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CONTENTS JUNE 26, 2019
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EDITORIAL
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From the Editor While the 4th of July is dedicated to celebrating American independence, it is also an opportune time to think about what freedom means to you and us all. After a legendary Pride Month that culminated in Pride celebrations all over the world, it seems especially poignant that for a lot of us – and not just the LGBTQ community – there are still major battles to be fought to secure equal rights and opportunity for us all. So, let’s celebrate the freedoms that have been bestowed upon us – and let’s keep on fighting to maintain them and make sure that no one is robbed of the freedom to speak their mind, over their bodies, and to exercise fundamental human rights. In this issue, Gregg Shapiro talked to Matt Bomer in an exclusive interview for Peach about his upcoming film Papi Chulo about unlikely friendships and broadening your scope. I had the pleasure of speaking to Leslie Jordan about his religious upbringing, and how he came to Hollywood never to leave after the acting bug got him. You can win VIP tickets to see his hilariously funny one-man-show Exposed – check our Facebook page for more. That on so much more in this issue of Peach enjoy!
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The content of Peach ATL Media is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed by any writer, advertiser, or other person appearing in the Peach ATL Media are not necessarily those of this publication, its management or staff. The information and materials appearing in the magazine are not guaranteed or warranted as to accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered for a particular purpose. It shall be your responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through Peach ATL Media meets your specific requirements. Peach ATL Media is not responsible for claims made by advertisers, content of information, changes, events, and schedules. The magazine contains information and material which is owned by or licensed to Peach ATL Media, including but not limited to articles, advertisements, design, layout, graphics, and logos. No part or portion of Peach ATL Media may be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of the publisher. Unauthorized use of Peach ATL Media may give rise to claims for damages and or criminal offenses. Your use of the information or materials in Peach ATL Media is strictly at your own risk.
6 | 06.26.19
THE THE2019 2019 STONEWALL STONEWALL MARCH MARCH
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the To 50th anniversary of the Riots,Riots, the the Tomark markthe the 50th anniversary of Stonewall the Stonewall Atlanta Pride Committee spearheads the Stonewall Atlanta Pride spearheads the first first Atlanta PrideCommittee Committee spearheads the Stonewall first Stonewal March in Atlanta. March MarchininAtlanta. Atlanta. 20192019 marksmarks the 50th of the Stonewall Riots in the anniversary 50th anniversary the Stonewall 2019City the 50th anniversary ofofthe Stonewall Riots in NewRiots York thatYork sparked the sparked queer liberation movement inmarks New City that the queer liberation New YorkLGBTQ City changed thathistory sparked thehistory queer liberation movement and LGBTQ forever. and movement changed forever. Locally, theLocally, events and changed history forever. the the led LGBTQ to the theGeorgia founding ofLiberation theLocally, Georgia Gayevents led to theevents founding of Gay Front. led to theFront. founding of the Georgia Gay Liberation Front. Liberation To honor the legacy of Stonewall, and to highlight the To the of Stonewall, and toare highlight the Tohonor honor thelegacy legacy of activists Stonewall, todoing highlight incredible communities and thatand the the communities andand activists that that are doing the the incredible communities activists are doing workincredible here in Atlanta, and throughout the Southeast, the work here in and throughout the work here in Atlanta, Atlanta,has and throughout the Southeast, Southeast, the Atlanta Pride Committee created the 2019 Stonewall the Atlanta Pride Committee has created the 2019 Atlanta Pride Committee has created the 2019 Stonewal March. Stonewall March. March. The The march willwill mostly take the Pride march mostly take thesame sameroute route as as the Pride Theand march willstart mostly take theNorth sameAvenue route as the Pride Parade and at noon the North Avenue MARTA Parade willwill start at noon atatthe MARTA Parade and will start at noon at the North Avenue MARTA Station, march down PeachtreeStreet Streetgoing going northwards, northwards, Station, march down Peachtree Station, march down Peachtree Street going northwards, make a right a right onto 10th, left onto Piedmont make a right a right onto 10th, left onto Piedmont Avenue, Avenue, finally enter Piedmont Park through theStreet 12th makeenter a an right a right onto 10th, left onto Avenue, an finally Piedmont Park through thePiedmont 12th gate. enter Following the march, there will be a rally inStreet an finally Piedmont Park through the 12th gate.Street Following the march, there will be a rally in the park the park featuringthe various speakers from theacommunity. gate. Following march, there will be rally in the park featuring various speakers from the community. featuring community. The march various will be speakers joined by from local the LGBTQ organizations The but march willopen be to joined by local LGBTQ organizations is also the public. A special Stonewall March The march will be joined by local LGBTQ but is also can open the public. A special Stonewallorganizations March t-shirt beto purchased at outloudshop.com. but is also open to the public. A special Stonewall March t-shirt can be purchased at outloudshop.com. Visit Atlanta Pride’s Facebook page for more information. t-shirt can be purchased at outloudshop.com. Visit Atlanta Pride’s Facebook page for more information. Visit Atlanta Pride’s Facebook page for more information.
What: The 2019 Stonewall March What: The 2019 Stonewall March When: Sunday, June 30, 12-4 pm (Step-Off at 1 pm) When: Sunday, June 30, 12-4 pm (Step-Off at 1 pm) Where: North Avenue MARTA Station (Step-Off), Peachtree Street, 10th Street, Where: North Avenue MARTA Station (Step-Off), Peachtree Street, 10th Street, Piedmont Avenue, and Piedmont Park. Piedmont Avenue, and Piedmont Park.
8 | 06.26.19
cdc.gov/StartTalking /StartTalkingHIV /StartTalkingHIV
PUTTING THE LESLIE JORDAN SPIN ON IT
By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photos: PR sure, I wanted to act, but first of all, I wanted to be in West Hollywood, because I heard that the queers were just hanging from the trees there! I was home, and then I stayed and created this career here. I’ve had to reinvent myself several times, but there has If you were to go on stage and introduce yourself – what would that always been something to do for me. So, the show sound like? is very much about my journey of finding myself and Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome to the stage Emmy-Award-winning actor known from Will & Grace, reinventing myself. The talented actor and comedian talks about stepping off a bus in Hollywood, finding himself, his unique spin on things, and how he cannot lose his Southern accent anymore.
American Horror Story, and The Cool Kids, Leslie Jordan!
So the show starts with a boy stepping off the bus
to become an actor in Hollywood, and it ends in What is your connection to Atlanta? Since I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, it’s like a free the White House. Three years ago, I was the grand trip home. I love performing in Atlanta! marshal at a Pride parade in Washington, DC, You are right at home on stage – anyone who has ever seen you will attest to that. When did the acting/performer bug bite you? I was funny as a kid mostly to keep the bullies at bay. You know they used to yell “smear the queer” when we played dodgeball, so I if I could make them laugh, they would leave me alone. My mother also said, when I was little, that I would perform, and my twin sisters would be my backup singers and never the main act. I used to race horses for exercise, and I wanted to be a jockey at first. Then I went back to school at 27 to study journalism, because I wanted to write, and someone recommended that I take the intro to theatre to cover my arts curriculum. So I went to that class, and we did improvisations and all that different stuff – and it hit me like a drug. After that, I went up to the teacher and asked how I could do this instead, and I got my degree in acting, and I got on a bus and went to Hollywood. The audience is taken on quite a journey from your Southern Baptist upbringing in Tennessee, your introduction to Hollywood all the way up to today – tell us about some of those stops you make? I got off the bus in 1982 in Los Angeles, and you know how some people say they will give themselves five years to see if it works out? Well I didn’t, because I was home. Because of my upbringing, I knew that I could find myself here, so I dropped anchor. And 10 | 06.26.19
and that’s when the Pulse massacre in Orlando happened. The White House reached out and asked if I would come to the White House and greet people as they came in as a commemoration of the victims of the massacre. They then asked me to stay longer, so this I could do first pitch at the Washington Nationals baseball game that was being dedicated to the Pulse victims, and I said yes absolutely, but the problem was the I never touched baseball or bat before! Luckily, I did an interview for TV there, and the TV commentator said that he was a baseball coach in his spare time, and he offered me to teach to pitch in the parking lot of the studio. So, when the day came, I stepped up to that pitcher’s mound, and everybody thought this was going to be a YouTube video, But you know what? I did good! The catcher came up to me afterwards, and said: “Dude, you can pitch!”
Beverly Leslie (Will and Grace), Brother Boy (Sordid Lives) and Sid (on Fox’s Cool Kids) are some of your most famous roles. Are there any connecting traits (besides Leslie Jordan) between them? Like with Dolly Parton, there’s a lot of me in there. When I watch myself, and people tell me, oh, you were so great in this, I look at it and think I am just doing me. I will say that American Horror Story has allowed me to play some really crazy parts that are just really out there thanks to the creative genius of >>>CONTINUED ON PG. 12
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Ryan Murphy. But there’s just a lot of me, and I think even if you are a likable person, you can play someone who is dislikable just like Beverly Leslie in Will & Grace. Hilariously funny, but not that likable, right? I also can’t get rid of my accent, and that gets worse the older I get. When I was working on Star Trek, they told me I had to change my accent, because it was Deep Space Nine, not Deep South Nine! In your book “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet,” you talk openly about your substance abuse, being broke, and just struggling to make it. You even state that you are mystified that you actually made it. Looking back; what kept it all together for you? First of all, without tooting my own horn, I think I’m talented, and I’m good at what I do. The best advice I have ever been given about being successful is to show up and be of loving service. You have to be of loving service to the producer, who hired you, you have to be of loving service to the director and his vision, and as an actor, you have to be of loving service to your fellow actors. You have to remember you are always a worker among workers. Jordan? Will we see you on Will & Grace again? Will you be on another season of AHS? You are open about your religious upbringing and your struggles They already called me on Will & Grace the minute with coming to terms with your sexuality because of religion – The Cool Kids got canceled, so I will be back. And I what are your thoughts on religion or spirituality today? really hope to be working with Ryan Murphy again, I have always loved something Carrie Fisher said, he is so incredibly talented, and he has his fingers in who, like me, has had her struggles with substance so many projects. I recently hosted an event where abuse. Having been in and out recovery programs, they had the live feed of the Tony Awards, and I was she was always told that you must find a god or surprised to see that Ryan Murphy was up there on some way of understanding. It doesn’t have to be screen winning something again for his Broadway god, but it has to be something bigger than yourself, version of The Boys in The Band – I mean he is you know. She said that it made her an enthusiastic everywhere! agnostic who would love to be proven that there is a god out there, but if he is indeed out there, he’s got Last pitch for Exposed: why should people come and see this some explaining to do! So for me, I seek, and in that show? seeking, I found my faith. So I seek, and I keep an Because it’s an evening of laughter – and it is always open heart and an open mind. I wish I could believe, more than you’ll expect. I will give you more than really believe, like my mom, but when you’ve had you expect. everything come crashing down as I have, what do -you do when you realize it’s not enough? For a while Leslie Jordan’s “Exposed” will be at the Westside Cultural Arts I got into chanting, you know the nam-myoho-renge- Center, Saturday, June 29, 9 pm. Peach is hosting a special kyo chant, and I asked my spiritual advisor what it VIP cocktail reception at 8 pm. For more info and tickets, visit meant, and he said it was more like the rhythm of freshtix.com. life, so for a while, I changed it to: “nam-myohorenge-kyo, get my ass on the Letterman Show.” Sadly, “The Cool Kids” was canceled after just one season despite a really good reception. Your character, Sid, I read somewhere was originally straight, but you somehow made him gay? What happened was, my manager said there’s something interesting going on at Fox, and I’m going to get you an audition. I got the script, and it said that my character was a straight Jewish man in his seventies, so when I got there, I told them that I’m putting a different spin on this. And the audition went so well that they actually changed the part to fit me even better – and they made him gay! The reason why the show was canceled was this political thing after Disney bought Fox, so now there are almost no comedies on Fox, but plenty of hour-long dramas and lots of sports programming. In fact, our Friday night time slot for Cool Kids is now live wrestling, so that says a lot right there. Right now, you’re touring with Exposed – what’s next for Leslie 12 | 06.26.19
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THE REDS, WHITES AND BLUES By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photos: PR
There is no need to wear an American flag if you want to throw a little patriotic vibe during your Independence Day celebrations. A little red, white, and blue combination will do the trick.
Tommy Hilfiger Sport Packable Windbreaker, $149.50
Nike Air Max 97, $160
Bombas Men’s Vintage Stripe Socks, $12
Pullin Men’s T-Shirt Patchpop, $45
Oxford Lads Polka Dot Shorts, $76
SoJourner Red White & Blue Star Fanny Pack, $24
14 | 06.26.19
June 29 | 11am - 5pm
DECIDE & MOVE ON By Jamie Kirk
Decide and move on. ’Don’t continue to stay up all night. If you pray, ’don’t exhaust all of your prayer life. Avoid asking everyone their opinion. Cancel the appointment with the physic. Instead, get still, meditate, decide, and continue to live your best life. There are four steps to making a major decision. I am not talking about what to have for lunch. I am not talking about if you should go to ’Joe’s on Juniper for dinner or Taco Mac in the Highlands. I am talking about decisions that can potentially change the course of your life. The way I see it is, you have to walk through these four steps slowly.
1. Identify the Decision
4. Analyze the Decision
In this final step, consider the results of your decision and evaluate whether or not it has resolved the need you identified in Step 1. If the decision has not met the identified need, you may want to repeat specific steps of the process to make a new decision. For example, you might want to gather more detailed or different information or explore additional alternatives. But you ’can’t be afraid to revisit the decision-making process. Part of the process is being able to step back, take a deep breath, and say to yourself, “well, that ’didn’t work, I need to decide again.”
Now that you have realized that you have to DO something, you have to decide what exactly you want to do. You have to determine what you are seeking to change, alter, or define. Once you identify the decision, you have to define the nature of the decision clearly. This is very important so Finally, what most of us forget is that the decisionthat you stay focused and do not get distracted by making process is individual and personal. It should not include anyone that does not have other smaller choices that need to be made. to live with the consequences. When we make a decision, whatever the downstream impacts are, 2. Consider the Alternative Think about what happens if you do nothing. As we need to ensure that only “we” are going to you collect information, you will probably identify benefit from our actions. Keep in mind, every step several possible paths of action or alternatives. we take has a consequence. The consequences You can also use your imagination and additional are sometimes good and sometimes not so good, information to construct new alternatives. In but this part of the exercise is vital. We ’can’t be this step, you will list all possible and desirable surprised at an outcome, when our choices and alternatives. Please be careful here and separate inputs are the reason(s) why we have the results facts from emotions. Avoid over-thinking the that surface. options you may or may not even have. Decisions and choices are our unique way of being human. We get to decide. We get to make choices. 3. Make Your Choice Obviously, this is where the rubber meets the road. We get to weigh options. We get to be uniquely After you have weighed all the options, once you US. And in most cases, the worst outcome is that have considered the “worst case scenario” and we simply have to decide again. have contemplated what would success actually looks like, it’s time to narrow down the playing field and pull the trigger. 16 | 06.26.19
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AY PAPI
An interview with Matt Bomer, star of Papi Chulo
By Gregg Shapiro Photos: Blue Fox Entertainment
In Papi Chulo (Treasure), written and directed by John Butler (Handsome Devil), gay actor Matt Bomer plays Sean, a TV weatherman who has an onscreen breakdown. His sensitive, but ratings obsessed boss Ash (Wendi McLendon-Covey) gives him a leave of absence. Unfortunately, the recently single Sean doesn’t know what to do with the time. He repeatedly calls Carlos, his ex, and gets his voice mail. When he notices a section of his deck needs painting, he hires migrant worker Ernesto (Alejandro Patiño). But Sean is so lonely and lacking companionship that he loses sight of boundaries. He ends up attempting to socialize with Ernesto, in spite of the language barrier and the fact that Ernesto is a straight, married man. What initially starts out as a sweet and funny comedy takes an unexpectedly dramatic turn, but by then viewers will have grown so fond of this unlikely buddy movie duo that they will gladly go where the characters lead. Bomer, who shines as Sean, was good enough to answer a few questions about the movie and some of his other projects. Matt, what was it about Sean that made you want to portray him in the movie Papi Chulo? There are a dozen adjectives you could list before 18 | 06.26.19
you even mention the fact that Sean is gay. There’s something inherently comedic and tragic about the contradictions in Sean. The fact that he’s going through this terrible trauma and pain that he’s not willing to acknowledge. The public persona that he affects and how he tries to bury it and avoid it and subdue it were all really playable to me. Sean talks to Ernesto about his fears and then asks him “What are you scared of?” and Ernesto answers in Spanish, “Immigration”. Can you please say something about the timeliness of the immigrant subject matter in the age of Trump? I think this movie was written before Trump was even elected. Just the fact that we live in such divisive times. It’s a story of two very different men at very different places in their lives from very different worlds who come together because of their shared humanity. They form a great and true friendship. I think it became more politically relevant as…obviously, it’s hard to make an apolitical film these days. It became more relevant as it went along. Sean hires Ernesto, a migrant worker who speaks very little >>>CONTINUED ON PG. 20
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English, to paint the deck at his house. Part of the experience of the movie is watching them attempt to communicate. How is your Spanish? I think you see it all on film. A lot of that was improvised. I would go through the script and try to figure out what I could try to say in Spanish at any given point. I’d run it by John (Butler). Even though he is a writer/ director, he’s not overly precious about anything. He’s willing to improvise and add things in that bring authenticity to a scene. We were fortunate enough to shoot it sequentially for the most part, with a few exceptions. (Actor) Alejandro (Patiño, who plays Ernesto) and I were getting to know each other as our characters were and a lot of the stuff in the car, on top of the wonderful dialogue that John had written, was improv. At one point, Sean says he’s “completely opposed to nature” which made me think of the quote by the late gay humorist and writer David Rakoff, “If you want something green, order the salad”. [Laughs] How do you personally feel about nature and the outdoors? Oh, my gosh! I love it! I need it! It’s a necessity in my life. I would argue that it’s another example of Sean being completely out of touch with himself because I think someone like him needs to be outside. Needs to be communing with nature. For me, it’s incredibly relaxing, especially living in a big city. Even in New York, I try to get down to the West Side Highway and walk and exercise there,
20 | 06.26.19
just to get a sense of the outdoors, even in a city like Manhattan. Sean takes a lot of spills and pratfalls and gets kind of bloodied. What was that aspect of the character like for you? I think he’s nosediving towards rock bottom. A big part of that is his physical journey. I think I did everything except for the one fall at the quinceanera, when he crashes the party drunk that they would not let me do because it was a little riskier and this was not the kind of movie that had the budget to shut down if I injured myself. If I injured myself, the movie was over basically [laughs]. I love that about indie filmmaking. There’s something really renegade about it. Also, the stakes are sort of high in that regard. You get what you can get in the time you get. There’s nobody who’s going to sweep in and save the day and buy you an extra. In Papi Chulo and the recent season of Will & Grace, you play a TV news weatherman and a TV newscaster, respectively. What do you think that says about you and what do you think that says about TV news programs? [Laughs] I would argue two very different things, depending on which character you’re talking about. They’re two distinctly different guys who both happen to be on camera on a daily basis, which has its own set of pressures and its own kind of odd celebrity. When I was auditioning for conservatories, I was living in semi-rural Texas. I had no idea if I was going to get into
any drama schools. My back-up was to apply to some broadcast journalism schools. I was lucky enough to get into a few great programs which I would have attended had I not gone into acting. I don’t know if that’s a weird way of it manifesting itself in my life. Now that I’ve played a couple of them, and co-hosted a couple of morning shows, that’s a lot of pressure on a daily basis to have to be on, regardless of what’s going on in your life. We certainly see how that can catch up to you in the first scene with Sean. Without giving anything away, there is an unexpected twist that occurs a little over an hour into the movie. What did you think about it and how do you think viewers will react to change in direction of the movie? Hopefully they’ll all go down the rabbit hole. For me, that moment was kind of everything. That’s where I had to start from, with the character. What he’s finally willing to acknowledge in that moment; my preparation for that role started from that place. All of his outward manifestations of behavior and how he moves through the world all come from an attempt to escape or deny that. You are also currently playing Larry Trainor/Negative Man in the DC Universe series Doom Patrol. Would you consider yourself to be a comic book geek? No. I grew up in a pretty strict household. A lot of secular material was not allowed in our house. I got a lot of the classics like Superman and the Justice League and Spider Man. But I remember when we had a copy of Ghost Rider in the house
it was so controversial. I think we had to get rid of that one. Like any kid, I was a fan of comic books. But I would say I only have a laymen’s knowledge of the different characters. What I love about Doom Patrol is that it’s such a characterdriven show. It’s a big budget show and there are amazing action scenes. But I would argue that it is one of the most idiosyncratic shows on television. Jeremy Carver and Greg Berlanti and the team of writers have done such a phenomenal job of making it about this group of people who don’t see themselves as being heroes; and don’t even want to be for the most part. And their journey to understanding and acceptance of themselves and how they can use who they are for good. They have their warts and all. I like that about any character. They’re not bright, shiny, perfect superheroes. Finally, we’re speaking in early June, and I was wondering if you had plans to do anything special to celebrate Stonewall 50? I’m bummed because I have to be in New York for work during L.A. Pride and then I have to be in L.A. for work during New York Pride. The timing of that was bad. But I’m looking forward to helping out with a few different causes and supporting from the sidelines and doing whatever little bits here and there that I can to contribute. I’m happy to get the kids involved. They all went to their first Pride in New York last year and loved it. It was their first Pride parade. They were already asking about it this year.
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DIVINE'S FACES @ IRISH BRED PUB IN DOUGLASVILLE PHOTOS: ANTHONY BAZA-FAINN
22 | 06.26.19
The Human Rights Campaign invites you to our fourth annual tennis social, Serving for Equality! Players of all skill levels are encouraged to participate in this fun doubles event. Don’t have a doubles partner? We will pair you up with other players and you can make some new friends along the way. Not a tennis player? That’s okay! Join us as a spectator. Players and spectators will enjoy food, cocktails, music, a photo booth, a silent auction and more!
Saturday, July 27th, 2019 Sharon Lester Tennis Center | Piedmont Park 400 Park Drive, Atlanta, GA 30306
6:00P.M. - 10:00P.M. Ticketing: Player: $60 Spectator: $25
Corporate Sponsors Presenting
Platinum
Gold
For more information, please visit
hrc.org/sfeatlanta
Community Sponsors
ATLANTA BRAVES PRIDE NIGHT @ BRAVES STADIUM PHOTOS: MH
24 | 06.26.19
Through laughter, tears and every emotion in-between, Summer Shorts explores the colorfully rich spectrum of the queer experience. Through a series of short plays and monologues, and performed as part of Out Front Theatre Company’s Young Professional Performers Series, Summer Shorts promises to enliven, enlighten and entertain in the summertime heat!
AUG 1-4, 2019
All Tickets: $15 Out Front Theatre Company 999 Brady Avenue, Atlanta
www.OutFrontTheatre.com
RUBY'S REDD LIGHT DISTRICT @ MIDTOWN MOON
PHOTOS: ANDREA DWYER
26 | 06.26.19
WORLD UNITED RUN & FOR EQUITY INCLUSIVENESS 5K We are pleased to announce the first annual World United Run for Equity & Inclusiveness 5K. Our Atlanta 5K is just one in a series of World United Events around the World focusing on equity and inclusiveness and encouraging the graceful acceptance of diversity. Events are in the planning now in Bengaluru, India and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. A concept of Oneness & Equity in our City and in the World is encouraged. Companies with Diversity and Inclusiveness Departments or Divisions are asked to register as a Team. Teams with the largest number of participants will receive special awards. We welcome all to join us in this run/ walk held in the spirit of equity and inclusiveness. Let’s join together and graciously respect diversity and others who are different than ourselves. Sign up now at www.active.com and participate in the World United Run for Equity & Inclusiveness, promoting equity and inclusiveness for all.
RACE HIGHLIGHTS •
USATF Certified Course for 2020 Peachtree Seeding
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Electronic Chip Timing by Horizon Race Solutions of Atlanta
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Race Organization by Road Race Services of Atlanta
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Great Soft Cotton t shirts
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Race is limited to 2,000 Runners/ Walkers
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Portion of proceeds will benefit organizations with a history of policies of diversity and inclusiveness
Contact
Ed Williams - roadraceservices@comcast.net
When
August 10 - 7:00 a.m. - Packet pick up - 8:00 a.m. - 5K Run/Walk.
Entry Fee
Registration: $35 through 4/01/19 $40 through 6/1/19. $ 45 after that and on race day if not already sold out.
Registration
- mail-in race registration flyer - online @ rungeorgia.com - in store at Phidippides Ansley Mall 404-875-4268 Packet Pickup: Early packet pickup will be available at Phidippides Ansley Mall: Starting Saturday August 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8.Early packet pickup is strongly encouraged. Race day pickup will be available 7 am to 7 45 am next to the Charles Allen Gate.
Distance: 5K Date: August 10, 2019, 8:00 a.m. Location: Atlanta, GA - Piedmont Park
wedding & commitment ceremonies • thirty years experience within our community • in-house award-winning metrotainment bakery • sustainable, local, seasonally-inspired custom menus • experienced, friendly staff of catering professionals • extensive network of award-winning local venues www.epiceventsatlanta.com | 404.991.9128
Michael is from Alabama and has lived in Midtown Atlanta for 22 years. His friends and family are extremely important to him and he spends as much time as possible with them. In addition, he enjoys fitness, traveling, music, trying out new recipes and restaurants, movies, giving his friends hell and laughing as much as possible. Michael has volunteered with various organizations and events over the years because giving back is so important to him. The beach is his happy place, but tubing down a North Georgia mountain river is a close second.
@ michaelv.atl
Michael Vinson
30 | 06.26.19
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Legs for Days By Darren Floro-Bryant
Legs, my favorite body part to workout! And since it is summer time, why not give them a tuneup. Some people assume that since they are on their legs all day or that they transport you from point A to point B, that is enough work for the legs. The thing with working out legs is, the harder you train your legs, the easier everything else your legs have to do becomes. Like any other body part you train, proper form and the types of exercises are important. You want to ensure you are doing exercises that will work for you and not hinder your growth. As always mentioned, this is a great time to enlist the help and guidance of a personal trainer. The exercises I am about to lay out for you now are very functional, but also very adaptable. They can be done with just your body weight or with added resistance for a greater challenge. Again, seek the help and advice of a fitness professional to help you with these exercises and to see if they are right for you. Also, the exercises outlined/presented will focus on 2 planes (Sagittal plane - front to back & Frontal plane- side to side) of movement to help provide a more functional application to your training. 32 | 06.26.19
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Tickets Available @ joininghearts.org
Squats - 3 sets of 10-12 reps Squat options are: Body weight Goblet Barbell behind the neck Barbell in front of torso
The next 3 exercises are done consecutively for 3 sets as if they are one set.
Walking Lunges - 10-12/leg
Donkey Kicks (on an angle) 12-15/leg
Body weight lunges
Side Step Ups on platform/bench - option holding dumbbells 10-12/side Iron Chair - option holding a weight on your lap for 30 seconds
The next 3 exercises are done consecutively for 3 sets as if they are one set.
The next 2 exercises are done back to back for 3 sets as if they are one set.
Inner Thigh Machine (Adductor) 12-15/leg
Single Leg Calf Raises (Option: Holding a weight in your hand) 20/leg
Outer Thigh Machine (Abductor) 12-15/leg Low Side Steps - 12 each direction
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Low Sit Squat*- (Option: holding a weight out in front of you) 12 reps. *Completely sit for each repetition (disengage the muscles as you sit, re-engage as you stand)
Lunge options are:
Holding dumbbells or kettlebells in each hand Holding a bar over head with arms fully extended
Bonus Exercise Side squats with barbell shoulder press - 10-12/each direction As you squat to the side, ensure you are stepping only shoulder width apart, or slightly greater, that your toes, knees and hips are staying “in-line” and that your core is engaged.
CONGRATULATIONS DIVINE’S FACES CAST ON YOUR 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
You deserve Personalized Care & Individual Attention – that’s what we deliver at Family Health Care of Atlanta • Participating in many clinical trials • Certiied HIV Specialist, American Academy of HIV Medicine • 20+ years experience in Family & HIV Care SPECIALIZING IN DERMATOLOGY, STD’S, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, UROLOGY, PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
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June 26 – July 3
History of HIV in the South Panel Living Walls presents a new event series, including seven panel discussions and two mural unveilings focused on encouraging the community to join the conversation around HIV/AIDS and prevention strategies. Wednesday, June 26, 6-9 pm Out Front Theatre
STAFF PICK!
Southern Fried Queer Pride 2019 Celebrating five years of Southern Fried Queer Pride with a five-day festival of dance parties, community discussions, art galleries, a legendary ball, and so much more for the queer and trans, arts & advocacy community in Atlanta. June 26-30 The Bakery Atlanta
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Drag Queen Story Hour Join Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker for a very special Drag Queen Story Hour event at Atlanta City Hall. The event is free, but RSVP on Eventbrite is required. Saturday, June 29, 10 am – 12 pm Atlanta City Hall
Coro Vocati’s Considering Matthew Shepard Coro Vocati, a leading Atlanta-based professional chamber choir, proudly presents its production of “Considering Matthew Shepard,” a powerful and emotionally gripping musical journey about the life and legacy of hate-crime victim Matthew Shepard. Tickets at citysprings.com/events. Saturday, June 29, 8-11 pm Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center
Most of y’ all will be off Thursday, so come out for a night of dancing to the beats of DJ Eric James. No cover. Wednesday, June 26, 10 pm – 3 am The Heretic
15TH ANNUAL EVENING FOR EQUALITY @ LOEWS ATLANTA PHOTOS: BRIAN SAWYER
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MIDTOWN 1
Monroe Dr. NE
14
Amsterdam Ave.
NE ve . tA
Piedmont Park
on
11
dm
6 12th St. NE
18
Pi e
Juniper St. NE
14th St. NE
7
9
2
10th St. NE
10
. NE
19
oe Dr
e. NE Piedmont Av
Juniper St . NE
Peachtree St. NE
3
Monr
Charle s Alle n Dr . N E
12 W. Peachtree St. NW
15
16
4th St. NE
8
13
BARS Amsterdam Blake's Bulldogs Friends The Model T My Sister’s Room Ten Atlanta
5
Dining 502 Amsterdam Ave NE 227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 66 12th St NE 990 Piedmont Ave NE
9 10 11 12
10 th & Piedmont Campagnolo Einstein's F.R.O.G.S
clubs 13 Atlanta Eagle
306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE
spa/bath 15 Flex Spa
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991 Piedmont Ave NE 980 Piedmont Ave NE 1077 Juniper St NE 931 Monroe Cir NE
fitness
retail 8 Barking Leather
4
Ponce De Leon Ave. NE
Ponce De Leon Ave. NE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
P o n ce D e Leo n Pl . N E
Spring St. NW
17
76 4th St. NW
16 17 18 19
G’s Midtown Henry’s Joe's on Juniper La Hacienda
219 10th St NE 132 10th St NE 1049 Juniper St NE 900 Monroe Dr NE
billards/Darts drag dancers leather non-smoking area Patio
When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com
Cheshire 23
ansley 21
e
ge
Rd
on tC ir .
Piedmont Park BARS 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Cir NE 2425 Piedmont Rd NE 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd
32 33 34 35 36
Midtown Moon Felix's The Hideaway Mixx Oscar's
805 Lambert Dr. NE, Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2201 Faulkner Rd NE
Spa / bath 2103 Faulkner Rd NE 2135 Liddell Drive NE
1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 1544 Piedmont Ave NE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
Dining 38 Eclectic Bistro
Fitness 30 Gravitee Fitness
NE
.
clubs 28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino
e. nt mo ed
39 38
Retail 26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights
41
Pi
28 20
Dining 24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx
Av
ge Rd Brid hire
r.
E
Ches
.N
.
25
BJ Roosters Opus 1 Tripps Woof's
31 Manifest 4 U 42 The Den
35
24
id Br
Dr
Rd
BARS 20 21 22 23
40
32
oe
hir
36
nr
dm
es
ll D
31 er
Mo
Pi e
29
Ch
idde
kn
27
33
. NE
Manchester St. NE
Piedmont Rd. NE
22
42 L
ul
IX
34
x Rd
Fa
26
BL
Le no
30
Lambert Dr.
PU
St.
.
A l co
1600 Piedmont Ave NE 1425 Piedmont Ave NE
Retail 39 Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE 40 Brushstrokes/Pleasures 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
Fitness 41 Equilibrium Fitness
1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L
NOT SHOWN
Mary's Sister Louisa’s Church Swinging Richards Lips Atlanta
1287 Glenwood Ave SE 466 Edgewood Ave SE 1400 Northside Dr NW 3011 Buford Hwy NE
peachATL.com | 43
A snapshot of Gay Atlanta’s favorite destinations. View their ads in Peach ATL & visit their websites for weekly event listings.
Bars & Clubs
EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD
Retail
MIDTOWN
MARY’S
MIDTOWN
amsterdamatlanta.com
1287 Glenwood Ave SE
AMSTERDAM
502 Amsterdam Ave. NE
ATLANTA EAGLE
marysatlanta.com
SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH
BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com
306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
sisterlouisaschurch.com
CHESHIRE
SWINGING RICHARDS
BARKING LEATHER
1400 Northside Dr NW
805 Lambert Dr NE
BULLDOGS
Dining
2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
MIDTOWN
736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
10thandpiedmont.com
atlantaeagle.com
306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
BLAKE’S ON THE PARK
blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE
893 Peachtree St NE
friendsonponce-atl.com
466 Edgewood Ave SE
swingingrichards.com
10TH & PIEDMONT
MY SISTER’S ROOM
991 Piedmont Ave NE
66 12th St NE
einsteinsatlanta.com
mysistersroom.com
TEN ATLANTA
tenatlanta.com
990 Piedmont Ave NE
CHESHIRE
EINSTEIN’S
1077 Juniper St NE
BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1447 Piedmont Ave NE
GCB & PLEASURES
brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE
Fitness MIDTOWN
2069 Cheshire Bridge Road
219 10th St NE
BJ ROOSTERS
HENRY’S
gsmidtown.com
bjroosters.com
henrysatl.com
2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE
132 10th St NE
OPUS 1
JOE’S ON JUNIPER
TRIPPS
ANSLEY
931 Monroe Dr
frogsmidtown.com
G’S
1086 Alco St NE
SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO
FROGS CANTINA
HERETIC
hereticatlanta.com
barkingleather.com
joesonjuniper.com
1049 Juniper St NE
URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com
500 Amsterdam Ave NE
CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com
2201 Faulkner Rd NE
1931 Piedmont Circle N
LA HACIENDA
Spas/Baths/Adult
WOOFS
900 Monroe Dr NE
MIDTOWN
2425 Piedmont Road NE
CHESHIRE
FLEX SPA
ANSLEY
LAS MARGARITAS
MIDTOWN MOON
76 4th St NW
1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
CHESHIRE
ROXX
MANIFEST 4U
woofsatlanta.com
1492 Piedmont Ave NE
FELIX’S
lahaciendamidtown.com
lasmargaritasmidtown.com
1510 Piedmont Ave NE
1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
THE HIDEAWAY
DEKALB
1544 Piedmont Ave NE
LIPS ATLANTA
MIXX
3011 Buford Hwy NE
mixxatlanta.com
1492 Piedmont Ave NE
OSCAR’S
oscarsatlanta.com
1510 Piedmont Ave NE
44 | 06.26.19
atldragshow.com
flexspas.com
manifest4u.org
2103 Faulkner Rd NE
THE DEN
thedenatlanta.com
2135 Liddell Drive NE
LUXURY LGBT ALMAR RESORT TIMESHARE PLUS BONUS FOR SALE BEACH FRONT BEAUTIFUL BEACH HOTEL & FOOD CONTACT leonrri@hotmail.com
Massage Bodyworks by David $80 per hour 1st time $60 w/Peach ATL ad David cell 205-206-5218 cylondk1@gmail.com Located in Atlanta on Ponce De Leon Ave NE
ADVERTISE In Atlanta's premier
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HELP WANTED
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Hot Tub and Swim Spas
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peachATL.com | 45
TEN SONGS FOR YOUR JULY 4TH PLAYLIST
Let’s celebrate the land of the free!
Katy Perry – Fireworks Janelle Monae – Americans Madonna - Bitch I’m Loca
Bastille – Doom Days
Destiny’s Child – Independent Women
Taylor Swift – You Need To Calm Down
Lizzo – Cuz I Love You
Neil Diamond – America Led Zeppelin – Hot Dog
46 | 06.26.19
George Michael - Freedom
WE'RE HIRING Playmates and soul mates...
WE ARE SEEKING Motivated, Hard-Working, Innovative People to be Our Next Superstar Ad Sales Representatives.
Jumpstart Your Career by Joining Atlanta's Newest Gay Media Company! One Year Sales Experience Required EMAIL YOUR RESUME TO
Jeff@peachatl.com
Atlanta:
678-528-2525
18+ MegaMates.com
GRWL...
Bear-B-Q and Beer Bust
A Stonewall 50 Anniversary Celebration Thursday 6/27 8:00pm to Close Free Pulled Pork and Sides (while it lasts) $10 All You Can Drink Bud Light Draft Shirtless Shots
There Are No Strangers Here, Only Friends Who Have Not Met
STONEWALL 50
1544 Piedmont Ave, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 Behind Publix 404-874-8247 facebook.com/atlantahideaway
peachATL.com | 47
Text your Peach Pits to 540-30-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com
My ex is getting married. Honestly, it’s embarrassing how far some people go to make you jealous. Get over it; it’s been 6 years!
Me: How about we do this first. It’ll work better.
Him: No, I’m going to do this my way.
Me: Ok, let me know how that works for you.
Him: Hey, it’s not working
Hating everyone isn’t the equivalent of having a personality. Get some therapy!
Me: Remember when I told you to do this first, it would work?
Him: No. Me:
Dad Joke Alert What sits at the bottom of the sea and shakes? A nervous wreck!
It’s fine to fight for someone WHO loves you. It’s a waste of time fighting for someone TO love you.
Asking for a friend Can I put tequila in a humidifier?
48 | 06.26.19
How come when I look in mirrors and store windows, I look cute, but when I open phone-forward-facing camera I look like a monster?
I feel strong and capable of many things, but restraining myself around chips and salsa is not one of them
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) Annoying and meddlesome people will sorely test your sense of humor today. They’ll eventually work your last nerve, bringing you to the brink of explosion. Chant your mantra to get through this trying day. Then go home and pop ‘The Golden Girls’ into the DVD player. Now that’s funny!
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) You keep a finger on the pulse of technology, and no one can accuse you of being a dinosaur. They can, however, rightfully accuse you of being a nerd. But you take that as a compliment, so wear your badge with pride today. Go out and show guys a nerd can be sexier -- and a lot smarter -- than an Abercrombie model.
CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)
Buy a gift for the person you love best today: Yourself. You spend so much on others it may be time to treat yourself. You won’t get extravagant but you deserve something special.
Sudden changes may rock your world today. You’ll be blindsided by most of them, but keep on keeping on. No matter how harsh, changes are a part of life. Dealing with them in a mature and professional manner is the only way to get though them.
LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)
PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)
You’ll need supreme confidence in yourself to get through some tests today. They’ll seem daunting, but success will open a lot of doors. That will be something you could really get used to, especially after having so many slammed in your face in the past.
Mind your own business today and don’t involve yourself in drama and catfights. Let the rest of them slug it out while you focus on your own life. The hammer will fall, but not on you, and you’ll come out of it smelling like a rose and first in line for good karma.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)
ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)
Your plans to be organized will go quickly out the window today. This may cause some dizziness and disorientation. Repeated tries to bring things back to an even keel will be futile. This sounds like a good time to curl up in the fetal position.
Careful with finances today. Hard work has paid off nicely, and you’ll be tempted to spend. Go ahead and reward yourself. In the past you’ve been stung by impulse buying, so spend your money on something sensible. That mounted swordfish head won’t look as cool as you think.
LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)
TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)
You may have to establish yourself as group leader today. Your pals won’t have a problem with that, as they don’t want the responsibility. Rule with the wisdom of Solomon today. It’ll be far more effective than being bitchy and mean, although not as much fun.
Flattery will get you everywhere today, as you find that handing out compliments will open many doors for you. But it won’t take long for people to figure out that all your grandstanding amounts to little more than serious butt-kissing. Then those doors will be hitting you in your own butt as you leave.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)
Your boyfriend will create problems for you today. His demands will be outlandish and his mood foul. It’s never easy being the whipping boy, but grit your teeth and hang in there.
Don’t sidestep issues today, especially in your relationship. Face them head-on, even if it leads to a dust-up. Out of chaos comes order, and sometimes a little squabble is needed to clear the air. Work through your problems as adults, and see it as a growing process.
50 | 06.26.19
By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Trouble in the love department? With sex? Or just people in general? Send us your queries, questions, and problems, and you’ll get answers served straight up and with a little ice.
M
y boyfriend and I were on vacation, and after dinner and quite a few drinks, we decided to go to a sex store to buy a sex toy. It’s nothing crazy, just a vibrating cockring, and during the vacation, we both used it to much pleasure for us both. Then we went home again, and we haven’t used the thing since! It seems like our routines have just taken over, and we are back to having sex 2-3 times a week, which is perfectly fine, but I do want to bring back that excitement and ‘kink’ we experienced on our trip. How do I bring this up with him? I don’t want this to be an issue, but do we really have to talk about it and plan it out first? Neither of us has brought it out again, so what’s going on here? Sincerely Tool Dread Dear Tool Dread Maybe you are just not that into the sex toy, and it was just a case of vacation excitement? If your regular routine works for the both of you, and you feel that the sex is enough, maybe you don’t need the added excitement of a sex toy. If you really are curious to bring this into your sex life, there is no doubt that you have to do that. You have to express the wish to wear it, or you may even pull it out of the drawer one of the times you are having routine sex. This sex toy appeared when the two of you were outside of your joined comfort zone, and if it is being kept out of your (sex) life because of practical reasons, the solution should be simple: just wear it! Who knows, maybe this opens up the conversation to integrating more stuff in your sex life, so it becomes less routine for the both of you. So, try to recreate the circumstances of the vacation – the dinner, the drinks, the mood – and then see what happens!
I
have hooked up with this guy a couple of times, and he is very hot and sexy, but the last few times, I have noticed that he wasn’t quite clean ‘back there.’ I don’t demand that guys douche their guts out, but I do prefer that they are somewhat clean, because poop anywhere near my penis is the biggest boner killer there is. How do I bring up the subject of cleanliness or ask him if he’s clean? I don’t want to shame or embarrass him, but this is kind of important to me. Sincerely Back-Fire Dear Back-Fire I once had a boyfriend that didn’t wear deodorant, so if he weren’t freshly showered, I would start our sex in the shower. Maybe that could work for you too? Without so much as telling him, you are showing him that when he is clean, you are so much more turned on by him. You can even go as far as to comment on how much you enjoyed that he was fresh and clean, and hopefully, that will sink in. Once you are both more comfortable with each other, you can possibly bring up that you – generally speaking – like when guys are clean but that you don’t expect a full-on douching regimen. You are already very aware of the fact that something like this can be embarrassing for someone, so keep that level-headed sense of sensibility, and you’ll be just fine. And finally if you really don’t want poop on your privates, there’s a remarkably simple and very safe option for you to try out: condoms!
NEED ANSWERS? REACH OUT TO US, AND YOU WILL GET THEM! SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO OUR EDITOR AT MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM.
52 | 06.26.19
Flex is hiring all positions and all shifts