Coronavirus still doing damage in LGBTQ Atlanta
Plus: Gays get on board #TeamBidenHarris, GOP trolls LGBTQ Georgians, must-see telethon
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Coronavirus hurts LGBTQ businesses and non-profits
Black lesbian restaurateur Deborah VanTrece (photo) shared an all too familiar story in these coronavirus times: Her popular Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours in West Midtown – despite pivots to the business, grants and loans – is still hurting.
"We’re still with an open dining room with half of the seating, all seating areas are partitioned off and six feet apart, and we are struggling to survive," VanTrece said.
It’s a refrain we keep hearing from business owners throughout our coronavirus coverage.
But the impact is also being felt by non-profits whose mission it is to care for others in need. Lost N Found Youth and Rainbow House Coalition have scrapped plans for new shelters, launched online fundraisers and shifted strategies in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
While the organizations struggle to survive, the clients they serve are also impacted by the pandemic, according to Rainbow House Co-Founder and Executive Director Rick Westbrook
“All the clients have gone through major depression from being cooped up so long,” Westbrook said. “There’s had to be a lot of pep talks.”
LGBTQ Atlantans giving a boost to #TeamBidenHarris
Earlier today on Q Conversations – our live virtual event series – we talked with three LGBTQ Atlantans on the frontlines of the Biden-Harris campaign.
The conversation was with Simone Bell, a former Georgia lawmaker who is now a senior adviser to the Biden/Harris campaign in Georgia; state Rep. Sam Park (photo left); and Glen Paul Freedman (photo right), who is a longtime campaign operative and community activist and one of at least five LGBTQ Georgia delegates to the convention.
Watch a replay of the event above.
Speaking of Park, he was one of 17 Democratic “rising stars” that delivered the keynote address to the convention on Tuesday. We talked with him about that honor during today’s Q Conversations.
You can watch the keynote address and Park’s portion below.
Q ATLus straps on face masks and makes it fashion
This new issue of Q ATLus finds ways to keep fashion easy but up your game, including those ever-present masks. Coverage also includes the Atlanta queen selected as one of the Drag Out the Vote ambassadors, and we also hear revelations from our Instagram inquiry about coming out trans or nonbinary. Weekly features include Q Advice on your burning LGBTQ questions.
Gee Smalls serving success as Black LGBTQ entrepreneur in Atlanta
In the latest episode of Podcast Q, we dish with Gee Smalls (photo) to find out what the Black LGBTQ restaurateur, author and non-profit founder has been up to during the coronavirus. Spoiler: Releasing his memoir, “Black Enough Man Enough.”
“Once you start that story, you start remembering all of these things and all of these wounds start getting healed. It’s been a great four to five years of how long it took me to write it and release it,” Smalls said.
Smalls also discussed reaction from his family to the book, running a restaurant during a pandemic, whether the Gentlemen’s Ball is coming back, the ongoing racial justice movement and how tough it is to be his personal assistant.
What LGBTQ Atlantans are talking about
Marjorie Taylor Greene is on her way to Congress after winning a GOP primary in a north Georgia District. She’s been making headlines with her racist, anti-Muslim and conspiracy views. But let’s not forget she trolls the LGBTQs, too. Remember that time she stalked a drag queen during story time? We do.
The Big Ass Telethon 3 will give life to your weekend. The folks at Wussy and Southern Fried Queer Pride know how to throw a virtual fundraiser and they are back at it again on Sunday. We talked with the organizers and got a peek at what will unfold.
Doraville has no time for your hate crimes. The DeKalb County city – complete with three LGBTQs elected officials – cracked down on bias crimes by passing a hate crimes ordinance. The measure is similar to one passed earlier this year in Johns Creek and last year in Sandy Springs.
That’s all folks!
Before you head off into the weekend, let us know if there’s a topic you want explored 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 quick email. Thanks for reading and subscribing.