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Pride is Proof God Loves Gay Atlanta

Queers have been accused of creating a lot of havoc, so maybe it’s time to turn the tables and take a little credit. Atlanta Pride could be seen as proof that God loves gay people and wants us to have rain. If right-wing conspiracy theorists like Jerry Falwell and friends believe that homosexuals are the cause of hurricanes and terrorist attacks, then are we not also deserving of credit for last weekend’s much-needed rain over the city of Atlanta?  Why not.

Atlanta’s extended drought caused concerned city officials to kick Pride out of Piedmont Park for fear of  further deterioration of rain-starved trees and grass.  What history teaches us, however, is that it very often rains during Atlanta Pride.  This year was no exception, with a torrential downpour dampening Sunday’s Pride Parade.  In fact, statistically speaking, if Atlanta wanted to erase our rainfall deficit, LGBT Atlantans should be encouraged to celebrate Pride several times a year.

After a good soaking on Sunday, the skies cleared and gave gay Atlanta a pleasant afternoon to spend in the Civic Center parking lot.  All in all, it seemed that the Atlanta Pride Committee did the best that could be expected under the pressure of a last minute date and venue change.  It seemed the festival was slightly smaller, both in terms of vendors and visitors.  But I did not do a scientific count of tents and tables, so it could have been an optical illusion created by the unfamiliar location.  The crowds were respectable, despite the rain and a significant amount of unexplainable community backlash about the location change.  I don’t understand how Atlanta gays and lesbians could punish the Pride Committee for circumstances beyond their control.  Atlanta Pride is to celebrate and benefit the LGBT community.  It is by us, for us.  Piedmont Park, too, is in many ways a part of our community.  Why should we be angry when efforts are made to preserve it?  All in all, it seemed to me that not too many queers cut off their own noses to spite their faces.  People came out, despite heavy rain, and showed some Pride.

Women’s Guide to Atlanta Pride

So much to do. So many places to see and be seen. What’s a dyke to do at Atlanta Pride? Well, I’m going to try to help. This is Life on Q’s officially unofficial guide to Atlanta Gay Pride. In this post, you’ll get the 411 on where the women will be.

What’s different about this Atlanta Pride Guide is my attempt to describe some of the events and venues as I have experienced them as a “pride veteran.” I have lived in Atlanta since… well, since a long time ago… and I have attended Pride events and have patronized gay and lesbian nightclubs in Atlanta for what feels like forever. For out-of-towners trying to figure out what’s what and who’s where, consider me your dyke welcome wagon. I’m going to list all the events, meetings and such I’ve researched with a combination of the promoter’s description and, where I have one, my own opinion and experiences. Please take my opinions for what they are. If you’re old enough to get into a bar, you’re old enough to think for yourself and make your own choices. If you’re planning to visit Atlanta Pride from out of town, or you’re an Atlantan looking for a change of scenery from your usual haunts, read on.

Three Themes, One Pride

There are three different women’s events happening simultaneously during Atlanta Pride weekend. The “official” women’s events (i.e., promoted by the Atlanta Pride Committee) are sponsored by Curve Magazine and are branded as “Peach.” The Peach events culminate with a massive dance party Saturday night. Girls in the Night and Girlology 101, who regularly bring Atlanta women great events, are calling their weekend party package “Fever.” And why not–it will be hot, on many levels. And Traxx Girls is adapting some of their regular events for a pride audience under the theme “Honey.” Both Peach and Fever events have individual night cover charges or VIP passes for all events. Check the specific event details below for info on cover charges, where available.

Getting Out and Around

For any out-of-towners or Atlantans who have been living under a rock, you should know that Atlanta Pride has moved from Piedmont Park to the Atlanta Civic Center. Almost all of the women’s events are just a few blocks north and south of this new Pride Central. Many are in Little 5 Points, just a few blocks south and east of the Civic Center. Others are in Midtown, a few blocks north of Pride itself. Remember that 14th Street has been closed for construction and that the Peachtree Road Race will be creating congestion early in the morning on July 4th. But if you’re planning to kick-off Pride with Thursday night’s events, you’ll probably still be sleeping as thousands run down Peachtree Street. If you’re a morning person, you’ll want to plan your breakfast location accordingly.

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Atlanta Pride Pushed out of Piedmont Park

It won’t be raining men, or women, in Piedmont Park this June. Southern Voice reports that Atlanta Pride will not be held at the Midtown Atlanta greenspace that has been the festival’s home for three decades. What’s more, a new Atlanta Pride location has not been selected, nor is a date yet known.  Pride is being pushed out of the  because of concern for the condition of the 100+ acre park after 2007’s severe drought.

Pride Executive Director Donna Narducci told Southern Voice that no major events will be held in Piedmont in 2008 due to damage already inflicted by the drought.  It will be interesting to see if the City of Atlanta does indeed bar all events from the park, including the world-famous Peachtree Road Race, which brings thousands of runners pounding through the park every July 4, just days after the traditional Pride weekend.

A date for Atlanta Pride 2008 will not be set until a new venue is chosen.  Narducci indicated that the Atlanta Civic Center is one possibility.  If the Civic Center is chosen, the parade route to end where it traditionally starts. The festival itself would then be held inside and around the Civic Center.  The Pride Committee is also reportedly reviewing Atlantic Station as another possibility.

It’s somewhat ironic that Atlanta Pride, which regularly is deluged with heavy rain, will be moved because of a lack of water.  It would seem that scheduling pride is as good as a rain dance (or Gov. Perdue’s prayers) at inducing downpours.   Of course, a single rain event, or even continuous drought-busting showers, would not likely revive the park in time.

Atlanta Pride has always been a sprawling, outdoor test of individual heat tolerance.  It would seem somewhat odd to have it become an indoor “trade show.”  Not undoable, but decidedly different.  On the other hand, perhaps there are other, less abused park spaces that could accomodate the festival.  Freedom Park, which separates toney Virginia-Highlands from punky Little Five Points, comes to mind.  It is aptly named, with the Carter Presidential Library at its heart.  There are parking lots, street parking and reasonably easy access from MARTA.  Or Grant Park, which hosts the annual Pride Run, offers pavilions and multiple spaces for stages and exhibits.  There are three parking lots (if you count the zoo lots), as well as street parking.

Whatever the Pride Committee choice, Atlanta’s annual LGBT festival will certainly feel different this year.  It is hard to believe it is leaving it’s heart:  the heart of Midtown Atlanta.

Atlanta Shows Pride In The Life

Black Gay Pride is back, bringing thousands of African-American queers to the ATL starting tonight. Produced by In the Life Atlanta (ITLA), Black Pride festivities will include a film festival, a Healthy Living Conference, a marketplace, a fashion show, a pride march, and of course plenty of parties, picnics and people-watching opportunities.

Atlanta Black Pride is billed as the world’s largest Pride event for people of African descent. Event organizers point out, however, that Black Pride is open to anyone who wants to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ community.

A Celebration of Life candlelight vigil will light up the First Metropolitan Community Church of Atlanta to start things off, beginning at 7:00 p.m. A complete schedule is available on the ITLA Website.

In contrast to the multicultural, multiracial Pride Celebration in June, Black Gay Pride is as much a conference as a party, with workshops and forums addressing social, religious, cultural and health issues of interest to the queer community. Black Pride central is moving out of midtown this year to the Sheraton Atlanta Downtown on Courtland Street, due to construction at the previous location at the Sheraton in Colony Square.

Black Pride continues through Labor Day at multiple venues around the city. ITLA’s mission is to promote unity, pride, self-empowerment and positive visibility within Atlanta’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of African descent through education, advocacy and coalition-building activities.

Ticketholders Thrown a Curve at Peach Party

Curve Magazine’s Peach Party left Atlanta lesbians stunned.

As the Peach Party crowd grew well into the night Saturday night, hundreds were left on line down West Peachtree Street, curving around the corner on 17th as a thin crew at the door ID’ed, arm-banded and released the lesbians into the Center Stage theatre’s two bars. Having purchased advanced tickets saved five bucks, but bought you no time, as the ticketed and unticketed waited in queue together.

As women waited to reach the door, they passed the time watching new arrivals clutching tickets head for the front of the line, only to reappear on their way around the corner to the end of the line on 17th, each displaying a unique but predictable look of stunned surprise and perplexity as they carried their pre-paid tickets to the back of the queue. Meanwhile, a VIP queue was virtually unused all evening, with fewer than 10 women gracing the VIP velvet ropes during one hour of waiting for the rest of us. “It’ll be last call before we even get in there!,” complained one.

(Here’s another “L Word” for Curve Magazine: Lines! Shouldn’t there be three—one for VIPs, one for ticket holders, and one for the ticket-less? It would seem to be to the Peach Party’s advantage to get women off the streets and spending money inside as quickly as possible.)

Once inside, the impatience quickly dissipated as a different sort of stunned look crossed the faces. Hundreds of women packed two dance floors. Most were dressed to the nine’s. Others chose their best pair of flip-flops or were careful to pick just the right flannel shirt for the big event. The trucker’s hat had to match. All in all, the Peach party proved that L.A. lesbian hipness as portrayed on The L Word has some serious competition in Atlanta’s lesbian population.

DJ Pat Pat from Tampa was back for her second Peach appearance. Spinning an infectious mix of Latin beats and dance favorites, she kept the crowd on their toes….and heels…and their best pair of flip-flops….until well after last call.

Pat Pat threw in quite a few crowd-pleasers, including a danceable remix of Betty’s The L Word theme. The upstairs dance floor was packed and sweaty, but the mood was “party!” and the women friendly and accommodating as they curved through the crowd.

The smaller downstairs dance floor was the Peach Party’s first impression. Unfortunately, the smaller room was interrupted by tables and less encouraging of dancers, but Atlanta’s own DJ Kim Crawford succeeded in setting a festive mood for new arrivals with a pop-ier and rock-ier Top 40s mix. All lesbians love a little Joan Jett now and again. Party planners chose to throw in a couple of live performances, which seemed out of context despite the performers’ best efforts to capture the crowd.

In the end, the Peach Party seemed to be a sweet treat for lesbians attending the Atlanta Pride Festival 2007.