V4-48 - No Time Like the Present

EXCLUSIVE!

Dolly Parton

THE LiGHT QUEEN OF …

EVERYTHiNG!

No Time Like

THE PRESENT

Brigette Bidet’s Voice QUARANTiNE DRAG STAR

The Gift of Forgiveness NO GiFT RECEiPT NEEDED

C

ontents

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DEC 23, 2020 V4-48

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We have made sure that this issue will feel like our gift to you because it is jam-packed full of goodies to make your Holiday a little bit extra bright.

Speaking of bright: What do you do for some EXTRA Holiday cheer? You call in Dolly Parton, of course! We are extremely proud to bring you an exclusive interview in this issue with the queen of country, light, vaccines, and just about everything else that will lift your spirits. And since your sights and thoughts are set on ‘blonde bombshell’ already, we also bring you another Peach exclusive with one of Atlanta’s most well-known drag performers, Brigitte Bidet, who shares her voice, vision, and vote with us all.

From all of us at Peach, we wish you a season of warmth and lots of love.

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THE ViSiON, VOiCE AND VOTE OF

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photos: Jon Dean

I

n the eight years Brigitte Bidet has lived in Atlanta, she has become one of the most well-known drag entertainers and emcees in the drag community. Not even a global pandemic has slowed the blonde bombshell down, who has found different creative ways to get her voice out there, including socially distanced shows, a successful podcast, and a newfound fire for political activism.

You haven’t slowed down at all during this, but how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your work?

Creatively I’ve been thriving, because there aren’t the normal distractions of everyday life. It’s actually

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given me a lot of new ideas on how to share Brigitte with the world. I’ve definitely taken a hit financially, but I’m glad to have drag as a creative outlet and a way to stay connected with people virtually. You don’t realize how much of a community there is around the drag scene until it’s put on pause. I miss all of the messy bitches in my life!

You have managed to perform some during the pandemic, but you have chosen only socially distanced shows – can you tell us a little bit about them?

I have been lucky enough to be offered gigs from people who are organizing socially

distanced events. There was a lot of digital drag happening at the beginning of the pandemic, and then Wussy and Ree de la Vega organized two amazing Drive-In Drag shows.

Everyone is coming up with ways to keep the entertainment alive, but nothing can replace getting a germ-covered dollar bill from someone in a sweaty bar. The vaccine can’t come soon enough...

You have also started the amazing podcast ‘Good Judy’ with Ellasaurus Rex. Tell us about creating a podcast during a pandemic?

Ella and I are both known for being emcees at our shows, so it’s no surprise that the two of us can kiki, gossip, and wax poetic together for hours on end. Jon Dean is our producer, and together the three of us decided that we wanted to make content and digital media that represents our Atlanta queer www.peachatl.com

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letting them in on ways to use their voice and vote. I’m lucky enough to be friends with some amazing organizers and activists who inspire me to be a better ally and more progressive American. Recently I have been working with Future Coalition and Drag to the Polls, helping them create programming to engage the LGBTQ+ community for the upcoming runoff election. VOTE WARNOCK, OSSOFF, AND BLACKMAN, PLEASE!!!

scene and helps add our voice to the national and global conversations.

things that other people are still managing to do during these strange times.

What can you expect when tuning into Good Judy?

Good Judy is where Ella and Brigitte get to unpack all of the things life and the world have presented to us each week. We make light of the dark things and celebrate the good things, offering our unique points of view to better understand this crazy time we all share together. Each episode, we have a special guest, who (hopefully!) becomes one of our Good Judys, and we hear about their stories, and triumphs, and challenges. I hope that listeners can come for the humor or the cynicism but leave with deeper insight into what makes us more alike than different. I always feel a little more hopeful after hearing about the awesome

What’s next for Good Judy?

Good Judy has even more amazing content planned for 2021. Subscribe to our Patreon for bonus material, and stay tuned to us on social media for updates! Instagram and Twitter @goodjudypod – new Episodes of Good Judy every Tuesday and Friday, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy streaming from! Stay tuned for more updates on social media.

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You do talk politics on Good Judy, but you have also gotten even more politically involved lately.

What motivated you?

A bitch can only joke about politics so much until people are like, “well what have you done?” I can’t inspire people to get engaged if I’m not

What else do you hope your political activism achieves?

My hope is that I create a permanent connection between political organizers and drag artists. Everyone talks about how inherently political drag is, so naturally, it makes sense to use the platforms and energy of drag entertainment as a way to get out the vote and see the change that we envision.

What’s next for Brigitte Bidet?

I hope to get vaccinated ASAP! There are some exciting things in the works that I hope to get off the ground in 2021. I want to see Brigitte exist not only in a bar but also in a theater with other drag performers. And I definitely hope to continue planning events that engage the queer community to VOTE! Please tell us where to follow you!

Add me on Instagram and Twitter @brigittebidet to stay ABREAST to the fabulous and exciting things that your local queens, kings, and everything in-betweens are doing. Thank you for letting me entertain you – and I hope to do a cartwheel-split for you in the very near future! XXO www.peachatl.com

| 13

6

Albums That Got Me Through 2020

… AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY THROUGHOUT 2021!

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photo: PR

In a year unlike any other, no wonder I gravitated towards bigger, bolder disco-esque productions that could transport me, at least mentally, to a packed dancefloor, but also give me some pause and reflective moments. Here are the albums that got me through this year and that will keep on playing next year and beyond.

KYLIE

Disco

If you watched her ‘Infinite Disco’ livestream in early November, it is clear that this album is filled to the brim with happy, disco-inspired perfect pop songs that all link back to Kylie’s vast discography rooted in – you guessed it – disco! The brilliant mashup of Light Years with Supernova alone manifests that. Apart from the already released singles (and obvious hits) like “Say Something,” “Magic,” and “I Love It,” other notable songs on the 16-song deluxe release of the album are “Miss a Thing,” “Real Groove,” and “Dance Floor Darling.”

JESSIE WARE

What’s Your Pleasure?

Jessie Ware’s album revealed a more fun and free side of the artist, and it looked and sounded really good on her. The style is more towards Italo disco like the title track suggests, and the sexiness of it all simply can’t be denied on this disco-inspired electropop masterpiece. Notable songs are “What’s Your Pleasure?,” “Save a Kiss,” and “Ooh La La,” which are all perfect proponent of the electro vibe that simply draws you in.

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JANELLE MONAE

Dirty Computer

Although this album dates back to 2018, it still carries current weight – especially considering this year’s dramatic and much-needed movement to fight racial injustice and police violence. Notably, “Crazy, Classic, Life,” “So Afraid,” and “Americans” stand out as stand out as the soundtrack to the outcries and protests that took place all across the nation.

ROISIN MURPHY Machine

After years of releasing stand-alone singles, Murphy gave her fifth studio album – and boy was it worth the wait! Taking it all the back to the middle of the dancefloor, she fuses deep house vibes with disco-dancing fun but without losing her couture-cut edge. Just the opening with “Simulation” has a hypnotic pull that could either transport you to a sweaty, sexy dancefloor or have you strutting down a Parisian runway.

DUA LIPA

Club Future Nostalgia (DJ Mix)

As an extensive lockdown project, Dua Lipa collaborated with DJ and producer the Blessed Madonna to bring you a remixed run-through of her successful Future Nostalgia album. The result is a happy and seamless mix of her songs that includes collaborators from the DJ world like Horse Meat Disco and Mark Ronson, and pop superstars like Madonna, Gwen Stefani, and Yaeji. Especially the remixed version (mixed by the Blessed Madonna) is high-energy pop that even deep into a bit deeper house at times.

H.E.R. TBD

Although a full album hasn’t manifested itself yet (fingers crossed for 2021!), H.E.R. has released several incredible singles that explore soulful R&B melodies paired with her outstanding vocals. It is hard not to get captivated by the revealing sensuousness of “Damage” or the vulnerable “Hold On,” which aligns perfectly with her artist acronym of Having Everything Revealed.

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Another 25 Years of

Love and Beaches

By Kevin Assam

Rob Tigue and David Perry splashed down at the other edge of the world to renew their vows. Amid a period of scuttled weddings and ceremonies everywhere, the couple managed to start their newest chapter with lyrics, an intimate seaside gathering, and even an appearance by Key West’s mayor.

(A conversation with Rob Tigue) How did you both meet?

Our paths crossed three times over five years. The first was at a singing competition that I won. The second was after my father passed suddenly. David was branch manager of our credit union. As we wept in his office, he helped us sort out accounts. He was so warm and caring. The final time, we both [auditioned] for a musical and landed roles. The months of working together made us form a wonderful friendship, which turned into love.

Where did all this unfold?

Kingston, New York. About 100 miles north of NYC. The contest was at the Holiday Inn. David’s bank Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union.

And the show, Godspell, at Coach House Players.

How did the proposal go down?

We had been together nine years and the governor of New York passed a parody law.

If you were married legally in any other state, New York would recognize it. As soon as we heard, we decided that we were going to Stockbridge, Massachusetts and make something that we never imagined would happen in our lifetime a reality. It was huge — coming to terms with our sexuality in the 80s during the hatred of the community because of the AIDS crisis and hiding our lives from co-workers and family for so many years.

The proposal to renew came from me. So much went down during the covid shutdown. My mother broke her hip on Mother’s Day and had two strokes the day after surgery. David had to deal with my emotional rollercoaster of not being by her side. All the while he was working 12 hour days from home trying to keep the [credit union] world. Plus, having my mother stay with us for three weeks as people were coming in and out for therapy. He never showed annoyance. He made my mother and my family feel so welcome. It made me see again what a wonderful person he is. When we saw that we could get to Key West, I asked if he would renew vows on the beach. The first night, I shocked him after dinner. I had a diamond ring made for him

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to wear with his wedding band and sang a small part of You’re My Best Friend before asking him for another 25 [years].

Why was it so important to come to Key West?

Our renewal on our 25th anniversary was going to be a celebration in Italy or Greece. Covid did not allow that.

We decided that Key West is now our home away from home, and since cases [there] were low, we would go to a place we love, spend time with people we love, and celebrate there. We have been going to Key West for 16 years now.

Did you have any reservations at the time about traveling during the pandemic?

We had just applied for passports in the beginning of February and were in the planning stages. Discussing with people who had traveled to Italy and Greece where they recommended and doing internet searches and plotting our must sees.

Photos courtesy Maya Montana We realized in March, when it all started hitting the fan, that we would not be able to travel abroad this year. Passports finally arrived late July. We spent $400.00 for them through USPS. We are not sure when we will be using them.

At least the pictures came out good. We initially were disappointed, but felt as long as we were healthy, it didn’t matter where we celebrated.

Was it difficult coordinating your event in Key West?

ceremony.

It was made extremely easy for us. Our Key West bestie, Maya Montana, went out of his way to make sure all would be perfect. He reached out to Mayor Teri Johnston to see if she would consider doing our

What did it mean to have one of the country’s openly lesbian mayors conduct your ceremony?

To have a LGBTQ trailblazer agree to be part of our day was such an honor. Finding out she has been with her partner for 37 years amazed us. She had been so busy trying to keep covid numbers down, and this was shortly after she ran for re-election. We thought it was a long shot.

What’s your next major plan once the pandemic subsides?

Getting our trip to Europe planned and booked so we can use those currently useless passports we just got!

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| 17

The Light Queen

By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Stacie Hukeba Courtesy of Butterfly Records LLC and Netflix

Dolly Parton’s been everywhere this year, and everywhere she’s gone – virtually, that is – she’s brought good, gay tidings to all. Dolly’s contributions to both science and Christmas amidst our collective existential pandemic panic have been rays of light and literal life-savers. Considering the remarkable timing of Dolly’s $1 million donation made to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University, which helped fund Moderna’s COVID vaccine, it’s only fitting that one of the most beloved, iconic figures in pop culture is also playing a fictional angel in the Netflix musical movie Christmas on the Square. In real life, Dolly is the only person you might imagine haloed in glowing light with a pair of white angel wings.

Five decades into her career, Dolly, at 74, remains an unstoppable cultural force – even in lockdown, even during one of the worst years in our lifetime.

Just when we need her most, like the patron saint she is, here she comes with the confectionary campiness of Christmas on the Square. And a Christmas album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, her 47th solo studio album (and first Christmas record since 1990). And a coffee table book, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, a deep dive into 175 songs that she has written. And just for good measure: a 19-DVD box set of her performances through the years, a baking line for Williams-Sonoma, and virtual Christmas specials for CBS and Amazon Music. We’ve evolved from the pandemic bread-baking phase to the

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“fill every empty moment with everything Dolly” phase, and no one’s complaining.

Dolly also, at the pandemic’s onset, held a virtual series in which she reads bedtime stories; it was meant for kids, but who could blame you for wanting Dolly to send you off to sleep with The Little Engine That Could?

I met up with Dolly over Zoom on two separate occasions: in October, with her Christmas on the Square co-star Christine Baranski, and solo on the morning of November 4, the day after Election Day. I was asked to avoid political and election questions, a request that brought to mind Dolly’s own savvy way of blurring political and apolitical lines. Her bipartisan credentials and subtextual political statements led to her being deemed the “great unifier” in 2019’s New York Public Radio series Dolly Parton’s America. Dolly’s politics are signaled almost solely through voicing her core values – inclusivity, love, kindness and compassion for all – and then abiding by all of them. With Dolly, it’s always been action over lip service. When she does speak, it’s with sincerity and conviction.

And, of course, a whip-smart quip. In August, Dolly spoke up about the Black Lives Matter movement, telling Billboard, “Of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No!” On the morning of our one-on-one interview, Dolly appeared on video, still in the process of getting mic’d. She made small-talk as we waited for the greenlight, wisecracking that, “It takes a village to get all this stuff goin’!” Once ready, she spoke about how healing others heals her, recording more uplifting dance music for her LGBTQ fans, recording music with Leslie Jordan and how no one is exempt from the light of her love. Gifts for everyone.

I don’t know how you stay so upbeat, positive and chill during a time that feels so heavy, dark and dreadful. At times, I think to myself, “Can I take whatever Dolly’s taking?” Also, what are you taking?

Ha! Well, I’m taking my time trying to

process everything! I just always try to go inside myself and try to find all the goodness in there. I try to look right inside everybody else and see all the goodness in there, and try to weave that into something special and into some light rather than just dwelling on the darkness. It’s easy to do that; it’s easy to get depressed when things are bad. But I refuse to do that. I like to be productive, and I just try to think that everything will be better all the time. I always think no matter what’s going on things are gonna get better.

Today I woke up remembering that during the beginning of the pandemic every morning I woke up to your song “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” for days, for weeks, and I’d cry. That song, featured in your new book Songteller, felt like the hug I needed every morning to get out of my funk and move on with my day.

Sometimes I’ll sing that song too. I think that’s a really good song. Yesterday somebody played me a version of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” and I said, “You know, somebody oughta put that out,” like a record now.It was kind of my song of deliverance when I had been going through some personal darkness. When I wrote it, it just kind of delivered me, brought me into the light. So it is a song of deliverance; it is a song of light and hope.

Aside from that song, what’s a song of yours that still brings you comfort like “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” has brought me this year?

I actually write a lot of stuff. In fact, when the COVID pandemic started, I started writing songs. I don’t know if you ever heard a song called “When Life Gets Good Again” (released in May, which instructs others to “Be safe, be respectful, wear your mask, lead with love”), but I tend to do more writing than I do finding songs to make me feel better. It makes me feel better to be able to write those kinds of songs, to uplift somebody else, and in turn, by teaching, I am taught; by helping, I am helped. So it helps me to kind of do the thing that I know that people need, and I’m able to do it, and so I try to write things like that. So I’ve written a few songs about the times.

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In October, you and everyone’s favorite pocket gay, Leslie Jordan, met for the first time. And Leslie can sing too. So I’m just gonna put this out here: I wouldn’t mind hearing you and Leslie collaborate on “Just a Wee Bit Gay” from that gay dance album you keep teasing us about.

Ha! You know, I never did put that song out! I wrote a song called “Just a Wee Bit Gay” and it’s really, really a cute song and he would be perfect. But you know what’s funny? He’s actually going to do an album of some music and I’m going to be singing with him on it, along with some other big celebrities. I’ll leave it to him to announce what it is and when it is.

But anyway, when he came, I (was like), I have seen him so many times, backstage, and I just felt like I knew him because I relate to him so much and they make jokes about, “He’s me in drag,” and all that. But when we met the other day, it was the sweetest, funnest day. We were practicing safe-distancing and had our masks and everything. But it was fun, just to be around him. He’s crazy as he can be! And I just love him.

Did you let him wear one of your wigs?

Well, he didn’t have a wig on that day, but I’ve seen him dressed in Dolly drag!

And I don’t want to sound greedy because you have given us a lot this year that I’m very thankful for, but that dance album... maybe 2021?

Well, I am gonna do that. I have a lot of good songs, and because there’s so much going on, I think all of my gay following, they love my attitude in my songs and I’m really wanting to do a lot of faith-based or just uplifting inspirational-type things. I might actually incorporate some of that into a dance album where everybody can get out and dance and rejoice. So yeah, I’m still hoping to do that dance album one of these days.

Now feels like a good time. I think everybody sort of wants to let loose, right?

I think you’re right. I’m sure you have heard “Faith” (with Galantis, released in October 2019).

This year, that was the song that I’d play in the middle of the day and it kept me going.

Actually that one lifted me up a lot too. So I’d like to do more things like that, that you can dance to, move to, and really feel good about. Yeah, I’ve got some good things in mind for that.

With everything that is happening right now in the world, are you finding it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit? Because I’m over here like, “Lord, it’s like a hard candy Christmas.”

Ha! It is! It is kind of like a hard candy Christmas this year, ain’t it? It’s just hard times for a lot of people. But I just refuse to let this dampen my joy. Although we are going to have to do it different. You can’t get out and do all the things you’d like to. You can’t even go shopping as much as you’d like to.

But I do think that I will manage to have my Christmas and have my little nieces and nephews and have as much of my family around as we can safely. I won’t let that stop me from rejoicing in my own way and decorating my houses. I have a lakehouse and different things that I do. And I have to have all that gaud, and all that glitter, and all that food and all the stuff to go with it!

Nothing’s gonna stop me from doing that.

Rhinestones are your therapy.

Yeah, they are! Ha! Rhinestones are my medicine. If I don’t wear ’em, I’ll take ’em!

Shine from the inside out!

“I think we’re supposed to love each other. And I love all the different people in this world.”

dya think? And maybe one of my wigs! So I could dress you up like an angel and you could have your little rhinestones. I could watch you twirl!

If you could send an angel to any past character of yours, maybe they need some of that Dolly angel truth-telling, what character would you send that angel to?

If I send an angel to like a Doralee in 9 to 5, I would just give her a little extra strength to kick Mr. Hart’s butt a little harder!

What do you hope the message of this movie is in terms of change in this country?

Because this movie calls for literal change.

Well, it does. I really think that people are going to relate to this movie, as I mentioned, because it is about family, a village, a town where all the people have their little lives and they’re trying to salvage everything they can, they’re trying to keep their lives together and live their lives and they don’t want to be scattered like we have been this whole year.

The whole world has kind of been like that little town now, kind of uprooted and thrown around and in doubt and in fear. (But) they all became better people because of it.

With Christmas on the Square, were you aware that what you were making had a gay sensibility? I mean, there’s actually vogueing in that movie.

(Sarcastically) What?! Ha! I have a huge gay following, but some of our dancers and a lot of the cast that were there, we had a lot of gay people (in) the (movie). We love it.

You know me, I love my gay following. Anything I can do to make them happy is always good. But I think when we were doing the movie, we were just concentrating on the little town, the village, this mean old woman that Christine (Baranski) played trying to steal our town, and I’m playing an angel coming in trying to save her. Hopefully it’s going to appeal to everybody! It’s gonna be a good, happy, joyful, magical Christmas, hopefully, that we have brought during a dark time right now, don’t you think?

I think so. Dolly, I’m watching this and I’m thinking: to be a spirit of yours, what would it take? Would I have to wear rhinestones?

How do I become one of Dolly’s spirits?

You wouldn’t have to, but I have a feeling you’d like to! Ha! Along with one of my dresses, maybe some of my wings, whad-

On “Christmas Is,” a song from your new album A Holly Dolly Christmas, you sing about the true meaning of Christmas – kindness, love and compassion – with your goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. What about that song made you think to ask Miley to sing it with you?

Well, that song actually is one of the songs from the Netflix movie that I did, the musical, and I wanted to also bring it into the album because we’re probably not going to have a soundtrack from that musical as of yet. So I wanted to bring that over. I wanted Miley and Billy Ray (Cyrus) to be on this album because it’s been 30 years since I had an album out and you usually don’t do but one or two Christmas albums in your whole career, and I figured this would probably be the last one.

Since Miley and Billy Ray are like family to me, I told ’em both, “You can’t even say no.

I’m not having it! You both have to be on this album with me forever! So when we’re all dead and gone or old, we’ll say, ‘OK, here we are with family.’”

But Miley, she’s always been great. I love her to death. She’s like my own. And so she said, “Yeah, I can’t put it out as a single because I got a new project.” And I said, “I didn’t ask

you to put it out as a single! I asked you to sing on it!” So she said, “Well, of course I’ll sing it.” So we did. And that was wonderful.

During this divisive year, I was thinking about how you’re seen as the “great unifier.” And there are not many people who can say that about themselves. But you are the kind of person who’s able to bring mountain people and drag queens together in one room.

What does it mean to you to know that even though there is such division in this country that you are able to reach people across the spectrum of religion, race, politics, gay, straight...?

Well, I just love people.

I love everybody. I love that God light and that God core that is in every single one of us. I do not judge or criticize or condemn; I think we’re supposed to love each other. And I love all the different people in this world. I’m fascinated by everybody’s personality; I want to know who they are. So I’m out to kind of pull people in, not separate people. So I just love people and people seem to love me and that makes me feel really good. So hopefully that’s what God wants us to do. At least that’s what I’m thinkin’ he wants me to do, so I’m going to continue to do that.

Does it hurt you to know that there are people who are not like you in the world?

Well, yeah, it does hurt me that anybody cannot open their heart to love people in the way they should. It does hurt. But all you can do is to try to make the best of your world, try to have enough love to reach out if you can, try to kind of calm things down if you see there are problems going on. I just pray for God to lead me every day and uplift people and glorify him.

Your book Songteller acknowledges a song that I just recently discovered called “Family.”

Aww. I love that song too, where it talks about “some are preachers, some are gay, some are addicts, some are strays, but not

a one is turned away, when it’s family.” And that, to me, is not just your own family; it’s the family of man. It’s like, we’re all family.

People just don’t seem to get that. But if you could just look at everybody like a member of your own family, you’d have a lot more tolerance. You may not still like ‘em, but you can still love ‘em. Tolerate them. But anyways, I’m glad you like that song. I wrote that with my friend Carl Perkins; he’s the famous one that (wrote) “Blue Suede Shoes” back in the olden days.

The book acknowledges that the song, which was released in 1991, is possibly the first country song to mention the word “gay.” How did country fans react to the word “gay” in that song at the time?

Actually, I don’t remember anybody saying anything, because I really do believe whether you accept ’em or not, we all have gays and lesbians and transgenders in our family or in our family of friends. There’s so many people that won’t just accept people for who they are, which is really, really sad for the people that feel like they have to be different because they’re different than what somebody else says they should be.

I don’t remember at that time anybody saying things because the way that I said “some are preachers, some are gays… and not a one is turned away,” because to me that’s how I feel about it. So that song really says a whole lot about a whole lot of things. Oh, I’ve had pokes at me for saying certain things, but it never stopped me. I’m going to always let my love light shine – on everybody.

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.

READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS @ MIDTOWN MOON Photos by Snow

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By Jamie Kirk

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sychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, intentional decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you. Additionally, not factoring in if they deserve it or not. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, nor does it mean accepting or excusing past, current, or future offenses.

As we prepare for the oddest Holiday season ever, one of the things we can cross off the list (for most of us) is the obligatory Holiday parties. We are likely not invited to any, and if we are, due to the current situation with the coronavirus pandemic, the events will be on a much smaller scale. We don’t have to worry about taking the right kind of wine, buying the perfect little black dress, or digging in the closet for the ugliest sweater imaginable. This year we can refocus this energy on something else, like something for ourselves. Something that we need.

Something we are certain not to have to return. A perfect gift that no one else can provide. How about we actually give ourselves the gift of forgiveness.

Typically when we hear this, we automatically go with how we have forgiven this or that person or how we caved into this relative or this ex-partner. We get defensive and say things like, “oh please, I let that go years.”

Or maybe “I got over that situa-

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tion and moved on, trust me.” But each of these statements is about the person or the situation, and not about us. Very few times do we consider that maybe we were the one that needed to be forgiven.

And I don’t mean forgiven in the sense that we did someone wrong or actually caused pain to someone. Contrary, I mean just the opposite. Perhaps we are the person that we betrayed, or maybe even we have caused pain to ourselves.

the right person” or “can’t get a promotion at work,” sometimes the reason is that we are stalled because we have not forgiven ourselves. When you choose not to forgive yourself, you stunt your growth. In the examples mentioned above, maybe you have not forgiven yourself for making a bad decision or falling for someone that was not deserving of your love. We have to get out of our heads and just literally say, “I forgive myself,” or if that is not your style, you The type of forgiveness I am talking can say, “oops, my bad, self.” Any type of about is the ultimate level of forgiveaffirmation that allows you to acknowlness that allows you to get back to the edge and accept that forgiveness for part of you that can relate to the human yourself is the next deliberate step. Our experience. We were not born to be unrelationship with ourselves or with othforgiving individuals. We ers will never improve as were created to “feel” for long as we are in a state We have to others as we can “feel” of unforgiveness. for ourselves. Therefore, get out of our if we are able to be comDuring the holidays, it heads and passionate, kind, and is so easy to be hard on just literally ourselves. We beat ourloving to other folks, we absolutely have to have say, “I forgive selves up for not being in those same feelings for a place that we commitmyself.” ourselves. Forgiveness is ted to being in last year the initial step in acting this time. We don’t look compassionately, practicing kindness, or at how far we have come but focus on unconditionally loving others. how far we are from where we want to be. This is not healthy over time. We Just like with any gift, the gratification have to step back to move forward. is not always immediate. Some gifts And part of that stepping back is leanwe ask for, some we don’t, but regarding into the area that requires forgiveless, we sometimes may not see the ness. Accepting that area, as we chose benefit of its purpose or value—even it. Not avoiding it, not making excuses something tangible like a car or a boat. for it, not regretting the activities, the If you get a boat in December, you may person, or the situation; but just saying, not see it’s value until the summer “yup, my bad self, I forgive you.” months. This is delayed satisfaction.

The same is true with forgiveness for As this holiday season comes to a close, ourselves. Often, when we forgive ourregardless of when you do it or how selves, instant healing does not come you do it, just take a few minutes and immediately. Sometimes we have not really think about the power of forgiveven recognized that forgiveness was ing yourself. Not forgiving anyone else required from us. From us to us as the and not expecting someone else to gift box would read. However, once forgive you. Keep the focus on what is that weird wonky feeling starts to surmost important, the gift of forgiveness face, that is a sign that the healing profor yourself. I leave you with one very cess has kicked off. Hopefully, sooner important thought to ponder as you than later. hopefully actualize this exercise’s importance. There is no fruit able to bear Healing after forgiveness is so very eswhen you live a life filled with unforsential. When we are trying to figure giveness, just wiltedness overflowing out why we are “stuck” or “can’t meet to its slow and miserable death.

| 35

DEC 23-30

We believe in safety first, so this lineup features mainly virtual events or in-person events with limited capacity that enforce CDC guidelines.

AGMC Holiday Concert By popular demand, the AGMC is rebroadcasting their holiday concert unique in its combination of beauty and artistry coupled with joy, humor, and a message of connection and inclusion. Experience the magic from the comfort of your home and kick off your holiday season right. Tickets at voicesofnote.org December 24 & 25, 8:30 pm Online Event Holidays on the Roof The Roof on top of Ponce City Market offers fun holiday activities with private igloos, ice skating, and miniature golf, to name a few favorites. Reserve your igloo at poncecityroof.com.

Ongoing Now Until January 3 Ponce City Roof

Tuesday Night Trivia Use the break between Christmas and New Year’s to the fullest with a night of fun and trivia hosted by DeWayne Morgan. You can win generous bar tabs, and there will be plenty of drink specials.

Tuesday, December 29, 8:30 – 10:30 pm The Hideaway

Wednesdays Are a “Drag” Twirl around the ice with your favorite ICE Queen Aspen York. Enjoy holiday drink specials, holiday lights galore, selfie stations, private igloos, and more!

Wednesday, December 30, 8 pm – 21 am Park Tavern Ice Rink

Retro Video Night The popular music video night is back! DJ Mister Richard will be taking your requests for your favorite retro music and videos!! Grab some friends, come out, and get your groove on!

Tuesday, December 29, 6 – 10 pm Woofs Atlanta 36 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

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Amsterdam Ave.

12th St. NE

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12 W. Peachtree St. NW

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Spring St. NW

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Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

BARS

Dining

2 Blake's 3 Bulldogs 4 Friends

227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

6 My Sister’s Room 7 Ten Atlanta

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

76 4th St. NW

16 17 18 19

G’s Midtown Henry’s Joe's on Juniper La Hacienda

219 10th St NE 132 10th St NE 1049 Juniper St NE 900 Monroe Dr NE

billards/Darts drag dancers leather non-smoking area Patio

When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com

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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

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28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

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26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

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24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

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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 MIDTOWN 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

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

Things That Will Keep You Sane During These COVID Holidays For many, this is the first time you likely won’t be able to celebrate Christmas with friends and family like you’re used to – so here are a few things that can help you stay grounded during this time.

1. Make It Festive Decorate your home, even if no one is coming over 2. Reach Out Don’t isolate even if you’re selfisolating. Human connection is important, when you can’t have human contact 3. Challenge Yourself Try out a new recipe, learn a new skill, keep your brain busy 4. Plan Your Days Set time aside for exercise, reading, watching your favorite show 5. Look for the Light Get outside and face the sun literally

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6. Take a News Break These days, misinformation as rampant, so turn off the news and give yourself that break 7. Breathe It really helps! You can exercise, meditate, or stretch – just focus on breathing right 8. Keep Perspective Things will get better, so try to switch your focus to long-term 9. Laugh It’s not a cure-all remedy, but it certainly works in shifting your mood 10. Be Grateful and Kind This year more than ever it’s about being grateful for the little things www.peachatl.com

Playmates and soul mates...

Atlanta:

678-528-2525

18+ MegaMates.com

We’re closer to Atlanta than you think!

Get the details on our website calendar.

Membership Required *Must be 21 to Enter

The River’s Edge is open and invites you to come, relax by a campfire and enjoy gay, country camping.

Enjoy 1/2 off winter rates Dec. 1 - Feb. 28

RV Sites, Cabins and Tent Sites Available!

706-213-8081 www.camptheriversedge.com

The Rivers Edge Campground, 2311 Pulliam Mill Road, Dewy Rose, GA 30634

This is URGENT – are you there?!

Yes, what’s going on? Are you alright?

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

The reason I’m bad is because there’s a stairway to heaven and a highway to hell – and I am not doing stairs!

I don’t care if that was Santa coming down the chimney – nobody calls me HO three times!

much do we have to buy ByHow cutting offmoney the sleeves ornaments? of antique all your tree t-shirts?

Absolutely not – no money for that Okay, is that more or less than $345.65?

Bitch, please. Your birth certificate is an apology letter from the condom factory Just wait until 2020 turns 21 and starts drinking If you can’t think of anything nice to say about people at the Christmas party, come sit by me, and we can make fun of people together.

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2020 is still better than my marriage

I don’t want a lot for Christmas – other than not hearing that damn Mariah Carey song everywhere!

www.peachatl.com

Kevin is originally from Marietta and after a stint to go to school in Denver, he is now back in Atlanta. He works as Service Advisor for Toyota in Sandy Springs, and in his free time, he loves the outdoors and going to the mountains or the lake. He also enjoys a good night out on the town with friends, concerts, and music festivals, which is all about making good memories with good friends.

@ kevinmyler

See more photos at

peachatl.com KEViN MiCHAEL MYLER

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20) Sure, you used to have so much fun, way back when, with all those people that were so much more interesting and awesome. Oh, just stop it.

Looking at your life through rose colored glasses with 20/20 hindsight would make anyone feel like crap. Life is good today -- enjoy it.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22) Thinking of someone special you met recently could weigh heavily on your mind today. You’ll look back with fondness on your brief encounter with Mr. Man, and you’d give him a call if you knew his name and his phone number.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22) CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) Bold, daring and impetuous, you’ll blast through today like Speed Racer. You may not even know how fast you’re going as you whiz along. But look up ahead ... there’s Racer X, and he’s flagging you down, inviting you in for a pit stop.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Your passion for travel may be tempered by an anemic bank account. So relive past travels by going through photo albums of your many adventures. There’ll be pictures of you in Sydney, you in Vienna and you in Ibiza wearing nothing but a smile.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

It’s a good day to make karmic connections, so seek out people who strike a spiritual chord.

You’ll have a renewal of spirit as you learn with your new friends how to bond with your inner selves. One guy in particular will show you a glimpse of heaven that you’ll want to see more of.

Don’t sign up for any arduous tasks or intense activities. In fact, don’t sign up for anything: Give yourself the entire day for you to do as you like.

Left to your own devices, without plans, you’ll find unlikely and lovely activities.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

When faced with moral dilemmas you can always be counted on to do the right thing. While this may keep you from having as much fun as some of your more unscrupulous friends, at least you can sleep at night, even if it is alone.

Your bold ideas will be met with positive responses today, making for smooth sailing in anything you do. So try to come together with a group of folks and work on a common goal; your ability to lead your crew to an impressive result will be the talk of the town.

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

The morning blues may bring out your insensitive side. Off-the-cuff remarks may be more biting than you think, so watch what you say before you say it. Having pals call you a thoughtless so-andso will be no way to start the day.

Impulse spending may buy you nothing but trouble today. It may be tough, but keeping your urges in check will be well worth it. Avoiding anything with the words, Dolce, Gabana, Burberry or Diesel will also do you a world of good.

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Taking risks with your romantic life is not advised today. So don’t throw yourself at any Tom, Dick or Harry who gives you approving looks. You’ll have no idea what you’re getting into, and once he snaps that dog collar on you, there may be no taking it off.

You’ll feel on top of the world today and it will show. Your buoyant demeanor will grow as the day progresses -- as will your confidence in yourself.

Using this optimistic energy to ask someone you like on a date could bring unexpected yet positive results.

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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.

Yes, lockdown and isolating have been hard, but I am almost ashamed to admit that in one aspect, it has been an absolute dream – and I’m afraid that it will end once the pandemic is over. You see, my partner and I have been together for over ten years, and in that time, we have developed our relationship in many ways. One of them is that we opened up our relationship to have sex with other people and later to be polyamorous. But during this pandemic, we have been monogamous when it comes to physical sex – and it has been fantastic! We have been so intimate with each other. We have been really inventive creative in how we create moments and spaces where we have just mind-blowingly great sex. We have deepened our connection and even discovered new layers of each other’s sexual desires. Still, now, with an end to the pandemic in sight, I’m so scared that we will go back to what it was before, where affections were dispersed to more people. We are all craving to go back to some semblance of normalcy, but what will happen to all the great sex we have been having? And how do we maintain the same level of intimacy after it ends?

Sincerely Vaccine Vacillation Dear Vaccine Vacillation We are in the midst of an unprecedented time right now with many ups and downs. The same goes for your sexual desire; it ebbs and flows. Right, you’re experiencing a time where the conditions of so many things have created a unique space for you and your partner to really enjoy each other. So instead of worrying now about what will happen in the future, do yourself a favor and enjoy this moment as best as possible. Who knows, when things start returning to some kind of normal if you won’t long for hooking up with other guys than your partner? So instead of thinking about how things could possibly get less ‘desirable’ in the future, refocus your energy to the now and revel in what you have now – kind of like saving up memories for future reference. With what you are experiencing right now, you know damn well that things can develop and arise in the most unlikely ways.

Somehow the light at the end of the tunnel – the COVID vaccine, the election of a new President, and freakin’ CHRISTMAS – has me running around in a horny daze all day. Who knew that releasing a good chunk of all the stress and anxiety I have harbored for the past year(s) has unleashed this tsunami of desire and plain horniness? And I guess it shows too (apart from far too often sporting a semi) because so many men have flirted with me and come on to me in public (like the supermarket) and online (dating apps and social media). I love all of the attention; I have no desire to throw myself into casual sex (the ongoing pandemique and all that), but can it really be true that my anxiety has affected my sex drive that much? And when is it safe to start dating again?

Sincerely Well of Horniness Dear Well of Horniness YES! It is very plausible that your spell of horniness has been unleashed by letting go of stress and anxiety. It has been proven many times that stress, anxiety, and depression are significant inhibitors of desire, so good for you for tapping back into the well of horniness. Instead of thinking of this as a novelty, you should instead take this as a more normal level of desire that has just been suppressed heavily lately. Also, of course it shows! Like being happy or sad, you send out signals to the world around you, and they are simple for most to pick up on; lingering eye contact, wandering gaze, et cetera.

You are absolutely right not to start hooking up right now. What you can do is get yourself a COVID sex buddy, which is someone who practices safe measures daily and who would be willing to get a test and isolate to get together with you to form a little ‘sex pod.’ And of course, there’s mutual masturbation (look but don’t touch) and lots of masturbation on your own, for now and until the vaccine is readily available to all.

NEED ANSWERS? SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM