Q inform | inspire
THE QUEER AGENDA OF ATLANTA’S BEST EVENTS
January 16, 2020
KINGS ANTONIO BIAGGI’S NAUGHTY & NUTS NEW LGBTQ RULES FOR ALL THE CHILDREN IN 2020 THE USELESS CONCEIT OF QUEER CALL-OUT CULTURE
...and queens of Stars of the Century take MLK Weekend to the ’60s at Heretic
Q Shots 10 Queer Things Q News 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 ART DIRECTOR JOHN NAIL JOHN@THEQATL.COM
Balancing ACT MLK’s legacy and individual needs vs. the greater good
AT Q, WE MAKE IT our business to celebrate queer locals making the
gayborhood a better place, and to hold feet to the fire when anyone who goes astray. At the same time that we relish in our niche and devote ourselves to
queer culture, we also try to square it with what our readers and ourselves can contribute to wider culture.
With so many options for our coverage on any
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 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
given week, it’s a balancing act that’s more difficult than it may appear on the surface. Still, we
take examples from people like the Stars of the
Century cast. What some call the best-produced drag show in town wields all their power with MIKE FLEMING EDITOR & PUBLISHER
swagger in our cover story by Patrick Saunders
and accompanying photo essay by James L. Hicks. The feature’s chosen theme of 1960s Civil Rights
March Realness pairs perfectly with another big deal in Atlanta: MLK Weekend. The holiday that traces its historic roots here can also point to a slate of LGBTQ events that celebrate the civil rights icon with both reverence and revelry. This issue lays out the best of them.
And speaking of balancing queer stuff with mainstream issues, check out this week’s 10 Queer Things. In it, we offer 10 actions that every person of every race can do every day to chip away at queer challenges in the New Year.
MLK in the ATL isn’t the only LGBTQ inspiration for events this week. Q Shots pages show off recent events, and the Queer Agenda calendar lays out upcoming options to put on your schedule.
Elsewhere, the Q advice column wants queer cancel-culture canceled, and our online siblings at Project Q Atlanta want to keep you informed and
inspired with fresh Q News and Q Community stories updated every single day at theQatl.com.
Reach out if you need me at mike@theQatl.com, and in the meantime, we’ll
be weighing and balancing our next roster of content to hit stands next week. theQatl.com
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At Your Service To advertise, contact us at sales@theqatl.com or 404-949-7071
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Q
TEAM EFFORT 10 QUEER THINGS
10 Q ueer New Year’s Resolutions for all of LGBTQ Atlanta
Learn Q ueer History (And apply its lessons)
Be Present in the Moment
(Remove noses from mobile devices)
More Sober Nights Out
(Events that don’t center around cocktails)
Be Kind
(Love one another)
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Eliminate Stigmas
(About HIV status, sexual practices, community subsets)
Resist Harder (Join a cause)
Michelle Asci, Hillary Morrish and Morna Gerrard of GSU Special Collections & Archives
Love All Bodies
Be Visible
(Show up, speak out)
(Including our own)
Stop Judging
(Or shaming, ostracizing and ridiculing)
Be Better at Safe Sex (Try PrEP, encourage others)
theQatl.com 9 Photos by Patrick Saunders theQatl.com theQatl.com
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EVENTS Q
Antonio Biaggi reveals funny side of porn in one-man show at BJ’s ADULT FILM STAR AND PRODUCER ANTONIO BIAGGI IS “Naughty & Nuts,” and he’s going to prove it on Jan. 17 at BJ Roosters. Biaggi won’t hold anything back for the Atlanta premiere of the show, he told Project Q. “It’s really dirty for sure. I have no censor,” he said. “We talk about stuff that happens behind the scenes that people normally don’t see. It’s a little bit of everything.” The idea for the hourlong show sprouted last year when a friend suggested he do a show and talk about the funny side of porn. “I said that’s a really good idea,” Biaggi remembered. “There’s a lot of people that have questions about porn.” He’s performed the show in several cities across the country, including New York City and San Francisco, and the response has been great. “People were like, ‘There’s nothing like this,’” he said. “No porn star has ever done a show like this.” The performer relied on his background in theater to bring the show to life. “I did theater since I was a kid all the way through college, and my specialty was comedy, so I’m not afraid of the stage at all,” he said. He’s friends with BJ Roosters co-owner Bobby Hamill, who suggested bringing the show to the popular Cheshire Bridge Road club. Some local flavor will be added to the show, including the addition of an Atlanta adult film star, Biaggi said. “I always hire a local porn star to get naked onstage, and then we get someone from the public to do like they’re filming a porn,” he said. “It’s just a parody of how porn goes on a set.” Biaggi will soon announce the Atlanta talent taking part in the show. theQatl.com
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Coming This Winter...
• Valentine’s (Feb. 6) • Spring Sports (March 5) • Dining Guide (March 19)
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COVER Q
Forward
MARCH
Stars of the Century serves ’60s Realness to mark its 20th MLK Weekend By Patrick Saunders
S
tars of the Century was founded — fittingly enough — at the turn of the century. Show founder Niesha Dupree wanted to put the spotlight on a crucial subset of Atlanta drag entertainers. “What makes it really special is it was created because it was an outlet for African-American entertainers to showcase their talent,” founding cast member Stasha Sanchez told Q. What transpired is the Monday-night show — at previous venues including Traxx and Jungle, and now at Heretic — that many fans in queer Atlanta haven’t seen, but those who have regard as one of the best-produced, best performed drag extravaganzas in town. Stars of the Century enters its third decade with a nod to heroes of the past. They honor MLK Weekend by teaming up with Q contributor James L. Hicks for an epic photoshoot inspired by the Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights marches of the 1960s. But first, a look at how the Stars got to this milestone year. REPUTATION BUILDS Once Dupree came up with the idea for Stars of the Century, she recruited some of the best African-American talent from around the city. “We met up at a restaurant, went over the details and started talking about it,” Sanchez said.
Niesha Dupree
They started with weekly performances at the former PHOTO BY JAMES HICKS jhicksphotography.net theQatl.com
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Q
MLK STARS continued
Stars of the Century Show Director Stasha Sanchez
Taejah Labelle Thomas
Traxx Club on Luckie Street and quickly gained notice as one of the tightest shows in town. “People were anticipating it and excited about it,” Sanchez said. The troupe moved the show to Jungle in 2008. When that Faulkner Road club closed in 2018, tt was time for another move, but they didn’t have to look far. Across the street at Heretic, manager Alan Collins was 100 percent on board with hosting the show. There was another major change — Dupree stepped down as show director and handed the reins to Sanchez. “Niesha gives me the best advice she can to make sure I move the group in the right direction,” she said. “I’m the show director, but everybody has different positions so th can keep things flowing and running in their different areas.” Dupree’s influence is still widely felt throughout the group, and that was never more apparent than with Q’s MLK Weekend photoshoot. “Niesha came up with the look, and it was perfect” Sanchez said. “We like telling stories. We love to tell a story with our looks, our production. Those things are very important to us.”
PHOTOS BY JAMES HICKS jhicksphotography.net 14
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Inspiration at the ready, Sanchez told everyone to bring different looks to Heretic for the shoot, and they came through. In addition to Dupree and Sanchez, the current cast includes kings and queens on these pages like Q cover guy Christopher Iman,
theQatl.com
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Q
MLK STARS continued
Beautiful Cassadine Dickerson
Nechole Luv Dupree and Archie Bonet
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Star Sanchez Sherrington
Archie Bonet, Christopher Iman and Damoni Hall Dickerson
the legendary Necole Luv Dupree, Taejah Labelle Thomas, Damoni Hall Dickerson, Beautiful Cassadine Dickerson, Archie Bonet and Star Sanchez Sherrington. And the theme spoke to the troupe’s original intent to showcase AfricanAmerican influence and achievement. “It’s so powerful,” she said. “It’s a powerful move to be able to display that and for everybody to see that. It’s a beautiful thing.” Find Stars of the Century on Facebook, and catch a new show every Monday night — including the MLK Day edition — at 11:15 p.m. at Heretic. hereticatlanta.com
PHOTOS BY JAMES HICKS jhicksphotography.net
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Q
MLK EVENTS
Atlanta does ‘WINTER
PRIDE’
Weekend events put the LGBTQ in the ATL for MLK THURSDAY, JANUARY 16
Saturday Night Live
Exclusive Main Event II
Wassup Winter
Aurum, 11 p.m.
Open Bar
Pride Warmup
rockstarsproduction.com
Venue disclosed to
With Sidney Starr Phase One, 10:30 p.m. wassupnatl.com ATL Legendary
Arif, 5 p.m. atlblackpride.com
ticketholders only, 11 p.m. atlblackpride.com Action Front to Backside
Bulldogs, 9 p.m.
Hip Hop Main Event
facebook.com/
Believe/Wish, 11 p.m.
bulldogsbaratlanta
atlblackpride.com
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17
House Music Main Event
Friday Upgrade:
Mixx, 10 p.m.
MLK Edition
MONDAY, JANUARY 20
atlblackpride.com
LGBT Bayard
Hot & Sweaty Climax
Rustin/Audre
Bulldogs, 9 p.m.
Lorde Breakfast
facebook.com/
Loudermilk Center,
wassupnatl.com
bulldogsbaratlanta
10 a.m.
So Sexy & Flaunt It
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19
Bulldogs, 9 p.m.
Henny Punch Brunch
facebook.com/
TBA, 12 noon
Opium, 10 p.m. rockstarsproduction.com Fluid Friday Phase One, 9 p.m.
bulldogsbaratlanta
rockstarsproduction.com
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18
MLK Sunday Funday
Ultimate Day Party
02 Lounge, 4 p.m.
Gold Room, 4 p.m. rockstarsproduction.com I Like It Saturday Ice Bar, 5 p.m.
Bulldogs, 9 p.m. facebook.com/ bulldogsbaratlanta
rustinlordeatl.com MLK Day March & Rally Including a gay contingent from Breakfast Peachtree @ Baker Streets,
rockstarsproduction.com
1:45 p.m.
Chica Nightlifez
mlkmarchcommittee.com
Ghost Bar, 9 p.m.
Stars of the Century
bde25.com
Special MLK Edition
Fresh x Reckless
All The King’s Men
See Q feature in this issue
with Crisscross
Main Event
Heretic, 10:30 p.m.
Ice Bar, 10 p.m.
Revel, 10 p.m.
hereticatlanta.com
wassupnatl.com
rockstarsproduction.com
Wrap It Up & Wrap It Up
SneakHer Ball
Wassup Winter Pride
Bulldogs, 9 p.m.
M Bar ATL, 10 p.m.
Ice Bar, 10 p.m.
facebook.com/
bde25.com
wassupnatl.com
bulldogsbaratlanta
wassupnatl.com
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Official Day Party
theQatl.com
Damoni Hall Dickerson
PHOTO BY JAMES HICKS jhicksphotography.net
THE QUEER AGENDA
Q
The Best Queer Things To Do in Atlanta January 16 – January 22 OutProv
Atlanta’s newest, funniest, and queerest improv troupe returns @ Out Front Theatre, 8 p.m. outfronttheatre.com Ho Sho 6
The live-singing charity drag show returns with “Six Degrees of Penetration” @ Smith’s Olde Bar, 8:30 p.m. hoshoatlanta.com Tom Stephan
Men will pour onto the dance floor with beats all the way from London @ Heretic, 10 p.m. hereticatlanta.com
MLK Weekend, Jan. 16-20
Pagano After Hours
British DJ vibes continue until sunrise via Xion
THURSDAY, JAN. 16-20
@ BJ Roosters, 3 a.m. facebook.com/xionatlanta.com
LGBTQ MLK Weekend
Five days of reverence and revelry for “Winter
Pride,” wrapping Monday with a queer contingent
in Atlanta’s annual march. Find the Q events calendar in this issue, as well as updates at theQatl.com.
Armorettes, Jan. 18 & 19
MAAP Mix & Mingle
LGBTQ business types do happy hour with Metro Atlanta
Association of Professionals @ Marriott Downtown, 6 p.m. maapatl.com Amen
The popular drag show ups its ante with a competition @ Sister Louisa’s Church, 11 p.m. sisterlouisaschurch.com
All About My Mother, Jan. 20
FRIDAY, JAN. 17 Union Suit Night
Follow this un-flap-able dress code, and you’ll be seeing red @ Woofs, 8 p.m. woofsatlanta.com
Armorettes Anniversary Weekend
Naughty & Nuts
Adult film star and producer Antonio Biaggi pulls back the cur-
tain on the industry for his one-man show @ BJ Roosters, 8 p.m. Read his Q interview in this issue. facebook.com/bjroostersatlanta The Golden Hour
Queens and queers pool their talents for a Golden Girls variety show @ 7 Stages, 8 p.m. wussymag.com
Tip back a few for the Action Cycling Atlanta
Queer Atlanta and Q’s own favorite comic Ian Aber curates the lineup @ Urban Tree Cidery, 7 p.m. urbantreecidery.com
Saturday @ Heretic and Sunday at Midtown Moon, both 8 p.m. armorettes.com
MONDAY, JAN. 20 Rustin-Lorde Breakfast
LGBTQ MLK Weekend events culminate over food and
communing @ Loudermilk Center, 9:30 a.m. facebook.com/
Field Day Beer Bust
Urban Tree Comedy
Laughter through tears with these camp queens goes on and on
RustinLordeAtl
SATURDAY, JAN. 18
cause @ Woofs, 2 p.m. woofsatlanta.com
SATURDAY, JAN. 18 AND SUNDAY, JAN. 19
Tom Stephan, Jan. 18
All About My Mother
Gay director Pedro Almodovar’s masterpiece screens with a drag pre-show
and party @ Plaza Theatre, 7 p.m. wussymag.com
Find an expanded Queer Agenda calendar for the weekend every Thursday at theQatl.com.
theQatl.com
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Q
Q SHOTS
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT MIDTOWN MOON
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
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PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
Q
Q SHOTS
NEW YEAR 2020 AT BJ ROOSTERS
Full gallery on Project Q at theQatl.com
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PHOTOS BY RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD
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theQatl.com
Q
THEQ?! You’re CANCELED The useless conceit of queer call-out culture
Q
I did a thing. A bad thing. It was wrong, it was ugly, and the public fallout was messy. In the age of social media, I
was put on blast, and it all spiraled downward before an audience hungry for blood.
I deserved to be held accountable, even if at times I felt at-
tacked by a mob rather than schooled by a group of concerned
course for the better.
In short, no one has held you accountable even if they think
that they have. Only you can do that. After the apology comes action. How can you show that you have made changes that will affect the future?
Maybe it’s acts of kindness, or it’s acts of service to the parties or communities you wronged. Maybe it’s an attitude adjustment you carry out in little ways for the rest of your life.
citizens. My apology included that I understood where I went
What it isn’t is perpetual regret. What it isn’t is defining your
sense of self as a good person, was done.
You have done good things too, and you will again. Decide
wrong, but the damage to my reputation, and frankly, to my
life by it.
I learned a lot, but why do I still feel so crappy? They got
how to embrace what you’ve learned, and create a future that
feel so defeated, and I’m not sure how to even begin a
change what some people think of you, but you can lighten
their ounce of flesh, but I don’t feel like I paid my penance. I
acknowledges, not buckles under, the past. You may or may not
path forward.
that load you’re carrying.
Dear Canceled: Even if the social media piranhas of call-out-culture devour
you, ruin your reputation and cause you to question your very soul, the frenzy will eventually clear and nothing real would have happened. The only tangible result of these actions can be a shame so crippling that the intended target struggles to recover.
Despite what they would tell you when
they put someone “on blast,” the piranhas
most often do this in their own interests — their self-aggrandized version of them-
selves. It’s sanctimonious at best, hypocrit-
ical at worst, and it’s a standard of perfection that most people couldn’t live up to under scrutiny.
In short, what happened is more about
them than it is about you or what you did. And that’s why you still feel empty.
Even when you agree with their critiques and
feel your apology, talking about a thing isn’t doing something
about it. Posting regrets doesn’t solve the slight. Asking for good 30
vibes and forgiveness, even getting them, isn’t actually reversing
theQatl.com
The Q is for entertainment purposes and not professional counseling. Send your burning Qs to mike@theqatl.com.
ILLUSTRATION BY BRAD GIBSON