Q ATLus Magazine | Sept. 3. 2020

September 3, 2020 July 23, July 16, 2020

Last Splash

Busy Labor Day Closes Strange Summer 10 Pledges We Can Make to Do Better

LGBTQ Business Turns Hardships into Hopes

Ghosting Reveals All You’ll Need to Know

Wrap & WARP THE WEIRDEST SUMMER EVER wraps up this week as Labor Day

brings another 2020 milestone to the fore. Even in a pandemic, LGBTQ Atlanta and Q ATLus have you covered for ways to celebrate.

The Q Events calendar is topped by Black Gay Pride, which goes on in spirit with in-person parties and some new online commemorations as well. Standbys like Decatur Book Festival and DragonCon have gone

virtual for 2020, but they are still as queer-inclusive and worth checking out as always.

As the calendar (if not the summery heat) starts nudging us toward indoor activities, Q Nightlife reminds us of a revitalized Warpzone Wednesdays for gaymers. Q People introduces us to the indefatigable Charlie Paine

and his efforts to preserve LGBTQ historical sites. Q Community checks in with a lesbian-owned Beltline shop about how to survive a plague.

Season in and season out, our reliable regular features are here for you, too.

10 Q Things offers commitments you can keep, Q Shots offers photos of your smiling faces, and Q Advice wraps the issue like Labor Day wraps the summer — with juicy gay stuff.

Soak it all in, then find us online every day at theQatl.com, and write us at mike@theQatl.com. Happy Labor Day!

RICHARD CHERSKOV PUBLISHER & SALES RICHARD@THEQATL.COM 404-917-9678 JOHN NAIL ART DIRECTOR JOHN@THEQATL.COM

MIKE FLEMING EDITOR MIKE@THEQATL.COM RIVENDELL MEDIA NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM 212-242-6863 theQatl.com 5

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 29 SEPTEMBER 3, 2020

COMMIT

Promises We Can Keep

20 COVER

10

Labor of Love

Black Gay Pride Tops Big Weekend

23

PEOPLE

8

Saving History

Charlie Paine Preserves Landmarks COMMUNITY

13

Hope & Hardship

18.21 Women Pivot Amid COVID

10 Queer Things..................10 Q Community......................13

Q EVENTS

Q Nightlife...........................18 Q Events..............................20 Q Map..................................26 Q Advice..............................30 6 theQatl.com

30

Gone By

Looking Back at Summer 2020

Q

PEOPLE

Past-PRESENT Charlie Paine preserves Atlanta’s LGBTQ history

By Matt Hennie CHARLIE PAINE’S PASSION FOR preservation was ignited as a teenager when he pushed Emory to save a century-old building. Now his attention is focused on saving LGBTQ Atlanta’s history and historic places.

Paine’s work — he is secretary of Historic Atlanta and chair of its LGBTQ Historic Preservation Advisory Committee — earned him recognition from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and a $5,000 fellowship.

The money will help fund initiatives in the committee’s strategic plan, which includes a study to provide a framework for understanding, evaluating and preserving historic and culturally important LGBTQ spaces in Atlanta.

“What we’re going to start seeing in the next few years if we don’t preserve LGBTQ spaces, creatively using historic preservation, I think when one goes down, it could cause others to go down with it because all of these spaces live off each other,” Paine said during a new episode of Podcast Q, now live on theQatl.com.

Atlanta needs to get better at recognizing and preserving LGBTQ history – whether it’s the decades-old space that now houses the Heretic and is threatened by a new MARTA station, or the Virginia-Highland house where Supreme Court plaintiff Michael Hardwick was arrested for gay sex in 1982.

“It’s important to preserve these spaces because they connect us to our own histories and our community’s stories,” Paine said. “It’s when we lose those places that really are unique to our city’s history – I think that is a huge loss.”

Charlie Paine’s episode of Podcast Q is online now at theQatl.com and your favorite audio streaming services.

PHOTO BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

8 theQatl.com

Q

10 THINGS

Be Better at Safer Sex (Try PrEP, encourage others)

Be Present in the Moment (Remove noses from mobile devices)

Team EFFORT 10 personal commitments for every LGBTQ

By Mike Fleming

Be Kind (Love one another)

More Sober Nights Out (Events that don’t center around cocktails)

Stop Judging

(Or shaming, ostracizing and ridiculing)

10 theQatl.com

Learn Queer History

Love All Bodies

(And apply its lessons)

(Including our own)

Be Visible (Show up, speak out)

Eliminate Stigmas (About HIV status, sexual practices, community subsets)

Resist Harder ( Join a cause)

PHOTO COURTESY GREG VAUGHAN

theQatl.com 11

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12 theQatl.com

COMMUNITY

Hope from

Q

HARDSHIP

Lesbian shop owners use pandemic as catalyst for change

By Mike Fleming MISSY AND KRISTIN KOEFED are used to overcoming challenges, but like everyone, nothing prepared the couple for the wrench thrown into their business model by the coronavirus pandemic.

“We shut down our shop in midMarch, and were closed until the very end of June,” they told Project Q. “It has definitely slowed down business quite a bit, but we have been able to retain 100% of our staff.”

The pair owns 18.21 Bitters, the cocktail mixes and tinctures shop that opened in 2015 in Ponce City Market. They also founded the speakeasy-style The James Room restaurant on the Atlanta 

PHOTO BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

theQatl.com 13

KOEFEDS continued Beltline that opened in 2019, but recently sold it.

Even amid the hardships, there have been blessings, assistance and hope, the Q magazine cover models said.

“We are working to pivot the business model, but also we’re happy that our staff, while we were closed, were able to get unemployment benefits, which gave us some peace of mind,” the Koefeds said. “We have a wonderful team and partners that continue to work hard to keep things moving forward, and are working with Ponce on some assistance.”

They are also part of a funding cohort on EnrichHER, an online platform for grants, loans and investment opportunities specifically targeted at female and Black-owned businesses that are already established.

“We are conducting out first equity raise, and are happy to share information on that with folks one on one,” they said. “We are really excited about what the future holds for the company and are using the pandemic as a catalyst for change that will really catapult the brand towards a larger national presence.”

Still, the changes have not been slight, and the Ponce City Market Shop has undergone rigrous rules changes for everyone’s safety.

“While we are open now, we don’t feel that it is safe to do tastings, so those are on hold and we currently only allow one customer at a time in the shop,” the Koefeds said.

PHOTO BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

“The staff has been wonderful as usual and so

have our guests,” they said. “We have always been blessed with really amazing customers and that hasn’t changed.”

The support extends from a loyal base of queer Atlantans.

They also limit staff to only one person on the floor at a time, and both guests and employees must be masked.

“The LGBTQIA+ community in Atlanta has

“We have visual distancing guides laid out on the floor, and we are now operating on a cashless basis with virtual receipts. Our staff is diligent about cleaning the shop, and we have reduced hours so that the store can be thoroughly sanitized daily,” the Koefeds said.

derful city surrounded by such a wonderful

It’s a lot, but patrons and employees have both rolled with the punches pretty well.

14 theQatl.com

always shown us so much support, and we feel really lucky to have ended up in such a won-

community,” the Koefeds said. “We want to say thank you so much.”

Anything else? Just one thing.

“Oh...and vote,” they added.

Visit 18.21 Bitters on the lower level of Ponce City Market, 1821bitters.com.

Q

NIGHTLIFE

In the

Z ONE

18 theQatl.com

GAYmers geek out on Hump Day at Heretic

By Mike Fleming FORGET WHAT YOU HEARD. HERETIC IS not just a weekend hotspot, and please catch up if you still think that video-gaming is only for straight boys.

Enter Warpzone Wednesday, and get your “gayme” on with scores of like-minded gays and plenty of joysticks in a social setting outside your living room.

Warpzone has become a must-do gathering each week, a haven of fun for anyone who loves a strong drink, a friendly crowd and a night full of their favorite video games.

We talked to Heretic GM Alan Collins about why Heretic is the place to be on Wednesday nights.

What is Warpzone Wednesday?

Warpzone is a midweekly escape for the Gaymer Geek in all of us, combined with the fun of hanging out and playing with like-minded friends who want to get their geek on while enjoying good company, cocktails, Local Geek Fan Art, free hot dogs, popcorn and live action Sci-Fi and anime all night long. We feel that this arcade feel has been lost to a generation of online Gamers.

What is it about the GAYmer crowd that Heretic loves so much?

We are that crowd!! We are gaymers, geeks and sci-fi and horror buffs. As such, we wanted to recreate and maintain a safe space for gathering and geeking out together.

It’s more than just about games. It’s about connecting and reconnecting with others during a time where people can feel so alone. To have those geeky conversations face to face, even with our masks on.

So we created the space we wanted to see. A full pub, open dancefloor, pumping music, lots of games to play, and a beautiful back porch to lounge. We want people to get out and have fun with people who love games and gaming culture and feel safe doing it. That is what matters to us at Warpzone.

How has Warpzone changed over the years and in the Age of COVID? These days, the lesson we all have to learn is that “Survivability is linked to adaptability.” We are navigating these uncertain and fearful times with determination and great effort on our part, following all the state guidelines. And going above and beyond by requiring masks and social distancing with NO exceptions.

We strive to balance the importance of following the science as well as fulfilling the desire to see our friends and to deliver a safe space to play and meet people who share our gaymer geekiness. We constantly wipe down and clean all surfaces and game controllers. Bubba Geisha ( Jon) will remind you (with love) a hundred times if needed to keep your masks on while in the building.

Who are some of the regulars we can we expect to meet when we get there?

In addition to doorman, geek artist and floor host Jon Skoglund (Bubba Geisha), Warpzone is co-hosted by Matthew Wortham as the evening’s gamemaster and also the first shift bartender.

Donte Harper bartends the late closing shift, and of course I go all in to support new ideas and methods to keep the bar open, operating and thriving.

This is decidedly not y’all’s weekend vibe. What are some of the other weekday offerings?

In addition to the Heretics Warpzone Wednesday, we’ll be reopening Heretic Country Thursday’s soon with an optional outdoor dancefloor on the lower patio for line dancing.

What else do people need to know?

The Heretic is here to stay! We’ve been open 29 years and have no plans to change that. #hereticstrong More than ever, we as a people need our sanctuary places to relax and feel safe with others. To unwind from the stress of the “RonaVerse” outside.

To hold each other up with games, laughter, music, movies and fun! Cocktails and free hot dogs and popcorn for patrons doesn’t hurt either!!

Warpzone Wednesday takes place every week at Heretic, 7 p.m. hereticatlanta.com theQatl.com 19

Q Events

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3 — MONDAY, SEPT. 7 Black Gay Pride Atlanta remains a mecca for LGBTQ people of color even in a pandemic. Check out virtual and IRL events all over town through Monday from your favorite bars and clubs, as well as tried-and-true promoters at AtlantaPrideWeekend.com, RockStarsProduction.com, TraxxAtlanta. com and facebook.com/WassupNATLevents.

20 theQatl.com

The Best LGBTQ Things to Do in Atlanta This Week THURSDAY, SEPT. 3 — MONDAY, SEPT. 7

Decatur Book Festival As with every year, the inclusive roster of literary luminaries turns out, this time with online as well as in-person events.

LGBTQ authors for 2020 include a keynote address by Lambda Award and recent Pulitzer winner Jericho Brown (photo). Lesbian-feminist bookseller Charis sponsors several of them @ Crowdcast. decaturbookfestival.com, charisbooksandmore.com

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 — SUNDAY, SEPT. 6

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5 DJ Drew G The Labor Day Weekend schedule hops at Heretic with afterparties at BJs/ Xion, starting with this dance party @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com Eagle Nights All the Leather-Levi fun you expect, plus Onyx Bar Night with Ron Pullman on Friday and Hotlanta Rubber & Gear Club on Saturday @ Atlanta Eagle, 10 p.m. atlantaeagle.com

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6 Sweet Tea The Labor Day Weekend dance party that only GA Boy Productions can manifest. The one and only Dan de Leon moves the shirtless dancing queens with mask requirements and limited entry @ District, 4 p.m. -10 p.m. gaboyevents.com DJ Karlitos Dance away during a special Sunday set, a bit earlier than they’re used to @ Heretic, 6 p.m. hereticatlanta.com

Pull Up! Drag Drive-Through Only Wussy could or would be this genius.

Pull into the lot for an outdoor show of kings and queens you can enjoy from the safety of your car. DJ beats and concessions are also on the agenda @ Amazza, 7:30 p.m. each night through Sunday. Benefits Atlanta Pride. wussymag.com

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 Sisters Summertime The backyard and patio are open again for women who love women in the open air @ My Sister’s Room, Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m. – 3 a.m. Pssst.

They also sell gallon margs and taco bar kits for delivery or pickup. mysistersroom.com

X Summer Gather on the refreshed patio and newly branded hotspot for Sunday Funday food and drinks @ X Midtown (formerly Ten Atlanta), 4 p.m. 12 midnight. facebook.com/XMidtownX

MONDAY, SEPT. 7 Stars of the Century

Two Black Gay Pride and Labor Day traditions come together. One of the best drag shows in town closes out the weekend with a mind-blowing cast of kings and queens @ Heretic, 7 p.m. hereticaltanta.com theQatl.com 21

SUMMER 2020

Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com

Q SHOTS

PHOTOS BY LAURA BACCUS & MATT HENNIE

theQatl.com 23

SUMMER 2020

Q SHOTS

PHOTOS BY LAURA BACCUS & MATT HENNIE

Tuned in to you.™

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24 theQatl.com

Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com

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Amsterdam Ave.

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14th St. NE

12th St. NE

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Q Atlus Map

11 6

Virginia Ave. NE

2 9th St. NE

12 7

Key

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

 Bars

 Restaurants North Ave. NW

North Ave. NW

 Clubs  Retail/Services

Not Shown

1. Amsterdam Cafe 502 Amsterdam Ave. NE

8. Flex 76 4th St NW

2. Blakes on the Park 227 10th St. NE

9. Henry’s Midtown Tavern 132 10th St NE

Mary’s 1287 Glenwood Ave SE

10. Joe’s on Juniper Ralph McGill Blvd. NE 1049 Juniper St NE

Sister Louisa’s 466 Edgewood Ave SE

4. Friends on Ponce 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 5. My Sister’s Room 84 12th St

11. Zocalo Mexican Kitchen & Cantina 187 10th St NE Highland Ave. NE

6. X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave. NE

12. Barking Leather After Dark 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE (inside Eagle)

7. Atlanta Eagle 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

13. Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

26 theQatl.com

Future (Opens July 3) 50 Lower Alabama St SW, Suite 180 Glen Iris Dr. NE

3. Bulldogs Bar 893 Peachtree St NE

4

The T 465 Boulevard SE Swinging Richards 1400 Northside Dr NW Lips Drag Show Palace 3011 Buford Highway NE Lost ’n Found Youth Thift Store 2585 Chantilly Dr NE

Ponce De Leon Pl. NE

St. Charles Ave.

Ponce De Leon Pl. NE

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Charles Allen Dr. NE

NE

NE

Piedmont Park

Piedmont Ave.

Spring St. NW

8

3 Juniper St. NE

85

Peachtree St.

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8th St. NE

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 Bars  Restaurants  Clubs  Retail/Services

Cheshire Bridge Road 5. The Heretic 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

9. Gravity Fitness 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

2. Tripp’s Bar 1931 Piedmont Circle NE

6. Las Margaritas 1842 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

10. Southern Nights 2205 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

3. Woof’s Sports Bar 494 Plasters Ave NE

7. Roxx Tavern 1824 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

11. Tokyo Valentino (Cheshire Bridge) 1739 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

4. BJ Rooster’s 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

8. 2Qute Hair Salon 1927 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

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1. Felix’s on the Square 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

3. Midtown Moon 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

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Ansley Park 2. The Hideaway 1544 Piedmont Ave NE

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Key

 Bars  Restaurants  Clubs  Retail/Services

7. Brushstrokes 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 8. Equilibrium Fitness 1529 Piedmont Ave NE

theQatl.com 27

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Q Advice

Missing in

There is no good excuse for his behavior, but a few thoughts arise to put toward your peace of mind.

Alcohol played a role, whether it enhanced his natural surliness and lack of empathy, skewed his decision-making ability, created the issues that led his ultimate departure, or all of the above.

My date just bailed without saying goodbye

What if he was so drunk that he got sick and couldn’t face you? What if he was intimidated by the VIP treatment? What if he just lacked basic social skills?

ACTION

Q

I consider myself a pretty good catch.

I’m reasonably intelligent and attractive, well employed, and most of all, a nice person. So when a date bailed on me, I was floored.

I invited this good-looking guy I know to tag along on a fun event, hoping to entertain and explore the sexual tension between us. He was introduced around to a lot of great people, and he posed happily for photos with me and my friends.

I had a couple beers and noticed he was tipping back beer as well as cocktails. I didn’t think too much of it at first. It was a party, and several people were tipsy.

Eary on, we shared a kiss or two, a personal touch here and there, and I thought things were OK. As the night wore on, he became a little more distant, and ultimately, kinda salty. I started to think we’d get through it and maybe chalk it up as a dating fail.

Finally, he excused himself to the restroom and didn’t come back. It was a big event with hundreds of people, so I gave him 30 minutes and texted. No response. After an hour, I began to worry. Some 90 minutes and several questions about his absence later, I got a return text, “I’m fine. Went home.”

What the hell? Are we past even saying goodbye now? I’m OK I guess, but hurt.

Dear Bailout: Queers being insensitive to each other is practically an epidemic. Even when we aren’t inebriated, too many of us are anesthetized to each other’s feelings. Self-care and “getting ours” are important, but are we so wrapped up in ourselves that we click “delete,” “ignore” or “block” in real life as easily as we do on social media?

30 theQatl.com

Whatever it was, his choices were 100% about him and nothing about you.

You may never know what his deal was, but you do know enough to be grateful that he showed his true colors now rather than six months from now, when you might be more invested in the relationship.

These ideas don’t directly alleviate your hurt feelings, but you may find some relief in them. Rest easier, too, by focusing on lessons that he has yet to learn about how you expect to be treated.

Q Advice is intended for entertainment, not professional counseling. Send your Qs to mike@theQatl.com.

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