Georgia Voice - March 2026 by Rough Draft Atlanta: Atlanta Intown, Georgia Voice, Rough Draft in Print

EDITOR’S NOTE

Doomscrolling and nostalgia are a terrible combination

On the Saturday before we went to press, the world awoke to news that Donald Trump had plunged us into a war of choice with Iran.

There was the usual “Iran is only months, weeks, days, minutes” from having a nuclear weapon excuse trotted out by both the U.S. and Israel –the same claim they’ve been making for decades. Remember when we bombed Iran last year and “obliterated” their nuclear capabilities?

In February, the news cycle brought nothing but gloom: the draconian Kansas bill stripping trans people of their IDs, librarians in Georgia potentially facing criminal charges for distributing “harmful materials” (i.e. LGBTQ+ books), and the death of ally Rev. Jesse Jackson.

I’ve caught myself doomscrolling through social media, looking for a distraction from the bleak news cycle. Over the last year, there’s a meme that has spread like wildfire that asks something along the lines of: “You wake

Editorial

Collin Kelley

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up and it’s 1986 again; what’s the first thing you’re doing?”

The clips are accompanied by this emotional button-pushing piece of instrumental electronic music that sounds wistful, sad, and is designed to plunge you right into nostalgia land.

Since these posts are obviously aimed at GenX’ers like me, I admit I fell for it and spent way too much time reading the thousands of comments of people my age who are desperate to return to a time before cell phones and personal computers, when “things were just better,” and they were in the prime of their youth.

Maybe because I got my start young as a journalist in the 1980s, and I’m jaded, but the rose-colored glasses meets selective memory of my generation is truly mystifying to me.

My memories of the 80s include great music, John Hughes’ movies, and Members Only jackets, but we were also on the brink of nuclear war (some things never change), there was a crushing recession in the early part of the decade, the devastating AIDS crisis, Reganomics, the Iran-Contra Affair, and on and on.

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All this to say, I’m really not a nostalgia kinda of guy. However… Last month, I had the opportunity to Zoom with Lindsay Wagner, who played Jamie Sommers in “The Bionic Woman,” which is marking its 50th anniversary (gulp!) this year. It’s still my favorite TV show of all time. Lindsay was incredibly nice and even had some words of comfort when I got a little verklempt. Hey, you don’t get to meet your childhood idols that often, so I’m allowed.

And, I will admit I’m nearly giddy at the prospect of seeing The Human League, Soft Cell and Alison Moyet at The Fox Theatre this summer because that line-up is the stuff 80s dreams are made of.

But I absolutely refuse to get on the nostalgia train because every trip you take makes the present seem even more unsatisfying. Don’t get me wrong, our current timeline is often a hellscape that I would like to completely disassociate from, but I refuse to lose myself in a past that some have idealized as some “golden age.” Because, friends, it was no such thing.

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Georgia Equality endorses pro-LGBTQ+ candidates in special elections

By Katie Burkholder

LGBTQ+ advocacy organization

Georgia Equality has announced its endorsements in the March 10 special elections for Senate District 53 and House Districts 94 and 130.

For Senate District 53, which includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and Floyd counties in northwest Georgia, the organization has endorsed Jack Zibluk. He is running to prioritize coordination of regional economic development, local control of state roads to improve public safety, and greater access to and support for mental health facilities.

“I support the rights of all Georgians equally, and I would act to make special protections for LGBTQ+ citizens, particularly protection against hate crimes,” he told Georgia Equality. “I would also support and sponsor legislation to protect free expression, such as pride demonstrations, drag shows, etc.”

For House District 94, which includes DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, Georgia Equality has endorsed Audrey Taylor Lux, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, running to prioritize affordability, civil rights, and transportation.

“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I know what harm discriminatory state legislation can cause, and I will work tirelessly to overturn bad legislation and replace it with protective civil rights measures,” she said.

For House District 130, which includes Richmond County in East Georgia, the organization has endorsed LaFawn Pinkney-Mealing, who is running on a platform of education, affordable housing, better paying jobs, and justice reform.

“The biggest challenges facing our district are housing stability, access to strong education and workforce opportunities, and making sure government decisions reflect real life,” she said. “Too many families are one crisis

Trans candidates Aaron Baker and Robin McCoy run for Georgia General Assembly

By Katie Burkholder

Baker,

on Feb. 22

for a community discussion about affordable housing, public transportation, trans issues, and immigration.

“I think it’s really important to engage the LGBTQ+ community as a whole for events like this,” McCoy told Georgia Voice, “especially considering the fact that our representation, when we win, would be representation for the whole state, not just for our districts.”

Baker and McCoy’s districts represent neighboring parts of Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Lawrenceville. Both

away from losing housing or falling behind financially, and schools are being asked to carry more and more responsibility. Marginalized folks are impacted the most concerning these challenges.”

candidates are running in primary elections this May against incumbents who they say have not been engaging with their constituents.

“The Republicans have had a trifecta for over 20 years – State House, State Senate, and Governor,” Baker said. “… It’s why we have a six-week abortion ban. It’s why our voting rights are under attack. It’s why our local law enforcement is forced to work with ICE. They have done so much damage over the last 20 years, and we actually have a show for fixing it this year. This primary is so important.”

Baker and McCoy told Georgia Voice that they’re running on similar platforms of prioritizing affordable housing, public transportation, and LGBTQ+ rights. Both candidates will be on primary ballots this spring; early voting begins on April 27, before Election Day on May 19. Until then, Baker and McCoy are fundraising and seeking canvassing volunteers. To learn more, visit aaron4ga. com and robin4ga.com.

Aaron Baker and Robin McCoy are both running to be the first transgender elected officials to the Georgia General Assembly.

who is running for State House District 51, and McCoy, who’s running for State Senate District 5, met with voters at Lavender Bookshop

Georgia Equality has endorsed (from left) LaFawn Pinkney-Mealing, Audrey Taylor Lux, and Jack Zibluk. (Via respective campaigns)

Aaron Baker, left, and Robin McCoy are both running to be the first transgender elected officials to the Georgia General Assembly. (Photo by Katie Burkholder)

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Fired DeKalb officer disputes accusations in Tucker library incident

By Stephanie Toone

A part-time officer, who was terminated in December after being accused of misgendering and accosting Sasha Swinson, a transwoman at TuckerReid H. Cofer Library in October, disputed the facts surrounding the incident, an internal investigation report revealed.

After police concluded their investigation, the officer, Glen Weaver, 70, was terminated, according to DeKalb County Police Department officials.

While Weaver was fired in late December, department officials did not confirm his termination with Rough Draft until early February.

An internal investigation report, obtained by Swinson and shared with Georgia Voice, highlighted four areas of possible misconduct: professional image, body-worn camera, off-duty employment, and duty to read/understand/comply with orders.

The written report recounted interviews with Swinson, library officials, and Weaver, as well as examining written department policies and DeKalb County policies.

It concluded that Weaver failed to “work diligently or with a bearing consistent with the image of a professional employee.” It also noted that Weaver had failed to utilize his bodyworn camera as dictated by policy, and “to read, understand, comply or maintain a working knowledge of all laws, rules and regulations, general and special orders, policies and procedures of the Department.”

It also reported that Weaver had worked for 19 days at the library before going through the proper approval channels for part-time work. In fact, the investigation noted that Weaver only submitted the employment request the day after the Oct. 20 library incident.

Conflicting accounts

In the report, Weaver said he approached Swinson about entering a women’s bathroom at the library after a woman and her children complained about a man in the bathroom.

The report revealed that Weaver admitted questioning Swinson about utilizing the family restroom versus the women’s restroom, but he disputed the approach and language Swinson said he used.

Victor Reed, a Tucker library security officer, made a statement that he observed two women leaving the women’s restroom, after Swinson’s entry, who appeared to be disturbed. When he asked the second woman if she was okay, Reed said she replied: “How is it that you can allow a man to use the women’s restroom?” Mr. Reed said he replied, “Unfortunately, the library system does not have a policy that

dictates who can go into which restroom.”

After this exchange, Weaver interjected, asking about the policy, but Reed contended, according to the narrative, that he did not ask for Weaver’s help with the issue and confirmed there was no policy against Swinson utilizing the restroom of her choice.

Reed said the woman who had complained to him “dashed” out of the door after he explained the policy. He described the library patron as upset.

Reed also said he observed Weaver approaching and conversing with Swinson briefly after the woman who had complained left the library.

“Mr. Reed did not hear the conversation but noticed Officer Weaver talking to Ms. Swinson in a soft tone. Mr. Reed also described Officer Weaver as being polite to Ms. Swinson,” according to the report.

Weaver also told police he spoke to Swinson in a “very polite” voice.

“Sir, in the future, can you use the men’s restroom,” Weaver told Swinson, according to his internal investigation statement. “There are little girls and women in the women’s restroom, and that can create a problem and could be offensive. There is a men’s restroom right across the lobby.”

Swinson, however, contended in the report that she was “shocked, disappointed, and offended to be humiliated by a member of the DeKalb County Police Department,” but didn’t want Weaver to be fired or disciplined for his actions.

Policy violations revealed during investigation

With those violations of policies confirmed, DeKalb County officials said the decision to fire Weaver was standard procedure for employees of the department’s RETRO program, a program for retired, reserve officers. Weaver was terminated on Dec. 19.

“The Department’s policy is clear as it

relates to the RETRO program: any misconduct that warrants disciplinary action is grounds for removal from the RETRO program,” Blaine Clark, DKPD public information officer, said. “Reserve and retired officers are not full-time paid employees… The DeKalb County Police Department remains committed to professionalism, lawful conduct, and respectful treatment of all members of the public.”

Georgia Voice reached out to Weaver for comment regarding his firing and disputed account, but was unsuccessful. Both he and Swinson were interviewed for a story published by independent news outlet Center Square.

Weaver, in the story, said being fired from the department has affected his ability to work security for film and television.

“It hurts,” Weaver told Center Square. “Those movie jobs were paying 70 bucks an hour, and I was doing traffic.”

Transparency issues

Swinson, who lives in Brookhaven, said she did not realize Weaver had been fired until reading the Center Square story, which she felt reflected a lack of

transparency from the police department. The interview with Center Square was conflicting for Swinson, who said the language and comments in the story didn’t reflect the “teachable moment” DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson spoke about after the incident.

“He still seems to genuinely believe that he is blameless,” Swinson told Rough Draft. “Lorraine Cochran-Johnson hoped this would be a teachable moment, but former Officer Weaver seems to have learned nothing.”

Swinson said she is also disappointed with the police department’s lack of transparency about Weaver’s termination. The internal report she received did not indicate that he was no longer with the department.

“DeKalb Police seem to have been much more forthcoming with Center Square than with Rough Draft or [other media outlets],” Swinson said. “I would love to know why that was the case.”

Georgia Voice requested Weaver’s internal investigation report in December via an open records request, but was denied because the records were “exempt from disclosure under Public Records Act.”

It wasn’t until a Georgia Voice reporter revealed in February that she had independently obtained the internal investigation report that officials confirmed Weaver’s firing.

Could Atlanta host the 2034 Gay Games?

By Collin Kelley

The recently concluded Milan Cortina Winter Olympics featured a recordbreaking number of openly LGBTQ+ athletes, with over 45 participants from 14 countries who took home 11 medals, including five gold.

This summer, queer athletes from around the world will converge in Valencia, Spain for the annual Gay Games. Just like the Olympics, the games are held every four years, and Atlanta could be in the running for the 2034 event.

Atlanta resident and activist Tom Dibble Dempsey said he and a small group are gearing up to start planning for an Atlanta bid. A request for proposals will be issued for Gay Games XIII in early 2027, and he plans to be ready.

Dempsey attended the 1998 games in Amsterdam and immediately wanted to bring the event to Atlanta. An unsuccessful bid was mounted in 2006, with the games eventually going to Chicago.

“Atlanta is primed and has so much

to offer,” Dempsey said. “We’re even more attractive now than after the 1996 Olympics, because we have even more infrastructure.”

He said Atlanta’s successful hosting of multiple Super Bowls and the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches should make the city a frontrunner for 2034.

Dempsey said the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Atlanta Sports Council will need to lead the bid, but wants to put together a diverse group of volunteers and sports organizations to lay the groundwork and raise initial funding for the campaign.

“We are also looking to host the annual Gay Games General Assembly in Atlanta in the next few years,” Dempsey said. “It is the annual meeting of the Federation of Gay Games, and Atlanta would be a great host.”

If you or your organization is interested, email atlantabid2034@teamatlanta.org. More information is available on the Team Atlanta Facebook page at facebook.com/teamatlantaga.

Sasha Swinson

Two very different views of the State of the Union

By Joe Reberkenny | Washington Post

As President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address inside the U.S. Capitol — touting his achievements and targeting political enemies — progressive members of Congress gathered just outside in protest.

Their message was blunt: For many Americans, particularly LGBTQ people, the country is not better off.

This year, Trump delivered the longest State of the Union in U.S. history, clocking in at one hour and 48 minutes. He spoke about immigration, his “law and order” domestic agenda, his “peace through strength” foreign policy doctrine, and what he framed as the left’s ‘culture wars’ — especially those involving transgender youth and Christian values.

But one year into what he has called the “Trump 2.0” era, the picture painted outside the Capitol stood in stark contrast to the one described inside.

Transgender youth

In one of the most pointed moments of his speech, Trump spotlighted Sage Blair, using her story to portray genderaffirming care as coercive and dangerous. Framing the issue as one of parental rights and government overreach, he told lawmakers and viewers: “In the gallery tonight are Sage Blair and her mother, Michelle. In 2021, Sage was 14 when school officials in Virginia sought to socially transition her to a new gender, treating her as a boy and hiding it from her parents. Hard to believe, isn’t it? Before long, a confused Sage ran away from home.

“After she was found in a horrific situation in Maryland, a left-wing judge refused to return Sage to her parents because they did not immediately state that their daughter was their son. Sage was thrown into an all-boys state home and suffered terribly for a long time. But today, all of that is behind them because Sage is a proud and wonderful young woman with a full-ride scholarship to Liberty University.”

The story, presented as an encapsulation of a national crisis, became the foundation for Trump’s renewed call to ban gender-affirming care. LGBTQ advocates — and those familiar with Blair’s story — argue that the situation was far more complex than described and that using a single anecdote to justify sweeping federal restrictions places transgender people, particularly youth, at greater risk.

Equality Virginia said the president’s remarks were part of a broader effort to strip transgender Americans of access to care. In a statement to the Blade, the group said:

“Rather than allowing families and doctors to navigate deeply personal

medical decisions free from federal interference — or allowing schools to respond with nuance and compassion without putting marginalized children at risk — the president is instead advocating for reckless, one-size-fits-all political control.”

For many in the LGBTQ community, the rhetoric inside the chamber echoed actions already taken by the administration.

Queer leadership

Outside the Capitol, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, took the stage and transformed the freezing crowd’s anger into resolve.

She urged LGBTQ Americans — especially young people — not to lose hope despite the administration’s escalating rhetoric.

“There are hundreds of thousands of people who are standing up for you every single day that will not relent and will not give an inch until every member of our community is protected, especially our kids, especially our trans and queer kids.”

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Coming April 2026 New Year, New MARTA

A new fare payment system with tap to pay and modern equipment to make your ride easier.

A better Breeze fare payment system launches March 28! New fare equipment and tap to pay features mean a safer, faster, and more flexible way to ride MARTA. Spend down your current Breeze balance by May 2. Balances do not carry over.

Your bus route changes on April 18!

A smarter, faster, better bus network is coming to you around the region. More consistent bus service, more often, providing more access. Learn how the NextGen Bus Network works for you by visiting www.itsmarta.com/nextgen or by scanning the QR code below.

A smarter, faster, better system of bus routes to get you around the region.

Two job openings at proposed LGBTQ+ Community Center

By Katie Burkholder

The Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA) opened applications for two positions at the proposed Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center.

AFCRA is hiring a Director of Strategic Partnerships to develop and lead the fundraising campaign for the community center. This senior leader will be responsible for designing and executing the initiative’s capital campaign and building long-term philanthropic partnerships. The salary for the job is $105,000 per year.

The organization is also hiring a summer fellow, a project-based fellowship for an undergraduate or graduate student to gain experience in site selection strategy, early design coordination, capital campaign planning, and second-phase community needs assessment efforts. The fellow will earn $25 to $35 an hour based on experience. Since the creation of the center has yet to receive approval from the City of Atlanta or AFCRA, Georgia Voice first reached out to the City about

where funding will come from for the positions. Michael Smith, the City’s Press Secretary, was unable to comment because the roles are not City positions. AFCRA did not respond to multiple inquiries about funding.

AFCRA, a public authority created by the Georgia General Assembly to steward and activate public venues across Atlanta and Fulton County, would operate the LGBTQ+ center on the city’s behalf.

Malik Brown, the community center’s project director, told Georgia Voice that the team is “still waiting for the Mayor’s Office to get back to us with an official greenlight to move from feasibility to implementation, following our December presentation.”

The LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study team presented the findings of the year-long study and Community Input Survey, which showed “overwhelming support” for the project.

Application deadlines for the Director of Strategic Partnerships and summer fellow were Mar. 1 and 8, respectively.

Pride flag raised at Stonewall after National Park Service took it down

Joe Reberkenny | Washington Blade

A Pride flag was raised at the site of the Stonewall National Monument days after a National Park Service directive banned flying the flag at the birthplace of the LGBTQ rights movement in the U.S.

The Feb. 12 flag-raising was led by Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and supported by other elected officials.

“The community should rejoice. We have prevailed,” Hoylman-Sigal said shortly after the flag was hoisted. “Our flag represents dignity and human rights.”

The flag now sits in Christopher Street Park, feet away from the Stonewall Inn, where in 1969 a police raid of the gay bar sparked outrage and led to a rising of LGBTQ people pushing back on NYPD brutality and unjust treatment.

of resilience the LGBTQ community is known for: “The history and the legacy of Stonewall must live on. Our community cannot simply be erased with the removal of a flag. We will continue to stand up and fight to ensure that LGBTQ+ history should not only be protected — it should be celebrated as a milestone in American resilience and progress.”

When asked about the directive, the NPS responded with this statement:

“Current Department of the Interior

Elected officials brought a new flagpole with them, using plastic zip ties to attach it to the existing pole.

In 2016, President Barack Obama declared the site a national monument.

One day before the planned re-raising of the Pride flag, the National Park Service installed only an American flag on the flagpole, which days prior had flown a rainbow flag bearing the NPS logo.

The directive removing the flag was put forward by Trump-appointed National Park Service Acting Director Jessica Bowron.

More than 20 LGBTQ organizations from across the country co-signed a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and General Services Administrator Ed Forst, demanding the flag be restored to the monument.

“It is our understanding that the policy provides limited exceptions for nonagency flags that provide historical context or play a role in historic reenactments. Simply put, we urge you to grant this flag an exception and raise it once again, immediately,” the letter read. “It also serves as an important reminder to the 30+ million LGBTQ+ Americans, who continue to face disproportionate threats to our lives and our liberty, that the sites and symbols that tell our stories are worth honoring … However, given recent removals of the site’s references to transgender and bisexual people — people who irrefutably played a pivotal role in this history — it is clear that this is not about the preservation of the historical record.”

The letter finished with a message

policy provides that the National Park Service may only fly the U.S. flag, Department of the Interior flags, and the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag on flagpoles and public display points. The policy allows limited exceptions, permitting non-agency flags when they serve an official purpose. These include historical context or reenactments, current military branch flags, flags of federally recognized tribal nations affiliated with a park, flags at sites co-managed with other federal, state, or municipal partners, flags required for international park designations, and flags displayed under agreements with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for Naturalization ceremonies.”

An Interior Department spokesperson called the move to return the flag to the monument a “political stunt.”

“Today’s political pageantry shows how utterly incompetent and misaligned the New York City officials are with the problems their city is facing,” a department spokesperson said when reached for comment.

The clash comes amid broader efforts by the Trump-Vance administration to minimize LGBTQ history and political power. The White House has spent much of President Donald Trump’s second presidency restricting transgender rights — stopping gender-affirming care for transgender youth, issuing an executive order stating the federal government will recognize only two sexes, male and female, and blocking Medicaid and Medicare from being used for gender-affirming care.

A Pride flag is raised at the Stonewall National Monument in New York after being taken down by the National Park Service. (Courtesy YouTube)

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News Roundup

Kansas

revokes

trans driver’s licenses

Transgender people across Kansas received letters in the mail on Feb. 25 demanding the immediate surrender of their driver’s licenses following the passage of one of the harshest transgender bathroom bans in the nation. The American Civil Liberties Union immediately filed a lawsuit to block the ban and protect transgender residents from what advocates describe as “sweeping” and “punitive” consequences.

Beyond identification issues, the legislation not only bans transgender people from using restrooms that match their gender identity in government buildings — including libraries, courthouses, state parks, hospitals, and interstate rest stops — with the possibility for criminal penalties, but also allows for what critics have described as a “bathroom bounty hunter” provision. The measure permits anyone who encounters a transgender person in a restroom – including potentially in private businesses – to sue them for large sums of money, dramatically expanding the scope of enforcement beyond government authorities.

Washington Blade

SCOTUS blocks effort to shield trans students

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked a California policy on March 2 that allowed teachers to withhold information about a student’s gender identity from their parents.

The policy had permitted California students to explore their gender identity at school without that information automatically being disclosed to their parents. Now, educators in the state will be required to inform parents about developments related to a student’s gender identity, depending on how the case proceeds in lower courts.

The case involves two sets of parents – identified in court filings as John and Jane Poe and John and Jane Doe – both of which say their daughters began identifying as boys at school without their knowledge, citing religious objections to gender transitioning.

— Washington Blade

Trans kids still welcome in Scouts

Scouting America pushed back on claims made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Feb. 27 that the organization would limit membership based solely on sex assigned at birth, insisting that transgender youth remain welcome in its programs.

“We have transgender people in our program, and we’ll have transgender people in our program going forward,” President and CEO Roger Krone told The Associated Press.

The statement contradicts Hegseth’s claims that the organization is rolling back participation rules amid the Trump administration’s dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across federal agencies.

— The Advocate

USA Rugby blocks trans players

The governing body of organized rugby in the U.S. announced on Feb. 27 that transgender women would be prohibited from playing in women’s competitions.

According to USA Rugby’s new eligibility policy, effective Feb. 20, women’s division rugby teams will be open to only players assigned female at birth. The policy change is in accordance with the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and Executive Order 14201, which the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee determined to be applicable to all National Governing Bodies.

The Atlanta Bucks, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ rugby club, shared a statement to social media, standing “firmly against this decision.”

— Georgia Voice

AID Atlanta gets housing grant

AID Atlanta, an affiliate organization of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has been awarded a Housing Stability Grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta (CFGA).

The funds will be used by the organization in support of housing and utilities assistance, provided under its Member Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides urgent support to people living with HIV in the greater Atlanta area. — Georgia Voice

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Trans actor Scott Turner Schofield discusses new film, visibility

By Collin Kelley

Telling queer stories has been the guiding force of trans actor Scott Turner Schofield’s life as an artist. When he first premiered his one-man show, ”Becoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps,” nearly two decades ago at 7 Stages Theatre, the visibility of transgender people was almost nonexistent.

Flashforward to 2026, and trans people are now part of a divisive culture war being waged by the Trump administration and right-wing conservatives. The arrival of the film version of “Becoming a Man…” comes at a pivotal and dangerous time to be a trans person in America.

“Just watching the film is a massive act of resistance,” Schofield said in a recent interview with Georgia Voice. “The political climate has made me double down on being trans and striving to live a full life, and telling diverse stories is so important right now.”

The film is currently streaming on Kinema, and there will be a special screening on March 15 at 3:30 p.m. at 7 Stages Theater following a performance of fellow queer artist Tim Miller’s new one-man show, “A Body in the O.”

Like the stage show, “Becoming a

Man…” is an autobiographical, funny, and candid exploration of Schofield’s own transition. The film blends footage of his live performances – where the audience calls out a number from 1 to 127 – and Schofield shares a story from his journey as a trans man– with vignettes and even animation.

The acclaim for “Becoming a Man…” and its quick jump to becoming Kinema’s most-streamed film is just another step on what Schofield calls his “20-year overnight success story.”

When Schofield left Atlanta for Los Angeles, he had no idea he would find global stardom on a soap opera. He was the first trans actor to earn a Daytime Emmy nomination for his role as Nick on the long-running “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

“I never expected that my acting career would lead to a soap opera, but the writers created a character in Nick that was very much like me,” Schofield said. “Being on the snow and the Emmy nomination was a real confirmation that I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.”

Since the soap, Schofield has appeared in numerous films and television shows - including “The Blacklist” and “Hacks” – and is currently shooting a film in

Vancouver. He’s also become a sought-after consultant for trans and queer representation in the industry, most notably as an advisor on HBO’s “Euphoria.”

“When I went to Hollywood, I thought about going ‘stealth’ and not revealing that I was trans,” Schofield recalled. But I realize I had to be out and be who I was for all of these opportunities to come my way.”

Schofield’s ascension and recognition were part of a wave of trans actors suddenly becoming household names, like Laverne Cox, Hunter Schafer, MJ Rodriguez, and Dylan Mulvaney.

The visibility was a double-edged sword. “We became the next monster in the culture wars,” Schofield said. “And when you call someone a monster, you dehumanize them because it makes it easier to discriminate and demonize us.”

Schofield said “showing up and existing” as a trans person is a different journey for everyone, but he hopes “Become a Man…” will have relevance to

Out On Film announces Spring Mini Fest lineup

By Katie Burkholder

Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ film festival, has announced the line-up for the fourth annual Spring Mini Fest.

From March 17-19, five LGBTQ+ films will come to Landmark Midtown Arts Cinema as part of Out On Film’s Queer All Year initiative. Tickets are available for each film, or attendees can purchase a festival pass to watch all five films for the price of four.

Out On Film 2026 Mini Fest Schedule

A Deeper Love: the Story of Miss Peppermint March 17, 7 p.m.

“A Deeper Love” is an award-winning documentary following nearly a decade in the life of Miss Peppermint, a Black trans artist and activist whose decision to come out publicly as trans marked a turning point for trans representation on stage and screen. The film traces her rise to fame from New York City nightlife to making history on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and Broadway, as she navigates transition, career, love life, and sisterhood, emerging as a powerful voice in the fight for trans

representation and justice. Made over years of rare access and unguarded footage, the documentary reveals Peppermint’s full humanity in all its grit and glamour. It’s a story of survival and resilience, queer joy, chosen family, and the radical power of being truly visible.

In Transit (Georgia Premiere) March 18, 6:30 p.m.

When a complacent young bartender living in small-town Maine agrees to model for an existentially floundering painter on an artist’s retreat, both women must confront their preconceptions of what makes a good life. Alex Sarrigeorgiou, “Heated Rivalry” star Francois Arnaud,

and the iconic Jennifer Ehle shine in this rich drama.

On the Sea (Southeastern Premiere) March 18, 8:15 p.m.

A profound and moving exploration of masculinity and desire in a remote yet savagely beautiful fishing community. On the Sea tells the story of Jack (Barry Ward), a mussel farmer in North Wales whose life appears stable— he has a family, a business, and a routine. But beneath the surface lies a yearning he cannot ignore. When he meets Daniel (Lorne MacFadyen), a drifter passing through town, Jack begins to confront the tension between tradition and desire. Writer-director Walsh crafts a heartfelt exploration of love, shame, guilt, and the courage it takes to live honestly. On The Sea is a beautiful, sensual and at times, tragic exploration of masculinity, place and desire.

those who are making their transition.

“I think the message in the film is only becoming more and more relevant,” he said. “And it’s not my story that’s super special – it’s one of many, many, many stories being told in 2026.”

Get tickets to “Becoming a Man…” at 7stages. org. Find out more about Tim Miller’s “Body in the O” by scanning the QR code.

Love Letters (Southeastern Premiere) March 19, 6:30 p.m.

Céline is awaiting the arrival of her first child. But she isn’t pregnant. In three months, it’s her wife, Nadia, who will give birth to their daughter. Under the gaze of her friends, her mother, and facing the law, she searches for her place and legitimacy.

Bookends (Southeastern Premiere) March 19, 8:30 p.m.

When Nate (Noam Ash) is forced to leave his fabulous city life behind and move in with his grandparents after a bad breakup with his boyfriend, he is determined to escape the confines of retirement community life and his meddlesome grandparents’ relentless attempts to ‘improve’ him. But when his Holocaust-surviving grandfather, Saul (F. Murray Abraham), shows signs of cognitive decline and his grandmother, Miriam (Caroline Aaron), refuses to acknowledge her husband’s early dementia, Nate finds himself torn between his desire to flee, family responsibilities, and an unexpected romance with his grandparents’ handsome doctor (Charlie Barnett). This funny and rich comedy drama was filmed in Columbus, GA. To learn more, visit outonfilm.org.

Scott Turner Schofield (Courtesy Kinema)

“A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint” (Courtesy Out On Film)

Breaking down queer films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival

By Jim Farmer

The lineup at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025 spoiled queer audiences. James Sweeney’s “Twinless,” Andrew Ahn’s witty re-imaging of “The Wedding Banquet,” Bill Condon’s take on “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Carmen Emmi’s “Plainclothes,” and Cristina Costantini’s “Sally” were just some of the offerings from a Hall of Fame LGBTQ+ year.

It’s a tough act to follow. In its last year in Park City before moving to Boulder, CO, in 2027, Sundance came nowhere close to last year’s queer catalog. But it had its fair share of quality LGBTQ+ films.

My favorite of what I saw was Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex.” It might not be as overtly gay as some of the director’s other works, but it’s a wicked good time. Olivia Wilde stars as contemporary artist Erika Tracy, who begins sleeping with her new assistant Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) – and she’s not particularly interested in vanilla play. Elliot’s ascent into the BDSM world is often very funny, although not as edgy or raunchy as some of Araki’s early films. The performances are top-notch, with Wilde making Erika a demanding, fascinating lead and Hoffman – the son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman –proving again that he is a dependable and versatile performer.

Araki, a longtime Sundance attendee, also presented a restored version of his beloved film “Mysterious Skin.”

“Tell Me Everything” might have been the biggest discovery of the festival.

Moshe Rosenthal’s dark and effective drama follows a young boy named Boaz (Yair Mazor) who discovers a secret about his father and then spends the rest of his life trying to understand its ramifications. The film begins in the 1980s as the HIV/ AIDS crisis was reaching its peak, and then moves forward through Boaz’s life.

“Barbara Forever,” from director Brydie O’Connor, is a fond remembrance of lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer and her career, including some amazing

archival footage. The documentary works well in showcasing Hammer’s personal and professional life. Hammer was a feminist and groundbreaking moviemaker who opened the doors for many filmmakers to follow.

Two well-liked female coming-ofage films were also on tap, with Molly Manners’ “Extra Geography” and Paloma Schneideman’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” Both had moments of charm and selfdiscovery, although “Big Girls Don’t Cry” is much darker and more successful – and more queer.

“Jaripeo” is director Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig’s intoxicating look at rodeo culture in the Mexican state of

Michoacán, complete with some absorbing subject interviews. Another offering was David Shadrack Smith’s “Public Access,” which has a dazzling mid-section about the experimental, public access LGBTQ+ series “The Emerald City” on Manhattan Cable Television.

My biggest disappointment of the festival was Louis Paxton’s “The Incomer,” which started off as one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a while, but eventually ran out of steam. In the film, Daniel (Domhnall Gleeson) arrives on assignment to a Scottish island to remove islanders Isla and Sandy (Gayle Rankin and Grant O’Rourke). “The Incomer” becomes something of a one-trick pony, despite pleasing performances and a queer storyline baked in.

Some buzzy titles that I didn’t see include Adrian Chiarella’s “Leviticus,” a queer horror movie picked up by Neon and set to debut this fall; “Give Me the Ball!,” Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff’s acclaimed documentary about tennis icon Billie Jean King; and Alexandria Stapleton’s “The Brittney Griner Story,” about the lesbian basketball star – now living in Atlanta and playing for Atlanta Dream –and her career, including her detainment in Russia. Look for it on ESPN soon this spring.

Since 1996

Cooper Hoffman and Olivia Wilde appear in “I Want Your Sex” by Gregg Araki. (Photo by Lacey Terrell)

March 12 - 28

Written by Ana Nogueira

by Justin Kalin

Directed

Best Bets

Out Front Theatre is presenting the Georgia Premiere of “Which Way to the Stage” March 12-28. Written by Ana Nogueira, the musical revolves around lifelong friends Jeff and Judy waiting outside the stage door of a Broadway musical, hoping to meet their idol. But their conversations they have while they wait will change the course of their decades-long friendship forever. Get tickets and information at outfronttheatre. com.

The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus will present Pub AGMC at Monday Night Garage on March 14 with multiple showtimes throughout the afternoon and evening. The immersive experience will feature rousing community songs, heartfelt ballads, and irresistible sing-alongs. Get tickets and details at voicesofnote.org.

The Barbie, Bratz & Baddies Party is March 12, 8 p.m. at My Sister’s Room in Midtown. This queer dance night celebrates creativity and music. The dress code is hot pink, sparkles, and platforms. Get more details at mysistersroom.com.

The legendary Dionne Warwick will be singing more than 60 years of hits at

Atlanta Symphony Hall on March 20 at 7:30 p.m. Get tickets via ticketmaster.com.

The Atlanta Women’s Chorus will present “We Shake, We Shine” on March 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church. The event celebrates the legacy of the women’s suffrage movement and the ongoing fight for justice and equality. Get tickets and more details at voicesofnote. org.

The annual Growing With Pride event, hosted by Atlanta Pride in partnership with Piedmont Park Conservancy, is on March 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will help plant over 60 trees in Piedmont Park. Get more details at atlantapride.org.

Atlanta queer nightclub Lore will hold a One Year Anniversary Party on March 28, starting at 10 p.m. Get tickets and details at loreatl.com.

Ebony Men & Admirers Weekend is March 27-29 at the Hideaway Campground in Collins, GA. The weekend-long celebration for Black queer men and allies will include performances, DJs, and social gatherings. Get more details at royshideaway.com.

The Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival on March 28-29 will feature free concerts by Soul Asylum, Shawn Mullins, Angie Aparo, The Head and The Heart, Max McNown, Penelope Road, Avery Anna, Nicotin Dolls, and Natasha Bedingfield. Visit brookhavenga. gov for more information.

“Which Way to the Stage” (Courtesy Out Front Theatre)

Dionne Warwick (Courtesy ASO)

Natasha Bedingfield (Courtesy Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival)

Gianna Horton-Sibble & Miguel Angel Montoya. Photo by Rachel Neville. Rings artwork by Monica Lind.

Infinite Realities sponsors Tucker Pride’s youth coloring book

By Stephanie Toone

Tucker Pride and Infinite Realities: Comics, Games & More are joining forces to add some color to the city’s youth LGBTQIA+ community.

Infinite Realities will serve as the anchor sponsor for Tucker Pride, Inc.’s upcoming community coloring and activity book, a youth-focused visibility initiative heralding diversity, creativity, and civic pride in Tucker.

The $1,500 sponsorship allows Tucker Pride to proceed with the production of the book, which will feature artwork submitted by Tucker’s own youth, positive LGBTQIA+ imagery, local landmarks, city parks, interactive puzzles, and reflection activities designed to emphasize belonging, kindness, and community connection, David Perez, co-founder and president of Tucker Pride told Georgia Voice.

honors the diversity of our community while also celebrating Tucker itself — its parks, its families, and the values that bring us together. We are incredibly grateful to Infinite Realities for believing in this initiative and helping bring it to life.”

“This project is about visibility and celebration,” Perez said in a statement. “It

Infinite Realities and Tucker Pride will share more on the partnership at its Youth and Young Adult LGBTQIA+ Social Mixer and Game Day on March 14. The day will include card and board games, as well as a variety of other activities. The mixer will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at Infinite Realities, 5007 Lavista Road, Tucker.

Photo by Stephanie Toone

Chef Liv Hurst makes fine dining more welcoming at Cattle Shed

By Katie Burkholder

When you walk into Cattle Shed Wine and Steak Bar in Alpharetta, you may expect a stuffy, masculine establishment with little more than steak and potatoes.

What you’ll find instead is an open atmosphere, a welcoming staff of mostly women and queer people, and a menu of homemade pastas, unique seafood dishes like grilled octopus, crab-stuffed mushrooms, lobster and shrimp mac and cheese, and, yes, steak and potatoes.

In her five years as executive chef, Liv Hurst has transformed the restaurant. Hurst told Georgia Voice that Cattle Shed is a reflection of her humble beginnings, determination, and open-mindedness.

“I want people to feel as though they’re coming into my home and I’m cooking for [them],” she said. “We’re not the white tablecloth [experience], we’re not stuffy. You can come in a tank top and baseball hat and still get the amazing experience.”

A thrice adopted child born and raised in Atlanta, Hurst first found herself in the restaurant industry while at Agnes Scott College.

While her grades struggled, her love for food grew until she decided to drop out and pursue her culinary career. Since then, she has worked at casual restaurants like Anatolia in Downtown Atlanta and fine dining establishments like Atlanta Fish Market and Kyma in Buckhead.

Hurst came to Cattle Shed as a sous chef in 2021 on the advice of her girlfriend, whose mom was a server there. Two months after being hired, the executive chef quit, and Hurst was offered the job.

“They sat me down, they offered me the job, and I go, ‘Are you sure?’ They go, ‘Why do you ask that?’ I’d never done this before,” she said. “I said I could cook, I could order, I can do all those things, but I’ve never been the one in charge. Sean [Yeremyan, the proprietor of Cattle Shed] always says that my asking ‘why’ was the reason he knew I was the right choice.”

Despite having no formal culinary training, Hurst has been wildly successful in her career – she won Food Network’s “Chopped” in 2022 – but not without struggle. As a queer woman in a maledominated industry, she said she has to “fight a little harder.”

“It’s definitely not easy, especially now, to be in a position of power and to be the only female at the table,” she said. “I start from the bottom and work my way up everywhere I go.”

It’s Hurst’s background and hard work that make the restaurant what it is. With an open-concept kitchen, food made with a variety of diets in mind, and an unwavering dedication to people-first hospitality, Cattle Shed warmly welcomes everyone who walks through its doors.

New Downtown restaurants in historic department store building

By Beth McKibben

Atlanta-based RPB Management Group will open an entertainment, dining, and events center at 207 Peachtree on the corner of Peachtree Street and Andrew Young International Boulevard this spring. Located in the historic Regenstein’s Department Store building, the 45,000-square-foot complex will feature six concepts overall, including the existing Red Phone Booth cocktail and cigar bar and Amalfi Cucina + Mercato. Rooftop lounge Aire, sports bar Peachtree Sporting Club, and barbecue and live music joint American Dive will join Red Phone Booth and Amalfi Cucina at 207 Peachtree later this spring.

Aire

The indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge will focus on cocktails and shared plates. Aire marks the first time the roof will open to the public and play a part in the history of the nearly century-old building.

Expect DJs during late nights here.

Peachtree Sporting Club

Referred to as an “upscale sports bar”, Peachtree Sporting Club will serve elevated pub fare in a mid-century modern country club setting. The bar will feature a 20-foot panoramic television for watching games, as well as seven tournament-grade simulator bays featuring golf, soccer, and skeet shooting.

American Dive

Billed as a testament to roadside Americana, American Dive will take up residence in Regenstein’s former storage vault. The menu will serve barbecue, beer, wine, and cocktails and offer pool, darts, and arcade games, a jukebox during the day, and live music at night.

In addition to its restaurants and bars, a grand ballroom at 207 Peachtree will provide space for weddings and large events, all within walking distance of the

To learn more about Cattle Shed, visit cattleshedwinebar.com. Continued on page 18

A rendering of the renovated 207 Peachtree building in Downtown. (Courtesy RPB)

Executive Chef Liv Hurst (Courtesy Cattle Shed)

Continued from page 17

Peachtree Center MARTA station and Downtown attractions like Centennial Olympic Park and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The historic building housed Regenstein’s Department Store from 1930 to 1978, then sat vacant for nearly

40 years. In 2018, Marx Realty began restoring the entire building, preserving original architecture elements like the elevator.

Red Phone Booth and Amalfi Cucina opened at the 207 Peachtree building in 2016. Both include locations in Buckhead.

The new restaurants at 207 Peachtree join several other restaurants in the works within the heart of downtown Atlanta and South Downtown near the state capitol. Many of these restaurants will open ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.

207 Peachtree (207peachtree.com), 207 Peachtree St., Downtown. New restaurants opening spring 2026.

Dining concepts to open in May at the former CNN Center

By Beth McKibben

Real estate developer CP Group announced in February that 12 new dining establishments would open at the former CNN Center in May.

Called The Center, CP Group partner Chris Eachus said reopening the CNN building to the public will return it to Atlantans and act as a welcoming gathering space meant for everyday use.

“For decades, this building functioned as a fortress. With the building opening back up to the city, we are reconnecting one of Atlanta’s landmarks with the people and energy of downtown . . . and bringing it back as a destination that’s welcoming, useful, and designed for every day, all-day use,” Eachus said in a prepared statement.

Part of the renovation currently underway at The Center includes the atrium. The 24,000-square-foot space

Pat LaFrieda)

■ Mimi Taqueria (Mexican)

■ Flora D’Italia (Italian, pizza)

■ Dessert Box (bakery)

■ Mastro’s Ocean Club (atrium anchor restaurant serving steak, seafood, cocktails)

CNN took over the Omni International Complex in 1987, becoming the global headquarters for the media company founded by Ted Turner. The 1.2 million-square-foot space connects to State Farm Arena and the Omni Hotel. CNN departed the building in 2024, relocating to Turner Techwood Campus in Midtown, not far from the original location of the 24-hour newsroom.

CP Group expects to open the renovated atrium at The Center in May, which will feature public art installations and arts and branding programming in partnership with ASHA Advisory,

will feature a food hall called CTR Food Works with 11 restaurants and Atlanta’s “largest” full bar. CP Group is working with Chattahoochee Food Works founder Robert Montwaid to develop the restaurant stalls for The Center’s food hall. All should open prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta this summer.

As of publication, the following seven restaurants are confirmed for CTR Food Works and The Center’s atrium:

■ La Tropical (Latin American)

■ Fuzzy’s (seafood)

■ Patty & Frank’s (burgers and hot dogs from Andrew Zimmern and

a community-focused arts and culture advisory board led by Neda Abghari and Bem Joiner, co-founder of Atlanta Influences Everything. Branding programming will include three digital LED signs spanning 12 stories along the exterior of The Center, offering local artists and creatives the opportunity to display their work to the public.

The Center already serves as Atlanta’s FIFA World Cup volunteer headquarters, and will eventually be home to ATL House, the Atlanta FIFA World Cup host committee’s private headquarters and event space.

A rendering of the renovated interior of The Center –formerly known as CNN Center (Courtesy CP Group)

A rendering of the rooftop lounge at 207 Peachtree. (Courtesy RPB)

PLEASE JOIN US

The Metropolitan Atlanta HIV Health Services Planning Council

Each year MAHHSPC determines how federal money will be used to provide vital services to persons living with HIV/ AIDS. These funds pay for Ryan White Part A services offered by agencies, such as doctor visits, support services and medication purchase assistance. Help plan for the delivery of services and distribution of these funds. To be eligible to join, you must live in one of the twenty counties within the Eligible Metropolitan Area:

• Barrow • Bartow • Carroll

• Cherokee • Clayton

• Coweta • DeKalb

• Fayette

• Gwinnett

• Paulding

• Spalding

Forsyth

Henry

Pickens

Walton

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