This year’s event will once again benefit Atlanta Pride.  New this year, sharing the billing with Atlanta’s favorite festival organizers, is the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative.

East Point Possum spokesperson and co-founder, John Jeffrey said of the charity pairing, “We couldn’t be more pleased to have 2 of Atlanta’s oldest and most well respected organizations both benefitting from this event!”

The full event lineup will be announced in mid-May, but is already shaping up to be an impressive cast!  The program will feature show organizers, The East Point Possums, as well as the much-anticipated return of Drag Super Star, Gigi Monroe; perennial favorites, Ginny Tonic – a founding member of the Armorettes, and Alexandria Martin, along with the indomitable Armorette, Wild Cherry Sucrette; the East Point Villagers, and several other crowd favorites from year’s past as well as some newcomers – and as always with this entertaining event, a few surprises will be in store!

Possums Matriarch and co-founder, Rick Westbrook said of the event, “We have people from all over the region come out for the show – it really is a great showcase for the inclusive community we have in East Point.”  He also noted, “This year, with adding the ALHI as a benefactor along with our friends at Atlanta Pride, we continue to grow and do what we’ve always tried to do with this event- increase exposure for our benefactors, serve our community in a unique way, and showcase the amazing work that our non-profit partners do for all of us.”

East Point Possums co-founder, Chesley Thurman stated, “This is truly a community event.  The show is designed so that every penny of the proceeds goes to benefit the charity for that year, or in this case- ‘charities.’ Atlanta Pride, ALHI and the East Point Possums volunteers will work to get everything donated – from the stage to signage and everything in between.  Sponsors offset other costs; performers donate their time; all the tips are pooled and given directly to the non-profit organizations.”  Thurman continued, “Atlanta Pride is a great organization that everyone is familiar with, and we hope to introduce more people to the Health Initiative.  This event is an easy way to be supportive – just bring a bunch of dollar bills and have a good time with your friends!”

Atlanta Pride Executive Director, JP Sheffield said, “We were thrilled when the Possums approached us about selecting Atlanta Pride as the 2009 beneficiary, and so excited to be included again in 2010 along with one of our long-time partners in the ALHI.”  Sheffield added,

“This is the kind of community event that is the cornerstone of Atlanta Pride.  We serve the community, but in order for us to do that effectively, we need the community to support us, and this partnership with both the Health Initiative and the Possums does so in such a fun and entertaining way.  We hope everyone comes out for this great event!”

Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative Executive Director, Linda Ellis added, “It is such a great opportunity for us – it is a way to allow our constituents to have a wonderful time supporting us, it is a platform for us to discuss the many programs we offer, we will have an opportunity to introduce ourselves to new supporters and clients – and to do all of this in partnership with our friends at both Atlanta Pride, and the East Point Possums organization is a significant moment for us.”

More details about the 13^th Annual East Point Possums Show will be made available in the coming weeks.  In the meantime- mark your calendars for June 19^th.

APC is planning the 2010 festival to take place October 9 and 10 in Piedmont Park, pending the permitting process. This decision was based on numerous factors including finances, feedback from attendees and vendors, the welfare of the park and the ability to have adequate time to plan and execute a successful event. “The 2010 festival marks the 40th anniversary for APC and we are grateful to the Parks Department and the City Officials that worked to make sure we will stay in Piedmont Park,” said APC Events Manager JP Sheffield.

Through the intensive fundraising, partnership and cost containment efforts of Sheffield and the Pride Board, APC will begin the 2010 fiscal year in a better financial position than the 2009 year began. “This is excellent news for APC and the Atlanta LGBTQ community,” said Board Chair Deirdre Heffernan. “Last year was a difficult year. But again, our community shows its resilience. Even with all the challenges that we faced, our community came together and made a success of our October event.”

These earlier October dates will enable the 2010 Pride event to build on and highlight National Coming Out Day (NCOD), which is observed on October 11th in the United States. APC intends on promoting the the Atlanta Pride Festival in markets across the country in hopes of becoming one of the largest events in the nation occurring on NCOD.

APC can also confirm a continuation of the partnership with the Georgia Aquarium. The Official Kickoff Party will take place Friday, October 8th at the Aquarium. “With the first Official Pride Kickoff event under our belt, we look forward to making next year’s event bigger and better with lots of new surprises to be announced over the coming months,” said Will Ramsey, the Georgia Aquarium’s Vice President, Sales.

Additionally, just as they did for 2009, APC will be organizing events and activities throughout 2010 to build enthusiasm for Pride 2010, including special events during the month of June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The 2009 Stonewall Week calendar consisted of approximately two dozen community based events, ranging from bar events and pool parties to political gatherings and a preview of the Human Rights Exhibit. APC is committed to putting together a strong line-up of activities and events in June that will celebrate and honor our community’s rich history, while also building excitement for the October festival.

*Due to complications from the drought of 2007, Pride 2008 and other class A events were required by the City of Atlanta to find alternative venues in which to hold their events. The switch of venue and date in 2008 resulted in lower than anticipated attendance and revenue, which left APC in serious financial straits. Fueled by the combination of the dire financial situation and overwhelming community feedback that Pride should return to green space, APC worked to find a solution for returning to the park. With the assistance of City Officials and the Parks Department, Atlanta Pride took place in Piedmont Park October 31-November 1st.

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.

For that, you have our most sincere gratitude.

With the announcement of our move back home to Piedmont Park – with a date change to Halloween Weekend – we are receiving a refreshing amount of positive response from people excited about the possibilities, and we are also hearing requests for more detail on how we came to that decision.

We are happy to share the efforts we made. And we are just as excited to remind everyone that we are more confident and determined than ever to make sure the 2009 October event will stay true to the real meaning of Pride: celebration of our achievements, reverence for our past and a welcoming environment for those not yet fully “out” who will lead our future struggles toward full equality.

We have heard from some concerned people that moving Pride from June does not pay homage to gay history. To the contrary, we are actually very excited that the new date falls during National LGBT History Month, which also includes National Coming Out Day. Both events go directly to remembering where we’ve been and recognizing the personal and political value of being true to ourselves by living openly.

And we haven’t forgotten Stonewall and its anniversary in June. Our plans include a dynamic lineup of June events with partners representing a wide spectrum of our community. These events, from politics to parties to the commemoration, will energize everyone and build toward our October celebration. Ideas for multiple events in June should suit the varied tastes of our patrons. As those plans are solidified, we will be eager to share those with you.

We also want you to know that we realize that the festival’s traditional June date, as well as our home park, is important to many of you. We understand that the date change is not ideal for everyone, but we also know that it will not break our spirit. The Pride Committee quickly realized that putting Pride back in Piedmont Park, or another usable, affordable greenspace was the only option to make the organization financially whole. We also look forward to 2010, when drought circumstances improve and more options are available.

The Atlanta Pride Committee takes our duty very seriously. We share the following details of our work these past months in hopes that concerned parties know how much we’ve accomplished, and to assure everyone that we anticipate a successful Atlanta Pride this year and well into the future.

What happened since the 2008 festival that got us here?

Amidst continuing drought restrictions that allow only one major festival in Piedmont per April-to-October Festival Season (Dogwood has the park in April), the Pride Committee agreed to, and then announced, that the 2009 Pride festival would be held in Central Park adjacent to the Atlanta Civic Center. Then the reality of that agreement set in.

A Central Park festival, while in June, required an estimated $150,000 porta-floor to protect the greenscapes and hardscapes of the park. As Pride struggles to overcome the challenges of 2008, the porta-floors alone were cost-prohibitive. Other caveats on using Central Park included no stages or set up on the fields, placing all festival patrons on directly on the field and costs for any foot-traffic damage squarely on the Pride Committee.

We needed a creative solution and looked at several other venues, including detailed logistical and cost analysis on Grant Park and Centennial Park, among other venues. Several options over months led us to plead our case to the City of Atlanta to satisfy the number one comment from our constituents: How can we get back in Piedmont Park?

The Parks Department and the City Council were responsive to our concerns, and by holding the festival at the end of October, we not only comply with their Festival Season rules, but are also able to take advantage of the cooler weather, the energy around Halloween and most importantly, the spirit of LGBT History Month.

In other words, Halloween was not our first choice. But we are committed to making the most of it. In a year of change and collaboration, we need your support now and into the future so that Atlanta can continue to enjoy Pride as it has for nearly 40 years.

Is Atlanta Pride in financial trouble?

In short, yes. But don’t be alarmed. Making sure that the event is sustainable for the future is a top priority, and the threats to the solvency we’ve enjoyed for many years are challenges that we must view as opportunities to recover. We know that our renewed energy as Pride Committee Members, a revitalized commitment from our sponsors, and support from each and every lesbian, gay man, bisexual and transgender person in Atlanta, can turn it around.

The unfortunate circumstances of the last year left us strapped for operating expenses, and like many organizations, that necessitated tough decisions and creative thinking. But we remain committed to the values of Pride. The perseverance of our community has proven itself throughout history, and we know that by pulling together, we can clear this hurdle.

What can you do?

That’s a good question. Our theme this year, PRIDE BEGINS WITH YOU, reflects the start of a good answer. Whether you can offer your time or skills, your monetary investment, or simply your word-of-mouth support, we welcome your collaboration. Quite frankly, we exist for you, and you are part of the process.

Let us know how you’d like to participate. Ideas and solutions are always welcome as we move forward. In the meantime, come aboard for what we know will be an amazing year of chances to honor Pride leading up to a climactic October to inspire the best in all of us. After all, it’s ultimately not about a venue or date, but about each of us individually and collectively. It’s a matter of Pride.

With Pride,

Your Atlanta Pride Committee
http://www.atlantapride.org