On the march
Apr. 10 — The “Hands Off” march and rally against the actions of the Trump administration on Saturday was a big deal in Atlanta, with an estimated 30,000 taking part. The LGBTQ+ community was out in force, carrying signs and banners. Check out video and photos here.
➳ The march came on the heels of the Georgia General Assembly’s final day, which saw several bills targeting the transgender community fail (for now, anyway), including banning gender-affirming care for state workers and restrictions on puberty blockers for minors suffering from gender dysphoria.
🙄 Unfortunately, bills banning trans girls from playing sports on girls’ teams, denying gender-affirming care to state prisoners, and the “religious liberty” bill were passed and sent to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature. Kemp offered lip service to critics who said the latter bill was opening the door for discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and religious minorities by stating “Georgia still remains a state that has no place for hate.”
🪷 On a lighter, but still unhappy note, “The White Lotus” finale was a big disappointment. Storylines fizzled out or were left unresolved and Parker Posey was denied a great monologue after being this season’s breakout star. Sigh.
See y’all at the Kylie concert!
Collin
Ts Madison opens reentry house for formerly incarcerated trans women
🏠 The Ts Madison Starter House, a new Sisterhood Alliance for Freedom and Equality (SAFE) reentry home for trans women returning to the community following incarceration, has opened in Atlanta.
The home is named after and led by the trans reality TV personality and actress (pictured) in partnership with philanthropist Dominique Morgan.
“As someone who has personally experienced the pain of rejection and the struggle for survival, I know how life-changing it is to have a safe place to go home to,” Madison said. “With this new home, we are letting Black trans women know they are not alone, they are not forgotten, and they are worthy of every opportunity to heal and thrive.”
➡ Find out more about the project here.
Embark on a prehistoric adventure!
SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM
🦖 Journey through time at Fernbank Museum to discover what made dinosaurs that once roamed the Southern Hemisphere unique from their better-known relatives in North America. With stunning skeletal displays and augmented reality, the exhibit Ultimate Dinosaurs reveals how the breakup of Pangaea shaped the evolution of dinosaurs. See life-sized casts, fossils, and hands-on specimens like Eoraptor and Giganotosaurus.
➡ Visit the Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibit daily during regular hours, plus select after-hours events until May 4. Plan your visit today and step into the prehistoric world!
Springtime brings LGBTQ+ sports to Atlanta
🥎 The flowers are blooming and the pollen is everywhere, which means LGBTQ+ Atlanta’s spring sports season is already underway!
Whether you’re interested in supporting these incredible teams or joining in on the fun, there’s something for every sports fan this season including flag football (pictured), roller derby, tennis, and softball.
➡ Check out the roundup here.
RELATED
👓 Check out the new April issue of Georgia Voice to read Katie Burkholder’s cover feature on Atlanta Roller Derby’s aggressive and accepting style of play.
Tammy Hurt receives 2025 Billboard Women in Music honor
🥁 The first time she laid eyes on a drum kit, Tammy Hurt had a sense of what her future would hold.
“I knew right then and there,” she said. “I never wanted to do anything else other than play drums, be in music, record music, and tour.”
The out Atlanta-based musician, who is a longtime member of the Recording Academy and its current presiding officer, was recently named a 2025 Billboard Women in Music honoree.
➡ Read more about Hurt’s career in Jim Farmer’s feature story.
RELATED
🎸 Contributor Teri Elam spoke with author and educator Megan Volpert about her new book “Why Alanis Morrissette Matters” and why “Jagged Little Pill” still resonates 30 years on.
Best Bets
🎤 Shockingly, there are still tickets available for Kylie Minogue’s “Tension” tour stop at State Farm Arena on Friday night, April 11. The pop diva has only played Atlanta a couple of times in her nearly 40-year career, so you don’t want to miss a chance to sing and dance along to “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” and “Padam Padam.”
💃 My Sister’s Room is hosting a Neon Glow Party on Saturday, April 12, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Grab your neon t-shirt and glowsticks and head to Midtown for dancing, drag, and more.
🌮 Georgia Equality is hosting A Taco Townhall on Saturday, April 19, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Wild Heaven Brewery. The event will include a post-legislative session briefing and tacos from El Tesoro.
Social Follow of the Week
📸 Trans actor and activist Alexandra Billings (“Transparent,” “The Conners” and “The Peripheral”) offers sassy, eye-opening, and affirming takes on pop culture and transgender rights, but she is not be toyed with when it comes to transphobia.
