Remembering Dolly
Wednesday, Aug. 26 — My heart is heavy today with the passing of one of my icons – the great Dolly Parton. She was a constant presence in my life after I first saw her singing on TV in the early 70s. My parents bought me the Dolly doll when I was six years old, because I was obsessed with her even then, and that love only grew over the decades. Dolly’s outspoken support and embrace of the LGBTQ+ community were vital and reassuring in some of the darkest times. Her kindness, empathy, and talent made her a beloved figure, and the outpouring of grief at her death from around the world is testament to this. There will never be another like her. I will always love you, Dolly.
Here are a few headlines:
🙄 Trump falsely claimed during a speech last week that hospitals are performing “reverse surgery” on transgender people because he ordered them to do so.
⚕️ GLAAD’s 2026 State of HIV Stigma Report revealed a widening gap between scientific advancements in HIV treatment and awareness of them.
😒 The Log Cabin Republicans removed advocating for transgender and queer rights from its “renewed” national advocacy focus.
📍 Invisible Histories, the Southern LGBTQ+ archive project, has relocated from Alabama to North Carolina after funding cuts and growing political hostilities.
🏳️🌈 Heart of North Georgia Pride said it’s returning to its roots and its former name, Woodstock Pride.
🖍️ Tucker Pride will release its community activity and coloring book during an event at Infinite Realities on Sept. 13.
🎤 AIDS Walk Atlanta announced that Kelly Rowland will be the headline performer at the annual 5K and music festival on Sept. 26 at Piedmont Park.
From a rooster to a hen…
Collin
P.S. If you want to pay tribute to Dolly, I can think of no better way than donating to her beloved nonprofit Imagination Library, which provides free books to children to promote reading and literacy.
🍃 Visit Atlanta’s newest outdoor public space this fall for free fitness classes, artisan markets, lunchtime events, live music + more. Midtown Green is located in the heart of the city at 98 14th St., near MARTA and deck parking. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Dolly Parton was no stranger to Georgia
🦋 While Dolly Parton’s home has always been in Tennessee, she was far from a stranger here in Georgia. The iconic country singer, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a battle with cancer.
Parton’s Georgia connections stretch back to the beginning of her fame when she married her late husband, Carl Dean, in Ringgold, GA, in 1966 to keep their nuptials private as her star was on the rise in Nashville.
From concerts to making films, Parton was a regular visitor, including a stop at Manuel’s Tavern in 1975 (pictured) and a memorable 2002 concert at Center Stage in Midtown Atlanta, where she famously invited drag queens to join her for “Jolene.”
➡ See more photos and tributes to Dolly here.
A distinguished Savannah landmark, beautifully restored
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🏠 One block from Forsyth Park, the House of Mary Jaudon at 207 E. Gwinnett Street offers a rare opportunity to own a distinctive piece of Savannah history.
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Dating to circa 1872, this distinguished Savannah residence blends remarkable historic character with a thoughtful restoration. Original heart pine floors, soaring 12-foot ceilings, six original marble fireplaces, ornate plaster details, and graceful architectural proportions preserve the elegance and craftsmanship of another era.
Equally compelling is its versatility: enjoy the property as a grand single-family estate or utilize its flexible three-unit configuration. Updated kitchens, baths, and systems provide modern comfort, while a separate carriage residence and private courtyard complete this exceptional offering just one block from Forsyth Park. The seller is a licensed real estate broker.
📍 Explore this remarkable Savannah residence and arrange a private showing.
Chubbs Realty Group LLC | Licensed Real Estate Broker
Mary’s withstands the test of time as a queer nightlife staple
🍸 In 1998, heading to East Atlanta Village meant finding takeout lunch counter Hungry Rush-In located at 1287 Glenwood Ave. The queer-owned restaurant was open for only about a year before the owners pivoted, transforming the space into Mary’s, EAV’s first gay bar.
Today, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ nightlife is spread across the city, with places like Lore on Edgewood Avenue, My Sister’s Room (which also marked its 30th anniversary this past weekend) in Midtown, and the Atlanta Eagle on the edge of Ansley Park.
But three decades ago, Atlanta’s queer nightlife scene was centered in Midtown, making Mary’s an outlier on the city’s east side. Its location, however, allowed Mary’s to attract a mixed crowd of gay men, lesbians, queer people, and even some straight patrons with its easy-going, dive-bar atmosphere.
➡ Read more about Mary’s in Katie Burkholder’s story here.
🍃 Visit Atlanta’s newest outdoor public space this fall for free fitness classes, artisan markets, lunchtime events, live music + more. Midtown Green is located in the heart of the city at 98 14th St., near MARTA and deck parking. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Drew Droege brings ‘Theatre Idiot’ to Out Front on Aug. 29
🤣 On Dec. 14, 2025, Patti LuPone attended a performance of Drew Droege’s show, “Messy White Gays.” A drunken audience member disrupted the show, and afterwards, LuPone told them to “never go back to the theater again.”
The New York Post ran the headline, “LuPone Blasts Theater Idiot.” On Aug. 29, audiences will meet the Theatre Idiot in Droege’s new show at Out Front Theatre in Atlanta.
“It’s very interactive,” Droege told Georgia Voice. “I promise, I don’t make anybody in the audience look bad… I would tell the audience to come ready to play and rest assured that I will take care of you and I will not make fun of you.”
➡ Find out more about the show.
Best Bets
💃🏾 My Sister’s Room is hosting the Fem Friday Party & Show on Aug. 28 with doors opening at 9 p.m.
🧺 Statesboro Pride is hosting Glow Loud, Play Proud from 6 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 28, for a night of games and mixing.
🥳 The 15th anniversary celebration of the annual Atlanta Black Pride Press Conference in honor of 30 Years of Atlanta Black Pride is Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
✂️ Southern Fried Queer Pride is hosting Queer Threads, a pop-up thrift shop and barbershop, on Aug. 30 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Wild Heaven in Atlanta.
➡ Find many more events and activities in our IG stories @thegeorgiavoice.
