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Atlanta Pride Grand Marshal Nominations Open Tomorrow

The Atlanta Pride Committee (APC) announced today that nominations for the 2021 Pride Parade Grand Marshals will open tomorrow, May 20.

Every year, the APC acknowledges the efforts of Atlanta individuals and non-profits that work towards LGBTQ equality by selecting several to serve as the Grand Marshals for the annual Pride Parade. However, this year is a little different.

After last year’s parade was canceled and the festival moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Grand Marshals will be those who helped Atlanta get through 2020.

“Atlanta Pride is committed to recognizing the outstanding work of often unsung heroes in our community,” Jamie Fergerson, the executive director of APC, said in a statement. “This year, we are doing that in a slightly different way by focusing on those who helped us all survive and thrive in 2020.”

Whether they’re a first responder, a community organizer working to protect voter rights, a volunteer delivering meals, a teacher who helped their students through online learning, or an activist who protested racial inequality, the APC wants to celebrate last year’s unsung heroes.

“There was a lot going on this past year on a variety of fronts,” Fergerson continued, “and we would like to thank those who stepped up to help our beloved community in all sorts of ways.”

Nominations open tomorrow and will run through June 15. The 2021 Grand Marshals will be announced in mid-July. Registration for the parade and vendors market is now open, as well. To submit a nomination or register for the festival and parade, visit atlantapride.org.