Gay Atlanta nightlife veterans buy Midtown Tavern

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) on March 27 released the 11th edition of its annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), which scores healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. A record 626 healthcare facilities actively participated in this year’s survey, committing to LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. Of facilities surveyed, 418 earned a top score of 100, and received HRC’s coveted “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation. In addition, the HRC Foundation proactively researched key policies at more than 900 non-participating hospitals across the nation.

However, Georgia was one of eight states or territories not to have a single facility receive an LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader designation. Three Georgia facilities — Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital in Tucker and VA Carl Vinson Medical Center in Dublin — were named “Top Performers” for scoring between 80 and 95 points on the index.

“While the 2018 HEI shows a growing commitment across the nation to equitable and inclusive health care, it also illustrates work left to be done,” said Tari Hanneman, director of the HRC Foundation’s Health Equality Project and author of the HEI in a news release. “And that work has never been more urgent, given the all-out assaults on the LGBTQ community from the highest levels of government.”

While still smarting from the closings of Jungle and Burkhart’s, Atlanta can appreciate a dose of good news on the LGBTQ nightlife front. Former Jungle owner Richard Cherskov has partnered with popular nightlife event creator Keith Young to buy Midtown Tavern, a bar and restaurant on Piedmont Avenue.

Project Q Atlanta reported that the pair closed on the purchase of the business on March 26 and will run Midtown Tavern through an operating agreement with its former owner until they secure a liquor license. The deal included a long-term lease on the nearly 5,500-square-foot property at the corner of Piedmont and Linden avenues near Central Park and Publix.

“To be able to announce a new gay space with a team of people that have experience in making these spaces work, I am beyond excited,” Cherskov told Project Q.

Young added, “We are very excited. We are doing everything we can to keep Atlanta nightlife fresh and make sure it continues to prosper.”

The pair plan to expand the venue’s food and entertainment offerings to add drag shows and Sunday brunch. Plus, Midtown Tavern will be the new home of The Other Show, the weekly drag troupe that performed at Jungle for five years until the club’s closure last November.

“We are so excited to come back and work with Richard and all of the rest of the staff returning from our previous venture with them,” Edie Cheezburger, the host and creator of The Other Show, told Project Q. “The space is phenomenal. I can’t wait for everybody to see it. It is the perfect cabaret setting for the show.”

The Other Show will debut at Midtown Tavern on April 13.