October 21, 2021
All SMILES Best Q Shots from Pride in Atlanta
Adventure Store Thrives In North Ga. Mountains Black LGBTQ Lawmakers Get into ‘Good Trouble’ Couple’s Spice Shop & Cafe Gives Chamblee New Flavor
Picture
PERFECT
IT WAS SO SATISFYING to see a perfect Pride Weekend take
shape despite obstacles. This issue of Q ATLus celebrates a super-
sized section of Q Shots photos to celebrate the success and the joy. Looking forward, two pandemic pivots by gay couples are worth a
read and definitely worth your patronage. Meet the guys of Southern Roots Spice Shop and Trailful in Q Business and Q Community.
In Q News, four metro Atlanta politicos are now part of the national
Good Trouble Network of Black LGBTQ elected officials. We talked to all of them about the project inspired by the late John Lewis.
And here you were thinking we’d rest after Pride. Not at all. LGBTQ
Atlanta presses forward, and so do we. See what you can get into with
Q Events for this week and Q Advice for a disappointing relationship. As always, there’s new Q news and interviews online every day at
theQatl.com, and you can hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or via mike@theQatl.com.
MIKE FLEMING EDITOR & PUBLISHER MIKE@THEQATL.COM GRAPHIC DESIGN DECATUR ATLANTA PRINTING JOHN NAIL, DESIGNER DECATURATLANTAPRINTING.COM
LOCAL ADVERTISING INFO@PROJECTQATLANTA.COM RIVENDELL MEDIA NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM 212-242-6863 theQatl.com 5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 4 ISSUE 45
OCTOBER 21, 2021
LET’S GO
LGBTQ Events We Can’t Miss
COVER
19
15
So Proud
Atlanta Crushes DIY Pride
8
12
BUSINESS
COMMUNITY
Gay Couple’s Chamblee Spice Shop
Gear by LGBTQ Ga. Mountaineers
Flavor Town
Q Business.......................8
Go North
Q ADVICE
Q News.........................11
Love Scare
Q Events.......................15
Welp! Got What You Asked For
Q Community...............12 Q Shots.........................19 Q Map...........................26 Q Advice.......................29 6 theQatl.com
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Q
BUSINESS
Southern ROOTS Gay couple’s spice shop and café flavors Chamblee
They offer more than 300 global spices and blends, as well as handcrafted coffees and teas.
By Patrick Saunders
The biggest thing McKinley learned since opening Southern Roots is juggling all his duties as a business owner.
TODD MCKINLEY AND LYNN BREWINGTON are the talk of Chamblee after opening their cafe, Southern Roots Spice Shop, earlier this year. “Flavor is at the center of food,” McKinley told Project Q Atlanta. “We remember something that smells or tastes like home. So when I create my blends, I remember those things that were important to me growing up.” “I love when people come in the store and are talking spices and blends,” he added.
“I’m having to really remove distractions and be hyper-focused,” he said McKinley and Brewington also had to learn how to work together for the first time after 25 years as a couple. A sense of humor helps, according to McKinley.
Lynn Brewington and Todd McKinley
In a pandemic pivot, the shop is a far cry from what the couple’s lives were like two years ago. Brewington retired from a corporate job at Federal Express that November and started flipping houses. The following March, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and McKinley’s medical sales employer laid him off. McKinley couldn’t find another corporate job that he could connect with. Then he thought about his love of spices. He could start his own business doing what he loved and use his background in sales, marketing and product development to make it happen. Southern Roots Spice Shop opened as an online store in July 2020. In March of this year, McKinley and Brewington opened their 3,000-squarefeet bricks-and-mortar shop on Clairmont Road. 8 theQatl.com
Tea parties and best blends
“I think that can keep down the real frustration,” he said. “We really balance each other out.”
McKinley loves engaging with customers and finding the right spice for each one. “It’s never my goal to get you to cook more,” he said. “It’s that when you cook, it’s elevated more.” Southern Roots Spice Shop’s most popular blends are the Garlic Garden and Blackberry Blend. McKinley has a couple of new ones lined up for the fall, including the Chili Bomb. “Because it makes the bomb chili,” he said. “It’s a mouth explosion. It’s smoked chipotle powder, ancho chili powder and medium chili powder mixed with spices.” Southern Roots Spice Shop is also busy hosting events that just may spice up your own schedule with something new. “We do spice tastings and Queen Victoria-style tea parties,” McKinley said.
McKinley and Brewington aren’t the only LGBTQ Atlanta couple that made a pandemic pivot in the dining industry. Atlantic Grill patrons Sean Bishop and Reggie Stotts bought the restaurant, Kristin and Missy Koefed of 18.21 Bitters created hope from hardship, Virgil’s owners Juan and Gee Smalls expanded into breakfast and brunch, and David Wilmott and Darnell Morgan opened Forks & Flavors in Kennesaw. Visit Southern Roots Spice Shop online at southernrootsspice.com. theQatl.com 9
‘Good
TROUBLE’
John Lewis’s legend inspires new coalition of Black LGBTQ officials
NEWS
Q
Good Trouble Network and attended its inaugural meeting last month. “I am honored to join a dynamic group of Black LGBTQ+ elected officials as we work to create a nation where Black LGBTQ+/SGL people are embraced and able to thrive,” Cannon said in a press release.
By Patrick Saunders FOUR GEORGIA LEADERS ARE AMONG roughly 40 others invited to the first national coalition of Black LGBTQ elected officials. The Good Trouble Network seeks to advance policies and practices that benefit Black LGBTQ people across the U.S. The National Black Justice Coalition launched the network in September. State Rep. Renitta Shannon, a Democrat from Decatur, is excited to be a part of the endeavor. She kicked off her campaign for Georgia lieutenant governor last week. “This group is being convened to meet the unique needs of serving in public office while living at the intersection of being Black and LGBTQ+,” Shannon told Project Q Atlanta. “Together, we will be able to advance our collective fight for equity and justice for our communities.” In the next year, the Good Trouble Network looks to reduce violence against transgender people, lower the Black LGBTQ poverty rate and pass nondiscrimination laws including the federal Equality Act.
ICONIC LEGACY
Late U.S. Rep. John Lewis coined the phrase “good trouble” to describe his lifelong work. The new network name honors the Atlanta civil rights icon and equality advocate, who died in 2020. State Rep. Park Cannon, a Democrat from Atlanta, was one of five finalists considered to replace Lewis on the ballot for the 5th Congressional District election that year. Cannon is also no stranger to “good trouble.” She joined the
Clockwise from top left: Gwinnett school board chair Everton Blair, state Reps Park Cannon and Renitta Shannon and state Sen. Kim Jackson.
Black LGBTQ people experience significantly higher rates of poverty, food insecurity and violence than other queer people, she added. “I look forward to learning how members of the network are solving these issues in their home states and help bring solutions to these crucial issues back to Georgia,” Cannon said. Coalitions like the Good Trouble Network offer leaders a unique chance to “lift up” issues that often go unaddressed, said Gwinnett County School Board Chair Everton Blair. He is the first Black and first LGBTQ person to lead that five-person panel. “I’m confident this network will help us take experiences among Black LGBTQ communities and provide us the thought partnership to be stronger advocates in Black spaces, LGBTQ spaces and all spaces generally,” Blair said. The Good Trouble Network also invited state Sen. Kim Jackson, a Democrat from Atlanta. She is Antonio Brown Georgia’s first openly LGBTQ state senator. theQatl.com 11
Q
COMMUNITY
Up on
RAINBOW MOUNTAIN Gay-owned trail and outdoor store thrives in North Georgia
12 theQatl.com
By Patrick Saunders WHEN ERIC CHAMPLIN AND ROB Sollie opened Trailful Outdoor Company in Hiawassee, Ga., in 2019, they had no anxiety about being an out and proud gay couple in the small mountain town. “What we’ve found is a sort of live-andlet-live and respectful community up here,” Champlin told Project Q Atlanta. “People just kind of enjoy life however they want to enjoy life.” Both spent a lot of time outdoors hiking, boating and kayaking growing up in Montana (Sollie) and Ohio (Champlin). They met in Atlanta in 2002 and started the online hiking guide Atlanta Trails in 2009. By 2014, both men left corporate jobs to run the guide full-time and launch a new one called Asheville Trails.
The following year, the couple married, left Midtown for Asheville and continued building their online community. They later launched their own apparel line and took it to pop-up shops around Asheville and Atlanta. They moved to Hiawassee in 2018 with an eye on filling a void in the northeast Georgia town. There was no large hiking apparel store in a town that’s one of only five official Appalachian Trail communities in the state. “We saw the opportunity coming together at the same time as we felt the benefit of taking some of this offline and establishing more personal relationships with the hiking community,” Champlin said. They opened Trailful Outdoor Company the following year.
area,” Ordiales told Project Q. “They are a great asset to our community. Since opening, Trailful expanded from a 900-squarefeet space to 5,000 square feet. They welcomed more than 1,300 Appalachian Trail through-hikers in the store last year shopping for backpacks, footwear, tents, sleep systems, dog gear, locally-sourced goods and even rainbow mountain stickers. The town itself stays busy throughout the year. Appalachian Trail through-hikers converge on Hiawassee in the spring, and boaters flock to Lake Chatuge in the summer. Day hikers hit town in the fall and winter. That includes a large number of LGBTQ residents and visitors. “We were honestly kind of shocked when we opened the store to see the number of LGBTQ+ folks in the mountains,” Champlin said. “We have friends in Atlanta that kind of have a stereotype of the North Georgia mountains. They’d be surprised at how many LGBTQ folks that are up here.” “It’s just a really safe and pleasant place to be,” he said. Visit Trailful online at trailful.com.
‘GAME CHANGER’
Champlin said Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales was “instrumental” in helping them open the store. She also happens to be the town’s first LGBTQ mayor. Ordiales said that Trailful has been a “game-changer addition” to Hiawassee’s downtown revitalization. The store is located next door to two buildings that the city is restoring. “We have worked with Rob and Eric from the beginning of their search for a brick-and-mortar location which would anchor our downtown theQatl.com 13
Q
NEWS
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Q Events
The Best LGBTQ Things to Do in Atlanta This Week THURSDAY, OCT. 21 Game Night Get your weekend started a
Dry: A Memoir LGBTQ+ Book Club revisits Augusten Burroughs’s book that details his recovery from addiction with his signature caustic wit @ Zoom, 10 a.m. charisbooksandmore.com Guy Sheiman
day early with games, tunes,
The Tel Aviv hottie returns
friends and the vibe you love @
to the scene of his last
Hideaway, 8 p.m. facebook.com/atlantahideaway
slaying @ Heretic, 10 p.m.
Out for Blood Get in the spooky spirit with these readings, subtitled “Queer Tales to Tell in the Dark.” Outlantacon and Charis sponsor an online panel selection of books to keep you up at night @ Zoom, 7 p.m. charisbooksandmore.com
FRIDAY, OCT. 22 G8yties Dance Party You remember it, you
hereticatlanta.com Orville Peck The man, the mask, the myths and the music take the stage to make your queer alt-country dreams come true @ Terminal West, 12 midnight. terminalwestatl.com
struggle with full recall, or you
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27
weren’t even born. Everybody gets into the groove
Hocus Pocus Trivia Night
@ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com
Test your memory and your knowledge against other the other sisters and Hallow-queens @ Guac
Brew Betta Werk Drag curator Shi and a cast of QPOC queens entertain the All Stripes soccer fans @ Atlanta Brewing Company, 6:30 p.m. facebook.com/allstripesatl
SATURDAY, OCT. 23 Shalloween Wussy’s seasonal signature welcomes guest performers Tenderoni and Charlene for the
y Margys, 7 p.m. guacymargys.com Twisted Broadway Brigitte Bidet hosts the hilarious, campy and fun tribute to the Great White Way while you enjoy dinner along with the show @ Lips, 7 p.m. lipsatl.com
costume party that kicks off a week of gay Hallow-
Find the full weekend calendar of LGBTQ events
een @ My Sister’s Room, 10 p.m. mysistersroom.com
each Thursday at theQatl.com theQatl.com 15
Instagram.com/theQatl
KWEEN ON THE GREEN
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Q SHOTS
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
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DILF PRIDE T-DANCE AT HERETIC
Q SHOTS
Roy Mead
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
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Q SHOTS
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
22 theQatl.com
EAGLE PRIDE REUNION AT HIDEAWAY
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Roy Mead
Q SHOTS
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
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OUT NIGHT AT GEORGIA AQUARIUM
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
PRIDE BLOCK PARTY AT X MIDTOWN
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Q SHOTS
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
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Q Atlus Map
10 5
Virginia Ave. NE
1 9th St. NE
227 10th St. NE 2. Bulldogs Bar 893 Peachtree St NE 3. Friends on Ponce 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 4. My Sister’s Room 84 12th St 5. X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave. NE 6. Atlanta Eagle 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
26 theQatl.com
Bars
Restaurants North Ave. NW
North Ave. NW
Clubs Retail/Services
Not Shown
Future 50 Lower Alabama St SW, Suite 180
8. Henry’s Midtown Tavern 132 10th St NE
Mary’s 1287 Glenwood Ave SE
9. Joe’s onRalph Juniper McGill Blvd. NE 1049 Juniper St NE
Sister Louisa’s 466 Edgewood Ave SE
10. Zocalo Mexican Kitchen & Cantina 187 10th St NE Highland Ave. NE 11. Barking Leather After Dark 306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE (inside Eagle) 12. Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE
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
3
Key
Ponce De Leon Ave. NE
7. Flex 76 4th St NW
Ponce De Leon Pl. NE
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Charles Allen Dr. NE
11 6
St. Charles Ave.
Glen Iris Dr. NE
1. Blakes on the Park
NE
NE
Piedmont Park
Piedmont Ave.
Spring St. NW
7
2 Juniper St. NE
85
Peachtree St.
75
West Peachtree St. NE
8th St. NE
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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
3
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4. Oscar’s 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
tA ve .N E on m ed
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5. Barking Leather 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 6. Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE
Monroe
Piedmont Park
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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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
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Q Advice You Thought
WRONG
You knew what you wanted but hated when you got it
Q
I’m hopelessly in love, emphasis on hopeless. I’ve been with the same man for two years — the longest I’ve ever stayed with a guy. We’re sexually compatible, and on a good day he makes me laugh.
mative bullshit ideas of marriage. We loved not having social and governmental approval of how to conduct our coupling. Now he’s starting to talk about us as “husbands,” and I sense that he’s softening to the idea of harnessing our love to the system. Dear Rigid: Start by talking. “Sensing” what he’s thinking may come easier with the years you two have under your belts, but it’s no substitute for just asking where he stands. Just because the gay wedding train is rolling doesn’t mean it’s the trip for you — and it doesn’t mean it isn’t. If he is interested in marriage, ask him why — not to respond, but to listen. Together, you can decide whether you come to a new agreement or decide to stick with your old one.
Those bad days though! Ugh! It started as passive-aggressive criticism, then it became outright belittling me. I can’t make a decision without a critique, even in front of friends. I want to give him a chance because I really love the guy, but what I see as insults he says is helping me be better. How can I get him to stop before everything is ruined? Dear Sucker: Everything is already ruined. After two years, he has already had a chance — several, in fact. You don’t need help being better; you need someone who sees you as already amazing. You’re scared of losing love, but love is the beginning, not the end of the story. It’s not that you don’t love each other, it’s how you love each other. Knowing when to walk away is hard, but it’s often the best thing you can do for yourself. The quicker you pull the trigger, the less energy you spend making up for lost time.
Q
When my partner and I got serious years ago, we connected over hating heteronor-
Q
Each couple should think carefully, then step back and consider again before going all in. Even with your time together, weigh the options and know your deal breakers before making the knot even harder to untie.
I spent many 80-hour weeks getting set, and now I’m ready to build a personal life. But the gay world passed me by. What should I do? Dear Time Crunch: Too many LGBTQ people spend our younger years finding success without regard to finding balance. Life is short. Slow down and find a way to savor it. It’s never too late to start. Plenty of people are interested in a partner with a good job who knows (finally) what they want. The Q is for entertainment, not counseling. Send burning Qs to mike@theQatl.com. ILLUSTRATION BY BRAD GIBSON
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