Peach Magazine V4-33 - Atlanta Black Pride 2020 by David Atlanta Magazine

Billy Porter Exclusive! Black, Gay, and Out of F*cks Celebra�ng Black XXXellence The Hottest Actors in Their Best Gay Scenes! Loving The Skin He’s In Corbin Colby Celebrates Gay Black Pride

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Contents SEP 2, 2020

V4-33

PEACH MEDIA 6050 Dawson Blvd, Ste O Norcross, GA 30093

MANAGING PARTNER Brian Sawyer brian@peachatl.com

OPERATIONS Jeff Anderson Sales and Development Director

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EDITORIAL

Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director mikkel@peachatl.com Brian Sawyer

From the Editor

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Atlanta’s Pride season starts with a Labor Day weekend headlined by an extensive celebration of Atlanta Black Pride. This year is going to look very different in the shadow cast by the COVID-19 pandemic and protests against police brutality and racially motivated violence and oppression against Black people. But the official organizers and party promoters have put together a celebration that combines virtual initiatives with some in-person events, because perhaps now even more than ever, there is a need to uplift the Black LGBTQ community in Atlanta and beyond and celebrate Black excellence in all the colors of the rainbow. No matter how you choose to celebrate, please be responsible, wear a mask, and practice social distancing. For an updated lineup of Atlanta Black Pride events, please visit peachatl.com. Speaking of Black excellence, check out our cover interview with Pose powerhouse, Billy Porter, who talks about his Black queer experience, upcoming memoir, and finally feeling like he’s made it – and please don’t miss the bonus Zoom video portion of the interview at peachatl.com.

SALES | DISTRIBUTION Andrea Dwyer andrea@peachatl.com

CONTRIBUTORS Chris Azzopardi, Phil Bessimer, Troy Lefferson, J. Tebias Perry

COVER Billy Porter photographed by Shavonne Wong

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HAPPY PRIDE! Mikkel Hyldebrandt | Editorial Director ONLINE

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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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ATLANTA BLACK PRiDE 2020 The 24th Annual Celebration of Atlanta’s Black LGBTQ community will commence this Labor Day Weekend. Last year, the official organization behind the Atlanta Black Gay Pride was restructured with new leadership and direction under Atlanta Black Pride, Inc., (aka ABP), the new subsidiary of the original host organization, In The Life Atlanta. Because of the ongoing pandemic, the bulk of the official Atlanta Black Pride programming will be virtual. There will be a chance to celebrate in-person at a few in-person events with only a handful authorized by the host organization to be part of the official ABP programming. Additionally, the following club promoters and legendary nightlife producers are slated to present events during labor day weekend: RT Production Parties (Destination Fridays and Pride Reunion Sundays), Traxx Girls, Angel X Events (Official ABP Promoter), John Trump Events (Marquette Lounge and SkateBoyz ATL, Official ABP Promoter), Blue Diamond Entertainment (Annual All White Party for Mature Women and Pride25+), Rockstars Production (Producer of the Annual Labor Day Rock weekend and Co-Promoter of Pure Heat Community Festival), Fab 5 ATL (Producer of the Annual Colors Pride Weekend & the Weekly IN DA CUT Strippers Show), Wassup N’ ATL (Producer of the Annual Manual Labor weekend events, with select events in Southwest ATL and Fayetteville), and Warren Huntley Entertainment (Producer of the popular Monthly 1st Fridays with a special Labor Day weekend event at The Gold Room). WHAT Atlanta Black Pride 2020 WHEN September 3 - 7 WHERE Check out peachatl.com or scan the code for an updated lineup of ABP events

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BLACK LIVES MATTER

Billy Porter: Black, Gay, and Out of F*cks By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Shavonne Wong, Into Action

“Now that I have a massive platform, and now that the people want to listen to the Black sissy, I’m gonna talk,” Billy Porter says, fired up, leaning into the camera. On Zoom, Porter commands a computer screen like he does a red carpet. In this particular moment, his fiery passion stems from a call he received from screenwriter-actress Lena Waithe, who raised an eyebrow after Porter made history as Essence’s first openly gay man to grace the magazine’s cover. Porter says Waithe got him on the phone to talk about the anonymous letter written by current and former Essence staffers calling themselves “Black Female Anonymous.” The letter was published on Medium on June 28 and called out the magazine for its toxic work environment, just before Porter’s cover story hit newsstands. “I had to stop her,” he says. “I said, ‘I hear you, I see you, I feel you.’” But Porter simply didn’t know about the letter, he says. Until she called, he hadn’t even seen it. “I don’t give a fuck about social media,” he scoffs, talking about his refusal to be engaged on social platforms. “I don’t adjudicate my life or humanity in sound bites on social media. I don’t fight with nobody, I don’t have Twitter fights.” The reason, he says, is “I’m 50 years old. Everybody has to remember that I built a career before social media.” Porter’s mainstream breakthrough, playing ball emcee Pray Tell on FX’s trans-centric series Pose, is an accumulation of dedication to his craft as a singer and actor that began in his 20s in his hometown of Pittsburgh. He released solo albums that weren’t widely known. He met music industry standards for Black artists (you had to be R&B). And then, later, he dismantled those standards (he could sing showtunes, and did). In 2013, he originated the role of Lola in Kinky Boots, which led to both a Tony and Grammy award. In September 2019, Porter made history as the first openly Black gay man to win in any lead acting category at the Emmys for his role on Pose. Though winners won’t be announced until Sept. 20, Porter recently received another nomination for his portrayal of Pray Tell.

Despite the pandemic, Porter is remaining prolific. He recorded an updated version of the 1966 protest song “For What It’s Worth,” which he performed on the first night of the Democratic National Convention, to address our current political landscape; he’s also featured on The Shapeshifters’ disco number “Finally Ready,” which reflects, in part, his decades-long journey living through the AIDS crisis. He’s writing two books, his memoir and a children’s picture book. He also has starring roles in two upcoming films: a live-action Cinderella remake, as the Fairy Godmother, and in out Love, Simon director Greg Berlanti’s big-screen take on Little Shop of Horrors. My recent interview with Porter was scheduled as an audio-only Zoom call, but because not even Porter’s handlers can stop Porter from setting his own rules, he appears on video in a caftan, casually eating in a rented beach house. A “Vote Betches” sign is propped up in back of him. Expecting to see none of this, I’m in the clothes I went to bed in: a tank top and sweat shorts, with a hat I threw on. I tell Porter that I thought this was an audio-only interview. Porter responds incredulously; he can’t understand why anyone in their right mind would not use the video feature. “We have Zoom! Why are we not doing Zoom?” I leap out of my computer chair and run to the closet in back of me, throwing on the first shirt I see. I realize in that moment that Emmy winner Billy Porter is watching me get dressed. “There is no need for you to put a shirt on for me,” he says with a playful smirk. It’s early July when we speak, and our interview knows no bounds: from Buddhism, which Porter practices now, to how, even with notoriety, Porter still experiences racism in his everyday life, especially from those within the LGBTQ community. He laid bare his beliefs and opinions, and went off on a variety of other topics too because talking about them, he says, with a rip-roaring laugh, “helps me stay sane.” I read that you’ve gotten into Buddhism. Lightly. I’m still learning. What have you learned, and what drew you to the practice? What has drawn me to the practice is that it’s a revolt

against religion. Religion is man-made. Spirituality is divine. All of the wars that have existed in this world, all of the bullshit that we go through, is in the name of somebody’s man-made God. And I’m over it. I’m just over it. I grew up in the Pentecostal Church. They systematically taught parishioners how to hate, disguising it through Bible verses. We’re living in a country right now that is being run by people who say they’re Christians and believe in Jesus and God, and they’re letting people die in the streets. That is not God. That is not Jesus. Y’all can take your Bibles and your religion and shove it. I am so done. I had people actually say to me back in the day that they were voting for Trump because of his religious values. That motherfucker has been in the church three times, for his three marriages. That’s it. And yet we still sit here every single day and talk about morals. I can’t do it anymore. Buddhism says life is suffering. That’s useful to me. You’re not going to get out of life without suffering. That takes me to radical acceptance, that takes me to radical compassion, which allows for me to have a foundation where I can feel what I feel and simultaneously be empowered to be a part of a movement for something different. Otherwise, I am useless. You’re a success story. And despite your success and the fact that you are an openly gay leading man and you’ve won

major awards and shattered the glass ceiling for queer Black people, you’re still a gay Black man in America right now. I’m Black first. Which I have to remind my own people of, by the by. But keep going. Ask me the question. What experiences of yours as a Black gay man might surprise people who look at you and think, “He’s famous, he’s good, he doesn’t have anything to worry about”? We were out on Long Island and we were meeting some friends of ours for a social-distance walk at this place called the Hog Farm. I pulled in with my husband (Adam Smith). It looked like private property to me. No signs, no real parking lot. There was a farm stand. It looked like a farmer’s market, and there was no one there. And my friends weren’t there and they texted and said they were late. So we sat there for a minute. Then out of nowhere a little white girl comes flouncing out, and she looks around and sees the car, and then she goes back to wherever she came from. I don’t know where it was. I didn’t see any doors. I didn’t know what was going on, but I was immediately filled with anxiety because: Where is she going? Where is this little white girl going? And who is she telling that there’s a Black man sitting out front on our property in a BMW? Never mind my white husband beside me. There’s a Black man. That’s where I live. Every day, all day. That’s before the gay. So I deal with that, and then I turn around and my own people are just as violent toward me. So, I’ve never had anywhere to go. I’ve never really had a place where I have felt comfortable and embraced fully by any community. The racism that exists in the LGBTQ community is at the top of the list. They’re fucking racists just like everybody else. Inside that community, there’s racism. And inside the Black community, there’s homophobia. Where are you going now as far as music? What do you listen to get you through the moment and help you recharge? I’m in the middle of trying to figure out what that is. Music was and still is very healing to me. As I reenter the mainstream music market, I’m going back to disco, back to house, back to ’70s funk. Sylvester? Sylvester. I’m trying to pick up the torch from where he left off when he passed way too soon. Because there’s something healing inside of that energy, 12 | follow us @ peachatlmag

inside of that space as a 50-year-old Black man who came out in the ’80s. We went to the clubs to find fellowship, we went to the clubs to heal collectively, we went to the clubs to party on the weekends so that we could shake the terror and the anxiety and the pain of just having gone to five memorials that week for friends who passed away in their 20s, in a world where nobody cared about you. The government didn’t care about us. (They thought) we deserved to die simply because of who we are. Something about this coronavirus is mirroring it, mirroring that, giving me a lot of anxiety, a lot of PTSD. The last time we spoke, you told me you were working on a contemporary gospel-musical about your experience of surviving the AIDS epidemic. I am still. As you work on that while living through another pandemic, what is that experience like for you? I am just trying to get a handle on the full landscape. This time it’s different. And first of all, the reason why we’re in the position that we’re in in terms of this pandemic is due to whiteness. It’s due to white supremacy. It’s due to the fact that everybody knew going in that Orangina 45 was not the choice. But whiteness overrode any consequences – that’s not quite the word. It overrode anything, because, “It’s still Republican, it’s still white, and whatever he’s doing, he’s doing what we want to get done so it’s not so bad. We’ll just deal with him for four years, get all of this shit we want to get done, done: appointing the courts, taking away healthcare from citizens, rolling back all of the work that we’ve fought for the last 400 years. Let’s just roll all of that back. Because we know we can’t stop it, but we can roll it back enough that it will take another 40 years to get back to where we’ve already gotten, or more. So let’s just roll everything back.” He represented that to white people. It was at the expense of anyone who’s not a white straight man in this country. Right. So he can look at this administration and have the anemic response that he had and allow this country to continue to sink because in the sinking, whatever it was, whatever this bitch does, was never gonna affect him. Now we’re 50 million unemployed, motherfuckers are in the street every day, 60,000 cases of the virus that could have been contained, and in an economy that’s tanking but we’re still, in our whiteness, talking about books on the news that are written about him by his niece. www.peachatl.com

In 2014, I asked you if you were the kind of artist you want to be. You said, “I’m not sure that there is ever a scenario where I will feel like I have arrived or like I’ve made it.” Can you answer that more definitively now? Yeah. I have made it. I’m leaning into that, with as much grace and humility as I can. And I’m trying to use the space that I’ve created for myself to re-enter the music industry in the mainstream on my terms. That’s what I’m working on. And the two singles that I have out right now, which may seem diametrically opposed, are exactly who I am. “For What It’s Worth” was written in 1966, but is obviously still relevant today. What memory do you have of hearing Buffalo Springfield’s version for the first time? It’s so ubiquitous, I don’t have a memory of the first time. It’s everywhere, it’s always been everywhere. Any war movie you watch, that’s what they play. It’s just been that for the whole time. So I don’t have a first time, but I do know when my manager suggested it I had to look at it and look at the lyrics and figure out, because I hadn’t really listened to the lyrics: What does this mean to me today? How do we take this song and make sure we’re speaking in the present? And not just as an observer, because it’s a very observational lyric, but how do we ignite the spirit of engagement and change with this song? And so that was the goal for that one. I recorded that the day after the Emmys, before all of this mess was happening. So my goal was to always have this ready for this political season. The time seems ripe for an entire Billy Porter protest album. Have you considered recording one? There is no music from Billy Porter without hope and without protest. It all is that. And I’m working on that new album right now. I’m signing a new deal right now. And I have some shit to say. It’ll be protest, it’ll be dance, it’ll be love, it’ll be all of it. Because those are all the things that I am. I no longer have to compartmentalize the wholeness and the fullness of myself anymore. I don’t have to do that anymore. What advice do you have for Black LGBTQ people who are still pushing against an oppressive society that doesn’t allow them to be exactly who they want to be? Don’t wait for anybody to give you permission to be who you are. Just be it. Just be it and let those

motherfuckers catch up. I said, “When you catch up, you’ll figure it out.” But that’s not my journey. Y’all need to catch up. I’m not the problem. We have to stop thinking that we’re the problem. We’re made to feel like we’re the problem and we need to be fixed. No. Y’all are the problem. If you have a problem with my authenticity, that’s your stuff that I will no longer take on or receive, and I’m going to make sure that I sit in the fullness of myself and give that 100 percent, no matter where the chips may fall. And I’m living proof that that actually works out. It’s not fast. It’s not always fast. And I think that’s a lot of the problem: that we have gotten more and more microwavable in the way we live, in our expectations. We live this microwaved life; everything is instantaneous. It’s like, I’m 50 fucking years old, y’all. I’ve been doing this since 1985. Do people realize that you had to put that time in before you became Emmy winner Billy Porter? No, they don’t. Because I’m Black and Black don’t crack. It’s all good. But like, no, I’m 50. And as a result of that I have no more time to give any fucks about what other people think about what I’m doing. I don’t have time. I am middle-aged! Ha! I have to say exactly what I want to say and do exactly what I want to do. Period. Reflecting on Kinky Boots and Pose, how do you think those projects changed the conversation when it comes to LGBTQ communities of color? Well, there are Black people in these spaces. When the LGBTQ stories started being told in the mainstream, it was all about white people. Always. I’m still waiting for my guest spot on Will & Grace. Still. Have you auditioned? Never a call, never a thought. Never anything. I’m not saying this because I’m angry about it or I’m trying to call them out or anything. We write what we know, and what those white people knew was white people and that’s what they wrote about. So now, I’m in a position of power and I’m gonna write about my people. I’m going to do it about myself. You wrote a TV pilot. I’ve written several things, but yes, most recently I’ve written a pilot. I’m writing my memoir. It’s in my hands. I can’t wait for other people to give me permission, I can’t wait for other people in positions of power to validate me. I can’t wait to be invited to the table. I’m at the table. I crashed the party. I’m at the table. Here I am. That’s how you got to where you are – you kept crashing the table.

I crashed the party. I crashed the dinner party. And I’ma keep doing that. I think the deadline for the memoir is in October, right? You really do your research. What can you share about it with me at this point? It’s in transition. What’s really interesting is that, because of COVID, because of the lockdown, because of the work that I’ve been doing in lockdown on myself, it’s not a memoir just about recounting my disappointments and my successes. It’s deeper than that. And I’m trying to figure out what that is. And I’m just trying to allow myself to let it come and not be so Virgo about it, so planned about it. It’s like, yeah, I wrote the proposal; but what I’m feeling in my spirit is connected to that but also much deeper and much different than what it originally started out to be. So I’m literally in the space of trying to just let it come. Is it tough to keep up with what’s happening internally at this moment while working to meet your October deadline, as we move through the Black Lives Matter movement? (Sarcastically.) Oh, it was easier to deal with it until you have brought it up three times today. That’s fair. I was actually doin’ all right until the three times you brought it up today. I’ve triggered you is what you’re saying. Yes, you have! No, it’s all good. I’m just trying to be compassionate with myself and give myself the space to be wherever I am emotionally – to be wherever I am spiritually, to be wherever I am creatively and move through it, not compartmentalize it, not put the pain away, not ignore it. None of that. Move right directly through all of it. That’s what I’m trying to do. You recently got some backlash for telling Black people to stop killing Black trans people. How do you respond to those who have an issue with what you said? The African American community’s relationship to the LGBTQ community is horrible. It always has been. The Black community is the most homophobic, in my experience, and so the backlash was not a surprise to me. And I was called out by some friends – some really lovely friends – who said in this moment of heightened sensitivity the specificity of language is very important. I said “Black people.” I didn’t say homophobic Black people. I didn’t say homophobic, transphobic and xenophobic Black people. So I actually recorded an addendum to

my message so that I could deal with the semantics of that. Even though y’all know what I’m talking about, I will deal with the semantics of it in this moment. Please understand: I hear you, I will be more specific on who I’m calling out. I’m calling out homophobic, transphobic and xenophobic Black people who are in the streets killing their own. That’s who I’m calling out. And I meant it. I am comparing it to white supremacy. I am because it is. Everybody has to look in the mirror at themselves. We all have to do it. We all have blind spots. The blind spot in the African A m e r i c a n c o m m u n i t y, one of them, is that. It is. I created a simple dounto-others metaphor that people had problems with. If you have a problem with it, you need to look at yourself and ask yourself why you have a problem with that. One of the things my f r i e n d told me – because I don’t read comments – was that with all of the pushback, there was pushback to the pushback, (people) saying, “But did he lie?” That was a phrase that I heard that kept coming up in these comments when people were trying to drag me. I’m not lying. Deal with it however you want to. But this is the truth. And I’m a truth-teller.

** 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.

This Black Gay Pride We Celebrate

Black EXXXcellence

The Hottest Black Actors in Their Best Gay Scenes! By Troy Lefferson As long as there have been black people, there have been black LGBTQ and same-gender-loving people. But until 2017’s Oscarwinning film, Moonlight, Hollywood largely ignored their stories. Even today, TV and film depict gay culture as overwhelmingly white. So, with the help of our friends at MrMan.com, we are celebrating pride by awarding the best films and actors who have taken us into the steamy and sometimes kinky bedrooms of Black men engaging in same sex activity. Here are our ten must-see scenes. Did we miss any?

#10 Anthony Mackie and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Black Mirror Before showing off his massive member on Watchmen, hottie with a bottie Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was taking his relationship with Anthony Mackie to the next level on Black Mirror! The two besties test out their off-screen chemistry with some super sexy spit-swapping. Black Mirror always gives us something to reflect on. #9 Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome in Moonlight Black gay life took center stage at the 2017 Oscars with Moonlight. In the flick’s sexiest scene, Jharrel Jerome beats off Ashton Sanders on the beach as the two make out. Director Barry Jenkins might be straight, but he certainly knows what we want! Now, if we could just get a similar scene with Trevante Rhodes… #8 Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Robb Sherman in The Skinny Canada’s Drag Race judge Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman sashays into the bathroom with Robb Sherman, before Robb strips off his teeny tiny tighty whities to reveal his banging bootay! Then the two get down to business with some hardcore tongue wrestling. Shantay, you stay.

#7 Jake Picking and Jeremy Pope in Hollywood Producer Ryan Murphy has an uncanny eye for hot dudes, and that certainly includes Jeremy Pope. In Hollywood, Jeremy grinds up on Jake Picking in bed - getting his rock-hard gluteus maximus squeezed by Jake before ripping off his shirt to reveal his deliciously defined bod. Hey Ry, can we get one more take, but with Dyllón Burnside between them?

#6 Michael Kenneth Williams and Ernest Waddell in The Wire Michael Kenneth Williams and Ernest Waddell put a pin in the drama to focus on enjoying each other’s super sexy bods during some lit lip-locking. Williams showed his johnson in season four, so if you splice the two scenes together in your mind, you’re basically watching gay porn.

#5 DeRon Horton and Rudy Martínez in Dear White People Dear White People is a Netflix favorite, and one of its best scenes features cutie DeRon Horton topping Rudy Martínez in the sac. DeRon becomes more than Rudy can handle, so Rudy makes DeRon apply extra lubricant.

#4 Casey Donovan and Tommy Moore in Boys in the Sand Boys in the Sand is a seminal gay adult film that redefined the genre, and was even screened in theaters upon release. Porn superstar Casey Donovan might think he stars here, but all eyes were on Tommy Moore as he dominated Casey with his mega tool. Moore, please.

#3 Jake Weary and Damon Erik Williams in Animal Kingdom Anyone who watched Animal Kingdom knows that it’s the best gay porn series on TNT, and if you don’t believe us, check out the special attention Jake Weary gives to Damon Erik Williams’ derriere. You’ll need a cigarette after watching.

#2 Murray Bartlett and Charlie Barnett in Tales of the City Speaking of gay porn, do we even need to mention how down and dirty Charlie Barnett gets in Tales of the City? The insanely sexy hottie’s scene with Murray Bartlett is one of the most realistic gay sex scenes ever filmed. ‘Nuff. Said.

#1 Billy Porter and Dyllon Burnside in Pose The groundbreaking ‘80s ballroom series Pose highlights some of the fiercest Black LGBTQ+ actors in Hollywood today. Living legend Billy Porter made headlines for consummating his relationship with young stud Dyllón Burnside in a scene that happens to reveal Burnside’s thick booty! Folks, it doesn’t get much better than this...

You don’t need to rent the movies or tune into the series! You can watch all Top Ten scenes for free at mrman.com/top10-hot-gay-scenes-with-black-actors

Loving The Skin He’s In

Corbin Colby Celebrates Gay Black Pride By Phil Bessimer

Corbin Colby recalls a difficult childhood growing up biracial in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As half black, half Italian, he felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere. He was disowned by most of those on the white side of his family for being too dark and often bullied by black kids in his neighborhood for appearing too white. “I’ve been called all types of the n word,” he reflects today. It might lead some to think Corbin wouldn’t be proud of his black skin. They’d be wrong. Raised by a strong black mother, Colby embraces black culture today and this black gay pride, is celebrating the peaceful protesters who have found their voices and are working to stomp out systemic racism in America, once and for all. What does Black Lives Matter mean to you? BLM means so many things to me. However, I think what it means most is how it has inspired a lot of people to embrace the beauty of being black. I’ve watched as people have found themselves throughout all of this and I love it.

I live my life authentically and have done so for a very long time. My family knows about everything I do so I have nothing to hide. Truthfully, I would so much love to be out there marching for equality. Unfortunately, my partner has lupus and my being out there would put him at a higher risk of getting COVID. I’m doing what I can, though. I’m donating money to bail funds and to black trans women organizations.

Does being a public person impact your ability to participate in protests?

How did you find your way into adult film?

My title means nothing to me.

I stumbled into it through a roommate of mine. He opened the doors for me and I took over from there.

Is there a concern that if you were arrested, your name and your occupation would be splashed all over mainstream media?

Is there a reason you chose to work exclusively with Helix Studios?

Helix made me feel the most comfortable. They took care of me, and valued my opinions and feelings. They have been so great to me over the years. Also, the quality of their films is a cut above the rest. Is the industry everything you expected it to be? I didn’t really have expectations going in it. I just did it to do it and then stuck with it. What is like to be a person of color in the gay adult business? There are a lot of stigmas placed on people of color in the industry. One studio I worked with forced me to cut my hair because of how “unkempt” it was. Helix later encouraged me to grow it back out. That’s actually another reason why I’ve stayed with Helix for so long. They’ve allowed me to be me and not fit into some “image” the industry wanted me to be. Do you feel America is finally recognizing the hardships of Black America? I feel like it’s always been recognized but continuously ignored. Truthfully, I feel like we are making very little progress.

What else needs to be done? We have to reshape the government. It’s a system that is dated, prejudice, and created for equality of white men. Yes, there have been some amendments that have helped achieve rights for people of color, but it’s not enough. We need to start fresh and create something new. Will you be voting this November? I’m voting and I encourage everyone to vote. Not only for the president but all elected officials. Also, the electoral college needs to be abolished. Learn more about Corbin Colby at HelixStudios.net

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The Chicago born and raised rapper moved to Atlanta in 2019 to pursue a career as an artist. Telid has always had the ability to write a rhythmic cadence, so rapping came second nature. The confidence rapping was built freestyling in the car with friends. Besides rapping, Telid studies sociology at Jackson State University, he cheered up until his sophomore year of college, and he is familiar with J-setting Majorette style. When not rapping, dancing, or styling a wig, Telid loves time with his boyfriend Khocolate and baby (dog) Kappa. Photographer: @blaque.vanity

@Telid_

TELiD

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Black Colorisms By J. Tebias Perry

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As September 4, 2020 approaches in anticipation of another celebratory Black gay Pride, the question remains “who’s all coming?” As an honest reflection, we used to bounce from club to club, parking lot to parking lot, to Piedmont Park and back to one of the well-respected clubs. It was just the thing to do in the late 80s to early 2000s. Patrons from all over the country and from around the world would embark upon Atlanta’s for its most well-known weekend. Spending the rent, car payments and other obligations meant nothing during those times only to get a taste of the 404! Strangers kissing strangers as DJ Ron Pullman and DJ Sedrick gave the kids what they came for. But then there were some “not so fun facts” about Black Pride”: the battling J-Setters and dance teams would entertain entire parks with their dance talents and a hot “16-count routine!” Far too often, a violent fight would ensue triggered by the light and dark-skinned dancers. I never truly saw the purpose of fighting because all of them seemed professionally trained, but the determinant of skin tones and colors puzzled me even more.

America has toyed with placing a hierarchy of lighter skinned African Americans over darker skinned African Americans with natural hair. Tokenizing color for better jobs and positioning in Fortune 500 companies only push us further from our realization that Black is beautiful PERIODT!

And then there was COVID-19!

Black Gay Pride is exactly that! Proud of being BLACK! Prepare your minds to gravitate towards what we share as a commonality over what divides us further during this pride celebration.

Fast forward 20 years, and we are facing the same questions of colorisms and featurism with minorities. More importantly Black folks! As most of America erupted in support of Vice-President hopeful Kamala Harris, my Facebook feed transformed my reality of what blackness meant to only a select few. The quantification of one’s blackness is not solely determined by being biracial or even multiracial. Who sets the standard for how you identify physically or culturally? Generally, mixed colleagues and friends self-identify without the influences of any measure other than how they were raised. I have found that parents who educate their biracial children on both, better equip them with a more balanced life ahead. In other cases, I have researched that social status plays a vital role in determining the child’s identity; as well as attending public school over private school. Headline news reported of a woman, Caucasian born, who physically and culturally identified as a Black woman! And passed! She was so “unclockable” to the point she was the President of her NAACP chapter! Swallow that little-known fact. Yes! Then there are the O.J.s and Tigers, who actually ethnically are part Black but allegedly choose not to identify as either. And have elected to denounce both the NAACP and BET Awards ceremonies. Why must a Eurocentric view of the color spectrum be the standard? Questioning your commitment to Blackness doesn’t make you more or less black; it makes you confused. The most visible part of a person is their skin. Even if you sprayed your skin and tanned until the can was empty, you cannot escape what God gave you underneath. No matter how you chase Amazon or online products to “restore that natural glow”, it only distorts your true essence of Blackness.

Even in the 80s light skin was popular at most HBCU schools and was even further perpetuated in the movie “School Daze” written by Spike Lee in 1988. Having mixed race kids who had features like Al B. Sure! and El DeBarge was in. The movie also danced around colorism and elitism based on “Wannabees over Jigaboos”. Using measurable sentiments such as, “you’re beautiful to be dark skinned” or “damn girl you are pale! You need some sun!” demonizes both! The more we feel justified in dissecting each other, the more convoluted the solutions will be. Find yourself diving into whether not the person is a good person over their ethnicity. What does it gain for you to make a friendship for life over a conversation about race that will last for less than a minute?

Happy Black Gay Pride, Atlanta! ** J. Tebias Perry is an Atlanta-based writer, activist, and leatherman, who contributes regularly to Peach ATL.

SEPT 02 - 09

Due to the ongoing pandemic, please keep yourself updated on an event’s status as it may change last-minute. This lineup features mainly virtual events or in-person events with limited capacity that enforce CDC guidelines. Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus Auditions

The AGMC will be hosting Virtual auditions for the upcoming 2020-2021 season. Remote singers are welcome to audition by appointment only. If you are interested in auditioning, please contact AGMC Membership President-Elect, Chad Bell, at Chad.bell@ voicesofnote.org to schedule a time. Thursday, Sep 3, 6:30 9:30 pm voicesofnote.org/agmc/join-the-chorus/

Dragon Con Dragon Con, the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe, has gone virtual. Check out the full lineup of their three-channel streaming extravaganza at dragoncon.org. September 3-7 Dragoncon.org

Pull Up! ATL Drive-In Drag Show WUSSY presents a weekend of Drive-In Drag shows with some of Atlanta’s best performers. Come out and support the dolls, crack open a Red Bull and order a slice of Amazzaa pizza while enjoying a socially distanced, quarantine-style Drive-In drag show! Tickets by Eventbrite. September 4, 5 or 6, 8:30 – 10:30 Ammazza (parking lot)

Virtual Screening: For They Know Not What They Do Out On Film hosts the virtual screening of this film that charts the story of four religious families with LGBTQ children amidst the backlash that followed by the religious right after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. Saturday, September 5, 4 – 6 pm Live event on Eventive

Love Saturdays The Hideaway is taking it off! Bartenders keep off their shirts the entire night, and two bartender t-shirts are auctioned off to the highest bidder. The winner will get 25% off their drinks for the night and a t-shirt. Saturday, September 5, 10 – 11:50 pm The Hideaway

MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

Amsterdam Ave.

12th St. NE

NE ve . tA

Piedmont Park

Pi e

Juniper St. NE

14th St. NE

10th St. NE

. NE

oe Dr

e. NE Piedmont Av

Juniper St . NE

Peachtree St. NE

Monr

Charle s Alle n Dr . N E

12 W. Peachtree St. NW

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

Spring St. NW

4th St. NE

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

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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

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When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com

Cheshire

ansley 21

idg

on tC ir .

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 Pi

Piedmont Park

Retail

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

Dining

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

BARS

24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

ge Rd Brid hire Ches

28 20

25 r eB

26 35

20 BJ Roosters 21 Sequel 22 Tripps

42 The Den

hir

ll D

. NE

Pi e

idde

x Rd

Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

42 L

Le no

Lambert Dr.

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 Louisaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 MIDTOWN AMSTERDAM amsterdamatlanta.com 502 Amsterdam Ave. NE ATLANTA EAGLE atlantaeagle.com 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl. com 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE TEN ATLANTA tenatlanta.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE CHESHIRE HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE SEQUEL 1086 Alco St NE TRIPPS 1931 Piedmont Circle N 38 | follow us @ peachatlmag

ANSLEY MIDTOWN MOON 1492 Piedmont Ave NE FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE THE HIDEAWAY 1544 Piedmont Ave NE MIXX mixxatlanta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave NE OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE WOOFS woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD MARY’S marysatlanta.com 1287 Glenwood Ave SE SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH sisterlouisaschurch. com 466 Edgewood Ave SE SWINGING RICHARDS swingingrichards. com 1400 Northside Dr NW

DINING MIDTOWN 10TH & PIEDMONT 10thandpiedmont. com 991 Piedmont Ave NE EINSTEIN’S einsteinsatlanta. com 1077 Juniper St NE FROGS CANTINA frogsmidtown.com 931 Monroe Dr G’S gsmidtown.com 219 10th St NE

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

HENRY’S henrysatl.com 132 10th St NE

GCB & PLEASURES brushstrokesatlanta. com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

JOE’S ON JUNIPER joesonjuniper.com 1049 Juniper St NE

BARKING LEATHER barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A

LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com 900 Monroe Dr NE CHESHIRE LAS MARGARITAS lasmargaritasmidtown.com 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE ROXX 1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE DEKALB LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com 3011 Buford Hwy NE

FITNESS MIDTOWN URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com 500 Amsterdam Ave N

CHESHIRE

GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

SPAS/BATHS ADULT FLEX SPA flexspas.com 76 4th St NW CHESHIRE THE DEN thedenatlanta.com 2135 Liddell Drive NE

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10 facts about

Photo: LaRue Caillet Model: Sherrod Bolden Styling & Makeup: Nat Brown Clothing: Boy Next Door Menswear

Black Gay Pride here and across the country

Today, there are 25+ black gay pride celebrations across America. 2. Black gay prides started because the community did not see themselves fairly represented at the ‘mainstream’ pride celebrations. 3. D.C. Pride is considered the first of the black LGBT prides. 4. Atlanta Black Pride was started in 1996. 5. Atlanta Black Pride started as a picnic and has grown to be the largest black pride in the country. 6. Black Gay Prides give a voice to specific issues unique to the black LGBTQ community. 7. Last year, Atlanta Black Pride experienced a total refresh under the hashtag #ReclaimingATLBlackPride. 8. The hashtag speaks to the goals of educating, empowering, and celebrating the black LBGT community. 9. Due to COVID-19, this year’s official Pride celebration will be virtual. 10. There will be a few in-person parties, so be safe, wear a mask, and social distance!

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To the guy who ridiculed his friends who were still isolating: no no, the joke is actually on you!

By cutting off the But numbers cansleeves of all your t-shirts? Wait? Numbers? You are a 3 out of 10 All right, get out!

I don’t want to hear one complaint from any of you who didn’t take this virus seriously when/if we go into lockdown again. Not a word!

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AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18) Misinformation is rampant these days and you might receive some regarding money that could come from someone who has a stake in your believing whatever you’re told. This could be a banker, creditor, investment counselor, or even a close friend, or relative. Whoever it is, Aquarius, don’t accept what this person says at face value. Look into the facts of the situation yourself before making any decisions about what you need to do.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20) It seems the corona health crisis has sharpened your instincts, and you feel as if someone close to you may not be totally honest. This person could be avoiding telling the truth or hiding something from you in order to protect you. Trust your gut, Pisces. If someone tells you something important that doesn’t ring true, check it out before accepting one person’s word. This isn’t a vicious deception - only a protective one. But shielding someone from the truth can sometimes backfire!

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

An unpleasant situation could arise that could your own and others health at risk. Your first reaction may be to protect those closest to you from the truth. You could be tempted to lie or at least avoid mentioning the situation. Don’t give in to the temptation, Virgo. Your desire to shield loved ones is understandable, but it could cause problems. You can’t protect people from everything. Most people prefer to know the facts, so they can react accordingly.

Weariness of the world may have you feeling a bit listless this week, Aries, and you’re likely to want to stay home in bed rather than go anywhere. This goes against your inclination to be among people, but you know that resisting temptation will be better for you. Don’t fall into this trap and count yourself among those who still have common sense. Get some rest, and only go out when you absolutely have to.

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

After feeling a bit COVID-sluggish, your mind is racing at a thousand miles an hour. You might be inundated with new ideas and information that could cause mental overload. Write it all down if you can. You’ll want to refer to it later. It might be advisable to then go out for a walk or other exercise. This intellectual overload could produce excess nervous energy that you’ll need to work off.

During these months of quarantining, a lover or close friend seems to have dropped out of the picture, and this could have you worried, confused, and wondering if this person isn’t interested in continuing a relationship with you. Don’t let your insecurity get the best of you. The person has his or her troubles and will eventually want a strong, sympathetic shoulder to cry on. You’re likely to be that person!

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

Worries over the situation of a lover or close friend who seems depressed could plague you this week, yet you may hesitate to reach out because of social distancing and because you don’t want to intrude. Nonetheless, you should. All is not as bad as it seems, and your concern will be appreciated. Focus on getting some muchneeded rest. You’ve been working far too hard.

Your career interests may be short-circuited by gossip, rumor, and online office politics. Someone has an agenda and isn’t likely to care too much about the effect on others’ lives of any underhanded dealings. If you hear about such goings-on, Gemini, do what you can to stop them before they get out of hand. That way you can protect your and your colleagues’ career interests.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

A family member may be depressed and not up for talking about what’s wrong. His or her mood could spread to everyone else, so it might be a good idea to ask what’s wrong. Point out that moods are contagious! Don’t force the issue, Sagittarius. That would be worse. A number of calls could interrupt your work, which you might find irritating. Don’t be afraid to let voicemail get the calls.

Perhaps you’ve been planning to finally go on a trip after being in sensible isolation for months. However, Cancer, a rather disturbing letter or phone call could jeopardize your plans and leave you teetering on the edge of disappointment. If you look at the situation carefully, you may find that it doesn’t set you back that much. You can take care of it without sacrificing what you want.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

Misinformation might spread through your extended family or neighborhood and cause unnecessary upsets among those involved. Don’t accept at face value any gossip or rumor you hear today until you fact-check it yourself, Capricorn. It could turn out to be a tempest in a teapot. This still isn’t a good time to plan or take a trip of any kind, because mishaps and challenges could result.

Seemingly bad news about your financial situation could throw your usually even-keeled nature off kilter. Look into the matter carefully before panicking, Leo. There may have been a computer error or other mistake, or perhaps someone confused you with someone else. Take steps to rectify the blunder without roaring or even biting other people’s heads off. It’ll be difficult, but you’ll be relieved to know that all was better than it seemed, and you won’t leave any casualties on your trail.

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. My partner and I have enjoyed having an open relationship for many years now. A couple of years ago, my partner met this guy – let’s call him Brady – and they immediately hit it off in and outside the bed. Since then, they have held the connection, and they almost exclusively only sleep with each other (and me occasionally). That’s all fine, but now because of COVID, my partner is suggesting that we let Brady move in with us. Brady could use the financial help of not paying (full) rent, and it would help us all with our pandemic loneliness. I generally like the idea, but I am worried about the dynamics of the whole thing. Basically, I am afraid that this will deepen their polyamorous relationship, and that I may be sidelined somehow. I am not the jealous type, but I can’t help but think this is their next step that doesn’t really include me that much. Sincerely Brady Bunch Dear Brady Bunch You must eliminate any ambiguity regarding the dynamics of the situation. It may be a tough conversation, but you have to talk to your partner and Brady about what is happening here. Even though it is commendable that you want to help Brady out and that you are trying to make the best of a bad situation, there are so many factors in this that could potentially blow up in your face. You have to talk about this before making any decisions, and that includes establishing what kind of relationship you are dealing with here. Plus, selfishly, you need to know what’s in it for you too. They have the opportunity to deepen their relationship, but what do you get out of it? Will this help with your pandemic loneliness, too, or will it be more for the two of them? There’s potential that this could work but talk about it all first.

It’s been two years, and I want to move in with my boyfriend. During this pandemic, we have been isolating together, and I feel like it has been a pretty good trial run of how things would be if we moved in with each other. I’m tired of the endless planning, bringing clothes back and forth, and sometimes sleeping alone. I want to build a home together, so after two years, isn’t it time? I feel like it’s the next natural step in our relationship to really share our lives like this. But my boyfriend keeps saying he wants to wait and that he needs time and space for himself. I guess I’m ready for more commitment, and I’m scared that my boyfriend isn’t, and that he just wants to do this endless dating game – even when we practically live together now! What should I do? Just wait for him to get ready? Or should I move on because things aren’t changing? Sincerely Move-In-Ready Dear Move-In-Ready A big part of being in a relationship is figuring out how to be a couple despite all the differences between you. So in a sense, it is okay for your boyfriend to not wanting to move in with you just as it is okay for you to want to make a home together. The question is, can your differences on this be reconciled? Being in a relationship also means that you get to know each other better and better with time, so you start by engaging in a talk about why he is closed off to the idea of moving in together. If he is good at talking about other sensitive topics, then it shouldn’t be a problem. If he is unwilling to discuss your plans, you have some deeper-rooted issues at hand. In that case, you can talk to him about why he is having difficulty even talking about it – it may not solve anything, but you’ll at least get to know him even better. And that’s the whole point, right? And you’ll see if he is willing to deepen your relationship or not. Suppose he continues to stay shut off from discussing sensitive or serious issues in your relationship. In that case, many red flags point out that he may not be interested in being any closer than you are right now. And that’s where you both have to consider if it makes sense to part or not.

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