New month, new issue
Thursday, July 2 — The July issue of Georgia Voice is at the printer, but you can read the digital version now. The staff is taking a long holiday weekend break to recharge after a busy Pride Month. Whether you’re celebrating the Fourth of July and America’s 250th birthday on Saturday, or completely ignoring it, be safe and be well.
Here are a few news headlines:
🪖 A federal judge on Tuesday expanded the number of plaintiffs challenging the Trump administration’s ban on transgender service members.
🙄 Trump refused to sign a new bipartisan affordable housing bill unless his SAVE Act – which includes anti-trans riders – is approved by Congress.
🤬 Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he and his children were the subject of an investigation by Child Protective Services following a false anonymous report.
⚽ Soccer legend Briana Scurry was in Atlanta this week for a special event, Pride on the Pitch, hosted by the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority in honor of the World Cup. Read Katie Burkholder’s report from the event here.
🎭 Out Front Theatre Company has announced the lineup for its 11th season, including the camp Britney Spears-themed musical “Once Upon A One More Time.”
Moving into my vision, moving out of my doubt…
Collin
July issue of Georgia Voice out now
The July issue is out now, featuring our cover profiles on the two trans candidates – Bella Bautista and Bentley Hudgins – who made Georgia history by winning their primaries. You’ll also find Jim Farmer’s interview with the director of the acclaimed horror film “Leviticus,” a review of “Girls Like Girls,” a news roundup, and a guide to dining in Atlanta for the World Cup.
➡ Read the July issue at this link.
Celebrate Summer in Alpharetta!
SPONSORED BY AWESOME ALPHARETTA
🎙️Get ready for a season packed with music, moments, and memory-making in Alpharetta!
All summer long, enjoy the can’t-miss concerts, patriotic celebrations, global excitement, signature festivals, AND a chance to score your own weekend getaway.
Whether you’re here to rock out, explore, cheer, or unwind, Alpharetta is your home base for a summer that truly celebrates it all.
Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender girls in school sports
⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 upheld laws in Idaho and West Virginia that prohibit transgender girls and women from competing on female school sports teams.
In a decision expected to influence similar laws across the country, the court’s conservative majority ruled that the state bans do not violate either the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause or Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education.
The cases arose from challenges to laws in Idaho and West Virginia brought by transgender students Lindsay Hecox, a former college athlete in Idaho, and Becky Pepper-Jackson, a West Virginia high school student who sought to compete on her school’s girls’ track team.
Atlanta Pride announces 2026 theme, grand marshals
🏳️🌈 This year’s Atlanta Pride theme is “Louder & Prouder,” a rally cry and celebration encouraging the LGBTQ+ community to embrace authenticity, stand together, and show up for one another.
The committee also announced its slate of grand marshals for the festival and parade in October, including Carl Charles, Jenny Arellano, John M. Haupert, Master J. Tebias Perry, Noel Heatherland, Pressure K, Shawnna Brooks, and the Zami Nobla organization.
➡ Find out more about this year’s festival theme and about the grand marshals. You can also find out more about festival entertainment headliners JT, Cain Culto, and Zee Machine.
4th of July Best Bets
🥵 NonsenseATL is hosting Hot Mess on July 4 for a night of “dance + pop + escape” at the old MJQ space in Atlanta.
🪩 Atlanta Eagle is hosting IndepenDANCE, a high-energy dance party, upstairs from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on July 4.
🕺 Blake’s On The Park in Midtown is marking the Fourth of July with sets by resident DJs Rob Reum, Derik Shaw, and Bill Berdeaux, alongside World Cup viewings and drink specials.
🧨 X Midtown is hosting “Dirty POP” night on July 4 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
➡ Find many more events and activities in our IG stories @thegeorgiavoice.
