GEORGIA NEWS
Atlanta mayoral candidates participate in LGBT forum HIV rates, youth homelessness, transgender rights among topics addressed By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com Out Front Theatre is no stranger to playing host to plays or musicals rife with political controversy, but in late August it was political theater to take the stage. Nine of Atlanta’s candidates participated in the Atlanta LGBTQIA Youth Mayoral Forum on Aug. 29, sponsored by Lost-nFound Youth, Joining Hearts, Rainbros., Point Foundation, Pride Alliance, Creative Approach, Georgia State University Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity and the Emory LGBT Alumni. Notably absent was Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall, and City Councilwoman Mary Norwood missed a large portion due to another engagement. James Brian Yancey, founder of Rainbros., moderated the discussion, and kicked things off with a question about the rainbow crosswalks recently installed at the intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue. Most of the candidates agreed it was an appropriate use of funds — though Michael Sterling said he would have rather used private funds. “I think that it is important that we openly say who we are, and I think that although it’s a symbolic gesture, I think that it’s extremely important, especially in the heart of our city, for people to know that as a city, we are inclusive and we respect a diversity of people,” Atlanta City Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms said. Former Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman echoed her sentiments, saying the city needs both services and “tangible symbols” to share its message of standing up for its LGBT community. One of the areas of highest concern to LGBT youth in the audience was that of youth homelessness. It’s an area that former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, one of two openly LGBT mayorwww.thegeorgiavoice.com
Nine candidates for Atlanta mayor took part in a forum on LGBT issues on Aug. 29 at Out Front Theatre Company. From left, candidates Michael Sterling, John Eaves, Ceasar Mitchell, Laban King, Peter Aman, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Cathy Woolard and Vincent Fort. Not pictured is Mary Norwood. (Photo by Dallas Anne Duncan)
“These people need hope. … We need to let them know that their lives mean something, that they have value and once they matter, then they’ll start to take care of themselves.” —Openly gay Atlanta mayoral candidate Laban King on PrEP and LGBT youth al candidates, knows personally, having run away from home at age 15. “We failed to prepare housing for an array of situations for people — homeless youth, people who live in poverty, seniors,” she said. “I set out on a period of self-destruction that I think a lot of you have probably experienced … We have to find safe places for kids until they can figure their way out of there.” Other issues brought up during the discussion included transgender “bathroom bills,” how candidates felt about the president’s tweeted transgender military ban — all nine present said they did not support it — and HIV issues. ‘Exaggerated ignorance’ Sterling called Georgia’s HIV criminalization laws “exaggerated ignorance” based on a “fundamental lack of understanding of how HIV and AIDS are spread.”
Former State Sen. Vincent Fort called the laws homophobic, and referenced a resolution he introduced in the state Legislature to form a study committee on the topic. “I am hoping that someone will take that up in the Legislature now that I’m gone, but here in the city of Atlanta any mayor is going to have to educate the public and use the bully pulpit to make sure the public at large knows how HIV is criminalized in this state and how we can work against it,” he said. Lance Bottoms had a different take on the laws — though she too called them homophobic and said they unfairly targeted the LGBT community, she said it was important that all individuals disclose their sexual health to their partners, whether it’s HIV, Chlamydia or gonorrhea. With Atlanta’s skyrocketing HIV rate, Yancey made note that these were some of the most important questions the candidates
would be asked during the forum. On the subject of the city’s role in providing resources and education about pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, candidates broke into a thoughtful discussion. “I understand that many times in government, we think we are reaching out to the community and we have effectively communicated and we have not,” Norwood said. “I want to be the mayor to make sure that when we launch information, we are doing it in a way that it truly gets to the people that we are trying to get to.” Aman said “full stop,” PrEP needs to be available to anyone who needs it. Sterling and Council President Ceasar Mitchell discussed different partnership opportunities available, including with Georgia Equality, other municipalities in the Atlanta area and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lance Bottoms added that if elected, she plans to appoint a city director of public health to help address the situation. Fort said it was “unforgivable” and “immoral” that City Hall has not previously addressed the epidemic, and former Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves made a point to discuss the commission’s HIV/AIDS task force, which is now in transition to become a full-fledged permanent committee. Woolard said it’s vital that the community acknowledge the problem, for starters. “You just have to name it. Young black men who have sex with men. There are other people who get HIV too, but the point of the epidemic in this community is that. We’ve got to talk about it. We’ve got to put people out in front,” she said. Laban King, also a LGBT candidate, made a point that pills don’t matter if LGBT youth feel they don’t matter. “If you don’t give me a reason to live, then why should I take a pill?” he said. “These people need hope. … We need to let them know that their lives mean something, that they have value and once they matter, then they’ll start to take care of themselves. But until then, you can have as many clinics as you want, you can write as many papers or whatever you’re saying you’re doing, but it’s not gonna work.” September 1, 2017 News 5
GEORGIA NEWS
Ponce City Market, retail construction hitting Ponce gay bars hard Traffic, parking woes affecting Friends, while skyrocketing rent may force Model T out By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com Editor’s note: This is the second in a series examining how development and construction in Atlanta affects LGBT-owned bars and businesses. Next issue, we look at how bars located elsewhere along the BeltLine fare. From the early 1900s until about World War II, the Ford factory on Atlanta’s Ponce de Leon Avenue operated as a vehicle manufacturing facility. Twenty-five years ago, in the same building, Jill Darmer opened The Model T, a gay bar with a penchant for preserving history. Darmer kept the original brick walls and even mounted some car parts behind the bar. For the last quarter-century, Model T has been a staple in the Midtown and LGBT bar scenes, drawing in residents from the upstairs apartments and visitors to other area businesses. But now, the fate of Model T is up in the air: rising rent costs, a symptom of the development of Atlanta’s BeltLine and Ponce City Market, may squeeze the bar and its history out for good. A path to prosperity? Thousands of visitors flock to Ponce City Market every day. The converted Sears building sits at the helm of a multi-year, billion-dollar development project known as the Atlanta BeltLine: more than 20 miles of trails following the paths of old railroad tracks, connecting the city together. “That really was the vanguard of businesses reorienting the BeltLine,” said Lee Harrop, program director for the Atlanta BeltLine. “We work with adjacent property owners, whether it’s to build … stairs or sidewalks or ramps to be connected to the BeltLine.” Ford Factory Lofts, where Model T is located, once had a pathway to the BeltLine, right behind Ponce City Market. But when the Kroger next door was torn down last year
The Model T, a gay bar located in the Ford Factory Lofts, should have direct access to the Atlanta BeltLine. Construction on the new Kroger, however, caused the path to be blocked by construction, leading to a 30 percent decrease in business, according to owner Jill Darmer, seen here at the far right. (Photo by Dallas Anne Duncan)
“I’ve paid all these dues for all these years and you’re going to kick me out because you want a few extra bucks? I’d love to be here another five or six years. Unless something changes, I think maybe he’ll give me another year if I luck up.” —Jill Darmer, owner of The Model T in preparation for a full rebuild, that path was blocked off as part of the construction zone. “When they first started this construction, the first couple months, we all lost probably 30 percent of our business,” Darmer said. “Then we discovered that the people there at City Market, their employees had to pay $10 to park so then they were parking here.” She said once the complex began booting cars that weren’t doing business in the lofts, her customer flow did increase somewhat, but she’s not sure it’ll be enough to cover the rising rent costs. Her rent at the start was $1,500, then eventually increased about $250 per year. Two years ago, she was paying $3,000; today, it’s closer to $5,500. “My rent went up here in two years $2,500 a month,” Darmer said. “In a way I understand … but I’m the only brand here that has
anything to do with the Model T. There’s not another space in here that has anything to do with what this historic building is.” Rent costs already led to one restaurant business leaving Ford Factory Lofts. “They went out of business because he wanted to raise their rent so much, like $10,000 a month, it forced them out,” Darmer said. “If he had remained here I’d be safe for a few more years. But being as I’m standing alone … I think he’s looking for big businesses, not little businesses like me.” The space previously occupied by the restaurant is now also under construction. Darmer said she believes the landlord wants to bring in more retail businesses. Darmer said if she can make it through the construction dates, when the BeltLine pathway reopens and there’s more access to customers — and visibility to customers coming to get
their groceries — she’ll be in a good place. But it’s not evident if she’ll be able to get there. “I’ve paid all these dues for all these years and you’re going to kick me out because you want a few extra bucks?” she said. “I’d love to be here another five or six years. Unless something changes, I think maybe he’ll give me another year if I luck up.” Which means there may only be one year left of Model T, period. “You can’t take the flavor. I mean, there’s no other place that has the ambiance, the original brick walls and all that,” Darmer said. “If I don’t stay here, I don’t know if I want to stay in the business.” Georgia Voice reached out to Donald Lippman of D.E.L. Development Corporation, which owns the Ford Factory Lofts building, as well as former City Councilman Kwanza Hall, who represented that area, for comment on the rising rent costs. They did not respond as of press time. Traffic flow woes Friends on Ponce is located across the street from Ponce City Market and Ford Factory Lofts. “We can walk right across the street and walk right to the BeltLine and there’s no obstacles to it,” business manager Lewis Covington said. “As far as the BeltLine goes … when people come in who’ve never been here before, they like it, they come back; that’s success.” He said originally when the BeltLine was planned, there were supposed to be several thousand residential units that would have helped increase Friends’ customer base. That did not come to fruition, and now there’s closer to just 1,000 units. “The BeltLine has turned into such a wonderful thing for all of us. It’s really a great thing, but it just hasn’t lived up to its promise. I don’t know how that’s affected our business,” Covington said. “I think if there was more housing, we would have more business.” Though it’s unclear just how much of this is due to the BeltLine being nearby, Covington did say he’s seen the diversity of his customers increase in recent years. Friends now markets itself as a neighborCONTINUES ON PAGE 7
6 News September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
GEORGIA NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 hood bar, though it is LGBT-owned and was traditionally geared toward a gay clientele. In addition to visitors from the nearby BeltLine, Friends also brings in overflow customers from the downstairs bar MJQ. “It’s caused our clientele to be very, very diverse, and that’s what we’ve always wanted. We’re proud of the diversity of our bar. It is a neighborhood bar and we started out as a gay bar, and it has just started enveloping more people and more people have enveloped us,” Covington said. What the development of Ponce City Market has done to affect Friends, however, is alter traffic patterns. “That has changed a lot of the traffic. The automobile traffic is ridiculous. It’s absurd. They built that thing, put in more businesses and took away one lane of traffic for a bicycle path. I have not seen one person on a bicycle since they put that lane in there over a year ago and all it’s done is just created a nightmare at rush hours,” Covington said. Friends has 23 dedicated parking spots,
but after hours customers can park at the shopping center next door where Bookstore Pub is located. There’s also street parking, which bugs the neighbors, but customers don’t have much of a choice. “If you park over at the shopping center with Whole Foods, they’ll boot you. The booters watch and see where you go and if you park over there and walk across the street to Ponce City Market, they’ll boot you. If you walk up this way, they’ll boot you,” he said. Unlike Model T, Friends isn’t facing unusually high rent increases, and Covington indicated that the bar had no plans to go anywhere. It’s in a multi-year lease and there is a good relationship between Friends and the landlord. For her part, Darmer’s not giving up yet. She’s sent material to her landlord, trying to convince him of the history, both LGBT and Atlanta, preserved on the walls of her bar. She reached out to Ford Motor Company in the hopes of having them step in to speak with the landlord about the importance of this building. She also plans to speak with City Council and mayoral candidates about Model T’s role in keeping the Ford Factory Lofts a staple for thirsty Atlantans.
Friends on Ponce, a gay bar now marketed as a neighborhood bar, hasn’t seen a lot of direct effects from construction on the BeltLine and Ponce City Market. That might be different had more residential areas been built as originally proposed. (Photo by Dallas Anne Duncan)
“There’s a lot of history here and I think it’s so important, especially as the city grows. [The BeltLine] is supposed to represent old railroad tracks, right? And a new beginning for some things. I feel like they’re choking
that off,” Darmer said. “I don’t necessarily think me being gay or a gay establishment has anything to do with it, but I think it should be given consideration, considering where we are. This is Midtown.”
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September 1, 2017 News 7
NEWS BRIEFS Arrest made in murder of transgender Atlanta woman On Aug. 22, College Park, Georgia, police made an arrest in the murder of Tee Tee Dangerfield, a transgender woman found shot in her car in the South Hampton Estates apartment complex in the early morning hours of July 31. Investigators and detectives secured an arrest warrant for Tyrone Anthony Kemp, 26. They located him and arrested him without incident at his work Tyrone Anthony Kemp at a Union City, Georgia, car dealership. College Park police told Georgia Voice Kemp was processed at their headquarters and was charged with murder. Major Lance Patterson said Kemp’s prior record was “minimal” and involved only traffic citations and misdemeanors. A motive for the murder had not yet been established, and Kemp has not confessed. Dangerfield, 32, was the 16th known transgender person killed so far in the US this year. The vast majority of these victims were transwomen of color, as Dangerfield was. Her death occurred barely a month after that of another Atlanta transwoman. Ava Le’Ray Barrin, 17, was shot during an argument in Athens on June 25. Jalen Breon Brown, who is also transgender, was arrested for Barrin’s murder. An Athens judge let Brown out on bond on Aug. 23. Second gay man running for Fulton County Commission Reese McCranie is the second openly gay man to vie for the Fulton County Commission’s District 4 seat, which was held until recently by the late Joan Garner, who was the first openly LGBT individual to be elected to the commission. McCranie previously served the city as the deputy director of communications for Mayor Kasim Reed, and is now the director of policy and communications for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In a post on his campaign Facebook page, McCranie touted the improvements made in Atlanta during his time working for Reed, but said there is plenty of work still to be done.
Reese McCranie, director of policy and communications for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, qualified at the end of August to run for the Fulton County Commission’s District 4 seat, which was held by out Commissioner Joan Garner until her death in April. McCranie is one of two gay men running for the seat. (Photo via Facebook)
“We have one of the worst instances of income inequality in the nation. Property taxes have spiked uncontrollably and affordable housing is nearly nonexistent. Our jail system is overcrowded and there are no meaningful re-entry programs for offenders,” the post read. “Fulton County has one of the highest rates of new HIV infections in the country and has a well-established pattern of public health mismanagement putting the lives and well-being of our residents in danger. I believe we can do better.” McCranie faces fellow gay opponent Josh McNair in the special election, which takes place Nov. 7. Cagle: Pass adoption bill without ‘religious freedom’ measure Georgia’s Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle doesn’t want the issue of adoption to turn into a discussion on so-called “religious freedom.” “I don’t want us to get caught up in a religious liberty debate on the adoption bill,” Cagle told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jim Galloway. “I think that we should obviously take care of the major issue at hand. And that is, we want to expedite kids being able to be adopted in any family, a loving family, a caring family — to where
they have a true future.” The bill in question is House Bill 159, a complete overhaul of Georgia’s adoption code that hit the floor during the 2017 legislative session. On the final day of the session, the bill stalled due to an amendment offered up by state Sen. William Ligon (R-Brunswick), which offered legal protection to taxpayer-funded child placement groups that used religious grounds to refuse to place children with LGBT couples. Cagle told the AJC he expects the adoption bill to be passed early in the 2018 session. “I expect the committee to do its job and vet the Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle legislation. I don’t expect the Senate to adopt a bill that they have not vetted,” he said. Just before the bill was tabled on Sine Die, Ligon suggested to the Senate that the House had had plenty of time to review the adoption code re-do, but the Senate had not had sufficient opportunity to vet the legislation.
8 News September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.
What Is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).
Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:
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Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi.
Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).
Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant? • Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother? • It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you
What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines? If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.
What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi? For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist. To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.
Rx Only Manufactured by Patheon, Inc. for Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105 Copyright © Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
For Copay Savings Card and Patient Assistance, see Mytesi.com
Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.
Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com. NP-390-14
• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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EDITORIAL
Editor: Patrick Saunders psaunders@thegavoice.com Deputy Editor: Dallas Anne Duncan dduncan@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Ashleigh Atwell, Cliff Bostock, Melissa Carter, Jim Farmer, Shannon Hames, Ryan Lee, Robbie Medwed, Matt Schafer, Dionne N. Walker, Simon Williamson
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
FEEDBACK
Welcome to a weekend that could only happen in Atlanta
Re: “Atlanta black LGBT family chosen as faces of Swedish fashion collection,” Aug. 21 “Now I kinda want a gay dad.” -Sue London via Twitter
BY PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com
“The place was packed, both full of people and quizzical expressions. You’d have a beerbellied bro in a football jersey next to a J-setter next to a Wookie. It was bizarre. It was Atlanta.”
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All material in Georgia Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Georgia Voice. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. We also do not accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. 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 26-issue mailed subscription for $60 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 every other Friday by The Georgia Voice, LLC. Individual subscriptions are $60 per year for 26 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.
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10 Outspoken September 1, 2017
Labor Day weekend is one of my favorite weekends to be in Atlanta. There’s this odd mix of major events that take place throughout the Midtown and downtown areas, the three biggest of which are a pair of major college football games kicking off the season (we won’t mention the local fast food chicken purveyor that’s sponsoring them), the glorious geekfest that is Dragon Con and, to top it off, the largest black LGBT celebration in the country – Atlanta Black Gay Pride. It can make for a fascinating mix of folks crossing each other’s paths, as happened when I was at a local coffee shop one morning on Labor Day weekend a couple of years ago. The place was packed, both full of people and quizzical expressions. You’d have a beer-bellied bro in a football jersey next to a J-setter next to a Wookie. It was bizarre. It was Atlanta. It makes sense that Black Gay Pride is such a major event in this city, seeing as we have the largest black LGBT population in the nation. But it also speaks to the city’s history with social justice and oft-mentioned title of “the cradle of the civil rights movement.” If you’re a visitor to Atlanta this weekend, know that we haven’t lost a step when it comes to taking to the streets to fight oppression in its many forms. Just a couple of weekends ago, thousands marched through downtown to speak out against white supremacy and the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia, the previous weekend. I was at that march, covering it for Georgia Voice, and it couldn’t have made me more proud of my city. The march went through different areas of significance to the civil rights movement, with people streaming out of businesses and churches to watch, post
about it on social media or join. And an anti-Trump anthem was born – a re-purposed version of native son Ludacris’ “Move,” with thousands of voices echoing off buildings as they shouted “Move, Trump, get out the way, get out the way, Trump, get out the way.” As happens more and more often these days, LGBT organizations were a welcome part of the event. This hasn’t always been the case in years past, but attitudes continue to change and it’s becoming more and more clear to marginalized groups that we need to support each other in order to get through times like these. With that said, enjoy yourself this weekend. And take a look inside the issue for a primer on what to do. We’ve got some facts and figures about Black Gay Pride that might surprise you, a full rundown of all the parties, comedy shows, music and spoken word performances, panel discussions and more, a think piece on the “stud for stud” movement among black lesbians and a feature on the inaugural Queer Black Film Festival. So there’s more than enough to fill up your calendar with an unforgettable weekend. But if you could, do one thing for us and take a moment to remember a woman named Tee Tee Dangerfield. She was a local transgender woman who was murdered recently, making her the 16th trans person killed in the US so far this year, and yet another transwoman of color lost to violence. She might have been there right alongside you taking a stroll through Piedmont Park on Sunday, checking out a panel discussion or dancing it up at one of the parties. Let’s honor her memory by continuing to live life to the fullest, and fighting oppression and hatred whenever it should appear.
“Adorable!” -Isobel Carr via Twitter Re: “BREAKING: Arrest made in murder of transgender Atlanta woman,” Aug. 22 “Rest in power, sister.” -Steve Bailey via Facebook “May justice be served.” -Tracee McDaniel via Facebook “I just found out that Tee Tee is gone. She was a beautiful person. She always had a smile. I will miss you.” -Maria Begona via Facebook “Praise the Lord. I miss her and want to know why he took her from us.” -Zuri-Starr Paree via Facebook Re: “LGBT GOP group Log Cabin Republicans to host anniversary dinner at Trump hotel,” Aug. 22 “Shameful!” -Yolanda Reyna via Facebook “Well that’s just like the pink piggy that was invited to a wolfpack family kitchen for dinner.” -Carlos Flores via Facebook “Oh I do hope Ann Coulter and Milo Y. can be there. No one can ruin a big gay party like those two!” -Chaplain T.J. McGiffert Re: “A. Bentley Hudgins: The other virus ravaging Atlanta’s queer community,” Aug. 28 “Bentley will be missed in Macon. Hope he can continue to be a leader for people that need his strong voice and get-it-done attitude.” -Kevin Thomas via Facebook Want to be featured in Feedback? Leave a comment to a story via social media or on our website, or email editor@thegavoice.com with the subject line “Feedback.” www.thegeorgiavoice.com
OUT IN THE WILD
By Simon Williamson
Our local governments need to get bold Simon Williamson lives with his husband in heteronormatively-assimilative fashion in Athens, after a year of surviving rural Georgia.
On Facebook, I follow a philosopher here at the University of Georgia who often writes about how our local government doesn’t strike hard enough back at some of the hideous laws that are vomited out of our state Legislature. Irami Osei-Frimpong has many good ideas, but this is one of the easiest for me to repeat, and I feel it is something our local government should be doing: fight back harder against statewide laws that are basically crap. Some of the excrement that comes at us from beneath the Gold Dome includes not being able to set our own local minimum wage laws. In spite of Republicans believing in local control of things, the minimum wage is something they consider the
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citizens of a locality too stupid to be able to decide for themselves. So, you just aren’t allowed to do it. What, asks Osei-Frimpong, is stopping our local reps from just doing it and making the state government take us to court so that workers can continue to be paid wages below a livable level? Make the state get off its ass and come and force people to live on food stamps. It is not like there isn’t a show on the other foot. Conservative Americans throughout history have gone so far out of their way, particularly in the South, to delay or harm the implementation of federal laws pertaining to just about anything a critical mass of people didn’t want, like civil rights. There are still counties in this region where LGBT couples
“Our local governments should represent us. And if that means some legal fees for being sued over giving our people a living wage, then so be it. Make the state make its case for some of the terrible shit it forces upon the rest of us.” cannot marry someone of the same gender because an elected official required to sign off on the bizarre paperwork says no, in spite of it being a right declared by the highest court in the land. But, cast your mind back to 2004. To Osei-Frimpong’s point, (this is also his example) Gavin Newsom, then mayor of San Francisco, walked straight into these waters with his staff out and told City Hall they would be conducting gay marriages. It did not last long – bureaucrats and bigots alike sued to stop the practice after a month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had multiple whines about it and the marriages were overturned. But, that did more to advance the rights of us to marry who we like because Newsom
stood up for it and made the people who were against it sue to maintain their shitty points of view. Osei-Frimpong makes an excellent argument here. Our local governments should represent us. The further up the chain you go, the further politicians staffing those seats are from the normal daily lives of the rest of us. Our local government should question the motives of our state government in the exact manner the state does of the federal government. Our local governments should represent us. And if that means some legal fees for being sued over giving our people a living wage, then so be it. Make the state make its case for some of the terrible shit it forces upon the rest of us.
September 1, 2017 Outspoken 11
WORK IT!: BUSINESS PROFILE
Stonewall Bar Association member Randy Fry finds his calling Out personal injury attorney not afraid to go to trial By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN dduncan@thegavoice.com One call may be all that’s required for some personal injury attorneys, but Randy Fry makes it a priority to go to trial for his clients. “In my business, there are a lot of perceptions of personal injury attorneys. Most people are only familiar with the TV attorneys,” Fry said. “My attitude is, there’s nothing wrong with being a TV attorney, but we find the majority of the TV firms don’t try cases.” His firm, however, specializes in taking personal injury cases to trial if the need arises. “We do find consistently that when an insurance company is against a firm that tries cases, they’re usually more apt to resolve cases for a better result,” Fry said. Fry knew early on that he wanted to be in the courtroom, and chalks that up to a desire instilled in him by his parents to help people. The Fry Law Firm handles cases all over Georgia, and Fry said he appreciates the support of the LGBT community for the way the business has grown. “We handle strictly personal injury matters here, which means we represent people who are injured by others due to their negligence,” Fry said. “We’re constantly opposing the insurance companies to make sure our clients are compensated.” These cases include things such as biking or car accidents, slip-and-falls and pedestrians being struck by vehicles. One of his most memorable trials was that of a woman injured by a defective chair in a theater. The chair had a three-inch piece of metal protruding from the side and when the woman went to sit down, it sliced part of her leg open and required a lot of hospital care. The theater’s attorneys argued she should have seen the metal, so the case went to trial. Fry and his co-counsel argued that just because an individual isn’t from a white-collar background doesn’t mean her injuries are insignificant.
“I wanted to be a defense attorney representing insurance companies. Within months of seeing how the insurance companies treated the people, I knew now I found my calling of what I wanted to do.” —Attorney Randy Fry of The Fry Law Firm “The jury found it our way and they compensated her for a confidential amount which we were very, very proud of,” he said. What to do if you’re injured Fry is a member of the LGBT Stonewall Bar Association, and said he finds it surprising there are so few trial lawyers who are openly gay. “There are of course a lot of attorneys generally that are openly out and involved in the Stonewall Bar Association just like I am, but it’s always been surprising to me that I knew very few lawyers that try personal injury cases that are out in the community,” he said. For anyone who is injured in an accident, their first priority should be their health — which means they’re likely to start getting medical bills, followed by calls from insurance companies. “Never talk to the insurance company until they talk to an attorney,” he said. “Hopefully us, but if not us, then any good trial attorney. That attorney can advise them on how to proceed.” Fry said 15 or 20 years ago, most people were able to handle cases on their own, but so many personal injury cases became contentious that many of these companies added hundreds of attorneys on staff, something no individual should go up against alone.
Randy Fry, who heads up The Fry Law Firm in Midtown Atlanta, grew his firm from himself and a phone in 2011 to a staff of 13 attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants today. (Photo by Dallas Anne Duncan)
The next challenge Fry grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the son of a lawyer and a music teacher, and went to Belmont College. After graduation, he was inspired by the Tom Cruise movie “Cocktail,” and decided it was time for a break. “I moved down to Fort Lauderdale and for two years, all I did was work out and hang out on the beach and sling drinks at night,” Fry said. “Then my motivation got to me and I was bored and ready for the next challenge. I had always wanted to be a lawyer, and I knew that was the right time to go.” He didn’t want to do the same sort of law his father did — estate and tax work, “one of the most boring fields in the world” — but remembered being interested in cases where older clients were taken advantage of by financial firms. “That’s how I kind of went into the personal injury area,” Fry said. “One thing that got me interested in personal injury law is I always wanted to be in the courtroom and be a litigator, but … most law students thought there was too much litigiousness in the
country. I wanted to be a defense attorney representing insurance companies. Within months of seeing how the insurance companies treated the people, I knew now I found my calling of what I wanted to do.” Fry attended John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, and worked as a personal trainer to pay for his education. He worked with several different law firms in Atlanta and Decatur before breaking out to start his own firm. “[Attorney Bruce Hagen] is the one that really taught me how to try cases, how to conduct myself as an attorney in the courtroom and how to win with grace and how to win with humility,” Fry said. “I had six wonderful years working for Bruce, but after six years I was ready to go out on my own.” The Fry Law Firm began in 2011 with Fry and his telephone, and six years later there are three attorneys, three paralegals and seven legal assistants in the spacious suite at 1401 Peachtree Street. “We’ve been very blessed to grow so quickly,” Fry said.
12 Community September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
BLACK GAY PRIDE
Atlanta Black Gay Pride BY THE NUMBERS
3,000+
Number of people expected to attend events at the host hotel, The Georgian Terrace
21
The number of years Black Gay Pride has been celebrated in Atlanta
75,000+
Number of people expected to attend Atlanta Black Gay Pride events this year
40+
Number of parties scheduled throughout the long weekend
9
Number of artists performing at In The Life Atlanta’s Speakfire 2017, a night of music and spoken word taking place Friday, Sept. 1 at Gallery 992
3
In The Life Atlanta events scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 2 on the Georgia State University campus, including a conversation about sexual wellness, a campus equality event and a Greek show
10,000+
People expected to attend the Pure Heat Community Festival on Sunday, Sept. 3 in Piedmont Park
20+
Artists scheduled to perform at the Pure Heat Community Festival
2
Organizations the Pure Heat Community Festival benefits: The Vision Community Foundation and The Positively Fearless Campaign
14 Black Gay Pride September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
BLACK GAY PRIDE
2017 Black Gay Pride YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST BLACK GAY PRIDE EVENTS IN ATLANTA FOR SEPT. 1 – 5 We gave you a taste of what’s in store this Atlanta Black Gay Pride weekend in our last issue, now here’s the full weekend lineup featuring parties, comedy shows, music and spoken word performances, panel discussions, celebrities and more!
Cardi B. (Photo via Facebook)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
The Inaugural Queer Black Film Festival kicks off today at the Georgian Terrace Hotel with an actor’s workshop from 12 – 3 p.m., followed by a screening of Davien Harlis’ “Red Carpet Hashtags & Heartbreak” at 5 p.m., 659 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.facebook. com/events/1228631653932865, for more information, see page 24
In The Life Atlanta presents Let’s Talk About Sex, an open and frank discussion on sexual wellness, PEP, PrEP and support programs in Atlanta, 2 – 4 p.m., Dahlberg Hall at Georgia State University, 30 Courtland St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook.com/ events/2027519170817141
RockStars Production hosts a Pre-Game Cocktail Mixer to get the night started right, 5 – 9 p.m., location TBA, www.rockstarsproduction.com
Whitney Mixter from “The Real L Word” makes her first appearance of the weekend at the Beautiful Burlesque Show featuring a five-star stud tour, glam stations, go-go dancers and drag shows, 8 p.m. – 3 a.m., My Sister’s Room, 66 12th St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mysistersroom.com In The Life Atlanta presents Speakfire!, an evening of music and spoken word at Gallery 992, hosted by Miko Evans and Holiday Simmons,
The Inaugural Queer Black Film Festival continues with a State of Black LGBTQ Cinema Panel at noon and short film and web series screenings at 1 p.m., Georgian Terrace Hotel, 659 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.facebook.com/ events/1228631653932865, for more information, see page 24 Campus Pride hosts an Atlanta LGBTQ-Friendly College Fair & Job Career Fair at Georgia State University, 1 – 4 p.m., 33 Gilmer St., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook.com/ events/487415444941204
See some skin at the Naked Hustle Day Party at Magic City, 3 – 8 p.m., 241 Forsyth St. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.atlantaprideweekend.com
Get your laugh on at the Annual Comedy Show hosted by Queen Sheba at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, 7 – 10 p.m., 659 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.atlantaprideweekend.com
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
Start your night early with the Atlanta WETher Celebrity Block Party, 3 – 8:30 p.m., Opera, 1150 Crescent Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.atlantaprideweekend.com 10 p.m. - 1 a.m., 992 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30310, www.facebook.com/ events/319647845164485 Attention, girls! It’s the Annual Mega Friday Night Live Ladies Lounge Party at Museum Bar, 10 p.m. – 4 a.m., 181 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30312, www.atlantaprideweekend.com Lil’ Kim and Dream Doll perform at the Hotlanta Party at Revel, 10 p.m. - 3 a.m., 1778 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd.
N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318, www.rockstarsproduction.com Mature woman who likes mature women? There’s the Grown Folks Takeover with NYC’s DJ Mary Mac, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., Soul Bar at Pal’s Lounge, 254 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.atlantaprideweekend.com Expect celebrity guests at the Annual Hotlanta Party at the Georgia Freight Depot, 11 p.m. – 5 a.m., 65 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.atlantaprideweekend.com
In The Life Atlanta hosts a Campus Equality event to talk social justice and human rights and to advocate for change on campus, 3:30 – 4 :30 p.m., Dahlberg Hall at Georgia State University, 30 Courtland St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook.com/ events/846348012214740 In The Life Atlanta wraps up its day of programming with an LGBTQ Greek Show, 4:30 p.m., Dahlberg Hall at Georgia State University, 30 Courtland CONTINUES ON PAGE 19
16 Black Gay Pride September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
BLACK GAY PRIDE
2017 Black Gay Pride YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST BLACK GAY PRIDE EVENTS IN ATLANTA FOR SEPT. 1 – 5 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook.com/events/112835719414111
Queen Sheba (Courtesy photo)
The boys will be out in force for the Legendary Main Event featuring bottle service, hookahs, seven bars and a performance by rapper Cardi B, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., Opium, 960 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.rockstarsproduction.com
Todrick Hall (Photo via Facebook)
RockStars Production throws the Ultimate Day Party, 5 – 9 p.m., location TBA, www.rockstarsproduction.com
It’s Celebrity Showtime Sunday at Mansion Elan, 10 p.m. - 5 a.m., 3595 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30319, www.atlantaprideweekend.com
MSR hosts the Traffic Light Party featuring lesbian speed dating, a drag show, DJs, androgynous models and Whitney Mixter of “The Real L Word,” 8 p.m. – 3 a.m., 66 12th St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mysistersroom.com
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
The Annual Cruise for a Cause departs the Georgian Terrace Hotel at 12 p.m., bound for Lake Lanier, 12 – 5 p.m., 659 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.atlantaprideweekend.com
DJs Aasha, Decoteau and Hourglass perform at LOVHER at The Loft at Centerstage, $20 advance general admission, $30 advance VIP admission, 10 p.m. - 3 a.m., 1374 W. Peachtree St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.lovheratl.com
Ladies who love ladies will be at the Labor Day Block Party at MSR, 2 – 9 p.m., 66 12th St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mysistersroom.com
It’s the one, the only, the biggest girl party in the country. It’s the Legendary Traxx Girls Big Bang Event at the Georgia Freight Depot, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m., 65 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.traxxgirls.com RockStars Production presents the Annual Saturday Night Live Block Party at Museum Bar featuring Keyshia Cole, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., 181 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30312, www.rockstarsproduction.com
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
Atlanta Black Gay Pride started as a cookout in Piedmont Park the day before Labor Day, and there’s nowhere better to be 21 years later as the Pure Heat Community Festival rocks the park! Over 20 performances are lined up, plus appearances will be made by rapper Cardi B, singer/ songwriter Sevyn Streeter and YouTube
www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Eat up! It’s the Annual Rooftop BBQ at Suite Lounge, 5 – 9 p.m., 375 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313, www.rockstarsproduction.com Don’s miss Traxx Girls owner DJ M’s Annual Birthday Bash at Onyx, 10 p.m. - 12: 45 a.m, 1888 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.traxxgirls.com
sensation Todrick Hall, 12 – 8 p.m., 1329 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30306, www.pureheatcommunityfestival.com
RockStars Production hosts Men Who Brunch, 1 – 4 p.m., location TBA, www.rockstarsproduction.com
Soul icon Queen Sheba hosts the Soul Food Poetry Slam Jazz Brunch at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, 12 – 3 p.m., 659 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.atlantaprideweekend.com
It’s a Lesbian Labor Day Weekend Luau at MSR with DJ Kenzie Q, Kia Comedy and Andro Fashion Show models Ke Monet and Holliwood, 2 – 7 p.m., 66 12th St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mysistersroom.com
Havana Club is the spot for the Annual White Party, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., 3112 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30305, www.rockstarsproduction.com
No better place to be than the Culture Club Day Party at Soul Bar at Pal’s Lounge, 5 p.m. - 12 a.m., 254 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.atlantaprideweekend.com
The ladies of Soul Bar at Pal’s Lounge aren’t done partying yet as they host the Pride Edition of Spotlite Karaoke, 8 p.m., 254 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.soulbaratpals.com
It’s complementary food and cocktails at Luster: 2017 United by Pride Lounge, 12 – 3 p.m., Piedmont Room at The Park Tavern, 500 10th St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.facebook.com/ events/1048997535237048
TUESDAY, SEPT. 5
September 1, 2017 Black Gay Pride 19
What is TRUVADA for PrEP?
Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP?
TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a prescription medicine that is used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1. To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.
Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: ® Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. ® Also take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA for PrEP? Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. ® Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. ® You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. ® If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. ® To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: ® Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners. ® Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you. ® Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners. ® Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. ® If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: ® Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV and stop taking TRUVADA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.
What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP? Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: ® Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA. ® Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. ® Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. ® Bone problems, including bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA for PrEP? ® All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis. ® If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA. ® If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can be passed to the baby in breast milk. ® All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. ® If you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include certain medicines to treat hepatitis C (HCV) infection. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page.
TVDC0139_PrEP_B_10x10-5_GeorgiaVoice_Vogue_p1.indd 1-2
I'm passionate, not impulsive. I know who I am. And I make choices that fit my life. TRUVADA for PrEP™ is a once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when taken every day and used together with safer sex practices. ® TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex. ® You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP.
Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you. Learn more at truvada.com
7/26/17 9:56 AM
IMPORTANT FACTS
This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEPTM (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.
(tru-VAH-dah) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative. • Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. • You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you were exposed to HIV-1 or have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. • See the “How To Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information. TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.
ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA for PrEP is a prescription medicine used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1. • To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health. Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. • Take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.
HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1. • Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • Use TRUVADA for PrEP together with condoms and safer sex practices. • Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP” section. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. • Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. • Bone problems. Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.
BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis. • Have any other medical conditions. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can pass to the baby in breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.
HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners. • Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you. • Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners. • Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.
GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV infection. • Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit start.truvada.com for program information.
TRUVADA FOR PREP, the TRUVADA FOR PREP Logo, the TRUVADA Blue Pill Design, TRUVADA, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: April 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0139 07/17
TVDC0139_PrEP_B_10x10-5_GeorgiaVoice_Vogue_p1.indd 3
7/26/17 9:56 AM
BLACK GAY PRIDE
‘Stud for stud’
and the evolution of black Atlanta lesbian dating Celebration, controversy as decades-old cultural roles being upended By DIONNE WALKER Being gay in Greensboro, North Carolina, is pretty simple: The LGBT community is small, so people like who they like, explained Robin, a 29-year-old black lesbian who was taken aback when she relocated to Atlanta a few years ago. For starters, Atlanta women were into labels. Further, those labels limited socially acceptable couples to one type – a butch and a femme. A “soft stud” who likes other typically masculine-appearing women, Robin found her niche in the city’s small but growing community of “stud for stud” women. “I know a lot of stud on studs here in Atlanta,” said Robin, a customer service specialist who didn’t want to use her last name. “People are becoming more open-minded.” Heteronormative gender roles are a signature of lesbian circles, influencing everything from body language to hairstyle. In the love department, dapper studs date sultry femmes, according to decades-old cultural rules that have a particularly strong foothold among black LGBT women. Yet a low rumble of change is growing louder. More masculine-presenting black lesbians are embracing the idea of romance between butch women. Stud for stud – or S4S – women are showing up on TV shows, forming online groups and openly turning their backs on rules that say Ms. Right must carry a purse. Insiders say such relationships are old news among whites. But in black circles, where strict ideas of what it means to be a lesbian prevail, the evolution is causing celebration and controversy. www.thegeorgiavoice.com
“Many straight men act aggressive towards gay men because they’re expected to, not because they actually feel resentment or disgust towards gay men. It’s part of the image. The same is true of studs and butches. Some are vehemently against S4S simply because it’s expected.” —Filmmaker Nneka Onuorah, whose 2015 documentary “The Same Difference” explored S4S themes ‘Society has told us you need this balance of power’ To be sure, there have always been femmefemme or so-called “no label” pairings among black LGBT women. What’s slowly shifting, say community insiders, is the acceptance of couples where both women are definitively masculine. Such pairings directly challenge antiquated ideas that have thrived in the LGBT community and beyond, said filmmaker Nneka Onuorah, whose 2015 documentary “The Same Difference” explored S4S themes. The hit film has sparked spirited discussions at showings in Atlanta and across the country. “When people see two masculine women together, they can’t process that. Society has told us you need this balance of power – you need someone to take care of things and the other to nurture,” Onuorah said. “It’s not really about sexuality,” she said. “It’s really about what masculinity represents to people.” For black lesbians, masculinity has long meant carefully mimicking black males. During the 1950s heyday of butch/femme culture, black studs sported three-piece men’s suits and a perfectly coiffed femme on their arm – preferably in a gorgeous dress, according to the website Out History.
More masculine-presenting black lesbians are embracing the idea of romance between butch women. (Courtesy photo)
Generations later, many black lesbians continue to closely mirror cisgender men, even down to their homophobia, said Washington, D.C.-based writer Eden Carswell. She recently wrote about her own experience being approached by a fellow stud for the Black Lesbian Love Lab blog. The article drew several comments illustrating how touchy the topic remains. “Get this fag shit outta here,” wrote one commenter, identified as “Gully.” “Many straight men act aggressive towards gay men because they’re expected to, not because they actually feel resentment or disgust towards gay men. It’s part of the image,” Carswell said. “The same is true of studs and butches. Some are vehemently against S4S simply because it’s expected.” Underground scene coming into the light For some black gay women already facing a trifecta of potential sources of discrimination, flying in the face of established community norms can seem overwhelming, said Shaquea Moore of Decatur, Georgia. Moore said most women find it easier “to go with what’s normal.” “All studs are not anti-dating studs,” she said. “It’s just that it’s frowned upon. I think more of us would do it if there wasn’t a stigma.” Many women want to seem more palatable to the greater black community, still
largely coming to terms with LGBT men and women in general, said Kai Brown, a vocal advocate for S4S visibility from Washington, D.C. “To get better acceptance and understanding and empathy from our community, our parents, our churches … we adopted the heteronormative,” she said. Harsh comments and even violence motivated Brown to become increasingly vocal. Now going by “Stud Slayer,” she runs an irreverent S4S blog and recently spoke at a Washington, D.C., conference challenging ideas of what it means to be a stud. “Just like you’re seeing transgender people all over the place, runways and stuff, you’re going to be seeing us,” she said. “We’re gonna be out there. We’re pretty out there now!” There are signs that attitudes are thawing. The popular black lesbian web series “Studville” has explored S4S themes, while authors have added S4S-themed books to the standard romance themes. Online, a company called SOS Ultimate sells baubles that read “Sorry femmes, I like studs.” In Atlanta, Robin said the S4S scene is still pretty underground. She mostly meets women through word of mouth – approaching in a nightclub is a little risky – or online. Inch by inch, she believes, the community will come out into the light. “I’m pretty sure it’s everywhere,” she said. “You just have to be open enough to see it.”
September 1, 2017 Black Gay Pride 23
BLACK GAY PRIDE
Inside the inaugural
Queer Black Film Festival Celebration of film hopes to take advantage of the ‘Moonlight’ effect By J. MATTHEW COBB When the Barry Jenkins’ film “Moonlight” captured Best Picture at the 89th Annual Academy Awards, the conversation suddenly shifted towards newer windows of opportunity opening for queer independent filmmakers and people of color. All of this would become fertile ground for the Queer Black Film Festival, a new frontier for black LGBT filmmakers living inside the creative hub of Atlanta taking place Sept. 1 – 3 at The Georgian Terrace Hotel. As a part of Atlanta Black Gay Pride, this relatively young celebration of film is hoping to open doors in the same way “Moonlight” did for indie filmmakers. “I remember attending a special screening of ‘Moonlight’ in Atlanta, and thinking this film was special,” recalled Courtney Walter, co-founder and one of the three festival directors. “Although it didn’t necessarily influence us in making the festival, it did motivate and inspire us along the way.” Expansion brings name change Queer Black Film Festival co-founder Onyx Keesha, also a festival director, stressed that a festival of this caliber was a long time in the making. With both having a background in film, Walter and Keesha felt that many films made by people of color were still being overlooked by the masses, especially in gay media. This prompted the creation of the Queer Vision Film Screening, which started out two years ago during Atlanta Black Gay Pride weekend. “Keesha and I came together and collaborated with Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen III, who oversees the Vision Community Foundation – our main sponsor,” Walter said. But as time wore on, the three felt it was
Details
Queer Black Film Festival Friday, Sept. 1 – Sunday, Sept. 3 The Georgian Terrace Hotel 659 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308 www.facebook.com/ events/1228631653932865
time for a name change to reflect the expansion it has undergone due to its growing size, community engagement and the swell of film submissions. “We started out with just having it on one day, but now it has expanded to three days,” Keesha added. Making Atlanta a destination for black LGBT filmmakers According to Keesha, there will be one narrative feature, “Red Carpet, Hashtags & Heartbreak,” which will be the opening night film for the festival. This dramedy written and directed by Davien Harlis was also championed by a number of actors and creative artists in and around Atlanta, exposing the pool of talent and solid networking that Atlanta has to offer. Saturday afternoon brings “Parallel the Documentary,” a documentary short that follows film director B. Danielle Watkins as she traces her experiences of being the only black filmmaker at a small regional lesbian film festival in Kentucky. A screening of an episodic web series will also be paired with Watkins’ film. Prior to those screenings, a panel discussion titled “State of Black LGBTQ Cinema,” something Walter firmly believes to be beneficially strategic in building upon the recent successes in black queer storytelling, will be held. Director Seven King, filmmaker Lester Matthews, along with Keesha, Watkins and Harlis will lead that conversation. Festival organizers hope to break beyond the Atlanta bubble and to make it a destination for black LGBT filmmakers across the country. One of the ways they are working towards that goal will be with an actor’s
The Queer Vision Film Screening underwent an expansion and is now known as the Queer Black Film Festival. (Courtesy photos)
workshop at noon on Friday. It will be led by Rhavynn Drummer, a highly respected filmmaker and casting director whose list of credits include working on Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots” and “For Better or Worse.” “We only have a few slots open, just 11,” Walter said. Awards to be given out at Pure Heat The culmination of the festival will take place at the Pure Heat Community Festival the following Sunday in Piedmont Park, when the festival’s jury will pass out awards for several categories onstage before thousands of Atlanta Black Gay Pride attendees, many of them unfamiliar with the film festival. With Atlanta Black Gay Pride billed as one of the largest Pride celebrations in the country, Keesha believes this opportunity will help gener-
ate a larger draw for next year’s festival. With the exception of the actor’s workshop, all of the screenings and events at the Queer Black Film Festival are free to attend, which is a rarity for film festivals. Although they only have one presenting sponsor through Bishop Allen’s Vision Community Foundation and are working under the umbrella of Atlanta Black Gay Pride, festival organizers are totally aware that it takes funds, volunteers and community input to make such an event possible. They are encouraging the public to make donations throughout the festivities. All film screenings, the panel discussion and actor’s workshop will be held at the Georgian Terrace Hotel. “We love having it there,” Keesha said. “The people staying there – they come down and love to check out what we’re doing. It’s open to everybody.”
24 Black Gay Pride September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
DISCOVER YOUR NICHE IN DEKALB
Enjoy Year-Round Festivals in DeKalb DeKalb is home to some of the best festivals in North Georgia. Whether you are looking for arts, crafts, music, dance or festival food, we have outdoor festivals and events for everyone. Explore our progressive communities and discover your niche in DeKalb. Visit us at DiscoverDeKalb.com to learn about all the great things happening in DeKalb.
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Bitter is better
Local queer Latinx punk band Bitter busting boundaries one song at a time By SHANNON HAMES
Walking closely in the footsteps of Latinx lesbian punk band Girl in a Coma, Atlanta’s own Bitter just put a queer twist on what it means to be punk. Self-managed and produced, Bitter also just released its debut self-titled album described as “punk, ambient rock, heavy melodic rock, alternative, indie rock and dream pop.” As they prepared for an upcoming show with Downtown Boys at the Masquer26 A&E September 1, 2017
ade on Sept. 6, they gave Georgia Voice the lowdown on being queer musicians, their connection to marginalized people groups and dipping their musical toes into local Atlanta politics. “All four of us identify as queer in some way and it means something different for each of us, like not being cis or straight,” said vocalist Maritza Nunez. “It means not everyone in the band being white, and having members that are diverse in their backgrounds and their life stories. For me, queer also means not fitting into a box as people or with the music we make.” Together just over a year now, the band first came together out of sheer mutual respect. “We formed after playing a house show together. Maritza was playing a house show
with her first band ever, a two-piece named Misread Daughters,” said drummer Zo Chapman. “She was playing with Nadav Flax and I when we were in a band called Young Sirens. After the show, we talked to each other and praised each other’s music.” “That’s a huge part of why we work so well together,” Nunez said. “Even before we were in a project together, we just loved each other’s music. After that house show, I asked Nadav if we could play together and then Zo joined. Since then, it’s just been a really great experience. I’m always blown away by everyone’s musical abilities.” Mix of songs in English, Spanish turns heads One of the unique ways that the band
crosses over into diverse audiences is that some songs are sung in English and some in Spanish. When they perform a Spanishlanguage song live, Nunez notes the positive effect it has on the audience. “I actually see them kinda stop what they are doing and try to process what’s happening,” she said. “I think they find that it’s really interesting and different. Typically, we play bars and venues that don’t really have music in Spanish.” “It’s really important to me because I want to represent Latinx people as much as I can with my platform,” she continued. “I also have had the honor of having other Spanish-speaking people come up to me and be like ‘Wow! Thank you for doing that. It’s really encouraging and makes me www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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want to express myself in whatever language I want to.’ To me, it’s a big deal that everyone in the band is supportive of expressing and voicing marginalized groups. Even with a small thing like singing in Spanish, it shows others that there’s no need to settle and be like every band they might see in mainstream music.” Bitter sees the key to attracting a diverse fan base is to have a little something for everyone. “I think because we have have such a wide variety of songs, we are able to be appreciated by all kinds of people – from parents to teenagers,” Chapman said. “We’re always trying to reach out to other queers and to people of color with our music.” ‘It’s like finding a home’ In addition to its latest self-titled album, new things are on the horizon for the band. “We are about to get back in the studio to record a new single that we’ve performed live,” Chapman said. “We’ve also just added a very talented bass player, Haseena Peera, to our lineup. We’re super excited to play with her.” The band is aware of the rarity of its mix of unique identities. “As far as the queer music scene goes, ‘queer’ is such a multifaceted identifier,” Peera said. “It’s hard to know if there really is even a ‘scene’ to speak of. Anyone from any of the bands that we play with could be queer, but there really is no way of knowing unless we have personal encounters with them or they’ve identified themselves. What’s easier to speak on is the Latinx music scene. Latin
Downtown Boys, Bitter and Ganges Phalanges Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. The Masquerade 75 Martin Luther King Drive S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303 $10 advance tickets www.masqueradeatlanta.com/events/ downtown-boys
Atlanta band Bitter just released its self-titled debut album and will play The Masquerade on Sept. 6. (Photos by Nicole C. Kibert Basler at www.elawgrrl.com)
“Latin punk music, in general, is not prevalent in Atlanta, and the queer Latinx punk scene is even smaller in numbers. We’re pretty much in uncharted territory, which has both advantages and disadvantages.” –Bitter bassist Hassina Peera
punk music, in general, is not prevalent in Atlanta, and the queer Latinx punk scene is even smaller in numbers. We’re pretty much in uncharted territory, which has both ad-
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
www.thegeorgiavoice.com
vantages and disadvantages.” Nunez hopes that Bitter’s presence on the scene will inspire others. “Latinx people aren’t celebrated enough
in film, music and television,” the singer said. “And when they are, a lot of the time, they are forced into a stereotype. I want to recognize brown girls and people of color because I see people that look like me playing music. It’s important to me because representation leads to pushing boundaries and also being able to relate to something. It’s like finding a home. It also communicates to people that are being represented that they can do this, too.” As they continue that mission, they’re finding like-minded fans in a number of places. “One of our best moments was recently performing a fundraiser for one of our local heroes, [Atlanta City Council District 5 candidate] Liliana Bakhtiari,” Peera said. “Not only do we all relate to her in some way as a queer, a Muslim-raised woman and person of color, but we admire what she is trying to change for our city. It was our first time dipping our toes into politics with our music. When she asked us to play, we were more than honored. It was deliciously surreal!”
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September 1, 2017 A&E 27
ACTING OUT
By JIM FARMER
‘Once On This Island’ highlights importance of love For the last few decades, openly gay theater artist Ricardo Aponte has been working constantly throughout Atlanta, but lately he’s perhaps busier than he’s ever been. His latest project is the musical “Once On This Island.” The musical, opening soon at Georgia Ensemble Theatre, is the first show of the company’s 25th anniversary season. Based on the 1985 novel “My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl” by Rosa Guy, the musical – with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty – takes place in a French archipelago in the Caribbean where a peasant woman is able to bring people of different classes together – with love. It opened on Broadway in 1990 and is about to get a Broadway revival. According to Aponte, the show – which contains elements of “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Little Mermaid” – is his all-time favorite piece of musical theater. “I was born in Venezuela, so the music we heard on the coast there is very close to what you hear in this score,” he said. “It feels like home to me. I very much connect to it. The themes throughout the musical seem very relevant to 2017. It’s the right time to do it. I love the show’s sense of the importance of love, how important it is in our community and the legacy that you leave behind.” This is his first time being involved in a production of “Island.” Bob Farley, GET’s artistic director, invited Aponte in to direct and asked what kind of production he’d be interested in. “Once On This Island” seemed like a perfect fit. Aponte moved to the area 20 years ago, but he was already very involved in theater before he got here. His aunt had a ballet company in Venezuela and his mom was also involved in the troupe. “I had been watching them since I was a toddler,” he said. “I was always at drama camps and acting school.” Aponte’s first class when he came to America was theater, and he didn’t know English very well, but had to recite some monologues. Some time later, he made his professional acting debut in “Guys and Dolls” at Aurora Theatre. Since then, he has turned to choreographing (the last 10 years) and directing (the last five) as well. His credits are numerous,
Director-choreographer Ricardo Aponte of ‘Once On This Island.’ (Courtesy photo)
Details
“Once On This Island” Sept. 14 – Oct. 1 Georgia Ensemble Theatre Roswell Cultural Arts Center 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA 30075 www.get.org
but a highlight was 2016’s “In the Heights” at Aurora Theatre, which won him a local Suzi Award for his choreography. For this production, he is both directing and choreographing, which has been a natural progression. “The directors that you know on the Broadway scene that are directing musicals started off as choreographers,” he said. “We have to be able to make sure we story-tell through movement.” As of press time, he’s only been in rehearsals for two days and he lauds his performers as being very in touch with the material. “They are such true artists; the way that they can tell a story through the music is unbelievable,” Aponte said. Aponte feels LGBT audiences can especially appreciate the messages of “Once On This Island.” “In this political climate, we are trying to find people who are like-minded,” he said. “But I think this show invites you to reach your hand out to another group and see where they are coming from.”
28 A&E September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
ATLANTA’S FIRST URBAN WINERY, INTIMATE MUSIC VENUE, RESTAURANT & PRIVATE EVENT SPACE
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free live music starts at 6:30 pm on our patio Fridays & Saturdays this Fall!
9.1 Dusty Roads | 9.2 Ben Deignan Duo | 9.3 Wesley Cook | 9.4 Francisco Vidal 9.8 NAKD | 9.9 James Patrick Morgan | 9.15 One Headlight | 9.16 Chase Cumming 9.22 Lyric Lee | 9.23 Towne | 9.29 Battlefield Collective | 9.30 Campbell Station 10.6 Ruby and the Rogues| 10.7 Southern Ska Syndicate | 10.13 NAKD 10.14 Ciera MacKenzie | 10.20 James Patrick Reagan| 10.21 James Patrick Reagan 10.27 Dusty Roads | 10.28 Ryan Hutchens
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This week, we’re visiting a couple of hot spots. First up is the annual six-week homage to the renowned Hatch chile at Taqueria del Sol (2165 Cheshire Bridge Rd., 404-321-1118, and other locations, taqueriadelsol.com). I’ve written about this for over 10 years – ever since the restaurant began buying a few tons of the chiles during their brief harvest in the Hatch, New Mexico, area. What makes the Hatch such a worldwide favorite among chileheads? For me, it’s in part its sturdiness. It usually stands up to roasting and frying, without losing its clean but subtle flavor, including a vaguely sweet note that plays with the spiciness. The Hatch does sometimes engage the delightful masochism of reaching the limits of one’s tolerance. Its spiciness is not predictable, but usually well below that of a habanero or Scotch bonnet. Taqueria del Sol incorporates the fresh chiles in specials, but there is one that I always order. It’s not on the menu, but you’ll see a flier posted on the wall behind the bar. That’s the chile relleno. This is not your typical Mexican version made with a poblano pepper filled with meat and/or cheese, fried in a coating that ranges from thin to spongy. Taqueria del Sol’s is filled with a creamy, melting cheese and served over a roasted tomata sauce. It’s kind of Southern-fried to produce a crunchy panko-like coating. The bummer this year is that the rellenos are not available at lunch. I recommend that you go early to dinner, like 6 p.m., to try them. I don’t know why, but the chile itself seems sturdier then. They are $6 each and two will fill most diners. Get a side of corn chowder if you need more. Please. Get over your fear of scalding your tongue and anus. I also paid a visit this week to the 2-monthold Festivals Jerk Chicken Grill in Glenwood Park (925 Garrett St., 404-549-9828, festivalsjerk.com). I love Jamaican food’s jerk seasoning, which ideally contains atomic Scotch bonnet chiles. Unfortunately, those are rarely available around town and the owner
The chile relleno at Taqueria del Sol is made with a Hatch chile filled with a creamy, melting cheese and served over a roasted tomata sauce. (Photo by Cliff Bostock)
told me his clientele would not be able to tolerate them, anyway. I get that, but the jerk chicken and (exceedingly dry) pork at Festivals is about the mildest I’ve ever tasted – even milder than at the non-Jamaican Eats on Ponce de Leon. I told the owner this and, again, he said he had to turn the spiciness “way down” for his customers. I hear this everywhere. He did say the spiciness can be amped up by sauces. The hottest was indeed intense, but also unpleasantly sugary. Sugar is a common ingredient used to temper heat, but this was too syrupy. I also tried deliciously glazed plantains and callaloo, a mix of mysterious greens popular throughout the Carribbean. I prefer the leaves rough-chopped instead of Festivals’ texture of creamed spinach, but I’ve only eaten them a few times before. The restaurant is obviously trying to appeal to everyone. There’s a kids’ menu, jerk pizza, jerk flatbread, jerk sandwiches, jerk tacos, even jerk eggrolls – and much more. The restaurant name, by the way, refers to a dumpling popular in Jamaica. The owner told me that its function is to temper spiciness, but, well, it’s delicious anyway. Amp it up, guys! Cliff Bostock is a former psychotherapist now specializing in life coaching. Contact him at 404-518-4415 or cliffbostock@gmail.com.
30 Columnists September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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September 1, 2017 Ads 31
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Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for Sept. 1-14
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EVEN FRIDAY, SEPT. 1 – MONDAY, SEPT. 4
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend continues with events through Monday, atlantaprideweekend.com Dragon Con, the largest multimedia popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film in the universe, returns this holiday weekend, various Atlanta locations, www.facebook. com/events/295852397454727 LGBT tennis players from across the world compete in the Peach International Tennis Championships, DeKalb Tennis Center, 1400 McConnell Drive, Decatur, GA 30033
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1 – SEPT. 3
The Queer Vision Film Screening is now officially the Queer Black Film Festival, now in its third year. The event will feature filmmaker and actor workshops, film screenings and a black LGBT media panel discussion. 12 – 2 p.m., The Georgian Terrace Hotel, 659 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.facebook.com/ events/1228631653932865
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
The Spectrum Party 2017 welcomes all of Dragon Con’s LGBT attendees to enjoy a party just for them. DJ Neon the Glowgobear spins the beats while go-go girls and boys dance for you. 21+, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., Hilton Grand Ballroom East, 255 Courtland St. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook.com/events/1867217456929654 (Photo via Facebook) Sept. 3, 9110 Selborne Lane, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268, www.serenbeplayhouse.com
This Free Life, Lesbians Love ATL and My Sister’s Room present Whitney Mixter of “The Real L Word,” with dual DJs, go-go dancers, swag bags, prizes and hosts Kia Comedy and KE Monet, 66 12th St, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mysistersroom.com
Come to the Atlanta Eagle tonight and dance to DJ Ron Pullman, Khiko Venable and Joe “Movin” Smith, with a special performance by Mr. 6ixxx, 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30308, www.atlantaeagle.com
Serenbe Playhouse’s Brian Clowdus stars in the company’s excellent take of Kander and Ebb’s “Cabaret” as the Emcee, tonight at 8 p.m., running through
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
32 Best Bets September 1, 2017
Looking for job help? Visit the Atlanta LGBTQ-Friendly College Fair and Job Career Fair today, in partner-
ship with Atlanta Black Pride and In The Life Atlanta, 1 – 4 p.m., Campus Center ballroom of Georgia State University, 33 Gilmer St., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook.com/ events/487415444941204
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
Get your best “Be Our Guest” on at the “Beauty and the Beast” singalong at 2 p.m. today at the Fox Theatre as part of the Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.foxtheatre.org It’s going to be a hot party tonight – DJ
Cindel is back. 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., Heretic Atlanta, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook. com/events/285971738535463
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBT children meets tonight from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1605 Interstate 85/ Frontage Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, www.uuca.org
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6
Downtown Boys with local queer punk band Bitter and Ganges Phalanges
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play the Masquerade tonight. It’s part of the Metro Station 10-year anniversary tour also featuring Assuming We Survive, Avion Roe, Lancifer and Sarah & the Safe Word, featuring transwoman Sarah Rose, 7 p.m., 75 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook. com/events/145296349218023 Wussy Mag returns to Plaza Atlanta with a modern, campy classic that is required viewing for every young gayfer: “Mean Girls.” The screening will be hosted by Dax Exclamationpoint and Molly Rimswell. As always, attendees are strongly encouraged to get rowdy and interact with the film. Prizes awarded for the fetch-est looks. 8 p.m., Plaza Atlanta, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30306, www.facebook.com/ events/1526357167425422
THURSDAY, SEPT. 7
PAWS Atlanta is back at Wild Heaven Beer tonight for Pups and Pints. Organizers will be donating $3 from every tour back to their mission. Fetch Park & Ice House, Pet’s Playhouse on Ponce, Big Daddy Biscuits, Second Life Atlanta and Prime Pet Box will be there raffling off items to raise extra funds. Doggy Dogg will be there serving hot dogs as well. 6- 9 p.m., Wild Heaven Beer, 135-B Maple St., Decatur, GA 30030, www.facebook.com/events/1488174191248086 Building on the activist tradition of consciousness-raising groups, each month, Charis Books and More invites community members to join The Personal is Political, a lightly facilitated group to talk about issues in their personal lives or in society as a whole that they are trying to process or deconstruct. The group will then use intersectional feminist strategies as tools to help talk through those issues, 7:30 – 9 p.m., 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com After Dragon Con, come out to AMEN:
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TUESDAY, SEPT. 5
Olivia Millerschin, winner of a 2016 “Great American Songwriting Contest” in the Singer/Songwriter category for her original “We Know Not,” performs at Smith’s Olde Bar tonight, joined by Alex Guthrie and Eli Ensor. 7 p.m., 1578 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.smithsoldebar.com (Publicity photo) The Cosplay Show tonight at Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium, featuring the animated talents of Dotte Comm, D’Knighten Dae (Nick Knighten), Koochie-Koochie Ku, Molly Rimswell and hosted by Taylor Alxndr. The event will feature a costume contest, too. 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., 466 Edgewood Ave. S.E., Atlanta, GA 30312, www.facebook.com/ events/1747406715550573
FRIDAY, SEPT. 8
Kick back under the stars on the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Great Lawn and enjoy Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home “Love and Comedy” tour during Concerts in the Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.atlantabg.org
SATURDAY, SEPT. 9
Do you have a loved one affected by HIV/ AIDS? Join Jerusalem House for Journey of Compassion, a compassionate, educational event on supporting individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Individuals directly affected by HIV/AIDS and individuals with affected family members will share their experiences with a panel discussion, includ-
ing sharing and learning about testing positive, journeying with loved ones through treatment and illness, and evolving relationships with loved ones. 10 – 11 a.m., Rush Center Annex, 1530 DeKalb Ave. Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30307, www.facebook. com/events/1086611678139985
Atlanta drag favorite Jaye Lish as Reba McN’Cheese! This year, all profits from Ho Sho will be donated to Voices of Note, 6:30 p.m. Jungle Atlanta, 2115 Faulkner Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook.com/ events/105659960116711
Need some early morning waffles? Come out for the Waffle House Museum Open House. The Waffle House Museum is the site of the very first Waffle House restaurant. 12 – 3 p.m., 2719 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030-3917, www.facebook. com/events/1970813403197084
SUNDAY, SEPT. 10
It’s an evening of live music like no other – eight of Atlanta’s trashiest hos take to the stage for their yearly and highly anticipated live “performance” at Ho Sho 5 – Diversity School. As part of their courtordered community service, the girls are back and more nasty and contagious than ever. Please join Dixie Carterstead, Trudy Dolce, Ivanna Gender, Georgia O’Kweefe, Roxanne Paperscissors, Gayla Pervy, Mona Rhodes and René Sancé in a tragically trashy, risqué and (almost exclusively) live vocal show that is guaranteed to entertain! Ho Sho 5 will feature a special guest star,
Join Atlanta Pride to plan this year’s Dyke and Trans March. Come out today from 1 – 3:30 p.m. to offer input on the Dyke March and 3:30 – 6 p.m. to help plan the Trans March. Snacks will be provided. Phillip Rush Center, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30307, www.rushcenteratl.org
MONDAY, SEPT. 11
Out artist Sonia Leigh plays tonight at Eddie’s Attic, with special guest Mando, 6:30 p.m., 515-B North McDonough St., Decatur, GA, 30030, www.eddiesattic.com
TUESDAY, SEPT. 12
DJ Melo spins at Latino Tuesday at Blake’s tonight with all sorts of Latin beats, 227 10th St., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com
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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 13
Come out for American DANCE Icon at Mixx Atlanta tonight. Admission is free until 9 p.m., and the show begins at 10 p.m., 1492 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mixxatlanta.com
THURSDAY, SEPT. 14
SAGE Atlanta’s bi-monthly meetings occur from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, Phillip Rush Center Annex, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.rushcenteratl.org The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and Out On Film join forces to present the timely documentary “The Lavendar Scare.” Shining a light on a shameful chapter of American history, “The Lavender Scare” is the first in-depth account of a ruthless Cold War campaign to purge homosexuals from the federal government. Directed by Emmy-winning “60 Minutes” producer Josh Howard and based on the formative book by historian David K. Johnson, 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A with director Josh Howard and a reception, Midtown Art Cinema, 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30308, www.ajff.org
UPCOMING MONDAY, SEPT. 18
Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. 7 – 8:30 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com
TUESDAY, SEPT. 21
Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals presents its My Point event tonight from 6 – 8 p.m. at Out Front Theatre Company, 999 Brady Ave. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318, www.outfronttheatre.com
FRIDAY, SEPT. 22
The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual (blacktie optional) Community Awards Dinner with a 6:30 p.m. reception and the awards at 7:30 p.m., followed by a party. Winners will be announced in a number of categories, including Businessman and Businesswoman of the Year and Small Business of the Year, Westin Atlanta Buckhead, 3391 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30326, www.atlantagaychamber.org
THURSDAY, SEPT. 14 – FRIDAY SEPT. 15
Join the B-52s for two shows with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Atlanta Symphony Hall. The concert will. commemorate the group’s 40th anniversary, marked by the band’s first show, a house party which took place in 1977, 8 – 11 p.m., 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.facebook.com/events/465882670427356 (Publicity photo)
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT theaglcc.org
34 Best Bets September 1, 2017
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September 1, 2017 Ads 35
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID By MELISSA CARTER
A note from the past resonates today When I first saw the list I had written, I didn’t think much about it. It wasn’t until I saw when I wrote that list that I teared a little. Everyone has their weakness when it comes to housekeeping. For some, it’s clothes everywhere, others it’s piles of dishes in the sink and for those like me, it’s the piles of paper that seem to spread into every room and on every surface. I’ve spent some of my time off going through those endless piles of paper and files that needed recycling many moons ago. One such file included notes I have written over the years for use in potential articles or broadcasts, and a piece of paper fell out that had my old business logo stamped across it. It was from a personalized memo pad back when I was an administrative assistant at Turner Home Satellite, a now nonexistent arm of Turner Broadcasting. Back then, I was still in the closet, even though most of my co-workers knew about my sexuality. It’s obvious I was arching my foot to kick firmly through the closet door and into the public light as a lesbian, but not yet. So, here is my private message, scribbled on this notepad sometime during a random workday, after my heart had been threatened somehow by something I saw beforehand: There’s a new generation of lesbians coming… They will be the ones who have access to lesbian history, lesbian movies, lesbian books… They will be growing up in the age of AIDS and are not participating in the sexual revolution… They will be the ones who question why homosexuals have the reputation of sex-craved predators, then open lesbian/gay publications to find sexually explicit ads and classifieds… They will be the ones who won’t need drag queens to come and perform in their bars… They will be women and everyone will know who they are… They will realize that having sex with men is not a right of passage to be a woman…
“My eyes welled up at this distant woman, newly on her own and in her first adult relationship, who was angry that she didn’t fit in among her straight friends or even her gay ones.” They will be the ones who realize the next step in the lesbian revolution is economic presence, not the idealistic question of morality… They will be the prom queens, the sorority girls, the class presidents, the member of the PTA… They will contribute diversity and add definition to the term “lesbian community”… They will cause controversy, both with heterosexuals and homosexuals… But, a new generation of lesbians is coming, and we need to welcome them since progress is never easy… Like the aforementioned, I wondered why on earth I wrote down something so obvious until I realized I was 22 or 23 years old when I needed to get it out. My eyes welled up at this distant woman, newly on her own and in her first adult relationship, who was angry that she didn’t fit in among her straight friends or even her gay ones. A woman who didn’t know her health was failing and was scared of her own shadow. But the fire inside of her is still in me, and I appreciate her message to her future self that allows me to appreciate how far we all, and I, have come. We did it, girl. Somehow I think she always knew we would. Melissa Carter is recognized as one of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta and has been heard over the years on B98.5 and Q100. In addition, she is a writer for the Huffington Post. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCarter.
36 Columnists September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
we’re fami ly WELCOME ATLANTA BLACK GAY PRIDE ATLANTA PRIDE FESTIVAL
Oct. 13-15, 2017 | atlantapride.org
www.thegeorgiavoice.com
September 1, 2017 Ads 37
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Pride and promiscuity There are occasional Sunday evenings when I’m scrolling my social media feeds, and rather than “Most Recent” or “Top Stories,” it feels like my review of that weekend’s happenings should be categorized, “While You Were Hoeing.” It’s startling how much can occur in the world in the time between a Friday night threesome with a married couple, a Saturday visit to an adult bookstore and/or sex club and a Sunday afternoon of responding to Craigslist ads and/or Jack’d messages. Particularly during current times, it feels important to unplug from the mania seizing our government, culture and media, and indulge in a little personal gratification. And after months of being preoccupied by family obligations and other irritants of adulthood, I’m even more grateful for how the carnal parts of my personality help keep me sane. I have a long-standing theory that most of the world’s problems are caused by men who were too late in recognizing their narrow window of fuckability, guys who married young or chased career ambitions and became bitter when they realized, in their 40s or 50s, that they could no longer partake in sex without having to pay for it. I now believe the national disaster known as Donald Trump is what happens when a guy is aware that no woman has ever validated his manhood without financial compensation. That’s how essential I view sex to male development and contentment, or my rationalization for embracing slutdom. It’s easy to forget how enjoyable and invigorating gay sex can be since that is not how it is treated in LGBT culture or broader society. For straight folks, practicing homosexuals are synonymous with disease and deceit. Largely because of this, our movement has branded itself around commitment, even if more gay men are likely to experience parts of the weekend I described above rather than visit their county probate court to get a marriage license. Surely there is a middle ground between my glory hole and the movement’s wedding altar, but the public image of LGBT Ameri-
“Particularly during current times, it feels important to unplug from the mania seizing our government, culture and media, and indulge in a little personal gratification. And after months of being preoccupied by family obligations and other irritants of adulthood, I’m even more grateful for how the carnal parts of my personality help keep me sane.” cans, whether in policy debates or via reality TV personalities, is overwhelmingly asexual. Part of that is strategic, but all of it is rooted in shame, and the notion that people are more willing to like us if we help them forget what makes us different. Some of our most prudish sensibilities arise during Pride weekends, like how the lead-up to Labor Day in Atlanta is always filled with folks bemoaning how sexualized Pride has become, and predictions of how many visitors will leave town with a fresh STD. Such sentiments are rarely shared out of concern for the community, but rather by folks whose own pride comes from being recognized as an exceptional gay, a non-gay gay. I’m not going to pretend like there are not unique risks to anal sex between two men, or ignore that Black Gay Pride serves a demographic that remains the most heavily affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But promiscuous sex is not inherently risky sex, as someone who uses protection during 30 encounters is at less risk than someone who has a single unprotected hook-up. Further, “protection” itself is harder to define than it was a decade ago, as there are HIV-positive men who are undetectable/untransmittable, HIV-negative men on PrEP and men in both categories who feel the thrill of being a cumdump for a threeday weekend is worth the shot of penicillin they might need in a few weeks. Ryan Lee is an Atlanta writer.
38 Columnists September 1, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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