🏳️🌈 Support LGBTQ+ journalism
Support LGBTQ+ journalism June 26 — Our new edition of the Destination Gay Atlanta travel guide is coming soon, as well as special issues for Atlanta Black Pride and Atlanta Pride. Providing timely, accurate news and features for the LGBTQ+ community is more vital now than ever. Support Georgia Voice’s mission and reach potential customers by purchasing an advertisement in our publications or this newsletter. You can reach our sales team at [email protected]. A few updates and news items: PFLAG Atlanta is offering virtual and in-person support groups during July, so if you’re an adult 18+ and looking for community and understanding, this is a good place to start. The Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center feasibility study has received more than 1,100 responses so far. The goal is 2,000 responses by October. Take the survey. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases involving transgender youth challenging bans prohibiting them from participating in school sports. Whether you’re high or low…Collin Photo courtesy Lavonnia Moore South Georgia library manager fired for trans-inclusive display After 15 years of working at the Pierce County Library in Blackshear, GA, where she advanced from part-time clerk to branch manager, Lavonnia Moore was unexpectedly and abruptly fired due to a display featuring a trans-inclusive children’s book. The patron-led display aligned with Georgia’s summer reading theme, “Color Our World.” Kids and parents were encouraged to find and display colorful books that fit the theme. So, when a child at the library asked her to include the book “When Aidan Became a Brother” by Kyle Lukoff, an award-winning, age-appropriate story about love and acceptance with a transgender character, she didn’t hesitate. Unbeknownst to Moore, an online hate campaign from the Alliance for Faith and Family led to her firing from the library. Read Katie Burkholder’s full report here. Mythic creatures meet modern art! SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM Step into a world where mythology and art collide! Spirit Guides: Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles brings vibrant, hybrid animal sculptures to life in Fernbank’s WildWoods. These whimsical sculptures blend Zapotec culture and contemporary art, each representing spirit guides tied to personality and destiny. Designed by renowned Oaxacan artists, this exhibit offers a soulful journey through indigenous culture, identity, and the natural world. Open now through August 3, with special after-hours viewings on select nights. Don’t miss this magical experience! Photo courtesy Pexels Trump’s tax and spending bill to impact LGBTQ+ healthcare The passage of President Donald Trump’s tax cut and spending bill on July 3 is expected to have consequences for LGBTQ+ Americans who rely on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace for their healthcare.According to the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, around 13 percent of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. – about 1.8 million people – rely on Medicaid for their primary health insurance.Nonprofit advocacy group Georgia Equality said more than 40% of people living with HIV in the U.S. are on Medicaid. The impact on Georgia could be heavy, as the state has the highest number of new HIV infections in the country. Read the full story here. Graphic courtesy Out on Film Out on Film announces ‘Queer Propaganda’ theme “Queer Propaganda” will be this year’s theme for Out on Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ film festival. The festival is Sept. 25 to Oct. 5.Organizers said the festival chose this theme in an act of reclamation in the face of the current political climate. “In the face of rising backlash and politicized attacks, we’re not backing down,” organizers said in a statement. The first official selection for the 2025 festival will be “Exit Interviews,” directed by Garrett Abdo. Filmed in Atlanta, the movie is about a middle-aged gay man who decides to explore his failed relationships by interviewing his exes. Find out more and get tickets here. Best Bets OUT Georgia Business Alliance is hosting one of its regular luncheons on July 10 from noon to 1 p.m. at La Hacienda in Midtown. You can register here. The Decatur Arts Alliance, Decatur Land Trust, and Georgia Center for the Book will host an opening reception for “Gimme Shelter: Redefining and Reimagining the Place We Call ‘Home’” on July 10 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Decatur Library. RuPaul’s Drag Race winner brings Angeria’s Big Break to Out Front Theatre on July 12 at 8 p.m. The one-woman show finds Angeria auditioning to host her own talk show – improvising the whole bit in front of a mystery TV executive. Social Follow of the Week The nonprofit Savannah Pride Center is creating safe and affirming spaces, as well as providing connections to quality healthcare for the LGBTQIA+ community. The post 🏳️🌈 Support LGBTQ+ journalism appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.
