Atlanta Magazine is raising the profile of the LGBT community.

'Atlanta' comes out

On Thursday, June 19, Atlanta Magazine Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Burns will address AEN.

Recently celebrating its 42nd anniversary, Atlanta Magazine is one of oldest city/regional magazines in the country and one of the most respected, winning more than 80 national awards for journalistic and design excellence.

Burns became editor-in-chief of the magazine in September 2002. She is the first female top editor of the magazine and the first editor younger than the magazine itself.

Before taking the lead position at Atlanta Magazine, Burns was at the helm of Indianapolis Monthly. In her two-and-a-half years at that magazine, she overhauled both the design and the editorial content, which earned the magazine the national Clarion Award for general excellence in 2002. She also spearheaded the development and launch of a sister magazine, Indianapolis at Home, a quarterly lifestyle publication that was given a general excellence award in 2001 by the City and Regional Magazine Association.

Atlanta Magazine Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Burns

Burns was on staff at Atlanta Magazine before joining Indianapolis Monthly. As a senior editor, she oversaw a number of cover story projects and wrote numerous feature articles, including a report on the city's strip club industry that garnered a regional award from the Society for Professional Journalists.

Her past experience includes writing for a number of city and regional magazines, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. She also served as managing editor for the alternative weekly Poets, Artists and Madmen, during which time she wrote a weekly column on the press called "Media Rare."

She currently lives in Avondale Estates, Georgia, and is a graduate of Georgia State University.

The doors open at the Sheraton Colony Square Hotel at 5:45 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Members: $10; Guests: $20; Students: Free

AEN.org: Rebecca Burns profile
Related Web site: Atlantamagazine.com

'Going the Other Way'

On Thursday, May 15, former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean spoke to AEN.

Bean played major league baseball from 1987 through 1995. He broke into the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers, and tied a Major League record with 4 hits in his first game. He went on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.

He came out in a New York Times interview in 1999, following that up with a nationally televised interview with Diane Sawyer. Bean is the first Major League Baseball player in 20 years to acknowledge his homosexuality. He was a featured spokesman on behalf of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 campaign, and still travels around the country on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign, reaching out to many young adults.

Before and after the meeting, Bean signed copies of his new book, a memoir entitled Going the Other Way which tells his story and culminates in a plea for professional team sports to live up to their promise of equality and opportunity. He opened his talk by reading an extended excerpt from the introduction to his book. Bean recounted his time in baseball, including why he decided to leave the game and come out of the closet.

He continues to work behind the scenes to engage the commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, and the other owners to make the sport a safe place for a talented, gay athlete to play without fear.

Tyron Garner, left, and John Lawrence were convicted of violating Texas' "homosexual conduct" law.

AEN to host Texas sodomy suit lawyer

With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to issue its ruling in Lambda Legal's case challenging Texas' "homosexual conduct" law this month, local events are planned around the nation for the day the decision is announced.

A ruling is expected June 16th or June 23rd. The court may also add possible decision days later this month.

Lambda Legal asked the court to strike down the Texas sodomy law for two reasons: First, that it is an unconstitutional invasion of privacy; and second, that by singling out gay people, it violates the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law.

A victory on either or both claims will affect all 13 remaining sodomy laws in the nation and will be a powerful tool for securing equality for lesbians and gay men in all 50 states, according to Lambda Legal, which is lead counsel in the case.

Atlanta rally planned

The Atlanta rally is planned for the day of the decision at 6:30 p.m. outside of Jake's Ice Creams & Sorbets located at 970 Piedmont Ave (near 10th & Piedmont). A reception will be held beforehand at 6:00 p.m. To receive an e-mail from Lambda Legal on the day of the historic decision informing you about the decision and the rally, send an e-mail to Asha Leong at Lambda Legal's Atlanta office (ALeong@lambdalegal.org).

Attorney Paul M. Smith will speak on July 17.

AEN gets inside scoop

At AEN's July 17th meeting, AEN members and guests will get to hear the inside scoop about the historic Supreme Court decision from Paul M. Smith, the openly gay attorney who argued the case on behalf of Lambda Legal.

Full background on Lambda Legal's case challenging the Texas law is available at: LambdaLegal.org/MakingHistory.

Networking success

AEN is compiling the stories of our success in networking. If you, or someone you know, has found new clients, a new job, or made new friends, we'd love to hear your story. Send an to us with all the great details.

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Upcoming speakers

August 21
Spurgeon Richardson
President, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau

Announcements

• Partner with AEN
  By partnering with AEN, you promote your business to influential decision-makers in the LGBT community. Contact Margie Archer to find out how.
  
  
• Help AEN at Pride
  If you'd like to volunteer to help at our table at Pride, contact Dana Brown-Owings.
  
  
• Have you updated your member profile?
  Join the hundreds of others who've listed their contact information online. Click here to join or update your profile.
  
  
• Renew your membership online with a credit card or check
  Click here for details

> In this issue

• 'Atlanta' comes out
• 'Going the Other Way'
• AEN to host Texas sodomy suit lawyer

> June meeting

Thursday, June 19

Rebecca Burns
Atlanta Magazine Editor

Sheraton Colony Square
Doors open 5:45 p.m.
Program begins 6:45 p.m.

> Luncheons
Reservations »

> Tuesday, June 17
Allen Jones
Houlihan's
11:55 a.m.

> Thursday, June 26
Drew Barton & Patrick Greco
Balance
11:45 a.m.

> Thursday, June 26
Bonnie Barton
Grady's
11:45 a.m.

> Wednesday, July 2
Allen Jones
Houlihan's
11:55 a.m.

> Thursday, July 10
Sandy Hoke with Mark Buhrke
Waverly Hotel
11:45 a.m.

> Tuesday, July 15
Allen Jones
Houlihan's
11:55 a.m.

AEN's mission is to:

• Promote business contacts and friendships through networking;

• Advocate equality for lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgenders;

• Promote diversity in the business community;

• Foster leadership in business, government and the arts.

Board members

David Payne
President

Bonnie Barton
Vice President

Jamie Ensley
Treasurer

Margie Archer
Secretary

Drew Barton
Communications Chair

Dana Brown-Owings
Diversity Chair
Pride Chair

Don George
Nominations Chair

Patrick Greco
Luncheons Chair

Carl Lange
Programming Chair

Dan Lax
Membership Chair

Steve Koval
Past President

Joe Guthridge

Sandy Hoke

Stephen Julien

Ann McAllister

Barbara Rubin

Jason Cecil
Newsletter Editor