Meet the Black lesbian making election history in Georgia
Plus: Coronavirus gut punch to LGBTQ businesses and weekend events
We made it! Georgia remains too close to call, but come on, we all see that blue on the horizon. While the dust settles, we’re here to catch you up on all things LGBTQ Atlanta. If you’re new to this newsletter, welcome and please subscribe.
Rev. Kim Jackson made history on Election Day by becoming the first LGBTQ person ever elected to the Georgia Senate. That’s a huge win – and the biggest LGBTQ takeaway from Tuesday.
“I am overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support that I’ve received from both the LGBTQ community and the larger community as a whole,” Jackson told Project Q Atlanta. “This is an exciting moment for Georgia.”
Jackson (photo) – and the election of Marvin Lim to the state House – boost the number of LGBTQ lawmakers in Georgia to seven. That’s also a historic high.
Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, applauded their wins.
“We know we have been very good about being able to stop bad legislation in the House, but I hope with a total of seven down there that it begins to shift the conversation from rejecting the bad legislation to crafting a bipartisan majority to support the legislation the LGBTQ community needs,” Graham said.
We celebrated Jackson’s win and talked about the impact of the elections on LGBTQ equality during a Q Conversations today with Jackson, Graham and LGBTQ advocate Fred Smith. Take a listen below.
Crowdfunding effort helps My Sister’s Room keep doors open
In a reminder that the coronavirus pandemic didn’t take time off for the election, there’s this: My Sister’s Room is just one of 15 lesbian bars left in the U.S. and they are struggling to survive.
So they are part of a crowdfunding effort called the Lesbian Bar Project to raise cash for MSR and the others. It will help keep the doors open, co-owner Jennifer Maguire said.
“We are just touched that the people that started the Lesbian Bar Project care enough to send some to all of us,” Maguire said. “We truly believe it is so important to have a home for the lesbian communities.”
We also profiled Agatha’s A Taste of Mystery, the LGBTQ-owned dinner theater in downtown Atlanta, and their coronavirus struggles.
Q ATLus holds space for all the LGBTQ ties that bind
Families of choice and families of origin come together in this week’s Q ATLus magazine. Sisters Lindzey and Loren Shaffer inspire in the cover story, while an LGBTQ dental office family and gay restaurateur couple jump into action in Q Community. Q Voices finds Ian Aber dancing with queer demons, and other folks wrestle with their own lies in Q Advice. Don’t miss the Q Weekend Events, either.
Things to do
FRIDAY
Enjoy veteran camp queens and fight HIV/AIDS Armorettes Backroom Burlesque at Heretic, 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
Masked and socially distanced, gay autumn softball (photo) wraps during the Fall Ball Championships at Nickajack Park, 10 a.m.
SUNDAY
The gay pro soccer fans of All Stripes enjoy an Atlanta United Watch Party on TV at Coda, 3:30 p.m.
That’s all folks!
Thanks for reading and supporting Project Q Atlanta by subscribing to our newsletter. Got a story you’d like to see covered? Let me know.