September 28th, 2010
120 Individuals Selected to Serve in 3 Categories
The 2010 Atlanta Pride Committee announced today that the Parade will feature 3 Grand Marshal Categories. Each category will feature 40 individuals who have served the LGBTQ community of Georgia in exemplary ways, in honor of Atlanta Pride’s 40th Anniversary. “As much as this is an opportunity to honor selected individuals, it is also an opportunity to provide our patrons a visual of how expansive our movement really is, and to see that there are a vast number of people working on their behalf,” said JP Sheffield, Atlanta Pride Executive Director.
“Compiling a list of 120 Grand Marshals was no small task, but we feel like the people selected are a great representation of our City and State. Even though it meant releasing these names later than usual, the end product is worth the wait.” Sheffield continued, “What we’ve done is effectively create a march within the parade.”
This is the first time that straight allies will also be able to carry the title “Grand Marshal.” In years past, that designation was limited to individuals within the LGBTQ community, while straight allies were able to become “Honorary Marshals.”
Atlanta Pride would like to thank Georgia Equality and the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition for their help in pulling together these lists. Please note, honorees to not appear in any specific order.
Grand Marshal Categories:
The Legislative 40: Individuals that have worked to effect change for LGBTQ people in the realm of statewide political action and/or legislative initiatives. These individuals may be or have been members of the Georgia General Assembly, lobbyists at the State Capitol, advocates for legislative initiatives, etc. These individuals are representative of the multiple layers of involvement necessary to have positive outcomes at the state level.
Legislative 40
1. Hon. Alex Wan
2. Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan
3. Hon. Brian Bates
4. Hon. Cathy Woolard
5. Ed Stansell
6. Gil Robinson
7. Jamie Ensley
8. Jamie Roberts
9. Jeff Cleghorn
10. Jerry Gonzalez
11. Commissioner Joan Garner
12. Julianna Illari
13. Rep. Karla Drenner
14. Kathleen Womack
15. Rep. Kathy Ashe
16. Ken Britt
17. Kyle Williams
18. Hon. Lance Rhodes
19. Larry Pellegrini
20. Lawrie Demorest
21. Linda Lowe
22. Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver
23. Rep. Mike Jacobs
24. Monica Helms
25. Sen. Nan Orrock
26. Rep. Pat Gardner
27. Rep. Pedro Marin
28. Rep. Simone Bell
29. Tim Cairl
30. Sen. Vincent Fort
31. Elizabeth Johnston
32. Harry Knox
33. Judy Colbs
34. Hon. Kathie deNobriga
35. Rep. Tyrone Brooks
36. Hon. Michelle Bruce
37. Paul Horning
38. Rep. Stephanie Benfield
39. Susan Saleska Hamilton
40. Kay Young (Posthumous)
The Education 40: Individuals that have worked to effect change for LGBTQ people in the realm of public education in Georgia. These individuals may be or have been teachers, school counselors, school board members, PTA members, students, parents, etc. These individuals advocate or have advocated for LGBTQ students (or perceived LGBTQ students), students with LGBTQ parents, and/or school LGBTQ faculty/staff.
1. Maru Gonzalez, M.Ed
2. Anneliese A. Singh, PhD, LPC
3. Mr. Jesse McNulty, M.Ed
4. Dr. Corey W. Johnson
5. Jeannie Senter (MS, PT)
6. Dale Merkle (PhD)
7. Dr. Shannon J. Miller
8. Jillian Ford
9. Austin Laufersweiler
10. Irma Starr Ph.D
11. Jonah Berkowitz, Ed.S.
12. Lenore Katz
13. Bob Hill
14. Emily Graybill, Ed.S.
15. Holiday Simmons
16. Jessica “Jetta” Allen
17. Susana Edith Soto
18. Matt LeBrun
19. Alex Oxford
20. Emily Reed
21. Derrick Martin
22. Billiee Pendleton-Parker
23. JD Woodward
24. Michael Brian Law
25. Joel Kadish
26. Ellen Manuel, M.Ed., NCC
27. Tim DeLoach, M.Ed
28. Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz, Ms.Ed.
29.
30.
31. Abby Drue
32. Ken Jackson
33. Hollande Levinson
34. Krista Hilton, M.Ed
35. Cat Morillas
36. Terence McPhaul, M.A., N.S.A.C.
37. Shelley Rose
38. Gabriel Haggray
39. Jennifer Miracle
40. Yancey Gulley
The Community Builder 40: Individuals that have worked to effect change from within the LGBTQ community. These individuals may be or have been exemplary community volunteers, service project leaders, organization founders or leaders, community historians or educators, grassroots organizers, etc. These individuals often go without any broad recognition, but do the work anyway, because they are dedicated to a cause. Together, they fuel the larger movement with their dedication and service to a wide variety of community needs. APC is still in the process of contacting and confirming the Community Builder 40. The full list will be published shortly on the Atlanta Pride website.
Posthumous Honorees include:
1. Robert Eads (Southern Comfort/Died after being refused medical treatment because he was trans)
2. Greg Barrett (APC)
3. Billy Jones (1960’s Atlanta Drag Queen)
4. Charlie St. John (Journalist, Organized first Pride March)
5. Lloyd E. Russell (Activist/Community Endowment)
6. Thelma Natalie Troia (Founder, Armorettes)
7. Michael Hardwick (Bowers V. Hardwick)
The Atlanta Pride Festival, organized by the non-profit Atlanta Pride Committee, promotes unity, visibility and self-esteem among lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons. The 2010 celebration opens Oct. 9 in Piedmont Park. Atlanta Pride Sponsors include Coca-Cola, Bud Light, Delta Airlines, The GA Voice, Smirnoff, Georgia Aquarium, Grady Medical, Wells Fargo, Fenuxe Magazine, Passport Magazine and many others.
Posted in Atlanta Pride 2010
September 8th, 2010
17 Performers from Varying Genres Will Perform at This Year’s Festival
Atlanta Pride will feature 17 different artists representing genres from hip-hop and R&B to country and rock during this year’s festival. Artists will include Kimberley Locke, Antigone Rising, Niki Haris, MEN and more. The festival will take place October 9th-10th at Piedmont Park and admission is free to the public.
View the complete entertainment schedule here.
Each year, Atlanta Pride’s entertainment committee works hard to bring together an entertainment lineup that will offer music selections spanning a wide variety of genres. Over 150 artists throughout the country submitted applications to perform at the 40th Atlanta Pride Festival. After narrowing the number down to 17 performers, the entertainment committee is proud to present its selection of talent to festival-goers.
The Atlanta Pride Festival, organized by the non-profit Atlanta Pride Committee, promotes unity, visibility and self-esteem among lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons. The 2010 celebration opens Oct. 9 in Piedmont Park. Atlanta Pride Sponsors include Coca-Cola, Bud Light, Delta Airlines, The GA Voice, Smirnoff, Georgia Aquarium, Grady Medical, Wells Fargo, Fenuxe Magazine, Passport Magazine and many others.
Posted in Atlanta Pride 2010
September 7th, 2010
The Atlanta Pride Committee is pleased to announce the headliner for Saturday, October 9 at the 2010 Atlanta Pride Festival will be #1 Billboard recording artist Kimberley Locke.
Locke rose to fame during the second season of “American Idol” and came in third place following Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. She has gone on to make a name for herself as a dance/pop artist, charting eight Billboard number one hits, three from the Dance/Club Charts.
“Ever since season two of ‘American Idol,’ I have loved her,” said Tony Kearny, one of the Programming Co-chairs from the Atlanta Pride Festival Committee. “Out of Clay, Ruben, and Kimberley, she should have the longest running career! From ‘Eighth World Wonder’ to ‘Band of Gold’ to today’s ‘Strobelight,’ Kimberley is still blowing everyone away with her vocals. A diva to the gays, she is going to blow us away at Atlanta Pride.”
In addition to her appearance on “Idol,” Locke appeared on “Celebrity Fit Club” and is currently attached to host and executive produce “Making the Curve,” a developmental reality show competition that will put together a supergroup of plus-sized women, which has garnered major interest from several networks.
Locke is also well-know to her commitment to charities focused on HIV prevention, including Camp Heartland (a national non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of children and their families impacted by HIV/AIDS), the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, YouthAIDS, and the Davy Foundation. She was recognized with the Red Ribbon Award in 2007 for her extensive charitable efforts as an HIV/AIDS activist.
Stay tuned for the next exciting talent announcement for the 2010 Atlanta Pride Festival.
Posted in Atlanta Pride 2010
September 6th, 2010
Today, the Atlanta Pride Committee announced the Official Nightlife Lineup for Pride Weekend. Parties include Atlanta staples, Jungle Club and Chris Coleman, along with Atlanta’s largest women’s party.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with some of the most talented club entertainment promoters in the City,” said APC Executive Director, JP Sheffield. “Adding an after party to the Friday night lineup and an official closing party to Sunday helps round out the weekend, as well as provide us with the opportunity to partner with local businesses,” Sheffield added.
Fiesta Pride and Closing Party are both new events to the Atlanta Pride roster, while the Peach Party has been a long standing event on the Calendar. In 2009 with the move to October, hours of the Atlanta Pride Festival were shortened from a closing time of 11pm to a closing time of 9pm. The new closing time allows for the addition of these post-festival parties. Sheffield points out, “In the past, we had a hard time promoting club events, because they usually started before our event ended. Now that we have very little crossover into the nightlife hours, we have the ability to form these partnerships.”
View the full calendar of nightlife events here.
Posted in Atlanta Pride 2010
April 1st, 2010
EAST POINT, GA- The East Point Possums organization announced today that their 13th Annual “East Point Possums Show,” would be held on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 from 8-11p.
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 13th Annual East Point Possums Show will be made available in the coming weeks. In the meantime- mark your calendars for June 19th.
Posted in General
