But after being celebrated the last weekend in June in Piedmont Park for most of its history, Atlanta Pride was forced to move in 2008 when city officials booted large festivals from the parched park due to a record drought.
Held over July Fourth weekend at the Civic Center the next year, Pride attendance and finances suffered. The festival moved back to Piedmont Park for 2009, but over Halloween, to get around city policies that limited festivals in the summer season due to drought concerns.
In 2010, Atlanta Pride Committee announced it would hold future festivals on the weekend closest to National Coming Out Day, which is Oct. 11. For 2012, that means Oct. 13-14.
But the Atlanta Pride Committee still wants to honor the anniversary of the riots — hence, Stonewall Month.
“We’ve hosted Stonewall Week for several years and wanted to branch out to include more events … which lead to the creation of our most extensive and diverse list of Stonewall offerings thus far, lasting far longer than just a week,” said Pride Board Chair Glen Paul Freedman.
Monday, June 11
‘Legalize Gay’ screening
Q&A with Ben Cohen to follow
7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Midtown Art Cinema
391 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30308
http://bit.ly/JMv2p5
Tuesday, June 12
‘I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin’s Life in Letters’ Book and history discussion
Part two of three
7:30 – 9 p.m. at Charis Books and More
1189 Euclid Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
www.charisbooksandmore.com
Wednesday, June 13
Dine with Pride at Osteria 832
Portion of bills donated to Atlanta Pride
5 – 10 p.m.
832 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306
Friday, June 15
‘Stonewall Uprising’ screening
7 p.m. at First Existentialist
470 Candler Park Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
Saturday, June 16
‘Examining What We Have & Where It Can Take Us’
Poetry Workshop w/ Dustin Brookshire
Bring a poem to workshop and participate in generative exercise
FreeRegister for free at
dustinvbrookshire@gmail.com
2 – 4 p.m. at the Phillip Rush Center
1530 Dekalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
East Point Possums Show
A benefit for the Phillip Rush Center
7 p.m. at The Commons
2727 East Point St., East Point, GA 30304
www.eastpointpossums.com
Tuesday, June 19
‘I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin’s Life in Letters’ Book and history discussion
Part three of three
7:30 – 9 p.m. at Charis Books and More
1189 Euclid Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
www.charisbooksandmore.com
Wednesday, June 20
Dine with Pride at Doc Chey’s (Grant Park)
Portion of bills donated to Atlanta Pride
5 – 10 p.m.
563 Memorial Drive, Atlanta, GA 30312
LGBT Health Insurance Seminar
7 p.m. at the Phillip Rush Center
1530 Dekalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
Friday, June 22
Pride Seder
Presented by Congregation Bet Haverim
7 p.m. at Central Congregational
2676 Clairmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Georgia Equality’s 8th annual Evening for Equality
7 p.m. at Twelve Hotel
361 17th Street, Atlanta, GA 30363
www.georgiaequality.org
Saturday, June 23
22nd annual Pride Run/Walk 5k
8 a.m.
Race starts at Piedmont Park
near the Aquatic Center
www.eteamz.com/frontrunnersatlanta
Augusta Pride
Parade: 10 a.m., Festival: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Augusta Common
836 Reynolds St., Augusta, GA 30901
www.augustapride.com
Wednesday, June 27
Dine with Pride at Doc Chey’s (Morningside)
Portion of bills donated to Atlanta Pride
5 – 10 p.m.
1424 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306
Out in the Stands LGBT Night at Turner Field
Braves vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
VIP meet-and-greet with Ben Cohen
7 p.m. at Turner Field
755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta, GA 30315
Tickets: 404-614-1325 or
stacey.nicely@braves.com
Friday, June 29
Author/blogger Sinclair Sexsmith Discussion on body confidence in queer masculine community
7:30 p.m. at Charis Books and More
1189 Euclud Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
www.charisbooksandmore.com
Saturday, June 30
Sylvia Rivera Community Event
Trans community member panel
11:30 a.m. at the Phillip Rush Center
1530 Dekalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
Author/blogger Sinclair Sexsmith ‘Say Please: Lesbian BDSM Erotica’
7:30 p.m. at Charis Books and More
1189 Euclud Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
www.charisbooksandmore.com
Sunday, July 1
KCCA Children’s Story Hour
Kelli’s Childcare Collective of Atlanta celebrates queer families
“A Tale of Two Daddies”
“Who’s in a Family”
“In our Mother’s House”
1 p.m. at Charis Books and More
1189 Euclud Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
www.charisbooksandmore.com
Top photo: Bayard Rustin (via Library of Congress)