LGBTQ business owners in Atlanta not quite ready to reopen
Plus: Big weekend for queer arts, condoms for everyone, queer lawmakers on Kemp
Happy weekend! (It’s tough to keep track of the days during quarantine but yes it’s Saturday.) Did you get a manipedi after the gym and hit the bowling alley on Friday? Our gov hopes you did. I hope you maintained physical distancing and stayed home.
Speaking of life during coronavirus, what’s your best hack or tip for life during lockdown? Please hit reply to share your suggestions. I’ll round them up and share in a future post.
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LGBTQ business owners to Kemp: It’s too soon to reopen
Gov. Brian Kemp, concerned about Atlanta gays not having their summer bodies in order after weeks of quarantine, flung open the doors of non-essential businesses on Friday and said, “come on in, y’all!” Gyms, hair salons, massage therapists and even bowling alleys were allowed to open.
LGBTQ business owners and their chamber of commerce, though, were all like, “no ma’am.” For businesses that did contemplate opening on Friday, shame queens came out in full force on the socials to shut them down.
Ellen Howard, the lesbian owner of Funtime Bowl, summed up the response of most LGBTQ business owners: It’s just too soon.
“We are not going to open,” Howard said. “I just think he jumped the gun. It’s just too soon. We have to see the numbers go the other way before we do that.”
But the struggle is real for LGBTQ business owners, who are trying to navigate salvaging revenue and keeping employees and customers safe.
Gravity co-owner Aaron Pols shared this:
“The primary focus is the safety and well-being of the entire Gravity family. We will not be opening until we feel like we can adequately enact all of the above guidelines and feel like it is a safe place to conduct business,” Pols said.
Our coronavirus coverage includes:
LGBTQ bowling alley owner to Kemp: It’s too soon
LGBTQ business owners struggle with whether to reopen
Atlanta Queer Arts Alliance debuts virtual performance showcase
LGBTQ lawmakers denounce Kemp’s coronavirus order as reckless
Artists, celebs join forces for virtual queer, southern Big Ass Telethon
6 LGBTQ comics make the most of queer comedy quarantine
The Best Queer Things to Do in Quarantine This Week
How Georgia’s LGBTQ lawmakers are soldiering through coronavirus
Big Frog launches fundraiser to help LGBTQ businesses
22 every-day ways to play Queer Quarantine Bingo
Six queer kitchen trends when there’s nothing to do but cook and sit
DJ goes virtual to raise funds for Woofs employees
What LGBTQ Atlanta is talking about
Free. Condoms. When quarantine is over, Positive Impact Health Centers has you covered. Literally. The HIV non-profit is offering condoms delivered to your mailbox. Yes size queens, even magnums.
There’s an election coming – June 9 in fact. And Georgia Equality wants you to know they’ve sifted through candidates for several state legislative races and issued endorsements. Among their picks are 10 LGBTQ candidates.
Out singer Justin Utley is coming for you, Georgia. “American Nightmare” is his first single since his activism in Utah helped to ban conversion therapy. Now, he’s got his sights set on Georgia.
Things to do
SATURDAY
Big Ass Telethon, 9 p.m. Wussy, Southern Fried Queer PRide and Southern Appalachia are throwing this big ass virtual event to raise funds for struggling rural artists. The entertainment lineup is ridiculously star-studded.
SUNDAY
AQUAA At Home Together, 7 p.m. The Atlanta Queer Arts Alliance comes together for performances, readings, musical numbers and film shorts. It’s a showcase to support our queer arts orgs.
MONDAY
Georgia Equality Virtual Town Hall, 6 p.m. The statewide LGBTQ rights group continues its virtual Q&As with its endorsed candidates, this time featuring U.S. Senate candidate Teresa Tomlinson.
That’s all for this week
Stay home. Stay safe. And be sure to let me know your fave hacks for living your best corona life. Also, click that itty bitty heart just below. Thanks!