12/16/22, Vol. 13 Issue 19

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COMMITTED TO CHANGE

Katie Burkholder

The year 2022 has been surprisingly difficult. As the first year that feels like a true emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic, I expected 2022 to feel like a sigh of relief, a breath of fresh air, long-awaited freedom from the pain characteristic of the last two years. Instead, 2022 was one of the most difficult years of my life.

I have experienced things this year that were difficult for me to come to terms with. I have had to cope, not just with loss, but also adulthood. This was my first year out of college, and I am just beginning to understand the phase of my life I am entering — one that will have me become more and more enmeshed with the harsh reality of our society: that I need to work for what I want — whether that be financial freedom, a career, a home, a family, mental stability, love, adventure, excitement — and that if I don’t, none of it will simply fall into my lap. To be quite honest, it’s scary and overwhelming. I wonder, as those of you who are older than I am read this, if you can remember the feeling of your whole life being ahead of you, completely unknown, and the sometimes-crushing weight of the sole responsibility for how it unfolds.

legislation left and right. At least 34 trans people were violently killed this year, two of whom were among the five victims of a mass shooting targeting our community.

I’m scared not only for my own personal future, but for the future of the society my personal future depends on. How am I supposed to do this? How am I supposed to create a happy and stable and safe life for myself and the people I love when so many things are wrong?

to choose what really matters to me and commit myself to that wholeheartedly.

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As I work on this issue and look back on 2022 not from my own personal perspective, but from the perspective of the LGBTQ community as a whole, that overwhelming fear becomes even more potent. Because 2022 was a difficult year not only for me, but for the nation. Reproductive rights that people have enjoyed for almost fifty years were stolen from us. A full-scale attack was launched on the LGBTQ community, especially our youth — mentions of us are banned from classroom discussions, and trans students are being attacked with

As I was ruminating on this question and the state of our world for the hour-anda-half I was standing in line to vote this week, I decided to listen to an episode of The Happiness Lab — a podcast to which, if you want advice for living a happier life backed by science, I strongly suggest you listen — called “You Only Live Once … So Commit.” The episode was all about the satisfaction and long-lasting contentment you get from choosing commitment and the choice paralysis that comes from keeping your options open. And as I thought of every single issue plaguing the world, and of the grind at deciding how my own life is going to go, I realized that commitment was the answer. I don’t have to combat every ill facing the world (even though the internet tries to convince me otherwise). I don’t have to solve every problem. I don’t have to get every single aspect of my life in order. I have

None of us can be everywhere doing everything that needs to be done at once, and I don’t think trying to do so is conducive to either productivity or personal joy. What we each need to do is look inward, to find what truly matters to us. Maybe that’s feminism and reproductive justice, maybe that’s racial equality through housing or police reform, maybe that’s protecting trans people, maybe that’s eradicating HIV. Even though it’s easy to recognize the importance of all of these and other issues, it’s crucial that we each commit ourselves to one, to avoid choice paralysis by, well, choosing. If we all dedicate ourselves, our time, and our money to a single cause for the long haul (to the best of our ability, of course) instead of spreading ourselves and our resources thin, then I believe that not only will things begin to change, but we will also experience more fulfillment and less existential angst.

Just like creating a good life, creating a good world requires work. But when we give ourselves over to the work, train our focus on the one thing we know aligns with our values and ignore all the other places our attention could go, I believe goodness will emerge. As I move into 2023, my New Year’s resolution will be to turn inward, focus, and commit to better. I hope our country follows suit.

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / GUSTAVO FRAZAO

Staff reports

Read these stories and more online at thegavoice.com

Man Shot During Fight Outside of Gay Bar

Friends on Ponce

On the morning of December 7, a man was shot multiple times outside the Atlanta gay bar Friends on Ponce.

According to FOX 5, Atlanta police verified the shooting occurred during a fight in the Friends parking lot sometime before 2:30am. The victim, who was shot twice in the legs, was brought to Grady Memorial Hospital. His condition is unknown, and his identity has not been revealed.

Police have not disclosed the names of any potential suspects at this time.

This shooting follows a hit-and-run committed in the Friends parking lot earlier this year. On January 7, a driver struck Jeffery Whitmire and several cars with his SUV. The driver of the SUV, Peyton Wells, was later found by Whitmire at Friends two weeks later and received copies of charges on January 20. Wells has since been arrested for the crime.

House Gives Final Approval to Respect for Marriage Act

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday took a final vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, sending the landmark legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk where it will be signed into law with 258 votes in favor, 169 opposed, and one member voting “present.”

Members in the lower chamber had already passed the Respect for Marriage Act this summer, 267-167, with 47 Republican “yes” votes. The matter before the House today was whether to approve an amendment that was added by the U.S. Senate to enshrine protections for religious liberties.

The Senate cleared the Respect for Marriage Act on November 29, just barely clearing the 60-vote threshold to avert a filibuster with 61 votes in favor of passing the legislation.

Once signed into law, the bill will protect

same-sex couples in the U.S. from many of the most harmful consequences that would result if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns or substantially weakens constitutional protections for same-sex marriage.

“Congress has restored a measure of security to millions of marriages and families,” President Biden said in a statement following the vote. “They have also provided hope and dignity to millions of young people across this country who can grow up knowing that their government will recognize and respect the families they build.”

The Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus released a statement celebrating the House’s vote on Thursday, December 8.

“The Respect for Marriage Act is a bipartisan triumph and a testament that love will always win in the end,” said U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who chairs the caucus.

“After the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision and Justice Thomas’ alarming concurring opinion, it became imperative that Congress do everything we constitutionally could do to ensure that marriages across this country continue to be protected,” he said. “Today, Congress did what needed to be done.”

“We are thrilled that the Respect for Marriage Act passed both the Senate and the House with robust bipartisan support. This commonsense legislation provides certainty to millions of loving couples in same-sex and interracial marriages, who will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages,” it read. “At the same time, our legislation fully respects and protects religious liberty and diverse beliefs about marriage. This is an important and historic step forward in ensuring dignity and respect for all Americans.”

Sen. Warnock Beats Trump-Endorsed Walker in Georgia Runoff, Securing Big Win for Democrats and LGBTQ Georgians Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Georgia’s runoff election on December 6, giving Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate and securing himself a six-year term.

According to the Associated Press, at 98 percent votes reported, Warnock received 51.3 percent of the vote over Walker’s 48.7 percent. Warnock previously finished ahead

As a Senator, Warnock has fought to solidify and expand the rights of LGBTQ Georgians. In July 2022, Warnock and fellow Sen. Jon Ossoff secured $4 million of additional funding for Atlanta AIDS service organizations. Since his initial run for Senate in 2020, Warnock has supported the Equality Act and co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act.

Warnock’s re-election has secured Democrats an outright majority in the Senate. Prior to his victory, the party held a 50-50 majority in which Vice President Kamala Harris could cast tie-breaking votes. With the outright majority, Democrats will hold more control of committees, lend less power to centrist party members, and be better equipped to push Biden’s agenda despite the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

Walker’s loss is another blow for former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Walker along with over 250 other candidates. According to the New York Times, 82 percent of Trump’s endorsements were successful, but six out of his seven Senate endorsements lost their elections, including Walker.

U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also released a statement.

of Walker in the national midterm election, but because neither candidate breached the majority threshold, the Senate race proceeded to a runoff.

House gives final approval to Respect for Marriage Act. IMAGE BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / ZERBOR

2022’S STORIES OF THE YEAR

2022 has been a year of ups and tragic downs for the LGBTQ community. As we reflect on this year’s biggest LGBTQ stories, we recognize the threat that continues to be made against LGBTQ people’s livelihoods, the work that needs to be done, and the resilience of our community, which refuses to back down.

Atlanta City Councilmember Matt Westmoreland Comes Out as Gay

JANUARY 3, 2022

Atlanta City Councilmember Matt Westmoreland came out as gay just before being sworn in for his second term in office.

Westmoreland, who holds the Post 2 at-large seat on the Council, made the announcement in a Twitter thread.

“Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll swear an oath for the third time to serve the City of Atlanta and all her residents,” he said. “And I’ll do it as a proud member of our LGBTQ+ community.”

While the thread did not clarify, Westmoreland told SaportaReport that he is gay. With his coming out, there are now four openly LGBTQ members of the Atlanta City Council: him, Liliana Bakhtiari, Alex Wan, and Keisha Waites.

Georgia Senate Passes Transphobic School Sports Bill

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

The Georgia Senate passed SB 435, legislation preventing transgender students from participating on gendered sports teams that align with their gender identity.

According to the AJC, the Senate backed the measure along party lines with a Republican-led vote of 32–22. This is the

first time a bill similar to it has had a vote by the full Senate chamber.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Marty Harbin as a way to create “fairness” for girls who play school sports. Advocacy organizations like the New Georgia Project, however, say that the bill is an “assault on transgender youth.”

DeSantis Signs Florida “Don’t Say Gay Bill”

MARCH 28, 2022

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which is sure to prompt lawsuits as opponents question the legality of legislation they see as harmful and discriminatory. At a press conference, DeSantis said teaching kindergarten-aged kids that “they can be whatever they want to be” was “inappropriate.”

“It’s not something that’s appropriate for any

place, but especially not in Florida,” he said.

House Bill 1557, titled “Parental Rights in Education,” will ban classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K–3, while “age-appropriate” teaching would be allowed in older grades — though it is not clear what is considered “age-appropriate.” The bill would also allow parents to sue schools or teachers who violate the legislation.

“LGBTQ youth in Florida deserve better. They deserve to see their history, their families, and themselves reflected in the classroom,” said Amit Paley, CEO and executive director of the Trevor Project. “While I am saddened to see this harmful bill signed into law, I am inspired by the outpouring of support for LGBTQ students we have seen from parents, teachers, celebrities, and their peers. Social support is vital for suicide prevention, and I want to remind LGBTQ youth in Florida and across the country that you are not alone.”

Gov. Kemp Signs Anti-LGBTQ Legislation into Law

MAY 2, 2022

Gov. Brian Kemp signed three anti-LGBTQ bills into law.

On April 29, Gov. Kemp signed HB 1084, the “Protect Students First Act”; HB 1178, the “Parents’ Bill of Rights”; and SB 226.

HB 1084 creates an athletics committee with the authority to ban transgender youth from playing on sports teams aligning with their gender identity. The bill also bans the teaching of “divisive concepts” about race in schools. During the bill signing, Gov. Kemp said the bill would “put students and parents first by putting woke politics out of the classroom and off the ball field.”

“Brian Kemp has the opportunity to emulate his fellow Republican governors in Utah and Indiana, who saw through efforts in their states to limit the access of transgender young people to sporting activities and vetoed similar discriminatory bills,” Dewayne Johnson, the Human Rights Campaign’s Georgia State Director, said in a statement. “They knew, as Gov. Kemp surely knows, that there is no basis for this legislation. The bill’s attacks on gender and race are fundamentally arbitrary and not a legitimate legal basis for discrimination.”

“Transgender kids are not creating problems by participating in school sports,” Johnson continued. “Singling them out for discriminatory treatment — preventing them from playing with their friends and enjoying the benefits of athletic activity — serves no one except those who want to fearmonger and further divide Georgians.” HB 1178 allows parents to challenge any material taught in school, including LGBTQ content, and SB 226 would give school

Staff Reports Collected by Katie Burkholder

Atlanta City Councilmember Matt Westmoreland comes out as gay. PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

principals the power to ban “obscene” books from their libraries. According to NBC News, more than two dozen states — Georgia included — have banned books in the past nine months, with banned books including “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by nonbinary author Maia Kobabe, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Under My Hijab,” and “Beloved.”

Brian Kemp Signs Bill Modernizing HIV Criminalization Laws

MAY 9, 2022

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed SB 164 into law, modernizing the state’s HIV laws.

The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler and received nearly unanimous support in both the Senate (502) and House (124-40), requires prosecutors to prove that a person living with HIV had “intent to transmit” and posed a “significant risk based on scientifically supported levels of risk transmission.” The bill also eliminates legal penalties for people living with HIV who share needles, engage in sex work, donate blood, or use bodily fluids on police and correction officers. Georgia follows in the trend toward modernizing HIV criminalization laws behind at least nine other states, including California, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. According to the CDC, the South experiences the greatest rates of HIV and lags behind other regions in providing quality HIV prevention services and care.

U.S. Supreme Court

Overturns Roe v. Wade

JUNE 24, 2022

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a 6-3 ruling.

Justice Clarence Thomas said in the decision that the Supreme Court should also reconsider the decisions in the Obergefell and Lawrence cases that extended marriage

equality to same-sex couples and the right to private, consensual sex.

LGBTQ rights groups were quick to condemn the ruling.

“Today the Supreme Court issued a devastating ruling in Jackson Women’s Health Organization v. Dobbs — a huge setback to our long-standing fundamental right to bodily autonomy,” said National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director Kierra Johnson. “This decision by the conservative majority on the bench also marks the beginning of the vital work to re-establish our constitutional foundation for reproductive justice and freedom. We must redouble our work to protect access to abortion and reproductive justice at the state and national levels. We will never give up.”

In his remarks on the Supreme Court ruling, President Joe Biden, speaking live from the Great Cross Hall in the White House, said “It just stuns me,” adding that poor women would be hit the hardest by the decision.

“This is a sad day for the country in my view, but it does not mean the fight is over.”

He called on Congress to restore abortion protections into law and pointed to the November midterm elections, saying, “This fall, Roe is on the ballot.”

“This decision must not be the final word,” Biden said.

House Passes Bill to Protect SameSex Marriage in Bipartisan Vote JULY 20, 2022

The U.S. House approved with significant bipartisan support the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify marriage rights for same-sex couples amid fears those rights are at risk in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

Lawmakers approved the measure, introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), in a 267-157 vote, with 47 Republicans joining the unanimous Democratic caucus in supporting the legislation.

A key motivation for advancing the Respect for Marriage Act was the concurring opinion to the Dobbs decision written by U.S. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. In it, he spelled out his inclination to revisit landmark decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, including the Obergefell decision for same-sex marriage as well as the 2003 ruling striking down state sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas and the 1965 decision striking down state bans on contraception in Griswold v. Connecticut.

The Respect for Marriage Act wouldn’t keep same-sex marriage the law of the land if the Supreme Court were to strike down Obergefell per se, but rather it would repeal from the books the Defense of Marriage Act, which the Supreme Court struck down in 2013, and require states to recognize samesex marriages performed elsewhere. There would be constitutional issues if Congress required states to accommodate same-sex couples in their marriage laws, which have been under the jurisdiction of states.

U.S. Surpasses Spain in Monkeypox Cases

AUGUST 1, 2022

The U.S. now has the highest levels of monkeypox in the world, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As of July 29, the last time the CDC case count was updated at the time of writing, there were 4,906 reported cases of monkeypox in the U.S., causing the U.S. to surpass Spain with 4,298 cases.

In Georgia, 351 cases have been reported, the second highest in the South after Florida with 373.

On July 23, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the strongest call to action the agency can make. The most recent such announcement was for COVID-19 in 2020. Infectious disease experts have warned that the number of monkeypox cases is likely higher than the numbers reported, and more testing and contact tracing would reveal a far larger number of cases. Worldwide, there have been 22,485 reported cases in 79 countries, surging from only around 200 at the end of May.

ROXX Closure Permanent After Owner Dean Chronopoulos Sells Property SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

Back in December 2021, ROXX Tavern

Brian Kemp signs bill modernizing HIV criminalization laws.

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

temporarily shut its doors as owner Dean Chronopoulos announced that he would be taking a sabbatical. Nine months later, Chronopoulos told Georgia Voice that he has sold the property and the closure will be permanent.

“The bridge caught fire and did damage to a point where they had to not repair it but replace it. They said it would be a year; it’s already past a year now. Food costs were skyrocketing, the labor issue was happening, and I thought it would be a good time to take a sabbatical from the norm of 22 years,” Chronopoulos said. “Nothing seemed to be getting better. What ended up happening was I had kinda gotten used to not working. I enjoyed the break, I enjoyed the relaxation, I enjoyed being able to get up a little later, I enjoyed the fact that I was able to visit my parents who are getting elderly.”

For the last 22 years, ROXX has been a staple on Cheshire Bridge Road and a favorite among the LGBTQ community.

“ROXX was built with the intention of being part of the community,” Chronopoulos said. “That was always the goal. I tried to create a place that was comfortable, safe, and inclusive. It was meant for the community and all of its allies. If someone was accepting of others, they were always welcome. If they were a jerk, I had to throw ‘em out! The community has been a part of me, and I’ve been a part of the community, and this is kind of a goodbye.”

However, this goodbye might be more of a “see you later.” Chronopoulos sold the property, but retains the business, so the restaurant’s future is currently up in the air.

Midterms 2022: Kemp Reelected, Senate Race Goes to Runoff, Republicans Win Big

NOVEMBER 9, 2022

Following yesterday’s election, incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has won reelection and the race for U.S. Senate appears to be going to a runoff. Kemp has officially been declared the winner

of the gubernatorial election with 53.4 percent of the vote, approximately 300,000 more votes than Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams. Abrams conceded the race late Tuesday night before The Associated Press called the race Wednesday morning.

The race for U.S. Senate, also closely watched, went to a runoff. While Democrat Raphael Warnock led against Republican Herschel Walker, Warnock failed to pass the necessary 50 percent threshold.

Among the races for Georgia’s 14 U.S. House seats, five were won by Democrats and nine were won by Republicans, including antiLGBTQ Marjorie Taylor Greene, who won reelection in Georgia’s 14th District.

According to the New York Times, Republican Brad Raffensperger won reelection for Secretary of State, Republican John King won reelection for Insurance Commissioner, and Republican Richard Woods won reelection for School Superintendent. The races for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, and Labor Commissioner have not yet been called, but the Republican candidates are leading in all with more than 50 percent of the respective votes.

At Least Five People Killed in Shooting at LGBTQ Nightclub in Colorado

NOVEMBER 20, 2022

A gunman killed at least five people at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The New York Times reported the Colorado Springs Police Department received a call for an active shooting at Club Q.

At least 18 people were injured. Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Adrian Vasquez told reporters the suspected gunman, Anderson Lee Aldrich, began shooting once he entered the club. Vasquez, according to KOAA, a Colorado Springs television station, said at least two customers subdued the shooter before officers arrived.

Club Q’s Facebook page notes a drag show began less than three hours before the shooting.

The five victims of the shooting were identified as Ashley Paugh (35), Raymond Green Vance (22), Kelly Loving (40), Daniel Davis Aston (28), and Derrick Rump (38).

Senate Passes Respect for Marriage Act

DECEMBER 1, 2022

The U.S. Senate voted 61-36 to officially pass the Respect for Marriage Act, a historic piece of legislation that is expected to soon become law after members in the U.S. House of Representatives sign off on a bipartisan amendment added by their Senate colleagues.

Despite earning broad bipartisan support from lawmakers in the House, which passed its version of the bill this summer with an overwhelming majority — including votes from 47 Republican members — the Respect for Marriage Act faced an uncertain future in the Senate.

Conservative members in the chamber’s Republican caucus argued the bill would jeopardize religious freedoms, concerns that a bipartisan group of five senators sought to allay with an amendment that, among other provisions, clarifies the right of religious nonprofit organizations to refuse “any services, facilities, or goods for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.”

Writing the amendment were Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who was considered the driving force behind the bill’s passage through the Senate.

Several Republican senators proposed additional amendments that — per a narrow procedural vote before and another shortly after the Thanksgiving break — were not put up for debate, thereby allowing the Respect for Marriage Act to clear the Senate with Tuesday’s vote.

Barely surpassing the 60-vote filibuster-proof majority with one extra “yea,” the Senate’s passage of the bill came despite the best efforts of conservative opponents who had run coordinated campaigns to erode support among GOP members.

10 EVENTS THAT IMPACTED LGBTQ ATLANTA IN 2022

the bill, which isn’t expected to pass under a Democratic majority.

2022 has been a momentous, turbulent time for Atlanta’s LGBTQ community. In the year’s best moments, local drag legends were celebrated, Pride events rejoiced, and community members elected to public office. However, in its worst, our human and civil liberties were threatened if not taken away as we faced the outbreak of yet another virus.

Angeria VanMicheals Wins Her Debut ‘Drag Race’ Episode

JANUARY 14, 2022

Atlanta drag legend Angeria Paris VanMicheals won the second premiere episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 14, placing consistently high in the following episodes and eventually making the top five. Another Atlanta icon, Violet Chachki, appeared on an episode of “Secret Celebrity Drag Race” in September.

Fulton County District Attorney’s Office Swears in LGBTQ Advisory Board

MARCH 22, 2022

The LGBTQ Advisory Board was created to help address crimes with LGBTQ victims, including hate crimes and domestic violence. The board is co-chaired by Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten and Caitlin Bradley, who serves as the Hate Crimes and LGBTQ+ Victim Advocate for Fulton County.

Students at DeKalb School of the Arts

Join National ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Protest

APRIL 1, 2022

Around 30 students rallied in front of the school with rainbow flags and signs protesting legislation aimed at limiting and erasing the discussion of LGBTQ people in public schools. After intense public backlash, Georgia’s own version of the bill died in committee. In October, Republicans in the U.S. Senate introduced a national version of

The Georgia High School Association Bans Trans Athletes

MAY 4, 2022

On the last day of the Georgia General Assembly’s legislative session, Governor Kemp urged Republicans to prioritize banning trans students from public school sports. They obliged by adding a clause to the already contentious ‘divisive concepts’ law, which aims to severely limit classroom discussions on race by attempting to ban critical race theory. State Republicans essentially sneaked the clause into law and within little over a week, trans students were banned. The ban is a part of a larger trend of Republicans across the country targeting trans people with similar legislation and hateful rhetoric.

Biden Administration Declares Mpox Outbreak a Public Health

Emergency AUGUST 4, 2022

After facing public criticism for not responding to the outbreak quickly enough, on August 9, the Biden Administration authorized the use of the Jynneos vaccine for people with a high risk of contracting mpox, specifically men who have sex with men. According to data from the CDC, U.S. cases spiked in July and have since fallen significantly. The virus has disproportionately affected people of color and has caused 82 thousand cases globally, with 29 thousand cases and 19 deaths in the U.S. Continued vaccination efforts and honest communication with sexual partners are recommended ways to continue quelling the outbreak.

Black Pride Weekend Returns for Its 10th Anniversary

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022, TO SEPTEMBER 5, 2022

Every year for the past decade Atlanta has

celebrated Black queer excellence with a weekend of Pride events. This year’s events included mixers, brunches, performances, parties, and the Pure Heat Community Festival in Piedmont Park. Atlanta Black Pride Weekend has a long-standing reputation for casting iconic entertainers, with this year’s lineup including big names like Latto, Saucy Santana, and Kandi Burruss. To prioritize safety, the event offered mpox vaccines to attendees.

‘The Other Show’ Returns

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

“The Other Show” was a weekly show at Jungle Atlanta, an LGBTQ nightclub that closed to much dismay in 2017. “The Other Show” featured several performers over the years, including “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season seven winner Violet Chachki, “Dragula” season two winner Biqtch Puddin, and “Dragula: Titans” stars Abhora and Evah Destruction. Edie Cheezburger, who has been with “The Other Show” since its early days, returned with a new cast including Orchid, Dotte Com, Edna Allan Hoe, and Miss He.

Liliana Bakhtiari Comes Out as Nonmonogamous

SEPTEMBER

28, 2022

Atlanta City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari made history when she was elected in 2021 as the first nonbinary councilmember of a major U.S. city and the first queer Muslim person elected in Georgia. This year, Bakhtiari made history again when she came out as nonmonogamous. Bakhtiari and her partner Kris Brown excitedly shared that they are in a relationship with a third partner, Sarah Al-Khayyal.

“It should be destigmatized,” Bakhtiari told NBC News. “It’s a very valid familial structure that people should embrace.”

Chloe Jordan Becomes Atlanta’s Transgender Affairs Executive Fellow

OCTOBER 3, 2022

Transgender activist Chloe Jordan was appointed as Atlanta’s Transgender Affairs Executive Fellow, a new position within the Mayor’s Division of LGBTQ Affairs. According to the Division of LGBTQ Affairs, Atlanta is the only known U.S. city to have a staff position dedicated solely to advancing the trans community.

Pride Weekend Returns and Atlanta Eagle Reopens

OCTOBER 7, 2022, TO OCTOBER 9, 2022

Atlanta Pride Weekend returned this year for the first time since 2019, forgoing in-person events the previous two years because of COVID-19 concerns. Events included a Bi & Pan March, a “Dyke March,” a Trans March, performances by Big Freedia and Flo Rida, and the annual Starlight Cabaret drag show. On Saturday, Oct. 8, the Atlanta Eagle opened its new location to much fanfare. Prior to COVID-19 shutting down the business in 2020, the Eagle was a part of the Atlanta scene for 33 years.

Luke Gardner

Drag legend Angeria VanMicheals PUBLICITY PHOTO

Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern is organized by the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts. This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917), The Thinker (detail), modeled 1903, cast by Alexis Rudier, 1928, bronze, The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Jacob Epstein Collection, 1930.25.1.

2022 PERSON OF THE YEAR: RICHARD RAMEY

With everything Atlanta Eagle owner Richard Ramey has had to deal with over the last few years, not to mention since the raid on his bar in 2009, he deserves some quiet(er) times. With the establishment now open again, he’s getting some of that, although — true to his nature — he won’t fully relax until the new bar is where he wants it to be, with a dance floor completed and other renovations done.

The Atlanta Eagle officially closed its doors at 306 Ponce De Leon Avenue at the end of November 2020, and even though Ramey knew he would need to search for another home, he had no idea it would take so long. It was a frustrating period.

“I was going to give [the search] until the end of the year,” he said. “I was working with two different agents, and it was tough to try and find a space that would work for all we needed. There were several spaces out there, but it was really important to have the kind of space we had and the kind of space we were able to finally secure. It was a challenge, a bigger challenge than I anticipated.”

When the new owners of the since-closed Midtown Moon, HV Entertainment out of Houston, called Ramey and told him they’d heard he was looking for a new home and that they — in turn — were aiming to rebrand the location, it was the genesis of the Atlanta Eagle’s new home.

Ramey says the re-opening weekend was overwhelming and epic. He estimates the Atlanta Eagle hosted 8,000 patrons throughout the weekend and 3,000 on opening night. “I did everything I could to greet each and every one of them. I was at the door and welcomed everyone. It was a special night I will never forget.”

With the excitement of Atlanta Pride returning to a live event this year, it seemed a given that the opening at the new location at 1492 Piedmont Road would be highly anticipated. What Ramey was not sure

about was whether patrons would continue to come after the month of October. He has been gratified by the steady crowds.

“Anytime you take a business and it’s closed for two years, you never know what the community wants and needs,” said Ramey. “I did not know if we would continue to stay busy and have crowds after Pride and Halloween, but I can say they are still there and are happy. They have not stopped coming, and because of that, it encourages me to work even harder to make sure the Eagle is here for another 35 years. It has been a labor of love and for the community to show me the love and support they have in eight weeks has been incredible. I want to make sure people have a home to come to.”

The addition of Friday and Saturday drag performances has also taken off.

“For me, it is absolutely incredible, and the

community has embraced it,” said Ramey. “Some people like to go to dinner shows, some like to go to movies, some want to go out and dance. Whatever you like to do is your personal choice. I wanted to make the Eagle a place for everyone. I never had the opportunity to have drag at the old location mainly because of the set up and space. It was not equipped to do shows. I still feel like our drag community is as important as the rest of us — our leather community, our transgender community, our bear community. We are one big family. Being able now to embrace another portion of our community — that is what I and the Eagle are about. To offer something new at the Eagle is very special. I love all the diversity we see here.”

When he knew that he wanted to incorporate drag, the first person he thought of was “the iconic” Charlie Brown, who performs Saturday nights at 9pm.

Ramey was born in East Point and has lived in this area his entire life. Some may not know that he has also operated a flower shop, Flower Cottage, there for 33 years. Flower Cottage has been the florist for Delta Airlines for the last 27 years and the company has many “wonderful clients, corporate and individuals.”

He bought the Atlanta Eagle 25 years ago with Robby Kelly and helped save the bar from going under. Ramey was also a founding member of Southern Bears and vividly recalls the freedom of dancing without a shirt on the Atlanta Eagle dance floor and feeling like he was no longer an outcast.

Even when he’s on vacation, he tends to work. He tries to be at the Eagle four to five days to week and works late hours Friday through Sunday.

He and his husband, Fernando Quintero, together for 13 years, did go to Italy over Thanksgiving. “It was much needed,” Ramey said. He credits Quintero for being his rock. “I would not be here without him. He is a big part of who I am and where the Eagle is today.”

Jim Farmer

Main photo: Inside of the new Atlanta Eagle. Inset: Richard Ramey PHOTOS BY RUSSELL BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

Ramey (r) and his husband, Fernando Quintero COURTESY PHOTO

SNaPCo. IS GEORGIA VOICE’S ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Sukainah Abid-Cons

*Editor’s Note: Toni-Michelle Williams requested that she be referred to by her first name in our coverage.

“Fighting for everybody in Atlanta — even when they don’t fight for us!”

SnapCo., a local collaborative that was founded almost a decade ago, has been selected as the Georgia Voice’s organization of the year for 2022. SnapCo. was founded in 2013 for the purpose of “building safety within Black, LGBTQ communities,” said Toni-Michelle Williams, the executive director and one of the founding members of SnapCo.

Specifically, the organization was founded in response to an ordinance that the city of Atlanta was considering — one that would have banned sex work within the city. Recognizing that this ordinance would disproportionately impact Black trans Atlantans, Toni-Michelle and other founding members decided to create a community initiative to help support and protect that community. Toni-Michelle said that the founders also wanted to empower that community to engage in organizing and politics, especially when taking on or starting campaigns that could bring about change to public safety.

The first project that the organization launched in response to the proposed ordinance was its “policing alternative program.” The program, offers diversion to people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, or other circumstances that might result in the police being called on them. Diversion, as Toni-Michelle described it, is an opportunity for people who may be inclined to call the police on someone who is homeless, facing addiction, or facing other circumstances, to call an alternate number and connect that individual to support networks without involving the police. It also allows police officers to connect individuals who may have broken a law, whether it be squatting, drug use, or another infraction, to resources instead of arresting them.

Toni-Michelle explained that this project, which is now its own organization called PAD (Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative), uses de-escalation methods to keep people safe and, ideally, out of jail.

This first project from SnapCo., which is now its own successful organization, is a testament to the hard and meaningful work that SnapCo. members have put in over the past 10 years. Toni-Michelle said that 2022 has been a big year for SnapCo. The organization increased membership, provided aid and emergency relief to those in need (including four trans youth), and engaged with the greater Atlanta community through events, such as membership activation initiatives and film screenings, that have helped educate the public on what SnapCo. does and why its work is important, particularly for the Black and brown communities in Atlanta.

Sean James, who works in media communications for SnapCo., said that SnapCo. has “really [been] the organization that’s on the ground,” especially since the pandemic began. “They’ve been fighting for

causes that help make the city of Atlanta better to live in for everyone.”

One example James and Toni-Michelle gave of the work that SnapCo. has done since 2020 was its mutual aid fund, called the “taking care of our own” fund, which has been used to provide aid to 70 people in total, 26 of whom were helped in 2022.

The organization also held a screening of the film “DE-ESCALATE!” which portrays the protests that happened in Atlanta following the killing of Rayshard Brooks in June 2020.

And for one of its biggest projects in 2022, SnapCo. released a 46-page report this year, entitled “Deeper Than Visibility.”

The report “explores historical timelines of policing, reformist and abolitionist efforts in Atlanta,” explained Toni-Michelle. “We center Black voices, trans voices, and queer voices, and offer policy recommendations for a safer Atlanta.” The report explores abolition-focused solutions to policing in Atlanta, specifically in the interest of

protecting transgender and nonbinary folks from potentially violent police interactions.

Lots of research and surveying went into the report, and SnapCo. talked to people from all over Atlanta in order to gain a better understanding of the past, present, and future of police interactions with transgender and nonbinary people, particularly those who are people of color. Toni-Michelle discussed how this report was just the beginning of a bigger project, which she hopes will debut in 2023.

In the next year, Toni-Michelle said that SnapCo. has big plans and projects that she hopes can be shared with the public. During its 10th year, the organization hopes to find new office space, hold informational clinics regarding changing legal documents for transgender and nonbinary folks, and launch a trans safety initiative in partnership with the Citizen Safety App.

Toni-Michelle said that, while 2022 had been a busy year, it had also been a successful one, and she’s excited to see what SnapCo. will accomplish in 2023.

The team of SnapCo. PHOTO VIA SNAPCO.

PEOPLE WE’VE LOST IN 2022: VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE,

LGBTQ+ CELEBRITIES, AND NOTABLE ALLIES

Read the full article online at thegavoice.com.

There’s a Jewish proverb: “What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul.” The LGBTQ community suffered many tragedies in 2022, and as we reflect on the year, it’s important to grieve the members of the LGBTQ community we lost.

On November 20, Transgender Day of Remembrance, news broke of a mass shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at LGBTQ club Club Q. Five lives were taken, including two transgender individuals, Daniel Aston, 28, and Kelly Loving, 40. The victims, including Ashley Pugh, 35; Derrick Rump, 38; and Raymond Green Vance, 22, are deeply missed and remembered by friends and family.

The Human Rights Campaign reported 35 transgender and gender non-conforming lives were also lost to violence in 2022, including Aston and Loving. Unfortunately, these numbers are likely underreported due to a lack of proper identification as transgender or gender non-conforming by media, police, or others.

The transgender and gender non-conforming people we know whose lives were taken from us were Diamond Jackson-McDonald, 27; Tiffany Banks, 25; Semaj Billingslea, 33; Acey Morrison, 30; Regina “Mya” Allen, 35; Dede Ricks, 33; Maddie Hofmann, 47; Aaron Lynch, 26; Kandii Reed, 29; Hayden Davis, 28; Marisela Castro, 39; Cherry Bush, 48; Keshia Chanel Geter, 26; Martasia Richmond, 30; Kitty Monroe; Shawmaynè Giselle Marie, 27; Brazil Johnson; Sasha Mason, 45; Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway, 30; Nedra Sequence Morris, 50; Raymond “Ray” Muscat, 24; Fern Feather, 29; Ariyanna Mitchell, 17; Miia Love Parker, 25; Kenyatta “Kesha” Webster,

24; Kathryn “Katie” Newhouse, 19; Tatiana Labelle, 33; Paloma Vazquez, 29; Matthew Angelo Spampinato, 21; Naomie Skinner, 25; Cypress Ramos, 21; Duval Princess, 24; and Amariey “Myara” Lei, 20.

A number of LGBTQ celebrities, icons, and local community leaders were also lost this year.

While he did not pass away this year, Bill Lowe, 68, was a prominent art dealer in Atlanta. He founded Bill Lowe Gallery in 1989, and the Buckhead gallery carries on his legacy following his death on December 29, 2021, after a months-long battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Melanie Vaughn, 63, beloved Atlantan and business partner for Doc Chey’s Noodle House left behind her wife and sorrow in the LGBTQ community. Rich Chey wrote: “To her friends and family, she was a confidant, cheerleader and someone they could always count on. To my employees, she was a mentor and a mother-figure. To our guests, she was the face of Doc Chey’s who always had a smile on her face and a kind word for anyone she encountered.” After suffering a catastrophic heart attack on May 11, Vaughn never regained consciousness.

Actor and comedian Leslie Jordan, 67, passed away, on October 24 in a single-car crash. A lifelong advocate for LGBTQ rights, helping

to feed and support those in need during the early AIDS crisis, he will be greatly missed. His iconic roles in “Will & Grace,” “Hearts Afire,” and “American Horror Story” remind us of how bright and joyful he was.

André Leon Talley, 73, died on January 18, suffering a heart attack as a result of complications from COVID-19. Talley was highly respected in the fashion industry, rising through the ranks at Vogue Magazine from news director to editor-at-large. He was included in the “50 Most Powerful Gay People in America” list by Out Magazine in 2007.

Gay country musician and committed LGBTQ activist Patrick Haggerty, 78, passed away on October 31 following complications after suffering a stroke a few weeks prior. In 1973, his band Lavender Country released a self-titled album, which is considered to be the first country album by an out musician.

Actress Anne Heche, 53, passed away on August 11, nearly two weeks after she crashed through a two-story house in a Los Angeles neighborhood, Mar Lista. The Donnie Brasco star, who was in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres from 1997 to 2000, sustained a severe anoxic brain injury along with severe burns.

Aaron Carter, 34, was a pop and hip-hop artist who rose to fame in the late ’90s alongside his Backstreet Boys member brother, Nick. He was

found dead in his bathtub on November 5, and his cause of death was deemed to be drowning. Carter came out as bisexual in 2017.

Nichelle Nichols, 89, was an actress, mother, and activist. She was famously known for her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura on Star Trek from 1966 to 1969. She broke barriers after Duke Ellington “discovered” her and helped her become a singer and dancer.

Gay journalist Chuck Colbert, 67, died June 30 of “a serious medical issue.” He reported extensively on the sexual abuse within the Catholic clergy of Boston. He was a lifelong devotee to the core faiths of the Catholic Church.

Thierry Mugler, 73, was a well-known French fashion designer, known for a theatrical and avant-garde approach. Mugler designed looks for Michael Jackson, Madonna, Grace Jones, David Bowie, Diana Ross, and Demi Moore.

Deb Auchery, born Alex Simpson, 30, died September 22 due to complications around Type 1 diabetes. Simpson was a member of The Cult of Tuck, a drag troupe that uplifted queer performance and artistry throughout central Oregon.

Cherry Valentine, born George Ward, 28, died on September 18. The cause of death is unknown to the public. Cherry Valentine is the only drag queen of Romani heritage to appear in the Drag Race franchise, having appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race U.K., and was openly genderfluid.

Valencia Prime , 25, died on September 12 of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. She was dubbed “Philadelphia’s plussize dancing diva” and was a proud trans woman and drag queen.

Read the full article online at thegavoice.com.

Adalei Stevens

Clockwise from left: Melanie Vaughn, Bill Lowe, Leslie Jordan, Nichelle Nichols, Thierry Mugler, and Chuck Colbert

GLORIA ANZALDÚA,

SELF-DESCRIBED “CHICANA DYKE-FEMINIST, TEJANA

PALACHE, POET, WRITER, AND CULTURAL THEORIST”

María Helena Dolan

Born to tenant farmers in the Rio Grande Valley, Gloria Anzaldúa’s family had fallen quite far from their original status as deeded landholders during the Spanish Empire.

They were ashamed of Gloria’s “Cara India” (“Indian Face”) and dark skin. Worse were her illnesses. During childhood, Gloria worked in the fields, where she suffered many ailments and was exposed to insecticide spraying from which there was no protection. The litany of her health complications included an endocrine condition that caused her to stop growing physically at the age of twelve. Her mother fashioned special girdles for her to disguise her condition and also placed cloths in Gloria’s underwear in case of bleeding. She eventually underwent a hysterectomy in 1980 when she was 38 years old for uterine, cervical, and ovarian abnormalities.

Gloria would die from complications of diabetes at the age of 62.

But given the kind of mind Gloria exhibited, the family moved to Hargill, Texas, when she was 11, so Gloria could attend school. Even so, she was exposed to her own family’s racism and gynophobia. She was “other,” with whiteness and maleness having prestige in the household. This proved to her that racism and sexism can come from one’s own family and from other people of color, not just from whites.

But Gloria graduated as valedictorian of her high school in 1962. Despite punishing

poverty and the open racism and sexism she experienced trying to obtain financial and academic assistance, Gloria earned a B.A. in English, Art, and Secondary Education from the University of Texas, Pan American, and an M.A. in English and Education from the University of Texas, Austin.

In response to the enormous number of antagonists and people wanting a piece of her, she created El Mundo Zurdo (Left-handed World): a sanctuary where, Shiva-like, she used a “many-armed and legged body with one foot on brown soil, one on white, one in straight society, one in the gay world, the man’s world, the women’s, one limb in the literary world, another in the working class, the socialist, and the occult worlds,” as she wrote in her essay, “La Prieta.”

Gloria knew the power of writing could create a world that would compensate for what the real world failed to offer. Everywhere she went, she met with radical poets and dramatists, learning craft, synergy, and cooperation. These abilities came in handy when, in 1981, she and Cherrie Moraga wrote and edited “This Bridge Called My Back — Writings by Radical Women of Color.”

The internalized racism and sexism from childhood on would haunt Gloria, especially when people demanded that she choose which oppression was worse. Queer, lesbian, woman, Chicana, POC, decolonizer of La Gente — all the injustices Gloria faced spread out across a Monopoly board of “Whose Oppression Is Greatest?” that she questioned how to get beyond.

El Mundo Zurdo encouraged the gaining of power by speaking truths and was seen

as a way to resist and unite women of color within the feminist movement.

This approach was central to Gloria’s “Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza” in 1987. A collection of her essays and poems, it was another revelatory tome. Here is theory and art and shamanic experience, with explorations of sexuality, sex, symbolism, and the code-switching of languages — English, Mexican Spanish, the Spanish of Spain, the various Mestizo tongues.

Language for Gloria is a tool of resistance against the oppression of white supremacy and heteronormativity. It is a tool against the suppression of her multilingualism, her Mestiza identity, and her poet-shaman aesthetics.

In 2010, the Unified School System in Arizona banned “Borderlands/La Frontera” by enforcing House Bill 2281, which prohibited the teaching of ethnic studies in a public school system. HB 2281’s purpose was to prohibit school districts or other educational institutions from including any courses that were considered to “promote resentment

toward a race or class of people,” and many other provisions targeted ethnic studies programs that were already in existence.

Library Journal recognized “Borderlands” as one of 38 best books of 1987, and it was deemed one of the 100 best books of the century by both the Utne Reader and the Hungry Minds Review.

There have been many conferences, workshops, scholarships, degreed programs, and arts grants named after Gloria and her works, in which her theories and paradigms have been used. We must acknowledge that Gloria now dwells in pretty hallowed company. According to Kathryn Parker at Fordham University, “Borderlands” is one of the five must-read books for every college feminist, along with “A Room of One’s Own,” “The Second Sex,” “The Feminine Mystique,” and “Sister Outsider.”

None of these plaudits could have been predicted for a girl growing up in the Borderlands, but here she is, with a legacy that will live on and on.

Gloria Anzaldúa PHOTO BY UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA / ALISON HAWTHORNE DEMING

Character Illustrations by T. Dylan Moore

CHOICES

Tatianna, a beloved drag queen from the second season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” created a meme-worthy moment with her tagline, “Choices.” As a fan, I’ve incorporated that one word into my daily interactions, a kind of personal exhortation for each of us to reach for a higher standard (my husband coming into the room asking, “Should I iron this shirt?” [looking over and leveling my gaze at the visible creases and wrinkles] “Choices”).

I’ve long bemoaned the fact that here in France there is a distinct lack of choices when it comes to certain decisions. Take salad dressing, for instance. Whenever I’m back in America at the grocery store, the number of choices just in salad dressing is breathtaking, with an entire aisle of different varieties, incorporating flavors from around the world. At my sister-in-law’s H-E-B market in Houston, I counted 15 different varieties just of chipotle-based salad dressing. At my local Monoprix supermarket here in Paris, however, there are exactly three choices (Caesar, balsamic vinaigrette, and mustard vinaigrette).

Sometimes choices can be a controversial topic, particularly in politics. The pedagogical framing of the woman’s right to an abortion as “pro-choice” has been key to positioning this medical procedure into as broad a coalition of advocates as possible, including medical privacy arguments as much as coaxing support from civil libertarians.

Then of course there was the recent U.S. Senate election where the choices between the two candidates could not have been starker. I can understand a Republican partisan’s desire for one’s elected officials to adhere to “the party line” and vote accordingly, but electing someone as demonstrably illprepared for the role of senator such as the vampire/werewolf-fascinated Walker seemed particularly egregious.

Another flashpoint in choice involves education. As a Democrat, I have come to the reluctant conclusion that it is time to change the debate regarding public school education and accept the proposition that choice for parents is going to be the future. Whereas the past model for universal public education involved sending kids to their local grammar, middle, and high school regardless of the quality in the physical campus,

academics, sports, or extracurriculars, the future requires adapting education to a more flexible model involving parental choice.

Vouchers might have a negative connotation for some, but if they allow a parent to send their children to a private, religious, charter, magnet, or neighborhood school based on their needs and wants, it is difficult to make anti-choice as a policy, particularly in today’s world.

Obviously there are ways from a progressive perspective to structure school vouchers into a vehicle for the broader social good. For instance, pegging the voucher to a statewide per-pupil financial amount instead of a local property tax levy would erase the substantial disparity between poor or rural school districts and wealthier suburban districts. Another given from a progressive point of view would be to tie vouchers to expected standards. The state should require that education providers adhere to minimum standards (teachers should be credentialed, teachers should be allowed to unionize, etc.), and that some sort of academic testing be administered to track progress against state and national goals. Additional strictures in administering vouchers should include a

nonprofit requirement (all of the money going to a pupil’s education should be spent on the child’s academic investment, and not make it into the pockets of shareholders of a for-profit education provider).

I have friends who have sent their kids to parochial schools who would have greatly benefited from receiving a financial voucher. The same is true for parents of particularly gifted children who want to specialize in a particular academic or artistic focus. Likewise, kids who live in rural school districts where the property values prohibit significant investment in modernizing the school building would benefit from receiving the same per-pupil investment that all other kids receive throughout the state.

It is time for Democrats to get behind the school choice option and determine the terms and standards for the future of education. The old model (no choice) is not only untenable from a zeitgeist perspective, but it has also failed to deliver results as America’s education scores continue to stagnate compared to global competitors.

We all deserve to have more than one choice in salad dressing. The same is true for education.

PHOTO BY SHUTERSTOCK.COM / ZIMMYTWS

Buck Jones

IT’S TIME TO RE-ENTER THE CLOSET — LITERALLY!

Bostock

Read the full column online at thegavoice.com. The best thing about the last year is the re-election of Sen. Raphael Warnock. The worst thing is that I don’t have the clothes to attend his swearing-in ceremony. This is one of the many nightmares of growing old. Your body, your temperament, your priorities, the black shrouds you hang over your mirrors — everything portends existence as nothing more than a handful of ashes like those of friends I dissolved in the lake in Piedmont Park during the early AIDS epidemic.

In other words, how am I supposed to dress this twitching corpse?

When I was a kid, I was sent every year to either Muse’s or Buckhead Men’s Shop to get fitted for a new suit or blazer. I was super skinny and always looked like a contortionist inside a wool bag with sleeves. I went to college in 1967. I wasn’t two hours in my dorm before I was smoking my first joint with a sockless hippie jock from DC who flicked the ashes into his loafers and told me not to tell anyone he thought Mama Cass was hot as fuck. He de-groomed me. When I flew home for Thanksgiving, my father found me in baggage and yelled my name. I turned. He was in full golf regalia — pants embroidered with little clubs and balls, a huge white belt, shoes with big white flapping things. I was born anew in jeans, an anti-war t-shirt, and a denim overshirt, sporting near-shoulderlength hair and a clavicle-length beard, reeking of tobacco smoke. I was dragged to the airport barbershop.

Halfway through my freshman year, I was awarded a fellowship to Yale. It required that I spend the summer teaching literature to genius-level Black children. The fellowship program required exactly two white boys, along with maybe ten Black guys. My parents and the other white guy convinced me that I needed to clean up before going to orientation. My mother sent me a checked sports coat with the requisite cashmere sweater. When I stood up to introduce myself — by far the youngest and whitest in the program — a wave of hysteria swept through the room. “This is not the real me,” I later told someone. “Be your white ass,” he said. I like to blame my clothes for fleeing Yale, but it was for a much sadder reason.

Then came the cosplay. I got married to a woman at 20. That’s when I upgraded to twill, not denim, bell bottoms and sweater vests while editing newspapers in camoclad rural Georgia. After five years, we divorced. I began to leave the closet in the wrong clothes. I went to discos in Augusta in metallic shirts, dressed like I was “stayin’ alive,” and picked up chicks — except when I was wearing 501s and flannel shirts at a dive bar to pick up guys.

I never got better dressed. Never mind that I’ve always (until now) obsessively inhabited gyms, locked in the body dysmorphia that literally made me feel more comfortable oversized (whether fat or muscular) than skinny. I wear shorts most of the time. Friends used to sometimes delicately suggest that I might want to dress my age instead of my shoe size. I haven’t owned a suit in decades. I have one nice tie that a dying friend gave me 35 years ago because he wanted to be sure he

wasn’t wearing it at his funeral.

When do I buy clothes? Since COVID-19 and decrepitude descended, practically never, and only online. They never fit. My Facebook feed constantly urges me to buy stretchy jeans that won’t “crush your nuts.” I haven’t worn jeans in two years. This holiday sale season, I decided: “Fleece. Flannel. Joggers. Shapelessness. So fine!” I ordered a ton of stuff from preppy brands, including one sweater from J Crew that could easily function as an area rug and another that is so sheer, I can shoot pictures through it.

It sucks that old age demands a certain formality even though cremation doesn’t. No,

I’m not invited to Sen. Warnock’s swearingin, but, hey, I get invited to free lunch at Buckhead “independent living” facilities, and I feel I should look my best if I happen to go. But WTF? I am poor by the standards of most people I know, despite the scorned privilege of my youth. My sloth reflects not just the future of diapers and death, but the failure to reach self-acceptance of whom my first psychiatrist called “the most entitled socialist” she’d ever met. It really annoys me that the people my age who clean up best are usually dressed sleek and dark like vultures, but the people I actually love usually look like mid-century cartoons of old people — tricksters whose job is to turn everything upside-down. Somebody fix my closet!

Cliff

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / STUDIOVIN

A VERY RICH YEAR IN QUEER CINEMA

2022 was a robust year of queer film content all year long, with big studio releases and smaller independent work. Although conversation centered largely around one particular film, it was a rich and varied season.

Nicholas Stoller’s “Bros” dominated talk before it was released and after. The romantic comedy stars Billy Eichner, the first openly gay man to co-write and star in his own major studio film, and features an entire LGBTQ principal cast, including the amazing Luke Mcfarlane. “Bros” underperformed at the box office and every LGBTQ person on the planet seemingly offered a take on why. Some felt it was bad timing for a rom-com; some opined that the marketing didn’t promote the comedic side of the film enough and overbilled its importance and others felt that Eichner himself was a deterrent, both as a sourpuss romantic lead and a spokesman for the film, knocking what he referred to as disposable LGBTQ content on streaming services before the release and later knocking straight people who didn’t see the film.

Here’s my critical take, though. “Bros” didn’t break ground, but at times it was genuinely funny and a perfectly enjoyable romantic comedy. Kudos to Universal Pictures for having the nerve to open a gay-themed film in theaters literally across the country.

Cate Blanchett stars as Lydia Tár, the groundbreaking conductor of a major German Orchestra, in Todd Field’s “TÁR.” Lydia is a lesbian, and the film revolves around her relationships with other women. Long and leisurely at two and a half hours, it nonetheless features another superb performance from Blanchett, iconic in the LGBTQ community for her work in “Carol” and so many other defining roles. She’s a definite Best Actress Oscar® contender.

Ironically, Blanchett’s biggest competition

for the award may come from Michelle Yeoh in “Everything Everywhere All At Once ” The surprise hit of the year features Yeoh as a Chinese-American woman who runs a laundromat. In addition to an audit, she is having all sorts of family problems, including her daughter’s efforts for her to accept her girlfriend. The frenzied “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is one of my favorite films of the year.

Directed by Elegance Bratton in his feature film debut, “The Inspection” is based on Bratton’s own story about a young Black gay man (portrayed by Jeremy Pope) and his decision to join the Marines. There he meets Rosales (Raul Castillo), with whom he shares certain similarities. Some of the film’s sharpest scenes are between a never-better Pope and his unaccepting mother, played memorably by Gabrielle Union.

Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge star in the holiday release, “Spoiler Alert, ” based

on Michael Ausiello’s memoir about his relationship with Kit Cowan and Kit’s diagnosis with terminal cancer. I could have done without the cutesy elements of the film, where Ausiello imagines his life as a sitcom, and the central relationship moves from meet-cute to married-13-years-andat-each-other’s throats way too quickly. Yet “Spoiler Alert” has some genuinely affecting moments, and Sally Field and Bill Irwin lend lots of dignity as Michael’s parents.

Another film based on a book was “My Policeman, ” about the romantic entanglements of three young people — played Harry Styles, Emma Corrin and David Dawson — in 1950s London and the same trio — Linus Roache, Gina McKee and Rupert Everett — in the ’90s. “My Policeman” is a little tepid and Oscar bait-y, but it does have nice performances and a beautiful final few moments.

Wait — there was even more this year!

Charlotte Wells’ “Aftersun” features a teenage girl and her girlfriend, while the wonderful “Bodies Bodies Bodies” was a queer horror film with lesbian characters. Andrew Ahn’s utterly engaging “Fire Island” landed on Hulu this summer (instead of getting a theatrical release) and made a lot of fans, while the year ended with the terrific “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” featuring the queer character of Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and a dazzling ensemble, led by Atlanta’s own Janelle Monáe in a role that could land her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar® nomination.

Other noteworthy LGBTQ films included “Nelly & Nadine, ” “Mars One, ” the superb horror film “Sissy, ” “They/Them, ” “Three Months, ” “My Fake Boyfriend, ” “The Swimmer, ” “Girl Picture, ” “Wildhood,” “Anything’s Possible, ” “Peter von Kant, ” and “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, ” my favorite documentary of 2022. Many more 2022 festival faves will appear next year.

Three noteworthy LGBTQ-themed films are appearing at the close of the season. Brendan Fraser makes a high-profile comeback, of sorts, in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” (December 16 in Atlanta) as an English teacher dealing with severe obesity. He has lost touch with his family after coming out and starting a relationship with another man.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody, ” directed by Kasi Lemmons, charts the life of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest singers of all time. Due in theaters December 23, it stars Naomi Ackie as Houston, and many wonder if the rumored relationship between the singer and Robyn Crawford will feature prominently in the film. Finally, there’s Lukas Dhont’s highly acclaimed “Close, ” about the friendship of two 13-year-old boys. It opens in theaters early next year (sadly, with so many end-of-the-year contenders out, I was not able to see these three films before my deadline).

All in all, 2022 was a very strong year for cinema, one that had an impressive share of LGBTQ stories.

Jim Farmer

‘Bros’ PUBLICITY PHOTO

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Holiday Shows

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 18 Christmas Dearest

Out

Front Theatre Company

It’s 1953, and Joan is desperate to reignite her career with the new film “Oh, Mary!” a splashy musical adaptation of the life of the Virgin Mary — and it’s turning her into a tyrant. She learns the true meaning of the holidays when she’s visited by three ghosts who show her the error of her ways. Get tickets for $30 at outfrontheatre.com.

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 23

A Christmas Carol

2:30pm and 8pm

Aurora Theatre

Aurora Theatre Co-founder Anthony Rodriguez’s unforgettable one-man performance of “A Christmas Carol” returns for its 16th year with a twist you won’t want to miss. Buy tickets at auroratheatre.com.

Y’allmark Christmas Horizon Theatre

Deck the halls with Dad’s Garage and Horizon Theatre this season with this improvised holiday “movie” led by Atlanta playwright and bonafide Hallmark move screenwriter Topher Payne. This show takes tried-and-true holiday tropes, audience suggestions, a rotating cast of three veteran improvisors from Dad’s Garage, and a different daily guest Horizon actor to create an all-new, live, onstage holiday “movie” from scratch every night.  Buy tickets at horizontheatre.com.

DECEMBER 15, 16, AND 18

Christmas with the ASO 8pm on the 15th and 16th, 3pm and 7pm on the 18th Atlanta Symphony Hall

Director of Choruses Norman Mackenzie leads the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in an evening of holiday carols, hymns and more. Learn more at aso.org.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 24

A Christmas Carol

Alliance Theatre

Join the Alliance Theatre for one of Atlanta’s most treasured holiday traditions: the beloved production of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story “A Christmas Carol.” Get tickets at alliancethatre.org. Photo courtesy of Alliance Theatre

DECEMBER 16 THROUGH 18

Libby’s Annual Christmas Cabaret: “Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays and A Connie Sue Day Christmas”

7:30pm

Actor’s Express

She’s back! Atlanta cabaret legend Libby Whittemore reprises her annual holiday show at Actor’s Express. Buy tickets at actors-express.com.

DECEMBER

17

Winter of Wonders with the Atlanta Women’s Chorus 2pm and 7pm

Cascade Midtown United Methodist Church

The Atlanta Women’s Chorus holiday show brings the joy and awe of the season in full view. Focusing on songs that elicit the feelings

of winter and the joy of the holidays, this program is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. Learn more at voicesofnote.org.

Celtic Woman: A Christmas Symphony 8pm

Atlanta Symphony Hall

Celtic Woman is the most successful all-female group in Irish history, and this event a rare opportunity to hear Celtic Woman’s angelic harmonies with the thrilling live sound of a full symphony orchestra in an intimate concert setting. Buy tickets at aso.org.

Holidays On Stage and Screen with

Atlanta Freedom Bands

8pm

Church at Ponce and Highland Ring in the season with your favorite music from theater, television, and film. Atlanta

Freedom Band’s annual holiday production hauls out the holly with selections from the stages of Broadway, cinematic classics, and the heart-warming television specials of our childhood. Learn more at atlantafreedombands.com.

DECEMBER 20

Mighty Mo & More!

7:30pm

The Fox Theatre

Ring in the holidays right with this free holiday event, presented by Georgia Natural Gas. The lineup includes appearances by Santa, musical performance by President and CEO Allan Vella and The Grits, and Miracle on 34th Street. Guests are encouraged to “bring their socks to the Fox” to support Project Live Love’s mission to clothe the needy this winter. Learn more at foxtheatre.org.

DECEMBER 21

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert

11am and 12:15 pm

North Avenue Presbyterian Church Learn more at aso.org.

DECEMBER 22 AND 23

Motown Christmas

8pm

Aurora Theatre

Who says Christmas can’t be smooth? ‘Tis the season for a night of Christmas cheer featuring all your Motown favorites. This cabaret-style show features the classic you love with the Motwon flavor you can’t beat. Buy tickets at auroratheatre.com.

DECEMBER 23

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

3pm and 7pm

The Fox Theatre

Gather friends and family to relive your fondest childhood dreams, overflowing with larger-than-life puppets, breath-

Katie

taking acrobatics, and dazzling costumes. Experience the exquisite artistry of the international cast, featuring stars of Ukraine ballet, performing at the highest level of classical technique.  Tickets start at $34 and can be purchased at foxtheatre.org.

Holiday Parties

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16

A HOT MESS CHRISTMAS

10pm to 3am

The Basement

It’s like a Christmas bar, but fun! Dance the night away with Kimber (who promises at least one play of “The Mariah Song”), enjoy more lights and tinsel than you can handle, sip on holiday drink specials, and don’t forget your free pic with Santa!

Tickets start at $10 on Eventbrite.

Dirty Elf

10pm to 3am

The Heretic

Have a jolly good time at the annual Medusa Dirty Eld event with DJ Paulo Fragoso. Come dressed naughty or nice. Tickets at hereticatlanta.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17

ATL “Naughty or Nice”

10pm to 3am

The Heretic

Presented by Deviant Events. Tickets at hereticatlanta.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

Come Unwrapped: The 2022 Holiday Party

3pm to 6pm

The T

It’s that time of the year: time to help out Santa and gather toys for the kids of Chris180. Bring a new, unwrapped gift for children of all ages to get entry — and enjoy an open bar from 2 to 3pm. No toy is too small or too big!

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Noon Year’s Eve 10am to 3pm

The Roof at Ponce City Market

Don’t feel like staying up ‘til midnight? Countdown to noon at The Roof’s annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration! Skyline Park will host an all ages, family-friendly celebration for parents and children of all ages to ring in 2023. All-Access tickets include admission and gameplay for $25 for all ages. Add ice skating for an additional $10. Learn more at poncecityroof.com. Photo via Facebook

Ugly Sweater Party

3pm to 6pm

The Hideaway

Wear your best ugly Christmas sweater, sip on $6 Absolut, and get your photo taken with Santa! Prizes will be given to the best sweater. Learn more at thehideawayatlanta.com.

Winter Tea Dance 7pm to midnight

Future Atlanta

Guy Scheiman makes his Future debut at this no-cover event – don your best holiday attire and dance the evening away! Get tickets at future-atlanta.com.

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve Bash at The Battery

6pm

The Battery

Bring your family to the Early Inning Party, which includes music from Justin Roberts and wraps up at 8pm with an early inflatable baseball drop, or stay later for the Late Innings

party, which starts at 9pm with a performance from 12 South Band and concludes with a fireworks display. This event is free.

A Totally Golden ‘80s New Years 9pm to 1am

Metropolitan Studios Ring in the new year with the Golden Gays: the premier Golden Girls musical drag troupe! Enjoy ‘80s themed drinks and food, Golden Girls trivia, a best Sophia Petrillo costume contest, live musical performances, and dancing! Tickets start at $60 on Eventbrite.

“Night in Paris” New Year’s Eve Party at Brassica 8:30pm to 2am

W Atlanta Buckhead Ring in the new year in luxury at this enchanted black-tie evening. For $350/ person, enjoy a five-course tasting menu with pairings at Brassica followed by an evening of entertainment from the Tommy W. Swing Band and unlimited Telmont champagne. Not interested in dinner? Get access to the

evening part for $125/person.

Heretic New Year’s Eve White Party 9pm to 3am

The Heretic

Don your best all-white attire and party the night away with DJ Roland Belmares and host Angelica D’Paige. Tickets at hereticatlanta.com.

Atlanta Wine Festivals New Year’s Eve 9pm to 1am

City Winery

This all-inclusive party includes a buffet, liquor, beer, wine, live music from Davis and the Love, and a DJ. Tickets start at $109. Buy tickets at atlantawinefestivals. com/new-years.

Savage Saturday NYE Mega Party 10pm to 6am

840ATL

Ring in 2023 at 840ATL with vendors, food trucks, and dancing all night long. Learn more at 840atl.eventbrite.com.

RYAN LEE SOMETIMES ‘Y’

LGBTQ ADVANCEMENT REMAINS QUICK AND UNSTEADY IN 2022

Ryan Lee

The most coveted legal win for generations of conservatives has thus far produced a string of unimaginable progressive victories. While Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization presents clear risks for women’s freedom and autonomy, it’s led to voters in states like Kansas, Kentucky and Montana affirming pro-choice protections and is among the factors credited with Democrats’ muscular performance in the midterm elections.

With pro-choice decisions like Roe v. Wade and Griswold v. Connecticut serving as the pillars of LGBTQ legal canon, Dobbs was rightfully perceived as a threat to same-sex marriage and accelerated legislative codification of gay nuptials by at least 15–20 years (the right to an abortion was not reinforced by federal law in the half century since Roe). Although the recently passed “Respect for Marriage Act” does not enshrine legal same-sex marriage as explicitly as the “Defense of Marriage Act” prohibited it in 1996, the Orwellian swap in the final vote count and overall discussion of those two bills was a poignant, puzzling flex of how far LGBTQ people have come in less than three decades.

As fantastic as the view can seem upon reaching the mountaintop, queer Americans remain susceptible to avalanches and other disturbances that could make our progress crumble. Antitransgender legislation and misinformation have excited conservative fearmongering, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is likely to make Drag Queen Story Hour the Willie Horton of the 2024 presidential election.

U.S. Methodists recently joined Episcopalians as denominations that have fractured while debating whether God loves or loathes LGBTQ people, with one-third of congregations voting to break from the United Methodist Church due to its affirming theology. Opponents of queer liberation remain committed to

BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / RESPIRO

subjugating us on Earth and in heaven, and it’s a little worrisome when you remember how many of our allies — whether pastor or politician, corporate marketer or average voter — quite recently agreed we were divinely undeserving of certain rights and opportunities.

While impressive, the pace of LGBTQ progress has given our movement the odor of a fad. Fifteen years ago, 80 percent of Americans and 98 percent of the political establishment thought marriage was too holy to be tainted by gay men and lesbians; and with little time for individual or collective introspection about how we got from “God Hates Fags” to “No Shade,” a consensus of the population now pretends they’ve loved and advocated for us all along.

Religion has always been a primary barrier to LGBTQ acceptance, and rapid queer advancement is significantly due to the largest denomination in the U.S. being a strain of pop Christianity where neither church attendance nor biblical literacy are required; where folks thank God for everything good and ask him to protect them from everything bad; and where God hates evil because God is love.

The prevalence of superficial faith lessened popular resistance to our cultural and legal advancements, but it’s hardly reassuring for this pliable mass to now pledge its support. I can’t forget how easily Americans are manipulated by religion or deny that when most folks get around to genuinely seeking to reconcile their faith with their feelings about LGBTQ issues, my gay ass doesn’t stand a chance against God.

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