Atlanta Pride thanks U.S. Rep. John Lewis for ENDA support
Friday, July 3 2009 12:46PM EDT
The Atlanta Pride Committee sent the following letter last week to Congressman John Lewis (D-Atlanta District 5) for his unwavering support of the most recent, all-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination bill now before Congress. The bill includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. To write Congressman Lewis yourself, please visit his website. Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson (District 4) also signed onto the bill; thank him at his website. If you are in another district, a few clicks of the mouse can help you find your own Congress member and urge them to support this important piece of legislation.
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DEAR CONGRESSMAN LEWIS: The Atlanta Pride Committee would like to thank you for your ongoing support of the LGBT community. We were reminded of your continued commitment when we heard that you quickly signed the inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) bill introduced last week by Representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis. We're so proud that you see the importance of including protection for all people based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and we appreciate your work to gain even more support for the bill from your fellow Congress members. Our community simply could not have made the gains we have without the support of right-minded public servants like yourself. Thank you again for joining this bi-partisan effort in accordance with your long-standing partnership with the GLBT members of your constituency. Sincerely,
Atlanta Pride Board and Committee
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Congratulations Necole Luv Dupree: Miss Atlanta Pride 2009
Saturday, June 27 2009 2:45PM EDT
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Photo by Kristofer Reynolds Photography |
MISS ATLANTA PRIDE 2009 NECOLE LUV DUPREE NECOLE LUV DUPREE was named the first-ever
MISS ATLANTA PRIDE on June 26 at the W Hotel.
The competition was fierce, but Necole ultimately
won over the judges. Her Talent performance of
famous monologues climaxed with Dixie Carter's
"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia"
speech from TV's Designing Women.
As Miss Atlanta Pride 2009, Necole receives
$1,000, a featured performance at the 2009
Pride festival, a prime spot in this year's Nov. 1
Atlanta Pride parade, and the crown and title
courtesy Georgia USofA pageants.
The Pride Committee is proud of Necole,
and we thank Georgia USofA, all of the
contestants and judges, for a great show.
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Why is Pride in October?
Monday, June 1 2009 11:05AM EDT
Our patrons from outside Atlanta are beginning to ask similar questions that local patrons raised in January, when we announced the Atlanta Pride festival's return to Piedmont Park, to take place in October this year. In short, the historic drought of 2007 and 2008 forced the Parks Department to make the difficult decision to restrict festival use of the park this summer, including Pride's traditional date in June. The Atlanta City Council and the Parks Department offered us the new dates, so that we could return to our traditional home. The choice was an October festival, or no Atlanta Pride festival in 2009. No one was willing to accept the latter option, and we are excited about the fresh ideas that came out of a difficult situation.
When the move was announced in January, we promised to honor Pride's traditional June date with a series of events in commemoration of Stonewall's 40th anniversary. With several community partners, Stonewall Week's slate of diverse parties, rallies, shows, pageants, concerts, galas and other events contained more than 20 options to come together and show our Pride in June, and to ramp up community excitement for the Atlanta Pride festival's return to Piedmont Park in October. The Pride Committee worked tirelessly to make Stonewall Week a success, and we were blown away by the response and results.
For details on why Atlanta's LGBT community got two Seasons of Celebration this year, read our Open Letter to the Community that went out in January.
President Obama acknowledges LGBT contributions in Pride Month Proclamation
Thursday, June 4 2009 12:13PM EDT
On June 1, U.S. President Barack Obama issued the first presidential LGBT proclamation since Bill Clinton to declare June as LGBT Pride Month. In the document, the president acknowledges the history and continuation of the LGBT struggle for equal rights, our contributions to American society, as well as his LGBT appointees and issues he'd like to address in his administration, including the elimination of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
"LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society," the letter states in part.
Read the Presidential Proclamation in full on the White House web site.
Atlanta Pride expands its Friends of Pride donation program
Wednesday, March 11 2009 3:10PM EDT
The buzz surrounding Atlanta Pride’s return to Piedmont Park on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 proves that Pride remains a vital, highly visible part of the LGBT movement. It’s clear that patrons consider Atlanta Pride part of their lives, and feel a sense of ownership in Pride’s success. In that spirit, the expanded Friend of Pride donation program went online today; it recognizes and rewards all contributions from $1 and up, a real push to create grassroots support from all facets of the community.
