Peach Magazine V5-04 - Moving You

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Rufus, In RetRospect

THE TRAiLBLAZiNG CROONER

letting go

PERSPECTiVE ON BLACK HiSTORY MONTH

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feb 3, 2021 v5-04

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EDITORIAL Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director mikkel@peachatl.com Brian Sawyer

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FROM THE EDiTOR

One of the last in-person events I attended last year before the pandemic hit was the Super Bowl. I went to Woofs and had a blast. This year, it will, of course, look very different, and the many parties and tailgates will be replaced by small, socially distanced gatherings. However you choose to watch and celebrate the Super Bowl, please stay safe and healthy.

February also marks Black History Month, and we have some goodies in store for you throughout the month so that you can commemorate, celebrate, and perhaps educate yourself on the significance of Black History Month.

That and so much more in this issue of Peach! black lives matteR

CONTRIBUTORS Chris Azzopardi Jamie Kirk Mirza Muftic Romeo San Vicente

NATIONAL AD REP Rivendell Media | 908.232.2021

COVER Photo: Andrew Raymond Photo Model: Xtasi Vuitton

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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.

meet the coveR model

xtasi vuitton

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Xtasi Vuitton has been modeling for the past nine years with added experience as a makeup artist, go-go dancer, performing artist, bartender, and now fitness guru.

In his early twenties, he modeled for some of the top photographers in the area, focusing on artistic nude, underwear, and swimwear. His stage name originates from his time performing in drag at various shows and pageants.

In Summer 2012, Xtasi registered with Meak Productions’ Talent Agency Division and was immediately awarded the title of Mr. SummerHeat 2012 for the annual campaign’s 5th anniversary, becoming the most successful talent to hold that title.

After many hard trials during his early youth, in 2016, he finally accomplished his goal of graduating from Argosy University with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Next year will mark Xtasi’s 10th Anniversary with Meak Pro. His major accomplishments include working with Flex Spa & Nightclub in his hometown, first talent to host a campaign launch event in another city, feature model for Frat Bois Productions’ holiday event featuring celebrity guest Jensen Atwood, and his new Fitness Vlog/Podcast on Bigo entitled, “Fitness with Sagicorn,” which airs 9 am Monday to Friday.

For Future bookings, please contact and visit Meak Productions at meakproductions.com.

FB @XtasiVuitton IG @xtasi_vuitton

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Super-Distancing Bowl With another trip around the sun, we have arrived once again to Super Bowl Season! (cues electric guitar intro) America’s favorite pastime brings with it cheers, jeers and drinking parties. But unlike previous Super Bowls, we will be experiencing this one during the continued height of the pandemic. So how can one enjoy the comradery of a touchdown? I have complied some fun ways you can keep the team spirit going during these often-depressing times.

For the diehard football fan, Super Bowl is sort of like the Halftime Show is for the gays. You’ll get all dressed up for your living room, have some drinks and jump out of your seat pretending you are part Follow Mitzi @itsmitzip of the show. And since you’re a diehard fan, let’s get real, you will be hosting a big party. Rain or shine, pandemic or not, Super Bowl at your place will be lit. To prepare you and your guests for the big day, I sat down with my friend and retired candy striper, Susanne Cherry, to get her take on big parties.

Susanne loved her job visiting the sick in the hospital, so she delights in the idea of the massive influx of patients the candy stripers of today will get to have after the big weekend is over. She would recommend to go about your business as if the virus is scared of football. But if you insist on being ‘safe’ and ‘responsible,’ make fun masks for your guests to wear!

If the number of people you host is not an issue for you, let’s dive into a more fun aspect of Super Bowl Night: drinks! We love to get hammered at parties and this one is no exception. I met a barista recently who opened a Farm-to-Table cocktail lounge in his suburban backyard. His name is Nick Bottoms and he is at the top of the mixology game. For the pig-skin season, Nick suggests his famous Beyoncé’s Concert. It is a gin-based drink that gets its name from one of the greatest Halftime Shows ever. Pour as much gin as you like, mix into it 2-to-1 ratio of lemon Truly, and one drop of Michelle William’s tears when she fell on stage. That last one might be hard, but not impossible! Nick says the drink is sure to remind you of a simpler time when the Super Bowl got Beyoncé to perform.

For the party monster who prefers to take shots over sipping on a cocktail, a drinking game is just for you. Everyone knows the classic ‘take a shot for each touchdown,’ but did you know you can take shots for many other, unnoticed things that happen during the Super Bowl? My good friend and failed sobriety coach, Lindsey Lockenload, says there are plenty of reasons to take a shot for during game night.

“Some of my favorite reasons to take a shot include: when the referee grabs his crotch while looking at the players, when they zoom into the audience to show someone grabbing their crotch, or when the headliner in the Halftime Show sings their biggest hit while grabbing crotch. It’s truly a sight to behold.” Lindsey describes a few of her favorite reasons to drink during the game.

If you’re ready like I am for Super Bowl Night, get prepared and have fun. If you’re serious about the pandemic like everyone should be, host a virtual viewing party with friends and stay safe.

Yours in preparing for the big night,

Mitzi Pennington is the self-proclaimed sex symbol and advice-giving-guru alter ego of Mirza Muftic. She came from humble roots of middle America and married into money shorly after dropping out of college. Her late husband’s fortune allows her to travel the world andhave a sense of enlightenment one normally gets from actually working for their money. Mirza has had none of those experiences in his life. On occasion, Mirza will perform as Mitzi around Atlanta. His other interests/day job include film editing, retouching, and stop-motion animation.

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By Jamie Kirk

Letting Go

Can you believe 2020? There were so many things that occurred in our fine country. From the pandemic to taped conversations about the known severity of the coronavirus from lawmakers, to Georgia turning blue, to the untimely death of Kobe Bryant, the annual For the Kid Toy Party, and the Peachtree Road Race both being virtual and the closing of Frogs in midtown. And those are just off the top of my little pea brain! But none of the events of the year top what happened with George Floyd. es, there are several other instances of racial injustices that occurred in 2020. The names and Y the unbearable situations are still even hard to hear.

Names like Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and Dion Johnson. Black people that are no longer with us because of extreme police force and exceptionally poor judgment, and inappropriate actions. People that got up, went to work, cared for their families, and were sons, husbands, daughters, girlfriends, and friends just like us; were killed at the hands of police brutality.

Things were bad for so very long, and then they were not so bad, and then they got bad again. Even though I was not born yet (!), I believe that the ‘60s were a period in our history where people really took action and stood up for crappy treatment that they felt was wrong against others. In pictures and the history books, on the surface, it seems to have been a time that, regardless of political affiliation, neighborhood, county, or religious beliefs, there appeared to be a common purpose of “coming together.” A purpose that didn’t matter how you voted, who you voted for, or even if you felt the government was out to get you; you just did the right thing. Unapologetically and authentically.

Fast forward many, many years, we made our way

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through the tumultuous (yet fun) 70s, the AIDS epidemic, the Iran war, Katrina, a president being impeached, a housing crisis, the first Black president. And then, we turned back the clocks about 55 years. All of the progress and unity, all of the positive momentum ending in efforts of equal pay for women, legalized gay marriage, and universal healthcare, all seemed to be washed away by an administration that did not support civil rights for all.

In parallel with not supporting fundamental human rights, the country had gotten “cocky” and extremely vocal about NOT addressing systemic racism and social inequality.

You could see it in the eyes, through media coverage, that our country was back-sliding right into the black hole of which we had climbed out of, battered and bruised. We were labeled conservatives and liberals, not humans. We were pitted against one another and could not voice our opinion for fear of being ostracized on social media or not being invited to Thanksgiving dinner because of our beliefs. As a country, we were not on the same page.

We didn’t see eye to eye and were seemingly okay, just ignoring our country’s divisiveness. You were either leaning left or leaning right; there was no middle. And then something happened that made us choose a side.

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When we all watched the video of George Floyd having his neck pinned down by a police officer for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, screaming for his mother, it changed all of us. Some changed a little; others changed a lot. You could not watch that video and still be the same. The video of George Floyd opened the eyes of every American. We could no longer act like we didn’t see it. We saw it. All of the rumors, the anomalies of co-workers being stopped because they were “driving while black,” the neighborhoods that were not welcoming to all races, and finally seeing police brutality in action and in real-time and on camera. Up until now, many of us were comfortable turning the other way.

For so long, we made excuses to justify racial injustice. We were conditioned not to make snap judgments until you “saw the tape until the end.” We sorta always thought our black co-worker did run late a little more than the rest of the team, which was why they were not promotable. I mean, what was he/she doing out that late at night anyway?

These excuses made us comfortable not having to address the root cause, not the symptoms, of what was going on in our country. But we all saw that tape, and we realized we could not hold on any longer to the knot in our stomach; we had to LET GO. As a world, we came together and sent the signal: we aren’t going to take this anymore. Counties protested. People walked off their job. Signs were made, children were out protesting with their parents and learning how to stand up for what they believed in. Companies granted employees time away from work to handle the emotions they were having. Things were different. When you are forced to let go, especially involuntarily, it hurts. It hurts to acknowledge we were wrong, it hurts to recognize someone in the mirror we were ashamed of, and it hurts that we have relatives that we now know are racists. In 2020 we were forced to choose sides.

And not picking a side is actually choosing a side.

It was time to do the right thing.

But yes, we did have some flexibility in the definition of “the right thing.” This was not defined for us, and there was no playbook. We saw first-time mayors of major cities deal with curfews, protests, daily briefings, and police call-outs during their shifts. Nothing about what was happening was normal. We were all charged with finding and living out our own normal. For some folks, it was marching every night or perhaps making a sign to put in their window. Many non-black people made a call or reached out via text to say, “I stand with you.”

That’s the thing about doing the right thing. The right thing or the right decision is one that feels

good and gives you a sense of peace. When you practice doing the right thing, it feels natural, and no one gets hurt. You don’t feel used, and you don’t feel that you are using someone else. Equality is about each person having a fair, reasonable, and prudent chance at all that life has to offer, without reservations or conditions.

Black history month will mean so much this year because so many people were impacted by Black history in 2020. We can’t turn back, and we can’t make excuses anymore about “not knowing” or “not having experienced anything racially insensitive.” We all saw or at least know about the George Floyd video. Most of us have heard the name, Breonna Taylor. We can no longer turn a blind eye to a country that does have a systemic racism problem.

Just because we don’t have a solution doesn’t mean we have to give up. We can’t give up. We have made the first step, which was letting go of our preconceived notions of what qualified as inequality.

Inequality looks like many things to different people. To a transgender person, it looks like a friend being killed by a “John” because he feared his secret would get out. To some, inequality looks like making $10,000 less than a male executive because she has the letters Ms. in front of her name. Inequality may be having to put down twice the amount to qualify for their mortgage. For some, inequality looks like your office not having a prayer room. Inequality, racism, social injustice, police brutality, bullying, verbal or mental abuse are wrong, and we, as a country, are not willing to stay silent. We have made peace with letting go of people or businesses that will support anything that is not decent and right.

At this time in our history, it is our obligation to let go. If we are 100% honest, holding on is hard. Burdens are lifted when the heart is seemingly lighter.

It’s easier to move on and allow peace, harmony, and human decency to prevail, rather than being stuck hoping against hope. I remain hopeful; we just have to be.

Jamie Kirk works in Marketing for an automotive company.

When he is not traveling for work, he enjoys a good spin class, running, hiking, and all Big Ten College sports.

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Rufus, In Retrospect

By Chris Azzopardi Photos: V. Tony Hauser

It all started with Rufus Wainwright in his bathrobe. The crooner, at the forefront of virtual pandemic performances in March 2020, performed a song a day at his home piano in the Hollywood Hills during his “Quarantunes Robe Recital” series for fans on IGTV. Nearly a year into the pandemic, Wainwright has found himself doing what, for him, once seemed impossible – embracing the very technology he had adamantly abhorred. But since concert halls are still temporarily shut down due to COVID, Wainwright has, like many artists, turned to virtual platforms and has even realized their virtues.

“A song a day” turned into 45-minute concerts (no robe, real clothes) for livestreaming concerts platform Veeps, entitled Rufus-Retro-Wainwright-Spective!

The series continues this year as Wainwright reaches back into his catalog to perform parts of his studio albums Out of the Game, Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets and Unfollow the Rules, along with cover songs. Additionally, Wainwright performs a special program of soundtrack songs called Rufus at the Movies and two Rarities concerts.

Released in 2020, Unfollow the Rules is Wainwright’s latest studio album, which earned him his second Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Winners will be announced March 14.

How would you describe where you are on the pandemic front now?

Well, I’m in L.A., arguably the worst place to be on Earth. Obviously we have a new administration, and that’s a great thing. L.A. is actually a good example of just the need of a kind of national strategy. I think without the government behind you, you’re gonna eventually fail (laughs) when you’re dealing with pandemics. So sadly, we are the guinea pig in that experiment. I’m pretty sure we’ve learned that lesson.

I talked to you last year, and at that point we didn’t know what was going to happen with the pandemic.

So much has changed that you have had to sort of become more technologically advanced.

You have a whole crew working with you.

Yeah, one of the plus sides of this pandemic situation is that before COVID, I really had a very negative view of the internet and social media. I tended to pooh-pooh it on a regular

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basis and thought it was kind of, you know, below me.

I think it’s still a double-edged sword, obviously, in the sense that there’s very frightening sides of it, especially when you look at the political landscape. But nonetheless, I now rely on it, and I have a lot to be thankful for in terms of what it’s brought me. It’s kept my career going.

I do have a strong sense that there will be a kind of Renaissance after this period. I don’t know if it will match the Italian Renaissance necessarily, but there’s going to be a real outburst of creative work because there’s just a lot to process, obviously.

Are you tapping into that right now?

Oh yeah.

How so?

I’ve been writing a lot. Even though I’ve written two operas and worked on the Shakespeare sonnets project and made a lot of albums, everybody’s always like, “Rufus, when are you going to write a musical? I mean, it’s ridiculous.” So I’ve actually had a chance in this pandemic period to really think of stories that interest me and really start to talk to writers and directors and producers about starting to lay the groundwork for some of the project.

Stage or movie musical?

Either. I think the main goal is just to find that story that speaks to me and others.

What happened to the locks?

I just … what happened? Well, I’m of a certain age (laughs) where long hair just makes you … it starts to make you look scary. When you’re young – or not even too young, but let’s say in your 30s and under – you can pull the Jesus card occasionally, but not when you’re over 40. It starts to look more John the Baptist.

A “Rufus-Retro-WainwrightSpective!” is a mouthful. I actually have to slow down to say it. Can you say that three times in a row?

Because I can’t.

Well, it’s good to slow down. RufusRetro-Wainwright-Spective, Rufus-Retro| 15

Wainwright-Spective. I say it all the time, so I know it, but yeah, that being said, it’s good to slow down.

How did these retrospective concerts come about?

I have to credit a lot of these ideas to my husband, Jörn (Weisbrodt), who’s also my manager. Before COVID, he started filming me every morning when I would rehearse a little bit and would occasionally put things out on Instagram because that’s what one was starting to do a lot of. Then when COVID (happened), he immediately had the idea of doing a song day, which we did for about 60 days – the Robe Recitals.

So that started then, and that really meant a lot to a lot of people, myself included. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to go through my catalog, and so forth, and sing a lot of songs I hadn’t thought of in a long time.

But then tours were canceled, band members had to be furloughed, and I was like, “I gotta start charging for this.” (Laughs.) We just said, “Well, let’s make it into a real retrospective of my studio albums with a more COVID-friendly ensemble.” So there’s only three of us playing together. It’s been wonderful. It’s been really great.

I also have one or two celebrity guests who come. We’re all tested and we’re all wearing masks, except me. I’m not wearing a mask because I’m singing. We also raise money for a charity of their choosing. We’ve had Jamie Lee Curtis; we had Darren Criss, we had Joel McHale. It’s a bit of a Hollywood hang.

Are you getting used to not performing in front of a real audience? Is that still weird?

I miss performing in front of an audience.

I will say that before COVID, I was working too much. I was touring my ass off for years, and that first three or four months, even five months, of COVID was actually a real godsend. I needed to stop. I needed to slow down. I think even the world needed that, just to kind of get some perspective. So I learned to appreciate that, and feel very fortunate that I was able to do that and not lose my job and keep my house and everything. But that being said, I’m dying to go out now. I’m really itching to hit the road.

You’re slated to tour this summer in Europe. Do you still expect to?

Your guess is as good as mine. If I had to put money on a date or a period, I would say August, probably. I could see August really happening. But that’s all I can say. It doesn’t mean that the rest of the summer won’t happen, but I just feel like (there will) be more of a solid system together by August for touring, whether it’ll be socially distant or have smaller capacities. We’ll see.

You’ll also be doing a virtual Rarities program. What is that going to look like?

That was a suggestion from one of the fans.

It’s kind of an interesting idea. I haven’t gone over the list yet totally, so I can’t really express too much of what’s going to happen.

But what’s fun is: I think now I write songs for lots of purposes, whether it’s trying to get on the radio, or for a musical, or for a movie, or what I’m experiencing myself personally. But I think there was a time when I was younger when I really went out on a lot of weird limbs, that kind of youthful sophomoric confidence that I think some of those songs (are) imbued with.

What do you think are your “weird limbs”?

There are probably a lot of songs I wrote back then where I had no sense of purpose. It was completely experimental and completely just getting lost in the material. Like, I hadn’t really loved yet, I hadn’t really experienced loss, I hadn’t really been sick or seen death.

So there’s this sort of innocence that exists in some of them, so I’m excited to revisit that funny little boy.

Now that you have lived through some of those life experiences, perhaps your perspective might’ve shifted in how you perform them or interpret them.

It’s funny because right before COVID, or a few months before, I had gone out for the 20th anniversary tour of my first two albums, the Poses tour, so I did Rufus Wainwright and Poses with a band and went all around the world for that. I was pleasantly surprised (laughs) in terms of hitting that material again 20 years later by how – I don’t know, for lack of a better word – profound my emotions were at that age, or at least how

sincere and true they were. You know, I wasn’t being melodramatic; I was really searching.

Because I took myself very seriously when I was young. (Laughs.) Probably too much so.

But within the music, it was warranted.

Regarding Unfollow the Rules, I can’t believe this is only your second Grammy nomination.

I’m not totally surprised only because I don’t know what I do. (Laughs.) I’ve never been able to define myself. So God forbid the Grammys can! But I think this one – I’ve admitted it before, and I kind of regret that a little bit, but the cat’s outta the bag and, I mean, I wanna win this. (Laughs.) Just to get it over with. So, therefore, I probably won’t.

But we’ll see.

Does this nomination feel any different than the nomination you got for Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall?

Yeah, I think when the Judy Garland album

was nominated over 10 years ago, I kind of knew in my bones that I didn’t stand a chance mainly because at that time I was up against Natalie Cole and Natalie Cole was very sick. She had kidney transplants and stuff, so I was like, “There goes my Grammy.”

But I feel that with this one there’s more of a sense of … I think precisely what you said: I think a lot of people in the know are like, he probably deserves one at this point.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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.

Hollywood Hollers

By Romeo San Vicente

Raven Goodwin to play Hattie McDaniel in Behind the Smile

The Capote Tapes heard (and seen) here soon

Trailblazing actress Hattie McDaniel won an Academy Award for her portrayal of “Mammy” in the 1939 film Gone With the Wind, the first Black actor to do so. But her career was far from easy after that. She endured Hollywood racism as well as backlash from the Black community for taking on maid and slave roles. According to some film scholars, she also had to deal with the closet. Married four times, she was nevertheless associated with the “Sewing Circle,” a group of famous Hollywood women, all lesbian or bisexual, who gathered regularly to socialize, and she has been long rumored to have been involved with Tallulah Bankhead. Now a biopic about McDaniel, Behind The Smile, is in the works, and Raven Goodwin (The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel) has signed on to play the legendary actress.

We’ll have to wait and see the film to know if McDaniel’s sexuality is addressed in the film – Golden Age Hollywood was notorious for keeping those closet doors locked tightly – but now that Queen Latifah has played her for Ryan Murphy on Netflix in Hollywood (a nod in that direction if ever there was one), we can hope.

Not long ago competing Truman Capote biopics sparked renewed interest in one of the 20th centuries most acclaimed gay literary figures, and one of them, Capote, won the late Philip Seymour Hoffman an Academy Award.

Now Greenwich Entertainment will revive the legend again and distribute the acclaimed upcoming documentary The Capote Tapes to theaters and streaming in 2021. Honing in on Capote’s unfinished novel, Answered Prayers, the book that proved to be too big for the author to wrangle, the film will detail the last stage of Capote’s career in newly unearthed audio and archived interviews with those who knew him. Included are taped interviews from author George Plimpton for his 1997 Capote biography, Truman Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career, as well as discussions with TV host Dick Cavett, Vogue veteran André Leon Talley and Bright Lights, Big City author Jay McInerney. First-time feature filmmaker Ebs Burnough directed the project, and it should go a long way toward reminding audiences queer and straight alike of Capote’s vital legacy.

The Lady and The Dale and the history of a trans woman entrepreneur

If you were around for the 1970s, you definitely remember the oil crisis, but do you remember The Dale? It was a breakthrough in fuel-efficient cars. It had three wheels. And its creator, Dale Clifft, partnered with a trans woman entrepreneur named Elizabeth Carmichael to sell it to the public. Carmichael promoted the car with gusto, and then everything changed when she disappeared with investor money and eventually faced fraud charges. Now a four-part documentary series, The Lady and The Dale, is coming to HBO this month. Co-directed by Nick Cammilleri and trans artist Zackary Drucker, the series mixes archival footage, interviews with family members and gender scholars, and animation to tell the story of the car, its designer, and the trans woman who capitalized on innovation and turned her own world upside down.

It premieres January 31 on HBO, will stream on HBO Max, and promises to be a wild three-wheeled ride.

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Tessa Thompson will bring Church Ladies to the screen The recently published debut short story collection by writer Deesha Philyaw, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, has already been met with critical acclaim and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. Now Hollywood has come calling for the author, as Tessa Thompson (Westworld, Sylvie’s Love) and her newly formed production company have optioned it for a film project. The book features nine stories that explore Black women’s lives in the Church and how faith and desire intersect when those desires fall outside of that world’s traditionally sexually conservative views. It’s currently unknown if Thompson will act solely as executive producer or will also star in the project, as no cast has been announced. But with nine stories to be told, this could turn into an all-star project, so we’ll be watching for updates.

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IN LOVING MEMORY OF ATLANTA'S LEGENDARY DRAG QUEEN AND ICON Center photo courtesy of Just Toby

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Jamie was born in Savannah and moved to Atlanta in 1993. He has been a hairstylist for 25 years, and he loves making people look and feel better – he even considers many of his clients family at this point. Speaking of family, Jamie is the father of an amazing 7-year-old son, whom he loves seeing thrive and grow. Jamie is currently singing with the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, which he enjoys very much, and other hobbies include working out, running, hiking, and yoga. And, of course, when the opportunity arises, he never says no to a good karaoke session.

@atljames3w

JAMiE WRiGHT

feb 3 - 10

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

Please keep yourself updated on an event’s status as it may change last-minute.

Georgia Equality Celebrates Savannah Join Georgia Equality’s Board of Directors as they celebrate the city of Savannah and the work they have done to ensure a safer and more welcoming environment for all LGBTQ people living or visiting the beautiful city.

RSVP for free at georgiaequality.org.

Saturday, February 6, 7 pm Online Event Black History Community Run Celebrate Black History Month with a good run and socially responsible socializing. Runners meet by the Cunard Playground inside John Howell Park. Please be sure to wear a mask and observe socially distancing protocols.

Saturday, February 6, 9 am John Howell Memorial Park

African American Burial Grounds Tour Throughout February, Historic Oakland Foundation hosts free guided walking tours of Oakland Cemetery’s historic African American Burial Grounds. The tour will stop at the final resting places of a few Atlanta pioneers and start at the cemetery’s main gate. Register online (more dates to come).

Saturday, February 6, 1 – 2 pm Historic Oakland Cemetery The Big Game at Woofs Come out to Atlanta’s favorite gay sports bar to see the Super Bowl 2021 as live as it can possibly be. Food and drinks served before, during, and after the game. Table reservations only to ensure Covid safety protocols.

Sunday, February 7, 6:30 – 9 pm Woofs Atlanta

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MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

14

Amsterdam Ave.

12th St. NE

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18

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14th St. NE

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10

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Peachtree St. NE

3

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Charle s Alle n Dr . N E

12 W. Peachtree St. NW

15

16

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

Spring St. NW

17

4th St. NE

8

13

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

4

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

BARS

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

Cheshire

ansley 21

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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

e. nt mo ed Pi

Piedmont Park

Retail

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

39

36

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26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

41

38

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24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

Av

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20 BJ Roosters 21 Sequel 22 Tripps

42 The Den

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Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

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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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things that Celebrate Black History Month Black History Month is celebrated across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. Many organizations recognize the month by building Black history into their programming during February, and you can also do a lot to observe and celebrate Black History Month.

1. Support a Black business 2. Visit a Black History or Civil Rights Museum in your local area 3. Donate to a Black organization 4. Read a book by a Black author 5. Learn about an unsung hero of Black history

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6. Explore Black Music 7. Read Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech 8. Call out racism and prejudice in your community 9. Donate to an HBCU 10. Register to vote!

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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.

RV Sites Heated Cabins Tent Sites

1/2 off winter rates continue January - February

706-213-8081 www.camptheriversedge.com

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

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

What are you up to?

Just some self-care

Why don’t we train Amazon delivery drivers how to give the vaccine? The entire population will be immunized by the weekend – Wednesday if you have Prime…

I already forgave myself the student loans. The government just needs to catch up

By cutting off the sleeves Did you go get that massage? of all your t-shirts?

No, I’m at home You’re drunk in the tub aren’t you 100%!

If I say: “I’m hungry,” we have about 27 minutes until I’m a different person

A big nose is not an excuse for no mask. I mean I still wear underwear...

Daddy Joke Alert Did you hear the rumor about butter? Well, I’m not going to spread it!

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What is LGBTQ+?

Is there like a gay premium?

Asking for a friend

Scrolling through my timeline, I couldn’t help but wonder: why isn’t there a cringe reaction yet?

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CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22) A forgotten or unexpected task may disrupt your afternoon or early evening – you may be asked to work late, for instance. After the tasks are over, settle in for some ‘me time,’ and resist the urge to socialize even if it’s online.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22) This evening may see you coming to a friend’s – or perhaps a new acquaintance’s – aid. Your good deed will be rewarded tenfold, as long as you don’t boast about it or embarrass its object. Your kindness will be noticed.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

Some days working from home are just more effective than others! But an invigorating, pleasant day may fade into a somewhat frustrating evening – outside forces are going to effect change in your life. Don’t fight this – it’ll turn out to be beneficial.

Get a good night’s sleep tonight.

An exterior obstacle may force you to turn inward today – the solution to a worldly problem lies in your soul. Don’t look at this interior journey as a detour: It’ll make the destination all the more meaningful.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

Misinformation is rampant these days, but when a boss, a parent, or some other authority figure says something that is clearly untrue today, it may be advantageous to simply keep your mouth shut. This evening, a bit of unexpected glamour will color social plans.

A high-flying day will provide a bird’s-eye view of your life – count your many blessings while they’re all in sight. A reminder of a defunct affair may send you plummeting this evening – don’t wallow in maudlin sentiment.

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

You may be forced to choose between work and fun today – and the stars suggest choosing fun.

Remember that keeping a good work-life balance is important. There’s a difference between ambition and obsession!

Apply the macro to the micro today: Grand philosophical ideas and important economic theories can help you answer personal questions of all kinds. Tonight, take the lead in making plans with your friends.

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

After a time of certainty, you should receive a sign that you are on the right spiritual path – and this sign will also point you to the next step.

Watch for personal symbolism and mysterious occurrences. Read between the lines.

Don’t ignore a startling flash of inspiration today – harness it! Tonight, prepare a nice meal for yourself where you pay attention to detail and use local ingredients if at all possible. You’ll find out why soon enough.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

Try to ride today’s wave of high energy through the evening – you will likely get a lot done later in the day. A somewhat meek person in your life may be unusually dominant tonight – and you’re going to love this side of him!

You may battle frustration at work today. Be assured that great things are happening outside your view, so just hang in there for now. This evening, you can do anything you set your mind to. It should be a fun night!

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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.

My boyfriend wants me to play with his balls more when we have sex. I have very sensitive balls, so I generally don’t like it at all, and it also means that I don’t really know what I’m doing. Sometimes, I even catch myself thinking how much it would hurt on me when I attempt to be rough on his balls. But he wants more! How do I know if it’s too much? Any pointers here?

Sincerely, Not So Ballsy Dear Not So Ballsy It is a little strange how your boyfriend wants you to play rougher with his balls and then doesn’t give you any direction about how and what he likes. Did he just grunt and point? Since he has made the request, it is totally fair for you to ask how he wants to have his balls played with.

Is it pulling, sucking, or teabagging? You can start by going down there and begin to gently kiss and lick, and if he doesn’t start giving you direction, you can ask him what he wants you to do. It can be part of the play to explore how he likes to be stimulated.

At the same time, you can also show him how he should handle your sensitive balls so he doesn’t hurt you. Either way, you should both be able to derive some pleasure from this ballsy exploration.

One thing that has been very consistent during this pandemic is that I am always horny. Maybe it’s spending a lot of time at home, perhaps it’s a stress and anxiety reliever, but I am so horny all the time. Perhaps it’s the loose clothing; I don’t know! Anyway, I am single, and besides online porn, I have also been messaging a lot of guys on the apps, exchanging pics, videos, and so on. And I really, really want to get together with them, but I just want to make sure: that is still a total no-go, right?

Sincerely, Aroused At Home Dear Aroused At Home Yes, casual hook-ups are still not advisable.

Sorry. The risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 is still too high – especially with a new strain out there! Luckily, there a lot of alternatives that can help you with your horniness – but they all involve a strict no physical contact rule! Masturbation is your friend, so jerk off – maybe even a lot more than you usually do to at least curb your desire to hook up with other guys. You are already chatting with guys online, so why not set up a camming session with some of them, so you can get a little bit more of a ‘live’ experience that doesn’t involve physical contact. This is also an excellent time to explore your own desires, so use the internet to seek out new desires or familiarize yourself with new and old sex toys that may present you with surprising new avenues of pleasure. Finally, you can find yourself a COVID sex buddy, someone who is as responsible as you and who you can trust to behave safely. You can maybe meet for mutual J/O sessions before moving on to in-person sex.

But as with any contact with someone who isn’t in your household, there is a risk. So be careful, be sensible, stay safe, and for now, get off on your own for added safety.

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