David Magazine v10_i39 | Pride Ready by David Atlanta Magazine

V10-39 09-30-26

The Reigning Mx Joining Hearts

Making a Splash with Narizona

Lavender Lens: Lust for Life

Plus Photos & More

! g n i o G ne ! g n i Go ost Go Alm

ATLANTA TLANTA PRIDE OFFICIAL KICKOFF SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE QUEENS

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The content of DAVID Magazine is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed by any writer, advertiser, or other person appearing in DAVID Magazine are not necessarily those of this publication, its management or staff. The information and materials appearing in the magazine are not guaranteed or warranted as to accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered for a particular purpose. It shall be your responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through DAVID Magazine meets your specific requirements. DAVID Magazine is not responsible for claims made by advertisers, content of information, changes, events, and schedules. The magazine contains information and material which is owned by or licensed to DAVID Magazine, including but not limited to articles, advertisements, design, layout, graphics, and logos. No part or portion of DAVID Magazine may be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of the publisher. Unauthorized use of DAVID Magazine may give rise to claims for damages and or criminal offenses. Your use of the information or materials in DAVID Magazine is strictly at your own risk.

Let’s Fall Back in Love Mx Joining Hearts Welcomes Atlanta Pride By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photos: Just Toby

Being crowned Miss Joining Hearts 2026 meant accomplishing a goal I had worked incredibly hard for. It represented perseverance, determination, and the importance of never giving up on something you truly want. Seeing the hard work, I put into fundraising and preparing my pageant package pay off made the achievement even more meaningful. Being the first Latina to win the title also gave me an opportunity to open doors for more Latinx entertainers to participate and compete. With the title also came important responsibilities. I wanted to become more active and visible within my community, connect with more people, and help educate others about the purpose behind Joining Hearts and its events. These events are not simply parties they are opportunities to come together, raise funds, create awareness, and support people affected

Guests can expect an exciting night of great music, featuring our headline DJ Atabey creating the perfect atmosphere to dance and enjoy the night. This event is an opportunity for us to come together with friends and members of our community, meet new people, and enjoy a welcoming environment where everyone can be themselves judgement-free. Joining Hearts began as a group of friends helping a loved one with HIV/ AIDS remain in their home. How does that history shape the organization’s work – and your role within it – today? The history and legacy of Joining Hearts continue to shape the important work the organization does today. Through community support and fundraising Joining Hearts continues to provide assistance to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Also, a role that I have is that I’m also brining more awareness to what the organization does to a whole new community where they didn’t

HIV stigma is still very prevalent, and I would say the stereotype of those living with HIV looking/appearing sickly. However, with proper treatment you can be very healthy and undetectable yet this is a double-sided sword because just as much as those living with it are healthy and appear healthy, many people still don’t get tested and don’t know their status and there are people who have unprotected sex with others because they appear healthy and don’t think they have HIV, and little do they know that they are untested and positive. So, they aren’t treating themselves and risk infection other people with this disease. Queer nightlife has always been about more than a great party. What makes events like Fall Back in Love such powerful vehicles for visibility, connection, and fundraising? What makes it such a powerful event is that the mission is never missed – it is supporting and fundraising, supporting those that need it, and coming together as a community. As Atlanta prepares to celebrate Pride, what message do you hope to share with the LGBTQ+ community and what are you most excited to celebrate this year? ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥

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Fall Back in Love kicks off Atlanta Pride on October 3 at The Heretic. What can guests expect – and why is this a party they won’t want to miss?

HIV prevention and treatment have come a long way, but stigma hasn’t disappeared. Where do you believe our community still has the most work to do?

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What did being crowned Mx Joining Hearts mean to you personally, and what responsibility comes with the title?

know what they or what the organization was.

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For nearly four decades, Joining Hearts has turned celebration into action, raising vital funds for HIV/AIDS housing, care, and prevention across Atlanta. Ahead of Fall Back in Love, the organization’s official Atlanta Pride kick-off on Saturday, October 3, at Heretic Atlanta, we caught up with the reigning Mx Joining Hearts to talk about the event, the meaning behind the crown, and the advocacy that keeps our community moving forward.

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This Atlanta pride you can catch at the “La drag Latin pride festival” on Friday, and I’ll be supporting all my friends at the park for starlight Cabaret and Shooting Starts. For any other events, you can catch me on my Instagram @osc_cgy or on Facebook at Rebbeca Young.

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And ﬁnally, where can we catch you this Pride in Atlanta? And please drop your socials so we can follow along here to.

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♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

A message I want to share with my LGBTQ+ community is let’s keep building each other up, supporting our queer artists and places, supporting each other – not just during pride month, but all year long. Also I can’t forget: Protect the dolls!

Making a Splash with Narizona Born from a love of the water, fashion, and a desire to bring a little more personality to men’s swimwear, Narizona isn’t interested in blending in. The Atlanta-born brand pairs bold, body-confident designs with Colombian inspiration and a distinctly queer sense of self-expression. We caught up with Narizona’s founder Daniel Lopez to talk about creating the brand alongside his fashion-designer mom, finding inspiration from the Caribbean to South America, and why sometimes the best thing you can wear to the pool is a little confidence. Every great brand starts with that “Why hasn’t someone made this yet?” moment. What was yours? Narizona really grew out of years of creating things sidebyside with my mom – she’s a fashion designer, so we’ve tried everything: shirts, tees, little girls’ dresses, jackets… you name it. But the spark for Narizona came from my time around the water.

I was swimming with the Georgia Tech team, then playing water polo, and eventually working as a lifeguard at competitive pools here in Atlanta. Being in that world every day made me realize men’s swimwear had so much room to be more fun, more expressive, and honestly just more us. Bonus: Narizona as a word comes from a Colombia slang for the brief style for swimsuits, so the intention

was to bring some Colombia to the world. Narizona definitely isn’t shy about showing a little skin. How did the aesthetic evolve? It absolutely evolved over time. At first, I just needed swimwear for my practices and competitions. Then I started traveling around the

Caribbean, seeing people from all over South America rocking bold styles at the beach, and it opened my eyes. And as part of the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve always felt the joy of playing with different looks. Thankfully, my mom was right there cheering me on and helping bring those ideas to life. Today we even have a crochet

you feel comfortable and supported. That’s what Narizona is all about. What’s the big dream for Narizona? Oh, I dream big! I already see Narizona becoming part of people’s everyday lives — especially within our LGBTQ+ community. In the medium term, my dream is to be part of Miami Swim Fashion Week. And in the short term, I’d love to show at Colombiamoda, one of the biggest fashion events in South America. Step by step, but always moving forward. Enough teasing — where can people get their hands on Narizona? You can shop everything on our website: www.narizona.shop. As for choosing your first piece, here’s what I always tell new customers: everyone ends up picking one of each style because they’re all so different and work for different moments. A thong has become a musthave these days, and I’d also recommend one of our crochet pieces for more polished or dressy pool parties.

swimwear line, something I never imagined at the beginning – but that’s the magic of creativity. Style grows with you. And honestly, we all want to feel good about ourselves, and fashion If you’re ready to turn heads – without has always helped us do that. causing a full pool evacuation – start with something that makes you smile. Designing something that looks That’s always the right choice. great in a photo is one thing – making something guys actually want to wear is another. What makes a Narizona piece special? The biggest difference is that we’re handson creators. We make everything ourselves, so we can adjust quickly based on what our customers tell us. What I’ve learned – and what gives me so much confidence – is that Narizona swimwear really fits well and makes you look good. People feel it the moment they put it on. A lot of us underestimate our own beauty. We think we can’t pull off certain styles, but the truth is: confidence is what makes you attractive. We’ve all seen people of every body type showing their best selves — and that only happens when

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Dining

BARS 2 Blake's 3 Bulldogs 4 Friends

227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

6 My Sister’s Room66 12th St NE 7 X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave NE

9 Casa Almanera 991 Piedmont Ave NE 10 Campagnolo 980 Piedmont Ave NE 16 G’s Midtown 219 10th St NE 17 Henry’s 132 10th St NE 19 La Hacienda 900 Monroe Dr NE

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20 BJ Roosters

2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd

22 Tripps

1931 Piedmont Cir NE

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24 Las Margaritas Closed Temporarily

Retail

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd

30 Gravitee Fitness

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

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32 Atlanta Eagle 33 Felix's

1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

35 Mixx 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 36 Oscar's 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Mary's 1287 Glenwood Ave SE Sister Louisa’s Church 466 Edgewood Ave SE Lips Atlanta 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE The T Woof's 494 Plasters Ave NE

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39 Boy Next Door 40 Barking Leather

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41 Equilibrium Fitness 1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L

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A snapshot of Gay Atlanta’s favorite destinations. View their ads in DAVID & visit their websites for weekly event listings.

SNAPS BARS & CLUBS MIDTOWN BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl. com 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE X MIDTOWN xmidtown.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE CHESHIRE HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE WESTSIDE MARQUETTE 868 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW 840ATL 840 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd

BOGGS SOCIAL & SUPPLY 1310 White St. SW Atlanta, GA 30310 boggssocial.com ANSLEY ATLANTA EAGLE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE MIXX mixxatlanta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave NE OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE WOOFS woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE TRIPPS fb: tripps-bar 1931 Piedmont Cir NE

EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK, EDGEWOOD, & DECATUR MARY’S marysatlanta.com 1287 Glenwood Ave SE LORE ATLANTA loreatl.com 466 Edgewood Ave loreatl.com CHOO CHOO’S 3711 N. Decatur 770-374-4343

DINING MIDTOWN CASA ALMENARA 991 Piedmont Ave NE casa-almenara.com LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com 900 Monroe Dr NE TUK TUK THAI FOOD LOFT TUKTUKATL.COM 1745 Peachtree Rd NW DEKALB LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com 3011 Buford Hwy NE

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SPAS/BATHS ADULT FLEX SPA flexspas.com 76 4th St NW

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BARKING LEATHER barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

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The Lavender Lens

The People Who Keep the Gay Village Alive By Tristan Lane for The Lavender Lens There is no such thing as the gay community. city where you know nobody is real. Walking into a There. I said it. There are, however, approximately room full of strangers wondering whether anyone 427 gay communities, and on any given Saturday will speak to you is very real. A social group that in Atlanta most of them appear to be having an gives someone their first invitation can eventually event. give them their closest friends. That friendship might lead them to volunteer. Volunteering might them to join a board. A board might introduce There are the pool-party gays and the after- lead to another organization. And suddenly hours gays. The leather gays and the twink gays. them someone arrived in Atlanta knowing three The gym gays who regard leg day as a religious people haswho become part of the machinery that observance and the brunch gays who regard a keeps the city moving. mimosa much the same way.

how communities are built. Not through There are the piano-bar gays, the opera gays, That’s statements. Through invitations. Of the theatre gays and the singing gays. The sports mission course, our various gay tribes don’t always gays. The hiking gays. The dinner-party gays. The understand one another. The opera gays may cocktail gays. The Pride gays. The political gays. raise an eyebrow the after-hours gays. The The nonprofit-board gays. The fundraising gays. leather gays may atfind the country-club gays The neighborhood-association gays. terribly restrained. The pool-party gays may wonder why anyone would voluntarily spend morning in a committee meeting. And There are even gays who willingly attend meetings Saturday committee gays may secretly wish they had involving agendas and minutes. God bless them. the And Atlanta needs every single one. Because been invited to the pool party. what we casually call “gay Atlanta” isn’t one community at all. It is a magnificent patchwork of But perhaps that’s precisely the point. A tapestry tribes, organizations, friendships and institutions, isn’t made from one thread. The leather bar each weaving another piece into the fabric of matters. The piano bar matters. The pool party the city. Some pieces are glamorous. Some are matters. The social club matters. The theatre charitable. Some are political. And some are matters. The neighborhood meeting matters. The wearing a Speedo and carrying a vodka soda. fundraiser matters. The drag show matters. The They all count. gay-owned business matters. The person who writes the check matters. And so does the person For generations, LGBTQ people have understood who simply shows up. something that perhaps the rest of society is only beginning to rediscover: community doesn’t Because every one of them creates another simply happen. Someone has to create it. place where someone can walk through a door and think: Ah. There you are. There will always debates about whether gay neighborhoods Someone organizes the dinner. Someone books be disappearing, whether apps have replaced the venue. Someone starts the social group. are bars, whether younger generations need LGBTQ Someone joins the board. Someone raises the spaces quite the same way we once did. money. Someone volunteers at Pride. Someone Perhaps inwe’re the wrong question. The sits through the Midtown neighborhood meeting. gay village wasasking never merely a collection of Someone persuades a business to sponsor buildings. an event. Someone welcomes the nervous newcomer standing alone at his first gathering. And someone inevitably creates the group chat. It was people. People who created places to gather when there weren’t any. People who organizations when nobody represented That last person deserves hazard pay. Atlanta formed People who raised money when nobody is particularly good at this. Our gay community us. funded us. People who threw parties because doesn’t exist only behind the doors of gay bars. sometimes itself was an act of defiance. And It sits on nonprofit boards, arts organizations and people whojoy kept showing up. civic committees. It supports the opera and the theatre. It raises money for LGBTQ youth, HIV organizations and countless other causes. It Atlanta’s gay village isn’t disappearing. It’s organizes social clubs, sporting groups, hiking evolving. You can find it at the opera on Friday, groups and cultural gatherings. And increasingly, a fundraiser on Saturday, brunch on Sunday gay Atlantans aren’t simply participating in and depending upon which particular tribe you LGBTQ organizations. We are participating belong to somewhere at 3 a.m. Monday morning in Atlanta itself. That matters. where absolutely nobody is discussing nonprofit governance. And thank goodness for all of them. When LGBTQ people serve on neighborhood boards, civic organizations and cultural Because individually we may be leather gays, institutions, we aren’t asking the city to make opera gays, pool-party gays, board gays, space for us. We are helping shape the city. twinks, bears, Midtown provides perhaps the clearest example. singers, hikers, For decades it has been one of the beating hearts a c t i v i s t s , of gay Atlanta. But keeping a neighborhood socialites or welcoming doesn’t happen because somebody something new once planted a rainbow ﬂag there. It happens ! because people remain involved. They show up. together? They support businesses. They join committees. But are the They attend meetings. They challenge decisions. We people who They organize. They volunteer. They invest their keep time, money and energy into the place they call village alive.the . home. Community is a verb. And then there are the social groups. Perhaps their contribution is easier to underestimate because they don’t always look like traditional civic institutions. But bringing people together is serious business. Loneliness is real. Isolation is real. Moving to a

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We all have those moments of ‘wait, did they just say that?’ Lucky for you, we compile the best of the best right here on this page. Want to join in on the b*tch session? Submit your own nuggets to info@davidatlanta.com.

Sor r y I ’m late. I was t r ying to open one of those plastic bags in the produce section. What do I mean? Probably what I just f*cking said!

Every stairway is potentially a stairway to heaven if you are clumsy. Missionary is basically a guy twerking on top of you.

I just rolled my eyes so hard, I checked out my own ass! I’m like the opposite of AI: It took me an hour to write one email, and I haven’t had any water today. Don’t feel like crushing it today. Maybe I’ll just lightly crinkle it instead. Currently four housewives franchises airing, plus girls’ trip. I feel safe and held.