Remembering Andrea Gibson
July 16 — Colorado Poet Laureate, noted spoken word performer, and activist Andrea Gibson died Monday at age 49 after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. Gibson – who wrote and performed luminous poems on gender, identity, and queerness – faced their mortality in a poem called “Love Letter from the Afterlife,” which you can read here and watch here.
More news:
📲 The Trump administration is shutting down the national suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth tomorrow. The Trevor Project will continue to provide service at 1-866-488-7386 or by texting ‘START’ to 678-678.
🗣️ Comedian/actor/talk show host Rosie O’Donnell doubled down on her criticism of Trump after he threatened via social media to take away her U.S. citizenship – which is prohibited by the Constitution. O’Donnell moved to Ireland after the election, but has continued to call out his actions.
⚖️ The U.S. Department of Justice announced it is suing the California Department of Education, claiming the state’s policy to allow trans students to compete with other girls violates Title IX.
🎟️ Get your tickets now for “Reel Resistance: How the Lonesome Cowboys Raid Sparked the Southern Queer Rights Movement,” a two-day film screening and community summit on Aug. 1-2 at Agnes Scott College in Decatur. The event, which celebrates Atlanta Pride’s 55th anniversary, will explore the legacy of queer resistance in the South.
I am saving your place.
Collin
Officials face pressure to rehire librarian fired over trans book
📚 A south Georgia public library system is under pressure to rehire a librarian whose firing over a book about a transgender child has led to the resignation of a board member and a wrongful termination lawsuit, according to emails and text messages obtained by our media partner Georgia Recorder.
At the start of June, former Pierce County Library Manager Lavonnia Moore (pictured center) said she approved a display of children’s books collected by young library patrons that included “When Aidan Became a Brother” by Kyle Lukoff, which is about a transgender boy whose family is expecting another child.
On June 18, Moore was fired over the display. A group called Alliance for Faith and Family, which called on followers to register complaints with Three Rivers Regional Library staff and Pierce County commissioners, took credit for the sacking on social media.
The emails, text messages and voicemail reveal more about the decision to let Moore go and the resulting backlash. That correspondence also shows that local officials are considering reinstating Moore but have not yet done so.
Data meets art at the High Museum!
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM
✨ Ready for a sensory journey? Immerse yourself in the data-verse and get ready for a mind-bending experience – Ryoji Ikeda’s captivating light and sound installations are a must-see.
➞ On view now at the High Museum.
Lavender Fest kicks off five days of queer theatre
🎭 The Lavender Performing Arts Festival, Atlanta’s queer artist showcase, returns for its second year this week at Out Front Theatre Company.
Running through July 20, queer performers will take the stage to showcase a variety of acts, including cabarets, stand-up, theater, and everything in between.
The festival kicks off today with an opening party at the Atlanta Eagle, featuring drag bingo with Ruby Redd at 8:30 p.m., before performances begin on July 17. This year’s lineup includes 10 unique shows and 16 performances on two stages.
➡ Check out the full lineup here.
Kyle Casey Chu talks drag and her new book ‘The Queen Bees of Tybee County’
🐝 As if being a drag performer and filmmaker didn’t already consume so much of her time, Kyle Casey Chu (aka Panda Dulce) can now call herself an author.
Chu’s YA novel, “The Queen Bees of Tybee County,” is set in Atlanta and deals with a teenager’s self-discovery and eventual self-acceptance. Derrick Chan is a Chinese American seventh-grade basketball star and the jewel in the crown of his team at Bayard Middle School.
One summer, thinking he is going to basketball camp, he winds up at his grandmother’s house in rural Georgia. There, he discovers she volunteers for a local junior pageant, and his love for the world of drag begins to grow.
➡ Read Jim Farmer’s full interview.
Best Bets
🎤 Head to The Loft on July 17 at 6:30 p.m. for the Lip Sync Battle to benefit AIDS Walk Atlanta. Dazzling performers, each representing a walk beneficiary, will take the stage and fight for the crown and a generous boost to their fundraising efforts. The event is free, but bring your donation dollars.
📽️ Out on Film will screen “Tangerine”, starring Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, and James Ransone, on July 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Lore.
🥞 The 10th anniversary Pancakes & Booze Art Show returns to Underground Atlanta on July 19 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., featuring more than 100 local artists plus all-you-can-eat pancakes.
👹 Monster Show For Monsters is an alternate reality variety show featuring music, comedy, burlesque, drag, storytelling, magic, and more on July 21, 8 p.m. at Red Light Cafe.
Social Follow of the Week
📻 Happy 52nd birthday to Atlanta’s independent radio station WRFG 89.3 FM, which broadcasts live from Little Five Points. WRFG has been a source of information and music for the queer and progressive community since 1973.
