Q
November 1, 2018
Candidates Out to QUEER YOUR VOTE
inform | inspire
RESIST LGBTQ Voters and the Election Day Tide
The Fire of Attorney TAYLOR BROWN So Just How Queer Is BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY? Don’t Add Worry to OLD, UGLY & JEALOUS
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Q Shots Queer Agenda Q News 10 Queer Things
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Critical
MASS
Your best chance to flick the political pendulum back toward queer justice
NOV. 6 IS A CRITICAL DAY in the lives of LGBTQ Atlantans. In fact, some might say that it’s the most crucial day for queer safety, rights and survival in years. Midterms arrive exactly two years after the Trump tide turned that fateful night in 2016. Election Day comes as a chance for disenfranchised voters to respond in the first concrete way since then.
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Yes, this means you — even if you’ve never voted before, even if you aren’t comfy with some of the choices, even if you may or may not get around to it, and yes, even if you “don’t vote” in some misguided notion that it doesn’t matter. Consider Tuesday the day that queers can shout in unison from the proverbial rooftops that we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.
Making sure you vote as if local queer lives depend on it, because they do, our Resist issue includes tons of content to consider, discuss and act upon. Q Voices columnist James Parker Sheffield lays out his case for Stacey Abrams, and we follow that in an exhaustive Q Politics section featuring interviews with 14 candidates who have LGBTQ backs this election cycle. For some perspective, 10 Queer Things lists Georgia Equality’s top priorities when they engage the representatives that you elect on Tuesday. Now, we wouldn’t be Q without the columns and features that bring readers back week after week. Q&A meets fiery local lawyer Taylor Brown, Q Shots chronicle LGBTQ ATLiens in pictures, the Queer Agenda calendar offers your best bets for outings this week, and The Q advice column tries to help take worry off the table for folks facing plenty of trouble without it. To top it all off, Q Movies gushes over the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Rumors of the film straight-washing the icon’s life and erasing his HIV status are profoundly untrue, and we can’t wait for others to check it out. Soak in all you can from this issue of Q, visit our homesite Project Q Atlanta for fresh content updated daily, and reach out to me about any and all things Q at mike@theQatl.com theQatl.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 1 ISSUE 49 NOVEMBER 1,2018
10 QUEER THINGS You Got Issues
COVER
15 10
Election Day Queer Guide to Nov. 6
Q&A
13 19
Legal Trouble
25 Rise Up
Meet the unsinkable Taylor Brown MOVIES
Icon
22
Queen biopic is as good as you hoped
28 Sporty Spice
FEATURES Q Voices
8
Q News
13
Q Shots
25
Queer Agenda The Q
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31 Walk Proud theQatl.com
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Q
VOICES only to discover we haven’t event seen the eye-wall yet.
I’m With
HER
Why a Stacey Abrams win can help calm LGBTQ survival fears in Georgia I AM SCARED.
I’m fairly certain that I picked the worst, but most true, words possible to begin any article. Voting has always been exciting, and talking about elections with vigor has never eluded me. As a self-proclaimed “Stacey Abrams Fanboy,” amping readers up to cast ballots should have been one of the simplest tasks I’ve ever been assigned. Instead, I’ve cried. I’ve paced. I’ve cried some more. I’ve wound myself up only to find myself right back at “But I’m really scared.” Conventional wisdom dictates that speaking to people about hope — not fear — is the “best” way to power the polls. It’s the move that is seen to have integrity and show resilience. But what’s the right thing to do when we are genuinely afraid and traumatized?
seems unclear.
As I write this, news is breaking that the United States wants to remove “gender” from United Nations human
rights documents. That announcement comes on the heels of a leaked memo outlining the intent of HHS to offer a definition of “sex” that would exclude transgender and intersex Americans from access to public facilities and services. All of that comes after a variety of attempts to remove
LGBTQ protections from agencies across the governance spectrum over the last 18 months or so.
As a transman in the South, I’ve spent the last several days feeling scared and the last several nights talking a handful
of trans folks around the country through their thoughts of
suicide and self-harm. I’ve even tried this week to escape debating the humanity of transgender Americans by going to
see a movie. As adorable as Ryan Gosling is, and as inspiring a trip to the moon might be, I only made it
through 45 minutes before needing to leave and grieve in my car.
Needless to say, the idea of writing a positive
like an insurmountable challenge. Here’s what I need you to hear: JA M E S PA R K E R SHEFFIELD
Stacey Abrams fills me with hope, in part, because she deeply understands the things that frighten and threaten our communities. The thing I admire most about her is that she’s never afraid to name a problem, because she knows that’s the only way to fix anything. I’m scared, and if you’re scared too, we need to vote for her because she leads in a fearless way. The past two years have been tough. With every political storm, there’s a feeling of “this has to be the worst of it,” theQatl.com
pushed into deeper despair, and knowing how to help often
message about why we should all vote has felt
After tormenting myself with that question, I’ve come to this conclusion: The fear we all feel right now is valid. While it’s important to be hopeful, not naming the things that scare us lets those who terrorize us off the hook.
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People who were already clinging to the edge are being
1. We must vote for Stacey Abrams. This is
our best shot at creating a layer of protection for ourselves from a White House hostile
toward LGBTQ communities. Abrams has unapologetically acknowledged us in every county and corner of the state, a
feat no statewide candidate has ever carried out in Georgia. 2. Stacey Abrams can win. The numbers are there; we just have to do our part. “Our part” is more than just voting.
Knock doors, make phone calls, do anything you have to do
to make sure everyone in your reach understands the importance of voting for Stacey Abrams. Make a plan to vote, and make sure your friends and family have a plan for voting.
James Parker Sheff ield is a native Georgian living in Atlanta. He guesses that a more “rainbow, glitter, and unicorns” feeling about elections and voting is available for those who need it on Google.
IERE M E R P ERN T S A E H SOUT Journey back to the UpStairs Lounge and see what has been gained and lost in the fight for equality.
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Q
10 QUEER THINGS
GEORGIA 10 LGBTQ issues facing the representatives we elect on Nov. 6
On My Mind
By Mike Fleming
T
here’s one coalition of dedicated staff and volunteers actively fighting for queer rights in our state every single day. On Election Day, the officials they engage in conversation the rest of the year are up to us. “Georgia Equality represents a large and diverse group of individuals across a wide array of issues,” the organization says on its website. Here are 10 core challenges to have top-of-mind for Georgia when you’re at the polling station, including Georgia Equality’s take on the issue. Find out more at georgiaequality.org/issues.
Basic Civil Rights v. ‘Religious Freedom’
Georgia residents are among the most vulnerable in the nation — lacking explicit protections from discrimination for people based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. GE is increasingly concerned with religions exemption laws that target LGBTQ citizens in false pretense, as religious liberty is already enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
Employment Non-Discrimination
For perspective, Georgia doesn’t even have a law that prevents private employers from discriminating on the basis of an employee’s race. To put it plainly, you can legally be fired in Georgia without recourse for being gay, bi, trans or gender non-conforming.
Discrimination in Business & Services Youth & Safe Schools
Nearly 9 in 10 LGBT students report experiencing harassment within the last school year, and 3 in 10 report missing a class – or even a whole day of school — because they felt unsafe. 10
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For a similar perspective, our state doesn’t even have a law that prevents local businesses from refusing service to patrons because of their religion. A queer customer in Georgia has no legal protections from discrimination based on one or more LGBTQ identities.
Housing
There is no law in Georgia preventing landowners from refusing to rent or sell to our citizens based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Community Safety Georgia is 1 of only 5 states that does not have a state hate crimes law. GE continues to work with its coalition partner to pass this important legislation.
Marriage & Relationships
Georgia Equality offers resources on obtaining a marriage license, filing joint tax returns, a list of federal benefits for married same-sex couples as part of the Why Marriage Matters in Georgia campaign.
LGBTQ Parental Rights
Gay and transgender people become parents in diverse ways including adoption, technology, and previous heterosexual relationships. Georgia’s current laws create barriers for LGBTQ families from the same protections that other families receive.
Trans Advocacy
As part of TransAction Georgia, Georgia Equality seeks to build relationships within the transgender community with focus of building leadership and independence, provide training to businesses on LGBTQ coworkers, advocate for laws and policies that include gender identity and gender expression, and expand trans awareness and visibility. Source: georgiaequality.org
HIV Advocacy
Over 50,000 Georgians are living with HIV, and an average of 3,000 are newly diagnosed each year. Our state ranks sixth in number of people living with HIV, second in new diagnoses, and third in people living with an AIDS diagnosis. The only growing category of those infected is men who have sex with me, and 60% of black gay and bisexual men in Atlanta are expected to become infected with HIV before they are 30. theQatl.com
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Fresh content served daily 12
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NEWS BRIEFS Q
Atlanta mayor claps back at Trump transgender erasure Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms hit back at a plan by the Trump administration to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people, saying that such protections are ‘in the DNA of ATL.’ The Trump administration is reportedly considering narrowing gender as a biological condition determined by genitalia at birth, according to a New York Times report carrying the headline “’Transgender’ could be defined out of existence under Trump administration.” “The protection of civil & human rights is in the DNA of ATL,” Bottoms tweeted on on Oct. 23. “Despite the hate, the trans community #WontBeErased #TransRightsAreHumanRights” The Trump administration plans to roll back a series of decisions made by the Obama administration expanding the legal concept of gender in federal programs. The Human Rights Campaign blasted the move, saying it is “setting a destructive precedent.” “This is a direct attack on the fundamental equality of LGBTQ people and, if this administration refuses to reverse course, Congress must immediately take action by advancing
Gay attorney calls out Brian Kemp in Stacey Abrams ad A gay attorney and former police officer is defending Stacey Abrams against her Republican opponent in a TV ad that is blanketing the airwaves. “We’re calling Brian Kemp out … for his false Dennis Collard and misleading attacks against Stacey Abrams,” Dennis Collard (top photo) says in the ad, which is called “Tough and Smart.” Collard also vouches for Abrams’ community safety plan in the ad, saying it “goes after drug peddlers and predators.” The ad is part of a larger effort to defend Abrams after the Kemp campaign released an attack ad targeting her record on fighting sex trafficking. Collard went into family law after leaving law enforcement, and he was co-chair of an Abrams fundraiser hosted by LGBTQ and allied supporters in August. He also drove the Jeep that Abrams rode in during the Atlanta Pride parade earlier this month.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
the Equality Act to ensure that LGBTQ people are explicitly protected by our nation’s civil rights laws,” HRC President Chad Griffin said. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, wouldn’t directly criticize the proposal, but when asked at a health summit whether it would hurt efforts to fight HIV, especially among trans women, he said, “We need to understand that stigmatizing illness, stigmatizing individuals is not in the interest of public health.”
Atlanta man says he was fired after enduring anti-gay harassment By Patrick Saunders A security guard alleges that he and a co-worker were called “sugar boys,” “girlfriends” and “sissies” and that he was fired after reporting the harassment to management at the federal courthouse in downtown Atlanta. Michael O’Donnell filed a federal lawsuit in September 2017 against his former employer Akal Security and the U.S. Marshals Service, which hired Akal to provide security services at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in Atlanta. O’Donnell alleges that co-workers targeted him and fellow security officer Marquice Robinson after noticing that the two spent time together and believed they were a gay couple. In addition to name calling, the lawsuit alleges that co-workers also taunted them with “where my girls at — O’Donnell and Robinson,” “married couples don’t spend as much time together as y’all do,” “get off his train” [referencing male genitalia], and “Akal’s employees were talking about their relationship ‘not looking right’ because they are men.” Robinson reported the harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in June 2016. O’Donnell alleges that Akal “took adverse actions” against O’Donnell for supporting Robinson’s EEOC claim. Find full reports and fresh LGBTQ news daily on Project Q Atlanta at theQatl.com. theQatl.com
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POLITICS Q
QUEER S WAVE
By Patrick Saunders and Mike Fleming ocially progressive voters may have never been more motivated to hit the polls and be part of a prophesized Blue Wave than for the 2018 midterm elections. With the empowerment of some far-right politicians and their supporters after the 2016 presidential election, some candidates in Georgia are out to turn the tide on Trumpian politics.
Meet the LGBTQ and queer-friendly candidates in Georgia’s crucial 2018 midterms
Project Q Atlanta has interviewed candidates in key races who have the backs of LGBTQ Georgians. Here they are in their own words for your Q-sideration leading up to Election Day on Nov. 6. Read the full Project Q Atlanta interviews at theQatl.com.
Stacey Abrams GEORGIA GOVERNOR
The progressive Democrat running to be Georgia’s first female governor and first governor of color is already making LGBTQ history as well. The former state House minority leader also became the first major party gubernatorial candidate in Georgia to sit for an LGBTQ Policy Roundtable Discussion, the first to speak to the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and the first to speak from the stage at Atlanta Pride. From her years as a Spelman College student leader through her tenure as a state legislator, Abrams’ entire career is based on inclusion and diversity as an LGBTQ ally. She told an LGBTQ caucus meeting that it’s time to bury “religious freedom” efforts “in its grave.” She backed that sentiment, and her potential LGBTQ constituents, in multiple interviews with Project Q during the campaign. “It’s about protecting communities, the LGBTQ community, from being able to be fired and denied access to housing, access to services. It’s about fighting back not only locally but nationally and letting the State of Georgia be a voice not of discrimination but of defense,” Abrams said. “It’s about making sure that discrimination of any kind, that from the beginning, the governor is the face of what discrimination will not happen in the state of Georgia, and that’s why I’m running.” Abrams runs a diverse campaign as well, with a staff of some 40 people, a third of whom are LGBTQ. “Allyship requires lifting up voices from every community,” Abrams told Project Q. “I strive to ensure that my campaign staff reflects the diversity of our state — and thus have hired LGBTQ Georgians, immigrants, women and people of color for critical positions on the campaign. As governor, I will remain committed to hiring a diverse staff and making appointments to ensure that Georgians from all walks of life can see a government that reflects their priorities.” theQatl.com
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QUEER WAVE, Continued
Sarah Riggs Amico GEORGIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR This corporate chair of a sprawling family business touts her Christian faith and LGBTQ equality as platform foundations in her run for lieutenant governor.
Charlie Bailey
“I know that confuses a lot of people to be a pro-labor, pro-choice, pro-marriage equality, pro-gay rights Christian,” Amico (top photo) told Project Q Atlanta. “I personally think it’s quite consistent with my beliefs.”
GEORGIA ATTORNEY GENERAL This candidate traces his opposition to anti-LGBTQ “religious freedom” bills back to the African-American civil rights movement of the 1950s and ‘60s. “It attempts to enshrine into law the discrimination of individuals, and I think we found a long time ago that you can’t use commerce to say, ‘I don’t want to serve this kind of person, I don’t want to sell to this kind of person,” Bailey told Project Q Atlanta.
The Democrat faces Republican former state Rep. Geoff Duncan, who supports “religious freedom” legislation and voted for it in 2016. Amico leaves no questions about where she stands. “I think it’s inexcusable,” she said. “This is not who we are as Americans. It’s not who we are as human beings. And candidly, I think it’s a huge black mark on the Georgia state Senate. I would say to my fellow Christians, it’s time for you guys to get up and do the work too. If you don’t like gay marriage, fine — don’t have one. But, civil rights is a thing that we need to be vocal in protecting.”
John Barrow
GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE The Democrat opened up to Project Q about why he says “religious freedom” bills are discriminatory, as well as his support of marriage equality after voting to ban it while in Congress in the mid-1990s.
The Democrat faces Republican incumbent Chris Carr, who in April joined a group of 17 state attorneys general in a letter to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services voicing support for “religious freedom” rights. Bailey has made clear, should he be elected, that he would not defend any “religious freedom” bill that might pass in Georgia. “When you do unto others as you would have done onto you, that wasn’t a talking point out of D.C,” Bailey said. “It was about human decency and how we treat our brothers and sisters. So yes, it is moral to me and it is personal as well.”
Jen Slipakoff
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 36, WEST COBB The first-time candidate and PFLAG mom decided to run to protect the rights of her transgender daughter and other LGBTQ people across Georgia.
She served as co-president of PFLAG Atlanta and she was a member of the Atlanta Steering Committee for the Human Rights Campaign. Her opponent has labeled her a one-issue candidate, but Slipakoff told Project Q that her work extends into all areas of state business. “Yes, my impetus for getting involved in politics definitely did stem from my advocacy work for the LGBTQ community,” Slipakoff said. “But it’s not the only thing that I stand for. I can multi-task. If I’m willing to fight for these controversial issues, I can certainly fight for things like healthcare, like equal pay for equal work, I can fight for improvements to traffic.”
Slipakoff and her opponent, staunch conservative Earl Ehrhart, are running to replace Ehrhart’s husband Earl Eherhart, the longest-serving Republican in the House and its most outspoken anti-LGBTQ member. Rep. Ehrhart represented the district for nearly 30 years, and the seat has been uncontested for a decade. 16
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freedom” bills.
The Athens native and former five-term member of Congress evolved on LGBTQ issues and came to support a statewide LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination law and opposed anti-LGBTQ “religious
His current stances are a departure from those as recent as 2014, when as a U.S. House member running for re-election, he refused to co-sponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which he chalked up to a bogged-down legislative process that left the bill unready to pass.
Barrow also voted to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act, but told Project Q Atlanta that he now supports same-sex marriage and supported civil unions as a viable alternative at the time.
“I’ve always believed that the law should treat people equally when it comes to providing benefits or classification of people for some government purpose,” he said. “When the government’s going to classify folks, they have to give people the right to participate on equal terms.” Barrow faces Republican state Rep. Brad Raffensperger for the post on Nov. 6.
Ben Ku
Matthew Wilson
The board hasn’t had a Democratic member in over 30 years. This gay civic activist aims to change that.
The openly gay attorney and Democrat hopes to unseat a Republican incumbent in this competitive race. District 80 includes Brookhaven in DeKalb County. His high-profile endorsements include Barack Obama and the national Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
GWINNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, DISTRICT 2
The 36-yearold first-time candidate hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Lynette Howard and become the commission’s first openly gay member. “Part of the impetus for running was that I do not feel that minorities are well represented in the county that has never had a minority — other than women — on the board of commissioners,” Ku told Project Q Atlanta. “And there isn’t even a diversity of thought when a county that voted for Hillary and Obama hasn’t had a Democrat on the board in over 30 years.” Ku is a Georgia native and grandson of Chinese immigrants who came to Georgia to help engineer the original MARTA rail. Ku wants to connect that family history on the commission by improving transportation. He said he would also work to beef up the county’s nondiscrimination ordinance by adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 80, BROOKHAVEN ET AL.
With wide-ranging issues including education as top-tier concerns, Wilson expressed his personal commitment to LGBTQ issues when speaking with Project Q.
“The more LGBTQ legislators we have under the Gold Dome, the harder it will be for GOPers to push discriminatory bills that — and this is how I make the case to folks, because even if you have positive feelings about equality it doesn’t have the same amount of weight if you’re not LGBTQ — will hurt our economy by driving out our business community,” he said. Wilson faces GOP incumbent Rep. Meagan Hanson, who has a mixed record on LGBTQ issues. Hanson narrowly won her seat with just 50.52 percent of the vote.
Richard Keatley
GEORGIA LABOR COMMISSIONER With a goal to be “the voice for the working people” of Georgia, this Democrat considers LGBTQ people a vital part of the state’s economic engine.
Keatley cited Economic Policy Institute ranking the state number 42 in economic opportunity as his reason for running.
“We do a really good job at inviting businesses here and giving them a really big tax cut and then just letting the cards just fall where they may, and end up usually hiring people from other states to fill those good-paying jobs,” he added. Keatley also said that as labor commissioner he will form inclusive advisory boards that will act as a sort of task force.
“I would be very proactive in putting people on my advisory boards and councils that are reflective of the diversity that we have in this state,” Keatley said. “That includes sexual orientation, gender identity, all of the LGBT issues.” The job of labor commissioner is an executive position, and therefore he would not responsible for making policy. Instead, his office would provide the data that helps lawmakers shape those policies.
Read the full Project Q Atlanta interviews at theQatl.com
Julie Jordan
right to be treated equally and not discriminated against for adopting children and for any reason,” she said. “Unfortunately, Ligon … is in my area and so it’s really disappointing to see that he continually brings that up when it’s such a dividing issue.”
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 179, ST.SIMONS The lesbian school administrator Julie Jordan faces incumbent state Rep. Don Hogan. St. Simons has been represented in the House by a Republican every year going back to 1976, and Jordan will be the first Democrat to challenge the Republican incumbent in House District 179 since 2010. Economic development, a living wage and expanding Medicaid are her key campaign issues. She’s also strongly opposed to the “religious freedom” bills that have roiled the Capitol for the last five years, including state Sen. William Ligon’s failed anti-LGBTQ adoption bill from earlier this year.
“I’m against religious freedom bills because gay people have every
same respect.
She says being out should not affect her race, but that some people living in her district haven’t enjoyed the
“We still have a lot of work to do down here. But there’s pockets of people that are so supportive and accepting, so we’re going to keep fighting and keep pushing forward,” she said. theQatl.com
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QUEER WAVE, Continued
Fred Swann
GEORGIA AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER The Democrat says his push to get more LGBTQ people into the agricultural field will help alleviate Atlanta’s LGBTQ homeless youth problem.
Swann said that getting more LGBTQ people — as well as women and minorities — into the agricultural field will increase their chances of staying in their communities.
“They’re leaving these rural communities and heading into areas, wherever they can get to, and that often ends up being a place that has very limited resources for them,” he said. “And that’s why so many LGBT youth end up on the street, in metro areas, in trouble because they’re just fleeing a place that has a lack of acceptance to a place that has a lack of resources.” Swann saw the problem up close when a farmer and family friend near his Macon home was concerned about his lesbian daughter being socially marginalized if she took her girlfriend to the prom. Swann said she ended up doing it but only because she would be leaving town soon for college anyway.
Adam Bridges STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 161, RINCON
When an anti-LGBTQ adoption bill passed in the state Senate this year, it became personal for this gay business owner.
“I am married to my husband and we have four beautiful foster children,” Bridges said. “These children don’t care who you are. They just want to show that the parent can give unconditional love and consistency and structure to a home.”
“These kids just need love. And my children are a prime example when they came into my husband and I’s home — they have done a 180. Why? Because we show them unconditional love and give them the structure that they need to succeed and to grow up and be good stewards to society,” he added. That bill failed to pass before the legislative session ended, but it was one of several anti-LGBTQ “religious freedom” bills under consideration over the last five years at the legislature.
Bridges, 42 and a Marine veteran, said the arguments made by proponents of such bills don’t hold water.
“It was great that she found the courage to live her authentic truth, but it’s sad that it came down to, ‘I won’t be around these people anyway.’ And that’s the true reality, not that, ‘I’m going to find acceptance and love in the place that I call home,’” he said. “That was a concrete example to me of a thing that we’re dealing with every day that I would personally love to see changed.”
“This is just another form of discriminating against a minority,” he said. “And we all must stand up against any form of discrimination. ”
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 40, NORTHEAST METRO ATLANTA
The incumbent state representative originally ran in 2016 to expand Medicaid with healthcare as his top campaign priority. He became the first openly gay male elected to the Georgia state legislature. He faces Republican opposition, and he told Q in May that growing up queer in Georgia does color his approach to his position.
Sally Harrell
This equality ally reentered politics in 2018 driven in part by the urge to protect her teenage daughter, who recently came out as LGBTQ.
“So [LGBTQ rights] issues have hit us personally at home,” Harrell said. “I would support these issues anyway, but it makes it that much more intense to have a family member who is and will be affected by the decisions that are made on these issues.” Harrell served in the House from 1999 to 2005. She was one of only a handful of Democrats in 2004 to vote against a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. “I felt strongly that voting against SR 595 was the right thing to do and consistent with my values. I cast my vote proudly, knowing that it might cost me my re-election. Though I ended up not running for re-election due to redistricting issues, I wanted to be on the right side of history.”
Harrell is one of a slew of female candidates nationwide inspired to run after the election of President Donald Trump and is well versed in multiple issues dear to LGBTQ voters. She faces Republican incumbent Sen. Fran Millar, who is seeking a fifth term.
He faces incumbent Rep. Bill Hitchens on Nov. 6.
Sam Park
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 101, LAWRENCEVILLE
“Growing up as a minority within a minority of a minority (gay, Korean American, Christian) has allowed me to be open-minded to different perspectives and opinions, and fostered a desire to be a voice for the voiceless and underrepresented communities,” Park said. “Being different has also helped me fearlessly advocate for positions that may be unpopular, because I’ve learned that right is right, and wrong is wrong regardless of who may be in the majority or minority at that time. “ Park is also an advocate for queer voter turnout and participation in politics in general.
“I encourage all of my LGBTQ sisters and brothers to register to vote, vote in every election and actively participate in our democracy,” he said. “The vote is the great equalizer. You can be a billionaire or have a dollar in your bank account, be 18 years old or 88 years old, everyone’s vote counts the same. Use the power of your vote to determine the direction of your community, state and nation.”
Read the full Project Q Atlanta interviews at theQatl.com
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Taylor BROWN
Q&A
Q
Atlanta transgender legal eagle fights fire with fire By Patrick Saunders
AS A BI-RACIAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN TRANSGENDER WOMAN, attorney Taylor Brown had a lot working against her on her path to becoming the Tyron Garner Memorial Fellow at the Southern Regional Office of Lambda Legal. “I have had to fight my entire life to quite literally exist,” Brown told Q. But Brown has a lot of fight in her. Originally from Morganton, N.C., she came out as trans at 18 and vowed to never let it be a hindrance. She became the first person in her family to graduate from college and then law school. And now she’s battling inequalities in policy and the law for African-American LGBTQ people and African-American people living with HIV at Lambda Legal. Brown is the second in Q’s new Q&A profiles on the professional and personal sides of LGBTQ Atlantans you should know. What made you want to practice law? I love to read, analyze, write, and make arguments. Those skills are essential in litigation. … On a personal level, I understand firsthand what it is like to be fired, denied healthcare, and to be mistreated, solely because I happen to be transgender. I have had to fight my entire life to quite literally exist. The good news is that I have a propensity for winning. To what do you attribute your success? First and foremost, my incredible grandmother, Rosetta. She is the strongest, kindest, and wisest woman that I know. She has continuously supported me, shown me unconditional love, and I would not be who I am or where I am today without her. Second, I truly believe the adversities that I have faced in my life have made me a stronger and better person, in all aspects of my life. From the moment that I accepted my identity, when I was 18, I committed myself to the idea that I would never let anyone treat me differently because of who I am. I would never accept limitations on my life because of who I am. I have always described those feelings as a fire. I do not know where that fire comes from, but it has kept me alive and has helped me thrive. How do you stay focused and not get overwhelmed with the rights of LGBTQ people, women and people of color constantly under attack? Ultimately, when you work on the side of good, you go home every day knowing that you are working to make people’s lives better, often in profound ways. That feeling is what keeps me going, fuels the fire inside of me, and allows me to do what must be done to preserve the progress we have made and to continually push for more. What’s one thing people would be surprised to find out about you? My friends always make fun of me for my YouTube addiction. I watch everything on YouTube: Supreme Court oral arguments, mukbangs, DIY videos, product reviews, foreign television shows, RHOA clips, etc. I constantly send my friends weird/funny videos, and if anyone ever saw my history, I would probably be pretty embarrassed. Read our full interview with Taylor Brown at theQatl.com. theQatl.com
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Q
MOVIES
‘Rhapsody’
REALNESS
Q ueen’s uber-queer Freddie Mercury biopic delivers epic and intimate moments By Buck C. Cooke
F
reddie Mercury is a must on any list of important queer icons. He was creative, bold, audacious, groundbreaking, revolutionary and beguiling. His band Queen deserves many of the same descriptors as its lead singer: unique, largerthan-life, captivating. A movie about them is a tall order, and Bohemian Rhapsody delivers Queen realness in spades. I was prepared for the expansive biopic to be “okay,” and I worried it might not be good at all. I also heard rumors that it “straight-washed” Mercury’s life story and didn’t deal well with his AIDS diagnosis. I’m thrilled to be wrong on all counts. Bryan Singer directs the film, and Jim Beach, longtime manager and attorney for Queen, is one of the producers. Queen founders, lead guitarist and drummer Brian May and Roger Taylor respectively, serve as creative consultants and were on set for much of the filming. Under their guidance, Rami Malek (Mr. Robot), Joseph Mazzello (Tim from Jurassic Park, all grown up), Ben Hardy (Angel from X-Men: Apocalypse), and Gwilym Lee turn in pitch-perfect performances as the band. Lucy Boynton (Murder on the Orient Express) gives a tender performance as Mary Austin, the one female love interest in Mercury’s life, and it was delightful to see Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger from Game of Thrones) in a likeable role. Just to save you time as you wonder “Who is that guy?” while you watch, Mercury’s manager Paul Prenter is played by Allen Leech (Branson from Downton Abbey). You’re welcome. The filmmakers do an excellent job with casting everyone in the film, but Malek truly shines as Mercury and earns all of
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the awards buzz generated by his performance. If there is any justice in Hollywood, his name should be among actors nominated for an Academy Award. He worked with a motion coach to perfect Mercury’s iconic head tilts, eye movements, hand flicks, and stage performances. Malek fully embodies the role. In a scene from the band’s early years, Queen describes themselves as a band for outsiders. Malek does a beautiful job of portraying Mercury’s proud other-ness in the film. Coming to terms with his family’s cultural identity and expectations and his sexual orientation creates some powerful and emotional scenes. We may think of “intersectionality” as a new concept, but LGBTQ people like Mercury have been dealing with their hodge-podge of identities forever. The film deftly moves between quiet moments (Mercury and Austin at home, Mercury testing positive for AIDS) and seismic musical explosions you expect in a rock-n-roll film. It also offers delightful looks behind the scenes, like the time the band negotiates the content of A Night at the Opera with a record executive, played by Mike Myers (whose use of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in Wayne’s World would introduce the song and band to a whole new generation of fans), as well as the hilarity of Mercury explaining his vision for the track “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the band’s unconventional methods recording it. No spoilers, but there are huge moments in the film that encapsulate the meaning of the words “epic” and “awe-inspiring” worthy of the singer and the band. While there are incredible moments that will thrill your spirit, there is also the other side of that coin in the form of heartbreak and tragedy: Mercury figuring out he’s gay with his wife, and our creative queer pantheon’s loss of potential when he died of AIDS-related complications in 1991 at the age of 45. Yes, the film brings the sting of loss, but Bohemian Rhapsody stands as a testament to the rapturous joy of Mercury and Queen. It is a fitting celebration of their music, and the story is finely crafted and executed. The lyrics of the title track begin “Is this just real life?/ Is this just fantasy?” This film shows that it was real life and it is fantastic. “Bohemian Rhapsody” opens in Atlanta area theaters on Nov. 2.
Q
THE QUEER AGENDA The Best Queer Things To Do in Atlanta This Week
November 1 - November 7 THURSDAY, NOV. 1
Cub Sport Burning up the airwaves in Australia and the club scene here, this queer band aims for your fandom @ The Masquerade, 7 p.m. masqueradeatlanta.com Amen Edgewood queens take the floor @ Sister Louisa’s Church, 10:30 p.m. sisterlouisaschurch.com
FRIDAY, NOV. 2 Tyler Hanes The Marietta native turned accomplished Broadway veteran performs his live-action, song-anddance memoir with songs from Freddie Mercury, Lin-Manuel Miranda and more @ Strand Theatre, Marietta, 8 p.m. earlsmithstrand.org
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48 Hours on the Street The founder of the new Rainbow House Coalition spends a weekend outside as he did during his former Lost-N-Found gig to highlight LGBTQ youth homelessness @ Midtown Moon Parking Lot, all weekend. rainbowhouseatl.org Taylor Alxndr The local singer’s debut album Holgram provides the occasion for a concert and party. Also expect performances by Superbody, Jay Americana, Jamee Cornelia and Jsport @ 529 Club, 9 p.m. tayloralxndr.com DILF: Commander Hup! Two-Three-Four. Military gear party with Dog Tag Codes in effect @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com
SATURDAY, NOV. 3
The Gay Preacher’s Wife Literally. Meet the lady who wrote the book on a down-low husband coming out @ Barnes & Noble Georgia Tech, 3 p.m. lydiameredith.com
Velvet Underground: Cinematic Tribute Gay cinephile Andy Ditzler curates an evening of Warhol magic on the uber queer band @ Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum, 8 p.m. frequentsmallmeals.com/film_love Sweet Baby Cheeses & Str8 Ppl Live! Q’s own Ian Aber hosts a comedy double feature. First, delicious snacks and a hot lineup, followed by straight comics taking queer panel critiques @ Relapse Theatre, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. facebook.com/HotMicComedy Bearracuda: Folsom One night on the infamous gay leather avenue @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com
SUNDAY, NOV. 4
Lips 5th Anniversary A huge slate of performers and a special menu celebrate a half decade of Atlanta drag dinner theater @ Lips, 7:45 p.m. lipsatl.com
indulge your senses 650 north ave ne, suite 201, atlanta, ga 30308 404-winery1 | citywinery.com/atlanta theQatl.com
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RISE WITH PHIL B AT HERETIC
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Q SHOTS Q
PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD theQatl.com
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Q SHOTS
BULLDOGS PRIDE
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
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Q SHOTS
PRIDE WEEKEND AT WOOFS
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
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IN PRINT WEEKLY fresh content online daily Q Magazine theQatl.com
Project Q Atlanta
AIDS WALK ATLANTA & 5K RUN
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Q SHOTS
GEARED AT ATLANTA EAGLE
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
CELESTIAL FRIDAY AT BLAKE’S
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MOONLIGHT CABARET AT MIDTOWN MOON
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD theQatl.com
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PRIDE WEEKEND AT BJ ROOSTERS
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
The Club Where Men Do it!
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Q
THEQ?! Stop WORRYING Wringing your hands compounds the issues when you’re old and/or jealous
Q
My s/o is so hot, sometimes I have to excuse myself at work just to go diddle out my thoughts in
private. Seriously. People everywhere we go agree. I’m ridiculously jealous of them, and to make it worse, I’m actually envious of my s/o, too. I don’t think I’m ugly, but sometimes I wish Mother Nature made me as hot as my boo. I love having them at my side, but I wonder if other people think I’m not worthy. Help! Dear Green: Gay people are in a position to both want, and want to be, people of their same sex. The inner push-and-pull is unique, but your struggle with it is not. Tap into knowing that this beautiful person chose to be with you. If they think you’re worthy, so should you. Their attraction toward you will erode if you behave jealously — not because you’re ugly, but because you’re insecure. They’ll also notice if you choose instead to trust them. So will the jealous bitches dishing about your relationship as if it’s any of their business. You can’t change nature, but worrying without changing your perspective is just emotional self-flagellation. Stop it.
Q
When I was in my 20s and 30s, I had more confidence than I deserved, and it showed. As I push well
into my mid 40s, I feel old, fat and ugly. Everywhere I turn 38
theQatl.com
Tap into knowing that this beautiful person chose to be with you. If they think you’re worthy, so should you. are signs of ageism in the LGBTQ community, and the little Body Nazis judging everybody are killing my self worth. Dear Fugly: Getting older is certainly better than the alternative, and a slew of our queer brethren died before finding that out. They might tell us that aging is a privilege. Acknowledge queer ageism, but don’t absorb it. Reject the groupthink mentality about youthful beauty, especially from younger people, and re-evaluate for yourself: How much better off are you than when you were their age? How much are your knowledge and life skills worth? Would you really take your old body back in exchange for all you’ve gained? Your experiences define you, and your life is rich with them. You’re younger today than you will ever be again, so stop worrying. The Q is for entertainment purposes and not professional counseling. Send your burning Qs to mike@theqatl.com. ILLUSTRATION BY BRAD GIBSON
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