Atlanta Pride is no match for Miss Rona: Canceled
Plus: Meet the 3 LGBTQs making history in Gwinnett, Georgia's new hate crimes law, march through Midtown
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Atlanta Pride festival? That’s canceled, too
LGBTQ Atlanta’s biggest event of the year – the Atlanta Pride festival in Piedmont Park and parade through Midtown in early October – has been canceled. The coronavirus pandemic forced organizers to take the celebration online.Â
Miss Rona, we hate you.
The festival is the latest victim of the pandemic, which has forced events to be called off, closed businesses and stunted LGBTQ nightlife venues. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Atlanta Pride.
Other large LGBTQ events this fall are stuck in a holding pattern. Organizers of Black Gay Pride, AIDS Walk Atlanta and Out on Film are concerned about increasing infection rates and waiting on event permits to be reinstated.Â
Popular LGBTQ spots are also struggling with the pandemic - again. A coronavirus scare pushed Heretic to close until later this month and Blake’s and Joe’s on Juniper also temporarily closed.
A live Q&A with 3 people making LGBTQ history in Gwinnett
Gwinnett County, long a majority white Republican stronghold, is changing – dramatically. How do we know? Everton Blair, Ben Ku and Sam Park.
The state’s second-most populous county now has a minority-majority population with an electorate turning blue. The elections of Blair (photo center), Ku (right) and Park (left) also mean voters elected LGBTQ candidates to the school board, county commission and to represent them in the Georgia House for the first time in the county’s history.
How did that happen?Â
The next episode of Q Conversations – our live virtual Q&A series – will explore the historic elections of the three men and ask them how they navigate the changing political tides in Gwinnett, what they’ve accomplished since taking office, how they are helping their constituents through the coronavirus pandemic and the impact of the racial justice and equality protests in the county. We’ll also answer your questions.Â
Register for the July 10 episode of Q Conversations. (The event is free but registration is required.)
The June 26 episode of Q Conversations dug into the ongoing calls to reform the Atlanta Police Department. Check out the discussion with Xochitl Bervera of the Racial Justice Action Center, Atlanta City Council member Antonio Brown and attorney Dan Grossman below. We recapped the event on Project Q Atlanta, too.
Q ATLus celebrates Independence Day
In this week's edition of Q ATLus, we celebrate the Fourth of July with themed gatherings in LGBTQ Atlanta, as well as new ways we can come together and accomplish more. Coverage also includes a double dose of 10 Queer Things with a mind toward uniting people this Fourth of July. The first one offers talking points for would-be straight allies, then the second talks about how to be anti-racist instead of simply non-racist.
What LGBTQ Atlanta is talking about
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a hate crimes bill into law on June 26, ending a 16-year drought that had left Georgia as one of only four states in the country without such a measure. For the first time in Georgia history, the state has extended protections to LGBTQ people. Lawmakers passed the bill three days earlier.
Jesse Pratt LĂ³pez had an idea to help fellow trans women with the Homeless Black Trans Women Fund. It’s turned into a massively successful online campaign to help the cause., raising more than $2.4 million to help women living on the streets in metro Atlanta.
Nearly 200 people marched through Midtown on Sunday, celebrating Pride and the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots while calling for justice and equality for black transgender people. Earlier in June, hundreds of people marched in Midtown to support black trans people.
The Atlanta Pride Committee released a pledge against police brutality and a letter of demands to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for police reform. It’s the latest move in the Pride board’s focus on social and racial justice, human rights and equality.
Things to do
FRIDAY
Karaoke, comedy, drag and DJs are back on the menu at My Sister’s Room. Check out the schedule as they innovate to survive and keep their patrons safe.
SATURDAY
Outdoor fireworks may be canceled, but DJ Kimber has the Masks & Fireworks Heyday Dance Party @ the Basement, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY
With its refreshed patio and branding makeover, X Midtown is ready for your Sunday Funday, 4 p.m.
That’s all for this week
Stay safe, wear a mask and enjoy your holiday weekend! Have an idea you’d like to see discussed during our weekly live Q&A? Reply to this email (or leave a comment if you’re reading the web version) or drop me an email. I’ll see you next week!