Q inform | inspire
QUEER LEAGUES & SEASON OPENERS
March 5, 2020
FRONT RUNNERS LGBTQ running group leads Q’s Spring Sports pack
HERE. QUEER. CHEER. TECH CHEERLEADERS TRIXIE MATTEL & RANDY RAINBOW BREAKING UP WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE
Q Shots The Queer Agenda The Q The Weekly Print Publication of Project Q Atlanta
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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@THEQATL.COM MATT HENNIE PUBLISHER & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MATT@THEQATL.COM RICHARD CHERSKOV PUBLISHER & GENERAL MANAGER RICHARD@THEQATL.COM
Out in
FRONT
Jocks and athletic supporters lead the charge into spring
ART DIRECTOR JOHN NAIL JOHN@THEQATL.COM
ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING in Atlanta every year is
PROJECT Q ATLANTA PATRICK SAUNDERS EDITOR PSAUNDERS@THEQATL.COM
groups. Lying dormant much of the winter or at least practicing in
CONTRIBUTORS IAN ABER LAURA BACCUS GABRIELLE CLAIBORNE BUCK COOKE CHARLES E. DAVIS JON DEAN BILL DICKINSON JIM FARMER BRAD GIBSON JAMES L. HICKS BENTLEY HUDGINS TAMEEKA L. HUNTER HEATHER MALONEY ERIC PAULK KYLE ROSE JAMES PARKER SHEFFIELD VINCE SHIFFLETT ALEXANDRA TYLER VAVA VROOM RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM 212-242-6863 LOCAL ADVERTISING SALES@THEQATL.COM 404-949-7071
the torrent of activity from LGBTQ sports teams, leagues and fan frigid solitude, they come out in a big way each March.
Q’s Spring Sports issue pays homage to the queer jocks charging into the new
season. We kick it off with 13 LGBTQ
Atlanta sports groups, then we meet three
gay and lesbian Georgia Tech cheerleaders and their out, proud coach. MIKE FLEMING EDITOR & PUBLISHER
The Q Cover Story puts one foot in front
of the other with Front Runners, the local
running and social club. Our own Patrick Saunders teams with photographer Russ Bowen-Youngblood to find them on their
twice-weekly runs and planning special events like the annual Pride Run.
Other acts of local queerness this week might not be as athletic,
but they do require skill and finesse. Downtime is a contact sport in the Queer Agenda calendar, posing is an art form in Q Shots, and breaking up with someone you love is an obstacle course in The Q advice column.
Even as you devour all that content, we’re creating more for next week’s print edition, posting fresh local Q News every day at
theQatl.com, and interacting with you on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Reach me directly at mike@theQatl.com.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 3 ISSUE 11 MARCH 5, 2020
QUEER CHEER
Tech’s LGBTQ squad members
COVER
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Out Run
Front Runners Atlanta
13 QUEER THINGS
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Spring Sports
23 Hot Mess
Queer leagues, teams and fans this season THE QUEER AGENDA
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Trixie & Randy
25 Good Juju
Big-name guest stars top your to-do list
FEATURES
13 Queer Things Q Community The Queer Agenda Q Shots The Q 4
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6 7 21 23 30
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27 Masqueerade
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13 QUEER THINGS Atlanta Rainbow Trout Practices and Meets throughout the year
Scramble Tournament April 18
at Georgia Tech Aquatic Center atlantarainbowtrout.com
Hotlanta Volleyball Association
Weekly practices throughout the year
ATLANTA’S LGBTQ SPORTS LEAGUES AND FANS LINE UP A season’s worth of activities. Queer jocks and fans run deep in Atlanta. If you want a team, league or group to join, Atlanta’s got ‘em — indoor, outdoor, underwater, you name it.
In addition to the Front Runner jocks in this week’s cover feature, here’s a rundown of other athletic endeavors you can sign up for this spring. Front Runners Atlanta
Atlanta Bucks Rugby
fun runs all year. Pride Run in June.
atlantabucksrugby.org
Twice-weekly runs, monthly beer run, Meet them in this issue of Q. frontrunnersatlanta.org
National Flag Football League of Atlanta Pre-Season Games March 7 Season Opener March 14
Games through May at Atlanta Silverbacks Park nffla.com
Hotlanta Softball League
Season opener March 8 at Johnson Park in Conyers.
Weekly games through June. hotlantasoftball.org
Atlanta Dixie Invitational Bowling Tournament April 10-12, 2019
at Brunswick Zone in Roswell dixiebowl.org
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Current season continues through March 16 All Stripes (LGBTQ Atlanta United Fans) Atlanta United Home Opener Sunday, March 7, 7:30 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
All Stripes tailgate preceding the game allstripesatl.com
Hotlanta Soccer
Games throughout the spring and into summer
facebook.com/groups/34244209984
hotlantavball.leagueapps.com
Atlanta Team Tennis Association Matches throughout the year
Chattahoochee Doubles Classic March 6-8 atta.org
Southern Softpaw League
Fall Ball games at Nickajack Park in Mableton southernsoftpaw.com
Wilderness Network of Georgia Events throughout the year meetup.com/wildnetga
Women’s Outdoor Network Events throughout the year meetup.com/wonatlanta
Visit theQatl.com every day for the latest spring
sports coverage, photo galleries and all of Atlanta’s best queer news, culture and entertainment.
COMMUNITY Q
Squad
GOALS
Out and proud Georgia Tech cheerleaders enjoying a moment By Patrick Saunders
THEY’RE QUEER. THEY CHEER. GET USED TO IT. The Georgia Tech cheerleading squad includes at least three LGBTQ members and is led by out head coach Daniel Nester, and they largely enjoy widespread acceptance as out members of the squad. The squad is busy preparing for the National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate National Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla., in April. Add in hours of practice, at least one home basketball game a week, and cheer camps for kids during the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta, and it’s a busy bunch of students. Q spoke to Georgia Tech squad members Jordan McClinton, McLain Broussard and Lucas Rary about memorable moments, team spirit and busting up misconceptions.
Jordan McClinton Freshman majoring in Computer Engineering What’s your most memorable moment as a Georgia Tech cheerleader? Homecoming. The whole team got new uniforms, and everyone was excited to wear them for the game. The energy that morning was just different than all of other games, and it was amazing to be a part of it. It was also one of the first games I did a good amount of stunting, so finally being able to showcase something I had been working on for a while was really fun. What’s the biggest misconception about cheerleading? That it’s not a physical sport. The first thing that pops into
people’s head when they hear cheerleading is saying cheers on the sideline during a football game. Yeah we have cheers, but that’s not even close to all the things we do and practice. We have stunting, tumbling, baskets and so much more that go into being a cheerleader. What does it mean to you to have other LGBTQ cheerleaders on the squad? It means everything. A lot of times, practice can be rough and tiring, but around them I feel like I can let my guard down a little and be me. I don’t feel like I have to keep up a persona to make sure I’m being taken seriously. Being a part of the LGBTQ community provides a bond between people you can’t find somewhere else. With them being my teammates, the bond is even stronger, and when practice gets tough, that bond is something I can really depend on. theQatl.com
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CHEERLEADERS continued
Lucas Rary Freshman majoring in Business What’s been your most memorable moment as a Georgia Tech cheerleader? The first game day. It was awesome running out onto the field with all the fans in the stands and being able to cheer with some of my closest friends. When did you first start cheerleading, and did you get flak for it? I first started cheerleading my junior year of high school. I didn’t get any pushback from people, because there had been a lot of male cheerleaders at my high school, so it’s pretty much not a weird thing. I definitely do not get any pushback currently because all of my friends really support me, and there are a lot of guys on the team, so there’s not really an opportunity for any sort of negative energy because all the other sports respect us as well. What’s the biggest misconception about cheerleading? That if you’re a cheerleader you aren’t very smart. But that is not the case, there are plenty of smart cheerleaders, and in terms of Georgia Tech, we all had to get into the school before making the team, so we are all intelligent as well. What does it mean to you to have other LGBTQ cheerleaders on the squad? That means a lot to me, because it is an instant support group when I’m going through issues that other people might not understand completely. It’s nice to know that I have a community within a community that I can relate to where we share the same passions, and that’s cheerleading. 8
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McLain Broussard Senior majoring in Literature, Media and Communication
What’s been your most memorable moment as a Georgia Tech cheerleader? My first night game in Bobby Dodd. It was actually my second year, I was a flyer on the Gold squad. It was a close game against Virginia that we ended up winning by a last-minute overtime field goal. The stadium was electric, and it was absolutely the most exciting and exhilarating game I’ve ever cheered. Nationals is also life-changing though, competing on the Bandshell [amphitheater in Daytona] for the first time was just as magical. What’s the biggest misconception about cheerleaders/ cheerleading? There are so many. Dumb blonde cheerleaders, all the guys are gay, all the girls are straight, cheerleading isn’t even a sport… Cheer’s misconception spotlight is usually on the superficial aspects of the sport. In respect to sexuality, as a female-dominated sport, people assume everything about it falls into a feminine category. While cheer is one of the most welcoming sports for gay men, the
stigmatization that all men who cheer are gay is obviously false. Additionally, being a lesbian cheerleader is a category which is always overlooked. I’m still known as “the lesbian cheerleader” at the high school I attended because the idea of a cheerleader being anything but straight, especially in bible belt Augusta, Ga., started controversy, and still does even in college. The oversexualization of the sport is what’s holding back the sport the most in general. The sexy cheerleader aesthetic overshadows the actual sport itself. What does it mean to you to have other LGBTQ cheerleaders on the squad? I’m very open about my sexuality in hopes that, as a senior member of the team and in previous years the only openly LGBT cheerleader, I try to always be available if anyone needs help or guidance concerning issues with sexuality, mental health or anything. Having strong, open people is important for younger teammates still figuring out life, because I struggled to find a mentor for a long time. I just try my hardest to be as helpful and available to anyone who needs it, because life is already hard enough. Find more of the Georgia Tech cheerleader interviews and photos at theQatl.com. theQatl.com
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AT L A N TA U N I T E D
2020 SEASON F I R S T TA I L G AT E S ! ATLANTA’S 1st & only
LGBTQ+ atl utd
supporters GROUP AllSTRIPESATL.com
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MAR
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MAR
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COVER Q
RUNNING OUT Front Runners moves queer Atlanta forward one step at a time ď ľ
Leo Liu and cover photo of Cortland Walton by Russ Bowen-Youngblood
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RUNNERS continued
By Patrick Saunders
W
hen Thomas Barker moved to Atlanta in 2014, he was freshly out and looking to meet more queer people in the city.
After coaching track at his alma mater, Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, Tenn., the Front Runners Atlanta group provided the path for him to keep running and become immersed in LGBTQ Atlanta. “I was pretty excited when I found out I could stay in my running community but also make friends and acquaintances through an LGBT running club, so it just seemed like the perfect combination,” he told Q. The club marks its 30th anniversary this year, hot off their best fundraising year to help local LGBTQ and allied non-profits. But the seeds of Front Runners Atlanta were planted on the first Sunday of 1974 on the other side of the country. ROAD TO GLOBAL PRESENCE A handful of gay San Francisco residents gathered that day in 1974 in Golden Gate Park for the first run of the club eventually called Front Runners. Initially the club called itself Lavender U Joggers, and in 1978 — inspired by Patricia Nell Warren’s book The Front Runner — they adopted the club’s current name. “For the 1970s, it was a pretty scandalous book because it was about a college track coach who struck up a relationship with one of his male athletes,” Barker said. Front Runners Atlanta was born in 1990, and now there are over 100 Front Runners clubs in 24 countries on six continents. The Atlanta club meets each Wednesday and Saturday for three- to six-mile runs starting at John Howell Park in Virginia Highland. The location was chosen in part because it’s named for an LGBTQ activist who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1988. The club also has “beer runs” once a month where they finish the route at a local watering hole. Recent stops have included Blake’s and New Realm.
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Front Runners by Russ Bowen-Youngblood
‘IT’S REALLY A COMMUNITY’ The signature event of the year for Front Runners is the Pride Run & Walk. The annual event in June began in 1991, and last year it drew about 600 runners to Piedmont Park. The event raised a club record $21,000, which they donated to Joining Hearts.
“That’s to get people who might be afraid of coming out to us on a normal night,” Barker said.
Charity is a key component of Front Runners. The group raised another $4,000 last year for other non-profits through various events, and there are plans to partner with Lost N Found Youth to start a shoe drive.
The club also occasionally holds destination runs in different areas to shake things up. They explored Arabia Mountain and the Westside Beltline on recent excursions.
Of course, there’s plenty of play to go along with that work, including post-run meals, those monthly beer runs and marathon watch parties. During the recent U.S. Olympic trials
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in February, their gathering included a DJ, drag queens and J-sette dancers. That mix of activities was what drew in Cortland Walton, who joined the group in 2018. “I didn’t come in with a natural passion for running,” Walton said. “The fact that it’s LGBTQ-centered was a huge draw, and I didn’t know too much about it so I thought it couldn’t hurt.”
and a built-in social calendar, which is nice.” Next, the club wants to tap into Atlanta’s diversity. The 90 dues-paying members run the gamut when it comes to age and race, but the vast majority are male. “I would like to change that,” Barker said. “We might get women who come once or twice and won’t come back.”
Walton now joins the group for its twice-weekly runs and as many other events as he can.
To that end, the club wants to host a beer run at My Sister’s Room to start down that path, and help make the next 30 years of Front Runners more reflective of all of LGBTQ Atlanta.
“I’m at every post-run dinner or post-run breakfast or brunch,” he said. “It’s really a community. It’s built-in friends
Find Front Runners Atlanta at frontrunnersatlanta.org, on Instagram @frontrunnersatl, and on Facebook @frontrunnersatlanta. theQatl.com
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RUNNERS continued
Paul Forte by Russ Bowen-Youngblood
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Thomas Barker by Russ Bowen-Youngblood
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RUNNERS continued
Kirk Edwards by Russ Bowen-Youngblood
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Francis Kirkpatrick and Frank Colubiale by Russ Bowen-Youngblood
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RUNNERS continued
DJ Pulce by Russ Bowen-Youngblood
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THE QUEER AGENDA
Q
The Best Queer Things To Do in Atlanta March 5 – March 11 Queens & Queen
Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus does Cher, Elton, Madonna, Whitney and
Indecent, March 5
the titular Queen in two performances @ Lassiter Concert Hall 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. voicesofnote.org Play
From Madrid, DJ De Felipe delivers the power of Glamorous and Peach Fuzz @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com Shade!
DJ Daniel Weaver throws the party, the tunes, and the shade @ Atlanta Eagle, 10 p.m. atlantaeagle.com Heyday
Nonsense ATL’s ‘80s dance party for every-fkn-body @ The Basement, 10 p.m. basementatl.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 5 Indecent
Trixie Mattel, March 6
All Stripes & Atlanta United
The first home match of the season hits the pitch, and
the first LGBTQ tailgate starts early @ Mercedes-Benz
The story of how a kiss between two
Stadium, 7 p.m. Tailgate in Lot A “The Gulch,” 3 p.m.
female actors in 1923 leads to the arrest of
facebook.com/allstripesatl
an entire cast for obscenity @ Theatrical Outfit, 7:30 p.m. theatricaloutfit.org
MONDAY, MARCH 9 Alter-Ego
Alex Wan
Congregation Bet Haverim presents its “Oh-
Support the LGBTQ fundraiser for
So-Gay Purim Cabaret” @ Intown Coffee-
the gay former Atlanta City Council
member running for the state House of Representatives @ Flourish, 6 p.m.
house, 7 p.m. congregationbethaverim.org
Randy Rainbow, March 6
TUESDAY, MARCH 10
alexwanforatlanta.com
FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Randy Rainbow Live
The musical satirist and YouTube star performs @ Tabernacle Atlanta, 8 p.m. tabernacleatl.com
Troop Beverly Hills, March 11
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 Troop Beverly Hills
Network with the LGBTQ Metro
Wussy’s next camp classic screening with
Atlanta Association of Professionals
costumes, performances and achievement
@ Ten, 6:30 p.m. maapatl.org
badges @ Plaza Theatre, 7 p.m. wussymag.
Trixie Mattel
com. March directly to the afterparty with
The RuGirl drops in on her Grown
Miss He @ Mary’s, 10 p.m. marysatlanta.com
Up Tour @ Variety Playhouse, 8 p.m.
Grrrl Justice
varietyplayhouse.com HSL Jersey Party
Hotlanta Softball League chooses up sides and starts their season with a beer bust @ Heretic, 3 p.m. hotlantasoftball.org
It’s ’80s night at Pets are Loving Support’s
monthly fundraising game and show @ Lips,
7:30 p.m. palsatlanta.org
MAAP Mix & Mingle
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
PALS Drag Queen Bingo
All Stripes & Atlanta United, March 7
This independent film screens, followed by a dis-
cussion with the director @ The Bakery, 6:30 p.m. southernfriedqueerpride.com
Find an expanded Queer Agenda calendar for the weekend every Thursday at theQatl.com.
theQatl.com
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NONSENSE ATL’S HOT MESS AT THE BASEMENT
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Q SHOTS Q
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD theQatl.com
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JUJUBEE AT MY SISTER’S ROOM
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Q SHOTS Q
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD theQatl.com
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MASQUERADE BALL AT HIDEAWAY
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Q SHOTS Q
PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD theQatl.com
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ALL STRIPES KICKOFF PARTY
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
Q SHOTS Q
PHOTOS BY MATT HENNIE theQatl.com
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Q
THEQ?! I Love You,
you love about the other person. Then lead with that when it’s time to talk.
How to break up with someone you love
Listening. In order to own the breakup, you should be prepared to let your partner have their say and answer any questions they may have. Remain firm and consistent, and acknowledge issues without going in depth.
GOODBYE
Q
My wife and I have been together 28 years, married for 15, and sadly, it needs to end. It’s hard to imagine life without her, but the time has come to figure it out. Trying to talk it out has become fruitless, and every attempt at communication is janky. We break up and get back together as a matter of routine, our values don’t sync, and I feel more numb than hurt. I do still love her, but I don’t like myself with her. Constant fighting and mean-spirited attacks from both sides leave me exhausted. Part of me still thinks we should not give up on the decades we put into it, and I have no idea how to go about ending things. Our lives are so intertwined, and I want her happiness, just not with me. How can I be sure it’s time, and what’s the best way to let her down? Dear Long So Long: The pain of breakups is undeniable, even when it’s the right decision. Finding comfort feels next to impossible, and tackling the issues can run you in circles. The immediate future will be difficult, but the only way past it is through it. Here are a few tips for cementing your resolve, finding the words, and starting a path forward with love. Sadly, you land squarely on some of the sure signs that it’s time to part ways: You keep breaking up, your priorities aren’t aligned any more, you stopped caring, you don’t like yourself, you fight all the time. Signs for couples might also include lost trust, unmet needs, and emotional or physical abuse. Since you tick so many of the boxes, last-ditch efforts may be in the rear-view mirror, but honest conversations, rekindling connections and/or professional counseling helps some couples. It’s tough stuff to consider, but the act of breaking up itself feels even more daunting and brutal. It’s not easy, but it can be done with respect. Gratitude. Consciously and purposely think about how thankful you are for the good times. You don’t lose those years because they ended. Make a list of things
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Honesty and Clarity. When you tell her, refrain from high-octane emotion as much as possible, and stay resolute in your decision. Vagueness is the enemy, so map out what you want to say, and stick to it.
Preparation. Be ready for how she may react, and commit to the attitudes of gratitude, firmness and collaboration. There could be tears on both sides, and that isn’t reason enough to stay. Be ready with ideas for logistics like bank accounts and living arrangements. Distance. You may be tempted to lessen the blow by promising to be friends or see each other occasionally, but you both need space to heal before that happens. Set appropriate boundaries. When the deed is done, allow yourself to grieve, confide in a professional or someone you trust, and focus on yourself for a while. Breakups are an emotional roller coaster, so remember that you made the right decision, and that this difficult phase will pass. Therapists on healthline.com provided some of the advice in this week’s column.
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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