Q ATLus Magazine | December 3, 2020

December 3, 2020 July 23, July 16, 2020

Make ’Em

LAUGH Sampson McCormick Heals with Humor

Mayor Girds City Hall with Her Power Gays Top 10 Priorities on Biden’s Queer Agenda Remember Fun? Our Flashback Q Shots Do

FUN.

Remember Fun?

AS 2020 WEARS ON, LGBTQ Atlanta resilience finds new limits and this issue of Q ATLus finds triumphs big and small to keep the faith.

Of course, the Biden win looms large. 10 Q Things takes the opportunity

to lay out top LGBTQ priorities for the new administration. Smaller vic-

tories are no less appreciated, and there are two-dozen LGBTQs enjoying new advisory roles, plus one promotion for a full-timer, at City Hall.

Sometimes, the only saving grace in tough times is to laugh, so that’s

why we were happy to sit down with Sampson McCormick. His knack

for finding comedy and love, no matter what the circumstances, appears in the Q Cover story.

If all else fails, memories can count as blessings. You remember fun,

right? This week’s Q Shots galleries gather smiles from pre-mask times

we hope return soon. Q Advice reminds us that life continues no matter what, and talking about it always helps.

We’ll see you next week, and in the meantime, visit theQatl.com or write mike@theQatl.com.

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 4 ISSUE 2

DECEMBER 3, 2020

GET OUT

Your Weekly To-Do List

14 COVER

19

Love, Sampson

Sampson McCormick Does Atlanta

21

10 Q THINGS

Queer Agenda

LGBTQ Priorities for President Biden

8 Q SHOTS

Q NEWS

Squad Goals

Mayor Enhances Her LGBTQ Posse

Flashback

Remember Gatherings of 50 or More?

10 Q Things.......... 8 Q News............... 11

11 6 theQatl.com

Q Events............. 19 Q Map................. 26 Q Advice............. 30

Q

10 THINGS

Dear MR.

PRES

Top 10 LGBTQ Priorities for Joe Biden LAMBDA LEGAL, AN ORGANIZATION dedicated to championing HIV and LGBTQ cases in courts around the country, spent much of the last four years filing federal lawsuits against regressive Trump administration policies.

“When policies erased who we are and gave rise to discrimination against the most vulnerable among us, we fought for equal recognition and equal access.

When lawmakers pushed us out of workplaces, schools, and businesses, we fought to protect our rights all the way to the Supreme Court.”

Lambda, whose Southern Regional Office is in Atlanta, filed more than 30 federal lawsuits in the last four years, and there are hundreds of Trump-era policies that need to be reversed. Be8 theQatl.com

low are ten actions that President Biden can take on day one to begin undoing the damage.

Repair Damage to Courts The federal judiciary is packed with “right-wing extremists who oppose LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, and civil rights more broadly,” Lambda said. Biden can make restoring judicial impartiality one of his priorities.

Protect Marriage Equality

With the new majority on the Supreme Court created by Trump, some opponents will seek to undermine marriage equality. A robust ally in the White House can vigorously defend marriage equality protections including the right of LGBTQ widowers to Social Security survivor’s benefits.

Pentagon leadership understands that our patriotic transgender servicemembers have a right to serve their country openly, as who they are, and free from discrimination.

Stop Attacks on Trans Kids School is tough enough without bullying from the federal government. Biden can get the Department of Education back in the business of protecting educational opportunities for all students, particularly transgender students.

Defend Health Care Trump has been relentless in efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act and to restrict the ability of LGBTQ people to access care. Biden’s Department of Justice can stop efforts to undermine health care in courts, and his Department of Health & Human Services can fight for quality health care free from discrimination.

Stop Separation of Families

IDENT Stop ‘Licenses to Discriminate’ Trump allowed exceptions for discrimination in health care, social services, and private businesses.

Biden must reassert protections for LGBTQ people when we are at our most vulnerable in hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and foster care, and end bills that allow it in the name of religion.

Trump disregarded family ties and used the power of the government to separate and undermine immigrant families and those headed by LGBTQ people. Biden can respect, not target and persecute, such families, create a pathway to citizenship that allows families to stay together, and ensure LGBTQ families are treated equally in the eyes of the law.

End HIV Discrimination in the Military President Biden must direct the Pentagon to end discrimination against our patriotic servicemembers living with HIV. He can ensure that military policies are informed by science and not outdated and stigmatized views.

Reverse Racist Executive Orders

Provide Safe Harbor for LGBTQ Refugees

The Trump administration called efforts to train against pernicious effects of systemic racism “un-American.” Biden must reverse and repudiate racist policies including the Muslim ban, attacks on Black and brown communities and assaults on diversity training.

LGBTQ people from around the world come to the United States, sometimes literally running for their lives. But Trump tarnished our reputation as a safe harbor by enacting historically low ceilings on the number of refugees that can be admitted. Biden administration can reestablish asylum rules that embrace those seeking safety from repression because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

End the Trans Military Ban President Biden must end the ban on open service by transgender people and ensure that

lambdalegal.org theQatl.com 9

I take Pride in helping everyone.

Jesse Watts, RealtorÂŽ

M: 678-237-5310 | O: 404-604-3100 | jwatts5310@gmail.com jessewatts.kw.com | c @jessewattsrealtor Licensed in Georgia. Keller Williams Realty, Inc. is a real estate franchise company. Each Keller Williams office is independently owned and operated.

Keller Williams Realty, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports the Fair Housing Act.

10 theQatl.com

NEWS

Q

They’re With

HER

Atlanta mayor promotes LGBTQ liaison, refreshes advisory board

By Matt Hennie

MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS promoted the city’s LGBTQ liaison and added nearly two-dozen new members to her LGBTQ Advisory Board on Nov. 20, moves that she said strengthens her efforts to make Atlanta City Hall more open and inclusive.

The 23 appointments to the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board bring the panel’s membership to 42. The board is a diverse collection of civic and non-profit officials, religious leaders and businesspeople.

Bottoms elevated Malik Brown – the city’s LGBTQ affairs coordinator – to Atlanta’s first-ever LGBTQ affairs director. Brown’s duties include serving as a liaison to the advisory board.

“Since taking office, our Administration has prioritized the well-being and advancement of Atlanta’s large and diverse LGBTQ community and municipal LGBTQ affairs,” Bottoms said in a press release.

“By creating a director-level LGBTQ Affairs position in the Mayor’s Office and continuing the work of the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board, we are creating institutional support for LGBTQ Atlantans,” she added.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the 2018 Atlanta Pride parade.

“We will continue expanding LGBTQ-supportive policies and deepening the City’s support of and relationship with LGBTQ ATLiens.”

Bottoms directed Brown and the advisory board to focus on five areas – youth; arts, entertainment and culture; trans affairs; health; and economic and community development.

Beyond the advisory committee, Brown works in the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, a first-of-its-kind office for Atlanta that Bottoms created in 2018.

The city enjoys a years-long string of perfect scores on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. The index ranks hundreds of municipalities in five areas — non-discrimination laws, how the city treats its LGBTQ employees, municipal services, law enforcement and relationship with LGBTQ residents.

Brown said his promotion will help further the administration’s work on LGBTQ issues.

A pair of co-chairs will lead the LGBTQ Advisory Board: Pamela Stewart, a president for the Coca-Cola Company, and new board member Matt Keith, a senior vice president for Bank of America.

“I’m honored to continue working alongside her and our dynamic LGBTQ Advisory Board as Atlanta’s first-ever Director of LGBTQ Affairs,” Brown said.

Find more on the city’s relationship with disenfranchised LGBTQ residents, and a full list of the mayor’s new appointments to the board, at theQatl.com. theQatl.com 11

Q

IN BRIEF

Critics knock new Georgia ‘free speech’ bill as anti-LGBTQ A STATE LAWMAKER FROM FAYETTEVILLE PROPOSED a bill that critics said could be used as a “sword for discrimination” against LGBTQ students in Georgia.

State Rep. Josh Bonner, a Republican, filed House Bill 1. It would ensure that all common areas on public college campuses are

open to speakers and would eliminate speech codes in Georgia’s laws, according to Bonner.

But a provision in Bonner’s bill prevents public colleges from

denying benefits or privileges to religious, political or ideological student organizations based on the “actual or anticipated expressive activity of the organization,” according to the legislation.

That’s an attempt to circumvent a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court

ruling that said schools can refuse funding to student groups engaged in discriminatory conduct, according to Georgia Equality.

Georgia’s 16 Democratic electors include LGBTQ advocate CATHY WOOLARD — A FORMER MAYORAL candidate and longtime LGBTQ political strategist — is among the 16 Democratic power brokers who will cast Georgia’s electoral college votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

Woolard appears to be the only LGBTQ official among the Democratic electors. She is a former Atlanta City Council president, mayoral candidate and DNC delegate.

She was the first LGBTQ elected official in Georgia.

Cathy Woolard Her selection is both a reflection of her continued commitment to LGBTQ equality within the Democratic Party, she said.

“I am really honored to have the opportunity to do it,” Woolard told Project Q Atlanta. “There are many people out there that are worthy to cast one of those votes. I am tremendously excited about the ticket and tremendously excited to be able to cast one of Georgia’s votes for them.”

12 theQatl.com

David Camp

Felix’s on the Square owner David Camp dies at 66 FRIENDS THROUGHOUT LGBTQ Atlanta are mourning the loss of David Camp, the longtime owner of Felix’s on the Square who died over Atlanta Pride weekend.

The Atlanta native was 66.

Camp was a “staple of our community,” according to a Facebook post from Felix’s on Oct. 11, the day after he died.

“Owning and operating Felix’s for 20+ years, David did his best to lift the community and bring a little joy and fun into everyone’s life,” the post said. “He believed in creating a fun environment where everyone, absolutely everyone was not only welcome but made to feel like part of the family.”

Camp opened Felix’s in 2000. Midtown Moon owner Marco Penna became fast friends with Camp after moving to Atlanta in 2003.

“Felix’s was his dream bar to open up,” Penna said. “He was a serious businessman when it came to the business, but he was very friendly to all the customers and talked really nice to everybody. To me, that meant a lot.”

Find more on these and other LGBTQ local news every day at theQatl.com.

Q

COVER

‘Butt Sampson McCormick

14 theQatl.com

erball NAKED’ Comic Sampson McCormick finds laughs even in pandemic times

By Matt Hennie SAMPSON MCCORMICK’S LOVE FOR comedy and hard-charging work ethic puts him in front of a microphone most anywhere — even at a nail salon. But his background growing up in a black church didn’t quite prepare him for the experience of 5,000 gay men on a cruise ship.

“The great thing about being a queer comedian is that we do get to perform some places that other comedians don't get to,” McCormick told Podcast Q. “There was this deck up top, and it was called the Dick Deck. It’s always on top, and about 100 people are up there Butterball naked at midnight, and they are getting down. I have never seen anything like this in my life, and I thought what a great place to come do comedy,” McCormick added.

The 36-year-old comedian said he matured over the nearly 20 years since he started performing.

Early on, he approached comedy gigs like choir rehearsal at church — perform, leave and go watch TV. Now, he opens himself up to enjoy the experience and an eclectic mix of performances, from HRC dinners to clothing-optional gay resorts, comedy clubs to a Smithsonian museum and a nudist colony in Virginia.

“These are 70-plus-year-old people, and everybody’s Butterball naked and got their asses directly on the seat,” McCormick said. “These opportuni-

ties really helped me to unlearn a lot of stuff that I learned in church. We just need to loosen up and have fun. You know, people live different lives.”

“If people learn how to respect each other for that, we would live in a world where we appreciated our differences,” he added.

His performances also bring McCormick to Atlanta. He headlined My Sister’s Room last year and co-hosted the Gentlemen’s Ball in 2017. Last week, he returned — virtually, of course — with actor Darryl Stephens for Party With Impact.

The annual fundraiser for Positive Impact Health Centers fell on World AIDS Day. “A lot of people look at it as something that we have to observe in a really somber, quiet, sad way, and we don't have to do that. We can celebrate the lives of the people who fought so that we can get to where we are. We can celebrate the fact that our community has been so resilient in the face of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic and some of the challenges that we have now. It can be a celebration, with laughter, of our persistence and our resilience and our ability to survive and thrive as a community,” McCormick said.

During the interview, McCormick also discussed his survival tricks for 2020 — spoiler, it’s sex and chocolate cake — his comedy special Church Boy, a new project with Jussie Smollett, and why rich gay white men just love him.

“I'm like, okay well if you like me so much, I need for one of y'all to come out here and scoop me up now,” he said.

Listen to the whole Podcast Q interview at theQatl. com or on your favorite audio app.

Tuned in to you.™

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Q Events

PALS Virtual 5K

The Best LGBTQ Things to Do in Atlanta This Week THURSDAY, DEC. 3 PALS Virtual 5K Pets Are Loving Support jumps 2020’s “virtual run” bandwagon. Sign donors for PALS, and record your run through Dec. 15 . One-mile kids or pet walks also encouraged @ GiveSignUp. palsatlanta.org

FRIDAY, DEC. 4 – SUNDAY, DEC. 6 AGMC Holiday Concert It’s online this year, but Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus still brings the holiday heat. The 25th annual concert in Cathedral of St. Philip celebrates the season @ Afton Tickets. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m. voicesofnote.org

SATURDAY, DEC. 5 SEC Saturday The bowl positions are solidifying, and you have a front row seat with gridirons on the screens and food and drink specials in your belly. Midtown Moon and Woofs, 12 noon. woofsatlanta.com, facebook.com/midtownmoon 

FRIDAY, DEC. 4 Ashtanga Weekend Author, video celeb and instructor Taylor Hunt hosts a yoga intensive @ Blue Lotus Yoga, Newnan, through Sunday. bluelotusyogastudio.com

theQatl.com 19

EVENTS continued SATURDAY, DEC. 5 Holly-Gay Market The traveling outdoor marketplace “Big Gay Market” lands in Atlanta with dozens of makers, artists, designers, naughty Santa pics, live performances and more. In the parking lot @ Heretic, 12 noon – 6 p.m. hereticatlanta.com

DJ Nick Stracener See that boy, watch that scene, they are the dancing queens @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com

SUNDAY DEC. 6 Booze & Beats MSR does what they do with a few extras for Sunday funday.

Knock back $3 mimosas and enjoy Djs and brunch @ My Sister’s Room, all day. mysistersroom.com

20 theQatl.com

HERETIC FLASHBACK

Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com

Q SHOTS

PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

theQatl.com 21

HIDEAWAY FLASHBACK

Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com

Q SHOTS

PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

theQatl.com 23

Q SHOTS

PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

BJ ROOSTERS FLASHBACK

Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com

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For more rental information and date/space availability email: b1gt1meeventspace4rent@gmail.com

24 theQatl.com

X MIDTOWN-TEN FLASHBACK

Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com

Q SHOTS

PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

theQatl.com 25

on tA ve .N E dm Pi e

5

10

11th St. NE

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14th 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

r. NE roe D Mon

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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Key

 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

nr Mo

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4. Oscar’s 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

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5. Barking Leather 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 6. Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE

D Monroe

Piedmont Park

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

3. Midtown Moon 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

8

6

Ansley Park 2. The Hideaway 1544 Piedmont Ave NE

E

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7

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Morningside Dr. NE

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1. Sequel Bar 1086 Alco St. NE

Key

 Bars  Restaurants  Clubs  Retail/Services

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

theQatl.com 27

Q Atlus Map Directory The businesses on the preceding pages are integral parts of Atlanta’s LGBTQ landscape. Those listed in boxes are consistent Q partners and community allies.

BARS, CLUBS & RESTAURANTS Amsterdam Cafe 502 Amsterdam Ave. NE Atlanta Eagle 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE BJ Roosters 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Blakes on the Park 227 10th St. NE Bulldogs Bar 893 Peachtree St NE Felix’s on the Square 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Friends on Ponce 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Future 50 Lower Alabama St SW, Suite 180 Henry’s Midtown Tavern 132 10th St NE The Heretic 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road NE The Hideaway 1544 Piedmont Ave NE Joe’s on Juniper 1049 Juniper St NE Las Margaritas 1842 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Lips Drag Show Palace 3011 Buford Highway NE Mama’s Cocina 1958 Piedmont Road NE Mary’s 1287 Glenwood Ave SE Midtown Moon 1510 Piedmont Ave NE My Sister’s Room 84 12th St Oscar’s 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

28 theQatl.com

Roxx Tavern 1824 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

Sequel Bar 1086 Alco St. NE Sister Louisa’s 466 Edgewood Ave SE Swinging Richards 1400 Northside Dr NW The T 465 Boulevard SE Tripp’s Bar 1931 Piedmont Circle NE Woof’s Sports Bar 494 Plasters Ave NE X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave. NE Zocalo Mexican Kitchen & Cantina 187 10th St NE

RETAIL & SERVICES 2Qute Hair Salon 1927 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Barking Leather 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Barking Leather After Dark 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE (inside Atlanta Eagle) Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE Brushstrokes 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Equilibrium Fitness 1529 Piedmont Ave NE Lost ’n Found Youth Thrift Store 2585 Chantilly Dr NE Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

ADULT Flex 76 4th St NW Southern Nights 2205 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Starship Galaxy/Starship Novelties 2273 Cheshire Bridge Road NE Tokyo Valentino 1739 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

Q Advice

Tough

TALKS

How to break up like a grownup instead of a jerk

Q

It’s time to break up with my significant other, but he’s so stuck on me that I’ve been “phasing him out” instead of making a clean break. I feel bad because he’s super sweet. What should I do?

Dear Sadsack: Hard conversations are hard. Welcome to adulthood. Stop feeling bad for the breakup and start feeling bad for stringing the guy along.

Q

I am newly diagnosed with HIV, and I’m learning to navigate life with drugs, doctors, random farts, and oh yeah, that pesky crippling stigma.

I was never into having “the conversation” before sex.

Now that I basically have to, I don’t want to kill the mood. Like, “Hey listen I might kill you or whatever. Let’s fuck.”

How do I say it without ruining my chance of getting laid or increasing the chance of them hating me?

Dear Self Sabotage: It’s great to hear that your diagnosis doesn’t stop you from pursuing your life. Part of that process does include harsh realizations, but maybe not the ones you think.

Stigma does exist, but it’s your choice to internalize their shame or reject it. More pressing, you need to get real about some misconceptions:

30 theQatl.com

Lots of people talk about about HIV before sex, not because they “basically have to,” but because they should.

Also, you didn’t “obviously” have a problem with the conversation, because some folks discuss it and still contract the virus under various other circumstances.

Finally, we could go on all day about legal and moral issues, arguments and implications, but you’re not going to kill him.

These poor perceptions are actually part of the stigma you dislike so much, so stop buying into it.

Couch HIV status conversations in all the fun safe or safer sex activities you want to try. It’s just like any difficult talk: Do it with authenticity and sensitivity, and let the other guy decide for himself.

You say he might hate you, but if he does the lay wasn’t going to be worth it. If he is down to get down, you can do so with clear heads. Either way, the truth sets you free.

Q

My boyfriend’s breath smells like he eats out every member of a gay sports team. How do I broach the topic of his stank breath?

Dear Booty Breath: No one wants to tell the offensive party, but everyone wants someone to tell them soon. You owe your partner the truth.

Communication is almost always better than letting a situation fester, in this case literally. Try the good old compliment sandwich: Deliver the meaty news between slices of praise.

“The whole team loves getting our asses eaten, and it would be even better if you gargled between takes. We’ll each happily wait in line for the amazing service.”

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

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