Peach v3i16 Off To The Races

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Screen Savor A Dark Place

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Peach Recommends Race to the Revival!

Interview

Ben Platt Sings to You Instead

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Now that ‘the Atlanta Pollening’ is finally about to loosen its tight grip on everyone’s respiratory system, it is time to shake off the last shred of winter gloom with an Easter weekend packed full of fun events and parties.

CONTRIBUTORS

We talked to the Deep South crew about their massive Easter party lineup (page 10), and it was impossible to recommend just one of the many events this weekend, so we made a day of it and recommended three on Easter Sunday: the infamous Drag Races with the Armorettes in the parking lot in front of Midtown Moon, Sugar! Tea Dance at Loca Luna, and Deep South’s Sunday Service at Sister Louisa’s. How’s that for reviving your spirit!

We also have an exclusive interview with Ben Platt who was in The Book of Mormon and Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and Pitch Perfect on screen. Plus, he was voted Sexiest Broadway Performer, and he has a stunning new album out right now before he will star in another movie with Gwyneth Paltrow and Bette Midler. Catch the out, proud and totally adorable multi-talent on page 18.

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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.

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Race to the Revival!

Easter bonnet contest with fabulous prizes. It all concludes at 8 pm at Midtown Moon with the special Easter edition drag show by the Armorettes.

Easter Sunday is no doubt one of the biggest Sunday Funday celebrations of the year where old and new traditions meet for a day packed with parties just in time for the revival!

Easter in Atlanta just isn’t right without the Easter Drag Races with the Armorettes. As one of the oldest Easter Sunday traditions, it gathers hundreds of people to celebrate the colorful holiday with races and contests – and true to the Armorettes’ mission, it is all for charity benefiting those who are affected by or living with HIV/ AIDS. Besides the Drag Races, another popular event is the

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A new addition to Atlanta’s Easter Sunday Funday is the Sugar! Tea Dance which premiered last year at Easter.

To celebrate the first anniversary, Beyond Productions is bringing back DJ Russ Rich from San Francisco as well as Skyworks Lighting to light up the room for an evening of dancing!

Easter wouldn’t be the same without the return of Vicki Powell’s Sunday Service Revival. The Deep South crew concludes their momentous party weekend (read about it on page 10) with their joyous Sunday party that celebrates fellowship and danceable spirituals. Deep South resident DJs Vicki Powell and Brian Rojas will make sure you close out Easter weekend in a properly revived spirit!

Easter Drag Races 12 pm - 10 pm Midtown Moon Parking Lot

Sugar! Tea Dance 5-9 pm Loca Luna

Vicki Powell’s Sunday Service 7 pm – 11:59 pm Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living

Happy SHEaster!

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt For Deep South - the queer, underground DJ collective - Easter is where it all started. Peach talked to resident DJ Brian Rojas as the Deep South crew gears up for another impressive party lineup. After all, it is SHEaster!

Tell us a little bit about Deep South.

Deep South is a DJ collective based in Atlanta focusing on queer underground music, events, mentoring, priority to POC, trans, gender-nonconforming, femme-identified DJs, parties, and producers. Deep South currently has three resident DJs Founder Vicki Powell, Ash Lauryn, and myself - but we always provide a space for others to showcase their craft on the decks.

Easter holds a special significance for Deep South – why is that?

The first official Deep South began Easter weekend in 2016 with Honcho! This is the fourth year running, but the third anniversary of declaring it SHEaster weekend. Easter Sunday also launches our seasonal Sunday Service party at Sister Louisa’s, so it really does represent the start of our high season of DJing.

You’ve had the Honcho DJ crew from Pittsburgh headline your Easter lineup since Deep South’s inception – what is it about them that just keeps you inviting them back?

First of all, they are all incredible DJs, and they know how to throw a party! And naturally, a deep friendship outside the party venues has built over the years, so now it is like a big chosen family reunion. We are very well synched to each other, and that calls for some great times (and awesome music) when we’re throwing a major party together, and when we’re just hanging out in between sets.

The party with Honcho on Saturday is the main event, but you have an impressive lineup of events surrounding it. Tell us a little about them?

Friday night we kick off with PasQueera at Mary’s - a play on the Spanish word for Easter, “Pascua” and queer - a Latinx-focused event with me and Esmé spinning all night. Saturday Deep South is hosting a caftan pool party at the new Moxy Hotel.

It will be a chill affair with great music and drinks poolside to get you rested and ready for the evening’s main event: Deep South with Honcho at the Music Room. Honcho residents Clark Price and George d’Adhemar will be manning the decks after an opening set by Vicki Powell, and it is going to be fire from start to finish. Our Deep South Afterhours, at a yet undisclosed location (check our FB for details), will feature Harry Cross (Smart Bar/Chicago) and Ash Lauryn (Deep South/Underground & Black). And, of course, Sunday night we will kick off our Sunday Service party at Sister Louisa’s with Vicki and me in the Dj booth.

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As part of the queer, underground music scene, what makes a Deep South party special?

We aim to create an inclusive party that brings along trans and POC talent who are deserving of the spotlight. We strive to represent ALL aspects of the Atlanta queer community, so everyone is welcome, and no one feels left out, which also means we have a NOTAFLOF policy, so if money is tight and you want to dance, get in in touch with us, and we’ll make sure you come and enjoy the party. When all of those elements are combined, you hit this magical vibe that takes you on a journey from any vantage point in the space.

You manage to create a unique, queer safe space at your parties – how?

This event is primarily for queers, by queers, and openmindedness and positivity are major priorities at any of our events. We do not tolerate racism, transphobia, sexism, and homophobia, and we deflect all forms of toxic masculinity, ageism, classism, and body-shaming. We want everyone to respect the vibe, and each other. Leave your phone in your pocket and get lost in the music with us!

Happy SHEaster!

April 19

Deep South presents PasQUEERa w/Brian Rojas & Esmé at Mary’s

April 20 Deep South Caftan Pool Party at Moxy Hotel -Deep South presents Honcho’s 3rd Anniversary (PGH) at Music Room -Deep South Afters w/ Harry Cross and Ash Lauryn

April 21 Easter Sunday Service Revival at Church w/ Vicki Powell & Brian Rojas

peachATL.com | 11

From Out of the Dark

By Gregg Shapiro

Out actor Andrew Scott has had a special place in the hearts of many LGBTQ movie lovers since we saw him as Gethin in the wonderful, Golden Globe-nominated movie “Pride”. In the suitably titled thriller “A Dark Place” (Shout! Studios), Scott trades in his lovely Irish brogue for a thick Pittsburgh accent.

Donald (Scott) is a small-town Pennsylvania sanitation truck driver on the autism spectrum. It’s the kind of usedup Rust Belt place where it’s not uncommon to see a lot of Trump/Pence lawn signs in front of homes and banners on businesses.

Donald gets along well enough with co-worker Donna (Bronagh Waugh). He still lives at home with his mother Betty (Sandra Ellis Lafferty), who is confined to a wheelchair and is looked after by her devoted son. Donald is also close to his 11-year-old daughter Wendy (Christa Bell Campbell), conceived after a drunken one-night stand with supermarket cashier Linda (Denise Gough). This in spite of the fact that Linda wants nothing to do with Donald and occasionally makes it difficult for him to see his daughter.

Tyler (Nolan Cook), the younger brother of one of Wendy’s classmates has gone missing. She’s not concerned because, as she tells Donald, nothing ever happens in their town. But something about the boy, whose family’s house is on Donald’s work route, catches his attention. Soon after, a girl discovers Tyler’s dead body in the creek near her house. The death is quickly dismissed as an accident, that Tyler slipped and fell in the water and drowned while he was exploring the woods.

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Following an exchange with Tyler’s mother, in which she tells him that her son was scared of everything and not the kind of boy who go off on an expedition by the creek, Donald takes it upon himself to begin his own investigation.

He picks through Tyler’s family’s garbage, unearthing a phone bill with a lot of calls to the office of pediatrician Dr. Pomoworski (Andrew Masset). He questions Tyler’s brother Justin (Christian Finlayson), he terrorizes Tyler’s father Jerry (Jason Davis), he pays a visit to a man who was molested as a boy by someone Donald suspects of the murder.

While he is aided to a degree by Donna and detective Max (Griff Furst), it becomes obvious that no one in town wants the mystery of Tyler’s death solved. Donald is almost killed when he agrees to meet two mystery men on a bridge over railroad tracks. He is harassed by Sheriff Mooney (Michael Rose), who might know more than he lets on.

At a certain point, clearly frustrated at his lack of progress, Donald does the first of two shocking things. The good news is that another character in the movie is as shocked by the action as we are. Then, in the movie’s final vigilante moments, Donald’s behavior takes another shocking turn.

It’s the kind of occurrence that will leave more than a viewers wondering if they should be cheering for the character or simply shaking their heads in disbelief.

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Out of Office

by jeff fuller

In the spring of 1997, Ellen DeGeneres came out of the closet, both her fictional character on the TV sitcom Ellen in “The Puppy Episode” and the actress herself on the cover of Time magazine, with the headline “Yep, I’m Gay.” As Ellen was coming out, an act that proved to be a watershed moment in popular culture, I was in my senior year at Davidson College, resisting my own sexuality. arlier that year, I had been seeing a campus with grace and dignity and smoothly moved the counselor about some depression issues and conversation to a different topic. frustration that I had been unable to date (women) throughout college. The counselor gently asked I also remember when Kristi, one of the openly me to consider my own sexual orientation, but lesbian women who worked at TCS, invited a I dismissed it. I could not contemplate opening bunch of us over to her house in East Nashville. myself up to that. Culture and my own religious We met her girlfriend there, and I recall seeing a life-size naked painting of the girlfriend hanging faith at the time prevented me from doing so. prominently on the wall. In some ways, the naked After graduation, I started a job in Nashville portrait was fitting. The openly gay and lesbian as a customer support consultant with a small, people of that time and place were showing innovative company that made call center how to live openly, without shame, and yet with software called TCS Management. They hired vulnerability at the same time. liberal arts graduates to train users on the software and work the help desk in Nashville. The TCS was a really fun place to work. We were cojob did not require deep technical expertise, but workers, but a close-knit group of friends as well. it required us to learn the software thoroughly and Some of these friendships turned into romantic relationships and ultimately marriages. For me, then teach call center managers how to use it. however, I didn’t really know what I wanted.

TCS had several women in leadership roles and While times were changing, I still was not ready several openly gay employees, notable in a city to be unashamed and vulnerable. I was still trying as conservative as Nashville. The vice president to fit in, to please, and to make my way in the of quality assurance was a lesbian and a leader world. However, being in an environment where in making the company open and welcoming to openly gay workers were welcomed helped me LGBT individuals. Influenced by Silicon Valley, see what kind of life was possible. Today, I am the company culture was fun and relaxed. We grateful to my “out” co-workers who modeled could wear jeans while working at the call center, bravery, vulnerability, professionalism and grace. but we would dress up when meeting with clients -for the software trainings.

Apart from being a Gay Generation-Xer, Jeff Fuller is an As accepting a place as TCS Management was, attorney, writer, travel blogger, historian, and military spouse. there still was a lot of prejudice in the culture Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jeff went to college, graduate at large. I remember traveling to Detroit with school and law school in the Southeast. He has called Atlanta Neil, an openly gay customer consultant, to home for the last decade but recently moved to DC to follow observe him train some call center managers at his husband on his military career. He occasionally blogs at the Chrysler Corporation. When the discussion journeyingjeff.com. went to forecasting call volume, the call center manager brought up how Ellen’s coming out of the closet caused a spike in call volume to the center. At the time, there was a great deal of pressure from the public against companies like Chrysler who advertised on Ellen. Many of these companies ultimately pulled their ads. When the call center manager was explaining this to us, his tone seemed a little bit derisive and I could tell that Neil was getting a bit uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, he responded to the manager

E

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peachATL.com | 17

This Is Ben Platt ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ actor-singer talks telling his story with debut album and the problem with a coming-out announcement

By Chris Azzopardi

It comes up casually, as Ben Platt prefers. Tucked into “Older,” a theatrical juggernaut that doesn’t even try to hide the fact that the actor-singer introduced Evan Hansen to the world (because why would it?), the line is a personal aside expressed on an otherwise universal ballad about wishing to speed up time in your youth, only to hope for more of it as you age: “And will I get to know myself in the place I am / Get to fall in love with another man, and understand.”

If you didn’t already know Ben Platt is gay, this is how he wishes you’d find out. Casually.

The theater star turned pop crooner came out in his personal life when he was 12, then landed his Broadway debut in The Book of Mormon as Elder Cunningham in 2012. He went on to bag a Grammy and a Tony (he has an Emmy too, putting him on EGOT watch) for his moving portrayal of the titular teen in Dear Evan Hansen, also on Broadway. And, of course, he brought literal magic to the Pitch Perfect franchise, as super nerd Benji Applebaum.

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peachATL.com | 19

But Platt’s earnest and emotional Atlantic debut Sing to Me Instead is his first public expression of self, at 25.

“The main reason I wanted to make this music was to have the opportunity to go around the country and play it live and have that live connection, because that’s what I grew up loving the most,” he says, “and singing live is my favorite thing to do.”

In addition to a 12-city tour, Platt will also star alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Lange and Bette Midler this year as a high school go-getter who’s eager to be the actual president – but first, student government – in the forthcoming Netflix comedy series The Politician, which debuts Sept. 27. The series, he says, is, “in true Ryan Murphy fashion, very queer-positive.”

During our recent conversation, Platt also discussed being the reason so many people are crying, LGBTQ stigma in Hollywood and why he thinks we should move beyond coming-out announcements.

How do you process the fact that you’ve been making so many people cry with this album?

You know, it’s a strange thing. I think it’s just nice to see that people are finding ways to connect to it. I tried to make it as sort of specific as possible because usually that kind of thing begets the most universality, and it’s been really nice that that’s really been the case. And I hope it’s all good, cathartictype tears and not the bad kind! (Laughs) How did these songs come to you?

In waves? All at once?

First in waves. I think when I first sat down to write the album I tried to just lean on what came in terms of what I thought deserved to be sung about, because I come from the theater, so I feel like my philosophy has always been that you only really sing when there’s something emotionally valuable enough to sing about, and that ended up being largely the relationships that I’d had and a couple I was in while writing.

So I think it was a mixture of trying to lean on those experiences and those emotions, then also accruing phrases and ideas and conceptual things that I felt hadn’t been necessarily stated that way before or said that way before and finding a way to join them.

What hadn’t been conveyed that you wanted to say with this album?

“Grow as You Go” is the one that comes to mind only because I had never really heard a song that addressed this cop-out thing that always tends to happen when you’re in a relationship and you get to a point where it gets a bit too scary and the person backs out with the excuse of, “I need to go find who I am and I don’t have enough legs to stand on as my own person.” Of course that’s valid in many cases, but I’ve also found out that it’s kind of something to hide behind.

I think if the connection is strong enough, and theoretically if it’s a special enough person and it’s the right person, then it shouldn’t really keep you from experiencing personal growth and finding who you are just because you happen to be with someone else who is also figuring those things out.

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Was there ever a time you didn’t think an album like this, where you could be your out, authentic self, would be possible?

I think, yeah. If we’re all realistic about the world, it’s not all roses and it’s not all fantastic and we don’t live in a vacuum where it’s all pure acceptance. And particularly as an actor, there’s a lot of stigma surrounding what you’re castable as when you’re out of the closet, and sort of what characters you can play and how people will view you going forward.

But as far as the decision (to be out), it really was a nobrainer, because if I was gonna try to do something that felt authentic to me and was gonna sort of express any kind of truth in my own life then there would be no room to edit it or change it just because I hadn’t expressed those things before.

You say there’s a stigma to be out if you’re an actor. Do you think gay actors and musicians are asked to keep their sexuality quiet when promoting projects and has that ever happened to you?

I’m sure that’s something people encounter. I know that’s definitely not something we’ve moved forward from in general. I have been really lucky personally to work pretty much only in environments where it was incredibly accepting and open – and, I mean, I grew up in the theater where everyone is gay, so it was never an issue (laughs). And I don’t necessarily think that an actor’s private life, regardless of their sexuality or any of that, is pertinent when you’re playing a different character.

I think when you’re promoting something, it’s about the project and the work. What was beautiful about this experience was the work: It was sort of built into the work itself, and it was part of what the content is. And I think it gave me an opportunity to discuss it in the context of art rather than sort of trying to interject it into a conversation about work that was really sort of irrelevant to it.

But I do maybe think there is pressure to present a certain accepted form of masculinity, or to feel like you can still fit into certain boxes so you don’t limit yourself. I’m hopeful that is slowly fading away and that everybody can just accept that actors are chameleons and we can play who we can play.

Is it necessary to still make a coming-out announcement in 2019? I gather that you think it’s not?

I just don’t think it should be perceived as an abnormality at all, and in and of itself, having to announce something suggests that it’s departing from the norm or that it’s something that needs to be addressed. I think it should just be part of who we are – same as that I’m Jewish, and I’m also gay. The more that it can become an assumed part of reality, the better.

So, for example, it’s time to move on from calling you “gay musician Ben Platt.” We don’t need that identifier anymore, do we?

I agree. Yes, indeed.

In putting forward your own authentic self with this album, have you consciously had to work against the sort of nerdy-kid persona that’s been your staple?

Sure – sure! Less the archetype and more so the specific role of Evan Hansen, I think, especially in the context of music, just because I think most people, as far as my voice, are most familiar with that album. So I’ve tried to really embrace the emotionality of that and how beautiful it is that people connected to that character and my interpretation of that character, and try to use that as a fire under my butt to create my own stuff and to put my own self out there rather than a road block of, “Let me try to change the way that I’m viewed.” Hopefully just by virtue of the fact that I’m now presenting myself free of any character, that’s just gonna change the perception regardless of how I posture myself.

Does maturity explain the beard?

Yeah – well, I just prefer to have a beard whenever possible. I’ve just been playing teenagers so much, like in The Politician, that I’ve not been able to have one. I’m enjoying it while I can.

One YouTube commenter wrote: “Ben’s beard grows as his heart breaks.”

(Laughs) That’s about right!

Alongside Blake Shelton and Zac Efron, you were included in People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2017, as Sexiest Broadway Performer.

Were you prepared for that moment in your career?

Certainly not! (Laughs) That was not something that was ever on my sort of preconceived bucket list! I mean, it’s very flattering and very nice, but it was never a conscious goal. It was not like the Tony and the Broadway of all of it, but it was lovely to see! And it made me feel good – and made me want to go out and go on some dates!

Did it get you some dates?

Well, not necessarily from it but it restored a bit of confidence. It was a nice boost.

And then you were on Ellen recently, noting you’re single, so that couldn’t have hurt.

Yeah, exactly! Whenever possible. I’m around.

Are LGBTQ youth reaching out to you expressing what this music means to them?

Are you seeing the same tweets that I’m seeing?

It’s hard to gauge. This is the first time I’ve released music on my own, so this is the first time I’m experiencing, like, how to experience the way it’s being received. There are so many different measures of that, but definitely as I give the social a scroll, if you will, there are beautiful messages from people. Of course there are messages from youth, particularly LGBTQ youth who feel really affected by the representation and feel really seen and like they can see themselves in the art, which is something that’s obviously very beautiful to me. But what’s been the most heartening to me is how innocuous that aspect of it has been and how it’s really been about the music itself, and how regardless of walk of life or sexuality or age, people are really finding ways that these songs fit into their lives, and that’s the ultimate gift: that they become so malleable.

That’s been really beautiful.

That songs that are very specific to your own life can have universal appeal?

For sure. And that I can sort of express an experience that can then make it maybe easier for someone else to go through that same experience or an experience like that.

What have you learned from other out artists, like Sam Smith and Troye Sivan, when it comes to navigating the music world as an out artist?

I would say from all artists, not just queer artists. But certainly, all of my favorite artists, queer or not, are sort of the ones who are true to themselves and more singular to themselves and not really wasting any time trying to fit into a preconceived box. Something that’s been really wonderful about working with Atlantic is they’ve been so reverential to my vision, allowing me to lead the way creatively and really trusting my instinct and my gut feeling, and allowing me to be the kind of artist I wanna be and not sort of “pick a lane” in any way.

I think the only reason it’s been successful thus far and people are connecting with it is because they’ve allowed me to be individualistic. And so I certainly admire any artist, queer or not, who is able to blaze their own path in that way. Just if you’re authentic, I think that’s the most attractive quality beyond just a beautiful voice, feeling like this is undoubtedly exactly who you are.

As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. Reach him via his website at www.chrisazzopardi.com and on Twitter (@chrisazzopardi).

peachATL.com | 21

FIELD DAY 2019 @ EMORY UNIVERSITY ACTIVITY CENTER PHOTOS: MH

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In the guise of satiric exploitation-horror, the all-female cast of The Secretaries takes an unflinching look at the warping cultural expectations of femininity. Pretty Patty Johnson is thrilled to join the secretarial pool at the Cooney Lumber Mill under the iron-fisted leadership of sultry office manager Susan Curtis. But she soon begins to feel that all is not right—the enforced diet of Slim-Fast shakes, the strange clicking language between the girls, the monthly disappearance of a lumberjack. By the time Patty discovers murder is part of these office killers’ skill set, it’s too late to turn back!

By The Five Lesbian Brothers

MAY 2-18, 2019

Tickets: $15 and up Out Front Theatre Company 999 Brady Avenue, Atlanta

www.OutFrontTheatre.com

DIVINE FACES @ IRISH BRED PUB DOUGLASVILLE PHOTOS: Anthony Baza-Fainn

24 | 04.17.19

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HENRY'S PHOTOS: Andrea Dwyer

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Alfons is from Durres, Albania, and has called Atlanta home since 2010. He’s a recent graduate of KSU with a Bachelor of Apparel and Textile, and he currently works at his home studio designing, sewing, and styling. He also produces the Queen Butch events, which is a queer dance party that embraces diversity and individuality in the gay community through underground house and disco music.

Alfons also enjoys giving back to the community, and he does so by volunteering with Joining Hearts, More To Love, and Open Hand. When he’s not working, he either spends time with his mother or travels the world.

@Barecouture

Alfons Dovana

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TheSingleWallflower@protonmail.com

Mother, Meet Us At Easter Mass!

By Kevin Assam

Easter Mass! Obsessed tattoo artists! And Elton John! With the wisdom vested in me by my own nonsensical adventures I give you the relationship column for which you never asked.

My tattoo artist has had a long time crush on me.

We hang out sometimes but I’ve never taken it further than friends. He recently saw my updated “in a relationship” status and hasn’t spoken to me since. I’m due to get a tattoo in a few weeks by him. Should I be concerned?

Yes. He is in a position to turn part of your body into a masterpiece or a half page ad from Reader’s Digest. Reach out once more and see if you hear back. Assuming he responds, watch for any curtness or passive aggressive behavior. If there is even the slightest indication, you’re gonna have to get your tramp stamp from someone not secretly in love with you.

I’m thinking of hiring a matchmaker. Yes, it’s that bad. Am I wasting money? How can they know me better than I know myself?

We outsource our tax filings, apartment searches, and even the cleanliness of our homes. You’re not wasting money.

However, your last point is important. No one else will ever know you better than yourself unless you’re that transparent.

The matchmaker must be made fully aware of your desires, peeves, and expectations. Think of them as a campaign manager for your electoral quest for love. They must know their candidate. Ask questions about their methods and past successes. Is there an internal database of private suitors who opt in to this program? Will your matchmaker just be trolling the usual suspect apps, which you can do yourself? Similar to choosing any consultant, you don’t have to best friends or even identify with who you ultimately hire. They just need to know their shit and always keep you in the loop.

I was asked out on what appeared to be a date before the other party added, “invite friends if you want!” Is this still a date?

Yes. Dates, like the voyeurism genre of pornography, has evolved. Dates can now include everyone plus your neighbor tagging along for the outing. The trick is to remember that unlike the other casual attendees — friends or strangers — you’re there for a different reason. To observe and achieve some sort of intimacy with that other person. You’ll effectively be in your own smaller date within a bigger “fluff” date. Unfortunately, it means the apple of your eye might give you less attention if they become distracted by other group

32 | 04.17.19

members. Be smart. Unless you want an airbag to help wing or know the other party is definitely bringing a tag along, don’t invite anyone. The message will be clear when you arrive solo.

You mean business.

I have been seeing my boyfriend for one month. I want to bring him to my die hard Roman Catholic mother’s Easter Mass. Should I? Unlike Sunday lunch, church is another ball game where the only things on the menu are wafers, wine, and judgement. If your boyfriend is down to go and not a hostage, that shows dedication on his part. Unless your mother is as chilled as mine, expect to be scrutinized in the house of the Lord. You might get stared and scowled at by the more conservative members. Use your mother as a human shield. And enjoy eating Christ — that is what the holy sacrament is all about.

Are sheer shirts too much for work?

If your dress code allows it, nope. Sheer black or white shirts are rather striking during the day and can be worn straight to evening drinks or dinner without change. Just shave your nipples. You don’t want hair poking out like a freshly blooming lawn.

This guy I was briefly seeing decided to call it quits unexpectedly. He has a good soul but really broke things off in an inconsiderate manner.

We’re both slated to perform stand up at open mic soon. Is it wrong to annihilate him during my set?

Technically, funny is funny. Whether your set discusses this guy or the terrible luck of the Aztecs, comedy should make you laugh and few topics should be disavowed. Yet, we know it’s not nice to skewer someone alive. I also don’t think revenge translates well to stand up. Being hell bent could cloud your writing process as you barrel towards getting even.

Compromise. Write one strong zinger about him then quickly use it as a transition to the meat of your routine. As your drag queen told you, success is the best revenge. You win by having a stronger performance than him.

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tears for fears • tash sultana • dashboard confessional

liz phair • sharon van etten • oh sees • black lips yellow days • the joy formidable • foxing • idles • curtis harding face to face (ACOUSTIC) • peach pit • devon gilfillian • wilderado low cut connie • hannah wicklund and the steppin stones i don't know how but they found me • duncan fellows • taylor janzen SATURDAY, MAY 4

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peachATL.com | 33

Get Ready to Be Sprung into Spring

By Jamie Kirk

When I think of the season of Spring, my head automatically goes to refresh, renew, re-invigorated, and rejuvenated. However, the interesting factor of allowing something to grow is that you often have to replant or re-soil. Even though we intend to replace the bad with the good, the sour with the sweet or addressing what is not working, with something that can work; we do the same thing day after day or previous season to previous season and think a more desired outcome will magically happen.

When we are in this season of “change,” we have to be very intentional and deliberate about what we are trying to change. You likely are not going to be able to change something without stripping it clean and vice versa, you will not be able to spring into a new “thing” until you decide to change.

A typical example is this laborious task of spring cleaning; putting our winter clothes in the attic, uncovering the patio furniture and so on. The easy stuff. This is physical. This is controllable. This is task-oriented. Once we do it, we feel prepared and ready for the change in weather. We make room for the changes. We can accommodate these changes because we indeed made them happen, and if we don’t adjust, then it is our fault.

But what if what needs to be sprung is uncontrollable?

What happens when we get ready, we do all the necessary steps, and yet we just can’t seem to make any progress in our life?

Some people in our lives are in our lives without the approval of our heads. Our hearts tend to be forgiving and less pragmatic than our hearts. It is hard to remove someone from our lives when we are still in love with them. That love can look like sharing a home, kids, pets, a business, et cetera. But the removal looks less about wanting to clean up this area of our lives and more about moving things from one drawer to the next. We are really not making a change at all; the only difference is the perception, not necessarily a changed outcome or output.

34 | 04.17.19

Another example would be changing jobs. We may be ready for a career change or to change industries, but the hefty paycheck binds us. Or the ability to work from home or have clients that are not that demanding. We could be ready to renew our career and jolt it with a fresh start to allow for new opportunities to come our way. But the removal looks less about wanting to step out of our comfort zone and just settling for the status quo because we fear the unknown. This too is not a chance, but an idea, that we have talked ourselves out of.

Being sprung into spring should be done with a clear conscience and changes not made from extreme emotion (too happy, too sad, or too made). We need to control the areas that we want to change. When we are trying to change or move around things in our lives, we need to be able to determine how to overcome the loss - even determining if indeed it is a loss. Just because we strip something away to make room from something better, it may not fit the definition of a loss; it could very well be a replacement. But are you replacing it with something better or something worse?

To confirm you are enhancing your life, make sure you can answer YES to all three questions: 1) Will this change move my life forward and make me a better person?

2) Was this change created with a workable Plan B? 3) If I don’t make this change, will I continue to not be at peace?

If you answer YES to all three, then you have to do what you gotta do to ensure you spring into this new season. Ensuring that you are focused on renewing your life, re-invigorating your life and rejuvenating your life.

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)

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

OCTOBER 11-13,2019 atlantapride.org

May 4th, 2019 | Heretic 9:00PM - 3:00AM $20 ADVANCE (AND UNTIL 11:00PM DAY OF) $25 AFTER 11:00PM | 21+ ID REQUIRED

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Apr 17 – Apr 24

Music Video Dance Party: Purple Tribute

Birdcage Bingo

The fourth annual Prince music video dance party celebrates all things Prince and purple! DJ/VJ Anthony serves up rare, official, and custom-made Prince videos on the multiple screens throughout the venue.

Saturday, April 20, 10pm - 3am Amsterdam Atlanta

The riveting Ruby Redd hosts her weekly bingo night that gives you a couple of rounds of bingo and drag all for a good cause.

STAFF PICK!

MAAP Pride in Tech at NCR Meet up with MAAP (Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals) for their quarterly Pride in Tech mixer hosted at the beautiful new NCR Headquarters.

Network and workshop your way to a successful career journey. Participation is free with registration at Eventbrite.

Wednesday, April 17, 6-8 pm NCR Corporation Global Headquarters, 864 Spring Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 38 | 04.17.19

Wednesday, April 17, 9-11 pm The Hideaway

Dear Evan Hansen Broadway in Atlanta brings the contemporary hit musical to the Fox. Dear Evan Hansen tells the story about the wish and need to fit in. Profoundly personal and already celebrated, this musical will strike a chord with everyone in the audience. Tickets on sale via foxtheatre.org.

April 23-28 The Fox Theatre

Ready 4 Hope 7th Annual Bear-B-Q Come hungry, thirsty, and ready to party, because $20 at the door will get you unlimited draft beer, BBQ lunch, and music by the talented DJ Mike Pope. The popular beer bust raises funds for Ready 4 Hope and AID Atlanta.

Saturday, April 20, 12-5 pm The Heretic

HEIFER REVIEW

APRIL 2019

@JOES PHOTOS: ANDREA DWYER

40 | 04.17.19

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 | 04.17.19

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

MODEL T

991 Piedmont Ave NE

699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

modeltatlanta.com

EINSTEIN’S

MY SISTER’S ROOM

1077 Juniper St NE

66 12th St NE

frogsmidtown.com

mysistersroom.com

TEN ATLANTA

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

CHESHIRE

SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO

ANSLEY BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1447 Piedmont Ave NE

GCB & PLEASURES

brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

FROGS CANTINA

Fitness

931 Monroe Dr

MIDTOWN

G’S

gsmidtown.com 219 10th St NE

HERETIC

HENRY’S

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

132 10th St NE

BJ ROOSTERS

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

hereticatlanta.com

barkingleather.com

henrysatl.com

URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

bjroosters.com

joesonjuniper.com

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

1049 Juniper St NE

OPUS 1

LA HACIENDA

Spas/Baths/Adult

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

1931 Piedmont Circle N

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

WOOFS

LAS MARGARITAS

76 4th St NW

2425 Piedmont Road NE

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

CHESHIRE

ANSLEY

ROXX

MANIFEST 4U

MIDTOWN MOON

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

FELIX’S

LIPS ATLANTA

THE HIDEAWAY

3011 Buford Hwy NE

1086 Alco St NE

TRIPPS

woofsatlanta.com

1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 1544 Piedmont Ave NE

MIXX

mixxatlanta.com

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

44 | 04.17.19

lahaciendamidtown.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com

DEKALB

atldragshow.com

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

flexspas.com

manifest4u.org

2103 Faulkner Rd NE

THE DEN

thedenatlanta.com

2135 Liddell Drive NE

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Arrange an egg hunt Get outdoors Don’t forget allergy meds Make a bonnet Go to the Easter Drag Races!

Buy chocolate bunnies & eggs Tea dance away (at Sugar!)

Break out the pastels Try not to get a sugar rush Dance under the stars (at Sunday Service)

46 | 04.17.19

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!

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Get the details on these and other great upcoming events on our website calendar.

We’re closer to Atlanta than you think!

Low Country Boil - April 13 Easter Weekend Events - April 19-20 Coastal Empire Sentinels Stone Soup Run - April 26-28

Coming May 31- Jun 2

with Del Shores Performing!

peachATL.com | 47

Text your Peach Pits to 540-30-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com

Him: Are you coming?

Me: Yes! On the way!

Can we hang up the iPhone versus Android thing? Both great phones, so don’t be a bitch about it.

Him: Ok, how far are you?

Me: There’s traffic

Wait, drink responsibly doesn’t mean ‘don’t spill it?’

Him: Ok, so when will you be here?

Me: Looking for parking!

Him: You only just left the house, right?

Me: Yes…

Asking for a friend: What does it mean when you have more clothes to sleep in than to go out in?

Everyone is so caught up with toning and shaping their ass that they forgot to tone and shape their character. Or personality. Or integrity.

Two days into my diet, and I’m still not skinny – this clearly isn’t working!

48 | 04.17.19

Ok, it’s been 10 years. I’m starting to think I’m not just bloated.

Is it just me, or do you also get self-conscious about your windshield wiper when it rains? I look at other cars because I don’t want to be too dramatic!

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22) A subject of interest that you’ve been pursuing could bring up some deeply buried emotions this week. You might want to retreat into your mind and try to make sense of it, although analyzing it intellectually may not be the answer. Avoid emotional confrontations. Things might be said that shouldn’t be said, and they won’t be easily forgotten.

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22) This could be a confusing week for you. Financial issues might be complicated by computer glitches or failures in communication. Keep pushing, however, and whatever you’re trying to straighten out will be resolved. An opportunity to participate in a project you’ve never tried before could have you doubting your abilities. Believe in yourself and then move ahead. There’s a first time for everything!

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19) If you’ve been planning a long trip by air, you might doubt whether you should continue with your plans. Money might be the issue. Be aware that your fears may run away with you. The situation may be more secure than it appears. You might want to attend a class or lecture, perhaps on computer science or some other technology. As with the vacation plans, try to view this objectively.

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20) You might feel too overwrought to concentrate on whatever goals you’re trying to reach, particularly if they’re financial. Past issues might crop up at inopportune times but will still need to be released. If you aren’t careful, this could get in the way of just about anything you need to do. Keeping cool is the most important thing to remember.

Financial issues might have you and your partner a bit more on edge than you need to be. Perhaps money is tighter than usual right now, and you have to put off purchases you want to make. Try to work it out. This is a great week to reach a compromise in just about any touchy situation, because you should be in just the right space to see both sides of any issue.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) Your intellect is flying high this week. A number of new ideas, perhaps about political or social issues, might excite your curiosity and cause you to want to spend hours in the library or on the Internet.

Mundane tasks still need handling, however. This might be frustrating, because it takes you away from your quest.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

You tend to be pretty self-assured, but self-esteem issues dating from long ago could resurface. You might feel like a schoolchild called on to recite.

This could cause a few snags in your relationships or interfere with your effectiveness at social occasions. Try to remain objective. Don’t lose sight of who you are. Don’t let old insecurity interfere with your effectiveness.

Your imagination is working overtime this, and you might spend hours at a computer writing or in front of an easel or piano creating your own brand of painting or music. This drive to create comes from the heart and shouldn’t be ignored no matter what other issues come up. Take care of whatever needs to be handled and then follow your inspiration. You may be surprised at what you produce!

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22) You might feel a bit bloated and slow, which could interfere with your daily routine. You might not feel like exercising, but it’s important that you do it anyway. Moving the body can clear your head and put you in the proper frame of mind to get on with your day. It can also help purge your tissues of all the excess toxins you got over Halloween weekend.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22) This week your job or another activity could require your artistic skills for a particular project. You may not be used to this, so it could throw you into a bit of a panic. There should be others around who can collaborate with you, so you will be all right.

A tendency to be overly emotional could interfere with just about anything you try. Stay centered.

50 | 04.17.19

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18) A conflict between your responsibilities to family and obligations to friends could rear its ugly head this week. You might want to attend an event but need to deal with emotional issues in the home immediately. It could be difficult to keep a cool head under these circumstances. If you can, you should find a way to satisfy your family and go out.

Step back and be objective!

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20) Dissatisfaction with certain job conditions might come to a head this week. A discussion with colleagues might be necessary to defuse a potentially explosive situation. Clear, honest communication is necessary in order to avoid misunderstandings. Try to remain objective. Don’t let your emotions take control. Things will work out to everyone’s satisfaction.

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.

H

i, I’m a trans man, and I really want to go to a gay bar while presenting as male. My concern is that I have absolutely no experience with gay bars – before transitioning I was a cisgendered heterosexual, I guess – and I am just afraid that I’ll be unwelcome in a gay space. My fantasy is to hook up with other guys, but first I want to feel comfortable in a gay space without the fear of getting shamed once they find out I’m trans. I’m here to explore, but will it be safe?

Sincerely Comfort Zoning Dear Comfort Zoning Of course, you are welcome in a gay space, and good for you in taking even more steps in exploring who you are. Unfortunately, there are ignorant assholes everywhere, but chances are that a gay space harbors less of them. Not that it would make any shaming less hurtful. Some guys don’t want to sleep with trans people, but look at it this way: There are also guys who don’t like sleeping with tall people, or short people, effeminate men, butch men, and so on. Which also means that there are men out there who do want to sleep with you, so aim your focus at them instead of letting the ignorant a**holes get to you. So, get out there and find that new comfort zone. As a precaution consider getting on PrEP and practice safe sex. Also, tipping your bartender well is a good way to have them keep an eye on you, and of course you ask before you touch - and that naturally goes both ways.

A

friend recently passed away suddenly, and his partner of many years has asked me to the funeral, and I don’t know if I can go. Not because I don’t want to go, but because I may reveal just how much I am grieving this loss. The truth is, the deceased and I had a secret affair for many years, and he is indeed one of my life’s true loves. The relationship ended years ago, but I feel devastated, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep it together appropriately, so people won’t suspect our secret connection. But I also want to grieve with others as part of my healing process.

No one knows about this crazy, secret love affair, and I feel like the grief is eating me alive. How do I even cope with this?

Sincerely The Other Man Dear The Other Man Your grieving is understandable, and if you choose to go to the funeral, you may want to get your major grieving done before the event.

Seeing a therapist will definitely help you with that. This is not minimizing your grief, but the affair is over years ago, so a good approach to your process is to also focus on the time you had together however long or short or intense it was.

It is also time for you to confide to a friend and not carry this secret around on your own, which possibly also a reason why you experience this loss more intensely. And bring that friend to the memorial service for support, and don’t disclose the details of your connection with the deceased to anyone else present. Just tell them that you knew him a while back and that his passing hit you hard. That’s all anybody needs to know.

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52 | 04.17.19

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