Sales Executive: Dixon Taylor dtaylor@thegavoice.com
Sales Executive: Jim Brams jbrams@thegavoice.com
Sales Executive & Photographer: Russell Bowen-Youngblood russ@alphabetsoupmarketing.com
Business Advisor: Lynn Pasqualetti Financial Firm of Record: HLM Financial Group
National Advertising: Rivendell Media • 908-232-2021 sales@rivendellmedia.com
Publisher Emeritus: Chris Cash
Fine Print
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.
Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by Georgia Voice, but we do not take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject, or edit any submission. Guidelines for freelance contributors are available upon request. A single copy of Georgia Voice is available from authorized distribution points. Multiple copies are available from Georgia Voice office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to reach a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 24-issue mailed subscription for $149 per year. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Tim Boyd, tboyd@thegavoice.com
Postmaster: Send address changes to Georgia Voice, PO Box 77401, Atlanta, GA 30357. Georgia Voice is published twice a month by Georgia Voice, LLC. Individual subscriptions are $149 per year for 24 issues. Postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices.
The editorial positions of Georgia Voice are expressed in editorials and in editor’s notes. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Georgia Voice and its staff.
To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words and commentary, for web or print, should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address, and phone number for verification. Email submissions to editor@thegavoice.com or mail to the address above.
Banksy, Ballroom, and the Commodification of Art
In 2018, the renowned anonymous artist Banksy sold his painting, Girl with Balloon, at Sotheby’s for $1.4 million. The moment the sale went through, the painting suddenly started lowering itself through a shredder built into the bottom of the frame, halfway destroying the piece.
“Undeniably Banksy’s most calculated act of rebellion against the bourgeois art works and market, Banksy staged his shred at Sotheby’s: the epitome of commodification in art — at least in Banksy’s eyes,” Erin-Atlanta Argun wrote for Edition Magazine. “This was an act of protest as well as a performance art spectacle, as Banksy reclaimed agency over his work once the highest bidder had staked their claim.”
What was intended to be an anti-capitalist reclamation over the commodification of art was dictated as “the first work in history ever created during a live auction” by Sotheby’s, renamed to Love is in the Bin, and sold again in 2021 for a whopping $25.4 million — becoming Banksy’s highest valued piece. The so-called reclamation of agency over the bourgeois art world only made the piece more highly sought after by that very same world he criticizes.
Banksy has roots as a guerilla Bristol street artist, but despite his background in an art form that is genuinely anti-capitalist — due to the criminalized nature of graffiti — his current empire of so-called “anti-capitalist” artworks has been not only embraced, but revered by the wealthy, who see art not as a means of expression but investment (I suggest listening to the Overthink podcast episode on Art as Commodity to learn more about this).
My friend came to me recently telling me about a design company a straight woman she knew was starting, called Haus of Hue. She asked if I thought she was appropriating language coined by queer Black people in the ballroom scene, who used the title “haus” to refer to chosen families — a creative act born of the need for survival. Due to the chosen aesthetic of this business — which was more sad beige minimalist than femme queen realness — we decided that her choice of language was probably not an intentional act of queer-baiting to garner more artistic clout, but was instead indicative of the pervasive capability of capitalism to appropriate and pervert acts of genuine, radical creation. The history behind “haus” — particularly the insidious “why” behind Black queer people needing to create their own families to survive — is erased, ignored, repackaged, and resold, so that it eventually trickles down to this straight white woman and others who are detached from its cultural ties.
The values of capitalism and the upper echelon of capitalists are solely and entirely concerned with money. You can create something that
explicitly calls your clientele morons for buying your product, and it doesn’t matter (just ask Banksy, who made a print doing exactly that, versions of which are currently valued anywhere from $24,000 to $160,000).
Of course, Banksy is so embraced by the art world because he is (suspected to be) a white man* who creates pieces that merely appropriate the aesthetics of radicalism to formulate a message that is so shallow it’s closer to something I’d reblog on Tumblr when I was 14 than the cutting protest the fine art industry purports it to be.
(*“Banksy” is actually a collective of artists who produced works that Pest Control, the Banksy authentication service, deems Banksys, but one of the leading suspects to be the original street artist from Bristol is Robin Gunningham.)
Regardless of how you feel about his personal art style, it’s difficult to find anything anticapitalist about work that sells for more than most Americans make in a year (or, in the case of Love is in the Bin or even the original Girl with Balloon, more than they’ll see in a lifetime) in the same way you won’t find anything queer about Ms. Haus of Hue. When it comes to artists who are producing truly subversive work, you’ll find them in working class people, queer people, people of color — those like the graffiti artists and ballroom icons — whose existence itself subverts the values of capitalism.
If you’re looking for some work from queer DIY artists in Atlanta, check out visual artists Barry Lee, Sofahood, and Abbie Argo; musicians Makenna Lyric, DJ Cochino, and Frankie Consent; poet Sunbody (@leo.nade); collectives like Junk Press and Peach Fuzz; and accessible art spaces like Baby’s Place, The Bakery, and Market Hugs.
BANKSY, GIRL WITH RED BALLOON, 2006. PHOTO VIA SOTHBY’S
Katie Burkholder
Staff reports
Read these stories and more online at thegavoice.com
GLAAD President Under Fire for Excessive Spending
GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis is under fire for excessive spending following a report in the New York Times on Thursday, which suggested the first class airfare, hotel accommodations, and car services booked by the organization’s chief executive for business travel far outpace the expenses of leaders of similarly sized nonprofits.
Quoting legal, nonprofit, and ethics experts, the article suggests Ellis and GLAAD’s actions may also have violated IRS rules, including their decision to not declare spending on Ellis’s home office renovation as income on her personal tax forms.
When Ellis joined in 2014, the article notes, GLAAD was in dire financial straits. Elevating the group’s public profile and expanding its purview, Ellis had quintupled its revenue to $19 million by 2022.
“Major donors have included media and tech companies such as Netflix, Google, and the Walt Disney Company; philanthropists like Ariadne Getty; and the New York City Council,” the Times wrote.
“In 2022, the billionaire MacKenzie Scott donated $10 million.”
GLAAD’s chief communications officer, Rich Ferraro, said the board took Ellis’s performance into consideration when deciding her compensation, as under her leadership the advocacy group had started punching above its weight.
In a statement to the Advocate, Ferraro called the article “deeply misleading,” specifically disputing claims about Ellis’s annual compensation and denying that she ever took home “anything near” $1 million per year.
The organization has tussled with the Times in the past over the paper’s coverage of transgender issues. The Times, meanwhile, told the Advocate the paper stands by its reporting and noted GLAAD did not challenge any facts in the story.
Andy Lane, who has held senior roles in LGBTQ philanthropy, wrote on Facebook “GLAAD is a fraud, and has been as long as I’ve been in the business. For shame: And … girl, bye. Long overdue.”
Atlanta Pride is Now Taking Volunteer Applications
Atlanta Pride, the largest free Pride festival in the United States and the Southeast, has announced that Volunteer Applications for the 2024 Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade are officially open. This year’s festival will take place from October 12 to 13 in Piedmont Park.
Interested volunteers can sign up now through October 1. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first-come, firstserved basis. Due to overwhelming interest annually, Atlanta Pride recommends people submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure they can participate in a volunteer capacity during this year’s festival.
“Volunteers are the heart and soul of Atlanta Pride, and their dedication is what helps us Keep Pride Free for everyone to enjoy,” Executive Director Chris McCain said in a statement. “By giving their time and energy, volunteers ensure that the entire celebration remains vibrant and accessible for all. Their contributions make a profound difference, and I am excited to welcome another group of passionate individuals to join us in creating another unforgettable Atlanta Pride experience.”
Every year, Atlanta Pride relies on hundreds of volunteers to produce a successful festival.
Thanks to the efforts of people giving their time freely, Atlanta Pride hosts one of the largest and oldest Pride celebrations globally. Atlanta Pride relies on the community’s participation to make the festival and parade an inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Areas of interest for volunteers include:
• Accessibility & Inclusion: Address accessibility issues to make the Festival more enjoyable for all community members.
• Backstage Security: Provide security for the backstage areas of entertainment venues.
• Entertainment: Provide input on the entertainment lineup and maintain the stage schedule during the Festival.
• Family Fun Zone: Design and coordinate activities for children and young adults in the Festival’s family-friendly area.
• Festival Donations: Coordinate the collection of donations during the Festival.
• Festival Information: Provide information to festival-goers, including maps and event schedules.
• History & Legacy: Organize and maintain historical exhibits during the Festival, including the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
• Marketplace: Provide load-in and load-out support to Marketplace vendors during the Festival.
• Operations: Maintain Operations Center and coordinate deliveries, manage inventory, and triage logistical needs throughout the Festival week.
• Parade: Manage logistics of Parade assembly and breakdown; support judges and coordinate gifts for winners of Parade competitions; work in coordination with Festival Donations to collect donations during the Parade.
• Photography: Coordinate volunteer photographers throughout the Festival and Parade.
• VIP Hospitality: Serve as hosts for donors and sponsors in the VIP Area during the Festival; maintain VIP Area refreshments with food and beverages.
• General Volunteering: Responsible for recruitment, scheduling, and retention of volunteers; handle all volunteer requests during the Festival, placing volunteers where most needed; work in coordination with all other Committee Co-Chairs.
For more information and to apply, visit atlantapride.org.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
FallInto RHYTHM
Harmony
FEATURING Tu Tu by Stanton Welch Music by Maurice Ravel
Elemental Brubeck by Lar Lubovitch Music by Dave Brubeck
Kiyon Ross
Supported by Kathleen & Kirk Knous
Atlanta Ballet dancers in Elemental Brubeck. Photo by Kim Kenney.
Georgia Senate Forms Committee on Banning Trans Girls from Sports
Editor’s note: This article contains transphobic rhetoric.
The Georgia state Senate has formed a committee that will issue findings and recommendations relating to the issue of transgender girls competing on girls’ sports teams in school.
Sen. Greg Dolezal was appointed Chairman of the Georgia Senate Special Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports on August 2. The panel, which includes seven Republicans — Dolezal, Sen. Jason Anavitarte, Sen. Clint Dixon, Sen. Bo Hatchett, Sen. Billy Hickman, and Sen. Blake Tillery — and two Democrats, Sen. Freddie Powell Sims and Sen. Sheikh Rahman — will have until December 15 to make legislative recommendations regarding the allowance of transgender girls on athletic teams that align with their gender identity. Notably, only one of the nine committee members is a woman.
“As the father of three daughters, I have a firsthand understanding of how important it is to maintain the sanctity of women’s sports,” Dolezal said in a statement. “Biological males competing in women’s sports presents a clear and present danger to the physical safety of the athletes and the integrity of women’s athletics. I want to thank Lt. Governor Burt Jones for his efforts to protect women’s sports, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to ensure Georgia’s female athletes are allowed to participate in fair and competitive athletics.”
The parents of transgender children have different concerns.
“The problem comes with sports,” Jennifer
Slipakoff, the mother of a transgender teenager, told Georgia Voice earlier this year.
“… Trans kids can’t play on the appropriate sports team that aligns with their gender, so [my daughter has] been unable to play certain sports, and that has been really difficult. It’s impacted her in a really negative way, so we’re working through that.”
The formation of this committee comes more than two years after a vote from the Georgia High School Athletic Association’s executive committee to ban transgender athletes from participating on school sports teams that align with their gender identity and amid ever-rising instances of transphobia in legislation and political rhetoric. At last month’s Republican National Convention, former President Donald Trump voiced his
support for banning trans women and girls from female sports teams — a proposal that has been included in the Republican Party’s official platform, along with plans to cut funding from “any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.”
In 2024, 638 anti-trans bills have been introduced across the country, 44 of which have been signed into law and 126 of which are currently active. Two bills have been passed relating to trans students and school sports: HB1205 in New Hampshire requires schools to designate athletics by sex and bans trans girls from participating in female athletics, and HB0172 in Utah, which requires associations that oversee interscholastic athletics to
collect student birth certificates or equivalent documentation to determine student eligibility.
“For you to force people like me to play with boys, I don’t know in what world you would be doing that and be respecting my gender identity at the same time,” a trans student said at a protest in New York City back in June against the anti-trans sports ban Resolution #248. “Those two things don’t go together.”
As Bella Cruz writes for Hoodline, the effectiveness of committees such as the Special Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports in influencing actual policy “remains to be seen,” but its formation is regardless indicative of the rising politicization of and attacks on trans young people that continues to threaten their mental health and safety.
Katie Burkholder
National Trans Visibility March on September 28, 2019 in DC. PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/DCSTOCKPHOTOGRAPHY
Stacey Abrams and Joyce Carol Oates Come to Atlanta for Decatur Book Festival
Georgia Voice
The Decatur Book Festival (DBF) will return to Atlanta October 4 and 5 with notable appearances from longtime Georgia lawmaker, bestselling author and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams and iconic author and recipient of the National Book Award, PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Humanities Medal and a World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction, Joyce Carol Oates.
Founded in 2005, the Decatur Book Festival is an annual celebration of literature, igniting passion for reading and fostering community engagement. Showcasing renowned authors and nurturing emerging voices, the festival is a beacon of literary excellence, enriching minds and souls alike. Following a pause in
2023, the festival brings back live author Q&As, book signings, and a spectrum of activities, entertainment, and exhibitors to Decatur, with events happening at the First Baptist Church, the Marriott Courtyard, DeKalb County Public Library, The Reading Room and the Decatur Square. Among the participating booksellers are A Cappella Books, Brave and Kind Bookshop, Charis Books and More, Eagle Eye Books, and Little Shop of Stories.
A keynote conversation between Oates and Joe Barry Carroll – DBF Literary Luminary sponsor, former NBA All-Star, artist, author, philanthropist and longtime advocate of DBF –will take place on Friday, October 4 at 7pm on the DeKalb County stage in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Decatur. Then, Abrams is scheduled to
open Saturday’s events as the “Kidnote” speaker and share the third installment of her children’s book series, Stacey Speaks Up. The book, which will be published on September 24, is part of her #1 New York Times bestselling and NAACP Image Award-winning Stacey’s Stories picture book series, all written by Abrams and illustrated by Kitt Thomas.
“The Decatur Book Festival has always been a vibrant autumn event that ushers in great stories and welcomes the community to join in the bounty,” Abrams said in a statement. “I look forward to sharing my new children’s book, Stacey Speaks Up, with families and to lifting up the joy of reading.”
As a treasured civic event for almost 20 years, the return of DBF promises a weekend of community, connection and creative inspiration amongst meaningful storytelling and conversations.
“Our dedicated board members have worked tirelessly since our last festival in 2022,” Alison Weissinger, volunteer president of the festival board and director of the DeKalb County Public Library, said. “We’re thrilled to see renewed support from our community and key stakeholders, and we look forward to unveiling our new and returning sponsors soon.
The full 2024 festival lineup and program schedule are slated to be revealed later this month to include more than 100 authors, poets, student emerging writers, journalists, artists, and thought leaders. For more information, visit decaturbookfestival.com.
Decatur Book Festival PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK
On Harris and Trans Rights
For more years than I care to think of, I was a member of the San Francisco Transgender Civil Rights Implementation Task Force for the City and County of San Francisco. We worked on a number of projects, including getting single-person restrooms in the area designated for all genders, as well as forcing the insurance for San Francisco employees to cover health care related to being transgender. In some ways, I look back at this, amazed at what we managed to get done, other times, frustrated with how little has been done since.
During this time, we heard of a deputy district attorney who wasn’t very good for trans people. Some of us eventually did meet them, as they went on to a position under the city attorney. I found her to be ambitious, and wondered what would happen to her. Not long after, this same person would end up at the attorney general for California. While there, she argued that a trans prisoner should be denied surgery. She also supported the criminalization of sex work.
This was Kamala Harris.
In late July, faced with mounting concerns over his viability as a presidential candidate for 2024, President Joe Biden halted his reelection campaign — and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris for the position. In the wake of this, she has gained huge endorsements, hundreds of thousands of volunteers, and raised a significant war chest ahead of the election.
Based solely on what I said above, you may feel that I would be against her candidacy. You would be wrong.
First and foremost, it’s obvious that I am not going to vote for her opponent. The racism that Donald Trump and JD Vance represent must be stopped. This simply must be done and, with that in mind, I’d even vote for
J. Pig for president if that’s what it took to stop them — even though the swine in question likely perished decades ago.
Yes, I absolutely think that Harris made the wrong call in the above cases. So does she.
In 2019, Harris spoke about denying trans care for inmates in California, saying that “there are, unfortunately, situations that occurred where my clients took positions that were contrary to my beliefs… The bottom line is the buck stops with me, and I take full responsibility for what my office did.”
After my time on the aforementioned task force, I became very involved in the antitransgender murder of a teenager from Newark, California named Gwen Araujo. Her murder was a landmark case, in part due to her murderer’s use of the “trans panic” defense to claim innocence. In short, such a defense is that one cannot be held liable for murder when they discover someone they may have been intimate with is transgender, as they would have felt threatened by this revelation, and not been able to help themselves.
At the time, Kamala Harris was the District Attorney of San Francisco. She had no jurisdiction regarding a murder case in Newark, regardless of the defense in use. This did not stop her from hosting a symposium in the city, titled “Defeating the ‘Panic Defense.'”
“The panic defense is an insidious strategy based upon prejudice and hate,” read a statement from Harris’s office at the time.
“It has been raised in homicide and assault cases nationwide, inviting jury nullification and attempting to justify violent crime based upon the identity of the victim.”
Indeed, it is just a second anti-transgender act, but this time on the part of the jury.
Nearly a decade later, it would be Harris, as the attorney general of the State of California, who would co-sponsor legislation to ban such defenses. In 2018, she also attempted to get a federal ban in place while serving as a United States senator.
It’s not the only work she has done, from pushing back on California’s ban on
marriage equality, Proposition 8, to a push to investigate the death of Roxsana Hernández, a trans woman who died in ICE custody.
I feel her career has had both hits and misses for trans and LGBTQ+ rights, but I think the hits are significant. They are enough to win my endorsement.
I’m far from alone in this, with Miss Major, a Stonewall veteran and long-time trans advocate, and Advocates for Trans Equality — a group made up of both the former National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) — coming out to support Harris.
“A Harris Administration would not only uphold but also expand upon the protections for transgender Americans established by the Biden Administration,” said A4TE via press release. “Her leadership promises to fortify and enhance the efforts to address and meet the needs of transgender people, ensuring continued progress in our nation’s history of civil rights.”
I will add one more thing.
In the wake of Biden’s decision and the birth of the Harris campaign, I have found myself re-energized. I was not aware of the level of malaise I was feeling from watching two ossified white men once again fighting for my votes. And while, once again, I would have been more than willing to vote a second time for Biden to protect my country from the fascists, I still felt I was only voting against something, and not for anything. It’s a hopeless feeling, and one that leads to a disappointing turnout.
Today, I see there being at least some possibility that this never-ending antitransgender onslaught can be slowed with a new administration in place, one that might actually do more than make claims of having our backs.
Gwendolyn Smith, Philadelphia Gay News via the National LGBTQ Media Association
Pigasus
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris takes the Oath of Office on the platform of the U.S. Capitol during the 59th Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C., Jan. 20, 2021. DOD PHOTO: U.S. AIR FORCE SENIOR AIRMAN KEVIN TANENBAUM
Al Dente Design of Pasta COURTESY IMAGE
What’s On: Atlanta’s Autumnal Arts
Katie Burkholder
While summer may be coming to an end soon, Atlanta’s arts scene is only picking up steam! Atlanta’s LGBTQ fall arts season brings with it a diverse array of theater, music, performance, visual arts, and more.
Comedy and Theater
TS Madison
August 14, 7:30pm
City Winery
The Color Purple
the Musical
August 15 – September 15
Aurora Theatre
Wild with Happy by Colman Domingo
August 16 – September 15
Horizon Theatre
Shamilton:
A Drag Musical Parody
August 22-28
City Winery
The Mountaintop
August 30 – September 22
Alliance Theatre
The Music Man
September 6-22
City Springs Theatre Company
A Raisin in the Sun
September 11-29
Theatrical Outfit
The Chinese Lady
September 18 – October 13
Alliance Theatre
Rent
September 19 – October 6
Pullman Yards
Matteo Lane:
Can’t Stop Talking Tour
September 22, 7pm
Fox Theatre
Disney’s The Lion King
October 2-20
Fox Theatre
A Third Way
October 3-27
Actor’s Express
Amélie the Musical
October 4 – November 3
Horizon Theatre
The Mean Gays: Live
October 23, 8pm
City Winery
Hairspray
October 24 – November 9
Out Front Theatre Company
Music and Dance
Mitski
September 6-8
Fox Theatre
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Concert in the Park
September 10, 7:30pm
Piedmont Park Oak Hill
Meghan Trainer: The Timeless Tour
September 13, 6:30pm Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Fall Into Rhythym
September 13-15
Atlanta Ballet
La Bohéme
September 18 – October 5
Pullman Yards
Kehlani: Crash World Tour
September 24, 7pm Lakewood Amphitheatre
Fletcher: In Search of the Antidote Tour
September 29, 8pm
Coca-Cola Roxy
Charli XCX and Troye Sivan
Present: Sweat
October 3, 7:30pm
State Farm Arena
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
Conan Gray: Found Heaven on Tour
October 4, 7:30pm Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Visual Arts
Entering Modernity: 1920 Fashion from the Parodi Costume Collection
Now – August 25 SCAD FASH
Al Dente: The Design of Pasta
Now – September 1 Museum of Design Atlanta
Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys
September 13 – January 19
High Museum
‘Imane Ayissi: From Africa to the World’
September 18 – February 23 SCAD FASH
Kelli Connell: Pictures for Charis
September 20 – January 5
High Museum
Georgia O’Keefe: “My New Yorks”
October 25 – February 16 High Museum
Matteo Lane comes to the Fox Theatre on September 22. PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM
CULTURE
Jessica E. Blinkhorn’s SPANKBOX Returns Sexual Autonomy to Disabled People
Katie Burkholder
Editor’s note: The following story includes a brief mention of sexual assault.
According to “People with Disabilities and Sexual Assault” by Thomas C. Weiss, 83 percent of women with disabilities will be sexually assaulted in their lives, compared to one in five women overall. These higher instances of sexual assault among disabled people and the general lack of bodily autonomy granted to people living with disabilities are what inspired disabled artist Jessica E. Blinkhorn to launch a project aimed at honoring the sexual desire and pleasure of the disabled community.
Blinkhorn, a 45-year-old performance and visual artist living with spinal muscular atrophy type two and a survivor of sexual assault, is the mind behind SPANKBOX, an award-winning photographic installation depicting people with physical disabilities in hypersexualized poses. The photos, which are submitted by anyone who wishes to participate in the project (called “Spankers”), are styled like vintage peep-show posters and include a question the Spanker wants to ask the nondisabled community about their body or sexuality. Questions include, “Do you think I fuck in my wheelchair,” “Do social stigmas stop you from pursuing someone with a noticeable disability,” and “Would you have sex if you knew it would dislocate your joints?”
“When you label an entire community as broken or weak, you offer them no way to have a sexual identity,” Blinkhorn told Georgia Voice. “You take away their sexual autonomy … [SPANKBOX] is about putting ourselves out there and owning our beauty and owning our sexual power and being unafraid of offending people by being innately sexual, which we, for the majority, all are.”
Blinkhorn, who describes herself as a very sexual person with “a great sex life,” seeks to both empower the Spankers and give them confidence in their bodies while educating the “for now” nondisabled community on the realities of disabled sexuality. She says the project grants the audience “permission to look, fantasize, and question disability and sexuality in a safe environment.”
Blinkhorn has built her career on the intersections of performance and advocacy.
In 2019, for her performance piece REVERENCE: We 3, she sat in public spaces that weren’t wheelchair accessible for three hours, inviting strangers to lay flowers at her feet in acts of reverence. She’s inspired by the work of Bob Flanagan, a performance artist with cystic fibrosis who would engage in sadomasochist performances, like nailing his penis and scrotum to a board in Nailed, to take control over his body and find pleasure in the pain of his disability.
“Artists, by nature, see the world through different eyes,” she said. “We look at the world always in a creative way. We not only try to see the beauty in objects, but in the destruction of objects … Art is great for advocacy because you're taking something that people are a little too intimidated to acknowledge or look at or question, and you're giving it to your viewer in either an aggressive way that will shock them and get their attention, or in a very palatable way they'll easily digest and understand what's going on.”
Blinkhorn finds that the power in the shock value and the discomfort that may arise when one views SPANKBOX is integral to the impact of the work.
“I was not gonna allow people within my community to feel like they couldn't feel good about themselves, like they couldn't feel sexy,” she said. “It's not fair. The conversation [on sex] kind of ends with people talking about disability and sex because it makes other people uncomfortable. I have to be uncomfortable 93 percent of my time on this earth, you can be uncomfortable for about 30 minutes to an hour. You'll be okay.”
Blinkhorn was awarded a fellowship by the John Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for her work with SPANKBOX this year, and she intends to use the fellowship funds to bring the exhibit to Miami and possibly run a billboard of her personal SPANKBOX photo. SPANKBOX will be back on exhibit in Atlanta during the Atlanta Art Fair at Pullman Yards from October 3 through 6; in the meantime, you can purchase a T-shirt or sticker at Kiss and Ride in Little Five Points to support Blinkhorn and her mission to spread the truth: disabled people fuck.
To learn more and keep up with SPANKBOX ATL, follow on Instagram @spankbox. atl. You can find Jessica E. Blinkhorn on Instagram @wheelie_an_artist.
Jessica E. Blinkhorn COURTESY PHOTO
Out Front Theatre Company Announces Ninth Season
The theater, from the Greek theatron meaning “a place to see or to observe,” offers a unique escape that other entertainment media cannot provide. Dionysus, the unpredictable Greek god of release and ecstasy, is believed to rule this domain. The delivery of pent-up emotion through monologue or song and dance pleases a fluctuant god like Dionysus.
Depictions of the god are queer in both gender and sexuality, with multiple pronouns used to refer to Dionysus in the works of ancient playwrights. Performers, able to transform as their mischievous deity is apt to do, welcome audiences into a new world for an evening. Free to explore identity in its endless variations, each stage production is its own event composed of unique choices made by both audience and performer. Surrendering to absurdity and under the comforting blanket of darkness, a spotlight begs to be filled and to be seen.
Atlanta-based and true to its name, Out Front Theatre Company encourages its audience members and performers to exist authentically and without fear of judgment. Founded in 2016 by Paul Conroy, Out Front is a pioneer organization in the Southeast as Georgia’s first and only LGBTQ theater company.
Launching its ninth season this October, Out Front continues to share queer stories that will make you laugh and cry at the same time.
“We see our similarities more than our differences in collective joy and collective humor,” Conroy said in an interview with Georgia Voice
For some, gender-bending can only be seen or done on the stage, but it has always been
“Hairspray”
a fundamental part of theater. Women were not allowed to participate in the performing arts until the 17th century, so men used an early style of drag to portray all genders.
The 2024–2025 season features five productions. Out Front will open the season with its largest cast of 32 members with eight-time Tony award winner “Hairspray” (October 24 through November 9), which follows plus-size teen Tracy Turnblad and her search for fame on local TV in 1960s
Baltimore. After not performing in recent seasons, Conroy will be returning to the stage in drag as the matriarch of “The Corny Collins Show,” Velma Von Tussle.
The “Hairspray” show run bookends Election Day, which will be a momentous event in itself with cause to either grieve or breathe a sigh of relief.
“Now none of us know what’s going to happen at all, but whether people come to
our space after the election as a way for them to celebrate or a way for them to mourn, then we’re going to be there,” Conroy said.
The holiday season will feature a spin on Agatha Christie’s murder mystery with “Murder on the Polar Express” (December 12 through 22), where “The World’s Foremost Drag Detective” Shirley Holmes boards the world’s most elegant train with her sidekick Dr. Jody Watley and 10 other passengers on their way to the North Pole, but a holiday assassin throws a peppermintflavored wrench into their plans.
Ring in the new year with “At the Wedding” (January 30 through February 15), featuring a woman named Carlo, who guides the audience through her ex-girlfriend’s wedding (to a man) and talks to several friends and family members about love, life, and how to cope with both.
“Immediate Family” (March 13 through 29)
“Launching its ninth season this October, Out Front continues to share queer stories that will make you laugh and cry at the same time.”
follows the Bryant family reunion, taking a comedic turn when the middle son brings home his Swedish boyfriend and tosses him into a stew of family dysfunction.
Closing out the season with “Trick! the Musical” (May 1 through 17), a worldpremiere production based on the 1999 cult classic film, both written by Jason Schafer, follows a one-night stand gone awry for two young gay men in New York City.
Aside from these show stopping productions, Out Front Theatre offers a safe space for the LGBTQ community with regular karaoke, drag, and comedy events.
“To me, a theater is a gathering place where people can hear and tell stories,” Conroy said. “The stories can be a play, it can be a drag show, it can be a trivia night, it can be whatever is going to bring people together so they can experience that connection. To me, that’s what theater is now.”
Out Front Theatre Company premieres its ninth season on Thursday, October 24 with Hairspray. Season tickets are available at Out Front Theatre at 999 Brady Ave NW, or you can visit outfronttheatre.com/seasontickets. For additional information, call (404) 448-2755 or visit outfronttheatre. com. Stay up to date by following @ OutFrontTheatre on Instagram.
Adalei Stevens
runs October 24 through November 9 at Out Front Theatre COURTESY IMAGE
CULTURE
Consequential Words: An Interview with ‘Speech Team’ Author Tim Murphy
Gregg Shapiro
If you have loved gay writer Tim Murphy’s books since his breathtaking 2016 breakthrough novel, “Christodora,” and its 2019 follow-up, “Correspondents,” then you will be happy to know that his fourth novel, “Speech Team” (Viking, 2023), is being released in August. A powerful story about the consequences of words and a quest for restorative justice, “Speech Team” follows four high school classmates who reunite more than 20 years after graduation following the suicide of a fellow speech team member. “Speech Team” will be released in paperback August 6, 2024.
Read the full interview online at thegavoice.com.
Tim, if you don’t mind, I’d like to begin with the most obvious question: did you compete on a high school speech team?
Oh my God, yes [laughs]! It was everything to me — it was a portal into literature and politics and journalism and poetry and drama and oratory [performance] and so much more. And it was a big collection of weirdo brainiacs, queers, and nerds who competed, both in our high school and other schools in Massachusetts and beyond. You would stand up before a room of people with your little folder, unless you were doing oratory in which you had to memorize your speech, and do your little presentation, often in the most prissy, mannered, over-rehearsed way, and it was just so much fun and so, so gay. One of my best memories of high school along with theater and lit magazine and newspaper and all those other nerdy queer brainy high school pursuits.
In the first chapter, you ask the question that sets the tone for the rest of the book: “Do you think people remember the things they said or did to people who stayed with them their whole lives?”
Well, you’re right, that is setting up the question that drives most of the book. But it is something I think about so much. What is said to Tip by Mr. Gold in the novel was said to me when I was 15 by a teacher. Did that teacher ever think about it again? What would they say or think if they knew I’d never forgotten it? A few occasions when someone reminded me of something really cutting I’d said to them a long time ago that I’d forgotten, I was shocked, so full of remorse and shame. All you can say is “I am so sorry I said that.” I think that’s all the characters in the book are looking for. And they understand that it is about more than just Mr. Gold having said it — it was that he, an adult, so incisively hit the nerve of a kind of ambient teasing or abuse or commentary they absorbed every day for being so obviously gay, or Black in a white town, or odd and unsociable in a way we would now call neurodivergent.
Mr. Gold has retired from teaching and moved to Sarasota, which means the friends must travel to Florida for the confrontation. While there, Tip and Nat go to “a charmingly awful gay bar” where they dance “with some local drag queens to ABBA and Lady Gaga.” Was the Florida section of the book written while DeSantis was, as you referred to, busily trying to erase LGBTQ folks during his early days in office?
I finished the book before DeSantis’ assault on all things LGBTQ began, or at least hit the critical mass that it has. I wasn’t thinking about that at all when writing the Florida part. What has happened to Florida in recent years has really broken my heart. This state that was always this crazy interesting diverse hot mess of red and blue has really taken a hard-right turn, at least on the statewide level if not in places like Orlando and Miami, and I have very mixed feelings about going there now. But I also know so many great people
“I finished the book before DeSantis’ assault on all things LGBTQ began, or at least hit the critical mass that it has. I wasn’t thinking about that at all when writing the Florida part. What has happened to Florida in recent years has really broken my heart.”
—Author Tim Murphy
there — queer, immigrant Dreamer kids etc. — I want to support them any way I can. It’s tricky, I guess.
Sobriety and substance abuse also figure prominently in “Speech Team.” Please say something about that.
I have such a history with both. And I would say I’ve landed finally realizing that 12-step total sobriety from all substances including pot is not for me, although I derived a great deal from that approach for many years and it connected me to some of the dearest friends in my life to this day. But I don’t want it and can’t sustain it, just personally speaking. I’ve learned I’ve had to take a new route of ruthless self-examination and almost of tracking my own subconscious mind in terms of what direction I’m pointed toward. Speaking strictly for myself, it feels more honest. This is such a complex topic.
Have you started working on or thinking about your next book project?
I have actually finished the first draft of a new novel which currently is one big fat lump [laughs]! And I am happy to report it is not set remotely in Mendhem, Mass., or a place like it — well, except for one smallish flashback part that may well end up on the cutting room floor anyway.
Author Tim Murphy and his book “Speech Team.” TIM MURPHY PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM
CULTURE
Queer Art Club is Bringing Young People Together Over Arts and Crafts
When Mare Hiles lived in North Carolina, they discovered queer art club: a group dedicated to building community through art. When they moved back to Atlanta, they knew they wanted to bring the concept back with them and start a chapter of their own. Thus, Atlanta Queer Art Club was born.
“It’s way more casual than the name suggests,” Hiles told Georgia Voice. “It’s a really, really low-key, chill space that we have. I was really missing a lot of community, and so I wanted to be able to bring that kind of community that I found in North Carolina, queer art club into Atlanta.”
On certain Saturdays from 1 to 4pm, the group meets in Piedmont Park to bond over arts and crafts. Attendees either bring their own activities, which have ranged from coloring and sketching to sewing and molding clay, or use some of the art materials provided by the club. All are welcome, regardless of artistic ability. The club isn’t about being the best artist or creating a masterpiece; it’s about meeting people and making friends.
“I feel like the art is more of a background to the community,” Hiles said. “For me, as someone who can definitely get social anxiety sometimes, it’s nice to have a little thing to do with my hands while I’m getting to know people.”
This is not only reflective of Hiles’ personal experience; according to the study, “The Effectiveness of Art Therapy for Anxiety in Adult Women,” art therapy — the use of visual arts like painting, drawing, and sculpting as experience-oriented therapy — can be “effective in reducing anxiety symptoms [and] improving quality of life and aspects of emotional regulation.”
While the group is open to everyone, the attendees skew toward young adulthood — a group that may struggle to feel connected to its community more than its older counterparts. A 2020 report found that 79 percent of Gen Z participants and 71 percent of Millennials considered themselves lonely, compared to 50 percent of Baby Boomers. This could be due to lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or increased dependence on technology and social media.
Whatever the case may be, it’s clear the club
meets a need in the young queer community, as it has been accepted with open arms. The group is brand new — the first meeting was held on June 16 — but it has already received a ton of support from the community. Within three days of announcing the group on Instagram, it has garnered 100 followers; after only two meetings, there are now over 300 followers on social media. The attendance has been on the smaller side so far, but even with the current turnout, the group has offered attendees the opportunity to expand both their social circles and their
knowledge about all that Atlanta’s LGBTQ community has to offer.
“The queer folks that I have met have such a strong connection and such a strong desire to create, and I honestly think it’s really beautiful,” Hiles said. “There’s such a new and unique perspective that people bring [to the meetings]. One of the people who came to the last meeting was talking about how they were ‘queering’ collage. I was like, ‘I’ve never heard that before, that’s so awesome! Please tell me more about that!’ We’re not just doing art, we’re also learning about facets of our own community that maybe we didn’t even know about.”
Atlanta Queer Art Club’s third meeting will be held on August 11 from 1 to 4pm in Piedmont Park. If you are unable to attend but want to support the group, you can follow on Instagram @atlqueerartclub and share posts, donate art supplies and/or water, or donate to their forthcoming snack fund.
Katie Burkholder
Queer Art Club meets in Piedmont Park to bond over arts and crafts. PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM
Mare Hiles PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM
CULTURE
DJ Gorp on ‘Finding their Frequency’ in Atlanta’s Club Scene
Cynthia Salinas Cappellano
Read the full article online at thegavoice.com.
Daya Ramirez, or “Gorp” as she’s known to her listeners, has spent her disc jockey career building a “safe and cunty space” for trans people to experience the club scene.
Gorp moved to Atlanta in 2021 after completing college. Her foray into the DJ scene began sporadically.
“I was going to parties occasionally, maybe a rave once every two months,” she told Georgia Voice After attending a Christian college, Gorp was looking for a space where she could party safely during her early transition years. The nature of COVID-19 during this time (late 2021-early 2022) meant most queer club scenes were popups and DIY shows. It was a weird time to party post-COVID and hard to catch a vibe –especially in the queer community.
“It was a once-in-a-while moment for me to go to a queer pop-up,” she said. “Its ephemerality made it more fun to experience.”
The historical lack of brick-and-mortar gay clubs is a key part of the queer nature of the DIY club scene. A bi-monthly pop-up is often the only time queer club kids can serve a look and build community with others.
“When I started transitioning, I really started spinning for the T community,” Gorp said. “Not for visibility’s sake, but just a safe space for people to come dance, feel sexy, and feel like a person in a club.”
Transitioning Into the DJ Scene
Her first major gig came when DJ Esme of Choloteca invited her to play for an hour one night at Mary’s.
“Ree De La Vega had me on after that.
She invited me to play at the Wussy Artist Market in the Spring of 2023,” Gorp recalled. “She reached out to me later and said, ‘Hey, I have this paid opportunity that’s perfect for a beginner like you.’ And it blended into the summer.”
But Gorp’s presence was really solidified in the Atlanta club scene when she played at Chaka Khan Hacienda (CKH).
“So [Chaka Khan Hacienda was] how I was introduced into the space, but before then I was playing anything,” Gorp said. “Chaka Khan and Sucia were beneficial in getting me into the scene as we know it.”
Those two parties were integral for Gorp as a trans Puerto Rican girl. Both CKH and Sucia were created post-COVID to celebrate queer BIPOC who didn’t feel represented by white queer spaces or straight clubs. Gorp enjoyed exploring new sounds in her freestyles at queer BIPOC-centered events.
Crafting a Cunty Mix
Gorp’s crowd is “sexy, queer… [and] vibrant.
There’s a very palpable joyous energy to people who show up to my sets. I think they feel very excited to be there. [My crowd is] trans as fuck. That’s the vibe I’m putting out and I think the trans community is seeing that and responding to it.”
Gorp’s mixes include House and EDM blends borrowing tracks from Missy Elliot, Beyonce, early 2000s hits, and viral Ballroom moments – imagine if Donna Summer was a Y2K girlie who stumbled into a ballroom event replete with her operatic moans and diva-level shade. Her sets are crafted with an emphasis on inclusivity and fluid expression.
‘Fat Puss’
As a newcomer to the queer club scene, Mary’s is where Gorp found a way to contribute to the queer community in Atlanta, their close girlfriends of dolls, and their radio collective. This built the foundation for the frequencies they would eventually mix in their sets at Mary’s bimonthly Pura Puti Latin Night – the success of which would convince the owner of Mary’s to launch Gorp’s infamous “FAT
PUSS” night series. Gorp pitched the concept to Mary’s owner as a $5 entry event where she could play whatever she wanted. The event’s success was overwhelming.
“It was my most popular party to this day,” she said. “There was a line wrapped around the building—no one could get in.”
The success of FAT PUSS encouraged Gorp to continue the event as a monthly party. “You know how in bowling you get a strike and try to repeat your movements? Party planning is the same,” she explained. “Ever since then, I’ve been doing FAT PUSS.”
Though not always coinciding with out-oftown events, FAT PUSS has become a staple in her repertoire.
What’s Next for DJ Gorp: Pushing Kink Forward
When Mary’s first hired Gorp as a resident DJ, she restarted a party called Heatstroke. The Heatstroke event series was about reengaging a kink-friendly atmosphere.
“One time while I was spinning a person walked in with two men on leashes,” she said. “They were kneeling on the dance floor while their dom was having fun – I live for that.”
In the future, Gorp is seeking a kink-friendly space to DJ at. She would love to participate in another kink event by providing kinksters with fun music.
“I want to be able to experience it,” she said. “I want to move the narrative as the night goes on.”
To hear more about their thoughts on the music archival space, kink-friendly spaces, and the lore behind their DJ name, tune into Gimmick Radio in the coming months. Follow DJ Gorp on Instagram @gorpiana.
DJ Gorp PHOTO BY CYNTHIA SALINAS CAPPELLANO
Dancing (SSD)
• We get beginner s up and squa re dancing from the fir st lesson, no experience needed. Join us and expe rience the joy of moving!
• Modern music, casual dress – this is NOT the square dancing your g randparents did .
• No o need to briing a dance par tner – friendly, enthusiastic club member s are there to help you learnn. Got two lef t feet? This class can teac h both of your lef t feet to dance!
• We are an LGBTQ+ organization thhat welcomes ever yone, a diver se community of folks who like to dance – and snac k and chat when not dancing.
Free Open House on Monday, August 12th, 2024 and a 2nd open h ous e on M onday, Au gust 19th 7:00pm – 8:30pm at Peachtree Baptist Ch urch , 2108 Briarcli f f Road NE (at the intersection of Briarclif f Road and Lavista Road in Atlanta)
Beginning August 26th, classes will meet each Monday from 7:00pm until 8:30pm , $5 per weekly class. For more info, visit our website: www.hotlantasquares.org
Olympic Art
Melissa Carter
You can immediately tell how someone feels about art when they receive it as a gift. With no time to put up a polite filter, the recipient is either elated to discover something artistically new, or they frown in disappointment at such a boring offering.
Such has been the case at this summer’s Paris Olympics. I am one of those huge Olympics fans who has the Games on all day long for the two-week duration, while periodically watching some of the Paralympics competitions as well. I don’t just watch the popular sports, like gymnastics and swimming; I’m watching as many random competitions as possible, like rugby, archery, badminton, and table tennis. The benefit of watching these sports on the extra channels that air the Games is they will also air the medal ceremonies of all the winners, not just the ones for American athletes like the main channel.
During each medal ceremony, players received slim cardboard boxes along with
their medals. These boxes contained official posters for the Games, designed by Parisian illustrator Ugo Gattoni. The vibrant, Art Deco-inspired posters feature detailed illustrations of iconic French landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River, as well as elements related to the Olympics, such as a gold medal and the Paris Olympics mascot. Gattoni spent 2,000 hours from September 2023 to January 2024 crafting the posters.
The posters are rich in detail, inviting viewers to explore and discover various elements that celebrate both the sporting event and the city of Paris. The designs feature iconic French landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, integrated with Olympic and Paralympic symbols, creating a utopian and fantastical depiction of Paris. The posters' cheerful and festive tone aligns with the spirit of the Paris 2024 Games, envisioned as a grand, joyful celebration.
Of course, those details are only interesting to the athletes who are excited to see their gift.
I’ve witnessed several Olympians mouth oh, wow upon receiving their box and examining what’s inside. On the other hand, I have also seen athletes furrow their brows in confusion at what that extra thing is they have to carry
away with them from the podium.
I confess I have secretly judged these athletes, depending on their reaction to the poster. Having grown up with an artist mother and dipping my toe into artistic endeavors myself, I always appreciate the time and creativity that goes into any project. For anyone who frowns upon art as silly or a waste of time, an attitude I assumed the unimpressed athletes have, I imagine they are not a sensitive or sympathetic person. Harsh of me, I know, but honest. Not
as prized as a medal, of course, but I think these posters deserve great respect as well.
For those interested, these posters are available for purchase at the Musée d'Orsay, the Paris 2024 shop website, and various partner stores such as Fnac and Carrefour. Gattoni expressed his excitement about having his work displayed alongside historic masterpieces, emphasizing the significance of his art being part of such a momentous event. I applaud its inclusion.
Directors Levan Akin and Corey Sherman Discuss LGBTQ Characters and Themes of ‘Crossing’ and ‘Big Boys’
Levan Akin made a huge international splash with his gay-themed film, “And Then We Danced,” a few years ago and has now returned with an equally acclaimed followup. “Crossing” is a drama about Lia (Mzia Arabuli), a schoolteacher who has retired, but has promised that she will find her missing niece Tekla. When neighbor Achi (Lucas Kankava) suggests that Tekla might be in Turkey, the two of them travel together to find her. Along the way, they meet Evrim (Deniz Dumanli), a transgender lawyer fighting for equality.
Lia’s decision to go to Turkey is one that shakes and changes her life.
“When we see her first, she is walking by the water,” Akin said. “It seems like a western movie — she is on a mission. She is going to finish this mission and die basically. She will leave life, with nothing to live for. Throughout the film, we slowly peel off each layer of her until we get to know her better. And I think she gets to know herself again. It wakes her up.”
The director calls the character of Achi endearing and earnest. Achi and Lia form an unlikely bond as they search for Tekla.
“He is a kid who has a shit life and who wants to get out,” Akin said. “He sees this woman and says this is my life jacket. I think she understands. She has nothing to lose — she is looking for this girl and this kid is probably lying, but he can be helpful, so she will bring him along for a little bit. It starts off like this oddball/goofball couple type narrative and then develops into something else.”
The character of Lia is based on women in Akin’s own life, an amalgam of several people. Likewise, Evrim is based on individuals he met in Istanbul as he was doing research.
“I met so many people like Evrim, who are so resilient navigating this very patriarchal world against all odds but with such effervescence and positivity,” Akin said.
“And Then We Danced” made the industry take note of the director and changed his life.
“While I was making the film, the budget was extremely low,” Akin said. “We didn’t get a lot of support for it. No one really believed in it. It was the kind of film that had a lot of power to start a discourse, it sped things, it was like an injection of the existence of queer people in [the republic of] Georgia. When the film came out, it made me think cinema has the power to change.”
It’s vital for the filmmaker to have queer themes.
“It’s part of who I am,” he said. “I am very
curious and have interest in people and stories. When I write these characters, I layer on them more and more and I am inspired by the actors who play these roles — a lot of times, [they’re] non-actors. For me, building a character doesn’t end with the script. It’s something I keep doing.”
Akin’s films also deal with self-acceptance and growth. He finds these themes to be universal.
“The notion of finding your place and space where you are not the norm, we have all felt that in our lives,” he said. “I have always felt outside of the norm, always tried to fit it. Now I am in a place of privilege where I can make these films.”
“Big Boys” is the feature debut of Corey Sherman, who also wrote and produced the
film, now available on demand after a strong film festival run last year. In it, 14-year-old Jamie (played by Isaac Krasner) is discovering his attraction to bearish men. When he goes on a camping trip with his cousin Allie (Dora Madison), he finds himself attracted to Allie’s bearish new boyfriend Dan (David Johnson III).
It's based on experiences Sherman had as a kid.
“I felt like I was not seen on screen very much,” Sherman said.
The characters he did see were often on the sidelines or not fleshed out and he felt like they deserved their own movie. So, for six months he wrote “Big Boys,” then worked with his team to make it.
He looked for a while for the lead and put out a wide casting call. Krasner’s audition was the first one he watched.
“It was very apparent from the beginning how much he understood the character and the sense of humor and how much passion he had for Jamie,” Sherman said. “It was an immediate feeling — it felt right.”
Krasner looks at Jamie as a lost kid, in many ways.
“He’s someone who likes to think he has it all figured out, because it is safe to stay in that head space,” Krasner said. “Like a lot of kids Jamie’s age, he has a lot to figure out. Dan is the person he is using to figure a lot of that out. In a lot of ways, he is just like everyone else, but with a different struggle.”
“Crossing” is now in area theaters and will be streaming on MUBI in August
“Big Boys” is now available on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Google, YouTube, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), DirecTV, and through local cable providers.
Jim Farmer
“Crossing” PUBLICITY PHOTO
Jim Farmer
Cabaret
AUGUST 9, 9:30, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1
Actor’s Express transforms into the Kit Kat Club, a decadent hotspot in anythinggoes 1929 Berlin. An idealistic young American meets an eclectic circle of Berliners, most notably Sally Bowles, the outrageous chanteuse determined to keep the party going at all costs. But everything is destined to change as the storm clouds of war gather on the horizon. Full of memorable classic songs like “Wilkommen,” “Mein Herr,” “Maybe This Time” and, of course, the title song, “Cabaret” is one of the great masterpieces of the American stage.
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
AUGUST 10, 8PM, THROUGH AUGUST 25
ONSTAGE ATLANTA
Onstage Atlanta presents the comedic “The Great American Trailer Park Musical,” directed by Charlie Miller.
Disco Diva Bingo
AUGUST 13, 6:30PM
LIPS ATLANTA
Come support PALS Atlanta at Disco Diva Drag Bingo with a great cast of performers/ hostesses.
AMEN! The Candyland Show
AUGUST 15, 11PM
SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH
Calling all Sweeties & Sour Patch Kidsyou’re invited to AMEN! The Candyland Show happening tonight. Come out to Sister Louisa’s Church as your Molly ALXNDR & TAYLOR ALXNDR give you something to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Atlanta Dream vs. Seattle Storm
AUGUST 16, 7:30PM
GATEWAY CENTER ARENA
The Atlanta Dream take on the Seattle Storm tonight.
This Time
AUGUST 17, 7PM
OUT FRONT THEATRE COMPANY
Be part of this free movie screening of “This Time” supported by Free Mom Hugs, Atlanta Chapter . Experience the power of allyship, connection and the
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Cabaret
AUGUST 9, 9:30, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1
ACTOR’S EXPRESS
Actor’s Express transforms into the Kit Kat Club, a decadent hotspot in anything-goes 1929 Berlin. An idealistic young American meets an eclectic circle of Berliners, most notably Sally Bowles, the outrageous chanteuse determined to keep the party going at all costs. But everything is destined to change as the storm clouds of war gather on the horizon. Photo via Facebook
importance of being seen as you are in a story that promises to touch hearts and open minds. In the heart of suburbia, 16-year-old, closeted Grace Walker is ensnared in a life that’s been chosen for her. Her world is shaken when she inherits the last remnants of her estranged father’s life: a collection of personal drawings, a CD echoing his musical soul, and letters from none other than the legendary Liza Minnelli. Co-sponsored by Out Front Theatre Company and Out On Film – with a drag show to follow!
PFLAG Support Group
AUGUST 18, 2:30PM
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF ATLANTA
The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQIA+ children meets in person today.
Trans and Friends
AUGUST 19, 7PM FOR YOUTH, 8PM FOR ADULTS
CHARIS BOOKS AND MORE
Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues.
Atlanta Pride
Grand Marshal Reception
AUGUST 22, 6:30PM EL VIÑEDO LOCAL
Atlanta Pride invites you to a fabulous reception in the heart of Midtown Atlanta to celebrate the 2024 Atlanta Pride grand marshals. Get ready for an evening of inspiration, celebration, and community as Pride honor extraordinary individuals and organizations who have made a significant
impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Following the reception, El Viñedo Local will donate the proceeds from its dinner sales to help "Keep Pride Free.”
LGBTQ Book Club
AUGUST 24, 10AM
VIRTUAL
The LGBTQ Book Club is a group for LGBTQ folks and allies to read queerthemed books and books by queer authors. The aim is to have diverse, thought-provoking discussions about queer identity, history, and topical issues. All are welcome to join. This month's book is “Our Wives Under the Sea: A Novel” by Julia Armfield. No registration is required. This Zoom link will allow you to join the
CONTINUES ON PAGE 25
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24
meeting at any time: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/85007056372
Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-Along
AUGUST 24, 7:30PM
FOX THEATRE
Sing along to Freddie Mercury tunes as The Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival presents “Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-Along.”
Southern Bears Dinner
AUGUST 25, 5PM
GOLDEN CORRAL
Join the Southern Bears tonight for dinner tonight at Decatur’s Golden Corral!
The Other Show
AUGUST 25, 9:30PM
OUT FRONT THEATRE COMPANY
They’re baaaaaaack! Edie Cheezburger and her cast of the popular drag series The Other Show – including Edna Allan Hoe, Dotte Comm, Miss He, and Orchid – move to their new home!
Atlanta Black Pride
AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 2
VARIOUS AREA LOCATIONS
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend is an amazing multi day celebration and one of the biggest such events in the world. Expect all kinds of events, parties, and festivities.
Dragon Con
AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 2
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Dragon Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe. Look for all sorts of panels, guests, parties and other events over the four-day period – including the “Invdades” party on August 31 at the Georgia Aquarium!
5th Annual Mayor’s Global Black Pride Reception
AUGUST 29, 8PM
LOCATION TBD
As Atlanta hosts the first-ever Global Black
Pride convening in the United States, Mayor Andre Dickens is proud to host the 5th Annual Mayor's Global Black Pride Reception, powered by Gilead Sciences. This beloved party-with-a-purpose will welcome hundreds of business leaders, influencers, and constituents annually to celebrate the intersection of Black and LGBTQ+ identities, while raising vital funds for the Mayor's Youth Scholarship Program. Guests will hear from city leaders and partners, enjoy live entertainment and Beats by DJ Sed The Saint and honor LGBTQ+ trailblazers and indulge in delectable bites by culinary sensation Chef Deborah Van Treece.
Bananarama II
OCTOBER 4-5, 7:30PM
LIONHEART THEATRE
Project Chimps, the chimpanzee sanctuary in North Georgia is hosting the fundraiser Bananarama II, tonight and tomorrow, August 11 and 12. Bananarama will be hosted by Ruby Redd and Jolene Goodall and it is a variety show featuring drag
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-Along
AUGUST 24, 7:30PM
FOX THEATRE
Sing along to Freddie Mercury tunes as The Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival presents “Bohemian Rhapsody SingAlong.” Publicity Photo
(Gunza Blazin, Kellie Divine, Lori Devine, Charlene Boufontaine, and Berlinda Wall), musicians, singers, comedy (Gay Bob from 99x), and more!
Katie Burkholder
Atlanta Eagle Cabaret
AUGUST 10, 9PM
ATLANTA EAGLE
Featuring Lena Lust, Shawnna Brooks, Misti Shores, Elea Atlanta, and Niesha Dupree. $5 cover.
Speed Dating
AUGUST 10, 9PM
MY SISTER’S ROOM
Meet the next love of your life in a flash at My Sister’s Room’s speed dating event, hosted by Chelsea! Your $10 cover gets you a free house shot!
Candela: All White Glow
AUGUST 10, 10PM
DISTRICT ATLANTA
Candela is Atlanta’s hottest monthly Latin fusion party! Show up in all-white and dance and glow the night away with DJ EU and THISAINTLA.Tickets at candelaaug2024.eventbrite.com.
Country Night
AUGUST 13, 8PM
ATLANTA EAGLE
Show up at 8pm for the dance lesson before line dancing the night away with DJ Dice at 9!
Trivia Night
AUGUST 13, 8:30PM
ATLANTA EAGLE
Hosted by DJ DeWayne.
Dragnificent Week 1
AUGUST 13, 9PM
FUTURE ATLANTA
Meet this year’s future stars and Dragnificent competitors in week one of Atlanta’s longest-running drag competition! Tickets at future-atlanta.com.
Rock Haus Karaoke
AUGUST 15, 9PM
ATLANTA EAGLE
Hosted by Raqi.
Thirst Trap! A Queer Dance Party
AUGUST 16, 10PM
529
It’s getting hot, but the dance floor is hotter! Dance and move to beats that’ll make you sweat from Boomchld, Craibby, and
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Gottmik
AUGUST 17, 10PM
MY SISTER’S ROOM
Drag Race all-star Gottmik headlines, along with Drew Friday, Eden, Eros Étoile, EllaSaurus Rex, Ivy Fischer, and Pressure K Friday! Tickets via Eventbrite. Photo via Facebook
Ectopus! Tickets at sfqp.info/thirst816.
Ron Pullman
AUGUST 16, 11PM
ATLANTA EAGLE $5 cover.
Atlanta Eagle Cabaret
AUGUST 17, 9PM
ATLANTA EAGLE
Featuring Lena Lust, Shawnna Brooks, Misti Shores, Elea Atlanta, and Niesha Dupree. $5 cover.
Gottmik
AUGUST 17, 10PM
MY SISTER’S ROOM
Drag Race all-star Gottmik headlines, along with Drew Friday, Eden, Eros Étoile, EllaSaurus Rex, Ivy Fischer, and Pressure K Friday! Tickets via Eventbrite.
Nora En Pure
AUGUST 17, 11PM
DISTRICT ATLANTA
Tickets at collectivpresents.com.
Who’s Got IT?
AUGUST 19, 9PM
ATLANTA EAGLE
Aspen York, Envy Van Micheals, and Coco Iman Starr judge, and Cici Nicole hosts. No cover.
Trivia Night
AUGUST 20, 8:30PM
ATLANTA EAGLE
Hosted by DJ DeWayne.
Alt3r
AUGUST 21, 10PM
STAR BAR
Little Five Point’s favorite monthly drag
show is back with Alt3r girls Hera Kane, Katrina Prowess, and Eden, plus a lineup of incredible drag performers from across the city! $10 cover.
Rock Haus Karaoke
AUGUST 22, 9PM
ATLANTA EAGLE
Hosted by Raqi.
Sweet Tea! A Queer Variety Show
AUGUST 22, 10PM
529
Looking for a cool, refreshing sip of queer talent? Look no further! The lineup of performances, spanning live music, drag, burlesque, and spoken word, includes Ava Vulyewa, Brie Fromage, Hommeboy, Naja X Supreme, and Sunbody, plus a DJ set by Cochino – all hosted by Taylor ALXNDR! Tickets at sfqp.info/sweettea822.
