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CONTENTS JUNE 19, 2019
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From the Editor It sometimes seems like Pride month is the time when companies suddenly notice and remember that LGBTQ people exist and slap a rainbow on anything for a limited edition something that provides them the right perspective – and perhaps a little extra cash courtesy of our community. Cynicism aside, there are probably some companies that exploit the rainbow, but many are in it for more honorable reasons – and the trend is pointing in the right direction according to Jeff Fuller whose column “Pride Incorporated” deals with just that (page 16). Speaking of honorable reasons, I talked to Jamie Clements whose voice can be heard along with the many beautiful voices of the chamber choir Coro Vocati as they perform the grand musical production “Considering Matthew Shepard” that commemorates the tragic death of Matthew 20 years ago (page 10). Our celebrity interview in this issue is with Allison Williams, who stars in the Sapphic Netflix thriller “The Perfection.” Chris Azzopardi talks to her about normalizing on normalizing on-screen queerness and her allyship that goes well beyond queer-identifying roles (page 18).
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That and so much more in yet another Pride Month edition of Peach. Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director
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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.
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LESLIE JORDAN GETS EXPOSED IN ATLANTA What: Leslie Jordan “Exposed” Live in Atlanta When: Saturday, June 29, 2019 — 9 pm (VIP reception at 8 pm) Where: Westside Cultural Arts Center Emmy Award-winning actor, Leslie Jordan, aka Beverly Leslie (Will and Grace), Brother Boy (Sordid Lives) and Sid (on Fox’s Cool Kids) performs his stand-up routine “EXPOSED” in Atlanta. There is no lack of material when Leslie Jordan gets up on stage to perform his acclaimed standup show “Exposed.” Like a colorful mosaic, he weaves a hilarious tale of stories that include his upbringing in Tennessee, his coming-of-age as an actor, and a few lighthearted exposé moments from his time in Hollywood – and he has been known to go off on a tangent more than once too, so expect the unexpected at his one-night-only appearance in Atlanta. Peach Magazine is proud to host the VIP reception of the show that includes complimentary cocktails and bites, and a meet & greet with Leslie Jordan. Super VIP guests will also receive a personalized, autographed picture and will be seated in front row leather sofas during the show. Tickets are available via Freshtix.com.
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SUPER VIP ($200) Includes Peach Magazine’s VIP reception (8 pm) with complimentary cocktails and tapas, and a meet and greet with Leslie. Front-row leather sofa seating plus an autographed photo. VIP ($105) Includes Peach Magazine’s VIP reception (8 pm) with complimentary cocktails and tapas, and a meet and greet with Leslie. GENERAL ADMISSION ($65) All general admission seats are first come, first seated. STANDING ($40) Standing room tickets are limited.
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essentially yesterday. Though our current societal attention span seems to ping pong off any story quickly, real cultural sentiment toward a particular issue takes generations to change. Being anything other than heterosexual is still illegal in many countries around the world. There are still world leaders who regularly denounce homosexuality. Matthew’s story will “still” be important as long as these realities exist, and even after that, his story will be an important marker of when we as a human race started to demand respect and protection of each other more boldly.
A BEAUTIFUL REQUIEM FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD By Mikkel Hyldebrandt To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s tragic death, Coro Vocati will perform the acclaimed “Considering Matthew Shepard.” Peach spoke to Jamie Clements, a tenor soloist in the production, the massive musical endeavor. This is a big musical endeavor: would you elaborate a little on the many different parts of the show? It is part biography, part documentary, part requiem, and ultimately, part hopeful look toward a brighter future where we all allow others to be loved for who they are. It brings together what seems like a dozen different musical genres to cast the sentiments and voices of an equal number of people and groups surrounding the life and death of Matthew Shepard. You hear from his family; from people who rallied to support the LGBTQIA community in the wake of his death; from people who wished they could ignore the situation entirely; from people who chose to stand opposed to Matthew’s life; and, in the end, hopefully your own voice identifies and joins in singing that “only all of us” are able to change and shape how we treat each other. What is your part in the performance? For the majority of the concert, I join with a half dozen other tenors to bring the powerful text to life. For one poignant solo in the center of the work, my voice becomes that of Matthew as he nears the end of his life, singing of his simple desire to see the “unset jewel” of his life find a path forward. The story of Matthew Shepard is a tragic one - how will this concert lift our spirits? The simple act of being together when we recount these stories lifts the human spirit — Togetherness, comradery, community, society. The lift in the spirit comes with seeing we aren’t alone in our grief, anger, sadness, or in our hope for the brighter ending, which this work captures beautifully. Why do you think the story of Matthew Shepard still has such importance today? In the long story of humanity, Matthew’s story was 10 | 06.19.19
Tell us about the song “All Of Us” – who will be performing alongside Coro Vocati on this one? Although it is not the last song in “Considering Matthew Shepard,” “All of Us” can be considered the big finale of the work. It is a beautiful, gospel-inspired song that focuses on the responsibility society has to promote love and reject hate. Because the goal of the song is to encourage everyone to work together and make the world a more loving, inclusive place, we have invited other singers to join in this particular song and underscore the “All of Us” message. These special guest singers include select high school students from throughout metro Atlanta and members of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, Atlanta Women’s Chorus and OurSong. When we join our voices together during “All of Us,” it will be a truly amazing moment for the audience. You also partner with Be THE Voice? Be THE Voice is a Roswell, GA-based nonprofit that helps students find their voice and speak up in situations that involve bullying. We were introduced to the organization by one of our board members, who is very active in the Roswell community and knows Be THE Voice’s executive director. After meeting with the team and learning more about Be THE Voice’s mission, we felt that a partnership between our groups was a natural fit. Together, Coro Vocati and Be THE Voice are raising awareness of “Considering Matthew Shepard” and the importance of standing up for others who may be viewed as “different.” Will there be other performances of “Considering Matthew Shepard”? “Considering Matthew Shepard” was originally developed for and performed by the renowned chamber ensemble, Conspirare, and the work only recently became available for other choirs to perform. We are thrilled to be the first professional choir to produce this important piece in Atlanta, and at this point, we are viewing the concert as a special one-time event for Coro Vocati. “Considering Matthew Shepard” is performed by Coro Vocati at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center on June 29 at 8 pm. Tickets are available via citysprings.com/ events.
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WELCOME TO THE BIGGEST PRIDE CELEBRATION ON EARTH! By Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Photo: NYC Pride, Shutterstock
LadyLand Festival World Pride 2019 The festival returns with two days of incredible acts including Honey DFijon, Gossip, Allie X, Yvie Oddly, and Octo Octa (not official NYC Pride program). June 28-29 It is the culmination of a whole month of Pride The Brooklyn Mirage celebrations and events when the WorldPride ladylandfestival.com celebrations officially kick off on June 26 with a star-studded opening ceremony followed by a Wrecked & The Carry Nation Presents: An Out of this World weekend packed full of parties and events. The Pride apex of the weekend is no doubt the massive NYC The day into night party will feature some of the Pride March on Sunday, June 30 that will pass community’s favorite queer DJs from across the by the Stonewall Inn where it all began. Here are nation including Atlanta’s own Vicki Powell. some of the highlights you should plan for if you Saturday, June 29, 3 pm – 6 am are going to be a part of the biggest Pride party in Elsewhere the world*. NYC Pride March WorldPride Opening Ceremony The March is a celebration of our lives and Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and performances by community and is joined by over 550 unique Cyndi Lauper, Billy Porter, Chaka Khan, Ciara, and marching contingents, representing a vast array of Todrick Hall. non-profits, community organizations, corporate Wednesday, June 26, 7-10 pm sponsors, small businesses, political candidates Barclay’s Center and activists. This year’s Grand Marshals include 2019-worldpride-stonewall50.nycpride.org the cast of Pose Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Gay Liberation Front, The Trevor Project, and Monica Horse Meat Disco Helms to lead the biggest Pride parade ever. The boys of Horse Meat Disco are at the Knockdown Sunday, June 30 - Step Off at Noon Center for one night only at an exclusive NYC 26th Street & 5th Ave Pride event (not official NYC Pride program). 2019-worldpride-stonewall50.nycpride.org Friday, June 28, 10 pm – 5 am Knockdown Center 718 Sessions Boat Party 2019 worldpride2019.eventbrite.com The world-famous Circle Line is transformed into a Pride party boat with music by Danny Krivit (not Solidarity: Hustlaball official NYC Pride program). Only re-sale tickets HUSTLABALL returns to its roots in NYC to are available. open the SOLIDARITY WorldPride weekend. Sunday, June 30, 7-11 pm With globally renowned DJs, Steven Redant Boarding 7:30pm/Cruise begins at 8:30pm (Barcelona), Chris Bekker (Berlin), and Justin SHARP Dawson (NYC). Pier 83-West 42nd Street & Westside Highway Thursday, June 27, 10 pm – 8 am residentadvisor.net 3 Dollar Bill solidaritypride.com *Please note that the events listed here are only a fraction of parties and celebrations taking place. Pride Island Some of the events listed may already be sold out The legendary Pier party will have Grace Jones at the time of deadline. as the Saturday headliner, and none other than Madonna will close out the party on Sunday. Tickets are sold out, but maybe you can indulge in a re-sale ticket. Saturday, June 29, 2 – 10 pm Sunday, June 30, 2 - 10:30 pm Hudson River Park’s Pier 97 59th St. & West Side Highway 2019-worldpride-stonewall50.nycpride.org This year, NYC Pride welcomes WorldPride and marks the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and half a century of LGBTQIA+ liberation for what will go down as the biggest Pride celebration in history.
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A WORLD OF PRIDE By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photo: Shutterstock
If you’re not attending WorldPride in New York City, there are plenty of other places that offer world-class celebrations – and it might just take you overseas too!!
Shanghai Gay Pride – June 21-23 It may still be prohibited to throw a parade, but the pride festival celebrates its ten-yearanniversary this year with lots of parties, a film festival, and LGBTQ-related talks. shpride.com
Seattle Gay Pride – June 14-30 The gay Pride is one of the oldest in the country and has grown to include a PrideFest, Trans Pride, and a massive parade. seattlepride.org
Oslo Gay Pride – June 14-23 Norway’s biggest LGBTQ festival offers concerts, exhibitions, shows, films, parties, debates, and a massive Pride Parade. oslopride.no
Chicago gay Pride – June 22-30 Chicago Gay Pride is a huge gay event taking place each year in Illinois’ largest city and includes a weekend festival and Parade on Pride Sunday. chicagopridecalendar.org
São Paulo Gay Pride – June 18-23 La Parada do Orgulho GLBT de São Paulo has grown from just 2,000 participants in 1997 to an incredible turn-out that is well into the millions today. paradasp.org.br
Mexico City Gay Pride – June 27-30 Mexico City Gay Pride - or Marcha del Orgullo LGBT de la Ciudad de México - truly is one of the largest, wildest, and crazy gay pride events in the whole of Latin America! marchalgbtcdmx.com
Pride Toronto – June 21-23 As one of the largest Pride celebrations in North America Pride Toronto has become a major Canadian arts and cultural event. pridetoronto.com
Barcelona Gay Pride – June 28-29 Gay Pride Barcelona - or Barcelona Orgullo draws thousands of LGTBQ revelers from across the world to the beautiful and sunny Cataluñian capital each year. pridebarcelona.org
Dublin Gay Pride – June 20-29 Dublin LGBTQ Pride has grown from a one-day parade into a full-on, ten-day extravaganza of social and cultural queer events. dublinpride.ie
Paris Gay Pride – June 29 The Paris Gay Pride Parade, known as Marche des Fiertés LGBTQ, is a major Parade and party in the heart of France’s capital city with around 700,000 participants which concludes with a huge free party in Place de la République. inter-lgbt.org/marche-des-fiertes/
Milan Gay Pride – June 21-29 The fashion capital hosts a week of cultural events and parties in the streets and squares of the beautiful city. milanopride.it
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San Francisco Pride – June 29-30 Featuring one of the oldest and largest parades in the world, SF Pride is a parade and festival attended by hundreds of thousands. Lots of parties and commemorations throughout the packed Pride weekend. sfpride.org
Pride and Stonewall Reading List 2019
PRIDE INCORPORATED By Gregg Shapiro
By Jeff Fuller
In the past, corporations were not keen to involve themselves in LGBTQ Pride parades. Eventually Pride celebrations gained sponsorship by a few liquor companies, local boutique stores, gay bars and nightclubs, and manufacturers of personal lubricant. Today, it’s common to see Fortune 500 companies attending Pride festivals and parades decked out in rainbow. We now see rainbow trails marking our Uber routes, rainbow logos and emojis on social media, and rainbow bunting outside just about every store front, even at businesses not normally considered gayoriented. More and more companies want a slice of the rainbow cake, but a lot of people aren’t too happy about it. Some point out that Pride has its roots in a riot against police harassment and should maintain its traditional identity as a civil rights protest rather than a big party with corporate sponsors. Others note that corporate sponsorship creates a more sanitized, “family friendly” version of Pride, taking the sex out of a celebration of sexuality. Much like Christmas, Pride is our own holy holiday on which people complain of overcommercialization and express a desire to return to the true meaning of the holiday. Additionally, some complain that participation in Pride allows companies to give lip service to supporting the LGBTQ community through presence in the parade or turning their logo rainbow for the month of June, acts that are no longer radical in this day and age, while doing things behind the scenes that actually harm the LGBTQ community, exploiting us while seeking to maximize profit. While the heavy presence of corporations in our Pride celebrations has changed the character of these annual events, corporations coming out in favor of the LGBTQ community has provided our community with power that we did not have 16 | 06.19.19
in the Stonewall era or even as recently as the early 2000s. Corporations can act as advocates, serving as agents of change while our legislators are failing us. For example, Georgia corporations successfully lobbied against the passage of the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, convincing the governor to veto the bill. The desire of corporations to participate in Pride events reflects important cultural change and, in my view, should be nurtured rather than rejected. I don’t want to go back to 1969 or 1999. I am grateful to live in times in which companies are trying to join my gay parties, sell me their goods or recruit me to come and work for them. Having companies join the Pride parties allows for larger celebrations, promotes greater visibility and encourages the larger community to accept us. In the U.S., it is becoming more common to see straight people attending the festivals. The more this happens, the more homophobia will be considered unacceptable. At the same time, I have no illusions that because soft drink companies and airlines are marching alongside me in the Pride parade, all is right with the world. We must remember that we are still in a battle for our rights and even our lives. The more we enlist the help of companies, even if these companies are problematic, the more likely we are to succeed in creating a society that accepts us and protects our rights. Winston Churchill, who led Britain through World War II, spoke wise words when he said that “[t]here is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that is fighting without them.”
The GEN X Files
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By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Netflix
For Netflix’s horrifically relevant The Perfection, Allison Williams has been encountering the same challenge she did after playing the Crazy White Girl in writer-director Jordan Peele’s Get Out: talking about it. Little should be revealed about the twisty, Sapphic thriller, its cryptic trailer a feverish, blood-splattered, suggestively queer montage: In the desert, something squirms inside the arm of a cello virtuoso, Lizzie (Logan Browning), as Charlotte (Williams), a troubled musical prodigy who now stands in Lizzie’s star-student shadow, offers her a giant cleaver. “You know what you have to do,” she says with a smirk, chillingly nonchalant about Lizzie’s alarming condition. Careful not to over-divulge, the 31-year-old actress recently talked about The Perfection. She also discussed the queerness you might’ve missed in Get Out, how playing the eponymous flying boy in NBC’s Peter Pan Live! was a “happily queer experience,” and why she was concerned when she didn’t hear from more gay men after her rimjob scene in Girls. So can we at least agree The Perfection is a lesbian power movie and lesbians will save the world? (Laughs) Sure, your words to God’s ears! 18 | 06.19.19
But for real: I’m not sure if I came out of that film with a real sense of Charlotte’s sexual identity. Did you? When we were working on it and prepping it, we never ever talked about labeling it one thing or the other. She existed in this sort of vacuum but knew she had this connection with Lizzie from their shared history and from their shared experience and trauma, obviously, but did not know that when they were face to face there was gonna be this undeniable and instant connection between the two of them, and that Lizzie would pull her in and they’d be drawn to each other in a way that I genuinely don’t think Charlotte was expecting. Especially in Charlotte’s case, she would not have had the opportunity in her life to do much exploration in this world, so I think just because of Lizzie’s confidence and comfort she was able to just go with it. And I’m proud of her (laughs), which is a weird thing to say about a character, but I’m proud of her for just following her instincts and following her heart. Is this your first onscreen lesbian or queer experience? Well, if you don’t count the completely botched threesome attempt on Girls where Marnie and Jessa make out. Right! How could I forget? I was so focused on your scene with Andrew Rannells, when you have sex with a gay man.
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(Laughs) Also a fantastic experience! It’s so funny: I just rewatched that season and that scene made me so happy all over again. But yes, if you don’t count that moment with Marnie and Jessa, then yes it was. How did shooting a sex scene with Logan in The Perfection compare to the one you shot with Andrew for Girls? Oh, you’re asking me to compare apples and oranges! I will say that one common denominator was just the comfort and safety of both of them. I’m very, very happy to report that in my somewhat surprisingly vast experience (laughs) in this arena I’ve always felt safe and comfortable, and this scene was absolutely no exception, if not more so because it was just four people in the room. It was our cinematographer, who was operating the camera, and Richard (Shepard), our director, who was hiding in the corner watching a monitor, so it was totally comfortable. We felt like it was furthering the plot; we did not feel it was exploitative in any way. It was a communication of feeling and everything about it was exactly what you wanted it to be in that situation. And Logan is amazing, and we had gotten to know each other so well before that – and our working relationship was so easy and harmonious – that it just added to the level of comfort. If you have to shoot a sex scene, that all sounds like what one would hope for. You feel so vulnerable anyway, for every single reason. Not to mention the fact that it’s all immortalized on film! (Laughs) While we’re on the subject of sex: the rimming scene in season four of Girls created quite a stir in the queer community. Did any of your gay friends help you prepare for that scene? (Laughs) No! No, they did not. It’s so funny: I think that was my first day on set that season, and I think that was the day after my birthday. There were a lot of things that were weird about that scene, chief among them the fact that I didn’t know what Ebon (Moss-Bachrach, who played Desi) was gonna do in terms of his head movements, so the first time we did it I cracked and I laughed so hard because I just did not see that coming (laughs). We hadn’t talked about it! I didn’t know that was the choice he was gonna make! (Laughs) So it took me a little while to do it with a straight face. But no, if anything, I would’ve thought I would hear from more of them. But the fact that I didn’t either means it was an embarrassment and they didn’t want to talk to me, or that I did it well and actually they didn’t feel like they needed to give me any pointers. I feel like you’re not following #GayTwitter enough, because then you’d know you did us proud. (Laughs) No, I definitely am not. There is no such thing as enough. That was some of my favorite dialogue in all of Girls and a perfect way to start the season and catch up on where Marnie is. Desi says to her, “I love that,” and Marnie says, “I love 20 | 06.19.19
you too.” Which is just so perfect. I’m hoping you heard from more of the community after Peter Pan. Were you feeling the gay love after your live performance? Yeah, I was! I was! And also, you know, the Lost Boys were helpful in making me feel that as well. It was a very happily queer experience across the board, and I felt the approval and the love from the beginning, in person and afterwards. So it was a true honor for a brief moment in time to experience that sunshine. How much did you learn about gender-bending and drag from watching Andrew as Hedwig in Broadway’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch? Oh my god. So much. Hedwig is one of my favorite musicals of all time. The music makes me so emotional, and to know John Cameron Mitchell (who played Hedwig in the film version), because I met him on Girls, is such an exciting truth in my life. And then to see Andrew in that role – and I saw Neil (Patrick Harris) play it as well – was just unbelievably moving and powerful, and I just thought it was such a celebration. It was one of the happiest theater audience atmospheres I can remember, because every single person in there was there because this is an arena they’re comfortable exploring. Walking into something where you all have that in common just frees everything from judgment and opens it up to the emotional truth of that musical, which is, by far, to me, the most powerful part of it. It was such an emotional experience for me and everyone around me. My tears were audible. In Get Out there’s a fleeting reveal that Rose has recruited at least one woman to bring home to her family when we’re shown a photo of her arm wrapped around another woman, played by Betty Gabriel. What was your read on Rose’s sexuality? It was that Rose, at her core, was stuck developmentally at the age where she started doing this with her family and truly saw herself as – and it’s a terrible word to use in this context but not altogether inaccurate – a sniper-type vigilante who would do whatever it took to get the job done. That included, of course, morphing into whoever she needed to be, which explains the different ways she looked and felt, her different energies in all those photos, whoever she thought she needed to become to entice the person in question. So if – and I mean, as disgusting as it sounds – in her mind there was demand for a woman then she would be someone who would be in love with a woman. But I think it went no deeper than that for her, which is so chilling to me! And it’s just a photo – we don’t get much. But the LGBTQ community looks for representation wherever we can find it. Yeah, one of the things that I love about (The Perfection) is from the beginning we weren’t gonna dwell on it. I love that it didn’t have to be about that; it was about the fact that they had a connection and then: “Can we keep going? Because there’s a whole lot of the rest of the movie we need to get to.” Like, “I know that these
two people are really into each other, and can we move on with it?” I love that that was the way the movie treated it, because it doesn’t need to be dealt with with such a heavy touch all the time. And that’s one of the many things that drew me to The Perfection in the first place, that there’s all kinds of themes like that, that what the movie represents is in the eye of the beholder.
in love with people of the same sexual orientation and gender and just thought, “OK.” I owe my parents for that, because they didn’t make it a big news flash, like scandalous or a scintillating detail. It was just something that, if I asked, they told me about, but it was not a defining characteristic to the people who didn’t want it to be a defining characteristic.
Let’s shift to your role as an LGBTQ ally: In 2017, you wore an ampersand pin as a sign that you stand with all communities subject to discrimination. When did LGBTQ issues become important to you? Having not been on the other side of that hate and vitriol and discrimination and marginalization, I learned about it and the minute I learned about it, the minute I drew those connections – this is when I was pretty little – between learning about it and also the people I knew in my life who were part of that community and it just felt like such a no-brainer. I felt confused by it because, of course, it doesn’t make any sense. So to have to learn about something so illogical and to then also make the very, very obvious move of adding “joining the fight” and enlisting yourself as an ally seemed like a very obvious move and one that I am proud to continue to this day and will forever more.
That’s how you hope every kid is raised. Yeah, I feel really, really fortunate because it meant that I was ready from the beginning to just show my support in any way that would be helpful so that I could be a better ally for my friends who feel vulnerable and marginalized.
You say you have ties that go back to when you were young. You grew up in a small town in Connecticut. What was your introduction to the LGBTQ community? My actual introduction to the community, my mom was telling me, was in Washington D.C., when I was in first grade. We were walking down the street, and for the first time – definitely not the first time I had seen a queer couple, but the first time I saw two women holding hands – and I asked my mom, “Are they two mommies?” and she said, “Maybe, but they love each other,” and I said, “OK!” And that was it (laughs). That was my actual introduction to it. Over time my parents would tell me about the men we knew who were in love with a man and I connected the dots and started to build this web of very special people I knew who happened to be
Based on your work in Get Out and now The Perfection, it seems you’re interested in work that is a social, political or cultural critique, or at least comments on something important. Is that true? One-hundred percent. I think one of the great privileges of doing what I do is that I get to be part of art that will make people talk about these themes in a way that they’re not used to talking about them, which I think can elevate or at least change the playing field of the conversation. We get stuck in these grooves in the way we talk about stuff, like race and assault and trauma. Being lucky enough to be in projects like these, I get to be a part of throwing a grenade in that former conversation and forcing it into a new realm, which is such an exciting opportunity for me. And hopefully it’s entertaining people in the process. I’m really excited to see what kind of conversations happen as a result of The Perfection, and my hope is that people watch it with friends so they can talk about it afterwards. I can’t wait to hear what they say. -As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in GQ, Vanity Fair and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.
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NEW FACES @ FRIENDS PHOTOS: KEITH BAILEY
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June 29 | 11am - 5pm
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AGLCC BUSINESS SUMMIT + EXPO @ MARRIOT ATLANTA PHOTOS: THOMAS LE
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PHOTOS: JAY MALLOY
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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
WHO CAN I HELP NEXT?
B R I A N S A W ®Y E R REALTOR
Scott has lived in Atlanta for 12 years now. His passion for health and nutrition eventually led him to graduate school at Georgia State University and on to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. As an RDN, he specializes in men’s health and wellness and loves to publish research articles on current health and nutrition trends. He is a frequent traveler to Latin America y el estudia espanol todos los dias! He is mostly at home surrounded by nature and can frequently be found running on the local trails and camping.
@ scott.sohn
Scott Sohn
30 | 06.19.19
As a part of our mission to help friends keep friends, we are opening our doors in 2018 to anyone needing to get their pet vaccinated and heartworm tested. Not only is this a great deal for you, it is also a fundraiser for PALS Atlanta!!
Vaccine Clinic Pricing Full veterinary exam - FREE Dog or Cat Rabies Shot - $15 Dog or Cat Combo Shot - $15 Bordatella vaccination (dogs only) - $15 Heartworm testing (dogs only) - $25 Full year supply of heartworm medication AND a full year of flea/tick preventative - $100 (requires current negative heartworm test)
peachATL.com | 31
Respoke? Is there salvation in using an attractive realtor to negotiate the commercial space lease? My husband is hugely supportive of Respoke. My cat is another question. When I first moved to Barcelona, I had a super model type real estate broker who took me to see apartments on the back of his Vespa. Let’s just say I looked at numerous apartments. For Respoke the entire search and deal All was done No Vespa. theonline. Prides thatthrew espadrilles are quickly outpacing A good friend Isofit true mine a pride party last year “socks calledin the bed” envisioned as the hottest fetish? Is that why of yougetting launchedhigh Respoke? Stoned-wall. She a celebration Shocking as it may seem, socks are as out as Ru while remembering the history of the LGBTQIA+ community. Paul. Why and do you thinkdon’t it is even that American It was a raging success people remembermen to For visitthe Spain!? what all went love down. pride partygoer who has other recreational ideas, I’ve asked a few of my biggest partiers Provincetown is notoriously seasonal. and circuit gays for tips on what to get intoexpensive this prideand month. Theknow, daddies have money. lesbians for spend. As most people weekends are the And mainthe attraction So that’s good.every But major how city did throwing you give their yourself the month of June, and with the which final push to startyoua go brick own celebration, one should to? and mortar store? Last year Respoke had a retail partner in Provincetown, thecelebrating Captain’s Daughters, and they Atlanta is currently experiencing Hell on Earth™, so we will be our pride month did extremely well with Respoke. Wecity thought in October (when God decides to chill for a second, damn!). With the gayest little in thelong and as: hard about that andSan decided to open our own south closed off, your picks include such locales New York City, Francisco, Miami brickself-promotion), and mortar andcome also to move our ecommerce Beach, and if you want to party with me (shameless Nashville where fulfillment to Provincetown. We collaborated I’ll be joining QDP for their kickoff party. with the Captain’s Daughters to do fun ready to Joel Thatcherburry, world traveler with an inheritance of several million dollars, suggests wear and espadrilles unique to their storeNew for this York City Pride. It closes off June’s last weekend and if you’re upcoming season.like WinJoel, win.you enjoy taking a mean cocktail of poppers, LSD and molly while strolling through the city’s many illustrious back alleys. He always lives life to the fullest and the twenty-eight-year-old claims if you want My let favorite is on care sale. of I’mthe considering writing to live YOUR best life, just “go with the flow and your stationery parents take rest”. I’m lavender scentedand letters to various CEOs admonishing sure many people think New York is dangerous with muggings violence, but during pride, them for never LGBTQ By Kevin Photo: Respoke.com your Assam only fear should be missing out on all the awesome fun. being If youinvolved have awith levelthehead oncommunity your of June. “involved”, I mean slapping shoulders, take the last weekend to visit San outside Francisco. The And city’sbypride rivals New York’s rainbows on shitty products. Should I save the paper? Michael Tonello a luxury liaison and feel free to crash any of the house parties and timeslot, but is offers fewer leather back alleys. Instead, Sendsort theof.letters and coordinate it with a strong Birkin aficionado. Herevelers authored enjoy your fellow in a the saferbestselling environment… memoir “Bringing Home the Birkin.” After years social media campaign. There’s major strength I for onehigh-end love the scarves, beach, so I can get to have a There party near the water,two I’llstrong take it.sides in numbers. are certainly of hoarding heany nowchance repurposes Beach somethingfootwear pretty much every to weekend, so you can stop by Harrison throughout most that argument. Da’Shaun has written theirMiami designs into has comfortable through June. If launched you start feeling out, my friend Santana Luonsays make a for quick tripI’ve to Es thetosubject BET. never his ofrecently brand,worn Respoke, in extensively Seguro, a local bar that houses Miami Beach’s most-popular coke lord: Esteban. He’s worked attended a Pride event. I’m gay, happy, out and Provincetown. Let’s see if his cat approves. hard to get to such a title and Santana says youproud. will beI do up think for days, if notthat weeks. however many of these large corporations play both ends against middle. Nashville an interesting spot for pride given that it’s smacked into the Bible Belt.the But the Do you recallis your first homoerotic experience local gays go all-out. There is a concert headlined by TLC this year, and parties all over the with a luxury brand growing up as a child? What does the doctrine dictate andgreat how can I place. The kick-off party isanthe one to be at,I because that’s where of I’llSerendipity be at. See some Absolutely! It was mid-1970s, advertisement harness it to find a long termsome partner? Are there specific traps? on the stage, then headPolo over Ralph to the photo booth and grab polaroid pics! And thinkperformances was in GQ, for short sleeve drink the night away. Lauren polo shirt. It was all about the stud wearing Serendipity is one of my favorite words and concepts in life. It simply must be part of it. I No toldmatter my mother wanted a subscription wherethat youI go this year, be sure to everyone’s not be fullylife. sober, morewho funare thatunfamiliar way. If I Forit’s those to GQ for Christmas. you’re asking yourself “but what about the sex parties?”, be pretty suggest athe visitanswer to the should Serendipity cafeobvious. in NYC. Go. They’re happening in all those cities, at all hours, all month The sex started Live the dream.long. Embrace life parties and open yourself What’sbefore the origin storymonth of the Birkin bag and what do you think pride began. No matter whatfell yourtotaste is, you’ll find someone an orgy one ice cream! Serendipity and hosting trap contradict out ofat Jane Birkin’s bagmoment that left Jean-Louis Dumas electrified? any given during pride. Because love is whatI’m pride all about. Andtoo isn’t a wildanother. notisinto traps. It’s hunteresque. Jean-Louis invited Jane to visit Hermès create ass, drug-fueled, leather-clad train and of men just aSerendipity different way of saying love?and I hope youuniverse. have is totally organic of the a bag that would workthis forpride! her. The Birkin bag is butt loads of fun actually based on a couple of bags that Hermès I’m a twink who’s worried I can’t fake it till already had in its repertoire — reconfigured. Yours inAspriding it out, Parisians began seeing Jane trotting around Paris I make it. Will you help carry me to the , top? In that case, I have the physical as well as the with her new bag a demand was created for the mental strength to help you to the top. Yes is my Jane Birkin bag. Jane agreed to Hermès’ request to allow the production and sale of the bag to the favorite word. And as my mother once told me, “no general public. A star was born. As for what fell one ever died of hard work or embarrassment”. Mitzi Pennington is the self-proclaimed sex symbol and advice-giving-guru alter ego of out of Jane’s straw bag on the airplane we can Mirza Muftic. She came from humble roots of middle America and married shortly Areinto ourmoney mistakes what make our fate? only imagine. answer is hidden in her after dropping outPerhaps of college. the Her late husband’s fortune allows her to travel the world and Indeed. smash hit of song, Je T’aime? have a sense enlightenment one normally gets from actually working for their money. Mirza has had none of those experiences in his life. On occasion, Mirza will perform as Mitzi around www.Respoke.com Atlanta. His other job includelife film get editing, retouching, and stop-motion How much doesinterests/day one’s romantic shaken toanimation. its core when launching a luxury brand like 32 32 | 06.19.19 | 04.24.19
Spice World Pride As if by miracle, (or incredible marketing) the Spice Girls are having their reunion tour throughout the gayest month of the year! Since I can’t go to Europe to watch them, due to a continent-wide restraining order, I have to use the internet to watch small videos of the most festive concert going on now. If you are someone who doesn’t have restrictions from traveling, this months is a perfect time to get out and get cultured! Pride is great to celebrate at any of the fine metropolis cities in America, but there is plenty of pride you can have in other parts of the world as well. One of my favorite destinations to dance the house down with the gays would have to be Spain. An awesome place to visit during pride month, there are events happening throughout many cities and spread all over June. By now, the Ibiza pride has had its main parade on the 12th, so you’ll have to book a ticket to Madrid and catch their celebrations on the 27th. What do the Spaniards do for pride? They celebrate it for ten days straight! Be sure to pack a nice pair of running shoes so you can enjoy all the festivities, like concerts by Enrique Iglesias and Elton John! The shoes also come in handy if you find yourself getting caught being spit-roasted in public and have to flee the scene, as my good friend John Anyman Jr. did two years ago. If you have a more Latin craving, head over to Mexico City. They’re having their celebration on the 26th. Grab yourself a Regret-a-rita (a margarita so strong, you’ll wish you hadn’t tried it) and some rainbow-colored tacos, and head over to the city’s festivities. Aside from the parade every city hosts, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that Mexico City hosts a Running of the Bears event. It’s like Running of the Bulls, but you’ll WANT to get impaled by these animals. My good online pen pal says the real fun starts when the sun goes down, since most police officers are afraid to go out at night. There’s no fun like lawless fun! Travel a bit further south and you’ll find yourself in San Paulo, Brazil. They have their parade on the 23rd, so you can spread these festivities around nicely! If there is any culture that has been stereotyped as loving sex, it’s the Brazilians. A quick online search found me over twenty sex clubs, saunas and cruising bars you can get your sticky fingers into. For the pride traveler that has the extreme kink in their heart, head over to my friend’s (and the world’s first) underwater sex hotel 20,000 Loads Under My Sheets. The level of cleanliness is unparalleled and the insulation from the water surrounding it helps keep the noise level from the screaming down. If the restraining order gets dropped, or temporarily paused, I will be enjoying pride in England with a number of my good friends, and thousands of gays screaming at the Spice Girls. Their sold-out, standing-room-only tour ends mid-June and is a perfect way to take a break from standing in crowded parade streets. London has already had its pride, but isn’t a Spice Girls concert essentially its own gay pride? If not, it should be. If the restraining order does NOT go away on time, I will be live-casting their final concert on my private island just southwest of Bermuda. Feel free to swim by my Chateau SheDoneDidThat and grab a drink. We can make our own pride out of it!
Yours in zig-a-zig-ah,
Mitzi Pennington is the self-proclaimed sex symbol and advice-giving-guru alter ego of Mirza Muftic. She came from humble roots of middle America and married into money shortly after dropping out of college. Her late husband’s fortune allows her to travel the world and have a sense of enlightenment one normally gets from actually working for their money. Mirza has had none of those experiences in his life. On occasion, Mirza will perform as Mitzi around Atlanta. His other interests/day job include film editing, retouching, and stop-motion animation.
34 | 06.19.19
Looking for Love?
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June 19 - June 26
Deep South Stonewall Pool Party Join Deep South as they honor the 50th anniversary of Stonewall and celebrate the unwavering support of Deep South and the dance community. No cover, complimentary cocktails, light bites, and music by Deep South resident DJs Vicki Powell, Brian Rojas, and Ash Lauryn. Check facebook.com/deepsouth for details. Sunday, June 23, 2-6 pm Altitude Apartments STAFF PICK!
The G8yties 80s Dance Party Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall with an 80s Pride-inspired set list created by DJ Mike who will be spinning songs from inspiring artists who helped pave the way for our freedom and rights. Friday, June 21, 10 pm – 3 am The Heretic
People-Powered Pride Workshop Join Southern Fried Queer Pride, Georgia Equality, Atlanta Pride, and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute for an afternoon of learning and strategy to address issues that impact our communities. Admission is free with registration through Eventbrite. Saturday, June 22, 1-4 pm Gallery 992
Socks and Jocks Party Classics Series: Desperately Seeking Susan The party that launched Superbowl weekend is back with Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema continues their Classics another edition of Socks and Jocks that lets you dance the Series with a schedule that highlights some of the most night away in less clothing to the beats of DJ Neon the memorable NYC-based movies – this time the cult feature Glowgobear. Desperately Seeking Susan. All films in the series feature a short introduction and a post-show discussion. Saturday, June 22, 10 pm – 3 am Tuesday, June 25, 7-10 pm Atlanta Eagle Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema
38 | 06.19.19
SUNDAY SERVICE 9TH ANNIVERSARY @ SISTER LOUISA'S PHOTOS: MIKKEL H
40 | 06.19.19
Tickets Available @ joininghearts.org
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
42 | 06.19.19
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 | 06.19.19
atldragshow.com
flexspas.com
manifest4u.org
2103 Faulkner Rd NE
THE DEN
thedenatlanta.com
2135 Liddell Drive NE
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10 THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR CELEBRATION OF PRIDE THE BEST Be prepared for a parade, party, hookup, et cetera! Celebrate with your friends and chosen family
Wear the rainbow
Stay hydrated (with water)
Comfortable footwear
Make sure you eat something Slather on sunblock
Personal lubricant
A backpack for your things Cash (and tip well)
46 | 06.19.19
An open mind
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Text your Peach Pits to 540-30-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com
You can take your man back after he cheated on you multiple times, but you can’t take a joke on a damn meme?
Me: What is your opinion on the current political climate?
Him: What do you mean?
Me: Don’t you follow the news?
When I want your opinion I’ll remove the duck tape
Him: Now hush, I date you for your looks, not your brain.
Me: Then you’ve made a huge mistake.
Dad Joke Alert Did you hear about the exploding French cheese factory? All that’s left was de Brie
If you want a straight pride parade, we have to ban straight marriage first!
Your mom is somewhere concerned for your well-being and safety while you are in some man’s bed telling him to choke you!
Pride PSA: HIV+ individuals with an undetectable viral load cannot pass HIV to their sex partners. Glitter, on the other hand…
48 | 06.19.19
Fat is a temporary caloric imbalance, but stupid is a temporary genetic malfunction!
NO COVER 306 PONCE DE LEON AVE, NE, ATLANTA, GA 30308
SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) You’re like Indiana Jones today, ambushed at every turn, chased by marauding packs of mercenaries and forced to make acrobatic escapes from tight situations with daring aplomb. And that’s just grocery shopping. Keep your head down, and make the best of it today. Wait until you see what’s waiting for you at work.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) You’re so focused on the big picture that you don’t see the stuff right under your feet that keeps tripping you up. This affects how you deal with men. You’re so fixated by Mr. Dreamy in the distance that you don’t see Mr. Right standing there in front of you. Narrow your field of vision today. You’ll be amazed at what you can see.
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)
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.
Money is tight, and you may find yourself shopping at second-hand stores. You’ll be queen of the discounts as you cleverly find ways to save money while maintaining a semblance of the lavish lifestyle you’re accustomed to. It will take some legwork, and snafus should be expected. So what if that cut-rate hair dryer burst into flames? It only cost five dollars.
CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)
You’ve a bunch of crazy ideas in your head. What’s even crazier is that people like them, and are giving you the resources to start developing them. Jump on this excellent opportunity, and follow through on their offers. Sometimes crazy is just another word for innovative.
You’ll be like a space-walking astronaut today, floating freely through the cosmos. The feeling of singularity and freedom will give you a Messiah Complex, and you may want to untether yourself from the mothership to be one with the universe. Don’t do that. Can you hear me, Major Tom?.
LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)
PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)
Today will be as chaotic as an old western town, with no rules of right and wrong, where the smallest squabble could lead to a shoot-out. You will be expected to pin on the badge, and restore order to this mess. But it’s a daunting task. Their guns are bigger than yours, and they know how to use them. It might be time to vamoose, cowboy.
Make yourself a good dinner today. A healthy and organic meal will do wonders for the waistline, and give you the peace of mind of knowing you won’t feel like a blimp in the morning. So rattle those pots and pans, set the table with candles and the good china and find someone to share it with.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)
ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)
You feel the urge to experience something foreign today, without all the hassle of traveling. You don’t have to head to exotic places to experience the exotic, because the world is in your town. There’s bound to be plenty of foreign films, restaurants, boutiques and men right in your back yard to satisfy your sense of wanderlust.
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)
Houseguests (perhaps unexpected) are likely in your future -- you can expect a ‘We’re coming to visit!’ email soon. Whether they’re second cousins or friends from college, be graciously hospitable. You’ll be rewarded.
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.
50 | 06.19.19
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.
I
have been married to my partner for almost ten years, but about six months ago, I had a brief and very intense affair with a man. We decided to break it off quickly – we are both married/in a relationship, and we quickly realized that what we were doing was risky and stupid. But here’s the thing: the sex was absolutely mind-blowing and a bit of a sexual awakening for me where I realized that I am into much more kinky stuff than my husband. After the affair, sex with him just seems a little bland, and he has expressed several times that his comfort zone is, well, limited! So what do I do? How do I talk to my husband about this? Will he suspect I had an affair? Can I get over thinking about the incredibly satisfying sex? Sincerely Mind Blown Dear Mind Blown So one thing is certain: you need to talk to your husband about something! Maybe the affair is a bit much, but you should at least be able to speak to your partner about doing things a little bit different in the bedroom. There are many other reasons why you could have experienced a sexual awakening - literature, movies, and the freaking Internet – so he doesn’t have to default to an affair. Make a list of things you like, and ask him to do the same, and when you compare, perhaps there are cross-references! Then again, maybe a good and honest conversation would open up a thing or two between you, and maybe even lead to a heightened intimacy that could result in some mind-blowing sex! The positive about this is that you gave up the affair and realized you had erred, so the great sex was probably more about the novelty of it all – and even though you have been together a long time, there are plenty of ways to expand both of your comfort zones.
I
’m dating a guy, and we are really compatible together – good conversation, humor, same interests – but there is one thing that might be a red flag in the compatibility department. When we have sex, the only way he can come is by maintaining an incredibly fast pace for about 4-5 minutes, and sometimes he just gives up on getting off. This makes it difficult on several levels, because either he is pounding me really hard and fast for a long time which is not always that great, or he has to spend a long time jerking off on his own after I have already come. I have gotten off way more than him because he gives up and says it’s okay. This is very frustrating to me because either way, it is uncomfortable for me. Are we maybe sexually incompatible? Sincerely Killer Driller Dear Killer Driller Yes, it sounds like you are not very compatible, but luckily, there are things you can do to get closer in the sex department. First of all, you need to stop faking that you enjoy the prolonged pounding, especially if it is actually hurting you. Then you need to talk about how you can make it satisfying for both of you. He may not be very open to it if he is perhaps a little embarrassed about it – his shrugging his own orgasm off kinda hints to that – but if you express that it is frustrating for you that you are not both getting off, maybe you can start to experiment with things where you are both in the game. Maybe try a fleshlight he can pound to a finish or masturbate together after he has fucked you for a while – there are many options to improve the situation if you are both upfront about the situation. But you also have to be prepared for the fact that the outcome just won’t work, and that you are just not compatible. These things happen, so keep that in mind too. NEED ANSWERS? REACH OUT TO US, AND YOU WILL GET THEM! SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO OUR EDITOR AT MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM.
52 | 06.19.19
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