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Yahoo
a day ago
- General
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How Atlanta Can Celebrate Black Queer Pride in June
In cities around the country, June is the designated month to honor the LGBTQ+ experience. But Atlanta — considered widely to be the Black gay mecca — moves to its own beat. Up until 2007, Atlanta's annual celebration of queer identity and rights took place every June, a nod to the Stonewall Uprising in New York City. In 1969, a stretch of protests and riots in response to police discrimination and persecution of queer people helped propel America's gay liberation movement, inspiring former President Bill Clinton to designate June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month on Stonewall's 30-year anniversary. (Former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden broadened the designation to include bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex identities.) But the tradition changed in 2008, when the city of Atlanta temporarily prohibited large events at Piedmont Park due to a drought, causing organizers to postpone festivities until October, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The timing stuck. For the past 17 years, Atlanta Pride — anchored by a weeklong festival best known for its extravagant parade — has been centered in the early days of autumn, which is fitting for its proximity to National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11. But Pride celebrations in June may feel more crucial than ever this year due to rollbacks of LGBTQ+ freedoms across the country and in Georgia following President Donald Trump's second inauguration in January. Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office that rejected gender ideology, proclaiming the United States government will only recognize two sexes: male and female. Subsequent executive orders prohibited people under age 19 from receiving youth gender-affirming care and banned transgender troops from serving in the military. In alignment with another Trump executive order, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law last month a bill that restricted trans girls and women from participating in female sports. Cobb County school districts have continued to restrict literature that references queer experiences. Mary Wilson, executive director of the Trans Housing Coalition, describes the current spirit in queer communities as resilient as Pride Month begins amid political attacks at both the local and federal levels. 'There's still a bunch of parties, celebrations, fundraisers,' Wilson told Capital B Atlanta. 'For the most part, the spirit is still up, even if we are in the background trying to figure it out financially, or figure it out in other ways, or are feeling a little defeated. I feel like we're still showing up for each other.' While Atlanta's biggest Black Pride functions of the year are four months away, there are a plethora of ways to celebrate. Here's Capital B Atlanta's round up of events to commemorate Black queer culture as boldly as possible. Thrill seekers can hit Six Flags Over Georgia to celebrate the rainbow flag all month long with themed decor, Instagram-worthy photo setups, and LED light shows. Limited-edition Pride merch will also be available for purchase with 15% of the proceeds going to local organizations including Lost-n-Found Youth, which provides shelter and support for Atlanta's unhoused LGBTQ+ youth. When: June 1-30 Where: Six Flags Over Georgia, 275 Riverside Parkway, Austell Cost: $35 for a one-day ticket Audiophiles will enjoy this vinyl-only listening experience catering to Black queer Atlantans, with a music menu from DJ Candy Raine that includes soul, funk, jazz, R&B, and contemporary tracks. Expect a hearty helping of food, cocktails, mocktails, and, most importantly, vibes. When: Wednesday, June 4, 8 p.m. to midnight Where: Echo Room, 705 Echo St. NW, Atlanta Cost: $5 This community town hall is billed as a safe space for Black queer and trans folks to get real about politics, housing justice, safety, health care, and other pressing issues and systemic injustices. It's somewhere to feel seen and heard. When: Wednesday, June 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Where: The Murph, 561 W. Whitehall St. SW, Atlanta Cost: $5 suggested donation Friend Zoned is a community-driven collective seeking to help Black queer and trans people forge platonic relationships. Their monthly event — a play on speed dating — seeks to connect like-minded individuals and form friendships. This one is specifically for the 40-50 set. It's sober friendly, too! When: Thursday, June 12, 7 to 9 p.m. Where: Neighborhood Church, 1561 McLendon Ave. NE, Atlanta Cost: $5 requested donation Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus — whose performances are self-described as 'ranging from campy to earnest and everything in between' — will take the stage for two performances to support the Children's Museum of Atlanta's Pride initiatives. When: Sunday, June 15, at noon and 2 p.m. Where: Children's Museum of Atlanta, 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta Cost: $19.95 For a third straight year, ALT ATL presents a day party that amplifies Black and queer pride. Bring your dancing shoes: Miss Milan, who regularly spins for Grammy-winner Doechii, is one of three DJs who will be providing the feel-good soundtrack. When: Sunday, June 15, 5 to 10 p.m. Where: Westside Motor Lounge, 725 Echo St. NW, Atlanta Cost: $11.35 With Juneteenth falling within Pride month, it's only right that Black LGBTQ+ folks celebrate living unapologetically with a party dedicated to liberation. DJ collective Lavender Lounge, Mami Popo, and Calypso will be rocking the ones and twos. When: Thursday, June 19, 7 to 11 p.m. Where: Monday Night Brewing, 670 Trabert Ave. NW, Atlanta Cost: $15 for general admission ($12 for presale) Kick off summer with an immersive warehouse experience that features pole dancing, burlesque, music, Black queer vendors, gallery art — and a chance to win Atlanta Dream tickets! When: Saturday, June 21, 6 to 9 p.m. Where: 945 Allene Ave. SW, Atlanta Cost: $16.20 This one's for the girls. Women ages 35 and up can step out in their denim shorts and cowgirl hats and boots for a night celebrating Pride. It's the perfect way to get in step for Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour stops in July. When: Saturday, June 21, 8 p.m. to midnight Where: Truth Midtown Restaurant & Lounge, 657 Antone St. NW, Atlanta Cost: $25.45 Southern Fried Queer Pride is putting the 'out' in outside with its 11th annual festival — a wide-ranging series of events spread over seven days to celebrate all things that make Black queer Atlanta culture special. There's programming for all pronouns: themed dance parties, workshops, seminars, an open mic, photo gallery exhibit, pageant, film screening, variety show, and more. It's where you'll want to be to laugh, learn, love, and live authentically. When: June 23 – June 29 Where: Various locations in Little 5 Points, Atlanta Cost: Most events are free to enter, with suggested sliding scale donations of $5-$20 The post How Atlanta Can Celebrate Black Queer Pride in June appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
American Military News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- American Military News
CeeLo Green stirs controversy for wearing Confederate flag
CeeLo Green is the latest musician to turn the Confederate flag into a fashion statement. The singer and rapper donned a Confederate flag hoodie in an Instagram post shared on Thursday. He captioned the picture with the hashtags, 'soul,' 'rebel.' In response, hundreds of his fans expressed their distaste for his choice of clothing. 'Love you lo, but you bout to get unfollowed,' one commenter wrote under the post. 'You could've kept this one to yourself, unc,' another fan wrote. The Goodie Mob member's other two posts on Thursday included a picture of him with the African American flag and the American flag. Green is certainly not the first Atlanta artist to wear the Confederate flag, which has long symbolized white supremacy. Some have described it as an act of rebellion. The flag is prominently featured in the cover art for Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz's 2001 album 'Put Yo Hood Up.' Lil Jon also wore the flag in the video for 'Bia' Bia'.' At the time, Lil Jon told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he wanted to slight supporters of the flag while also celebrating his Southern heritage. 'For me to wear that flag is like me going out with their daughters,' Lil Jon told the AJC's A. Scott Walton in 2001. 'We're Southern-born and raised. The flag is part of us. We just look at it as being proud to say we're from the South.' André 3000 wore the flag on his belt buckle in the video for OutKast's 2000 hit 'Ms. Jackson.' 'I wear the belt for southern pride and to rebel, I don't take the confederate flag that serious as far as the racial part is concerned,' he told Vibe magazine at the time. Other Atlanta rappers like Ludacris and Pastor Troy have also worn the flag. Kanye West, who was born in Atlanta but raised in Chicago, is perhaps the most notable example of a Black artist endorsing the flag. Along with wearing the flag, the rapper also sold merchandise with the Civil War-era image in 2013, stating that he 'took the Confederate flag and made it my flag.' Reps for CeeLo Green could not be immediately reached for more information. ___ © 2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Groups on either side of abortion divide flock to brain-dead Georgia woman's cause
ATLANTA - A little more than a week ago, Georgia made international news when reports were first shared about a 30-year-old pregnant woman who her family said was being kept on life support to comply with the state's abortion law. Since then, there's been an outpouring of support for Adriana Smith from across the state and country, with vigils being planned and online fundraisers being held in her name. Now the family has clarified they intend to keep her on life support until the baby is born. Smith, a registered nurse and mother of one, was declared brain-dead in February and placed on life support. The day she went to the hospital, her boyfriend found her gasping for air and making gargling sounds in her sleep, according to 11Alive, which first reported the news. April Newkirk, Smith's mother, told the television station that Smith was nine weeks pregnant at the time. Although she is legally dead, Smith has remained on life support since to facilitate the growth of the fetus, which is now about 22 weeks into gestation. Newkirk originally told 11Alive last week that doctors said Smith had to remain on life support because of Georgia's abortion laws. In a second 11Alive interview that aired on Monday, Newkirk clarified that the family only considered terminating the pregnancy if it would have saved Smith's life. Doctors told her it would not, so Smith remained on life support to allow her body to continue to grow the fetus, whom the family has named Chance. Newkirk has declined requests to be interviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Right now, the journey is for baby Chance to survive - and whatever condition God allows him to come here in, we're going to love him just the same," she told 11Alive on Monday. Since news of Smith's situation made its way to national and then international news, groups on both sides of the abortion debate have taken steps to raise awareness about Georgia's laws and, in some instances, raise money for the family. Newkirk had expressed concern over the expense of keeping her daughter on life support until at least early August, when doctors plan to perform a cesarean section. It's also unknown if her grandson will be born with any disabilities, so money raised would also be used for his care. This week, Students for Life announced its goal to raise $100,000 for the family to cover medical expenses. Kristan Hawkins, president of the Virginia-based organization, said news of Smith's condition and her family's concern about medical costs gave Students for Life an opportunity to put their "thoughts into action." "It's really important for us as a movement, when these tragedies happen, to show America what it is that the pro-life movement is about, and it's about protecting both the child and the mother from the violence of abortion," Hawkins said. They plan to make a direct donation to the hospital to pay for Smith's care and any care her son may need after birth. Newkirk started her own online fundraiser, which by Thursday had raised $105,000 of its $250,000 goal since it was created a week ago. Abortion rights activists say they are waiting until they can speak with Smith's family to determine how best to help before launching any efforts, such as a fundraiser. In the meantime, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, an abortion rights group, plans to build a "Trust Black Women" altar in Smith's honor. Smith had gone to a different hospital the day before, complaining of severe headaches. Newkirk said her daughter was sent home with medication, according to 11Alive. "Today, we speak Adriana Smith's name with reverence and with rage," said Danielle Rodriguez, Georgia program coordinator at SisterSong. "Adriana was a mother, a daughter, a nurse, a Black woman who understood her body and tried to save her own life. Her voice was not enough, her knowledge was not enough, her humanity was not enough." Georgia law bans most abortions after medical professionals can detect fetal cardiac activity, which is typically around six weeks of pregnancy and before many know they are pregnant. Later abortions are allowed in limited cases, such as if there is a fetal abnormality or if the life of the mother is at risk. There also are exceptions in instances of rape or incest when a police report has been filed. For years, abortion rights advocates and providers have said Georgia's law is unclear because much of the language used is not in medical terms. For example, the law says abortions may occur if the mother is experiencing a "medical emergency," but doctors say that's difficult to interpret because there is no bright line between a person being fine and at risk of death. In a statement, hospital representatives said federal privacy laws block them from commenting about individual patients. "Emory Healthcare uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance to support our providers as they make individualized treatment recommendations in compliance with Georgia's abortion laws and all other applicable laws," the hospital said in the statement. "Our top priorities continue to be the safety and well-being of the patients we serve." A statement from Attorney General Chris Carr's office said the abortion law does not require Emory Hospital to keep Smith's body alive. "There is nothing in the (abortion law) that requires medical professionals to keep a woman on life support after brain death. Removing life support is not an action with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy," Carr's spokesperson, Kara Murray, said in the statement. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Business Insider
20-05-2025
- Business Insider
The 15 best places to live in the US, which offer relatively affordable homes, good job markets, and pleasant lifestyles
US News & World Report compiled a list of the best places to live in the US in 2025. Criteria for the list included affordability of homes, quality of life, and career opportunities. Johns Creek, Georgia, tops this year's list, followed by Carmel, Indiana, and Pearland, Texas. Americans move for all sorts of reasons, whether it's seeking better work-life balance, a more affordable lifestyle, or even a fresh start after a breakup. Each year, US News & World Report offers a resource to those contemplating such a big change by evaluating 150 American cities on several factors to determine the best places to move. The publication considers factors including employment opportunities, housing affordability, quality of life, and school rankings. Johns Creek, Georgia, tops the 2025 list of best places to live for its strong job market and high "desirability" score, a custom index created by US News & World Report to rank factors like weather, accessibility of culture, and average commute times for residents. The small Atlanta suburb of 81,000 people has been home to stars like Jeff Foxworthy and Usher, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Carmel, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, took second place. The town of just over 103,000 residents previously went viral on TikTok for its massive high school that featured amenities for students like an auto shop, radio station, jewelry-making room, and even a planetarium. Texas has three cities in the top 10, with Pearland and League City, two suburbs of Houston, and Leander, a suburb of Austin, taking the third, sixth, and eighth spots, respectively. Here are the 15 best places to live in the US, according to US News & World Report. Residents find plenty to like about these cities, including affordable homes, career opportunities, and relaxed lifestyles. Sources: Population and income data are from the US Census, median home price from and median rent from Zillow. 13. Ellicott City, Maryland 12. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 11. Sammamish, Washington 10. Troy, Michigan 6. League City, Texas 5. Cary, North Carolina 3. Pearland, Texas
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Miami Herald
‘She is not a criminal,' says mother of college student in ICE detention
DALTON, Georgia - Ndahitha Cristobal was cleaning an office on May 5 to provide for her three daughters because, weeks earlier, her contractor husband had been arrested for a traffic violation and placed into immigration detention. Cristobal's oldest daughter, 19-year-old Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a Dalton State College student, told her she would swing by the office to help her clean ahead of a study date later in the day. "But Ximena never got there," Cristobal told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Spanish during an interview in her home last week. While driving to meet her mother, Ximena was pulled over and arrested by a Dalton police officer who mistakenly believed she had made an illegal turn at a red light. Like both of her parents, Ximena is living in the country without legal status after the family moved to Dalton from Mexico 15 years ago, when she was 4 years old. Cristobal said she saw the arrest unfold in the office building's parking lot. "It hurts so much to see your daughter be handcuffed," she said. "As a mom, I wanted to run out and say: 'Hey, don't take her away.' But I couldn't. "I couldn't because I have two other girls at home (ages 12 and 9). And if I had gone down and said something, maybe they would have said: 'Well, you're coming with us.'" Shortly afterward, Cristobal went to the Whitfield County Jail to pay Ximena's traffic tickets, but she soon realized police were not going to let her daughter go. They had already contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "I was waiting for her outside, but she wasn't coming out. She called me crying and said: 'Mom, immigration is coming to take me.'" Once she entered ICE custody, Ximena was transferred to the Stewart Detention Center, a sprawling immigrant jail in South Georgiathat holds the second most detainees of any facility in the country. There, she joined her father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar. Like his daughter, Arias-Tovar was sent to ICE detention following a traffic stop in Whitfield County. Police arrested him for speeding. "I was still trying to come to terms with what happened to my husband, and then all of a sudden, Ximena," Cristobal said. "It was like a bomb going off for me." News of Ximena's arrest spread fast and wide, sparking national headlines and several rounds of protests in this majority Hispanic town in the northwest corner of the state. Outrage grew further following a Dalton police news conference Tuesday, where local authorities announced Ximena had been mistakenly pulled over and that they were dropping all charges against her. But that development does not affect the college student's status as an ICE detainee. "Because of one person's mistake, someone like Ximena can lose the life they had here," Cristobal said. She added that she felt angry and sad when she heard the police's statement, but not surprised. Ximena knew the risks of getting behind the wheel as an immigrant who lacked legal status and was careful, she said. "She was very cautious. She always put her phone on silent," Cristobal said. "We would tell her, 'Ximena, please, you know you're not supposed to drive.' And it wasn't because she wanted to do it, it was out of necessity, to get to school. "Most times friends would give her rides, but sometimes that couldn't happen and she had to drive." More Dalton residents picked up for deportation America Gruner is a longtime Dalton immigrant community advocate and president of the Coalition of Latino Leaders, a local Hispanic-serving nonprofit. She said arrests like Ximena's happen on a recurring basis in Dalton, even if most don't generate the same level of attention. "We receive calls almost every day about similar situations, from people who have been in Dalton for 30, 35 years, with children born here, and because of a traffic violation, they are now in a detention center or have been deported," she said. "In (Ximena's) case, what she has done is to draw attention to people who were not familiar with this type of situation, and they have given them visibility at a state level and national, right? "But, as I say, unfortunately, it is not the only case." Gruner explained ICE has not had to be physically present in Dalton this year for city residents to face deportation. Instead, a long-standing partnership between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents means that anyone without lawful status who is booked in Whitfield County Jail is flagged for ICE pickup. According to Gruner, most immigrants who are living in the Dalton area illegally wind up on ICE's radar because of traffic violations. "They stop people and tell them that were going too fast, or that they drove through a stop sign. But how do we really know if that's true or not?" Gruner said, referencing the police error that led to Ximena being pulled over. According to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, ICE lodged 98 "detainers," or requests to pick up immigrants arrested in the county, from January through March, up from 30 detainers sent from October through December 2024. To lower community members' exposure to detention and deportation, Gruner's nonprofit operates a long-running initiative dubbed Ruta de la Libertad, or Freedom Road, which organizes a network of volunteers with driver's licenses to give rides to people without status. The organization also has been distributing flyers asking immigrant residents to avoid getting behind the wheel. "A lot of people think that us telling people to not drive without a license means we are giving up. But we see it as the opposite," Gruner said. "Right now, they have the power to detain us if we don't have licenses. We take that power away from them if we don't put ourselves in that situation." Like Gruner, state Rep. Kasey Carpenter, a Republican from Dalton, says he gets multiple calls from constituents every week about ICE detention. He said he would like to see federal immigration policy address both border security and the needs of families like Ximena's, who don't currently have a clear pathway to legal residency. "Secure the borders, everybody's cool with that," Carpenter said. "Get the criminals out of here. Nobody's got heartburn with that. But let's figure out what we are going to do with the rest of these people. Because the economy can't handle hauling all these people off." Ximena, he said, "is not supposed to be without a license. I get that. And I'm not trying to downplay the reality of that, but I also know you got limited resources to detain and deport people. Let's focus our attention on the hardened criminals." Carpenter's views on immigration can make him a target of criticism in his district. Whitfield County is both heavily Hispanic and heavily conservative. He says he is used to it. "There's always flak but, I mean, it's the right thing to do," he said. "I can't be a Christian on Sunday and then haul a Christian off on Monday." Dalton's more high-profile Republican representative, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, offered a different perspective on Ximena's case. "While local Dalton officials dropped her charges, the facts remain: she was driving illegally without a license and has no legal basis to remain in the United States," Greene said in a statement. "Today, there are currently 1.6 million American citizens living and thriving in Mexico legally," Greene's statement says. "But if I moved to Mexico illegally with my children when they were young, Mexican authorities would enforce their laws. I would be arrested and deported. That's how sovereignty and the rule of law work." In a statement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security echoed Greene: "Both father and daughter were in this country illegally and they have to face consequences … (They) will be able to return to Mexico together." 'She is not a criminal' According to Cristobal, her family moved to Dalton in 2010 because her brother had already settled in the area. That timeline locked Ximena out of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects some undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. To be DACA-eligible, young immigrants had to have lived continuously in the U.S. since 2007. Cristobal's husband got his start working odd jobs, then launched his own construction company. Ximena studies business administration at Dalton State and had hopes of teaming up with her father to help grow his company. She planned to get a real estate license and help sell the houses her father built. "Ximena would ask her father, 'Dad, do you think I can do it?' And he would say, 'Xime, for you, the sky's the limit. Whatever you set out to do, you'll make it happen.'" Memories like those come back to Cristobal when she spends time in her daughter's bedroom, looking through photos she has there. Shortly before speaking to the AJC, the family received some good news: Ximena's father had just been granted bail, meaning he will be able to leave detention and fight his deportation case from home. Ximena will have her own bail hearing Tuesday. Although she speaks on the phone with her daughter every day, Cristobal is not sure how she is coping with the conditions in the ICE jail. Ximena doesn't share too many details, probably so that her mother doesn't worry too much, Cristobal said. She has thought about traveling to the detention facility to visit her daughter, but worries doing so could put her in danger as someone who lacks legal status. "It would scare me to go near that place," she said. "I'll tell you again, and maybe this will sound repetitive, but this is my daughter. She is not a criminal. My daughter is just a young woman filled with dreams for the future." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
