Legislative onslaught
April 2 — The Georgia General Assembly’s passage of anti-trans sports legislation on Transgender Day of Visibility was an extra slap in the face to a community that is already reeling under the onslaught of executive orders from the White House.
🙄 As with all the bills and executive orders aimed at trans people, it’s legislation in search of a problem. Conservatives continue to use the trans community as a tool of fearmongering and distraction while carrying out drastic cuts in the CDC’s workforce, gambling with the lives of those living with HIV, and smack-talking about invading Greenland.
➼ With the session ending April 4, Georgia’s conservative lawmakers are also trying to push through bills banning puberty blockers, denying gender-affirming care to state employees, and promoting “religious liberty” – which is just another avenue to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.
Keep calm and carry on,
Collin
Trans Day of Visibility summit held at Atlanta City Hall
🏳️⚧️ On March 31, transgender leaders and community members gathered at Atlanta City Hall for “Deeper Than Visibility,” a summit in celebration of Trans Day of Visibility.
The event was hosted by SnapCo and the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (MOEDI). Along with enjoying community, brunch, and music, attendees listened to prominent trans leaders discuss the fight for trans rights.
“Here in Atlanta, we believe everyone deserves to live with dignity, without fear, and with the freedom to be their true selves,” Mayor Andre Dickens said during opening remarks. “Our administration stands with the transgender community today and every day.”
➡ See more photos and read Katie Burkholder’s full report.
Don’t miss THE event of the spring – Move For Grady!
SPONSORED BY GRADY HEALTH FOUNDATION
🏃 It’s time to register for Move For Grady on April 26, Atlanta’s best ride/run/walk event supporting Grady! Choose one of three fully supported cycling routes or new certified 10K or 5K courses that will show you Atlanta from a new point of view. Then stay to celebrate with great food, drinks, and music at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium.
❤️ Move For Grady raises funds to support Grady’s mission to ensure access to care for everyone who calls Atlanta home. Register today, start training, and join the party on April 26!
Legislature passes bill to ban trans girls from playing sports
🥎 A bill banning transgender girls from playing school sports in girls’ athletic competitions is on the way to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk after passing both chambers on mostly party lines Monday.
If it receives Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature, Senate Bill 1 will require all schools from elementary through college to designate teams as male, female, and co-ed based on sex at birth and ban those assigned male at birth from playing on female teams. It also restricts access to facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters during athletic events.
“We have created a bill that is a license to harass, a license to bully, a license to harm, and these actual athletes do not want this,” Lilburn Democratic Rep. Jasmine Clark (pictured) said. “They did not ask for this. And I think that that is a problem.”
‘Will & Grace’ creators talk new sitcom ‘Mid-Century Modern’
📺 Even when they were younger, Max Mutchnick and David Kohan – best known for writing and producing the television series “Will & Grace” – have always focused on characters of a certain age.
Now that they are of that age, they have considerably more insight into their new creation, “Mid-Century Modern.” The Hulu sitcom stars Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham as a trio of gay friends who reunite in Palm Springs when another friend passes away. Eventually, they all decide to live together in the home of Bunny (Lane) and his mother Sybil (Linda Lavin).
“It’s so fun to write guys (like this),” Mutchnick said. “You don’t usually get to.”
➡ Read Jim Farmer’s interview with Mutchnick and Kohan here.
Best Bets
🎭 The Alliance Theatre presents “The Reservoir” now through May 4 on the Hertz Stage at the Woodruff Arts Center. Written by queer playwright Jake Brasch, the play follows a young man who returns to his hometown of Denver, CO to try and get sober with the help of his grandparents. Get tickets and information at alliancetheatre.org.
🎶 Tony Award-winning musical “Parade” by Alfred Uhry is on the boards at the Fox Theatre now through April 6. The show follows the true story of the 1913 murder of Mary Phagan and the man, Leo Frank, accused of the crime in Atlanta. Get tickets at foxtheatre.org. Be sure to read Sammie Purcell’s review of the show.
🏳️🌈 Mark your calendars for HALFWAY to Pride at Red’s Beer Garden on April 12 from noon-4 p.m. You’ll be able to meet the Atlanta Pride Team and learn more about how you can volunteer to make this year’s Pride the best one yet.
Social Follow of the Week
📸 If you’re a regular reader of The Voice, you’ll know that The Washington Blade is one of our media partners in covering the LGBTQ+ community. A going concern since 1969, be sure to give The Blade a follow on Instagram and visit their website.
