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REMEMBERING THE ORLANDO 49

Atlanta’s LGBT Muslims navigate difficult path post-Orlando Progressive Muslim groups, allies attempt to fill the void

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com On the morning of Sunday, June 12, Amina Abdul-Jalil was in the kitchen of her Marietta home when she found out. Her son told her. Orlando. Mass shooting. Gay nightclub. 49 dead, 53 injured. Shooter pledged allegiance to ISIS. “My first reaction was, ‘That’s really messed up,’” Abdul-Jalil tells Georgia Voice.

“And then it was, ‘They’re probably going to blame it on the Muslims.’”

Like most, she became transfixed by the news, wanting to find out more. But processing what happened at Pulse nightclub was difficult for two important reasons—Abdul-Jalil is Muslim, and she identifies as queer.

“It seemed to be something that really hit home in the sense that it felt like two things that I hold onto very dearly were fighting,” she says. “When I was talking to a friend about it, I told them it was like when you’re a kid and your parents fight and you feel like, ‘I love both of y’all and I don’t want to be put in the middle.’ I really felt like kind of put in the middle.”

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ alive and well The climate for Abdul-Jalil and other LGBT Muslims both here in Atlanta and across the country is far from ideal considering the level of Islamophobia and homophobia at play. But groups like Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) can be a lifeline.

The faith-based human rights organization was founded by Malaysian-American activist, writer and musician Ani Zonneveld in 2007.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, the nonprofit now has 13 chapters around the world, with Atlanta being one of six in the US and the only one in the South. The local chapter has a weekly gathering on Friday afternoons, Sunday evening zikr (chanting in remembrance of God) and meets monthly at at the Cobb Emergent Gathering, an interfaith/atheist-agnostic-friendly discussion group. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Amina Abdul-Jalil spoke at the June 14 vigil for the victims of the Pulse shooting at the Center for Civil and Human Rights.

(Photo courtesy Lorraine Fontana)

“If I go to the Masjid, I go to one where I’m pretty anonymous. Or if I’m at the MPV, I can be 100 percent me there, there’s no problem. In a queer space, I will weigh in on whether I need to modify my hijab. There are some ways I can have my hair covered that scream, ‘There’s a Muslim.’ And there are some ways I can have my hair covered and it’s just, ‘Oh there’s a black lady wearing her hair covered.’ There are some places I would not wear it, and those are generally places I just don’t go.”

—Amina Abdul-Jalil

Abdul-Jalil, who is a member of MPV, says there tends to be a “don’t ask, don’t tell” attitude with LGBT people in the Muslim community. She goes where she feels safe no matter whether it’s a Muslim or LGBT space.

“If I go to the Masjid, I go to one where I’m pretty anonymous. Or if I’m at the MPV, I can be 100 percent me there, there’s no problem,” she explains. “In a queer space, I will weigh in on whether I need to modify my hijab. There are some ways I can have my hair covered that scream, ‘There’s a Muslim.’

And there are some ways I can have my hair covered and it’s just, ‘Oh there’s a black lady wearing her hair covered.’ There are some places I would not wear it, and those are generally places I just don’t go.”

Vigil provides platform needed As she talked more about the Pulse shooting with friends and loved ones in the days following the incident, Abdul-Jalil felt like she needed to process her feelings out loud.

That platform was delivered to her when she got word that Muslims for Progressive Values was asked to take part in a community vigil June 14 at the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta. They needed a speaker, so she stepped forward.

“I am Muslim. I am Black. I am queer.

I don’t apologize for any of that,” she told the thousands in the crowd at the vigil that Tuesday evening.

She had particular points she wanted to make but says most of the speech ended up be-

ing just her speaking from the heart, because as she says, she didn’t want to “prepackage” anything. Stepping off the stage, Abdul-Jalil got a hug from one person, then another, but it was the hug from Imam Piemon El-Amin from Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam that made her burst into tears. She had known Imam ElAmin before and after she came out as queer, but they had never really broached the topic.

“It can be a fight for people who come from really tight faith-based communities,” Abdul-Jalil says of being queer and Muslim.

“It’s a horrible feeling to feel like you have to pick. So he was kind of like an affirmation for myself that I don’t have to pick. That was very healing for me. It really did something for my soul.”

June 24, 2016 News 3

REMEMBERING THE ORLANDO 49

Orlando shooting brings scrutiny on FDA’s gay blood ban Senators, members of Congress join the fight

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com On Thursday, June 9, OneBlood, a blood bank that services Florida and parts of Georgia and South Carolina, issued a press release saying they had an “urgent need” for O negative blood, a type of blood that’s in constant demand because it can be given to any patient regardless of their blood type. In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 12, shots began to ring out at Orlando LGBT nightclub Pulse.

Over the next several hours, victims were transported to area hospitals, and OneBlood issued another call for blood, this one another “urgent need” for not only O negative, but O positive and AB plasma blood donors. 49 people died as a result of the shooting, with another 53 being injured. One of OneBlood’s own employees was among the dead.

It’s unclear if the number of deaths from the Pulse shooting would have been any different had there not been a blood shortage in the area, but one glaring irony emerged from the incident: more blood would have already been on hand and more donors would have shown up to give in the aftermath of the shooting if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) didn’t ban gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

And now senators and members of Congress are calling on the FDA to change its policy, and activists around the country are employing unique tactics to get them to do the same.

New guidelines still single out gay, bi men In 1983, as the number of HIV infections and deaths from AIDS began to skyrocket, the FDA updated their guidelines so that any man who had had sex with men since 1977 was ineligible to donate blood. An HIV/ AIDS test for blood was developed in 1985, but it wasn’t until December of last year that the FDA revised their guidelines, removed what in effect was a lifetime ban and changed

Mourners gathered on June 12 at TEN Atlanta for a vigil in honor of the victims of the Pulse shooting. (Photo by Patrick Saunders)

“When our community is attacked, we want to help. We want to be there. But we can’t because we’re gay. Discrimination is still alive and well in outdated federal policies.”

—Jay Franzone to Buzzfeed on abstaining from sex for a year to call attention to the FDA’s policies on blood donation. it to where any man who had had sex with men in the previous 12 months was ineligible.

But the fact still remained that straight people who have anonymous, unprotected sex all the time could still donate while HIV negative men in monogamous relationships are all banned for being gay.

The change came after a Department of Health and Human Services committee made recommendations to do so, but there was also heavy pressure from the public in particular.

One initiative, the National Gay Blood Drive, was created in 2013 by a gay filmmaker in Los Angeles named Ryan James Yezak. Gay and bisexual men in cities across the country— including Atlanta—showed up to donate blood and got turned down, creating awareness about the ban. The following year, Yezak made it a two-pronged approach by having the gay and bisexual men take an eligible ally with them to give blood.

But the people behind the National Gay Blood Drive didn’t stop once the FDA changed it to a one-year deferral last December. The group’s spokesman, Jay Franzone, a

21-year-old senior at Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts, decided to abstain from sex for a year to bring awareness to the policy.

“When our community is attacked, we want to help,” Franzone told Buzzfeed. “We want to be there. But we can’t because we’re gay. Discrimination is still alive and well in outdated federal policies.”

Senate, Congress gets involved On June 20, 114 members of Congress and 24 members of the U.S. Senate sent letters to the FDA calling the current policy discriminatory against gay and bisexual men and urging them to base their guidelines on individual risk factors instead of targeting a specific set of people.

“During times of tragedy, the American people are quick to demonstrate their resiliency and mobilize in solidarity with victims and affected communities. We have witnessed that compassion as Floridians quickly lined up to donate blood for the wounded. Yet, some of those most touched by this tragedy-members of the LGBT community, who are especially

eager to contribute to the response effort-are finding themselves turned away. Due to the FDA’s current MSM deferral policy, many healthy gay and bisexual men remain prohibited from donating needed blood,” the Senate letter read. “We are steadfastly committed to ending the FDA’s discriminatory policy that prohibits many healthy MSM from donating blood and moving to policies that secure our nation’s blood supply in a scientifically sound manner based on individual risk.”

The two letters were absent any signatures from senators or members of Congress from Georgia.

Meanwhile, the FDA will only say this: “The FDA will closely monitor the effects of the current changes over the next few years in order to help ensure that blood safety is maintained. At the same time, the FDA will continue to work in this area and review its donor deferral policies to ensure they reflect the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.

This process must be data-driven, so the timeframe for future changes is not something that can be predicted.”

4 News June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

REMEMBERING THE ORLANDO 49

LGBT Atlanta mourns for Orlando

Atlanta’s LGBT community sprang into action as soon as news broke about the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12. A number of vigils, fundraisers and other events took place throughout the following days. Here’s a sample of photos from some of those events.

(Photos by Patrick Saunders)

6 News June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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NEWSBRIEFS Police: Someone hacked Atlanta man’s Twitter, posted threats against Atlanta gay bars Atlanta police believe that a dispute between Atlanta man Brett Edgerton and another individual led that second person to hack Edgerton’s Twitter account and post threats about turning two Atlanta gay bars into “the next Orlando.”

“The original individual that was on the post was not the author of those tweets and did not make those comments based on our investigation so far,” said Major Paul Guerrucci at a June 16 press conference. “It appears that that individual’s identity had been taken and we believe somebody else made those posts based on our investigation so far.”

Police say there was a relationship between the two but could not specify at this point what the nature of that relationship was, but said that a dispute led to the hack.

They have questioned this second individual and the investigation is ongoing. Charges against him are a possibility and could vary.

“At this point based on what the actual comments were, it rises to the level of a misdemeanor charge, even if it rises to the level of those charges,” Guerrucci said. “Every word that is said during these things has to be analyzed and actually determine if it’s a true legitimate threat or if it’s just someone expressing their freedom of speech.”

The tweet from an account listed as @ BrettTEdgerton read “TEN or Blake’s could be the next Orlando. You think I am the type to be the next ‘shooter’? Keep hating me then…” Screenshots of that tweet and others spread on social media on June 14, leading many to notify Atlanta police. Investigators questioned Edgerton and said that he was cooperating with the investigation, which is being done with assistance from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It is unclear if the man who hacked Edgerton’s Twitter account did the same for any of his other online profiles.

Walmart fires Marietta man who said Orlando LGBT club shooter was ‘doing community service’ Walmart has fired a Marietta man who tweeted out that the shooting at an Orlando LGBT nightclub that left 49 dead was “someone doing community service.”

The incident started on June 12 when a man using the account @IWillTryLater tweeted out “Y’all see a Gay club shooting as

Major Paul Guerrucci of the Atlanta Police Department at a June 16 press conference.

(Photo by Patrick Saunders)

a horrible tragedy. I see it as someone doing Community Service.” During the morning of June 14 the man’s Twitter profile said he lives in Marietta, but he has since deleted his location. The Facebook profile for a man matching his description and former job title lists his location as Marietta, Georgia.

Another user then tweeted screenshots of the offending tweets to Walmart and asked that disciplinary action be taken. By the evening of June 13, Walmart tweeted back that they had fired the man and later confirmed the action to Georgia Voice.

Georgia LGBT legislators speak out on Orlando nightclub shooting The three openly LGBT members of the Georgia legislature are speaking out about the June 12 shooting at LGBT Orlando nightclub Pulse, which left 49 dead and 53 injured.

“I am heartbroken, angry, and determined to fight against any senseless acts of violence and hate, especially when it targets a strong and loving community. This is not what we stand for, not in Georgia, and not in this country, and we are better

than this,” said lesbian Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) in the statement. “Terrorism, gun violence, and homophobia have no place in our society. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims and LGBT community. Love is love, and nothing will change that.”

Rep. Park Cannon (D-Atlanta), who identifies as queer, said, “I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of many innocent lives in Orlando this past weekend, and will continue to lift prayers for the family and friends of the victims. Make no mistake, the LGBT community is under attack, even within ‘safe spaces.’ There are many steps we need to take to lessen the occurrence of mass shootings, and I hope that Georgia continues on the path of instilling gun safety on our state.”

And lesbian Rep. Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) said, “What happened in Orlando this weekend was an appalling act of violence. As we continue to grow familiar with the heartbreak of this misfortune around the world, we must stand together and fight for gun safety and equality in the LGBT community.”

8 News June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Outspoken “When I think about the fear that surely engulfed the victims as gunshots rang out, as they witnessed the bodies of those around them drop to the floor upon impact, as Eddie Jamoldroy Justice sent his last text message from the bathroom floor of the club to his mother informing her that he was going to die, the tears come and they don’t relent.”

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All material in Georgia Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Georgia Voice. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. We also do not accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

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10 Outspoken June 24, 2016

America, your hands are not clean in Orlando massacre

By DARIAN AARON daaron@thegavoice.com On Sunday, June 12 at 7:17 a.m., I awoke to a frantic text message from my best friend of over twenty years informing me of a shooting at a gay club in Orlando. Not yet fully awake, the seriousness of his text or what I’d learn upon searching for details online didn’t fully register in my mind until I turned my television to CNN. I’ll never be able to erase the images of wounded victims being dragged from Pulse nightclub along the sidewalk to the safety of ambulances and police vehicles from the massacre that we now know claimed 49 innocent lives and injured 53 others.

They just wanted to dance—in a safe place where their sexual orientation, gender identity or public affection wouldn’t be subjected to disapproving looks, verbal harassment or physical attacks. And in a matter of hours, Omar Mateen, the gunman responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history violated their sanctuary and dimmed their light forever.

A lot has been uncovered about Mateen in the days following his horrific and cowardly act, yet questions remain. Was he gay? Was it an act of terrorism? Should the shooting be labeled an LGBT hate crime? Is this God’s way of punishing the LGBT community for embracing what some consider ‘sinful behavior’ based on their limited and often homophobic interpretation of scripture?

There are no easy answers to these questions, and a vigorous discussion should and

will continue about the years, days and hours that led Mateen to Pulse to shatter the lives of 49 individuals and their families along with the perceived safety and progress of LGBT people and our allies around the world. What I do know for sure is that Mateen repeatedly pulled the trigger, but it was the society in which he was reared that supplied the bullets.

America, your hands are not clean. Churches, your hands are not clean. Anti-gay politicians, your hands are not clean. Parents whose love is conditional for your LGBT children or completely withheld because of your inability to acknowledge their humanity, your hands are not clean.

A culture that fosters and promotes antigay sentiment —and for some, in recent days, refused to even acknowledge the victims as LGBT people of color, thereby erasing their identities even in death—must share some of the responsibility for the hatred Mateen and others like him harbor.

Americans have mastered praying for victims of gun violence in one breath, and in the case of LGBT Americans, condemning us to hell in the very next. Activist and public intellectual Darnell Moore said it best in one of the many Facebook status updates he’s written since the Orlando tragedy: “And for my church-going friends now praying for the dead, who might otherwise be in sanctuaries where we LGBTQI folk have been called hell-bound sinners and demons and much else, take some time to pray for your folk, too, because tragedies like this are a consequence of the violent theologies preached from the

pulpits many support.”

I don’t cry often, but in the two weeks since Mateen walked into Pulse and unleashed a wave of terror, the tears have come swiftly and with a heightened awareness that it could have been me. When I think about the fear that surely engulfed the victims as gunshots rang out, or as they witnessed the bodies of those around them drop to the floor upon impact, or as Eddie Jamoldroy Justice sent his last text message from the bathroom floor of the club to his mother informing her that he was going to die, the tears come and they don’t relent.

This is our America.

Where it’s easier to buy an assault weapon than it is to guarantee that every citizen will have access to a quality education or the right to vote. Where same-sex couples can be married on Friday and fired on Monday.

And where anti-gay/trans hatred is written into law and the deaths of LGBT people are praised and deemed God’s will.

This is the culture that loaded his gun.

The potential for Mateen to commit additional acts of terror may have died with him, but the lessons in internal and external hatred and homophobia that he learned lives on. Americans now have an opportunity to change the lesson plan. And LGBT Americans must remain vigilant, aware and unwavering in our truth. A bullet can kill the body but it can never kill the soul. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

OUT IN THE WILD Creepoftheweek

By Simon Williamson

Taking refuge in gay spaces Two words: Omar Mateen Simon Williamson lives with his husband in heteronormatively-assimilative fashion in Athens, after a year of surviving rural Georgia.

“On June 12 in Orlando, love lost. Our kind of love lost, even when we tried to hide it away in places where we didn’t have to deal with the public, and the public didn’t have to deal with it.

Our kind of love lost.”

We go to gay bars to get away from everyone else, so the shooting in Orlando was an assault on our places; places that exist specifically because the general public pushed us to find spaces out of their sight. While we have turned them into the contemporary bars and clubs you see now, they began, and still exist, as shelters away from all the shit we have to deal with, trying to live our lives.

Back when I was but a young 19-something, both my home and social lives were populated by conservative people, and the fact that I was a gay man didn’t sit perfectly well in either of them. This necessitated multiple trips far from where I lived, into Johannesburg, where I lived at the time. I went with company, or sometimes alone, and once in a while I went to meet people in real life that I had met on the internet, because that was pretty much the only way that someone living in my world, comprised solely (so far as I know) of straight people, got to go and be gay for a few hours at a time. There was hedonism, yes, but there was also something equally important: utter elation at the temporary normality of our existence.

As accepted as LGBT people might seem on TV nowadays, or in parts of Midtown, it is actually very hard and complicated to avoid running perpetually into homophobic conflict across a broad scale of severity. Being gay even in the “coolest” cities, of which Orlando is one, isn’t as easy as it seems on TV. To open a news website, or, heaven forbid, to look at a comment section, is to see waves of people write about what shit we are, how disgusting we are, what pedophiles we are, 12 Outspoken June 24, 2016

how God (or whatever you might call Her) is coming to smite us. It is to read about how we should learn to take a joke about how lesbians just need to be fucked or the amusing topic of AIDS, how we shouldn’t show off during Pride if we want to be like other people, and so on and so forth. And here’s the thing: there is not one of those comments we don’t know of by heart, because we’ve heard them all in real life.

The constant paranoia, preparation to defend, and significant statements made whenever you declare to a new group of people that you fit the acronym are something that everyone in our community has to deal with, all the time. And we have so very few places in the world where we get to take a break.

Our community comes with its problems, but at a few locations around the world, we don’t, for a period of a few hours a week, have to deal with everyone else’s. We take ourselves right out of their lives and their spaces. We retreat. We travel across town, or out of town to a club that is safe and out of sight, for their comfort, and so we can just fucking be ourselves.

The fact that the Orlando shooting happened in one of OUR places hurts immensely.

To make ourselves feel better, we say things like “love wins” and we talk about strength and go to rallies, and listen to platitudinous politicians repeat hashtags. Well, on June 12 in Orlando, love lost. Our kind of love lost, even when we tried to hide it away in places where we didn’t have to deal with the public, and the public didn’t have to deal with it. Our kind of love lost.

By D’ANNE WITKOWSKI America is the only country where mass shootings happen on a regular basis. I don’t want to hear another politician offer prayers for Orlando unless that prayer is, “Dear God, please guide my hand as I sign this gun control legislation.”

Hearing “prayers” from people like Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott made me sick to my stomach. These are people who demonized LGBT people and families for political gain. Their prayers don’t mean shit, thanks.

Ah, but there will be plenty of time to call them out. Right now the main villain in this plot is Omar Mateen, the man who mowed down nearly 100 people, killing 49 of them at Pulse, a gay club in Orlando. We know that he was racist and homophobic.

We know that he beat up his first wife. We know that he worked as a security guard.

We know he was on the FBI’s radar. We know that he bought his murder weapons easy peasy. Was he a terrorist? Well, undoubtedly, yes.

But was he specifically a “radical Islamic ter-

rorist” (as if that somehow explains or makes more comprehensible the carnage he wrought)?

Was he gay?

There are plenty of reports he was a regular at Omar Mateen Pulse. That he’d sometimes get so drunk he had to be thrown out. That he messaged men on Grindr.

And people will say, “Well, it doesn’t matter if he was gay or not” just as they’ll say, “It doesn’t matter that the club was gay or not.”

And these people will by and large not be gay. Because of course it matters.

And it’s a stark reminder that despite all of the gains that LGBT people have made, there is so much work left to do. Just because we can legally get married now doesn’t mean that our lives are as safe or as valued as our hetero friends and neighbors.

Go out and hug each other. Be fierce, be proud, be woke.

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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NATIONAL LGBT PRIDE

Ramped up security being instituted at Pride events Security a top priority for Pride organizers post-Orlando

By DYANA BAGBY Pride month in the U.S. took on a somber tone when a gunman opened fire at Pulse, an Orlando gay nightclub on Latin night, killing 49 and injuring more than 50 LGBT people of color and one identified straight ally.

The shocking massacre on June 12 also fueled fears of another attack against LGBT people, including the numerous Pride festivals taking place this month and in the coming months.

Police presence at Chicago Pride’s festival, including the June 26 parade that attracts a million people, was ramped up significantly with hundreds more officers patrolling the streets as well as K9 units and bike officers, according to media reports.

James Fallarino, spokesperson for New York City Pride, which culminates with a June 26 parade that attracts some two million people, said extra security is a top priority.

“People will see a greater police presence … it’s important for people to see that presence,” he said. Private security will also be out in force and there will be such security measures as bag checks and “wanding” – scanning people with a hand-held metal detector – at various Pride events.

While security is a key concern for New York City Pride, Fallarino said the festival also would honor and memorialize the victims.

New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has predicted this year’s parade will be the largest ever in response to the horror of the Orlando killings.

“We agree that it is more important than ever to be out and proud and show your pride,” Fallarino said.

Safety in Orlando, other cities In Orlando, the city is still reeling with shock and pain. Numerous vigils followed by even more funerals were attended by thousands of the city’s vibrant LGBT community.

“Queer people and especially queer people of color have a long history of feeling threatened and unsafe around police officers because of past abuse. Atlanta Pride is working with various groups to devise strategies that are reasonable and safe.”

—Jamie Ferguson, Executive Director, Atlanta Pride

Orlando Pride is held the same weekend as Atlanta Pride, with its parade slated for Oct. 8. Preparations are already underway to ensure the event is as safe as possible.

“Come Out With Pride, held in downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola Park, last year attracted over an estimated 140,000 people.

The safety of those individuals is and will continue to be a top priority for us,” said Come Out With Pride spokesperson Jeff Prystajko. “We work closely with the Orlando Police Department to implement various measures, including utilizing additional private security, to ensure our guests are safe.

We have already had conversations and will continue to work closely with authorities in planning this year’s festival,” Prystajko said.

Atlanta Pride executive director Jamie Ferguson said the nonprofit pays the Atlanta Police Department more than $40,000 a year to provide security at the festival in Piedmont Park – one of the organization’s largest budget items and about equal to the amount spent on entertainment. Private security personnel are also utilized.

What happened in Orlando is a huge tragedy, but unfortunately attacks in queer spaces are not new and security of Pride participants is always a concern, she said.

“We are not just starting to think about it,” she said.

‘Long history of feeling threatened’ But ramping up a strong police presence is not the answer, she said. This year’s Atlanta Pride grand marshals include two transgen-

Above: Atlanta Pride Below: Chicago Pride (Courtesy photos)

der women of color as well as Solutions Not Punishment Coalition (SNaPCo), an organization that challenges the Atlanta Police Department and other local police departments on its treatment of trans and gender nonconforming people of color.

Queer people and especially queer people of color have a long history of feeling threatened and unsafe around police officers because of past abuse, Ferguson said. Atlanta Pride is working with various groups to devise strategies that are reasonable and safe.

“More police is not an acceptable solution,” she said. “We have to take care of everyone we can in all the ways we can.”

No one can control when someone might want to hurt a group of LGBT people, but Ferguson said the festival will provide the best security available.

“If we let them stop us, then they are already winning a little bit,” she said.

Sue Doster, co-president of InterPride, an international organization working to connect Prides from around the globe, said numerous Pride organizers have reached out to the organization seeking guidance and resources. Doster noted Boston Pride already has an elaborate security plan that was put into place following the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

“There are Prides in the world where sadly this is more of a day-to-day reality,” she said.

In Turkey, for example, on June 19, the Istanbul police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at people participating in a Trans Pride rally.

In April, a court convicted an ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jew of murder for stabbing and killing a teenage girl at a gay Pride parade in 2015.

“But even in those hostile climates, Pride finds a way. In America, even in the wake of this tragedy, I guarantee you across the country Pride will find a way. Pride cannot be extinguished,” Doster said.

14 National LGBT Pride June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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NATIONAL LGBT PRIDE

Gay Pride across America Dozens of opportunities to show your Pride through the fall

By DARIAN AARON daaron@thegavoice.com National LGBT Pride season is in full swing, and there’s no shortage of Pride festivals to choose from; from nearby Savannah to as far away as San Francisco—there’s plenty of opportunity to celebrate the beauty, strength and resilience of our community.

We’ve compiled a list of major Pride events across the U.S. through November, while highlighting a few that are within driving distance or a quick flight away. So take it all in and then get out and show your Pride!

San Francisco Pride June 25-26 It doesn’t get any bigger than San Francisco Pride. This year’s theme is “For Racial and Economic Equality.” Now in its 46th year, the two-day event will boast over 200 parade contingents and exhibitors along with twenty community run stages and venues. The parade kicks off on Sunday, June 26 in the heart of downtown San Francisco.

Georgia-born actor Randy Harrison (“Queer As Folk”) is also scheduled to appear.

Baltimore Pride July 19-24 Billed as “Maryland’s largest LGBTQ visibility event” by the Gay and Lesbian Center of Baltimore, the signature event has drawn an estimated 30,000 people annually since its beginnings as a small rally of a dozen activists in 1975. The annual High Heel Race featuring women, men, queens and everyone in between to the Mount Vernon Block Party and the highly anticipated Pride parade— there’s something for everyone at Baltimore Pride.

Charlotte Pride Aug. 20-21 North Carolina has become ground zero

for controversy as of late, but their thriving LGBT community continues to push back and celebrate their Pride year-round, especially during Charlotte Pride. The two-day festival brings out the best in diverse national, regional and local entertainers, vendors and public officials. And of course, it’s absolutely free!

Mid-South Pride Sep. 24 Beale Street in Memphis is a tourist’s dream—soul food, the FedEx Forum and live music, but one day out of the year the annual Pride Festival and Parade takes over the beloved strip. More than 9,000 attendees show up to enjoy musicians, bands, speakers and dance performances. This year, MidSouth Pride will host the inaugural ‘GAYLa’—a black-tie event to give participants a chance to get “dolled up” and to enjoy friendship and community.

Savannah Pride Oct. 20-23 An estimated 6,000 attendees reveled in the joy of Savannah Pride in 2015. The fourday festival unites the Savannah and Coastal Empire LGBTQ communities in one of the fastest growing Pride celebrations in the state of Georgia. Forsyth Park will be home to this year’s festival on Oct. 22, which will include live music and performances, the Savannah Pride Marketplace with food vendors and local business and community organizations.

Savannah Pride is a family friendly event and all are welcome to attend.

OTHER UPCOMING 2016 PRIDE EVENTS JUNE

Nashville Pride - June 24-25 OKC Pride (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) - June 24-26 Pride St. Louis - June 24-26 Central Oregon Pride (Bend) June 25 Cincinnati Pride - June 25

Clockwise from top: San Francisco Pride, Mid-South Pride and Charlotte Pride (Courtesy photos)

Harlem Pride - June 25 Santa Fe Pride - June 25 Twin Cities Pride - June 25-26 Pride Chicago Parade - June 26 Seattle Pride Parade - June 26

Aug. 27-28 Austin Pride - Aug. 27 Silicon Valley Pride (San Jose, CA) - Aug. 27-28

JULY

Boulder Pride - Sept. 11 Pride Vermont (Burlington) - Sept. 11 Oakland Pride - Sept. 11 Virginia Pride (Richmond) Sept. 24

Pride San Antonio - July 2 Tacoma Pride - July 8-9 Colorado Springs PrideFest July 9-10 Pride Alive (Green Bay, WI) - July 9 Rochester Pride - July 10-17

AUGUST

Delaware Pride (Dover) - Aug. 6 Cleveland Pride - Aug. 13 Austin Pride - Aug. 27 Silicon Valley Pride (San Jose, CA) -

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER

Come Out With Pride (Orlando, FL) - Oct. 8 Atlanta Pride - October 10-11 Las Vegas Pride - Oct. 21-23 Greater Palm Springs Pride Nov. 1-6

16 National LGBT Pride June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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18 Ads June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

NATIONAL LGBT PRIDE

Moving forward with Pride Central Alabama Pride raises hope for Birmingham and surrounding cities

By J. MATTHEW COBB Pride celebrations are multiplying at a rapid pace across the globe, even in the most peculiar of places, such as the deep southern pockets of the Bible Belt, where the politics wreak of a radical fundamentalism resistant to LGBT rights.

Birmingham, the largest city in the state of Alabama, is home to Central Alabama Pride (CAP). It’s billed as the oldest and largest Pride festival in the state. With its roots dating back to 1978, CAP is responsible for hosting its annual week-long itinerary of “10 Days of Pride” culminating with PrideFest, which for the last few years has been held on the campgrounds of Sloss Furnaces, a former pig iron-producing blast furnace.

This year’s festivities included headlining talent from “American Idol” season six winner Jordin Sparks, a CAP benefit featuring “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Latrice Royale, an LGBT-inclusive night at the Birmingham Barons baseball game and a new parade route in the bustling Lakeview business district.

The annual Pride celebrations in Birmingham have come a long way from its beginnings, especially since its very first gay and lesbian parade in 1989.

“When I first got here sixteen years ago, there were very few floats,” said J.R. Finney, pastor of Covenant Community Church. “I remember when our church was one of four floats in the parade. You have a lot more participation now, a lot more groups. We have made a lot of progress.”

Economic boom, minor LGBT progress The city itself is going through a lot of progress as well. It’s in the middle of a much-needed economic boom, which is attracting suburban millennials and young www.thegeorgiavoice.com

“[At Pride], I try to talk to a lot of the young people that I see and it’s amazing how many of them do not live in metropolitan Birmingham. They live in real small cities, but they come here for this weekend because they can be out and proud. They consider Birmingham what we used to consider Atlanta.”

—J.R. Finney, pastor of Covenant Community Church

professionals to its downtown core. Despite the upward trend of the city’s prettier image, the city is still experiencing a level of growing pains in regards to its snail-crawl progress on LGBT rights.

The biggest obstacle hindering the city’s progress on LGBT rights is the lack of a nondiscrimination ordinance in place to protect LGBT employees in areas of employment, housing and public accommodations. But Alabama state Rep. Patricia Todd, the state’s first openly gay legislator, is optimistic about the future of the area, even as far as the state’s modern-day politics.

“Alabama didn’t pass any anti-gay legislation in our last session,” she says. “We were one of the only southern states that didn’t, and we hope to keep that tradition alive. Do we have a long way to go? Absolutely we do.

But hate can go anywhere, and we’re just not gonna tolerate it.”

Finney carries the same torch of hope but believes the key to ending homophobia in the conservative-dominated South is in the hands and hearts of the young.

“I think what is happening is that more and more young people are coming out,” he says. “You see more young straight kids who just don’t care. [They say], ‘That’s my friend, nothing’s gonna change.’ And unfortunately, some of the old hats are going to have to die off before there is real change.”

Clockwise from top: Members of the Starbucks Pride Alliance Network march with giant rainbow flag in 28th annual Central Alabama Pride parade; King and Queen Apollo XL of the Mystic Krewe of Apollo Birmingham; happy teens showing their glittery “Make America Gay Again” sign. (Photos by J. Matthew Cobb)

‘A blue dot in a very red state’ After Saturday’s sunset, right before the Pride parade is scheduled to start, a robust crowd gathers on the blocks of 7th Avenue South and 27th Street South, where two gay bars are only blocks away from one another.

For some, this is their first Pride experience.

And like most momentous firsts, this is extra special for them. Greg Payne, who is new to Pride culture, also sees the value of Pride events in Birmingham, a city that Rev. Finney describes as “being a blue dot in a very red state.”

“I feel that Birmingham is a relatively gay-positive city to begin with,” says Payne.

“We do live in the South where people kinda keep things to themselves, but I don’t see a lot of outward hate. I didn’t see a lot of protesters here tonight. People were warning earlier about protesters, but I hardly saw any.”

Finney, once a contributor of Atlanta Pride in its early years, also sees the type of mentor-

ship that Birmingham offers smaller towns. “[At Pride], I try to talk to a lot of the young people that I see and it’s amazing how many of them do not live in metropolitan Birmingham,” said Finney. “They live in real small cities, but they come here for this weekend because they can be out and proud. They consider Birmingham what we used to consider Atlanta.”

Only hours later after the parade, Birmingham learned of the bloodshed at LGBT nightclub Pulse in Orlando and anxiety started to set in. The news of the Orlando tragedy forces CAP to create an impromptu neon stick vigil at PrideFest and a citywide vigil – in cooperation with city officials – on the following Monday afternoon.

“We all are heartbroken about Orlando,” Todd said. “But we all know that we can be victims at any time. That won’t stop us from moving forward.”

June 24, 2016 National LGBT Pride 19

NATIONAL LGBT PRIDE

LGBT PRIDE BY-THE-NUMBERS

1970

A year after the Stonewall Uprising, the first Gay Pride March was held in New York City by the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee to commemorate the birth of the modern gay rights movement.

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

2

Only two U.S. Presidents have issued official LGBT Pride month proclamations: Bill Clinton in 1999 and Barack Obama in 2009 and every year thereafter.

12

The number of Atlanta Pride grand marshals for the 2016 festival set for Oct 8-9 in Piedmont Park.

36

The number of Black Gay Pride Celebrations held throughout the year worldwide.

Atlanta remains home to the largest Black Gay Pride Celebration.

1,000,000 An estimated one million people attended San Francisco Gay Pride, the largest Pride celebration in North America in 2015.

4,000,000 The world’s largest Pride celebration in Brazil continues to grow. By some estimates, Sao Paulo LGBT Pride attracted upwards of 4 million people in 2016.

The Guinness Book of World Records named it the world’s largest Pride parade in 2006.

June 24, 2016 National LGBT Pride 25

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THE BUTCH BENEATH OUR WINGS Lea DeLaria talks ‘Orange,’ television debut and why she prefers the word ‘queer’

By CHRIS AZZOPARDI Breaking ground as the first openly gay comic to perform on American television, in 1993 on “The Arsenio Hall Show,” Lea DeLaria is still carrying the torch on TV two decades later, representing a deeply unsung subset in the queer community: the butch lesbian on the Netflix hit “Orange Is The New Black.”

The 58-year-old opens up about the “lesser known” controversy surrounding her historical TV debut—why she’s turned down so many gay roles since then—and why she thinks we should drop the community’s longtime collective acronym, LGBT. CONTINUES ON PAGE 27 26 A&E June 24, 2016

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 “Orange Is the New Black” is now in its fourth season. Is that hard to believe?

It’s really shocking for me to believe it’s our fourth season. I thought I’d have way more money by now!

How is post-“Orange” life different from pre-“Orange” life? Are you recognized more often on the streets?

Oh yeah, I’m recognized nonstop. Before – first of all, not everybody was carrying their camera with them like they do now, so I would get stopped… I’d get stopped enough. I wouldn’t say frequently, and I wouldn’t say infrequently; it was somewhere in the middle. Generally, it’s “Hey, you’re Lea DeLaria; can I have your autograph?”

Now I can’t even walk out of my front doorstep.

and “fag.” The lawyers called Arsenio in and said, “We don’t think you should let this go out.”

They were trying to pull it and Arsenio had a fit and said, “She’s a dyke. If she wants to call herself a dyke then it’s none of your fucking business.”

He fought for it and got me on the air.

More recently, you called out a preacher while on the New York subway.

That guy? It’s an insult to preachers to call him a preacher. He’s just a homophobic asshole.

It went viral so fast I couldn’t believe it, in fact. I was on TMZ within a half hour. That was the thing: I was on a subway on my way to the studio – we were filming – so what had happened, I got out of the subway and I called my manager. I said, “Look, I had a confrontation. Somebody pulled out their phone and they videotaped it so there might be something on social media.” Twenty minutes later, he called me and said, “You’re on TMZ.” It was hilarious! It just went nuts.

It went viral.

You’ve spoken many times on the topic

of “infighting.” Have you seen any noticeable change regarding the unification of the queer community?

Absolutely not. I speak about it a lot, but when we come together and don’t infight we get a lot done. This is the biggest issue we have in the queer community to date and will continue to be the biggest issue until we learn to accept our differences, and that’s the issue. And part of me believes that this inclusivity of calling us the LGBTQQTY-whatever-LMNOP tends to stress our differences. And that’s why I refuse to do it. I say queer. Queer is everybody.

How does the treatment of LGBT characters and sexuality on “Orange” compare to your previous lesbian roles, both big and small?

What’s different about it more than anything else in the world is that it’s real. Believe me, as you’ve said, I played a lot of them, big and small, and I can assure you I’ve said “no” more than I’ve said “yes” to these roles. A lot of roles I say no to are because they’re just so completely stereotyped and bullshit that I won’t play them anymore.

What’s your earliest memory of subverting gender norms? Were you a tomboy?

Yeah, I was what we called a tomboy back then. It’s very interesting… when I went to a thrift store and got my first suit and put it on for the first time, it was like putting on my own skin. I was 17.

What were you feeling in that moment in 1993 as the first openly gay comic on “The Arsenio Hall Show?”

Scared as shit! Terrified, just terrified. All I could think was, “What if I bomb?” And I had “20/20” following me. I’m not sure how it happened but the universe aligned and the planets aligned perfectly and I killed. The audience could have hated me. I was not lightly gay, if you know what I mean. I wasn’t gaylite. I was as queer as it gets.

They did an article in The Advocate right after it happened. They taped it and apparently I said the words “dyke,” “fag” and “queer” 47 times. I mean, it was the second sentence I uttered: “Hello everybody, I’m Lea DeLaria. It’s the 1990s, it’s hip to be queer and I’m a big dyke.”

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We needed somebody to be that person.

The lesser known story is that they almost didn’t air it because I said “queer” and “dyke” www.thegeorgiavoice.com

CCT6915-1 LGBT Neon Print 7.458x7.833_GeorgiaVoice.indd 1

5/24/16 3:10 PM

June 24, 2016 A&E 27

ACTING OUT

By JIM FARMER

Homoeroticism abounds in fetish documentary ‘Tickled’ It started off as a routine story for openly gay New Zealand journalist David Farrier – and led to something more complex and troubling than he ever envisioned. Seeing a competitive endurance tickling video online, he decided he wanted to investigate it further and do a short sequence about it.

His initial inquiries to the production company, Jane O’Brien Media, were met with hostility and homophobic comments.

That spurred him to investigate, traveling to the company in Los Angeles, talking to some of the participants in the video (including one who was outed – despite being straight – after he protested his involvement in the project) and having the situation get odder and odder, including finding out who was pulling the strings.

His journey has yielded the acclaimed new documentary “Tickled.” We caught up with Farrier and co-director Dylan Reeve to talk about the movie, the craziness that ensued and the tickling fetish community.

David, what kinds of stories did you normally work on before this?

Farrier: I tended to focus on entertainment and pop culture stories, everything from interviewing Justin Bieber when he was touring to a story about a survivalist who likes to eat frogs. I tend to like the humorous content.

What piqued your interest?

I wanted it to be a two-minute story. It sounded like the weirder version of Ultimate Frisbee. I noticed that New Zealanders were being flown over and being paid good money to be tickled. What elevated it was when they responded that they did not want to deal with a homosexual journalist. That was such a dismiss of what the videos were and what they seemed to be about. I thought, there has to be more here. Dylan saw my post and poked around as well.

How did they know you were gay, David?

There was debate going on about gay marriage in New Zealand at the time so it was a hot topic. They Googled my name and found out I was in a relationship with another guy and I took offense with the replies we got.

‘Tickled’ opens in Atlanta on July 1 at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. (Courtesy photo)

Details ‘Tickled’

July 1 Landmark Midtown Art Cinema www.landmarktheatres.com Dylan, was there any hesitation in joining this?

Reeve: We started independently. David was writing about it and I was intrigued, wondering who was behind this. I was wondering if it was real. I started looking at domain names. Both of us started getting legal threats and it was getting complicated to write about. I went to his house and we thought a documentary made sense.

Did either of you know anything about tickling?

Farrier: There is a fetish for everything but I had never thought about tickling before. We discovered a lot of people like it in a sexual way. We talked to Richard, a profes-

sional tickler, and it was interesting to look into this world. We learned a bit more.

Were these subjects gay?

We didn’t conduct a survey, but I think they were interested in straight people. $1500 and flight and hotel accommodations is appealing to a lot of people.

What was it like taking the film to Sundance?

It was amazing. It was the first time we watched the finished film with an audience.

It was nerve-racking and surreal but validating in many ways.

So we understand that when visiting Richard [the professional tickler], you tried getting tickled?

Reeve: It was pretty difficult. It’s one thing being tickled as a joke, or by your brother growing up, but strapped in and not being able to get away, you’re laughing - but it’s not at all funny.

28 A&E June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

BEHIND THE MUSICAL WEDNESDAY, JULY 20 ALLIANCE STAGE

7:00 PM Q&A

A special Q&A event with the creators of The Prom:

Casey Nicholaw DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER

MATTHEW SKLAR COMPOSER

BOB MARTIN BOOK

CHAD BEGUELIN LYRICIST AND BOOK

Including a sneak peek musical performance!

s Ticket s a w o l s a

Followed by:

LOVE WINS PROM

Join us after the show for our Love Wins Prom. Bring the person you always wished could be your prom date and celebrate the joy of being yourself! Dress accordingly.

$20

AUG. 18–SEPT. 25 GET TICKETS! ON SALE JULY 5 alliancetheatre.org/theprom BOX OFFICE 404.733.5000 GROUPS OF 10+ 404.733.4690 SEASON TICKET OFFICE 404.733.4600

Series on the Alliance Stage

Emma becomes an instant outcast—and a national headline— when her high school cancels the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. Sensing a chance to correct an injustice—and maybe get some good publicity along the way—a group of fading celebrities take up the cause, and invades Emma’s small Indiana town. Uproarious and ultimately uplifting, this new musical from the director of Tuck Everlasting proves that standing up for yourself can make you the star you were always meant to be.

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1280 Peachtree St NE // Atlanta, GA 30309

EATING MY WORDS

By CLIFF BOSTOCK

Weekends at The Red Barn Café—go!

David Sweeney has taken over the kitchen at The Red Barn Café. It is located behind the picturesque Tiger Mountain Vineyards (2592 Old Highway 441 South, Tiger, GA, 30576, tigerwine.com).

Sweeney gained fame in 2007 when he opened the vegetarian Dynamic Dish in the Sweet Auburn District. His specialty has remained vegetarian/vegan cuisine. Lots of people still run when they hear the word “vegetarian” because they think of vegetables as nothing but an accompaniment to meat.

But Sweeney’s brilliant inventions, its layers of sublime and earthy flavors, never leave an adventurous diner unsatisfied.

I might add that before he undertook a culinary career, Sweeney worked in fashion houses like Ralph Lauren and Gucci, so visual aesthetics are a strong part of his work.

In that, this new temporary gig at the Red Barn – he’s there through October – is perfect. The patio overlooks the vineyard’s vines and a broad field intersected by a dirt road that offers a compelling walk.

The Café is only open weekends – for dinner Friday evenings and brunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday. (Get a reservation!) I confess, the menu startled me. While Sweeney has never refused serving fish and meat on occasion, they play a strong role on the brief menu. Sweeney confirmed the obvious reason why; the clientele is older, local, and thus not quite as adventurous. They’re certainly not unsophisticated and the wines, I’m sure, rightfully draw many. And these are no amateur wines. Tiger’s Petit Manseng, a white wine, has racked up major awards this year.

Not surprisingly, when three of us visited for Sunday brunch recently, our favorite dishes were the vegetarian ones we ordered as starters to share. The most irresistible was a bowl of corn, quinoa, toasted pumpkin seeds, scallions, cilantro, cotija cheese, and red jalapenos. Next was hummus made of black-eyed peas with giant ovals of 7-grain toast, shaved kohlrabi, cucumbers, calamata olives, sprouted fenugreek, and chopped Vidalias. Unfortunately, the two

A surprising meat-eaters’ brunch special from the king of vegetarian chefs, David Sweeney: brisket, a biscuit, tomato jam, and a perfect fried egg. (Photo by Cliff Bostock)

other vegetarian dishes, including grilled zephyr squash, were sold out. Understand that the overwhelming spices that so many amateurish vegetarian chefs use do not pollute these dishes.

All of the sustainable, hyper-fresh ingredients are reliant on their own natural, startling flavors.

The same goes for most meat dishes. For an entrée, I ordered shredded brisket cooked in a rich red sauce, topped with a fried egg, served over a fat split biscuit surrounded by an explosively flavorful, sweet tomato jam. Smoked trout – sort of a riff on lox – was served with 7-grain toast points, various greens (including purslane), and a creamy blend of chevre, capers, and dill. A link of bratwurst was served with a dollop of organic mustard and some German potato salad – my least favorite dish.

For dessert, I ordered a bowl of organic red and yellow cherries mixed with ovals of chocolate. This was probably the least successful dish. Many of the cherries had a mealy texture. Far better was the cheese board, featuring two cheeses, a few cherries, some sliced peaches, and pumpkinseed brittle (try it!).

Cliff Bostock, PhD, is a longtime Atlanta food critic and former psychotherapist who now practices life coaching for creative types; 404-518-4415.

30 Columnists June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

We at Temple Sinai stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in the LGBTQ community during this difficult time.

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6/20/2016 10:50:25 AM

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June 24, 2016 Ads 31

Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for June 24-July 7

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SATURDAY, JUNE 25

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of “The Wizard of Oz” is an enchanting adaptation of the all-time classic, totally reconceived for the stage by the award-winning creative team that recently delighted London and Toronto audiences with the revival of “The Sound of Music.” The musical, playing at the Fox Theatre at 7:30 p.m. tonight, runs through June 26, www.foxtheatre.org (Publicity photo)

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 – SATURDAY, JUNE 25

EVENT SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY, JUNE 24 – SATURDAY, JUNE 25

Augusta Pride is this weekend, with CeCe Peniston as one of the headliners. The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on June 25, with a slew of festivities afterwards, www.prideaugusta.org (Publicity photo)

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Stories of the complex relationships between fathers and sons return to the stage in three performances of “The Story of U.S.” by the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, with an 8 p.m. show tonight and a 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. show Saturday, Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, 1026 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 SUNDAY, JUNE 26

Southern Fried Queer Pride (SFQP) is a queer and trans Pride festival in Atlanta celebrating the robust and vivid Southern queer community that exists amidst the Bible Belt and the Deep South. SFQP aims to provide a weekend of full-flavored community and intersectionality, without all the corporate and capitalist additives that taint modern-day Pride festivals across the nation, southernfriedqueerpride.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

Serenbe Playhouse presents John Steinbeck’s classic “Of Mice and Men,” tonight at 8 p.m., through June 26, www.serenbeplayhouse.com DJ Tommy spins fun tunes and the go-go boys are out as well at 9 p.m. at BJ Roosters, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

The Women’s Outdoor Network’s annual Summer Festival is today, with performers Diane Durrett with Junebug Massey, Maria Gabriella Band, Lives of the Monster Dogs, Steff Mahan and Les Prestines, all led by MC Renee Washington, 12 – 6 p.m., Lake Claire Landtrust, 280 Arizona Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 Hammonds House Museum, in col-

laboration with the Auburn Avenue Research Library and Jack Jones Literary Arts, will host author Cole Lavalais, in conversation with renowned author and publisher Tina McElroy Ansa. Ansa will discuss her debut novel, ”Summer of the Cicadas,” a captivating coming of age novel, a journey into the haunting world of fragile college freshman Viola “Vi” Ikewe Moon, whose sanity is threatened by deep rooted ancestral angst and a father that she can neither clearly remember nor completely forget. 1 p.m., Hammonds House Museum, 503 Peeples St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.

Singer-songwriters Dianne Davidson, Deidre McCalla, and Jamie Anderson return to Atlanta with an 8 p.m. round robin evening of music and mirth.

Atlanta Friends Meeting House, 701 W. Howard, Decatur. Tickets ($25 in advance and $30 at the door) are available

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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 at Charis Books, www.facebook.com/ events/1592401034403481/ You’ve seen them on Showtime, Logo, NBC, and Bravo – now see them live!

Vickie Shaw’s outrageous, endearing down home storytelling and Jennie McNulty’s lightning quick improvisational style make for one hilarious evening of stand-up comedy. 8 p.m., City of Light MCC, 1379 Tullie Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 Atlanta Eagle hosts Panther L/L Bar Night tonight from 10-11 p.m., www.atlantaeagle.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 26

DJ Scott Anthony spins at 3 a.m. at Xion Atlanta, www.facebook.com/ events/1007093756044932/ Join the Center for Civil and Human Rights to examine Dr. Martin Luther King’s view of absolute love of humanity through the exclusive “Voice to the Voiceless: The Morehouse College, Martin Luther King Collection.” Explore how unconditional love can serve as a catalyst for the establishment of a “Beloved Community” in today’s time. Three experts in their fields will discuss the best ways to honor differences in race, class, gender, sexual orientation and religious beliefs.

3 – 5 p.m., www.eventbrite.com/e/alove-unconditional-king-and-absolute-lovetickets-26035510914?aff=emails&mc_ cid=51750df285&mc_eid=756848e207

MONDAY, JUNE 27

Got the Cher songbook ready? Enjoy Blue Monday Karaoke with Angelica D’Paige at 10:30 p.m., Burkhart’s, www.burkharts.com Led by Niesha Dupree, the long-running Atlanta staple “Stars of the Century” features some of the best drag in the Southeast. Doors open at 10:30 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 28

J’s Lounge is the home for Rainbow

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29

Miss D and her Dancing Dolls, the stars of Lifetime’s hit series “Bring It!” will perform live as part of the “Bring It! Live” tour.

“Bring It! Live” will give fans the chance to become part of the action as they see Miss D and her Dancing Dolls perform their neverbefore-seen routines live onstage. Audience members will take part in live voting, engage in a Q+A with the cast, and get the exclusive “behind the scenes” lowdown on the hit Lifetime series. 7:30 p.m., Fox Theatre, www.foxtheatre.org (Publicity photo) Tuesdays, with Dymond Onasis and Nicole Paige Brooks leading the fun and DJ Destin providing house music, 1995 Windy Hill Road #1, Smyrna, GA 30080

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29

AARP and Out On Film present a free screening of “Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement,” the acclaimed documentary looking at the relationship of activist Edith Windsor (who helped bring down DOMA 2013) and Thea Spyer.

7 p.m., Midtown Art Cinema. RSVP at www.aarp.cvent.com/edieandthea

THURSDAY, JUNE 30

The Pretty Girl Hideout Thursdays is tonight, hosted by Mook Dahost, Soul Bar at Pal’s Lounge, 254 Auburn Ave., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.traxxgirls.com It’s Ladies Night at Friends on Ponce.

Texas Hold’Em begins at 8:30 p.m. and then Regina entertains at 10 p.m., www.friendsonponce-atl.com/

FRIDAY, JULY 1

Get the four-day weekend started with a beer at Woofs Atlanta, www.woofsatlanta.com

SATURDAY, JULY 2

Edie Cheezburger hosts Glitter Bomb, 75 minutes of high energy illusion, 11 p.m., Blake’s, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com The legendary Charlie Brown hosts the X-Rated Taboo Show, tonight at midnight, Lips Atlanta www.lipsatl.com

SUNDAY, JULY 3

WNBA season is in full gear. The Atlanta Dream, off to a fast 2016 start, host the Phoenix Mercury at a 6 p.m. game tonight, Philips Arena, www.philipsarena.com Dan Darlington and Peter Napoli heat up the Heretic tonight at the Brut ATL party, with doors opening at 10 p.m., www.hereticatlanta.com

MONDAY, JULY 4

The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ youth/ individuals meets tonight from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, www.uuca.org Enjoy free pool at Bulldogs, 893 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

CONTINUES ON PAGE 34

EVENT SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY, JUNE 24 SUNDAY, JUNE 26

Following up on last season’s two-part salute to one of the most musically varied decades in recent history, Libby Whittemore closes out her Libby’s at the Express lineup with a third trip to the hits of the 1970s, 7:30 p.m., Actor’s Express, www.actorsexpress.com (Publicity photo)

June 24, 2016 Best Bets 33

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

TUESDAY, JULY 5

Art It Out Therapy Center is now offering an Expressive Art Therapy Group for LGBTQ Teens on Tuesdays. Through art, the group will explore self-identity, coping with stress, intimate and parental relationships, and coming out. 7 p.m., 255 Village Parkway (in Paper Mill Village), Suite 580, Marietta, GA 30067

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

Every Wednesday night is karaoke night at My Sister’s Room, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the event starting at 9 p.m., www.mysistersroom.com It’s infamous – Ruby Redd hosts her riotous Birdcage Bingo tonight, with drag performances by your favorite entertainers and drink specials, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m., Hideaway Atlanta, www.atlantahideaway.com

THURSDAY, JULY 7

SAGE Atlanta hosts a social hour at 10 a.m., followed by a program/meeting at 11 a.m., Phillip Rush Center Annex, www.rushcenteratl.org Building on the activist tradition of consciousness raising groups, each month Charis Books invites community members to join this lightly facilitated group to talk about issues in their personal lives or in society as a whole that they are trying to process or deconstruct. The group will then use intersectional feminist strategies as tools to help talk through those issues. 7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

UPCOMING SATURDAY, JULY 9

Atlanta Pride’s annual Trans March is doing something a little different this year.

An open call is being held for transgender and gender non-conforming dancers who know how to shake their thing. Feminine?

Get in Trans-Formation! Masculine? Get in Trans-Formation! In Between or Neither? Get in Trans-Formation!!! Any questions? Email Laura@atlantapride.com, 12 – 2 p.m., Rush Center Annex, www.rushcenteratl.org

MONDAY, JULY 11

Dine Out today at Agave from 5 –10 p.m. and help raise money for Atlanta Pride, Agave Atlanta, 242, Blvd. E, Atlanta, GA 30312

SATURDAY, JULY 16

The summer’s best pool party and fundraiser is back – Joining Hearts 29; A

34 Best Bets June 24, 2016

FRIDAY, JULY 8 – SATURDAY, JULY 9

They do magic, and they are bare-assed! Two Australian magicians perform “The Naked Magic Show” tonight at 7 p.m. and Saturday 4 and 8 p.m., The Buckhead Theatre, www.thebuckheadtheatre.com (Publicity photo) Brand New Day. The event, held to raise awareness and funds to provide care and housing assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS in Atlanta, will feature live entertainers throughout the evening and music by DJs Luis Perez and Australia’s Dan Slater with three levels of experiences: General Admission, VIP and Ultra VIP, 4:00 - 10:30 p.m, at the Piedmont Park Pool, www.joininghearts.org Kick back under the stars in the Ivester Amphitheater in Gainesville and enjoy the amazing sounds of the Indigo Girls during the Atlanta Botanical Gardens’ Concerts in the Garden, 8 p.m., 1911 Sweetbay Dr., Gainesville, GA 30501, atlantabg.org/visit/events/indigo-girls

SATURDAY, JULY 23

The Human Rights Campaign invites you to their inaugural tennis social — Serving for Equality! Players of all skill levels are welcome to participate in this doubles event, and will receive a gift bag with a retail value of over $40. Don’t have a doubles partner? HRC will pair you up with other players and you can make some new friends along the way. Each ticket purchased goes toward HRC’s important mission of LBGTQ equality in Atlanta and across the country. The event will have a DJ, food, cocktails, a silent auction, and a photo booth to enjoy while you cheer on your friends as they serve aces for equality.

6 – 10 p.m., Sharon Lester Tennis Center, www.hrc.org/sfeatlanta

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 38

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THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

By MELISSA CARTER

Hope—find it, use it You have struggled these past couple of weeks with how to react to the Pulse shootings in Orlando, but how have you inspired the world to feel about it?

I was recently asked to speak at the Coca-Cola headquarters here in Atlanta for a GLAAD event, and obviously changed the content of my speech following the events on June 12. I have decided to share the script of that speech with you here; despite the fact the passion of the speech will be lost in translation. However, I think it is important for all of us to realize not only the effect of Orlando on us but also how we are affecting others through this tragedy.

Hope.

I think that is a word that is overused.

Hope is a tool you only need when desperate. It’s not an end result; it is the bridge that gets you to that end result. A tool, like a fire extinguisher collecting dust under the cabinet or a tire iron lost in the trunk or those jumper cables. You only use these things when desperate. Yet when we do need them we often fumble with how exactly to use them.

Hope isn’t necessary when you are feeling happy or satisfied. Now is a time for hope, but how will you use it?

I want to switch to Coke. You have created a brand that is emotional. What kind of emotion? The good moments in your life, often from childhood.

A Coke and a Smile.

The Real Thing.

For those old enough to remember, I’d like to teach the world to sing—a message of bringing a diverse world together…in perfect harmony.

As the gay community, what is our brand?

Hardship? Or hope?

The world is waving rainbow flags this week. World leaders like President Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu have publicly given their support, public buildings have been washed in rainbow colors, and straight people have changed their online profiles to include the

“I am proud to be gay, and will go into whatever bar or gathering I damn well choose without fear because I am hope. I expect the world to embrace love, ever slowly, more and more. It already has, don’t you see it? Love brings love, hate creates hate.” rainbow flag in solidarity. Closeted members of our community have their eyes on us and are watching how we respond, so what message are we sending? On social media I have seen the words “depressed,” and “fuck you, straight people, I don’t need your sympathy.”

I am proud to be gay, and will go into whatever bar or gathering I damn well choose without fear because I am hope. I expect the world to embrace love, ever slowly, more and more. It already has, don’t you see it? Love brings love, hate creates hate.

What brand are you creating? Devastation?

Devastation only breeds more devastation.

Rage? A lot of us have been angry for a long time, haven’t we? What good has it done? Rage only breeds rage.

Retaliation? Retaliation will only inspire more retaliation.

Take hope out of the cabinet or trunk… and use it. Even if your hands are shaking, find hope and put it to work in building a bridge to happiness. The only way to be truly happy is by loving yourself first.

Melissa Carter is one of the Morning Show hosts on B98.5. In addition, she is a writer for the Huffington Post. She is recognized as one of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta and one of the few in the country. Follow her on Twitter@MelissaCarter

36 Columnists June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

SOMETIMES ‘Y’

By RYAN LEE

Death before dishonor The line that forms outside of Bulldogs on weekends tells a story of gay fear, progress and hope. Instead of oral history, it’s a bit of “aura” history: individuals occupying a space and writing a narrative that spans generations.

For about 15 years, the guys who stand outside Bulldogs waiting to enter the cozy hip-hop club nestled beneath the Midtown skyscrapers have been part of the most conspicuous expression of black gay manhood in Atlanta. Nowhere have masses of black gay men been as consistently visible to general passers-by than those lined up beneath the rainbow flag at 893 Peachtree St. When I moved to Atlanta in the early 2000s, street cruising seemed to be a bigger part of Midtown’s nightlife than it is today, with midnight traffic so dense that the parade of cars along Peachtree Street was as vibrant as most of the surrounding clubs. Back then, the scene outside of Bulldogs was almost like a homosexual safari, as cars filled with black heterosexuals crept down Peachtree Street and folks craned outside of windows to gawk at, and occasionally heckle, the unfamiliar phenomenon of black gay men.

The demographics of Atlanta and culture of Midtown have changed since then, but bemusement still seems a popular reaction when the straight white millennials who now predominate the neighborhood realize that the throngs of black men they might otherwise fear are harmless, highly fashionable gay men. You can see the anxiety melt from some people’s faces.

At the front of the line is a security guard, historically lesbian, who checks IDs and pats down patrons to make sure no one brings a weapon into the bar. Suddenly any annoyance I might’ve had about the length and pace of the line at Bulldogs is replaced by gratitude for someone doing anything to make sure Atlanta does not endure the type of tragedy that shattered Orlando.

I’ve worried about the vulnerability of LGBT clubs since my earliest days of partying.

I remember looking down into the crowded dance pit of Backstreet in the months after www.thegeorgiavoice.com

“I’ve worried about the vulnerability of LGBT clubs since my earliest days of partying. I remember looking down into the crowded dance pit of Backstreet in the months after 9/11 and trembling at the thought of how easy a target we were for anyone who wanted to lash out against what they considered American decadence and depravity.”

9/11 and trembling at the thought of how easy a target we were for anyone who wanted to lash out against what they considered American decadence and depravity.

Just a few months ago, with the religious liberty debate taking place during an exceptionally angry era of American discourse (a bitterness fueled by racism and homophobia), I was waiting to get into Bulldogs and had the horrifying fear of someone driving down Peachtree and firing upon the lineup of black gay men. It’s terrifying to consider that there is no gun law or pro-LGBT initiative that can prevent such an attack.

However, as I inched toward the front door of Bulldogs, I was inspired by the strength of those who stood beside me, and those who have waited in that line throughout the years.

Unlike in the past, I didn’t see any Bulldogs patrons facing the wall or otherwise standing in a way clearly intended to hide their face from the cars passing down Peachtree.

Desperate for hope after the overwhelming trauma of the Orlando shooting, I find solace believing that, whether at Pulse or any LGBT nightclub in America, any victims of anti-gay violence likely won’t experience death without having embraced the worthiness of our lives.

Ryan Lee is an Atlanta writer.

June 24, 2016 Columnists 37

LAST WORD QPuzzle SULU SAYS IT ALL

ACROSS 1 Paul Rudnick’s “The ___ Fabulous Story Ever Told” 5 Terence of “Smallville” 10 Ridges on Melissa’s neck 15 Cartoonist Peter 16 No longer jail bait 17 Property claims 18 Rivera’s rivers 19 Place for your favorite boxers 20 Vital carrier 21 With 39-Across, T-shirt motto of George Takei 24 Like a virgin’s maidenhead 25 Whisper, as a secret 29 Tissue problem in “Philadelphia” 33 Rachel Maddow, to MSNBC 34 Farmer in the hayfield 37 “The Queen” producer Rudin 39 See 21-Across 40 Past 41 With 45-Across, nickname for House Bill 2 44 Dry, to Ted Allen of “Queer Eye” 45 See 41-Across 47 Verb with “protest,” to the bard 48 Start of a legal conclusion 50 In cahoots 52 Data for a headhunter

54 56 60 64 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

Gets to the bottom of?

Annoyances State that passed House Bill 2 “Take it off!”

Bone-chilling Current for three men in a tub Dressing for Dr. Kildare What the Devil wears, in a movie Corp. magnates Use them to fork around One who scatters seed Matador’s opponent

DOWN 1 Bloody queen 2 Hunter that comes out at night 3 Tapir feature 4 Like Julia Morgan’s models 5 Pro-gay perspectives 6 Univ. of Maryland athlete 7 “The African Queen” author 8 Hair of a stallion 9 Backup strategy 10 Straw-colored 11 What the cops read at Stonewall?

12 Always, to Byron 13 USA rival 14 Fed. retirement agency 22 Like sourballs

23 Urania’s sister 26 Not only that 27 Plates of Bean’s 28 How Homo sapiens stands 30 Words in an analogy 31 Earth tone 32 Lief’s tongue 34 Kiddie-lit elephant 35 Able to bend over 36 Lounges 38 They’re into diapers 42 Office machine 43 Reproduction without sex 46 Take into the pride?

49 Word on a Tammy Baldwin poster 51 Flees to become husband and husband 53 Erect (or how bottoms take it?)

55 Many go down on them 57 Straight to ___ 58 Moon in “Return of the Jedi” 59 Affirm orally 61 Mark Bingham of United Flight 93 62 Sticking point 63 Gal Friday, e.g.

64 Pepper, for one: Abbr.

65 Half a cocktail 66 Come quickly Answers on page 34

38 The Last Word June 24, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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