ELECTION NEWS
LGBT groups’ endorsements roll in as Election Day approaches 10 LGBT candidates in metro Atlanta races as city of Atlanta government nears major changes By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com As the days dwindle to Election Day on Nov. 7, voters across Georgia — and especially in the city of Atlanta — are faced with choosing among a dizzying number of candidates in numerous races on the municipal, county and statewide level. There is plenty at stake, including seven seats in the state Legislature. The city of Atlanta government is facing an overhaul not seen in years — come January, the city will have a new mayor, a new City Council president and at least half of the Atlanta City Council will be comprised of new faces. A good bit of LGBT history is at stake as well. The city of Atlanta could have the first openly LGBT mayor, the Atlanta City Council could have the first openly LGBT Muslim elected in the U.S. and the Fulton County Commission could have the first openly LGBT African-American man elected in Georgia (former state Rep. Rashad Taylor, a gay African-American man, was outed in office in 2011 and did not win reelection). Local and national LGBT groups Georgia Equality, Georgia Log Cabin Republicans, Georgia Stonewall Democrats, the Human Rights Campaign and the Victory Fund have weighed in with their endorsements, and we take a look at the races involving LGBT candidates. Atlanta Mayor With eight viable candidates running for Atlanta mayor and ever-shifting poll numbers, there aren’t many certainties in this race, but if everyone involved agreed on one thing, it would be that it’s likely no one candidate will get the 50 percent plus one vote needed to win outright on Nov. 7 and that this race will go to a runoff to be decided Dec. 5. The question of who those two candidates will be has led to more and more contentiousness in recent weeks as opponents see the days running out on their campaigns. www.thegeorgiavoice.com
LGBT history could be made in the November elections with the elections of Atlanta City Council candidate Liliana Bakhtiari, Fulton County Commission candidate Josh McNair and Atlanta mayoral candidate Cathy Woolard.
Former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, the first openly LGBT elected official in Georgia, nabbed the endorsements of Georgia Equality, the Human Rights Campaign and the Victory Fund. Georgia Stonewall Democrats have yet to announce their choice and appear to be waiting to see if the race goes to a runoff before weighing in. “The abundance of energetic and engaged candidates presents understandably tough decisions for us and for voters,” the group said in a statement. “Since we’ve endorsed a number of the candidates in the past and watched many of them grow and form deep attachments to the constituents they serve, we have decided to continue to monitor the campaigns and messaging and consider any new information that may arise before reaching a final decision.” Meanwhile, the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans split its vote, avoiding LGBT candidates Woolard and political newcomer Laban King and going with Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell and Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood. Atlanta City Council Three City Council veterans face off in the race for president: C.T. Martin, Felicia Moore and Alex Wan, who was elected in 2009 and became the first Asian-American member and first openly gay man on the Council. Wan received the backing of Georgia Equality, Georgia Stonewall Democrats, the Human Rights Campaign and the Victory Fund, while Moore got the Georgia Log
Cabin Republicans’ endorsement. In other Atlanta City Council races, queer Muslim business owner Liliana Bakhtiari can make history with a win in District 5, which would make her the first openly LGBT Muslim elected in the U.S. Bakhtiari received the endorsements of Georgia Equality, Georgia Stonewall Democrats and the Victory Fund, while opponent David Orland Brown got the Georgia Log Cabiin Republicans’ endorsement. And gay realtor Kirk Rich has the backing of Georgia Equality, Georgia Log Cabin Republicans and the Victory Fund in District 6 while his opponent Jennifer Ide got a nod from Georgia Stonewall Democrats. Fulton County Commission Lesbian Georgia state Rep. Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) left the state Legislature to run for Fulton County Commission Chair. Waites, who got endorsements from Georgia Equality and Georgia Stonewall Democrats, is up against former Fulton County Commissioner and Atlanta City Councilman Rob Pitts and Sandy Springs City Councilman Gabriel Sterling. And in the District 4 race for the late Joan Garner’s seat, two gay men are among the six candidates facing off against each other. Reese McCranie, former deputy director of communications for Mayor Kasim Reed and current director of policy and communications for Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Aiport, nabbed the Georgia Stonewall Democrats’ endorsement. And neighborhood activ-
ist Josh McNair received the endorsements of Georgia Equality and the Victory Fund. Other Races of Note Openly gay former teacher Charlie Stadtlander is running for Atlanta School Board in the At-Large Seat 8 position. He’s trying to unseat incumbent Cynthia Briscoe Brown, who received the endorsement of Georgia Stonewall Democrats. Stadtlander filed an ethics complaint against Brown alleging “numerous charges of misconduct” but the complaint was dismissed by the board’s ethics commission earlier this month. The Doraville City Council could have two LGBT faces join its ranks, as gay civic activist Joseph Geierman is running in District 2 and transgender woman Stephe Koontz is running in District 3. Both received endorsements from Georgia Equality. The race for state Senate District 6 hit the headlines earlier this month when Georgia Voice broke the story uncovering anti-LGBT and misogynistic Facebook posts by Vinings pediatric dentist Jaha Howard, a Democrat. Howard apologized but appeared to double down on his initial comments, and he refused calls for him to drop out of the race. Attention quickly turned to one of his opponents, Jen Jordan — an attorney who nabbed the endorsements of Georgia Equality and Georgia Stonewall Democrats. To view a sample ballot and find early voting locations and your Election Day voting location, go to www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. October 27, 2017 News 3
GEORGIA NEWS
Betty Price: I was being ‘provocative’ with HIV quarantine suggestion “We have a public interest in curtailing the spread. What would you advise, or are there any methods legally that we could do that would curtail the spread? I don’t want to say the ‘quarantine’ word, but I guess I just said it. Is there an ability, since I would guess that public dollars are expended heavily in prophylaxis and treatment of this condition?”
Comments during House study committee on HIV criminalization cause national uproar By RONNI RADNER rradner@thegavoice.com Georgia state Rep. Betty Price (R-Roswell) issued a statement on Oct. 21 after a national uproar over her comments earlier in the week suggesting that HIV-positive Georgians should be quarantined. Price said in the statement that her comments were “taken completely out of context,” that the comments were “rhetorical” and that she was just being “provocative.” Price’s initial comments came during a Georgia House of Representatives study committee meeting Oct. 17 to discuss reforming or decriminalizing Georgia’s HIV/AIDS disclosure laws to reflect, as Wendy Armstrong, MD, professor of medicine at Emory University, told the panel, “HIV is a changed disease.” Price’s controversial questioning came during a state epidemiologist’s presentation. “We have a public interest in curtailing the spread,” Price said. “What would you advise, or are there any methods legally that we could do that would curtail the spread? I don’t want to say the ‘quarantine’ word, but I guess I just said it. Is there an ability, since I would guess that public dollars are expended heavily in prophylaxis and treatment of this condition?” “It seems to me it’s almost frightening, the number of people who are living that are potentially carriers,” Price continued. “Well, they are carriers, with the potential to spread, whereas in the past they died more readily and then at that point they are not posing a risk. So we’ve got a huge population posing a risk if they are not in treatment.” Price’s commentary caused immediate backlash, with LGBT groups, HIV/AIDS service organizations and medical professionals issuing statements condemning the remarks in the days that followed an initial story by Project Q Atlanta. Many cited Price’s query as a sign of a significant disconnect between some lawmakers and the HIV-positive citizens they serve.
—State Rep. Betty Price (R-Roswell) in an Oct. 17 Georgia House study committee meeting
State Rep. Betty Price (R-Roswell) initially suggested in the Oct. 17 meeting that HIV-positive Georgians should be quarantined. (Official photo)
“I made a provocative and rhetorical comment as part of a free-flowing conversation which has been taken completely out of context,” Price wrote in her statement to the AJC. “I do not support a quarantine in this public health challenge and dilemma of undertreated HIV patients. I do, however, wish to light a fire under all of us with responsibility in the public health arena – a fire that will result in resolve and commitment to ensure that all of our fellow citizens with HIV will receive, and adhere to, a treatment regimen that will enhance their quality of life and protect the health of the public.” Price is the wife of former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. ‘We need to change our approach’ The Georgia House’s Health & Human Services Chair Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) called the Oct. 17 meeting to order for discussion “to see if there’s areas where we need to change our approach.” Georgia’s current law on HIV/AIDS disclosure was passed in 1988, before advances in medical science introduced effective transmission-suppression and prevention methods besides condoms and abstinence, such as anti-retroviral therapy (ART), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). It wasn’t until after the law was enacted that researchers proved the virus cannot be
transmitted through saliva or topical exposure to an infected person’s urine or feces. Yet in Georgia, along with 30 other states with HIV criminalization laws, an HIV-positive person can be charged with a felony for spitting, biting, throwing bodily fluids or failing to disclose an HIV-positive status prior to having consensual sex or sharing needles used for IV drugs. In July 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice released a paper called “Best Practices Guide to Reform HIV-Specific Criminal Laws to Align with Scientifically-Supported Factors” to guide states to update their statutes to “reflect contemporary understanding of HIV transmission routes and associated benefits of treatment” and set forth policies that “do not place unnecessary burdens on individuals living with HIV/AIDS.” Atlanta among cities with highest HIV rates The Atlanta metropolitan area has the seventh-highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in the country. The state of Georgia is second in the nation behind Louisiana in new cases of HIV and ranks third in new late-stage AIDS diagnoses. Armstrong’s statistics also show that the virus disproportionately affects African-American Georgia men who have sex with men (MSM). In 2012, 67 percent of people living with HIV in the state were black, 20 percent were white and 9 percent were Hispanic or
Latino. In 2013, 803 people in Georgia’s criminal justice system were HIV-positive. Armstrong’s presentation, “HIV in 2017: It’s (mostly…) not 1981 anymore” used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics to illustrate that, “Atlanta and Georgia have a problem. We have significant challenges with stigma, with homophobia, with less access to health insurance.” “A stat that continues to appall me is the CDC estimate that African-American MSM’s have a 1 in 2 chance, or 50 percent chance, of contracting HIV in their lifetime,” Armstrong continued. “That’s a problem, and it’s not because African-American men engage in more risky behavior, but because of the prevalence in the community. That’s a marker of the really terrible healthcare disparities that continue to exist in our society. We must facilitate testing, which requires education. It requires decreasing stigma. People are afraid to get tested because then it puts that red H on their chest for the rest of their life. And it requires linking people to care.” Dr. David Purcell, JD, Ph D, of CDC, said to the panel, “Exposure laws are not effective prevention laws. We are criminalizing intentional behavior that has little risk of transmission. We are asking to account for science. If people are using risk mitigation measures, that should be used to prove no intent. Carve-out for victims of sexual assault is also necessary. Iowa reformed law in 2014, California last week. Look at behavior that is intentional and willful, and consider science in defenses.”
4 News October 27, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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NEWS BRIEFS State Senate candidate’s anti-gay Facebook posts revealed State Senate District 6 candidate Jaha Howard publicly apologized Oct. 12 for several anti-gay and misogynistic statements he posted on Facebook from 2011-2014, which were uncovered by Georgia Voice earlier that day. In more than 10 posts, Howard said that he believes that “women should only teach other women” and wonders if there is “a homosexual agenda in public education” and if the Girl Scouts “are being used to push a [sic] pro-abortion and pro-homosexuality positions.” In his apology, Howard wrote, “Today I was embarrassed and disappointed to read some of my own insensitive social media posts from years ago. Unintentionally, I greatly offended many of the same people I’m working hard to represent and defend in the state Senate. I’m deeply sorry.” He hinted at a change in views, saying, “Over the years, I’m grateful to have gained valuable perspective from hundreds of conversations with some amazing people like you. Thank you for sharing your life experiences with me. Thank you for being real and vulnerable as I’ve moved forward on my own journey of engaging politics as a Christian. Today, I am a better man because of you. Conversations with people I know and love have helped me be very clear in my political positions. I believe in preserving and strengthening equal rights for all people, especially our LGBTQ friends. I also firmly believe in protecting a woman’s autonomy over her own body.” However, in follow-up comments on Facebook, he appeared to double down on his original statements. Howard has refused calls for him to drop out of the race. Atlanta gets perfect score on Municipal Equality Index The Human Rights Campaign’s 2017 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) shows that around the country, cities are fueling momentum for LGBT equality — and often are doing so in states that still don’t have LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination laws at the state level. In Georgia, Atlanta earned a perfect 100 points on the 2017 MEI despite the city’s location in a state without LGBT-inclusive statewide non-discrimination laws. Atlanta earned an “MEI All Star” distinction
State Senate District 6 candidate Jaha Howard posted a series of anti-gay and misogynistic statements on Facebook from 2011-2014. (File photo)
this year as well. MEI All Stars are cities nationwide that are excelling by advancing LGBT equality without relying on state law. The average score for cities in Georgia is 34 out of 100 points, which falls below the national average of 57. Across the country, 41 cities like these set a standard of LGBT inclusiveness with exemplary, best-practice policies such as local non-discrimination laws, providing transgender-inclusive health benefits for city employees and offering LGBT-inclusive city services. Corporations join Georgia lesbian’s Supreme Court fight In an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief filed Oct. 11, 76 companies — including Facebook, Starbucks, Microsoft and Viacom — came together to express their support for Georgia lesbian Jameka Evans in her efforts to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her case.
Evans claims she was harassed in the workplace and fired from her security-officer position at Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah because Jameka Evans she is a lesbian and wears her hair in an androgynous style. Lambda Legal is seeking a nationwide ruling affirming that sexual orientation discrimination violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, Freedom For All Americans and Out Leadership organized the amicus brief. Evans filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District Court of Georgia in April 2015.
6 News October 27, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
To show the hate, or not to show the hate? BY PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365
EDITORIAL
Editor: Patrick Saunders psaunders@thegavoice.com Deputy Editor: Ronni Radner rradner@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Ashleigh Atwell, Cliff Bostock, Dyana Bagby, Melissa Carter, Dallas A. Duncan, Jim Farmer, Elizabeth Friedly, Shannon Hames, Just Toby, Bill Kaelin, Ryan Lee, Robbie Medwed, Matt Schafer, Dionne N. Walker, Simon Williamson
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FINE PRINT
All material in Georgia Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Georgia Voice. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. We also do not accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by Georgia Voice, but we do not take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. Guidelines for freelance contributors are available upon request. A single copy of Georgia Voice is available from authorized distribution points. Multiple copies are available from Georgia Voice office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to reach a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 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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8 Outspoken October 27, 2017
“Including these pictures shows both what the LGBT community is still up against and also (maybe even more importantly) the brave individuals who combat that kind of hate peacefully and, many have said, effectively.” Last week, we posted a number of photo galleries from Atlanta Pride weekend and one reader was critical of the fact that we included a couple of photos of the anti-LGBT protesters that were stationed at the intersection of 10th and Peachtree during Sunday’s parade. The reader’s comment on Facebook sparked a nice dialogue on the issue. We’ve all seen these protesters at Pride before. They’re always a small group who posts themselves at the most visible spot on the route that they can find. They were also out at the Trans March on Saturday, awaiting the marchers as the event ended at the 14th Street gate. The Pansy Patrol is usually out there as well with them, doing their best to shield the hateful messages being displayed on the various signs. Some bystanders engage them. Most ignore them or look at them with curiosity, pity or sadness. We at Georgia Voice experience a similar dilemma every year that we take very seriously, although ours raises the question of whether we’re doing the protesters a favor. To document and publish photos or stories about them or not? That was the reader’s criticism, that an LGBT publication shouldn’t do so because it just gives them publicity and the satisfaction. We take a slightly different stance on that. At the end of the day, our job as journalists is to document what happens at any event — the good, the bad and the ugly. Including these pictures shows both what the LGBT community is still up against and also (maybe even more importantly) the brave individuals who combat that kind of hate peacefully and, many have said, effectively. We have to acknowledge the hate that is still out there so that those who think this community’s fight is basically done will know that that is far from the case.
But there’s also a question of degree. How much coverage should be devoted to them? We included about 5 to 10 pictures in our parade galleries, which Atlanta Pride Executive contained around Director Jamie Fergerson 600 images total. We also included photos of the protesters at the Trans March, but those also showed the Pansy Patrol as well as the pro-LGBT signs of support from a number of people scattered around the same area. And we did a Facebook Live of that scene, showing the small number of protesters being drowned out by the loud music, singing and cheers from others as the Trans March wound its way to the finish. We feel that the small number of pictures of the protesters in 1000+ pictures in our numerous Atlanta Pride galleries this year accurately reflected their role in the weekend overall. But one of those photos stood out. It was a picture of Atlanta Pride Executive Director Jamie Fergerson standing in front of a wall of protesters during the parade. The hateful signs seem to envelope her, but Fergerson isn’t facing them. She’s facing south, keeping an eye on the floats as they approach, and she’s got the slightest hint of a smile on her face. That’s the kind of picture that says so much about where we are, what we’re up against (although most don’t do us the favor of being upfront about their feelings about us) and the resolve it will take to overcome it. What do you think? Should we keep including them in our coverage at the degree to which we’re doing or not?
FEEDBACK Re: “State Senate candidate’s antigay, misogynistic Facebook posts uncovered,” Oct. 12 “How you can have views like this in the 21st century — unless you come from a theocratic country like Saudi Arabia or Iran — is beyond me. Its just nonsensical. No one should vote for this man. He sounds certifiably crazy.” -Peter Ent via Facebook Re: “State Senate candidate under fire for Facebook posts: ‘I’m deeply sorry,’” Oct. 12 “If dentistry doesn’t work out for him, he can try ditch digging. Seems to be good at digging holes.” -Stacey Dougherty via Facebook “The problem that this young man will face … is the same one that I have with him. Over the years, he has galvanized his deep-seated religious views and his negative perceptions of gays and women. He has doubled down on his views in recent posts. But when caught and confronted, he miraculously had a ‘political epiphany.’ I don’t trust that, therefore, I will never trust him with protecting the rights of gays or women. I believe in the separation of church and state, so when a politician, no matter how smart or capable, leads with his religious views, I worry. I will not support Jaha Howard’s candidacy for public office.” -Paul M. Smith via www.thegeorgiavoice.com Re: “Get to know freelance deaf interpreter, Atlanta Pride grand marshal David Cowan,” Oct. 13 “One of my all-time favorite interpreters. I have loved watching him for years. He puts style and intelligence into his interpretations.” -Richard Maritt via Facebook Re: “Facebook, Google, Starbucks join in Georgia lesbian’s U.S. Supreme Court fight,” Oct. 17 “Don’t back down. Take this all the way!” -Lynn Pasqualetti via Facebook Want to be featured in Feedback? Leave a comment to a story via social media or on our website, or email editor@thegavoice.com with the subject line “Feedback.” www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Guest Editorial
LGBT Norwood supporters respond to Ryan Lee column By Gary Alembik, former Fulton County Superior Court judge, Georgia Equality endorsed candidate in 2016; Paul Zucca, past president of the Grant Park Neighborhood Association; Lori Lobel, former member of the Atlanta public safety community
This piece was written in response to Ryan Lee’s recent column “Anybody but Mary Norwood for Atlanta mayor.” As we celebrate another meaningful Pride weekend, we can now turn our attention to the final stretch of the Atlanta mayoral race. We are fortunate to have candidates that understand our concerns and the issues that affect our community and families. The LGBTQ community has become an influential voice in Atlanta city politics. As with any voting group, we are not monolithic. Ryan Lee recently expressed his views based on his perspective. When we read opinion pieces, like Ryan Lee’s, we are prompted to think about issues that are important to our lives.
Why should you consider Mary when selecting your next mayor? Early on, when marriage equality seemed unachievable, Mary Norwood was with us (before President Obama, Hillary Clinton and even Kasim Reed). Mary has consistently voted “Yes” on issues that have advanced the interests and concerns of the LGBTQ community. Mary cares about us, the safety of our families, our community and our neighborhoods. It is Mary’s ambition to earn the title of Atlanta’s first “Neighborhood Mayor.” Mary’s legislative record surpasses all of the candidates in the field. Mary’s legislation has successfully impacted zoning ordinances, housing, police, public safety, police raises,
“Mary’s LGBTQ friends and family know that Mary is passionate about making a difference in our community. She has worked to serve her constituents’ needs and has not hesitated to fight the bureaucracy of City Hall. ” parks and recreation and, yes, even your garbage pickup. The Mary Norwood we know has supported funding for low-income housing for people with HIV/AIDS. Mary was instrumental in encouraging the city to take a stand against discriminatory religious liberty legislation. Contrary to what some might suggest, Mary has always supported Atlanta’s gay nightlife, which is why many bar owners support Mary. She has worked with grassroots community leaders to develop proposals for our homeless and at-risk gay youth. Mary will champion the decriminalization of one’s HIV status. Mary understands and is sensitive to the fact that Atlanta’s HIV/AIDS infection rates rival thirdworld countries. She knows the city can’t sit
on the sidelines in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS; this is why Mary is calling for the expansion of PrEP program. Property taxes, public safety and transparency in government are issues that are of great importance to Mary. Mary’s LGBTQ friends and family know that Mary is passionate about making a difference in our community. She has worked to serve her constituents’ needs and has not hesitated to fight the bureaucracy of City Hall. Mary Norwood cares about all of our citizens — gay, straight, black, white, northern neighbors, southern neighbors and all of those in between. As proud members of the LGBTQ community, Mary Norwood has our vote!
Thank you to the Stonewall Bar Association for honoring
Denise D. VanLanduyt with the Outstanding Service to the Stonewall Community Award! Denise represents LGBTQ parents, families and children in courthouses across the state ensuring equal protection under Georgia law.
160 Clairemont Avenue • Suite 450 • Decatur, Georgia • 30030 Tel. 404-373-9446 www.vanlanduytlaw.com 10 Outspoken October 27, 2017
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What Is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).
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Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).
Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant? • Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother? • It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you
What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines? If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.
What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi? For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist. To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.
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Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com. NP-390-14
• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE
ATLANTA LGBT HISTORY
LGBT activism in the 1990s was a group effort Pioneering LGBT activists of Atlanta discuss the trails they’ve blazed in pursuit of equality
“You have to use your power; if you use your silence, the problem continues. Take a moment and breathe, and you’ll figure out how alike we actually are.”
By RONNI RADNER rradner@thegavoice.com If you were LGBT and living in Atlanta in the early 1990s, you experienced a unique scene. You danced at Backstreet till the wee hours, discovered queer literature at Charis and Outwrite or maybe fell in love with Benjamin Smoke’s heartbreaking rasp as frontman of the Opal Foxx Quartet. But there was more to the ’90s in LGBT Atlanta than just music; you were learning how to face it. Cracker Barrel was boycotted for its discriminatory termination of a gay employee. Age-old sodomy laws were enforced, challenged in the courtroom in Bowers v. Hardwick and later overturned. Cobb County showed its homophobic colors in 1993 after Theatre in the Square’s production of “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” — which contained a secondary storyline about a gay man with AIDS — prompted county officials to pass a resolution condemning homosexuality. Out lesbian Pat Hussain started Keep the Olympics Out of Cobb in response to the resolution, and the county had no presence in the 1996 games. “Cobb will have that reputation forever,” Hussain said. “The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games knew going into Cobb was antithetical to what the Olympics stood for. The resolution in Cobb was just a way to say ‘we hate you people,’ not a legal ordinance.” The birth of the AIDS epidemic Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, said, “A lot of our struggles at that time were around basic recognition.” Graham, who moved to Atlanta in 1989 after completing grad school in Texas, recalled, “When I first got here, I got involved with ACT UP [AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power]. I went to a meeting that [current Atlanta mayoral candidate] Cathy Woolard had organized to discuss how to build on the momentum from the 1987 March on Washington and organize around
—Activist Pat Hussain
Members of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) at the Olympics-Out-of-Cobb protest Feb. 27, 1994 in Woodruff Park. (Photo courtesy of the Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library)
what the LGBT political agenda should look like. It was primarily gay and lesbian; there were some transgender [activists], but we still didn’t really talk about it. Frankly, at that time a lot of the conversation centered around the community being known as ‘gay and lesbian’ so that women were recognized.” But Chris Cash, who in 1988 founded the newspaper Southern Voice (which was reborn years later as Georgia Voice after Southern Voice’s parent company went under in 2009), said she didn’t start the newspaper to highlight women’s voices. “I didn’t start the paper just because I wanted lesbians to have a voice; I wanted everyone to have a voice,” Cash asserted. “But it was important to me, as a lesbian, that the paper reflected women as well as men, black as well as white. Atlanta was a part of a national surge for equality. The impetus for this wave of activism was primarily a result of the AIDS epidemic. People were dying by the thousands, but we couldn’t get the government to acknowledge it or even say the word [AIDS]. Reagan was our worst nightmare. We were united — most of the time — in fighting a common enemy, and it was clear what was at stake. I lost many friends to AIDS; all of us did. A large part of an
entire generation was wiped out. I don’t think millennials grasp that,” Cash opined. “I don’t think they know our history or how many backs they are riding on. I hope I am wrong about that. But what I have seen for the last decade is not activism as I knew it in the late ’80s and ’90s. We didn’t present ourselves as victims; we were warriors.” ‘There was not one greatest activist’ One such warrior was former Atlantan Mark King, now a Baltimore-based blogger of the GLAAD-winning “My Fabulous Disease.” King moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles in 1993 to become director of the AIDS Survival Project. “I was a fish out of water,” King said. “I was looked at as an L.A. queen coming to Atlanta.” King said that as an openly gay, HIV-positive man serving as administrator of an AIDS service organization, he was put into the spotlight despite being more comfortable behind the scenes. “That put me in conflict with the activist community, who wanted to see me more in an ACT UP role. Suddenly I found myself literally thrust into the street with a sign,” King recalled.
King was arrested twice for protesting and had his tenure cut short after AIDS Survival Project terminated him, which he said was painful, but he later realized he was better able to affect change through public speaking engagements and writing. King notes that the confrontational grassroots tactics of many Atlanta activists of the ’90s paved the way for others with subtler approaches. “You have some activists out in the street causing a disruption, but that opens the door so people who are more moderate can come to the table and get things done,” he said. Cash is grateful to have stood side-by-side with the LGBT equality pioneers of Atlanta. “There was not one greatest activist. There were many,” she said. “Some were comfortable in the spotlight — Woolard, Graham, Lynn Cothren, John Kappers of NAPWA, Linda Bryant of Charis. And some worked tirelessly behind the scenes — Larry Pellegrini, Don George, John Howell, Lynn Pasqualetti, Michael Edwards of Project Open Hand. Some gave money, some gave time, some gave both. I had the great fortune of meeting and working with some of the best human beings on the planet.” Hussain said that for her, activism is about refusing to submit. “There’s no right way to do the wrong thing,” she said. “The idea of letting it go, saying we can’t win — there’s something about accepting that that is a surrender. You have to use your power; if you use your silence, the problem continues. Take a moment and breathe, and you’ll figure out how alike we actually are.”
12 Atlanta LGBT History October 27, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
ATLANTA LGBT HISTORY
Rebecca Hargett Ranson, 1943-2017 Public celebration of life of playwright, activist, arts leader taking place Oct. 29 in Atlanta By THE FAMILY OF REBECCA RANSON The following is an obituary written by the family of Rebecca Ranson. Rebecca Hargett Ranson, playwright, activist and arts leader, passed on to the next life on Sept. 4, 2017, at the age of 73, following a brave and dignified battle with Alzheimer’s. Her son, daughter-in-law and sister were by her side. To the very end, she was loving to those around her and loved by everyone who knew her. Rebecca was a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and a resident of Durham, North Carolina, Pine Lake, Georgia, and Cape Charles, Virginia. She was the daughter of Hall of Fame University of North Carolina Tarheels track coach Dale Ranson and his wife, Etta Mae Ranson. She attended the University of Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television and Film in 1970. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1975. She was a Tarheel, always and forever. Wrote one of first plays dealing with AIDS A unique and adventurous soul, Rebecca was filled with compassion for and interest in others. Her home was always open to rescued animals and wayward people alike. Her life and her work focused on social justice in almost every form. She marched for civil rights, raised her voice for all forms of equality, tirelessly cared for people living with HIV/AIDS, taught acting and writing to prison inmates and worked passionately to support community-based arts, media and theater programs. Rebecca wrote dozens of plays, spanning themes of heart and humanity, often based in her own life experiences. One of her plays was named “Warren,” after her dear friend who died of AIDS in 1984. It was one of the www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Clockwise from top left: Rebecca Ranson and Jeff Lewis star in Jim Grimsley’s ‘Mr. Universe’ in 1987 at 7 Stages Theatre. Ranson with participants from her 1990 documentary ‘Surviving AIDS.’ Ranson and unidentified man, during rehearsal of her play ‘Higher Ground: Voices of AIDS,’ on June 19, 1988 at Horizon Theatre. Ranson during an interview Aug. 5, 1982. (Photos courtesy of the Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library)
first plays dealing with AIDS to be produced and it stood apart due to its highly personalized and loving tone and because it was written not only by a woman, but a woman from the South. Other notable plays penned by Rebecca include “The Incarceration of Annie,” “Desperadoes: A Trilogy,” “Elmatha’s Apology” and “Blood on Blood.” She also conducted and transcribed interviews with AIDS patients in San Francisco, disabled adults in North Carolina, racial minorities in Atlanta, multiethnic fishermen of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay and other diverse individuals. Her collected writings are now archived at Emory University. Wrote, staged productions for Atlanta LGBT community In the early ’70s, along with William Coke Ariail III, Rebecca started a vibrant community theater in Durham called Pocket Theater. In 1976, Rebecca participated in the founding of Alternate ROOTS in New
Market, Tennessee, based in her passion for arts production and community-based action in the rural South. Ten years later, she went on to co-found SAME (Southeast Arts, Media and Education) in Atlanta. Her work in Atlanta gave her the opportunity to write on behalf of and stage productions for the LGBT community and led to her receiving the Robert Chesley Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Rebecca laughed easily and often, enjoyed red wine, took long walks with her dogs and loved talking about her son, Charlie. She is survived by her sister Laura; her son, Charlie and his wife, Stacey; and her grandsons, Brett and Kevin. The family is eternally grateful to Robert Sellers of Cape Charles and Kimberly McCowan of Oxford, North Carolina, who provided care and support for Rebecca that allowed her to remain in her home with her beloved dogs for as long possible. We would also like to thank the exceptional staff of Heritage Hall who provided loving and gracious care to Rebecca in her final years.
Public celebration at 7 Stages Theatre Rebecca, known to many as “Brownie Broadway,” left us these parting words some years ago, when her mind was free and clear: “I would like to thank all of you for being a part of my life and loving me,” she said. “It has been good. I have been happy. Stay with your dreams and make the world better. I love you.” A public celebration of her rowdy, dedicated, creative and humor-filled life will be held at 7 Stages Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, at 4 p.m. A private ceremony for family and close friends will be held in Chapel Hill on Nov. 2, 2017. For those wishing to honor Rebecca Ranson’s life, please consider making a donation to The Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina or to 7 Stages Theatre in Atlanta. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements were made by Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore, Virginia.
October 27, 2017 Atlanta LGBT History 13
ATLANTA LGBT HISTORY
TV personality recalls time as iconic DeAundra Peek Atlanta viewers remember Madonna parodies, Vienna Sausage recipes By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN Atlanta has some fond memories of DeAundra Peek — the “Sordid Lives” before “Sordid Lives” was ever thought of, viewer Drew Plant recalled. Peek, the character created by now-Georgia Public Broadcasting’s television operations manager Rosser Shymanski, starred in a series of public-access shows in the 1980s and ’90s. She was known for her trailer park antics, disastrous singing talent and questionable Vienna Sausage recipes. “My first husband and I even sent her a fan letter and she wrote back. We were giddy about it,” Plant said via the Georgia Voice Facebook page. “I seem to remember her doing a song about a cold gray day in Hapeville. … Please, please, please tell us a comeback is planned!” Shymanski was coy about the possibility. “Once I retire, I’m going to have a helluva lot of free time. I might do some more stuff,” he said. “The last time I did DeAundra was a year ago [at a birthday party]. I got all dressed up and the funny thing was, it had been a bunch of years, but I looked exactly the same. I jumped right back into being the character without any issues at all. I stepped into the party and was greeted with thunderous applause.” Becoming DeAundra The physical process of turning into DeAundra Peek involves two hours of makeup, for starters, but the iconic Peek sister’s story goes far beyond that. Shymanski, a Bradenton, Florida, native, graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in television production. During college, Shymanski got involved with the drag scene. His character in Gainesville, Druscilla Amarod, was so well-known that his college friends called him Dru. After graduation, he struggled to find a job, and a friend convinced him to move to Atlanta. Shymanski started off working for a phone answering service, but also dove into found-object art, which garnered him local attention. www.thegeorgiavoice.com
“The last time I did DeAundra was a year ago [at a birthday party]. I got all dressed up and the funny thing was, it had been a bunch of years, but I looked exactly the same. I jumped right back into being the character without any issues at all. I stepped into the party and was greeted with thunderous applause.”
DeAundra Peek (aka Rosser Shymanski) starred in a series of Atlanta public-access shows in the ‘80s and ‘90s. (Courtesy photo)
—Rosser Shymanski on being DeAundra Peek “I would make the recipe in front of the audience and have a pre-made tray and take them out. People would eat them. That was the crazy thing,” he said.
Some of that attention was from a public-access show called “The American Music Show.” “The very first ‘American Music Show’ I ever saw was James Bond on a couch with Dick Richards on the other side of the couch and in the middle of them was RuPaul. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to be a part of this show,’” he said. A few weeks later, Richards and other members of the show were in Shymanski’s apartment, scoping him out for a spot. “I would occasionally end up on ‘The American Music Show’ as a guest,” he said. “I did that for a while, just going on the show as me, showcasing my artwork, and occasionally to fulfill a guest role. They called me the ‘Fabulous Rosser’ because my artwork was Fabulous Rosser Originals — what I meant was that my artwork was fabulous, not me, so that was kind of funny.” In 1986, Richards approached Shymanski about becoming a Peek sister. The Peek sisters were a fictitious group of women from
a trailer park in the metro Atlanta area whose grandmother insisted they were talented enough to sing. “There weren’t any boys, they were actual girls. We were like, this would be a special something to have one of us guys play a Peek,” Shymanski said. “After about a year of doing that, the two other girls decided they didn’t want to do it anymore. Of course, by that time I’d been bitten by the bug.” DeAundra Peek and RuPaul starred together in several episodes before the spin-off series starring DeAundra were developed, first with “DeAundra Peek’s Teenage Music Show.” “I decided I wanted DeAundra to have a slightly different slant [from the other Peeks]. It’s not a super-conscious decision, but I wanted her to be a little more friendly,” Shymanski said. “She kind of turned into a doofus, but sweet and lovable rather than spiteful and hateful.” Shymanski made the rounds as his famous character. Occasionally he’d even cook up some of her Vienna Sausage recipes.
‘I run the gamut’ on characters Shymanski’s characters had a lasting impression on his viewers. Jonathan Kivett said he still has a VHS copy of “Teenage Music Club,” and returns to the catchphrase “that gig was rough” to make him smile after a rough day. Atlanta comedian Ian Aber recalled DeAundra’s rendition of the Madonna song “This Used To Be My Playground.” “[She] had changed the lyrics to ‘This used to be my trailer, this used to be my double-wide,’” he told Georgia Voice. “There was one segment where they did announcements for the lunches that would be served at ‘vacation Bible school’ and I only remember Friday’s lunch was ‘vy-eeners’ and red-white-and-blue cake.” DeAundra wasn’t the only character Shymanski created over the years — Boompah Bailey, veterinarian Dr. PeeDeen Hunkapillar and aerobics expert Adene Salon were other favorites. “I kind of hesitate when people call me a drag queen, because I really sort of look at myself as a performance artist or as an actor because my characters are boys and girls, little kids and old people. I run the gamut,” he said. “When I figured out what DeAundra was all about, then it’s just a matter of assuming that personality and being that personality in any given situation. … That was my take on how I worked these characters. They’re all just real people who do real things and talk about real stuff, but look ridiculous.”
October 27, 2017 Atlanta LGBT History 15
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GENVOYA, the GENVOYA Logo, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, SHOW YOUR POWER, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: April 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GENC0142 06/17
ATLANTA LGBT HISTORY
Flex remains stronghold of gay liberation 40 years on Through puritanism and plague, the Midtown Atlanta bathhouse continues on By RYAN LEE The most notable symbol of progress that LGBT Atlanta has made over the past half-decade may not be the vibrant rainbow crosswalks that encircle the intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue, but rather a black-andwhite banner tied to a construction site fence on the corner of 4th and Spring streets. It’s a sign that is seen every day by nearby Georgia Tech students and Midtown professionals, yet it is an announcement aimed at, and understood by, a select few. Beside a westward-pointing arrow, the banner reads, “FLEX, 76 4th Street NW, WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.” Though modest in appearance, the sign is bold visibility for a location that has preferred to operate incognito for most of its lengthy history, a discretion that helped it survive a puritanical purge in the 1970s, plague in the 1980s and gentrification in the 1990s and 2000s. But in 2017, the operators of Flex feel comfortable enough to remind all passers-by that, amid the construction that continues to re-make Midtown, there remains a bathhouse open and operating on 4th Street, where gay men meet to have easy, anonymous sex. “It was kind of like a speakeasy,” recalled longtime Atlanta resident Dave Hayward, who began visiting the bathhouse, then known as Club Atlanta Baths, in the 1970s. “You wouldn’t know it was there unless you knew it was there – it’s kind of off the beaten path, at the end of a sort of dead-end street.” Bathhouses have long been an open, dirty little secret for gay men, rarely talked about outside of close circles of friends, and the bane of those who yearn for a more respectable, less promiscuous, public image of homosexuality. “It was always considered to be something that was on the down low,” Hayward says. “You would do it, but you’re not going to say, ‘I had a great time at the baths last night,’ unwww.thegeorgiavoice.com
Midtown Atlanta bathhouse Flex is visible about the fact it remains open while construction goes on next door. (Photo by Patrick Saunders)
less you were talking to close friends.” Post-Stonewall boon Public bathhouses originally operated in major cities to promote hygiene among poorer populations, but as indoor plumbing became universal, the venues transitioned into cruising houses for gay men. Atlanta’s bathhouse – first known as Club South Bath, Club Atlanta Baths, Flex Baths and now Flex Spas – has always been a sexual establishment, and like other such businesses, experienced a boon in the post-Stonewall ‘70s. “That was a time when everything was blossoming for us, that was a magical time,” recalled former Atlanta resident and activist Gil Robison. “There were people from all walks of life who went [to the bathhouse], and it was a lot more social than you might think. It was an acceptable part of gay life back then.” Despite the era of liberation many gay men felt a part of, gay sex remained illegal in Georgia, and the social (and sexual) outlets for gay men were mostly limited to bars and their backrooms. “You were always aware of the possibility of raids, but it was kind of like Prohibition in a way, where it’s like, well that law is on the books, but they’re not [enforcing it consistently],” said Hayward, who added that he felt safer in the bathhouse because it was less likely than a bar to be infiltrated by undercover police officers.
The enhanced vetting and remote location likely helped Flex avoid the wrath of Hinson McAuliffe, who as Fulton County solicitor waged a scorched-earth campaign against obscenity violators that would have impressed General Sherman. McAuliffe gained national recognition for locking up employees and patrons of adult bookstores, massage parlors and strip clubs in Atlanta, with a majority of such establishments closing by the time he retired in 1982. But having survived McAuliffe’s puritanism, Flex and other bathhouses across the country now faced the most significant threat of the 20th Century. Sexual liberation takes a hit “When AIDS hit, it changed everything,” Hayward said. “People had to really think about what they were doing, and who they were doing it with, and how they were leading their lives. The thing that was so hard about it all is that [sexual liberation] was something we really prided ourselves on, and it was taken away from us.” The gay community was divided about whether a bathhouse should continue to exist in the middle of a sexually-driven plague, Robison recalled. In the Georgia General Assembly, the AIDS crisis triggered an onslaught of punitive legislation, from mandatory testing and quarantine, to closing bathhouses and other sex venues.
“It was kind of like a speakeasy. You wouldn’t know it was there unless you knew it was there – it’s kind of off the beaten path, at the end of a sort of dead-end street.” —Longtime Atlanta resident Dave Hayward “The [omnibus AIDS bill of 1988] did get through, but it was one of those things where it had to look bad, but it didn’t really have to be bad – meaning it had to cater to a lot of AIDS hysteria, but it didn’t have to have much substance,” said Robison, who lobbied legislators to vote against anti-AIDS legislation. Nevertheless, attendance at bathhouses dropped significantly during the 1980s and ’90s, despite the venues being among the earliest promoters of condoms and safe sex awareness. “Historically, it was unfortunate that when AIDS hit, they would close the baths, because that was such a great opportunity for outreach and education and to reach people,” Hayward said. While they’re often considered a vestige of a seedier era of gay life, Robison thinks Flex and other bathhouses might be on the brink of a renaissance. “I guess there will always be a place for that, that is, anonymous sex,” Robison say. “These days, with PrEP and with treatment leading to undetectable equals untransmittable, I imagine that they will take off again.”
October 27, 2017 Atlanta LGBT History 19
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Atlanta artist’s upcoming MFA thesis performance at 7 Stages tells his story as a black, queer man in the South By SHANNON HAMES Provoking thought, evoking emotion, sharing a perspective and calling for action. Those are all on the performance to-do list of artist Corian Ellisor. The 33-year-old Texas native (and current Atlanta resident) will be performing a unique storytelling experience he calls “On My Mind” at 7 Stages Theatre, Nov. 3 – 5. The performance, which mixes drag, dance, live singing, theater and comedy will also serve as www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Ellisor’s thesis for his MFA in Dance from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. “When I went up to D.C. to start researching the thesis work for this performance piece two years ago, I was learning about Black Lives Matter,” Ellisor said on how the idea began. “What was really resonating in my mind was that black people were being killed by police and me not feeling safe around these people who were supposed to be protecting me, and my civil liberties.” It made the artist think back to lessons learned from his mother. “She raised me to be strong but also to always keep in mind that I am a black man of color and people are going to look
at me differently and have expectations of me that are not necessarily true, but they are social constructs that have been placed upon me,” he said. “I started feeling like I needed to say something.” Prior to “On My Mind,” Ellisor’s work had been based on the human experience, rather then telling his own personal story through solo work. “I do a lot of dance and come from a theater background,” he said. “I also sing and do drag so I wanted to make this a multimedia show so I could express the plight of my mom and how I was raised by my mom, my aunt and my grandmother. They shaped me into who I am. I find a lot of my strength from the feminine mother archetype.”
Coming out and a big move The first 20 minutes of “On My Mind” begins with Ellisor re-creating his coming out as gay to his mother. “She was so upset. She gave me this speech about how hard my life is going to be because I’m a black man and how much harder my life was going to be when I throw gay into the mix,” he said. “Her brother was gay and he had some mental issues and problems. Part of it was like her putting his character onto me. But after she thought about it, she realized we are two completely different people and then she was okay.” Ellisor said his mother laid the groundwork for him to be able to do the kind of CONTINUES ON PAGE 22
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work he does now. “She had me in high school,” he said. “She always worked hard to make sure that I had everything that I needed and could do the things that I wanted to do, have the life that I want and be able to pursue the career that I wanted.” Growing up in Humble, a middle class suburb north of Houston, Ellisor acknowledged that he was sheltered from racism. “I was a bit oblivious to race and society,” he said. “My mom kept me sheltered. I thought that I was the average kid. Race was always in my mind but it never really came to a forefront until I got older and moved to Atlanta.” The move turned out to be a pivotal turning point for him. “I saw so many successful black people,” he said. “I feel like Atlanta is a very black city and a very gay city. It welcomed me in a way that Houston didn’t, in some ways. Here, I found the opportunity to just be myself. It took me leaving home to be able to reinvent myself to become who I truly am.” The caliber of the arts scene in Atlanta was a major positive for Ellisor. “I came here to work in a dance compa-
ny,” he said. “But when I got here, I realized that with my theater and vocal training, I could do more. I could make my own opportunities. In Atlanta, there are the classical institutions like the symphony, the ballet, the Alliance Theatre … but there’s also so much that’s happening underground. It’s sort of like buzzworthy to be an artist right now. People are coming out now and seeing this live art. It’s not really happening everywhere. We live in a digital age where you can just go online and watch things. But people in Atlanta really patronize the arts.” Taking pride in drag When asked about the drag portion of his performance, Ellisor notes that respect for drag artists is at an all-time high. “I appreciate that we are considered artists now as opposed to a sort of joke of what the gay/queer community represent,” he said. “We are now in theaters and venues instead of clubs and bars.” Ellisor, who curates drag shows at Mary’s, takes pride in the work he does in drag. “I get to help represent my community in a positive light and thrive through drag,” he said. “I get to share ideas with other artists and I have a voice in the community. I repre-
Corian Ellisor presents his MFA thesis performance, ‘On My Mind,’ Nov. 3-5 at 7 Stages Theatre. (Photos courtesy Corian Ellisor)
sent the marginalized community in Atlanta and feel up for the challenge.” The “On My Mind” thesis show at 7 Stages is the culmination of the skills in theater, music and dance that Ellisor has learned in his lifetime. “For me, performance art should have a well-rounded arc,” he said. “When people
come to see this, they will hopefully get to know a little bit about me as a queer black southern artist. And hopefully, that will open dialogue between me and my audience, my audience with each other and my audience to their circles after the performance is over. That’s how we can move along the process of being a more united community.”
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22 A&E October 27, 2017
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ACTING OUT
By JIM FARMER
Topher Payne’s ‘Morningside’ playing Georgia Ensemble Theatre For someone used to being busy, Topher Payne may even be outdoing himself this season. His new play “Morningside” just opened at Georgia Ensemble Theatre, then he steps into the lead role of “The Santaland Diaries” at Horizon Theatre for the holidays. “Morningside” is a project that began roughly three years ago for the gay playwright. When he went through a divorce in 2014, he took a lot of notes – not necessarily a journal, just random thoughts he wrote down. He told himself that one day he would do something with them. “I started developing a concept about a woman throwing a baby shower for her daughter two days after she has separated from her husband,” Payne said. “It’s that period of time when you are not fit for company, but she is bound and determined to prove that the ruins of her life are not going to impact the party. That is where we start, and it get worse from there.” Set in the Morningside area of Atlanta, the play has an all-female cast. Some of the other characters are a guest of honor, who is expecting her first child and is trying to figure out the balance of being career-driven and being a great mother; a best friend, who is a lesbian pediatrician without children; and is a lesbian; a bartender from Charleston; and a conservative aunt from Texas. The drama is based on the perspectives all these women have. “That is what I really wanted to do,” Payne said. “I see shows like ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ or ‘Twelve Angry Men’ with a big group of men but not those kinds of shows for women that often”. Payne is known for his witty dialogue and three-dimensional characters, especially his women. “I know that I am drawn to women in general because they are more open to disclosure, and as a playwright I find it interesting when a character is willing to give voice to their needs and fears and opinions,” he said. “That is certainly true in the women in my life.” This is the playwright’s fifth show with Georgia Ensemble Theatre, and he will continue his collaborations with new artistic director Alan Kilpatrick, who is taking over for theater founder Bob Farley in the spring. www.thegeorgiavoice.com
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Shelly McCook, Ann Wilson and Ellen McQueen star in Topher Payne’s ‘Morningside,’ playing through Nov. 12 at Georgia Ensemble Theatre. (Courtesy photo)
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“Morningside” Through Nov. 12 Georgia Ensemble Theatre Roswell Cultural Arts Center 950 Forrest St., Roswell, GA 30075 www.get.org “The Santaland Diaries” Nov. 17 – Dec. 31 Horizon Theatre 1083 Austin Ave. Atlanta, GA 30307 www.horizontheatre.com
“The Santaland Diaries” gig came about earlier this year when longtime leading man Harold Leaver decided to step down. Lisa Adler, Horizon Theatre’s artistic director, sent Payne a message in July that the role was going to be available. “I was getting ready to direct a show in New York and leaving in two days,” he said. “I told Lisa I’d love to read, but my availability was limited. I came in the next day but with limited prep. I wasn’t necessarily looking for a project of that scope but – oh god – I couldn’t not try for it. I was curious to see what I could do with it. Apparently what I brought to the table was what they were looking for.” He looks forward to starring in the David Sedaris classic and playing the snarky but lovable lead role. Payne also has a Hallmark movie bowing Nov. 19 – “A Gift to Remember,” about a young woman helping a man with amnesia remember who he is. In the process, romance blooms.
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October 27, 2017 Columnists 23
EATING MY WORDS By CLIFF BOSTOCK
Sichuan succulence at Yummy Spicy My mother often took me to Chinese restaurants when I was a kid. I was always dragged into the kitchen where barbecued ducks dangled from hooks. Most of these restaurants’ menus included strictly American dishes for those intimidated by exotic fare and finger-spasm-inducing chopsticks. I’ve told this story many times because it was an early initiation into culinary adventure. The fact is, though, that most of these restaurants served soy-drenched Chinese-American food, barely better than the canned La Choy products. In the decades since then, Chinese-American has become a legitimate style in the way Latin American Chino-Latino and Italian-American have. Still, by the time I reached my 20s, I was hunting China’s regional cuisines, and in recent years, the spicy Sichuan has become a favorite. The most recent high-quality and inexpensive example is the happily named Yummy Spicy (5164 Buford Hwy., 770-680-5605, yummyspicyga.com). It’s just a couple yards behind Sweet Hut (where you should go for dessert). Like so many freestanding buildings on Buford Highway, its exterior and interior seem oddly out-of-place. In fact, it used to be a place where hard-working folks like Jennifer Zyman of Atlanta Magazine went to get their feet massaged. Four of us ordered seven dishes. Let me warn you that you need to ask for descriptions despite a huge glossy menu with pictures of nearly everything. Our entertaining server, brother of the owner, explained that the stock menu was ordered from China, so not every item arrives at the table looking the way it is depicted. For example, the cumin lamb is fried in the picture but gently sautéed in the kitchen with caramelized onions. Cumin is a spice that I weirdly detest in small quantities but love when it is turned up to shrieking volume. This version is not pretty but delish. A favorite and irresistible choice at the table was rectangles of eggplant dry-fried with
The cold chicken with sesame seeds and chili oil was Cliff Bostock’s favorite entrée at Yummy Spicy. (Photo by Cliff Bostock)
red-hot chilies. It was mixed with some chili oil and a lot of caramelized onions, topped with a few wilting scallion stems. Here’s some advice from Wendell Brock of the AJC: You do not have to eat all the chilies in any Sichuan dish. They add great flavor but you can be judicious. In other words, stop your whining about spicy food. Maybe my favorite entrée was cold chicken, hacked into five pieces, scattered with sesame seeds, sitting in a pool of moderately spicy chili oil. My least favorite was a plate of dry rice noodles turned yellow by Indian curry seasoning, tossed with shrimp. Spicy lamb – different from my cumin version – was dramatically served in a hot pot over a flame. Slippery wontons in chili oil melted in the mouth, then released a hint of sesame. I don’t think you could go wrong with any dish here. Quiz the owner’s young bro. He mainly grew up here but spent considerable years in China too, so he can communicate clearly. In fact, he’s majoring in Spanish, so take your abuela. Cliff Bostock is a former psychotherapist now specializing in life coaching. Contact him at 404-518-4415 or cliffbostock@gmail.com.
24 Columnists October 27, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com
professional artists series
BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY Saturday, November 4 8:00pm Finding fame in the swing revival of the 1990s and still going strong! Co-founded by singer Scotty Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren, the band blends a vibrant fusion of the classic American sounds of jazz, swing, and Dixieland. Enjoy The Spirit of the Animals is the Wheels bicycles on view starting at 6:30 pm. for tickets, call
404-894-9600
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details and more events at
arts.gatech.edu
October 27, 2017 Ads 25
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Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for Oct. 27-Nov. 9
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EVEN FRIDAY, OCT. 27
Come enjoy Emory Pride’s annual drag show tonight. The suggested donation is $5. Proceeds benefit Emory Law School’s LGBT Law Clinic, 8 p.m., Glenn Memorial Sanctuary, 1652 North Decatur Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, www.facebook.com/ events/220870485114414 Don’t miss My Sister’s Room’s Super Heroes vs. Villains Costume Party! The night will feature a free photo booth, go-go dancers, costume contests, drag shows and live performances from Atlanta’s sexiest lesbians. The fun begins at 8 p.m., 66 12th St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.facebook.com/ events/239228633270032 Come enjoy the Horrors of Old Hollywood Halloween Party, raising money for Lost-n-Found Youth, 8 p.m. – midnight, 2585 Chantilly Drive N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.lnfy.org The Georgia State University Alliance For Sexual and Gender Diversity is taking a group trip to see “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Plaza Atlanta tonight. The group will meet in the Student Center East Lobby at 9 p.m. and will be eating at Fellini’s on Ponce before the show, which begins at midnight, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30306, www.facebook.com/ events/127341324593770
SATURDAY, OCT. 28
LGBTQ ATLiens and allies: Let’s vote y’all, because when we aren’t at the table we’re on the menu. And that’s scary. Today’s
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SUNDAY, OCT. 29
The acclaimed revival of “The Color Purple” runs through today at 1 and 6:30 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30308. www.foxtheatre.org (Publicity photo) Brunch and Ballots event will include transportation to early voting sites. Transportation will be departing to two polls in both DeKalb and Fulton Counties so all can take part. Some food and beverages will be available. Feel free to dress up in one of your Halloween “lewks,” but also not
to – or wear your favorite candidate’s gear. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 587 Virginia Ave., Atlanta, GA 303037, www.facebook.com/ events/288146551669043 The Ruck-a-Buck Third Half and Award Ceremony celebrates the
Atlanta Bucks’ 2017 exploits. The boys will be sweaty and beat up but happy to share war stories and battle scars, 5 – 8 p.m., Heretic Atlanta, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook.com/ events/237700316759185
www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Unruly Night of Political Misbehavin’ is a night of games, comedy and political misbehaving. Through carnival games and stand-up comedy, you’ll learn about reproductive rights and justice, our government’s impact on it and how you can make a difference. 7 – 10 p.m., Highland Inn and Ballroom Lounge, 644 N. Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30306, www.facebook.com/ events/1943159565947000 Marietta Theatre Company’s “The Last Five Years” has an 8 p.m. performance tonight, running through Nov. 4 at the Lyric Studio on the Square, 12 Powder Springs St., Marietta, GA 30064, www.mariettatheatre.com WUSSY returns for the 3rd annual SHALLOWEEN Dance Party featuring MILK from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Come bump uglies with Atlanta’s undead weirdos and bring your freakiest drag, spooky sadboys, trash queens, swamp sings and Dairy Queen-inspired couture. 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., Heretic Atlanta, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook.com/ events/877564549049434
SUNDAY, OCT. 29
THURSDAY, NOV. 2
Core Performance Company and international choreographer Germana Civera present the world premiere of Human Landscapes, a new collaborative dance piece that is a featured work of France-Atlanta 2017, a series of events centered on innovation and designed to foster cooperation between France and the Southeast. The final performance starts at 8 p.m., The B-Complex, 1272 Murphy Ave. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30310, www.thebcomplex.com
TUESDAY, OCT. 31
DJ Seth Breezy returns with some spooky beats for Halloween fun, 3 a.m. Jungle Atlanta, 2115 Faulkner Road S.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook.com/ events/1998544913724078
MONDAY, OCT. 30
The Auburn Avenue Research Library invites you to enjoy the talents of artists who are just a little “different” in celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month. This showcase will feature Latin dance music from Willie Ziavino and The C.O.T. Band, standard jazz from singer Rusty Taylor, contemporary music from saxophonist Jarrien Irving and lots of laughs from comedic MC “Mr. MiraKool” Jessie Simms, 6 p.m., 101 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.afpls.org/aarl
www.thegeorgiavoice.com
Gays for Plays sees the comedic “Hand to God” at Dad’s Garage. The group has arranged for discounted tickets, which will also include vouchers for two free drinks. Follow the links on the Facebook page to get tickets, 7:30 p.m., 569 Ezzard St. S.E., Atlanta, GA 30312, www.facebook.com/events/326031917824860 (Publicity photo) SisterLove, Inc, in partnership with Spark Reproductive Justice Now, presents Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Voices: A Policy Brief produced by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda on The State of Black Women and Reproductive Justice. Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. followed by a panel discussion at 10 a.m. RSVP is required for admission — lease reserve your place ahead of time here: http:// bit.ly/OurBrief, Center for Civil and Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30313, www.facebook.com/ events/219416208585871
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1
Outrageous! Hilarious! Campy! Edie Cheezburger emcees Twisted Broadway tonight at Lips Atlanta, 3011 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30329, www.lipsatl.com
THURSDAY, NOV. 2
Building on the activist tradition of consciousness-raising groups, each month
Charis Books and More invites community members to join The Personal is Political: Feminist Vent to talk about personal issues or societal issues they are trying to deconstruct. The group will use intersectional feminist strategies as tools to talk through these issues. 7:30 – 9 p.m., 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
Come have lunch with other attendees of Healthy Sexy Trans weekend. Noon, Joe’s on Juniper, 1049 Juniper St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.facebook.com/ events/726532670874909 November Trans and Queer Yoga is lead by transgender yoga teachers Naga Giri and Amala Jaya. This support group and yoga class is open to all who self-identify as queer, trans or anywhere along the variant sexuality and gender path, as well as their partners, friends and allies. The two-hour meeting will start with a brief check-in, followed by a yoga
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EVENT SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, NOV. 4
Who let the bears out? Bearracuda is back for its final party of 2017 in Atlanta! Join 700+ guys dancing and socializing all night, with special guest Paul Goodyear from Sydney. 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., Heretic, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E. Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook. com/events/1965048810438979 (Publicity photo)
October 27, 2017 Best Bets 27
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 asana practice. Classical yoga poses, gentle breath work and simple meditation as practical tools to help manifest balance and wholeness within are practiced. The meeting will end with an open discussion and Q&A. 7 – 9 p.m., Kashi Atlanta Ashram, 1681 McLendon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.facebook.com/ events/1635269749881813
SATURDAY, NOV. 4
The Healthy Sexy Trans event is today, with keynote speaker, Dr. Laura Weaver, a trans woman and community advocate from Cincinnati, Ohio. Other speakers include trained trans sex educator Lykee B. Davis, Dr. Izzy Lowell – a transgender medicine specialist and head of QueerMed – and Dr. Jessica Spencer, reproductive endocrinologist and trans fertility expert at Emory. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St., Decatur, GA 30030, www.facebook.com/events/2022905461261924 The annual Chomp & Stomp Chili Cook-off and Bluegrass Festival
benefits Cabbagetown parks, green spaces and community centers, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., 650 Gaskill St. S.E., Atlanta, GA 30316, www.facebook.com/ events/281642908998969 The Michelle Malone Band Slings and Arrows Album Listening Party is tonight at 7 p.m., Eddie’s Attic, 515B North McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030, www.eddiesattic.com
SUNDAY, NOV. 5
The Baton Foundation in collaboration with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History will host a screening of the documentary film “Talking Black in America” today. Drawing from the perspectives of everyday speakers and the guidance of historians, linguists and educators, the film showcases the history and symbolic role of language in the lives of African-Americans and highlights its tremendous impact on the speech and culture of the United States. This event will include a post-screening discussion with poet and musician Derrick ABYSS Graham, music producer DJ Nabs and linguist Tracey Weldon, the associate
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
SATURDAY, NOV. 4
Discover “LUZIA,” where a waking dream transports you to an imaginary Mexico. Experience a wondrous world that inspires you to explore your senses, enveloped in light and nurtured by rain. “LUZIA” is the newest Cirque du Soleil experience to come to Atlantic Station. Shows run through Nov. 19, 8 p.m., 1380 Atlantic Drive N.W., Atlanta, GA 30363, www.facebook.com/events/285797858498680 (Publicity photo)
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producer of “Talking Black in America.” 3 – 5 p.m., 101 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook.com/ events/484259668626594 Frank N. Furter, Magenta and Riff Raff are back! “The Rocky Horror Show” has a 3 p.m., closing-day performance today at Out Front Theatre Company, 999 Brady Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318 www.outfronttheatre.com The Wrecking Ball ATL Presents The Small Ball 2017, featuring queer band Bitter, After Care, Drowning Lessons and Feverest and more, 4:30 – 11:30 p.m., The Masquerade, 75 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, www.facebook.com/ events/260021081170734
MONDAY, NOV. 6
Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. 7 – 8:30 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8
Topher Payne’s new play “Morningside” has a 7:30 p.m. performance tonight, running through Nov.12, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell, GA 30075, www.get.org
THURSDAY, NOV. 9
SAGE Atlanta’s bi-monthly meetings occur from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, Phillip Rush Center Annex, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.rushcenteratl.org
Join Atlanta locals in supporting LGBT students through the Night on Point event tonight. Meet other professionals interested in empowering the next generation of LGBT leaders through scholarship, community service, leadership training and development. There will be light snacks, cocktails and good conversation. 6 – 8 p.m., The Offices of Dentons, LLP, 303 Peachtree
Out On Film hosts an advance screening of the acclaimed “Beats Per Minute,” about a group of ACT UP activists in Paris in the early 1990s going to battle for those stricken with HIV/AIDS, taking on sluggish government agencies and major pharmaceutical companies, 7 p.m., Midtown Art Cinema, 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30308. www.outonfilm.org
Thursday, November 16th 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm At the Offices Of Dentons LLP 303 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 5300 Atlanta, Georgia 30308
TUESDAY, NOV. 7
Vote today – please – for the next Atlanta mayor and more!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LGBT EVENT
THURSDAY, NOV. 16
St. N.E., Suite 5300, Atlanta, GA 30308, Register online to attend at: www.pointfoundation.org/atlanta-17
A NIGHT ON POINT
The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBT children meets tonight from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1605 Interstate 85/ Frontage Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, www.uuca.org
The Atlanta Opera has opened its mainstage season at the Cobb Energy Centre with an all new production of Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman,” also running Nov. 10 and 12, 7:30 p.m., 2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30339, www.atlantaopera.org
UPCOMING
Point Foundation is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students. Come enjoy cocktails, conversation and help advance equality in education. Information: www.pointfoundation.org/atlanta-17 GOLD SPONSOR
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Submit your LGBT event for inclusion in our online and print calendars by emailing event info to editor@thegavoice.com
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30 Columnists October 27, 2017
Speak out on sexual assault The issue of sexual assault has been top of mind in newsrooms across the country in the last few weeks. Currently about 60 people have come out to talk about their abuse at the hands of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and now 38 women have accused filmmaker James Toback of sexually harassing them. On a smaller scale, Lockhart Steele, Vox Media’s editorial director and former CEO and founder of Curbed Network, has been fired for sexual harassment. So have Roy Price of Amazon Studios, Nickelodeon’s “Loud House” show runner Chris Savino, Fidelity portfolio manager C. Robert Chow and Fidelity tech fund manager Gavin Baker. Hopefully these cases bring to light the fact that this is an issue that every woman and some men have experienced at some point in their lives. And it’s not just a straight issue, since the use of sex as a weapon is not a romantic action. According to a study on transgender people conducted in 2015, 47 percent of respondents said they had been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. The CDC found in 2010 that 40 percent of gay men and 47 percent of bisexual men had suffered from sexual assault and harassment, versus 21 percent of heterosexual men, over their lifetimes. They also found that 46 percent of bisexual women have been raped, compared to 17 percent of heterosexual women and 13 percent of lesbians. But not every influential man in Hollywood uses their power for evil. Jackson Katz is a filmmaker and author who created the program Mentors in Violence Prevention, which is used by U.S. military and various sporting organizations. Comments Katz made at Middlebury College five years ago recently resurfaced and went viral. “We talk about how many women were raped last year, not about how many men raped women. We talk about how many girls in a school district were harassed last year, not
“Hopefully these cases bring to light the fact that this is an issue that every woman and some men have experienced at some point in their lives. And it’s not just a straight issue, since the use of sex as a weapon is not a romantic action.” about how many boys harassed girls. We talk about how many teenage girls in the state of Vermont got pregnant last year, rather than how many men and boys impregnated teenage girls,” he said. “So you can see how the use of the passive voice has a political effect,” he continued. “[It] shifts the focus off of men and boys and onto girls and women. Add in that men being assaulted is a new, uncomfortable concept to many, and hopefully this notion that men are tough and invincible, and women are weak and nothing more than prey will be eradicated. But that takes the continued courage of those who have suffered this crime to come forward and speak their truth, and for law enforcement and those in power to take these stories seriously. It also depends on the conduct of those who witness or are privy to these acts. You can’t be a bystander any longer, and it reflects on your character if you choose to protect the offenders. In my mind, you’re just as guilty if you know and say nothing. Melissa Carter is recognized as one of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta and has been heard over the years on B98.5 and Q100. In addition, she is a writer for the Huffington Post. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCarter. www.thegeorgiavoice.com
SOMETIMES ‘Y’ By RYAN LEE
The hidden costs of ‘quarantine’ McGill University is a proud Montreal institution which, according to Wikipedia, “counts among its alumni 12 Nobel laureates and 142 Rhodes Scholars.” And then there’s Georgia Rep. Betty Price, who tried to undo all of her alma mater’s acclaim when she made folks wonder what school granted her a medical degree. The physician-turned-politician was attempting to make an anti-gay political point during a House committee meeting earlier this month, but wound up disgracing modern medicine when she, in the most passiveaggressive way, suggested locking away people living with HIV. “I don’t want to say the quarantine word, but I guess I just said it,” Price said, even though she didn’t want to. Price is married to former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, who is also a physician and holds the inglorious distinction of being the first cabinet member deemed too inept to serve the Trump Administration. Someone seriously needs to check on this couple’s past patients to make sure their treatments for chest pains or asthma didn’t include ether or witch’s blood. Price displayed a provocative ignorance about the state of HIV/AIDS. Price wasn’t talking about caging everyone living with HIV, only those who are not in treatment because “in the past they died more readily and then at that point they are not posing a risk.” Little-known medical fact: People who have HIV but are not in treatment in 2017 die as “readily” as people who had HIV but were not in treatment in 1987. There have been no breakthroughs in the healing power of doing nothing. The folks who are not dying “more readily” are those who are on treatments, most of whom are undetectable, and they pose no risk to public health – as in zero. Just last month, the CDC recognized there is “effectively no risk” of folks with an undetectable viral load transmitting the disease, as proven www.thegeorgiavoice.com
“Public-private collaborations have indeed helped thousands of HIV-positive individuals gain access to life-saving medicines, and HIV-negative gay men enroll in PrEP regimens. But rather than seeing public health benefits, religious conservatives like Price view these programs as taxpayer-subsidized sodomy.” in studies involving thousands of seriodiscordant couples engaging in unprotected sex without a single infection occurring. Public-private collaborations have indeed helped thousands of HIV-positive individuals gain access to life-saving medicines, and HIVnegative gay men enroll in PrEP regimens. But rather than seeing public health benefits, religious conservatives like Price view these programs as taxpayer-subsidized sodomy. They will come after them as irrationally as they attack birth control, both in public policy and private insurance choices, widening the scope of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision that allows companies to invoke their “sincerely held religious beliefs” to withhold benefits. Their strategy to fight HIV ranks their moral superiority a higher priority than saving lives, and they’re more open to paying for the removal of HIV-positive individuals than the treatment of them. Unfortunately, although many heterosexuals think quarantining folks sounds wacky, our cultural understanding of HIV/AIDS remains stunted in the mid-’90s. It doesn’t take a Nobel laureate or Rhodes Scholar to know there’s a market for the political potions that evangelicals are brewing, and which Price spilled across the table.
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Ryan Lee is an Atlanta writer. October 27, 2017 Columnists 31