IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(bik-TAR-vee)
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. 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. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: dofetilide rifampin any other medicines to treat HIV-1
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. Have any other health problems. Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.
GET MORE INFORMATION This is only a brief summary of important information about
BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5. If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2023 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0292 04/23
US_BVYC_0292_BIKTARVY_B_10X10-5_GeorgiaVoice_r1v1jl.indd 1
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#1 PRESCRIBED
HIV TREATMENT* *Source: IQVIA NPA Weekly, 04/19/2019 through 01/20/2023.
ELIAS SWITCHED TO BIKTARVY Listen to REAL STORIES being told by REAL VOICES.
No matter where life takes you,
Because HIV doesn’t change who you are. BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you. Person featured takes BIKTARVY and is compensated by Gilead.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and at BIKTARVY.com.
US_BVYC_0292_BIKTARVY_B_10X10-5_GeorgiaVoice_r1v1jl.indd 2
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voice
georgia VOLUME 14• ISSUE 18 About the cover:
Image by Shutterstock.com/first vector trend
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365
What is Giving to Me? Katie Burkholder
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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 24-issue mailed subscription for $99 per year. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Tim Boyd, tboyd@thegavoice.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Georgia Voice, PO Box 77401, Atlanta, GA 30357. Georgia Voice is published twice a month by Georgia Voice, LLC. Individual subscriptions are $99 per year for 24 issues. Postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. The editorial positions of Georgia Voice are expressed in editorials and in editor’s notes. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Georgia Voice and its staff. To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words and commentary, for web or print, should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address, and phone number for verification. Email submissions to editor@thegavoice.com or mail to the address above.
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4 EDITORIAL DECEMBER 8, 2023
EDITORIAL
One of my biggest resolutions for next year is to engage more with giving back to the community. As the new year approaches, I have been reflecting on what exactly this somewhat nebulous resolution means to me. For some, philanthropy means glitzy fundraiser galas with huge taxdeductible donations. For others, it means a lifelong commitment to award-winning activism. In a culture of high expectations, it can feel like we’re falling short in the generosity department compared to those making these more noteworthy strides – at least, I very often feel that way. As I reflect on what I want my year of giving to look like, I have to reckon with the fact that I don’t have a ton of extra money or time on my hands. Yet, a life of integrity to me means living in cooperation with and in service of other people. How do I give more when I already feel I have so little left over? Instead of pushing myself past what I am capable of, I want to rethink what generosity and philanthropy mean to me – and recognize that help on a small scale can still be deeply meaningful to another person who needs it. Here are some of the conclusions I have come to about what giving will look like for me in 2024.
Friends and Family First
To me, the values with which we live in accordance begin with our closest interpersonal relationships. If you want to be more generous with your money, for example, the place to start is with your friends and family. If a friend has a GoFundMe to pay off medical debt, donate. If they’re stressing to you about bills, Venmo them – or even just pay for their coffee. This relies on you having the money to afford it – don’t put yourself in debt to help someone else out. My general rule of thumb is if I think the money would be more meaningful to them in their hand than it would be to me
PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ MARIE C FIELDS
in mine, I give it to them. Of course, help extends beyond money. Help your friends move, babysit for your neighbors, and check in on your family. Very often, helping out the people you know can get overlooked as a form of community involvement and generosity. I think it’s easy to forget that just because they’re not fighting cancer or homelessness or addiction or some other life-altering challenge doesn’t mean the people we love don’t need help, too.
A Focus on the Unhoused
When it comes to who I believe to be the most vulnerable and in desperate need of support in my community, I know it’s my neighbors living without homes. Next year, I want to make care packages – bags of water bottles, snacks, socks, tissues, and other essentials – every season to keep in my car and hand out to people who may need them, try to have cash on hand more often, and volunteer at least once at Sol Underground’s warming stations in the winter (which you can learn more about on page 13).
The Offering of Time
Donating money is great, but it’s also passive. Volunteering is much more difficult but can often have a greater impact than funds – and it’s something I have neglected in my own
life for far too long. I want to take a more active role in the organizations I admire and support by donating my time and labor as well as my money. (To find a list of non-profits I love that you can volunteer with and donate to along with me, head over to page 12!)
Simplify, Not Diversify
If you’re anything like me, there are so many causes that you want to dedicate yourself to, and it can be overwhelming to feel like you want to help them all. Even in this issue, there are dozens of worthy causes featured – and while they’re all deserving of your help, it’s borderline impossible for one person to help them all. In 2024, instead of spreading out my time, money, and attention across multiple organizations, I want to focus my support on one or two to truly, actively engage with the work they’re doing and the people who are a part of it. As the new year approaches and you consider a resolution of philanthropy, I hope you reflect on what that looks like for you – what are your morals and values, what organizations do you think are doing the most important work, and what time and financial allowances do you have? – and possibly consider supporting some of the incredible local organizations featured in this issue.
THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM
NEWS BRIEFS Staff reports Read these stories and more online at thegavoice.com
Men Having Babies Adds Atlanta to Its 2024 Conference Lineup On February 23-25, 2024, the nonprofit Men Having Babies (MHB) is teaming with the LGBTQ Institute and additional regional nonprofits to bring to Atlanta its internationally acclaimed Surrogacy Conference & Gay Parenting Expo. It will be MHB’s fifth United States destination, joining long-running conferences in New York, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, and San Francisco, as well as Brussels and Berlin in Europe. Offering unparalleled education, financial assistance, and advocacy outreach, the nonprofit Men Having Babies (MHB) is a leading voice for equality and equity for gay fathers in the United States and beyond. A planning process embarked by the organization determined that residents of the South, as well as the Black LGBTQ community nationwide, do not enjoy the desired level of access to the educational and financial resources it offers. “Following numerous conversations with MHB members and allies from the South, as well as consultations with Black LGBTQ organizations, we determined that a conference in Atlanta would be the most effective way to better reach these underserved communities,” said Ron PooleDayan, MHB’s Executive Director. Atlanta’s conference will begin on the afternoon of Friday, February 23, 2024, at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights with a “Surrogacy 101” session that explains the basics of a surrogacy journey to help dispel myths and misconceptions. The conference will continue Saturday and Sunday at the Omni Atlanta at CNN Center, with opportunities for attendees to dive deeper into the medical, legal, and financial aspects of surrogacy, including guidance on how to make informed decisions. Other sessions include specific guidance for single dadsto-be, and shared perspectives of gay dads, surrogates, an egg donor, and a discussion panel of teens who were born via surrogacy. Proceeds from the conference’s sponsorship
6 NEWS DECEMBER 8, 2023
COURTESY PHOTO
fees benefit MHB’s Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP), which annually provides prospective parents with over a million dollars’ worth of cash grants, discounts, and free services from over 140 leading service providers. For more information and tickets: menhavingbabies.org/atlanta.
Santos Expelled from Congress Lawmakers voted 311-114 to expel embattled U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from Congress, exceeding the two-thirds majority needed for the resolution to pass with two members voting present. The third vote to expel the congressman comes after a 56-page report by the U.S. House Ethics Committee found Santos had siphoned campaign contributions to shop at luxury retailers like Hermes and for purchases at OnlyFans, a site used primarily by sex workers who produce pornography. During the previous votes to expel Santos, critical numbers of members from both parties voted “nay” for fear that it would set a dangerous precedent in the absence of a guilty verdict from a court of law or the committee. Members who debated the expulsion resolution on the House floor Friday mentioned the many scandals that have enveloped Santos from the time he began serving in January, such as the revelations that he had lied on the campaign trail about having Jewish heritage, ties to the Holocaust, and a parent who was at the World Trade
Center on September 11. “George Santos is a liar — in fact, he has admitted to many of them — who has used his position of public trust to personally benefit himself from Day 1,” said U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, another Republican from New York. The number and nature of those lies, along with the allegations of financial malfeasance, made Santos a pariah, as well as a liability for Republicans in vulnerable districts, particularly in neighboring parts of New York. Politico congressional reporter Olivia Beavers posted a photo on X of members talking to news cameras, captioned “NY Rs taking a victory lap.” Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will now schedule a special election to replace Santos, with her party privately lining up behind Thomas Suozzi, who held the seat from 2017 to 2023 and who last year defended Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, calling the measure prohibiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity “reasonable” and “common sense.” Separately, Santos is facing a 23-count indictment for alleged financial crimes that was brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. He walked out of the chamber before Friday’s vote was finalized, stepping into a waiting car as he told reporters “Why would I want to stay here?” and “To hell with this place.”
THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM
NEWS
This year’s summit in Washington, D.C. hosted 32 LGBTQ students from HBCUs across the country, including Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College. COURTESY PHOTO
The Human Rights Campaign Celebrates 20 Years of LGBTQ Leadership Summits Adalei Stevens
full interview online at thegavoice.com.
In November, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) program celebrated 20 years of LGBTQ leadership summits with the announcement of the new cohort. This year’s summit in Washington, D.C. hosted 32 LGBTQ students from HBCUs across the country, including Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College.
What were your favorite moments from this year’s summit? One of the most cherished aspects of every summit is witnessing the incredible sense of community and the formation of informal networks among the students. It is heartwarming to see them come together and create connections, especially considering that many of them hail from environments where they cannot freely express their authentic selves. Being able to facilitate this sense of belonging is a beautiful experience to witness.
The Leadership Summit empowers and educates students on how to become change agents on their campuses and in their communities. Other HBCU programing, like HBCU OUTLOUD Day and the PrEP Ambassadorship Program, aim to create safe spaces for Black queer youth on their college campuses. HRC HBCU Program Director Leslie Hall joined Georgia Voice for a Q&A to discuss the November 9-13 summit, the HRC’s declaration of a national state of emergency for LGBTQ people, and advice to the next generation of LGBTQ leadership. Quotes have been edited for clarity. Read the
THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM
However, when reflecting on the 2023 leadership summit, a particular moment stands out as my personal favorite. It was when we had the opportunity to take the students to the House of Comme De Garcon's 15th Anniversary House Ball. The sheer joy and wonder that lit up their faces as they witnessed the beauty and talent within the ballroom community was truly special. For many students, their exposure to ballroom culture may have been limited to shows like “Pose” and “Legendary,” but the ballroom scene is so much more than what is portrayed on screen. It serves as a powerful extension of their LGBTQ
identity, representing a vibrant and diverse community that embraces and celebrates all its members. Witnessing the students' genuine appreciation and connection to the ballroom culture was a memorable moment that highlighted the significance of providing opportunities for them to explore and embrace various aspects of their LGBTQ identities. It served as a reminder of the transformative power of experiences that go beyond the classroom, shaping their understanding and connection to their community in profound ways. How did the HRC’s declaration of a national state of emergency for LGBTQ people impact this year’s summit? The declaration of a national state of emergency had a significant impact on this year's summit, resulting in tangible changes to our approach. First and foremost, we prioritized the inclusion of students hailing from states that have introduced or passed oppressive anti-LGBTQ and anti-DEI laws. It is crucial that students from these priority areas have the opportunity to participate in the leadership summit and acquire the essential skills needed to combat these unjust laws. By empowering them to
CONTINUES ON PAGE 8 DECEMBER 8, 2023 NEWS 7
NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 build a culture of inclusion and safety on their campuses, we strengthen our collective fight for equality and justice. Furthermore, in response to the unique circumstances of this year, we introduced a capstone project requirement for all students. This requirement entails the development of a campus event or policy that focuses on promoting LGBTQ inclusion. This initiative serves as a culmination of their leadership journey, allowing them to apply their newfound knowledge and skills toward creating tangible change within their campus communities. These adjustments reflect our commitment to adapt and innovate in the face of challenges, ensuring that the summit remains a transformative experience for all participants. By providing targeted support and fostering a culture of action, we strive to empower our student leaders to make a lasting impact on their campuses.
8 NEWS DECEMBER 8, 2023
What advice do you have for the next generation of LGBTQ leadership? When considering advice for the next generation of LGBTQ leaders, I am reminded of a powerful quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who emphasized that the "moral arc of the universe is long, but it always bends toward justice." In the face of an unprecedented wave of challenges targeting our identities, bodily autonomy, and education, it is crucial that we nurture strong, equity-minded, and unwavering leadership. While we may encounter battles that cannot be won overnight, perseverance, strategic thinking, and a resolute focus on our goals will be key. Additionally, I would strongly emphasize the importance of selfcare and prioritizing personal well-being. As leaders, we must recognize that our ability to create change and advocate for justice is directly influenced by our own physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Taking care of ourselves allows us to sustain our passion, resilience, and effectiveness in the long run.
THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM
Where Holiday Magic Comes Alive! The Carlos Family in Honor of Thalia N. Carlos Presents
DECEMBER 8–26, 2023 Cobb Energy Centre with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra
“...One of the most entertaining [Nutcrackers] out there...” —The Washington Post Tickets at
atlantaballet.com Sponsored by
Costume Illustrations by Sandra Woodall
Atlanta Ballet is supported by
Character Illustrations by T. Dylan Moore
COMMUNITY
Lost-n-Found Youth Inspires Compassion Through New Awareness Campaign by their families, are out on the streets and facing discrimination, harassment, violence and sexual abuse. Through the messages of “The Box” and increased awareness, our intent is to encourage volunteerism and strengthen donor support so we may reach as many youth as possible through generous giving.
Lost-n-Found Youth, with assistance from Katie Burkholder Nationally, November is recognized as Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Atlanta nonprofit, Lost-n-Found Youth (LnFY), is launching an awareness campaign between now and next November and beyond to inspire “outside the box” thinking and to evoke compassion. The campaign kicks off with the release of “The Box,” a video inspired by a poem conceived by two Atlanta-based creative collaborators.
How does art like poetry emphasize our humanity? What role does humanity play in ending homelessness? All art comes from deep within each of us. “The Box” is about the human experience. We all have the ability for compassion. Our hope is that this campaign continues to challenge and elevate the ability and capacity for acceptance. The video conveys the notion that as humans we may not always be able to explain who we are, but most of the time we can explain how we feel.
Lost-n-Found Youth is Atlanta’s only nonprofit providing end-to-end services for homeless LGBTQ youth, ages 18 to 25. Their mission is to end homelessness and to raise awareness of the increasing percentage of youth who are forced to leave their homes because of family conflict after they come out as gay. The awareness campaign emphasizes the importance of compassion for youth who identify as LGBTQ. The first stanza of the poem amplifies this key message: Encased in society’s box so tight, What they dictate, day and night; Who to love, what to be, Imagination’s plea, set us free. The campaign includes a series of video messages shared across multimedia channels including social media, traditional media outlets, events, and other digital platforms. Prioritizing an awareness campaign driven by compassion, Executive Director Melanea Alvarez was led to the idea for The Box. A poem came to life through a creative collaboration of words, images, and music inspired by the profound voices of two individuals who “graduated” from the nonprofit’s 90-day program. They both have moved into their new permanent housing, both have jobs with stable income, and they
10 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 8, 2023
As an organization, the mission of Lostn-Found Youth is to end homelessness, but that starts with greater awareness of individuals who identify as LGBTQ. This campaign is about compassion and finding it in our hearts to be more accepting of all humankind.
What are ways people can support the work of LnFY and The Box? We would be thrilled to have as many people as possible watch and forward the link to “The Box” or post it on their social media channels. It is intended to spark conversation and to welcome interpretation and feedback. Homelessness for LGBTQ youth is a hard space, and it is often compounded with extremely personal family and friend dynamics that are not the easiest to navigate or resolve. The video is currently posted on the home page of our site at lnfy.org
Quotes have been edited for clarity.
How can awareness lead to a decrease in queer youth homelessness? More than 40 percent of all homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, which is a staggering statistic. “The Box” awareness campaign emphasizes the importance of compassion for youth who identify as LGBTQ.
Additionally, we are always inviting the community to contribute their time as a volunteer, as a member of our board, and also financially in whatever way we can. Our LnFY Thrift Store is a fun opportunity if you are interested in getting involved and not sure where to start.
What is the intended goal of the awareness campaign?
Lost-n-Found Youth is often the only refuge for homeless youth who, after being rejected
You can watch “The Box” and donate to Lost-n-Found Youth at lnfy.org.
The campaign kicks off with the release of “The Box,” a video inspired by a poem conceived by two Atlanta-based creative collaborators. SCREENSHOT VIA LOST-N-FOUND YOUTH are honing their life skills to continue to live independently. The Box and the debut campaign are produced by Paul Carpenter and directed by Daniel Sagona of the BGG Agency. The original music track was scored and composed by Damian Martin and Sashimi Sam Music. In honor of Lost-n-Found Youth’s new campaign, Alvarez spoke to Georgia Voice about the impact of awareness and the role art plays in combating stigma.
THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM
COMMUNITY
THE IMPACT OF OPEN HAND: “FOOD IS MEDICINE. FOOD IS LOVE.” Adalei Stevens Open Hand, the largest community-based supplier of home-delivered meals and nutritional counseling in the Southeast, will open its new 43,000-square-foot headquarters at 1380 West Marietta Street in northwest Atlanta by next summer. The $19.5 million initiative, "The Healing Power of Food: A Healthy Life Delivered," accommodates a projected 50 percent increase in need for the organization’s services over the next five years. The nonprofit organization has cooked and delivered meals to people who cannot cook for themselves for 35 years. In 1988, Michael Edwards-Pruitt enlisted the help of neighbors to cook and deliver nutritious meals to 14 friends dying from AIDS and founded Project Open Hand out of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church kitchen. Open Hand has a large staff, including approximately 17,000 volunteers, that worked together to provide nearly 1.4 million made-from-scratch, medically tailored meals in 2022. Each meal is approved by a registered dietitian before being directly delivered to clients’ homes. As one of the largest community-based providers in the country, Open Hand offers its services to everyone, from patients recovering from hospitalization to individuals facing food insecurity and chronic disease. In 2021, Open Hand reported that 94 percent of clients maintained or improved their cholesterol, blood pressure, and/or blood sugar levels. Open Hand operates by a “food is medicine, food is love” philosophy, which emphasizes the importance not only of healthy eating habits, but also providing the education and other resources to establish those habits.
THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM
From left: Matthew Pieper, Executive Director Open Hand; Shirley Powell, Open Hand Board Chair; Johanna Ellis Reisinger, Open Hand Campaign Chair; and Katie MacKenzie, Senior Director of Resource Development and Marketing PHOTO BY JOANN VITELLI Research shows that healthy eating and perceived self-efficacy go hand in hand. Executive Director Matthew Pieper told Georgia Voice that dignity and choice are foundational to Open Hand’s mission.
grateful for what they get,” Pieper said. “We don't cater to that philosophy. We believe that everybody should have the ability to choose.”
“Health equity is a much bigger part of the public health dialogue right now,” Pieper said. “How do we provide equitable health to a very diverse client base? In making the effort and making it a priority to understand people's cultural beliefs and meeting them where they need to be met to provide them not just with nutrition, but with all kinds of health care services.”
Open Hand serves the greater metro Atlanta area, where there are sizable food deserts, a byproduct of gentrification and supermarket redlining that limits access to healthy food either by cost or distance. In 2021, Sen. Harold Jones, D-Augusta, sponsored a resolution to determine what policies could improve access to healthy foods for more than two million Georgians, including 500,000 children.
Open Hand meals include few heavily processed or canned foods, but the grocery delivery service includes nonperishables and fresh produce to prepare as many as 14 balanced meals per week.
“The map of where food deserts are in Georgia, and particularly in metro-Atlanta, and you overlay where Open Hand provides our services,” Pieper said. It's almost a complete match.”
“Sadly, there is a philosophy in our country that if someone's receiving a meal that they don't have to pay for, they should just be
Healthy ingredients can be difficult to access, but knowing what to do with them can be even more difficult. Open Hand offers
several nutrition programs, including GRITS (Georgians Receiving Insightful Telenutrition Seminars), a telehealth education campaign that brings nutrition education and counseling to older adults in senior centers, places of worship and the home. The need for a larger headquarters became clear in 2020, Pieper said, when the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the weakness of our country’s “safety net” for supporting individuals living below the poverty level and how food- and nutrition-insecure many households are. Support Open Hand this holiday season with a Good Measure Meals gift card, as featured in its holiday gift guide. Good Measure Meals is a meal kit delivery service where qualifying residents in and around Atlanta can get high-quality ingredients and a rich selection of recipes for a little as $5 per portion. If you’d like to check your eligibility for Open Hand’s meal services or programming, visit openhandatlanta.org.
DECEMBER 8, 2023 COMMUNITY 11
COMMUNITY
15 Organizations to Support in 2024 Katie Burkholder If you’re anything like me, becoming more philanthropic and involved in the community is one of your New Year’s resolutions. There are thousands of worthy causes in Atlanta — where do you start? If you’re looking for an organization to support with your money, time, and labor next year, here are some of my favorite organizations that rely on community involvement in order to serve the people of Atlanta.
1. Out On Film
Out On Film is on a mission to celebrate LGBTQ stories through film, creating a space for diverse voices and stories with its annual film festival as well as events throughout the year. Your support empowers independent filmmakers, amplifies diverse voices, and helps the organization build a vibrant LGBTQ film culture. If you become a part of OOF's donor program, your contribution can earn you special perks. The levels start at $100, which gets your name listed on the website, program guide, and preshow reels, and go all the way up to $10,000, which gets you festival T-shirts, all-access passes, individual tickets, an invite to the filmmaker event,
12 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 8, 2023
and early access to special events on top of the entry level perks. These perks are on a request-only basis. You can donate at outonfilm.org/donate. Volunteer positions during the festival, which happens in the early fall, include greeters, line attendants, farewellers, and ushers. To volunteer, visit outonfilm.org/volunteer.
2. Planned Parenthood
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the work Planned Parenthood does is more crucial than ever. Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. If you donate by midnight December 31, your gift will be doubled by a generous anonymous donor, up to a total of $500,000. Donate at plannedparenthood.org. If you’d rather offer hands-on support, positions you can apply for in Atlanta include activism and policy, administrative support, the defender program, events support, and patient escorting. To apply, visit plannedparenthood.org/ planned-parenthood-southeast/copyvolunteers-interns.
3. The Bakery
Keep the Atlanta arts community alive! The Bakery is a collective of artists, curators, and administrators dedicated to offering alternative models to local creatives. Their mission is to broaden awareness of, and build community around, progressive ideas in the arts. Your donation will support gallery programming, community programming, art curation and installation, and more. To donate, visit thebakeryatlanta.com.
4. AID Atlanta
AID Atlanta has been providing HIV/AIDSrelated services, care, and education for more than 40 years. Established in response to the devastating impact HIV/AIDS was having on Atlanta, the organization offers HIV/ AIDS prevention and care services like HIV medical care, HIV/STI screening, PrEP, HIV prevention programs, and more. Your donation will benefit expanding behavioral health and case management services, expanding HIV/STI testing and clinic hours, and operating the onsite pharmacy. To donate, visit aidatlanta.org/donatenow. Volunteer opportunities cover a variety of areas, including fundraising through an annual AIDS Walk, advocacy, event support,
office support, community outreach, and more. To volunteer, go to aidatlanta.org/volunteer.
5. Atlanta Solidarity Fund
When activists face repression, Atlanta Solidarity Fund stands with them. The organization provides support for people arrested at protests or otherwise prosecuted for their involvement in activist movements, including the ongoing Stop Cop City movement. The resources they provide include jail support, where ASF helps arrestees ensure their rights are respected; cash bails; and access to legal representation and assistance in navigating the legal system. Donate at actionnetwork.org/fundraising/ contribute-to-the-atlanta-solidarity-fund.
6. Positive Impact
Positive Impact Health Centers provides comprehensive health care to those affected by HIV through medical services, emotional wellness and recovery programs, pharmacy services, support programs, HIV prevention programs, HIV/STI screenings, immunizations, transportation services, nutritional aid, and more. There currently
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COMMUNITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 are four centers in Marietta, Chamblee, Decatur, and Duluth. Last year, Positive Impact provided 6,490 patients with clinical care, screened 7,509 clients for STIs, conducted 5,042 HIV tests, and distributed 142,607 condoms. The organization was crucial in the fight against mpox, administering 1,031 vaccines on top of vaccinating against COVID-19, the flu, hepatitis, and more. To donate, visit positiveimpacthealthcenters.org. If you want to support the work in another way, they will be hosting their annual Party with Impact on December 30, which will a night of comedy with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Bob the Drag Queen. Ticket sales will benefit Positive Impact. Buy tickets at aso.org.
7. Mainline Zine
The Mainline is a 100 percent independent, grassroots, women-led media organization working to provide a free press and autonomous journalism. The Mainline seeks to embody the tenets held by abolitionist papers throughout history by engaging audiences through education and messages that disrupt the status quo of corporatized media, inspired by Mariame Kaba and Media 2070. Along with covering local music, art, and culture, The Mainline also covers local politics, namely the Stop Cop City movement. Donate at givebutter.com/mainline_atl.
8. Status: Home
Formerly Jerusalem House, Status: Home is the oldest and largest provider of permanent housing, holistic support, and empowerment for Atlanta’s low-income and homeless individuals and families impacted by HIV/AIDS. With nearly 250 housing units and counting, Status: Home provides homes for almost 300 people, including almost 100 children. You can provide one-time or monthly financial donations, food boxes, and hygiene items, or you can become a member of Philanthropy Circle, Status: Home's major donor program including those who give at
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least $500 annually. Members enjoy benefits including site tours and donor appreciation events throughout the year. You can donate at statushome.org.
9. disABILITY LINK
disABILITY LINK is a grassroots, peer-led, nonmedical organization that advocates for people with disabilities, promoting choice, autonomy, and full participation in community life. Programming includes youth empowerment, employment services, deaf/blind services, food stamps, housing and home modification, transportation, and so much more. disABILITY LINK also formed a peer group for LGBTQ people with disabilities to share their experiences and support one another. Donate at disabilitylink.org. You can also add disABILITY LINK to your Kroger rewards card to donate a portion of your purchases to the organization. Go to krogercommunityrewards. com and use NPO number 48113.
10. Southern Fried Queer Pride
Along with donations, SFQP is always looking for volunteers to help out with setting up and running events. SFQP is an organization dedicating to empowering Black queer and QTPOC-centered communities in the South through the arts. You can join the organizing team, which will require attendance at the regular organizing meetings every third Sunday of the month, or you can respond to volunteering calls via the Instagram account @sfqp. Upcoming SFQP events include The Vast Unsaid!, a lesbian open mic, and New Year, Who Dis?, a queer New Year’s Eve party and drag show. To sign up to volunteer, visit docs.google.com/forms/ d/e/1FAIpQLSfcuk6aFo_xFVE_1SU2t6FoYlv_ JRYG1FUCn2EX4IU-Q-1TaA/viewform. To donate, visit southernfriedqueerpride.com and click the “become a monthly donor” or “make a general donation” tab.
11. Unearthing Farm
Unearthing cultivates a vibrant community
green space with its hyper-local farm and market, and it's always looking for volunteers on the farm. Get your hands dirty, create community, and help Unearthing in its mission to provide fresh food to people in need through its pay-what-you-can system. Volunteer opportunities include farm maintenance, harvesting, operating the market, community outreach, animal help, and cooking. To volunteer, visit docs.google.com/forms/d/ e/1FAIpQLSds0k2uFu89TXy_zDeHA jzfiWuKWrBd7vWpSMMJlxrzURzeUQ/ viewform. To donate, visit donorbox.org/ufm.
12. Chris 180
Chris 180 provides children, adults, and families with high-quality, traumainformed behavioral health services and support systems. While always appreciative of donations to support their work, they also offer a number of volunteer opportunities. Currently, they’re looking for volunteers to help sort, organize, and purge their distribution center and help facilitate a shopping experience for clients on December 15 from 10am to 2pm. They’re also looking for elf holiday shopping assistants, who will help guide clients through holiday shopping and labeling each item for each family member, as well as holiday gift wrappers, on December 18 from 9am to noon. To sign up, visit chris180.org/get-involved/waysto-volunteer. To donate, visit donate.chris180. org/give/384594/#!/donation/checkout.
13. Women on the Rise
Women on the Rise is a group of formerly incarcerated women building political power through organizing, base building, leadership development, and civic engagement. To become a member, you must be a formerly incarcerated or otherwise directly impacted woman of color (including trans women and gender nonconforming women), willing to give personal testimony and speak out publicly about your experience, and the ability to attend monthly virtual membership meetings. As a member, you will be able to choose and inform the campaigns they work on, have the opportunity to share your
story with lawmakers, access free political education trainings, and more. To join, visit womenontherisega.org/ becomeamember.
14. Sol Underground
Sol Underground is an autonomous community-led group dedicated to Black and Indigenous liberation through various workshops, classes, and projects. They currently host monthly community days at The Bakery and they also operate a mini outdoor free store outside For Keeps Books every second and fourth Friday for people to redistribute their resources and take what they need. During the winter, they also lead an outdoor warming shelter for unhoused people, which is entirely volunteer run. To sign up to help at their warming station, visit signupgenius.com/ go/10C0C4DAEA82FA5F9C2546394056-solbelow#/. To help with their free store, visit signupgenius.com/ go/10C0C4DAEA82FA5F9C25-free10#. To donate to help sustain their work and cover expenses, visit saintsol.org/giving.
15. Lake Claire Land Trust
The Lake Claire Community Land Trust was founded by a group of neighbors in 1983 with the intention of creating a green space for community use and enhancement. Today, it’s a neighborhood-based nonprofit consisting of over 1.7 acres of 50 community garden beds, a children’s garden, a playground, a stage and amphitheater, and a pond. They host regular community events like monthly tarot classes, drum circles, arts fairs, and more. Lake Claire hosts monthly Community Work Days on the third Saturday of each month, with rain days on the fourth Saturday if needed. Shifts last three hours, starting at various times depending on the season, and free pizza is served afterward. To sign up to volunteer, visit lcclt.org/volunteer. You can donate to Lake Claire through Venmo (@LakeClaireCommunityLandTrust) and PayPal (paypal. com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_ id=8KWH88AWV28JQ&source=url).
DECEMBER 8, 2023 COMMUNITY 13
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Helping Paws: Animal Organizations to Support in 2024 Sydney Norman Read the full article online at thegavoice.com. Dogs and cats can provide love, hope, and companionship to their owners in times of need, but oftentimes these animals need help themselves. Every day animals are dumped, surrendered, and rescued from hostile and abusive environments. Sometimes these situations are merely byproducts of circumstance. Military personnel’s plans fall through when they’re deployed, elderly owners die, and animals escape through gaps in fences or when fleeing a fire. Sometimes people fall onto hard times, and when the going gets rough, pets keep people going. Whatever the case may be, animal rescue and animal owner support groups across the state are all united in their missions to aid these animals and owners alike when they’re at their most vulnerable.
LifeLine Animal Project
LifeLine Animal Project is the largest animal rescue organization in the state of Georgia. They manage the operations of two county shelters (one in Dekalb and one in Fulton), a private animal shelter, a fullservice veterinary clinic, and the Pets for Life outreach program. LifeLine's Dekalb County Placement Manager, Lane Johnson, said one of the main things that attracted her to LifeLine was its mission to help people keep their pets when they find themselves in difficult circumstances. Through the Pets for Life outreach program, LifeLine has helped over 5,700 pets by connecting owners in need to various resources, whether that be spay and neuter
14 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 8, 2023
operations, food, medications, or other supplies and veterinary assistance. Despite LifeLine's best efforts, between lower adoption rates, vet shortages, and huge numbers of animals coming into their shelters, the organization has had to begin euthanizing animals for space. With over 500 dogs in LifeLine’s Dekalb County shelter, Johnson said the most pressing need is foster and adoptive homes. At their website, lifelineanimal.org/foster, you can find more information regarding long- and short-term fostering for both dogs and cats, and you can help save a life.
Atlanta Beagle Rescue
Atlanta Beagle Rescue is an all-volunteer organization focusing on rescuing beagles and beagle mixes and placing them in private foster homes throughout the metro Atlanta area. Karla Schottle, the organization’s license holder, discussed the struggles beagles as a breed face. “Beagles are one of the top ten breeds found in animal shelters,” she said. While beagles are wonderful companions and make for great family pets, they often require more patience than some people are prepared for. “They’re so cute, but they have headstrong personalities.” When asked what would help ABR the most right now, Schottle listed two major needs: monetary donations and foster homes. To see how you can help, visit atlantabeaglerescue.org.
Pets Are Loving Support
Pets are Loving Support started in 1990 as a way to assist HIV/AIDS patients in taking
You can adopt pets like Audrey Hepburn (pictured above) from Angels Among Us Pet Rescue. PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK care of their furry companions, and they’ve since grown to serve over 2,000 pet owners in the Atlanta area. PALS works to provide food, supplies, vaccinations, and veterinary services at low to no cost to elderly, ill, disabled, and lowincome pet owners. PALS' Executive Director, Katherine Cummings, described the wonderful work she and her colleagues put into helping the community. They’ve given out over a ton of pet food this year, and during their November vaccine clinic event, they handed out over 200 pounds of food in only two hours. There are a multitude of ways to get involved with PALS. By visiting palsatlanta.org, you can help to stock the pantry by shipping directly via links to Amazon and Chewy. Cummings said they currently do not need any more cat food donations, as the majority of the animals they serve are dogs. Through the “Support a PALS Pet in 2024” campaign (accessible through a link on the homepage), donors can learn about 45 different cats and dogs and pledge donations to keep them fed and cared for.
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue started in 2009
and has since saved the lives of over 21,000 dogs and cats in Georgia. It is an entirely foster-based network, rescuing animals from within the state and placing them in volunteers’ homes until they’re ready to be adopted. Its website states that it works to “rescue one until there are none” through saving animals from shelters, owner surrenders, and educating “the public on the plight of animals that have found themselves in Georgia’s shelters or have suffered neglect or abuse to underscore the responsibilities of pet ownership.”m Development and Events Director Jackie Spett said Angels Among Us “prides themselves on rescuing pets that need lots of vet care.” Because they take on difficult cases, vet bills can be staggering and are everincreasing. Donations are down this year, and any monetary contributions go a long way. Spett also said that because they don’t have a shelter facility and rely entirely upon people opening their hearts and homes to homeless animals, their number one need is fosters. Angels Among Us covers all expenses associated with fostering an animal and can provide basic supplies should they be needed. More information can be found under the “Foster” tab on the website at angelsrescue.org.
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COMMUNITY
The Gayly Impact: Georgia’s New LGBTQ Non-Profit Helmut Lucero Love The Gayly Impact is born out of a simple mission: to evolve LGBTQ society through encouraging our community and our families to flourish. Today, and thanks to many before us, we have gay citizens who are highly functioning, yet LGBTQ society still bears the marks of marginalized people. Our suicide, depression, and anxiety rates outpace those of our straight peers. Concerning STD rates, alcohol, and drug addiction rates, lower salaries, and lower employment rates – the challenges are real. We are responsible for the society we are shaping, and we at The Gayly Impact believe in shaping our world through intergenerational connections.
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Championing our Seniors
Tragically, having survived the difficult storms of the liberation movement, our esteemed seniors find themselves feeling forgotten, despite possessing deep wisdom and experience. These gay elders are essential to our collective identity. Year by year, The Gayly Impact will improve services for our senior LGBTQ population. Seniors need services they can trust to enter their homes and care for their needs, trusted assisted living, and other services as they age. As their environments shift, elders will benefit from new digital connections leading to conversation, mentorship, and real-life friendship.
Personal Excellence
When cultures, religions, and often families
tell us we are wrong, we must struggle to fight that message. The Gayly Impact teaches financial literacy to improve mental health and inspire the freedom to be our best selves. Empowerment coaching is also an important tool to encourage self-worth. We will help individuals discover their personal life mission at The Gayly Impact.
Strengthening Relationships
At The Gayly Impact in-person engagements, we will share our lived experiences to improve our friendships, partnerships, and access to parenthood. No one at The Gayly Impact is an expert – we each have light in us to share and learn from. We look forward to hosting live events that explore and educate on these topics with one another.
The Gayly Impact will also build a mobile app to share all our services and enable LGBTQ individuals to match with and connect with other LGBTQ coaches and affinity groups in specific areas of interest.
We Need Your Help
We cannot make our vision come to life without your support. Visit us at thegaylyimpact.org to learn more and donate. Whether $5, $15 or $150, anything helps! If you want to donate your time or talents, please reach out. Dr. Helmut Lucero Love is the founder of The Gayly Dose, an Atlanta-based podcast that elicits dialogue about topics that LGBTQ people face. Listen and watch at thegaylydose.com. Follow @thegaylydosepod. He is also the founder of The Gayly Impact. Follow @thegaylyimpact.
DECEMBER 8, 2023 COMMUNITY 15
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Gifts That Give Back
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Katie Burkholder
Give the gift of giving back to the organizations that fight for us with these charitable contributions in the form of stylish and sweet presents for your loved ones.
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A. Eradicate Transphobia Sweatshirt Not only does this comfy sweatshirt bear a powerful message, but the proceeds also support Family Equality, an organization advancing legal and lived equality for LGBTQ families. $28, Family Equality; shop. familyequality.org.
B. Rainbow Candy Cane Heart Ornament
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This limited-edition holiday ornament is both fun and meaningful, supporting the Human Rights Campaign’s efforts to fight for LGBTQ equality and inclusion. $10, HRC; shop.hrc.org.
C. PFLAG Tote Bag Show your Pride while out and about with this simple but fashion-forward tote bag supporting PFLAG. $15, PFLAG; shop.pflag.org.
D. Protect Queer Kids Suncatcher Sticker This stunning holographic sun catcher is more than just pretty; 50 percent of proceeds are donated to Black Trans Liberation Kitchen, a group building sustainable food justice programs for trans-led organizations in New York City. $10, roctothorpe on Etsy
E. Atlanta Pride Tie Dye Hat Bring fun and color to your wardrobe with this super cute hat – and as a bonus, it supports Atlanta Pride as they plan next year’s free festival! $30, Atlanta Pride; querencia.co/collections/atlanta-pride.
F. We’re Here We’re Queer Ringer Tee We’re here, we’re queer, and we’ll see you in court! Support ACLU’s legal support of the LGBTQ community with this super cute ringer tee. $40, ACLU; shop.aclu.org.
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CULTURE
The Search for a
New Chapel Mars Stone Read the full story online at thegavoice.com. There are ten commandments for the Chapel Beauty Show: Thou shalt pay the dolls, thou shalt respect the dolls, thou shalt pamper, thou shalt protect, thou shalt uplift, thou shalt feed, thou shalt love, thou shalt comfort, thou shalt praise, and thou shalt worship the dolls! At your first show you might think the captivating trio of hosts Miss He, Ivy, and Minty are the dolls in question. However, the Chapel Beauty Show is bigger than them. The show was meant to be and has become a sanctuary for all the Black trans dolls of East Atlanta and beyond. With the recent closing of the Chapel Beauty Show’s venue, Noni’s Deli, the dolls are in need of a new sanctuary. Miss He, Ivy, and Minty sat down with Georgia Voice to discuss their year of growth and success, the congregation they do it for, and the search for a new home. The Chapel Beauty Show could still be considered fairly new, having come together for the first show in July 2022. However, the show has established itself as a cornerstone of the community. Chapel Beauty finished a very close runner-up for Wussy Magazine’s Peachies award for Favorite Drag Show while not yet a year old, and the team had seven nominations overall. It would not be a stretch to say that almost every show this year has been a hit. The 420 show, Mother’s Day, Juneteenth, The Roast of Miss He, and the Pride Day Party were just a few examples of the array of shows that have left a lasting impression on the year. It has been clear that what Chapel has to offer is what the community has needed. Early in 2022, Miss He was the reigning
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Misc. Edgewood pageant winner, and Noni’s Deli was interested in having her host a recurring show there. She did not want to be the host of just another show; she wanted the show to have a purpose. “There would be no drag without Black trans people,” Miss He said, and spaces had not been putting Black trans people on the pedestal that they deserved. At around the same time, Minty was speaking out and ruffling some feathers in the community and was very possibly on the way to getting blackballed from the scene. As drag was reemerging in the wake of the pandemic, Minty had been the victim of bookings falling through and struggling to get a callback. She noticed some people were not experiencing these same difficulties and could not figure out why, so she spoke up. A few rants on Instagram and an open letter to the community highlighted some issues she was seeing in the scene. According to her, the people who needed to hear the message got it — “hit dogs will holler,” as Minty says. During this time, Ivy was blowing people away on stage. Miss He was at Ivy’s first-ever show back in December of 2018 at Star Bar and says Ivy was amazing people from the start. The two of them were throwing around names while on the way back to Atlanta after a vacation together, and Chapel Beauty stuck. The show was named after the popular Decatur beauty supply store of the same name, where Miss He says “a doll becomes a doll. It’s a very magical place.” While Atlanta is a very Black city, the East Atlanta drag scene is predominantly white. This is not to say there are no other Black
From left: Minty, Ivy Fischer, and Miss He formed Chapel Beauty to be a show “rooted in authentic Blackness.” PHOTO BY @YEAHITSLYLE shows; the Chapel trio is thankful for the shows that have been established before theirs, such as Neon Black, the first show Miss He ever did in Atlanta. The three needed to emphasize the Blackness of the show as a statement, a show they say was, “for us by us … rooted in authentic Blackness.” After having such a big year, Chapel is looking to expand and grow even more in 2024. They are looking forward to branching out beyond putting on shows, becoming more of a multifaceted brand like Southern Fried Queer Pride, and leaning more into their mutual aid and community-building works. In 2023, they partnered with the cast of Amen: It’s a Drag Show at Sister Louisa’s for a Trans Day of Visibility fundraiser. Just recently, Chapel partnered with Spark Reproductive Justice for Trans Day of
Resistance, Resilience, and Remembrance to raise funds for abortion access and trans health care. The Spark show was the first Chapel Beauty Show since the closing of Noni’s Deli, and the turnout was proof that the congregation is ready to travel wherever the show lands — but to have the huge 2024 that is possible, the dolls will need a permanent home. The three are certain that wherever they end up, they will be able to make magic happen for everyone involved. The trio will be hosting a brand-new Christmas Brunch at BrewDog Atlanta on Sunday, December 17 at noon. Follow them on Instagram @chapelbeautyshow. When you make it to a show, make sure you don’t forget the chant: “B-E-A-UTYYYYYYY!!!!!”
DECEMBER 8, 2023 CULTURE 17
ACTING OUT JIM FARMER
“We Live Here” Chronicles LGBTQ Life in the Midwest, Gay Teen Develops Crush on Best Friend in “Nathan Lee” Jim Farmer
couple Jenn and Debb in Minnesota.
Read the full column online at thegavoice.com.
The directors made this film before the new wave of antigay bills.
After filmmakers Melinda Maerker and David Clayton Miller worked for several years on a project about LGBTQ families, 2016 and that year’s infamous election happened — and everything seemed to change.
“Since we filmed, it’s taken a turn for the worse,” Miller said. “This year alone saw the greatest number of bills being introduced into legislation that were antigay and antitrans. So, we have that, and recently we have the number three most powerful person in government who holds antagonistic and discriminatory views of the LGBTQ community. So, while our film is not controversial, the timing of it is. We think it is a pivotal moment for us to release this.”
“Suddenly we were in this political climate of backlash and we [wondered] how that was affecting families now,” Maerker said. “We decided to explore that and as we did, we thought it was important to put it together as a documentary.” The result is the new, “We Live Here: The Midwest,” which has just premiered on Hulu. It’s a documentary about several LGBTQ couples in Midwestern states. Among those are Iowa couple Nia & Katie, one of whom is transgender; Mario and Monte, one of the only Black and queer families in their town in Nebraska; Kansas goat ranchers Courtney and Denise; Russ Exlos-Raber, an Ohio choir teacher; and
Finding the subjects for the project was not easy. “We set out months before and a number of people we were put into contact with or found wanted to participate, but feared recrimination within their community, at their jobs and would not participate because of those reasons,” Maerker said. “The willingness to share their story, knowing there may be retribution, is not easy. For that reason, it made it harder to find families.”
“We Live Here: The Midwest” PUBLICITY PHOTOS The filmmakers were clear that they did not want to go to a specific area of the country and wonder to themselves why these subjects did not leave. “They are facing these various issues in their schools, churches and the answer is — no,” Maerker said. “Part of it is — why should they be kicked out of Dodge? There are things that are working in their communities, and they have roots and ties to the community, whether that is extended family or the landscape itself. Courtney and Denise specifically want to be in that land — that is their dream. People often think of LGBTQ folks being in urban areas, and I think that is because it is more acceptable to be LGBTQ. In the Midwest, they are kind of fighting the good fight. It’s like, ‘We want to be here and have been here for generations.’” Quentin Lee’s new film, “Last Summer of Nathan Lee,” is the story of the titular 18-yearold main character (played by Harrison Xu) who discovers he has brain cancer and makes a pact to make the most of the rest of his life and summer. His best friend Dash (played by out actor Matthew Mitchell Espinosa) has a crush on Nathan, and their relationship takes something of an unorthodox twist. The director was thinking of death a lot during the pandemic and remembered a friend in high school who got brain cancer. He enlisted a writer and later presented a script to actor Harrison Xu.
“Last Summer of Nathan Lee”
18 COLUMNIST DECEMBER 8, 2023
Lee was careful about the film’s tone. He grew up watching melodrama on TV, including a
series about a woman with leukemia, but wanted to make this more optimistic. “I wanted to make something completely funny, that celebrates life rather than to bog us down with death,” Lee said. “We all know death and [that] we will all die anyway.” Dash is an immigrant from the Philippines, says Espinosa, who is asked to document and film his best friend’s death. “The whole movie revolves around that last summer and Dash is along for the ride,” Espinosa said. He related to the role, being Filipino, and recalls sometimes falling in love with friends. Lee made his first short film back in 1992, and it was a queer Asian work. Unable to find actors to cast, he put himself and his ex-boyfriend in it. Eventually, he made more films, but when he and others made and cast gay films, no actors wanted to be in them. “Thirty years later, casting an openly gay character is no problem,” Lee said. “It’s interesting seeing how the industry and acting community has evolved.”
MORE INFO “We Live Here: The Midwest” is now screening on Hulu “Last Summer of Nathan Lee” is now available on video on demand THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM
voice
georgia
2024 Editorial
Calendar January
12: Health + Wellness 26: LGBTQ Black History Month
February
09: Valentine’s, Sex, and Love 23: Family & Parenting
March
08: Spring Arts Preview 22: Spirituality
April
05: Home & Real Estate 19: Sports & Hobbies
May
03: Mental Health: Living Your Best Life 24: Summer Travel & Events
June
07: National Pride Month 21: Seniors & Aging
July
05: Dragalicious Extravaganza
26: Pets on Parade
August
09: Fall Arts 23: Fall Travel & Black Gay Pride
September
06: Bisexuality 20: Out On Film Preview
October
11: Atlanta Pride & LGBTQ History Month 25: Elections
November
08: Science, Tech, & Social Media 22: Holiday Gift Guide
December
06: Eat, Drink, & Be Merry 20: Year in Review * Camera Ready ads due one week prior to publication dates Contact: sales@thegavoice.com
BEST BETS THE BEST LGBTQ EVENTS HAPPENING IN DECEMBER Jim Farmer
Centre lobby before settling into your seats.
Fernbank After Dark: Cocktails & Candy Canes
PALS Bingo
December 8, 7pm Fernbank Museum
Bring your holiday cheer for a night of festive fun featuring after-hour access to Fernbank’s exhibits, the captivating lights of WildWoods: AGLOW, holiday-themed activities, music and more.
A Christmas Carol
December 8, 8pm, through December 24 Alliance Theatre The Alliance Theatre’s beloved production “A Christmas Carol” returns to The Coca-Cola Stage with its stunning new adaptation, featuring a brilliantly reimagined set design and striking new costumes. Described as “high art of the season…a nostalgic feast for the eyes,” by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, audiences will be transported to the streets of London to revisit the timeless redemption story of Ebenezer Scrooge, told with beautiful live music and an all-star cast.
Winter Twisted Mayhem December 9, noon Atlanta Eagle
Barking Leather and Atlanta Eagle present Winter Twisted Mayhem today. Chili, kinky vendors, raffles and prizes are on tap, with money raised going to the Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
Snowgirls – the Musical
December 9, 8pm, through November 11 Out Front Theatre Company In “Snowgirls – The Musical,” Snowmi Malone is a rebel who dreams of becoming a dancer. Her quest leads her to the cold cruel world of the North Pole, where she’ll stop at nothing to fulfill her fantasy. “SnowGirls” explores what happens at the North Pole the other 364 days of the year – and it isn’t always pretty.
The Nutcracker
December 10, 2 and 7pm, through December 26 Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Enter the magical world of “The Nutcracker” today. Atlanta Ballet’s larger-than-life production is a winter wonderland where falling snowflakes, twirling flowers and spinning stars guide Marie and her Nutcracker Prince through a dream-like world of delights – amplified by traditional stage magic and state-of-the-art technology. Enjoy hot cocoa, holiday cocktails, sweet treats, and a shopping experience in the Cobb Energy Performing Arts
20 BEST BETS CALENDAR DECEMBER 8, 2023
December 12, 7:30pm Lips Atlanta Hostesses Budda D and Erica Lee and special guest performers will delight, amaze, and shock you as they call bingo, put on a show, and help raise money for PALS. Tonight’s theme is ChristmaHanukwanzamas Bingo.
Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays and a Connie Sue Day Christmas
December 14, 7:30pm, through December 17 Actor’s Express She’s back! Atlanta cabaret legend Libby Whittemore reprises her annual holiday show “Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays and a Connie Sue Day Christmas” at Actor’s Express.
Krampus X-Mass
December 15, 8pm, through December 17 7 Stages Join Mr. Zero Zero, the undying man, as he battles the spirit of Krampus Christmas, good and/or evil and the shadow of death itself! Brought to you by the creators of “Dracula: The Rock Opera” and the annual “Krampus X-Mass,” the Little 5 Points Rockstar Orchestra presents a night of hilarious hellish hijinks, and hedonistic spectacle as the perfect antidote to the traditional holiday season. The event features raucous rock-n-roll, audacious aerial acts and bloody boudoir burlesque, all wrapped up in a theatrical extravaganza.
Charis Holiday Party December 16 Charis Books and More
Join Charis Books and More for an all-day party to help you get in the spirit and get your holiday shopping done. All hardback books (for kids and adults!) will be 10% off. (in-store and in-stock). A gift-wrapping station will be set up for selfwrapping. Holiday music, cookies, and hot drinks set up outside will also be available 10am to 7pm.
Let it Snow!?
December 16, 7pm Church at Ponce and Highland Atlanta Freedom Bands tempts Mother Nature with a program recalling the joys of the snow days, the special music of the holidays, and all the things we love about winter. Bundle up with music from Frozen all the way to “Sleigh Ride”!
Christmas Belles
December 16, 8pm, through December 17
EVENT SPOTLIGHT Garden Lights, Holiday Nights December 15 through January 14 Atlanta Botanical Garden Back for its 13th year, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights presented at the Atlanta Botanical Garden features familiar favorites and new installations, including Skyline Frost, a new skynet by Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics; illuminated metal birds and deer by Cédric Le Borgne and the return of White Rabbit to the Skyline Garden Pond. Photo via Facebook Onstage Atlanta presents “Christmas Belles,” directed by Cathe Hall Payne.
Holiday Sparkle December 17, 1pm City Winery
Happy Holigays, tootsie-loos! The live-singing temptress of your candy-coated dreams, Tammie Brown, is back with her holiday drag spectacular Holiday Sparkle. This annual drag brunch returns with our hometown shero, Biqtch Puddin' -- winner of Boulet Brothers' “Dragula” Season 2. The event also includes performances by: Tammie Brown from “RuPaul's Drag Race,” Biqtch Puddin' from Boulet Brothers' “Dragula,” Nicole Paige Brooks from “RuPaul's Drag Race” and more.
PFLAG Support Group December 17, 2:30pm Spiritual Living Center
The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children meets in person today.
Christmas on Clairemont December 17, 6pm Baptist Church of Decatur
The 6th annual community benefit concert will feature a professional orchestra with the Decatur Avondale Children’s Choir, Garmmy award-
winning tenor Victor Robertson, WABE’s Chris Chandler, operatic soprano Tiffay Uzoije, and a surprise performance by one of the leads at Shakespeare Tavern. This event is free and open to the public, but 100 percent of an offering taken during the performance with benefit the church’s humanitarian work happening in Macedonia through CBF Global Missions.
Business Builder Lunch December 19, 11:45am Chai Pani Decatur
Join OUT Georgia for its Business Builder Lunch (BBL) Decatur at Chai Pani Decatur on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Cirque du Soleil ECHO
December 21, 7:30pm, through January 21 Under the Big Top at Atlantic Station Fueled by the power of invention, the hope of the youth and the importance of empathy, Cirque du Soleil ECHO invites the audience to participate in a universe of color, wonder and infinite possibilities and infinite possibilities.
Party with Impact 2023 December 30, 8pm Atlanta Symphony Hall
Party with Impact 2023 with Bob the Drag Queen is a fundraiser for Positive Impact.
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LGBTQ NIGHTLIFE FORECAST DECEMBER 8-22 Katie Burkholder
Phoenix’s Birthday Extravaganza December 8, 8pm Future Atlanta Celebrate Phoenix’s birthday with Willam, Lala Ri, Cici Nicole, Raquel Rea Heart, Coco Iman Star, and Destiny Brooks! Tickets at future-atlanta.com.
Myah Ross Monroe’s House of Love December 8, 9pm Atlanta Eagle Featuring Just Jermaine, Malaysia Black, Taejah L. Thomas, Laci Bruce, Tatiana Tuesday Dickerson, A’Jivan Avionce Dickerson, Chavon Scott, and Jeremia Tymes Starr. $5 cover.
Queerbait December 8, 9pm Mary’s Gay pop videos with DJ Headmaster! $5 cover.
Karaoke Night December 10, 7:30pm The T
Trivia Night December 12, 8:30pm Atlanta Eagle With DJ DeWayne.
Country Night December 12, 9pm Atlanta Eagle Show up at 8pm to learn the line dance before yeehawing the night away with DJ Dice.
The Vast Unsaid December 14, 6pm Wild Heaven Southern Fried Queer Pride hosts this open mic and meet up for lesbians to share music, poetry, performance, resources, and community. Sign up for the open mic at sfqp.info/tvuopenmic.
Karaoke Night December 14, 9pm The T
Rock House Karaoke December 14, 9pm Atlanta Eagle THEGEORGIAVOICE.COM
EVENT SPOTLIGHT ICON December 16, 11pm Future Atlanta Celebrating the musical icons of the industry. Featuring DJ Tony Moran with a performance by Phoenix. Tickets at future-atlanta.com. Photo via Facebook Hosted by Raqi.
Myah Ross Monroe’s House of Love December 15, 9pm Atlanta Eagle Featuring Just Jermaine, Malaysia Black, Taejah L. Thomas, Laci Bruce, Tatiana Tuesday Dickerson, A’Jivan Avionce Dickerson, Chavon Scott, and Jeremia Tymes Starr. $5 cover.
Queerbait December 15, 9pm Mary’s Gay pop videos with DJ Headmaster! $5 cover.
Ron Pullman December 15, 11pm Atlanta Eagle $5 cover.
I Love My HBCU Day Party December 16, 3pm District Atlanta Aggie Gentz, in partnership with the Atlanta
A&T Alumni Chapter, True Blue 1881, and Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance, presents a party with a purpose during the Celebration Bowl weekend. All HBCU Alums and friends are welcome! Featuring music from DJ J-Finesse, DJ Deliver, and DJ Popo. Tickets at ilovemyhbcuparty.com.
ICON December 16, 11pm Future Atlanta Celebrating the musical icons of the industry. Featuring DJ Tony Moran with a performance by Phoenix. Tickets at futureatlanta.com.
Karaoke Night December 17, 7:30pm The T
MUG CHECK! December 17, 8pm My Sister’s Room Each winner from this year will compete for the overall MUG CHECK End-of-the-Year Pageant winner! Featuring Boudreaux,
Boy Howdy, Cookie D’Lite, Elle O’Elle, Hannibal Montannibal, Jacey Rockett, Naja x Supreme, Nia Simone, Pressure K. Friday, and Tucker AYE ALXNDR.
Trivia Night December 19, 8:30pm Atlanta Eagle With DJ DeWayne.
Alt3r Drag Show December 20, 10pm Star Bar Join Kiki’s Dream, Hera Kane, and Katrina Prowess, plus their lineup of incredible drag performers, for their monthly drag show. This month’s theme is Slumber Party! $5 cover.
Karaoke Night December 21, 9pm The T
Rock House Karaoke December 21, 9pm Atlanta Eagle Hosted by Raqi.
DECEMBER 8, 2023 LGBTQ NIGHTLIFE FORECAST 21
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID MELISSA CARTER
PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / KUES
Giving Myself Grace Melissa Carter There are two different types of people out there: those who find housework calming and enjoy the process and people like me who loathe having to tidy up and curse their way through the torture. As the only adult in my home who must take responsibility for its upkeep, I’m learning to give myself grace – especially during the holidays. The only motivation that forces me to get this job done is hosting a party. I am the total I’ll get to this later kind of person, which means when I finally get to it there are so many piles of clothes and papers that the task is daunting. Yes, for many years I told myself if I just tidied as I went, or made sure to get each pile organized promptly, it wouldn’t be so bad. However, my brain clearly doesn’t function that way as that strategy hasn’t worked for me once in 53 years. I discovered in my 30s the trick of hosting parties. When it’s just me, I have the choice to put it off, but when I know several people are coming over, I’m forced to get it done despite myself. Being a single mother can mess a place up, and somehow this year I’ve put off organizing things. So, to motivate myself, I’m planning to have a post-Christmas gathering. Now, I’m the only one who knows about the party so far, because I need to see how much headway I make before letting friends know about it. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but I really
22 COLUMNIST DECEMBER 8, 2023
have my work cut out for me this time. For instance, there are my son’s second grade materials on the bistro table in the kitchen. Mr. Carter is currently mid-way through the third grade, but for some reason when I dumped his backpack of items that were sent home on his last day in May on this table, I decided to wait to do something with them later. I think part of that procrastination is due to the fact I’m unsure of what to do with them since tossing them seems sacrilegious at this point. Don’t worry, I purchased some boxes to store them in, flat boxes that have been leaning against the wall since the summer. Then there’s the dining room table, where we rarely eat. It has been used more often as either a Lego workstation or a homework area. Sometimes I’ll use the table for arts and crafts, yet all the above have remained there, only to be shoved to the side when something new is set to be tackled. On the kitchen island sits mail, kinetic sand and its accoutrements, a sweater, and tiny items collected from his school’s reward toy box. Don’t worry – I’ll get to all this later. You see now why I throw parties. The deadline keeps me from making any excuses and forcing myself to find a place for all these items. (Or, if I no longer want to keep them, then I either make the time to go to a recycling or donation center.) Somehow, some was, I always manage to have the place ready for my event. And no, I can’t just shove everything into a closet to hide them. There’s no more room.
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DECEMBER 8, 2023 ADS 23
Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature Organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
HIGH MUSEUM OF ART ATLANTA
FINAL WEEKS! ENDS JAN 7
PREMIER EXHIBITION SERIES SPONSOR
PREMIER EXHIBITION SERIES SUPPORTERS ACT Foundation, Inc. William N. Banks, Jr. Cousins Foundation Burton M. Gold Sarah and Jim Kennedy
BENEFACTOR EXHIBITION SERIES SUPPORTERS Robin and Hilton Howell
A V&A Exhibition–Touring the World Beatrix Potter (British, 1866–1943), Mrs. Rabbit pouring out the tea for Peter while her children look on, 1907, watercolor and ink over pencil on paper, Victoria and Albert Museum, Linder Bequest, BP.468. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London, courtesy of Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.