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Atlanta Black Gay Pride: A Time to Act

This year marks the 12th year of Atlanta Black Gay Pride, and event organizers In the Life Atlanta (ITLA) decided it is Time to Act.  That is the theme of this year’s event, scheduled for August 27-September 1, 2008.   ITLA estimates an attendance of 75,000, making Black Gay Pride the country’s largest event for same-gender-loving and LGBTQ persons of color and African descent.  But don’t think Black Gay Pride is only for people of color.  This white girl has attended for the last couple of years, and I’ve always been welcomed, learned a thing or two about the issues we all face, seen some amazing performances and had a great time at the many parties that are scheduled around the Pride event itself.

ITLA describes Black Gay Pride as a party with a purpose, where participants will experience empowering workshops and seminars, explore health and wellness issues, and be surprised by unexpected celebrity appearances and performances.  Among the festivities this year will be the launch of the Bayard Rustin-Barbara Jordan Social Change Institute, a social justice project designed to engage social reformists, community leaders and elected officials to collaborate on initiatives designed to foster civic engagement; build respect for diversity and create enduring change in our communities.

For the literati, ITLA has scheduled an amazing group of African-American queer authors for its Literary Cafe, to be held from 10 a.m. till noon on Saturday, August 30th at Altitude, an event space atop the host hotel, W-Atlanta Midtown.  Presented in partnership with Fire & Ink, Inc., the literary cafe will serve up satisfying readings by six black gay and lesbian writers, including Laurinda Brown (Highest Price for Passion); Michael-Christopher (Unspeakable); G. Winston James (The Damaged Good; Voices Rising); E. Patrick Johnson (Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South—An Oral History); and Atlanta’s own Fiona Zedde (Hungry for It).  Fire & Ink, Inc. is an organization devoted to increasing the understanding, visibility and awareness of the works of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender writers of African descent and heritage.

Fire & Ink Presents!/The Literary Cafe is partially sponsored by a grant from the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. The authors’ books will be available for sale after the reading, and at the Charis Books & More vendor booth at the Black Pride Marketplace all Labor Day weekend.

ITLA reports that all booth space at the Pride Marketplace are sold out.  Considering this tough economy, that’s a very good sign for the success of the event.  Atlanta Black Gay Pride will be held at the W Atlanta Midtown Hotel, 188 14th Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.