Peach Magazine V4-23 - Get In On the Action

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ACTiON Something Just Feels DIFFERENT This We Won’t Be Silenced Racial Microaggressions How to Identify Them and Call Them Out Indigo Girls Let Loose Pandemic Life, Pride, and Purging 45

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BLACK LIVES MATTER

Contents JUNE 17, 2020

V4-23

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PEACH MEDIA 925b Peachtree St. NE, #168 Atlanta, GA 30309

MANAGING PARTNER Brian Sawyer brian@peachatl.com

OPERATIONS Jeff Anderson Sales and Development Director

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EDITORIAL Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director

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mikkel@peachatl.com Brian Sawyer Graphics

From the Editor

SALES | DISTRIBUTION Andrea Dwyer

At Peach, we unequivocally support the protests that have erupted across the nation in response to George Floyd’s death and the broader movement against police brutality and systemic racism.

As one of the Atlanta LGBTQ community’s publications, it is unacceptable if we do not fully represent the community we serve, support, and love. We realize, that we also need to work on how to better include and amplify Black voices that deserve a much more significant presence in our editorial content.

I invite and encourage all of our Black community members to submit their ideas, stories, and articles to me at mikkel@ peachatl.com, so we can start a shared mission to make Atlanta’s favorite, weekly magazine even better, together.

andrea@peachatl.com

CONTRIBUTORS Chris Azzopardi Jamie Kirk Dwight Allen O’Neal

NATIONAL AD REP Rivendell Media | 908.232.2021

Mikkel Hyldebrandt | Editorial Director IG @hyldebrandt

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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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Worldwide Pride

With a global pandemic still raging on, some of the world’s biggest Pride celebrations have been canceled in-person. Instead, major cities like New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., and San Francisco have shifted to a virtual Pride celebration – and they are even coming together for one major world-spanning Pride event! So tune in to celebrate, stay safe, and stay PROUD!

Global Pride

Pride organizers across the world in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and southern Africa will come together for the first-ever Global Pride.

The massive, 24-hour live-streamed event will feature performances, speeches, and key messages from celebrities and other human rights activists.

Saturday, June 27 For the full schedule and lineup go to globalpride2020.org

Chicago Pride Fest

This year marks The Chicago Pride Fest’s 20th anniversary, and it will be celebrated with a two-day livestream festival on June 20 and 21. The Twitch-streamed event will include a lineup of entertainment, activism, and special greetings, all while raising funds for community outreach.

June 20 and 21 from 7 – 9 pm For the full schedule and lineup, go to pridefestchicago.com and virtualchicagopride.com.

San Francisco Pride

San Francisco Pride’s two-day Online Celebration and Rally will be a mix of live and pre-recorded performances and messages from members of the city’s vibrant LGBTQ community, including elected officials, celebrities, thought leaders, DJs, and drag queens.

Saturday, June 27, 1 – 9 pm Sunday, June 28, 2 – 7 pm For the full schedule and lineup, go to sfpride.org.

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New York City Pride

NYC Pride will host a Special Pride Broadcast Event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first Pride march. Although the celebration will be nothing like last year’s World Pride smash, the city does not disappoint with a lineup that includes Billy Porter, Janelle Monáe, Deborah Cox, Luísa Sonza, Margaret Cho, Miss Richfield 1981, and more. The whole thing will be hosted by style superstar Carson Kressley.

Sunday, June 28, 12 – 2 pm For the full schedule and lineup, go to nycpride.org.

Atlanta Pride

With the hopes of being able to celebrate an in-person Pride in October, Atlanta Pride organizers are continuing with the planning of the event. Alternatively, the committee is also preparing for having at least some parts of the Pride festival as virtual celebrations.

They have already launched several digital initiatives like Netflix watch parties in partnership with Out On Film, Drag Queen Story Hours with Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker, and digital DJ sessions.

October 9 – 11 Programming will be announced via atlantapride.org

www.peachatl.com

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By Jamie Kirk

Something Just Feels

DIFFERENT

Anyone that tells you they are entering 2021, the same way they entered 2020, can’t be trusted.

Anyone that believes that this was just another year, SSDY (same shit different year), should have their pulse checked. The way that our world is shifting and moving is different than any of us has experienced and will likely experience in our lifetime. There is something in the air, the energy, the vibrations that just makes this one of the most personal and therapeutic years in modern times. nated publicly), the outrage was widespread. hen the horrific incident of George Floyd occurred on May 25th of this And for one of the first times, in MOST cases, year, it was if the entire country, in- people did not need to play devil’s advocate with cluding every State in OUR country, their neighbors, or their boss or watch a different for the first time in history, we all news outlet to “get the other side.” In each of seemed in agreement that something was wrong. the cases above, one thing was blatantly clear; Beginning in Minneapolis, peaceful protests took something is wrong. Something is wrong that on a life of their own to bring awareness to po- THIS is still happening. When people are being lice brutality and racial inequality. As a collec- severely mistreated because of their skin color. tive group, we couldn’t put our fingers on it. We That’s it. This was not about “being in the wrong couldn’t journal about it. We didn’t know how place at the wrong time,” “well, we need to see to post on social media about it. We just knew all of the video before we jump to conclusions,” it was wrong. And the events leading up to the or the most over-used excuse, “he/she was reGeorge Floyd incident, like the death of Breon- sisting arrest.” There is not a question about na Taylor, a 26-year old black woman and EMT, what happened or why it happened; it is 100% shot eight times by police in Louisville, KY as addressing and responding to THAT it happened. she slept in her bed, the death of Tony McDade, a trans black man shot by police in Tallahassee, That is when all of the emotions began to run FL, days after Floyd’s death, and the shooting of high. People generally knew how they wanted to Ahmaud Arbery, a black man out jogging who was handle this in the past. As a society, we allowed killed by two white civilians, who took matters the media to drive the conversations. We would into their own hands were arrested months later “like,” not comment, on social media posts, but (and only after video of the incident was dissemi- now we were being called to take action. Taking

W

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action has come in so many ways. People have chosen to protest. People have chosen to volunteer for their local NAACP Chapter. People have decided to write heartfelt posts on social media. People have chosen to make videos. People have chosen to make signs, buttons, t-shirts, etc. The keyword in all of the above is that people made a CHOICE. When you decide to do something (e.g., make a change), you are doing the heavy lifting. Deciding that you have to do something is the uphill battle, the rest is just tenacity. In one singular swoop, our nation is making the CHOICE TO DECIDE. We are making our voice known, and denouncing and challenging people on what they have been taught growing up as children or maybe even as an adult. And in the spirit of challenging what we are looking to do, we have to take stock of what we have done.

And unfortunately or fortunately, in many cases it was nothing.

No action. No voice. No objections. And the worst of them all: NO opinion. But now, we admit that something is wrong and that we have to start off on the right side. Not on the side of black or white. American or Non-American. Not how you feel about gun control. Not about if your Governor is in charge of a Blue State or a Red State. Our responses of action are simply around voicing our concern and acknowledging our personal choices to seek change. In our ability to right the wrongs of our past in keeping silent, we don’t need to make a big deal about the past, but our efforts have to be around correcting the future.

Change is hard. But change is easier when you feel aligned with others. There are so many people, famous and not, speaking up and asking for change. I purposefully did not use the word demand. Demand is a divisive term. Demanding means you have no wiggle wrong for anything

different than what you desire to see change.

When you use divisive language, you do the opposite of creating alignment. This is not the time to look for trouble, this is the time to look for people, places, and things that support what you support, believe in what you believe, and want to fight for the things you want to fight for.

People from all walks of life are just plain emotional. That’s good and bad. Emotions are running so high right now. It’s a good thing. The emotions mean we are feeling something. This heightened feeling of watching the peaceful protesters makes many of us feel prideful. I know I do. I feel like people are finally “getting it.”

People are realizing that not saying something is saying something. Being silent is hurtful. It’s damaging. It’s mean, and it’s unacceptable. It is our responsibility to stand up, say something, and to be heard. We need to realize we are our brother’s keeper. We should be held accountable for walking in our truth and challenging those around us to do the same.

It is perfectly normal to see things differently.

It’s as if we have taken off our rose-colored glasses and stopped thinking under our breath, “racism, police brutality, and gender inequality doesn’t impact me.” Because we finally realized impacting one of us impacts all of us. We are finally able not to silence that voice that should be a conversation starter. We are in this together. We can’t allow divisive chatter to cause us to become unfocused in our attempts at unity. We have to have unity from here on out. We need to make sure we don’t let up. Giving up is not an option.

There are times when you don’t know what to do; you do nothing. You remain still and wait for the answers to come to you. This is not one of those times.

Indigo girls let loose

By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Jeremy Cowart

he day before I got on a call with Amy Ray catching up on other life that wasn’t able to be T and Emily Saliers, famously known as the managed while on the road. And just keeping in Indigo Girls, the longtime folk-rock duo and touch with whom we can reach out to. Helping LGBTQ activists were playing a set for fans during a Facebook Live concert. They had planned on performing in public venues, but their set of scheduled dates were canceled due to the pandemic.

friends. Staying in communication. It’s been actually a very, very busy time.

How are you holding up right now?

Saliers: Well, so there’s homeschooling to be done. Amy has a young child and I have a young child, so that occupies a lot of my time. I’m sort of splitting it up with my wife and she’s working remotely, and then Amy and I are doing promo for the album. And then we do the live streams and stuff like that. And there’s a lot of

Has quarantine been a creative time for you?

Saliers: I have found that it’s a creative time, but there’s not a lot of time to create. It’s challenging for me to have a 7-year-old home all the time; that’s a very different thing. So my wife and I are just kind of going back to the drawing board and carving out the things that we need to try to keep our personal lives in

How do you like doing these virtual concerts?

Ray: I think they’re super fun. It’s challenging because it’s a whole different way of trying to Before the livestream performance, Ray and engage. I mean, we’ve done a lot of live streams Saliers had been quarantining separately, long from the studio or from soundcheck, just kind enough to feel they of spontaneous could safely and things, and we’re comfortably perform just trying to keep six feet apart in their things engaged; manager’s empty, luckily, we have sterilized office. this awesome They were gearing community of up to release their people who tune 16th album, Long in and they sort of Look,, which was talk to each other.

They kind of create released on May 22. a whole community A departure from around it, so the work they’ve they’re so engaged created since the and we know that release of their 1989 that’s happening breakout album, Long Look finds the when we see the Indigo Girls lyrically comments, so and musically it really helps untethered. us really do the songs and do them During our honestly and with conversation in early energy and have May, Saliers and Ray a lot of feelings discussed artistic around it. And we freedom, intensified get a lot out of it inequality during too. It’s definitely the Trump era, and a kick in the butt. honoring the true It’s good for us to legacy of Pride. stay on our toes.

balance, which includes personal time away from each other, work time away from each other, family time, schooling. So, I haven’t been practicing Indigo Girls as much as I’ve been feeling very creative and working with my recording software. But actually finding the time to complete anything like I usually can in normal life has been impossible.

Going into this, everyone thought they’d have all this time to do everything.

Ray: I was trying to analyze that, because I’ve been hearing other people from all walks of life – from my neighbors, who kind of work normal construction jobs, to people who have no kids – and everybody is experiencing it differently. But one thing people seem to be saying is, “I thought I’d have all this time, and now we’re just making meals and doing dishes and cleaning all the time.” I think it makes us understand how much we kind of eat out and get our meals in these really convenient packaged ways instead of that less wasteful way of eating at home and eating what you have. It’s very interesting to see. For me I’ve realized this is the way it is if you don’t get to eat out all the time. (Laughs.)

There’s an eerily prescient line on the album’s title track: “Everyone I know can sense Armageddon.” I’m not sure that you knew this is what Armageddon would look like, but when you sing a line like that now and reflect on where you were when you wrote it, what comes to mind?

Saliers: Well, the Armageddon that I’ve been experiencing is the day that Trump got elected president and the country’s divisions were magnified. And it’s not that the problems didn’t exist before, the systemic problems like racism and social inequality and all of the things that we’re aware about. But I believe they’ve gotten worse. I see the schisms in this country, and social media platforms don’t really help.

There’s a lot of access to information and opinions that’s really not helping anyone and most of us engage in that in one way or another, so there’s sort of a societal illness that’s tied into social media.

And when I say illness, I also believe that the earth is so sick and she’s pissed. The natural world is the leader. And so we think we’re so important and we’ve achieved all these things and blah, blah. And it’s nothing when mother nature gets pissed. I believe that’s what’s happening, and we can sense that, and that leads to feelings of unrest and the thought of Armageddon.

Armageddon is a very extreme word to use, but it was indicative of the social malaise: unrest, no answers. And now, of course, the unknown causes most everybody I know a great deal of anxiety: How long will the virus last? What happens when there are outbreaks of it? Why have people’s attitudes changed about it? When

am I ever gonna work again?

Are you wrestling with those questions yourself?

Saliers: I’m very privileged, so I’m not wrestling with, “Where’s my next meal gonna come from?” But because I’ve read a lot of history, and there are patterns that happen when there’s a complete lack of leadership, I see the writing on the wall for what happens to nations and civilizations where that continues. I think about it in a prophetic way based on what I know about history, and that’s kind of depressing.

I seek my joy in human communication and people who are resilient over difficulties. So my joy comes in little things, and my despair comes in big things.

When you look back at recording your first album, how do you compare that experience to recording Long Look?

Ray: This was a really special, standout time for us because it was the reunion of the group of people we met back in the late ’90s when we played Lilith Fair. There was a band backing Sinead O’Connor that we became friends with and we all sort of hung out together and then we started playing music together. They’re all from England and Ireland, and their musicality was incredible. Then we made a record called Come On Now Social and recorded it in 1999, and this band is the reunion of that band, without Sinead.

They’ve kind of been our musical compass all these years, but we haven’t gotten to make a whole record with them and have everybody together in one place; it’s been here and there.

It was a great experience. We were in England at Real World Studio near Bath and we lived there, and it was a short thing. We just worked every day and ate meals together.

Because Long Look explores how the past shapes us, what did you learn about yourselves while making it? And did you learn anything new about each other in the process?

Saliers: There’s a song called “Sorrow and Joy” I wrote about some very personal things that happened in my family. When my sister died, there was a time when it was an impossible thought for me to think that I could ever write about that, even though that was stuck in the center of me and I couldn’t break it up. So, I learned that. Didn’t learn it but it was a reminder of, things shift. And it was a reminder of, whenever I get a feeling like I’m never gonna be this way, or I can’t do this, that things shift over time. So it just was very interesting to me that I went to a subject matter that I could never talk or write about to something that I could.

The older I get the more I draw on the past for what to write about, even though Amy and I are very much centered in the present with wanting to create music and play shows and feeling like we are still a working band. We just know what it takes to keep our balances and stay creative.

I don’t know if I’ve learned anything new about us. I know we went into recording the album not having a ton of time to prearrange everything.

I’m not saying we went into it blindly, but we went into it thinking we were gonna go into the studio and just see what happens.

If I look back on our career, at the very beginning, of course, we were much more controlling about what happened and what the arrangements were and what we would or wouldn’t have on the album. Now I know that we can just sort of float in this freedom of, “Something cool is gonna happen,” because we’re with the right people and we know what to do with each other, and so that was really cool.

Ray: I didn’t learn anything new specifically about Emily, but I did hear some guitar parts that I had not heard before and was really happy with.

Musically speaking, I definitely felt like there was new territory and stuff, which is always good and inspiring. It’s funny. You gotta have discipline to be looser. (Laughs.) That’s kind of what we did. We just really worked hard, but it paid off. We worked hard but we didn’t limit ourselves, and I think that’s important.

and are homeless or are dealing with a lot of stuff that is really hard to deal with during these times.

Maybe we can reach out and take care of our own and make sure our family at large is doing OK. Pride to me is not just about a big party.

It’s also: How can we continue this legacy and truly have Pride and give people the dignity they deserve that they don’t have?

As editor of Q Syndicate, the 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 The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

What do you hope Pride might look like this year?

Ray: This is just a monumentally different time than we’ve ever had in our lives, so how do you deal with that? I think as time goes on we want to get out there, and Pride is one of those times. You want to see your friends; it’s a very celebratory time because we like to celebrate queer people. So I hope people can understand that we still need to hold back from that and think of other ways to celebrate. I think the creative community is so innovative and there are so many rich things to access that people are doing, so that of course can carry on during Pride.

Maybe we can reach out as a gay community and help communities that are really suffering right now, and within our own community making sure that we’re helping the people who need food and need shelter 14 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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50 TH ANNIVERSARY ATLANTA PRIDE CELEBRATION

OCT.10-12,2020 | atlantapride.org

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Chris keeps active within the community. You may recognize him Woofs and Heretic, but the Wake Forest University graduate is also an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and director. He currently holds the title of Mr. World Cub 2019/2020, and he is also the organizer of Bear Yoga, which he has been teaching for seven years, including at various bear events and virtually throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a fierce advocate for body, gender, and racial inclusivity and equity in the gay community, and he volunteers a lot of time with nonprofits to raise money and awareness for our community.

@chris_glc @dancingcub

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queer lives matter

By Dwight Allen O’Neal, edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photo by Mike Ruiz

Podcaster and author Dwight Allen O’Neal used an episode of his usually cheerful Wednesday podcast Shoulda!

Coulda! Woulda! to highlight the Black Lives Matter movement and the injustices of how Black queer people are treated. This is an edited transcript of the “Black Lives Matter” episode from June 3, 2020.

Today is not a happy Wednesday. There is so much happening in the world, and to be honest, I’m lost, I’m sad, I’m angry, I’m disappointed not only in the world but also in myself.

Why am I disappointed? Because I have taken on the role of the token Black man.

What does that mean? It means that I am the one who is less threatening. I am the one that it is safe to turn to. I am the one who should have been louder sooner. I am that one.

positive way, and I did. I convinced myself that I was doing that. But in actuality, clearly, I was not.

Because as I see the entire world step forward now, I ask: where were you before?

Where were you for Trayvon (Martin, ed.)? For Sandra (Bland, ed.)?

Daily I learn people don’t even know who Emmett Till was, and that breaks my heart. It saddens me. Why is that? Why is it now we care? I have heard ‘oh, it’s because we are all at home and everyone is seeing what’s on TV.’ This very well could be true. This is possibly why everyone is stepping forward now for George (Floyd, ed.), and for those of you that are stepping forward, I do greatly appreciate it, but also, I recognize that some of you don’t give damn.

And I wasn’t. I wasn’t louder; I didn’t speak up as loud as I should have. I I am speaking of brands. I’ve gotten thought I was using my platform in a more emails from brands that say they 24 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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support this cause, support this effort.

I actually saw a post by former police saying, you know, they are supportive of these efforts. Where was that support when this Black, gay man was working for you? Where was it then? I didn’t feel it; I didn’t sense it. You could give a damn about George then, but now, all of a sudden, you care. Now, all of a sudden, you care about Black Lives Matter. No! You care about the green that won’t be hitting your account if you don’t stand up, step up, and say something.

What I have to say today is; it’s not just criticizing those that are not Black that I finally feel like are stepping up to the plate. This is also to criticize those that are Black that have not supported queer lives. That’s right! Queer lives as well.

Just recently, there was a transgender woman who was brutally attacked, brutally hurt. By who? Cisgendered Black men. I’m gonna say her name: Iyanna Dior.

Iyanna Dior, you matter. Let’s not forget Tony McDade, who was shot down by police as well. I have not seen that said anywhere. I have not heard anyone talk about this! Is it Black Lives Matter unless you’re queer? Is that what I’m hearing? Because that’s not fair either.

I have been so hesitant, honestly, and resistant to get behind the Black Lives Matter movement, because I felt, as a Black man, my life does not matter.

When I am faced with adversity in life, when I am faced with things that harm me, when I am racially profiled, discriminated against, where are my heterosexual, cisgender, Black brothers and sisters there to support me?

I am not saying that it is all people, because Lord knows, I have an incredible system around me of cisgender male and female individuals who have my back and support me. However, there are so many, when I am on the train by myself, I see the snickers, I hear the laughter.

There was a moment once when I was on the train reading a book minding my own business, and I had three young men of color come by and bash me over the head with a piece of glass. Because I was gay.

My Black life did not matter then. It

didn’t matter to my own people. So, how do I step forward to someone white, and I challenge them for not supporting us when we don’t support ourselves? I need everyone to do better. I need all of us to do better. Myself included.

How am I going to do better? I am going to even further elevate my platform and stand above the rest, because, clearly, I am the Black man that many people turn to for wisdom, guidance, and respect because I have had so many white people reach out to me asking me ‘Dwight, how can we help, how can we support?,’ and although I am excited that you want to help me, I really am, also, on the flipside, it is: where were you before? Where were you? Where you afraid to approach me?

Where were you? I also ask the same thing, too, when I post about my transgender brothers and sisters that have been affected by things like this. When gay sisters and brothers that have been affected by things like this. Where are my cisgender heterosexual-identifying family members and loved ones reaching out to me and finally going ‘how can I help your community?’, ‘what can I do to support?’

This is a short episode of Shoulda! Coulda! Woulda! Because all of us shoulda, coulda, woulda stood up a lot sooner. It’s not too late. If you want to see change in the world, be the change in the world.

God bless you.

June 17 - June 24

Due to the ongoing pandemic, please keep yourself updated on the status of an event!

Atlanta Pride Run/Walk Virtual 5k

With safety in mind, this year’s Atlanta Pride Run & Walk has gone virtual. Join the virtual team of runners and log your time as you support the community and the Atlanta-area HIV healthcare agencies. Register at Raceroster. com.

Ongoing until June 28

Juneteenth Atlanta Black History Parade

Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival offers a three-day celebration of black history that includes a Black History Parade, Panel Discussions, Artist’s Market, Black Owned Businesses, and much more.

June 19-21 Juneteenth Atlanta Non-Profit 1820 Childress Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30311

CHUNK Pride

This is the Chunk Party’s first and only virtual event that will benefit Black Lives Matter & LGBTQ+ BIPOC charities.

Calling Chonks from across the globe, the party will feature four DJs from four cities. $10 donation suggested, and all proceeds will go to BLM charities. Streaming details released before the event.

Friday, June 19, 9 pm – 1 am Twitch/Zoom/URL

404 Error: An ATL Online Drag Show

Tune into the ATL Online Drag Show by the House of ALXNDR, featuring some of your local ATL (and regional) faves like Bella Trixx, Miss He, and Molly Rimswell.

Saturday, June 20, 9 pm twitch.tv/tayloralxndr

DJ Dan Slater

DJ Dan Slater returns to the Heretic to get you on the dancefloor. Limited number of presale tickets available at universe.com, and capacity and social distancing guidelines will be strictly enforced.

Saturday, June 20, 10 pm – 3 am Heretic Atlanta

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Charle s Alle n Dr . N E

12 W. Peachtree St. NW

15

16

P o n ce D e Leo n Pl . N E

Spring St. NW

17

4th St. NE

8

13

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

4

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

BARS 1 2 3 4

Amsterdam Blake's Bulldogs Friends

6 My Sister’s Room 7 Ten Atlanta

Dining 502 Amsterdam Ave NE 227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 66 12th St NE 990 Piedmont Ave NE

10 th & Piedmont Campagnolo Einstein's F.R.O.G.S

991 Piedmont Ave NE 980 Piedmont Ave NE 1077 Juniper St NE 931 Monroe Cir NE

clubs 13 Atlanta Eagle

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

fitness

retail 8 BarkingLeather

9 10 11 12

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

spa/bath 15 Flex Spa

28 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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

www.peachatl.com

When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com

Cheshire

ansley 21

idg

eR

tC ir .

NE

Piedmont Park BARS 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Cir NE

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd

32 33 34 35 36

Midtown Moon Felix's The Hideaway Mixx Oscar's

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd

Fitness 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

Spa / bath 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

clubs

30 Gravitee Fitness

e. nt mo ed

d.

Retail

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

39

36 38

Dining

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

41

Pi

20

BARS

24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

Av

ge Rd Brid hire Ches

28

25 r eB

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r.

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Rd

Dr

26 35

24

20 BJ Roosters 21 Sequel 22 Tripps

42 The Den

40

32

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Ch

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27

33

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29

idde

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31

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34

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Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

22

42 L

Fa

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 The T Woof's

1287 Glenwood Ave SE 466 Edgewood Ave SE 1400 Northside Dr NW 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE 494 Plasters Ave NE

A snapshot of Gay Atlanta’s favorite destinations. View their ads in Peach ATL & visit their websites for weekly event listings.

Bars & Clubs

& EDGEWOOD

MIDTOWN

marysatlanta.com

MARY’S

AMSTERDAM

1287 Glenwood Ave SE

502 Amsterdam Ave. NE

sisterlouisaschurch.com

amsterdamatlanta.com

ATLANTA EAGLE atlantaeagle.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

BLAKE’S ON THE PARK

SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH 466 Edgewood Ave SE

SWINGING RICHARDS swingingrichards.com

1400 Northside Dr NW

blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE

BULLDOGS

893 Peachtree St NE

FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

Dining MIDTOWN

Retail MIDTOWN BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

CHESHIRE SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

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

friendsonponce-atl.com

10TH & PIEDMONT

GCB & PLEASURES

MY SISTER’S ROOM

991 Piedmont Ave NE

1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

66 12th St NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

barkingleather.com

10thandpiedmont.com

brushstrokesatlanta.com

mysistersroom.com

EINSTEIN’S

BARKING LEATHER

TEN ATLANTA

1077 Juniper St NE

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A

FROGS CANTINA

Fitness

931 Monroe Dr

MIDTOWN

736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

THE T

modeltatlanta.com

frogsmidtown.com

465 Boulevard SE

G’S

CHESHIRE

gsmidtown.com

URBAN BODY FITNESS

219 10th St NE

urbanbodyfitness.com

HERETIC

HENRY’S

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

132 10th St NE

BJ ROOSTERS

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

hereticatlanta.com

henrysatl.com

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

bjroosters.com

joesonjuniper.com

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

1049 Juniper St NE

SEQUEL

LA HACIENDA

1086 Alco St NE

lahaciendamidtown.com

Spas/Baths/Adult

TRIPPS

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

1931 Piedmont Circle N

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

ANSLEY

LAS MARGARITAS

flexspas.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com

76 4th St NW

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

CHESHIRE

MIDTOWN MOON

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

FELIX’S

ROXX

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

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

THE DEN

thedenatlanta.com

2135 Liddell Drive NE

atldragshow.com

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

WOOFS

woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE

EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK 30 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

Massage Bodyworks

by David $80 per hour 1st time $60 w/Peach ATL ad David cell 205-206-5218 cylondk1@gmail.com Located in Atlanta on Ponce De Leon Ave NE

Georgia Body Works.com Mobile Fitness and Massage “I come to you, so let’s get started!”

678-557-1780

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Hot Tub and Swim Spas

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IDENTiFYiNG RACiAL MiCROAGGRESSiONS

After studying the persistent presence of stigmatizing representations of Black people in television, Harvard professor and psychiatrist Dr. Chester, who was also a Black man, coined the term “microaggressions” as the: “subtle, stunning, often automatic and nonverbal exchanges which are ‘put-downs’ of Black people.” Here are some of the most common examples, so you can recognize them and better call them out to others (and perhaps yourself too?).

Color Evasiveness

Denying a person of color’s racial/ethnic experiences Example: “There is only one race, the human race”

Criminality Assumption

Assigning Intelligence

Intelligence is assigned to a person of color based on their race Example: “You are so articulate”

Myth of Individual Achievement

Presuming a person of color is deviant/ criminal Example: A store owner following a customer of color around the store

Statements that assert that people of color are given benefits in order to succeed Example: “Everyone can succeed in society, if they work hard enough”

“Alien” In Own Land

Undermining Values

The assumption that non-whites are foreign-born Example: “Where are you from?” & “You speak good English”

Broadly assuming that values of the dominant/white culture are ideal Example: “Why do you have to be so loid/animated?”

Denial of Individual Racism

Denying or being immune to own racism and biases based on personal experience Example: “I am not racist, I have Black friends” Source: Stephanie Shepherd Suganami, Instagram @steph_shep 32 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

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The River’s Edge is open and invites you to come, relax and enjoy an escape in the country.

We practice social distancing and work to provide a safe environment.

RV Sites, Cabins, & Tent Sites Available!

Pool is Open!

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The Rivers Edge Campground, 23111 Pulliam Mill Road, Dewy Rose, GA 30634

Quick! Can you help me with this math?

Sure!

E-mail your Peach Pits to mikkel@PeachATL.com

You know you are getting quarantine chonky when you “blousy’ t-shirts are snug

This is the first year I’m not going to Fiji due to COVID-19.

What’s 17x36 43 That’s not even close Quick! Can you help me with this math? …but it was quick!

I usually don’t go because I’m poor

The biggest mistake in a relationship is giving your heart to someone who is in need of a brain Life is a dick. Sometimes it gets hard for no reason Daddy Joke Alert

Will I ever stop being a sarcastic a**hole? Find out next week on “I think the f**k not” Did you know … … ribbed condoms taste nothing like ribs

Privilege is staying out of “all this mess” and continuing with your life unaffected 34 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) That home makeover that has taken shape in your mind during lockdown may be met with resistance by your partner or housemate. When sharing a living space, you must remember that your vision may not groove with those you live with. Expect some give and take, but that living room shrine to Janet Jackson may not happen any time soon.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) You are becoming more and more aware of the clichés in your life after months of living in isolation. Dinner and a movie just won’t cut it anymore, and now that you have become a master chef in your own kitchen, why not invite him over instead? He’ll be much more impressed, and then you’ll also have him right where you want him!

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

In these times of a pandemic and civil unrest, your attempt to influence people to see things differently will be an uphill struggle. Your arguments will have to be sound and your passion obvious if you want others to change their narrow-minded views. But his time, your commitment to change will pay off, and minds will be changed too. Keep it up!

Your social media feed will be overflowing with smooth-talking wolves today, who will try to convince to veer off course. But you will find an inner strength that won’t have you sway from your own convictions. And right now, that’s the course you need to stay on!

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Today will be a good one to volunteer your services to a worthy cause in your community. There are organizations out there who need your help and you shouldn’t wait for them to ask for it. Take a look around you, see what is going on, and volunteer your time to make some lasting change. The world needs you right now.

High energy levels will propel you through hectic days of newfound activism. You’ll be a dynamo of action, and you’ll even energize others to put in the effort to do some real change in our world.

Remember to take some time to process and heal so you can keep going and going.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

Patience is not one of your strong points, but that’s what it’ll take to develop a better dialogue with the people in your life right now. Rushing in will have you missing subtle nuances or seeing the warning signs of a disaster that’s just waiting to happen. Take a deep breath and wait for the others to catch up with you.

It is tempting to kick back and daydream about your future today, but the reality of our world prevents you from doing so. Instead, think up some future scenarios that don’t just include you, and set up a few goals on how to get there.

Even small changes can add up to have a big impact, and you are actively shaping a better future.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

Nothing tears people down easier than harsh critiques of their shenanigans posted all across social media. Even worse, if people are called out or even shamed for their irresponsible behaviors during a global pandemic! At this point, you can try to say something constructive, but you know very well that they are a lost cause, so better not to say anything at all.

Just because no one wants to, you don’t have to be the group leader today. Let relevant voices speak up instead and voice our joined responsibility to change the system. It may frustrate you at first, but soon you’ll see that you don’t always know best, and that being a man of action is also being part of the group and not always in front of it.

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

Activism is a lot like a game of chess. There can be much jockeying for position that’s determined by a rigid adherence to strategy. But there’s always something that’s left to chance, and you can go from a king to a pawn in no time flat. Keep it up though, because your resolve to make a change is working!

You’ll experience power struggles on all fronts today. Whether at home or amongst friends, everyone seems to challenge you to a debate about current events and values. Don’t worry, you will be on a roll, so you get to decide whether they deserve a little correction, a stern reprimand, or a can of verbal whoop-ass!

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 am a gay man with an active sex life when we are not doing social distancing during a global pandemic. So this question is more something I thought about for future sexual encounters. You see, when I have sex, sometimes I experience really intense orgasms that give me kind of an out of body experience. That may sound like great to some, but what happens is that I collapse and the verge of passing out, and I drool and sometimes even get what seems like a mini seizure. I am not particularly bothered by it, because it feels fantastic, but several sex partners have expressed that they were frightened by my orgasmic state because I seemed to be entirely out of it. I don’t want to scare my future sex partners off, so is this potentially something I should worry about? Is this a risk to my health in any way?

Sincerely The Coming of Creepy Dear The Coming of Creepy Even though orgasms can be very intense, what you are experiencing is not common. When men (and women) climax, many things go on in the body, and many of those occur in the brain. An orgasm is a neurochemical rush, and depending on how your brain is wired, it can result in some strange and uncommon post-orgasmic reactions. It does seem like your particular variant of orgasm produces neurochemical flooding of your system that could be close to having a seizure or a blackout.

To be on the safe side, you should talk to your doctor about it to establish that there isn’t some underlying medical condition. You say you’re not too bothered by it, but judging by several of your sex partners, maybe you should pay some attention to it? An earth-shattering, mind-blowing orgasm is excellent – but not if it is unhealthy for you, right?

My boyfriend and I have been together for two years now, and up until recently, we were very happy. During this lockdown, we have quarantined together, and my boyfriend has begun to express a lot of rage, and it manifests itself in tantrums over seemingly random things. He will be putting laundry away, and all of a sudden, he is throwing clothes around or slamming doors. Or he drops something, and he gets overly upset. The aggression is never directly aimed at me, but he has spoken harshly to me when I tried to calm him down. I’m surprised at this side to him, and I am fearful that if this aggression continues, it will be the end of things for us. What should I do?

Sincerely Corona Conniption Dear Corona Conniption If he, at any point, directs his aggression towards you, so you feel threatened, you need to get out immediately – no exceptions! It does, however, seem like this is something that is connected to the state of the world we live in right now.

Usually, when people feel this kind of anger, it is not because the laundry won’t fold properly, but because there is another underlying reason that could very well be ascribed to our global health crisis. You’ve already established that trying to talk to him when he is upset does not work, so what you need to do is have a conversation when he is in a calm state. Let him know that you have observed this new behavior in him, and that you’d like to know the underlying reason for this level of aggression and frustration. Tell him that you will be supportive of him but also that any aggression directed towards you is an absolute no-go. There are so many dynamics in a relationship, so take the time to mutually explore if there has been something in the relationship that you have neglected or are unaware of. At the same time, you need to be lenient on yourselves, because we do live in unprecedented times.

Hopefully, getting it out in the open will explain the outbursts and better prepare you for the future.

NEED ANSWERS? SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM 36 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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