10/02/15, Vol. 6 Issue 15 by Georgia Voice

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Profits from Atlanta-filmed movie go to anti-LGBT groups Faith-based ‘90 Minutes In Heaven’ stars Hayden Christensen, Kate Bosworth

exercise a faith-based conviction that it is best if a foster child is placed with a married mother-father family... Such a conviction, to the government, expresses mere invidious discrimination and it cannot be tolerated.” All the blog posts were still on CAFO’s website as of press time. FaithBridge Foster Care is an Alpharetta-based adoption and foster care organization supported by Giving Films. It collected over $2 million in revenue overall in tax year 2013. FaithBridge refused multiple requests for comment on its adoption policies, but on its website it states its “Position on Morality,” which includes the line, “We believe that the term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning and that marriage is sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union.”

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com Profits from ticket sales to an Atlanta-filmed movie benefit anti-LGBT organizations. The faith-based movie, “90 Minutes In Heaven,” stars Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker in the “Star Wars” prequels) and Kate Bosworth (“Superman Returns”) and opened in theaters nationwide on Sept. 11. The movie is based on the 2004 best-selling book by Don Piper, which documents a near-death experience he had in 1989. It is the first movie from Giving Films, founded by Rick Jackson, chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based Jackson Healthcare, the nation’s third-largest health care staffing company. Jackson is also the owner of the Family Christian retail chain, which has over 250 stores across the country. Giving Films donates 100 percent of the profits from its films to seven different charities. A Georgia Voice investigation revealed two of those charities have anti-LGBT policies. World Vision, an international evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization, is supported in part by Giving Films. It generated just short of $1 billion in revenue in tax year 2012. The group found itself in the center of controversy last March after changing a longstanding policy and saying it would begin to hire people who were in same-sex marriages. However, just 48 hours later, facing a backlash from supporters who threatened to pull donations, the group reversed its decision and went back to the previous policy. World Vision confirmed to Georgia Voice that it continues to deny employment to people in same-sex marriages. Faith-based orphanage denies same-sex couples the right to adopt The Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) is, as the name implies, a faith-based adoption and foster care organization. It collected over $1 million in revenue in tax year 2013 and is supported in part by Giving Films. Representatives from CAFO did not re-

Representatives for Kate Bosworth and Hayden Christensen did not return requests for comment on their film ‘90 Minutes In Heaven.’ (Courtesy photo)

“What previously was presented by activists as an effort to secure the legal right of GLBT individuals to adopt is increasingly morphing into an effort to deny agencies the right to make placement decisions according to their convictions on what’s best for children.”

—A blog post from the Christian Alliance for Orphans

spond to repeated requests for comment, but multiple entries on the organization’s blog dating back to 2009 show its opposition to same-sex couples having the right to adopt. Oct. 2009: CAFO criticizes a bill that would ban government partnerships with adoption agencies who will not place children with same-sex couples. Jan. 2010: On a Christianity Today article on “the politicization of adoption,” CAFO wrote, “The current Christianity Today carries an important article on the tragic growing politicization of adoption, particularly as a result of attempts by activists from the GLBT community to use laws and regulations to pressure faith-based adoption agencies to place children with gay and lesbian couples. What previously was presented by activists as an effort to secure the legal right of GLBT individuals to adopt is increasingly morphing

into an effort to deny agencies the right to make placement decisions according to their convictions on what’s best for children.” Oct. 2011: CAFO decries a situation in Illinois where the Department of Children and Family Services stripped an anti-LGBT adoption agency of its contract to provide foster care services, saying, “Why turn the foster care arrangements upside down, disrupting long-standing contractual relationships and the successful recruitment and placement records of these faith-based agencies? Not because gay persons or civil-union partners in Illinois otherwise would be left out in the cold if they wanted to become qualified as foster care homes. Everyone admits there are plenty of agencies more than happy to serve them. No, the contracts had to be stripped because the government insists that no private agency should be allowed to

‘All children deserve safe, loving parents’ Sociologists have largely found that children raised by same-sex couples fare no differently from those raised by opposite-sex couples, and one study from 2014 by BMC Public Health even showed that children raised by same-sex couples did slightly better “than the general population on measures of general health and family cohesion.” A 2013 study by the Williams Institute showed that more than 16,000 same-sex couples are raising an estimated 22,000 adopted children, and approximately 2,600 same-sex couples are raising an estimated 3,400 foster children in the United States. It is legal for same-sex couples to adopt children in Georgia, although second-parent adoption laws vary by county and by judge. Several local organizations, like CHRIS Kids, have adoption programs that help place children with all couples no matter their genders. “We believe that all children deserve safe, loving parents who are dedicated to their welfare and that same-sex couples can provide the safe, loving homes that children need and deserve,” said CHRIS Kids CEO Kathy Colbenson. “We can’t imagine that anyone would want a child to grow up in foster care when a safe, loving home with committed parents is an option.” Georgia Voice reached out to representatives of Jackson, Christensen and Bosworth and did not receive any responses as of press time.

4 News October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Gay, bisexual health front and center at MSM Symposium HIV, ‘the down low’ among topics discussed at two-day health and wellness symposium By DARIAN AARON daaron@thegavoice.com Over 100 people were present at The Loudermilk Center in downtown Atlanta on Sept. 24 for the opening reception of the fourth annual MSM (men who have sex with men) Symposium sponsored by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). The reception preceded two days of workshops and presentations geared toward addressing health and social issues such as homophobia, faith and substance abuse in the lives of gay and bisexual men of color. This year’s theme, “Stigma: Peeling Back The Layers,” took on the monumental task of addressing many of the social and political barriers that often lead to an increase in new HIV and STD infections in gay and bisexual men. According to DPH, the state of Georgia has held some of the nation’s highest rates for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men. A 2013 state health profile published by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranks Georgia first for diagnoses of HIV and primary and secondary syphilis among all 50 states. The MSM symposium intentionally provides a safe space for this population to learn, speak out and discusses topics directly related to its health and wellness. “We cannot allow stigmas surrounding HIV, STDs and other topics impacting MSM to remain a barrier to saving the lives of Georgia citizens in need of important health care services in our state,” says J. Patrick O’Neal, M.D., director of Health Protection at DPH in a statement. Michelle L. Allen, state STD director for DPH, echoes O’Neal’s statement and uncovers an additional layer to the problem facing those at risk for HIV/STD infection. “Individuals who are infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) are at least two to five times more likely than uninfected individuals to acquire HIV if they are

Quincy Gossfield, Deondray Gossfield and Nolan Carter Antoine attend the 4th annual MSM Symposium (l to r) (Photo by Darian Aaron)

“We cannot allow stigmas surrounding HIV, STDs and other topics impacting MSM to remain a barrier to saving the lives of Georgia citizens in need of important health care services in our state.” —J. Patrick O’Neal, M.D., director of Health Protection at DPH

exposed to the virus through sexual contact, according to the CDC,” says Allen. “That is why we are proud to organize events such as our annual MSM Symposium to offer essential education and tools that will help the public understand how to prevent the continued spread of HIV and other STDs.” Keep it on the down low? Nearly twelve years have passed since the term “down low” exploded into the pop culture lexicon, etching fear into the hearts and minds of black women everywhere. Almost overnight, MSM and bisexual black men began to be portrayed as heartless monsters intent on infecting unsuspecting black women with HIV and destroying their lives.

Quincy LeNear and Deondray Gossett, an openly gay couple of 20 years and creators of the 2007 television series, “The DL Chronicles” on Here TV, captured the hysteria surrounding the down low and provided nuance for a discussion that became oversimplified and drenched in homophobia. The Los Angeles-based couple is now married and going by their chosen surname, “Gossfield.” Both were on hand to screen an episode of the series and to discuss the persistent down low myth in relation to HIV at the reception for the MSM Symposium. “There is a lack of self-responsibility and misconceptions about who has HIV, who can contract HIV and how you can contract HIV,” says Quincy Gossfield.

“I think we do ourselves a disservice when we position this conversation around the DL as the reason for new HIV infections among black women,” says Deondray Gossfield. “What we’re not talking about is the self-responsibility piece and that’s the core of the disease. The last time I checked, DL men were a very small piece of that puzzle.” The Gossfields did not hesitate to address the connection between the down low and the rigid definition of masculinity black men are expected to adhere to that undoubtedly play a role in choosing a life of secrecy over authenticity. “We have tried to find a place in society to be respected and to hold as men. In psychology it’s called ‘the cool pose,’” says Deondray Gossfield “It’s this figure of strength and heightened sexuality. And America has embraced that. America has given us a place at the table as that character. For gay black men who find comfort in this character, psychologically, somehow fear their brothers (who they view are like women) as a threat to this position we’ve gotten.” A collision of spirituality and sexuality The black church is the center of black life. And whereas, the church has historically been a beacon of light and social justice for the black community, it has also consistently been a source of pain and rejection for those who are attracted to the same gender. Many researchers have often linked depression and low self-esteem among black gay and bisexual men to risky sexual behavior. Atlanta resident, Derrick Tennial, an openly gay minister and author of “Saved, Sanctified, and Same Gender Loving: A Story-Journal to Spiritual Reconciliation,” addressed the topic of spirituality and sexuality on the first day of the symposium. “The sessions were awesome!” says Tennial. “I was able to provide practical steps for MSM to confront their sexual identity and the hurt inflicted through the misinterpretation of the Bible allowing us to be set on a path to higher spiritual consciousness.” Organizers of the MSM symposium say they are committed to finding new and innovative ways to address issues of importance to MSM populations when the symposium returns in 2016.

6 News October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Unbuckling the Bible Belt Inaugural sex conference comes to Atlanta By DYANA BAGBY People from across the country are coming to the Deep South for a one-of-a-kind sex conference that combines education with plenty of playtime. Sex Down South, the inaugural conference founded by two Atlanta women, is set for Oct. 15–17, and will include workshops ranging from masturbation to fisting while also offering safe spaces for participants to learn more about healing from sexual trauma. “We have these other sex conferences, on polyamory and also Frolicon, but we want Atlanta and the South to be on the map as a place of learning and being advanced in our sexual learning despite living in the Bible Belt,” says Marla Renee Stewart, who founded the conference with Tia Marie. Stewart has studied human sexuality for 13 years and is a professional sex, intimacy and relationship educator, and owner of Velvet Lips LLC. Tia Marie has been studying sexuality and eroticism for more than a decade. ATL not under a ‘repression cloud’ New York and San Francisco are known for their robust sexual communities, says Stewart, who identifies as queer. And it’s time for Atlanta to be included with these cities. “I want people to know we are here, we are judgment free, we are learning about our sex lives, and to push people to be more accepting of their bodies and sexualities,” she says. Close to 300 people are expected to attend the conference, many from all over the South, but also coming from as far as Canada, California, Texas and Michigan. Marie and Stewart say it’s time for the rest

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“I want people to know we are here, we are judgment free, we are learning about our sex lives, and to push people to be more accepting of their bodies and sexualities.” — Marla Renee Stewart, founder of Sex Down South

of the world to understand that living in Atlanta and the Bible Belt is not about living under a “repression cloud.” “In Atlanta, there are a lot of sexuality groups. They may not know each other. We chose to have this conference here, where we are, so these groups can meet each other,” Marie says. Sex for those with disabilities Offering workshops on sex to those with disabilities was core to developing the conference. One workshop will teach those with disabilities how to “adapt and use cool products to get your groove on and be SexAbled!” Dr. Mitchell Tepper of Atlanta, who broke his neck in a 1982 diving accident and is now a sexologist, recently published his book, “Regain That Feeling: Secrets to Sexual Self-Discovery.” He will be presenting a workshop titled, “You Don’t Have to Break Your Neck to Be a Great Lover!” Stewart says he is a preeminent researcher on pleasure and orgasm for people with spinal cord injuries. “Sometimes folks with disabilities get left out of mainstream audiences. We wanted to make sure we captured all sexual beings,” Stewart says.

Members from Sex Down South Conference. (Photo via Facebook)

Details

Sex Down South Conference Oct. 15–17 Sheraton Atlanta Airport Hotel 1900 Sullivan Road Atlanta, GA 30337 sexdownsouth.com For discount tickets, enter GAVOICE in the promotional code box when purchasing From kink to reproductive justice More than a year in the making, the conference’s workshops offer a wide variety of topics: sacred/spiritual/tantric sexuality; BDSM/kink; polyamory; religious/Christian sexuality; transgender sexuality; lesbian/ gay/same-gender-loving sexuality; bisexuality/queer sexuality; sexual healing spaces; aging and sexuality; sex and disability; and reproductive justice. The conference will also be separated from the general public at the host hotel, allowing for hands-on workshops to take place. “Fantasize No More: Tips & Tricks for Exploring the Trans Body” is an introduction to how to have sex with a trans person, and will include a live demonstration. Another workshop, “DIY Masturbation

Party,” invites participants to bring pillows, blankets, toys and more to take part in this “hands-on event dedicated to the delights of sharing each other’s sexual energy while touching only yourself.” “I do hands on workshops [with Velvet Lips LLC]. I wanted to bring that to our conference,” Stewart says. “We wanted our conference to be more than just talking about something,” she says. “We wanted to give people something practical they can use in their everyday lives.” “You know, you go to a sexuality conference and they might have some diagrams on a board. I put it out there that, ‘Hey, this is what I do.’ I want other presenters to bring it here.” All workshops are educational but not boring, stresses Stewart. Others include: “Engaging Men in Ending Sexual Violence”; “From Sexual Trauma to Health”; “Making Open Relationships Work”; and “Navigating Your Sex Life with Reproductive Justice.” The conference closes with a “Big Bang” party. “We wanted something that was sexuality based and entertaining. We also wanted people to learn from it,” Stewart says. “There is not a sex conference quite like ours,” Marie adds. “Other conferences may focus on something specific. Ours spans the gamut of what sexuality can bring to the table.” October 2, 2015 News 9

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TUESDAYS 9/8c

Lambda Legal attorneys Beth Littrell, Greg Nevins and Tara Borelli (l-r). (File photo)

NEWSBRIEFS LGBT foodies savored every bite during Taste of Atlanta Over 90 restaurants from around the city lined up to serve the masses as Taste of Atlanta took over Midtown at Tech Square. And as expected, some LGBT favorites participated in the annual festival on Sept. 25-27. Max’s Wine Dive was represented by openly gay chef Patric Bell-Good’s famous fried chicken, which Zagat named one of last fall’s must-try dishes in Atlanta. Bell-Good was named Best Local Chef by Georgia Voice readers in this year’s Best of Atlanta awards. Twisted Soul, co-owned by executive chef Deborah Vantrece and her wife, served up chips and black-eyed pea salsa, fried chicken, salad and creamy seafood grits over toasted baguettes. Twisted Soul also took home a Best of Atlanta award this year, with readers naming the Decatur restaurant Best New Restaurant. And Watershed, co-owned by Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls, brought its coffee roasted pork with blueberry jam and coffee roasted lamb shoulder with preserved blackberries. LGBT group toasts marriage equality at Atlanta shindig Those legal eagles at Lambda Legal, who fight the good fight for the LGBT community, gathered for a shindig Sept. 27 to toast the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality and raise some cash for their efforts in the process. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

The group got a boost of attention locally last April when it filed a federal class action lawsuit against the state of Georgia to drop the 2004 same-sex marriage ban. Lambda Legal also made news last month by, following the federal bust of Rentboy. com, announcing support for the decriminalization of sex work, citing the dangers current laws pose to LGBT youth and transgender women of color. More recently, Lambda Legal touted victory after a lesbian teen was sent home from school for wearing a shirt that said “Nobody Knows I’m A Lesbian.” The school reversed its decision and allowed the student to wear the shirt following receipt of a letter from Lambda Legal attorneys. New LGBT newspaper to publish in L.A. Los Angeles’s thriving LGBT community is set to begin receiving a brand-new LGBT publication. The first issue of “The Pride LA” is scheduled to hit newsstands and go online on October 9. Troy Masters, founder and associate publisher of New York’s Gay City News, along with Mirror Media Group, helm the new publication. Masters has resigned from his role at Gay City News to spearhead the new L.A. periodical. The publication will be a biweekly newspaper that will cover West Hollywood, Beverly

Hills, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, downtown Los Angeles and universities in those areas, according to a report by Gay City News. “Not every publisher has quite as much luck as I have had over 30 years,” Masters said in a statement to Gay City News. “The progress for my media operations and the trajectory of gay rights have both been a sharp upward curve. I am thrilled to have this opportunity in Los Angeles.” Gang member receives life sentence in murder of gay man Darrius Aderhold, 25, a former member of the Bloods street gang was sentenced to life in prison on Sep. 25 for his role in the deadly motel slaying of 46-year-old gay man Robert Ross. According to a report in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Aderhold and co-defendants Jonathan Ray and Christopher Foreman encountered Ross in Midtown, asking him for a ride back to a motel room they had reserved in Tucker. Once they got there they tied Ross to a chair and beat him with a clothes iron, part of Foreman’s initiation into the Bloods. Aderhold apologized to the victim’s family during the sentencing. “I’m not asking for their forgiveness because I don’t think they should. I just feel in my heart I should say I’m sorry,” he said.

Walk to Fight Suicide Out of the Darkness Community Walks November 1 Piedmont Park, Atlanta

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The Atlanta Hawks are proud to join our Atlanta Community in celebrating 45 years of Pride. Our organization values equality, promotes unity and embraces diversity with open arms.

Outspoken “In all my excitement, I’d never taken a moment to celebrate the fact that our state hasn’t turned out to be as bigoted as many expected.”

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Editor: Darian Aaron daaron@thegavoice.com Deputy Editor: Patrick Saunders psaunders@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Melissa Carter, Jim Farmer, Vandy Beth Glenn, Shannon Hames, Bill Kaelin, Ryan Lee, Charles Stephens, Simon Williamson

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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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Georgia on my mind By DARIAN AARON daaron@thegavoice.com We have a reason to celebrate during Atlanta Pride this year. The past three months since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples have been a whirlwind. I’m almost certain each of us remembers where we were when we heard the news that legal recognition of our relationships and families was no longer a promise we would pass down to the next generation, but a gift we’d be able to enjoy here in the present. I was glued to MSNBC in my New York apartment as the ruling came down. I’d spent the night before contemplating whether or not to take a short flight to D.C. to witness history as it unfolded, but I ultimately decided against it; I’d had my hopes dashed one too many times by the tweets from SCOTUSblog informing the public that there would be no ruling on Obergefell v. Hodges that day. I now regret not taking that trip. During the post-ruling celebration I was desperate to return home to Atlanta (this was before I was offered my position at Georgia Voice). I wanted to participate in the celebrations I knew were sweeping through the streets of our city. Besides that, I wanted to know how the anti-gay evangelical crowd was taking the news. So what did I do? I logged onto theGeorgiaVoice.com. That’s not a shameless plug, just the truth. “The city’s LGBT community didn’t disap-

point, with revelers beginning to descend on the intersection (of 10th and Piedmont) soon after the announcement. By late that afternoon it had turned into a full-on block party, with TEN Atlanta setting up outdoor bars and a DJ spinning tunes for the crowd,” wrote Patrick Saunders, deputy editor of Georgia Voice. June 26, 2015, was the icing on the cake of a string of legal wins for our community after enduring years of anti-gay animus; several states, including Georgia, overwhelmingly approved marriage bans in 2004. This victory was incredibly sweet. Contrary to the opposition’s talking points, the sky didn’t fall, heterosexual marriages didn’t collapse and marriage hasn’t ceased to be important to heterosexual couples who seek to join the institution simply because the right has now been extended to their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. And shockingly, at least to me, Gov. Nathan Deal and Attorney General Sam Olens fell right in line and promised to obey the ruling. Simply put: marriage equality in Georgia appears to be no big deal, unless you’re a gay or lesbian couple seeking the right to marry legally in the state for the first time. Now isn’t that something? Allow that to sink in. Sky, are you still blue? Yep. Jane and Paul, are you still married? Yep. Evangelical homophobes and conservative politicians, are you

still hating? Yep. See, it’s business as usual. In all my excitement, I’d never taken a moment to celebrate the fact that our state hasn’t turned out to be as bigoted as many expected. It might have taken a Supreme Court ruling before Georgia did the right thing, but we have no record of Kim Davis-style embarrassments or a state Supreme Court chief justice going rogue akin to the Ten Commandments-worshipping Roy Moore next door in my home state of Alabama, and for that I’m sure we’re all grateful. There is still work to be done. The twicefailed, so-called “Religious Freedom Restoration Act “ sponsored by state Sen. Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) is expected to be reintroduced in the legislature in January, and it remains a threat to our community. But for now, let’s celebrate and use the energy and sense of community that we all experience during Pride to continue sharing our stories, changing hearts and minds, and kicking the hell out of homophobia wherever it rears its ugly head.

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

OUT IN THE WILD

By Simon Williamson

Left outside alone Simon Williamson lives with his husband in heteronormatively-assimilative fashion in Athens, after a year of surviving rural Georgia. Back when I was in my early twenties, I was thrown out of my friend’s house by his father, who had undergone the experience of finding out I was gay while a trickle of blood simultaneously permeated his alcohol stream. I walked in to see four of my friends sitting with this, at the time, respectable man, and he looked at me with contempt and began to bully me in the way so many of us know all too well. I got up and left while my friends sat there silently. He wasn’t the first or the last person to be a total shit just because I was gay. It was the first time, however, that my friends had left me in the lurch, and that made me sadder than the day I realized the chickens we ate and the chickens in the farmyard were the same thing. It was easy enough, in my circumstances, to just go and make some new friends in

“Resilience, when you have to exercise it, feels like dragging yourself across broken glass. And often, particularly when encountering institutions from health care to legal to academic, you always feel like you’re dragging yourself across broken glass, and that’s just getting from the entrance to the elevator.” Late last week, I had the opportunity to lead a discussion with a group of young black gay men in Dallas, Texas. Though the conversation was focused on HIV criminalization, we also landed on the subject of resilience. I made the point, a point I often make, that any black boy who makes it to adulthood has already been resilient, and is probably in fact an expert on resilience, so discussions should focus less on developing resilience and more on healing from its inescapable consequences. When I think about my own resilience and its costs, I think about my early activist years. In my third semester of college, I didn’t owe a bunch of money, maybe about $700 or so, but to me at that time it might as well had been a million or a trillion. I didn’t have the money and 20 Outspoken October 2, 2015

whose company I felt safer. So that’s what I did. But even 12 years later, it still annoys me worse than a fuck on fiberglass that no one else got involved. It also happened to be the one time ever I chose an avenue other than confrontation, a regret I still seek to put right, all over everybody else’s Facebook pages. Obviously, throwing a gay person out of your house is no longer the fashionable thing to do, and almost no matter where you live, doing so would invite some sort of pushback, ranging in severity from “barely noticeable” (Iggy Azalea for example), to “Taylor Swift sang a song about it.” But the same cannot be said for the people we proffer as part of our community, whose concerns we have dropped faster than a case against a murderous policeman. An article caught my eye over the weekend:

Lance Berkman, a former St. Louis Cardinal, waded into a battle in Houston, Texas over an equal rights ordinance that would provide citywide anti-discrimination protections, including for gender identity. Naturally, this means we have to have another round about fucking bathrooms and which ones transgender people are forced to use. This ordinance, says Berkman (whose specialty, I repeat, is BASEBALL), is bad because it permits “troubled men to enter women’s bathrooms.” This fear, being whipped up like some Lee Atwater-inspired nightmare, is the usual first line of offense when it comes to the societal horror of equality. And the entire ordinance gets defeated if enough people are frenzied into outrage by this falseness. There is as much proof that cisgender women are safer

“Obviously, throwing a gay person out of your house is no longer the fashionable thing to do, and almost no matter where you live, doing so would invite some sort of pushback, ranging in severity from ‘barely noticeable’ (Iggy Azalea for example), to ‘Taylor Swift sang a song about it.’” in a cisgender female-only restroom as there is that gay marriages end straight marriages. There is much evidence that it is in the best interest of transgender individuals to live their lives truthfully. But this gets hidden behind most “save the _______” defenses because the tactic is so damn effective. Which is why pushback against such garbage is as important as ensuring they keep wearing tight pants in the NFL. If we’ve learned anything from our community’s most contemporary battle, the marriage fight, it is that we can win when we try. It is really up to us to fight back against the nonsense fired at members of our community, by bigots of the highest order. If we don’t get involved, my friends, we’re sitting at a table, watching a mate getting beaten up on and not doing shit about it.

THE ICONOCLAST

By Charles Stephens

Because being resilient isn’t enough Charles Stephens is the Director of Counter Narrative and co-editor of ‘Black Gay Genius: Answering Joseph Beam’s Call.’ had no way of getting it before it was due, which was in a few days, and not paying my tuition balance would mean I’d be dropped from my classes. This fact had not been communicated to me, or I don’t remember it being communicated over the summer, so it came as a surprise that I owed so much and had to pay up in a matter of days or risk being cast out. My father didn’t have any money and struggled to keep himself together while enduring the stalking grief of my mother’s death two summers before. To even ask him, and I had asked him for money before, would mean subjecting myself to his judgment. He was one of those self-made black men from the South who had been on his own since he was 13 or something, and though my homosexuality was not necessar-

ily worthy of his condemnation, begging for money was, so I resisted, knowing that he probably couldn’t help anyway. Resilience, when you have to exercise it, feels like dragging yourself across broken glass. And often, particularly when encountering institutions from health care to legal to academic, you always feel like you’re dragging yourself across broken glass, and that’s just getting from the entrance to the elevator. The glass is racism and homophobia and classism and the parade of micro-aggressions that we as black gay men are faced with and must triumph over daily. But what of this notion of resilience? I share this story because it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve been able to reflect back to that period in my late teens and early 20s when I was the most vulnerable, structur-

ally and personally, that I had ever been. That daily parade of micro-aggressions coupled with never having enough money, never being quite sure how food was going to happen, the feeling that I could at any moment get blown away into nothingness and never ever feel a sense of self-possession or agency. And so, for those of us who survive our 20s and make it to our 30s, who have been what one might describe as resilient, we sometimes find ourselves broken and looking for meaning or collapsing under the weight of the shield we develop to protect ourselves from white folks, straight folks, cops, STDs, preachers, predators, and ourselves. Thus, resilience tells us nothing about who we are and what we need. We must turn our attention to personal and collective restoration. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

25 Years of Believing Every Life Deserves Hope

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Saralyn Chesnut Longtime activist, scholar reflects on 40 years in Atlanta’s LGBT community By PATRICK SAUNDERS Saralyn Chesnut was no late bloomer to activism. She was born in 1948 in Tifton, Georgia, the daughter of a liberal mother raised in a conservative town in the segregated South at the beginning of the civil rights movement. She argued with other kids her age about race issues, and vividly recalls making friends with the first three black students to enroll at her formerly all-white high school. She eventually made her way to Atlanta in 1973, quickly getting involved in the lesbian feminist movement. After two decades as an academic and activist, an anti-gay incident led her to take a job as a professor and as the first full-time director of Emory University’s Office of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Life in 1993. In her 15 years there, she led the charge for numerous causes, including getting sexual orientation added to the school’s antidiscrimination policy, creating employee domestic partnership benefits, adding the “T” in the Office of LGBT Life in 1998 and getting gender identity added to the school’s anti-discrimination policy in 2006. Nowadays she’s a freelance writer (having co-written a history of Charis Books & More in 2009) and does oral history interviews with members of SAGE (Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders) Atlanta. Chesnut took a few minutes to reflect on a career in academia and activism over a 40year period in Atlanta’s LGBT community. How did you first get involved in the lesbian feminist movement in Atlanta? I went to a meeting of Georgians for the Equal Rights Amendment. And of course there were lesbians running that. So through them I met other women involved in ALFA, the Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance. So that really helped me form a positive identity as a lesbian because within lesbian feminism, a lesbian was the best thing you could possibly

“It was too good to pass up. It was really neat, we marched across campus and occupied the president’s office and got served Coca-Cola by his secretary [laughs].” Saralyn Chesnut on a 1992 demonstration at Emory after an anti-gay incident.

be [laughs]. You were like the ideal feminist. What were the Pride celebrations like back then? We just had a Pride march, it wasn’t a whole weekend. It would just be hundreds of people, not thousands. I remember there began to be floats and it became a parade but the first Pride marches were very small. Tell me about the incident at Emory in 1992. A couple of freshman guys had been seen kissing each other in their dorm and they started being harassed. Because the [Office of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Life] already existed, they were able to organize and there was a huge demonstration. It was too good to pass up. It was really neat, we marched across campus and occupied the president’s office and got served Coca-Cola by his secretary [laughs]. After that, the Emory president appointed a task force to assess the campus climate for lesbian, gay and bisexual people and one of their recommendations was to hire a fulltime professional director for the Office of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Life. I applied for it and decided to take the job. What were those early days like as director for the Office of LGB Life? The first step was to change the anti-discrimination policy to include sexual orienta-

Saralyn Chesnut knew she was a lesbian when she fell in love with her roommate and sorority sister at the University of Georgia in the 1960s. (Photo by Patrick Saunders)

tion. And that was quite a process. By then there was a president’s committee on lesbian, gay and bisexual concerns that I met with and put forward the proposal to change that policy and that went through finally. Then building on that, next we wanted to get domestic partnership benefits. So we put that proposal forward and I did a lot of speaking to groups around campus to reassure people and at the same time to not back down from what we really needed to accomplish. You were an early champion of trans rights. What led you to take on that cause? I did come to know some Emory students who transitioned. I remember thinking it was awful that the Human Rights Campaign for a long time wouldn’t include trans people in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. But because we were a university and because Emory is private and we didn’t have to worry about the Board of Regents or the legislature, we could push things. And because Emory wanted to be the Yale of the South, we could play on that. If you want to look like a truly international university, you have to do these truly progressive things. Plus Emory hates bad publicity, and that demonstration was horrible for them [laughs].

Why did you feel it was time to leave Emory when you did in 2008? I was old enough to officially retire, and I felt like I had done what I was there to do. Policies were changed, things were in place, we had a safe space program where we trained people to be welcoming to gay people. It also had its stresses. Being an Emory employee and at the same time having to push against the administration to get some things done was tricky. My job was threatened more than once. What are you most proud of in your time as an activist? I think the accomplishments at Emory getting the climate changed and the policies changed. Also being part of that early lesbian feminist community. It wasn’t for everyone but for those of us who were involved in it, it was so important. And I think all of us from that era did some important work in getting visibility, just coming out of the closet and being visible and once people started getting to know, ‘Oh I know somebody that’s gay,’ I think that’s what got us where we are now. For young people in particular, it’s not a big deal. It isn’t, and it shouldn’t be.

24 Community October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Like a Roland Stone(wall) ‘Stonewall’ director Roland Emmerich defends choices in controversial film By GREGG SHAPIRO Roland Emmerich, known for actionpacked blockbusters such as “Independence Day,” might not be the first name that comes to mind to direct a movie about the Stonewall riots, which marked the launch of the modern-day LGBT rights movement as we know it. However, that didn’t prevent the openly gay filmmaker from trying his hand at making such a film. Featuring a screenplay by gay playwright Jon Robin Baitz, Stonewall (Roadside Attractions), tells the story of corn-fed Midwestern boy Danny (Jeremy Irvine), arriving in New York in June of 1969. Befriended by trans hustler Ray (Jonny Beauchamp), aka Ramona, Danny undergoes a personal transformation to become not only an openly gay man, but one who takes part in the famous Stonewall uprising. I spoke with Roland Emmerich about “Stonewall” shortly before it opened in theaters. Georgia Voice: Do you remember when you first became aware of the Stonewall riots? Roland Emmerich: It was (when I was) in Germany. Everybody talked about the Stonewall Riots. I knew quite a lot about it because I was interested in history. Is there is a target audience for “Stonewall”? I made this movie, like all of my movies, for the biggest possible audience. I don’t think there’s a target audience. It’s just for people who are interested. When we tested the film, it was relatively balanced (in regards to) who liked the film and who didn’t like it. Parts of “Stonewall” are set in small-town Indiana, where the lead character Danny is from. With the recent anti-gay kerfuffle in Indiana, was it intentional or coincidental

“The amount of controversy, based on a trailer, when nobody had seen the film, was strange and funny to me. But what can you do?” that Danny was from that state? That’s coincidental. The lead character is actually based on a friend of a friend. Has that friend of a friend seen the movie? Yes, he has seen the movie. And he likes it. Basically, what we did first was show it to one or two advisors that we had from the Stonewall veterans. When they liked it, approved of it, I was very happy. They said that what we show and how we showed it is very accurate. Would you like to see “Stonewall” do for the advancement of LGBT rights awareness what “Selma” did to renew awareness of the advancements of civil rights? Sure, absolutely. That’s why we did the movie. Because there are a lot of young people who have no idea that the Stonewall uprising/riots spawned all these gay marches. I’m glad you mentioned young people, because a number of the cast members were born long after the Stonewall riots occurred. Did any of them have an awareness of the events of June 28, 1969, and their significance to contemporary LGBT culture? Some of them had and some didn’t. Most of the time it’s shocking for me that LGBT kids don’t know about it. In general, we had

Roland Emmerich (Photo by Claudette Barius)

a smart cast, although one or the other had no clue that this event took place. Were there books or other resources that you recommended to them so that they could become more familiar with the subject? Yes, we gave everybody a reading list. It’s one thing to read a book. We also found one or two or three Stonewall veterans and we asked them to help us. Some talked (to cast members) by phone, some in person, to tell them about the times, what music they listened to, how they felt. Just to get a little bit of a feel that you can’t get out of books. Who were some of the veterans? One was Martin Boyce. There were several. The characters in the film are a blend of real (such as Marsha P. Johnson, Bob Kohler and Frank Kameny) and fictional people. Please say something about the choice to blend those stories. That’s the peculiar thing about the Stonewall riots. A lot of people take credit, but it’s very murky. One thing is very clear—it was a lot of the homeless kids that did it. And they’re nameless. It’s all very vague. I didn’t want to make it a star-driven movie. I was set on telling the stories of these unsung he-

roes. Naturally, we realized that we had to have some historical characters. When you talk about Stonewall, you can’t not talk about Marsha P. Johnson or Bob Kohler or Frank Kameny or Ed Murphy. We even based some of our fictional characters on famous people such as Sylvia Rivera. It was cool, in a way, for us to mix historical facts with fictional ones. Gay films have a history of controversy not just among straight people but also within the gay community itself. I’m thinking specifically of “The Boys In the Band” and “Cruising.” Were you prepared for the controversy that arose around “Stonewall”? Not really [laughs]. I’ve always said that it will be interesting to see what happens. The amount of controversy, based on a trailer, when nobody had seen the film, was strange and funny to me. But what can you do? It would have been different if they reacted that way after having seen the movie [laughs], not based on the trailer. Finally, Roland, have you started working on or thinking about your next film? I’ve already shot my next film. It’s called “Independence Day: Resurgence.” It’s a sequel to “Independence Day.” It comes out next summer.

28 Community October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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She’s Major! Stonewall veteran and transgender activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy will not be silenced By DARIAN AARON Miss Major Griffin-Gracy is not here for your revisionist history. Nor will she quietly retreat as a chapter in her life story is rewritten and consumed by the masses. Griffin-Gracy was in New York’s Greenwich Village in the early morning hours on June 28, 1969, when a group of drag queens, trans women, lesbians and gay men rebelled against repeated raids of the Stonewall Inn by the New York Police Department. At the center of what would become known as the birth of the modern gay liberation movement were trans and gender-nonconforming people of color. People like Griffin-Gracy, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, all beloved in the New York City trans community and all largely absent from the trailer of the recent Hollywood dramatization by director Roland Emmerich. The legendary gay activist Larry Kramer may not have said her name, but Miss Major Griffin-Gracy fits the profile of the “crazies” he blasted online during a rant that accused activists of trying to derail the new “Stonewall” film. Griffin-Gracy is fine with being labeled crazy, but what she will not allow to happen is the erasure of her identity as a black, elder, transgender woman, along with her contributions and those of her trans sisters to the real Stonewall. Many in the LGBT community have called for a boycott of “Stonewall” due to perceived “whitewashing” after the release of the official trailer. A new trailer portraying Marsha P. Johnson more prominently has recently surfaced online. Many believe, although it cannot be confirmed, that Johnson’s resistance as a trans woman of color sparked the multiday Stonewall riots. In the film, Johnson’s image and story as a heroine have been replaced by a fictitious white male character from the Midwest. Griffin-Gracy is not amused. “Of course the white man has to step in and rescue, that’s been their privilege since

“Don’t change history if that’s not what happened. Admit it. You’re a better person for admitting what it was than you are for creating this fabricated lie that you constantly have to defend.” Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (Photo via Facebook)

they were missionaries in foreign countries,” says Griffin-Gracy. “Don’t change history if that’s not what happened. Admit it. You’re a better person for admitting what it was than you are for creating this fabricated lie that you constantly have to defend.” Now 74 years old and living in San Francisco, Griffin-Gracy is miles and years away from the pivotal night that changed the course of gay rights in America. Yet, she still recalls the blow she received to her head during the thick of the rioting. “All I know is the police were there, we were fighting, and I’d been in fights before,” she says. “When you get in that type of situation with the police, the best thing to do so they don’t hurt or kill you is to piss them off enough to knock you out. So I got knocked out early and lived to see another day, cause once they get you down they continue to beat you if they think you’re gonna get up and fight back.” Playing by the rules Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1940, Griffin-Gracy says she was sent to live with an aunt in the Bronx so she could be “straight-

ened out” after her parents’ attempt at medical intervention failed to “cure” her effeminate nature. “As early as 1957, I knew I was different. They sent me to see a doctor. They thought they could get me some medication and that would change me,” she says. A rebel at heart, Griffin-Gracy understood there was a time and place for righteous rebellion, and in 1960s New York City, as a trans woman of color whose mere presentation as the opposite sex was considered unlawful, she played by the rules when interacting with police at Stonewall. “If we were in female attire we would have to have three articles of men’s clothing on underneath or we could go to jail for impersonation and fraud,” she says. “When they arrested us they didn’t send us to jail, they sent us to Bellevue (mental) Hospital because they thought we were crazy.” The challenges faced by Griffin-Gracy and other trans women during this era were not confined to the police. According to her, gay men also gave trans women a difficult time. “Going to the Village was hard, especially as a black woman. There may have been one or

two black gay guys down there who also gave you a hard time. You know, they don’t feel like we should exist unless we are on our knees.” Griffin-Gracy has been fighting for her place in the world as an unapologetic black trans woman and Stonewall veteran for decades. In her view, this makes the dismissive criticism by Kramer and Emmerich, who in recent interviews admitted to injecting his identity as a white gay man into the forefront of his film, even more incendiary. “You’re not gonna kill me off with this bullshit or bury me in a mountain of lies and garbage that didn’t happen. It’s supposed to be about the truth,” she says. But when have these people ever told the truth? They’ve always made it comfortable for them. Respect what I’ve gone through to get here.” Griffin-Gracy doesn’t anticipate retracting any of her criticism of the new Stonewall film in the event that it turns out to be historically accurate and inclusive. “How on earth can it be inclusive with super white boy jumping down and saving the day? And if Marsha and Sylvia are in it, they must be a shadow on a back wall. Oh please! I’m not that gullible.”

32 Community October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Six steps every same-sex couple should consider By MARGIE ARCHER, CRPS® ADPA® margie.archer@wellsfargoadvisors.com Vice President - Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager If you’re worried about having enough money to retire with your loved one to a comfortable lifestyle, you’re not alone. According to a recent study, retirement is the number-one financial concern for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans.* That concern may only grow as laws pertaining to same-sex marriages continue to evolve and couples plan for a shared retirement. The good news is that there are steps same-sex couples can take right now to create a unified understanding — and a shared confidence — of how and when you’ll both be able to retire.

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have surviving-partner access to your combined assets. That’s why it’s essential for all same-sex couples to have written wills and to clearly name their partners as a beneficiary on banking, investment, and retirement accounts. You’ll also want to check to see whether or not your surviving partner will be able to roll any inherited retirement benefits directly into their own retirement account. This will depend on your marital status and specific employer rules.

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Retirement planning is complicated, perhaps even more so for same-sex couples today. So, it’s a good idea to meet with a Financial Advisor who is aware of the nuances of retirement planning for same-sex couples. Wells Fargo Financial Advisors were the first in the industry to be trained and certified through the Accredited Domestic Partnership AdvisorSM (ADPA) program. Visit wellsfargoadvisors.com/ adpa for more information. Wells Fargo Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice. *The LGBT Financial Experience, 2012-2013 Prudential Research Study. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/ MAY LOSE VALUE. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2015 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved.

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ATLANTA PRIDE 2015 FESTIVAL

ATLANTA PRIDE PARADE Sunday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m. SHARP Assembly begins at 10:30 a.m. on the streets near the Civic Center MARTA Station Route: The Parade will step off from the Civic Center MARTA Station. The parade merges off Ralph McGill onto Peachtree Street and travels north. It then turns east on to 10th Street and follows 10th Street to the Charles Allen Gate entrance of Piedmont Park, where the Parade officially ends.

THE ANNUAL DYKE MARCH Steps off: Saturday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m. Assembly begins 5:30 p.m. at the Charles Allen Gate This march is dedicated to the empowerment of the women of Atlanta and beyond. The Dyke March, with its focus on women, unites to create an atmosphere of inclusion and community. The march is open to all women loving women (trans-inclusive) of any race, culture, orientation, ability, health, socioeconomic level, family structure, faith or age! This march is a time to demonstrate our commitment to nurture and build a new tomorrow, united for equality and justice. We call on all women of Atlanta and beyond to join us as we marched. THE ANNUAL TRANS MARCH Steps off: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2 p.m. Assembly begins at 1:15 p.m. at the Charles Allen Gate This march celebrates and promotes visibility of the Trans community. The march takes place on the festival grounds and all Trans people and Trans Allies will be there with positive banners and signs. We encourage individuals to make and bring signs supportive of Trans issues. SECURITY Please be advised that the Atlanta Police Department is responsible for enforcing all applicable state laws and local ordinances during Pride events. Such statutes may include, but are not limited to: public decency, alcohol, controlled substances, public safety and standard vehicle insurance requirements. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Courtesy of Atlanta Pride

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42 Pride Pullout October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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2015 Atlanta Pride Event Guide

SUNDAY, OCT. 11

Atlanta Pride Parade steps off at 1 p.m. and includes hundreds of floats and entries from corporations, local politicians, LGBT organizations and more. The parade will step off from the Civic Center MARTA Station. The parade merges from Ralph McGill onto Peachtree Street and travels north. It then turns east onto 10th Street and follows 10th Street to the Charles Allen gate entrance of Piedmont Park, where the parade officially ends, atlantapride.org (Photo via Facebook)

SUNDAY, OCT. 4

Dine out for Atlanta Pride at Las Margaritas, with 20 percent of sales going to benefit Atlanta Pride, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m., Las Margaritas, atlantapride.org

EVENT SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY, OCT. 8

Barefoot Wine & Bubbly is bringing its long-standing NYC Pride celebration down to Atlanta at The Piedmont Room from 7–10 p.m. There will be a surprise celebrity host along with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants Alyssa Edwards, Shangela and Laganja Estranja performing and DJ Lady Bunny spinning. Tickets are free, barefootprideatlanta.com (Publicity photo)

44 Pride Pullout October 2, 2015

Atlanta Pride hosts the world premiere of “Queer Moxie” at Out on Film. “Queer Moxie” is a behind-the-scenes look into queer performance art from the fringe to the mainstream, directed by Heather Provoncha and Leo Hollen Jr., 3 p.m. at Midtown Arts Cinema; an after-party will be at Mixx. www.queermoxie.com, www.outonfilm.org

TUESDAY, OCT. 6

Equally Wed’s Master Class offers speakers and educates wedding vendors and creative professionals in standard LGBT practices, language and more.

8:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Four Seasons Atlanta, equallywed.com

free dance lessons from 8–9 p.m., www.hereticatlanta.com

Fancy Tuesday: The Atlanta Opera joins with Atlanta Pride for a super-sexy production of “La Bohéme,” 6 p.m., Cobb Energy Center, atlantapride.org

FRIDAY–SUNDAY, OCT. 9–11

THURSDAY, OCT. 8

Pride Ride at Vibe Ride is a charity ride benefiting Atlanta Pride. Participate in a one-hour high-energy indoor cycling class with a live DJ. Cost is $25, www.theviberide.com Integrity Atlanta hosts the 27th annual Gay Pride Eucharist at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 7:30–9 p.m.; questions may be emailed to Bruce Garner at bruce.garner@att.net Country Pride at the Heretic with

Punch Out for Pride at Cook Hall during Atlanta Pride weekend, where mixologists will be pouring their signature boozy punch for $5 a mug, with $1 from each mug going to Atlanta Pride, 5 p.m. to closing each night, www.cookhallatlanta.com

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

The Atlanta Pride official kickoff party at the Georgia Aquarium is always sold out, so get your tickets early. Featuring DJ Brandon Moses and VJ Diablo Rojo, 7–11:30 p.m., atlantapride.org Heaven Pride Party for women is at Park Tavern with DJs Ree de la

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Vega and Yvonne Monet and a performance by singer Eryn Woods. VIP ticket holders will get a performance by the Maria Gabriella Band from 9–10 p.m. There will also be a sexy angel contest. www.eventbrite.com/e/ heaven-pride-party-friday-october9-2015-atlanta-tickets-18444297390 Heretic Pride Friday with DJ Brett Henrichsen and an opening set by DJ Mike Pope, 9 p.m., www.hereticatlanta.com

SATURDAY–SUNDAY, OCT. 10–11

Gray Pride caters to those 50 and older, but all are welcome. Entertainment will be held at the Bud Light Stage and in the Visitors Center, participants will be able to share stories and look through historical displays, atlantapride.org Queer and Trans Youth Liberation Space is for queer and trans young people ages 14–25 to hang out to play games or create art at the Piedmont Park Dock. The space is open Oct. 10 from 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. and Oct. 10 from 2–6 p.m., atlantapride.org

SATURDAY, OCT. 10

Performing on the Coca-Cola Stage on Oct. 10 will be: Maria Gabriella Band: 2 p.m. Wesley Cook: 3 p.m. Gurufish: 4 p.m. Avan Lava: 5 p.m. R. City: 6:05 p.m. A Great Big World: 6:55 p.m. Rachel Platten: 7:50 p.m. Sister Sledge: 8:45 p.m. Performing on the Bud Light Stage: Ricky Simone: 12:45 p.m. Shantavia Stewart: 1:45 p.m. Pale Clear: 2:30 p.m. French Chevelle: 3:15 p.m. Steff Mahan: 4 p.m. JLine: 5 p.m. DJ Canvas: 6 p.m., for a Queer Your Gender dance party Gentle Yoga with Kashi takes place at the dock in Piedmont Park from 9–10 a.m., atlantapride.org After Gentle Yoga, Taylor Harkness and Tough Love Yoga Present: Shine On Yoga Party in the meadow of Piedmont Park, an all-levels yoga class from 10-11 a.m. Costumes welcome, atlantapride.org The Kids’ Zone includes face painting, games and a playground, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.,

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

SATURDAY, OCT. 10

The Dyke March, a trans-inclusive march for women loving women, brings a radical edge to Atlanta Pride. Gather at the Charles Allen entrance no later than 6 p.m. The march steps off at 6 p.m. sharp. A trolley will be available for first-come, first-served people with mobility issues, atlantapride.org (File photo) Piedmont Park and Greystone area, atlantapride.org Lambda Car Club and The Lost Boys present a car and motorcycle show from 10:45 a.m.–4 p.m. at the roadway inside Piedmont Park between the 12th Street and 14th Street gates, atlantapride.org The annual Trans March to bring awareness to the transgender community steps off at 2 p.m. sharp from the Charles Allen gate, atlantapride.org Campus Pride College Fair will be held in the large tent near the Piedmont Park playground and Greystone Pool House, 2–5 p.m., atlantapride.org The official Atlanta Pride Women’s Party will be at My Sister’s Room, 9 p.m., www.mysistersroom.com Flock of Eagles lands at the Atlanta Eagle with a party featuring local star DJs Vicki Powell and Pat Scott and visiting DJs as well. There is no cover charge, and there will be extended hours for Atlanta Pride, 10 p.m.–6 a.m., www.atlantaeagle.com DJ Tony Moran spins with a performance by Phoenix for a special Atlanta Pride event, 10 p.m., Jungle, www.jungleatl.com

Heretic Pride continues with DJ David Knapp spinning, 9 p.m., www.hereticatlanta.com

SUNDAY, OCT. 11

“Geryon’s Wings” is a performance piece that will take place on the Atlanta BeltLine to coincide with Atlanta Pride. The work is a “universal story of emotional struggle and empowerment in which the performer will slowly unfurl large wings in the spirit of the freedom to be oneself,” 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Old Fourth Ward Park, beltline.org The 14th annual HRC Atlanta Pride Brunch will be at Empire State South, where you can watch the Atlanta Pride march pass by. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., hrc.org/atlantapridebrunch After the parade, enjoy a Bear Dance at the Bud Light Stage with DJ Ansley, 4–6 p.m., atlantapride.org Atlanta Pride closes down with the city’s best drag entertainment at the Starlight Cabaret, 7:25–9:15 p.m., atlantapride.org A Pride edition of Bear Invasion closes down Atlanta Pride weekend at the Heretic with DJ Sean Mac spinning, 9 p.m.–3 a.m., www.hereticatlanta.com

EVENT SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY, OCT. 9

DJ Chris Cox with a performance by Cazwell opens Atlanta Pride weekend at Jungle, 10 p.m., www.jungleatl.com (Publicity photo)

October 2, 2015 Pride Pullout 45

2015 Atlanta Pride

11ALIVE beefs up Atlanta Pride presence, LGBT content Local TV station live-streams Parade for fourth year in a row By PATRICK SAUNDERS There will be a familiar presence on the Atlanta Pride parade route this year, as local TV news station 11Alive airs a live stream of the parade for the fourth year in a row with a beefed up team of anchors, reporters and more, plus a float in the parade. It will be the larg-

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est presence the station has ever had at Pride, continuing a trend of devoting more and more coverage to issues concerning Atlanta’s LGBT community throughout the year. This year’s three-hour live stream will be hosted by reporter and anchor Blayne Alexander and “Atlanta & Company” host Christine Pullara, who will be stationed at a booth on the parade route on Peachtree Street along with openly gay reporter Jeremy Campbell. CONTINUES ON PAGE 48

Kryean Kally, Nicole Paige Brooks, 11Alive reporter Jeremy Campbell, Brigitte Bidet and Lavonia Elberton at a promotional shoot for the 2015 Atlanta Pride festival. (Courtesy photo)

October 2, 2015 Pride Pullout 47

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 It’s a breath of fresh air for Campbell, who says, “As a journalist it makes me excited to come to work every day because I’ve worked at stations where that’s not the case and this community is considered a fringe community. Like, ‘We’ll put an article on the web but that wouldn’t be something worthy of covering on television.’” The station has kept a steady stream of LGBT stories on the air and online, from breaking news stories like the U.S. Supreme Court striking down same-sex marriage bans across the country in June, to more personal stories, such as that of Ashley Diamond, the transgender Georgia inmate who alleges she was sexually assaulted and denied hormone therapy treatment while in prison. The station followed Diamond’s saga throughout the past year, with Campbell scoring a coup by getting the first on-air interview with Diamond following her release from prison in August. Pride coverage becomes a building-wide project 11Alive station operations manager Tim Thomas is quick to respond when asked what led the station to cover the parade live that first year in 2012, comparing it to their coverage of other community events like the Peachtree Road Race. “These are things that tie us to the community and there’s no way whether it’s gay or straight that we should not cover it,” he says. Campbell agrees, saying, “It has to be just to be a modern, relevant TV station. The LGBT community is such a big part of the population of Atlanta.” But this year’s coverage of Pride will look completely unlike the station’s first crack at it three years ago. “It was simply a laptop, a camera and somebody down there just talking about it,” Thomas says. “And as anything in its infant stage, we were like, ‘We’ve gotta do this better.’” They added more camera people each year and made the Pride coverage a building-wide project involving more of the newsroom and engineering department. Joining Alexander, Pullara and Campbell this year will be color commentator (and 2014 Atlanta Pride grand marshal) Tony Kearney, as well as TV and radio personality Conn Jackson. “[Jackson] does a great job of jumping on and off floats and he’s just crazy enough to do it, so we let him do it,” Thomas says, laughing. There will also be produced pieces dropped into the coverage throughout the day, spotlighting a variety of issues, including an update on same-sex marriage in

“That’s the perfect recipe, when you have the station doing this and then the feedback comes in from the community that, ‘Yes, we want to see this, we’re glad you’re doing it.’ That’s how something becomes bigger and how we’ve gotten to where we are this year.”

—Jeremy Campbell, openly gay reporter for 11Alive

Georgia (featuring an interview with Georgia Voice Editor Darian Aaron), a look at transgender life in Atlanta and a more lighthearted piece on the city’s drag queens. “With Violet Chachki winning ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ I thought it was a great opportunity to declare Atlanta ‘The Drag Queen Capital of the World,’” Campbell says, adding, “I quickly learned if you’re going to do a story about drag queens, you can’t just include a few. You have to be equal opportunity. I learned that the hard way [laughs]. I started getting emails and Twitter messages, so I’m daunted with the task of jam-packing the story with all of the Atlanta drag queens that I can.” ‘The perfect recipe’ Thomas credits the Atlanta Pride Committee for keeping the station balanced as far covering more than just the larger news stories like marriage equality. “They’ve kind of kept us grounded because it’s easy in news to go with the news cycle, so we’ve got some great stories there,” he says. And the interest in Pride coverage doesn’t end after the finale of the Starlight Cabaret on Sunday night. The station personnel say their Pride web page sees heavy traffic throughout the year as people come back to view photos and video from the weekend. “That’s the perfect recipe, when you have the station doing this and then the feedback comes in from the community that, ‘Yes, we want to see this, we’re glad you’re doing it,’” Campbell says. “That’s how something becomes bigger and how we’ve gotten to where we are this year.” Both Campbell and Thomas say it all goes back to that slogan you frequently hear if you’re a regular consumer of 11Alive’s coverage: “Holding the powerful accountable.” “The station mantra falls into that and if there’s inequality about something, that type of story will get the attention of 11Alive,” Campbell says. “It’s a natural fit.”

48 Pride Pullout October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Series on the Alliance Stage

Kim and Debbie Sledge of Sister Sledge (Publicity photo)

REVI EW

A T N A L T A T B G L R TA I N M

SOUL

SISTERS Legendary group Sister Sledge headlines Atlanta Pride

By SHANNON HAMES What do you do when you and your sisters were vocally trained by your Julliard graduate grandma, your father is an acclaimed Broadway performer and your mom is an actress who has you singing in church every Sunday? You make a career out of it! And that’s just what Joni, Debbie and Kim Sledge have done. Since they released their first single in 1971, the sisters (minus Kathy, who left the group in 1989) have made themselves pop icons through their vocal talents and by “sharing love” with their audiences. The sisters unknowingly created a gay anthem with their 1979 anthem, “We Are Family,” and as a result, have endeared themselves to the LGBT community. This year they will be headlining Atlanta Pride on Saturday CONTINUES ON PAGE 56 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

October 2, 2015 A&E 55

Sister Sledge perform during their 2014 World Tour. (Publicity photo)

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55 night. The Georgia Voice caught up with Joni Sledge to talk to her about their fans, Pope Francis and their love of people. What does it feel like to still be touring the world and performing for audiences nearly 45 years after you and your sisters first started? Joni: It’s thrilling. And we don’t take it for granted even a little bit! We’re older and have less to prove. We don’t have any anxiety. We’re just out there enjoying ourselves. It’s also fun to see that our older fans are there, but now we have a new generation with them. They come up to us and say, “My mom loves you!” We embrace it because people nowadays have a need for love. There’s a void of it and we’re just sharing it. It’s genuine to us. It’s kind of a rewarding feeling that goes beyond music. We put the love out there and they soak it up. You and your sisters just performed for Pope Francis when he visited your hometown of Philadelphia. How did you get that gig? They didn’t just come right out and ask us. We heard he was coming to Philadelphia and we wanted to be a part of that. ‘Faith, Family and Love’—that’s our motto. So we asked if we could be a part of his visit. We submitted a video with excerpts from our 2014 world tour and some writing of things that we believe in. They called us back and officially invited us and we are just thrilled. I also just want to say that we really love Pope Francis. We believe in God and we’re Christians but we’re not dogmatic. I don’t think he is, either. He is a man of the cloth and believes in equality for all people. I think he will make some really great strides in our world.

I am aware that in the African-American community, specifically as it relates to multi-generational faith-based communities, there is this taboo about being gay. Yet here you ladies are, faith-based and members of the African-American community, headlining a massive gay celebration. Have you received any backlash for your support of the LGBT community? I don’t care. I feel like this: every human being on this earth deserves love. I don’t look at a person’s sexuality. I look into their eyes, into their heart. What is valuable to me is integrity, honesty, trust … things like that. That’s how we all feel. Our arms are open to that. If you are those things, you are welcome. We should look at character and that’s all we should judge. If people want to have a problem with us over something like that, it’s really their problem and not ours. “We Are Family” has really been adopted as an anthem by so many groups. How does it make you feel for it to be used so widely in the LGBT community? The song is genuine. That’s why it resonates with people. I asked a reporter once why the (LGBT) community embraced us so much. I mean, we really get loved on by them. The reporter responded that a lot of times, (LGBT) people are ostracized by their own family members. They see us loving each other and singing about family and they feel like we’re their sisters and that this is a family. And it is. We just say to them, “Thank you for sharing your love and accepting and embracing us, too.” We should all just love and embrace each other. Atlanta is looking forward to seeing you at our PRIDE celebration. Do you have anything to say to your Atlanta fans? I would just like to say that we are all family.

56 A&E October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

OUR PAST OUR PRESENT FESTIVAL PROGRAM

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Oscar buzz surrounds Out On Film entry ‘Freeheld’ Julianne Moore, Ellen Page star as couple at the center of the acclaimed drama

Details

By PATRICK SAUNDERS

son’s involvement in the production in particular that sold him on joining the cast as Dane Wells, Hester’s supportive police partner. “I’ve been a huge fan of Julie’s [Julianne Moore] for a long time. And boy would it be silly not to want to work with her,” Shannon tells Georgia Voice. “She’s one of the best ones out there.” Personal reasons also played into Shannon’s eagerness to take the part. “My eldest sister is gay and she’s married and adopted a couple of kids and they have a wonderful family,” he says. “I got something out of being able to honor her in some way. It’s not often that you get to work on something that can have some relevance for your family.” And while “Freeheld” is definitely a drama, considering the heavy subject matter, there are also solid bits of humor, usually

The most star-studded entry in this year’s Out On Film festival lineup is without a doubt “Freeheld,” a drama based on the true story of Laurel Hester, a veteran New Jersey police officer at the center of a well-publicized fight with her county government to get her pension benefits transferred to her partner after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Julianne Moore, who finally took home an Oscar last year for “Still Alice,” stars as Hester, while out actress Ellen Page plays her younger partner, Stacie Andree. Both are receiving Oscar buzz for their roles, especially Page, who the Hollywood Reporter recently noted was a “major threat” for a Best Supporting Actress nomination. For Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road”), it was one per-

‘Freeheld’ Sunday, Oct. 4 at 7:15 p.m. Landmark Midtown Art Cinema www.outonfilm.org

Julianne Moore (l) and out actress Ellen Page (r) fight both cancer and their county government in the drama ‘Freeheld,’ playing at Out On Film on Oct. 4. (Photo by Phil Caruso)

courtesy of Steve Carell, who plays Steven Goldstein, the founder and then-chair of Garden State Equality. Most of the humor lies in the interactions between Carell’s character and Shannon’s gruff, straight cop. “I was so excited to work with Steve. I remember when I saw ‘Anchorman’ for the

first time and he was one of the funniest people I’ve ever seen in my whole life,” Shannon says, but adds, “I think he took the part pretty seriously. I don’t think it’s humor just for humor’s sake. It’s the awkwardness of their relationship. They both cared about Laurel and Stacie but were two different people.”

58 A&E October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

What is Out on Film?

Out on Film is Atlanta’s own LGBT film festival. We’re in our 27th season. Out on Film was created in 1987 to inform, entertain, educate and enrich the regional LGBT community by recognizing the creative work of LGBT artists and professionals.

How can I learn more? For details go to:

www.outonfilm.org Thank You Sponsors!

Atlanta’s LGBT Film Festival Celebrating Pride at the Movies

October 1 - 8, 2015

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Just a sample of this year’s more than 80 films.

FREEHELD starring Julianne Moore!

FOURTH MAN OUT

SUMMER OF SANGAILE

PATERNITY LEAVE

Chamique Holdsclaw on the rebound Former basketball star lays Details ‘Mind/Game: The Unquiet mental health issues bare Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw’ Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. (with an in Out On Film doc appearance by director Rick Goldsmith) By PATRICK SAUNDERS Chamique Holdsclaw could do no wrong. Three-time National Champion and two-time National Player of the Year for the University of Tennessee’s Lady Vols basketball team. Gold medalist in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. WNBA Rookie of the Year and six-time WNBA All-Star. But off the court and unbeknownst to her teammates, friends, family and fans, she was struggling with depression. She would eventually go public with the news and get help, but she continued to struggle, attempting suicide at one point and then, in a well-publicized 2012 incident in Atlanta that made national headlines, hitting her then-girlfriend’s car with a bat and shooting out her windows.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 8:45 p.m. (with appearances by Goldsmith and Holdsclaw) Landmark Midtown Art Cinema www.outonfilm.org The entire journey is on display in the documentary “Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw,” from Oscar-nominated director Rick Goldsmith. The film, which will screen twice at Out On Film, is a case study of how athletes deal— or rather, fail to deal—with mental health issues. It’s all the more timely due to the ongoing concussion issue in the NFL, and how they have been linked to a rash of post-career suicides and other violent incidents.

Chamique Holdsclaw will be appearing at the Oct. 6 screening of ‘Mind/Game’ at the Out On Film festival at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. (Photo via Facebook)

Holdsclaw, a one-time Atlanta Dream player and current Atlanta resident, says athletes are less likely to seek help because they see it as a sign of weakness, especially if they are African-American.

“The church gave us strength since the days of slavery, we used to congregate and pray to push through it. That’s the way we’re raised, it’s like that’s in our head. But some things you can’t pray away, it’s still there,” she tells Georgia Voice. “It’s like the conflict between being gay in the church and mental health in the church, there’s always that conflict.” The conflict with her then-girlfriend (and fellow WNBA player) Jennifer Lacy in 2012 led not only to probation, community service and a fine, but also to a new diagnosis—bipolar disorder. But these are happier days for Holdsclaw. She’s on good terms with Lacy, has become a mental health advocate and a regular on speaking tours, and she even started her own foundation to help people through mental health and wellness-focused programs. “Everything’s great, but I try to tell people I have bad days just like anybody else. Some days it’s hard for me to get out of bed but I know I am resilient,” she says. “Everybody has different issues. Some people like to point the finger, but we’re all struggling with something.”

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HAPPY

PRIDE FROM

ACTING OUT

By JIM FARMER

Sibling chaos erupts in Broadway comedy By JIM FARMER The Tony award-winning “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” has become one of the most-produced regional productions around. Staged earlier this year by Horizon Theatre, the local co-production now travels across town to Aurora Theatre. Written by out playwright Christopher Durang, it’s the story of a middleaged gay brother and his sister, who live together, and how a visit by their Hollywood star sibling changes everything. We recently caught up with Bill Murphey, who is straight, to talk about the role of Vanya.

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Georgia Voice: Tell us about the relationship between your character Vanya and his sister Sonia (played by Lala Cochran). Murphey: Vanya has a sedentary life. He and Sonia are settled in their family home. I’ve never got the idea that he is complacent about it; that just seems to be his lot in life. He and his sister are there to look after each other and keep the house. Perhaps that is easier than getting out and dealing with things in the real world. It’s probably not a happy, satisfying existence, but it is what they have settled into. Has he had romantic relationships along the way? We talked about this during rehearsal, about his backstory. I figured that he has probably had some sort of relationships in the distant past. He has come home to look after his parents and ultimately stayed in the house after they died. I don’t think there has been much going on. Whatever experiences he has had are a distant memory. How does Masha (played by Tess Malis Kincaid) change their family dynamic? Vanya and Sonia are used to their days, which are always the same. They never leave the house. Masha comes in with her Hollywood glamour and her new boytoy and anytime she visits, it’s like any slightly dysfunctional family. Things get stirred up. She is exciting and glamorous and the one who pays our bills. So there is probably some nervousness. She wasn’t around to take care of the parents but she has provided us our lives. Bringing (boyfriend) Spike throws a

Cast members star in Aurora Theatre’s production of ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ (Publicity photo)

new iron in the work. It stirs up some feelings within Vanya that are long dormant. Not that he is anticipating anything happening – just the fact that there’s a young man in the house with a proclivity for taking off his clothes. How did you and Lala Cochran click as siblings? I’ve known her for a long time but never worked with her. We went to lunch a few times; I went to her house and worked on lines. It’s a very comfortable relationship. Were you familiar with the piece before doing it? I saw it in New York when it was running there. Sigourney Weaver had already left the cast but David Hyde Pierce was still in it. I had heard so much about it. Inevitably when

Details

‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ Aurora Theatre 128 East Pike Street, Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30046 October 1–25 www.auroratheatre.com there is a huge build-up for something, you see it and you’re a little disappointed. Nothing can measure up. But still I enjoyed it and said that’s a role I would like to play if anyone ever does it in Atlanta. Lo and behold, they did it in Atlanta. Horizon Theatre called me in. I was up against some major contenders and I was really happy to get that phone call when they decided on me. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club “Adiós Tour” • Oct 24

Mark Morris Dance Group & Music Ensemble • Oct 17

Spanish Harlem Orchestra

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Paco Peña: Flamencura • Nov 7

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Spanish Harlem Orchestra • Feb 6

Zakir Hussain & Masters of Percussion • Apr 10

Capitol Steps • Feb 13 Sacred Sounds with The Jones Family Singers • Feb 20

Hansel and Gretel Georgia State University Opera Theatre Symphony Orchestra • Apr 15-17

•

Johnny Mercer Celebration 2016 with Joe Gransden & Kathleen Bertrand • Feb 26

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LGBT

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

NT AT L A

‘Nothing Looks Familiar’ haunts with turn of each page

REVIE W And they lived happily ever after. Even today, years after you’ve outgrown fairy tales, those words make you smile. Oh, how you love a happy ending, even though (and maybe because) life doesn’t always work out that way. As a matter of fact, in “Nothing Looks Familiar,” a new short-story collection by Shawn Syms, sad endings don’t always happen, either. Worst case scenario: If it all goes well, God willing, everything will turn out all right— but if not, life goes on. We’ll live through it, just like the people in these stories. A job in a slaughterhouse, for instance, is just a job, and while Wanda would rather work somewhere else, there’s no real reason to move on. Instead, in “On the Line,” she takes lovers from everywhere but the kill floor. Nobody knows she does it, until she sleeps with the wrong man—a man whose wife is Wanda’s co-worker. Because he had few friends (“He’d never been good at keeping” them), Adam was surprised that Shaggy wanted to hang out. They never did much, just a little mayhem now and then, but in “Four Pills,” the tables are about to turn. Gimli, Manitoba is a tiny town perched on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Sammy, who’s eight years old, and Cindy, who’s just a baby, might have loved it there someday, but their mother had to get them away from there. The fumes from the drugs she made were no good for the kids; neither were the people she worked with or the tiny house where they mixed. In “Family Circus,” the kids’ mother starts making plans for escape. People didn’t have to like Brenda Foxworthy: she liked herself enough. As one of the Popular Girls, she got away with everything, including meanness to Dean and his friends, Preet and Rickie. Did Brenda hate their sexuality or their nerdiness? It didn’t matter, because in “Get Brenda Foxworthy,” the three had plenty of other reasons for revenge. When Sean and Kate inherited a house from Kate’s dad, they also inherited an ec64 A&E October 2, 2015

Details ‘Nothing Looks Familiar’ By Shawn Syms Arsenal Pulp Press, 2015 $15.95 184 pages

centric tenant that they rarely saw. In “Man, Woman, and Child,” Les Montague was a harmless old guy…wasn’t he? Unsettling. That’s a good word to use when describing the 11 short stories inside “Nothing Looks Familiar.” Reading this book, in fact, is a little like watching an accident that you’re powerless to stop and can’t un-see. For sure, what you’ll read here will make you squirm. But that’s not a bad thing, oddly enough. I found myself rather addicted to the stories that author Shawn Syms tells, even though they left me dangling, wondering what happened next. Another oddity: the characters in these stories aren’t particularly likeable, which leads to a certain amount of schadenfreude, or a smug, satisfied feeling that things didn’t go so well for them. These are stories that will tap you on the shoulder days after you’ve finished the book. They’ll keep you awake, pondering. If you’re not careful, “Nothing Looks Familiar” could haunt you ever after. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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EATING MY WORDS By CLIFF BOSTOCK

Twisted Soul Southern Kitchen & Bar, poetry on a plate If Deborah VanTrece had chosen a career other than cooking, she might have become a poet. In 1998, she opened a restaurant called Edible Art, and more recently, she launched Twisted Soul Southern Kitchen + Bar in Decatur. If the names aren’t poetic enough, VanTrece’s cooking certainly is. She mixes ingredients in the twisted way a poet mixes metaphors that refer to the soulful South as well as other areas of the world. Where else are you going to find short-rib lasagna made with local goat cheese? I ate frequently at Edible Art, a virtual hole-in-the-wall in East Atlanta Village. It closed in 2002 thanks to one of the numerous landlord disputes in that area. After closing, VanTrece took up catering, which remains her bread and butter. She gained considerable fame when she appeared on NBC’s “Food Fighters” in August. Lorraine Lane, VanTrece’s life partner, runs Twisted Soul’s bar, which serves kinky cocktails such as wintertime’s sweet potato martini. Twisted Soul (314 E. Howard Ave., Decatur, 404-373-2725) replaces Marbar in its location across from Decatur’s revamped train depot. VanTrece and Lane have done little to change the comfy, spacious décor they inherited. Friends and I ate on the patio there a few weeks ago and had a mainly splendid meal. We were presented with an amuse bouche of seasoned chicken salad nestled in a ring of crispy wontons garnished with microgreens. (The salad is also available on a sandwich with radicchio.) We ordered a starter plate of shrimp-and-crab fritters with garlic jam, and another of fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and red-pepper aioli. Lots of crunch played against comparatively creamy interiors. I have no complaints. My entrée was chicken grilled Cajun-style. It was served in a bowl with red-bean orzo, okra, corn, tomato succotash, and redeye gravy made with tasso ham. This dish points to a problem that all chefs have when combining so many ingredients: it’s easy to go overboard. While the glazed chicken was succulent, I had a problem with the huge amount of corn that overwhelmed everything else. I certainly don’t

Bacon, lettuce, fried green tomato, goat cheese drizzled with roasted red pepper aioli with home fries. (Courtesy photo)

mean that the dish wasn’t delicious, but I got too much sweetness from the corn. VanTrece said her biggest seller is her fried chicken. It features a virtually perfect breading—not too thick or thin—clinging to the Springer Mountain bird. The three side dishes on the plate are takes on classics: collards served in a roll, a scoop of three-cheese orecchiette (otherwise known as mac and cheese), and a chutney of sweet potato and apples. By popular consensus, the best dish on our table was the short-rib lasagna—a study in tender textures, from the broad noodles to the braised meat. Tomatoes and goat cheese added sharper flavors. Order it. For dessert, we had two servings of peach cobbler. I don’t think it was up to the quality of the rest of the meal, even with vanilla ice cream added. Again, I’m not saying it wasn’t artfully edible. It frankly tasted a bit old. VanTrece and Lane say they have other projects in planning, including expansion, a cookbook, and more TV appearances. Get a reservation and prepare to twist your soul. Cliff Bostock, PhD, is a longtime Atlanta food critic and former psychotherapist who now specializes in collaborative life coaching (404-518-4415), www.cliffbostock.com.

66 Columnists October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for Oct. 2-15

TA N A AT L EVENT

FRIDAY, OCT. 2

‘Stonewall,’ directed by Roland Emmerich, is playing in area theaters. (Publicity photo)

FRIDAY, OCT. 2– SATURDAY, OCT. 3

The FTM Fitness World Annual Conference is the world’s leading conference in health and wellness for transgender individuals. Events include a Trans Exclusive Fashion Show, a bodybuilding competition and various workshops. Ramada Plaza Hotel, ftmfitnessconference.com

EVENT SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, OCT. 3

Come join in the glow as DJ Neon the Glowgobear returns to the Atlanta Eagle for the Stoplight Party - with glow bracelets for everyone! Choose red if you’re just looking for friends, yellow if you’re wanting to be mysterious, and green if you’re ready to game on! 10 p.m., www.atlanta eagle.com (Photo via Facebook)

70 Best Bets October 2, 2015

FRIDAY, OCT. 2– THURSDAY, OCT. 8

Out On Film continues its 28th annual LGBTQ film festival, highlighted by Saturday’s Georgia Voice day, including “Tab Hunter Confidential,” “54: The Director’s Cut,” the documentary “Upstairs Inferno” and more through Oct. 8 at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, www.outonfilm.org

FRIDAY, OCT. 2

Jeff Perry of “Scandal” fame is directing the drama, “A Steady Rain,” at the Alliance Theatre, with a 7 p.m. curtain tonight, running through Oct. 11, www.alliancetheatre.org

Celeste Holmes hosts Boys of BJ’s tonight at 9 p.m. at BJ Roosters, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324

official NOH8 photo by photographer Adam Bouska. No reservations needed, but wear white! www.watlantamidtown.com

SATURDAY, OCT. 3– SUNDAY, OCT. 4

The lesbian-themed “Jar the Floor,” running through today, has a performance at 8 p.m., Southwest Arts Center, www.fultonarts.org

The 15th annual Lakefest takes place this weekend with all sorts of events in Pine Lake, including Poetry by the Lake and Michelle Malone on Sunday afternoon, pinelakefest.com

SATURDAY, OCT. 3

Enjoy Sunday Funday Brunch, with $3 mimosas and $5 Bloody Marys, noon to 4 p.m., My Sister’s Room, www.mysistersroom.com DJ Chad Jack returns to the Jungle tonight, www.jungleatl.com

SUNDAY, OCT. 4

The NOH8 Campaign returns to town today. Stop by W Atlanta-Midtown anytime between 2–6 p.m. to pose for an

MONDAY, OCT. 5

Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender, and aspiring allies. Charis provides a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. This is a project of the Feminist Outlawz and is co-sponsored by Charis Circle’s Strong Families, Whole Children. Donations are accepted. 7–8:30 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com Come enjoy free pool at Bulldogs, 893 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30308, www.facebook.com/bulldogsbaratlanta

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

TUESDAY, OCT. 6

The Tony Award-winning musical “Jersey Boys” runs through Oct. 11 with 7:30 p.m. performances, courtesy of Broadway Across America, Fox Theatre, www.foxtheatre.org (Publicity photo)

TUESDAY, OCT. 6

Equally Wed’s Master Class offers compelling programming and knowledgeable and entertaining speakers and educates wedding vendors and other professionals in the standards of LGBT practices. At the end of the one-day seminar, attendees will receive a diploma and accreditation as a certified equality-minded wedding professional. 8:30 a.m–7:30 p.m., Four Seasons, www.equallywed.com A reception tonight is a fundraiser for Josh Noblitt for Georgia State House District 59, 5:30 p.m., Steel Restaurant & Lounge Atlanta, 950 W. Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Drag royalty is on display Aces high! Tuesday night is poker night at The Model T, beginning at 7 p.m., www.modeltatlanta.com Tuesdays are Latin Industry Nights as well as Papi’s Tuesdays with $2 tacos and $3 tequila shots at Las Margaritas, lasmargaritasmidtown.com

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7

Enjoy games with hairy men at Woofs Game Night, 8 p.m., www.woofsatlanta.com

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It’s Amateur Night every Wednesday at 9 p.m. at BJ Roosters, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324

THURSDAY, OCT. 8

SAGE Atlanta hosts its weekly social hour and potluck, 10 a.m., Phillip Rush Center, www.rushcenteratl.org Integrity Atlanta will host its 27th annual Gay Pride Eucharist tonight. The preacher for the service is the Rev. Kimberly Jackson, Chaplain and Missioner to the Absalom Jones Chapel at the Atlanta University Center. A reception follows in the parish hall, 7:30 p.m., All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30308. Come out to the lesbian-owned Twisted Soul for Food Fighters Thursday. Every Thursday enjoy $5 drink specials and complimentary hors d’oeuvres at the bar, www.twistedsoulkitchenandbar.com Dance Floor Divas with Phoenix of “Rupaul’s Drag Race” begins at 11 p.m., Burkhart’s, www.burkharts.com

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

More than 30 artists from around the

United States and abroad have created works of art in clay for the exhibit titled “Taboo: Sexuality and Identity in Ceramics,” the purpose of which is to provoke thought and stimulate conversation while demonstrating the ability of ceramic art to have a relevant voice in the social and political discussions of our time. Running now through Oct. 31, Signature Gallery, www.thesignatureshop.com Atlanta Pride hosts its annual Kick Off party at the Georgia Aquarium, starting off the merriment for the weekend, 7–11:30 p.m., www.atlantapride.org Building on the activist tradition of consciousness-raising groups, started at Wild Iris Books in Gainesville, Fl., Charis Books each week invites folks to come talk about issues in their personal lives or in society as a whole that they are trying to process or deconstruct. Then they will talk about how intersectional feminism can be a tool to solve these issues. 7:30–9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

CONTINUES ON PAGE 72

EVENT SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY, OCT. 9

Edie Cheezburger presents ‘The Other Show,’ the most unique drag show in Atlanta. Admission is $5, Jungle, 10 p.m., www.jungleatl.com (Photo via Facebook)

October 2, 2015 Best Bets 71

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 71

SATURDAY, OCT. 10

DJ Martin Fry gets the joint rocking at Xion Atlanta, 3 a.m. Atlanta Pride kicks off its weekend events in Piedmont Park, www.atlantapride.org The Indigo Girls perform at the new Ponce City Market, 5 p.m. www.poncecitymarket.com OnStage Atlanta and Process Theatre present the drama “Looking for Normal,” about a church-going couple whose lives change when the husband reveals he is a woman trapped in a man’s body. 8 p.m. tonight through Oct. 10, www.onstageatlanta.com The Flock of Eagles Pride Party brings together Vicki Powell, Mark Louque, Scooter McCreight, NARK, Chris Bowen and Pat Scott, hosted by Ambrosia Salad, Hydrangea Heath, Sarah Problem, Lady Back Hair, Laura Barton and WARLOCK, 10 p.m., Atlanta Eagle, www.atlantaeagle.com

72 Best Bets October 2, 2015

Electric Circus, the official women’s event of Atlanta Pride, features Whitney Mixter, DJ Annalyze, go-go dancers, fire blowers and more, hosted by Jen-Chase Daniels and Jami Atlanta, 10 p.m.–3 a.m., 1150 Crescent Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30309 It’s two parties in one. DJ Rob Reum spins inside while DJ Daryl Cox turns up the music outside at TEN Atlanta, www.tenatlanta.com

SUNDAY, OCT. 11

The HRC Atlanta Pride Brunch, the official brunch of Atlanta Pride, begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Empire State South, www.hrc.org/atlantapridebrunch Make a joyful noise with the Sisters of Sequins at Gospel Brunch with performers Bubba D. Licious and Justice Counce, 12:30 p.m. followed by a 1:30 p.m. show, Lips Atlanta, www.lipsatl.com Freddie Ashley directs the comedic “Stupid F****** Bird” at Actor’s Express, with a show today at 2 p.m. and

CONTINUES ON PAGE 74

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

Newnan Theatre Company stages Ira Levin’s gay-themed ‘Deathtrap,’ with shows today through Oct. 11 at 8 p.m., www.newnantheatre.org (Publicity photo)

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

CELEBRATING OUR 35TH SEASON: LET FREEDOM SING! Voices of Note proudly presents the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus

Free Spirits NOVEMBER 6–7, 2015 Join the AWC as we launch our third season, adding a new concert to the Voices of Note series. In the spirit of Halloween and All Saints Day, the AWC presents a collection of spooky selections from classical to popular music that is sure to entertain young and old alike. Join us for a ghoulish adventure for the fall season!

The 35th Annual Holiday Concert DECEMBER 4–5, 2015

AND JUSTICE FOR ALL SPECIAL COMBINED PERFORMANCE!

THE STORY OF U.S.

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PEACE JUNE 3–4, 2016 The AWC closes the season with a continued focus on justice and peace. The concert will feature a commissioned work in honor of Catherine Roma, founder of MUSE, which the AWC will perform with other women’s choruses at the 2016 international GALA Choruses Festival (the AWC’s debut at this quadrennial event). The selections will honor the struggle through adversity as we imagine peace for all.

The Holiday Concert at The Cathedral of St. Philip has become a tradition for many families. Hailed as AJC’s “Weekend Pick” for many years, this concert will feature member and audience favorites from the last decade along with new selections that are sure to delight. Join us for this magnificent celebration of the holidays!

MARCH 18–19, 2016 The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, collectively known as Voices of Note, will perform together for the first time in this milestone concert. And Justice For All will feature music known for uniting people of different backgrounds and cultures, particularly those who have been marginalized by the laws of their countries, and music born out of conflict, solidarity, and nationalism. The centerpiece of this concert will be the world premiere of “Libertad”, a multimovement concert work for mixed chorus and orchestra by composer and AGMC conductor Kevin Robison, based on poetry by Walt Whitman.

CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH MUSIC Voices of Note is many things to many people. At its core, via its choral programs, it delivers experiences defined by musical excellence. Through these experiences, it is also much, much more: It’s a catalyst for social change. It’s an opportunity to be inspired. It’s a journey into places within our hearts and minds that have yet to be explored. It’s a voyage outside of oneself and into the perspective of others: your neighbors, your teachers, your siblings, your friends. Voices of Note is a musical community united. A community brought together by a common purpose: a passion for excellence in vocal performance, a thirst for equality of all people, and a belief that music is the most effective way to deliver that message. This ideal is conveyed through its many programs, most notably the dynamic performances of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, each with its own identity, but unified in a common goal. Through these talented ensembles, indeed voices of note, together we are changing hearts and minds through music.

JUNE 24–25, 2016 Join the AGMC as we celebrate music inspired by the landscape of our country. Georgia and New York City come to mind, as well as many others. The second act will focus on our father and son relationships as AGMC brings back, by popular demand, an abridged version of our original work of choral theatre, When I Was Your Age—selected as one of nine featured performances to be given at the 2016 international GALA Choruses Festival in Denver the following week.

Season Subscriptions Full Voices of Note Season [5 concerts] ........ $150 AGMC Season [3 concerts] ................................. $100 AWC Season [3 concerts] ......................................$85

Season Subscriptions can be purchased at www.voicesofnote.org or calling (404) 320 - 1030

This season is sponsored in part by: Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

This program is supported in part by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency - the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding for this program is also provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 72 running through Oct. 11, www.actors-express.com Bear Invasion at the Heretic will find cubs and otters and grizzlies intermingling, with DJ Sean Mac spinning, www.hereticatlanta.com

MONDAY, OCT. 12

Lily Tomlin is generating Oscar buzz for her role as a lesbian grandmother in the

new film “Grandma,” now playing in metro area theaters. Monday night is the Pride kickball after night at Blake’s at 7:30 p.m. Trivia at 10 p.m. with weekly guest hosts, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com They’ve been doing it for 15 years and have never been better. The Stars of the Century hit the stage at Jungle Atlanta for an unforgettable show led by emcees Miss Sophia and Joe Jackson.

Featuring performances by Necole Luv Dupree, Archie Bonet, Stasha Sanchez, Raquel Lord, Damoni Hall Dickerson, Trinity Bonet and more, 11 p.m., www.jungleatl.com

TUESDAY, OCT. 13

The all-new Latino Tuesday kicks off with DJ Karlito, Blake’s, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14

Ruby Redd’s Birdcage Bingo starts at

8:30 p.m., with $3 well drinks all night, then Tyler King hosts Beauty and the Beat karaoke at 11 p.m., The Hideaway, www.atlantahideaway.com Nicole Paige Brooks, Mychelle LaCroix DuPree and Mo’Dest Volgare host Wild Out Wednesdays at Felix’s, www.felixsatlanta.com After two sold-out seasons, Serenbe Playhouse is proud to revive “The Sleepy Hollow Experience” in new thrilling (and bone-chilling) ways, directed by openly gay artistic director Brian Clowdus. For its third season the show will be more barbaric than ever, taking the tale of Ichabod, Katrina, and Brom Bones to new heights. Through Nov. 1 with an 8 p.m. show tonight, www.serenbeplayhouse.com

THURSDAY, OCT. 15

The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly Business Builder’s Luncheon, hosted by Dustin Drabot and Lissa Dulany, on the third Thursday of each month at 11:45 a.m. with a $20 (cash only please) preset menu. Open floor seating limited to 14 respondents. Henry’s Atlanta, www.henrysatl.com Faces Lounge in Marietta’s new All Star Cabaret is every Thursday at 10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. with the likes of Heather Daniels and Coco Chanelle, 138 Powers Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30060

UPCOMING FRIDAY, OCT. 16

Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones, Michelle Malone and Randall Bramblet unite tonight fat the Chastain Park Amphitheatre for Rock Chastain,a benefit concert for the Chastain Park Conservancy. Doors open at 7 p.m., $50, www.ticketmaster.com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LGBT EVENT Submit your LGBT event for inclusion in our online and print calendars by emailing event info to editor@thegavoice.com 74 Best Bets October 2, 2015

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OUTSIDE THE BOX By BILL KAELIN

Slave to the rhythm I love music. I would rather listen to iTunes any day than turn on my TV. I wake up to it, work with it and usually fall asleep to it. The only thing better than listening to my favorite artists is actually seeing them perform their creations live. In a trifecta twist of fate I got to see three of the biggest gay music icons perform recently; with Culture Club becoming the first band I got to check off my bucket list. I wasn’t expecting much after hearing rumors that lead singer Boy George had lost most of his vocal range as a result of hard living, but hearing him belt out “Black Money” at the beginning of the night proved his staying power and took me on a time-travel trip back to my youth. I remember my Dad’s frustration at the site of George’s “pop tart” image plastered on my bedroom walls but I was blinded to his gender flux by loving his music and sense of style. Thirtytwo years later at The Fox Theatre I got more Boy George with a beard than the signature drag queen with dreadlocks, but he seemed happier than ever, acknowledging his past struggles and proving to the audience that “Time” had been good to him in the end by putting on one of the best shows I had seen in a while. Music Midtown produced the next LGBT live music escapade for me, and is one of those iconic Atlanta events that makes me so proud of our city. The talent this year featured double gay headliners with Elton John and Sam Smith, but since I had already seen Mr. Smith, my loyalty lay with Sir Elton John. If tears could signal a super show, then Elton was off the charts, inducing major waterworks throughout the night. Singing the chorus of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” with tens of thousands of my peers was a spiritual experience, with the rest of the performance spanning The Rocket Man’s entire career. He evoked gasps from the audience with a set list featuring hit after hit. I didn’t think anything could top that, but then the grand finale of my magical musical tour came courtesy of my gal pal Lisa, who

“I remember my Dad’s frustration at the site of George’s ‘pop tart’ image plastered on my bedroom walls, but I was blinded to his gender flux by loving his music and sense of style.” made me an offer I couldn’t refuse when she welcomed me to stay at her beautiful L.A. home to see the legendary Grace Jones at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. Thanks to Delta, my destiny was decided, and off I went to the “Best Coast” for 48 hours to hang out with my bestie and to be the “Slave to Miss Jones’ rhythm” under the super blood moon. When I was a child, the androgynous supermodel and Andy Warhol muse of the 1980s scared the shit out of me, but as I grew older I learned to appreciate her unique blend of gender-bending performance art, disco and dub music. In concert, her pitch-perfect voice, bare-breasted Keith Haring body paint and countless costume changes well-exceeded my expectations. The show was a nonstop, 2-hour pop art spectacle that was scary, sweet, sentimental and straight up sassy. Grace spoke to the audience in between songs about love and love lost while showing everyone what it means to grow old Gracefully at age 67. Miss Jones served up some serious performance art, complete with a 10 minute-plus hula hoop session to end the show, leaving me inspired and so grateful that I had the chance to see these three living legends live and in person. Je’taime beaucoup Miss Jones, Boy George and Elton John and most of all to the music that has become the soundtrack to my life. Bill Kaelin is the owner of Bill Kaelin Marketing Events and Consulting Agency in Atlanta. www.BillKaelin.com

80 Columnists October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID By MELISSA CARTER

To Uber or not to Uber; that is the question You think you’re being responsible by not drinking and driving. But what if the person you’ve hired to transport you isn’t doing any better behind the wheel? A buddy came in from New York last weekend to take me to the Janet Jackson concert. Since she was staying at my place, we thought it would be easiest to use one of the popular ride-hailing apps to and from the show. That way we wouldn’t have to worry about parking or a DUI. But both trips proved worrisome despite our efforts, since we had to keep a constant eye on each driver to make sure we arrived at our destinations safely. Our first was Jose. I knew things didn’t look good when he couldn’t even find my house for the pickup. I don’t live in a neighborhood with a complicated street plan, but for some reason, Jose and I had to talk on the phone twice before he could find us, standing in the street, waving him down. I let Jose know we were going to Chastain Park Amphitheater and my friend and I relaxed into another conversation. A few minutes later I looked through the window, saw Jose was attempting to get to I-75 North, and realized he was heading to Chastain ROAD near Kennesaw State! I gently got his attention and told him how to get back toward Buckhead. Once we were in the vicinity of Chastain Park, my friend and I had to leave poor Jose in traffic and walk the last mile to the venue or we wouldn’t have made the concert on time. It rained during the concert, so we were drenched and ready to get indoors by the time our second driver arrived. Our initial conversation with James was good; we shared our positive review of Janet Jackson and listened to his tales of picking up fares from the TomorrowWorld electronic music festival. Then, as he was driving up the ramp onto I-285, James said, “So, I take it you girls like country music?” Confused, my friend and I arched our eyebrows at each other; silently questioning what country music clues we might be giv-

“I appreciate the ability of ride-hailing services to provide freelance drivers with an extra paycheck, but not everyone should apply for that job. If these guys were any indication of their workforce, you’d be better off teetotalling and driving yourself.” ing off. Then James began multitasking: he pulled an iPod (yes, an iPod) from his console while merging into rainy traffic and thumbed to his country playlist while talking to some technology to get Bluetooth to pick up his new selections. I kept an eye on the road and was silently thankful the drink lines had been too long at the show to dull my senses. Once the music began playing, he sped up his pace and started jamming out. While some guy crooned about cheap beer, I focused on a mantra from “Rhythm Nation” and on my need to get out of that car as soon as I could. I appreciate the ability of ride-hailing services to provide freelance drivers with an extra paycheck, but not everyone should apply for that job. If these guys were any indication of their workforce, you’d be better off teetotalling and driving yourself. Melissa Carter is one of the Morning Show hosts on B98.5. In addition, she is a writer for the Huffington Post. She is recognized as one of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta and one ofthe few in the country. Follow her on Twitter@MelissaCarter

82 Columnists October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

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SOMETIMES ‘Y’ By RYAN LEE

Bromantic bliss: Why I’d marry a straight man I sometimes see myself marrying a straight man. My college roommate was the first heterosexual to broach the possibility of matrimony with me, and he had a girlfriend at the time. After six months of living together and speaking no more than a dozen words to each other, he invited me to smoke weed with him (my first time), and through those clouds emerged two-and-a-half years of brotherhood; of conversations teeming with humor, of the vulnerability of devotion; of trips home together for the holidays; and tears reciprocated over our respective families’ struggles. There was zero sexual desire between us, and maybe that’s why he once felt comfortable volunteering something along the lines of, “Dude, if being married meant something like this every day for the rest of my life—this fun, this easy—I’d marry you.” It was a fanciful proposal in 2002, before same-sex marriage was enough of a concept to be outlawed in state constitutions, but the idea feels practical and appealing today. It seems that intimacy becomes more important than (if not an entire replacement for) sex within months of many relationships, while sex is the ruin of countless others—either not having enough, or having too much with other people. As someone who seeks a loving, solid bond with another person outside of monogamy, my ideal spouse could be someone with whom there is no expectation of sex—a straight, lesbian or trans woman, a gay man who tends to enjoy similar sexual positions. It doesn’t have to be a straight man, but since I have two candidates in mind, let’s play with that. One of my favorite musical themes is exaggerated crushes, where the most fleeting interactions launch lifelong possibilities: Madonna’s “Beautiful Stranger,” Alicia Keys’s “You Don’t Know My Name,” and “Excuse Me Miss,” by Jay Z. Distant admirer is a role I enjoy playing; it’s harder to find fault in a potential partner the less you know about them. Two days of delicious banter with a guy at a restaurant filled my stomach with butterflies, to the point that I felt guilty cheating on my MARTA boo, another potential husband

“All I desire is an intimate, sexless partnership with someone whose company makes the days more enjoyable—which sounds a lot like marriage, except we wouldn’t be jealous of the other people we fuck.” who barely knows I exist. My MARTA boo and I ride the same bus most mornings, and it’s positively adora ble how we get off “together” before splitting away toward our jobs. I assume he enjoys our five-second rendezvous as much as I do, otherwise he could get off at a different stop and walk a few extra blocks to work. I respect the heterosexuality of both men and intercourse isn’t the destination of my fantasies, but my mornings are a little heavier when my boo and I aren’t on the same bus, and my stomach growls at the thought of a private meal with my restaurant crush. All I desire is an intimate, sexless partnership with someone whose company makes the days more enjoyable—which sounds a lot like marriage, except we wouldn’t be jealous of the other people we fuck. I sometimes feel guilty about these amorous feelings I have toward unwitting straight men, until I sit in a barber shop, on a train, at a sporting event or anywhere else two or more men are gathered to violate women’s bodies with their gazes and imaginations. And then sometimes the object of my crush flatters me by showing appreciation for my naive attraction. I once worked with a straight guy who everyone, following my lead, called my boo, much to his displeasure. One day I walked into work without realizing that my boo had been arguing with another co-worker, who also happened to be a straight dude. “Hey boo,” I said upon entering. “Hey buddy,” my co-worker said. “Um, he wasn’t talking to you,” corrected my boo, as he smiled at me and winked. Ryan Lee is an Atlanta writer.

84 Columnists October 2, 2015 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Come be part of our faith family CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH GARY W. CHARLES, PASTOR 201 WASHINGTON ST 404-659-0274 • CPCATLANTA.ORG Looking for a progressive church? Come to Central Presbyterian, where we celebrate all human diversity as intentional acts of God.

DRUID HILS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DAVE ALLEN GRADY, PASTOR 1200 PONCE DE LEON AVE. (AT BRIARCLIFF) 404-377-6481 • DRUIDHILLSUMC.ORG. Radical love is here! Happy Pride!!!

DRUID HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH REV. SHELLI LATHAM, PASTOR 1026 PONCE DE LEON AVE. 404-875-7591 • DHPC.ORG. Druid Hills Presbyterian Church is an open and affirming congregation. We believe that there is nothing that separates us from the love of God and that all of God’s children are called into Christian community, are created with a purpose that glorifies God, and are invited to serve the church and the needs of our neighbors.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ATLANTA DR. TONY SUNDERMEIR 1328 PEACHTREE ST. (NEXT TO THE HIGH MUSEUM) 404-892-8461 • FIRSTPRESATL.ORG. A community of grace, rooted in tradition and open to the spirit.

GLENN MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH REV. DR. P. ALICE ROGERS 1660 N. DECATUR RD. (AT EMORY) 404-634-3936 • GLENNUMC.ORG.

GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH REV. FAITH HURST FLOYD, PASTOR 458 PONCE DE LEON AVE. 404-876-2678 • GRACEONPONCE.ORG

Glenn Memorial is committed to loving God and loving neighbor with our whole selves- heart, mind, soul, and strength. As Jesus loved those around him, we believe that all persons are of sacred worth and dignity as part of God’s creation. We welcome all persons into the full life and ministry of our congregation.

Whoever you are, wherever you are on your faith journey, you are God’s beloved and welcome at Grace UMC. Join us for worship on Sundays at 11 AM.

MORNINGSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH REV. DR. BARON MULLIS 1711 MORNINGSIDE DR. 404-876-7396 LGBTANDFRIENDS@MORNINGSIDEPC.ORG

ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH REV. DAN MATTHEWS JR., RECTOR 435 PEACHTREE ST. 404-873-7600 STLUKESATLANTA.ORG

Morningside Presbyterian Church doors are open to everyone as we aspire to live out our motto: Welcome all. Serve all. Sunday worship at 11 AM.

ST. MARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DR. BETH LAROCCA-PITTS, PASTOR 781 PEACHTREE ST. 404-873-2636 STRMARKUMC.ORG. Over a century of acceptance.

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST REV. MICHAEL PIAZZA 743 VIRGINIA AVE. 404-348-4830 • VHCHURCH.ORG Virginia Highland is a radically inclusive community boldly pursuing God’s charge to fight for justice, embrace compassion, and humbly explore our faith as we follow the Way of Jesus. Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly.

St. Luke’s is a diverse community of doers: feeding the hungry, tending the sick and studying God’s word. Come see for yourself. Worship Sunday 8/9/11 AM. Complimentary parking.

THE EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL OF ST. PHILIP THE VERY REV. SAMUEL G. CANDLER, DEAN 2744 PEACHREEE RD. 404-365-1000 STPHILIPSCATHEDRAL.ORG Sunday Eucharist Services 7:45/8:45/9/11:15 AM (English & Spanish). 4 PM Evensong. A house of prayer for all people.

We welcome all of God’s children. Come join us.

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