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A Night at the Sweet Gum Head: Drag, Drugs, Disco, and Atlanta's Gay Revolution

Name: A Night at the Sweet Gum Head: Drag, Drugs, Disco, and Atlanta's Gay Revolution
Price: 11.88 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (102 reviews)

4.8 of 5 Stars: Regional U.S. - A Night at the Sweet Gum Head: Drag, Drugs, Disco, and Atlanta's Gay Revolution

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Book Synopsis: An electric and intimate story of 1970s gay Atlanta through its bedazzling drag clubs and burgeoning rights activism. Coursing with a pumped-up beat, gay Atlanta was the South's mecca—a beacon for gays and lesbians growing up in its homophobic towns and cities. There, the Sweet Gum Head was the club for achieving drag stardom. Martin Padgett evokes the fantabulous disco decade by going deep into the lives of two men who shaped and were shaped by this city: John Greenwell, an Alabama runaway who found himself and his avocation performing as the exquisite Rachel Wells; and Bill Smith, who took to the streets and city hall to change antigay laws. Against this optimism for visibility and rights, gay people lived with daily police harassment and drug dealing and murder in their discos and drag clubs. Conducting interviews with many of the major figures and reading through deteriorating gay archives, Padgett expertly re-creates Atlanta from a time when a vibrant, new queer culture of drag and pride came into being. 8 pages of illustrations Read more

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Discover the thrilling and captivating story of gay Atlanta in the 1970s with "A Night at the Sweet Gum Head: Drag, Drugs, Disco, and Atlanta's Gay Revolution." Get ready to be transported to a time when drag clubs were the heart and soul of the South's LGBTQ+ community. Experience the pulsating beat and vibrant energy of gay Atlanta, a shining refuge for individuals growing up in homophobic environments.

Immerse yourself in the lives of two extraordinary men who made their mark on this vibrant city. Join John Greenwell, an Alabama runaway, as he finds his true calling and performs as the enchanting Rachel Wells. Witness the remarkable journey of Bill Smith, a courageous activist who fought against antigay laws, taking to the streets and city hall to bring about change.

But it wasn't all glitz and glamour. Beneath the surface of this growing queer culture, the LGBTQ+ community faced daily hardships. Experience the raw reality of police harassment, drug dealing, and even murder within the discos and drag clubs that were their safe havens.

Author Martin Padgett brings this remarkable period to life through extensive interviews with key figures and thorough research of historic gay archives. With his expert storytelling, Padgett transports you to a time when drag and pride culture flourished, and a new wave of visibility and rights activism emerged.

This book truly is an electrifying and intimate account of a pivotal period in Atlanta's gay history. With 8 pages of captivating illustrations, "A Night at the Sweet Gum Head" will leave you inspired and enlightened. Dive deep into this enthralling tale and relive the thrilling moments that shaped Atlanta's queer community.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary journey into the past. Experience the power of resilience, activism, and self-discovery. Order your copy of "A Night at the Sweet Gum Head" today and be transported to a time when drag, drugs, disco, and Atlanta's gay revolution collided.

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