A feasibility study proposed by Mayor Andre Dickens for the city’s first LGBTQ Community Cultural, Educational and Recreational Center has been approved by the Atlanta City Council.
Legislation sponsored by Councilmembers Amir Farokhi, Jason Winston, Matt Westmoreland and Alex Wan on behalf of the administration authorizes the mayor to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA) for one year to conduct and fund the study with $150,000.
“Atlanta has one of the largest and most thriving LGBTQ communities in the nation, and the city deserves a thoughtful and tangible place to honor the legacy and contributions LGBTQ Atlantans have made to our culture,” Dickens said in a statement. “I look forward to working with our Administration’s LGBTQ Advisory Board, my Senior Leadership and members of our LGBTQ community to chart a smart, forward-looking plan that memorializes Atlanta’s prominent role as a welcoming and inclusive city.”
According to a news release, the City of Atlanta is the first-known municipality in the United States to require annual LGBTQ Cultural Humility Training for employees and elected officials, with over 14,000 completions, covering at least 83% of our workforce.
The Dickens Administration launched Atlanta’s first-ever LGBTQ youth mentorship pilot and hosted Youth Pride, providing young queer people and families with resources and activities. The administration also launched the city’s first-ever Employee Resource Group, COA Pride, which now has more than 200 members.
In October, the city updated Atlanta’s famed Rainbow Crosswalk at 10th and Piedmont in the heart of Midtown with a new design, including black and brown stripes to honor LGBTQ communities of color, as well as the colors of the trans flag.
The LGBTQ Community Center would be operated by AFCRA on the city’s behalf and is slated to open by 2030.
This story was republished with permission from Rough Draft Atlanta.