Peach Magazine V6-i43 | Let Your Spirits RISE

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Tom Goss’ Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas

By Brian Hug

Tom Goss photos by Dusti Cunningham

Tom Goss’ new album is Christmas-themed, but with songs like “Santa Slay,” “Put that Ass in Christmass,” “Sassy Santa,” and “Ho Ho Homo,” it’s not traditional holiday fare. “I wanted to make something that was big, fun, unapologetic, body positive, and queer as f**k,” Tom Goss says of his first holiday EP, Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas. “I want people to laugh and smile, then strip down to their undies and dance. That’s the Christmas I’m most looking forward to this year!”

Joining Tom on Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas are some of the biggest names in gay hip hop, gay rock-and-roll, and gay country music, including Big Daddy Karsten, Keith Lawrence, de ROCHE, and Tom’s biggest crush, Benjamin Koll. “They are all a part of my queer family,” Tom reflects. “We may sing in different music genres, but we are the same in that we live our lives joyfully, exuberantly, and as authentically as possible.”

Living authentically is what Tom Goss wishes for everyone this year. We spoke with the Santa bear-loving cutie from his Los Angeles home.

Has Tom Goss gone Josh Groban on us?

Umm, just press play on Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas. It’ll take about three seconds to realize this is not Josh Groban.

Is it true that you don’t like traditional Christmas songs?

I guess I just don’t understand liking something for six weeks of the year. If Christmas music was so great, we’d listen to it year-round. I feel the same way about pumpkin spice.

So, Tom Goss is a Grinch? Now, to be fair, maybe I’m spoiled. My grandmother used to give me oranges in my Christmas stocking. It never made sense to me; I wanted candy, not oranges. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized that getting an orange in winter in 1920’s rural Illinois was special for her. She wanted to share that with me, and I was too childish to realize the specialness of that gesture. So, maybe I should learn to love things that only come seasonally.

How would you classify the songs in Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas?

Unapologetically queer. That would be the theme throughout.

You titled it Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas?

It seemed fun to me! I’m so grateful to have a big, fat, gay, ass family, and I want to celebrate them whenever possible.

How did you start the ep?

It started with the name. I was home for five days between tour legs, and if I was going to pull this off, time was of the essence. The first song I wrote was “Sassy Santa.” I couldn’t dream of a big fat Christmas EP without Benjamin Koll, so I wrote a song that could feature his big sassy Santa voice and belly. Thankfully, he loved the song and hopped on board, and we were off to the races.

Lots of guys would like to find Benjamin Koll wrapped underneath their Christmas tree this year!

He’s sexy and so sweet! Honestly, I am a big sucker for sweetness. It is by far the most important thing to me. Sexy is nothing without sweetness, kindness, and compassion. I love the positivity he puts into his music, his videos, and the community at large. There is nothing sexier.

How did you connect with the other queer talent featured on Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas? They are all friends or friends of friends. I am a big fan of everyone on the EP, and I am so grateful to be working with them.

Can you share one memorable experience from recording the ep?

Everything happened so quickly; it’s all a blur! I wrote, recorded, and demoed every track in five days. I even wrote my own rap verses for “Put That Ass in Christmass,” so it’d make sense when sending the demo out. Then, while on tour in Florida and Scotland, Ned (Douglas) and I reached out to collaborators and managed sessions and files remotely. I feel so grateful to be living in a time when a global release is possible. What a whirlwind!

What are your holiday plans this year?

I am not sure. The holidays haven’t been easy for me in a long while. I released a single called “Gay Christmas” in 2017, and six years later, some in my family are still not talking to me. Part of writing this EP was owning the holiday spirit that I want in my life. There’s no sense in being sad about what you don’t have. I have the capacity to create the holiday experience I want, so I’m working on doing that.

What is your Christmas wish to the world?

I want people to be authentically themselves and, in turn, be unconditionally loved for being just that. I want people to ask for and receive what their heart truly needs. I want people to love themselves and bask in the joy of loving those who are or have become their family.

Tom Goss’ Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas will be available on Apple Music, Spotify, and all major digital platforms on November 18. Visit tomgossmusic.com.

It’s Time for a Queer Host on ‘The Daily Show’

By Sarah Bricker Hunt Photos: Netflix, ABC

Trevor Noah, longtime host of “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” says he will leave the show after seven years, opening up an opportunity for a fresh voice to fill that influential role.

In a tumultuous political climate where LGBTQ+ issues are the hot potato that terrible politicians love to bat back and forth, who better to provide pithy commentary than a queer comedian? We nominate these five rising stars and veteran funny people.

Kate McKinnon

Lesbian heroine McKinnon is a no-brainer to replace Noah. The veteran “SNL” actor left the show this year after a decade playing a laundry list of audience favorites, but her tenure there might be most linked to her earnest, deeply funny impersonation of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We’d love to see her drop some Ginsburns on some well-deserving political figures.

There’s more to McKinnon than her epic RBG portrayal, too. Remember when she channeled what every non-Trump voting American was feeling when Hillary Clinton lost in 2016? Her post-election cold open, as Clinton singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” was as cathartic as it was powerful — a reminder to cherish what we had and a call to gather strength for the battles yet to come at an unprecedented moment in history (no matter what Rob Schneider thinks). Add McKinnon’s universal likability and she’s a candidate for the job who would be uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge between constantly warring political factions.

Bowen Yang

Another “SNL” standout, Yang has been coming into his own over the past year, as evidenced by runaway Hulu hit “Fire Island.” But it’s his off-thecuff takes in interviews that reveal why he’d make an excellent “Daily Show” host. When Q Syndicate editorial director Chris Azzopardi interviewed Yang this summer, he discussed the “SNL” sketch “Pride Month Song,” a fresh look at a queer culture staple. Ever down-to-earth, Yang said, “... Pride is kind of exhausting. And it’s kind of not what you expect it to be: You think it’s gonna be this amazing thing and it actually ends up being really stressful and logistically a nightmare and someone has a meltdown at some point.”

It’s that kind of Midwestern-via-New-York authenticity that contributes to Yang’s crosscultural appeal. It would be compelling to see Bowen breaking down complicated news events in a way we can all understand and identify with. Yang is a master at keeping it real.

Randy Rainbow

Maybe it’s time for “The Daily Show” to become a variety show. Randy Rainbow’s snarky political musical theater might just be magical in the way it lures listeners in with familiar Broadway intros and then whacks them over the head with lasertargeted observations about terrible people. Sometimes, a spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down. And at a time when we can all agree that real world news is almost too much to comprehend some days, we could use a little sugar, especially when it’s spice in disguise.

It would be interesting to see Rainbow approach the “Daily Show” anchor desk with a Colbertesque approach, where we’re never quite sure if he’s serious, but we’re definitely sure he’s killing fascists with every expertly crafted lyrical delight.

Patti Harrison

Jon Stewart laid the groundwork, Noah carried the torch and Patti Harrison, the whip-smart, take-no-shit comedian (who got kicked off Twitter for hilariously impersonating Sia as Nilla Wafers — yes the cookies) will bring it home for a new generation.

At 31, Harrison is a vocal member of the young millennial and Gen Z generation and an out transwoman, which means she understands what’s at stake for her generation’s future and can speak powerfully against the recent alarming national political and social backslide into the 1950s. She is also the comedian most likely to take the audience on Andy Kaufman-esque rides to unexpected places, something we can get behind.

Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes’ trademark nononsense takes on current events (and takedowns of current idiots) would liven up the “Daily Show” desk. She’s been at this for a while, too. Take her “Daily Show with Jon Stewart” appearance way back in 2001, where she took down then president George W. Bush, remarking, “I pray for the man every day… and I advise everybody else to do the same. We in trouble, Jon! We are in trouble. It’s the foreign policy — the man has only left the country twice, and that was to Mexico. I have traveled more than the president. That’s a problem.”

Twenty years later, Sykes has remained relevant (and side-splittingly funny) and has been an active political rabble rouser. There’s no doubt a Sykes-led “Daily Show” would be well-written, pithy, pointedly sassy and devoid of fluff. Sykes would just get the job done while casually annihilating people who casually support stances like eliminating queer rights.

Reconnecting LGBTQ+ Atlantans

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photo: Russ Bowen-Youngblood

Born out of the urge to reconnect in person again, Roger Rutkowski started The Atlanta Socializers Club as a space to reconnect safely. A little over a year later, the social event has gained significant momentum with plans to add more venues and different kinds of gatherings.

What was the idea behind Socializers Club, and how did you come up with it?

In 2021, as vaccinations were becoming more available, I felt there was a need for us to have a space to safely reconnect, so we reached out to Ten Atlanta and started monthly meetings on their patio. Mid 2021, after most of Midtown was vaccinated, we decided to move the group around to support local businesses and give members the opportunity to try new venues they may not otherwise go to.

The Atlanta Socializers Club has become a great success in a short time. What do you have planned for the rest of the year?

We are heading to the Kimpton Shane Hotel on Thursday, November 17. Events usually take place on the last Thursday of the month except for November and December, when we move a week earlier. There are no events in January.

The club is not just for socializing, but it also gives back to the community. Who do you support?

The club supports Lost-N-Found Youth by raffling off prizes donated by members but mainly from our Media Sponsor Peach magazine.

So far, the Atlanta Socializers Club is a monthly occurrence – do you have plans to expand or perhaps do other types of events?

In 2023, I would like to add a dinner club element to the group, but this is obviously more challenging to run, so giving it some more consideration before committing. I would also like to formalize an engagement letter with the venues, where members can benefit more from drink specials and complimentary food.

What do you think sets the Socializers Club

apart from other clubs?

One key thing that sets us apart from other groups is our diversity, especially in terms of age. I was keen to have a mix of people, and on average, we get members attending from 21 –78 years old; everyone mixes well and seems to enjoy each other’s stories and life experiences.

How do we keep up to date on when and where?

The best way to keep track of events is to join the Atlanta Socializers Club on Facebook.

Neonblk ft. Javon Love

@ Mary’s | November 10, 7-11 pm

Come see this show created to make a space for black queer performers to shine, hosted by Dotte Com and featuring perfomances by . Javon Love (Richmond, VA), Malachi, Tyra Rex, Syraja, and Ella-Saurus Rex.

AID Atlanta 40th Anniversary Celebration

@ Loudermilk Conference Center| November 12, 6:30-11 pm

A night of reflection, remembrance, and inspiration celebrating 40 years of service to the Atlanta community! Get your tickets at aidatlanta.org/ anniversary.

The Brady Bunch Movie at the Plaza

@ Plaza Atlanta| November 10, 7 pm WUSSY is back at Plaza for our monthly feature fantastico with the hilarious 1995 comedy, “The Brady Bunch Movie.” Tickets at PlazaAtlanta.com.

Manhole! An All Drag King Show

@ Noni’s | November 11, 8 pm – 1 am ATL’s only all king show is turning 1 & you’re invited to the fun! Mr. Elle Aye and House of ALXNDR present the first Birthday Show of Manhole: An All Drag King Show with amazing performances.

The B-52s: Farewell Tour

@ Fox Theatre | November 11, 7:30 pm You’re invited to the love shack getaway for the farewell tour of the B-52’s, the indie cult band with roots in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Other Show

@ Guac Y Margys Midtown | November 11, 10 pm

Atlanta’s most daring drag show. starring Edie Cheezburger, Dotte Com, Edna Allan Hoe, Orchid and Miss He.

PALS Atlanta 2022 FurBall Masquerade “to Oz”

@ Buckhead Club| November 12, 7 pm

Join PALS for a fabulous trip down the Yellow Brick Road, over the rainbow, and into the glittering Emerald Tower that is The Buckhead Club for their biggest FUNdraiser of the year. Tickets at palsatlanta.org.

Heretic Circuit with Joe Pacheco

@ The Heretic | November 12, 10 pm – 2 am Come out for a night of circuit beats provided by DJ Joe Pacheco.

Candler Park Fall Fest

@ Candler Park | November 12-13 Intown Atlanta’s favorite fall festival returns with music, art, food, and Sweetwater beverages! All FREE thanks to their generous sponsors.

Sunday Service

@ Sister Louisa’s| November 13, 6-11:55 pm Thanks to Sister Louisa’s expanded indoor space, the Deep South crew will be serving Sunday Service year-round! Come out this Sunday for this month’s queer Sunday raver and fellowship.

I have gone on a date with this guy four times now, and every time the same scenario: we have drinks, we make out at the bar, but then he stops it before it gets too ‘hot’ and says he doesn’t want to have sex drunk. I’m not one to have sex without full consent, so last he tries to undress, and when I ask him about the whole no sex while drunk principle, he gets all weird. I go home and I haven’t heard from him since. Did I do the right or the wrong thing here?

You did the right thing, although you may have misread his consent in the moment. One thing is certain: he set up some boundaries but also gave you plenty of mixed signals along the way. He may have (clumsily) granted you consent in that situation, but you stopping it may have left him feeling rejected or even embarrassed. Perhaps he was indeed so drunk that the memory of the episode is muddled? So what now? How about you set up a fifth date, and this time you don’t go to a bar, so alcohol is no longer in the picture. This way he will hopefully be able to signal a little better, and you will understand his intentions better.