Metrotainment Cafes Illustrator 6 eps file
GEORGIANEWS
New law allows HIV+ donors to help HIV+ recipients How to become an organ donor
Emory enrolling subjects in historic study
You can register as an organ donor when you get or renew your license at the Georgia Department of Driver Services. You can also designate your decision to be an organ donor online at www.donatelifegeorgia.org
By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com In March of this year, Johns Hopkins Hospital became the first hospital in the United States to transplant the organs of an HIV-positive donor into HIV-positive recipients. The liver and kidney transplants saved the lives of two people. “This is an unbelievably exciting day for our hospital and our team, but more importantly for patients living with both HIV and end-stage organ disease. For these individuals, this could mean a new chance at life,” said Dorry L. Segev, M.D., Ph.D., professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in a statement. The surgery was the result of the striking down of a 25-year-old law prohibiting HIV-positive organs from being used for transplant. Those two recipients of the organs are part of a study with 30 patients expected to be enrolled at six medical centers nationwide, with five of those HIV-positive patients to come from Atlanta, where they and the doctors at Emory University will take part in this new step in medical history. And the development will not only help HIV-positive people on the waiting list for organs, but also the HIV-negative ones on the list who will then move up in priority once the HIV-positive ones get the transplants they need. The path to President Obama’s desk In 1988, Congress adopted a law that prevented patients from receiving organs from HIV-positive donors. The law made sense at the time considering the lack of treatment options available for HIV-positive people and the damage that the virus can do on the kidney and liver in particular. But as new treatment options became available over the years and HIV-positive individuals began living longer lives, doctors started looking at the issue again. It began in 2011 when the authors of a study at Johns Hopkins University published www.thegeorgiavoice.com
key goal of my National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The HOPE Act marks an important step in the right direction, and I thank Congress for their action.”
Emory will soon enroll patients in a study that will allow HIV-positive people to get a kidney from an HIV-positive donor. (Stock photo)
“This is an unbelievably exciting day for our hospital and our team, but more importantly for patients living with both HIV and end-stage organ disease. For these individuals, this could mean a new chance at life.” —Dorry L. Segev, M.D., Ph.D., professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in March after successfully completing the first transplant of the organs of an HIV-positive donor into an HIV-positive recipient in the United States an article in the American Journal of Transplantation saying that a change in the policy could save up to 1000 lives. “Around the same time they approached us to see if it was an issue we would like to take on and our board really enthusiastically took it up,” says Kimberly Miller, senior policy officer at the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), an organization that is home to more than 5,000 physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who practice HIV medicine. HIVMA developed a policy statement and, with Johns Hopkins, started organizing a coalition of groups and developing materials to go to Capitol Hill and educate people on the issue. It took a couple of years of work, but by February 2013 a bill with bipartisan sup-
port was introduced, it passed both houses of Congress in June, and on November 21, 2013, President Obama signed the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act (or HOPE Act) into law. “Our country has come a long way in our understanding of HIV and in developing effective treatments. And as our knowledge has grown, the possibility of successful organ transplants between HIV-positive people has become more real. The HOPE Act lifts the research ban. In time, it could lead to these organ donations for people living with HIV. And that, in turn, would help save and improve lives and strengthen the national supply of organs for all who need them,” said President Obama in a statement at the time. “Improving care for people living with HIV is critical to fighting the epidemic, and it’s a
Safeguards written into the law Implementation of the law took some time due to a number of precautions put in place in the language of the bill. “It’s really one of the most highly regulated medical procedures that’s out there,” HIVMA’s Miller says. “With this they obviously wanted to be especially careful setting up safeguards and making sure that they had protocol to ensure the safety of the organ supply and that the organs would be appropriately matched. Also it was set up so that these transplants are initially done under research protocols only.” That meant transplant centers that are doing these procedures have to get the approval of an Institutional Review Board, a committee used in research that approves, monitors and reviews any research involving human subjects in the United States. Luckily there was a bit of a roadmap thanks to doctors overseas. “There had been some experience to draw on from South Africa where these HIV-toHIV transplants were taking place as early as 2010,” Miller says. “Those clinicians and researchers have been closely collaborating so that when we undertake this in the U.S. we can learn from what the South Africans did. But they had tremendous success with it. They saw their patients do very well and we expect that to be the same here.” The IRBs across the country will review the research annually and, with time and success, they can begin to recommend that the IRB restriction be lifted and the procedure be a normal option of care. CONTINUES ON PAGE 7
August 5, 2016 News 3
Emory University is one of the six centers nationwide where the HIV-to-HIV study will take place. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
Shortage of organs in Georgia, nationally The passage of the law in 2013 and the beginning of such HIV-to-HIV surgeries couldn’t have come soon enough for those on the waiting list for an organ. “There’s a real shortage of organs in this country,” Miller says. “It’s another innovative way to free up more organs to save more lives.” The latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that there are about 123,000 people on the waiting list for organs nationally, with nearly 5,700 of those living in Georgia (90 percent of which are in need of a kidney transplant). Just one donor could potentially benefit 60 people according to the LifeLink Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that facilitates the donation of organs and tissues. LifeLink of Georgia serves 193 hospitals across the state. “LifeLink supports the HOPE Act as an opportunity to save more lives through organ transplantation, and it will be our honor to help the families of individuals who are www.thegeorgiavoice.com
HIV-positive fulfill their loved ones’ decision to give the gift of life through organ donation,” says Kaysha Cranon, senior public affairs coordinator in the Atlanta office of LifeLink. The Emory study on HIV-to-HIV transplants is now being reviewed by the IRB and, once approved, will be open for enrollment of HIV-positive patients in need of a kidney transplant. So what do HIV-positive people in the Atlanta area who are in need of a kidney do to enroll? “If they have kidney failure, they’d be under the care of a nephrologist, and they would need to request that their primary care team refer them to Emory for a kidney transplant,” says Dr. Tom Pearson, executive director of the Emory Transplant Center and professor of surgery at Emory University School of Medicine. “They would need to be evaluated here at Emory for a kidney transplant just like any other patient.” The five patients enrolled in the study at Emory and 30 enrolled nationwide will be followed up with for up to three years, with national study-wide completion estimated to occur by June 2019. August 5, 2016 News 7
Rep. Park Cannon (D-Atlanta) and HIV/AIDS activist Daniel Driffin both addressed the Democratic National Convention on July 27 in Philadelphia.
NEWSBRIEFS Ga. State Rep. Park Cannon, Daniel Driffin address DNC “I’m Park Cannon. I am a woman. I’m African-American. I’m queer. And I am the newest member of the Georgia House of Representatives.” So went the opening line of remarks by openly queer Georgia state Rep. Park Cannon (D-Atlanta) on July 27 at the Democratic National Convention. Cannon was part of a group of five diverse American speakers who each gave brief remarks. Included was director Robert Rodriguez, Jeff Grubbe of the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Debbie Almontaser of Khalil Gibran International Academy and YouTuber Dulce Candy. THRIVE SS co-founder Daniel Driffin also spoke on day three of the Democratic National Convention hours before Cannon. Driffin, who is openly gay and living with HIV, urged the audience “to go get tested and then go and vote.” Driffin praised Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for her work to ”ensure that 6.7 million people around the world got access to antiretroviral therapy,” along with her involvement in lifting the travel ban for people living with HIV. Driffin is the first openly HIV-positive speaker to address the DNC in 16 years. LGBT candidates come up short in July runoff elections It was another rough night for LGBT
candidates in Georgia on July 26 as both in the running lost, with all six of statewide LGBT advocacy organization Georgia Equality’s endorsed candidates coming up short as well. Valerie Vie, a lesbian family law attorney, garnered 37 percent of the vote to attorney William Boddie Jr.’s 63 percent in the race in House District 62, which includes portions of College Park, Douglasville, East Point, and portions of Fulton and DeKalb counties. Vie emerged from a crowded field in the May 24 primary that included openly gay community activist and flight attendant Rafer Johnson and had hoped to snag a coveted seat on the House Judiciary Committee with a win—there is no Republican opposition in November so a win would have made her the fourth openly LGBT lawmaker in the state legislature. But Boddie came out on top, no doubt due in part to a three-toone fundraising margin. Vie congratulated Boddie on the win via her Facebook page. The other race with an openly LGBT candidate was for Superior Court judge in Fulton County. Openly gay family law attorney, Fulton County magistrate and hearing officer Gary Alembik lost to Eric Dunaway by a 12 point margin. If elected, Alembik would have been the second openly LGBT Superior Court judge in Fulton County (joining Jane Barwick) and the first openly gay male. FDA opens door to ending gay blood donation ban The U.S. Food and Drug Administration signaled on July 26 that it is reevaluating its
policy on blood donations by gay and bisexual men, less than a year after changing its former policy and less than two months since the Orlando shooting brought renewed scrutiny about the issue. The current policy prohibits donations from any men who have had sex with another man in the previous year. The news came in the form of a notice posted to the Federal Register, which is basically a clearinghouse for the daily goings-on of the U.S. federal government. The notice said that the FDA is establishing a public docket for comment about its current blood donation policy. Activists have long pushed for a change to a policy based on individual risk factors such as intravenous drug use or unprotected sex instead of singling out gay and bisexual men. Last December, the FDA changed the policy from one that essentially was a lifetime blood donation ban for gay and bisexual men to the current one-year deferral policy. The issue hit the national radar again after last month’s shooting at the LGBT Orlando club Pulse that left 49 dead. Blood banks were filled with people wanting to donate, but due to the FDA policy, gay and bisexual men weren’t allowed to help their own community. Eight days after the shooting, 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.
8 News August 5, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
r o f w o Buy n s as t Ticke $20 s a w o l
AUGUST 18–SEPTEMBER 25
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An uproarious and uplifting world premiere musical from the director of Tuck Everlasting and The Book of Mormon! 1280 Peachtree St NE // Atlanta, GA 30309
Series on the Alliance Stage
Outspoken PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365
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10 Outspoken August 5, 2016
“Today in America, LGBTQ people are targeted by hate that lives in both laws and hearts. Many still struggle just to get by. But I believe tomorrow can be different. Tomorrow, we can be respected and protected, especially if Hillary Clinton is our president. And that’s why I’m proud to say that I’m with her.” –Sarah McBride speaking at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. McBride is the first transgender person to address a major political convention. (7/27 Screencap image)
“Very interesting—he’s going to protect us, LGBT people, from foreign oppression. No, it’s not foreigners firing people. No, it’s not foreigners refusing to serve LGBT people. [Trump’s comments were] very carefully worded. And it was a terrible thing that happened in Orlando. But the great majority of problems LGBT people have faced—violence against transgender people, discrimination—come from good, old homegrown Americans. So this fraudulent promise that he’s going to protect us from foreigners, who have not on the whole been a threat, I hope people see through it.” –Former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank in an interview on SiriusXM Progress during the DNC. (7/27 File photo)
“I made a promise. I would never again walk into a space and leave any part of myself behind. Latino and LGBT communities must come together to embrace and nurture their natural coalition. If we continue to allow LGBT Latinos to live in fear for their safety, then both communities will be complicit.” - Out actor Wilson Cruz reflecting on the Orlando tragedy in a speech before the National Council of La Raza Conference. (7/25 Publicity photo) www.thegeorgiavoice.com
OUT IN THE WILD Creepoftheweek By Simon Williamson
Using the gay community as political cover
Mike Pence’s anti-LGBT record
Simon Williamson lives with his husband in heteronormatively-assimilative fashion in Athens, after a year of surviving rural Georgia.
By D’ANNE WITKOWSKI
“We can be both grateful and critical of our leaders at the same time. The hard work of the organizations and people who forced the political class to take us seriously shouldn’t get to be used as cover. We know what it is like to be on the receiving end of bad government policy.” For the first time ever, the politics of LGBT folks, and our supporters, are being taken seriously. It is harder to win an election nowadays without taking the rights of LGBT people seriously, even if you merely pander toward gay rights while also supporting a tsunami of legislation including conversion therapy, bathroom nonsense, and what people like to call “religious freedom”. But for Democrats in particular, observance of the LGBT community is a prerequisite to running for office. You would have seen it last week at the Democratic National Convention, as politician after politician finally conveniently joined most of the country in backing our basic existence as a group, led by Hillary Clinton, who, if my Facebook feed is anything to go by, has led the fight for our people her whole life. This has obvious upsides. Politicians who support us, even if they are recent converts, are likely to vote in favor of things like non-discrimination in terms of employment and housing, and less likely to encourage, and campaign on, the aforementioned legislative tidal wave. But it has obvious downsides too. We are now worn as a badge of honor, to prove progressive credibility—even when that credibility is used for awful purposes. Anyone who has followed Clinton’s career, for example, knows she is a little trigger happy when it comes to sending troops into the rest of the world, or manipulating the personnel of brown countries’ governments. It becomes a lot easier to excuse that sort of life-destroying behavior when she’s backing a lot of things to be done on our behalf. The same can be said for other Democrats, including President Obama, who has been great for www.thegeorgiavoice.com
us, but also responsible for the deaths of civilians during the US’ constant war in the Middle East. That doesn’t go away because he came out for gay marriage. Clinton’s march in the New York City Pride parade doesn’t undo an Iraq War vote that killed hundreds of thousands, her support for Saudi Arabia, her empowerment of a murderous Honduran regime, or the fact that Libya is currently in intensive care, and looking even more poorly. This extends far beyond the current presidential candidate – these are merely examples of how LGBT rights are bizarrely used to refute allegations of other wrongdoing, and we, as people who know prejudice, should be aware of being used as props to encourage shitty behavior. For a more explicit instance, even Donald Trump pandered to LGBT people in the wake of the massacre in Orlando, when he used violence against us to shit all over the constitution and bash Muslims. Let’s not pretend that all is okay with our government and the world because some of our fights are “in” right now. Let’s not excuse what our government does because we’re on the Democratic team. Let’s not allow mistreatment of trans immigrants because the Justice Department is on our side in North Carolina, or excuse the casualties of innocents overseas because Democrats came out against conversion therapy. We can be both grateful and critical of our leaders at the same time. The hard work of the organizations and people who forced the political class to take us seriously shouldn’t get to be used as cover. We know what it is like to be on the receiving end of bad government policy. Let’s not permit ourselves to be used to do it to others.
Was anyone really surprised that Donald Trump picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his co-captain for the most terrifying boat ride since the Titanic? Pence may be best known for signing Indiana’s “just say no to gays” law, the intention of which was to give anti-gay bigots free reign to discriminate against LGBT people so long as their discrimination stemmed from a deeply held religious belief. In other words, if a baker doesn’t want to make a cake for some kind of homo wedding he just needs to point out that “God hates fags” and he’s in the clear. As God intended. Ah, but Pence’s anti-gay record is much longer than just some silly little discrimination law that brought scorn heaped upon his state and resulted in a loss of millions of dollars. In 2006 as a senator, Pence supported amending the U.S. Constitution to ban marriage equality. He said letting same-sex couples marry would bring upon “societal collapse.” Clearly he was foreshadowing a Trump-Pence presidential run.
He was also against the Employment NonDiscrimination Act, claiming in 2007, “By extending the reach of federal law to cover sexual orientation, Mike Pence employment discrimination protections, in effect, can wage war on the free exercise of religion in the workplace.” Because, you know, protecting LGBT people from discrimination is totally comparable to the horrors of war. And speaking of war, Pence didn’t want any homos in the military because they would try to touch other privates’ privates. Oh, and speaking of the uncontrollable sexual perversions of gays, Pence thought that money for HIV/AIDS would be much better spent on anti-gay conversion therapy. Because if you stop all those gays from being gay it’ll stop this gay disease.
August 5, 2016 Outspoken 11
Dragnificent Queens
Evah Destruction has come to slay! Atlanta drag queen has beauty, brains and personality The last name is the first indicator that this queen is here to wreck shop. It’s been a little over five years since Alexander Surian birthed his drag persona Evah Destruction and she’s not looking back. A recent winner of the 2016 Best of Atlanta award for Best Drag Queen, Destruction has amassed an impressive following in the years leading up to her latest honor to become one of the most recognizable and formidable drag queens in Atlanta. But did you know Evah Destruction was almost Genevieve? Yeah, let’s collectively thank the drag gods for the name change and for the sweet destruction this queen leaves all over town. We asked about her unique name and everything else in-between (no pun intended). Get into it. Your name is so unique. How did you come up with it? Evah Destruction: Me and my lesbian friend were sitting in our living room because I was trying to get ready for a drag show, and she literally said, “What about Evah Destruction?” I said, “That’s perfect.” I wanted a name that would stand out and immediately grab people’s attention when they heard it. At first, I wanted something super fancy and French-sounding, like Genevieve or something. But I know for a fact that a lot of queens can’t spell. So I was like, I’m just gonna go with Evah Destruction because that’s super punk rock. Tell us about your decision to start performing in drag. When I turned 18 and I went up to Jungle for the first time and I saw Phoenix perform. I’ll never forget this. She performed “U + Ur Hand” by Pink. I said, “That’s actually a lot different than what I was expecting.” And it was actually really entertaining. It was lovely
and it was really well put together. And then I saw my first drag mother perform, Jasmine Antoinette, and she kind of took it to a more theatrical place. And that immediately clicked in my head. I said, “Okay, this is obviously something I could try.” I come from a musical theater background—this is just getting into a character. So I did it. Needless to say, it was a hot boogery mess! [Laughs] I almost went out there (on stage) without setting my foundation with any powder. Monica (Van Pelt) came up behind me and said, “You’re gonna set your face, right?” And I said, “What is that?” She took her powder puff and slapped me across the face. Do you still get nervous? Oh of course. It’s always that few minutes right before they call my name. I get those butterflies and immediately when I step on stage it all goes away as soon as I face the crowd. It’s quite liberating, actually. To feel less than the audience for 2.5 seconds and then when you get on stage, you feel like you’re on top of the Empire State Building. Is drag a full-time gig for you? It pays the bills. I work five nights a week. I’m at LIPS [Atlanta] on Wednesdays and then I’m at Burkhart’s on Saturdays and Thursdays. I’m at Jungle on Fridays and then I’m at Blake’s on Sundays. How do people react when they learn you do drag for a living? They’re a little shocked. A lot of people think that drag is a one-night a week thing and it’s not a lucrative career. But in all actuality, if you know the game and you know how to market and brand yourself correctly…I pay my bills. This pays for the way I live comfortably. I don’t even hide it anymore. When people ask me what I do, I say, “I’m a drag queen.” And then they give me a look [like a deer in headlights]. “What? You thought these
Evah Destruction’s musical theater background plays an integral role in her drag persona from makeup to performance. (Photos by JustToby.me)
dollar bills were from me being a stripper?” There’s a debate about whether or not drag is now mainstream? Do you think it is? I don’t think drag is as mainstream as people want to say it is. It’s still something that we still get stigmatized for. It’s still something we get discriminated for. It’s still something people say, “He’s a drag queen. I’m not attracted to him because he does drag.” It’s still something
that’s still very underground. As much as we want to think drag is becoming more and more mainstream, we still have a long way to go. Where do you see yourself in five years? I want to be on TV. No shade. I want to be on TV and I want to be on stage. I just wanna get bigger. I want to take this to a place that even I didn’t think I could. —Darian Aaron
12 The Drag Issue August 5, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Dragnificent Queens
Monica Van Pelt is the real deal The curvy queen opens up about two decades in lashes
Monica Van Pelt describes her first time doing drag as “a horrible mess,” but that didn’t stop patrons at the bar in Columbus from cheering her on to win the talent show that week—and the following 15 weeks after that. 21 years later, she continues to leave drag fans wanting more, and she learned from the best when she first got to Atlanta—she paid her dues at Backstreet and counts Shawnna Brooks and Charlie Brown as her drag mentors. Now you can catch Van Pelt at LIPS four nights a week and at Burkhart’s every Saturday continuing to wow audiences. Here, she looks back at where she started, gives advice for those interested in starting to do drag and more. Can you take me back to your first time on stage in drag? I did Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop.” It was a horrible mess but I was underage and couldn’t get into the bar legally, but back then they didn’t bother to card the drag queens—they didn’t even want to talk to the drag queens. So my friend dressed me up and sent me out there and they had a talent show at the bar and I won for 16 weeks in a row. So how did you get from having the desire to do drag to actually doing it? I’m a theater major so being onstage is something I’ve always loved to do. There’s nothing better than being center stage by yourself. So that’s how it started and it just kind of snowballed from there. Do you have a drag mother—someone who kind of showed you the ropes? I have drag mentors, I have people that mentored me along the way. When I came to Atlanta it was Shawnna Brooks and Charlie Brown. Charlie gave me my start in Atlanta www.thegeorgiavoice.com
and I worked at Backstreet filling in for girls that were out and I learned so much. That’s the real “Drag U” right there is Backstreet with those girls because you learn so much from those girls and that group, and they’re all still in this business. So what are the biggest misconceptions that you hear about drag queens? I think a lot of times—and this is in life in general—people have a tendency to put others in a box. And I think what makes this profession so great is the fact that we are all different and we all bring something different to it. I always say people don’t get to see the real show. The real show is in the back when everybody’s just being themselves and being crazy and having a good time because at the end of the day it’s drag. It’s supposed to be fun. What advice would you give somebody that’s interested in drag? The advice I would give is that it’s not for everybody and it’s fun and it looks great but it costs a lot of money, you pay a lot of dues, and if you aren’t in it for the long run then you don’t want to mess around with it to begin with. But if it’s in your heart and it’s something deep that you feel a drive for, then by all means, pursue it with everything but it takes a lot. It’s not as easy as everyone thinks it is. They think that, “Oh I can just get a dress and a wig and someone can do my makeup and I’m going to be fierce.” No, you’re going to fall over [laughs]. But make sure it’s something you want to do. It’s very expensive. What you see out there, it’s supposed to look glamorous and it’s supposed to look amazing and people are supposed to be entertained because that’s what you’re doing, but it’s not an easy thing to do always. Drag is no longer a subculture like it once was. It’s gone mainstream in a way, especially with “Rupaul’s Drag Race.”
Monica Van Pelt was a theater major and says there’s nothing better than being center stage by yourself. (Photos by JustToby.me)
What’s next for you and do you want to experience that kind of mainstream success? You know what, I view success as being able to wake up the next day and I’m breathing and I’m having a good time and I’m allowed to do something that I truly enjoy. I
live by myself, I have my own apartment, I take care of my bills and I do it all doing drag. So I believe that that’s my success at this point, but anytime a door opens, I’ll walk through it. Who knows what the next step is? —Patrick Saunders August 5, 2016 The Drag Issue 13
Dragnificent Queens
Dynisty St. James: Remember her name Up-and-coming queen aims for superstardom “If you want fame—well fame costs. And right here is where you start paying in sweat.” If you quote that line to any performing artist, more often than not, they’ll be able to tell you the name of the ‘80s television show (“Fame”) and actress (Debbie Allen) that made it famous. The theme song, with its catchy and urgent plea to “remember my name,” played on a never-ending loop in my mind as Atlanta drag queen Dynisty St. James sauntered into The Georgian Terrace Hotel (with her own personal wind machine) for the Georgia Voice photo shoot. Within seconds, it’s obvious there’s something special about her. It’s almost impossible not to feel as if you’re in the presence of the next big thing—an unnoticed drag superstar that is just waiting for her moment to break out. And the fact that St. James considers herself an underdog on the Atlanta drag scene after six years in the game—despite an arsenal of talent, which she wields like a fierce assassin as soon as the lights dim and she steps onstage—makes her even more endearing. She’s got the IT factor. But you’ll never hear her say so, preferring instead to let that truth sneak up and captivate you. We sat down to chat with St. James as she beat her face to step in front of the camera and days before a video of a recent performance inched towards viral status online. You may not know her name now but you will. Georgia Voice: Tell us about your decision to start performing in drag. I always dressed up or put on costumes. And when I was younger, I saw “To Wong Foo” and that really inspired me to pursue it. Was your first experience on stage in drag a nightmare? It seems that’s the case for a lot of new queens.
Let’s just say I was casket sharp. One of the best makeup jobs I’ve ever had in my life. I was probably as gray as the color gray. I did Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy,” and I looked just like a boy. It was lovely [laughs]. I stomped across the stage like I was stomping roaches! I didn’t know how to walk in heels. I was all types of awful. Is your family supportive? My family is supportive. They weren’t at first. But I guess that’s a lot of black families, though. “It’s a sin. You’re going to hell.” [laughs] After a while they opened up. My mom actually came to one of my drag shows. She came down to Fantasy Girls for her birthday and she had a blast. It was my first time ever partying with my mom in drag. What advice, if any, have you received from drag mentors? The best advice I received is to keep pushing, keep going. The door is gonna open someday. Are there any unique challenges around being a black drag queen in Atlanta? There’s a lot of challenges. I am kinda, like, the darkest girl on the scene that I’m in. I get a lot of backlash sometimes. People talk about how dark you are…you’re African and stuff like that. But I just have to let that roll off and keep going. I guess that’s just queens being shady. So how do you handle that? What’s your survival technique? My survival technique is to read them to shreds. That’s the drag survival technique. You cannot survive in this industry if you don’t know how to read a girl. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? In five years, I wanna be the next drag superstar, like, RuPaul. I wanna be a recording artist, actor/actress, model—everything. Speaking of RuPaul. What kind of ef-
Dynisty St. James can be seen weekly at Club Rush, Burkharts, G’s Midtown and Jungle. (Photos by JustToby.me)
fect do you think “Drag Race” has had on your industry? I see it as a positive and also as a negative. The negative is that everyone thinks they know everything about drag. The positive side is that you’re getting seen. They’re tal-
ented girls and it’s their time to be seen. Would you go on the show? Yes, I would go on that show. As a matter of fact, hopefully I’ll be auditioning this year. —Darian Aaron
14 The Drag Issue August 5, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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Dragnificent Queens
Elea is Atlanta’s jill-of-all-trades Teacher by day, drag queen by night lights up LIPS When Elea tells people that she does drag, she says they’re surprised for two reasons. “They tell me that I look like such a boy out of drag that they can’t really imagine what I look like. They probably think, ‘Oh, even if you do do drag, you probably look busted.’” Newsflash: she doesn’t. But there’s also that second reason. “I think they’re shocked too knowing that I have a degree in education but then I do the opposite of that and I put on dresses at night,” she says laughing. Yes, after she’s done gracing the stage at LIPS Atlanta at night, you can often find Elea working part-time as a teacher the next day. And that’s when she’s not busy running her drag queen accessory store Elea’s Closet (www.eleascloset.com). We sat down with Elea one recent day at the Georgian Terrace Hotel to talk about how she got her start, her future plans and more. So how did you get into this crazy, wonderful career? So I was in a theater production at OnStage Atlanta back in 2006 and I was 15 years old and I met a drag queen there that was in the audience and I just said, “We should hang out.” So I started hanging out with her— her name was Rogue. At that point there was YouthPride and they would have a party every month and they would allow any of the youth to perform if they wanted to. So I got my home-ec teacher in high school to make me my first costume and I did Britney [Spears]. I would lie to my parents and tell them I was staying with the cast in Atlanta but really I was staying with the drag queens and we would go out to the clubs and I would sneak out and do drag, so that’s how I started.
Which Britney song did you do that first time and how did it go? It was “Toxic.” I thought it went amazing. I followed all of her dance moves and everything, but looking back on it, I looked like a hot mess. The way I wore the costume and my makeup and everything was just terrible [laughs]. So what made you get back on the stage and do it again after that? After doing that I just felt, in a way, like I could be Britney for a little bit. So this life of you walking in the club and everyone looks at you and stares, it’s just the attention. I really, really like the attention and the wow factor of it. I just kept going back to that and wanting more. And is drag a full-time job for you? Drag is one of the three jobs that I have. I’m a tutor, a teacher two days a week parttime. I work at LIPS four days a week and then I have my own business as well, it’s a drag business. I make jewelry. I make the prosthetic breast plates, all that good stuff. What do you think are the biggest misconceptions that people have about drag queens? I think a lot of the misconceptions would be that we’re all bitches and they think that we all have big egos and just want to be the best and don’t care about other people. And they think that drag queens are not trustworthy, that we’re drug addicts or drug dealers. And it’s not really the case. So what’s next for you? Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself probably still at LIPS. I just love LIPS. Somebody told me once, “LIPS is so cool because they came there to see you.” You know sometimes in the gay bar, I feel like that the guys are inconvenienced by the drag show and they kind of give you the cold
Elea snuck out of her parent’s house as a teen to do drag shows in Atlanta. (Photos by JustToby.me)
shoulder. But at LIPS they’re so excited because they’ve never seen anything like that and it’s really positive. So I think I will continue to be at LIPS. It’s very lucrative for me. I want to be on “Drag
Race.” I auditioned this past season but never heard anything back. I think I would be great for reality TV. I feel like my life as a drag queen is really different because I don’t just do drag. —Patrick Saunders
16 The Drag Issue August 5, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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‘LOOKING’ GLASS
Is film version only the beginning for short-lived series? By CHRIS AZZOPARDI
From left: Raúl Castillo, Daniel Franzese and Frankie J. Alvarez in a scene from ‘Looking: The Movie.’ (Photos courtesy of HBO)
18 A&E August 5, 2016
It was goodbye for now as the cast and crew of HBO’s modernqueer dramedy, “Looking,” stood in the rising San Francisco sun tearfully hugging. Just like in the film’s final scene, “we broke night,” Daniel Franzese, who plays Eddie, reminisces. Of course they did. “Looking” was, after all, extraordinarily ordinary, a time capsule of contemporary queerness revolving around a chummy, could-be-your-own friend group navigating love and life in the Mission-Castro district. Premiering in 2014 to critical praise and a modest following (at its peak, the series reached 519,000 viewers six episodes into its first CONTINUES ON PAGE 19 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 season, up 50 percent from the premiere episode, according to Variety). “Looking” was divisive from the get-go, with viewers either drawn to its languid style of storytelling or vehemently against it. Was it too gay? Not gay enough? You know, everyone’s a critic. Still, there’s no arguing “Looking” broke ground merely by existing. Out actor Jonathan Groff, who portrayed neurotic boynext-door video game designer Patrick, shared that sentiment even before Season 1 premiered, telling me, “I feel so excited to be a part of a show that could potentially be a great moment for the gay community, because it’s crazy how few shows there are where there are a lot of central gay characters. I feel really lucky to be a part of this specific show because I believe in it so much as a television show.” So did series creator Michael Lannan. The screenwriter never believed his idea for “Looking” could be more than the images swirling around in his mind, and even when they did land on the screen, and Season 1 aired, and then the show got HBO’s go for a second season, “I don’t think I ever thought it was really happening.” “Looking: The Movie” is a thoughtful and heartfelt send-off, as Patrick, currently living in Denver, returns to San Francisco for a wedding and thereby meets up with his closest friends: BFFs Agustin (Frankie J. Alvarez) and Dom (Murray Bartlett), Doris (Lauren Weedman), Franzese’s Eddie, as well as Patrick’s two former flames, Kevin (Russell Tovey) and Richie (Raúl Castillo). “We wanted to find some midpoint between resolving their stories and sending them off on their way for new adventures and leaving that door open,” Lannan explains. “It’s tricky to do both of those things.” Lannan confirms that they’d already been plotting a third season just as HBO announced the show’s cancellation, optioning, instead to tie up loose ends with a feature film (and to finally offer closure to Patrick’s ongoing romantic drama). And so, though “we were heartbroken,” Lannan and the writers were forced to condense “stockpiled” storylines into an 86-minute movie. Eddie, one of the show’s popular periphery characters, plays a pivotal role in Patrick’s life in the film. He was the first character with HIV in six years to be on scripted television, since a story arc on “ER,” according to GLAAD. Furthermore, his character represented what it means to be HIV-positive www.thegeorgiavoice.com
in 2016 and introduced PrEP to the TV landscape as he pursued a relationship with Agustin, who’s HIV-negative. “Andrew told me, ‘Eddie will never get sick, that’s not what this is about,’” Franzese recalls. “Knowing that, I just kind of put it to the side and didn’t really think about the impact it might have. I was more happy and excited to be a larger guy, a man of stature, on a television show and shown in a sexual light and not as castrated comic relief.”
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Franzese was only recently out when the show premiered. Now newly engaged, the 38-year-old acknowledges that “Looking” was “profound for me in a lot of ways.” “I had just come out and this was my first job after that,” he recalls. “To not only be accepted for being gay but to be celebrated and to have it not be a big deal – like, it was cooler to be gay on that set – was so freeing and reaffirming.” As advances for the queer community
continue to progress, could “Looking” become an ongoing TV narrative where we check in with these characters every now and again? What will Patrick be like in 2026? What will we all be like then? The thought has crossed Lannan’s mind. “We’ve definitely talked about it,” he reveals, “and I think if the stars aligned we’d all love to do it again in the future. I think it depends on a lot of things, but I would say, none of us would count it out.”
7/20/16 10:25 AM
August 5, 2016 A&E 19
ACTING OUT
By JIM FARMER
Anthony Rapp hits ATL in ‘If/Then,’ reflects on ‘Rent’ Out actor Anthony Rapp became a household name as part of the original Broadway cast of the musical “Rent,” in which he played Mark Cohen. After starring in the musical “If/ Then” (in which a divorced woman gets to embark on separate personal paths) in 2014 with Idina Menzel, he has joined the national tour, which hits the ATL next week. We had a chance to catch up with the performer recently to talk about the production and his days with “Rent.” Georgia Voice: Why did you want to be part of this show? Rapp: I have been friends with Brian Yorkey (who handles the libretto) and Tom Kitt (who does the theatrical score) a long time. I did early versions of “Next to Normal” with them. They are great guys and they wrote this part for me. That was a huge gift and honor and bonus, so I jumped at the chance. Tell us about your character. Lucas is an old college friend of Elizabeth, the main character. They were activist friends in their college experience. They had a romantic entanglement, back in the day. Nothing super serious, but Lucas still holds something of a candle for her. He is pretty serious, very passionate, committed to the causes he is involved in. He is a bit of a neurotic guy. Funny, and certainly a lot of fun to play. Is this your first national tour? No. When I was 10, I toured with “The King and I” with Yul Brynner. Atlanta was one of the cities we played. That was 1982. We did a mini tour of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” before it went to Broadway. I did the tour of “Little Shop of Horrors” and then “Rent.” This one is going well. We really want to share this. It’s not quite as well known as some of the popular touring shows are. Would you say this was undervalued? It was very valued by some people. Some critics gave it a split response. I think it’s a very special, unusual piece. Did any of you have any inkling “Rent” would have the effect it has had? There is no way to know it will be a time-
Anthony Rapp and Jackie Burns star in ‘If/Then’ Aug. 9-14 at the Fox Theatre. (Courtesy photo by Joan Marcus)
Details
‘If/Then’ August 9 – 14 Fox Theatre 660 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30308 www.foxtheatre.org honored juggernaut, the way “Hamilton” has become. I knew I was part of something I loved and was special. At the time the subject matter was not something you would predict would be a mainstream, smash hit. How many performances have you done of it? Over a thousand. I did it two years in New York, six in London and a year on tour. Has being out had any effect on your professional career? Honestly, it hasn’t. I have been pretty lucky. I don’t know for sure if it ever will have a negative effect. It doesn’t seem that way. Tell us about your new movie “Do You Take This Man.” I have known the writer-director Joshua Tunick a long time. We got together, he told me about the film and asked if I would consider it. I said sure! Rapp will also be doing a free conversation about his career at the Alliance Hertz Stage on Aug. 11 at noon presented by Broadway Across America, the Alliance Theatre, Out On Film and Georgia Voice.
20 A&E August 5, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
EATING MY WORDS By CLIFF BOSTOCK
Put it in your mouth: Tasty cuisine off the radar This week, we’re going to a pizzeria and a churrascaria. You’ll like them both, for their food and their price. The latest pizzeria to open in Midtown is Atwoods Pizza Café (817 W. Peachtree St., 404-748-9577, atwoodspizza.com). It’s located in a corner of the gargantuan Biltmore Hotel, constructed in 1924. The building, recently acquired by Georgia Tech, is now mainly office space for techies. Considering its location across from student-swarming Technology Square, it’s not surprising that the café is inexpensive. Granted, the pizza quality is not the best in town, but Executive Chef Rob Phillip’s pies certainly rank way above chain operations. You pay about a $1 an inch—typically $8 for an 8-inch pie at lunch and $12 for 12 inches at dinnertime (white pies run a bit higher than the red ones). What makes the pies special? Chef Phillips is inspired by the thin Neapolitan style that has become so popular in Atlanta. But he gives us firmer, almost crispy pies instead of the classic gooey Neapolitans. You can build your own or order one of the 11 composed pies. I’ve tried seven of them. My favorite of the reds was the Festival, slightly spicy and a bit sweet, combining peppadew peppers, sweet fennel sausage, fior di latte mozzarella, caramelized onions, and garlic confit. Of the white pizzas, my favorite was the Zucca with roasted butternut squash, kale, caramelized onion, pancetta, and fior di latte. I don’t usually like pizzas with meat, but Phillips doesn’t overload the pies so that the meats dominate all other flavors. Even the “Sho Me Your Roni”—the only pizza with two meats (fennel sausage and pepperoni)—demonstrates restraint. Now, of course, you are free to create your own meaty garbage heaps. I was disappointed that the meatless margherita, the usual test of any pizzeria, was bizarrely rococo with four cheeses that confused my mouth – a shame since among them is luscious burrata. Still, my only serious dislike was the white Tartufo, piled with tasteless cremini mushrooms, flavored with
The Festival pizza topped with peppadew peppers, sweet fennel sausage, mozzarella and caramelized onions at Atwoods Pizza Café. (Photo by Cliff Bostock)
white truffle oil, a substance that should be forced into mandatory extinction. Atwoods also offers salads, soup and six sandwiches ($8.50-$10). Warning: seating is limited to a few community tables and a small patio. If you want an affordable version of a Brazilian churrascaria, head to Rio de Janeiro (1260 Powers Ferry. Rd, Marietta, 770952-9556). It’s just off I-75, so it’s actually a brief drive from the Big City. For about $15 at dinner – less at lunch – you get all-you-can-eat meats grilled behind the counter. There’s everything from steak to chicken hearts (which I love). The price includes unlimited access to a buffet of salads and a few oddities like a kind of Brazilian lasagna. What wasn’t there was fejoada, the traditional Brazilian stew I love. It is only available weekends. Be warned: If you are looking for pretty, you won’t find it here. It’s a homey café with no décor and limited service. During my visit with four friends, there were only two employees on the premises and we didn’t hear any clear descriptions of the food in English. But that doesn’t matter. You get to eat all you want, so it’s a great adventure. Cliff Bostock, PhD, is a longtime Atlanta food critic and former psychotherapist who now practices life coaching for creative types; 404-518-4415.
22 Columnists August 5, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for Aug. 5-18
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 5
Hear the great Chaka Khan belt out “I Feel For You” and “Ain’t Nobody” tonight at 8 p.m. at the Cobb Energy Centre, www.cobbenergycentre.com
FRIDAY, AUG. 5
Join Fiona Zedde and Charis Books in celebration of Zede’s new novel, “Rise of the Rain Queen,” a novel of queerness, love and the Orishas on the African continent, 7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com Out director Brian Clowdus presents a terrific version of the musical “Miss Saigon” tonight at Serenbe Playhouse at 8 p.m., running through Aug. 7. Yes, a live helicopter lands every night! www.serenbeplayhouse.com
SATURDAY, AUG. 6
Come find your daddy at the DILF night at Woofs Atlanta, www.woofsatlanta.com
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
You know you want to check it out – come out for Lube Wrestling at the Atlanta Eagle from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., www.atlantaeagle.com
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6
SUNDAY, AUG. 7
DJ Hifi Sean from London spins for a night of cubs, grizzlies and otters – Bearracuda at the Heretic, 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., www.hereticatlanta.com
24 Best Bets August 5, 2016
Alex Cohen spins at 3 a.m. at Xion Atlanta, www.facebook.com/ events/1695378840731005/ Stage Door Players is mounting a ver-
sion of “Kiss Me, Kate,” featuring a celebrated score by Cole Porter, closing today at 2:30 p.m., www.stagedoorplayers.net Come enjoy Cher, Whitney, Beyoncé, Madonna, Lady Gaga and many more for with Dinner with the Divas, Lips Atlanta, www.atldragshow.com
MONDAY, AUG. 8
Catch “Absolutely Fabulous” today in area theaters, if you haven’t seen it already, www.foxsearchlight.com/ absolutelyfabulous
TUESDAY, AUG. 9
Out actor Anthony Rapp is part of the cast of the Tony-nominated musical “If/Then,” opening at the Fox Theatre tonight at 7:30 p.m. and running through Aug. 14, www.foxtheatre.org Angelica D’Paige hosts the rowdy, crowd-pleasing Drageoke event tonight beginning at 10:30 p.m. at Burkhart’s, www.burkharts.com
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 10
Join Regina for Hump Night fun at 8 p.m., Friends on Ponce,
www.friendsonponce-atl.com Voyeur Wednesday is tonight at Blake’s with gorgeous go-go boys, hosted by Kyra Mora. The action starts at 10 p.m., www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com
THURSDAY, AUG. 11
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of homeless or at-risk LGBTQ youth in Atlanta? Lost-n-Found Youth needs your help! Join them today to learn about the organization, its youth and volunteer opportunities, Lost-n-Found Youth. 2585 Chantilly Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 Georgia Voice, the Alliance Theatre, Broadway Across America and Out On Film present a free conversation with actor Anthony Rapp, discussing his current “If/Then,” “Rent” and more, 12 p.m. today at the Alliance Hertz Stage, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309 Thursday nights are Trivia Thursday and Game Night at My Sister’s Room, with darts, billiards, prizes, bingo, giveaways, $2 tacos, drink specials and much more, www.mysistersroom.com
www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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
rected by Freddie Ashley with a cast including Libby Whittemore, has a performance tonight at 8 p.m., through Sept. 4, www.actorsexpress.com
FRIDAY, AUG. 12 – SUNDAY, AUG. 14
Be prepared to ogle. It’s Jocks in Jerseys night at Woofs Atlanta, www.woofsatlanta.com
Timberfell Lounge and Campground hosts the ninth annual Trailer Trash/Sordid Lives weekend, embracing the “inner trash” of the rural South, www.timberfell.com
FRIDAY, AUG. 12
Don’t miss the Skin event tonight at Tripps, from 4:30 p.m. – 2 a.m., 1931 Piedmont Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 Atlanta Pride presents the Stride into Pride event at Six Flags today, beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting until midnight. Enjoy a day of fun by watching live show entertainment, eating tasty snacks and riding some of your favorite thrilling coasters! Once you have sufficiently screamed your heart out, then get ready for an exclusive party at 7 p.m., www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia/special-events/stride-into-pride DJ Tommy spins at 9 p.m. at BJ Roosters, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324
SATURDAY, AUG. 13
Join the LGBT Institute for an afternoon of conversation, networking, and insights as they further develop the community research initiative and review questions for their 14 state Southern Survey! Everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of whether you have attended our previous meetings in February or May. Registration begins at 1:45 p.m. and the event will begin at Georgia State University Student Center West in Rooms 460/462. 2- 4 p.m., www.facebook.com/ events/257370287979261 Actor’s Express’s version of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” di-
Food
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The Southern Bears host their monthly meeting and bar night tonight at the Atlanta Eagle, 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., www.atlantaeagle.com
SUNDAY, AUG. 14 – TUESDAY, AUG. 16
Out Front Theatre Company, Atlanta’s LGBTQIA theater company, announces auditions for the Georgia premiere of the smash Broadway musical “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical,” 7 p.m. each night, Out Front Theatre Company, 999 Brady Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
SUNDAY, AUG. 14
For those who have been waiting for news on fall softball as part of the Decatur Women’s Sports League, the wait is over. Registration is now up on www.dwsl. biz. Dates are Sept. 9 - Nov. 4, with play on Friday nights 7 -10 p.m. It is an 8-week season, and the early bird pricing is $70 through today.
gender in a transient world. This is a project of the Feminist Outlawz and is co-sponsored by Charis Circle’s Strong Families, Whole Children, 7 – 8:30 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com
TUESDAY, AUG. 16 and WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17
Charis welcomes Robert J. Patterson, Soyica Colbert and Aida Levy-Hussen for a two night event at Charis and the newly renovated Auburn Research Library. They are the co-editors of the book “The Psychic Hold of Slavery: Legacies in American Expressive Culture.” Tuesday night’s event takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Charis Books (1189 Euclid Ave. NE) and the suggested donation is $5. Wednesday night’s event takes place at 7 p.m. at the Auburn Ave. Research Library (101 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303) and there is no suggested donation.
TUESDAY, AUG. 16
J’s Lounge is the home for Rainbow 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 Wear your poker face to Poker Night this evening at Joe’s on Juniper, from 8 – 11 p.m., www.joesonjuniper.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 its Better Business Luncheon today at Henry’s Atlanta from 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Hosted by Chip Ivie and Chris Torrens on the third Thursday of each month, the lunch is $20 (cash only) preset menu. Open floor seating limited to 14 respondents. www.henrysatl.com Mark your calendars for a night of networking not to be missed. Join MAAP (Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals) tonight for an evening of new connections. Bring a friend, meet and get to know business professionals in the area, and expand your professional network. Open networking begins at 6 p.m. and the event lasts until 8 p.m., TEN Atlanta, 990 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Wild Cherry Sucret hosts the new Cherry Bomb event with Bubba D. Licious, Alissah Brooks, Destiny Brooks and Shavonna Brooks at Jungle, with doors opening at 7 p.m., www.jungleatl.com
Hosted by the Hideaway Atlanta, Ruby Redd’s Birdcage Bingo features drag performances by your favorite entertainers. All proceeds benefit Atlanta charities. 8:30 – 10:30 p.m., www.atlantahideaway.com
MONDAY, AUG. 15
THURSDAY, AUG. 18
Charis and Cliterati pair up to present an inviting and fierce open mic and reading series on the third Thursday of every month. August’s featured performers are award-wining queer Asian-American poets, Kit Yan and Jess X, on their Queer Heartache Summer. Chen will read from her “Sing Me a Time Machine” and Yan will read from her “Queer Heartache.” 7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com
The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (AGLCC) presents
The Alliance Theatre opens the highly anticipated musical “The Prom,” about a high school student who wants to bring her girlfriend to the prom with her – and all hell breaks loose. 7:30 p.m., through Sept. 25, www.alliancetheatre.org
Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender, and aspiring allies. Charis provides a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. Whether silently or aloud, please come ready to consider your own
SAGE Atlanta’s social hour begins at 10 a.m., followed by a program/meeting at 11 a.m., Phillip Rush Center Annex, www.rushcenteratl.org
August 20th 7:00PM Mary Gay House Decatur, GA
Fun
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August 5, 2016 Best Bets 25
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID By MELISSA CARTER
Drag queens run the world It’s been a good few weeks for drag queens. Not that every day is not fabulous for these divas, but apart from regular clips from summer Pride parades and fundraisers we have seen on television and online, I have noticed lately that the media has celebrated several celebrity encounters with our sisters in sequins. For instance, singer Adele just proved herself a believer that imitation is the highest form of flattery. That’s because she noticed Kristopher Zello, aka Kristie Champagne, in the audience at a recent concert in Seattle and pulled her up on stage. Kristie looked so much like Adele that the superstar complimented Kristie’s dress and called her, “the best Adele I’ve ever seen.” After the pair embraced, Adele showed Kristie off to the rest of the audience and launched her 15 minutes of international fame. I went to see the recently released “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” and noticed I shared the theater with a majority of gay male patrons. Since I didn’t get to my seat until just before lights-out, I missed scanning the audience for those dressed like the stars of the movie. I am sure plenty were there, as were Edina and Patsy impersonators around the world as Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley traveled the globe to big-city premieres. The biggest buzz came from Sydney, Australia, as both actors were happy to pose for pictures with their drag characters. Saunders even took an opportunity to get up close and personal with Maxi Shield and her infamous large fake breasts. The British comedian grabbed the celebrity drag queen’s massive bosom with her hands, but even with her fingers outstretched she was unable to cop a full feel. Hillary Clinton might become our next president. But will her pantsuits become an addition to a drag queen’s repertoire? We came close recently when Bob the Drag Queen, reigning champion of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” posted a fan-made video on In-
“Hillary Clinton might become our next president. But will her pantsuits become an addition to a drag queen’s repertoire?” stagram of Clinton walking onstage to the Democratic National Convention “pursefirst,” a trademark of Bob’s. Not exactly drag, but an immediate drag reference after the DNC was certainly welcomed. Speaking of Hillary, a video from earlier this year that made the rounds again following the convention comes from Mashable and their acknowledgment of Clinton’s low likability ratings. So they brought three of New York’s famous drag queens - Scarlet Envy, Delighted Tobehere and Hattie Hathaway - to give their best version of Hillary. The result? The judges chose a man - out of drag, whose name also happened to be Hillary - as their choice. Sorry, Hillary. Better luck after November. Kudos to my straight colleagues out there for realizing the art of drag is for all to partake in, and that one of the highest compliments that can be paid to a woman in the spotlight is to have a man wear your look. 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
26 Columnists August 5, 2016 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
OUTSIDE THE BOX By BILL KAELIN
Righteous rebellion A few weeks ago I joined the Atlanta chapter of Black Lives Matter and took to the streets in protest of the murders of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. The two men were shot and killed within 24 hours of each other and it happened just weeks after the mass murder at Pulse in Orlando. My heart was broken. I was so overwhelmed by all the recent tragedies that I felt I had to do something. It was important to me to let the black community know that I stood with them in their outrage, their grief and that they were not in this alone because I would appreciate the same from them if it were happening to my community. The march down Peachtree was inspiring. I stood with white people, black people, Mexican Americans, Muslims and lots of people from the LGBT community. Yes, traffic was backed up. Yes, intersections were forced to wait until we passed. Some people honked their horns and waved in support and some people laid on their horns in frustration. When I got home I posted about my experiences on social media and was surprised and saddened when an old drag queen friend of mine was publicly protesting the events, proclaiming that our actions were annoying “stunts,” that we should have gotten permission by the city and pronouncing that the entire Black Lives Matter movement was nothing but a waste of time. I was so angry and wondered how someone in our community could so quickly forget how our fight for civil rights actually began. I had to remind him that Stonewall was a riot and that it was a transgender woman named Sylvia Rivera who reportedly threw the first rock. Sylvia Rivera was somebody who never quietly or calmly accepted the status quo. She spent her life fighting for the inclusion of transgender people, drag queens, homeless queer youth, and others who had become marginalized by society. It was this kind of rebellion that inspired me when I first started to become friends with www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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drag queens. I was in awe of their sense of humor, creativity and bold outspoken personalities. I admired their larger than life presence and I realized that sometimes they had to be a badass in order to defend themselves from all the haters in the world. It takes guts to walk out on stage in full make up and high heels but it takes real courage to use the microphone after you lip-synced your song to stand up for others and fight for a bigger cause. I think it is important to keep in mind that drag queens have always been one of our community’s most active change makers. If it wasn’t for local legends like Bubba D. Licious and The Armorettes, we wouldn’t have been able to raise tens of thousands of dollars for local AIDS charities. Organizations like The East Point Possums have been “doing good work through bad drag” for 16 years with founder Rick Westbrook spearheading and raising funds for Lost-n-Found Youth. I am honored to have some drag queens that I can call true friends. I have realized how sensitive, fiercely loyal and sweet they can be behind their tough exterior. This is especially evident when they use their artistic platform for bigger causes like fighting for the civil rights for all people and it is important that all of us remember that the very first gay Pride parade took place without a city permit and to never ever forget where we came from.
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THREE WOMEN & THE TRUTH: MARY GAUTHIER, ELIZA GILKYSON & GRETCHEN PETERS
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Bill Kaelin is the owner of Bill Kaelin Marketing Events and Consulting Agency in Atlanta. www.BillKaelin.com
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