Peach Magazine V5-07 - Good Enough to Eat by David Atlanta Magazine

to eat Good Enough

Trinity the Tuck Rules

The Face! The Body! Comes to ATL

A Tribute to Heroes & Sheroes

History of Black Gay America, Vol. II

Let’s Do Our Part!

Support Black-Owned Businesses

ontents

media & printing

FEB 24, 2021 V5-07

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

MANAGING PARTNER Brian Sawyer brian@peachatl.com

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OPERATIONS Jeff Anderson Sales and Development Director jeff@peachatl.com

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

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SALES | DISTRIBUTION Andrea Dwyer andrea@peachatl.com

From the Editor

As we enter the final week of Black History Month, it is essential to underline that this month alone is not for celebrating the achievements by African Americans, but all year is a time for recognizing their central role in shaping U.S. history. Just like Pride isn’t just a month or a week a year; it’s something worth celebrating all year, always, and forever. This issue features the last installment of tributes to the sheroes and heroes of American Black history curated by Mr. History of Back Gay Atlanta himself, Miko Evans. This he focuses on the national figures that were all instrumental in shaping our world today. We also bring you a guide to black-owned restaurants, and Jamie Kirk talks about why it is important to support black-owned businesses. That and so much more in this issue of Peach! Happy Black History MontH!

CONTRIBUTORS Marci Alt Miko Evans Jamie Kirk

NATIONAL AD REP Rivendell Media 908.232.2021

COVER DeAngelo Jackson for NOIR Male

Mikkel Hyldebrandt

Editorial Director | IG @hyldebrandt ONLINE

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

Meet the Cover Model

DEANGELO JACKSON

Currently residing in Metro Atlanta, DeAngelo Jackson is not just the BEST body (awarded by Straightup GayPorn 2018). He is a multi-talented entertainer and model, who started his career as an exclusive model with adult industry legends, FlavaWorks Productions, and now the first model to sign with renowned Noir Male. He has blessed the world with his erotic talents in print, on the screen, and in-person as not just a “porn star” but an iconic adult entertainer. In 2018, he signed with Off The Clock Productions, owned by renowned actor/producer/author Dwight Allen O’Neal. In 2020, DeAngelo made history by being the first man of color to win the Best Actor category at the GAYVN Awards (The Oscars of Gay Porn); in 2021, he followed up by winning Performer of the Year. Born in Germany, this Gemini has been on top of the adult entertainment world for over ten years and has paved the way for many newcomers. Being an army brat, he has been able to adapt to various environments quickly and is loved by many. Breaking barriers and crossing over into high fashion, DeAngelo was the cover model of Office Magazine’s Spring/Summer 2020 issue. Because of his manager’s 11-year relationship with the agency, DeAngelo signed with the world’s first LGBTQ-Exclusive Talent Agency & Production Company, Meak Productions, in late January of 2021. In the Spring of this year, DeAngelo is slated to become the next New Mr. Meak Pro Adult Entertainment 2021, with a starring feature in the agency’s upcoming 13th Anniversary Campaign of its Adult Industry division. He continues to break barriers and embark upon his entertainment goals as he debuts on your big and small screens very soon.

Follow DeAngelo IG @theonedeangelo Twitter @DeAngelojaxxx (Adult Content NSFW) Management Off The Clock Productions, Offtheclockproductions@gmail.com Talent & Marketing Agency Meak Productions, Inc. | meakproductions.com Coming Soon | Official Talent Website | deangelojaxxx.com

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Revry Hosts the 2021 Queerties

Free Queer TV network, Revry, is partnering with Q.Digital and Lexus for the first-ever television broadcast of Q.Digital’s Queerties, the annual award show produced by entertainment site Queerty, celebrating the best in LGBTQ culture and media. “We couldn’t be more excited to broadcast the Queerties this year,” shared Revry CEO and CoFounder, Damian Pelliccione. “To showcase such incredible, diverse queer talent across all our channels, over 250 million households and devices, will allow everyone to tune-in and enjoy the fantastic show Q.Digital produces!” Hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12 Miss Congeniality Heidi N. Closet and Queerty Editor-in-Chief Dan Tracer, the show will include an exciting musical performance by Bright Light Bright Light. This year, Q.Digital and Lexus will present Angelica Ross with the Groundbreaker Award, and Billy Eichner will receive the MVP Award. “I’ve been voting for the Queerties as a fan for years, so it’s very exciting to not only be a nominee this year but the host of the show!” said Drag Race star Heidi N. Closet. “I’m honored to help celebrate so many amazing and diverse members of our community, and the incredible work they put out during such a challenging year.” The event will dawn a virtual red carpet with celebrity appearances by Nicco Annan, James Bland, Isis King, Jai Rodriguez, Cameron Esposito, Shangela, Jinkx Monsoon, BenDeLaCreme, Willam, Alaska, HBO’s Veneno star Isabel Torres, Netflix’s The Prom star Jo Ellen Pellman and many more. Fans broke records with well over 1.5 million votes in 23 categories, including Drag Royalty, Closet Door Bustdown, Favorite Podcast, Favorite Instagram and TikTok Follows, Best Documentary, and Badass of the Year, presented by Stoli. “Our readers are incredibly tuned-in to pop culture, so the Queerties provide a perfect outlet to make their voices heard,” said Tracer. “This year is extra exciting because the show is streaming, so voters from all around the world will get to attend for the first time!” The awards ceremony will stream live at 6pm PST / 9pm EST on February 24 on Revry.tv (including Revry’s third-party channels on Samsung TV Plus, Roku Channels, Xumo, Stirr, Apple TV) as well as on Queerty’s homepage, Facebook, and YouTube pages. Rebroadcasts will also be available on Revry.tv to watch for free On Demand.

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Trinity’s T**king Resilience

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

This upcoming weekend, the winner of Rupaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4 and the best tuck in the business, Trinity the Tuck, will be in Atlanta for one of the few live shows she has done during the pandemic. Peach caught up with Trinity to talk about safety measures, social media habits, and hopes for a brighter 2021. We’re now a year into this pandemic – how has life under a pandemic been like for you? It has definitely been a change dramatically for me. Financially, I’m really not working hardly at all. Most of the drag that I do is digital, and financially it’s just completely different. Like so many other entertainers, you have struggled with working versus not working during the pandemic. How have you navigated through it all? Being a drag artist, I have always been resilient. I believe you have to be as an underground artist. I had done drag for 13 years before I got on drag race, so I was very familiar with making things work. Right now, we are all just doing what we have to do to survive.

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The Face! The Body! The Clothes! We are I have tried to dive into projects this past year because so happy to see you come to Atlanta to do I’ve had so much time. I did a winners tribute series, a show – can you tell us more about it? which was a lot of work; definitely a labor of love. I try to put out a lot of content on my YouTube channel for I am very excited to be doing the show as well. It’s the fans to view that doesn’t cost them anything. I have one of the very few live shows I have done since the created a digital competition called Love for The Arts, pandemic started. What you can expect is a true Trinity which was very successful on twitch. My podcast has show. I’m going to be entertaining and have some had over 500,000 streams, and we will start season fabulous costumes, all while wearing a clear mask with two with Ginger Minj becoming a cohost with me very the new meaning of mask for mask (laughs). soon! Just keep a lookout. … and for those who worry about in-person With a vaccine being rolled out and events: what safety measures are you hopefully some semblance of normalcy taking to keep yourself and others safe? soon, what are your hopes for 2021? For myself, I am not doing a meet and greet as I My hope is that people are coming out of this pandemic would normally do under regular circumstances. I will better than when they went into it mentally. Mental definitely be staying away from people and wearing my health is a huge issue. I suffer from crippling anxiety, mask at all times. If I talk on and this pandemic has been the mic, I will be expressing my awful for that. I am grateful desire for people to also social that this has been a huge distance as much as possible lesson learned on the things and wear their masks. Though that I need to work on for I am not their mother, I can’t myself as well as saving even make adults do things they more money for times like don’t want to do. Hopefully, the this. It’s also shown me what promoter and then you follow really matters, and that is my the state guidelines, which I’m friends and my family. sure they will! Any exciting plans you You’ve used social media can share with us? to voice your opinion, open up about personal I am working on a new issues, and even get into album which is going to be it with other queens. Has amazing, but it’s still in the social media taken on works, and I can’t give too a new meaning for you much information about it during this pandemic? yet. Keep a lookout. Social media has some amazing We want more Trinity pros and also some big cons. the Tuck! Where can I have always tried to use find/like/follow you? whatever platform I had, even before Drag Race, to advocate Trinitythetuck on all socials: for people who aren’t treated Insta, Twitter, YouTube, equally. No difference in the Cameo, and Patreon! pandemic. Though we have had a massive BLM movement in Anything else you’d this pandemic, we have had a crazy election in this like to share? pandemic, and we are also going through a huge wave of change in our society with LGBT rights! I continue There’s so much negativity in the world right now I just to use my voice for these issues. want to send out love to everyone. I hope that it finds you! Again, scrolling through your social media feeds makes it evident that you have a close bond with many of your fellow Trinity the Tuck will perform at the Identity event with queens – who has been a support through DJ Drew G and Jalen Jackson at District Atlanta on all of this? Friday, February 26. Showtimes at 10 pm and 3 am. Tickets ($30) available via Eventbrite. Yes, I definitely have several really good friends that I still keep in contact with from the Drag Race alumni. I talk to Peppermint on the regular and Manila on the regular as well as many others. Going through what we particularly go through, only these queens, that have been on the show, understand each other. Apart from the occasional gig, you have so much else going on, like a successful podcast and YouTube channel – tell us about it all!

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Let’s Do Our Part

By Jamie Kirk

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy; they create two-thirds of the net new jobs and drive U.S. innovation and competitiveness. This stat includes the restaurant industry. With so much lately being out of our control, helping sustain small businesses, specifically restaurants, by ordering via a food delivery service, curbside pick-up, or perhaps dining in is the very least we can do. ere in Atlanta, there is a wealth of H Black-owned businesses that range from boutiques to spas, bookstores, music

stores, art galleries, and so much more. Often celebrities and professional athletes seek out Atlanta with intention because of the money spent supporting Black businesses. Many of the business owners care about and are invested in our community’s wellbeing and its future. When deciding upon where to open their restaurant, given a choice, most of them would open the business less than 5 miles from their home. Being close to home allows them the flexibility to be open longer hours and additionally employ people in the neighborhood looking to find work. When we dine out and visit a black-owned

restaurant, we do so much more than fill our bellies with likely good cuisine. And no, not all black-owned restaurants serve Soul Food or BBQ. We feel the pleasure and joy knowing that we intentionally sought out a small black-owned business to satisfy our hunger gives us a sense of pride. Just to know that we are investing in the business and the community all at once simply feels good. The familiarity of seeing the business owner serving customers or doing bar-back work lets you know that they are all in and not just signing the paychecks. There are so many advantages and wins to visiting a black-owned restaurant, like the monies used to provide community centers or help pay for necessary road repair and even assist in funding public service workers, like firefighters. Through their paying of taxes, Making an impact

by supporting these local spots directly and positively stimulates our economy. As mentioned above, more than half of the U.S. jobs for over 25 years were created by small businesses. Small businesses most often provide a better customer experience. Black business owners understand they continually have to earn our business. And this fight pushes them to provide a more personable, hands-on, and unforgettable customer service experience. Black-owned restaurants have as much or more access to vendors (who, by the way, determines pricing, not stores) that many chain restaurants cannot. Generally speaking, if a small business/restaurant doesn’t carry the products you want or need, you can ask them - they are also usually much more receptive and willing to get them for you; so that you will become a repeat customer and equally as important; leave a positive review. We all have seen restaurants in Atlanta close their doors. Long-standing, filled every Saturday night places, have been boarded up and filed for bankruptcy. However, a black-owned business in a mostly black community holds a cash buffer of only about two weeks or less, making it difficult for them to keep their

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.

businesses going during an economic downturn (i.e., COVID 19). Given the above factoid, even to get to the place of opening a black-owned business is monumental because of the more significant challenges faced in establishing and growing the business, securing bank loans, or finding an investor. According to a recent Brookings Institute report, only 4.3% of the United States’ 22.2 million businesses are black. However, small businesses in predominantly black communities are rarely profitable, with less than 1% having a median profit margin above 20%, compared to nearly 40% of businesses in majority-white communities. Every time we eat at a restaurant, shop at a mom-and-pop, or buy food from a smaller grocery store in our neighborhood, we are supporting business owners (in most cases) that live in our neighborhood, share similar beliefs that we do, want to be successful like we do and want the community to thrive as we do. Help them by helping them stay afloat, especially during this economic down-turn. Let’s let our actions speak for us.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH A Tribute to the Leaders of the HISTORY OF BLACK GAY AMERICA By Miko Evans of Meak Productions Photos: Meak Productions, various PR Sources: National Black Justice Coalition (Ubuntu Biography Project), Wikipedia, History of Black Gay America Archives, and various news outlets.

BAYARD RUSTIN Bayard Taylor Rustin (March 17, 1912 - August 24, 1987) was a pacifist, event organizer, human rights advocate, and an important leading voice in shaping the strategies and objectives of America’s civil rights movement. He’s best known for being the Master Organizer & Architect of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which he only had eight weeks to plan. Rustin also worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in forming the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) to assist in strengthening King’s leadership in the movement. However, due to his sexual orientation and a previous arrest involving two men in an automobile, he was forced to work behind the scenes due to threats from the FBI and other homophobic militant leaders and associates of the movement. Although he played such an essential role in the civil rights era, Rustin never got his full recognition due to homophobia. However, the 2003 documentary film by Sam Pollard, “Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin,” helped to raise awareness of his life and contributions to the Civil Rights movement. Former President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Rustin the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 20, 2013, which his lifelong partner, Walter Naegle, accepted. MARSHA P. JOHNSON Ms. Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson (August 24, 1945 - July 6, 1992) was an activist, a drag queen, a comic, a performance artist, and a co-founder of Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) with her close Latina trans friend Sylvia Rivera to provide advocacy, food, clothing, and shelter to 16 | follow us @ peachatlmag

transgender and queer youth in NYC. She became a fixture in the city’s drag and art scenes and was affectionately dubbed “The Mayor of Christopher Street.” In 1969, Marsha played a prominent role in the Stonewall Rebellion, where violent encroachment by police was met with such resistance that it took hours to die down. One year later, she marched in what became New York City’s first gay pride celebration which she helped organize. Marsha was also an HIV-positive organizer with ACT UP, an outspoken critic of New York’s Gay and Lesbian Community Center for its lack of diversity and programming, and a member of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), participating in direct action like sit-ins to protest antiLGBT discrimination. Johnson and Rivera were banned from participating in the 1973 gay pride parade because they were trans or considered drag queens; however, they marched ahead of the parade instead. She was found dead on July 6, 1992, where she’d experienced harassment earlier on. Police failed to investigate her death, ruling it a suicide. It wasn’t until November 2012 that the New York Police Department agreed to re-open the case. The documentary “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” examines Marsha’s mysterious death and celebrates her contributions to LGBTQ+ rights. REV. CARL BEAN Archbishop Rev. Carl Bean (Born May 26, 1944) is the Founding Prelate of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement, the world’s first AfricanAmerican liberal affirming denomination welcoming the LGBTQ+ Community and Allies. The first church was founded in Los Angeles in 1982. Before starting his historic church, Bishop Carl was known as a renowned lead singer, songwriter, performing artist, and producer working with some of the music industry’s greatest projects and legends.

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In the 1960s, he was lead singer with the legendary Alex Bradford Singers, the Gospel Chimes, and the Gospel Wonders. In the theatre circuit, he’s was featured in productions such as Black Nativity and Your Arms Too Short To Box With God. However, it wasn’t until his record deal with the historic Motown Records that made him an icon in the LGBTQ movement by recording the historical classic, “I Was Born This Way.” The song became one of the first club hits of the gay liberation movement, popularized by disco DJs around the country throughout the 80s. The song also became the title of his first book, released in February 2013. Bean founded the Minority AIDS Project (MAP) in 1985 to address individuals’ needs within the African American and Latino communities living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles. On May 26, 2019, the Los Angeles City Council designated the intersection of Jefferson Blvd. and Sycamore Ave. as “ARCHBISHOP CARL BEAN SQUARE.” to honor his numerous contributions to the L.A. LGBTQ Community. SYLVESTER JAMES Before there was RuPaul, there was Sylvester. Born Sylvester James Jr. (September 6, 1947 – December 16, 1988), he was primarily active in the Disco, R&B, and Soul music scene in the late 70s and most of the 80s. Before dawning his flamboyant and androgynous appearance, he developed his signature falsetto voice at an early age growing up in the Pentecostal church with his middle-class family. Leaving the church after the congregation expressed disapproval of his homosexuality, he found friendship among a group of drag queens and trans women who called themselves The Disquotays. Moving to San Francisco in 1970 at 22, Sylvester joined the avantgarde drag troupe The Cockettes. Afterward, Sylvester left them to pursue his solo career. He formed the Hot Band, a rock act that released two commercially unsuccessful albums on Blue Thumb Records in 1973 before disbanding. In the mid 70’s he signed with Harvey Fuqua of Fantasy Records and obtained three new backing singers: Jeanie Tracy (Dance & R&B Legend), Martha Wash (now known as the Queen of Dance Music), and Izora Rhodes (both became the group “Two Tons O’ Fun” & later The Weather Girls). His first solo album, Sylvester (1977), was a moderate success. This was followed up with the acclaimed disco album Step II (1978), which spawned the classic dance singles “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” and “Dance (Disco Heat),” both of which were top hits in the U.S. and Europe. He recorded four more albums – including a live album – with Fantasy Records. After leaving this label, he signed to Megatone Records, founded by friend and collaborator Patrick

Cowley, where he recorded four more albums, including the Cowley penned “Do Ya Wanna Funk.” An activist who campaigned against the spread of HIV/AIDS, he was awarded the key to the city in San Franciso. Sylvester died from the virus’s complications in 1988, leaving all future royalties from his work to San Francisco-based HIV/AIDS charities. In 2005, he was posthumously inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame, while his life has been recorded in a biography and made the subject of both a documentary and a successful musical. After careful research and study, and though he gained the moniker as “Queen of Disco” in the late 70s, Meak Productions has now deemed Sylvester the Father of the LGBTQ Music Movement. JANET MOCK Janet Mock (born March 10, 1983) is a pioneering trans activist, writer, author, director, and executive producer. She lived most of her youth in her native Hawaii, with portions in Oakland, California, and Dallas. She began her transition during her freshman year in high school and funded her medical procedures by earning money as a sex worker. During high school, she played volleyball, a sport she had bonded over with her childhood friend Wendi, who also helped Janet express her femininity. She chose her name Janet after the Princess of Pop, Janet Jackson. She was the first person in her family to go to college. Mock underwent gender-confirming surgery in Thailand at 18 in the middle of her first year in college. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2004 and a Master of Arts in Journalism from New York University in 2006. After graduating from New York University, Mock started working at People magazine, where she was a staff editor for more than five years. Her career in journalism shifted from editor to media advocate when she came out publicly as a trans woman in a 2011 Marie Claire article, written by Kierna Mayo in Mock’s voice. In 2012, Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, signed Mock to her first book deal for a memoir, “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More,” which was released in February 2014. It’s the first book written by a trans person who transitioned during their youth. In April 2015, Oprah Winfrey invited Mock to be a guest on Super Soul Sunday for a segment titled, “Becoming Your Most Authentic Self.” She was invited back a second time and was claimed by Winfrey as one of the SuperSoul 100 list of visionaries and influential leaders. In addition to this, Mock has appeared on countless mainstream talk shows and the acclaimed documentary, The OUT List, which screened on HBO on June 27, 2013. Her second memoir, | 17

“Surpassing Certainty,” published in 2017, promised to “pick up where Redefining Realness left off. Among all of her trans activism and media accomplishments, her most historic, pioneering contribution to date is writer, producer, and director of the hit FX television series, “POSE,” which premiered on June 3, 2018, and made her the first trans woman of color hired as a writer for a TV series in history. She didn’t stop there. In 2019, Mock signed a three-year deal with Netflix giving them exclusive rights to her TV series and a first-look option on feature film projects. This made her the first openly transgender woman of color to secure a deal with a major content company. BISHOP YVETTE FLUNDER Rev. Dr. Yvette Adrienne Flunder, born in San Francisco, California, July 29, 1955, is a respected and renowned pastor, writer, lecturer, Gospel recording artist, and social justice advocate. She attended high school at the Church of God in Christ’s Saints Academy in Lexington, Mississippi, graduating in 1969. As a young adult, she returned to San Francisco and attended local colleges, earning a degree from the College of San Mateo. She moved on to the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, where she earned a degree in Ministry Studies in 1995 and a Master’s of Arts degree in Christian Ethics in 1997. This began a career in social justice ministry that continues in her ministerial work today. Flunder is a third-generation preacher with roots in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). She experienced a self-imposed exile from COGIC as she was conscious that being same-gender-loving and an active member of her denomination would cause conflict. During her sabbatical, she continued working toward social justice with careers providing services for the elderly and those living with HIV/AIDS. She found herself opening to new theologies as she knew that she was in the right relationship with God—just not the Church of God in Christ. This led her to say “yes” when Gospel legend, the late Bishop Walter Hawkins of Love Center Ministries, asked her to come and preach for them. She joined their church and remained a member for nearly ten years. She was later ordained by Bishop Hawkins and served as the church’s Associate Pastor and administrator. This also began her music recording career when she started performing with the Hawkins Family and the Love Center Choir. Her first hit was her duet with Bishop Hawkins on his awardnominated album, “Love Alive III” entitled “I Love You Lord.” Her next two hits with the Hawkins legacy will become historic staples in Gospel music history. Hawkins’s 1987 album, “Special Gift” became a huge

hit with Dr. Flunder leading the title track. Then, in 1990, Hawkins acclaimed album, “Love Alive IV” found her leading the #1 track, “Thank You” which is now one of the world’s greatest Gospel anthems. Also, on this album, she performed her first duet with Hawkins’ niece and Gospel Legend, Shirley Miller, who would later become her life partner in marriage and ministry for three decades. Bishop Flunder remained with Love Center until she joined fifteen charter members to found the Oakland, Californiabased City of Refuge United Church of Christ in 1991. In June 2003, Bishop Yvette Flunder was consecrated Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM), a multi-denominational fellowship of primarily African American Christian leaders and laity representing churches and faith-based organizations from all parts of the United States, Mexico, Asia, and Africa. Bishop Flunder is a much sought-after and requested figure in education, HIV/AIDS activism, human rights, music ministry, and theology. In December 2014, Bishop Flunder served as the keynote speaker for the White House observation of the 26th anniversary of World AIDS Day. She was also honored and portrayed by actress Phylicia Rashad in the Dustin Lance Black ABC mini-series, “When We Rise.”

As Mr. History of Black Gay Atlanta, Miko Evans is the expert on local and national heroes and sheroes who have shaped Black History. In Peach’s continued celebration of Black History Month, Miko presents us with some of the significant national figures that have shaped American Black History. This article has been condensed – see more historic tributes on peachatl.com.

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 my readers and the amazing group of guys I work with from Peach. Your willingness to always help me is not unnoticed. As you read Ask the Lesbo, I hope it makes you think, and more importantly, makes you smile. Remember, if you have a question you are struggling with, or if you have a question you are afraid to ask, simply shoot me an email at marci@peachatl.com, and I’ll take a stab at it. You may not like my answer, but I promise I’ll answer. Dear Lesbo I am getting closer to the retirement age, and I believe my partner and I are not on the same page of where to retire and when. I am younger than my partner, and I have a pension that will help me through. My partner is self-motivated, and he is self-employed. Personally, I believe he’ll never fully retire. I want to be on the beach and just BE. How do I explain that I want us to be lazy and just enjoy getting old together? TIA Struggling Almost Senior Dear Struggling Have you discussed this plan with him? What are his thoughts on retirement? You may want the lazy beach, and he may want the happening happy hours. Really the key here is communication and compromise. If y’all are to retire together, you should have learned by now how to communicate. I am confident there is a happy medium in there somewhere. Lazy beach laying and hoppin’ happy hours. They both sound fabulous to me. I’ll retire with you, looking for an adorable lesbian couple we cook good LOL! The Lesbo

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Dear Lesbo I am a 45-year-old man that is desperately needing to be social again. As a doctor, I find myself scared all the time as I work at a local hospital, and I have seen more COVID death than I care to share. My dilemma is simple: I have now been vaccinated; however, most people have not. I am afraid to go to our local bars or my favorite bathhouse. The man I am interested in believes COVID is a hoax and won’t get vaccinated. Saying goodbye to him is difficult, and how do I know that more men aren’t this way. I am lonely, scared, and bored! Please help, Scared and Bored Dear Scared & Bored Wow, wow, wow, I believe by now that science tells us that COVID is real. As a doctor, you know this as you stated, you have seen so much death from this ugly virus. My advice to you is first to get rid of the nonbeliever QUICKLY! Now that you’re vaccinated look for others that are as well. I’m sure you can find a hot guy that works in the medical field; hospitals are filled with them. Really, I want to thank you for your service in saving lives and putting your own at risk. I am bored and ready to get out of the house too, as I am sure most people are. Patience and perseverance will certainly be key here. Bathhouses will start reopening when more people get vaccinated. Thanks again for both your question and your service. Lesbo

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

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CO SO M O ING N !

LET’S CHAT Marci

with

and Ginger

A podcast and chat show by Atlanta-legendaries Marci Alt and Ginger Nichols

WINTER/VALENTINE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH PARTY @ MEAK PRODUCTIONS Photos by Meak Prod

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Born in Washington DC and raised in Wilson, NC, Bryant is a Pop/R&B recording artist, songwriter, model, dancer, and choreographer. He relocated to Atlanta to pursue a career as a full-time entertainer, and he signed with Meak Productions after he was scouted at an IN DA CUT All Male Strip Show. Since signing with the agency, he’s been featured in various campaigns, booked to model for stylist Dwight Eubanks, and was booked for Atlanta Black Pride in 2019 as a model and performing artist. He’s actively in the studio recording his working debut album, Moon Sign, dedicated to his deceased parents. For booking, go to meakproductions. com.

Bryant Defon

IG @bryantdefon_music Twitter @BryantDefon

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Let Peach Media putLGBTQ+ Atlanta in Print

FEB 24 - Mar 3

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.

Throwback Thursday: Ga(y)tech Edition Have you ever been curious about what Georgia Tech was like for the LGBTQIA community? The Georgia Tech LGBTQIA Resource Center and the Georgia Tech Lavender Alumni are hosting a virtual Throwback Thursday: GayTech Edition, a panel about LGBTQIA identifying alumni’s experience at Georgia Tech. Thursday, February 25, 7 – 8:30 pm Register free via Eventbrite Casa Coco with Brian Sims and Peppermint Miss Coco Peru returns with a new Casa Coco where she continues to reconnect with her Coco Puffs through song, storytelling, an informative Q and A, and a nice dose of some good, old-fashioned, Bronx bullshit artistry. Thursday, February 25, 8 -9 pm casacoco.live (free)

SheNUNigans LIVE! The Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are back with another livestream and lots of SheNUNigans! Enjoy their manifestation of cosmic joy through freedom of expression, charitable acts, community outreach, and social activism. Sunday, February 28, 7 pm Atlsisters.org

IDENTITY with Trinity The Tuck & DJ Drew G Bold Entertainment – fresh, queer dance events in Atlanta – is back with Identity, this time featuring RPDR All-Stars winner Trinity The Tuck and DJ Drew G. Mask up, keep your social distance at this one-of-a-kind event. Tickets via Eventbrite. Friday, February 26, 10 pm District Atlanta

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MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

Amsterdam Ave.

12th St. NE

NE ve . tA

Piedmont Park

Pi e

Juniper St. NE

14th St. NE

10th St. NE

. NE

oe Dr

e. NE Piedmont Av

Juniper St . NE

Peachtree St. NE

Monr

Charle s Alle n Dr . N E

12 W. Peachtree St. NW

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

Spring St. NW

4th St. NE

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

BARS

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 Barking Leather

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

on tC ir .

BARS 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Cir NE

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd

32 33 34 35 36

Midtown Moon Felix's The Hideaway Mixx Oscar's

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd

Fitness 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

Spa / bath 2135 Liddell Drive NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 1544 Piedmont Ave NE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

Dining 38 Eclectic Bistro

clubs

30 Gravitee Fitness

e. nt mo ed Pi

Piedmont Park

Retail

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

Dining

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

BARS

24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

ge Rd Brid hire Ches

28 20

25 r eB

26 35

20 BJ Roosters 21 Sequel 22 Tripps

42 The Den

hir

ll D

. NE

Pi e

idde

x Rd

Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

42 L

Le no

Lambert Dr.

St.

A l co

1600 Piedmont Ave NE 1425 Piedmont Ave NE

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

Fitness 41 Equilibrium Fitness

1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L

NOT SHOWN

Mary's Sister 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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outstanding Black-owned eateries! Atlanta prides itself on its Black history and culture – and a big part of that is the many locally-owned and minority-owned restaurants throughout the city! Here is a list – in no particular order – of Black-owned restaurants that make up the fabric and soul of culinary Atlanta in each their unique way.

Slutty Vegan ATL sluttyveganatl.com

Twisted Soul Cookhouse & House

Atlanta Breakfast Club atlantabreakfastclub.com

Urban Grind urbangrindatlanta.com

twistedsoulcookhouseandpours.com

Busy Bee Café thebusybeecafe.com

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks bigdavescheesesteaks.com

Le Petit Marche lepetitmarche.net

Roc South rocsouth.com

Sublime Doughnuts sublimedoughnuts.com

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10. Tassili’s Raw Reality Café tassilisrawreality.com

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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

So this was nice!

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

Uhm, okay..

My toxic trait is being productive for 20 minutes and then giving myself a two-hour break

ByI’d cutting like tooff dothe thissleeves again of all your t-shirts? I don’t know about that When will I see you again?

‘A lot of you have been asking about my’ … No. No one has been asking, and we all know it

When I post something to Instagram

I fully intend to haunt people when I die. I have a list

That mood when you check on your friend’s page and it says ADD FRIEND!! I just slammed my brakes on so hard that I found $4.67 in change, an empty falsk, 39 M&Ms, some fries, and a puppy

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Daddy Joke Alert

I need professional help! A chef, a butler, and a maid should do it

The of 2021 I’m only drinking on days started with “T”. Tuesday, Thursday, Today, Tomorrow …

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LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22) Do whatever you can to keep the mood lighthearted today - it will be your job to get friends or colleagues laughing about a slightly upsetting (but, let’s face it, highly comical) situation.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22) Beauty doesn’t always announce itself with a triumphant flourish - there is also a quieter sort of beauty that a person must actively seek out. It is all the more rewarding because it requires a bit of effort.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

You’ve been waiting patiently for a friend or relative to repay a debt - the trouble is, she or he has forgotten all about it. Issue a gentle reminder today (don’t be snippy about it; it was an innocent oversight).

The next couple of days will be exceptionally wonderful for you - expect to climb to new pinnacles in all areas of your life, from romance to your career.

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

If you hear a word you don’t know today, don’t guess at its meaning, but get out your dictionary out (or go online), and look it up. Unknown (or perhaps foreign) words and phrases are significant today.

Today, when you hear people trashing an overexposed celebrity who happens to be someone you adore, don’t stand idly by while your idol is tarnished. Standing up for her or him will earn you a new fan!

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

If your mind feels sluggish today, you can get it going with a bit of exercise this afternoon. Make time for a good workout or a nice run; then spend some focused time this evening getting prepared for the next few days of work.

Bright colors and bright light will be important to you today. Seek out sunshine, and make choices that bring vibrantly hued things into your life. Expect your day to be full of joy.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

This is a good day for serious emotional conversations. If you’ve been putting off any potentially painful discussions, you needn’t do so any longer. Reach out to that friend or family member who you have issues with – they are anxious to hear from you.

As you plan what you’re going to do today, focus on tasks that you can do solo. Making progress with other people might be difficult now, unless you’re sure you’re willing to let them take the lead.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Someone you share space with - whether it’s a roommate, the person in the next cubicle, or even a pet - may be feeling some inequity in how you share that space. Make sure you’re considering their needs.

The eyes have it today; be sure to make direct eye contact with everyone you interact with - even if it seems almost impossible on a Zoom meeting. Your intention will not go unnoticed, and you’ll potentially learn something very valuable from someone else’s gaze.

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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.

After going through a rough time, my boyfriend and I have struggled to get intimate again. It is actually a good thing because it has sparked a conversation about what really turns us on and what we fantasize about. My boyfriend confided to me that he enjoys wearing women’s clothing – especially lingerie – and he has even suggested that he could wear panties or stockings when we have sex. I’m open-minded, so I’m not opposed to the idea, but now I am wondering if he may be transgender, and this is a way for him to come out to me as trans at some point? This is his deepest desire and secret, so could it be that he is finally getting the courage to come out? Sincerely New Transitions? Dear New Transitions? Trans folx have way too long been marginalized by society and our community, so it is wonderful that attention is given to spread awareness about what it means to be trans. It is about damn time that one of our society’s most marginalized and exposed groups gets a voice and are heard, so the rest of us can listen and learn. But even though there is a focus on trans right now, it doesn’t mean that your boyfriend is trans. He might be – but he could also simply be into crossdressing, which fetishizes women’s clothing in a sexual way. In your case, time is your friend. And communication. If you’re into his fantasy, and you get turned on by him wearing lingerie, then enjoy that and expand your sexual horizon. And now that you have managed to open a good line of communication, talk to him and engage in creating that safe space where he can be his true self. Who knows, he may end up coming out as trans, or he may just enjoy a pair of panties for kicks. What you can do is to be there in this moment with him and continue to re-establish and to deepen your connection.

My boyfriend and I have been together for almost two years, we don’t live together, and right now, we’ve been forced to do a lengthy long-distance thing because of the pandemic – and I fear we are struggling! We do get together occasionally after we have both self-isolated and tested, so it’s safe(r) to see each other – but when we’re together, things are okay but not exactly fireworks. But it is more when we are apart that I think something is off. More specifically, it is the sexting – or rather the lack thereof! At the beginning of this quarantine life, we engaged in lengthy sexting and phone sex, but that has completely subsided now. I hardly get an ‘I love you’ or ‘I miss you,’ and at times I have to wait for hours to get a reply. Is our relationship dying a slow death of not texting? Help me. Sincerely Digital Distancing Dear Digital Distancing In many ways, social distancing is likened to a long-distance relationship – and they are almost pre-disposed of being complicated. But we do live in unprecedented times, and we all deal differently with our new world order, so first of all, you should give this some time and communicate with him about it. Maybe he is having trouble dealing with this new situation, or perhaps he is just downright lonely. You could also suggest that you become each other’s ‘Covid cohorts’, so you actually stay together instead of the occasional sleepover. Even though you don’t live together yet, this could be an excellent way of probing how it would be to live together for real! If you want more sexting, don’t just text him saying that you miss him - let him know you’re horny, re-hash past sexual encounters between you, and use that phone to send him pics and vids!

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

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