculinity to me due to beardedness and inability to dress myself nicely and my husband as more feminine, the way we are with each other doesn’t subscribe to such facile nonsenses in the least. In fact, in my last column I mentioned he exhibited behavior generally considered masculine when
“Then, the most visible black gay men were activists, writers and organizers, and if you wanted to be visible you became an activist, writer or organizer. Now the most visible black gay men are reality stars.” Every year young black gay men, and some not so young, make their way to Atlanta for adventure, for romance or to follow their dreams. Many of them come here for school: Morehouse or Clark Atlanta or even Emory, where they become English, Psychology, or Spanish majors. They are from places like Birmingham, Charlotte, Augusta and Memphis, though my personal favorites are the ones from Jackson, Mississippi. They always seem the most sincere in their desires. Then there are those from larger cities: New York of course, and Detroit (so many black gay men in Atlanta seem to be from Detroit these days), St. Louis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago. The brothers from the Northeast are usually disappointed the quickest. They will complain about the slowness of the city: The pace is too slow, people walk too slowly, people talk www.thegeorgiavoice.com
he had to get a bat out of our bedroom, while I hid downstairs ready to clobber its flying rat ass with either the mop in my left hand or the grumpy beagle in my right. His other tasks include ridding every building I ever go into of insects, singing the Vince Gill part in our “I Will Always Love You” duet, and maintaining his body by running seven miles four times a week—none of which I am physically able, nor mentally prepared, to do. The freedom to let such matters play out on their own and little pressure within our community to fulfill gender-based expectations is a luxury we really should appreciate. We don’t need to subscribe to the rules of the insecure straight men who aren’t allowed to enjoy musicals, or to dress up for swanky
dos, or acknowledge that having your prostate rammed by a penis, or an imitation thereof, is actually rather mind-blowing. While I have never been a lesbian, I don’t see why the chance to set your own path wouldn’t be more available to the women in our community either, even with the added pressure society heaps onto them. Which means that it is more likely we forge our own paths. If that isn’t freedom—although the crowd that uses that term the most rarely agrees with us—I don’t know what is. The drawback, of course, is that, as a group, we self-police, and we can often be the Sambora to our very own Locklear. We’re awful at including the T in our series of letters (I don’t think we’re particularly good to the B either), our rich-
“What we have is the chance to push the ever-continuing sexual revolution further. It really is up to us to drag society with us to a place where—being a man—can include football, buttsex, pink doggy clothes, and a rousing version of Oklahoma! after dinner.” est lobby group is so white it could sing a cloying duet with Stevie Wonder, and marriage equality has filled our spinnaker like Dolly Parton’s tits across the dash of a Smartcar, forcing out a host of important issues relevant to our people. What we have is the chance to push the ever-continuing sexual revolution further. It really is up to us to drag society with us to a place where “being a man” can include football, buttsex, pink doggy clothes, and a rousing version of Oklahoma! after dinner. We’re continually wrestling with our demons, and once they’re beaten, we have an even better chance to show the rest of the world what real freedom is, and to rid of ourselves of forced gender binaries and their restrictive rancidity.
THE ICONOCLAST
By Charles Stephens
Black gay men living in Atlanta Charles Stephens is the Director of Counter Narrative and co-editor of ‘Black Gay Genius: Answering Joseph Beam’s Call.’ too slowly. They even claim our accents are indecipherable (I say this as someone who doesn’t really have a Southern accent except for when I get excited or angry). And yet they arrive, and they remain, leaving bad winters and bad memories, to reinvent themselves here. They will reminisce about subway systems with 24hour service as if such a quality is the defining mark of civilization. This sort of persona was depicted perfectly in the character of Joshua from the Tarell Alvin McCraney play, “Marcus; Or The Secret of Sweet.” Not all of them come here for school. Some have partners with jobs that bring them to Atlanta. In the 1990s they might have moved to East Atlanta, Lithonia or Stone Mountain. Now they are more likely to move south of the city: to East Point, Camp Creek, South Atlanta or West End.
They get connected to the house party circuit. Buy gym memberships. Go to the Dominican Republic for vacation. These are the men E. Lynn Harris described in his novels. Then there are those of us from Atlanta; those of us who grew up poor or working class. We come from Bankhead, Adamsville, Pittsburgh, Decatur or Lithonia, and went to high school at Washington, Douglass and Open Campus. The middle-class black gay boys who grew up on Cascade Road or in one of the southwest Dekalb subdivisions attended Mays, Westlake, North Atlanta, or Stephenson High. We would find each other on various chat lines, websites, or just out and about. When I came out as a high school student in the late 1990s, back when Atlanta wanted to be New York, rather than Hollywood, the sensibility of the city seemed a bit different. Then,
the most visible black gay men were activists, writers and organizers, and if you wanted to be visible you became an activist, writer or organizer. Now the most visible black gay men are reality stars. So if you want to be visible, you try to become one of the many “Atlanta celebrities.” This is a very important shift. Before, you could go to Outwrite bookstore, sit on the patio and make three new friends in a night. The same might be said of Innovox Lounge, the 24-hour coffee shop that was in Midtown back in the day. Or you might find yourself in one of the endless discussion groups and join a committee. I think at some point everyone was on the Second Sunday Topics Committee, for example. There are still traces of the old Atlanta. The dreams that bring black gay men to Atlanta are the same, even if the city isn’t. June 12, 2015 Outspoken 13
WE WENT THERE
One LGBT young person at a time Lost-N-Found Youth take mission to streets of Atlanta By DYANA BAGBY We walk up to him on a balmy Friday evening in downtown Atlanta, near The Shepherd’s Inn, a program of the Atlanta Union Mission. Wearing a T-shirt, black jeans and scuffed sneakers, with his hair in twists, he greets the group of us with a warm grin. But he has bad news. He was recently kicked out of Covenant House, a Christian-run shelter for homeless young people, he tells Kaitlin Commiskey, an outreach volunteer for Lost-N-Found Youth, a nonprofit working to help homeless LGBT youth get off the streets and into stable housing. The young man, age 20 (Commiskey asked I not use his name), says he got into a fight with someone else living at Covenant House because they were stealing his belongings, and for that he was booted from the shelter. Commiskey, 29, a speech pathologist, lowers her heavy backpack to the sidewalk and pulls out a green bag with a drawstring. It’s filled with nonperishable food, some hygiene products, and information on Lost-N-Found Youth. He tells Kaitlin and the other Lost-N-Found volunteer, Joan Coles, that he has a meeting with Covenant House administrators to see if he can back in if he promises to abide by the rules. He’s originally from Virginia. He has an older iPhone in his pocket, but he just listens to music on it, he says. He can’t record phone numbers of anyone who might help him, so Commiskey and Coles rustle up some paper and a pen to write them down. After talking with him a few minutes more, it’s time to move on. He begins his long trek toward somewhere, anywhere, and we move along to try to locate other homeless LGBT youth and offer any help possible. Commiskey says they met this guy in the winter months, on the street, just walking. He
once dated someone living at the Lost-N-Found homeless shelter, but the organization lost track of him several weeks ago. Commiskey says she is glad he has a meeting with Covenant House. She scribbles some notes in a small notebook. Downtown outreach Lost-N-Found is currently the only organization in metro Atlanta providing emergency shelter to homeless LGBT youth ages 18–25. A shelter with approximately six beds is in the West End, but there is a constant waiting list. Plans are underway to renovate a Victorian house on Juniper Street in Midtown that will have 18 beds and a more central location to serve clients. It is at this house on Juniper Street where I meet Commiskey, 29, and Coles, 25, the two primary street outreach volunteers for LostN-Found Youth. Joining them, besides me, is Brandon Attell, 25, a Ph.D. student at Georgia State University who is participating in a program to count Atlanta’s homeless youth. From Juniper we make our way to Peachtree Street and then to the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless, known more commonly as Peachtree and Pine. Commiskey looks for a particular group of LGBT young people. She has seen them there in the past, but had heard at least one was kicked out of the shelter for wearing her hair too long. Trans women are not allowed to stay at Peachtree & Pine unless they ditch all feminine clothes, hair and makeup and present only as male. We hike up and down the crowded sidewalk where men, and a few women, stand, many of them smoking. The gutters are filled with empty mini bottles of all kinds of booze. There is loud laughing and talking. We step inside an open area of the homeless shelter and Commiskey asks to post a Lost-N-Found card on a bulletin board. The guard agrees with a nod. Another security guard wearing a badge around his neck stops us and asks about the hotline. He knew a person who needed LostN-Found’s help, and wanted to make sure their 24/7 hotline was up and running. He’s
Brandon Attell (far left), Kaitlin Commiskey and Joan Coles of Lost-N-Found Youth talk to a homeless LGBT youth at Woodruff Park during a recent outreach effort. (Photo by Dyana Bagby)
Help Wanted
More volunteers are needed for street outreach. Lost-N-Found provides training monthly. For more information, visit www.lnfy.org. told it is, and to keep calling, or even to text, if he doesn’t get an answer immediately. Making our way to Woodruff Park After we leave Peachtree and Pine, we head over to the Salvation Army homeless shelter on Luckie Street. This is when we meet up with the 20-year-old man hoping to be accepted back into Covenant House. At the Salvation Army, also Christian, Commiskey asks a man sitting at a desk if there are any young people staying there that she could speak to. A woman comes over to address our group. People walk in through a metal detector that appears not to be working; others sit outside in the heat on a large patio. A thin stray black cat maneuvers among people’s legs. No, there aren’t any young people in their teens or early 20s staying there right now, the two administrators tell us. They keep several Lost-N-Found cards with phone numbers and other information. From there, we head to Centennial Park. The smell of beef wafts from a high-end restaurant just a block down the street from the Salvation Army homeless shelter. We make our way past the Georgia Aquarium, the National Center for Civil & Human Rights and the
World of Coca-Cola. A photographer snaps photos of a happy couple as we make our way into Centennial Park. The park is filled with happy children playing in the Fountain of Springs, and families and couples enjoying the sunny weather. A quick look around and we move on to Woodruff Park. The park is crowded with people and Commiskey quickly spots a young woman and a child she’s seen before and hands them a bottle of water. Minutes later, a trans woman approaches and asks for a bag of food and other items. She talks with Commiskey, Coles and Attell. She wears tight jeans, dirty socks and black, toeless sandals, perhaps the kind you’d wear in the shower. Her fake eyelashes are thick, her hair pulled back into a limp bun. Her eyes are tired. She is 18. She is with another trans woman, age 22, on crutches, and a young man, 20. Commiskey knows the two women and says she always sees them together. This is her first time meeting the young man. They all get bags and bottled water. They say “thank you” and smile. Commiskey says for trans people living on the street, especially, “life is definitely complicated.” At Lost-N-Found, however, trans youth are readily helped and housed—when there is room. “I thought this would be a good way to meet the kids we are serving,” Commiskey says when asked why she began volunteering one year ago. She scribbles more notes in her notebook. She and other volunteers will hit the streets again in less than 24 hours.
14 We Went There June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
WE WENT THERE
Guns, God and good old-fashioned politics My day at the Georgia GOP convention By PATRICK SAUNDERS Back in the first week of April, I read that the Georgia GOP convention was taking place in Athens the following month. So I found the press contact, emailed him for credentials and waited to hear back, not sure I would get in. Georgia Voice hasn’t held back from reporting on the various questionable deeds and actions the party has taken against the LGBT community, but it’s not like we’ve laid off on the other side either. Before long, lo and behold, I received confirmation that I could attend. I was excited to take part, because Georgia’s Republican Party is a party at a crossroads. Marriage equality is not an “if ” but a “when,” as soon as within a few weeks if the experts are right on their U.S. Supreme Court predictions. Transgender issues have blasted forward into the mainstream, thanks, lately, to celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox, but those are tracks laid down by countless trans activists before them, many of whom aren’t here to talk about it. Everyone’s seen the polls about the attitudes of younger generations toward LGBT issues, and they just don’t mesh with those of older generations, especially older Republicans. So what does Georgia’s Republican Party look like in 2015 as it gathers for its signature event? Down the rabbit hole As I entered the Classic Center, I found my way to the media table and got my credentials, then descended a long escalator and arrived on the ground floor. More and more people jammed in around me as I came to a long hallway packed with tables on both sides, and that’s when I knew I had officially gone down the rabbit hole. www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Hey, there’s the Ben Carson table! Sure, he’s compared homosexuality to pedophilia and bestiality, but look at that smile. And then there’s a table of buttons! Who doesn’t like a button? Unless of course you saw these particular buttons and you’re LGBT, a Democrat, pro-choice or a welfare recipient. And I wondered what the women in attendance thought about the “KFC Hillary Special: 2 Fat Thighs, 2 Small Breasts ... Left Wing” button. Suppressing the urge to buy the pink “Proud Republican Woman” button, I moved on. Speaking of women, there was a table for Maggie’s List, an organization whose goal is to elect fiscally conservative women to Congress. An “Empowering Women to Empower Our Nation” sign was proudly displayed. And seated at the table was: no one. I’ll leave the significance of this fact to others to decide. I ran into a friendly face at one table, a gay Republican I will not name, who laughed as he exclaimed, “What the hell are YOU doing here?” Gay Republicans are lightning rods within the LGBT community, just as they are lightning rods within the Republican Party. But I know many gay people whose allegiance to the Democratic Party hinges mostly on the marriage equality issue. What will happen once that barrier is broken? Will we see a wave of gay people gingerly stepping across party lines? And what will the fringe element of the GOP make of them? The Faith & Freedom Coalition had a table manned by someone I later learned to be Robert Potts, executive director of the Georgia chapter, which led to this entertaining exchange: Me: “Hey, how are you today?” An extremely chipper Potts: “I’m great!
Opinions abounded on a number of topics at the Georgia Republican Convention held May 15–16 in Athens. (Photo by Patrick Saunders)
Who are you with?” Me: “Georgia Voice.” Potts, smile dropping: “Oh.” Following uncomfortable small talk, I moved on to guns. Big freaking guns. A table full of them. They were there courtesy of a local gun shop, and to be honest, I didn’t get as up in arms (heh) about this as many people on Facebook do. At least the gun owners know their audience. Coming face-to-face with an old reality Entering the convention hall itself, it became clear to me how boring political conventions are. You should never expect many fireworks, save for the occasional catchy line or policy change that typically accounts for about five percent of one’s overall time there. It’s less “hurry up and wait” and more “shift uncomfortably in your seat every 10 minutes so your ass doesn’t go numb and then wait some more.”
This applies to any convention or committee hearing, no matter the political party. This is bipartisan ass-shifting! But every now and then you do get a glimpse of the democratic process at work and learn to appreciate it. Presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio’s speech got the crowd humming, and those who ventured into the lobby afterward were greeted by none other than Sen. Ted Cruz, who was moving through the lobby and shaking hands. It’s an interesting experience coming faceto-face with the people whose opinions and voting records go so far against your values and wishes to live your life the way you want to live it, without any favors or shortcuts, just your desire to be on equal footing with everyone else who is blessed with the capacity to love. But I remain on the sidelines, wading into whatever situation I can get myself into to observe and report and let others decide what to make of it. June 12, 2015 We Went There 15
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INDICATION INDICATION and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [DF]) What is ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA is a prescription medication used alone as a complete regimen, or with other anti-HIV-1 medicines, to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children at least 12 years old who weigh at least 40 kg (88 lbs). ATRIPLA does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. See your healthcare provider regularly while taking ATRIPLA. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA can cause serious side effects: • Some people who have taken medicine like ATRIPLA (which contains nucleoside analogs) have developed lactic acidosis (build up of an acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following signs or symptoms of lactic acidosis: - feel cold, especially in your - feel very weak or tired arms and legs - have unusual (not normal) - feel dizzy or lightheaded muscle pain - have a fast or irregular - have trouble breathing heartbeat - have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting *Undetectable was defined as a viral load of fewer than 400 copies/mL. † In this study, 511 adult patients new to therapy received either the meds in ATRIPLA each taken once daily or Combivir® (lamivudine/zidovudine) twice daily + SUSTIVA® (efavirenz) once daily. ‡ Symphony Health Solutions, Source® PHAST Prescription Monthly, equivalized counts, July 2006–July 4, 2014.
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• Some people who have taken medicines like ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) have developed serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis). In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: - skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) - urine turns dark - bowel movements (stools) turn light in color - don’t feel like eating food for several days or longer - feel sick to your stomach (nausea) - have lower stomach area (abdominal) pain • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking nucleoside analog-containing medicines, like ATRIPLA, for a long time. • If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and you stop taking ATRIPLA, you may get a “flare-up” of your hepatitis. A “flare-up” is when the disease suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Patients with HBV who stop taking ATRIPLA need close medical follow-up for several months to check for hepatitis that could be getting worse. ATRIPLA is not approved for the treatment of HBV, so you need to discuss your HBV therapy with your healthcare provider. Who should not take ATRIPLA? You and your healthcare provider should decide if ATRIPLA is right for you. Do not take ATRIPLA if you are allergic to ATRIPLA or any of its ingredients. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ATRIPLA? Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant: Women should not become pregnant while taking ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks after stopping ATRIPLA.
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With over 8 years of prescribing experience, ATRIPLA is the #1 prescribed one pill, once-daily HIV treatment‡ SELECTED IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION • Some people who have taken medicines like ATRIPLA have developed build up of lactic acid in the blood, which can be a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. • Some people who have taken medicines like ATRIPLA have developed serious liver problems, with liver enlargement and fat in the liver, which can lead to death. • If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and you stop taking ATRIPLA, your hepatitis may suddenly get worse. ATRIPLA is not approved for the treatment of HBV. Please see below for more information about these warnings, including signs and symptoms, and other Important Safety Information. 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.
Ask your doctor about ATRIPLA today.
Serious birth defects have been seen in children of women treated during pregnancy with efavirenz, one of the medicines in ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). Women must use a reliable form of barrier contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, even if they also use other methods of birth control, while on ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks after stopping ATRIPLA. Women should not rely only on hormone-based birth control, such as pills, injections, or implants, because ATRIPLA may make these contraceptives ineffective. • Are breastfeeding: Women with HIV should not breastfeed because they can pass HIV and some of the medicines in ATRIPLA through their milk to the baby. It is not known if ATRIPLA could harm your baby. • Have kidney problems or are undergoing kidney dialysis treatment. • Have bone problems. • Have liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection. Your healthcare provider may want to do tests to check your liver while you take ATRIPLA or may switch you to another medicine. • Have ever had mental illness or are using drugs or alcohol • Have ever had seizures or are taking medicine for seizures. Seizures have occurred in patients taking efavirenz, a component of ATRIPLA, generally in those with a history of seizures. If you have ever had seizures, or take medicine for seizures, your healthcare provider may want to switch you to another medicine or monitor you.
Epzicom® (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine), STRIBILD® (elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF), Trizivir® (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine/zidovudine), TRUVADA® (emtricitabine/tenofovir DF), or VIREAD® (tenofovir DF), because they contain the same or similar active ingredients as ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). ATRIPLA should not be used with SUSTIVA® (efavirenz) unless recommended by your healthcare provider. • Vfend® (voriconazole) should not be taken with ATRIPLA since it may lose its effect or may increase the chance of having side effects from ATRIPLA. • ATRIPLA should not be used with HEPSERA® (adefovir dipivoxil). These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take ATRIPLA. Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you are taking or plan to take. Important Safety Information is continued on the following page. Please see Patient Information on the following pages.
What important information should I know about taking other medicines with ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA may change the effect of other medicines, including the ones for HIV-1, and may cause serious side effects. Your healthcare provider may change your other medicines or change their doses. MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH ATRIPLA • ATRIPLA should not be taken with: Combivir® (lamivudine/zidovudine), COMPLERA® (emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine), Epivir® or Epivir-HBV® (lamivudine),
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POWER TO HELP YOU BE UNDETECTABLE
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ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) Important Safety Information (continued) What are the possible side effects of ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA may cause the following additional serious side effects: • Serious psychiatric problems. Severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior have been reported by a small number of patients. Some patients have had thoughts of suicide, and a few have actually committed suicide. These problems may occur more often in patients who have had mental illness. • Kidney problems (including decline or failure of kidney function). If you have had kidney problems, or take other medicines that may cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider should do regular blood tests. Symptoms that may be related to kidney problems include a high volume of urine, thirst, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. • Other serious liver problems. Some patients have experienced serious liver problems, including liver failure resulting in transplantation or death. Most of these serious side effects occurred in patients with a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis infection, but there have also been a few reports in patients without any existing liver disease. • Changes in bone mineral density (thinning bones). Lab tests show changes in the bones of patients treated with tenofovir DF, a component of ATRIPLA. Some HIV patients treated with tenofovir DF developed thinning of the bones (osteopenia), which could lead to fractures. Also, bone pain and softening of the bone (which may lead to fractures) may occur as a consequence of kidney problems. If you have had bone problems in the past, your healthcare provider may want to do tests to check your bones or may prescribe medicines to help your bones.
Patient Information
ATRIPLA®
ATRIPLA (uh TRIP luh) Tablets ®
ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with ATRIPLA. Please also read the section “MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH ATRIPLA.” Generic name: efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (eh FAH vih renz, em tri SIT uh bean and te NOE’ fo veer dye soe PROX il FYOU mar ate) Read the Patient Information that comes with ATRIPLA before you start taking it and each time you get a refill since there may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. You should stay under a healthcare provider’s care when taking ATRIPLA. Do not change or stop your medicine without first talking with your healthcare provider. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about ATRIPLA. What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA?
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What is ATRIPLA?
This is not a complete list of side effects. Tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you notice any side effects while taking ATRIPLA. You should take ATRIPLA once daily on an empty stomach. Taking ATRIPLA at bedtime may make some side effects less bothersome. Please see Full Prescribing Information, including “What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA” in the Patient Information section. Please see Patient Information on adjacent and following pages.
© 2015 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. ATRIPLA is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. SUSTIVA is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. 697US1500145-03-01 04/15
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•
ATRIPLA contains 3 medicines, SUSTIVA® (efavirenz), EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine) and VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate also called tenofovir DF) combined in one pill. EMTRIVA and VIREAD are HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and SUSTIVA is an HIV-1 non-nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). VIREAD and EMTRIVA are the components of TRUVADA®. ATRIPLA can be used alone as a complete regimen, or in combination with other anti-HIV-1 medicines to treat people with HIV-1 infection. ATRIPLA is for adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg (at least 88 lbs). ATRIPLA is not recommended for children younger than 12 years of age. ATRIPLA has not been studied in adults over 65 years of age. HIV infection destroys CD4+ T cells, which are important to the immune system. The immune system helps fight infection. After a large number of T cells are destroyed, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) develops. ATRIPLA helps block HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, a viral chemical in your body (enzyme) that is needed for HIV-1 to multiply. ATRIPLA lowers the amount of HIV-1 in the blood (viral load). ATRIPLA may also help to increase the number of T cells
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(CD4+ cells), allowing your immune system to improve. Lowering the amount of HIV-1 in the blood lowers the chance of death or infections that happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).
ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) •
Does ATRIPLA cure HIV-1 or AIDS? ATRIPLA does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using ATRIPLA.
•
Who should not take ATRIPLA? Together with your healthcare provider, you need to decide whether ATRIPLA is right for you. Do not take ATRIPLA if you are allergic to ATRIPLA or any of its ingredients. The active ingredients of ATRIPLA are efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir DF. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ATRIPLA? Tell your healthcare provider if you: •
Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant (see “What should I avoid while taking ATRIPLA?”).
•
Are breastfeeding (see “What should I avoid while taking ATRIPLA?”).
•
Have kidney problems or are undergoing kidney dialysis treatment.
•
Have bone problems.
•
Have liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection. Your healthcare provider may want to do tests to check your liver while you take ATRIPLA or may switch you to another medicine.
•
Have ever had mental illness or are using drugs or alcohol.
•
Have ever had seizures or are taking medicine for seizures.
Keep a complete list of all the prescription and nonprescription medicines as well as any herbal remedies that you are taking, how much you take, and how often you take them. Make a new list when medicines or herbal remedies are added or stopped, or if the dose changes. Give copies of this list to all of your healthcare providers and pharmacists every time you visit your healthcare provider or fill a prescription. This will give your healthcare provider a complete picture of the medicines you use. Then he or she can decide the best approach for your situation. How should I take ATRIPLA? •
Take the exact amount of ATRIPLA your healthcare provider prescribes. Never change the dose on your own. Do not stop this medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to stop.
•
You should take ATRIPLA on an empty stomach.
•
Swallow ATRIPLA with water.
•
Taking ATRIPLA at bedtime may make some side effects less bothersome.
•
Do not miss a dose of ATRIPLA. If you forget to take ATRIPLA, take the missed dose right away, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not double the next dose. Carry on with your regular dosing schedule. If you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
•
If you believe you took more than the prescribed amount of ATRIPLA, contact your local poison control center or emergency room right away.
•
Tell your healthcare provider if you start any new medicine or change how you take old ones. Your doses may need adjustment.
•
When your ATRIPLA supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to ATRIPLA and become harder to treat.
•
Your healthcare provider may want to do blood tests to check for certain side effects while you take ATRIPLA.
MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH ATRIPLA •
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ATRIPLA also should not be used with Combivir (lamivudine/zidovudine), COMPLERA®, EMTRIVA, Epivir, Epivir-HBV (lamivudine), Epzicom (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine), STRIBILD®, Trizivir (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine/ zidovudine), TRUVADA, or VIREAD. ATRIPLA also should not be used with SUSTIVA unless recommended by your healthcare provider.
•
Vfend (voriconazole) should not be taken with ATRIPLA since it may lose its effect or may increase the chance of having side effects from ATRIPLA.
•
ATRIPLA should not be used with HEPSERA® (adefovir dipivoxil).
It is also important to tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any of the following: •
Fortovase, Invirase (saquinavir), Biaxin (clarithromycin), Noxafil (posaconazole), Sporanox (itraconazole), or Victrelis (boceprevir); these medicines may need to be replaced with another medicine when taken with ATRIPLA.
•
Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem or Tiazac (diltiazem), Covera HS or Isoptin (verapamil) and others; Crixivan (indinavir), Selzentry (maraviroc); the immunosuppressant medicines cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), Prograf (tacrolimus), or Rapamune (sirolimus); Methadone; Mycobutin (rifabutin); Rifampin; cholesterol-lowering medicines such as Lipitor (atorvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin sodium), and Zocor (simvastatin); or the anti-depressant medications bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, and Zyban) or Zoloft (sertraline); dose changes may be needed when these drugs are taken with ATRIPLA.
•
Videx, Videx EC (didanosine); tenofovir DF (a component of ATRIPLA) may increase the amount of didanosine in your blood, which could result in more side effects. You may need to be monitored more carefully if you are taking ATRIPLA and didanosine together. Also, the dose of didanosine may need to be changed.
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Medicine for seizures [for example, Dilantin (phenytoin), Tegretol (carbamazepine), or phenobarbital]; your healthcare provider may want to switch you to another medicine or check drug levels in your blood from time to time.
These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take ATRIPLA. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take.
What important information should I know about taking other medicines with ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA may change the effect of other medicines, including the ones for HIV-1, and may cause serious side effects. Your healthcare provider may change your other medicines or change their doses. Other medicines, including herbal products, may affect ATRIPLA. For this reason, it is very important to let all your healthcare providers and pharmacists know what medications, herbal supplements, or vitamins you are taking.
Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate), Prezista (darunavir) with Norvir (ritonavir), or Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir); these medicines may increase the amount of tenofovir DF (a component of ATRIPLA) in your blood, which could result in more side effects. Reyataz is not recommended with ATRIPLA. You may need to be monitored more carefully if you are taking ATRIPLA, Prezista, and Norvir together, or if you are taking ATRIPLA and Kaletra together. The dose of Kaletra should be increased when taken with efavirenz.
AT •
Women should not become pregnant while taking ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks after stopping it. Serious birth defects have been seen in the babies of animals and women treated with efavirenz (a component of ATRIPLA) during pregnancy. It is not known whether efavirenz caused these defects. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are pregnant. Also talk with your healthcare provider if you want to become pregnant.
•
Women should not rely only on hormone-based birth control, such as pills, injections, or implants, because ATRIPLA may make these contraceptives ineffective. Women must use a reliable form of barrier contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, even if they also use other methods of birth control. Efavirenz, a component of ATRIPLA, may remain in your blood for a time after therapy is stopped. Therefore, you should continue to use contraceptive measures for 12 weeks after you stop taking ATRIPLA.
•
Do not breastfeed if you are taking ATRIPLA. Some of the medicines in ATRIPLA can be passed to your baby in your breast milk. We do not know whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding. You should stop breastfeeding or may need to use a different medicine.
•
Taking ATRIPLA with alcohol or other medicines causing similar side effects as ATRIPLA, such as drowsiness, may increase those side effects.
•
Do not take any other medicines, including prescription and nonprescription medicines and herbal products, without checking with your healthcare provider.
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•
Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.
•
Changes in body fat. Changes in body fat develop in some patients taking anti HIV-1 medicine. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), in the breasts, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these fat changes are not known.
•
Skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) may also happen with ATRIPLA.
•
In some patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS), signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections may occur soon after anti-HIV treatment is started. It is believed that these symptoms are due to an improvement in the body’s immune response, enabling the body to fight infections that may have been present with no obvious symptoms. If you notice any symptoms of infection, please inform your doctor immediately. Additional side effects are inflammation of the pancreas, allergic reaction (including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat), shortness of breath, pain, stomach pain, weakness and indigestion.
Lactic acidosis (buildup of an acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a medical emergency and may need to be treated in the hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get signs of lactic acidosis. (See “What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA?”)
•
•
Serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any signs of liver problems. (See “What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA?”)
Tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you notice any side effects while taking ATRIPLA.
“Flare-ups” of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, in which the disease suddenly returns in a worse way than before, can occur if you have HBV and you stop taking ATRIPLA. Your healthcare provider will monitor your condition for several months after stopping ATRIPLA if you have both HIV-1 and HBV infection and may recommend treatment for your HBV. ATRIPLA is not approved for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infection. If you have advanced liver disease and stop treatment with ATRIPLA, the “flare-up” of hepatitis B may cause your liver function to decline.
Contact your healthcare provider before stopping ATRIPLA because of side effects or for any other reason.
Serious psychiatric problems. A small number of patients may experience severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior while taking ATRIPLA. Some patients have thoughts of suicide and a few have actually committed suicide. These problems may occur more often in patients who have had mental illness. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you think you are having these psychiatric symptoms, so your healthcare provider can decide if you should continue to take ATRIPLA.
•
Keep ATRIPLA and all other medicines out of reach of children.
•
Store ATRIPLA at room temperature 77°F (25°C).
•
Keep ATRIPLA in its original container and keep the container tightly closed.
•
Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. If you throw any medicines away make sure that children will not find them.
Kidney problems (including decline or failure of kidney function). If you have had kidney problems in the past or take other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider should do regular blood tests to check your kidneys. Symptoms that may be related to kidney problems include a high volume of urine, thirst, muscle pain, and muscle weakness.
General information about ATRIPLA:
•
Other serious liver problems. Some patients have experienced serious liver problems including liver failure resulting in transplantation or death. Most of these serious side effects occurred in patients with a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis infection, but there have also been a few reports in patients without any existing liver disease.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about ATRIPLA. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ATRIPLA that is written for health professionals.
•
Changes in bone mineral density (thinning bones). Laboratory tests show changes in the bones of patients treated with tenofovir DF, a component of ATRIPLA. Some HIV patients treated with tenofovir DF developed thinning of the bones (osteopenia) which could lead to fractures. If you have had bone problems in the past, your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bone mineral density or may prescribe medicines to help your bone mineral density. Additionally, bone pain and softening of the bone (which may contribute to fractures) may occur as a consequence of kidney problems.
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Common side effects: Patients may have dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, and/or unusual dreams during treatment with ATRIPLA. These side effects may be reduced if you take ATRIPLA at bedtime on an empty stomach. They also tend to go away after you have taken the medicine for a few weeks. If you have these common side effects, such as dizziness, it does not mean that you will also have serious psychiatric problems, such as severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior. Tell your healthcare provider right away if any of these side effects continue or if they bother you. It is possible that these symptoms may be more severe if ATRIPLA is used with alcohol or mood altering (street) drugs. If you are dizzy, have trouble concentrating, or are drowsy, avoid activities that may be dangerous, such as driving or operating machinery.
This is not a complete list of side effects possible with ATRIPLA. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a more complete list of side effects of ATRIPLA and all the medicines you will take. How do I store ATRIPLA?
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use ATRIPLA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give ATRIPLA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
Do not use ATRIPLA if the seal over bottle opening is broken or missing. What are the ingredients of ATRIPLA? Active Ingredients: efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Inactive Ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate. The film coating contains black iron oxide, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, red iron oxide, talc, and titanium dioxide. Revised: January 2015 ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. COMPLERA, EMTRIVA, HEPSERA, STRIBILD, TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. SUSTIVA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company. Reyataz and Videx are trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Pravachol is a trademark of ER Squibb & Sons, LLC. Other brands listed are the trademarks of their respective owners. 21-937-GS-014 ATRC0079
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Rash may be common. Rashes usually go away without any change in treatment. In a small number of patients, rash may be serious. If you develop a rash, call your healthcare provider right away. Rash may be a serious problem in some children. Tell your child’s healthcare provider right away if you notice rash or any other side effects while your child is taking ATRIPLA. Other common side effects include tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting, gas, and diarrhea.
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“We’re great friends, we have really good chemistry and a rapport with each other and we’re kind of dangerous because we get a lot out of each other. You’re kind of eavesdropping on the two of us really dishing. We’re naming names and telling stories.” —Andy Cohen
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Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen were set up on a blind date in the 1990s that never happened, but became close friends. (Courtesy photo)
Cooper and Cohen are ready to dish TV personalities and close friends hit Atlanta for revealing (and sometimes bawdy) national tour By PATRICK SAUNDERS One night last year, openly gay talk show host and Bravo network mastermind Andy Cohen was on a promotional tour for his second book, “The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year,” when he found himself being interviewed by longtime friend and openly gay CNN anchor Anderson Cooper in a New York theater. Something clicked. “He was interviewing me about my book and it was just great, we were in front of this theater of a
thousand people,” Cohen tells Georgia Voice from his New York home. “It was a magical night and we said it would be fun to develop into a show.” That idea turned into “AC²: An Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen— Deep Talk and Shallow Tales,” the tour that has taken them through Boston, Miami and Chicago and hits the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on June 20. CONTINUES ON PAGE 22 June 12, 2015 A&E 21
Details AC²: An Intimate Evening
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 From blind date to just friends Cooper and Cohen first crossed paths back in the early 1990s when they were set up on a blind date that never happened. Cohen didn’t know the reason it never happened until Cooper revealed it at a recent show on their tour. “He says I was too ‘enthusiastic’ on the phone for him. I thought the phone call was kind of good, I didn’t realize the real reason the date didn’t happen,” Cohen reveals. “We became great friends instead.” While many would assume the two bonded over being high profile gay men and television personalities, that isn’t exactly the case, with the majority of Cohen’s career occurring behind the scenes, as a producer for various CBS news programs and, later, as a producer for Bravo hits like “Top Chef ” and the “Real Housewives” franchise. “Most of our friendship I have been totally unknown. I just got in front of the camera seven years ago or so,” Cohen says. “He’s been a great resource and friend to me. He’s been a good sounding board for me. Our friendship has just been our friendship, it hasn’t had much
with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen—Deep Talk and Shallow Tales Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 8 p.m. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre www.ac2live.com
Andy Cohen says the ‘shallow tales’ mostly come from him, while most of the ‘deep talk’ comes from Cooper. (Courtesy photo)
to do with being in front of the camera.” Of course, now it’s hard to miss Cohen, whether he’s hosting his talk show “Watch What Happens Live” or hosting (or more accurately, refereeing) the numerous “Real Housewives” reunion shows.
‘We’re naming names and telling stories’ As for what to expect when the two hit the stage later this month, it begins with the pair interviewing each other on a variety of topics. “We’re great friends, we have really good chemistry and a rapport with each other and we’re kind of dangerous because we get a lot out of each other,” Cohen says. “You’re kind of eavesdropping on the two of us really dishing. We’re naming names and telling stories. I get him really going on stuff and he gets me going on it.” Then they open things up to the audience for a Q and A, and audience members in other cities so far have not held back. “Someone asked me how big my dick was!” Cohen says, laughing. So the “shallow tales” referred to in the
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
subtitle are covered, but what about the “deep talk”? Look to Cooper. “Anderson has a really interesting background. He lost his dad when he was 10 and his brother committed suicide when he was 17 or 18 and he’s had a fascinating life and interviewed everybody and spent most of the time on the front lines,” Cohen says. “That’s where most of the deep talk comes from is him, not me.” Regardless, as those who have witnessed Cooper’s occasional giggle fits on CNN will attest to, the man has a funny side. It’s the kind of project that marks another notch in Cohen’s increasingly varied career in recent years, including a hit talk show, two bestselling books and a national tour. “This is just a joyful thing, a great thing that came together totally organically. Everything good that’s happened to me has happened organically,” Cohen says. “The book led to Anderson interviewing me leading to this tour. I’m a firm believer in never plotting.” And as to whether “Real Housewives” fans can expect an appearance at the Cobb Energy Centre from one of their favorites? “The reunion is already shot, but you never know who will show up.”
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To advertise, contact: sales@thegavoice.com 22 A&E June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
ACTING OUT
By JIM FARMER
‘Bare’ witness Next week, Newnan Theatre Company opens what is bound to be a high-profile production—the tune-filled “bare: A Pop Opera.” With a book by Jon Hartmere Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, music by Intrabartolo and lyrics by Hartmere, it tells the story of a group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school discovering their personal identities and sexuality, including two gay characters in love with each other. A number of out actors are in the cast, including lead Jacob Demlow. We caught up with out director/choreographer Paul Conroy to discuss the show, which will feature a special event on opening night: GLAAD will visit as part of its Southern Stories summer tour and conduct a Q and A with the cast. Tell us about “bare.” It had its premiere in New York over 10 years ago. Technically it’s an opera, in that it’s 95 percent songs. But it’s not a traditional opera in that there is pop music, rock music and some gospel. It was off-Broadway for a while and there was talk of going to Broadway but it didn’t happen. The creators went back and looked at it and they made it more into a musical, so there was more spoken dialogue. That was off-Broadway less than five years and people didn’t connect as well. The opera is the version that can be licensed and produced. What are the main characters facing? They are trying to make their lives work in this modern world but their religion hasn’t prepared them to deal with some issues. The main characters are two young men in love and have been in this relationship for five or six years and they are faced with what is going to happen in the future. They are about to graduate and go off to college. There is also teen pregnancy, drug use, a whole lot they are facing. Tell us about your theater background. I’ve been in Atlanta five and a half years. I used to be the artistic director of Newnan Theatre Company. I was the general manager at Serenbe Playhouse for a while and also worked for the Alliance Theatre for a www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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Steinbeck’s Ale House Auren Arevalo and Jacob Demlow star in ‘bare: A Pop Opera,’ which includes the story about two gay Catholic schoolboys in love. (Courtesy photo)
Details
‘bare: A Pop Opera’ Newnan Theatre Company June 18–28 www.newnantheatrecompany.com little bit. I’ve worked with companies and schools around town. I am from Boston— I grew up in Quincy—and went to school in New York (Long Island University) and went back to Boston and directed for seven years after. I came down here in 2009. What makes this controversial? The themes. It’s when adults don’t want to think about what kids are dealing with. I was a teacher for seven years. I taught high school and parents have this ‘Let’s don’t talk about it and it doesn’t exist’ mentality. That’s when you have these problems of not talking to kids about issues, and then they’re using drugs, getting pregnant, not having protected sex. They are not getting guidance they need—and that is a huge theme of the show, because three of the characters are adults. You can see they are not connecting to the kids like they should be.
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6/9/15 12:55 PM June 12, 2015 Columnists 23
EATING MY WORDS By CLIFF BOSTOCK
Le Fat impresses with classic Vietnamese dishes Not a week goes by that I don’t dine on Vietnamese cuisine, my absolute favorite in the world. So I was excited, to say the least, when Guy Wong, owner of the renowned Miso Izakaya, announced he was opening Le Fat (935 Marietta St., 404-439-9850), a Vietnamese bistro, in West Atlanta. It seemed a perfect fit. Wong’s menu at Miso is an elegant, creative tribute to Japanese pub dishes, but he calls on all manner of Asian cuisines. This new restaurant, one of several others Wong plans to open, offers mainly classic Vietnamese dishes in an explicitly French context. That’s not as unusual as it may sound. The French occupied Vietnam, which would later be subdivided into several nations, for nearly 100 years. At that time, the French called the area Indochine, because it was bordered by India and China. What is it that is so lovable about Vietnamese food? I like the comparatively healthy mix of the raw and the cooked, the crunchy and the creamy, and the slightly sweet and bitter. It typically features meats with rice or noodles and, of course, the favorite dish of many people is pho, the intensely rich soup served in many Vietnamese-owned restaurants along Buford Highway. And that raises a question: is the food at Le Fat any different from Buford Highway’s? Honestly, not so much. The big draw here for many people, despite the significantly higher prices, is the convenient Midtown location, the elegantly hospitable décor, and the French éclat. In other words, it doesn’t intimidate the many people who still fear Buford Highway, where English is the second—or third or fourth—language. I’ve sampled nothing on the menu that I can’t recommend. A particularly and predictably popular dish is the “Shaking Beef.” That’s chunks of Angus steak with lettuce, caramelized onions, and lettuce in jus vinaigrette. Squeeze a lime slice over the little bowl of salt and just barely dunk the tender beef in it. It’s delectable—better than most in town—but it did make me nostalgic for
Com is a traditional Vietnamese rice dish. (Photo via Facebook)
the same dish made with filet mignon at the much-missed Nam in Midtown Promenade (it also emphasized the French influence). The pho, long ago perfected by Wong, remains addictive. Of course, the weird—tripe, for example—doesn’t appear in the bowls here. They are afloat with flank steak, brisket, and succulent little meatballs, as well as noodles. A plate of head-on prawns sautéed with chili oil and onions reverberates with the kind of crystal-clear flavors I love about Vietnamese food. Yes, you must suck the heads. On the other hand, I didn’t much care for the beef stew. If you dig soy sauce, you’ll like it, but I’ve never been a fan of intense brown sauces. A startling dish with reportedly wonderful flavors is the whole flash-fried fish with crispy ginger, garlic, and Thai peppers. Starters, like classic spring and summer rolls, are the usual. A salad of green papaya, mango, apples and bits of peanut brittle is sharable and altogether refreshing. It’s not much different from the famous version at Co’m on Buford Highway. The rice noodles (bun) topped with your choice of meats or shrimp are my favorite lunch at other restaurants around town. You can get the same toppings on rice. Cliff Bostock, Ph.D., is a longtime Atlanta food critic and former psychotherapist who now specializes in life coaching for creative people and those in life transition. cliffbostock@gmail.com
24 Columnists June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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By Terri Schlichenmeyer
‘Course Correction,’ an ideal read
REVIE W The song went ‘round and ‘round in your head. Maybe that’s why it’s called “a round.” You know how it works: one group starts to sing and, when they get to a certain point, the next group begins anew and so on, until the endings lap like waves. But, as in the new book “Course Correction” by Ginny Gilder, the things we plan don’t always go merrily, merrily, merrily. The first time Ginny Gilder ever saw a rowing team in action, she was 16 and didn’t quite know what she was seeing. Everything about that boat, its rowers, and the motion spoke of serenity and control—things Gilder lacked in her young life. She was “a goner.” Two years later, while enrolled at Yale, she finally got a chance to try the sport, though the women’s rowing coach strongly discouraged her. Gilder was physically shorter than is optimal for a rower and, because Title IX (ensuring an end to gender discrimination at federally funded institutions) had only recently passed, she’d never seriously engaged in sports before. She was out of shape and inexperienced, but determined. She started training, running, and practicing. Within six weeks, she was competing. “Everything hurt,” she says, “including my butt. My hands sported new blisters, my lungs felt like they had been rubbed with sandpaper... I had never felt happier.” For the rest of that year, Gilder threw herself into her newfound love, barely socializing except with teammates at workouts, training, and competitions. Rowing helped her focus and forget about the home life she’d escaped: her family’s wealth, her father’s infidelity, and her mother’s mental health issues. Rowing helped hide her self-consciousness and lack of self-esteem. She saw her teammates swagger and confidence, and she saw two of them try out for the US Olympic team in Montreal. At least one teammate was gay and didn’t try to hide it; says Gilder, “I couldn’t imagine being that bold or comfortable…” Her self-doubts were exacerbated by family naysayers and by
Details ‘Course Correction:
A Story of Rowing and Resilience in the Wake of Title IX’ By Ginny Gilder Beacon Press, 2015 $26.95 272 pages Gilder’s own inner critic—a voice she had to silence before she could excel at the sport she needed to her core. She also had to come to terms with all aspects of herself—including her sexuality. I’m very happy to say that “Course Correction,” while sometimes a little rough in a firsttime-author way is, overall, a nice surprise. Between a breathless story of the making of an athlete, author Ginny Gilder writes of the past that caused her to lose faith in herself, even as she was gaining strength, physically and intellectually. That uncertainty of self—a big part of this book—led to many regrettable decisions, and is portrayed so well that it’s hard not to feel empathetic. That empathy only leads us to want more. Add in heart-pounding accounts of races and trials and you’ve got a nice memoir about a subject that’s largely unsung by an author to watch. And if that sounds like an ideal read to you, then try “Course Correction.” This book is but a dream.
26 A&E June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for June 12-21
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SATURDAY, JUNE 13
The East Point Possums Shows is the Southeast’s largest drag extravaganza, with free admissions, 20+ acts, food, drinks and fun, 7 – 11 p.m., www.eastpointpossums.com/index.php (File photo)
FRIDAY, JUNE 12 – SATURDAY, JUNE 13
The Reformation Project Atlanta Area Training Conference continues Friday and Saturday. The conference will provide training and resources on how to talk about the Bible and LGBT issues in constructive ways with non-LGBT-affirming Christians. The Reformation Project aims to connect LGBT-affirming Christians with like-minded people throughout the region to work towards a more inclusive and affirming church. Sheraton Atlanta Downtown. Register at: reformationproject.org/ATL15
EVENT SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Brian Clowdus’ new take on “A Streetcar Named Desire” is now running, with a performance at 8 p.m., running through June 28, www.serenbeplayhouse.com (Photo via Facebook)
28 Best Bets June 12, 2015
OurSong, the Atlanta gay and lesbian chorus, presents its spring concert, “Stars,” in which the chorus pays tribute to individuals who have furthered human rights and honors the stars who are no longer living but continue to shine brightly in the sky. This final concert for the season will include a guest chamber orchestra and feature Dan Forrest’s “Requiem for the Living.” Friday at 8 p.m. at the Druid Hills United
Methodist Church and Saturday at 8 p.m. at Clayton State University’s Spivey Hall, www.oursongatlanta.org
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Destiny Brooks and Shavonna Brooks emcee Femme Fatale, tonight at 11 p.m. at Burkhart’s, www.burkharts.com Come enjoy good company and free pool tonight at Bulldogs, 893 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Join Team LGBT Dance Atlanta at Joe’s on Juniper to raise money for AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run 2015. There will be $10 beer, $2 jello shooters, and special guest DJ Neon the Glowgobear! 12 p.m., Joe’s on Juniper, www.joesonjuniper.com Join Charis Books for a special book signing with Ann J. Temkin, author of “Sight In The Sandstorm,” a book of stories about the author herself and about the Jewish Jesus living in his own time. Ann J.
Temkin is half Jewish, half Gentile, an exnun and ordained minister with a story that is sometimes funny, sometimes suspenseful and always moving. 1:30 – 3 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com Are you good Britney or bad Britney? DJ Pat Scott presents Britney Bash 2015/Atlanta Pride Night at the Eagle. Come out to the Atlanta Eagle, represent your good or bad side and enjoy non-stop Britney Spears music from midnight to 2 a.m., with drink specials and no cover! It’s also a chance to bid farewell to Atlanta Pride Executive Director Buck Cooke before he moves to London. Doors open at 10 p.m., www.atlantaeagle.com It’s two parties in one. DJ Rob Reum spins inside while DJ Daryl Cox turns up the music outside at TEN Atlanta, www.tenatlanta.com
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
DJ Morabito spins for the late nighters at Xion, 3 a.m., www.cariocaproductions.com
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR LGBT EVENT Submit your LGBT event for inclusion in our online and print calendars by emailing event info to editor@thegavoice.com games at 10 a.m. and then a general meeting at 11 a.m., Phillip Rush Center Annex, www.rushcenteratl.com Newnan Theatre Company’s “Bare: A Pop Opera” revolves around a group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school facing issues of sexuality and personal identity, running through June 28 with an 8 p.m. curtain tonight, www.newnantheatre.org
FRIDAY, JUNE 19 SATURDAY, JUNE 20
The Atlanta Radical Faeries will be holding the fifth annual Midsummer’s Night event today. This year’s theme is “A Midsummer’s Wet Dream.” The event will be held at the Arts Exchange in Grant Park; the festivities will go on from noon to morning. (File photo) Dine out for Pride at Ria’s Bluebird is today. One of the best restaurants in Atlanta is donating 20 percent of all sales to Atlanta Pride all day long, so come out, support a worthy cause, and treat yourself to some truly excellent food! 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., www.atlantapride.org Regina Simms emcees the New Faces event with singers, dancers, musicians, drag kings and queens and more, 9 p.m., Friends on Ponce, www.friendsonponce-atl.com
MONDAY, JUNE 15
Trans and Friends: a Project of the Feminist Outlawz is a youth focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender, and aspiring allies. A space is provided to discuss gender, relevant resources, and activism around social issues. This is a project of the Feminist Outlawz, co-sponsored by Charis Circle’s Strong Families, Whole Children Program. There is no suggested donation for youth participants of this program but adults and allies may make a donation in support of this program, 7 - 8:30 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
SOJOURN, Atlanta Pride, and The Health Initiative will draw on all of their resources and relationships to invite religious leaders from multiple faiths to participate in a panel discussion—What place does faith have in recovery? Each religious leader will be asked to make a brief presentation on the methods their specific faith tradition incorporates when dealing with recovery
www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” has a lead gay character, running tonight at 8 p.m., through June 28, Horizon Theatre, www.horizontheatre.com
from addiction. 7 – 9 p.m., Phillip Rush Center Annex, www.rushcenteratl.com
DJ Shane Stiel spins at the Heretic as part of this weekend’s Peach Party Atlanta, www.hereticatlanta.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Charis is excited to welcome four unique authors who all share one thing in common: they have all published books through the new independent woman-owned publishing company, She Writes Press. Authors Jo Ivester, “The Outskirts of Hope”; Shary Hauer, “Insatiable”; Gina Folk, “People Leadership”; and Kelley Clink, “A Different Kind of Same” will read and participate in a Q & A about their work and how they came to publish with She Writes Press. 7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen join forces for an unscripted, uncensored and unforgettable night of conversation. 8 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, www.cobbenergycentre.com
As a part of GLAAD’s Southern Stories program, GLAAD has been visiting Georgia, talking with LGBT people to hear more about their lives and their experiences. These stories are now presented in “GLAAD Presents: State of Change— Georgia,” a mini-documentary about LGBT life in the Peach State. Following the screening of the mini-documentary will be a Q and A with some of those featured in the film, as well as cocktails and hors d’oeuvres .The event is free and open to all. 6 p.m., Turner Broadcasting, RSVP required: http://bit.ly/1dlVWFA
Ruby Redd’s Birdcage Bingo starts at 8:30 p.m., with $3 well drinks all night, The Hideaway, www.atlantahideaway.com
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Sage Atlanta hosts a social hour and
Celebrating Georgia Equality’s 20th year, Evening for Equality is expected to draw some 300 of Georgia’s most important community leaders tonight for Georgia Equality’s Equality Awards. Guests will gather for a dinner reception to celebrate the successes of the past year and contributions of several leaders in the movement to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for Georgia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied communities. The VIP Reception begins at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7:30 p.m., Intercontinental Buckhead, www.georgiaequality.org
Gay and Lesbian composers fill the program during “Glitter & Be Gay!” Atlanta Freedom Bands’ concert celebration of Stonewall Week. The concert program features orchestral masterworks by composers with a secret past paired with works with works by contemporary composers living openly. 8 p.m., North Atlanta High School, www.atlantafreedombands.com Dawn & Kyle’s 80s & Beyond Retro Theme Birthday Bash/Costume Party starts at 8 p.m., Atlanta Heretic,
www.hereticatlanta.com DJ Stan Jackinsky and performer Phoenix join forces at Jungle Atlanta as part of Peach Party Atlanta, 10 p.m., www.jungleatl.com
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
Wake up and make joyful noise with the Sisters of Sequin at Gospel Brunch with performers Bubba D. Licious and Justice Counce, 12:30 p.m. followed by a 1:30 p.m. show, Lips Atlanta, www.lipsatl.com Kevin Durand works the crowd as part of Peach Party Atlanta today from 3 – 7 p.m. at BJ Roosters, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324 Alyson Calagna is the guest attraction at Jungle as part of Peach Party Atlanta beginning at 7 p.m., www.jungleatl.com Abel finishes Peach Party Atlanta weekend late tonight at Xion, www.cariocarproductions.com
EVENT SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Bianca Del Rio’s Rolodex of Hate Comedy Special is tonight at 8 p.m., with meet and greet tickets available, Center Stage Theater, www.centerstage-atlanta.com (Publicity photo)
June 12, 2015 Best Bets 29
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It’s almost here: the much-anticipated ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding same-sex marriage. The decision will come in the next few weeks, since June is the last month of the court’s term. Here’s a brief reminder of what is at stake. The case being considered is Obergefell v. Hodges, a lawsuit from Ohio suing for the recognition of same-sex marriage validly established in other jurisdictions. SCOTUS has consolidated it with three other similar same-sex marriage cases from Tennessee, Michigan, and Kentucky. The questions posed by this case are: Does the U.S. Constitution require states to perform same-sex marriages? Does the Constitution require states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states? According to the HRC, the Supreme Court could rule one of the following ways: If the Supreme Court sides with marriage equality on the first question, then question 2 is irrelevant, and marriage equality comes to all 50 states. If the Court rules narrowly, with a “no” on question 1 but a “yes” on question 2, some states will maintain marriage equality. Some states will again be in play to advance access to marriage equality. All legally married couples will be recognized in every state. If the Court rules “no” on question 1 and “no” on question 2, then same-sex couples living in the 14 states without marriage equality and no state recognition of their out-of-state marriages are left without marriage rights. Some states will keep marriage equality rights, but some states will again be in play. With many expecting a positive outcome for the gay community, celebrity chef Art Smith is taking advantage of the timing with his event, 101 Gay Weddings, here in Atlanta. The former personal chef to Oprah is hosting the event on Sunday, June 28, at 1 p.m. at the Intercontinental Buckhead. As the title implies, Chef Smith wants 101 gay couples to wed that day, in an exciting and elegant manner. It’s a free event for couples, with each couple allowed two guests each. Top spon-
“With many expecting a positive outcome for the gay community, celebrity chef Art Smith is taking advantage of the timing with his event, 101 Gay Weddings, here in Atlanta. The former personal chef to Oprah is hosting the event on Sunday, June 28th, at 1 p.m. at the Intercontinental Buckhead.” sors include Coca-Cola and Intercontinental Hotels Group, with 14 of the best chefs of the South cooking for the reception. They include Atlanta’s own Anne Quatrano, as well as New Orleans’ John Besh and John Currence. Duff Goldman of Food Network’s Ace of Cakes will create the wedding cake, and DJ Tracy Young will be spinning during the party. There will also be appearances by Major League Baseball star Billy Bean and new music artist RaJoch. The first 101 couples to tweet #101GayWeddings to @ChefArtSmith will be invited to participate, or you can email him directly at chefartsmith@gmail.com. With such a lavish celebration, what if SCOTUS doesn’t rule in our favor? “Should the Supreme Court not make it legal,” explains Boyd, “this will be a peaceful protest for #LovelyForAll. Yet, we expect this to be historic in many ways and be the first gay mass wedding in the South and the nation.” Are you someone who is apprehensive about the upcoming ruling, and hesitant about signing up for such an event? A positive sign that things may go our way is the Fulton County Board of Commissioners vote last week to ask its county courts to be prepared for the Supreme Court’s ruling. The board voted unanimously to ask the county’s probate court to come up with a list of judges countywide who are willing to officiate marriages. I’m optimistic, and have said for years it’s simply a matter of time for bans on same-sex marriage go away. It’s also an opportunity to change the traditional wedding rhyme: Something old, something new. Oh and as of this summer you can be gay too.
30 Columnists June 12, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
SOMETIMES ‘Y’
By RYAN LEE
Dirty Dozen I recently met a fresh transplant to Atlanta and asked him whether he was enjoying his first month in the city. “I love Atlanta, but I can’t do the gay scene,” he said. “And what is it about the gay scene that you can’t do?” “The guys here are so phony and messy,” he said, as he began to tell me about his previous night. I had to interrupt him midstory for clarification: “So your friend’s tires were slashed at the other boy’s house or at your place?” “In my building’s garage,” he said in a New York accent, with a tone of voice that made it seem I was the simple one for not being able to follow the kaleidoscopic nightmare he was narrating. As we talked a few more minutes, I learned that he had been to three restaurants that day and sent back a dish at each. He lied to me about his age, which I had no interest in to begin with. And he tried to make a scene about being confused by the “millions of doors” in an establishment that had exactly two. I’m used to hearing disappointment in Atlanta’s gay scene from new arrivals, and complaints that it is filled with vapid, conniving, materialistic sluts. I’m sure many characters are out there, but in my 12 years as a resident I’ve mercifully been able to avoid them—except for the sluts. Here are a few other observations to mark my dozen years in ATL: ATL v. Atlanta: Our city is an enchanting place to visit for a convention, Pride or weekend of partying—it’s “where the playas play ... like every day.” Except for the five days a week when most people have to work, pay bills, do laundry and handle other aspects of being an adult. Many folks are surprised to find that daily life in Atlanta doesn’t always resemble the ATL allure. Boyfriend No. 1: After college, I moved to Atlanta to be with a man I loved—which was sweet, but a classic rookie mistake. Boyfriend No. 2: My ATL fairy tale came true one Wednesday after work when I made eyes with a sexy guy in Publix and we clumsily www.thegeorgiavoice.com
I’m used to hearing disappointment in Atlanta’s gay scene from new arrivals, and complaints that it is filled with vapid, conniving, materialistic sluts. I’m sure many characters are out there, but in my 12 years as a resident I’ve mercifully been able to avoid them—except for the sluts. introduced ourselves. There were great times in our relationship, but we stayed together for probably a year too long, simply because neither of us wanted to lose the adorable story whenever people asked us, “How did you meet?” Boyfriend No. 3: My first open, and arguably most successful, relationship. Honesty works. Corporate Stunt Queens: The worst betrayal I’ve experienced in Atlanta was not from a friend or jilted lover, but rather when the company at which I worked for almost eight years put a note on the door announcing it was closed for good. Stunt queens wear suits and ties, too. Familiar Faces: I saw a guy in the club a few weeks ago, and even though we know each other only passingly through mutual friends, I gave him a big hug and told him how inspired I am anytime I see him out. “You were one of the first people I would see when I was visiting Atlanta,” I said. “It’s good to see you still growing, thriving and having fun.” Of course, many people from those years had too much fun without growing or thriving, and have moved back home with their parents. Familiar Faces, Part II: I shit you not, there are some dudes who have had the same profile picture in gay chat rooms for the entire time I have lived in Atlanta. Ageless catfish. My ATL: All of the above is based on my 12 years of living in Atlanta, which is likely different from how you’ve experienced the city. My ATL is as kick-ass as it was a dozen years ago, and yours is what you make it. June 12, 2015 Columnists 31
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