The proclamation was given at the commission’s Oct. 6 meeting and was sponsored by Chair John Eaves and co-sponsored by Nancy Boxill. Boxill is retiring this year and taking her seat on the commission will be Joan Garner, longtime activist who will be the first openly gay member of the Fulton County Commission.
The proclamation reads:
Whereas, the Atlanta Pride Festival, organized by the non-profit Atlanta Pride Committee, promotes unity, visibility and self-esteem among lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons; and
Whereas, the Atlanta Pride Festival can trace its roots to 1971, when the Georgia Gay Liberation Front organized a march from Peachtree Street to Piedmont Park, commemorating the first Gay Pride March in Georgia; and
Whereas, the Atlanta Pride Festival has grown significantly over the past 40 years, and now attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to enjoy music, entertainment, and information, and
Whereas, the Atlanta Pride Festival is championed by a full slate of corporate sponsors and grassroots supporters, as well as 120 Grand Marshals representing government, education, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; and
Whereas, the 40th Atlanta Pride Festival will take place in Piedmont Park on Oct. 9-10, 2010, with a parade and two days of celebration and education;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County commends the efforts of Atlanta Pride Festival to bring together and support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and extends best wishes for a successful 40th Atlanta Pride Festival, and does hereby proclaim Oct. 9-10, 2010, as “40th Atlanta Pride Festival Days,” in Fulton County, Georgia.