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Contributors Editor Mike Fleming has covered Atlanta’s gay community for 15 years. He lives for wordplay, cross-fit, fashion, mid-century design, and his best friend HRH Truvy True DogGirl. He can eat two orders of edamame by himself, so get your own. Columnist Deven Green is an award-winning comedian. Her work includes the “Welcome to My Home” parodies, the satirical Betty Bowers – America’s Best Christian, OCCmakeup ads, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and her live music shows in brothels across America. Writer Mikkel Hyldebrandt and his husband live in Atlanta and hail from Denmark. Besides lifestyle and grooming product reviews for publications across the globe, he also handles marketing and communications at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Elijah Sarkesian is a freelance writer and editor living in Atlanta. He specializes in arts coverage with a focus on film. He sees just about every movie before it comes out, and blogs about it at outtakesatl.com. His work appears in multiple local media outlets. Travel contributor James Parker Sheffield is that random trans guy who’s been professionally queer in Atlanta for 15+ years. He believes “If you see something, say something,” especially if it involves indulgent food, interesting places or notable people.
8 SEPTEMBER 2016 • V2 I7
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SEPTEMBER 2016 • V2 I7
Contents
20 Cooked Up. Recipes by local gay chef Alexis Hernandez fill your home with soothing smells and your belly with fall flavors.
42
Blazer Boys. Here’s how the right jacket takes you from day to night, jeans to chinos, and everywhere the season goes.
32 Equality Cost. As some gay men settle into increased acceptance and rights, others bemoan the loss of gay culture.
24 School Ties. Three Atlanta guys usher us into college football season, including why their fandom is fierce long after graduation.
38 Perfect Pieces. Complete your fall look with these essential wardrobe staples and must-have accessories.
Editor’s Note There’s something extra satisfying to me about tearing off the calendar page that reveals September. As the humidity lifts and the heat moderates, the energy of the city, and in fact the whole year, shifts noticeably for the better, and gay Atlanta seems to celebrate having conquered summer. However the long hot months went for you personally, we made it to the other side, its gains and losses are a memory, and this issue of Goliath is ready to revel in it. From Labor Day to the Community Awards Dinner, and right through to Out on Film, we cover the local gay month with event previews you don’t want to miss. The Travel column takes a road tr ip throug h Maine to see the fal l leaves, and just the mention of wear ing jackets at nig ht tur ns our eye toward fal l fashion. Three features dive into the layered look s of blazers, key autumn accessor ies and f undamental wardrobe staples. Our thoughts this time of year also veer into our ever increasing options as gay men in a rapidly changing world. W hile some of us
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enjoy unprecedented freedoms, others bemoan the loss of gay culture. Our feature story looks at ways to get the best of both worlds. Goliath also solicits some of gay Atlanta’s best and brightest to help us look at our lives and look forward to the season. Union City K itchen chef Alexis Hernandez created our featured fall recipes, Alton Lane manager Calvin Fields gives us a tour of his custom-made clothier, and three local gay college football fans show us their school spirit. Appearances photos, Deven Green’s funny advice column, and a few nice surprises also await as you turn the pages. I hope you have even more fun reading it than we did putting it together for you. As always, send me your thoughts and ideas for future coverage.
Mike Fleming EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike@GoliathAtlanta.com
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G EVENTS
Agenda
G O LIATH
Must Attend Events
Labor Day Festivals The month starts with a long weekend, and Atlanta steps up to make it memorable. Gamers and geeks take over downtown for DragonCon September 2-5 with panels, parties and personalities. Get in on it at dragoncon.com. From August 30 – September 5, Black Gay Pride returns with events for LGBT people of color. Our sister magazine gets you started at davidatlanta.com.
The LGBT servers and volleyers of Atlanta Team Tennis Association host their annual tournament for gay players from across the country September 2 – September 5. DeKalb Tennis Center will see title contests for men and women’s singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles. Visit atta.org.
Project Q
Rob Hainer / Shutterstock.com
Peach International Tournament
Stride & Ride into Pride The countdown to Atlanta Pride has officially begun with lead-up events to raise funds and excitement for the October Festival. From dining out to benefit the festival all month, to riding a spin cycle to your favorite songs on September 29 at Vibe Ride, get in the spirit at atlantapride.org.
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Out on Film Atlanta’s 29th LGBT film festival brings eight days and 80-plus films to Midtown Art Cinema September 29 through October 6. Organizers promise to top themselves once again with a world-class film slate and even more celebrity guests than ever. Look for our interview in this issue of Goliath, and keep an eye on outonfilm.org.
The Illusionists High-tech magic takes on a time-traveling theme to realize your steam punk dreams. Seven of the world’s greatest magicians in multiple disciplines take you to new heights of illusions you won’t believe even after you’ve seen it with your own eyes. Your fantasies await at the Fox Theatre on September 30. Visit foxtheatre.org.
BeltLine Lantern Parade
FTK Sip & Shop
Get creative and join a mile-long crowd to light up the night. On September 10, starting at the intersection of Irwin and Sampson Streets, the Belt Line welcomes lanterns, glow-sticks, black-light accessories, and other luminescence. One caveat: No fire. The only thing allowed to be flaming is you. Check art.beltline.org for details.
The gays who bring you Toy Party offer a fall treat. On September 16, shop new fall fashions in the Bloomingdale’s Men’s Department with hosts For The Kid In All Of Us. Live DJ, cocktails and 25% discounts keep it hopping, and 10% goes to the cause. Visit forthekid.org.
Beyonce If you missed your first chance, fall into ‘Formation’ for the second Atlanta stop on Queen Bey’s tour for world domination. Mrs. Carter’s act is so big, beautiful, so beloved, so … Beyonce, that only the massive Georgia Dome can hold it all when she returns to town on September 26. Buy tickets via beyonce.com.
GOLIATHATLANTA.COM 15
G BUSINESS
G O LIATH
Working Formulas for Success
Up in Their Business By Matthew Holley
Local LGBT professionals of AGLCC honor their members, allies, and leaders during annual awards gala
A
tlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce gathers in the spirit of business networking and camaraderie on a regular basis, but when they prepare to do it in fancy dress ready to give out prestigious awards, it only means one thing: the annual AGLCC Community Awards Dinner. The posh gala, set this year for September 23 at the InterContinental Buckhead, awards excellence in LGBT-led business with trophies for Businessman of the Year, Business Woman of the Year, Corporate Ally, Guardian Angel, Vanguard and a Lifetime Achievement Award. The dinner is also a chance to celebrate the group’s year-round efforts to create economic opportunities through networking, professional development, educational programming and the promotion of member businesses and corporate partners, says Jack Kinley, AGLCC president. “[The chamber is] where members give back to the community by opening doors to jobs and contract opportunities that might not otherwise be available,” Kinley says. “My mom taught me that my good fortune is meant to be shared with others. That’s what this chamber does, and that’s why I am proud to be its president.” Affiliated companies and business owners actively work for LGBT inroads through jobs, contracting and political advocacy, and the 2016 awards dinner celebrates that. To keep things lively, it features emcee Tony Kearney, whose
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infectious personality – albeit in very different clothes – is also known as his drag alter ego, Wild Cherry Sucret. “Tony gives so much to the Atlanta community at large,” Kinley says. “In a sense, he’s the embodiment of the spirit of the awards and the chamber as a whole. We’re a professional networking group, but we’re a feisty social group too. I think people overlook that quality in the AGLCC. Tony will keep us on our toes. I’ve made a few $5 bets to see what I can get him to do to keep people guessing all night long.”
Kinley says each member embodies a spirit of service and desire to give back to AGLCC and other local organizations. “This is our chance to thank them,” he says. All in all, the 2016 AGLCC Community Awards Dinner, which also features a pre-reception and after-party, is shaping up to be a must-attend event of the fall season, a momentous moment Kinley is ready to share with all of gay Atlanta. “I’m excited that a broad cross-section of our membership is up for an award or two which they all so richly deserve,” Kinley says. “I think Atlanta will get a glimpse of what I see every day. … The night is really about the spirit of our members and encouraging them to keep up the good work.”
Kinley delights in revealing a few other details that set this year’s event apart from its predecessors. “Paul Plate, recently retired executive director of Positive Impact, will be honored with our Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to providing culturally informed mental health and wellness services for individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS,” Kinley says. “Additionally, Selisse Berry, executive director and founder of Out & Equal will be honored with our Vanguard Award in recognition of her work shaping LGBT-inclusive cultures and policies within global corporations.” More than the other categories and nominees – which this year include William Duffee-Braun, Goliath Atlanta’s co-publisher and David Atlanta’s development director, for Businessman of the Year – the night itself is specifically meant to honor all of the AGLCC members’ hard work.
Want to go? What: Where: When: Info:
2016 AGLCC Awards Dinner InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta 3315 Peachtree Rd NE Friday, September 23, 2016 atlantagaychamber.org
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G GROOMING
G O LIATH
Looking Sharp
Feed Your Face By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Great looking complexions are more than skin deep, and fall foods can maximize your inner beauty.
G
ood skincare that works solely on the surface of the skin is only half the battle. If you really want to have great-looking skin, you need to consider what you eat as well as how to take advantage of the season’s natural bounty. W hen it comes to your appearance, taking advantage of the autumn harvest can be good and good for you in multiple ways. After all, your skin is your body’s biggest organ, so it makes sense that what you eat is reflected from the inside all the way to the outside. With these fall foods to eat as well as foods to wear, your healthiest look gives “feeding your face” a whole new meaning.
Leafy Greens Spinach, kale, turnip and mustard greens, as well as salad mixes are excellent sources of Vitamins B, C, E. They also boast the more rare Vitamin K, which prevents and heals bruises and marks on the skin, and are rich sources of antioxidants that help prevent damage from sun exposure and pollution.
Go Nuts Nuts are masters at providing fatty Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids, the building blocks that help skin retain moisture. The protein in nuts also stimulates hair follicles for a fuller, stronger mane. Walnuts, pecans and other tree nuts are better than legumes like peanuts or cashews.
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Food to Wear While eating right can help you look beautiful from the outside in, foods from the autumn harvest are also great in homemade fall facemasks. Here’s a recipe for one that moisturizes and leaves skin silky. Ingredients: 2 tsp Steamed, Baked or Microwaved Pumpkin 2-3 Large Grapes 1 Tbsp Grated Apple 1 Tbsp Honey 1 Egg Yolk Sprinkle of Oat Flour or Oatmeal Oil It Up To ensure elasticity and bounce by supporting the skin’s collagen fibers, the best oils are pure, not processed, so go for anything cold-pressed or “virgin.” Olive and coconut oils are rich in nutrients for the skin, and Avocado is a miracle fruit with fatty Omega-9 acids that closely mimic the oils naturally occurring in our skin. Also consider fish oils rich in Omega-3.
Fruits & Berries High levels of Vitamin C keep the skin firm, and berries pack antioxidant power to prevent skin destruction on a cellular level. Blueberries and cranberries are the most super SuperFood berries, and while you’ll want to keep your apple a day routine, add more exotic fruits like kiwi for even higher antioxidants.
Blend everything except oats in a food processor or mash with mortar and pestle. Add only enough oat for consistency. Apply and leave for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. You can also apply to eyes only with cotton pads and rinse after about 10 minutes. Adapted from AlkalineFoods.net. For additional masks for your specific skin type, search recipes that use peas, carrots and rosehips, all more plentiful during autumn.
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GOLIATHATLANTA.COM 19
G FOOD
G O LIATH
Eat This
Fill Up on Fall Flavors By Mike Fleming
Pork Loin with Thyme & Onions “If you don’t have anything to flavor your meat in your kitchen that you normally use, I invite you to try olive oil, salt and any herb you have in your kitchen. … This dish is very elegant if you cut it on a cutting board and set it on the table for people to enjoy family style.” 1 ½ lb of pork tenderloin ½ tsp of kosher salt ½ tsp of freshly ground black pepper 1 Tbsp of dried thyme 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil 2 Granny Smith apples, chopped 3 cups red onions, chopped 1 Tbsp sugar Preheat oven to 425 F. Mix salt, pepper and thyme in a bowl. Rub oil mixture over entire pork tenderloin. In a bowl, toss sugar, thyme and onions. In a casserole dish, layer apples then onion and place tenderloin on top. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of salt/thyme/sugar mixture over pork. Bake 15 minutes, then lower heat to 325 F. Cook for 35-45 minutes to internal temp of 150 F. Remove from oven, cover with foil, and allow to rest before slicing.
Gay Atlanta Chef Alexis Hernandez seduces us into autumn with warm, hearty recipes and homegrown flavors
D
on’t tell the in-town-only loyalists, but several of their gay brethren are cheating on Midtown. We’re regularly venturing out, not quite OTP but brazenly close, to experience the culinary delights of Union Hill Kitchen and its head foodie Alexis Hernandez. Far from repentant, we’re not sorry one bit. Taste the stick-to-your-ribs meals that Hernandez serves, and you’ll make the short trek to Chamblee a regular habit yourself.
Known for stints on The Next Food Network Star and Café CNN, Hernandez brings his Cuban-American heritage, culinary cred, and organic farming experience to the table at Union Hill. “I feel passionate about understanding the compositional characteristics of ingredients and how they interact with each other when heat is applied to them in the kitchen,” Hernandez says.
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Braised Brussels Sprouts with Bacon 1/2 lb of brussels sprouts 6 strips of bacon 1 medium red onions chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon Kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh black pepper 1 8oz can of chicken stock
His distinct combination of experiences and flavors creates fresh, hearty results that are home-cooking approachable. You can’t bring Hernandez home to cook it for you – sorry fellas, he’s already married – but you can bring some of his knowhow into your own kitchen.
Chop bacon into cubes and saute over medium heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels. Leave 2 tablespoons bacon fat in pan, add olive oil and over medium high heat saute sprouts for 8-10 minutes allowing them to get crispy brown. Add stock, bring to boil, then simmer covered for 5-8 minutes until tender. Plate sprouts and sprinkle bacon bits. Serve immediately.
“My goal is to educate and help people experience more confidence in the kitchen by making my cooking knowledge accessible to others,” he says.
Cumin Scented Black Beans “Spice up your own from-dried black beans, or don’t be ashamed of the unseasoned canned variety.”
With a few of Hernandez’s best recipes, hers how you can make a warm, gratifying dinner to wrap up a crisp fall day.
Want to go? What: Where: When: Info:
Union Hill Kitchen 5336 Peachtree Road, Chamblee Tuesdays through Saturdays, lunch and dinner Unionhillkitchen.com
1 ib cooked or 2 cans unseasoned black beans 4 Tbsp olive oil 2 Tbsp dried oregano 3 chopped garlic cloves 1 Tbsp cumin seeds 2 Tbsp soy sauce Over medium-low heat, saute cumin seeds and olive oil for 2 minutes or until fragrant. Reduce heat, add oregano and garlic, cook 4 minutes. Add soy sauce and canned or cooked beans, bring to boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
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GOLIATHATLANTA.COM 21
G FASHION
G O LIATH
What to Wear
All About You By Mike Fleming Clothier Alton Lane keeps eye on fall trends with customizable ways to make them truly your own.
T
here are guys at every gay Atlanta gathering who just look more polished than everyone else in the room. It’s not luck. The sharpest dressed men are wearing custom looks, and there’s a new shop in town that wants to make you one of them. Imagine it. The quintessentially perfect fit. Exactly the detailing you want. Maybe even an added flourish that’s out of the box for some, but uniquely and entirely you. You may think that custom-tailored clothes are reserved for the super rich, but Alton Lane and its local showroom manager Calvin Fields say think again.
Alton Lane co-founder Colin Hunter (left) with Atlanta Showroom Manager Calvin Fields.
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One of gay Atlanta’s own, Fields helped open Alton Lane’s newest location in Buckhead earlier this year.
The store’s by-appointment vision is already catching on in Manhattan, D.C., Dallas, Boston and other strategically chosen cities.
Five Fall Favorites By Alton Lane co-founder, Colin Hunter
“We’ve crafted an experience that’s custom-tailored – literally – to our customers on an individual basis,” Fields says. “From the second you walk in, you’ll feel like the shop is your very own wardrobe lounge.”
1 2
Layers “Whether a three-piece suit or a blazer over a thin sweater, layering gives you versatility and adds dimension to your style.”
Collars, cuffs, buttons, and even the thread are all chosen by you, with experts on hand to guide first-timers. Whether you know exactly what you want or need help deciding, you’re guaranteed the feeling that only an exquisite custom fit can give. And it’s more than tape measures and chalk these days. Alton Lane features a 3-D body scanner that captures 300 measurements in 30 seconds. The results are one-of-a-kind, according to the showroom manager. “We’re using classic styling and cutting-edge technology to design a garment that fits your body perfectly,” he says. “Most of our customers become long-standing clients after they see themselves in the mirror for the first time with the pieces we’ve designed just for them.” Shirts start at $99, and suits at $595, but the allabout-you experience – including a the bourbon bar during appointments – is priceless. While you calculate your next move, Fields provides the store’s best fall fashion tips direct from its cofounder.
Cashmere “Beyond sweaters, an unstructured cashmere blazer will keep you looking sharp and feeling comfortable at the office, watching a game, or driving with the top down to see some fall leaves.”
3 4 5
Flannel Suiting “Flannel is one of our favorite fall fabrics. The soft, hearty fabric keeps you warm from late fall through winter, and the finish offers unparalleled luxury and style.” Sportcoat Season “Fall is all about the sport coat. From tweeds to cashmere, subtle plaids to bold windowpanes, a great blazer paired with chinos or jeans is the perfect casual fall look.” Accessorize “Solid knit ties are perfect for fall. We offer them handmade in Italy in seasonally appropriate shades that work with solid sweaters and checked shirts.”
Alton Lane is open by appointment Tuesdays through Thursdays at 24 East Andrews Drive NW. Visit altonlane.com
GOLIATHATLANTA.COM 23
G SPORTS
Play Hard
G O LIATH
Smells like Team Spirit By Mike Fleming
To these gay Atlanta alumni, fall means college football season, and they’re ready to fly their colors.
T
he arrival of crisper air and leaves starting to turn means different things to different gay men in the ATL. To some, it means Saturdays filled with tight pants and rear slapping amidst the roar of a crowd – with nary a gay bar in sight.
We rounded up three local gay football fans who hung onto their team loyalty as they built their post-graduate lives in Atlanta – whether college was in Atlanta, just north of here, or way north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Come celebrate the season of tailgates and tight ends with these great guys and their undying school spirit.
Andy McNeil Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Chad Buckles University of Tennessee Volunteers
Alex Brown University of Michigan Wolverines
How would you characterize Tech fans? We all have: a) studied hard, b) worked hard, c) partied hard, or d) all the above. Clearly, d) is the Yellow Jacket way!
What’s your favorite thing about fall football? The fans dressed in Orange and White singing along to “Rocky Top” played by The Pride of the Southland Marching Band, the band forming the Power “T,” and the Vols running through the “T” as they enter the stadium.
What’s your favorite UofM fall memory? I think of the way Ann Arbor would fill up on the morning of every game day and the walk my friends and I took from our house through campus, stopping with friends and at parties along the way to the stadium.
What does your alma mater mean to you? Family time growing up and my dad teaching me to respect the other team you are playing. In the SEC, it’s a mutual respect each team has for each other. Hearing our band playing the opponents fight song during the Pre-Game ritual always reminds me to respect their team.
What does your alma mater mean to you? I wanted to attend University of Michigan my whole life. I still think of my years there as some of the best of my life. I did a lot of growing up and met some fantastic people that I’m still friends with today.
What lessons from GT do you still carry today? The academics were intense, but I also played rugby, was in Reck Club, participated in student government, and many other activities. To enjoy and be relativity successful at this crazy roller coaster we call life, GT challenged me to try new things. In what ways do you express your school spirit? Being on campus at least two days a week coaching/teaching certainly facilitates my school spirit. When I’m not on campus or in Atlanta, I’ll track down the “go-to” GT place to watch the game in whatever city I’m in. What’s your favorite fall football memory or team moment? I had the privilege of being elected Driver of the Ramblin’ Reck my senior year. It leads the entire football team before every home football game. Driving the Reck through a banner, loaded with cheerleaders to a stadium full of fans was such a surreal experience every time I did.
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In what ways do you express your school spirit? I always wear orange on Friday and Saturdays. If I am attending a game, I play “Rocky Top” over and over. For fans of other SEC schools, after they hear that song twice, they have usually heard it enough. What is it about college football? This is the best time of the year. My close friends represent so many different schools. I enjoy the time we spend talking about who is playing well and who is going to win. It’s one reason I love living in Atlanta.
What do you still carry from school with you? I remember half of my time there being afraid to be out… In my 3rd year, I did come out in my fraternity and found that no one really cared. It was the first time I had the ability to live authentically without fear. What’s your favorite fall football memory? The first time I went to a game and the sheer size of the crowd. The stadium itself could hold the population of the small town where I grew up about 30 times. I never saw that many people in one place, and I remember thinking how amazing it was.
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G TRAVEL
G O LIATH
Explore
Your Maine Event By James Parker Sheffield
Rustic charm, great food, gay-friendly destinations, and postcard-perfect fall leaves make this winding trip the perfect autumn giveaway
M
aine wasn’t originally on my list of must-visit gay getaways. When a work trip promised me Portland in October, my initial response was, “Oh, that Portland.” Fortunately, it turns out Maine is one of the most LGBT-friendly destinations on the map, and beyond picturesque in fall. Maine offers a unique rocky coastline, world-renowned parks, quaint storefronts, and fantastic locally sourced food. The spectacular fall foliage peaks around mid-October, and Maine is a premier location to enjoy the colors. If you’re itching for a new adventure, or just need Mother Nature’s Xanax during a tumultuous election year, Maine is just what the doctor ordered. You can get a well-rounded view of the foliage and waterways with just three-to-four days at your disposal. Delta offers daily, nonstop flights to Portland, and car rental agencies are available at its small airport. You’ll want to drive to make the most of your time and the scenery. Now all you need is a route. That’s what this Portland - Bar Harbor - Rockland - Portland itinerary is all about. Thank us later. Portland is Maine’s most populated city. It also features the state’s largest Pride celebration, held each year over the third weekend in June. With vast offerings for tourists, you can do anything from kayaking excursions to shopping to ghost and vampire tours.
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For craft beer enthusiasts, Portland is home to more than a dozen local breweries. As a specialty for the fall, Shipyard offers perfectly spiced pumpkin ale on tap that’s not to be missed. The gay nightlife scene includes Styxx and Blackstone’s, which is as close to a leather bar as you can get while standing in a Norman Rockwell painting.
port here, so you might even get lucky and meet an attractive sailor or two.
If you’re looking to outfit yourself appropriately – and who isn’t? – the L. L. Bean flagship store is 20 minutes from Portland’s city center. Stock up on life-lasting flannel-lined khakis, cableknits and outerwear.
By this point, if you haven’t been on a boat, it’s time. There are few things to make you feel more grown up or important than hanging out on a sailboat in New England. Rockland is known for its amazing sunrises, but if you miss that in favor of an evening sail featuring champagne and Maine lobster, like Captain Jack’s Lobster Boat, absolutely no one will blame you.
When you’re ready, hit the road for a three-hour drive north on I-95. You might be tempted to take Route 1, but don’t! It would double your drive time to Bar Harbor. Once there, the jaw-dropping natural wonders include Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. There’s no shortage of hiking, biking or rock climbing in the area, and the views are breathtaking. If you prefer a bit of structure, tours are offered via bus, boat and plane, and if you’re after a special experience with nature, whale-watching trips and lobster boat excursions are available daily. In addition to the parks in the area, Bar Harbor offers great waterfront shopping and dining. Cruise ships and other large vessels regularly
After getting your fill, head south to Rockland via Route 1. This two-hour drive travels along a gorgeous rocky coastline. Once there, Rockland offers ample options for exploration of the area’s natural surroundings and history.
Be sure to check out the Maine Lighthouse Museum and the Maine Center for Contemporary Art. “Interesting” souvenirs include the gift shops’ gummy lighthouse candies. Funny thing about those: they don’t look like lighthouses. I won’t ruin the surprise, but trust me, your gays will love them. Route 1 reconnects to the interstate, and the drive back to Portland is about an hour and a half. Make the trip next month, and you’ll hit the airport relaxed, well fed, and ready to deal with the realities of Election Day.
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32 SEPTEMBER 2016 • V2 I7
EQUAL
LITY Rising By Mike Fleming
Assimilation into the mainstream is largely celebrated, but is it erasing gay culture? Only if we let it.
A
s the equality floodgates seem to open after decades of slow leak, the gay landscape is changing. Now unprecedented gains are creating new challenges and spurring a debate that has the potential to usher in a New Normal if we conduct it wisely. Marriage equality, adoption rights and the right to serve openly in the military are taken by some as automatic passes to join the mainstream and leave gay identity behind. “I look forward to the day being gay is no more significant than being left-handed,” wrote Evan Urguhart in Outward. “It will not dictate to which cities they move or what cultural products they consume. They will lack that inner sense of their unique vulnerability or unworthiness that you and I still have to deal with.” Others mourn the loss of queer culture that made being gay special, unique and worth saving. Not to mention, they argue, that “straight culture” perpetuates a system that caused the very sexual and gender-based oppression that we worked so hard to overcome. “In the rush to embrace traditional relationships as defined by heterosexual marriage, the gay community is discarding the very sexuality that the Supreme Court has validated,” writes Patrick Moore in Beyond Shame: Reclaiming Radical Gay Sexuality. To complicate matters, others of us are left cold to any positive changes by the remaining lack of rights. It’s hard to celebrate progress with issues still on the table like employment protections, access inequities within our own community, bigoted state legislators literally out to get us, and rampant cases of hate and discrimination. Good Problems to Have At first glance, it would seem as if we’re left with two distinct sides of an intimidating fence. Those on one side dive headlong into full assimilation of heteronormative traditions, while those on the other reject those standards whole cloth in efforts to keep gay life, well, gay.
HBO’s ‘Looking’ depicted a modern group of gay friends and lovers balancing love and life, navigating a balance of serious issues and queer celebration.
To listen to some argue, you’re either for equal status within the status quo, or anti-establishment. Period. You get married, buy a house in the suburbs and have babies, or you think that those who do have lost the very essence of what queer culture has rallied to attain: It’s own identity. But it’s harder – and ultimately more beneficial – to admit that we’re not one or the other, to work toward compromise in the middle to enjoy the best of both worlds. But it’s very American of us not to. As a country, we love to pick sides. Heroes and villains. Black or white. Love and hate. Good vs. evil. All or nothing. You’re either with us or against us. A Clinton candidacy isn’t nearly as interesting to vote for without a Trump to vilify and vote against (and sadly for some, vice versa). And yes: Though perhaps decreasingly, many Americans still salivate over a good Gay vs. Straight rager. While “they” say gays would infect straight society with immoral homosexual and transgender cooties that threaten their very way of life, “we” snub their lives in return. The Us vs. Them dynamic rears its head amidst our own, too. Even in tragedy, the community was divided when 49 LGBT and allied partiers were killed by an emotionally conflicted gunman in an Orlando nightclub. Some celebrated a dramatic shift in public perception that reported the news matter-of-factly, without sensationalizing the gay angle. Others were just as disappointed that coverage wasn’t “gay enough” and ignored LGBT issues in the case.
sadness – yep, it was both, and no one had to choose – some of us missed an opportunity to see both sides and meet in the middle. Ultimately, it’s a great problem to have when you’re battling for how you want your inclusion represented, instead of railing against what was once the norm in news coverage involving gay people: Ignoring the Orlando killings while over-noticing other mass killings. That still leaves room to grow, for news outlets and the general public to acknowledge that the shooter’s acceptance of gay people, perhaps even of himself, could be looked at more closely. It’s that very shame we have to conquer to avoid hate crimes against LGBT people. But the question remains: Does acceptance mean blind assimilation? Do we have to lose what’s great about gay life to have it all? The question rose a couple of times between characters on – speaking of love-it-or-hate-it binaries – the HBO series Looking. Richie: Sometimes you have to leave things behind so that you can move forward. Patrick: And sometimes you don’t, and you get to have both.
Even in ways that we came together, some wanted to choose up sides and fight. In our anger and
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‘Pssst: Stop It.’ Gay infighting knows no bounds. Ask a dinner table of gay friends for their views on drag, open relationships, racism within the gay community, bottom shaming, having children, non-profit spending, public displays of affection, inequities in healthcare access, or hell, even mixed prints. Voices will raise. Then ask those same friends about whether gay acceptance means blind assimilation. Heels will dig in. Now ask the same questions at a larger, more diversified LGBT gathering. Fur might fly. Pssst. Stop it. We don’t have to choose sides. The emerging gay Renaissance Man can have it all. And that goes double when it comes to gay identity and equal civil rights. Want to get married? You now literally have every right to. Want to eschew the system? Please do. Maybe you want to define your relationship outside legal parameters. Maybe you want to have a wedding, but not in a house of worship. Maybe you want to have it in a church, but one without walls. And it’s not just marriage. Move to a better school district, or alternately vow to stay in town forever. Catch a circuit DJ at Jungle Atlanta and an EDM favorite at Terminal West. Read your gay glossy – hint – as well as mainstream newspapers, respected business journals and
silly BuzzFeed blogs. Network with the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and have lunch with professionals in your local trade organization. Join the gay softball league and your alumni association’s football boosters. We can have the best of both the gay and straight worlds. While having the same choices as everyone else is good, making them your own is even better. Gay culture was founded on a fight for variance and diversity, a battle for justice, and right to be whatever and however we choose in or out of conventional parameters. That doesn’t have to change just because some of us also want a Subaru and a white picket fence. Even if assimilation continues at the rapid pace we’re already experiencing, it’s a safe bet that our very gayness will persist. It will be there as we fight for what remains unsettled. Maybe gay identity will morph to suit new needs. Maybe mainstream and the gay cultures will change each other for the better. Being gay doesn’t have to stop meaning being fabulous. Rather than doing old things in old ways, you can keep doing everything in new ways, all ways, and as determined by each one of us and his personal set of priorities. Keep your gay identity and your demands for social justice, as well as the trappings and perks of equality. Have it all. Nothing is stopping you. All options are on the table. That’s a good thing.
Culture Wars HBO’s Looking divided gay viewers, but its feature-length finale at least tacitly acknowledged the gay assimilation dilemma and kept the public conversation going. Patrick: It’s so easy to disregard all of this being able to get married stuff. In a few years it’s just going to be normal, a way of life, but for right now, for us and for all those people who came before us, the people who actually had to struggle against something, it’s pretty fucking incredible. I can’t help but feel a little validated, even though I know we shouldn’t need that validation. Richie: I guess sometimes even though you feel you shouldn’t need something, doesn’t mean you don’t.
Register For 1
Register at AidsWalkAtlanta.com as a Walker, Runner, Team or Volunteer.
3 34 SEPTEMBER 2016 • V2 I7
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Recruit your friends, family & coworkers to join you!
Your support helps AID Atlanta and participating agencies expand our collective impact throughout the state of Georgia in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
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GOLIATHATLANTA.COM  35
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Cultural Pursuits
Just a Good Ol’ Dad By Elijah Sarkesian
TV legend Tom Wopat discusses hitting Out on Film, and the heart of gay love story ‘Fair Haven’ appeal of the role was honoring his own father, and people like him, who have trouble with non-traditional others, like sons who are gay – or in his case, who happen to become actors. He does it by portraying his character honestly. “I was really channeling my father a lot,” Wopat remembers. “He had pretty closely held beliefs and views. He was a practicing Catholic. But at the same time, he was intelligent and empathetic, so he had an open mind – eventually – to what came around.”
Tom Wopat in Fair Haven
T
om Wopat has come a long way from Hazzard County. Since playing Luke Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard. Now Atlantans will get to see him in a new light in Fair Haven, playing as part of this year’s Out on Film Festival. Wopat has spent an illustrious career performing on screen and stages across the country. He earned two Tony nominations on Broadway, and he also performs as a bluegrass musician. In Fair Haven, he plays a family farmer struggling to relate to his gay son after sending him through conversion therapy. For Wopat, the appeal of the film came from growing up in a culture rooted in generational businesses. “I grew up in the Midwest,” the actor tells Goliath. “My father was a dairy farmer, and his father was a dairy farmer, and half my uncles were dairy farmers, so… I think the kind of insular quality of that kind of culture also resonates with me.” But for Wopat, the relevancy of the film on a personal level, and its heart as a tolerance and acceptance story, goes even deeper. In part, the
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Wopat’s performance is an indelible part of Fair Haven, but it’s only part of what makes it a touching film. Two young men fall in love during the film and struggle against forces trying to keep them apart. Newcomers Michael Grant and Josh Green play them superbly, and Wopat’s fellow ‘80s Hunk Gregory Harrison plays a counselor. For his part, Wopat has nothing but praise for everyone who worked on the film, both in front of and behind the camera. “This is a small, independent film, but there was nothing small in their endeavor, and in the short time I worked with them, I really grew to really respect what they had in mind, and their vision for the film,” Wopat says. “When I finally saw the film a few months ago, I was blown away. I thought it was really beautiful. I thought it was evocative. “I think that they exceeded their expectations, and people should see it,” he adds. “I think it’s valuable. I think Michael’s [Grant, the lead as Wopat’s son] performance is terrific. I think everyone in it did a really nice job, and I’m super proud to be part of it.”
Want to go? What: Where: When: Info:
Fair Haven at Out on Film Midtown Art CinemaE September 29 – October 6 outonfilm.org
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GOLIATHATLANTA.COM 37
G FASHION
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Head toToe By Mike Fleming
We look your layers up and down with 2016 essentials that keep your fall fashion on trend and on point.
After a particularly long, particularly hot summer, it’s almost time for the sweet relief of layering season, guys. It can’t come too soon for gay fashionistos ready to triple our wardrobe options. Counting the days to cooler temps will go easier for you if you have some well-conceived daydreams and shopping to bide your time. Imagine yourself in these must-have pieces, and make plans by shopping for them now.
Long Bomber Say hello to your trench replacement and blazer substitute. Get it in an array of colors, and dress it up or down. All Saints ‘Holden’, $268 allsaints.com
Fitted Baseball Caps Elevate the look of your snap-back trucker hat without sacrificing its ease. Find your custom size, then buy several colors. Bird Cap, $29 each mountainhighoutfitters.com
Distressed Denim Shirt Worn alone or open as jacket, this could be your most versatile best friend this fall. Blue Bleach Denim Western Shirt, $65 us.topman.com
Gray Jeans They’re already popping up in Midtown, and they will fully blow up when color palettes come into play.
Fall Blazer If you buy one thing for fall, make it a sport coat. Goes on and off, goes with jeans or slacks, and goes everywhere. Tweeds, cords or wool-cotton-poly blends. Weekend Jacket, $147 Uniqlo.com
Straight-fit 1969, $55 gap.com
Vest The puffy staple that’s been around comes into its own, but this year with brethren like this fleece version with reflectivity features.
Funky Socks Give them a little flash where they least expect it. A well-conceived punch of color, matching or so very not matching, goes over well at even most dressy occasions. Happy Socks (Most with Optional Matching Boxer Briefs) $12 pairs or $45 box sets happysocks.com
Fleece Vest, $120 nike.com
Suede Desert Boots Full-on 1970s chukkas are back in every color, and you need at least one pair to complete your look. Jack & Jones Gobis, $81 asos.com
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FALL’S RUSTIC
TRAPPINGS & TRIMMINGS By Mike Fleming
If the clothes make the gay outdoorsman, these auxiliary fittings and fixtures make you autumn’s nature trail boss. Something about the season’s first nip in the air draws even the most ardent city boy outside. As the approaching season begins to fall over Atlanta, we accentuate your outside adventures with accessories as sharply focused on stylish form as practical function.
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Flask Even if you have picnic wine and morning brew, it never hurts to have a nip on hand, even better in this outdoorsman-inspired design.
Hiking Boots The right pair will last forever and go everywhere you go. Go fall backpacking by day, and shine them up for a hike across town to an event that night.
Kikkerland Compass Canteen, $30 kikkerland.com
Merrell Wilderness USA Backpacking Boot, $260 merrell.com
Gold/Brown Aviators You love your Warby Wayfarers for summer. That’s fine. Add these goldrimmed bad boys to your mix and cut the white-light glare of those fall skies. Karoo Gazelle GLD, $149 Ponce City Market or GoKaroo.com
Tech Thermos A throwback necessity with a modern update that keeps your pumpkin spice latte hot all day. Displays beverage temperature and plugs into your car’s power socket.
Picnic Backpack Outings for a day or just a few hours are one of fall’s big perks. Surprise him with everything you need to make a picnic great. This one includes blanket, flatware, cutting board, durable carafe and wine glasses.
Retro Heated Travel Mug, $50 sharperImage.com
Brookstone Picnic at Ascot for 2 Backpacl, $95 brookstone.com
Statement Piece Seal your reputation for having an edge when your classic-dial timepiece with the kitsch factor catches the light and the glint catches his eye. Filson Smokey Bear 1944 Ltd. Edition Proceeds help fight forest fires $1,000 filson.com
Styling Rain Gear Nothing kills an outdoor autumn moment like rain – unless you’ve stowed the highest-ranked rain gear on the market, with racing stripes and a money-back guarantee to keep you dry. Marmot Essence & PreCip Jackets, $200 marmot.com
Outdoor Blanket Picnic, festival or camping, fleece on one side keeps you comfy, armored underneath keeps you dry, and the fold-and-carry design keeps you fabulous. Eno Launchpad Double Blanket, $85 REI.com
GOLIATHATLANTA.COM 41
G FASHION
TRAIL BLAZERS G O LIATH
By Mike Fleming
Sport coats sharpen up, dress down, and go everywhere you want to be as the go-to garment for fall
L
ike its men, the South can be a little tricky during the transitional seasons. A cold breeze when you’re getting ready for work begets a warm front by lunch and a driving rain by nightfall. That’s how blazers became a gay fashionisto’s best friend in fall. Day or night, jeans or slacks, or making a statement all its own, your versatile sport coat has what you need all season. Grab your jacket and come out to see it in action.
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The year’s fall color of choice, pair wine with copper and navy to be ahead of the curve.
A bold colored blazer just took your everyday appeal to a whole new level.
Contrasting accents take monotones from humdrum to hot damn. Throw that navy standard over bright pants, grab a scarf, and go from day to date.
The wine hue pops up again, this time in velvet to up the ante on club night.
A fall-hued blazer is the difference between I’m Ready for Work and I Mean Business.
EQUALITY LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP END DISCRIMINATION Visit the Georgia Equality Booth at: BLACK GAY PRIDE ATLANTA September 2-3 ATHENS PRIDE FESTIVAL September 4 SOUTH GEORGIA PRIDE FESTIVAL VALDOSTA September17 ATLANTA PRIDE FESTIVAL October 8-9 SAVANNAH PRIDE FESTIVAL October 22
Learn How You Can Support The Work To End Discrimination WWW.GEORGIAEQUALITY.ORG
on sale noW! Jerusalem House Presents
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sat. Oct. 22 | 7 pm to midnight Costume contest with $3,000 in cash and prizes W atlanta – midtown More Food! More Bars! More Friends! more Fun! CoMpliMentary CoCktails: tito’s Handmade Vodka
DanCe Floor Beats: DJ Bill Berdeaux 21 anD over / iD requireD
www.jerusalemhouse.org/halloween
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RUCK & MAUL Huddling together around an oblong ball is nothing new for gay sports fans, but when it comes to rugby and terms like ruck, maul and pitch, Atlanta’s LGBT squad is in a league of its own. That’s where Rugby 101 comes in. Atlanta Bucks kicked off their fall season with an August 6 skills session to welcome new members and reacquaint veterans. Visit atlantabucksrugby.org.
Photos by Russ Youngblood
46 SEPTEMBER 2016 • V2 I7
Find full albums on Facebook:
/GoliathAtlanta
GOLIATHATLANTA.COM  47
G Appearances
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MAKING A SPLASH The charitable guys at Jerusalem House had us at “Pool Party,” but they insisted on upping the ante to ensure a crowd for their ‘Splash’ party on August 21. Beats by DJ Mike Pope, complimentary food and drinks, and sexy guest bartenders made the event irresistible. The fundraiser at a Midtown residence benefited the organization’s ongoing efforts for HIV Housing in Atlanta. Visit jerusalemhouse.org.
Photos by James Hicks
Find full albums on Facebook:
/GoliathAtlanta
48 SEPTEMBER 2016 • V2 I7
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50 SEPTEMBER 2016 • V2 I7
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G Appearances
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GREAT ‘TASTE’ The annual Taste of Life gala with Living Room Atlanta raised the standard on “good taste” on August 20. The event at Mary Gay House featured curated food, wine and craft beer selections, as well as a luxury silent auction. This year’s honoree was Joining Hearts’ president Wes Berry, and proceeds benefited Living Room’s HIV housing programs. Visit livingroomatl.org
Photos by James Hicks
Find full albums on Facebook:
/GoliathAtlanta
52 SEPTEMBER 2016 • V2 I7
YOU ARE INVITED TO
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G CONTRIBUTOR
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WELL HELLO.
IT’S DEVEN GREEN DEVEN GREEN is an award-winning comedy performer. You know her from the “Welcome To My Home” parodies, as the satirical Betty Bowers – America’s Best Christian, OCCmakeup ads, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and performing her live music shows in brothels across America. She has two cats named “Who” and “When.” DevenGreen.com
ReedDavisPhotography.com
Dear Deven: I think my boyfriend loves his cat more than he loves me! -Cat Scratch Fever He does. But you are first in second place! Dear Deven: We were dinner guests, and the host kept feeding his dog table scraps. I wanted to scream. What do I tell him? -Animal Farm A vet once told me, “Table scraps can make your dog beg and only want human food. You really don’t want either.” So my answer is to sleep with a vet. Dear Deven: My husband lets our Border Collie sleep on the bed, and he sheds. -Lassie Brush your husband. Dear Deven: My baby wants to move in together, but says he’s allergic to cats. However, he isn’t sneezing. Is he lying? -Mr. Bigglesworth My answer would have been to create a cat-free area such as the bedroom, but you have bigger issues to deal with, such as trust. Please wait three more months before moving in. Seriously. Dear Deven: I’m still living with my ex and am moving out soon. I fell in love with his dog and want to take him with me. How do I bring this up? -Argos He’s not your dog, and it is not fair to remove him from the only home he has known. Pets are not pawns in relationships. You want to hold on, but it’s time to walk away and create a new furry family and life, OK? Dear Deven: Can animals be gay? Like gay? -Snoopy Like do you really care if they are gay? Don’t you care if they are healthy, happy and have a sweet disposition? But the answer is yes, they can be. It’s nature and it’s natural. Dear Deven: We wish to adopt a pet. Any thoughts? -Astro You will go to a pet rescue or shelter. Take your time. Whether your adopted pet is old or young, they will let you know that they need only you, because they pick you. Dear Deven: Parrot, dove or chicken? -Rio Try a cockatoo. Dear Deven: We were going to take home a pot-bellied pig, but we couldn’t agree on a name. Stupid, right? -Babe Yes. Stupid. Hyphenate the name and then call it by a nickname so you both win and you both lose. Dear Deven: I don’t know what to do. His dog almost bit me, and he won’t do anything about it. I love him, but I don’t want to go over there anymore. -Sirius Get a dog trainer immediately to step in and deal with this issue since both of you are avoiding it. Get the dog under control first. Then you two can work together on everything else. Let this lesson apply to the rest of your relationships: Address solutions together. Dear Friends: This column is for entertainment purposes...mostly mine. Send me your questions:DevenGreen@gmail.com PS: Would you like me to read this to you? Go to GoliathAtlanta.com and listen!
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