Peach Magazine V5-05 - Matters of the Heart

Matt ers of the

HEART DADDY RUSSELL TOVEY

THE NEW SiLVER FOX FEVER

MR. ATLANTA BLACK GAY HiSTORY

MiKO EVANS’ HiSTORiC ViSiON

SHE’S BACK! ASK THE LESBO

YOUR FAVE LESBiAN BFF ADViCE COLUMN

C

ontents

media & printing

FEB 10, 2021 V5-05

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MANAGING PARTNER Brian Sawyer brian@peachatl.com

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

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FROM THE EDiTOR

As we get deeper into February and Black History Month, it is time to recognize some of the heroes that have molded Black history as we know it. And a heads up; the next issues will feature even more high-profile personalities and unsung heroes and sheroes from Atlanta and beyond!

This issue introduces Mr. History of Black Gay Atlanta himself, Miko Evans, who you will hear much more from in the upcoming issues. And we welcome back Joshua Neal, who gives you his perspective on Black History and the Black people who made an enormous impact on all of our lives. That and so much more in this issue of Peach.

CONTRIBUTORS Marci Alt Chris Azzopardi Joshua Neal Vince Shifflett

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HAPPY VALENTiNE’S DAY, AND HAPPY BLACK HiSTORY MONTH! MiKKEL HYLDEBRANDT

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The content of Peach ATL Media is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed by any writer, advertiser, or other person appearing in the Peach ATL Media are not necessarily those of this publication, its management or staff. The information and materials appearing in the magazine are not guaranteed or warranted as to accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered for a particular purpose. It shall be your responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through Peach ATL Media meets your specific requirements. Peach ATL Media is not responsible for claims made by advertisers, content of information, changes, events, and schedules. The magazine contains information and material which is owned by or licensed to Peach ATL Media, including but not limited to articles, advertisements, design, layout, graphics, and logos. No part or portion of Peach ATL Media may be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of the publisher. Unauthorized use of Peach ATL Media may give rise to claims for damages and or criminal offenses. Your use of the information or materials in Peach ATL Media is strictly at your own risk.

By Marci Alt

Because we all need a wise, Lesbian BFF! Sometimes you just need the advice of a seasoned queer woman in your life! As always, I want to thank everyone at Peach for giving me this soapbox. I really enjoy the questions that are coming to me. Remember, I answer these the Lesbo way, so if I piss you off, it’s me that’s pissing you off, not my fabulous editor or the boys that run Peach. Please email me any questions you want the answer to – I may not be Dear Abby; however, I’ve lived long enough to give solid advice!

Dear Lesbo I am a little afraid and embarrassed to ask this question, but I’m going to ask anyway.

I’ve been dating someone for two weeks and wondering if it’s ok to start flirting with his best friend. I think he’s really hot. I don’t want to screw up anything, though, by flirting with his BFF. Suggestions on how I should handle this?

Uncontrollable TRICKSTER Dear Uncontrollable Wow! Really wow. I think you have already answered your own question, as I believe if you’re already looking to hook up with the BFF than with the guy you are just dating, then the two of you have no future. Now to answer the second part: REALLY? His BFF? Why not just kick him to the curb as clearly, you want something else. I must caution you: I know, if it were me or my BFF, we would 8 | follow us @ peachatlmag

stand together and kick your TRICKSTER self to the curb. Really, there is plenty of meat around Atlanta, so you should not SHIT in your own backyard.

Dear Lesbo I have been working and doing sales for a company for over 20 years, and since Covid, I have realized I am not happy working there.

I feel obligated as I have given them over 20 years, and they’ll never find a better salesperson than me. I don’t want to hurt them, but I really want to move on.

Signed COCKY CORPORATE Well COCKY Toot your own horn much? I say you go where you know you should go. I am sure if the company you are talking about has been your employer for over 20 years, they will make it just fine without you. Congrats on 20 years!

If you’re looking for a sales job, please send Peach your resume; we would love to have a look at it and give you that new sales career.

Marci Alt is a household name within the Atlanta LGBTQ+ community – she created the The Gay Community Yellow Pages and runs the popular Gayborhood online platform.

Being part of the community does not give her the experience alone to answer the questions on this page, but many years owning and running several successful businesses and being the parent of two amazing children certainly quantifies her knowledge, that she so generously shares with you in this column.

Do you have a question to Ask the Lesbo? Please email your questions to marci@peachatl.com. www.peachatl.com

5 WAYS TO BETTER DAYS

By Vince Shifflett

How do you start each day? I used to wake up every morning, reach for my cell phone on the nightstand and immediately begin checking emails, messages, news, and social media. My mind would go from deep slumber to a sudden onset of external stimulation. How we start our day sets the tone for the remainder of our day. Being overstimulated with emails, messages, posts on social media, and the news always left me with a myriad of emotions. My brain was in automatic over-drive. I have come to realize the benefits of starting my day a different way. In this article, I will share with you 5 Ways to Better Days. Five practices that I have implemented that always make my day better.

Stretch 15 minutes of gentle stretching/yogi posturing: There are many benefits to stretching and practicing yoga posturing first thing in the morning. In addition to the physical benefits, I have also found this to be meditative for me, again focusing on my breath, which allows me to go inward. Keep in mind; you have been lying in bed all night. The stretching boosts circulation/ blood flow to all parts of our body, including our vital organs. That increased circulation feeds the very cells in our body with fresh oxygen while at the same time removing carbon dioxide, allowing the optimal function of each organ.

Hydrate Drink 16 ounces of room temperature water with a whole fresh squeezed lemon in it. So you have been sleeping all night with no hydration. Our bodies are constantly losing water through sweating, urination, and even breathing. This requires that we replace the water.

Rehydrating the body first thing in the morning is essential to good cellular function. It wakes up our cells. It also acts as a cleansing agent flushing out the body. So, why the lemon? Research has shown lemons to have the following benefits (www. healthline.com): • Excellent source of Vitamin C • Assist with Weight Loss • Improves blood glucose levels • Improves quality of the skin • Aids digestion • Freshens breath • Prevents Kidney Stones

Exercise 15 minutes of exercise: You can decide what exercise works for you, but the whole idea is to get moving and increase your heart rate. I will typically do three sets of 20 push-ups, planks, and three sets of 20 lunges. If a 15-30-minute power walk works best for you, that’s awesome. Increasing the heart rate helps control blood pressure, cholesterol levels, vascular function, and overall heart function, as well as increases our sense of well-being.

Focus 10 minutes of silence/meditation: In a world full of noise, it is vital to spend time in silence.

Otherwise, we operate on autopilot, following the path of our subconscious mind. Sometimes I will have light meditation music playing in the background during my silent meditative time. This is optional but actually helps me filter out external noise and rambling thoughts. The whole idea here is to go inward by constantly bringing your awareness to your breath. Will your thoughts ramble? Of course, but each time, I bring my mind back to my breath. It is all about calming the mind and giving your body time to wake up slowly. Remember, it sets the tone for the day.

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Nourish Plant-Based Protein Shake: Protein has many roles in the body. I will outline just a few: • Improves bone health • Aids communication between cells, tissues, and organs • Maintains proper body pH • Balances Fluids • Boost Immune System • Transports and stores nutrients • Provides energy I have found it more beneficial to complete the 5 ways to better days in the exact order from one to five.

To accomplish the five steps above, you will need to set your alarm an hour early each day. It will be the best investment of your time ever spent. Do it for 30 days, and I guarantee you will reap the benefits.

Stick with it. Consistency is key. It only works with consistency. I recommend doing it six days a week and giving yourself a break on the seventh day as a reward.

Best health, Vince Shifflett, RN BSN CCRN

www.peachatl.com

Introducing: Mr. History of Black Gay Atlanta

For 18 years, Miko A. Evans of Meak Productions – the Atlanta-based and LGBTQexclusive talent agency and production company - has been deeply immersed in creating content and campaigns for the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Coming up on its 10-year-anniversary, his project, History of Black Gay Atlanta, has gained momentum and is celebrating one of its biggest program launches yet for Black History Month. Peach spoke to Miko about the significance and celebration of Black History Month and the History of Black Gay Atlanta.

What significance does Black History Month have to you?

Black History is not just a month for me; it’s all year long. However, during this important month, I’m specifically reminded of many unsung heroes and sheroes who may not have been as popular or mainstream as MLK, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and others, but who made a huge impact on the struggle, evolution, and progression of Black people in this nation.

Meak Productions has several divisions, and one of them is your special project, History of Black Gay Atlanta – tell us a little bit about it?

Now known as the Atlanta Chapter of History of Black Gay America, HBG Atlanta was created in the Summer of 2011 as a special marketing brand for the first historic Atlanta Black Pride press conference, which was produced in August of that year to honor the 15th Anniversary of Atlanta’s Black Gay Pride Celebration. That Year, the host organization, ITLA (In The Life Atlanta), along with Traxx Atlanta, Traxx Girls, State of Black Gay America Summit, Rockstars Production, Change Atlanta, and our first sponsors, Xtreme Entertainment and the Tenth Amendment Media Group were the main features for the conference.

After the success of the first press event, which was also recorded for radio broadcast and podcast the next day, Meak Productions continued the momentum annually by creating a talk radio show and on-location tv series to cover and archive “history in the

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt 12 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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making” at various black LGBTQ events and community outreach initiatives in metro Atlanta and beyond. The name later evolved into History of Black Gay America for a more national presence in 2014, and in 2016 we selected Angela Hutchins (who’s also an Atlanta native and a new talent to our roster at that time) to be the First Lady of HBG Atlanta. This year will mark the tenth anniversary of the History of Black Gay Atlanta brand and the Annual Black Pride Press Conference series.

In connection with History of Black Gay Atlanta, what has been some of the highlights over the years?

WOW, let me count the ways! With the HBGA brand, we pioneered online Black LGBT+ podcasting and internet radio in metro Atlanta via our partnership with our first straight ally, the Tenth Amendment Media Group; we were the first online radio media outlet to do live on-location broadcasting for and at Various LGBT+ town halls, events and organizations; we have been the first Black LGBT media brand to host Q&A’s and broadcast live at Out On Film; we are the first online radio media sponsor for the Annual Gentleman’s Ball (signature event of The Gentlemen’s Foundation); We are the first online radio partner for the State of Black Gay America Summit; the first online radio media partner for the Annual Atlanta Gay Black Pride; the first online media partner for the Annual Journey To Change Conference; we were the first outlet to broadcast and record the Annual Trans Day of Remembrance; the first outlet to broadcast and record the ATL International Day Against Homophobia, and many more accomplishments.

What are some of the highprofile guests you have had on your show?

I can tell I’m getting old ‘cause you have me going way back! We’ve had some of the best in unsung heroes and mainstream figures on our online radio and TV Shows, such as the Executive Team of ITLA, Juan & Gee SessionsSmalls of The Gentleman’s Foundation, DeMarco Majors (LGBT sports icon), Maurice Jamal (pioneering Black gay filmmaker and director), J. L. King (renowned author), State Rep. Park Cannon, Former State Rep. Simone Bell, Tracee McDaniel, Dwight Allen O’Neal (producer/actor/author), Charles Stephens (Counter Narrative Project), Cynthia Bailey (supermodel & RHOA veteran), Stepp Stewart (Dr. OZ Show), and many more!

Will you be doing any special features with History of Black Gay Atlanta during Black History Month?

Thanks to our new and successful partnership with you all (Peach ATL Media), we will be producing special short bio tributes to Black LGBTQ icons (national, local, and next-generation) in upcoming issues this month until March. We will also be premiering our Winter Season of HBGA Talk Shows on our YouTube and Mixcloud channels with some throwbacks of previously unreleased footage from Black LGBTQ events.

With a new administration and a new outlook for 2021, how do you feel it will impact the Black community at large and thus influence Black history?

History has already been made by electing our first female of color as our new Vice President. This speaks VOLUMES and provides hope and inspiration to the next generation of women of color. Since Biden/Harris have taken office, they’ve already started doing the work to correct the numerous mistakes made during the Trump Administration and have signed numerous executive orders. One in particular deals with Black equity and dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

Since people of color and low-income citizens are largely most affected by the devastation of COVID, the passing of this next stimulus bill is going to start helping families put their lives back together.

In terms of History of Black Gay Atlanta, what are some of the issues facing us right now?

The criminal injustice system (yes, I stated that correctly), brutality and discrimination against trans people of color, Black equity (because there’s not enough financial support and contracting opportunities for Black LGBTQ-owned businesses so that we can hire our own), the homeless crisis (especially as it relates to LGBTQ youth of color) and affordable health care.

Finally, there’s not enough support for Black media outlets overall. Mainstream LGBT+ media and advertising firms need to offer more collaborative and partnering opportunities and show REAL Inclusion, and not look at us as competition. Mainstream straight media doesn’t cover LGBTQ issues, so we in the queer community need to stick together in providing news coverage.

How do you think we can recognize the history of Black gay Atlanta and move forward towards a more inclusive city?

By genuinely inviting us to the table, not just to satisfy diversity and inclusion quotas, but by seeing the value in what we as a diverse culture has to offer. And by recognizing the numerous historical contributions our people have given to the overall progression and advocacy of the LGBTQ+ community. Remember, it was people of color that started all civil and human rights movements in this nation. Just as Black History is also American History, Black LGBTQ History is also National LGBTQ History.

As the late Joe Clark would say in the movie Lean On Me, “We Rise, We Fall, We Sink, We Swim, We Meet Our Fate Together!”

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’m really excited and grateful about our partnership. We’ve done some awesome and historical things in our first six months together, and I’m looking forward to what’s in store for the rest of 2021. The year’s just getting started.

Learn more at

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SiLVER FOX FEVER

By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Robert Viglasky / Hulu.

Russell Tovey steamed up screens as Jonathan Groff’s hunky boss on the HBO series Looking, about an intimate group of gay and queer friends living in contemporary San Francisco. Impassioned thoughts on the Richie-Kevin-Patrick love triangle abounded. And then the show ended in 2016, after just two seasons. But when it came to embodying gay characters on TV (and stage), Tovey was just getting started.

In addition to his theater work in the 2017 staging of Angels in America at the National Theatre in London, the openly gay British actor has gone on to play a passel of gay men across a swath of networks: Daniel Lyons, on HBO’s six-part dystopian drama Years and Years; Harry Doyle, a James Bondtype role created with him in mind, on ABC’s Quantico; and Ray “The Ray” Terrill, on the CW’s Arrowverse crossover, Crisis on Earth-X. Once in a while, Tovey plays straight.

That is true of his role in Hulu’s four-part twisty murder-thriller The Sister as Nathan Redman, whose past — which includes a dead woman, and a peculiar man named Bob — comes back to haunt him.

Outside of acting, Tovey produces a podcast called TalkArt, which is dedicated to all things art, with gallerist Robert Diament.

Their book, TalkArt, comes out June 1.

Tovey’s passion for visual art is apparent even on Zoom, where I connect with the actor and podcaster during the virtual junket for The Sister. A striking abstract painting hovers above him. “I haven’t got any backgrounds that apply naturally where I can sit,” the 39-year-old says.

is a different work of art,” he wryly kids, laughing. “It’s not about The Sister. It’s about my art collection. You don’t realize because subliminally you’re seeing it all.

You think we’re talking about the show.”

Well, it seems you’ve gotten past the “pizza and wine every night” phase of the pandemic. Where are you at right now mentally, etcetera, etcetera, with all of this?

Mentally, etcetera, etcetera: 10,000 steps a day, trying to get that in. Walking the dogs. Making sure that I’m getting out of the house. You’re right, I did have the pizza and the bottle of red wine a night.

That was fun for a while, then I think I got a bit too heavy and a bit out of breath walking from the bathroom to the kitchen.

I thought, “This is something that has to change.”

I’ve been filming things. Before Christmas I was doing a movie with Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughan and Celine Dion, and that was amazing. A rom-com in London.

And then last week, I just completed an improv movie I’ve been doing in Wales here, so I’ve been really fortunate that the filming is something that we’ve been allowed to do. Yes, we’ve been getting COVID-tested every two days, but I think everyone’s so determined to keep working and telling stories that you jump through all the hoops, whatever they may be.

I’m glad that you noted that you’re getting tested, because with the movie you’re referring to, Text For You, my first thought was: You have to protect Celine Dion at all costs.

Yes, of course! Can you imagine if you was Jokingly, I ask Tovey whether every responsible for anything that happened to interview he does on this press day will Celine Dion? feature a new work from his vast collection.

You know, to keep it fresh. “Every interview What has been your experience 14 | follow us @ peachatlmag

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filming during lockdown?

It’s made everything more economical.

That feels really great in some ways (laughs). There’s less time to socialize as a group of actors. You do the work and you get out. So that feels good.

With The Sister, I was impressed by your ability to cry.

I’m a very emotional person. I’ve got lots of things that I draw on throughout my life: sad events, stories and stuff. This (is) a bit psychopathic, but actors are able to retain the essence of a feeling in our psyche.

And what other job can you cry your eyes out and everyone gives you a round of applause after? You don’t do that anywhere else. You’d be straight up to HR and they’d be firing you or giving you, like, some time off work (laughs). But with acting, you are kind of blessed with the fact that you can exercise emotions through the characters you play.

(He shows off his gray hair.) I can’t get away from it now! It’s happening. It’s a reality. But you’re seeing Nathan in three different sections of his life, and that was what’s so important to me: finding an authenticity at each stage of his life. At the beginning I wanted to make him a really hopeful, enthusiastic, kind guy that you knew was being kind of sexually awoken.

(He’s) really excited about the world, and that gets ripped away. I wanted the loss of Nathan to be something that holds him throughout the rest of his life. And as an audience, even though he’s problematic and a flawed character, you feel such pain for the loss of what could’ve been.

With the gray hair, I wonder if there’s been an influx of silver fox comments.

“Silver daddy” — yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I’m gonna be 40 this year, so I’m definitely officially daddy status, I guess.

And I have embraced my graying hair. It’s Your story arc in The Sister has a pretty full gray now. So yeah, every now poignancy that allows you room to and then I’ll get “yes, silver fox!” “yes, emote. In one of the more poignant daddy!” on my Instagram and I’m all for it. scenes, I love that your gray hair got written in. It’s acknowledged Is there a different kind of in its own line in the last episode. challenge in playing a straight role

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like this that you don’t get playing a gay role?

Every character that I play, I just want to find the truth of who they are emotionally.

Gay, straight, bi, anything, I just want to make sure that I can feel their honesty and I know who they are emotionally. I guess it comes up when you’re in sex scenes.

I guess that’s a time when you really do consider what this character is.

But fundamentally I don’t really look at it too much like that. It’s like you’re pretending and tricking your body into feeling things. Emotionally connecting on a level to something that you’re not fully aware of. I’ve played aliens, I’ve played werewolves. Whatever you do, whoever you’re playing, you just want to root them in a reality that people can connect to.

their story, whoever they are, then there’s more work to be done.

And I’m not saying, “Take these jobs away from other people,” because I’m an actor and I love acting and I love to pretend to be everything, as we’re saying about playing straight. But we need to make space (for) the people who haven’t authentically become superstars by telling their truthful story of their authentic life lived.

You wanted to be an actor in hopes that you could make people feel the way Robin Williams made you feel when you watched him in Dead Poets Society. Reflecting on that, which of your roles have made you feel like you’ve achieved that?

You mentioned Looking. I think that was an incredibly important show for me, creatively, personally — the people I worked with, the way it was made, the stories it was telling, the time it was telling the stories. I thought, “That’s a show that’s going to be discovered forever.”

I feel like all queer stories sometimes get marginalized and overlooked, but they remain beacons of hope for so many people around the world who can discover them at all different stages. (With) Looking, I’m a fan of that show. Even though I’m in it, I can watch it and care about Patrick and Richie.

Queer as Folk creator Russell T Davies, who you worked with on Doctor Who and Years and Years, recently said that gay actors should play gay roles. The argument made by some is that, if that’s the case, only straight roles should go to straight actors. What’s your take?

It felt really important for him that there was an authenticity in such a very kind of queer community-based piece (Davies’s new HBO series It’s a Sin). But my feeling is that we’re in a world where there are marginalized people — be it sexually, be it racially — that haven’t got an opportunity What are they up to? It’s been five to tell their story, so until there is space years. I want a second movie. made that everybody can authentically tell Are Patrick and Richie still together?

Lisa Kudrow 10 years later; it would be amazing to do a revisit of Looking.

I would love that.

Do you have Zooms with Jonathan Groff? Are you still in touch?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We still talk. He’s doing incredibly well. I love him.

He’s a superstar. Just this wonderful, big-hearted genius that is the most perfect person you could ever meet.

He’s not on any social media, so I don’t think he’s contaminated by all of the crap… . I don’t think he knows what a troll is, do you know what I mean? (Laughs.)

With your TalkArt podcast, how did you connect with Elton John to get him on it?

Do all British gays just know each other?

(Laughs.) They kind of do. They’re kind of connected! But I’ve met Elton a few times, and so I connected to him way before the pandemic and he was like, “I’m busy, I’m touring the world.” And then obviously lockdown happened. I just emailed Elton and he was like, “Yeah, let’s do it.” So that’s how we got Elton, and the same with Billy Porter and Rufus Wainwright.

It felt really important for everybody to connect with other people, and what better way to connect than through art and culture, because that’s the best way as humans of understanding the human experience. Through art we can understand other people. And through art, if you see yourself represented or hear yourself represented, then you cannot be denied your existence.

Unsure, I don’t know. But I think (my character) Kevin is someone that has probably rebounded a few times, cheated on his boyfriend a bit more, still with his boyfriend, and probably had a couple of other experiences similar to his experience with Patrick. I would say that he is someone who hasn’t really done the work on himself.

Catch the exclusive video I think he’s probably had a “fuck it” button that he’s pressed after the kind of rejection interview bits with Russell Tovey and Chris Azzopardi at of Patrick, and I think Kevin is someone peachatl.com! who doesn’t do well with rejection.

It sounds like you have a script ready to go.

Everybody at the time — (the show) was so attacked in some ways. The people who are discovering it now are like, “This is a work of genius, and it is beautiful.” Out of everything I’ve ever done, that is the one show where I would literally bite the hand of whoever it was who said, “Do you want to do a special? Do you want to do another season?” They brought The Comeback with

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.

BLACK HiSTORY MONTH A personal anecdote, how it all began, black LGTBQ historical leaders, and unity

By Joshua Neal Photos: National Museum of African American History and Culture, Brittanica, VH1

Thank you for taking the time to read this article on black history. Growing up as a young boy living in the projects of Henderson, Texas, I didn’t have the resources or the opportunity to really learn a lot about Black History.

Unfortunately, this is the story and generational curse of many black people. We were just taught how to survive. I am grateful to be in a better position now. As a black gay male, I will continue to learn more about my culture to better myself and inspire others. I am hopeful that you will continue to learn more about black history and use it to bring healing and unity to all Black lives and our nation as a whole. For this, WE UNITE AS ONE. How It All Began In 1915, in response to the lack of information on the accomplishments of Black people available to the public, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, the group declared the second week of February as “Negro History Week” to recognize the contributions of African Americans to US history. Few people studied Black history, and it wasn’t included in textbooks prior to the creation of Negro History Week. This week was chosen because it includes the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and former US president Abraham Lincoln. The weeklong event officially became Black History Month in 1976 when US president Gerald Ford extended the recognition to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Black History

Month has been celebrated in the United States every February since.

Notable Black LGBTQ Historical Leaders While February was declared Black History Month to recognize the many accomplishments and contributions of African Americans, the lives of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people are often left out of the picture.

From 1960s civil rights activist Bayard Rustin to Chicago’s first Black female and lesbian mayor, Lori Lightfoot, Black LGBTQ Americans have long made history with innumerable contributions to politics, art, medicine, and a host of other fields.

“As long as there have been black people, there have been black LGBTQ and same-gender-loving people.”

- David J. Johns, National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director

5 Top Leaders

Gladys Bentley (1907-1960) Bentley was a gender-bending performer during the Harlem Renaissance. Bentley was a gender-bending performer during the Harlem Renaissance. She was known as “Harlem’s most famous lesbian.”

Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) Rustin was an LGBTQ and civil rights activist best known for being a key adviser to Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He organized the 1963 March on Washington and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2013 for his activism.

Stormé DeLarverie (1920-2014) A biracial, butch lesbian, DeLarverie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was always a performer. As a teenager, she joined the Ringling Brothers Circus.ds, here she rode jumping horses.

She was known as the “guardian of lesbians “in the Village.” Beyond her LGBTQ Activism, DeLarverie also organized and performed at fundraisers for women who suffered from domestic violence and their children.

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Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) Alvin was a choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the most prominent dance companies globally, in 1958. His signature work, including “Cry” and “Revelations,” continues to be performed all over the world. In 2014, Ailey was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his influential work in bringing dance to underserved communities.

RuPaul (1960- Current) RuPaul is an Icon for us all. RuPaul Andre Charles was born in San Diego, California, on November 17, 1960. RuPaul made a name for himself, first as an underground filmmaker and then as a singer, before breaking into the drag scene. in 1993, he recorded a dance album called Supermodel of the World, which spawned the popular single “Supermodel (You Better Work).” It became a hit in the US and the UK, and was played heavily on MTV. In 2008, he started producing the reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race for Logo. The series, which has run thirteen full seasons as well as a few allstar seasons. RuPaul has won two GLAAD Media Awards: one for promoting equality nationwide and one for his program RuPaul’s Drag Race. His reality program has also won an Entertainment Weekly award once and was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award twice.

UNITY Black History Month is a layer we can use for the cultural, spiritual, and historical understanding of African Americans and Unity in America.

Black history supports our country’s quest to understand itself as a collective. And this history tells a story. The story of Black life experiences and contributions to this country is rich. It is beautiful. It is complex. It is diverse. It is Black.

It is multiethnic. This beautiful, complex mosaic truly is significant. I am hopeful that as we learn, love, and appreciate all cultures’ diversity, we will unite as one.

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SAFETY FIRST! @ MIDTOWN MOON Photos by Snow

CARSON COWAN REALTOR® c. 404.998.9944 / o. 404.874.0300 / carson@carsoncowan.com / CarsonCowanRealEstate

Atlanta Fine Homes, LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.

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THE PLACE TO BE

E V O L S Y A D R U T A S

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1544 PIEDMONT AVE, NE, ATLANTA, GA 30324 ANSLEY MALL - BEHIND PUBLIX

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WINTER MOODS @ BLAKE'S Photos by Snow

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Originally from Harrells, NC, Bronzell moved to Atlanta in 2018 to pursue a career in modeling and performing arts.

Before moving to Atlanta, he performed as an exotic dancer and competed in various male pageantries from 2005 2010. In Spring 2019, he joined Meak Productions’ Talent Agency and was booked for a fashion show fundraiser by international celebrity stylist Dwight Eubanks. Since signing with Meak Pro, Bronzell has appeared in numerous campaigns and fashion shows, and he is currently starring in the Winter Valentine campaign, on view now at winter.meakproductions.com. For booking, please go to meakproductions.com.

@king.bronzell02

BRONZELL KNiGHT ADDAMS

FEB 10 - 17

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.

ActivateATL: Virtual Public Meeting Join the virtual public meeting for ActivateATL, the Department of Parks and Recreation’s 10-year comprehensive master planning. Your input will make a difference in designing Atlanta’s plan for Atlanta’s parks, open spaces, and recreational programming. Visit activate-atl.com for details and sign-up.

Thursday, February 11, 6:30 – 8 pm Online Event (free) Buzzword! A Drag Spelling Bee House of ALXNDR is proud to present Buzzword! A Drag Spelling Bee, featuring ARIES ALXNDR, SZN ALXNDR, Brigitte Bidet, Dotte Com, Stormie Daie, and King Perka $exxx.Your favorite performers from Atlanta and Durham, NC, will be spelling words and raising funds for SNaP Co. an ATL-based, Black + trans-led organization.

Saturday, February 13, 8 – 10 pm Twitch.tv/tayloralxndr Aphrodite’s Sh*t List Original skits from Pissy Mattress and a nine-person cast of bitch goddesses from hell! The show will be bookended by an exclusive set from stone-cold Atlanta DJ NSA. Saturday, February 13, 8:30 – 10:30 pm Twitch.tv

Dance Yer Heart Out VLSC Records is back with another fundraising live stream - this time, the focus is on self-love and mental health, and they will be raising funds for the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network.

Saturday, February 13, 12 pm vlsc_records.twitch.tv

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MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

14

Amsterdam Ave.

12th St. NE

NE ve . tA

Piedmont Park

on

11

dm

6

18

Pi e

Juniper St. NE

14th St. NE

7

9

2

10th St. NE

10

. NE

19

oe Dr

e. NE Piedmont Av

Juniper St . NE

Peachtree St. NE

3

Monr

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

idg

eR

on tC ir .

NE

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

d.

Dining

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

41

38

BARS

24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

Av

ge Rd Brid hire Ches

28 20

25 r eB

E

.

r.

.N

Rd

Dr

26 35

24

20 BJ Roosters 21 Sequel 22 Tripps

42 The Den

40

32

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er

36

nr

hir

31

Mo

dm

es

ll D

kn

27

33

. NE

Pi e

29

Ch

idde

ul

IX

34

x Rd

Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

22

42 L

Fa

BL

Le no

30

Lambert Dr.

PU

St.

.

A l co

1600 Piedmont Ave NE 1425 Piedmont Ave NE

Retail 39 Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE 40 Brushstrokes/Pleasures 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

Fitness 41 Equilibrium Fitness

1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L

NOT SHOWN

Mary's Sister Louisa’s Church Swinging Richards Lips Atlanta The T Woof's

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

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

BARS & CLUBS 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

ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2021 While Valentine’s Day may not play out as usual with romantic restaurant dinners and experiences on the town, there are plenty of ways to celebrate each other without even leaving the house. Stay safe and Happy Valentine’s!

1. Breakfast in bed Start the day right with a little bedside nosh

6. Mixology love Use your fantasy and mix each other’s drinks

2. Have an indoor picnic The rug in front of the fireplace is the perfect ‘off-site location’

7. Online cooking class Create a romantic meal together through an online cooking class

3. Dip everything in chocolate Why only chocolate-covered strawberries? Have you ever tried a nipple au choc?

8. Backyard bonfire Light the firepit, bundle up, and stare into the flames together

4. Romantic movie marathon Explore or revisit some amorous favorites 5. Spa day each other Relaxing massages and facial can easily lead to more …

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9. Virtual date If you can’t be together physically, set up a virtual dinner date - or something more risqué…

10.Play games There are plenty of romantic games out there – but yatzee will also work!

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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

Can I ask you something?

What is it now?!

Don’t call yourself a snack when everyone’s had a taste. You, my friend, are a free sample!

Instead of “have a nice day,” I think I’ll start saying “have the day you deserve.”

You know, let karma sort that shit out

By cutting off the sleeves Wow, you sound so rude! of all your t-shirts?

Seriously, give a break Is that a gay thing?

Maybe it is. I’m not interested in being polite or heterosexual

Mirror: You so pretty Phone camera: No, TF you not!

Life is about perspective. Start calling your porch a terrace and see how much better you feel Remember, Christmas is over. If you sit on a stranger’s lap now and ask for stuff, it’s because you’re a whore

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What if you fell in love with somebody and then found out they say Valentimes Day?

Asking for a friend

Is it still “these trying times” if you haven’t really tried for months?

www.peachatl.com

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22) A spat with your boss may leave you on the brink of explosion. Don’t allow professional problems to ruin your evening, though. Chant your mantra, take a few deep breaths and then follow them with some shots of tequila at a virtual happy hour with a few, trustworthy coworkers. There’s no telling what you might say after a few cocktails.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22) You rarely make plans during the week because you like to roll with your after-work moods. And besides, the good times usually come to you without much work on your part. Tonight, is right for casual happy hour drinks that morph into a late-night supper with someone particularly special.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

You are gathering strength, and it’ll be like you’re hyper-charged with electricity today. That will make you extremely hard to handle for those who are attracted to you. Whenever they try to touch your amped-up power they will be zapped into nothingness. Kind of makes it hard to form meaningful relationships, doesn’t it?

You may be dealing with coworker problems, but let it go. The petty revenge you’ve been planning will only get in the way of completing that big project.

And what could be better revenge, truly, than receiving a big promotion or raise because of the success of said project? Keep your eye on the prize and move on.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

You may have to start adopting fictitious names and phone numbers to keep guys from bugging you. You’re too nice to tell guys to piss off, and herein is the root of your dilemma. So pass out the old faux name and info today. Guys will be psyched when they see that they got Zac Efron’s phone number.

Expect your day to be like the arms of a metronome, constantly swinging left to right, pausing briefly at one extreme before racing back towards the other, never stopping anywhere in between. It could be a wild ride, and don’t expect the tempo to change any time soon.

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

You will be ardently into the joy of life today!

You see each moment as a blessing and you’ll want to make the most of all of them. What could be the source of such boundless bliss? Perhaps there’s a handsome man waiting for you in your very near future, and he’s not wearing pants.

You’ll be prancing and preening today, with so much high energy you’ll need to work it off somewhere - so why not a good workout? Let the stress of the workday roll off your shoulders when you break a sweat and ground yourself for the rest of the week with some deep stretches. If you are at a gym, don’t forget to check out who else is working off some excess energy, though. You two may have more in common than you think.

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Don’t let fast-paced people knock you off your game today. Some might call it plodding, but you prefer meticulous. In either case, you’ll be holding up traffic and not only because of the wide load. Did I say that in public? Let them know that rushing you won’t make you go any faster.

Today you’re feeling like a macho, macho man.

You swagger with the confidence of a rock star yet with the refined manners of an English gentleman. You’ll be quite a catch for some lucky guy who doesn’t mind having his moon continually eclipsed by your sun.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

You talk a good game, but can you really hit the bulls-eye? Be careful of exaggerated boasts today, as some may challenge you on them. It’ll be cool if they dare you to make a killer cheesecake. But if they ask you to drop your pants you may not be so self-assured.

You may have to rally the troops with strong words of motivation. Whether they buy that drivel depends on how forcefully you deliver it. But you better start working it because the clock is ticking, and once they go off on that extended lunch, nothing will get done.

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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.

I am going through a really tough breakup, and one of the things I struggle with is our mutual friends. It has only been weeks, and my now ex is already seeing someone new, and he is making plans with our friends to go out to dinners, events, and parties. Our mutual friends have made it clear that they want to support both of us but also that they acknowledge that my ex is seeing someone new now. I don’t know; it just angers me that they say they want to support while also hanging out with my ex and his new boo. Shouldn’t there be some sort of grace period? Can I tell them how I feel about this?

Sincerely Breakup Buddies Dear Breakup Buddies What your friends are doing is highly insensitive to you! Let’s forget about the fact that no one should be going out to events and parties right now because of a motherf**king global pandemic right now, which on its own already makes them look like inconsiderate a**holes! Your friends are saying that they support both of you while, in fact, favoring one over the other.

Yes, breakups are never easy, and for friends, it can be complicated to navigate it all, which is why it is always a good idea to have a kind of grace period where everyone remains neutral. That’s not what they are doing right now! Your ex may have plenty of reasons to ‘campaign’ for his new boyfriend with your friends; still, your friends should also gracefully decline an overload of invitations (the pandemic is the perfect excuse here, but I’m guessing they don’t care at this point). You have every right to tell your friends how this is making you feel. You can say it in a nonconfrontational way so that they won’t get defensive, but let them know how you feel. Tell them that in this crisis, you struggle with the fact that they are socializing with your ex (and his new boyfriend) and that you would appreciate a little time until things cool off. Or that you need support from them that may not be socializing at a dinner party but rather at a socially distanced walk in the park. Hopefully, your friends are keepers, but if they can’t do this for you, maybe you would be better off without them (and your ex).

I’m a gay man in my fifties, and I have never really had experience with bottoming, but lately, I have fantasized about nothing but that, and I have started experimenting with plugs and dildos. One of the reasons is that I am not into douching, so I figure most guys wouldn’t want to top me anyway. I guess my question is if it is too late to start bottoming? And will I have to get into douching?

Sincerely Bottom-Friendly Dear Bottom-Friendly If you want to get into bottoming in your fifties, then get into bottoming in your fifties! There is no time or body constraints that prohibit you from taking on a new sexual adventure! And you are already putting down the groundwork for a successful first-time bottoming experience by experimenting with toys! You mention douching as a reason, but there are plenty of guys who never douche and are perfect power bottoms at that. A fiber-rich diet and perhaps even fiber supplement like psyllium husk and a daily probiotic will do wonders to empty your bowel so that any ‘entry’ back there is practically clean. Maybe you can also explore a little online to see if there are any apps or communities where you can express your wishes while also stating your concerns about bottoming – and perhaps even hook up with other men through those apps! Hook up with men who don’t care if you are perfectly douched and are just happy to be intimate with a man who has little to no experience (yet!) with bottoming. Good luck!

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