The day after
Wednesday, May. 20 — I was up late last night (this morning) covering Georgia’s primary election. The unquestionable stunner was former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms blowing past six other Democrats to secure the nomination for governor outright. That was definitely not on my bingo card. We’ve got a wrap-up below of how Georgia Equality’s endorsed candidates fared yesterday, and you can see more results and which candidates are headed for the June 16 runoff. Time for more coffee!
A few more headlines:
🤬 As part of a settlement with the Department of Justice, Texas Children’s Hospital agreed to pay more than $10 million in damages and civil penalties related to gender-affirming care and will establish a clinic specializing in “detransition” care.
🕯️ A man surrendered to police this week in the murder of a 19-year-old transgender University of Washington student, Juniper Blessing, who was found dead in a laundry room on campus with more than 40 stab wounds.
🙄 The Georgia Legislature will meet for a special legislative session starting on June 17 to redraw the state’s U.S. Congress, state House, and state Senate maps. The move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision, which weakened the Voting Rights Act.
🦠 The CDC reports that a new strain of the Shigella bacterial infection is the latest emerging STI disproportionately affecting gay and queer men. If you’ve never heard of it, better read up on it, boys.
💊 Rx for Change, a national coalition to advance HIV services in community pharmacies, has partnered with Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.
Sounds like she’s singing…
Collin
Georgia Equality-backed LGBTQ+ candidates and allies see mixed results in primary election
🗳️ The results from Georgia’s primary election on Tuesday were a mixed bag for LGBTQ+ and allied candidates across the state.
Of the 55 candidates endorsed by Georgia Equality, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, 29 won or went to a runoff.
Among the statewide races, one Georgia Equality-endorsed candidate won and two went to a runoff. Tanya Miller won the Democratic primary for attorney general in a landslide, with 84.55% of the vote. Josh McLaurin will go to a runoff against Nabilah Parks for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination, and Dana Barrett will face Penny Brown Reynolds for secretary of state in the June 16 runoff.
Several LGBTQ+ Democratic candidates also won their primaries, including Bentley Hudgins for State House District 90, Kim Jackson for State Senate District 41, and Marvin Lim for State House District 98.
➡ See more results in Katie Burkholder’s roundup here.
Take Flight at Fernbank Museum
SPONSORED BY FERNBANK MUSEUM
🦋 Experience spring in a spectacular way with Flight of Butterflies at Fernbank Museum.
Twenty-five larger-than-life butterfly sculptures transform the nature paths in WildWoods into a breathtaking outdoor gallery.
➞ Let your imagination take flight at Fernbank.
Atlanta Pride announces 2026 recipients of Pride Across the Peach State grants
💰 Atlanta Pride has announced the recipients of the 2026 Pride Across the Peach State grant.
Since 2024, the grant initiative has supported Pride organizations across Georgia to help them expand their reach and impact. This year, Atlanta Pride is awarding $40,000 in grant funding to 12 organizations across Georgia.
The recipients: Athens Pride, Atlanta Black Pride, Boro Pride Festival, Carrollton Pride, EqualityFest, Gwinnett Pride Festival, Macon Pride Festival, PrideLake Festival, Rome Pride, Savannah Pride, Smyrna Pride, and Southern Fried Queer Pride. ➡ Find out more about the grants here.
‘White Winged Doves’ celebrates Stevie Nicks through poetry
🕊️ Reading through the introduction of “White Winged Doves: A Stevie Nicks Poetry Anthology,” it’s clear that its editors have very different relationships with the queen of rock ‘n’ roll.
But, despite their different perspectives, editors Collin Kelley (hey, that’s me!) and Megan Volpert can agree that however they feel, Nicks is someone who has forced them – who has forced the world at large – to sit up and pay attention. And for that, she’s deserving of a poetry anthology celebrating her work.
“White Winged Doves” will be released on June 16 by Madville Publishing, but a virtual launch event is set for Nicks’ 78th birthday on May 26, hosted by Georgia Center for the Book.
➡ Read Sammie Purcell’s conversation with the co-editors.
💛 The Men Having Babies conference returns to Atlanta June 5-7 to support gay singles and couples on their path to parenthood. Learn how surrogacy works and discover the resources, guidance, and financial assistance available to our community. More information here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Best Bets
📽️ Lavender Lens is hosting Queer Music Video Night this evening (May 20) at The Bakery in Atlanta. Doors at 6:30 p.m., screenings start at 7:15 p.m. with queer music videos from local filmmakers, live performances, free beverages, and books from Charis Books & More.
🎷 If you love jazz, then the place to be this Memorial Day weekend is Piedmont Park for the annual Atlanta Jazz Festival. Performers include The Roots, PJ Morton, Kamasi Washington, Esperanza Spalding, Nate Smith, Aja Monet, and many more.
📚 Charis Books & More welcomes editor Rosiee Thor and contributors Kalyn Josephson, Kemi Ashing-Giwa, and Claudie Arsenault for a panel discussion celebrating “Being Aro: A Collection of Aromantic Fiction about Love, Connection, and Empowerment.” The virtual event is on May 26 at 7:30 p.m.
➡ Find more events and activities in our IG stories @thegeorgiavoice.
