Peach Magazine V6-i38 | Happy Pride Y'all

By Dr. Demetre

ditor’s Note

It looks like Atlanta is back to full force when it comes to Pride. The park festival is back, as well as the parade Sunday, and there seem to be more parties and events than ever.

There’s something about Pride that huddles the community a little closer together. We support each other a little more to show a united front and create visibility for all. After coming out of a pandemic, dealing with an outbreak of monkeypox, and experiencing a renewed surge of prejudice and hate from the (not-so-far) right, the community has shown up and shown out to bolster each other. Pride is the shining example of just how good of a support system we reinforce and how good we are when we come together. And that’s something to celebrate!

Hopefully, this Pride issue of Peach will also serve as your support, with a comprehensive party and event guide, how to protect yourself against the current outbreak of monkeypox and some great recommendations from a few pillars of our community. We also have interviews with Dar ren Hayes, Randy Rainbow, and cover model Ben Bakson, plus many more features that celebrate our community.

So when you celebrate Pride this year, remember that we are our best when we stand together. Let’s all be there for each other. Let’s support each other. Let’s welcome all to our community. Happy Pride!

Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editor-in-Chief

Happy Pride, Atlanta!

As the 61st Mayor of Atlanta, it is my esteemed honor to wish our residents and visitors a Happy Pride!

As a city, we have made so many incredible advances, but there is so much more work to be done. In collaboration with the Mayor’s Division of LGBTQ Affairs and the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board, I will continue fighting for LGBTQ equality and equity. I am a proud son of the city “Too Busy To Hate”. In this town, we know two things: Atlanta Influences Everything, and Atlanta Includes Everybody.

We are one city, with one bright future. Together, we are Moving Atlanta Forward.

Atlanta Eagle Soars with Pride

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

So first off, when will the new Eagle be open?

The week of Pride! We don’t have a set date yet, but we will be open that Friday. We were hoping to have a soft opening on October 5, but we are just so excited about the space, and we want to make it an all-new space for you. It’s the same address but a whole new space for the community to enjoy.

What are the different phases of building out the space?

We are in phase one right now, which everybody will see at the grand opening. Phase two will finish the entertainment level, which is the whole second floor, and phase three will be the Beltline, where we want guests to enjoy the patio opening up towards the

Beltline.

What are some new additions to the Eagle compared to its former location on Ponce?

We will remain the Atlanta Eagle, but we will have new options for the community. We will have food, and we’re still in the process of naming our food section but leaning towards the Eagle Café. We’re definitely going to have our Eagle Cabaret, which will be a drag show at the Eagle.

What feedback have you gotten about the new additions?

Some of the feedback from the community has been that they didn’t want drag at the Eagle. And I want to emphasize the importance of drag in our community. What part of drag is NOT part of our community?

I’ve been very disappointed

in people who are already upset that I will have drag at the bar. Drag is going to be at the Eagle! We have an opportunity and the space to have it; it’s a part of our community and always has been. For 25 years, I’ve always said this was an everybody bar. It may sound corny, but I mean everybody. Everyone is welcome, which makes it so special to me. It’s a safe space for all, and I want the community to embrace that.

So this is not just an opening but the perfect opportunity to introduce new initiatives?

Yes, we are making major changes to the space so that it will feel familiar, but it can’t be the same as Ponce 306. The drag portion won’t interfere with the traditional Eagle dancefloor portion of the bar. I’ve got

we caught up with Richard to talk about the new space, new opportunities, and how legacy lives on.

just an amazing dancefloor, and we’re going to recreate location.

So you’ve stepped it up even more?

Yes, we’re going to open our doors at noon and bring things in for people who might want to come. I want it to be a great place to hang out. We’re going to have a great menu, and the featured item is going to be a burger named the 306,

and it’s going to include Krispy Kreme’s as a nod to what was across the street at the old location and to Big Daddy’s burger in the parking lot.

Iconic dancefloor, iconic burger. What else do you have in store for us?

I can announce that the Eagle Cabaret on Saturdays from 9-11 pm will be starring the iconic Ms. Charlie Brown. She has a lot of history, and to have her at the Eagle

What does it mean for the Atlanta community to have the Eagle soaring again?

All the other bars – the Hideaway, Midtown Moon, the Heretic – have been so supportive during our downtime. It meant the world to me, and it also reassured me that I had to reopen. It has been my passion to get it open again, and to have this space with all this opportunity is just great. We’re part of a community, and we are here to build it up along with all the other bars around here. There aren’t that many bars in Atlanta, so we must support each other – there’s plenty to go around as long as we hold each other up.

Once the community sees how we do things, I think they will be happy, and I hope the legacy continues. It’s going to be the hottest bar in Atlanta and the ticket to have. I’m going to work so hard to make sure we’re here for the community. And I do want this to be the best Eagle in the country – again.

Check out atlantaeagle.com for the latest Pride event postings, and follow The Atlanta Eagle @atlantaeagle on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

means the world to me. I think she will attract an older crowd that used to see her at Illusions like me, and she will attract a younger crowd with her cast and show. The Friday night show will be hosted by Myah Ross Monroe, which will also be amazing, and of course, the cast that was here with Midtown Moon will still be here too.

Your block. Your party.

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Atlanta

the Community from Within SUPPORTING

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

For lifestyle and activewear brand lululemon, supporting the LGBTQ+ community is more than a float in a Pride parade. In fact, this October marks the celebration of their first full year in partnership with organizations like Front Runners Atlanta, Hotlanta Soccer, Unharnessed Pride, Atlanta Rainbow Trout, and Queer Women’s Network (QWN) Run Club. The approach is simple: support those who are best skilled and experienced in the work and then support in the ways that are needed.

Marvin Guelce is the community lead for lululemon. For him, the key to unlocking greater possibilities are embedded in the lululemon product vision. “lululemon is a brand that sets out to create transforma tional products and experiences that build meaningful connections,” he explains, which is part of the reason why lululemon chose to partner with the LGBTQ+ organizations of AGSA (Atlanta Gay Sports Alliance) in the past year. “This journey started in October of 2021 by supporting a few of the groups that make up the AGSA. Because of the products and experiences we offer, it made sense to connect with organizations that support humans moving their bodies in a community setting.”

Based on the successful partnership, lululemon shifted its focus to support the youth LGBTQ organization Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

to act as an active ally in the fight against legislation that, if passed, could be harmful to LGBTQ+ youth. The newest relationship is with the Mayor’s Division of LGBTQ Affairs, which relates to the legislation and policy against all LGBTQ+ persons.

Specifically, for this Pride, lululemon has partnered with Front Runners and the other AGSA organizations to participate in the Atlanta Pride Parade. For Nikole Glaug, a lifelong runner and member of Front Run ners Atlanta, having a sponsor as presti gious as lululemon goes beyond the confines of corporate sponsorship. “It indicates to me that the political vitriol consistently cast the way of the LGBTQ+ community, and most recently the Trans community, aren’t the prevailing sentiment. There are good, caring individuals and organizations in my com munity that love and support me and are willing to do so publicly.” With the support

of lululemon, Nikole hopes to shine even brighter as a beacon of hope and inspiration for other trans-folx that may be struggling to find self-love and acceptance.

Chris Scandrett, defense and mid-field for the Hotlanta Soccer Team, sees the part nership going beyond marketing tactics to up sales during Pride. “Not many are willing to put their money where their mouth is. lululemon has done just that, making them a true ally to our community.” Moreover, Chris sees the support amplifying the visibility of the spaces created specifically for the community, allowing people to compete, play, and network safely. That sentiment is seconded by Jesse Brunstad, co-founder of Queer Women’s Network Run Club, who sees lululemon’s support paving the way for more visibility. “Having lululemon’s support will give us more opportunities to connect with women searching for a supportive communi ty,” she says.

To celebrate the community, empowerment, and visibility of Pride, Front Runners is creat ing a float for the parade – a task that hasn’t been easy in the past. “Our groups are usu ally overshadowed by large corporations,” says Jamel Grooms, member and Image Director of the Atlanta Rainbow Trout, so he appreciates that lululemon has gone all in by sponsoring local LGBTQ+ organizations. “Previous parades have been organized and funded by our own groups,” says DJ Pulce, creative and communications director for Front Runners Atlanta, “lululemon is giving us the opportunity to shine in our own community.”

Deonte Moore, who volunteers with Front Runners Atlanta, is also excited to have the support of lululemon in creating a mem

orable Pride float. “lululemon is a largely popular and inclusive brand, diversity is celebrated, and equity is the norm within their organization.” That same celebration of diversity and celebration will be reflected in the float, featuring a DJ, dancing in the street of Atlanta, and lots of cool stuff for the crowd. But the celebration doesn’t stop there!

lululemon is hosting a 10K Tour in Atlanta on October 22. For that, Front Runners Atlanta will not only participate as a run crew but also as a dedicated cheer station, aptly named Pride Valley. For Front Runners it is not only a way to cheer and support everyone who runs the 10K but a valu able chance to say thank you publicly and symbolically to lululemon and the local community for the support. For DJ Pulce, the partnership between lululemon and AGSA has given every sport a platform to shine. “Whether it’s running, swimming, soccer, rock climbing, or anything else, you have the whole Atlanta pride community behind you.”

So, what to expect when you run through Pride Valley? “We have a DJ spinning beats, a drag queen giving energetic and fierce performances, and some other surprises to motivate the runners,” reveals Nikole Glaug. Marvin, lululemon’s community lead, is also confident that this partnership will bring something entirely different to the 10K. “I’ve seen their cheer station plan, and I can con firm that they will be bringing a fresh flare to the 10k that is representative of Atlanta’s LGBTQ community.”

The lululemon 10K Tour ATL is October 22, 2022. To learn more and to register, go to atlanta.lululemon10ktour.com

happy pride atlanta

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LineUp

Heretic, 8 pm

Weekend Warm-up w/

Pup Pride & Warp Zone

The Heretic, 10 pm

Gear Night Pride Edition

The Hideaway,

Friday October 7

Pride On The Square @ Colony Square, 6-8 pm

Atlanta Pride Presents Cocktails with Queens @ The Hideaway, 6 pm

Art + Pride 2022 @ Basik Spaces, 5 pm An evening of creativity, art + music. Shop the curated night market, enjoy great bites, and

cocktails.

Deep South Golden Hour Pride Kickoff @ Hotel Clermont,

Country Pride Edition

2022 Pride Kickoff @ Georgia Aquarium, 7-11 pm

Celebrate Pride in awardwinning style at Georgia

Aquarium with headlining

DJS Guy Scheiman (TelAviv), DJ Mark Dennis (Los Angeles), and introducing DJ Alexis Curshe (Atlanta-Deep South).

The Eagle Cabaret Pride Edition w. Myah Ross Monroe & Cast @ The Atlanta Eagle, 9-11 pm

Pride Kick Off After Party w. Joe Gauthreaux @ The Heretic, 9 pm – 3 am

Pride Friday with Nina Flowers & Cindel @ Believe Music Hall, 9 pm – 3 am

Meatball & WUSSY Presents Fat Slut (ATL Pride!) with Silky Nutmeg Ganache @ Venkman’s, 9 pm

Fantasy Girls RuPride Friday w/ Brooke Lynn Hytes @ Future Atlanta – 7-10 pm

Tag Team Pride w. DJ Mister Richard @ The Hideaway, 10 pm

Reborn Pride Edition w. DJ Rob Moore @ The Atlanta Eagle, 11 pm

Banshee Late Night pres. Deep South ATL Pride Weekend @ Banshee, 11 pm – 2:30 am

Saturday October 8

Pride Friday Afterglow w/ Ana Flor @ District Atlanta, 3:30 -7 am

XION Pride Friday w/ J Warren & Joe Pacheco (Millennial) @

Future Atlanta, 3:30 am-7 am

Big Gay Brunch w. Phoenix Entertainment Drag Queens @ Park Tavern, 12-5 pm

WUSSY Presents Bottom’s Up! Drag Brunch featuring Gia Gunn @ City Winery, 12 pm

T-Dance / Lot Party w. DJ Seth Breezy @ The Atlanta Eagle, 12 pm

Queen Butch Pride Saturday:Thirst Tea w. Hex Hector, DJ Holographic & Vicki Powell @ The Heretic, 2-8 pm

PRIDE Block Party w. DJ Seth Breezy @ The Atlanta Eagle, 5 pm

Divas At Dusk @ The Hideaway, 6-10 pm

Fantasy Girls RuPride Saturday w/ Latrice Royale @Future Atlanta, 7-10 pm

Atlanta Queer Prom @ Metropolitan Studios, 8 pm

Pride Kiki with Aquaria (Live DJ Set!) @ Venkman’s, 9 pm

The Eagle Cabaret PrideEdition w. Ms. Charlie Brown & Cast @ The Atlanta Eagle, 9-11 pm

Pride SATURDAY DJ Paulo Fragoso and Mike Pope @ The Heretic, 9 pm – 3 am

Pride Saturday with DJ’sRosabel @ Pullman Yards Building 1, 9 pm – 3 am

DILF Out & Proud Tea Dance @ The Heretic , 3-8 pm

Sunday Service PRIDE Edition @ Sister Louisa’s, 6 pm – 12 am

Meat Up Sunday Night Hustle @ The Hideaway, 5 pm – 12 am

DILF Atlanta Pride “PROUD AF” @ The Heretic, 9 pm – 3 am

[Highlight with graphic] Queen Butch Pride Sunday: The Last Ball @ Future, 9 pm – 3 am A true house highlight to endthe weekend with Derrick Carter (Chicago) and William Francis (NYC).

Deep South PRIDE w/ The Carry Nation/Sindri/Vicki Powell @ Future Atlanta, 10 pm – 3 am Deep South Pride presents legendary NYC duo TheCarry Nation, featuring Nita Aviance and Will Automagic.

Rise Pride Edition w. DJ Neon the Glowgobear @ The Atlanta Eagle, 11 pm

Sunday October 9

Pride Saturday Afterglow

w/ DJ Paulo & Martin Fry @ Believe Music Hall, 3:30-7 am

2022 HRC Atlanta Pride Brunch @ Empire State South, 10:30 am – 2 pm

Medusa Pride Tea Dance w/ DJ Anne Louise & DJ THEO @ The Piedmont Room, 3 pm

Pride Sunday with Tony Moran & Deanne @ Masquerade, 9 pm – 3 am

Cruise Control Pride Edition w. DJ Mister Richard @ The Atlanta Eagle, 11 pm

Monday

October 10

Pride Sunday Afterglow w/ Micky Friedmann @ Believe Music Hall, 3:30-7 am

Morning Party w. Seth Breezy and Jesus Montanez @ The Heretic, 6:30 am – 12 pm

Master of the Ben Bakson

His music style today is commercial with hard, emotional, and energetic beats. He regards vocals as vital, referring to them as the soul of every song. Music fans seem to agree as Ben Bakson has been playing to packed dancefloors every weekend for three months, spinning par ties in Sao Paulo, San Francisco, Myko nos, Washington DC, and NYC. He returns to Atlanta on November 19.

We caught up with the master of the beat for a one-on-one in San Diego, where he was opening the city’s Pride events.  What’s the worst part of doing these

kinds of interviews?

Never knowing what kind of questions are going to be asked! (Laughing) You need to have the right answer ready immediately. But I am quite quick-witted, to be honest; therefore, it has not been an issue so far.

You seem like the quiet type, someone who prefers to keep his private life to himself.

Interesting perception because I think most people think the opposite. They assume that I am outgoing because I’m a DJ that celebrates my life quite publicly on social media. They don’t realize all of

Ben Bakson grew up an only child in a small village in southern Germany, watching movies, listening to music, and enjoying long days on the lake with his family. At 18, he moved to Berlin to study Eco nomics, and after graduating, he landed a mar keting job at a large firm. He found the 9 to 5 life wasn’t for that and began dabbling in music pro duction.

beats

By John Stein  Photos: by PhotoStudio Miami

that is part of my job. I try to keep my private life as private as possible, especially my love life.

It seems to me like a lot of DJs choose to speak their minds through their music sets.  I definitely agree, and I absolutely do that. Music is the one common language we humans have. For me, it is therapy. I can channel my emotions through music, and I love when I get feedback from fans that my music helped them to get through a difficult moment. That makes me very happy.

Would you say your music is tribal?

I’m not a fan of labeling my music as a particular genre because I hon estly think my music style crosses several genres. I feel the same way about being forced to label my sexuality. Am I gay simply because I like sex with men?

Sex is a very small part of who I am as a person, and I think everyone should have sex

with the person he loves and finds attrac tive. I don’t think it needs an explanation, label, or commenting. I’m convinced that in the future, the whole idea of straight, gay, and whatever we do in bed won’t matter because, in the end, what counts is that we are all human and equal.

Is that why your dancefloors attract all genders and sexualities?

I try to make my dancefloor as diverse as I can. I have a lot of straight friends that I invite to my events, and they love my music as much as gay men and women. My big goal is for my sound to be loved by everyone. I would like to play all floors. The big hurdle for me is that most of the big straight festivals won’t book any of the big DJs of the LGBT world.

What will it take to blur the lines between gay and straight?

We need party producers to create events that attract straight and gay people and then book DJs from both worlds that will unite all and create a unique musical journey.

Tell us about your new song, “You Got Me.”

The track was written by the talented singer OMEO. It’s about a relationship with a toxic person and how important it is to free yourself from them.

Is it a song you can relate to?

Most definitely. I have been single for about a year now, which has been the longest time in my life so far. Honestly, I have been very happy, sharing my time with amazing friends and my beloved dog Macho. I may have met a special person, but I’m not putting any stress on it or making any long-term plans.

Who is your celeb crush?

That’s easy: JLo’s hairdresser, Chris Ap pleton.

If you could have any magic power, what would it be?

Sometimes I think I already have too many magic powers, like reading people’s minds and knowing what will happen next. I have a sixth sense! I also think mu sic is my magic power. I can bring people together, make them feel happy on the dancefloor and even help them feel better at home through my podcasts. That’s pretty powerful.

Besides music, do you have a secret talent?

I think I do, but I can’t talk about it here.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

That moment when I realize how grateful I am for all that I have.

What is your greatest fear?

The music stopping during my set. It has happened twice so far, both due to tech nical issues that were out of my control.

What is your most treasured posses sion?

My dog, Macho.

What makes Macho the greatest dog in the world?

You have to meet him, and you will un derstand immediately. The cutest, most loving, protecting, most intelligent being I have ever met.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

There are things I’d like to change, and you can be sure I’m working on changing them already.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Envy. I don’t really understand people who try to sabotage others. I prefer to be happy for them and support their success. It motivates me to work harder to be more successful myself.

Which living person do you most ad mire?

My parents. I am very thankful for what they gave me in my childhood. Education, lots of love, and empathy; without them, I would not be where I am now.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I think I am ok. We all need to learn to relax a bit about being too self-critical and just be happy the way we are.

Follow Ben on IG @ ben_bakson

UnapologeticallyHomosexual

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

After being away from music for a decade, Darren Hayes, who rose to fame with Savage Garden, followed by an extraordinary solo career, is back! And this time, he has left the constraints of a major record label behind to release an album cheekily and honestly titled “Homosexual.” The album celebrates not only his triumphant return to the world of music but also his newfound identity as an unapolo getic out artist who lives life authentically through the lens of queer, sheer joy.

First off, welcome back! When I got news of this album, I was thrilled—and even more excited when I saw the title of it. How does it feel to be back, homosexual? Haha. It feels wonderful, especially be cause I honestly thought I had retired. I distinctly remember exiting the stage after my last show in Brighton, England, in 2012 after touring my album ’Secret Codes and Battleships’, and I was done. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. The music indus try had moved on to a place that I no longer recognized, and my plan had been to quietly fade into the night.

You have opened up about how complicat ed and difficult your personal coming-out story has been for you. An oppressive record label, pressure from your surround ings, and internalized fears about being your authentic self. But here you are with an album titled “Homosexual” – how did

you arrive at this newfound feeling of freedom?

Taking time away from the machine really helped. I’m 50 now. I was 13 when I decid ed I was going to be a pop star. The arro gance! I was 23 when fame happened and then, at the very peak of my fame, was the moment I was coming to grips with my sexuality. As you mentioned, it was a horrible time to be gay and performer because the world was a very different place. By taking a decade away from the music industry, I experienced a sense of loss and grief for the missed opportuni ty to be myself when I had the world’s attention. I remember distinctly seeing the music video by Lil Nas X for ’Sun Goes Down,’ and it made me cry. I wished that I could have written about and spoken about those topics when I was suffering. I remember that was a turning point. Also, seeing the movie ‘Call Me By Your Name’

which is ironic, given that was the name of his first single. Seeing that movie had a profound emotional impact on me. Once again, I found myself grieving a youth I never experienced, and I was moved by a love story about two men that wasn’t mired in shame. So the eradication of shame was a huge influence for me in making this music and ultimately using this word as a title for my album.

What has helped you on this path of self-discovery? Therapy. Lots of it. Doing improv comedy, believe it or not. I spent three years at The Groundlings school of improv in Los Angeles anonymously studying sketch comedy and improv, making friends who were, for the first time in 25 years, not on my payroll. That sounds ludi crous, but honestly, when you’re a performer, most of your friendships end up becoming transactional in some way or another, so this was an opportunity to meet people who I had to earn respect from on day one. I loved the experi ence of facing my fears of failure - not being the best person in the room - and failing often, which com edy asks you to do! From that experience, I gained my confidence as a person again and made relation ships with people who are now lifelong friends.  Apart from the title, how does this album set itself apart from your previous work?

The record is absolutely the first time I’ve fully embraced my queerness,

as you’ve noted, and that extends to the sound - I’ve really done my homework. I understood the assign ment! I went back and researched not just the pioneers of club and gay music, who are mostly gay, queer, and trans folks like Frankie Knuckles and DJ Ron Hardy but also producers I have been lis tening to for years without realizing their DNA was in everything I loved about dance music - Patrick Cowley for example, was a huge influence, as was Shep Pettibone. I grew up obsessed with 12-inch mixes on vinyl, so most of the album, sonically, feels like each song is one big extended mix. It pays no attention to commercial consideration. There’s only one song on the radio un der 5 minutes long; most are 6 or 7 minutes - and that’s due to my feeling of complete artistic freedom. Also, the fact that this was the first time I was in 100% total control. Producer, Composer, Per former, and Arranger.

The retro-synth vibes and 90s house rumbles com bined with your beauti fully crisp vocal is really remarkable. Did you have any notable inspirations for the sound and mood of the album?

I know that George Michael’s ‘Faith’ was a touchstone. I loved that George essentially made that record with a few drum machines and just his stunning vocal - and he played almost everything on the record, and I want ed to get some of that retro feel across my album.

That meant using the same drum machines (808s and 909s) and understanding those recording techniques (varispeed vocals, for ex ample - slowing down the track to make the voice higher in parts) - and using very loud and clean bold snares. Also lots of big juicy analog synths.

You’re famous for your extremely strong vocal game, and your vocals on this album are no excep tion. Can you share how you prepared your voice for this album?

Well, I trained hard! Even though I took a decade out of the public eye, I’ve never stopped training with a vocal coach. I have had a singing lesson once a week, almost without fail, for this entire time. So working on the album, if there was something that was a struggle, I’d take it to Carol, my mentor, and we’d work through how to best approach it. It really helps having kept my voice match ready.

“All You Pretty Things” is a true dance anthem where the second half of the song gives you remix vibes that I can’t wait to hear on a dancefloor. The song is also ded icated to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, which gives it a darker mood and message. What was your thought process behind this song and its dedication?

I just felt compelled to write a different ending to the story the gunman gave them. In the case of violent acts, and espe

Peach Scene

cially in tragic acts of horrific mass loss, we often focus on the perpetrator, and I wanted to immortalize the fallen in the moments before he entered their lives. I’d read a People Magazine article about some of the victims that described how loved they were by the people who knew them. I was so moved by the nuances of their lives outside of this horrible moment. So I decided the best way to remember someone, anyone we’ve lost, really, is to celebrate what we love about them. In the song, I sing ‘We’ve Got To Dance To Re member Them,’ and I mean that as much for the victims of Pulse as I do for those we lost in the mid 90’s to the AIDS crisis due to the inaction of the Regan adminis tration. As queer people - the dance floor is our refuge; it’s supposed to be a place of safety and community. So that’s where I laid my flowers.

2022 marks your 20th anniversary as a solo recording artist. Looking back, what are some stand-out moments for you? Being able to wear anything I wanted by Jean Paul Gaultier. Singing a duet with Pavarotti. Being invited to a dinner party with Madonna in attendance. Singing at the closing of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney Australia. 17 years of marriage to my beautiful husband, Richard.

Looking ahead with a reclaimed iden tity, what’s in store for Darren Hayes version 2.0?

No more shame! More music. Less caring about what other people think of me! I’m team Madonna when it comes to defying the limits of what is age appropriate. I’m 50, and I’m just hitting my stride.

You’ve lived your life as a gay man in and out of the public eye while experiencing the struggles of coming to terms with your sexuality and ultimately coming out. What advice would you give to someone today, struggling with those same issues? You don’t owe your private journey and story to anyone. Coming out is a complex psychological and emotional process, and it’s different for everyone. Do it on your timeline and your terms. First and foremost, know that there is freedom on the other side and an expansive life happier than you could possibly imagine

when you do.

You’ve already announced your UK and Australian tour in 2023 – any chance you’ll be touring in the US at some point? Yes! I don’t know if it will be official by the time this goes to print - but I’m doing just 3 North American dates - Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto in April 2023. It will be my first time touring the US in almost 25 years, besides a few one-off shows in 2007, so it’s extremely special for me and my audience.

“

Homosexual” by Darren Hayes will be available on October 7. Follow Darren Hayes on Instagram @darrenhayes.

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Rising

By Chris Azzopardi

There are far worse things happening in the world, clearly, but political-parody sensation Randy Rainbow does have a bone to pick with some folks. And this time, it’s not with Marjorie Taylor Greene. Not even with Donald Trump.

“I’m throwing my team the hell under the bus,” he joked on camera, after jump ing on Zoom last minute when he was reminded of our interview, which was “on everyone’s calendar but mine.” “I was getting ready to take a bubble bath,” he said, “but I’m happy to be with you.”

At the time of our interview in April, Rain bow was making his press rounds to chat about his debut memoir, “Playing with Myself.” The humanizing book recounts his life growing up as an imaginative and misunderstood boy, before he became known for his playful digs at right-wing figures, reworking famous Broadway songs to poke at the sheer insanity of those making really terrible political decisions. We meet Nanny, his adoring late grandmother; we go back to the video that launched his viral career, when he pretend-called Mel Gibson; we learn about his come dy-meets-Broadway origins and how it became a full-blown ca reer, earning him three Emmy nominations and famous fans such as Patti LuPone and even, yes, Carol Burnett.

I was talking to a friend about interviewing you and he said, “Will he sing?” Why would I just sing? See, this is the fake news on me. Everyone thinks I’m a lunatic who bursts into song.

Why would you just sing? Perhaps because you’ve built a career on it, I don’t know.

True. If we were out having a couple of drinks, I probably would be singing con stantly and you would tell me to shut up. But not always.

In addition to LGBTQ+ fans, you’ve got a lot of mom fans. They hit on me. It’s inappropriate.

They haven’t learned consent, appar ently.

Mothers don’t know consent. I take it as a compliment. I see it as a Barry Ma nilow/Liberace kind of thing.

So the book: You are extremely vulnera ble in it, and I just want to tell you that I appreciate you sharing intimate parts of your life with us. I have a real ap preciation for the fact that you went to some complex and complicated places. With your family, especially. I’m glad I got on the Zoom today, because that’s really nice to hear and I appreciate that. I did go to some vulnerable places. I was certainly more raw than I’ve ever been before publicly.

Was there a moment where you decid ed that, “If I’m going to write a book, I need to tell that part of the story to tell my full story”? And if so, when was that moment in the process for you?

From the beginning, I had every intention of being as vulnerable and as real as I could muster. People have been so generous with their praises — mothers across the country. And every one who has written to me over the years, especially the last five years, and has come to my show and my meet-and-greets, they’re so generous with their praise and… gratitude is the word.

They thank me for getting them through. Getting them through Trump, getting them through the pandemic, getting them

through their own personal struggles, and they offer their emotional selves up to me, and in a way that’s so real. And I realized that’s so nice, but it’s not really a two-way street at this moment, because these people only know the two-dimen sional persona that they’ve come to know, which is certainly a part of me.

But they don’t really know that I am a complicated person who has my own insecurities, and flaws, and heartbreaks, and has faced my own adversities in life. So I wanted to really seize the moment and, as a gift to those followers who have been with me for years and to myself, to really come out and put it out there on the table.

What do mothers of LGBTQ+ kids tell you?

I meet so many mothers. So many of them come to my live shows, and a lot of them bring their little kids who sometimes dress up like me and they look like Liza Minnelli, and they’ve got the bows and the pink glasses. And they say a variety of things, one of which is lovely: “Thank you for being a role model to my child as someone who is unabashedly being himself.”

And then sometimes at the meet-andgreets they ask: “My son is behaving this way and I want to support him or her or them. What is your advice?” I’m not an expert on the subject, but I do know that I had a mother who, in my opinion, did the perfect thing, which was create a safe environment for me to be whatever it is I was wanting to be. She didn’t push [me] one way or the other, she didn’t make it her own thing. She just simply provided a safe space, and to me, that’s the best advice I can offer any mother with a little boy or girl like I was. I hope that some of those mothers will read this and get something valuable from it.

This is your first book. So what was it like? Did you get up in the middle of the night with a thought and write a whole chapter at 3 a.m.? And how did it com pare to writing your musical parodies?

Yes to all that. I don’t have to tell you: As a writer, you walk around with these things just popping into your head. So yes, there was a lot of jumping up at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning and taking lots of notes. I found the experience to be a lot of things. It was much more emotional than I thought it would be; I was crying a lot through the good and bad. These are the mem ories that have been lighting the corners of my minds, to quote Barbra, for many years, but I never had an opportunity to really flush them out and put them down on paper. So it was very ca thartic, very emotional, fun, I loved it, and different in that it was the first time I had done any sort of real autobi ographical writing. So that was a pleasure.

Again, one of the most satisfying things about this is that I can say if you love me... because some people love me, some people hate me, and my first thought

when someone says anything positive or negative on social media or anywhere else is it’s interesting because you don’t know me yet. You actually don’t know me. So here’s a little bit of the real me, and then decide. Now you can really hate me. Or love me. Choose. But if you’re judging, again, that two-dimensional, scripted, campy persona, then you don’t know the full story yet.

And there’s an entire chapter for those who are still hating you because of tweets you sent in 2010 and 2011 that were deemed racist and homophobic, which you apologized for.

There’s plenty of sunshine and Santa Claus in this book, meaning I talk a lot about the happy things and the joy and excite ment and fun and positive, but that was something that was not so fun or positive that I went through. And I wanted to talk about it because it’s a topic that I’m interested in. I’m interested in that con versation, and I now have a personal perspective that I didn’t have before. So I wanted to add that to the public conversation. It’s not a 15-page mea culpa, it’s not a whole apology, because I’ve apologized for what I’ve wanted to apologize for.

It was humbling, I learned a lot, but as I say in the end, I can’t wrap it up neatly. It’s a very nuanced discussion, especially coming from someone who is a comedian and doesn’t like putting restrictions on art.

Given what happened the night that Will Smith attacked Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars after Chris’s joke, does it make you concerned at all for the state of comedy? It was Kathy Griffin who recently expressed concerns about others following in Will’s footsteps when a joke is made that someone doesn’t like. That is a concern of mine, but I don’t know if it started that night. I think that we’re in a very weird place, and people are angry and taking their aggressions out in places that it really doesn’t belong.

We’re in such a horrible place in the world and there’s war going on and pandemics, and it’s just a really heavy time. And I felt bad for a country who tuned in to get a little levity and escape for a couple of hours, and had to see this hero, this person that they idolize… I certainly am a Will Smith fan. They had to see him attack another idol and another hero of ours. That was just so sad to me. It was just sad that we couldn’t get that little escape that we just wanted so badly.

You said that you were concerned be fore this even happened about perform ing your own political comedy. People ask me all the time, “Are you concerned about that?” I am satirical and I spoof. My satire certainly leans in one direction. But it’s something I try not to really overthink because what can you do?

I wonder if it’s easier for people to digest your comedy since it’s filtered through an almost cartoonish lens. I think I hope so. It’s my opinion that I’m tackling these topics in the most innocu ous way possible with show tunes. So it interests me when people get really ticked off by any of my work. I have to question their intentions because it’s like, “Are you really that incensed about a song from ‘The Music Man’?” People are really inter ested in being angry these days.

Going back to the book, what was the most emotional topic for you to write about?

Certainly anything to do with my grand mother, my Nanny, was very emotional.

She’s in the book a lot. It’s not only a beautiful tribute to her, but to uncondi tional love and what that can mean to somebody.

You have to write the foreword for the paperback edition. You’re saying such nice things and things that I hoped came through, and that’s so nice. And she does pop up in the book, these cosmic entranc es that she makes. Things that I hadn’t even thought about until I was writing about emotional things.

When I talk about my cat dying at the beginning of the pandemic, Nanny made her presence known, I believe, in moments like those too. That cat chapter — I feel there should be a disclaimer to the pet people in my audience.

I have been hearing from a lot of the read ers who are cat or pet people who say that it’s brutal and hard to get through, which I like. That means to me that I did it right. Because it was a brutal experience because we locked down, and then my cat, the only other soul that I was sharing this experience with, got sick two days later. So that was hard. But the happy ending is I got a new cat and she’s sitting right here judging me like a bitch.

Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Direc tor of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

Celebrate Pride and Prevent MPX

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

Atlanta Pride is here, and the community is bursting at the seams to get out there and celebrate in person. But with the current outbreak of the MPX virus, it’s crucial to stay on top of the latest updates, so you can stay safe and celebrate Pride at the same time. So, we went directly to the source and spoke to Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the current Director of the CDC Division of HIV Prevention, who was appointed National Monkeypox Response Depu ty Coordinator to the White House at the beginning of August.

As a leading public health expert on issues af fecting the LGBTQ+ communities and now White House-appointed authority on MPX, can you tell us a little bit about the current status of the outbreak?

Cases are down 50% from early August. That’s really good news and a cause for cautious optimism. Georgia appears to be on the downslope of cases. That’s due to the amazing work of letting people know how to reduce their risk, get vaccinated, and get tested. Atlanta has been a shining example of how to respond to monkeypox from the significant work the community and government have done to make vaccine distribution equitable and by putting vaccines and education right where people live, work, and play. At the same time, we have more work to be done to ensure we’re reaching every community eq uitably with resources to fight this outbreak. Georgia has been at the forefront of this equity work and is a model for many other states.

It may seem like we have heard it repeatedly, but how is MPX spread? And what are the symptoms? The most common way monkeypox is spread in this outbreak is through the close physical contact that happens during sex. Other skin-to-skin contact may also spread the infection, but it’s a lot less promi nent. Less commonly, monkeyox can be transmitted by touching objects that have touched monkeypox lesions, or from prolonged face-to-face contact, like kissing. The bottom line is well over 90% of cases reported sex, and the lion share of the cases are in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. We need to be aware of monkeypox, make changes to some behaviors to reduce risk of exposure, and get vaccinated if at risk!

Monkeypox can start with a flu-like illness with fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. Soon after, people devel op a rash. Many people during this outbreak skip the flu-like symptoms and go right to the rash. The rash looks like pimples or bumps. Classic monkeypox rashes are usually on the face and body, but in this outbreak, we are seeing a different pattern with lesions around the anus and genitals as well as in the anus and mouth. If you have a rash, it’s a good idea to see a medical provider to see if you need testing for monkeypox.

How serious is MPX?

Monkeypox can be a very serious infection. Although deaths related to this infection in this outbreak have been uncommon, people can still have very severe manifestations of the infection, including rashes that scar, painful lesions in the mouth, anus, and genitals, and rarely lesions that affect the eye. Monkeypox can be more severe in people with medical problems that weaken the immune system, including HIV. People with HIV who qualify for the vaccine should

get it and should seek early care if they have a rash.

People living with HIV on medications do better in this and many other infections, so this is an important chance for me to remind people to get tested for HIV, go on PrEP if needed, or connect to HIV care and get treatment if your test is positive!

It is critical that individuals in this highest risk category un derstand the risk behaviors that may leave you vulnerable to monkeypox and get vaccinated if you have not already.

A lot of people are looking for ward to finally being able to celebrate Pride in person after the festival and parade were canceled two years in a row. How do you protect yourself from MPX when you’re out and about?

We are all excited for Atlanta Pride! The CDC has really clear, plain language guidance on how people can prevent monkeypox.  The best strategy is to get vaccinated with a two-dose regimen if you are at risk and temporarily make some changes to your sex life, like reducing multiple, anonymous, or new partners. Although no vaccine provides perfect protection, two weeks after the second dose, lab tests indicate that protec tion is adequate. Check out the CDC guidance at: www.cdc.gov/ poxvirus/monkeypox/preven tion/sexual-health.html.

How important is getting an MPX vaccine to protect your self against infection?

The vaccine is really important but not the only way we can prevent monkeypox. I strongly encourage people who qualify to get the vaccine, both doses! Supply is much better than a few weeks ago, and there is good lab-based evidence that the vaccine works! You can also protect yourself by avoiding some of the exposures that lead

to monkeypox. Use all the tools in the toolkit to prevent the infection!

The next phase of the vaccine rollout is to target ‘hotspots’like the Atlanta Pride festival - and send out extra vaccine doses to where people will gather in large numbers. Will there be additional vaccine events during Atlanta Pride?

Yes! We worked with the Geor gia Department of Public Health and local counties to vaccinate almost 4000 people for mon keypox during Black Pride. More to come!!

So you celebrated Pride, took a few risks, and now you think you have symptoms of MPX, or you know you were exposed to someone who cur rently has MPX. What should you do?

Seek care! If you have been exposed to someone with monkeypox and you have not been vaccinated, you may need a vaccine as post-expo sure protection or prophylaxis (PEP). The sooner, the better to prevent infection. If you have symptoms of monkeypox, get tested and keep to yourself as you wait for test results. Assume you have it until testing comes back.

If you get sick, are there any treatments besides getting the vaccine?

The vaccine does not treat monkeypox. It is a preventive measure that helps before you have symptoms. If you have monkeypox, talk to your medi cal provider. They can help you treat the symptoms, including pain that may happen because of oral, rectal, and genital lesions. You may also qualify for treatment with tecovirimat or TPOXX, an experimental drug used to treat the infection. We don’t know how well it works, but we know it’s safe. You could potentially even enroll in a trial to help everyone learn about TPOXX. You can learn more

about the TPOXX STOMP trail at STOMP (stomptpoxx.org)

With you and other experts at the helm to combat this outbreak, do you think it will disappear at some point? Or will we get unending variants like with Covid-19?

I think we will see that we are able to get good control of this outbreak. We don’t expect variants like we see with COVID-19 because the virus is a lot different. We are at a really important time of the outbreak where we have all the right tools at hand to control monkeypox; we just need to make sure those tools get to people who need them, especially people of color who are over-represented in the outbreak but under-represented in the vaccine administrations.

Where can we read the latest MPX news from you and the White House task force?

I recommend visiting the follow ing website to stay up to date:  www.hhs.gov/monkeypox/in dex.html. It links to information from multiple agencies, includ ing the CDC!

Anything you’d like to add? Happy Pride! I just want to thank my Atlanta community!

Atlanta is my home, and I am proud to see the work you all have done to help control monkeypox. I am truly honored to represent us at the White House and in my work on HIV at the CDC.

This Is MY PRIDE

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

What does Pride mean to you? Is it watching the parade, or is it a feeling you carry throughout the year? Why do you celebrate Pride? The parties or the political statement? We asked a few people about what their Pride means to them – and of course, we made sure that they gave a few recommendations to what events and parties they will be at.

David Cowan Freelance Deaf Inter preter

What’s your favorite thing about Pride?

My favorite thing about Atlanta Pride is seeing all the familiar faces and being around people. I’m extroverted. It

Royce Soble Artist & Documen tarian

What’s your favorite thing about Atlanta Pride?

The Pansy Patrol! I love the huge flowers blocking the hateful signs of the rightwing (nuts) on 10th Street.

was not easy being quarantined during COVID. Seeing all LGBTQ everywhere makes me feel loved and appreciated.

Why do you celebrate Pride?   It’s extremely important to let those haters know that we will not disappear or go away. We are here and everywhere. It’s so important to celebrate who we are! We are celebrating that

They have a right to be there, but we don’t need to see their crassness and cruelty.

Why do you celebrate Pride? VISIBILITY! I have been marching since I was 18 years old, and it just gets bigger and bigger. The work that activists have done these 50+ years is why we have Pride. We have to keep doing the work. It’s not just about a party. It should be

we are taking back our country! Hate has no place on this earth!

What events or parties will you be attending?   What events or parties I will be attending - I’ll be there the whole entire weekend. Want to feel your love! And sending my love to you all!

celebrated as well as keeping the conversations open about our community.

What events or parties will you be attending?

Deep South ATL parties all weekend long. I am already exhausted.

Thomas Le Marketing Man ager & Creator of Tom Thomas Crown Affair

What’s your favorite thing about Pride?  Pride makes the people come together. Whether gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc., all are always welcomed. It’s the perfect time to catch up with old friends and make new ones along the way. Why do you celebrate

Pride?

Pride is all about the community to me. So celebrating Pride not only celebrates the LGBTQ+ community as a whole but it also sheds light on the Atlanta gay community, its active members, LGBTQ+ business owners, gay establishments, non-profit organizations, and our LGBTQ+ allies.

will you be attending?   My favorite event of the en tire year is the Pride Kickoff Party at the Georgia Aquar ium, so I will definitely be there. I also plan on going to Kweens on the Green at Piedmont Park, DILF at Heretic Atlanta, GA Boy Productions Pride Saturday with DJ Rosabel at Pullman Yard, and Queen Butch ATL Pride weekend events.

Demetre Daska lakis Director of the CDC Division of HIV Prevention & National Monkey pox Response Deputy Coordinator to the White House

What’s your favorite thing about Pride?

I love the Atlanta queer community and how much they show up for each

What events or parties

Malik Brown Director, May or’s Division of LGBTQ Affairs

What’s your favorite thing about Atlanta Pride?

Atlanta is my hometown, so seeing hundreds of thou sands of people – some from all over the worldcelebrate LGBTQ+ culture is so powerful to me.

other! This is going to be my first Pride here with the Piedmont Park events. I can’t wait! Oh, and October 7 is my birthday, so it’s like a giant birthday for me with the best guest list.

Why do you celebrate Pride?

Pride reminds me of why we fight. The energy and love that converge during Pride recharge my batteries!

What events or parties will you be attending?   Queen Butch and the Deep South events are my jam. Also, just can’t wait for my Carry Nation siblings to show us how it’s done!

Why do you celebrate Pride?

I celebrate Pride to honor those who came before me. So many people, many of whose names we’ll never know, sacrificed so much to get us to this moment.

What events or parties will you be attending?

Obviously, I’m pumped about the 4th Annual Mayor’s Pride Reception. Beyond that, I’m looking

forward to the park and the parade.

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I’m dating someone who doesn’t want to come to terms with who they are. They are comfortable expressing their sexuality to me, but they don’t seem to feel comfortable with anyone else. And since Covid restrictions have lifted, it seems like they’re becoming more and more distant from their true self and uncomfortable with expressing who they are again. Any advice that I can take to help make them feel comfortable again?

Well, sexuality is certainly on a spectrum. That said, maybe they are fluctuating between where they feel they should be by societal standards and where they truly are. How can you help them just feel safe?

Too often, folks don’t express their true selves out of fear of being ostracized or shut out by family and friends. If you know their friends, then may be continuing to be your true self would help them realize that they have nothing to fear. Otherwise, they might just need time. There’s nothing wrong with taking time to “come out” because everyone’s coming-out story is different. You should, however, continue being the support system you seem to be for them and enjoy the time you all spend together.