Feeling the heat
Jul. 3 — The July issue of Georgia Voice is out now, and you can read it here or pick up a print copy in the coming days.
⚖️ With the Supreme Court’s move to ban gender affirming care for minors and allow parents to opt their children out of reading books with LGBTQ+ characters in school, the possibility of a challenge to marriage equality continues to grow. Read my op-ed on the subject here.
🙄 In Georgia, the ban on transgender student athletes went into effect on July 1, the same day that the University of Pennsylvania announced it would ban trans athletes and erase the records and titles held by swimmer Lia Thomas.
⚓ Stuart Milk, the nephew of gay rights icon Harvey Milk, called the stripping of his uncle’s name from a Navy ship “petty and dishonest.”
🪧 In more uplifting news,100,000 people defied a government ban and police orders on Saturday to march in the largest LGBTQ+ Pride event in Hungary’s history. More of this energy in the states, please!
🗓️ The City of Atlanta has a slate of events in July for Disability Pride Month, which marks the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
I’ll forgive you by and by, ’cause…
Collin
Queen named City of Atlanta’s Director of LGBTQ affairs
📣 Mayor Andre Dickens has appointed Dewayne R. Queen as the City of Atlanta’s Director of the Division of LGBTQ Affairs in the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Queen will be the primary liaison for the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board and city departments, ensuring alignment across initiatives.
During his 10-year career at Delta Air Lines, Queen served as President of Delta’s LGBTQ Business Resource Group, collaborating with senior leadership to address workplace disparities, reestablishing partnerships with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, and fostering an inclusive culture.
➡ Find out more about Queen here.
Mythic creatures meet modern art!
SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM
✨ Step into a world where mythology and art collide! Spirit Guides: Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles brings vibrant, hybrid animal sculptures to life in Fernbank’s WildWoods.
These whimsical sculptures blend Zapotec culture and contemporary art, each representing spirit guides tied to personality and destiny. Designed by renowned Oaxacan artists, this exhibit offers a soulful journey through indigenous culture, identity, and the natural world.
➡ Open now through August 3, with special after-hours viewings on select nights. Don’t miss this magical experience!
Atlanta Pride names grand marshals for October festival
🌈 Atlanta Pride has announced the 2025 slate of grand marshals for this year’s festival set for Oct. 11-2 with the theme “Rooted in Resistance.”
The organization said the grand marshals “represent bold activism, cultural preservation, and unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community in Atlanta and beyond.”
The grand marshals are: Jere Chang, Shannon Bradley-May, Dr. Christy Perez, Richard Ramey, Lena Lust, Raquel Willis, Russ Youngblood, Georgia LGBTQ History Project, LGBTQ+ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and PALS Atlanta.
➡ Find out more about the honorees here.
Out Front Theatre announces 10th anniversary season
🎭 Out Front Theatre has announced its 10th anniversary season lineup with a slew of LGBTQ+ musicals, plays, and performances to look forward to.
The season opens with the Tony Award-nominated “9 to 5 the Musical” on Oct. 23 and also includes “Mama Dearest: Here We Joan Again,” “BLKS,” “Which Way to the Stage,” and “Clue.”
➡ Find out more about the shows here.
Best Bets
🎆 The City of East Point and East Point Main Street Association will host the Salute to the Red, White & Blue celebration from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Downtown Commons. The event will be headlined by RAHBI, the LGBTQ+ creative known for his funk-infused music. See more Fourth of July events around metro Atlanta here.
💃 The Other Show Drag Cabaret at Lore will be creating its own fireworks on July 4 from 9 to 11 p.m., featuring Edie Cheezburger, Boudreaux, Orchid, Taejah Thomas, and Tugboat.
📖 Charis Books and the Auburn Avenue Research Library welcome Honorée Fanonne Jeffers in conversation with Jericho Brown to discuss her nonfiction debut, “Misbehaving at the Crossroads: Essays & Writings,” on July 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the library.
Social Follow of the Week
📸 We are so back! After taking a brief hiatus from Instagram, the Georgia Voice account is back in business and will be posting news, events, and our favorite tunes on a regular basis. We also love to share our followers’ posts and reels, so be sure to follow, like, and tag. See you on the gram.
