Tag: Atlanta

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Judge: Atlanta Eagle Defendants ‘not guilty'

An Atlanta judge found three defendants in the Atlanta Eagle gay bar case not guilty Thursday, and the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the charges against the other five defendants. Municipal Judge Crystal Gaines said city police failed to produce evidence proving that men danced naked without permits or that the bar operators were running an unlicensed adult establishment. The decision comes as defendants and others involved with the Ponce de Leon Avenue bar are countering with a lawsuit in federal court against the city and Atlanta police officers. "We always thought from the beginning that we were charged for no reason," bar co-owner Richard Ramey, who was not a defendant, said after the decision. "They had no right to be there," he said of the police. The case stems from a raid on Sept. 10, when a swarm of officers detained and searched about five dozen Eagle customers, making some lie handcuffed and face down on the club's floor. Some customers said they were not allowed to move for an hour and that they endured anti-gay slurs from the officers. When Thursday's court hearing began, eight people -- dancers, bar employees and another bar co-owner -- stood as defendants. According to police records, police raided the club because of reports of drug activity and because undercover officers reported seeing men having sex at the club while customers looked on. But the raid produced no charges of drug use or illicit sex. The employees were instead charged with business license violations, while the dancers were accused of providing adult entertainment without a license. Each violation carries a maximum punishment of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The lead investigator, Det. Bennie E. Bridges, and one other officer testified for the prosecution. Bridges said that he heard no slurs and that he saw one of the defendants dancing atop the bar "in bikini underwear." "He was pulling down the front of his underwear and exposing himself," Bridges said. "Men would reach up and put money into the waistband." But Bridges could not identify all eight defendants, prompting defense attorney Alan Begner to push for dismissals. One by one, senior assistant solicitor Larry Gardner agreed to the dismissals, until only three defendants remained: co-owner Robert Kelley and dancers Leandro Apud and Tadareius Johnson. Gardner said dancers clad only in underwear had exposed their genitals and taken tips "the same way money would be accepted in any other nude bar." The two sides argued over whether the Eagle was an adult entertainment business. Gardner said it was and that it was operating without a permit. Begner said it wasn't and that his clients should not have been charged under that ordinance. Begner produced eight witnesses who contradicted the police. Three dancers denied exposing themselves, and the five other defense witnesses, a mix of bar employees and patrons, said they saw no nude dancing at the bar that night. Judge Gaines said the city had to overcome "all these witnesses" and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that nude dancing happened. "I don't believe that the city has met that burden," she said. The case caused a stir in Atlanta and became a factor in the recent mayoral election. The federal court case is sure to stir up more sentiments. The Atlanta City Council, meanwhile, has agreed to subpoena 18 officers to answer questions about the raid from the Citizen Review Board. So far, only one officer has complied. STORY - ATLANTA CONSTITUTION

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Man Arrested for Threatening Elton John’s Life

Elton John has a famous fan in Lady Gaga, but not everyone appreciates the awesome power of “Tiny Dancer.” A Georgia man was arrested Wednesday for making terrorist threats against Sir Elton. Last month Neal Horsley, 65, posted a YouTube video of himself standing in front of the singer’s Atlanta apartment complex holding a large red sign that said “Elton John Must Die.” Horsley was upset about a Parade magazine interview in which John said he thought Jesus was a “compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” “We’re here today to remind Elton John that he has to die,” Horsley says in the video. “What Elton John has done is desecrated the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, blasphemed the Lord Jesus Christ.” He goes on to use homophobic slurs and quote scripture. This isn’t the first time Horsley — who has a surprisingly thorough Wikipedia page — has raised eyebrows. A militant anti-abortionist, he started a Website in the late 1990s that listed the names and addresses of doctors who performed abortions. Two years ago, Horsley founded the Creator’s Rights Party in Georgia and claims to be a candidate for the 2010 governor’s race. According to the AP, he kicked off his campaign wearing a placard showing a picture of an aborted fetus. The state ethics committee, meanwhile, has no record of his campaign. Horsley’s bail is set at $40,000. Elton John’s publicist confirmed that the singer has an apartment in Atlanta, but wouldn’t tell the AP anything more.

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HIV+ Doctor Convicted in Atlanta for Teen Boy Sex

A federal jury in Atlanta, Georgia has convicted former emergency room physician Dr. Adam Lebowitz of producing child pornography and of attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. He was acquitted on Thursday of a second child pornography count. Evidence at the trial showed Lebowitz had planned to take the 15-year-old to his home in Decatur, Georgia. Prosecutors say officers searched Lebowitz's home and seized three computers, two of which contained video recordings of Lebowitz engaged in sex acts with two young boys. Lebowitz faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on each conviction. A sentencing date has not been set. The 50-year-old Lebowitz was arrested in 2006 after a Coweta County, Georgia woman reported that the doctor had sent messages with sexual content to her 15-year-old son. Adam Lebowitz (photo top), who did not testify in his own defense, was charged with two federal counts of producing child pornography and one of enticing a minor for purposes of committing unlawful sexual acts. Prosecutors alleged Lebowitz used the Internet to find teen boys for sex, videotaped the encounters and posted them online. Lebowitz was arrested in 2006 when he arranged to meet a 15-year-old boy in Coweta County, Georgia and had a sleeping bag, condoms, lube, hospital scrubs and a camera with him. He pleaded guilty to soliciting underage sex in 2007, but that plea and its 20-year prison sentence were thrown out after Lebowitz was caught trying to board a flight to Hawaii. Atlanta attorney Steve Scarborough opened the defense for Lebowitz on Monday by questioning investigators over the age of the teens and whether they were of legal age. One teen who had sex with Lebowitz in Boston later signed an affidavit saying he was 18 when the two had sex, according to the Times-Herald, which has been covering the federal trial. Another teen stated he was 18 on the MySpace page Lebowitz used to contact him.

U.S. Attorney Richard Moultrie presented the prosecution’s case in proceedings in Atlanta and began by having Lebowitz’s accuser, now 18 years old, read the transcripts of instant messages sent between him and Lebowitz on the MySpace social networking Web site. The messages were sent in late October 2006, a few days before Lebowitz was arrested on Nov. 2, 2006. Although he has been identified and interviewed by name since Lebowitz’s arrest, the teen was underage at the time of the incident and Judge Story ruled that during the trial his name would not be used by courtroom officials and that he would be referred to by his initials, K.S. The first instant message read by K.S. in court was one of the earliest contacts between the teen and Lebowitz on MySpace. Lebowitz describes his work in the Grady emergency room and describes the last woman he dated. He then says he has mostly dated males since. Lebowitz and K.S. engage in messages about sexual self-gratification and Lebowitz says he admires the MySpace photo that shows K.S. in the baseball uniform he wore while playing on the East Coweta ninth grade team. Lebowitz says he would like to “hang out.” Lebowitz also proposes swapping photographs and says that if K.S. will let [Lebowitz] take a picture of K.S., Lebowitz will let K.S. take a picture of him. Lebowitz says the photos would be “for our eyes only” and would not be shared.

On Monday, Scarborough pursued discrepancies in the age of the Coweta County teen.

The defense attempted to show that when first contacted by Southerland, A.G.—who lived in the Boston area when the alleged crimes took place—stated that he made the tape in spring 2003 when he was still 17 and not of legal age. Under questioning by Scarborough, Southerland agreed that when questioned at a later date by U.S. attorneys A.G. had stated the taping may have been done when he was 18 and of legal age. Southerland said the latest questioning of A.G. and his recollection that he had driven to Lebowitz’ house to make the tape not long after he received his driver’s license at age 17 was evidence A.G. was under the legal age of 18 when the tape was made. The defense then called Ed Johnson, a Boston-area private investigator who had contacted and interviewed A.G. in 2008 upon the request of Florida attorneys who were then representing Lebowitz. Johnson testified that he first contacted A.G. at the dorm where he attended college and that after lengthy discussions, A.G. agreed to accompany Johnson to his office. At that time an affidavit requested by Lebowitz’ attorneys was prepared in which A.G. stated he was 18 and of legal age at the time the tape of the sexual encounter was made

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Atlanta is the Gayest City in the USA, Sorry WeHo!

GAYEST CITIES IN AMERICA: Over at The Advocate, “Intrepid amateur sociologist Mike Albo searches for America’s 15 gayest burgs—based on a finely tuned (if totally arbitrary) calculus.” This list of the list of the 15th Gayest Cities in America has been compiled based on a point system of same sex households per capita, statewide marriage equality, gay elected officials, gay bars per capita and gay films in Netflix favorites. Liberal college towns have favorable ratings; like Madison, WI; Iowa City; Austin, TX; Burlington, VT and Bloomington, Indiana. Spoiler alert! Interestingly, the number 1 honor doesn’t go to New York OR Los Angeles (in fact, those two cities don’t even rank!) … it’s Atlanta:

Georgia isn’t the most gay-friendly state, but Atlanta is undoubtedly our gayest city—with 29 gay bars here, there’s a reason it’s dubbed Hotlanta. Atlanta’s several queer events include one of the nation’s largest Prides in October (returning to Piedmont Park this year), and MondoHomo, a May event celebrating art, drag, burlesque, film, and BBQ. The gay epicenter is Midtown, anchored by Outwrite Books, a giant gay bookstore bucking the national trend—by staying in business! Atlanta guys are hunky, the ladies are gracious, the gay sports leagues are seriously well organized, and its housewives (and their gay BFFs, complete with handbags and heels) are now camp icons. And who doesn’t love the sweet lilt of a Georgia accent on a knockout guy or gal?

I wonder about the Netflix rentals as a factor — in NYC and LA, gay people can go see gay films in theaters, or rent them at local video stores, or buy them in video stores, whereas in other cities Netflix is often the only option for viewing these films. Might not be the best barometer. For more on the history of Atlanta’s gay community, check this out.

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Meet Rusty Sexy Boy From Down South

What can I say about this Southern Boy from Alabama except that he is definitely going to be one of our member’s favorites.  Rusty is 5’8” with a hot toned swimmers body and a gorgeous boyish face.  Rusty’s skin is silky smooth with a naturally hairless chest.  Rusty is packing a nice fat 7 inch cock that looks much bigger on his small frame. [MEDIA not found]

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Hawt Eye Candy From Hotlanta! Meet Gorgeous DJ Jay [gallery and music player]

Don't you love it when you can find hot models at one of your gay watering holes?  Jay McCracken is a 25 year-old Hotlanta boy. You can find him tending bar or DJing at Atlanta’s Blake’s on the Park. Can’t make it to Atlanta to experience his DJ skills? Check out some of music.  How about Just EYE CANDY ? [Gallery not found]

ELEKTROMIX 1

Jay McCracken

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Gay Paper’s Editor Quits After Lying About Past - Here's The Rundown

Project Q in Atlanta has the rundown this week which seems that in gay newspapers, as in fashion, one day you are in and the next day you are out. That’s the storyline developing with Atlanta Free Press, which is stumbling out of the gate in the race to replace Southern Voice. Here’s the rundown: • On Nov. 16, Window Media collapses and the crash brings down SoVo and David magazine, among others. Project Q Atlanta brings it to you first. • Two days later, former Southern Voice and David employees, locked out of their offices, return for their belongings, an emotional staff meeting and notice that they won’t be paid for their last weeks of employment. • Project Q Atlanta reports Nov. 23 that Window Media collapsed under the weight of what appears to be $15 million in debt, according to two bankruptcy filings. • On Dec. 3, about 80 people attend a public forum organized by Chris Cash, the SoVo founder who now lives in Texas, and Laura Douglas-Brown, the paper’s last editor, to discuss plans for another pub. They vote on a list of names and settle on GA Voice. • The publishers of the weekly nightlife pub Gaydar marshal their forces to publish Atlanta Free Press on Dec. 10, the first in what may be many attempts to replace SoVo. • Six days later, Dec. 16, the editor of the Atlanta Free Press, Zack Hudson (photo), comes under fire for his 2007 termination from SoVo. The former paper canned Hudson over allegations that he fabricated two stories. In the process, Hudson tells Atlanta Progressive News that he can’t comment on the termination, since the details of a settlement with Window Media over his lawsuit prevent just that.

When APN asked Hudson about the magazine’s claims, he said he could not talk about the incident because he had sued Window Media—owner of Southern Voice, David, and other publications nationwide—and because one of the stipulations of the settlement was that neither party could discuss the incident.

• The next day, Dec. 17, the second issue of Atlanta Free Press hits the streets, still making itself comfortable in the SoVo-labeled newspaper boxes in Midtown. Cover story: “What happened to Brian Wehrle? And why doesn’t the media care?” We do. Check our post from Dec. 14. Project Q Atlanta offers a report about the Hudson drama and details of several other groups looking to publish an LGBT paper. Queerty wonders, “Will You Read Atlanta’s New Gay Newspaper That’s Edited By a Jayson Blair?” Blair is the former New York Times reporter who resigned in 2003 after he was caught plagiarizing and fabricating portions of his stories. • Early on Dec. 18, Atlanta Free Press Publisher Matt Neumann defends Hudson in comments on Project Q Atlanta. He says that despite Hudson offering to resign, he backs his editor and wants him to remain on board. And oh yeah, Hudson lied when he claimed he sued Window Media over his firing, Neumann adds, and the paper knew about Hudson’s firing from SoVo before they hired him. News- and drama-hounds that we are, Project Q Atlanta weighs in with a second piece with Neumann’s comments.

“I stand firmly behind Zack Hudson,” Neumann writes. “He has done a super job at putting a paper together from scratch and getting it out on the street in just a few days. None of us are perfect. None of us [are] without blemish. I am a firm believer in second chances. After all who has more to prove and more motivation than someone given a second chance. I was aware of the prior drama with him and SoVo. Having worked with him on Gaylife and after many meetings, I decided we had our man.”

• Later that same day, Dec. 18, Atlanta Progressive News Editor Matt Cardinale stands by his article about Hudson in comments on Project Q Atlanta and says what the paper didn’t report about Hudson is even more “astonishing” than what it did publish.

I appreciate the fact that Neumann admits that Hudson lied to me about the alleged lawsuit preventing him from commenting on the alleged fabrication. However, I thought Zack and I were friends. The idea that he would lie to me I find personally hurtful and offensive. The fact that AFP would retain someone who admits to lying to a reporter—even after giving that person a second chance after being fired for allegedly fabricating two stories at another publication—is astonishing. Let me just say that sources families with matter shared with me more details on the entire series of lies which led to the Sovo termination—and they’re even more astonishing.

• On Sunday—that’s Dec. 20 for those keeping the box score—Atlanta Progressive News reports that Hudson is out. Huh? Yes, that’s right. Chip O’Kelley, a partner with Neumann in publishing Gaydar and Atlanta Free Press, says Hudson is out, Contributing Editor Xanna Don’t is now interim editor, and he’s pulling an Al “I am in control here” Haig moment and taking the reins of the paper’s business ops away from Neumann. O’Kelley adds that he and Neumann didn’t know about Hudson’s SoVo termination until details surfaced last week.

“After reading your email, after sitting down and talking to Matt, personally I was always for getting rid of Zack… We sat down and talked about it and a decision was made,” O’Kelley said. As for Neumann’s comments on Project Q, “Unfortunately, Matt did a knee jerk reaction,” O’Kelley said. He added that the two co-owners both have busy, sometimes conflicting schedules, and that they had not been able to discuss the matter when the APN story first broke.

• Early Monday, Creative Loafing weighs in: “Enter drama — and on the one month anniversary of SoVo’s closing no less.” Bravo’s calling. They see the drama and want to talk reality show.

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New Atlanta Gay Print Publication (Georgia Voice) Set To Launch

The former editor of the now-defunct gay and lesbian newspaper Southern Voice has announced she will be launching a new publication early next year called Georgia Voice.

Last month, Window Media, which owned the Southern Voice, the Washington Blade and other publications, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, silencing some of the strongest of the voices for the LGBT movement and leaving about a dozen former Southern Voice staffers without paychecks.

Not to be defeated however, Chris Cash, the former owner of the Southern Voice, and Laura Douglas-Brown, the former editor, began a drive to save the publication soon after the Southern Voice was shut down permanently by it creditors and obtained a $12,000 matching grant from the Lloyd E. Grant Foundation of Atlanta.

“It became so clear in such a short period of time how much this publication was needed,” Douglas-Brown told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, last month.

Douglas-Brown has her work cut out for her, and is now busy contacting potential staffers and advertisers.

Douglas-Brown and Cash are also reaching out to the Atlanta LGBT community to help raise more seed money for the new venture at www.savesovo.com and are looking for donations from SoVo supporters to help get their project off the ground.

In an interview yesterday with Atlanta Public Radio station WABE Douglas-Brown said her top priority is making the new publication financially sustainable…  

“That will mean certainly a smaller staff than Southern Voice and David magazine shared. It will mean using more freelancers, and it might even mean using volunteers. There are certainly people who have volunteered to help us on a pro-bono basis as we get started.”

Douglas-Brown also said in the interview, while some publications have become Web-only, she really wants to get out a traditional a print version of the publication.  

“You want to be first and fast on the Web and sometimes that doesn’t leave as much time to look at the big picture of a story, really get analysis and feedback, and thats what we see doing in the print publication.” Story: WABE: New gay publication planned for Atlanta 2009-12-08.

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Country Boy Dixon Comes To Atlanta (SouthernStrokes)

Once again I have stumbled across another hot southern boy that just makes my mouth water.  Dixon is a 22 year old farmer from deep in the south.  I talked to him on the phone a few times before he finally was able to make it up to the Lake House.  Each time I heard his voice, I just couldn’t get enough. Dixon has done a little amateur body building so I knew that he was going to be fun to work with. Dixon’s 3 hour drive to the Lake House required him to go right through downtown Atlanta.  He gave me a call when he hit Atlanta to make sure that his directions were correct and also to let me know that he was a little nervous because he had never been on a six-lane road before.  There is just something about the innocence of these sweet country boys that I just find so sexy.  Their proper upbringing just makes them tell it like it is.  I just wanted to reach through the phone and give him a big hug. When Dixon finally arrived, I could tell that he was really nervous.  He said that he was expecting to do the filming at an office not a house.  This was the first time that he had ever considered doing anything like this and he just wanted to make sure that the crew wasn’t going to tie him up and take advantage of him.  (not that everyone didn’t want to).   Once we showed him around and walked him through the shoot, he seemed to relax a bit. We decided that we were going to film Dixon in our bathtub.  We had just put the new bathroom in and we had been waiting for the right model to crisen it.  One look at Dixon and I knew that we had made the right choice.   Dixon loved the idea of being filmed taking a bath and he really got into it.  As I mentioned, Dixon had done some amateur body building so he was a natural when it came to the photo shoot.  We must have taken 500 pictures and I swear that there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch. Dixon spends his summers working on the farm helping out his family.  Man what I wouldn’t give to spend my days watching him work without his shirt on.  At 6’ tall this country boy is ripped from head to toe.  At first glance, he just looks like your average farmer but when he starts flexing his muscles, he transforms into this hot sexy man that just begs attention.  Dixon’s cock is every bit of 8 inches and he loves to show it off. He has a nice round ass to complete the package.   Dixon really got into the video in the bath tub.  Watching him stroke his hard suds covered cock and play with his tight hole was one of the hottest videos we have filmed at the Lake House.  Don’t miss his thick white cum covering his chest and abs.  Dixon will definitely be back for more.

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Atlanta Police Department Sued Over Gay Bar Raid

A national gay rights group filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police Department on behalf of 19 people who say they were illegally searched and detained during a late-night raid on a crowded gay bar.The lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal and other groups contends that the police department backed an illegal policy of searching and detaining every patron of the Atlanta Eagle Bar, regardless of whether they were suspected of a crime. It said terrorized patrons were forced to lie on beer-soaked floors while police conducted background checks and hurled anti-gay slurs. None of the 62 patrons were arrested during the Sept. 10 raid on the midtown Atlanta bar, but eight employees were charged with code violations. Roger Bhandari, the city's attorney, declined comment because he has not yet reviewed the lawsuit. Police officials, who also declined comment, said at the time they were responding to anonymous tips alleging drug use and sexual activity at the bar. Police records show that undercover officers had also been to the club and witnessed men having sex while others watched. The raid has galvanized the city's gay community, leading upset activists to host rallies, prod Atlanta's mayoral candidates and file complaints claiming the officers used excessive force and anti-gay language. The legal challenge is the strongest step yet, calling for a stop to similar bar raids and financial damages for the victim. "The police thought they could get away with something that is so blatantly off the chain illegal," said Dan Grossman, an attorney for several of the plaintiffs. "They thought this was a soft target of people who wouldn't defend themselves, but they would do this to anyone." Four plaintiffs said they didn't see any illegal activity at the bar at the time of the raid, and that the patrons were enjoying drinks, watching TV and playing pool when the police came in. Several said they thought the bar was being invaded by criminals, not uniformed officers. "My first thought was, 'We're getting robbed,'" said Geoffrey Calhoun, 35, who is a 911 dispatcher. He said he felt "dehumanized" by the raid. Mark Danak was relaxing at the bar after his weekly choir practice and had just asked the bartender to flip the TV to the Georgia Tech football game when he heard an officer shout "Hit the ground." He said he spent the next hour with his face on the floor. "I'm sorry, that was not right," said Danak, a 38-year-old IT operator. "When rights get violated like this, people need to stand up." The lawsuit seeks police documents detailing how often these types of raids are conducted and asks a federal judge to block them. Gerry Weber of the Southern Center for Human Rights said doing so would be a first step in delivering justice to the bar's patrons. "It's not about gay or straight, black or white," said Weber. "It's about innocents being treated as criminals." ___ On the Net: http://www.lambdalegal.org

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Folded 'Southern Voice' Founder, Editor Working to Launch New Atlanta Gay Paper

Details continue to emerge one week after the shutdown of Atlanta’s leading LGBT publications Southern Voice and David, including the amount of debt, who was owed and whether they will ever get paid back. Former SoVo/David owners Window Media and Unite Media filed separate petitions Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of Georgia.  Project Q Atlanta reviews the reports. Here’s a breakdown of that $15 million debt figure:

The 94-page filing from Window and the 48-page filing from Unite offer details of two companies that faced severe financial struggles. Window lists claims of nearly $7.85 million to 277 secured and unsecured creditors, while Unite’s claims include $7.5 million to 126 creditors. Combined, the companies owe $1.04 million in payroll and other taxes to federal, state and local agencies; $418,189 to printers in several states; $168,109 in rent in Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Washington, D.C.; $71,798 to distributors of the former publications; and $4,500 to two companies providing health insurance.

And for anyone who has tried to collect from a company only to find that they have filed for Chapter 7, you know how this story ends when it comes to getting that money back:  

Both companies filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which means liquidating any assets with proceeds going to creditors after administrative expenses are paid. But vendors and former employees, some of whom weren’t paid for four weeks when the companies closed, likely won’t see proceeds from the bankruptcy. The companies say in the filings that they estimate there will be no funds to pay unsecured creditors after bankruptcy. The cases receive their first hearing before Chief Judge Mary Grace Diehl in Atlanta on Dec. 7.

So first dibs on any money from Window Media and Unite Media go to the secured creditors, Avalon Equity Funding and M&T Bank, who are owed roughly $12.5 million combined.  That leaves out in the cold the people whose plight is causing such an outpouring of support in the LGBT community and beyond.

The company struggled with paying freelancers and those financial difficulties later impacted its fulltime employees. Earlier this year, paychecks were often delayed a week or more and payments were staggered among employees. Former employees said Wednesday they did not receive their last paycheck, which was due two days earlier. They expect to lose up to four weeks of pay. Scores of freelancers are also owed thousands of dollars, according to the bankruptcy filings. Three freelance photographers in two states are owed more than $12,000.

As reported Friday, former SoVo editor Laura Douglas-Brown has a website up and is in the planning stages of starting a new “community-owned, community-led” LGBT news outlet.  Details about that and other LGBT publications in town trying to capture SoVo and David’s wandering audience are building daily. UPDATE: It should be noted that Window Media and Unite Media not only owned Southern Voice and David but several other publications across the country as well, including the Washington Blade, South Florida Blade and 411 Magazine.  Therefore the figures quoted in regards to the debt that caused the shutdowns involved ALL of Window Media and Unite Media’s holdings.