Books, music & film
Sep. 18 — Stand for Peace, a storytelling and community organizing event, is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, at 1:30 p.m. at North Decatur United Methodist Church to observe International Day of Peace. Georgia Voice’s Katie Burkholder will be on hand and has this preview of the event.
And now some headlines:
⚖️ Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect arrested for fatally shooting controversial right-wing activist Charlie Kirk last week, is facing aggravated murder charges and the death penalty.
🙄 President Donald Trump said Monday he would have “no problem” with banning Pride flags in Washington D.C., suggesting they could be treated as symbols of domestic terrorism.
🚽 The U.S. Supreme Court declined to let South Carolina enforce a law requiring public schools to bar trans students from using restrooms aligned with their gender identity.
⚕️ A transgender sheriff’s deputy seeking gender-affirming medical care through a county-operated health plan in central Georgia was handed a loss by a federal court last week.
🎤 Lil Nas X has entered an undisclosed treatment facility following his arrest in Los Angeles last month.
💃 The owner and founder of Savannah’s legendary Club One has sold the venue to a new owner who has pledged to expand the famed drag bar.
🏳️🌈 Congratulations to PFLAG Rome, the recipient of the 2025 PFLAG National Chapter Award.
🥳 Happy Bisexual Awareness Week.
Misty watercolor memories…
Collin
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The Lavender Bookshop offers queer books and community in Marietta
📚 Sara Williford opened The Lavender Bookshop in Marietta last October with only one qualification to be included in their shelves: have a queer main character.
Amid the nationwide censorship of LGBTQ+ books, Williford says they are connecting young people and families in the area with queer books they might not be able to find in the library or mainstream bookstores.
They’ve recommended books for helping a family understand and embrace a child’s new transgender identity and connected non-readers with queer stories that sparked a new love for reading.
Along with a vast and diverse inventory of queer literature, the Lavender Bookshop also offers multiple book clubs throughout the month – including separate clubs for sapphic romance, Achillean romance, sci-fi/fantasy, non-fiction, YA for teens, and transgender stories – as well as non-reading events like craft circles, Magic the Gathering nights, open mics, improv club, and a monthly local artist mart.
➡ Read more in Katie Burkholder’s feature story here.
Where Everyone Belongs
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Known for its pride in participation at the ATL Pride Parade, Chamblee stands as a beacon of belonging, celebrating love, culture, and unity. From unforgettable restaurants to lively entertainment, every corner of Chamblee invites discovery.
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Flo Milli to headline, Perfume Genius joins lineup for Atlanta Pride
🎤 Atlanta Pride has announced that hip-hop sensation Flo Milli will headline this year’s festival, while critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Perfume Genius has also been added to the entertainment lineup.
“We are ecstatic to welcome Flo Milli and Perfume Genius for this year’s Festival,” Chris McCain, Executive Director of Atlanta Pride, said in a statement. “Flo Milli’s bold, unapologetic voice and Perfume Genius’s fearless artistry perfectly reflect this year’s theme, ‘Rooted in Resistance.’ Their performances will no doubt inspire, uplift, and energize our community as we come together to celebrate Pride.”
➡ Read more about the artists here.
Filmmaker Garret Abdo, actor Tuc Watkins talk
‘Exit Interviews’
🎥 Roughly two and a half years ago, Garrett Abdo made a quip about his love life that ended up turning into the idea for his next movie. After a string of relationships that didn’t go anywhere, Abdo was trying to figure out what kept going wrong.
“I gotta do exit interviews and find out why,” he remembered saying jokingly. Wait, he thought – that doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.
This exact moment of inspiration can be found in “Exit Interviews,” Abdo’s new film playing at this year’s Out on Film festival. The movie stars Tuc Watkins as Robert, a documentarian who decides to make his next project a series of interviews with his ex-boyfriends as he tries to figure out where each relationship turned sour.
➡ Check out Sammie Purcell’s interview with Abdo and Watkins here.
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Best Bets
🍴 Atlanta Pride is hosting an Empanada Blitz at El Viñedo Local from 5 to 9 p.m. tonight, Sept. 17. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the organization.
🎬 Join MAAP and Out On Film for a special Pre-Party at Hotel Granada on Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 to 9 p.m. There will be film trailers, sneak peeks, cocktails, and more.
📖 Meet Your Match Among the Stacks: A 40+ Queer Singles Mixer & Book Swap will be held Friday, Sept. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Charis Books & More in Decatur.
🗓️ Mark your calendars right now for Macon’s Pride In the Park celebration on Sept. 27. We’ll have more details in next week’s newsletter.
RIP Robert Redford
🌟 Actor and activist Robert Redford died yesterday at age 89. The Colonnade paid tribute to the legend, posting this picture of Redford eating at the restaurant in a scene from the 2016 movie “A Walk in the Woods.” Redford was an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, especially on marriage equality. Goodnight, icon.
