Q
April 26, 2018
Laughing Skull’s QUEER COMICS
inform | inspire
Lucy Stoole Takes a Bite Out of Atlanta
Is PrEP Gay Men’s LICENSE TO THRILL? LGBTQ State Candidate READY FOR A REMATCH Fetish Q ueens FACE DOWN FEAR
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Q News Queer Agenda Q Shots The Q
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gynecomastia:
The Male Curse So many men have enlarged breasts. Did you know that 30-60% of men are affected by large breasts? This common condition affects the self-esteem of men. The cause and treatments remain a mystery for most men because we never discuss the issue. If you are embarrassed to remove your shirt in public or in private because of your chest… you have Gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is caused by an imbalanced ratio of testosterone to estrogen at puberty. This imbalance can cause fat and/or glandular tissue to be deposited in greater quantity in the breasts. Gym steroids can cause or contribute to gynecomastia. Surgery is the only way to fix the problem. Liposuction with or without glandular excision is the cure. These procedures are performed as out-patient surgeries. Most men will miss only a few days from work. Post-operative pain and discomfort is minimal. Since there are no adverse health effects with Gynecomastia, it is considered a cosmetic surgical procedure. The cost of the treatment is similar to liposuction costs. Keith Jeffords, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Smyrna, Georgia. He is the 2018 Moderator for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ series on “Aesthetic Surgery for Men” and lecturer on Gynecomastia.
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EDITOR’S NOTE Q Q MAGAZINE THE WEEKLY PUBLICATION OF PROJECT Q ATLANTA PUBLISHERS INITIAL MEDIA, LLC MIKE FLEMING PUBLISHER & EDITOR MIKE@QMAGATLANTA.COM MATT HENNIE PUBLISHER & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MATT@QMAGATLANTA.COM RICHARD CHERSKOV PUBLISHER & GENERAL MANAGER RICHARD@QMAGATLANTA.COM ADVERTISING SALES RUSS YOUNGBLOOD SENIOR SALES REPRESENTATIVE RUSS@QMAGATLANTA.COM ART DIRECTOR JOHN NAIL JOHN@QMAGATLANTA.COM CONTRIBUTORS IAN ABER LAURA BACCUS BUCK C. COOKE BRAD GIBSON TAMEEKA L. HUNTER SUNNI JOHNSON ERIC PAULK VINCE SHIFFLETT DUSTIN SHRADER ALEXANDRA TYLER DISCLAIMER The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors do not necessarily reflect opinions, beliefs or official policies of Q Magazine or its publisher Initial Media, except where individual publishers’ names specifically appear. Appearance of photos, credits, or names in this publication neither implies or explicitly states the sexual orientation or gender identity of its subject. Q Magazine and the author of each article published on this web site owns his or her own words, except where explicitly credited otherwise. Articles herein may not be freely redistributed unless all of the following conditions are met. 1. The re-distributor is a non-commercial entity. 2. The redistributed article is not be sold for a profit, or included in any media or publication sold for a profit, without the express written consent of the author and this publication. 3. The article runs in full and unabridged. 4. The article runs prominently crediting both the author’s name and “courtesy Q Magazine.”
Can’t Stop
WON’T STOP Welcome to LGBTQ Atlanta,
where we never, ever back down QUEER ATLiens ARE MANY SPLENDORED, multi-colored and gloriously diverse, but certain elements connect us with common qualities. One of the most abundant marks of our Southern-fried pride, smelted in adversity and formed in determination, is a tenacity of steel. It’s a quality, and a word, worth embracing on a conscious level.
Tenacious (tǝ'nāSHǝs/) adjective – 1 tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely. 2 not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action; determined. 3 persisting in existence; not easily dispelled.
As much as Q magazine celebrates Atlanta’s LGBTQ variance, we respect our community’s homogeneity in an undeniable grit and fierce resolve. But it’s not effective to just pay the concept lip service, and it’s not worth mentioning if we back down when the going gets tough. We’re strong. Yes, even you, even in your toughest moments. In fact, come for one of us and see just how unwavering and resilient we can be.
MIKE FLEMING EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Meet Lucy Stoole. The genderqueer and art drag queen makes a fierce cover model. She hits the latest LEWK party, and she’s working more than a look and a funny name. Get to know her journey in our Events interview.
Speaking of events, this week’s Comedy photo essay introduces you to the fab five queer comics on Laughing Skull Comedy Festival’s roster. They each bring a determination to make it on their own terms in their sets during the three-day festival at multiple venues. This issue also takes some serious turns. In Voices, we tackle the constant struggle to define our own norms and set new standards. LGBTQ kids today are still coming of age in a society that’s improving, but not yet where we need to be to support them. In our Thoughts piece, LGBTQ tenacity will be tested even further, whether you’re younger and didn’t witness the devastation of HIV/AIDS before certain medications, or you lived through it and are beyond fatigued. It’s a conversation that’s changed, but one we must continue to have – even if we’re tired, even if we’re “over it.” On the table this week: PrEP as both a godsend and an imperfect solution. But don’t worry. It’s not all sadface, angryface and wowface emojis in this edition. Give us a kiss in this week’s 10 Queer Things, entertain our fantasies in The Q, and smile for our cameras in Q Shots. We also bring you news from our homesite Project Q Atlanta at theQatl.com, where you can find new, up-to-the-minute coverage every day. theQatl.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 1 ISSUE 23
APRIL 26, 2018
COMEDY GOLD Queer Laughs
26
COVER STORY
19
Now Serving
Lucy Stoole’s Lewk 10 QUEER THINGS
13 10
Pucker Up
28 They’re Back
Ways we lay one on each other THOUGHTS
16
PrEP Talk
30 Strap On
HIV weapon or savior?
FEATURES
6
Q Voices
8
Q News
13
Q Shots
28
The Q
38
theQatl.com
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36 Rave RuView
Q
Q VOICES
What’s Normal
ANYWAY? Navigating so-called ‘social norms’ on the way to your authentic self WHO DECIDED THAT GIRLS WEAR PINK AND BOYS wear blue? Who came up with the idea that we must have ham and potato salad on Easter Sunday? Who decided that one must get married to someone of the opposite sex, start a family, and have the house with a white picket fence? Who actually decides what’s normal and socially acceptable? Much of society teaches that their beliefs are right and any other belief outside of that is wrong. Do you fit into the mold of what society has decided is the “norm?” It would seem an impossible task given the fact that there are so many different beliefs about what actually is normal and acceptable. What happens when you don’t fit the mold of what others think is normal?
It would be a pretty boring world if we were all the same. Yet there seems to be a strong effort on the part of many to accomplish just that. It’s disturbing to constantly hear politicians and religious leaders trying to force their views of what is “normal” onto everyone. Growing up gay, I never felt like I fit into the “social norm.” It was a bit isolating. I did not go to my high school prom because it would have been unacceptable to take someone of the same gender with me. I also did not play sports even though society said that the guys play sports and the girls are theQatl.com
I was taught that being gay was a sin and that I would go to this place called hell and burn forever. Burn forever for being my true unique, authentic self? It didn’t make sense to me, but I still tried to conform. I’ve been called many names in my lifetime because I did not fit into what others considered to be normal and acceptable. I have been called weird, sissy, sinner, and names I care not to mention.
It’s important to be authentic, to be completely ourselves, even when it does not conform to the social norm. I have come to learn that I do not need to understand how and why some people choose to express life in a different way than I do. My normal may not be someone else’s normal. I get to choose what is normal for me based on my internal guidance and my intention to be my true authentic, unique, beautiful self.
V I N C E S H I F F LET T
Will everything I do in my life reflect the values of others? Must everything I do line up with the “social norms?” Must everything I do line up with what a particular religion says is right or what a political party dictates is right or wrong? Must everything I do line up with what my family believes is right or wrong?
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cheerleaders. What if I wanted to be the cheerleader?
It’s important to be authentic, to be completely ourselves, even when it does not conform to the social norm. That includes friends, family, religious organizations, and politicians.
It took me a while to get to this point. I always felt a need to try to fit into what was considered the norm and what was acceptable. Now I fully understand how important it is for me to be about peace and full self-expression for all. I respect and embrace the diversity all around me. No one says we all have to agree, but I do believe we all have a responsibility to love. Even those who do not fit into our “normal.” I want my life to be filled with love and acceptance for all. Just like snowflakes, we are each our own individual expression of the creator. No two alike. Are you living a life of authenticity, or are you living your life based solely on what others consider to be the social norm? Live the life you love. Be the true you, because no one else can. Vince Shifflett is a critical care Registered Nurse and popular blogger living in Atlanta. Read more of his work at vinceshifflett.com.
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10 QUEER THINGS
Show the
L VE
10 kisses between queers that say it all
Kiss on the Hand Marilyn Monroe said it may be quite continental, but this move is a girl’s best friend. It says, ‘I know you’ or ‘I really want to know you.’
Air Kiss Go in for the cheek but never quite get there. Perfect for drag or other queers, it says ‘Don’t mess up my made-up mug.’
French You spent high school trying to get good at it, and a lifetime perfecting it. Tongues say, ‘We’re in it now.’
Forehead or Cheek For the most intimate friends and family, or as foreplay between longtime loves. This one says ‘I adore you.’ 10
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The Peck For some, the evolution of the gay hug. For others, only appropriate for your mom. Maybe it casually tells your boo, ‘Have a good day.’
Bite-Kiss As lightly – or as hard – as you please, this one lands anywhere and everywhere you find your face already planted. This kiss says, ‘Oh yes I did.’
Spiderman Ever since Kirsten Dunst pulled down Tobey Maguire’s mask, you’ve wanted to try it. This one says, ‘You’re a superhero.’
The Vampire Go in for the neck and suck. It might drive you both to the brink. It will definitely will leave a mark. This one says, ‘Can’t stop and don’t want to.’
Lizzy Lip-to-Lip Short of tongue but easily just as passionate, interchange both-lips action with the single-lip suck to say ‘Let’s build anticipation and keep it going.’
Also called the Lizard, the tongue licks in and out of the partner’s mouth in the heat of the moment. It’s either a ‘Dream come true’ or a ‘Step too far.’
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GET NOTICED!
Atlanta’s newest gay weekly is already standing out from the crowd, and so can you!
Call 404.242.2621 or e-mail russ@projectqatlanta.com to advertise in Q Magazine and Project Q Atlanta. 12
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COMMUNITY Q
‘ATOMIC’
Blondie and Wanda Sykes headline Stonewall benefits at Fox Theatre in June
Announcement
IN A FIRST FOR ATLANTA PRIDE’S JUNE SLATE OF Stonewall Month events, the committee is hosting two big nights at the end of June with shows at the Fox Theatre. The collaboration with the venue and the LGBT Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights was announced April 16. The fun begins with some hilarity and levity during a bigname comedy show on June 20 with nationally revered out comics Wanda Sykes and Tig Notaro. The Fox heats up again for Stonewall again two nights later with Blondie in concert. Sykes has been called “one of the funniest stand-up comics” by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America. Her smart-witted stand up has sent her career in many different areas. She can currently be seen on ABC’S Blackish, and last summer, she was seen in the Fox comedy Snatched with Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn. Her production company produced the 8th and 9th seasons of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, as well as Talk Show The Game Show on TruTV and Face Value on BET. Notaro is a comedian, actor and writer who Rolling Stone named one of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time. She writes, produces and stars in the semi-autobiographical and award-winning Amazon series One Mississippi. Tig was also nominated for an Emmy and a Grammy for the 2016 HBO special Boyish Girl Interrupted, and a GLAAD Award nomination for Netflix’s Tig. Her memoir I’m Just a Person is a New York Times Bestseller. On Friday, June 22, legendary rockers and LGBTQ advocates Blondie take the stage with a pre- and post-party featuring DJ Vicki Powell, emcee Feroza Syed, and drag performances. Led by Debbie Harry, Blondie remains a national treasure; one whose influence has informed the worlds of music, fashion and art for more than four decades. From an irreverent Lower East Side punk outfit to bona fide international ambassadors of New York cool, Blondie will forever be synonymous with that punk spirit that lives somewhere in all of us.
Blondie also includes guitarist and co-writer Chris Stein, powerhouse drummer Clem Burke, bassist Leigh Foxx, guitarist Tommy Kessler and keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen. Their chart-topping success, fearless spirit and rare longevity led to an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, a NME Godlike Genius Award in 2014, a Q Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2016, the 2017 Silver Clef Outstanding Achievement Award, and more than 45 million albums sold worldwide to date. “We are thrilled to cap off more than a dozen Stonewall Month events with these two shows at the Fox Theatre,” Atlanta Pride Executive Director Jamie Fergerson says. “We look forward to an enduring partnership that recognizes the rich diversity of our community.” Before the June 22 concert, lesbian legend DJ Vicki Powell hits the decks, and an A-list drag show hits the stage. Dax Exclamation Point, Taejah “The Doll” Thomas and Bridget Bidet are already booked with more surprises to come. Powell and more drag queens also host an exclusive event at the Marquee Club, the Fox Theatre’s premium membership club. Tickets for both events, including a limited number of non-member passes for the Afterparty on Friday, are available via the Fox website. The comedy show tickets start at $43 plus fees, and the drag show, party and Blondie concert range from $50-$125 plus fees. A portion of the sales go to Atlanta Pride and the LGBT Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Wanda Sykes and Tig Notaro perform Wednesday, June 20, 8 p.m., and Blondie performs Friday, June 22, 8 p.m. at the Fox Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit foxtheatre.org theQatl.com
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Q NEWS
Rematch! Lesbian candidate Valerie Vie takes another run at Georgia House race By Matt Hennie VALERIE VIE WANTS A REMATCH. SO THE ATTORNEY dusted off her campaign playbook from 2016 and is running again for a seat in Georgia House, this time hoping to beat the attorney that defeated her two years ago. If she wins, Vie would become the fifth openly LGBTQ member of the Georgia House. “I am going to be the people’s candidate and demand transparency,” Vie says. “I believe when you run for an office the people should be your compass and I don’t believe we have that in our district right now.” Four LGBTQ incumbents – Reps. Karla Drenner, Sam Park, Park Cannon and Renitta Shannon – are running for re-election, though only Park and Cannon face challengers. Lesbian former state Rep. Keisha Waites is now running for Chair of the Fulton County Commission. Vie is running for the District 62 seat in the state House, an area that includes portions of East Point, College Park, Douglasville and Union City, and Fulton and Douglas counties. In 2016, she placed first in a crowded primary but then lost to William Boddie in the runoff. On May 22, Vie and Boddie face off in the Democratic primary. With no Republican in the race, the winner of the primary takes the office. Vie says as a state lawmaker, she would communicate more with residents of the district, lobby for the interests of the new City of South Fulton and fight against anti-LGBTQ legislation, such as “religious freedom” bills. “I want to inform the people on what is happening, as opposed to I do it and tell them later. People just don’t believe we are working for them,” she says. “We have to change that if we want people to vote.” Vie has served as president of the Douglas County Bar Association and has worked in her community – her law offices are in Douglasville – addressing issues including homelessness and youth truancy. She was also elected the first African-American Bar president in the county, which pushed her to find ways as a Democrat to work with a Republican-heavy bar in the area. Vie says she won’t shy away from working with lawmakers in both political parties to craft bipartisan solutions on public policy 14
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issues – even if that approach led her to be branded as a Republican in the 2016 race. “I am running as a Democrat, but when I talk to my Republican colleagues, there are a lot of things that we agree on,” Vie says. “The most important thing is to find out what those things are, do some bipartisan efforts – education being the big one.” “Can’t we come up with something that we agree on and make a difference in those areas?,” she asks. Vie says that as a state lawmaker, she would also stand firm against anti-gay “religious freedom” legislation pushed by conservative Republicans. “If I am elected, I will be there in full armor to defeat all of these bills that discriminate under the guise of religious freedom,” she says. “I’m just overwhelmed by how many times we try to pass bills that might seem on their face neutral, but have a discriminatory effect, whether it’s minorities, LGBTQIA or women. Let’s do things where everyone has a fair opportunity.” In the rematch against Boddie, she urges voters to consider the last two years and ask themselves a simple question: “Have you seen a difference in your life?,” Vie says. Vie adds that she’s seen an influx of volunteers and support for her campaign. “It has been great. I am excited about it. People are asking how they can help. People are eager to help and get yard signs. They are excited again,” she says. “People are clear about one thing. They want politics in a different way. They want people to be responsive to them and not go down to the State Capitol and do the same old, same old,” Vie adds. Find up-to-the-minute LGBTQ news coverage from Project Q Atlanta at theQatl.com
Q
THOUGHTS
CAUTION By Vince Shifflett
I
became a Registered Nurse in 1989, just in time for a front row seat to all the suffering and heartache caused by HIV/AIDS. I watched as many of my patients and friends lost the battle. I attended far too many funerals. It was heart wrenching and seemed to go on forever.
To say I was excited is an understatement when the FDA approved the HIV treatment drug Truvada as a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). It was approved in July 2012, and for many, it means the fear of becoming infected with HIV can subside. PrEP has been the first method outside condoms to help address prevention since the dawn of AIDS in the early 1980s.
Taking PrEP So what exactly is PrEP? It’s a drug used as a prevention-strategy that targets transmissions between people who have anal or vaginal sex without a condom. The vast amount of data shows that it does keep many people from becoming infected with HIV. It has been shown to provide 92%-99% reduction in HIV risk when taken daily. An estimated 1.1 million people in the United States are already living with HIV, the majority of which are men who have sex with men. Some 7,000 people with HIV still die from it each year in the U.S. PrEP is a great option to consider to slow the increase of those numbers. ď ľ 16
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Gay Atlanta RN asks, is PrEP a license to throw caution to the wind?
NARY TALES theQatl.com
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THOUGHTS, Continued Here are some facts to help you decide if the drug regimen is right for you, and what it means to make it part of your arsenal against HIV. • It takes up to seven days for PrEP to reach high levels of protection.
He was 34 years old, and would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair because of syphilis – not HIV. PrEP did nothing to protect him from anyting but HIV. He was distraught as one might imagine.
• It is much less effective when taken inconsistently. It is most effective when drug levels in your body are consistently high. So taking it every single day without missing doses is critical to reaching those effectiveness rates in the 90-something percentiles. • No serious side effects have been observed. The most common side effect is nausea, which subsides over time. If you’re already on PrEP, here are some guidelines to taking it to further ensure its maximum effectiveness. • If you miss a dose, don’t panic. Take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose. • Do not double dose.
Caution to the Wind? PrEP is clearly a great option for the prevention of HIV, but it does not prevent against any of the other sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and Hepatitis C – all of which are common among gay and bisexual men, including a local Atlanta upswing in recent years of syphilis among men who have sex with men. But is PrEP a license to throw caution to the wind? Some sexually active people might think so and act accordingly, according to data in studies since Truvada’s release as a PrEP drug. According to the Kaiser Permanente PrEP Programme Study in 2015, six months after the initiation of PrEP, 30% of PrEP users had been diagnosed with an STI. After 12 months, 50% had been diagnosed with an STI. In 2016, the CDC reported an increase of 74% in STIs , compared to 2012 before PrEP was approved. These studies may be suggestive of throwing caution to the wind.
Our Own Worst Enemy As a nurse and a gay man, I have observed a shift in the mindset of our community since the advent of PrEP. Could it be that we now see PrEP as the savior giving us the green light to throw safer sexual behaviors out the window with no concern of what else could be lurking? There is still a lot of stigmatization and fear related to HIV, although it is getting better. As a community, I think we perpetuate that stigma. I often hear things like, “I just don’t want to get HIV,” or “Girl, you don’t want him; he has HIV.” It appears that HIV is still the main concern, focus, and fear for many of us, without much regard to other risks we take on when we have condomless sex. Working in an HIV/AIDS clinic, I am reminded of one patient in particular who was HIV negative on PrEP. He contracted syphilis that went into his nervous system, and he was paralyzed for life as a result of it. 18
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Listen, I Get It Sex is a wonderful part of who we are, and I love it. It can be a beautiful expression of love or just an act of intense satisfaction. There is no need to fear sex or our expression through sex. There is a need, however, for further education and awareness. Accurate information is our most effective weapon. I personally see a need to practice sex with some amount of precaution, which quite honestly has been a challenge for me. I am a nurse but also a gay man who faces this challenge every time the zipper comes down and the pants fall to the floor. Let’s face it, the sexually transmitted disease discussion has a tendency to make important parts of the anatomy not work in the heat of passion. So how can we as a community decrease the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and protect ourselves? Here’s my advice. Make a commitment to yourself to take responsibility for your own protection. Have those important conversations with sexual partners before the heat of the moment. Use PrEP if it sounds right for you, and consider protecting yourself and others from diseases outside HIV by using condoms if you are in an open relationship or if you have multiple partners. Get tested for all sexually transmitted infections regularly, not just HIV. It is my responsibility to protect myself. I could definitely do a better job at that. As a community, I feel we could do better also. We have to find better ways of educating without judgment. I say we work together and use all our ammunition, including PrEP, condoms, self-testing, pop-up mobile testing sites, and word of mouth to decrease the spread of all sexually transmitted infections. Let’s stay committed to being a healthier, more conscious, and more aware community. Vince Shifflett is a critical care Registered Nurse and popular blogger living in Atlanta. Read more of his work at vinceshifflett.com.
COMEDY Q
Queer
Laughing Skull Comedy Festival returns with amazing LGBTQ-inclusive lineup
COMICS A
By Ian Aber
fter nearly 1,000 submissions and hours of tough decisions culling through them, Midtown’s premiere comedy club is ready to bring 60 top comics to Atlanta this weekend.
What better way to welcome the ninth annual Laughing Skull Comedy Festival to Atlanta than to meet its queers? From locals to nationally touring acts, here are the five LGBTQ comics to watch for in shows at multiple venues April 26 – 28. Visit laughingskullcomedyfestival.com
Andrew MARKLE City you’re repping: ATL Hoe
Years doing stand up comedy : 6
When not slaying on stage you can find me: Working out or traveling
Comedic Icons: Kathleen Madigan, Greg Proops and Dulcé Sloan Queer Icons: It’s Britney Bitch
Favorite Social Media Trend: GIFs
Least Favorite Social Media Trend: The (insert your thing here) Challenge If there was a sitcom about your childhood, it would be called: Limp Wrists Don’t Fail Me Now.
If your comedy was a drag queen, what would her name be and why? Sugar Gritz - Sweet, Southern, and don’t knock it till you try it. Tell Queer Atlanta one last thing to make them love you forever: It’s better if you don’t!
Andrew’s Laughing Skull Fest Shows April 26, 8 p.m. City Winery - Locals Only Showcase April 27, 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar - Skull Fest Showcase April 27, 10:30 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge - Skull Fest Showcase April 28, 8 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge - Industry Showcase April 28, 11 p.m. Village Theatre – 15-Comedian Showcase theQatl.com
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COMEDY, Continued
Arielle NORMAN City you’re repping: Austin
Years doing stand up comedy: 4 When not slaying on stage, you can find me: walking dogs, making smoothies for rich people, having an Americano and a pastry at a coffee shop, drinking beers in a river, running, doing yoga, at church, camping Comedic Icons: Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Bill Hicks, George Carlin, Louis CK, Natasha Leggero, Kurt Metzger, Big Jay Oakerson Queer Icons: Ellen, Tig, Kate McKinnon, Wanda Sykes Favorite Social Media Trend: People deleting their Facebook accounts. If I didn’t feel I had to have all this shit for my career, I’d get a flip phone. Least Favorite Social Media Trend: Snapchat filters. Why does anybody think it’s attractive to have crude, infantilizing airbrushing filters and bunny ears on their faces? If there was a sitcom about your childhood, it would be called: Everybody Loves Mormons If your comedy was a drag artist, what would their name be and why? Samuel L. Sackskin. If I explained why, it would spoil some of my favorite jokes. You’ll see. Tell Queer Atlanta one last thing to make them love you forever: Hey ladies, I’m in the middle of my 2nd gay divorce in three years. Holler at me! Arielle’s Laughing Skull Fest Shows April 26, 8 p.m. Red Light Cafe - 15 Comedian Showcase April 27, 8 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge Skull Fest Showcase April 27, 10:30 p.m. Relapse Theatre - 15 Comedian Showcase April 28, 8 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge Industry Showcase April 28, 10:30 p.m. Red Light Cafe - 15 Comedian Showcase April 29, 7 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge 15 Comedian Showcase
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Daniel RUGG WEBB City you’re repping: Hollywood
Years doing stand up comedy: 5 When not slaying on stage, you can find me: Drunk and under a table Comedic Icons: Suzanne Sugarbaker, Foster Brooks, Molly Ivins Queer Icons: Morticia Addams, Scott Thompson, Margaret Cho Favorite Social Media Trend: Videos of people falling down Least Favorite Social Media Trend: Homogenous human existence If there was a sitcom about your childhood, it would be called: FANCY! A Bedroom Drama If your comedy was a drag queen, what would her name be and why? I actually am a drag queen. I am Toyota Lopez. She’s a mess. Tell Queer Atlanta one last thing to make them love you forever: I’m a vers top, and I’m into carbs Daniel’s Laughing Skull Fest Shows April 26, 8 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge - Opening Ceremony Showcase April 27, 7 p.m. City Winery - Industry Showcase April 27, 10:30 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar - 15 Comedian Showcase April 28, 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar - 15 Comedian Showcase April 28, 10:30 p.m. Red Light Cafe - 15 Comedian Showcase
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COMEDY, Continued Q
Lauren FABER
called: Capes
Years doing stand up comedy: I’ll turn 4 in October
Tell Queer Atlanta one last thing to make them love you forever: I was Prince Eric from the Little Mermaid for nine Halloweens in a row.
City you’re repping: Durham, N.C.
When not slaying on stage you can find me: Napping. And managing experimental evaluations of international development interventions centered around women’s empowerment, health, and labor market participation. Comedic Icons: Ellen, Paula Poundstone, Elvira Kurt Queer Icons: Ellen, Paula Poundstone, Elvira Kurt Favorite Social Media Trend: MAGA trolls getting dragged by Stormy Daniels and the MSD kids Least Favorite Social Media Trend: Trump If there was a sitcom about your childhood, it would be
If your comedy was a drag queen, what would her name be and why? Mommie Queerest
Lauren’s Laughing Skull Fest Shows April 26, 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar - 15 Comedian Showcase April 27, 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar - Skull Fest Showcase April 27,10:30 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge - Skull Fest Showcase April 28, 9 p.m. Village Theatre - 15 Comedian Showcase April 29, 9:30 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge - 15 Comedian Showcase
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COMEDY, Continued
Ian ABER
Along with Andrew, Arielle, Lauren and Daniel, this local queer comic, show promoter and regular Q contributor rounds out the Fab Five queer people in the festival this year. Catch a show and maybe the next big queer comedian. Ian’s Laughing Skull Fest Shows April 26, 8 p.m. City Winery - Locals Only Showcase April 27, 8 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge - Skull Fest Showcase April 27, 10:30 p.m. Relapse Theatre - 15 Comedian Showcase April 28, 8 p.m. Red Light Cafe - 15 Comedian Showcase April 28, 10:30 p.m. Laughing Skull Lounge Comedy Showcase
Laughing Skull Comedy Festival takes place April 26-April 28 at multiple venues. Tickets and schedules, including a full listing of comedians queer and otherwise, at laughingskullcomedyfestival.com
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Q
THE QUEER AGENDA The Best Queer Things To Do in Atlanta This Week
April 26 – May 2
THURSDAY, APRIL 26 Laughing Skull Comedy Festival
Three days of laughs open with some 60 comics @ multiple venues, all
weekend. Meet the fest’s queer comics in this issue of Q. laughingskullcomedyfestival.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 27 Sprung!
Miz Cracker from the cur-
rent-season of RuPaul’s Drag Race hosts the newest Wussy party @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com
SATURDAY, APRIL 28 Change of Seasons
With a nod to the zeitgeist of ‘This Is
Me,’ Joining Hearts says a final farewell
to winter during this annual cocktail party @ Heretic, 8 p.m.
LEWK with Lucy Stoole
Genderfuckery is an art form when this week’s Q cover model takes over @ My
Sister’s Room, 10 p.m. Read our interview
in this issue. facebook.com/msratl
SUNDAY, APRIL 29 Sunday Deck Party
The renovations are looking great, and
Q
Writers! Photographers! Q magazine and Project Q seek to expand our pool of contributors Reporting, commentary, event pics, portraits and photo essays. Help us express Atlanta’s diverse LGBTQ perspectives on a one-time or recurring basis. Samples to mike@qmagatlanta.com
DJs Joe Gauthreaux and Mike Pope
are here to celebrate Atlanta’s new gay pub @ Midtown Tavern, 3 p.m.
midtowntavern.net Bleux Stockings Society
Monthly live literature show bills itself
as a safe space for and featuring cis and
trans women as well as non-binary people
@ Highland Inn, 8:30 p.m. facebook.com/
groups/bleuxstockings
Find dozens of events in the full Queer Agenda on Project Q at theQatl.com. theQatl.com
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Q
EVENTS
Photos by EMK courtesy Lucy Stoole 26
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scene. Now as one of Chi-Town’s most beloved, she’s non-stop performing away from her hometown’s stomping grounds. Chicago’s finally receiving its much-deserved recognition, and Lucy has felt grateful the drag community has been tight knit.
By Sunni Johnson
I
t’s been clear since the sophomore stages of her career that Lucy Stoole was going to be an underground queer icon. Performing numbers from punked-out Bikini Kill to mascara-stained Courtney Love, Lucy’s love of the complicated fem gave her grit. In the other glove, perfecting classic kitsch, donning full 1950s teen queen regalia a la John Water’s Cry-Baby, Lucy’s technique displays theater-range thoughtfulness. Whether constructing high glamour or avant-garde wit, there’s been no shortage of personality and passion in this performer’s repertoire, and it shows no sign of slowing for the next installment of Atlanta’s LEWK party on April 28 at My Sister’s Room. Born in Kansas City, Kan., Lucy’s early love of music mixed with the magic of make-believe planted the baby seeds of her lush current career.
Living
ART
Lucy Stoole’s genderqueer art drag takes a big juicy bite out of Atlanta
“Ever since I was old enough to recite lines or memorize music, I’ve been performing,” she tells Q. “The first time I felt that anxious rush of excitement from the wings, I knew it was going to be my future, but I could never find the power I needed to really shine and own a stage until I started drag.”
Stumbling upon drag out of boredom one Halloween dressed as Diana Ross, Lucy has since produced some of the most fashionable femmetastic looks in American art-drag. Rhinestone-studded to the supreme, she was crowned Chicago’s “Best Drag Entertainer” with a touch of ‘60s frosted diva and a bit of Barbie pink. But Lucy’s foundation for glamour was born and bred at home. “My mother was my original femmespiration,” Lucy says. “She was the popular girl in high school who stayed beautiful, regal and poised while still being able to hang out with the homies on the block and raise a child at 18 years old.” “Of course, I take a bit of filth from Divine and fierce blackness from women like Pam Grier and Grace Jones, but my mom will probably always be my biggest inspiration,” she says. Not to long ago, Lucy was one of the only bearded queens on the
Still, she laughs, “As you know, family does fight. Beyond my own city, I’m starting to see a true change and wave of acceptance when it comes to ‘art drag’ and gender queer performers in small towns and big cities across this country who are doing their part to make and take space for all!” The division between genderqueer and traditional drag is a common issue across the board, but Lucy has a greater vision. “One thing I see happening now that I’d like to see more is the art of drag being truly respected and supported by people outside of our community,” Lucy says. “Not because I believe it’s required, but because some of these amazing artists deserve to be held in the same regards as other performers across all genres.”
It’s a trend that carried further implications than just the respect it deserves in the moment, she asserts. “I see the newer generations really starting to team up to eradicate all these divisions within our community, I think that will ultimately lead to the future drag communities being open to all drag performers,” she says. Lucy’s self-made looks – stoning her glitter goddess outfits into an otherworldly holographic realm – has moved the Lucy Stoole brand into other creative zones. Not only are there cute Lucy Stoole shirts (complete with bearded pink poop emojis), but there’s a line of sex toys, appropriately swirling iridescent robin egg blue and unicorn pink. Lucy imagines her next venture will take her onto yet another terrain: To eventually open her own studio to film fantastical, but also informative, porn. Lucy Stooke headlines Wussy Mag’s latest LEWK party at My Sister’s Room on April 28, 10 p.m. Look for a photo booth and other performances including Brigitte Bidet and Morph’s J-Sport. wussymag.com, mysistersroom.com theQatl.com
27
Q
Q SHOTS
THE OTHER SHOW AT MIDTOWN TAVERN
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com 28
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
Q
Q SHOTS
LEATHER PRIDE AT ATLANTA EAGLE
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
30
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
RISE WITH ROLAND BELMARES AT HERETIC
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Q SHOTS Q
PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
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RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE AT LAS MARGARITAS
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
Q
THEQ?! Don’t Feed
THE FEARS Facing the unknown, from fetish fantasies to relationship commitment to your boring rut
Q
I’m 42, and I’m still going out the
same bars, eating at the same plac-
es, and running into the same queers that I did when I was 32. It’s OK I guess, but is that all there is? None of this is where I saw myself going.
Should I change jobs? Travel? Get new friends? Chase an old pipe dream? Dear Stuck: Most people in their 40s take stock in how life’s
going so far and come up wanting more. Welcome to midlife and its famous “crisis.” Think of it more as an opportunity.
Your life’s proverbial halfway mark is a chance to identify, evaluate and face down the fears that have held you back – of the unknown, of failure, and yes of success.
What choices would you have made if you had not been afraid? What would you do if you could not fail?
Is failing worse than not
trying? Use the answers to define your next chapter.
You can’t change the past or predict the future, but you can act boldly. You’ll almost always wind up glad you did.
Q
My boyfriend is getting too close for comfort. He’s leaving things at my house. He wants to introduce me to his
mom. I want to bolt. Why do guys do this to me when things are perfectly comfortable as is? 38
theQatl.com
Dear Phobia: It’s called fear of commitment. Pushing him away may be easier in the moment, but progress comes from outside your comfort zone. Your guard against being hurt in the future is hurting you in the present. None of your boyfriend’s actions constitutes a lifetime obligation. Stick around long enough to discover what’s next
Q
Bondage porn is hot, but I’ve only had vanilla sex. During sex, what’s going on in my head is way different than what’s going on in the bed. I’m afraid to try BDSM because I don’t want to get hurt (too much) or lose control. I’m intimidated by the fetishes I see at Pride. They fuel my fantasies, but also my fears. I’m also afraid of being seen as a freak. People ridicule fetishists behind their backs, and I’m afraid of being lumped in with them. Should I try it, and how do I meet people who won’t judge me for my desires? Dear Fraidy Cat: Fears get a bad rap. They’re not all created equally. Natural “fight or flight” responses kick in as a warning to evaluate your situation. The problem comes when you stop there. If you accept fear as a reason to avoid circumstances without assessing them and making an informed decision, you’re stuck. BDSM invites you to use your fear to your sexual advantage. Turned on and intimidated at the same time? That’s the point. Adrenaline pumps, you’re short of breath, and your sweet relief comes from giving in. You owe it to yourself to try it. A whole community of people can teach you about passion via consent and trust. Forget naysayers who use their own fears to judge and ostracize those they don’t understand. Stop making life decisions based on what you fear others might think. The Q is for entertainment purposes and not professional counseling. Send your burning Qs to mike@qmagatlanta.com. Illustration by Brad Gibson
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