Sip and stay awhile.
It’s been...a long year. Take a breath, take a sip, and enjoy the moment you’re in. And we can help with that! we an h ap ave p!
Follow us
@TowerAtl for news, deals, and more!
Just go to our website or download our app. Shop online and pick-up curbside. Or have one less thing to do and choose delivery for same day service. *check our website for delivery availability in your area!
voice
georgia
VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 19
About the cover:
Cover photo courtesy of Liliana Bakhtiari
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365 BUSINESS Principal/Publisher: Tim Boyd tboyd@thegavoice.com EDITORIAL Editor: Katie Burkholder kburkholder@thegavoice.com EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Buck Jones, Melissa Carter, Jim Farmer, Ryan Lee, Olivia Martin, Fletcher Varnson PRODUCTION Art Director: Rob Boeger rboeger@thegavoice.com SALES Sales Executive: Dixon Taylor dtaylor@thegavoice.com Sales Executive: Jim Brams jbrams@thegavoice.com Business Advisor: Lynn Pasqualetti Financial Firm of Record: HLM Financial Group NATIONAL ADVERTISING: Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 sales@rivendellmedia.com Publisher Emeritus: Chris Cash 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.
Join us online: facebook.com/thegavoice twitter.com/thegavoice instagram.com/thegeorgiavoice youtube.com/user/GAVoice
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
EDITORIAL
Looking Back, Moving Forward Katie Burkholder In my mind, 2021 has existed in a liminal space. The shadow that 2020’s chaos and tragedy cast is so dark that it’s easy to see 2021 as a necessary improvement — after all, we ushered in new federal and local leadership and rolled out the much-anticipated vaccine. However, the dark shadow of 2020 didn’t dissipate into bright light once January 1 came around. In fact, we’re still enduring the ramifications of 2020. Whereas in 2020 — pre-vaccine — the moral obligations that came with the title of “pandemic” were clear-cut (stay home, wear a mask, isolate), those obligations are now much fuzzier. It has become less taboo for people to just pretend the pandemic is over, despite more people dying of COVID-19 this year than last. In truth, 2021 was a hard year. It was the deadliest year on record for transgender people, and transgender rights were relentlessly attacked by state governments. Georgia made national waves for its new voter suppression law. An anti-vax movement tore through the country, greatly diminishing the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine. Abortion rights were (and continue to be) attacked nationwide. Black Lives Matter protests, which still rage on, were left more or less unanswered. Even though this year ushered in a new, nonTrump administration, and LGBTQ people made history locally and nationwide, it’s hard to see the bright side of this year when so much tragedy abounded. The only thing we can do is look forward, allow the past to stay in the past, and learn from this year so as to avoid having history repeat itself. Luckily, there is hope that 2022 could be a better year, one that rectifies the wrongs of the past two years. Georgia will have the chance to elect a new governor, and Stacey Abrams recently announced she’ll be throwing her hat back in the ring. Booster shots, recommended by the CDC to all U.S.
PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / DILOK KLAISATAPORN
adults, offer some hope and potential safety in the face of the new variants. Atlanta Pride will hopefully make its return after two years. None of these things are inevitable; it will require work and care to push ourselves forward in a positive direction. In the meantime, it’s important to look back at 2021 so that we can let it go and move forward. In this issue, we’ll take a walk down memory lane with the biggest stories of the year (pages 8–9), remember those we lost in Atlanta and beyond (page 11–13), and look forward to the new year with history maker Liliana Bakhtiari (page 10) and our friends at The Gayly Dose (page 13). As for Georgia Voice, we look forward to providing the same coverage of Atlanta’s LGBTQ community, and we’ve got a great year planned. Readers can expect some of their favorite themed issues, like our Sex and Love issue, our seasonal Arts and Travel issues, and our Drag issue. But we’ve also got some brand-new themes that we’re excited to roll out, like a Women’s issue in March,
a Hobbies issue in February, and an Activist issue in November. As always, you can expect two issues a month along with consistent online coverage that covers the stories and concerns impacting LGBTQ Atlantans and Southerners, highlights influential and important members of the community, and overall fosters a spirit of communion, connection, and support. Regardless of what happened in 2021, 2022 offers us the opportunity for growth, change, and progress. In the face of the tragedy of this year, we have to fight against the urge to become apathetic. Continue to advocate for what you believe in, support those who need it, foster your connections with those you love, and, above all else, stay hopeful. Without the belief that things can get better, they never will. We at the Georgia Voice believe in you, love you, and thank you for reading our paper another year. Happy New Year! December 17, 2021 Editorial 3
NEWS BRIEFS Staff reports Georgia Settles Wrongful-Death Suit by Family of Trans Inmate The Georgia Department of Corrections agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Jenna Mitchell, a 25-year-old transgender inmate who committed suicide at Valdosta State Prison December 6, 2017, by hanging herself in her cell. The prison system has agreed to pay a $2.2 million settlement to her parents. “The financial settlement is barely nudging any kind of justice,” Sheba Maree, Mitchell’s mother said. “I’d rather have my child … nothing will ever, ever, ever, ever take the place of my child. To me, this is blood money, and I will not stop until the people involved with her death are held responsible.” In the lawsuit filing, Sheba Maree, her mother, stated that she had called prison staff December 2 after receiving a letter from her daughter warning that she was going to kill herself. Maree indicated in the lawsuit that she had called staff at Valdosta warning them to keep an eye on Mitchell, who suffered from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and gender identity issues. According to the suit filed in 2019, Mitchell had been approved for gender reassignment surgery but was being held at Valdosta State Prison, a men’s prison. The Georgia Department of Corrections is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for years of reported homicides inside prisons, prisoner-on-prisoner violence and the sexual abuse of gay, lesbian and transgender prisoners by other inmates and staffers. Family of Scout Schultz Reaches $1 Million Settlement More than four years after Scout Schultz, (pictured), was shot and killed by a Georgia Tech campus police officer, Georgia officials have agreed to pay $1 million to Schultz’s family, according to the AJC. On September 16, 2017, officer Tyler Beck fatally shot the nonbinary and intersex 6 News Briefs December 17, 2021
Jenna Mitchell, a 25-year-old transgender inmate committed suicide at Valdosta State Prison December 6, 2017 COURTESY PHOTOS President of Georgia Tech’s Pride Alliance. Schultz was having a mental health breakdown when they called 911, and when officers arrived, Schultz walked towards them carrying an object despite orders to not move. Beck had not received crisis intervention training and shot Schultz. The family sued in September 2019, stating that their death was “the result of Georgia Tech’s and the State of Georgia’s failure over time to properly train their personnel to act in such a way as to prevent the exclusion of persons such as Scott Schultz from the safety to which all students were entitled on the campus of Georgia Tech.” Georgia Tech said in a statement: “The recent settlement between Scout’s family and the Georgia Department of Administrative Services gives us a moment to reflect again on the ways Georgia Tech can better support all members of the campus community. While we’ve significantly increased campus mental health resources and well-being programs over the last four years, we are reminded today of the importance of continued work in this area.” ROXX Tavern to Temporarily Close ROXX Tavern, a popular gay-friendly restaurant on Cheshire Bridge Road, will be
temporarily closed. In an emailed statement sent out on December 4, ROXX owner Dean Chronopoulos announced that he and the restaurant will be taking a sabbatical. “[A]fter nearly 22 years, Dean needs a rest,” the email sent to ROXX patrons reads. “I would like to take some personal time off. I would like to visit my elderly parents for an extended period of time at their home in New York. I would like to spend more time with my kids. My house and yard are in desperate need of several major renovations that have been put off for many, many years. And I would like to take this strange thing folks keep speaking of called a V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N.” Chronopoulos cited the amplified construction following the recent fire on Cheshire Bridge as an opportunity to take the break. ROXX is currently open, and there isn’t yet a set date for the closure. According to Chronopoulos, the restaurant could close “in a few weeks” or “by the end of the month.” TheGeorgiaVoice.com
YEAR IN REVIEW
2021: In the News
historically been disenfranchised in this state. SB202 will tighten voter ID requirements, a problem that already disproportionately affects black and brown voters, and will also restrict where, how, and when voters may return absentee ballots, a system used overwhelmingly by all Georgia voters this last year due to the COVID-19 crisis. I will not stand by while our voting rights are threatened across this state, the state I swore an oath to represent with integrity, honesty, and respect for the millions of people who live and work in this community. Thank you for all the love and support I’ve received, as [it] has come from all parts of Georgia, the US, and the world. I will continue to fight for the rights of Georgians from far and wide, but today I ask for privacy for myself and my family as I heal from this experience, so that I may continue this fight again.”
Staff reports
2021 was a big year for LGBTQ news in Atlanta and beyond. This year, LGBTQ people made history, Atlanta got a new mayor, and the city maintained its dedication to LGBTQ Atlantans. However, the year wasn’t all rosy: Pride was canceled, voting rights were attacked, and tragedy struck LGBTQ people and businesses. Relive the highs and lows of 2021 by taking a walk down memory lane with the biggest stories of this year. Read the full collection online at thegavoice.com. Pete Buttigieg Confirmed to Cabinet by Senate, Makes LGBTQ History February 3, 2021 Pete Buttigieg was confirmed as the transportation secretary by the Senate, making him the first openly gay person to be confirmed to a Cabinet position. Buttigieg was approved with a 86-13 vote. At 39 years old, he also makes history as the youngest transportation secretary. “We need to build our economy back, better than ever, and the Department of Transportation can play a central role in this,” Buttigieg said during his confirmation hearing. Out State Rep. Park Cannon Arrested at State Capitol March 25, 2021 Videos shared to social media showed Rep. Park Cannon being arrested by Georgia State Troopers at the Capitol after she demanded she see Governor Brian Kemp sign SB202, a bill enabling stricter voter suppression, into law. The arrest came after Georgia state senate passed SB202. The bill included a shortened absentee ballot request timeline, new restrictions for drop box locations, and the criminalization of “line warming,” the practice of helping voters who waiting in line in severe weather conditions. A video shared to Reddit showed Cannon 8 Year in Review December 17, 2021
Mayor Bottoms Announces She Won’t Run for Reelection May 6, 2021 Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that she would not run for reelection via a letter posted to social media on May 6, then elaborated on her decision at a press conference on May 7. Pete Buttigieg PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / MAVERICK PICTURES requesting she be in the room while Kemp signed the bill into law. Cannon knocked on Kemp’s door and was arrested by Capitol police. She was forcibly removed by police, while onlookers and other protestors repeatedly asked, “Why are you arresting her?” Cannon announced via Twitter on March 26 that she had been released from jail, saying she was “not the first Georgian to be arrested for fighting suppression” and wouldn’t be the last. She was bonded out of Fulton County Jail on a $6,000 signature bond. Cannon was charged with two misdemeanors under state law: obstruction of law enforcement and preventing or
disrupting General Assembly. She released the following statement: “Voting is a constitutional right guaranteed to every person over the age of 18 born not only in Georgia but in every corner of the United States. To limit that right is to go against our Constitution and the ideals of the Founding Fathers that Conservative Georgians hold so dear. So, it confuses and concerns me that those same Conservative Lawmakers that are now fighting so hard to limit and suppress the voting rights of all Georgians, but specifically black and brown voters, a population of voters who have
“I wish I could tell you that there was a moment or there was a ‘thing,’ but when you have faith, and you pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in the same way that it is very clear to me almost five years ago that I should run for Mayor of Atlanta, it is abundantly clear to me today that it is time to pass the baton on to someone else,” Bottoms said during the press conference. For the LGBTQ community, Bottoms was a supporter early on. In 2018, she appointed the city’s first LGBTQ Affairs Coordinator and formed an LGBTQ Advisory Board, both put in place to advise the mayor on LGBTQ issues. CONTINUES ON PAGE 9 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
YEAR IN REVIEW The Board of Directors along with the Executive Director, Jamie Fergerson, consulted with Atlanta Pride Medical Directors, Dr. Jason Schneider, and Dr. Eliot Blum, as well as renowned and internationally respected public health expert Dr. Carlos del Rio, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leaders of local hospital systems, and other public health officials. After these consultations a review of public health data and confirming the City of Atlanta’s moratorium on issuing Class ‘A’ permits, the organization decided to cancel the festival and parade.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Gay Asian Man Joshua Dowd Found Bleeding and Unconscious in Buckhead July 11, 2021 An openly gay Asian man was found bleeding from his head and barely breathing on train tracks in Buckhead. Joshua Dowd, 28, was rushed to Grady Hospital after he was found on train tracks near Piedmont and Lakeshore Drive by a man walking in the area. The man who called the police said there was no one else near the scene.
Andre Dickens Wins Mayor, LGBTQ Candidates Make History in Runoff Elections November 30, 2021 Following the runoff election in Atlanta, several LGBTQ and allied candidates won their races.
His partner of three-and-a-half years, Colin Kelly, told CBS 46 that Dowd was found in an area “he would [not] typically be in.” According to Kelly, Dowd went out with friends in Midtown on Saturday night before separating from the group. In an update interview with Georgia Voice on December 5, Kelly said that Dowd has made “promising” progress: he is no longer in a coma, his memory is improving, and he continues to “elevate and gain a better understanding of the world around him.” On December 9, Dowd was discharged from the Shepherd Center and will continue his healing at their condo in Dunwoody while going to Shepherd’s outpatient program Pathways. As for the criminal case, Kelly said he believes “that we’re not going to get anything fruitful out of it.” “Two or three days after it happened, they finally came and picked up his phone, and they’ve held it ever since,” he said. “I finally just got confirmation that they’re going to return his phone to us… They haven’t, between then and now, given any updates that led me to believe that they’re close to finding who did this.” LGBTQ Atlantan Katie Janness Murdered in Piedmont Park July 28, 2021 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has joined Atlanta police in the investigation surrounding the murder of Katie Janness, 40, and her dog in Piedmont Park, according to 11 Alive. Janness, who was a member of Atlanta’s LGBTQ community and a bartender at TheGeorgiaVoice.com
Katie Janness, pictured with her dog, Bowie. COURTESY PHOTO the LGBTQ-owned Campagnolo, was found stabbed to death in the park on July 28 after walking her dog Bowie, who was also killed. According to the AJC, Janness was found by her partner of six years, Emma Clark, after she tracked her with her phone’s GPS. “Today, I lost the love of my life and baby boy,” Clark said in a post shared to a GoFundMe page. “It was tragic. She was the most intelligent, kind, humble, and beautiful person I have ever known. I wanted to spend every second with her. [Bowie] was the sweetest, most loyal companion. My heart is so very broken, my world will never be the same.” On September 20, the Piedmont Park Conservancy launched a new safety initiative in response to the murder. The Safe Haven Fund provides funding towards new safety initiatives for Piedmont Park, allowing the park to implement strategies recommended by the City of Atlanta and other public safety experts. Gay-owned Las Margaritas Catches Fire August 8, 2021 Only a week after a large fire damaged a bridge on Cheshire Bridge Road, a gay-
owned restaurant in the area caught on fire. Las Margaritas, owned by Oscar Valdivieso and his mother Marta, was engulfed in flames. A total of 30 firefighters put the fire out. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation is under way. Fire officials say that no injuries have been reported. Michele Michael Pettis, the owner’s sister, told Channel 2 Action News that they have plans to rebuild and reopen the restaurant, but until they assess the damage, they won’t know how long it will take. On August 17, the fire was determined by investigators to have been intentionally set. Fire investigators released surveillance photos of a person of interest who was seen near the restaurant at the time of the fire. Atlanta Pride Cancels In-Person Events August 25, 2021 Amid the exponential COVID-19 case growth in Georgia and the ongoing public health emergency, the Atlanta Pride Committee (APC) announced that they canceled the Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade scheduled for October 9-10, 2021.
Winning 63.7 percent of the vote, Andre Dickens will replace Keisha Lance Bottoms as Mayor of Atlanta. Dickens was elected in 2013 to the Post 3 at-large seat on the Atlanta City Council. Liliana Bakhtiari won her runoff election for a seat on the City Council representing District 5 with 68 percent of the vote according to 11 Alive. With her win, she has become the first LGBTQ Muslim to be elected to office in Georgia. Keisha Waites won her runoff for the Post 3 at-large seat on the City Council with 53 percent of the vote. With Alex Wan, who won his election to represent District 6 on Election Day, there are now three LGBTQ councilmembers — the most to ever serve on the Atlanta City Council at the same time. Khalid Kamau made history by defeating incumbent Bill Edwards for Mayor of South Fulton with 59 percent of the vote, making him the city’s first LGBTQ mayor and the sixth in Georgia and internationally respected public health expert Dr. Carlos del Rio, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leaders of local hospital systems, and other public health officials. After these consultations a review of public health data and confirming the City of Atlanta’s moratorium on issuing Class ‘A’ permits, the organization decided to cancel the festival and parade. December 17, 2021 Year in Review 9
YEAR IN REVIEW
2021 Person of the Year:
Liliana Bakhtiari
xenophobic opponent attacks on their identity and family and dealt with a great deal of homophobia and misogyny on the campaign trail.
Olivia Martin
Editor’s note: Liliana Bakhtiari uses she/they pronouns. Both are utilized throughout the article.
“We tend to romanticize trailblazing — and there are awesome aspects to it, do not get me wrong,” she said. “But it’s hard, and it is triggering, and I faced a great deal of misogyny, xenophobia, and homophobia while running this campaign, a great deal.”
This fall, Liliana Bakhtiari made history. Elected to the Atlanta City Council to represent District 5, she became the first Muslim LGBTQ elected official in the state of Georgia. Her second time running, she first ran in 2017, after the Muslim ban happened, afraid that her family would be impacted by the ban.
But with the difficulty of running a campaign comes a positive side, too. Bakhtiari’s campaign team knocked on over 20,000 doors in District 5, and she began to see the real impact of their run, even before being elected to office at all.
Losing by just 247 votes that year, they regrouped and ran again to win. In an interview with Georgia Voice, Bakhtiari discussed their win and the journey that brought them to it, including their first time running for office. “I ran again because everything I ran on got worse and because I spent the last four years coalition building, so I could be a more effective candidate and legislator,” she said. Public service was a big part of Bakhtiari’s life from a very young age, bolstered by her father, an Atlanta pharmacy owner, who escaped to the United States in the 1980s. “I started marching with my dad when I was about eight,” she said. “The marches I went to were against the Iranian regime, and so from a very young age, it was meeting people who had lost family members, who had seen executions. I was raised very much with the understanding of the urgency of these issues…paying it forward and public service is a very big cornerstone of my upbringing, because of that and because of my dad’s faith.” Now, Bakhtiari plans to take on some of the most prevalent challenges she sees in 10 Year in Review December 17, 2021
Liliana Bakhtiari COURTESY PHOTO the Atlanta community and hopes to join the finance, community development, and transit committees in particular. Her list of issues to tackle is long, and includes topics such as redefining affordable housing, dedicating focus to supporting people living with HIV and AIDS, closing the opportunity gap between Black and white students in public schools, and providing legal counsel and assistance to people facing eviction. One particular part of their plan that sets them apart from many other council members relates to their identity as a member of the LGBTQ community. Bakhtiari hopes to be part of establishing an LGBTQ Caucus on the council and hopes to work to
establish low-barrier to no-barrier shelters, particularly for queer youth. “I was part of the team that launched our first low barrier shelter at the very beginning of the pandemic, and the level of homophobia and transphobia was so severe,” she said. “That was hugely problematic. Now I’m finally in a position to really help spearhead that. I want to be working with the Trans Housing Coalition, Georgia Equality, and other organizations and making sure that we are uplifting their platforms and what they’re already doing to bring housing to these individuals.” Bakhtiari’s win is no small feat. They faced
“The number of seniors we’re already helping, just with health issues with housing, the number of people we kept in their homes during this legislative cycle before we were even in office, because we are there, speaking to them,” she said. “The other minorities who reached out and said it meant everything to them to see someone like them running and it gave them hope. The true gift of this was getting to bring humanity back into politics.” In spite of the toll running for office took on her mental health, Bakhtiari’s campaign and win made an impact on the community, and they recognize the importance of representation in politics. “Getting to represent our identities and humanize them to other people….it saves lives,” she said. “It changes things. it gets people invested. It educates them. It makes the biggest difference in the world, and then from there, we get to affect policy and bring in viewpoints that have never been considered before.” TheGeorgiaVoice.com
YEAR IN REVIEW
Monica Van Pelt FILE PHOTO
Remembering the LGBTQ Atlantans We Lost Katie Burkholder As the saying goes, nothing is certain but death and taxes. Unfortunately, the certainty of death touched Atlanta this year. Several influential and loved LGBTQ Atlantans passed, but their memories live on. On January 5, Judy Colbs died at the age of 89. Colbs served as the president of PFLAG Atlanta for almost two decades, counseling, supporting, and providing surrogate parenting to young LGBTQ people who were rejected by their families. She is survived by her two daughters, Sandy and Alison; her grandchildren Nancy, Lauren, Meaghan, and Kate; and her greatgrandchildren Emily, Xavier, Olivia, Sophia, Aiden, and Charlotte. Dave Hayward remembers Colbs as “tart and sharp and strict” and an “ally extraordinaire.” On January 31, drag legend Monica Van Pelt died at the age of 46. Van Pelt, otherwise known as Christopher, is remembered as a loving husband to Jonathan Van Pelt, a lover of The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars, and an inspiration to many in the LGBTQ community and beyond. Her 30-year drag journey started when she was just 17, and during that time she was a show director, a multititle holder, Miss Atlanta Grand Diva ‘14, and Miss National at Large ‘01. Her chosen drag family consisted of LJ Van Pelt, Hayden Van Pelt, Gavin Storm, and Taylor TheGeorgiaVoice.com
Van Pelt, as well as Candy O’Hara. Drag photographer Just Toby remembers her as “a truly genuine person. She didn’t judge others, but simply loved people for who they were.” On February 27, Stanley Clarke died at the age of 66. Clarke was one of the founders of the Atlanta SAGE chapter, an organization catering to LGBTQ seniors. He also served as administrative assistant to Touching Up Our Roots, Georgia’s LGBTQ story project. He is survived by his three children. On May 11, activist Winston Johnson died at the age of 79. Johnson was a powerful and influential force in forging an alliance between the LGBTQ and civil rights movements through his friendship with Coretta Scott King. He was a loyal partner to Leon Allen for 42 years before Allen’s death in 2006, and he is survived by his brother Hjalma Johnson and his nephew Leonard. His personal archive now resides at the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript Archives and Rare Books Library at Emory University. On July 28, Katie Janness died at the age of 40 in an apparent homicide in Piedmont Park. A bartender at Campagnolo, she was well known among Atlanta’s LGBTQ community. She is survived by her partner of six years, Emma Clark, who remembers her as “the most intelligent, humble, and beautiful person I have ever known.” December 17, 2021 Year in Review 11
YEAR IN REVIEW
After the Deadliest Year for Transgender People, We Remember Those We Lost Fletcher Varnson Read the full article online at thegavoice.com. This year, 2021, marks the deadliest year for transgender people in recent history. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which began monitoring the murders of transgender people in 2013, reported that at least 50 were killed this past year, and most of them were Black and Latina women. This highlights a trend in growing violence toward the transgender community and particularly those of color, as the previous record holder for the deadliest year was 2020 with 44 murders recorded. These numbers, horrific as they are, need to be understood in further context so as to not sensationalize the loss of life. A wider system of oppression and violence faces the trans community in forms of anti-LGBTQ legislation and discrimination. While the HRC’s report showcases the most atrocious form in which bigotry against trans people manifests, understanding the larger culture of violence facing them should not be reduced to counting deaths. As GLAAD notes in its response to the HRC’s report, even the number of transgender people murdered recorded is likely to be inaccurate because media coverage of the deaths often misgenders and deadnames those who have been killed. Indeed, the HRC has additional data that shows at least 14 other transgender people passed away in circumstances in which authorities had not yet determined whether foul play was involved. The organization also notes that most of the victims referenced in its report had their gender identities and names incorrectly reported by news outlets and law enforcement. Moreover, the rise in violence coincided with a broader rise in anti-LGBTQ sentiments. 12 Year in Review December 17, 2021
Serenity Hollis was murdered in Albany, Georgia. in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia), the dearth of in-state protections has had an immediate impact on the lives of trans people — an impact that all too often has manifested in murder.
Bianca “Muffin” Bankz was murdered on January 17 COURTESY PHOTOS This year beat 2015 as the worst year for LGBTQ legislation, with 17 discriminatory bills passed by May. Further, GLAAD notes in its report on Southern news sources that the LGBTQ community still has no explicit federal protections in housing, education, and public accommodations, meaning legislation designed to assist LGBTQ people has only gotten worse when there was clear need for improvement. The government’s inaction regarding the protection of trans people — and in some cases its active attacks against their protection — hits at the heart of the rise of violence against the trans community. As the HRC finds in its report, “Dismantling a Culture of Violence,” trans and nonbinary people often have increased risk factors for
becoming a victim of violence because of the marginalization they face at all levels of life. Between transphobic legislation at the national level and the 75 percent of LGBTQ youth who hear their family make disparaging remarks about their identity at the domestic level, trans people are constantly denied acceptance, opportunity, and ultimately safety. Many states still do not protect trans people in their hate crime legislation. In Georgia specifically, gender identity was not included in hate crime legislation passed in June 2020. As of 2021, Georgia also has no explicit protections against discrimination in education, housing, and public spaces. While moves have been made at the federal level (e.g., the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling
The culture of violence threatening trans people is exacerbated when gender identity intersects with race. As stated before, most of the victims in the HRC’s report were transwomen of color, with Black and Latina transwomen being the most targeted. Indeed, the rate of gun violence against Black transwomen is significantly higher than the rest of the trans community with eight out of ten murdered Black trans women dying as a result of firearms. The transphobia behind these murders thus intermingles with sexism and racism, putting these people more at risk. This was unfortunately the case for the three Georgia women in the HRC report, all of whom were trans women of color. Bianca “Muffin” Bankz was a Black trans woman in her early 30s who was murdered on January 17. Her friends gave her the nickname “Muffin” because of her love of blueberry muffins. Bankz, who had struggled with homelessness, had only just moved into CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
YEAR IN REVIEW
Serenity Hollis was murdered on May 4 in Brookhaven. COURTESY PHOTO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 her apartment a few weeks before her death. The Advocate’s report on her murder shows that she was looking to escape poverty and had a job interview scheduled the day after her life was taken. Bankz was shot to death in her own home. Sophie Vásquez was a 36-year-old Latina trans woman who was murdered on May 4 in Brookhaven. She was very involved in the transgender community as part of Community EsTr(El/La), a support group that serves as a safety network for transgender people in the Atlanta area and that also held a candlelight vigil after Vásquez’s death. Those who knew her described Vásquez as being very kind and having a bright personality. She was shot multiple times inside her own home. Serenity Hollis was a 24-year-old Black transwoman who was murdered in Albany, Georgia. Hollis was loved by those around her. In the HRC’s coverage of her death, her mother stated “the person that’s responsible has no idea what they took from us … I absolutely want to see that justice is served.” Justice has not been served. She was shot in the head while walking down the street. The police report and local news authorities deadnamed and misgendered her. In all three cases in Georgia, the people murdered were trans women of color who were gunned down in acts of hatred toward their gender identity. In all three cases, this TheGeorgiaVoice.com
hatred continued after death by news and police reports that denied the victim her identity as a woman. In all three cases, the perpetrator could not be prosecuted under hate crime legislation due to gender identity not being explicitly stated in Georgia law. While Bankz, Vásquez, and Hollis’s deaths have been honored and remembered with vigils, it is important to consider what people outside the trans community can do to prevent more murders. All three women were part of supportive networks, whether it was a trans community group or family. They did their part in protecting themselves against the hatred they never deserved to face. It is time the rest of Georgia did its part. Namely, Georgia’s government officials need to tackle the culture of violence toward the trans community through legislation. Gender identity should be protected by hate crime laws. Employment, housing, education, and public space discrimination protection for LGBTQ+ people should also be established at the state level. Community support groups for trans people should be commended and supported. Voters should keep these points in mind when voting officials into office. The hatred that produced the unfortunate list of trans people who died this year will not go away on its own. As 2022 approaches, all minds need to focus on creating a safer world for trans people, women, and people of color through concrete legislation so that 2021’s horrible record will not be broken. December 17, 2021 Year in Review 13
A&E SPOTLIGHT
The Gayly Dose Celebrates Debut Season, Looks Forward to Season Two Katie Burkholder In November 2021, Georgia Voice introduced a brand-new podcast geared toward gay men, called The Gayly Dose. Now, more than a year later, The Gayly Dose is closing out a successful first season and anticipating a new and improved second. For the original three cast members — Helmut Domagalski, Zach Schnyder, and Dante Rhodes — season one served the purpose of educating themselves, expanding their perspectives, and setting the show’s foundation. “It was an eye-opening experience,” Rhodes told Georgia Voice. “I lived my entire life seeing the world from one lens, from one angle. This podcast forced us to have conversations with people we normally wouldn’t have interacted with.” “As cis gay men, there was a lot about the community that we hadn’t learned about,” Schnyder added. “So, when I went into this, I knew there was going to be a lot of learning, but I didn’t realize it was going to be so impactful for me. I really enjoyed getting to learn about other people’s experiences and realizing the kind of privilege I have as a white, cisgender man.” The cast plans to culminate all they learned with the first season into a bigger and better second season. Season two shifts further from education and more toward entertainment while still focusing on expanding the show to include more LGBTQ perspectives. Two of the biggest changes to The Gayly Dose are Jake Jonez and Daniel Martini, the new permanent cast members. Jonez is a “super spicy” YouTuber and content creator who plans to bring “humor and that classic gay sass” into the mix. Martini is a real estate agent who hails from rural America. He identifies as more politically centrist than the other cast members, 14 A&E December 17, 2021
The Gayly Dose Season Two cast COURTESY PHOTO so he plans to “bring a perspective that kind of disrupts that echo chamber that could happen.” Along with new permanent cast members, The Gayly Dose will also be getting a Dash of Lesbian. In six of the season’s episodes, the cast will be joined by Clay Clay, Tiana Clay, and Kathryn Krueger as they discuss relationship topics like dating, breaking up, and long-term relationships in the hope of expanding gay men’s knowledge of the lesbian community. “There has been a lot of beef between lesbians and gays historically,” Domagalski said, “so some of it is to teach our gay men the beauty of lesbians.” While the podcast will still cater to an audience primarily of gay men, the cast believes in using their privilege — and educating others with privilege — to create unity among the entire LGBTQ community. “We want to use our platform in the correct way being the people who have the most
privilege out of the five letters,” Rhodes said, “so I think this is our opportunity to do exactly what we said we want to do and provide a better view of what this community is and use our platform responsibly.” “We’re really trying to reach out to the LGBTQ community; it’s not just about gay men anymore,” Schnyder added. “I identify as bisexual, one of the cast members identifies as queer, we have friends of The Gayly Dose that are trans. We want to reflect the community that we’re part of.” Along with some new faces, season two brings new content as well. Episodes will feature new short-form segments: Queerent Events, in which the cast will discuss what’s going on politically and pop culturally in Atlanta and beyond; Human HeartOn, a spotlight on somebody of value in the community; Dr. Dose, an opportunity for the cast to give advice to listeners; Gays at Play, where the cast will have fun by playing games; and Double Click, which will go a level deeper on topics
like self-growth, health, and habits. Some episodes will also be entirely focused on painting intimate human portraits by deep diving on specific members of the community. While there will still be guests, they will be shifting toward more cast-only episodes to highlight each cast member’s individual personality. Season two launches on January 4 with an episode on mental health. While upcoming guests haven’t yet been announced, listeners can expect the cast to discuss topics like sex work, cultural appropriation, addiction, and Pride outside America. You can listen to The Gayly Dose wherever you find your podcasts. Follow the show on social media at @thegaylydosepod and the cast at @helmut_smile, @gaylybennett, @thedanterhodes, @dmartini1, @ jjakejonezz. Follow the Dash of Lesbian ladies at @detroitclay313, @synsational_i_ am, and @kathrynkrueger. TheGeorgiaVoice.com
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
December 17, 2021 Ads 15
BUCK JONES THE FRENCH CONNECTION
The Year That Wasn’t a fifth wave of infections with hospitals again feeling the pain of dealing with a spike in ICU patients. But over 75% of those in the hospital are unvaccinated people.
Buck Jones Around the corner and up a busy boulevard is my neighborhood bakery. It isn’t the best bakery in the Quartier Beaubourg — that would be around the block in the other direction where people line up and order their lunches of fresh salads, quiches, and homemade sandwiches. The bakery I go to has all of those things (except the salads), but the wait is much shorter, and the quality is just fine but nothing award winning (we’ll go to the fancy bakery for special occasions, such as in preparation for Christmas to get a really good crusty baguette and a decadent pistachio and chocolate bûche de noël cake). All of which is to say that because I’m a creature of habit, and I hate waiting, I frequent the less charming bakery on a near daily basis. From what I can gather, there are two couples who work there — probably related somehow — and we make polite small talk when I’m paying for my bag of four madeleines or my lunch sandwich. Mercifully, the banter is kept to a minimum since that kind of socialization is near the bottom of my list of what I’m looking for unless it involves gossip. One can learn a few things from a well-oiled loose tongue,
16 Columnist December 17, 2021
The Pompidou Centre, a complex building in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement. PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / MELINDA NAGY and it was from my baker that I first heard the rumors about when the government was going to ease some of the COVID-19 restrictions that had kept restaurants and bars closed for almost six months in Paris. Typically, the thread of rumors was said in a kind of sing-song manner. “I heard that they are going to require a vaccination passport,” was first reported by the baker’s wife in an everincreasing octave as she bagged my purchase. “Oh?” I replied politely, not sure what to make of her sources but mildly curious what this might mean for me. Her prognostications had been pretty
accurate throughout the COVID pandemic. So, as the spring became the summer and the government finally announced a requirement that in order to go to a restaurant, bar, or even the cherished sidewalk café, one would need to show proof of double vaccination (called the pass sanitaire in French), I remembered the prophetic chorus of my baker from weeks before. The thing is, it worked. As much as I can’t stand Macron and his neoliberal government, the vaccination passport achieved its aim of making everyone who wanted to participate in normal life get their COVID shots. The rate of vaccination among the French as I write this is at 88.6% for adults. Yes, there is
Aside from the now ubiquitous use of face masks everywhere in public — my mask(s) are part of my normal pocket check before I leave the apartment, along with my keys, wallet, and dog’s poopy bags — life is back to normal in France. That’s not to say that things might still change and we’ll have to face new challenges or restrictions after the holidays (my baker/oracle has remained strangely mute on this topic), but in comparison to 2020 this past year has been markedly better. My thoughts turn to how the United States could have better managed its vaccination efforts, to mitigate the resistance of so many anti-vaxxers (of which France has a large and vocal contingent as well, who largely fell in line when the possibility of no longer being able to sit and smoke on a sidewalk terrasse loomed large if they didn’t get their vaccination passport). Perhaps if the U.S. government had found a similar lure in its fisherman’s box of rules and regulations. Maybe if it required a vaccination passport to fly domestically, or to go to sporting events, or to purchase a gun. Ah, I think that might have changed the course of the spread of the virus.
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
Pride is Ageless in Atlanta
Get to know us at aarp.org/pride.
JIM FARMER ACTING OUT
The Year in LGBTQ Film Jim Farmer
Audiences hoping for a mainstream LGBTQ feature film in theaters this season will have to hold their breaths until 2022, when Billy Eichner’s romantic comedy, “BROS” hits, starring a who’s who of out performers. As is often the case, LGBTQ films were plentiful this year, but mostly as independent productions. “The Power of the Dog” might be the highest-profile LGBTQ-themed film of the year. It opened in theaters before streaming on Netflix in early December. Directed by Jane Campion (“The Piano”) and based on the Thomas Savage novel, it’s a western starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil, a rancher who mocks a widowed woman (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), only to have them both enter his life via a marriage proposal by his brother (Jesse Plemons). Cumberbatch’s Phil is indeed a badass who keeps his emotions veiled, as well as his sexuality. He’s very memorable, but I wish the script had given him a few more layers. For my money, the best performances are from Dunst and Smit-McPhee. “The Power of the Dog” is a slow-burn, leisurely paced film that has a humdinger of a finale, one that really stays with you and makes you reevaluate what came before. Another Netflix success is “tick, tick… BOOM!” It’s the directorial debut of “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. It’s based on the stage musical by Jonathan Larson about an artist in New York questioning his decision to stay in an industry where he might never succeed or make money. Andrew Garfield’s charismatic performance as Larson propelled this, full of energetic musical numbers, including one with a buffet of Broadway talent. The main character’s gay best friend Michael is played by Robin de Jesus, who is dealing with an HIV diagnosis. This is one of the best films of the year. 18 Columnist December 17, 2021
“tick, tick…BOOM!”
“The Power of the Dog” PUBLICITY PHOTOS Directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, “Flee” is a flat-out masterpiece. It tells the story of a man who — about to get married to his boyfriend — decides to share a secret about his past and his family that he has kept hidden for 20 years. A sensation at Sundance, it has the real possibility of being nominated for a Best Animated Feature, Best Documentary and Best International Film Academy Award. It opens in January in Atlanta, as does “Parallel Mothers,” the new film by legendary, out Pedro Almodovar, one of our finest directors. It’s a bit on the melodramatic side, but Almodovar never cheats his characters or their emotions. They are all fully dimensioned here. A lesbian angle develops fairly late in the film. The year was full of other quality smaller features. For pure entertainment, nothing beat “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” the film version of the stage musical about a teenager (Max Harwood) who wants to be a drag queen. “Language Lessons” was a film not
“Flee” many saw, but they should have. In it, Natalie Morales plays a young woman who gives Spanish lessons via Zoom to a gay man (Mark Duplass). The two become unlikely friends. “Language Lessons” features a charismatic performance by Morales, who also directs. Two of the most talked-about films of the year featured out actresses. Ariana DeBose starred in “The Prom” in 2020 and this season played Anita in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.” In a film full of memorable performances (Ansel Elgort excluded) she really makes a dazzling impression, while Kristen Stewart found herself the role of her career in “Spencer,” headlining as Princess Diana. She’s the current favorite for a Best Actress Oscar. An unexpected LGBTQ entry came in “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” a clever and enthralling animated film in which the main character, a daughter going off to college, is queer.
Other films of note with queer or queerish themes include “My Name is Pauli Murray,” “Benedetta,” “No Ordinary Man,” “Titane,” “Summer of 85,” “No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics,” “Swan Song” (with a career-best performance by Udo Kier), “Shiva Baby,” “Joe Bell,” “The Novice,” and “Mayor Pete.”
2021 HIGHLIGHTS The year was quite strong for cinema. Here are my overall favorite films of 2021: 1) “Being the Ricardos” 2) “tick, tick...BOOM!” 3) “Flee” 4) “West Side Story” 5) “The Power of the Dog” 6) “Spencer” 7) “CODA” 8) “Mass” 9) “Licorice Pizza” 10) “Pig”
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
BEST BETS
NEW YEAR’S EVE EDITION
EVENT SPOTLIGHT Purple Disco Machine NYE — 21+
Doors open at 10pm • District Atlanta (269 Armour Dr. NE) What better way to celebrate the new year than with German disco and house DJ Purple Disco Machine at Atlanta’s best immersive, sensory experience? Table packages are available, and upscale fashionable attire is highly encouraged. If you’ve got a designated driver for the night, there’s tons of free parking! Buy tickets at districtatlanta.com. (PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK) Katie Burkholder
midnight. Purchase tickets through Eventbrite.
Whether your 2021 dragged by or passed in the blink of an eye, it’s the time of the year for champagne, glitter, fireworks, and confetti! The new year is almost here, and there’s a myriad of places across the city where you can say goodbye to 2021 and celebrate the arrival of 2022, no matter your age or vibe!
New Year, Who Dis? with SFQP — 18+
New Year’s Eve Bash Presented by Xfinity — all ages
6–8pm (Early Innings); 9pm–midnight (Late Innings) The Battery (800 Battery Ave. SE) This free event is perfect for families or those who struggle to make it ‘til midnight. The Early Innings celebrations begin at 6pm with music from The Lucky Band before an inflatable balloon drop at 8pm. Then, the Late Innings begin at 9pm with live music from The 12 South Band. The evening closes with a midnight countdown featuring a firework and confetti display over Truist Park.
NYE with the Hellfire Harlots — 21+ 8pm–3am My Sister’s Room (84 12th St. NE) Join MSR for their 25th annual New Year’s Eve celebration! Dress to impress; enjoy an optional open bar from 8 to 10pm; party the night away with the Hellfire Harlots, DJ Wulf, and DJ Lodi Dodi; toast the new year with complimentary champagne; and snack at the breakfast buffet after
20 Best Bets December 17, 2021
9pm The Masquerade — Hell (50 Lower Alabama St. #110) Southern Fried Queer Pride has an amazing lineup of DJs, live music, and drag to bid adieu to the old year! Enjoy DJ sets by Elise, Jsport and Leonce, and Zaida; a live music performance by The Queendom; and a countdown drag show featuring JayBella Bankz, Dotte Com, and SZN ALXNDR, hosted by TAYLOR ALXNDR. Buy tickets at sfqp.info/nywd21.
XION with Cindel — 21+
Jan. 1, 3–7 am Future Atlanta (50 Lower Alabama St. SW, Suite 180) Looking to keep the party going after midnight? Kick off the new year with Cindel all night long. Buy tickets at future-atlanta.com.
New Year’s Eve Party — 21+
TBD The Heretic (2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd. NE) Ring in the new year at one of Atlanta’s favorite gay nightclubs! Because the bridge is out due to the recent fire, plan your route accordingly — you can only enter from the Midtown side, not the LaVista side. More details coming soon; check hereticatlanta.com for updates.
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
December 17, 2021 Ads 21
MELISSA CARTER THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID
Goodbye to GiGi Melissa Carter “Have we ever had to make this decision with any of our pets before?” Katie was sitting on the couch, petting GiGi, as we discussed our dog’s declining health. Even though Katie and I are no longer together as a couple, she has remained invested in GiGi’s well-being. After GiGi lost her ability to walk well, Katie shared in the efforts to build up the canine’s stamina and had come over to create a plan of action before the ultimate decision she was asking about had to be made. In our nine years together romantically, Katie and I shared several animals. However, upon reflection I realized all but GiGi had a medical emergency that freed us of having to make the call to put them down. Now was not an emergency, just old age, and neither of us was ready to give up the fight. We decided I would work with her for a few days in my townhome, giving extra walks on the leash, and then she would go to Katie’s home and backyard. After a week, we would reassess what needed to be done. During that conversation I turned to GiGi and assured her we wanted to do what was best for her, and that if she needed to go it was okay and to let us know.
22 Columnist December 17, 2021
PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / DIDESIGN021
girl, holding her paw and stroking her head. She continued to be uncomfortable in any position, but I tried to calm her and let her know she’d feel better soon. “Go on, now,” were my final words to her as the doctor began the injections. “Follow Sully.” Sully was another dog Katie and I shared that served as GiGi’s companion and mentor. GiGi was an epileptic dog who had been turned back in after adoption due to her condition, so her trust in people had disappeared. When we adopted her, she remained hidden for days, until Sully finally got her out. Sully got her to eat, to play and to find joy again. I expect the same held true for GiGi’s introduction to heaven.
The whining began a couple of days after that conversation, and after one sleepless night at Katie’s we made the call that it was time. Having never verbally expressed her discomfort prior to our meeting, GiGi was now letting us know that she couldn’t take it anymore.
There are two shots given. One is an anesthesia and the other stops their heart. The first is administered, then the vet waits until the dog is in a very deep sleep before injecting the other. After that, the more ill your animal, the faster the result. In GiGi’s case she was gone very quickly.
If you’ve never had to play God with an animal and determine their end of life, it is a very peaceful process. I arrived at the vet to meet Katie and another friend who adored our dog, with GiGi laid on a large doggie bed. While the others sat on a nearby couch, I sat in the floor with my old
As I write this, I must leave to go pick up GiGi’s ashes. I’m slowly getting used to not having my tough girl around, but the finality of this errand will prove difficult. However, I know GiGi is feeling much better now, and I sure hope she’s there to greet me when it’s my time so I can see her again. TheGeorgiaVoice.com
RYAN LEE SOMETIMES ‘Y’
2021: A Year of Cis-Hetero Resentment Ryan Lee Nearly everyone is familiar with the disorientation caused by the onset of Daylight Saving Time, where it feels like it’s midnight before you’ve even thought about dinner. There’s a second half of that haze that is more overlooked: when you realize it’s 5:45pm and feel a tiny thrill by how young the night is before you feed your pet and use the restroom only to realize it’s now 11:15 and close to bedtime. The pandemic has similarly warped time for almost two years, from not knowing which day of the week it is, to feeling as if we are still in the first year of a calendar that started in March 2020. There are moments from the viral outbreak and presidential election that feel like they happened yesterday, while the January 6 insurrection already seems like something I’d read about in my high school history book (class of ’98). The past 12 months have also been dizzying for the LGBTQ movement. After almost a decade of court victories, corporate endorsements and unprecedented cultural clout, 2021 reminded us how many Americans consider LGBTQ acceptance compulsory. A humorless stand-up comedy routine was all it took to show that what had seemed like an overnight victory for queer liberation was a pipe dream, with millions co-signing prejudice they felt forbidden to express outside of their friends, families, churches and other social circles. Unease with LGBTQ equality — most specifically, transgender rights — is one of the most unifying sentiments of our fractured nation, and having to silence that bigotry in the workplace, entertainment and public policy has produced an era of cis-hetero resentment. Ever since slavery ended, many white folks have been complaining about the favoritism Black people receive, how oppressive it is to TheGeorgiaVoice.com
PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.EOM / GORBASH VARVARA
be a nonminority unable to express your true thoughts. Now that LGBTQ Americans can marry and appear in TV commercials, white Christians mischaracterize queer advancement in the same way, and they find allyship with Black Christians, Muslims of every color and even liberal, militant atheists like Bill Maher. Just as it was beginning to feel like everyone was on our side, 2021 revealed how much it’s still LGBTQ people (and a few Supreme Court justices) against the world. At some point this year, I curtailed my social media usage, tired of scrolling upon someone I love and respect — someone who has expressed acceptance toward me — sharing a meme about protecting children from gay indoctrination or the discrimination antiLGBTQ Christians suffer. Yet, in the closing month of 2021, a sibling has gone to extraordinary lengths to show how vital my presence is to our family during the holidays, and a straight male friend was near tears as he talked about how my homosexual expression has made him reconsider how he navigates this world, beginning to sever the strings that allowed people’s expectations to control his actions. These moments were Christmas miracles at the end of a forlorn year, and again make it confusing exactly which hour of LGBTQ progress we’re in. December 17, 2021 Columnist 23