Coronavirus kills an LGBTQ bar in Atlanta
Plus: Masks on clothes off, Out on Film winds down, weekend LGBTQ events
Welcome to fall! If you’re reading this newsletter about all things LGBTQ Atlanta for the first time, please subscribe. It’s easy (and free). You know what’s also free? Voting. The deadline to register is Monday – so get on it. Advanced in-person voting begins Oct. 12.
The coronavirus roller coaster ride continues in LGBTQ Atlanta as one LGBTQ bar closes its doors while another finds success wearing nothing but masks.
Amsterdam Atlanta – an expansive staple of LGBTQ nightlife since 2005 – shut down last month, becoming the latest victim of the pandemic.
“Our lease was coming up in November, and the business just wasn’t what it was after the pandemic,” co-owner Joel Bradshaw told Project Q Atlanta. “Winter’s coming on, and the majority of our business is outside on that patio.”
But at Swinging Richards, business is slowly returning to the all-male strip club. Among the new coronavirus safety precautions is masks – for the nude dancers.
“People onstage naked have a mask on,” owner C.B. Jones told Project Q Atlanta. “It makes some people look better.”
Our continuing coverage of how coronavirus is impacting LGBTQ Atlanta also includes:
Massive expansion of ‘Church’ bar finally open after 2020 plot twists
Henry’s, Campagnolo proceed cautiously through COVID
Out Front Theatre saves fall season without butts in seats
Barking Leather strives past loss of staff and half of sales
Georgia Beer Garden shifts to Edgewood’s fun-to-go headquarters
AIDS Walk canceled but fundraising continues for HIV groups
Noni’s staff quarantined together to make partial reopening safe
Q ATLus helps pop your LGBTQ bubble
This week’s issue of Q ATLus looks at broadening horizons beyond the protective LGBTQ walls we build. Coverage also previews the Ho Sho 2020 virtual event. We also offer Q Events and Q Advice, and we again hop the coronavirus struggle bus.
Inclusion, progress mark Out on Film festival (at least through Sunday)
In the latest episode of Podcast Q, we dive into Out on Film and talk LGBTQ representation on the big screen and on the sports fields with Festival Director Jim Farmer and Eammon Ashton-Atkinson. He’s the journalist, filmmaker and amateur rugby player behind “Steelers: The World’s First Gay Rugby Club.”
“I like to think that Out on Film is a safe haven for people to come join us for 11 days, be who you are, see yourself on screen — or on your computer for this iteration — and just to have a sort of community, kindred spirit with everyone else who’s participating,” Festival Director Jim Farmer says.
We also get behind-the-scenes insight into the festival. Take a listen but don’t take too long – Out on Film wraps on Sunday.
You can also check out a recap of the interview on Project Q Atlanta.
What LGBTQ Atlantans are talking about
The two LGBTQ candidates in a seven-person race to succeed Rep. John Lewis in Congress – at least for a few weeks – failed to make the runoff. Keisha Waites (photo left) and Chase Oliver would have been the first LGBTQ person elected to Congress in Georgia. Leading up to the election, we dished with Waites and Oliver about LGBTQ issues and much more.
Amid the preaching to the choir and affirming feedback of our social networks, why are we as a society so sharply polarized? And more importantly, what can we do about it? We offer some answers on how to burst your LGBTQ bubble in this longread.
U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, locked in a tight special election in Georgia, turned negative to turn out her supporters and attacked transgender athletes. She proposed legislation that would strip federal funding from schools that allow trans girls to participate in women’s sports.
Things to do
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Southern Fried Queer Pride hosts Cinequeer Drive-in Festival, two nights of shorts and narratives to enjoy from your car at Moreland Shopping Center, 8 p.m. both nights.
SATURDAY
Two events at Heretic make it twice as nice. Make a night of it with Armorettes Backroom Burlesque, 8 p.m., followed by DJ Karlitos corraling the dancing queens, 10 p.m. Get there early.
SUNDAY
On the 11th day, Out on Film rested, but not before releasing one more set of films available to download then stream for 72 hours. Closing Day releases include Army of Lovers in the Holy Land (photo).
That’s all folks!
We’ll meet again next week for Pride, virtually of course. Let me know if there’s a topic you want to see in Q Conversations or a guest you’d like to hear from on Podcast Q. Reply to this email, leave a comment if you’re reading the web version or drop me a email real quick. Thanks for reading and subscribing!