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voice
georgia VOL.10 • ISSUE 21
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365
EDITORIAL
Editor: Patrick Colson-Price pcolson-price@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Conswella Bennett, Cliff Bostock, Camryn Burke, Melissa Carter, Dallas Duncan, Aidan Ivory Edwards, Jim Farmer, O’Brian Gunn, Ryan Lee, Rose Pelham, Zoe Seiler, Berlin Sylvestre
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FINE PRINT
All material in Georgia Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Georgia Voice. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. We also do not accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by Georgia Voice, but we do not take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject, or edit any submission. Guidelines for freelance contributors are available upon request. A single copy of Georgia Voice is available from authorized distribution points. Multiple copies are available from Georgia Voice office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to reach a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 24-issue mailed subscription for $60 per year. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Tim Boyd, tboyd@thegavoice.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Georgia Voice, PO Box 77401, Atlanta, GA 30357. Georgia Voice is published twice a month by The Georgia Voice, LLC. Individual subscriptions are $60 per year for 24 issues. Postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. The editorial positions of Georgia Voice are expressed in editorials and in editor’s notes. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Georgia Voice and its staff. To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words and commentary, for web or print, should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address, and phone number for verification. Email submissions to editor@thegavoice.com or mail to the address above.
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YOUR VOICE MATTERS
EDITORIAL
Officially an Atlantan Patrick Colson-Price Recently, I’ve had conversations with several people about my constant need to keep moving. Whether it be actively exercising in the gym, being involved in my community, or traveling around the country to different cities for different jobs, I’ve always never seemed to want to slow down. I guess that can be a good thing at times, but I’m finding it to be quite difficult when it comes to enjoying the here and now. Since I turned 18, I’ve always been on the go. I moved to Conway, South Carolina for my first semester of college all before I flunked out and moved back to Spartanburg, South Carolina to “take a break” from school. After staying there for a little over a year, I decided it was time to get back into school. After a successful semester at the local college in my hometown, I moved to Columbia, South Carolina to take up broadcast journalism. Two years later, I graduated and then was off to my first gig as a TV reporter in Augusta, Georgia. From Augusta, I moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Three months later, I moved back to Atlanta and then six months later, I was off to Lexington, Kentucky. Less than two years after that move, I landed a gig in Palm Springs, California. Not even a year after that, I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and then back to Atlanta. Do you see where I’m going here? I’ve never felt settled in my life. I’ve been on-the-go for as long as I can remember, so it feels natural to want to up and move after a year in a city. On the contrary, I’m married to a man that spent 21 years living in one place. His way of living combined with mine doesn’t mesh well, so I’ve been actively trying to find ways of slowing this knee-jerk reaction for up and moving to a new city every couple of years. It’s not that I don’t like Atlanta. I love it here, but my mind tells me something different. In contract works as a TV reporter, I’ve hated and then grown to love the areas I’ve lived in, and just at the time where I’m feeling settled, the news Gods throw me a
Atlanta Public Schools Work to Support LGBTQ Students Heidi Hilgenberg: “It matters. It helps someone and hurts no one.” Fairness for All Act Seeks Middle Ground on LGBTQ Rights Adam Steinke: “‘Throughout history, there are times when principles come into conflicts, and often they are conflicting good principles, both of them with equal value.’ This is all you need to read to know that this bill is garbage.” Jace Miller: “No no no, there is no middle ground for discrimination.” Free PrEP Program Unveiled under Trump’s HIV Initiative David J. Messier: “If the cost of free PrEP is allowing doctors and services to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people based on religious freedom, then the price is too steep. We need to see legislation that looks to stop the epidemic without invalidating the LGBTQIA+ communities.”
curveball and direct my sights to a city on the opposite side of the country. While it’s exhausting to up and move so often, I’ve learned to look at it as an adventure. But all adventures do come to an end. This is the first time in my life since the age of 18 that I’ve faced the prospect of settling down. My husband just started on his fouryear degree at Georgia State University which means we’ll be here for at least another three and a half years. As much as I’ve panicked in my head about what’s next for me and us, I’ve had to accept that settling down isn’t always a bad thing. I never thought it was before, but now I have the opportunity to try something long-term. I’ve always wondered why people felt like settling down was so hard to do. Is there fear we might miss out on other opportunities or events in life? I think to a degree, I feel if I’m not constantly on the go, I’ll miss out on the ability to grow through new experiences and new interactions with people in different parts of the country. But I’m still young, and there’s still a lot of life to live. This time in my life is just as important and future journeys, and with that, I can officially say that I’m happy to be an Atlantan, for the foreseeable future, at least!
Out News Anchor Jorge Estevez Joins Channel 2 Action News Tina Muñoz: “We [in Orlando] will miss him immensely. He is just that awesome and one of the best human beings there is!” Corey Lovins: “Ironic considering WSB-TV is the most conservative of Atlanta’s local stations, even compared to Fox.” Azaelia Banks Apologizes for Homophobic Anti-PrEP Rant Jeff AhPook: “Her homophobia goes way beyond a simple ‘sorry.’ Now can we talk about pervasive homophobia in hip hop culture, to the point that rappers feel the need to gain cred by being extra homophobic?” Jamie Lee Curtis Supports Outing Closeted Anti-Gay Politicians Erik Sizemore: “People can think what they want. They just cannot deny rights to other people. Tolerance not acceptance is what is demanded.” Want to be featured in Your Voice Matters? Leave a comment to a story via social media or on our website, or email editor@thegavoice.com with the subject line “Your Voice Matters.” December 20, 2019 Editorial 3
NEWS
Georgia Voice Switches it Up! Patrick Colson-Price Here at Georgia Voice, we’re ready to say goodbye to 2019 and excited to usher in 2020 and a new decade! Along with a new year comes a new and improved plan for Georgia Voice newspaper. We welcome new changes to keep our readers energized and eager to pick up every copy! In years past we’ve given 26 opportunities for your voice to be heard; that’s 26 issues from start to finish. But this year, we’re looking to doubledown on our commitment to powerful storytelling, so we want to make sure we have the time and effort to do so. That means we’re dropping down to 24 issues a year with each issue containing even more news to keep you in the gay-TL loop! As your editor, I’m excited to freshen up our themes to include all parts of the LGBTQ community and the sub-genres that make up our very lively community here in Atlanta! We’re excited to present 24 new and improved themed issues for the 2020 editorial year! And with all of that energy each of you gives to our fair city, we’re ready to give in-depth reviews for events from all over the metro area! From high-intensity nights at the Heretic to drag shows at Midtown Moon, we’re going to give you the inside scoop on why you should be there! We love it when you make your voices heard, so expect a page in each issue dedicated to the talk around town from readers like you! From nightlife to politics and everything in between, every issue will give you a platform to sound off! That’s why we’re your voice, the Georgia Voice! 4 News December 20, 2019
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
NEWS
Georgia’s HIV Rates Remain High Zoe Seiler
Patrick Sullivan COURTESY PHOTO
The HIV epidemic is still an issue in Atlanta and Georgia. Some areas in Atlanta have rates of HIV/AIDS that are six to eight times higher than the national average, according to an article from Emory University’s Emory Health Digest. Georgia ranks No. 3 in HIV risk in the nation, according to the Health Testing Centers. The state also has the leading rate of HIV diagnosis rate with a rate of 30 per 100,000 people. The South, in general, also has high HIV rates. In 2017, the South made up 52 percent of new HIV diagnoses, according to the CDC. According to Emory University, high rates of HIV are mostly confined to young, black men who have sex with men. An AIDSVu map of Atlanta shows that HIV rates are especially high in southwest Atlanta. This area also has a large black population, according to the New York Times mapping segregation. The reasons for high HIV rates in Atlanta and Georgia have less to do with sexual practices and more to do with access to health care, health insurance, housing, and stigma. In most Georgia counties, more than 14.1 percent of people were living without health insurance in 2016, according to AIDSVu. This includes southern counties, which tend to be rural. “We focus a lot on cities and we focus in thinking about PrEP for gay man, on the problems of urban gay man, but there’s a whole different set of challenges and barriers for people who are living in places where they also want to feel safe,” said Patrick Sullivan, professor of epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. “The reality is that HIV is a major issue and a lot of our southern counties, including our rural ones, are also among the most intense in the country.” Lack of access to healthcare is a major factor, especially in rural areas. “I think that outside of Atlanta you’re also going to have a lack of resources for people TheGeorgiaVoice.com
“If we really are saying like your health is important and PrEP is a critical tool, then we have to be able to meet people where they are. It’s not equitable or optimal to tell people know that they would need to drive this kind of distance to get care.” – Patrick Sullivan, professor of epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health
to access. In Atlanta, you may be able to go and get tested, go and get treatment at places, but not that may not be available outside of Atlanta in rural areas,” said Eric Paulk, deputy director of Georgia Equality. Location of services and transportation also play a role for those seeking care or wishing to seek preventative services such as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Most gay or bisexual men in southern Georgia have to travel at least one hour to a clinic in order to receive care, Sullivan said. According to ADISVu maps, in southern Georgia, there are fewer clinics that provide PrEP than there are clinics that provide HIV testing and care. Sullivan said that a study was done for people living with HIV that examined where people live relative to a care facility and public
transportation. The study found that the farther away someone lives from their care facility or the longer commute they have is associated with missing medical visits. “If we really are saying like your health is important and PrEP is a critical tool, then we have to be able to meet people where they are. It’s not equitable or optimal to tell people know that they would need to drive this kind of distance to get care,” Sullivan added. Housing is another factor that contributes to HIV rates, especially the ability for people to continue treatment. “It also impacts people’s ability to stay in the treatment of care. The thought is if you don’t have housing then how can you think about taking your medication on a daily basis. And
so, all those non-biomedical things become really important as we try to think about high HIV prevalence rates here in Georgia and across the country,” Paulk said. Sullivan also said that there are federal programs to help provide housing for people living with HIV but there can be challenges for them to get into housing promptly. This can contribute to the issue of new HIV diagnoses. Stigma also affects HIV rates in multiple ways, including anti-HIV stigma, anti-LGBTQ stigma, and racism. “There’s just a concept that when you sit at the intersection of multiple of these stigmatized identities that that’s a really powerful force,” Sullivan said. “Anti-HIV stigma by itself, we know discourages people who are living with HIV from going into places that are recognized as HIV treatment centers to get care.” December 20, 2019 News 5
NEWS
The Crisis of Anti-Trans Violence Remembering Those We Lost in 2019 and Combatting the Problem in 2020 Katie Burkholder In 2019, we faced a national crisis: trans people, particularly young black trans women were and still are facing disproportionate violence. At least twenty-two transgender and gender non-conforming people were tragically murdered this year, but that number could be even higher: often stories go unreported or victims aren’t identified as trans. “It is a crisis,” Mara Keisling, the Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), told Georgia Voice. “It is a public health emergency. It is a social justice emergency.” Most of these victims were young black women – and that’s no coincidence. According the Keisling, the amalgamation of multiple stigmatized and marginalized identities can expose these individuals to a higher likelihood of violence. nd it’s not just fatal, murderous violence this A community has to fear: the HIV epidemic, homelessness, poverty, and harassment/ non-fatal violence from transphobes and police (both in custody and on the streets) also threaten transgender livelihood. As the year ends and we move into the new decade, Keisling says this epidemic needs to be addressed through federal policy. “We need to be training law enforcement better, and we need to be repealing or amending the FEFTA and SOSTA, Congressional bills meant to prevent sex trafficking that shut down all the websites that sex workers use to make their jobs safer,” she said. “This puts people back on the streets and back in danger.” ore than anything, the federal government M just needs to address and study the problem, so that organizations like NCTE can understand the issue better and argue for and fine solutions easier. 6 News December 20, 2019
As we reminisce on the last year, we remember and honor the 22 known transgender/gender non-conforming people lost in 2019.
Dana Martin, 31, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Montgomery, Alabama, on Jan. 6.
Jazzaline Ware, 34, was a black transgender woman found dead in her Memphis apartment on March 25.
Ashanti Carmon, 27, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Maryland on March 30.
Claire Legato, 21, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in the head in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 15 and died on May 15.
Muhlaysia Booker, 23, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Dallas on May 18.
Michelle ‘Tamika’ Washington, 40, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Philadelphia on May 19.
Paris Cameron, 20, was a black transgender woman among three individuals killed in a shooting in Detroit on May 25.
Chynal Lindsey, 26, was a black transgender woman found dead in Dallas with signs of “homicidal violence” on June 1.
Chanel Scurlock, 23, was a black transgender woman found fatally shot in North Carolina on June 6.
Zoe Spears, 23, was a black transgender woman found with signs of trauma in Maryland on June 13.
Brooklyn Lindsey, 32, was a black transgender woman found dead with obvious signs of trauma in Missouri on June 25.
enali Berries Stuckey, D 32, was a black transgender woman found fatally shot in South Carolina on July 20.
Tracy Single, 22, was a black transgender woman killed in Houston on July 30 in a vicious house fire.
Bubba Walker, 55, was a black transgender woman killed in North Carolina in late July.
Kiki Fantroy, 21, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Miami on July 31.
Jordan Cofer, 22, was a transgender man killed in the Dayton mass shooting on Aug. 4.
ebbles LaDime “Dime” P Doe, 24, was a black transgender woman killed in South Carolina on Aug. 4.
Bailey Reeves, 17, was a black transgender teen fatally shot in Maryland on Sept. 2.
ee Love Slater, 23, was B killed inside a burned car in Florida on Sept. 4.
Ja’leyah Jamar, 30, was a black gender non-conforming person killed by gunshot in Kansas on Sept. 13.
Itali Marlowe, 29, was a black transgender woman found shot in Houston on Sept. 20.
rianna “BB” Hill, 30, was a B black transgender woman fatally shot in Kansas City on Oct. 14. She’s remembered as a beloved member of her community and a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
NEWS
Rush Center Executive Director Resigns Patrick Colson-Price
“We were afraid to put any identifying signage up, she said. “We had no idea if it would be safe.”
A switch-up in leadership at The Rush Center is in the works as its current executive director, Linda Ellis, has announced her resignation. “While may seem a little sudden from the outside, the board and staff and I have been talking about my desire to transition out for a while now,” said Ellis. “It’s time for a new generation of leaders to take the helm, and I’ve been ready to try my hand at some new things myself.” Ellis joined the organization in January of 2002 as the first full-time Executive Director of what was then called the Atlanta Lesbian Cancer Initiative which was founded in 1996. She saw the organization through its name change to the Health Initiative in 2011.
But today, the Rush Center is home to almost 20 LGBTQ organizations and is a meeting place for hundreds of events throughout the year.
LINDA ELLIS PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK
“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have worked alongside me to increase Atlanta’s LGBTQ community’s access to health and social resources,” said Ellis. Ellis used her resources and support from the community to open the first YouthPride center in 1997 as its first Executive Director.
“I can’t describe the feeling of walking the halls when the space is filled with people and organizations all doing their part for the community,” said Ellis. “It’s amazing and I can’t wait to see what comes next.” Ellis made it clear that while nonprofit organizations and their boards always have challenges, there weren’t any conflicts between her and the board at the Rush Center. She told Georgia Voice that the board was supportive of her final decision in leaving the organization.
“We wish Linda all the best in her future endeavors and look forward to her continued involvement with the Rush Center in different capacities,” said Board Chair Gail Cowie. “Her experience and insight will be assets in whatever she undertakes from here.” Ellis told Georgia Voice she’ll always be supportive of the community and the Rush Center, and will still stay vocal in Atlanta’s LGBTQ community. “The thing that I have come to enjoy most in my work is the training and public speaking engagements,” she said. The Rush Center provides space, information, resources, and support for ongoing development and collaboration among organizations whose mission or activities advance LGBTQ rights, understanding, and well-being.
Season’s
Greetings
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December 20, 2019 News 7
CELEBRITY CLOSE-UP!
Celebrity Brief (YEAR IN REVIEW EDITION)
‘Tis the season – for some quotes from your favorite LGBTQ and allied celebrities, that is! Check out what they have to say about the holidays.
“It’s about inclusivity, acceptance, and forgiveness. I really wrote [‘At This Table’] for my friends out there who don’t feel comfortable coming home and being their true authentic selves. So maybe during this divisive time, among the negativity, we can try and find some common ground. – LGBTQ ally Idina Menzel on her new holiday song At This Table (TODAY)
“If your family isn’t able to see eye to eye on anything, that’s okay because the holiday isn’t for those political conversations – leave those for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, it’s all about love and celebrating the things you do agree on: family, friendship, the celebration of life. That’s what you need to focus on.” – Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown on avoiding arguments with family during the holidays (TV Guide)
8 Celebrity Close-Up! December 20, 2019
“For as hectic as the holidays end up being, with the managing parties and presents and lists (and checking it twice), I really do enjoy the fact that everything shuts down for a minute. You just get to exist with your family, sit and spend some time together … For me, just hanging out with the kids with a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll on Christmas morning while I watch them open presents is something I really do look forward to every year.” – Actor Neil Patrick Harris on spending the holidays with his husband David Burtka and their two kids (People)
“[W]e set out with the very clear goal of creating a community-building, unifying experience for people during the holiday season, in the event they don’t have other holiday traditions. Or maybe don’t have a good relationship with their blood family, so they feel kind of excluded from this time of year that’s so heteronormative and family-oriented.” – Drag queen Jinkx Monsoon on her “All I Want for Christmas is Attention” holiday tour with BenDeLaCreme (Austin360)
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YEAR IN REVIEW
Recapping 2019’s Top Stories Staff Reports
Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK
Reminisce about the highs and lows of 2019 by reviewing the biggest and most influential stories that defined this year, both locally and nationally! Continue reading these stories at thegavoice.com. JANUARY 24, 2019 Gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg Announces His Bid for 2020 Presidency Openly gay Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg has announced he will run for President in 2020. If he snags the Democratic nomination, he will become the first openly gay presidential nominee for a major party. However, the odds don’t seem to be in his favor; the mayor even said so himself. In an email to his supporters, he said he was “aware of the odds” against him, as he’s a mayor of a town of around 100,000 people (South Bend, Indiana) up against high-profile Democrats like Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris. “But I am exploring this run because I can offer a different experience and perspective than anyone else,” he continued. “I believe that at a moment like this, underdog campaigns will go further than the establishment would normally allow.” MARCH 21, 2019 Chick-Fil-A Foundation Donated to Organizations with Anti-LGBTQ Beliefs Fast-food chicken chain Chick-fil-A is still directing donations to organizations with anti-LGBTQ ideals. According to their taxes, the Chick-fil-A Foundation, the company’s charitable arm, donated $1.65 million to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, $150,000 to the Salvation Army, and a small amount to the Paul Anderson Youth Home. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes once said in a blog post that homosexuality was the result of “prior physical and emotional wounds” including “abuse, neglect, [and] molestation.” The company also bans its employees from performing “homosexual acts.”
The Salvation Army has a long history of anti-LGBTQ activity, including refusing to shelter a transgender woman with other women in 2008 because of her genitalia, resulting in her freezing to death. The organization also stated it believed that gay men were “deserving of death.”
The newly enacted legislation will only allow applicants with a history of gender dysphoria if they can show 36 consecutive months in their birth gender immediately prior to enlisting. Those accepted must serve in their birth gender. If they had undergone gender transition in the past, they are automatically disqualified.
The Paul Anderson Youth Home is a Christian home for troubled youth. It teaches the youth their house that homosexuality is “rage against Jesus Christ and His values.”
As for those currently enlisted, transgender service member must agree to serve in their birth gender indefinitely and maintain fitness without medical support for gender dysphoria to be allowed to remain in service. Those who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria and require gender-transition-related medical care will be subject to separation.
APRIL 12, 2019 Transgender Military Ban Goes Into Effect Almost two years after Trump first announced on Twitter that he was planning to enact the policy and the formal policy – announced in March 2018 – being blocked by four injunctions – the ban has successfully been enacted.
10 Year in Review December 20, 2019
APRIL 16, 2019 Morehouse College to Allow Admissionto Trans Students Morehouse College, the country’s only all-male historically black collage, released a statement
on April 13 announcing the approval of a new policy which would allow transgender male students to be considered for admission. The policy says that “students [who] transition from a man to a woman” will be forced to leave the university unless the student in question writes a formal appeal and gets approved by a three-person committee chosen by the president. The policy also says that anyone who identifies as a woman may not enroll but fails to address the existence of non-binary and otherwise genderqueer people. MAY 8, 2019 Gov. Brian Kemp Signs Heartbeat Abortion Bill Into Law Governor Brian Kemp signed one of the most restrictive abortion bills in the country on CONTINUES ON PAGE 11 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
YEAR IN REVIEW
Trey Peters PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 Tuesday (May 7), restricting not just straight women, but lesbians, bi women, trans men with uteruses, and other LGBTQ people as well, from having an abortion after six weeks. The Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act, also known as the “Heartbeat Bill,” bans abortions when doctors can detect a “fetal heartbeat,” which is usually around six weeks after conception – before most people know they’re pregnant. Bisexual and lesbian women may be particularly affected by this bill, as a study from 2015 found that they are almost two times as likely to get pregnant before 20 than straight women. MAY 18, 2019 House of Representatives Passes Equality Act The House of Representatives voted to pass the Equality Act on Friday – the first time in American history. The legislation passed by a vote of 236-173. Yes votes were constituted of all Democrats, besides seven who abstained from voting, and eight Republicans. This is the first time the bill has made it to the full House after being passed by the House Judiciary Committee. The Equality Act has been introduced to Congress twice – in 2015 and 2017 – but both times it died in committee. “The harsh reality is that discrimination is a real and persistent problem for LGBTQ people across the country, especially in Georgia,” Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham said. “Georgia is one of only a few states that have no civil rights law protecting people from discrimination in public spaces, in the workplace, or in housing. And because LGBTQ people aren’t currently protected under federal law, LGBTQ Georgians are especially vulnerable to discrimination. We must ensure no one has to be afraid of losing their job, their home, or their access to education simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.” JUNE 8, 2019 Gay Man Trey Peters Attacked and Killed in Dekalb County Gay man Ronald “Trey” Peters was shot early Tuesday morning (June 4) after attackers TheGeorgiaVoice.com
shouted homophobic slurs at him. Peters, 28, was walking home from a MARTA station in Stone Mountain when he was approached by two men, who a witness described to the Georgia Voice as African American. The men reportedly were in a car and demanded Peters give them his backpack. “Unfortunately, this deadly attack is not a rare or isolated event. Rather, this is the latest in a long string of hate-motivated incidents,” Allison Padilla-Goodman, the Southeast regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement. AUGUST 16, 2019 Log Cabin Republicans Endorse Trump for Re-Election LGBTQ Republican group Log Cabin Republicans have endorsed President Donald Trump for re-election because he has “met his commitments to LGBTQ Americans,” according to an op-ed written by chair members Robert Kabel and Jill Homan for the Washington Post. “[Trump] has committed to end the spread of HIV/AIDS in 10 years, through the use of proven science, medicine, and technology
to which we now have access,” they write. “This scourge decimated a generation of gay men in the United States and continues to inflict pain, suffering, and death at home and abroad.” This endorsement may come as a surprise to some, as the Log Cabin Republicans declined to endorse Trump during his candidacy in 2016 because “he concurrently surrounded himself with senior advisors with a record of opposing LGBTQ equality.” SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LGBTQ Art Student Raped and Killed in Southwest Atlanta Two men have been arrested and charged with the kidnap, murder, and sexual assault of LGBTQ artist Te’a Denise Liger in Southwest Atlanta. Anthony Laquan Goss, 28, and Roy Hill, 18, were arrested on Aug. 23 and 27, respectively, and both face kidnapping, rape, and felony murder charges. Liger went to high school in Marietta. She was a student at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and was reportedly visiting a friend in Atlanta. Her mother remembers her as “an artist in every way” and “the brightest spirit,” she told WSB-TV.
Investigators have confirmed with the Georgia Voice that this was not a hate crime, as Liger was not targeted due to her sexual orientation. The incident is believed by investigators to be a completely random attack “and that the suspects did not know the victims,” according to a press release from the Atlanta Police Department. SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 LGBTQ Ally Jon Ossoff is Running for Senate in 2020 Former congressional candidate and LGBTQ ally Jon Ossoff has announced that he will be challenging Republican David Purdue for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2020 during an appearance on “The Last Word” on MSNBC. In an email sent to supporters, Ossoff noted the types of corruption he vows to fight: the refusal of NRA-funded politicians to support universal background checks, the ignorance of price gouging drug companies by politicians funded by big pharma, and the silencing of environmental scientists because of the influence of the fossil fuel industry. Ossoff ’s campaign makes him the fourth Democrat fighting for Perdue’s seat, along with Sarah Riggs Amico, Ted Terry, and Teresa Tomlinson.
December 20, 2019 Year in Review 11
YEAR IN REVIEW
It’s Miss Ross!
GV’s Person of the Year Patrick Colson-Price
ANGELICA ROSS
COVER PHOTO; ARTICLE PHOTOS COURTESY OF MISS ROSS’ AGENCY
From politics to acting, Angelica Ross has covered it all! She stars in the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated show POSE while pressing potential democratic candidates for president on issues that face the LGBTQ community! This business woman knows just what it takes to jumpstart a dream and turn it into reality! We caught up with Miss Ross as she comes a whirlwind year of triumphs! How does it feel to be honored as GV’s Person of the Year?! “It honestly means a lot to me. I can’t express enough how much Atlanta is a part of a big vision I have for the LGBTQ community, especially the most vulnerable amongst us. I lived in midtown for a year but was quickly whisked away to work on “Pose: Season 2” and then right after that starting “American Horror Story: 1984” without even having a chance to stop back home in Atlanta.” The success of FX’s “Pose” has allowed for trans women of color to be front and center in Hollywood. “Pose” was your breakthrough role on TV. You’re also starring in another Ryan Murphy television series, “American Horror Story: 1984.” How do you think 2019 has impacted your career in television and your future in Hollywood? “2019 has helped me to show Hollywood that I’m more than a niche actor, I’m more than trans, or a Black sidekick. That I can be the “Final Girl.” I can do comedy or drama, scripted or improv, and I pride myself on being a team player and overall pleasant to work with. So, I feel like my work will speak for itself into 2020 and continue to open more doors for me and other trans and queer actors.” What does 2020 hold for you on TV? Are movies in the future for you?
“You definitely haven’t seen the last of me on your TV.” Shortly after we last spoke, you hosted the 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ Issues. You’re the first openly transgeder person to host a forum in this capacity. What was it like to be face-toface with the potential future president of the United States? “I don’t think I can verbalize the magnitude of this moment. I was having an entirely different
12 Year in Review December 20, 2019
conversation with all of the candidates backstage and I guarantee you it was a lot more informing and interesting. The universe was having an entirely different conversation with me backstage that I have truly yet to process.” What did you learn about those candidates and their dedication to the LGBTQ community and its most important issues? “I believe that all of the democratic candidates had a basic level understanding of the needs of the LGBTQ community.”
How important do you think trans issues will play in the 2020 election? Did you feel a specific candidate doubled-down on their commitment to protect trans lives? “I think it will be important for America to get a grip on it’s humanity and for that to be the focus of 2020 which includes trans people, immigrants (who also trans people), black lives (including black trans people). We are at the intersection of every single CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
YEAR IN REVIEW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 issue, and including us in this conversation will only benefit whoever becomes our democratic presidential candidate.” We have to ask … who are you supporting for the 2020 democratic nomination? And if you’re up for telling us, why that candidate? “I’m a bit torn, because the moment I say I’m for a candidate, much of the public translates that to mean that I’m against another candidate. The truth is, I’m for Elizabeth Warren, Julian Castro and yes, even Bernie Sanders. But of those three, Elizabeth Warren is the one who has created an open line of communication with me that I believe would extend well into her presidency.” Along with being an actress and trans rights activist, you’re also a powerful business woman, the founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises. Tell us how this roll has helped transgender people make strides in the tech industry? “I think it was important to convey the power of data to the trans community. How to build undeniable skills and techniques that could override identity challenges when you’re simply the most qualified for the job. Giving trans folks an opportunity to display their talents across various industries and watching our community learn and grow together.” Now for some fun! We hear you’re house hunting in the Atlanta area!! Can we expect to see Miss Ross out and about in the near future?! “I close on my house in Atlanta in March! I’m looking forward to building relationships on all levels from Stacey Abrams team to local LGBTQ activist and organizations as well as the local SGI Buddhist organization.” We hear your eager to move back! What makes Atlanta so special for you? “I feel a deep, spiritual calling to plant roots in Atlanta and I’m just being obedient to the call. I feel there is a lot of undiscovered talent in the black and brown LGBTQ+ community in Atlanta and I also feel there are a lot of cis-heterosexual black celebs, governement officals, and executives with whom I can help to create intersectional bridges and pipelines to opportunities.” TheGeorgiaVoice.com
Any chance of you working with powerhouse Tyler Perry since his studios are in the Atlanta area? “It is on the top of my list for 2020 to work with Tyler Perry on a housing and internship program with TransTech.” What’s your favorite part about the ATL?! Any favorite restaurants you’ve been to that our readers must check out?! “I recently went to the Old Lady Gang restaurant. The food and the vibe were unmatched to anything I’ve ever experienced. You immediately felt like you were at a family function where everyone knew the songs and were encouraged to sing along, even the gay ones. Black joy singing and serving food. “Come on in close the door and feel the vibe.” we sang in unison. “We got macaroni and cheese, collard greens, some chicken inside. Can’t forget the cornbread talking shit with the old heads momma dancing to some Al Green my aunty join her and my daddy saying ‘go head’ while he shine up his pinky ring, don’t forget to close the screen. Come on in close the door and feel the vibe.” Pretty much play this song and you’ll feel what it’s like at OLG. (“Feel the Vibe” by BJ The Chicago Kid)” We know you’re a sweetheart and with an incredible personality. What’s one quirky thing that you can share with our readers about what makes you, YOU!? “I love hot snacks, and I’m not just talking men! I LOVE flaming hot Doritos or hot sauce on popcorn. I mean what can I say, some like it hot!” December 20, 2019 Year in Review 13
Doors Open @ 2pm
Free Swag Bags to 1st 100 people
Party Favors Free Champagne Toast @ Midnight
No Cover Plenty of Free Parking
DESTINATIONS
Key West
Gay vacationers relax on the pool deck at The Island House. PHOTOS BY PATRICK COLSON-PRICE
Why This City Needs to be in Your 2020 Travel Itinerary Patrick Colson-Price I think it’s safe to say that most of us would love to spend the new year in some type of tropical destination that caters fully to gay men! At the southernmost point in the United States sits an island perfect for a quick vacation getaway with a big hint of gay! Key West is littered with tourists who drive down the scenic highway from Miami or those who jump off a cruise ship docked in port, but a growing number of those visitors are LGBTQ. One of those visitors was yours truly! I took a four-day vacation to sunny Key West to see just what all the talk was about. After landing and a quick taxi ride into town, I got dropped off at Island House, a clothing-optional resort nestled away in the lush greenery of the island. The faint sounds of a rooster in the distance signaled I wasn’t in Atlanta anymore. As I entered the facilities, I was greeted promptly and immediately felt right at home. There’s something magical about a space where gay men can unapologetically be with other gay men. I mean, fully nude with raging hard-ons and no one bats an eyelash. It’s almost a rite of passage when you visit a clothing-optional gay resort. There are plenty around the country, from west to east coast. Since 1976, The Island House has offered a getaway for gay men of all ages to strip down into their most comfortable clothing without fear of ridicule. It’s not the only gay clothingoptional resort on the island. Equator Resort also gives visitors a chance to mingle with other gay men. I’ve stayed at both and can say each has its own unique experience. On this trip, I’m meant to write about my adventures in hopes that others reading this article will make the move and travel down 16 Destinations December 20, 2019
“You have a safe, friendly community here. You can be gay, hold hands here and not be harassed. There is a sense of acceptance here which is what I would say is a pro here. Our staff is all very good looking men, so that’s a bonus here plus the delicious food. Our attitude here is very pro-Gay.” – Mark Englehart, Hot Tin Roof restaurant manager to Key West. I don’t think I need to do much convincing especially when it comes to visiting this tropical destination. The gay men flock here by the boatloads and even the bike loads, as the previous weekend before I arrived was a huge bike race from Miami to Key West. A few men from Fort Lauderdale staying here made small talk with me, welcoming me with their open arms and manhood. The resort boasts two hot tubs (one indoors), sauna, steam room, small gym, full bar, 24-hour restaurant, a dark room play area, and enough housing to make this place a busy destination year-round. Peak season starts right after the Thanksgiving holiday and goes until late-March, but locals I talked to say it’s pretty busy all year! Restaurants like the Hot Tin Roof were a must-stop on my trip. One, because of the absolutely delicious food and two, the
extremely attractive wait staff! Restaurant manager, Mark Englehart doesn’t consider this a gay restaurant but his staff does a great job welcoming in the diversity. He’s lived in Key West for 20 years, managing the Hot Tin Roof for nearly 12 years. “You have a safe, friendly community here. You can be gay, hold hands here and not be harassed. There is a sense of acceptance here which is what I would say is a pro here,” he said to me. “Our staff is all very good looking men, so that’s a bonus here plus the delicious food. Our attitude here is very pro-Gay.” The restaurant overlooks the water where boat watching is a prime part of the dining experience. One of those boats you might catch a glimpse of is called the Blu Q Catamaran. I wasn’t able to take the excursion on this trip
but have been on a previous trip to the island. It’s an all-Gay excursion with a ship-boy who prepares a meal with champagne while the catamaran sails into the shallow crystal blue waters surrounding the island. We went snorkeling and kayaking all before heading back to Key West with the breeze in our hair. It’s a must-do when you visit the island and a perfect way to make new friends. The gay nightlife in Key West offers bars, clubs, drag-shows and a femaleimpersonator singer like you’ve never seen before. The first sentence in his bio on his website says this, “Christopher Peterson is a master of impersonations, both visually and vocally, and his comic timing is impeccable.” I’ve now seen him myself and I can say he’s CONTINUES ON PAGE 17 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
DESTINATIONS
Christopher Peterson performs at the LaTeDa restaurant. PHOTOS BY PATRICK COLSON-PRICE
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WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 visually, vocally, and comically stunning! A friend I made at the Island House joined me for the evening show after dinner downstairs at the very gay LaTeDa restaurant. We sat in front with a key lime pie martini in hand and a packed house behind us. Christoper sang all of the greats: Cher, Bette Midler, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Liza Minnelli all while adding in whimsical banter from his childhood and beyond. Down the street from LaTeDa sits the center of gay Key West, the Bourbon Street Pub. It’s a New Orleans-themed video bar featuring go-go dancers, live DJs, five bars, and a ‘male-only’ clothing optional garden bar with a pool and jacuzzi. A few doors down sits Aqua Bar and Nightclub, known for its iconic drag shows downstairs and high-intensity dance parties upstairs. That’s a lot for one night in Key West which is why I recommend taking an extended vacation to experience all the island has to offer! Greg Troba, Key West’s LGBTQ representative has called the island home for years and says it’s a perfect place for a quick getaway. “I wanted a place where I could walk or bike, year-round warm weather, and an LGBTQ community,” he told me as we TheGeorgiaVoice.com
dined underneath the stars at LaTeDa. “And it’s incredibly laidback. There’s not a lot of this gay or straight, everything is mixed and everyone mingles together!” He’s seen the island evolve, but knows it’s never lost its gay edge. He compares it to destinations like Palm Springs, California, and Provincetown, Massachusetts. And if you’re looking for a quick New Years’ getaway, there’s one thing that Key West offers that you don’t want to miss come midnight on New Year’s Eve: a big red high heel! Thousands of people flock to Key West for the 22-year tradition which involves a red fiberglass high heel measuring 8-feet-long with a 4-foot high heel. Created by Joseph Schroeder who opened Bourbon Street Pub 23 years ago, the tradition packs out all corners of Duval Street with a mixture of gay and straight visitors and locals. You can find families with kids straddling the streets next to rowdy bachelorettes, leather daddies, drag queens and every other walk of life you can imagine in this inclusive island tradition of celebration, according to South Florida Gay News. For many gay locals, that’s the definition of what Key West is and it’s why Key West should be on your list of destinations in 2020! I recommend and I approve!
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December 20, 2019 Destinations 17
CULTURE
3 … 2 … 1 … Happy New Year! Here’s Where You Can Welcome in 2020 ATL Style
DJ Mike Pope
DJ Cindel
PHOTOS VIA FACEBOOK
Aidan Edwards The average American spends a whopping $200 dollars on New Year’s Eve. It’s a festivity to relish the good times, distance yourself from the bad times – and to reinvent the wheel. Atlanta is a unique city for New Year’s Eve. According to wallethub.com, the city ranks sixth best city for New Year’s Eve celebrations – mostly attributed to the large scale of entertainment, food, fireworks and events per capita. Something that shouldn’t strike anyone who lives here as a surprise. The city is a force in the film industry and above all, the champions of the music industry. The entertainment has always been here – but now there are a wide variety to choose from. Here are a few of New Year’s Eve events to ring in 2020. NEW YEAR’S EVE WHITE PARTY Heretic Atlanta 9pm – 3am $20 DJ Mike Pope and Kidd Madonny will take you into 2020 with the hottest beats of the past decade and year! Casual white attire is expected but if you do not participate – no worries! XION AFTER-HOURS BJ Roosters 3am – 7am $25 DJ Micky Friedmann keeps the party going until the sun rises! 2020 MORNING PARTY Heretic 6:30pm – 11am $20 DJ Cindel welcomes in 2020 with more music and dancing for the Atlanta crowd! BLAKE’S ROARING ’20S NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION Blake’s on the Park 18 Culture December 20, 2019
midnight, music and dancing! NYE DANCE PARTY Atlanta Eagle 10pm – 3am Free DJ Eric James and Fernando will provide dance hits to keep you moving into 2020! Don’t miss the champagne toast at midnight!
8:30pm – 2:30am Golden Ticket: $100, Golden Couples: $200 Included is a 5-hour premium cocktail reception, heavy hors-d’oeuvres and sweets, and music!
ROARING 20’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY My Sister’s Room 7:30pm – 3am $15 for general admission, $40 for open bar
NEW YEAR’S EVE TEN 9pm – 3am Grammy nominated DJ/Producer Tracy Young has got you covered with the beats to welcome in 2020 in style! Outdoor patio is open and ready for a celebration!
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Woof’s Atlanta 10pm – 3am Free DJ Mister Richard will give you beats while you eat, drink, and welcome in 2020!
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Midtown Moon 10pm – 3am Admission: To be determined
NYE PARTY The Hideaway 8pm – 2:30am No Cover Party Favors, complimentary champagne at
The New Year’s brings about the process of talking yourself through self-improvement – pinpointing your flaws, making Instagram comparisons, and shooting for a specific celebrities figure. It’s generally an antecedent from the previous year. You commit for about a week or two then you start taking shortcuts. Finally, you pretend that you never made it your resolution – it never existed. But you come to find out that no one cares. No one is going to hold you accountable for not getting jacked. Everyone shrugs their shoulders, feeling comforted by the fact that they are in the company of someone who made one, then gave it up. You take the steps when you’re ready. Every New Year should just be a promise to have a good time, be safe, and to look out for each other. That’s the best way to spend the last day of the year. TheGeorgiaVoice.com
SPOTLIGHT
A Beautiful Future with Janelle Monáe Patrick Colson-Price
COOKING FOR THE STARS
Atlanta Chef Brings Southern Flare with Elegance
The perfect end to 2019 happened when Belvedere Vodka and Grammy awardwinning singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe joined forces to inspire a generation with limitless diversity and self-expression. Monáe is known for her powerful, outspoken vocal creativity while being an outspoken activist on LGBTQ and women’s rights. She see’s herself in Belvedere’s new campaign, A Beautiful Future, which the brand says stands for equality, diversity, and self-expression. The event was held at the Fairmont in West Midtown on Dec. 5, the last stop of the campaigns tour, with a dinner prepared by Atlanta’s openly-lesbian chef, Deborah VanTrece (see sidebar).
Patrick Colson-Price It’s another beautiful line on Chef Deborah VanTrece’s (r) resume, cooking for Grammy award-winning singer and actor, Janelle Monáe. And even this star-studded chef gets starstruck easily. “It’s just a big honor,” said VanTrece. “I’m a big fan, her music is wonderful, and she’s really talented.” The openly-lesbian chef got word of Belvedere’s partnership with Monáe just a few weeks before the Belevedere’s closing event for A Beautiful Future campaign in Atlanta. “Everything was moving very quickly,” she said. “When they came to me, it wasn’t a “we were wondering”, it was like we want you to do this. We’ve picked you to represent Atlanta and the LGBTQ community.”
“One of the things we talked about was making sure that we highlighted voices in whatever city went to. So we’ve gone to Chicago, Berlin, Germany, Los Angeles, and we rounded it out here in Atlanta because this place is so special to me,” said Monáe. “This is just a platform, a conversation starter about what does a beautiful future means to you, and how can we see you, hear you, and celebrate you.” Monáe who started her musical career in Atlanta, Georgia, came out in 2018 as Pansexual. The LGBTQ community took notice and now label her as a fierce ally, and for a reason. She’s used her platform to support Black Lives Matter, campaigned extensively for greater gun control and donates to AIDS research and Autism charities. While other artists become silent once fame hits, Monáe’s voice grew as her popularity did, speaking up for women, racial equality, and LGBTQ rights, all of which she can relate to. “Black women in the LGBTQIA+ communities, that’s my family and my tribe. I am a queer black woman who grew up in Kansas by way of Atlanta, Georgia,” she said. “I’m always looking to try and highlight our voices as much as possible.” Belvedere Vodka took notice and picked her to stand with a generation overspilling with self-expression and diversity. Allison Barone, Vice President of Belvedere, seeings TheGeorgiaVoice.com
JANELLE MONÁE
COURTESY PHOTO BY DANIEL SEUNG LEE
Monáe in her product. “The egos of Janelle who’s about inclusion, diversity, and selfexpression, was very inspiring to us,” said Barone. “We’re a vodka that’s also about authenticity and integrity.” Monáe, a part-time resident of Atlanta, feels like a connector in this two-year-long partnership. “I love connecting people from different walks of life, and helping be a platform and conversation starter for all of us,” she said. Among her many vocal conversations on advocacy, the fight to end HIV/AIDS around the world continues to stand at the forefront. Monáe gets a stern reminder every year on her birthday on Dec. 1, the same day as World AIDS Day, that too many lives are still being lost to the disease. “I think there’s a stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and I want to see it demolished,” the singer said. “I want to be an ally and support. And I want to see research implemented to stop
the disease and end it.” While Monáe continues to be a powerful voice in the community, she’s using her acting skills to portray even more of herself. Her filmography includes powerful films like “Hidden Figures,” which centers around female empowerment. “This story is for all of humanity, no matter what your color is, no matter your gender. You can go to this movie and find some hope,” Monáe told CNN in 2016. “These women had to go through so many obstacles but through it all, they managed to achieve something that we all thought was impossible.” In 2019, Harriett had a lasting impression on the actor and her audience. In 2020, Monáe looks to step to the front as the lead in the movie “Antebellum.” While she couldn’t give many details into what the movie plot is about, the movie producers are also responsible for thriller films like “Get Out” and “Us.” “I will say as an actor, this was the deepest I have dug
Monáe handpicked the menu and that’s when VanTrece got started on creating the perfect meal to represent the musical artist and her community. “They wanted to keep close to the southern roots, so they wanted a Southern-style meal which is what I do,” said VanTrece. “And then I give it a touch of elegance, something that the guests will love and something that she will love.” Monáe and VanTrece share a special connection, both hailing from Kansas City where they both grew up at different times. Neither had met each other until the event on Dec. 5, where Monáe was finally able to indulge in food that makes VanTrece such a powerhouse in the Atlanta food scene.
into my work and it took a lot to create this film,” she said. “I just hope that people feel proud and I hope the right people will feel proud. I think it will be a great conversation starter and conversation ender.” When asked how her musical and acting careers have shaped her, she simply replied, “Self-expression is water. Imagine not drinking water. That’s what not being able to express myself would be like.” Visit BelvedereVodka.com to purchase the limited edition Belvedere bottle featuring Monáe. December 20, 2019 Spotlight 19
ACTING OUT
This Year in LGBTQ Cinema Jim Farmer
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” PUBLICITY PHOTO
As tends to be the case so often, LGBTQ fare wasn’t as plentiful as it should be this year in cinema but there were some bright spots in this year’s offerings. The best LGBTQ film of the year – by a country mile – was Celine Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” After a big splash at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay Award and took home the Queer Palm, it played a few fall festivals, winning the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at this year’s Out On Film. In the film, a young painter is commissioned to do a portrait of another woman – who is about to be married – without her finding out. Feelings develop between the two ladies. Lushly made and choreographed and impeccably performed, it’s already considered a lesbian classic, with an unforgettable final scene. The film is getting a one-week release in New York and Los Angeles in December to qualify for this year’s Academy Awards and opens nationwide on Valentine’s Day 2020. Another of the year’s best films was “Pain and Glory,” directed by gay icon Pedro Almodovar and starring his frequent collaborator Antonio Banderas. Banderas stars as Salvador Mallo, a depressed gay filmmaker looking back at his life. Penelope Cruz shines in a few scenes as the central character’s mother while a visit from a former lover presents a challenge for Salvador. “Booksmart” came and went quickly this summer and it’s a shame. Directed by Olivia Wilde, it’s one of the year’s most satisfying and smart films. Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever star as high school seniors who have dedicated themselves to academics in lieu of personal lives until they learn their classmates are going to college as well - and got to have fun in high school. One night, these two decide to make up for lost time. Dever’s character is a lesbian. 20 Columnist December 20, 2019
“Rocketman” made no bones about the sexuality of its subject, rock star and parttime Atlantan Elton John. The film didn’t take off the way “Bohemian Rhapsody” did in 2018 but it made lots of money and was arguably a better film, entertaining and full of satisfying musical numbers. As Elton, a game Taron Egerton has been nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe and a Screen Actor’s Guild Award. Opening this weekend, “Bombshell” looks at how a group of women brought done Fox News head Roger Ailes after years of sexual harassment. Charlize Theron plays Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman plays Gretchen Carlson and Margot Robbie stars as Kayla, a (fictional) bisexual reporter looking to make a splash at the network. Also in the terrific ensemble is Kate McKinnon as a lesbian keeping her sexuality quiet. The film’s script never quite decides what it wants to do, but the acting is very strong. Some of the best LGBTQ films were independent, smaller features. A smash at Cannes last year, “Sauvage” starred up and comer Felix Maritaud as a 22-year-old hustler. The film was shocking at times and sexually explicit, but Maritaud created a complex, wounded character at the center. Another terrific queer film from France was “Sorry Angel,” set in 1993 during the AIDS crisis. Celebrated at Sundance, “Before You Know It” was a comedy-drama about two sisters –
one straight, another a lesbian – who find that the mother they thought was dead is actually alive. Hannah Pearl Utt starred, directed and cowrote the film without co-star Jen Tullock. Judith Light, Alec Baldwin, and Mandy Patinkin fleshed out the cast. Another Cannes breakout was “Rafiki,” which explored the relationship between two young women in Kenya. Other films with LGBTQ content included “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” “Vita and Virginia,” “Papi Chulo,” “Wild Nights with Emily,” “Adam,” “Giant Little Ones,” “Mapplethorpe,” “This is Not Berlin,” End of the Century” and the documentaries “5B,” “Cunningham” (opening in January) and “Halston.” Elsewhere, out Lena Waithe wrote the acclaimed “Queen & Slim” while a few gay characters livened up “Judy” starring an Oscar-bound Renee Zellweger. Here are my personal favorites from this year. 1. Parasite 2. The Irishman 3. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood 4. 1917 5. Portrait of a Lady on Fire 6. Booksmart 7. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 8. The Last Black Man in San Francisco 9. The Farewell 10. Knives Out TheGeorgiaVoice.com
ACTING OUT
Main photo: Cirque du Soleil’s “Volta” Inset: Director Ron Kellum COURTESY PHOTOS
Under the Big Top with Director Ron Kellum Jim Farmer
thing I’ve ever signed up for.”
Ron Kellum has worked in all sorts of fields – including broadcasting, performing, producing and directing. Now, though, he has taken on what he calls the most daunting task of his life – serving as an artistic director at Cirque du Soleil. The openly gay Kellum is in town now with Cirque’s new “Volta,” which has had a strong run since it bowed in the ATL earlier this fall.
It was an adjustment, however. “Literally you take on the responsibility for a $40 million show. Now you are in charge. It was overwhelming but you quickly learn how to deal with it,” he said.
He was recruited by Cirque four years ago. “I got married, went on a honeymoon and ran away with the circus,” he laughs. “My husband is still mad at me.” Kellum was exactly what the company was seeking. “They had been looking for directors with a more theatrical background to look at some of their older shows and bring a new face and voice to those,” he says. “When the call came it was good timing in my career and a new challenge, probably the most challenging TheGeorgiaVoice.com
“Kooza” was his first stint with the company. “It is one of our older projects, almost 15 years old,” he says. “It’s currently in the European market now but is coming back here. It’s the story of youth and innocence and how one finds their innocence and holds onto it. It’s poetic and timeless.” He knew just over a year ago that he would be working on “Volta” as his second show. Unlike “Kooza,” it was a new production – and Kellum liked the fact that it was in its infancy and he’d have a chance to bring some new touches. Described as urban and contemporary. “Volta” showcases never-before-seen under the Big Top acrobatics such as bikers hopping from rooftop
to rooftop, a hair suspension act, a double dutch rope skipping and a BMX park. “Volta” premiered in Montreal and has played almost a dozen additional cities since, with Los Angeles and Mexico on tap soon. It has been a learning curve going from a theater world to the life of Cirque. “When you come into a show, with a Broadway model, it is frozen. We have union guidelines and that show really doesn’t change. Once a Cirque show opens they keep it breathing and revolving. When an audience member sees it again later, we want them to look at it and feel that it’s different. My job is to determine how we can be more relevant. We don’t change the story or the integrity but we do look at the acts and where they can be.”
The top priority of his job is putting on the best show he can every night. On this particular day, he is dealing with a flu bug that is going around but is working with the cast and creative team – as well as some understudies – to determine how to
make sure it’s a seamless night of entertainment.
Among his tasks pre-Cirque, he was in Broadway versions of “Chicago” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and in regional tours of shows such as “Aida.” He’s also worked as a co-director for the “NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii,” coproducer for the “NFL Pro Bowl United Way Thanksgiving Halftime Show” and as a choreographer for “Iron Man 2.” In “Volta,” Kellum collaborates with a team of 70 artists, many of whom are LGBTQ. For him, it’s wonderful being in a climate that is so accepting of people.” I love it. It’s a magical place to work.”
SHOWING TIMES “Volta” Through Jan. 5 Under the Big Top at Atlantic Station
December 20, 2019 Columnist 21
EATING MY WORDS
Cheshire Road bridge is a refuge for some of Atlanta’s LGBTQ youth. PHOTO BY CLIFF BOSTOCK
Helping Our Homeless LGBTQ Youth Survive Cliff Bostock Lucia stabbed herself in the abdomen, recovered, and hid the huge scar behind tattoos. Robert, sitting inside the Ansley Starbucks, asked me for five dollars to eat. He said that he’d be willing to eat in front of me to prove that he needed food more than drugs. For the last few years, I’ve seen two other nameless young gay men camp at Starbucks during the day whenever it’s cold. One of them works at an Ansley business. Walking by Starbucks from LA Fitness, I recently saw a table piled with a gaudy but faded backpack that belongs to a brilliant man I know through a friend. He is couch-surfing and teetering on the edge of homelessness. He was not around. Guarding his backpack, I waited about 10 minutes for him to return. He didn’t. Many years ago, as I’ve written before, I had to make a decision every evening whether to eat
or spend my money getting drunk. I usually chose the latter. I was working, like many of the homeless still do, but I couldn’t get the money together for my own place. I was spared by homelessness by moving in with my wealthy but disapproving parents in Cobb County. I landed there soon after an incident with the police. On assignment with the AJC, I made a drunken U-turn on Cheshire Bridge Road to avoid a police blockade. The cops chased me under the bridge there. Thirty-plus years later, that bridge is a sad refuge for the homeless, including many LGBTQ youths. Some work, some sell and use drugs, some steal everything they can get their hands on. Everyone’s hungry. This epidemic of LGBTQ homelessness and hunger is not improving. It’s your time to make a New Year’s resolution to help end this cruelty that plagues America more than any other country in the western world. Please don’t tell yourself that these kids deserve
their suffering and that you won’t enable it by materially helping them. Suffering is suffering and it’s not your job to punitively measure out the help according to your own beliefs. That is sadistic, and it is exactly what the Trump administration is gleefully doing in its relentless efforts to tear down the social safety net, even caging refugee children. That is cruelty for cruelty’s sake. Robert, who offered to let me watch him eat to prove his sincerity, followed me out the door of Starbucks. I pointed at Vinny’s next door. “Seriously,” I said, “I’ll just give you the five dollars or I’ll buy you a meal in there.” He did indeed go for a couple of slices, thanking me and taking a seat outside the restaurant. He threw open a book of blank pages and began scribbling. I asked him what he was doing. “I’m a writer,” he said. I laughed, saying “Now I understand your situation perfectly.” Unlike me in those dark years, he had nowhere to go. I had blown off a generous advance for a
book I never wrote and my editor at the AJC sometimes sent someone to sit outside my door while I worked at home on an overdue story. All for alcohol. In a time when unprecedented income inequality, homelessness and hunger are ruining lives at resultingly unprecedented rates, you have a few good options for volunteering and contributing money to help our particularly vulnerable community of LGBTQ youths. You can contact Lost-n-Found Youth at lnfy.org. It offers multiple services partly financed by a thrift store. Another helpful nonprofit, highly focused on housing, is Rainbow House Coalition, rainbowhouseatl. org. Forget the politics that plagued these organizations briefly. They have never lost their focus on our homeless youths. Cliff Bostock is a longtime Atlanta restaurant critic and former psychotherapist turned life coach; cliffbostock@gmail.com.
22 Columnist December 20, 2019 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
50 TH ANNIVERSARY ATLANTA PRIDE CELEBRATION
OCT.10-12,2020 | atlantapride.org
BEST BETS Our Guide to the Best LGBTQ Events in Atlanta for December 12-January 16 Friday, Dec. 20
Bulldogs tonight.
The riotous camp classic “Christmas with the Crawfords” is based on the actual Christmas Eve live radio broadcast from Joan Crawford’s Brentwood mansion in 1949. Filled with exaggerated silver screen icons, this mash-up musical parody is a loving homage to Hollywood’s “Golden Age” and features appearances of TinselTown divas such as Judy Garland, Carmen Miranda, Gloria Swanson, Hedda Hopper, Ethel Merman, and the Andrews Sisters. “Christmas with The Crawford” is a delightful alternative to the usual saccharine fare offered during the holidays and is guaranteed to make anyone who sees it feel much better about their own family this time of year. 8pm, through Dec. 21 Out Front Theatre Company The legendary Libby Whittemore kicks off her tenth season of Libby’s at the Express with her annual holiday show “Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays and A Connie Sue Day Christmas.” She is joined by the hilarious Connie Sue Day (the 31st Lady of Country Music) for one of Atlanta’s favorite holiday traditions. 8pm, also on Dec. 22 The G8YTIES 80’s Dance Party is back playing all your favorite songs from ’80s artists such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Prince, Duran Duran, Dead or Alive, Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure and more. Come join the party and dance the night away as DJ Mike Pope will be spinning the greatest ‘80s hits including “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Like Prayer,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “Let the Music Play,” “We Got the Beat,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “West End Girl,” “You Spin Me Right Round” and more. 10pm – 3am Heretic Atlanta
Saturday, Dec. 21
Do you love books, sci-fi, and fantasy? Then join the OutWorlders Book Club. December’s book is “Old Man’s War” by John Scalzi. At 75 years old, John Perry joins the army, where he’s given a new body crafted from his original DNA and upgraded for battle. To defend Earth, he will fight battles far from home. 2 – 4pm Fulton County Library System,
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Fire up those brain cells – it’s time for Trivia Tuesdays with DeWayne Morgan. Morgan will be testing your knowledge of past and present events. Sure, maybe you know the members of the band ABBA, but will you know what African country has Cairo as its capital city? Well, your MC does and he’ll lead you through four levels, each one harder than the last. Think you have the game won? Not so fast. The last question of the night is where you can bet it all and win or sink to the bottom. Celebrate the win with a $50 bar tab! 8pm The Hideaway Atlanta
Wednesday, Dec. 25
EVENT SPOTLIGHT Friday, Dec. 20
It’s a holiday tradition! The Atlanta Ballet presents “The Nutcracker.” 8pm, through Dec. 24. Fox Theatre. (Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Ballet) Kirkwood Branch Take a magical, musical ride with Atlanta Freedom Bands as they go on “A Midnight Journey with Santa Claus.” At this year’s holiday concert, you can stowaway on Santa’s sleigh and take in the festivities and traditions going on around the globe. AFB’s 70-piece Concert Band will whisk you to the North Pole on The Polar Express for a peek into Santa’s workshop. AFB continues its Student Composer Residency Program with music from Christopher Kyle Green. An active musician in high school, he is now working on his master’s degree at Kennesaw State University. AFB will perform his new work, “The Sacred Pipe.” 8 – 9:30pm Church at Ponce and Highland Issac Escalante returns to Heretic Atlanta for a night of high-intensity dancing with hot men from all over the city! 10pm – 3am Join the Ladies of the ATL for Silent Night Silent Disco presented by Yvonne Monet! Four DJs plus a drag
show with Phoenix, Taylor Alxndr, Perka Sixx, and Mr. Elle Aye. 10pm – 3am My Sister’s Room Join us for the Women’s NCAA FINAL Watch Party with Hotlanta Volleyball Association! $1 off drinks and 20% off food (with wristband). 8pm – 11pm Woofs Atlanta
Sunday, Dec. 22
The legendary DJ Nina Flowers returns to Xion for the most intense after-hours experience you’ll ever see! She’ll serve Puerto Rican flare with her iconic look! Don’t miss this! 3am – 7am BJ Roosters Enjoy Heifer Review today with performers such as Myah Ross Monroe, Mona Lott, and Tristan Panucci Dupree. 1pm Midtown Moon
Monday, Dec. 23
Enjoy free pool and rotating DJs at
Christmas Day is always a day to see a movie. Check out “Bombshell” starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie, the story of a group of women who decide to take on Fox News head Roger Ailes. The Golden Globenominated film stars Kate McKinnon as a lesbian character. Various metro Atlanta theaters
Thursday, Dec. 26
Cirque du Soleil’s latest, “Volta,” continues its near-capacity run with shows. 4:30 and 8pm, through Jan. 5 Atlantic Station
Friday, Dec. 27
A holiday favorite is back. The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights, Holiday Nights returns this year with new features and crowd favorites – including new music and motion. Experience the Skylights Lounge in the Skyline Garden, several larger-than-life plant giants from Imaginary Worlds: Alice’s Wonderland display, and displays like the Ice Goddess and Tunnel of Light. Running through Jan. 11
Saturday, Dec. 28
The new Drag Queen Brunch happens today at Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours. Amber Devine will be hosting today. Afterward, DJ Shailon will be
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24 Best Bets December 20, 2019 TheGeorgiaVoice.com
BEST BETS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24
Phillip Rush Center Annex
spinning music to keep the party going. Noon – 2pm
Joe Whitaker Presents DILF “Strapped” with hot daddies in leather, jocks, and harnesses! A perfect way to celebrate the first Saturday of 2020! The Perry Twins return to the DJ booth from Los Angeles for a night of sexy music! 10pm – 3am Heretic Atlanta
Come celebrate that time of year where all you want to do is roast your chestnuts, stuff that turkey and don your queer apparel! WUSSY MAG and House of ALXNDR proudly present Unholy Night with special guests Evah Destruction (Dragula Season 3) and Lucy Stoole, and so many more performers! 9pm – 3am Heretic Atlanta
Sunday, Jan. 5
Resident DJ Karlitos is back at Xion after hours! 3am – 7am BJ Roosters
Sunday, Dec. 29
DJ Steven Redant returns to the decks at Xion for a morning of perfect after-hours therapy! 3am – 7am BJ Roosters
Award show fans, take note! Many LGBTQthemed films, including “Rocketman,” are nominated for Golden Globes tonight. 8pm
Don’t miss Queer AF, hosted by D’Knighten Day with special guests Aiden Zhane, Molly Rimswell, Dynasty St James with a dance party by DJ Amethyst. 9:30pm My Sister’s Room
The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children meets tonight. 7:30 – 9pm, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Main Floor Room 5
Monday, Dec. 30
Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. 6:30 – 8pm Charis Books and More
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Atlanta Eagle. 7pm – 3am For the second year in a row, New Year’s Eve revelers can celebrate with the Grammy® Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 8pm Byers Theatre at City Springs Blake’s on the Park hosts a Roaring Twenties party for New Year’s Eve. $100 gets you a five-hour drinking window, sweet treats and hors d’oeuvres. 8:30pm
TheGeorgiaVoice.com
Monday, Jan. 6
EVENT SPOTLIGHT Thursday, Jan. 2
Welcome to FEMME, every 1st Thursday with host Alex Suarez. Get ready for a night of pure queer fun. FEMME is dedicated to providing a safe space in Athens for queer folks, allies, and a range of entertainers to come together under one roof for an amazing night of performance, drag, and one big ass dance party. Performers include Louisiana Purchase, Brigitte Bidet, Ravion Starr St. James and TJ Maxxx. 9:30pm – 2am. Sister Louisa’s Church. (Photo via Facebook)
Wednesday, Jan. 1
Hosted by Katie Leikam on the first Wednesday of each month. The Better Business Luncheon as part of the Out Georgia Business Alliance is today. $20 includes an entree, beverages, tax, and tip. RSVP to Katie Leikam via email: katie@katieleikam.com. 11:30am Highland Bakery in Decatur Join Woofs Atlanta every Wednesday night for trivia. 8pm
Friday, Jan. 3
Shen Yun stops at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre tonight. As in previous seasons, Shen Yun 2020 will
feature an all-new program. Audiences will be transported into the land of the divine, with never-before-seen stories and legends dusted off from the annals of history. Dazzling costumes and dynamic animated backdrops seamlessly intertwine with the brand-new dances and orchestral compositions to bring to life the cultural essence of ancient China. The company aspires to create original performances that not only entertain, but also more deeply educate, enrich, and inspire. It is an experience that will take your breath away. 7:30pm, through Jan. 12
UPCOMING Saturday, Jan. 4
Atlanta Prime Timers meets today. 3pm
Wednesday, Jan. 8
Based on Alison Bechdel’s bestselling graphic memoir of the same name, the lesbian-themed “Fun Home” took Broadway by storm and cemented itself as one of the landmark musicals of our time. Alison dives into her past to trace the sequence of childhood events that made her the adult she is today. In doing so, she initiates a journey of reconciliation with her late father, whose mercurial and secretive personality kept the two apart at the precise moments they should have been closest. “Fun Home” is a wholly original musical about what happens when you finally see your parents through grown-up eyes. 8pm, through Feb. 16 Actor’s Express
Friday, Jan. 10 and Saturday, Jan. 11
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” fan favorite Manila Luzon brings her campy twist on glamour, silly cross-eyed expressions, and signature black and blonde wigs to Atlanta for two performances only. VIP tickets include a one-ofa-kind meet and greet after the performance. 8pm Out Front Theatre Company
December 20, 2019 Best Bets 25
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Gifts for a Delivery Well Done Melissa Carter
I never thought of myself as a truly competitive person, since in my profession I never felt an intense desire to defeat other radio personalities. I was always in favor of togetherness and enjoyed the fact that most people on the radio know each other behind the scenes despite being on separate stations. When I played sports I usually just focused on my performance and wasn’t concerned about my opponent. Yet what started as a thoughtful holiday gesture has turned me into a woman obsessed with not allowing others to have better results than I. The idea came from someone’s online post. They bought a collection of soft drinks and snacks, placed them in a box, and added a sign for delivery drivers to take something for their ride. The sign thanked them for making holiday shopping easy, and since I buy most of my gifts electronically nowadays I was going to use this idea on my own porch. I made a special trip to the grocery store for these items, which included some small Diet Coke bottles, various crackers, and a cookie. I put them in a wooden box, made the sign, and set it in front of my door ahead of a busy week of deliveries. The original post I saw included a video from their Ring, showing a driver visually celebrating the surprise snack. I too have a Ring and every time I had an alert someone was at the door, I scrambled to watch my unsuspecting FedEx or UPS elves grab their goods. However, no one seemed to pay attention to my gifts. I had posted what I was doing on my social media, which inspired others to do the same thing. Yet, they reported great success and I still had all my original groceries in that box. Not feeling satisfied I moved the box to what
26 Columnist December 20, 2019
I thought was a better position on the porch, placing it on top of another box in case these women and men were not understanding what my sign meant. Still no empty box. Instead of being filled with holiday cheer, I tried to figure out what these others were doing and how could I beat them? How could I get a celebratory dance on my camera? How could I be the envy of the neighborhood as trucks couldn’t wait to deliver Christmas presents to my door? How could I get a note of thanks from some hungry employee who got a much-needed surge of energy from what I had provided? Did I need to go back to the store for more expensive foods? Then I realized my undesired results likely came because of my motivation. The true meaning of a gift is to give without any concern for attention or recognition. In an age where we can report online about how our lives are going, our egos can easily get involved and give us a competitive complex. I stopped checking my Ring videos and knew the effort was enough, even if no one took a thing. And you know what? After a few days, the snacks slowly began to disappear. One of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta, Melissa’s worked for B98.5 and Q100. Catch her daily on theProgressive Voices podcast “She Persisted.” Tweet her! @MelissaCarter TheGeorgiaVoice.com
SOMETIMES ‘Y’
When Algorithms Throw Shade Ryan Lee
There are few things pettier and worse at keeping secrets than a social media algorithm. You’ll download an app to discreetly chat with guys you met on other platforms, only to have the program send a message to all of your friends, followers, and contacts notifying them, “Ryan has joined KiK! Would you like to add GloryHoleGuru as a friend?” Facebook is notorious for filling the “People You May Know” section with former onenight stands, exposing countless aliases, cover stories, and unmentioned spouses. If this random hook-up and I were expecting more from each other than sex, we probably would’ve exchanged real names, Mr. Zuckerberg.
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I recently clicked the heart icon to enroll in Facebook Dating, and over the weekend was suspiciously deluged with new friend requests. It felt odd because nothing in the dating guidelines mentioned friend requests as part of the courting process, and because among my wannabe buddies were a few halves of same-sex marriages and a homophobic pastor who nonetheless has keen fashion sense and an impeccable tailor. My initial take on Facebook Dating was of surprise that people apparently weren’t supposed to be using the app to find romantic partners all along. Whether in secret niche groups or particularly suggestive comment threads, it’s never seemed like it was that uncommon to find friends with benefits on Facebook. My next impression was how similar Facebook Dating felt to the dozens of other
apps people use to connect with potential partners, especially since the first guy to indicate his interest was someone who had previously hit me up on Jack’d. I reciprocated his admiration in both settings, and both times he responded with no response.
So I expect Facebook Dating to offer the same quality of interactions that we’ve grown used to since the days of Manhunt or Men4Now – which shouldn’t be read as a complaint considering how well gay online dating customs match my preference for short-term intimacy. However, a lot of the guys whose profile I’ve read seem to have higher hopes of finding Mr. Right on the world’s largest social network. Just as your Twitter timeline is probably more risqué than your LinkedIn profile, the ads on Facebook aren’t nearly as slutty as what I’m used to seeing on gay dating sites.
Sure, on every platform you come across a couple of liars who claim they’re looking for “No Hookups!” but such sanctimony seems to be the default setting for profiles on Facebook Dating. It is beyond my understanding how anyone could weigh the last 15 years of Facebook and assume it will offer potential partners with more substance or emotional maturity than what you’d find on any app specifically geared for gay dating. For all of the faults of Scruff and company, their users have never been marshaled by Russians to ruin a U.S. presidential election. Facebook Dating appears to be chlorine for a dating pool that’s largely characterized by booty calls and ghosting, so I get its appeal. But whether one is looking for love on Facebook or BarebackRT, it’s becoming wiser to trust the algorithm over the heart.
December 20, 2019 Columnist 27