Decatur resident Franklin Abbott has been a guiding presence in LGBTQ+ activism in Atlanta for more than 50 years.
Abbott was active in Civil Rights and anti-war protests before joining the nascent gay rights movement in the early 1970s. While attending the University of Georgia, he joined the Committee on Gay Education, which led to a broader knowledge of LGBTQ+ activism happening around the country.
Abbott was an original member of the Radical Faeries, a loosely affiliated worldwide network and countercultural movement blending queer consciousness and secular spirituality, and co-founded the Atlanta Circle of Healing and established the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival.
His correspondence with gay men, poets, and radicals from all over the world –including Harry Hay, James Broughton, and Assotto Saint – is a backbone of his extensive archive housed at Georgia State University.
The author of two books of poetry, “Mortal Love: Selected Poems, 1971-1998” and “Pink Zinnia,” he also edited three noted anthologies on men and gender, including “Boyhood: Growing up Male.”
Abbott’s new book, “My Ordinary Life,” was born from his experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown, which forced him to take stock of his life. The book will be published by RFD Press on June 6.
“It was an intense time for everyone,” Abbott said, “but I had certain things happening in my personal life that made it more intense.”
Abbott’s mother died during the pandemic, which left him and his family to care for his elderly father, who had increasing dementia. On top of that, Abbott had also undergone a double knee replacement and was still regaining his mobility, adding more anxiety.
“Because of COVID, I couldn’t go to live music, see plays or go to literary events, so all the things I would normally do to distract and reorient myself away from the difficult parts of life were unavailable,” Abbott recalled.
As a psychotherapist, Abbott’s work also became narrowed to Zoom calls with clients with short breaks to putter in his garden, take distanced walks with friends in local parks, and spend time amusing his two cats.
Like millions of other people, Abbott was forced to slow down, and in that stillness, “My Ordinary Life” took shape. The result is a collection of “story poems,” which Abbott describes as a “memoir in poetry.”
There are moving poems about the death of Abbott’s mother, his trips to Nashville to care for his declining father, gathering with friends in his COVID “bubble,” and finding solace in the small things.
On May 24, a live reading with an audience of friends and loved ones was taped at Art Station Theatre in Stone Mountain. That film will be used to promote “My Ordinary Life” across social media this summer. He’s planning a series of live readings and book signings later in the year.
With the current political climate, Abbott’s activism continues, and he encourages young people to take up the LGBTQ+ rights cause and any other that moves them. But, Abbott said to be sure to balance activism and maintaining a full life.
“It’s always good to have something going – an interest in music, movies, games you like to play,” Abbott said. “You can’t let the political narrative be the only narrative. Everybody’s story is important, so stay connected to your support system and try to find joy and that will make you a better activist.”
