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Bedlam Party

Sponsors withdraw support from ‘Bedlam Presents’ party over ‘Indian’ theme

The popular Atlanta costume-themed party “Bedlam Presents” stepped into hot water again this month when it attempted to host a “Pocahotass” party on Saturday that numerous people found offensive and took to social networking to get sponsors pulled.

The party, to be held at the Mood Lounge and named “Pocahotass,” enraged several people who posted comments to the Facebook page of the party’s invite on Tuesday and Wednesday. That page, however, has been deleted, but not before dozens of posts were made by those who opposed the party, stating the party was exploiting an oppressed people. Bedlam Presents supporters argued back that, essentially, the party was not offensive and telling those who did not like the theme to not attend.

The party, founded and hosted by Barry Brandon, who is openly gay, invited people to dress up as “Indians and pilgrims.” Those opposing the party said the name of the party was offensive and to dress up as people from an oppressed culture was “racist.” The poster (above) for the party, also, was deemed insensitive by those opposing the party.

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Atlanta City Councilmember hosts forum on Midtown public safety

Atlanta City Councilmember Alex Wan (District 6) will host a public safety forum on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the YMCA on North Highland Avenue to discuss recent criminal activity in and around Midtown.

The meeting follows an armed robbery and police shootout on Oct. 26 in the heart of the Midtown residential neighborhood. The robbery occurred near the intersection of 8th and Myrtle streets.

Joining Wan, the only openly gay council member, will be Atlanta Police Department Zone 6 Commander Major John Dalton and Zone 2 Commander Major Robert Browning.

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Emergency shelter sought for homeless LGBT teens

LGBT activists discuss youth homelessness at Rush Center

There are no hard numbers indicating how many homeless LGBT youth are sleeping on the streets of Atlanta, but something needs to be done immediately to provide 24-hour emergency shelter, according to a group of local activists.

At a town hall forum at the Phillip Rush Center on Nov. 2, Rick Westbrook, a member of the local chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, announced the Sisters have set up a 24-hour hotline for LGBT youth to call when they are seeking shelter.

A “Saint Lost and Found” fund has also been set up by the Sisters to raise funds to pay for rooms at a hotel where teens can get off the streets.

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