Atlanta-born Kaki King wouldn't dream of joining her parents' law firm. This whiz kid guitarist would rather be out touring with the Foo Fighters or promoting her most recent album, Dreaming Of Revenge, for which she's just started a national tour. We've included its first single, "Pull Me Out Alive."

The 28-year old recently took some time from her hectic schedule - and a Play-Doh fight with a two-year old - to chat with our editor about venturing into the world of vocals, why being vulnerable rocks and the differences between writing for albums and composing for films, as she did for Into The Wild.

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A particularly prickly HRC staffer just sent us this note with regard to our Atlanta drive-by follow-up:

You know, I get the point of Queerty. I really do. (And as my boss Joe Solmonese has proven, we HRC “suckers” actually do have a sense of humor.) But labeling a person – even in jest - who may help police find and arrest a person who fired into a crowd of innocent people as a “snitch” is just baffling.

Apparently this person doesn't understand street slang - not that we can blame an HRC staffer for being out of touch. Or perhaps this person simply can't comprehend our uber-highbrow humor.

Will video catch Atlanta's anti-gay gun man? Coppers certainly hope so.

The Atlanta police department released this still of the man accused of a drive-by shooting at Wetbar.

The ugly incident went down last week after this man (allegedly) spouted homophobic epithets, got into his car and then opened fire on a crowd outside the popular night spot. So, anyone out there recognize this dude or dudette? If so, call the coppers 404-577-8477.

The snitch with the most useful information gets two grand.

"I realize biology commits many reproductive errors. Homosexuality can be one of them." So wrote high school student Thomas Benjamin, who thinks gays don't deserve to marry.

Those words appeared in an editorial in Atlanta-located Kell High's newspaper, sparking a controversy over what should and should not be printed on school grounds.

Though she knew people would be upset over Benjamin's piece, Kell High principal Trudie Donovan says it's not her place to censor students, "My job is the safety and security of the school, not censorship." School officials agree: Donovan should have printed the piece. The paper's now looking for a counter-point editorial to take on Benjamin's exclusionary beliefs.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's fired up about Craigslist. The politico's pissed over some some pimps allegedly using the site to turn out their girls.

Craigslist representatives haven't definitively commented, but we all know there are some enterprising individuals using the popular community website to pay their rent.

In honor of these virtual - and literal - whores, this week's Trolling Tuesday takes a little look at some of the hookers and johns that make people's sex lives go 'round.

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There's a "dangerous ongoing situation" in Atlanta's Piedmont Park, says the Midtown Ponce Security Alliance. And when they say "dangerous," they either mean "brown," "trans hookers" or "dancing". Regardless, all of which are a "problem".

MPSA representative Steve Gower distributed a "safety report" to the gay friendly neighborhood's residents lamenting a group of black and Latin men who gather in the public park every Sunday.

Denouncing the group's alleged fights, drug use and nebulous "assorted illegal activities," the letter really speaks for its hilariously ignorant self, after the jump.

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Atlanta-based Reverend Bradley Schmeling ain't backing down despite being asked to leave the pulpit. Schmeling came under congregational fire earlier this year after telling St. John's Lutheran brass that he found a long-term lover, thus violating the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's queer celibacy policy.

Even though Bishop Ronald Warren knew of Schmeling's yen for dick when he hired him in 2000, the recent turn of events, however, have led Warren to push for Schmeling's sacking.

A disciplinary committee ordered Warren and his peers to wait until August's Evangelical Lutheran Church in America conference before making a final decision. Another committee, however, decided this week that Schmeling must leave immediately. Schmeling, however, refuses.

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It's Tuesday, readers. You know what that means: It's time for Tuesday Trolling - when we compile the most thought-provoking, disease-spreading and skin-crawling of Craigslist's sexverts.

We're taking a little diversion this week to highlight a worrisome, touching and actually thought-provoking post sent from an Atlanta-based reader. It's since been flagged for removal from the M4M section. Luckily our reader comes fulled equipped for foresight and copied the text, which we've included after the jump.

It's unedited and not for the faint of heart. Or those looking to stay addicted to meth….

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Some distressing news out of Atlanta, readers. Two gay men apparently tried of off themselves after losing their business and being diagnosed with HIV. Warning, it's pretty horrifying:

Two Atlanta men survived an attempt to kill themselves Friday by cutting off their arms with a circular saw, according to Atlanta Police Major Lane Hagin.
…
The two men — ages 40 and 41 — left a suicide note with the manager of their Atlanta apartment building saying they were committing suicide because their business had failed and they were recently diagnosed with HIV, Hagin said.

After reading the note, the manager called police who found the two men in their apartment with “a lot of blood,” the major said.

These dudes must have really wanted to die. Seriously, a circular saw? Wouldn't a razor blade across the wrist have done the trick (and conserved energy). But, still, we have to say it's sad to hear such tales. HIV isn't a death sentence, homies. All you need is a good attitude. As for the business. Well, we hear there's an opening at New York's ABC affiliate (see below).

• Some pranksters have been sending "urgent" text messages telling people to call a UK gay and lesbian hotline, thus tying up their precious gay resources. Those sneaks!

• Speaking of sneaks, Scooter Libby's lawyer alleges the Bush Administration set him to take the fall for that whole Valerie Plame/CIA leak.

• The hearing against gay Rev. Bradley Schmeling - the Lutheran reverend asked to step down for having a gay partner" - just ended in Atlanta. Officials hope to issue a decision in about two weeks. We're itching with anticipation. Oh, wait, that's no anticipation. Ew, what is that…oh…oh no…

• A group of Minnesota parents have made good on promises and are raising hell over GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week. Sure, they're not down with name-calling, but they are against fags.

• Can't get enough of somewhat notable gay actor Jason Stuart? Well, watch this video from ten years ago. It's somewhat funny. No mention of Alejandro Rey, unfortunately.

• "…All the surveys say that evangelicals have the best sex life of any other group," says disgraced Evan. pastor Ted Haggard in Alexandra Pelosi's new documentary, Friends of God.

Speaking of discrimination: it seems that the License & Permits Unit of Atlanta's Police Department is none-too-fond of masseurs with HIV.

That's what James Dustin (pictured) found out the hard way. It seem that they consider the risk of blood-to-blood contact between masseur and client to be so high, that Dustin has qualified as a "direct threat" to HIV transmission. As such, he can't get official permission to practice his sensual craft.

The Southern Voice reports:

Individuals seeking a massage permit in Atlanta must complete a series of applications, pay $250 in fees and consent to a criminal background check. They must also submit proof of certification, reference letters, two photographs and a health certificate to the License & Permits Unit.

The health certificate requires a doctor’s signature indicating the applicant is “in sound mental and physical health, and free of all contagious or communicable diseases.” HIV/AIDS is considered a communicable disease, although it can only be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids such as blood and semen.

Obviously this is direct discrimination and, as they're wont to do, the ACLU has joined the fight in over-turning the HIV qualification. ACLU Legal Director Beth Littrell says, "Any administrative action that categorically denies people to practice their trade, that has no foundation in public safety and public health, is blatantly prejudicial."

We have to ask: is the License and Permits Unit really concerned about blood-to-blood contact? We're more inclined to think they're worried about the semen. No one asks for a bloody ending, now do they?

That there's a new campaign from The Atlanta Meth Task Force. Scary shit, right? Well, not as scary as meth itself, a drug which at least 10% of gay men have admitted to using in the past six months (although, we suspect the number's a bit higher).
According to The Southern Voice:

…65 to 70 percent of gay and bisexual men in Atlanta has at least one friend who has used crystal meth, and 75 percent believe the drug is responsible for the rise in HIV among gay men in Atlanta.

The article goes on to say:

Atlanta’s location along several interstates has made the city the crystal meth hub of the southeast, and is one of the reasons it “has the fastest growing rates of meth use than any metropolitan area in the country,” according to [Brian] Dew [Founder of the Task Force].

In an effort to curb meth use in the ATL, the Task Force will be plastering its campaign all over town. In addition, Dew will be speaking at a Atlanta Executive Network meeting on September 28th (Tomorrow).

Get on out there and get some information, or be damned.

We've been around the block, so we're not surprised by much, but we did jolt a little when we read this story. Former Atlanta Attorney General Mike Bowers (pictured at a press conference after admitting to having an adulterous relationship) has been chosen by the Atlanta Bar Association to receive its prestigious leadership award. We're all about people being rewarded for their work (hint, hint), but when said honoree fought to maintain anti-sodomy laws… well, we don't like that so much.

The Stonewall Bar Association decried the proposed honor in a letter saying:

Members in our community suffered for almost an additional two decades because of him… The fact that he pushed very hard in that case, where he had discretion not to, kind of speaks to where his feelings were.

Richard Herzog, president of the Atlanta Bar Association, replied in a letter:

Giving a leadership award does not imply that every member of the Atlanta Bar Association agrees with every action or position of the Honoree.

Well, he certainly told them, didn't he?