Q
February 21, 2019
Living Single & Living in Fear
inform | inspire
Badass Biker Babes
Q ueer
BURLESQUE
The women of Metropolitan Studios show us how they vamp
Self-Care, Blunts & Cupcakes
Q News The Queer Agenda Q Shots 10 Queer Things The Weekly Print Publication of Project Q Atlanta
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Show Us How
YOU LGBTQ
Burlesque dancers, motorcycle riders, comics, singles, and homecoming queens WHETHER IT’S BLAZING OUT from under a male gaze, blazing up a doobie, or blazing trails new and old, queer women are catching our attention in this week’s Q. The female form takes center stage in the Q Cover feature. At Metropolitan Studios, a decidedly different dance space celebrates queer women and all the different ways their bodies move and take shape. In stunning portraits by contributing photographer James L. Hicks, get to know their burlesque alter egos as they queer traditionally hetero archetypes.
ART DIRECTOR JOHN NAIL JOHN@THEQATL.COM PROJECT Q ATLANTA PATRICK SAUNDERS EDITOR PSAUNDERS@THEQATL.COM CONTRIBUTORS IAN ABER LAURA BACCUS GABRIELLE CLAIBORNE BUCK COOKE CHARLES E. DAVIS JON DEAN BILL DICKINSON JIM FARMER BRAD GIBSON JAMES L. HICKS TAMEEKA L. HUNTER HEATHER MALONEY ERIC PAULK KYLE ROSE JAMES PARKER SHEFFIELD VINCE SHIFFLETT ALEXANDRA TYLER VAVA VROOM NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM 212-242-6863 LOCAL ADVERTISING SALES@THEQATL.COM 404-949-7071
Lesbians busting boundaries are also on the mind of Q Voices columnist Vava Vroom. The president of Dykes on Bikes Atlanta lays out a fascinating history of female riders that goes as far back as motorcycles themselves. MIKE FLEMING EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Meanwhile, comic Jenn Snyder is breaking into straight male spaces too, with highly energetic and enthusiastically high standup comedy. Her decidedly queer voice is earning her raves from all corners, and her rising star hits Q People with the movement in her heart and a blunt between her lips. Also cutting away from gender norms, Forsyth County teen Charlie Baum is her school’s first transgender homecoming queen. After a rough year of bullying, coming out, and deciding to run for the post, she hits 2019 in Q News excited to show the world what she’s made of. For trans teens not so lucky to have a loving home and school, you’ll also find a story on Atlanta’s new Rainbow House. With all those females making waves, other queers just had to follow suit. A supersized Queer Agenda calendar and Q Shots photo pages boast sexy boy parties galore — and events for the rest of the LGBTQ village as well. 10 Queer Things preps for the gayest Oscars in history (which is really saying something), and The Q advice column temporarily drops relationship advice to advise single people. Start flipping pages, and when you’re done, hit Project Q Atlanta for daily updates to the latest LGBTQ news at theQatl.com. We’ll be back next week with more LGBTQ-ATLiens making life in our fair city so queer. theQatl.com
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April 6, 2019 Emory University Grab some friends and spend a fun day competing in your favorite version of schoolyard games. Tug-of-war, 3-legged and wheelbarrow races, and more. Two fun events to raise money for AIDS vaccine research and local service organizations including Emory Vaccine Center, Positive Impact, AID Atlanta, Jerusalem House and HERO for Children.
May 18-19, 2019 A 2-day 200-mile bike ride across the beautiful Georgia countryside. Shorter options are available, including relays.
Register for one or both events, volunteer and/or donate to a participant at actioncyclingatl.org
INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 4 FEBRUARY 21, 2019
OSCAR BUZZ
Gayest nominations in history
COVER
22 10
Sex Appeal
Queering female archetypes
NEWS
13
31 Heartbeatz
Home Again
Atlanta’s new trans youth house PEOPLE
16 FEATURES Q Voices
8
Q News
13
Q Shots
31
Queer Agenda The Q
Funny Lady
33 Fresh Digs
Spark one up with comedian Jenn Snyder
38
18 38
36 Naughty Cupid theQatl.com
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Q
VOICES
Calling All
BIKER BABES
A brief history of women riding motorcyles, wearing leather and inspiring lesbians
LESBIANS ON MOTORCYCLES ARE A POPULAR PULP fiction trope. There’s actually a pulp novel titled Dykes on Bikes. The cover illustration features two biker babes wearing skimpy tops and throwing whips at each other.
1930s and 40s Bessie Stringfield becomes the first African-American woman to ride cross-country, and she does it solo. Bessie learned to ride on an Indian Scout at age 16. She traveled all of the lower 48 states and across Europe, Brazil and Haiti. Bessie was one of the few civilian motorcycle despatch riders during World War II. A woman of color. In 1930. Solo. On a motorcycle. Think about that. World Wars I and II Hints of the leather culture started around 1918, just after World War I. Pilots coming home from the war kept their leather jackets and caps, and men turned to the thrill of riding motorcycles. That led to some hot gay action, but gay men weren’t the only ones shaped by the wars.
The problem is that many women are afraid to ride except as a passenger. What does this mean for Dykes on Bikes® in Atlanta?
Throughout both World Wars, women served hard. We became machinists, mechanics and more. In America, Rosie the Riveter is the most iconic representation, but some women embraced a more masculine tone, wearing “men’s clothing” with their hair slicked back.
Well, for starters we only have so many passenger seats. We cannot possibly fit all your rears on our 70-ish bikes.
In Great Britain, things were far more dangerous, and women were recruited to become motorcycle despatch riders.
Are biker babes hot? Yeah! Do they throw whips? Some do! Should you be one? Yes.
VAVA Despatch riders delivered urgent communicaSecond, we need younger women to step up and VROOM tions between headquarters and military units. ride. Millennials? Gen Z? Where are you? MoThey rode through bombing campaigns and torcycles have been empowering women since raids. They maintained their own machines. It was gritty, hard the 1800s, but our group is mostly made up of badass Boomers work on some damn heavy machines in extreme circumstances. and Gen Xers. Let’s talk a little history. 1885 Gottlieb Daimler (Daimler Motors, Daimler Benz, et al) made a bicycle with a locomotive engine. People used them for transportation like we use cars. And women were riding them. Without stigma! Can you imagine? In bustles and corsets, even. Note to femmes and cosplayers: I wear corsets and have ridden in one. It’s comfortable. I also ride in my Batwoman cape when appropriate. You can do this! Get a bike! 1915 Effie Hotchkiss becomes the first woman to ride across the U.S. on a motorcycle. Most women didn’t travel distances without an escort, let alone on a three-speed motorbike, but Effie plopped her mom Avis in her sidecar, and off they went! 1930s - 1950s Dot Robinson competes alongside men in motorcycle endurance races… and wins! She forms the world's first women's motorcycle club: The Motor Maids. She wears tons of leather gear, but switches to pink gear at some point so she wouldn’t feed the troublemaker stereotype. 8
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1976 San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day Parade. A small group of lesbians decided to ride in the parade. So that their bikes wouldn’t overheat idling behind marchers, they moved to the front of the procession and have been there ever since. From what we understand, someone in the group or in the crowd called them “Dykes on Bikes.” A San Francisco Chronicle reporter picked up on it, and the name appeared in print. 2019 Fast forward to present day. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Does the meaning of that affect us the way it used to? It does for Dykes on Bikes. Motorcycling connects us to something greater than ourselves. We feel it every year when we open Pride and connect with your beautiful, smiling faces during the parade. We’re planning something special to honor Stonewall this year, and we hope you’ll love it. Bring your smile and your new bike. Vava Vroom: Lesbian. Poly. Kinky. Gen Xer. President of Dykes on Bikes Atlanta. Find her on Instagram @dykesonbikesatl, or via e-mail vava.vroom@yahoo.com.
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Q
10 QUEER THINGS Green Book The movie explores the intersectional black, queer identities of real-life musician Don Shirley. (Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, more)
The Favourite Lesbian love triangles never looked so period-piece perfect. (Picture, Actress, Supporting Actress x 2, Director, more)
A Star Is Born LGBTQ hero Lady Gaga plays a singer working drag bars in attempts at extending her faded dream of pop stardom. (Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Original Song and others)
Best P CTURE
The most queer-inclusive Oscars race in history By Mike Fleming
L
GBTQ men and women have been behind the scenes and in front of the cameras in movies since forever, but until relatively recently the Oscars didn’t reflect it. The Academy Awards hits a new level for 2019 with what the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation calls the most LGBTQinclusive nominations list in history. Five of this year’s eight Best Picture nominees have queer themes and/or characters. Here they are, plus five more Oscar LGBTQ nominees up for a Little Gold Man.
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Bohemian Rhapsody The career, loves and music of queer rock icon Freddie Mercury. (Picture, Actor, more)
If Beale Street Could Talk Based on the book by legendary gay author James Baldwin. (Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, more)
Can You Ever Forgive Me? Melissa McCarthy’s real-life character was a lesbian, Richard E. Grant’s grifter Jack Hock was gay, and gay screenwriter Jeff Whitty is up for a co-writing trophy. (Actress, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay)
Vice Mary Cheney’s sexual orientation plays a big role in the dramatic story of her dad, former VP Dick Cheney. (Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, Actress, more)
End Game Queer filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman created this heartbreaking but hopeful Netflix short that’s up for Best Documentary.
Mary Poppins Returns
Black Panther While it marks “firsts” in multiple categories for its nomination, Hanna Beachler is the first black person — male, female, straight or queer — to be nominated for Production Design.
Queer powerhouse composing duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are up for Original Song with “The Place Where Lost Things Go,” and Shaiman is up for the same Original Score.
The 91st Academy Awards telecasts Sunday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. on ABC. Out on Film hosts a watch party on the big screen at Plaza Atlanta, 6:30 p.m.
Sources: glaad.org, oscars.org, variety.com theQatl.com
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NEWS Q
HOME Again Rainbow House opens shelter for five at-risk trans youth By Patrick Saunders A FIVE-BEDROOM SHELTER TO PROVIDE HOUSING for Atlanta’s homeless transgender youth will open on March 1 in the West End. The shelter is a project of Rainbow House Coalition, a homeless LGBTQ youth organization created by Rick Westbrook, a co-founder and former director of Lost N Found Youth. Westbrook (photo) said that Rainbow House signed the lease in late January and that he expected to have the keys to the shelter by Feb. 15. “I looked at hundreds of houses,” Westbrook told Project Q Atlanta. “This house has five bedrooms. Each door on the bedroom locks with its own key. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. It’s like it was built from the ground up for us.” Westbrook said the shelter's residents will sign a rental contract to help build their rental history. The five residents will pay rent, and Rainbow House Coalition will put half of it towards housing expenses. The other half will be put into a trust fund, which the residents receive back when they leave the shelter. Singling out transgender clients for the first house falls in line with a greater need, Westbrook said. “This first [shelter] is specially geared toward trans youth because there’s so many out there who can’t find a place to live. These are the ones at risk of becoming homeless or are graduating from the programs at Lost N Found, Covenant House or CHRIS 180,” he said. Westbrook launched Rainbow House Coalition last October. The plan included housing LGBTQ youth ages 18 to 25 in rented homes, tiny houses and shipping container apartments. He said the tiny house and shipping container apartment programs will take “a year or more” and that he hopes to sit down with City of Atlanta officials to talk about it soon.
“This first [shelter] is specially geared toward trans youth because there’s so many out there who can’t find a place to live. These are the ones at risk of becoming homeless.”
— Rick Westbrook
In the meantime, Westbrook said that Rainbow House will continue to raise funds for more homes to house scores more youth in need. “We have the money for this house,” he said. “What I want to do is raise money for the next one. There are a thousand kids out there every night.” A 2016 Georgia State University study said that there were around 950 homeless LGBTQ youth in metro Atlanta. Rainbow House Coalition plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new West End shelter on Feb. 23. Time and other details are still being ironed out at press time, so visit Project Q Atlanta for updates to this story as they become available on theQatl.com. Westbrook co-founded Lost N Found Youth in 2011. He resigned from that organization in May 2018 citing disagreements with the board. Project Q Atlanta posts the latest local LGBTQ news daily at theQatl.com. theQatl.com
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Q
IN BRIEF
Lawmaker wants to modernize HIV instruction in Georgia schools By Patrick Saunders STATE REP. JASMINE CLARK’S FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS AS A lawmaker was to introduce a bill that would ensure Georgia’s K-12 students receive accurate information about HIV during sex-ed classes.
The first-year lawmaker from Tucker, a Democrat, filed House Bill 133 — the Charlie Baum congratulated on her homecoming win.
Transgender metro Atlanta teen named homecoming queen
“One of my concerns is that
STUDENTS AT FORSYTH CENTRAL High School in Cumming voted on Jan. 26 to make 17-year-old transgender senior Charlie Baum their homecoming queen for 2019.
“This creates an opportu-
Baum, a 17-year-old senior, celebrated the news on Instagram. “This year, harassment and just straight up bullying I’ve dealt with have … disparaged me from really enjoying myself at school and my senior year, but this win, to me, represents a more progressive and accepting future in one of the most conservative and backwards counties in Georgia,” she wrote. Baum created her Instagram account last June and came out as trans in a post in December. “Most of you know this, so I suppose this is my official ‘coming out’ post … but I’ve always, always known that I was a girl and it’s been something I’ve been very ashamed, scared and hesitant to talk about/be open about, but I’ve never felt more like myself,” she wrote. “It is so incredibly freeing to finally be myself and present myself the way I have always known myself! And I’m very excited for 2019,” she added. 14
“Quality Basic Education Act” — on Feb. 5.
theQatl.com
the current law does not require the mention of HIV,
and only mentions AIDS,”
she told Project Q Atlanta. nity for misinformation or omission of life-altering information.”
Clark said that not much was known about HIV/
Rep. Jasmine Clark
AIDS when the code was originally drafted in the 1980s. “But now in 2019, we have a wealth of information about the issues, and I
believe that our students deserve to be taught about HIV prevention using the most up to date and medically accurate information available,” she said.
Clark has a PhD in Microbiology from Emory. She’s also a published retrovi-
rology researcher, she did postdoctoral work on the HIV virus and she lectures at the Emory School of Nursing.
“I believe that information is one of our most valuable tools to combating critical issues. And HIV is a critical issue,” she said. “Based on the latest available data, the number of cases of new infections is highest in the 13-24 year age range. These are our students!”
“I am also a parent whose children will soon take sex education courses. As a mother, I want to make sure that my children and their peers are also being given accurate and timely information as well,” she added.
HB 133 has 13 co-sponsors, all of whom are Democrats except for state Rep. Rick Williams from Milledgeville. Four of the chamber’s five LGBTQ lawmakers are co-sponsors.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ARI BEE
The latest news of local LGBTQ interest is updated on Project Q Atlanta every day at theQatl.com.
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THE ST RS PARTY & Silent Auction
BENEFITING JERUSALEM HOUSE Thursday, February 28, 2019 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. | Free admission Summerour Studio 409 bishop street n .w. atlanta , ga 30318
RSVP and register at www.starsparty.givesmart.com starsparty@ jerusalemhouse . org
| 678-999-9261
Q
PEOPLE
Powerhouse
16
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Jenn Snyder hits Atlanta with Southern style and blunt comedy By Ian Aber
G
et ready, Atlanta. Jenn Snyder is a powerhouse comedian tearing up stages all over the country with her bold style and great story, and she’s coming to Atlanta this week for a one-nighter. Hailing from Columbia, S.C., Snyder’s stand up has made her stand out nationally. She’s destined to be a household name, with a national tour and an album already under her belt. Hot Mic Comedy brings the rising star to Relapse Theatre in Midtown on Feb. 23, and she sat down with Q to talk queer discrimination, success amid straight privilege, weed as selfcare, and being a fireball badass amid all of it. What are your favorite things to do in Atlanta?
I feel like every straight friend a gay person makes is one more person on our side. When you work hard and get noticed, it means one more queer performer on a show. That’s always important. More queer people than ever are doing stand up. Why do you think that is? I think it partly great gay comics like Ellen paving the way, but then I think there’s also been a shift in comedy. People are tired of the same old thing. Queer voices are a fresh perspective a lot of people haven’t heard. I think that kind of space is creating a siren song, drawing in more comedic queer voices. It’s an amazing time to be a queer comic. OK, lightning round. Favorite way to spend a day off? Get high and go to a horror movie, then eat something delicious, and then go to a show! If your comedy was a strain of marijuana, what strain would it be? Sativa! An airy tingly high that you never want to end.
RISING Eat! Also play Star Bar and talk shit with all my comic friends!
Favorite pizza topping?
How did you get started in standup?
Dogs, cats or baby goats?
A talent show in middle school. I wanted to sing, but my mom said she thought I was funnier than I could sing. So I made a routine and won. I got to do three assemblies the next day instead of classes. I was hooked. How does being queer inform or shape your comedy? I talk about it a lot in my set, but it still shapes my everyday life. I still get stared at every day. I still get gay heckles. So until that stops happening, I’m going to talk about and make jokes about being gay. What can audiences expect from your show?
Bacon, because it is of the gods!
ALL the baby things! Especially baby goats though! It seems to be a really good gig being a baby goat! They’re so happy! Ask yourself a question and answer it.
Who would you like to thank for their support of your comedy? All my friends and family for sure, but especially my mom and dad! They just believe in me so much. In their minds, I’m already a successful comedian. Three words for your comedy. Energetic, lively and weird.
High energy! I’m kind of a fireball! I have to work the whole stage with enthusiasm. It’s just what I do.
What role would you want if you could play any race age or gender?
In a mostly straight, mostly cis male field, you are known as one of the best in the Southeast. How does that feel to have the respect of those peers and to represent queers in this capacity?
What would be the title of your autobiography?
I’m honored and humbled by it. Some of the greatest comic minds in the business treat me as a peer and friend. It warms my heart.
Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream. Blunt & a Cupcake: Learning to Love Myself. Catch Jenn Snyder at Relapse Theatre on Saturday Feb. 23, 8 p.m. relapsecomedy.com theQatl.com
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THE QUEER AGENDA The Best Queer Things To Do in Atlanta This Week
February 21 — February 27 FRIDAY, FEB. 22
Audre Lorde Scholarship & Community Awards
Zami/NOBLA presents its annual gala
for lesbians of African descent @ Hotel
National Margarita Day
Good vibes and strong drinks with Twee for the “holiday” @ Frogs, 4 p.m.
Indigo, 7 p.m. zaminobla.org
frogsmidtown.com
Gay Chamber
Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce hosts networking happy hour free for prospective members @ Twelve
Midtown, 5:30 p.m. atlantagaychamber.org Cruise Control
DJ Mister Richard sets the backbeat @ Atlanta Eagle, 10 p.m. atlantaeagle.com
SATURDAY, FEB. 23 Phillip Rush Birthday
Atlanta’s gay community center celebrates the late, great activist it’s named after @ Frogs, 2 p.m. rushcenteratl.org Richard Blanco
Jenn Snyder
SATURDAY, FEB. 23
The queer-led Hot Mic
Out Loud CD Release
Comedy hosts this comic
Queer crooner Mike Rickard
celebrates his newest album with a concert and party
@ Relapse Theatre, 8 p.m. relapsecomedy.com
Read the Q interview
@ Red Light Café,
7:30 p.m. mikerickard.com
in this issue.
The history-making gay poet who inaugurated Obama
reads @ Emory’s Schwartz
Center, 4 p.m. arts. emory.edu
Mysterious Masquerade
Agape Atlanta and Atlanta Polyamory
host this sexy mask party in the lesbian
burlesque headquarters @ Metropolitan
Studios, 7 p.m. agapemask.eventbrite.com 18
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Bazaar
Taylor Alxndr hosts this “club
kid dance party” with competi-
tion performances and your best
on-theme looks @ The Bakery, 10 p.m.
tayloralxndr.com
SATURDAY, FEB. 23 This Party is Killing You
DJ Kimber’s gay-inclusive
Nonsense ATL goes all-Robyn, all night @ The Basement, 10 p.m. basementatl.com
SUNDAY, FEB. 24 DJ Micky Friedmann
After Heretic with DJ Isaac Es-
calante, scoot across the parking lot for an all-nighter with this sexy circuit legend @ Xion,
3 a.m. facebook.com/XionAtlanta
New Renaissance
It’s a queer burlesque, poetry and variety show hosted by
Evangeline Laveau
(photo) and Michael Chamberlain @ Red Light Café, 8 p.m. redlightcafe.com
91st Academy Awards
The queerest nominations in history set you up for a glamorous night with the stars, on TV in most Atlanta gay bars, 8 p.m. oscars.org. Catch the Q preview in this issue.
Find even more LGBTQ events in the Queer Agenda each Thursday at theQatl.com.
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Q
COVER
How They
Queer women reclaim patriarchal archetypes in the sexiest way
Coco Rose
By Mike Fleming
T
he women of Metropolitan Studios have taken their love for movement, body positivity and LGBTQ storytelling, and turned it into much more than just a dance studio with classes, a cool East Atlanta event space, or a queer burlesque troupe in shows around Atlanta. “Through identifying the importance of artistic self-expression, representation of marginalized communities and the need for an inclusive and safe space for women, Metropolitan Studios was born,” says Roula Roulette, this week’s Q cover model and one of the six troupe members in this week’s photo essay. Metropolitan member Talloolah Love agrees that the studio has become an artistic haven for makers of all kinds and any allied community that needs a space to create. “When we created this space, it was because we needed a safe space for women to come together to learn burlesque, but it’s so much more than that now,” she says. “We want people who come into Metropolitan to feel supported, inspired, and liberated.” One of those people is the troupe member channeling Josephine
Photos by James L. Hicks jhicksphotography.net Hair/Wigs: Talloolah Love Makeup: Kellyn Wiley @atelier.kellynwilley 22
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BURLESQUE Baker on this page, known on stage as Coco Rose.
“Burlesque has been my outlet and activism for women, women of color and queer identifying women,” Coco tells Q. “Although some have dismissed burlesque as little more than glorified stripping, neo-burlesque is about reclaiming society’s objectification of women.” “With every performance, my goal is to leave the audience knowing that I am not just a (POC), sex worker or marketing gimmick,” she adds, “but a black woman that has a story to tell who has embraced her sexuality, curves and taken her power back.” Can we get an amen! But what is it about burlesque that’s so liberating? “Unlike many theatrical arts where performance is filtered by scripts, directors, producers and just people in power (typically white cis straight males), burlesque gives performers autonomy,” explains Talloolah. “It’s raw performance art limited only by the performer’s imagination. … grassroots burlesque is about the politics of our naked (or almost naked) bodies telling our stories without that placated filter of the masses.”
the studio and the burlesque troupe complement each other and go hand-in-hand. “As a troupe, we strive to be better performers as a whole and as individuals, we recognize the need for inclusivity and representation in our community and we work diligently to bring it to the stage,” she says. “The studio is about having this safe space to liberate individuals from societal constructs, and allow them to use their own voice. “Here we challenge ideas they may have had about themselves for years,” she continues. “The troupe takes that a step further by uplifting marginalized voices and celebrating them on the stage for everyone to see — hopefully changing the narrative around those stories with different projects and shows. Luckily, both of those things are also fun.” Mixing the fun and sexy with the deep and meaningful is personal for all the members, they say. Bubble Bordeaux, rocking a red wig and blue boa in this essay, says that it’s hard to put into words “how meaningful it is to have found this community of vibrant, incredible, supportive queer women. They challenge me to be my best self and keep growing while accepting me and loving me for who I am in any given moment. “To know we are working together to make the world a kinder, better place for queer women of all kinds, including queer femmes like me, is just so wonderful and powerful.”
Another of the Metropolitan lovelies, who serves Betty Page Realness on one of the following pages, is known as Ursula Undress. She tells us that
Read more from the performers alongside their photos on the following pages, visit Metropolitan Studios at 1259 Metropolitan Ave. SE and metrostudioseav.com, and visit theQatl.com for their full, unedited interviews.
theQatl.com
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BURLESQUE, Continued
Roula Roulette
“Metropolitan Studios is so much more than just a studio — it is an artistic haven.”
Photos by James L. Hicks jhicksphotography.net 24
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Q
BURLESQUE, Continued
Annette Coquette
Photos by James L. Hicks jhicksphotography.net 26
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Ursula Undress “Burlesque has changed the way I communicate and has fueled my feminist fire to stand up for other women. … There is power in numbers, and burlesque is full of powerful women ready to share and expand that energy.”
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BURLESQUE, Continued
Bubble Bordeaux “To know we are working together to make the world a kinder, better place for queer women of all kinds, including queer femmes like me, is just so wonderful and powerful.�
Photos by James L. Hicks jhicksphotography.net 28
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BURLESQUE, Continued
Margot Moon
“Grassroots burlesque is about the politics of our naked (or almost naked) bodies telling our stories without that placated filter of the masses.”
— Talloolah Love
“We have your backs, for they are also our backs. The majority of our troupe identify as queer in some form, and we feel that our stories are your stories. We hope that we are doing queer Atlanta right with the way we represent the population, and the way we represent those stories...and we look forward to many years of continuing to do it.”
— Ursula Undress
“We welcome you to come and be a part of our mission to create diversity and representation. It doesn’t have to just be on stage, it takes all types and we want you! We want to amplify your voice, tell your story and welcome you into the community of amazing individuals! Come see our space and see how perfect we are for you, or your next event.”
— Roula Roulette
Photos by James L. Hicks jhicksphotography.net 30
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HEARTBEATZ FT. AJA WITH WUSSY 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
SUNDAY FUNDAY AT BULLDOGS
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
THE OTHER SHOW DEBUT AT MIDTOWN MOON
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Q SHOTS Q
PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
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Q SHOTS
HRC BOWLING AT MIDTOWN BOWL
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
50% DISCOUNT ON WEEKEND ROOM RATES THRU MARCH 31, 2019! MARCH 1-3, 2019
PJ & UNDERWEAR PARTY WEEKEND
Back by popular demand! What do you wear to bed? Then wear the same thing to The Tavern Saturday night! The Tavern is open Saturday, 12pm-5pm, for pool, beer, snacks, and movies.
MARCH 15-17, 2019
WHO’S YOUR IRISH DADDY/ ST PATRICK’S DAY WEEKEND
Daddies and Leprechauns…OH MY! Come out and enjoy St. Patty’s weekend with food, fun and men! The Tavern will be open on Saturday 12pm-5pm for pool, beer, snacks, and movies. Special Guest DJ RexxStep
Tennessee’s Premier Men’s Resort & Campground
2240 Van Hill Road • Greenville, TN 31145 800-437-0118 • timberfell.com
Timberfell Lodge is not only an exciting place to visit but it’s great to work as well. We are always accepting applications for employment. Go to timberfell.com and look for the ABOUT TIMBERFELL tab.
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NAUGHTY CUPID AT WOOFS
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
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PHOTOS BY RUSS YOUNGBLOOD
Q
THEQ?! Living
SINGLE
For those who can’t find love, and those who may not actually want to
Q
When I was younger, people would find good, sane relationships, and I’d think it might be nice someday but “not now.” These days, I wonder if that kind of love will ever happen for me. I do go out on some dates, but no matter how smart, funny and “right” they are, I just can’t imagine being with them for the rest of my life. When a relationship does last for a few weeks or months, I hate thinking about being stuck with them forever.
I know I’m not supposed to need that to feel complete, but I want it. How do I live with the possibility that I’m not going to get it? Dear Alone:
Some people are unable to see any relationship as temporary — rushing in to tick the “marriage” box with every person they date. Others can’t see relationships as anything but temporary — rushing out because they can’t imagine it lasting. Both are wrong, and both show an inability to live in the moment. Enjoy every relationship for what it is and while it lasts.
Are you having fun with an adorable loser who can’t keep her house picked up? Date her anyway, and by all means don’t move in with each other.
Is the sex phenomenal with the loner who goes on spur-of-the-moment motorcycle treks across America without calling? Return his booty calls, and ask questions about his adventures. Are you drawn to that political activist who rants to crescendo? Just listen instead of dodging the emotional splash zone. While you’re living in the moment, get to know the person beyond the surface-only checklist in your head. In most cases, you won’t know if someone is “forever it” after a date, a week or a month.
Maybe that adorable loser is also a creative genius who is so irresistible deep down that you’d gladly step over her laundry. Maybe your lone wolf wants a partner in his sidecar but is afraid to ask. Maybe McAdvocate is just as passionate in other areas that inspire you.
If you don’t hang out long enough, you’ll never know. The trick is 38
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to do it for today with zero expectations about tomorrow. The “future” will answer itself as you get to know each other in a real way. If a relationship does indeed end, and using probabilities most do, it will add to your experience, as well as your personal skillset for the next encounter.
Q
I’m in my 40s and have been looking for a relationship my entire adult life. I have a lot of sex, but I’d gladly give up the one-night stands for one person by my side and on my side. Every time I pick up someone, I wonder if they would make a good date. Every time I date someone, I imagine them as a partner. I want a long-term relationship, but I can’t seem to make it work no matter how hard I try. Dear Trying: You’ve sent me on two trains of thought. First, maybe you love your sex life as it is, and you are working too hard to fit into a coupling construct that doesn’t work for you. If setting yourself free of those expectations fills you with relief, you may have your answer. If you are genuinely unhappy jumping from trick to trick, tweak your thinking. You don’t need someone “by your side and on your side,” but need to be on each other’s side. It’s like teamwork: What would supporting the unit look like while each person supports themselves as an individual? Also, stop trying to fit people into mold like datable and marriage material. See what each relationship develops into on its own merits. 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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