Our most-read articles of the week


Queer sci-fi convention returns to Atlanta this weekend

OutlantaCon

Outlantacon, Atlanta’s queer sci-fi and fantasy convention, returns to Atlanta’s this weekend with three days of gay geeky events.

The con, held at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center, officially kicks off Friday afternoon.

Edward DeGruy, an organizer with Outlantacon, said today that attendees have been waiting all week for the con to kick off.

Read more

Petition asks Ga. governor to honor day against ‘homophobia’

 

nathan deal

He’s done it again. For the second time in as many years, Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal has issued a proclamation requested by organizers of the International Day Against Homophobia — but only after sanitizing it into “Mistreatment Awareness Day” and removing any reference to LGBT rights.

“For the second year in a row, Governor Nathan Deal’s office has issued a proclamation per … request to recognize the annual Atlanta and Georgia-wide events. Herein lies the problem — the Governor’s office refuses to officially address a day against homophobia, instead issuing the vague recognition of ‘Mistreatment Awareness Day,’ as they did last year,” organizers of Georgia’s events complained in a Change.org petition today.

Read more

NBA’s Jason Collins becomes first out gay male athlete in U.S. pro sports

Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards comes out in the May 6 issue of Sports Illustrated, becoming the first gay athlete in major U.S. men’s professional sports to come out during his career.

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” Collins writes in the first-person essay, which is online now.

 “I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this,” he writes. “Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.”

Read more

Queer Up! Atlanta wants to keep Cheshire Bridge adult businesses, auto body shops safe

A new grassroots organization named Queer Up! Atlanta is rallying people to attend the Zoning Review Board meeting on May 9 where proposals about Cheshire Bridge Roadare expected to be discussed. The meeting is at 6 p.m. at Atlanta City Hall.

In a Facebook event invite for the meeting, the group states: “[W]e need to be loud and present to tell the board “NO!” This proposal would help rid Cheshire Bridge Rd. of it’s more sexual establishments – like [Inserection] and Bliss – while also relocating small businesses, majority owned by middle/low class people of color!”

Read more

Battle over Cheshire Bridge Road: Zoning proposal pits gay City Council member, critics

Bobby Hammill sits in his office in the new BJ Roosters on Cheshire Bridge Road. Opened just last month, the gay club is twice the size of its old location just down the street. His neighbors are Jungle and Heretic, two other popular gay clubs, and the Doll House, a strip club.

“I’ve lived in the area for 21 years and I understand what the complaints are about from the neighborhoods,” Hammill said. “But I personally feel what’s going on is unfair. It’s like they are prosecuting people who really aren’t doing anything wrong.”

Read more