Peach Magazine V6-I6 | Be My Valentine!

introducing tyree (meak pro’s new mr. winter valentine 2022)

queer-ish v-day gifts for the queer you love-ish year In revIew part 1 a perfect gift for valentines history of black gay america trIbutes vol. 2

For All the Naughty Lovers

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

It’s the season for all the lovers out there to get naughty for Valentine’s. More To Love is back with a Mary’s bar takeover that will have temperatures rising, lashes fluttering, and spirits aroused. We spoke to MTL’s Chad Wick about to expect from the event that the team aptly named Naughty Cupid.

Cupid.

It’s a fresh year for More To Love, but first, tell us about how the organization made it through 2021.

More To Love started out the year by adding new members to the team, so that we could do even more and reach even wider with our events. Despite neverending Covid challenges, we managed to put on some amazing events and activities throughout the year that raised money for worthy causes. We did She Monsta together with Queen Butch at the Heretic benefiting Atlanta Pride, the Aids Walk Atlanta (walking as a team), and, of course, Gag The Grinch at The Hideaway benefiting For The Kid. It was quite a year for us.

It’s almost a tradition that More To Love creates an event around Valentine’s Day – what do you have planned this year?

More To Love was actually founded around Valentine’s Day because I felt that the holiday focuses almost exclusively on

WHAT:

WHEN: WHERE:

one type of “traditional” love. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, we all know that love can look very different and be very far from any traditional kind of love.

We wanted to celebrate that with More To Love. For this bar takeover at Mary’s, we are celebrating the more mischievous energy of Valentine’s – because once the romantic gestures are over, you know that we all want to get down get naughty. This event will also help raise money for More To Love, so that we can put on bigger and bigger fundraising events throughout the year – stay tuned!

Naughty is always nice! So, what can we expect?

This night is about reconnecting with our friends and queer community, so we encourage you to get out in the spirit of love, maybe feel a little sexy, and who knows, there may be a naughty cupid or two present as well.

Do have anything else planned for 2022?

Right now, we don’t but the team is already talking about what we can do and create in the spirit of More To Love and serving hard. So stay updated and follow More To Love on Facebook and Instagram @MoreToLoveATL. --

More To Love presents Naughty Cupid

5$ cover + $5 suggested donation Saturday, February 12, 8 - 12 pm Mary’s in East Atlanta

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Celebrating |5

Queer-ish V-Day Gifts for the Queer You Love-ish

by Mikey Rox

Surprise bae this Valentine’s Day with something sweet, special, and completely unexpected from this list of offbeat gifts sure to make their pitter patter.

Big Love Cheese Collection In 1992 Pastor Gary Chapman outlined the five love languages – words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts – in his best-selling book on the subject. But he forgot the sixth one: Cheese! California Cheese Trail’s got you covered with its Big Love Collection starring Cowgirl Creamery’s heart-shaped Mt. Tam, plus three additional artisan cheeses that were made in the Sonoma/Marin region of the San Francisco Bay Area. $99, cheesetrail. org Heart You Most 2.0 Sweatshirt If your chest-beater’s bursting with pride for the one(s) you love, show it off on BFFS & BABES made-to-order fleece sweatshirt in Pink Punch stamped with a vinyl heart and personalized with their name(s) or initials in the brand’s “good vibes” font. Also available in pink, white, black, and root beer colorways. $68, bffsandbabes.com Marriage Retreat in a Box Relationships don’t get easier after you “put a ring on it” – and nobody knows that more than married folx. Take some time to relax, reflect and recognize how important you are to one another with the DIY Marriage Retreat in a Box, which provides fun and exciting tools to strengthen, enrich, and add more adventure to your forever love. $72, diy-retreats.com LOVE Cigar Band You can’t put a price on love, but Ariana Rabbani makes a valiant effort with this 14k gold cigar band embedded with micro-pave diamonds that spell out everybody’s second-favorite four-letter word. $1,975, arianarabbani.com

Maison Marcel Sparkling Hearts Rose Besides Valentine’s Day, we’re all looking forward to February for another reason: the end of Dry January! Celebrate by popping a bottle of Maison Marcel Sparkling Hearts Rosé – with delicate notes of white peach and nectarine – housed in a fanciful vessel adorned with artist James Goldcrown’s signature hearts design. $25, drinkmarcel.com

Costa Farms Mini Succulent V-Day gifts don’t have to be grand to send a special message. Case in point: the 2.5-inch Echeveria “Life Would Succ Without You” mini succulent – alive, well, and fully rooted, just like your love for him, her or them. $20, amazon. com

Eat Me Guilt Free Brownies Indulge in a few sweet treats this Feb. 14 – like the decadent birthday cake, peanut butter bliss, and red velvet brownies – from Eat Me Guilt Free, which specializes in protein-packed, lower-carb pastries (under 200 calories per serving) baked in small batches by Miami-based certified sports nutritionist-turned-momprenuer Cristie Besu. $30$129, eatmeguiltfree.com

Westend Hartford Sunglasses If the past couple years’ events still got you down in early 2022, slap on a pair of rose-colored shades – heart shaped, no less – to add some mood-boosting pep in your step and put all that hindsight back in 2020. $30, discountsunglasses. com

Meathearts Where’s the beef? It’s in this bag of flirty jerky that offers a savory spin on holiday-staple conversation hearts, featuring laser-etched phrases like “Meat Me,” “XOXO” and “Beef Mine.” $23, manlymanco.com

Lovers Artist Bundles Give the gift of dual pleasure with the Lovers Artist Valentine’s Series that pairs a coveted sex toy with a cute-but-provocative greeting card to help eliminate the awkwardness of unwrapping an out-of-context dick in a box. $112-$222, loversstores.com

You’re My Lobster Dinner “Friends” fans will fall head over heels for the delivered-direct-to-your-door You’re My Lobster Dinner, including a pound of freshly cooked lobster meat, lobster bisque, and a pair of decadent crustaceanshaped chocolates to share with your own Rachel or Ross. $119, lobsteranywhere.com

Absolut Elyx Copper Love Bird Gift Set A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush – or more, depending on how many Elyx Spritz’s you toss back from these super-luxe copper cocktail cups. $199, absolutelyxboutique.com

Wolf Spit Lubricant Wolf Spit’s silicone-based lube and bareback balms don’t require a full moon to have a howling good time. $30-$50, sellingspit.com

Café Affetto Espresso Machine Whether you’re sharing a work-from-home space with your S.O. or serving them breakfast in bed, your morning routine gets a pick-me-up from GE Appliances’ compact Café Affetto Automatic Espresso Machine + Frother, whose claim to fame includes custom cups of espresso, Americano and lungo in less than 90 seconds. $729, cafeappliances.com

Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @ mikeyroxtravels

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tyree!

Meak Productions’ NEW Mr. Winter Valentine 2022

Tyree Washington, born August 4, 1989 in the Dominican Republic, is a Multi-Talented Performing & Recording Artist, Songwriter, Model WINTER PREVIEW MODELS: and a Young Serial Entrepreneur with an edge TOMAS COSME’ (Mr. 2020-22) who gets pleasure Fall out Quarter of helping others make ANGELA HUTCHINS (1st Lady of HBGA) their dreams come true. He owns businesses in MIKO the fi“MEAK” elds of EVANS culinary(The arts,CEO) bartending, creative Visit the website at: meakproductions.lgbt arts/branding and real estate. Tyree graduated To Purchase Psycho from Wharton High Bunny, Schoolvisit: in Summer of 2007. www.psychobunny.com Afterwards, he attended Hillsborough Community College for a year and then finished at the University of South Florida, both with a Major in Dance.

He later moved to Atlanta with the hopes of establishing a career in the Entertainment Industry.

During this time, He began modeling for several photographers, which resulted in producing some of the best shots in the industry. While doing this, he decided to go full-time into entrepreneurship by creating and starting his most successful to date, Bartender Baes (a Full-Service Licensed and Insured Bartending Agency), Boozy Confections (Ice Cream with a Twist), and BAD Consulting (Full-Service Branding, Advertising and Small Business Firm) to name a few.

To take his vision as an Artist/Entrepreneur to the next level, Tyree joined Meak Productions (World’s 1st LGBTQ EXCLUSIVE Talent Agency) during the holiday season of 2021. Starting him off as a Talent, then later a future collaborative partner, the Agency has selected him to be the NEW Mr. Winter-Valentine for 2022-23 during its pre-anniversary season. He was also selected WINTER IN FULL EFFECT, andAgency’s the World’s 1st to be a IS NEW member of the CEO LGBTQ Talent Agency Production Company Roundtable (Talents on&the Roster who are full-is gearing up for some Fabulous Winter Fashion Pretime business owners). sentations during the 1st Quarter of the New Year.

Tyree currently has just released his 1st EP During year’s Feelings”, Fall/Holiday’s entitledlast “Mixed justCampaign in time shoot, for Meak Productions decided toDay). do a bonus Lover’s Holiday (Valentines ListenWinter to it Preview photo shoot featuring new fashion now on all Music Streaming & the Download sites. phenomonon, BUNNY!please This fashion For Bookings PSYCHO & Appearances, contact brand was first introduced to the Agency’s CEO Meak Productions. www.meakproductions.lgbt by way of Bryant Defon, Meak Pro’s NEW Mr. Spring Quarter 2021-22.

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: ALL Photos of Tyree are produced by Being amazed byofthe fashion brand and clothing, Blair Devereaux Pheauxtography.com the CEO GA purchased a few pieces to showcase how Atlanta, / IG: @pbd the LGBTQ Community rocks Psycho Bunny. Let us know what you think. ;)

AN ANNUAL PRESENTATION FEATURING THE BEST OF MEAK PRODUCTIONS, INC. Published Presentation Sponsored by PEACH MEDIA & PRINTING! Annual YEAR IN REVIEW Created & Produced by Miko Evans for Meak Productions, Inc.

2021 marked a turning point in the growing Vision of the World’s 1st LGBTQ EXCLUSIVE Talent Agency & Production Company. As many companies experienced major challenges due to COVID-19, Meak Productions was fortunate to rise through the Ashes by establishing MAJOR Partnerships with other Entrepreneurs and companies that would help solidify the importance, the mission and the purpose of this historic vision.

In Honor of the previous years accomplishments, and in continuation of the company’s 1 YEAR Anniversary Partnership with Peach Atlanta Magazine, Meak Productions is PROUD to present for the 1ST TIME the published edition of its Annual YEAR IN REVIEW (Best of Meak Pro). This series is usually produced as an annual online TV Docu-Series shown on the company’s YouTube Channel (www.youtube. com/meakproductionstv).

Due to limited staff & production support during the 1st wave of COVID, the CEO, Miko “Meak” Evans, decided to postpone the online series to focus more on sustaining and maintaining the business. After this decision, a silver lining showed up during a chance virtual monthly meeting of the OUT Georgia Business Alliance, where Meak met the former Editor-In-Chief of Peach Atlanta Magazine, Mikkel Hyldebrant. And THE REST IS HISTORY!!!

ENJOY PART ONE OF MEAK PRODUCTIONS’ YEAR IN REVIEW For 2021 Featuring The Best of Peach ATL Magazine!

WINTER-VALENTINE VOL. 13 - 2021 Winter-Valentine is Meak Productions’ 1st Annual Agency Campaign of each new year, and the 1st Themed Campaign that featured more than 1 Talent. Originally launched as the Valentine’s Day Campaign in Winter of 2008, it evolved the following year to include both Winter Quarter & Valentine Related Presentations. This Year’s Campaign introduced NEW Talents, and New Mr. Winter Quarter, the Finale of one of our Signatures, and new photo presentations by some of our Agency veterans. It was also our Largest Campaign since the 2009 Edition with 9 Talents featured. This was also the 1st Winter Campaign to be advertised and published in Peach ATL which featured the 1st Atlanta Cover of our Mr. Meak Productions 201820, Dominic Adriano Albano.

SEE THE FULL CAMPAIGN ONLINE AT: https://winter.meakproductions.com 2021 CAMPAIGN PRODUCTION CREW: Executive Producer & Photography: MIKO “MEAK” EVANS. Supporting Photography & Videography Sponsored by A-SQUARED VISUAL MEDIA Advertising & Promotions Sponsored & Provided by PEACH ATL MAGAZINE / PEACH MEDIA & PRINTING!

2021 CAMPAIGN FEATURES: DOMINIC ADRIANO ALBANO (Mr. Meak Productions 2018-20) BRONZELL KNIGHT-ADDAMS (Our NEW Mr. Winter Quarter 2021) EDDIE “CLARK” POSEY (Mr. Meak Productions 2016-18) ANGELA HUTCHINS (1st Lady of History of Black Gay America) BRYANT DEFON (His 1st Winter Quarter Appearance) TOMAS X. COSME’ (Mr. Fall Quarter 2020-22) SAMMIE III (His Finale Appearance Mr. SummerHeat 2019-2020) TORREY DEANDRE (His 1st Winter Quarter Appearance) SAGE SUEDE (Special Bonus Appearance - New Talent)

NIGHTLIFE VOLUME 4 & VOLUME 5 (5TH ANNIVERSARY) 2021 Nightlife is a Limited Edition Agency Campaign and New International Club Tour, which was birthed out of the limited SUIT & TIE/BLACK & WHITE Campaign. Its created to showcase and advertise Club Promoters, Event Producers, Nightclub/Event Venues and Selected Talents from our Agency. Since we didn’t get a chance to do any Nightlife projects in 2019 or 2020, we decided to produce a double presentation in 2021 along with a Local Nightlife Tour, which marked the 5th Anniversary of the Campaign, This is also the 1st time both campaigns were published in Peach ATL. Volume 4 made history by featuring for the 1st time one of Atlanta’s Veteran Black Lesbian Club Promoters, C. J. Jones of Blue Diamond Entertainment, which photo shoots were taken LIVE at The Ghost Bar. Volume 5 marked Nightlife’s 5th Anniversary Celebration and the Reunion of the original featured Talents and Production Crew from the 1st 2016 Inaugural Campaign. And to top of the occasion, the LIVE Reunion & celebration took place at the original club that hosted the 1st photo shoot/production, OPIUM, formally located on Spring Street in Midtown. Many of the Signature Photos from both campaigns have NEVER Been released to the public until now.

SEE THE FULL CAMPAIGN ONLINE VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE @meakproductions 2021 CAMPAIGN PRODUCTION CREW: Executive Producer & Photography: MIKO “MEAK” EVANS. Supporting Photography & Videography Sponsored by A-SQUARED VISUAL MEDIA VOLUME 4 Shot LIVE On-Location at The Ghost Bar VOLUME 5 Shot LIVE On-Location at OPIUM! 5th Anniversary Reunion VIP Sponsored by Meak Pro & Angela Hutchins for History of Black Gay America Bonus Photography Sponsored by VISUALS BY DRE’ Luxury Limo Van Sponsored by G&G Limousine Services Advertising & Promotions Sponsored & Provided by PEACH ATL MAGAZINE / PEACH MEDIA & PRINTING!

2021 CAMPAIGN FEATURES: (From Left To Right) C. J. JONES (VOL. 4 Club Promoter Feature - CEO of Blue Diamond Entertainment) EDDIE “CLARK” POSEY (Mr. Meak Productions 2016-18) / ANGELA HUTCHINS (1st Lady of History of Black Gay America) BRYANT DEFON (NEW Mr. Spring Quarter 2021-23) / MIKO “MEAK” EVANS (Executive Producer & Principle Photography) TOMAS X. COSME’ (Mr. Fall Quarter 2020-22) / DELANTE DAVID MEEKS (Mr. Meak Productions 2012-2014) DEANGELO JACKSON (Special Guest & NEW Mr. Adult Entertainment 2021) DEANDRE’ LEMANS (Meak Pro’s 1st Original Photographer/Partner 2016-2017)

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black hIstory Presented & Edited by month trIbutes Miko Evans for Meak Productions, Inc. Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen III, is a religious vol. 2

trailblazer, author, human rights advocate, community leader and entrepreneur. In 2015, Bishop Allen was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). In 2016, he was appointed the Southeastern Chair of the DNC-LGBT Advisory Board and a cochair of the DNC LGBTQ Policy Group. He has served as the National Ambassador and consultant for the NAACP - Black Church/HIV Initiative. He is the Senior Pastor and Founder of The Vision Cathedral of Atlanta known as “The Vision Church”. The Vision Church has 4 locations, The Vision Church of Atlanta, Vision Church of Raleigh, Vision Church of Los Angeles and Vision Church of Nashville. He is the founder and Presiding Bishop of the United Progressive Pentecostal Fellowship of Churches (UPPC), a socially progressive and inclusive religious organization which oversees senior pastors, ministers, churches and faith-based organizations throughout the United States and abroad. He is also the founder and CEO of iElevate+TV, an online-on-demand streaming service dedicated to LGBTQI+ films, shows and content.

BISHOP OLIVER CLYDE ALLEN

SPIRITUAL LEADER, ENTREPRENEUR, AUTHOR, ADVOCATE, TRAILBLAZER

He is also the Executive Director of Vision Community Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization created to address socioeconomic and health gaps in the greater Atlanta community.

The Vision Community Foundation annually feeds over 20,000 families through its “Community In Action” (CIA) program, over 2000 women and children in its local shelters program, provides clothing and toys specifically for homeless children, provides GED training for students completing diplomas, provides Breast Cancer awareness education, and provides HIV/AIDS counseling and testing. The Vision Community Foundation hosts the annual Atlanta BlackPride “Pure Heat Community Festival,” which provides health education, social services and entertainment for over 30,000 people.

He is a member of the Fulton County Task Force on HIV/AIDS. Bishop Allen has hosted, served & been honored by renowned community and national groups including the Georgia House of Representatives in 2012, the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers of Morehouse College (where he was inducted), the National Economic and Business Conference for LGBT Entrepreneurs in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Regional spokesperson for the National Black Justice Coalition LGBT Economic Empowerment Tour, awarded the 2015 LGBT Business Champion of the Year Award by the SBA, and has been featured in numerous media outlets and periodicals including CNN, BET, The Economist and Huffington Post. He attended Morgan State University, Morehouse College, and Harvard University-Harvard Extension School where he studied Philosophy and Religion. He is also a Fellow at the Princeton Theological Seminary Black Theology and Leadership Institute.

In 2018, Bishop Allen birthed the national iElevate Conference, designed to offer many of the country’s great thought-provoking thinkers, leaders and voices a platform to safely participate and address some of the most sensitive and salient subjects from a faith point of view. The inaugural conference included the first campaign, Prevention From The Pulpit – designed to train clergy how to address the epidemic of H.I.V./ A.I.D.S from the pulpit.

In 2018, Allen was appointed to Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ LGBT Advisory Board.

This same year, he delivered historic prayer to millions of Muslims as one of the first openly Gay men to participate in the Million Man March Commemoration organized by the Nation of Islam. In 2021, Bishop Allen was also appointed

by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom’s a Commissioner to the Atlanta Human Relations Commission.

He lives in Atlanta with his husband, Rashad Burgess, an Executive Director at Gilead Sciences, and 2 children, Joshua and Caylee.

HISTORY & TRIBUTE SOURCES: National Black Justice Coalition, Wikipedia, History of Black Gay America Archives, and Various News Outlets.

Known as the “Rosa Parks of the LGBTQ Community,” Stormé DeLarverie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1920 to a Black mother who worked as a servant in the house of her white father. Though those circumstances denied her clarity about her true birthdate, she celebrated it on December 24. DeLarverie largely grew up in the South, but relocated to California when her parents married. The relocation was a welcome change, as DeLarverie had been violently bullied.

STORME’ DELARVERIE

STONEWALL VETERAN, PERFORMING ARTISTS, HOST/MC, DRAG KING LEGEND

As a teenager DeLarverie rode horses side-saddle for the Ringling Brothers Circus, but stopped after suffering an injury. She also sang in a jazz group, through which she performed in Europe. It was in her late teens that she shifted to dressing and performing as a man. At age 18, she realized she was a lesbian and moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she claimed to have worked as a bodyguard for mobsters.

DeLarverie continued to perform and was, notably, the MC of the Jewel Box Revue, a racially integrated touring variety show, from 19551969. The JBR’s slogan was “25 Men and One Girl.” DeLarverie dressed in masculine drag (a drag king), while the other performers dressed in feminine drag (drag queens). Audiences would be invited to guess who the “one girl” in the troupe was, later to be treated to a big reveal during a number called “A Surprise With a Song”. The Jewel Box Revue played regularly at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and entertained integrated audiences nationally, something that was unusual at that time in history. During that period, in 1961, DeLarverie sat for famous photographer, Diane Arbus, producing the image “Miss Stormé de Larverie, the Lady Who Appears to be a Gentleman, N.Y.C.” DeLarverie’s choice to don menswear as her regular attire inspired other lesbians to do the same. She was also featured in Michelle Parkerson’s 1987 short film, “Stormé: The Lady of the Jewel Box.”

Legend has it that DeLarverie threw the first punch at police officers during the Stonewall Rebellion of June 1969 (she and other witnesses have corroborated this). She then helped to form the Stonewall Veteran’s Association that July, in which she served as the Chief of Security, SVA Ambassador, and Vice President (1998-2000) over the years. DeLarverie became a fixture at New York City Pride and attended pride events around the nation.

Tragically, just a short while after the triumphs of Stonewall, DeLarverie lost her partner of nearly 25 years, Diana. Entertaining then largely took a backseat in her life and she focused on being a daytime bodyguard and nighttime bouncer at lesbian bars. DeLarverie saw herself as looking after the community, and was particularly vigilant against threats to her “baby girls.” One of DeLarverie’s caregivers told the New York Times that “She literally walked the streets of downtown Manhattan like a gay superhero. She was not to be messed with by any stretch of the imagination.”

DeLarverie persisted in this work until she was 85 years old.

Just two years before her death, DeLarverie was honored by Brooklyn Pride, Inc. at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture. Then, on April 24, 2014, The Brooklyn Community Pride Center recognized her for her “fearlessness and bravery,” presenting her with a proclamation from Letitia James, then New York City Public Advocate. By that time, DeLarverie had long struggled with dementia, and exactly one month later it would quietly take her life at age 93.

HISTORY & TRIBUTE SOURCES: National Black Justice Coalition, Wikipedia, History of Black Gay America Archives, and Various News Outlets.

Keisha Sean Waites (born and raised in Atlanta, GA on October 30, 1972) is an American politician from the state of Georgia. A Democrat, she served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2012 to 2017, representing southeast Atlanta, College Park, East Point, Hapeville, Forest Park, Hartsfield Jackson Airport, Porsche Headquarters and parts of Clayton and DeKalb counties, and the 2nd African American Out Lesbian Woman to serve at the State.

KEISHA SEAN WAITES

Waites attended Lakeside High School in Dekalb county and graduated in 1991. She chose to remain in Georgia to continue her education at Georgia Southern University where she excelled as a political science major. As a college freshman she was selected from among an international pool of candidates to attend the Walt Disney World College Business Internship Program. She also attended Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Georgia Perimeter College, and holds degrees in both Criminal Justice and Political Science.

(ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL POST 3 AT-LARGE) POLITICIAN, ACTIVIST, PUBLIC SERVANT, Waites is also a proud alumna of the University of ATLANTA LEGEND, TRAILBLAZER Georgia - Carl Vincent Institute: Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators and Georgia Legislative Leadership, the Georgia State University - Andrew Young School of Policy Studies: Legislative Health Policy Certification Program, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government: Senior Executives in State and Local Government Leadership Program. She was selected by the Council of State Governments as one of 48 members of the 2016 class of Henry Toll Fellows.

Before winning her 1st election to the state legislature in 2012, Waites mounted seven unsuccessful campaigns for elected office. In addition, Waites applied for an appointment to the Atlanta City Council in 2004, one of four candidates who put themselves forward to temporarily fill a vacant seat. Though the council did not select Waites for the vacancy, this did not stop her determination and passion to become a Public Servant.

As a matter of fact, her previous campaign losses, and her consitent activism in the LGBTQ community became the amunition and fuel needed to develop her into the Political Trailblazer that she is today.

In 2021, Waites was elected as State Representative for the residents of District 60 for three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives. District 60 includes Southeast Atlanta, Hapeville, Forest Park, East Point, and College Park (home to the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International, along with the Porsche Global Headquarters).

During her tenure in the General Assembly, she served on two important committees: the Public Safety Committee and the Transportation Committee and was responsible for vetting and approving legislations prior to floor votes. She was also a member of the Juvenile Justice Committee and devoted much of her time and efforts to eradicating poverty and providing culturally enriching opportunities to disadvantaged youth.

Waites is also a champion of anti-bullying legislation. She authored and sponsored HB 40 comprehensive legislation addressing bullying in which her efforts received the support and endorsement of the nationally renowned law firm Montlick and Associates and a plethora of national Anti-Bullying organizations.

In 2021, Waites filed to run for Atlanta City Council Post 3 At-Large to succeed incumbent Andre Dickens (who is now Atlanta’s NEW Mayor), her fourth bid for a council seat. After winning the largest share of votes in the first round among five candidates, Waites ran in a November 30 runoff with Jacki Labat, winning the runoff 52%47%.

As the NEW Post 3 At-Large member of the Atlanta City Council, representing all of Atlanta, Keisha Waites brings a broad record of civic involvement, strong business acumen and existing local, county, state, and federal relationships to her role in Atlanta city government.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 15, 1980, Charles Stephens is a highly respected writer, critical thinker, activist, and founder of The Counter Narrative Project, an initiative that engages in advocacy around issues that impact Black gay men. Raised in the Adamsville community of Southwest Atlanta, he grew up with a vague notion of what it meant to be gay and none of what it meant to be both black and gay.

Years later, this would become both the fuel and the fire for his writing and activism, especially upon learning that so much history of black gay men had been erased or fragmented.

CHARLES STEPHENS ACTIVIST, WRITER, COMMUNITY LEADER & TRAILBLAZER

Charles received his B.A. from Georgia State University in 2005, where he co-founded Black Out, the campus’s first Black LGBTQ student organization. He was also the recipient of the ZAMI Scholarship and the Tony Daniels Community Ally Award. Through the works of James Baldwin, Essex Hemphill, Joseph Beam, and Craig Harris, he found a new blueprint to navigate new terrain. Though lacking a social safety net, he was able to find a more cultural one by aligning with Atlanta’s political and intellectual community, which is where he mostly felt supported by.

Stephens attended Second Sunday and My Brothers Keeper meetings (Atlanta’s 1st Black Gay Male support groups). He then started joining various advisory boards and committees. From 2006 to 2011, Charles Stephens ran The Deeper Love Project, an HIV prevention program for Black gay and bisexual men in Atlanta, and in 2011, he coordinated a social marketing campaign targeting young, Black, gay men called From Where I Stand for AID Atlanta. The campaign produced a popular t-shirt series inspired by Audre Lorde, Essex Hemphill, and Joseph Beam and focused on the inherent resilience among young, Black, gay men as a tool to empower them in the fight against HIV. The campaign also produced a book, documentary, and series of impactful billboards around Atlanta.

Charles is especially proud of the community building and groundbreaking sexual health work he’s been involved in throughout the past decade.

He served as the Conference Organizer for the historic 2014 conference “Whose Beloved Community Black Civil and LGBT Rights” at Emory University. The anthology he co-edited called Black Gay Genius was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award.

Charles received the Georgia State University College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award and received the Gentleman of the Year Award from the Gentlemen’s Foundation. He has also been a CDC Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership Fellow, an Arcus Foundation Executive Director Fellow, and a Rockwood Leader in the HIV movement fellow. His writings have appeared in the AJC, Atlanta Magazine, and Creative Loafing. He previously wrote a column for Advocate magazine, and Georgia Voice focused on Black LGBTQ+ politics and culture. He became a go-to on the panel circuit. And yet, in all of his endeavors, He still felt like something was missing. In grappling with this, he found himself dreaming about what would later become the Counter Narrative Project, which is now in its 8th year of operation and service to the community.

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BARS 2 Blake's 3 Bulldogs 4 Friends

Ponce De Leon Pl . NE

Spring St. NW

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

9 10 & Piedmont 991 Piedmont Ave NE 10 Campagnolo 980 Piedmont Ave NE 16 G’s Midtown 219 10th St NE 17 Henry’s 132 10th St NE 19 La Hacienda 900 Monroe Dr NE 20 Guac y Margys 502 Amsterdam Ave NE

6 My Sister’s Room66 12th St NE 7 X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave NE

fitness

BARS not on map

spa/bath

1 FUTURE ATLANTA 50 Lower Alabama St. SW Suite 180

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE 15 Flex Spa

76 4th St. NW

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1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd

30 Gravitee Fitness

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

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1931 Piedmont Cir NE

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Midtown Moon 1492 Piedmont Ave NE Felix's 1510 Piedmont Ave NE The Hideaway 1544 Piedmont Ave NE Mixx 1492 Piedmont Ave NE Oscar's 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Mary's 1287 Glenwood Ave SE Sister Louisa’s Church 466 Edgewood Ave SE Lips Atlanta 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE The T Woof's 494 Plasters Ave NE

Retail

39 Boy Next Door 40 Barking Leather

Fitness

1447 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

41 Equilibrium Fitness 1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L

Media Coverage, Photos & Story by Miko Evans for Meak Productions, Inc.

On Friday evening, January 29th, Meak Productions’ Media Division was invited to witness the Private Ambassador Party & Launch of the NEW Black Owned Wine & Spirits Brand, JADE! Featuring @flyydotcom and other special celebrity guest.

Offering 3 flavors of Sparkling Wine (Rose, Brut & Moscato - My FAV), along with a premium French Cognac & Brandy called, LUE’, which is smooth and mellow. This wine is the PERFECT Valentine’s Day Gift, check out @headshotsandmoet on Instagram for more information.

This event was presented by Didier & Associates and Headshots & Moet, LIVE at The Basement at AMLI Lenox in Buckhead Atlanta. SPECIAL THANKS TO Bentley Didier for the invitation.

For more information about the products and how to purchase, visit: www.drinkjade.co IG: @drink.jade

Peach Scene @

PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

SUNDAY WITH MOTHER @HIDEAWAY

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.

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

SNAPS Peach Scene @ BARS & CLUBS MIDTOWN 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 X MIDTOWN fb.com/XMidtownX 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

WESTSIDE

DINING

MARQUETTE 868 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW

MIDTOWN

MIDTOWN

10TH & PIEDMONT 10thandpiedmont. com 991 Piedmont Ave NE

URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com 500 Amsterdam Ave N

840ATL 840 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW 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

G’S gsmidtown.com 219 10th St NE HENRY’S henrysatl.com 132 10th St NE LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com 900 Monroe Dr NE DEKALB LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com

3011 Buford Hwy NE

RETAIL MIDTOWN BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE CHESHIRE SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE ANSLEY BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1447 Piedmont Ave NE GCB & PLEASURES brushstrokesatlanta. com 1510-D Piedmont Ave. NE

FITNESS

CHESHIRE

GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

SPAS/BATHS ADULT FLEX SPA flexspas.com 76 4th St NW CHESHIRE

February 9th - 15th All The Natalie Portmans @ Outfront Theatre | Starting Feb 10th

Sixteen year old Keyonna and her older brother Samuel live on the brink of eviction while dreaming of a better tomorrow. Too smart, “too gay”, and too lonely to fit in, Keyonna escapes into a world of rom coms, red carpets and all the iconic characters played by her muse, Natalie Portman. But when “all the Natalie Portmans” start talking back to her, Keyonna finally has to face her off-screen drama in this imaginative new play that reminds us to embrace life on the ground while still reaching for the stars.

The Erotic Art Show @ Underground ATL | Feb. 11 (8 PM)

Sex Party: The Erotic Art Show is back for its first event of the year!

Come Out and Explore one of Life's most exciting, intriguing, and sought after things in the world : SEX. Join us on 02.11.22 for our first Erotic Art Show of the Year featuring: 30+ Artist Vendors Live Fetish Show Lingerie Runway +More !!!

DM @theoriginalsexpartyatl or @rastagraphy for more info /submissions / vending

Audien @ District Atlanta | Feb. 11 (10 PM)

To book a VIP bottle service section please email mitul@collectivpresents.com - You may also text or call Mitul at 404-936-0340 (21+) Where: District Atlanta [ Collectiv Presents ] x Liquified: Audien

RITUAL Presents Moulin Rouge Goth Valentines @ Heretic | Feb. 11 (10 M)

All of you dark dandies and dames get ready for a night of goth industrial dancing and romance at RITUAL! Celebrate Valentine's Day with free candy, chocolate and other delights. Beautiful visuals will surround you. Get ready for the Spectacular Spectacular! $10 cover 21 to enter

XION Friday w/ Karlitos @ Future | Feb. 12 (3 AM) XION resident Karlitos!

Located in the heart of Atlanta Underground!

Uncorked Atlanta Wine Festival @ Pullman District | Feb. 12 (12 - 4 PM)

CALLING ALL WINE LOVERS: Uncorked Atlanta Wine Festival is back for 2022. Join us on Saturday, February 12th,2022 for the next edition of Uncorked Atlanta Wine Festival at the historic core of the Entertainment District of Atlanta at Pullman Yards.

From 12:00pm – 4:00pm enjoy complimentary wine and craft beer tastings (over 50 varieties), music performances, and fun wine-themed activations.

Tickets Include: Souvenir Uncorked Atlanta Tasting Glass Complimentary Wine and Craft Beer Tastings (50+ varieties) DJ and Music Food Available for Purchase

Cupid's Undie Run @ Big Sky Buckhead | Feb. 12th (12 - 4 PM)

This February, do something crazy for a crazy good cause. Join us for Cupid’s Undie Run, a “brief” fun run that takes place in the middle of a BIG party. Best part is, it’s all to fundraise for NF research through the Children’s Tumor Foundation!

First we party, then we run (a mile-ish, at your own pace), and then we party again — all to find a cure for neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that affects 1 in every 3,000 children born.

Whether you start a team with your friends or run solo, we can’t wait to party with a purpose and raise some money for NF research! We encourage undies, but we get that they’re not for everyone. Plenty of our runners sport costumes or tutus too.

Atlanta Oyster Fest @ Atlantic Station | Feb. 12th (1 - 5 PM)

Enjoy a great selection of Oysters, beer, wine, mimosas, brunch punch, hard seltzers, live music and DJ Qtip.

Tickets include entry and entertainment, souvenir cup, and all alcohol samples. Food costs extra.

BrewHAHA! Drag Bingo @ Wild Haven Beer | Feb 12th (1 - 3 PM)

Save the date and grab a ticket to BREWHAHA! Drag Bingo, hosted by ATL's favorite queen TAYLOR ALXNDR! Grab drinks + food BEFORE 1PM or you’ll miss some of the bingo fun! Coffee available for purchase at FiNCA’s Coffee Bar and beer available at the Wild Heaven Bar. WHAT: Rounds of bingo, pop-up drag performances, and more in 2 hours of fun!

WHERE: 1010 White St. Atlanta, GA 30310 The small event space at Wild Heaven Brewery and Gardens

Beer Bust @ Woofs | Feb. 12th (2 - 5 PM)

Come out have some beer watch a game on any one of the TV's, and enjoy our Jello-Shots.

Naughty Cupid (MTL Takeover) @ Mary's | Feb. 12 (8 PM - 12AM)

More To Love is going back and taking over where it all began- Marys! Listen to the angel cupid on your left shoulder or the naughty one on your right- either way we would love to see you!

HEARTBURN! w/ Sigourney Beaver from Dragula @ MSR -Downstairs | Feb. 12th (9 PM - 2:30 AM)

Setting hearts and the stage on fire with Sigourney Beaver from the Boulet Brothers' Dragula Season 4! Are you BURNING for us like we're BURNING for you?

We're setting hearts AND the stage on fire at HEARTBURN, a drag show & dance party, with THEE Sigourney Beaver from the Boulet Brothers' Dragula Season 4!

CHUNK- Atlanta @ Heretic | Feb. 12th (10 PM)

BACK AND THIRSTY FOR OUR FIRST EVENT IN 2022 CHUNK BRINGS THE HEAT FOR WHAT'S SURE TO BE ANOTHER LEGENDARY NITE music by: CAKES (Toronto) & KEENAN ORR (DC)

Underground Circuit w/ Joe Pacheco RED LOVE PARTY @ Future | Feb. 12th (10 PM) Red Love Party with Joe Pacheco. Wear your sexiest red!

XION w/ Paul Fragoso @ Believe Music Hall | Feb 13th (3 AM - 7 AM) Happy to welcome back Paulo Fragoso at XION!

Super Bowl Party @ Hideaway | Feb. 13th (3 PM)

Join us Super Bowl Sunday, Bengals & Rams - for a Day & Night of Food, Beer and Boys! The Southern Vortex Softball Team hosts a Beer Bust 3-6 with all the Great Tailgate Food. The fun continues during the game with a Square Party and Jell O Shots. Let's Watch the Big Game and raise some money for the Softball Team.

Super Bowl Party @ Woofs | Feb. 13th (6 PM)

Come watch the game on any one of our many TVs and drink the day away with your favorite sports bar in Atlanta!

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY FEB 13TH

CINEMA PRE-GAME SURROUND BEER BUST SOUND

DRINK SPECIALS

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

ARIES: You might feel lonley and disappointed at the beginning of this week, but you are going to overcome an obstacle that you could only achieve by being alone for a while. Chin up.

LIBRA: This week you are going to be deep in your feels and you have to be able to share it every once in a while. If you cannot open up then how to you expect people to gravitate towards you?

TAURUS: Your week is going to fluctuate with the moon considering that the first part of the week will look great, then the second half... not so much. Breathe and go with the flow.

SCORPIO: Use your words this week. if you decide that you dont want to work with someone, you need to be able to rationalize and explain why that is the case. If not, then people are going to question your integrity.

GEMINI: This week is about expanding your skill set and showing everyone that you have what it takes to be a great friend, employee and leader. You are destined for greatness.

SAGITTARIUS: You rmoney and your ethics are aligning this week as you see an investment opportunity with a nonprofit or company that you believe in.

WIll it kick back? Who knows... but take a small chance in what you believe in..

CANCER: Last week was not so great however, this week you are relishing in the fact that you turned lemons into lemonade. Show everyone your true power this week and you'll be unstoppable.

CAPRICORN: You are incredibly courageous this week and everyone around you is seeing it. Your desire to venture into the unknown is about to be met with passion from someone wanting to join. Will you let them?

LEO: Your attention to detail is going to take you far this week, Leo. Because noone else around you is paying as close attention as you are, you will see that it is going to all pay off in the end.

AQUARIUS: You are going to have a moment of closure this week that you have been needing for quite some time now. If you could take a moment to reflect on why you needed this closure, it will make it all the more meaningful.

VIRGO:You are standing in your own way this week and you cannot continue to make progress if you keep putting yourself down. Smile more, and relax.

It's just life and everyone's going through it.

PISCES: You have some friends who are in desperate need of a reach out this week. if you can, take a moment to see how your friends are doing and check in with them a bit more regularly. They might be overwhelmed by the affection.

Dear Peach, I know this month is important for numerous reasons but I do also realize that it is the birthdate of Susan B. Anthony (thank you Wikipedia!). With everything that happened in the past few years with Donald Trump, I want to show that I can be a true ally to the women in my life who mean the most to me… Any ideas on how I can show my gratitude to them?

Well, there are a few ways that you can show gratitude without even spending a dime… and they are probably the most important for the most significant people in your life.

Have you thought about just simply calling them and saying thank you for everything you have done for me? A lot of people just get by on the gratitude that pope show them alone, but if no-one does that they can feel as though their efforts are worthless.

Reach out to the people in your life and let them know what they mean to you, those women who are strong and have helped to shape you in some way will definitely appreciate the communication and they will probably thoroughly enjoy the chat.