ATLANTA (APRIL 9, 2025) — Atlanta Pride, the largest free Pride festival in the United States, expresses deep disappointment and concern over the passage of Georgia’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), legislation that opens the door to discrimination against LGBTQ+ people under the pretense of religious liberty.
This year’s legislative session, marked by numerous attacks directed primarily at transgender and gender expansive people, left our community with both victories and setbacks. The approval of RFRA is a significant blow to the progress made in recent years, but it also serves as a galvanizing moment for Georgia’s LGBTQ+ community and allies. Atlanta Pride acknowledges and thanks the many community partners, legal advocates, and grassroots organizers who worked tirelessly to defend equality and dignity for all throughout the session.
The continual wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is not new. Such attacks have long been part of the struggle for justice. The LGBTQ+ rights movement was built in response to moments like this—moments that demand unity, visibility, and unwavering resolve. Atlanta Pride, as an organization and festival, is rooted in resistance. Our response to discrimination will continue to be strength, solidarity, and action.
The fight for equality is ongoing, and as Pride season begins, Atlanta Pride calls on the community to come together to support one another. This Saturday, April 12, Atlanta Pride invites the public to join Halfway to Pride at Red’s Beer Garden, an informational gathering for anyone interested in volunteering for the 2025 Atlanta Pride Festival and becoming involved in Georgia’s LGBTQ+ community. This gathering will offer an inside look at how volunteers help bring Atlanta Pride’s mission to life and how community
members can play an active role in advancing equity and inclusion in the months leading up to the Festival and beyond.
Atlanta Pride encourages the community to stay informed and engaged by following organizations like the Georgia Equality and Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Atlanta. These organizations are at the forefront of protecting LGBTQ+ rights and will continue to be valuable resources in the movement for equality.
To read this Press Release in full, click here.
To learn more about the Halfway to Pride event, click here.
