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Braves fans come ‘Out in the Stands’

The Georgia Voice Editors
Sports
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Ben Cohen

The Braves will host the third annual “Out in the Stands” LGBT fan night June 18 when the New York Mets come to town.

Like last year, this year's event will double as a fundraiser for Ben Cohen's StandUp Foundation, which promotes LGBT equality in sports through public awareness campaigns, grants and other advocacy projects. Cohen's foundation is headquartered in Atlanta.

Cohen is most famous for being a former professional rugby player and Rugby World Cup winner with his native England.

Last year's event drew some 300 people to Turner Field. This year's format is slightly different, however. There will be another patio reception, but no VIP box experience.

StandUp Foundation awards nearly $60,000 in grants to anti-bullying efforts

The Georgia Voice Editors
News
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Ben Cohen, the former English rugby star and always gay icon who has taken his fame and rugged good looks to raise money for anti-bullying efforts through his StandUp Foundation, announced today his organization donated nearly $60,000 in since it was founded in Atlanta 2011.

“Our mission is simple but will take time to fulfill. We are off to a strong start,” said Cohen in a prepared statement. “We exist to raise awareness of the long-term damaging effects of bullying, and to fund those doing real-world work to stop it.”

Cohen has also said he wants to specifically work to stop LGBT bullying as well as end homophobia in sports. He has become a popular attendee of many Atlanta LGBT events, enjoys working out with the Atlanta Bucks gay rugby squad, and was an honorary grand marshal for last year's Atlanta Pride.

[Video] Ben Cohen’s magazine launch, awards dinner to feature Scissor Sister Babydaddy

The Georgia Voice Editors
Videos
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images/stories/11-12-12/standup.jpg

Retired rugby star and now full-time anti-bullying advocate Ben Cohen launches his new magazine and hosts a sports awards dinner in Atlanta on Wednesday — and informed sources say Babydaddy from the famed Scissor Sisters will be on hand to join in the celebrations.

The Compete Sports Diversity Awards and StandUp Magazine  launch will be held together on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at TWELVE Atlantic Station, located at 361 17th St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30363. Tickets are still on sale for both events and can be purchased here. Nov. 14 also marks the Second Annual StandUp Day marking the anniversary of Cohen's father's death after he was killed trying to stand up for an employee who was being attacked.

From Cohen about the Second Annual StandUp Day:

Ben Cohen wants you to ‘StandUp’

The Georgia Voice Editors
Atlanta Pride
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Ben Cohen

Ben Cohen’s rugged good looks, gregarious personality and prowess on the pitch easily won him gay fans, but it is his community activism that earned him a spot as one of two honorary grand marshals of the 2012 Atlanta Pride parade.

The former rugby star from England has made Atlanta almost a second home since deciding to base his StandUp Foundation here. He is considered the first straight athlete to dedicate his philanthropic efforts to combat LGBT bullying and eliminate homophobia in sports.

Founded in 2011, the StandUp Foundation has raised some $500,000 to donate to such organizations as Atlanta Field Day, the national Campus Pride, Bully Free Zone UK, Safety Center UK, Belong to Youth Services Ireland and a number of local schools and safety programs, according to Atlanta resident Patrick Davis, foundation president.

Ben Cohen, Stuart Milk named honorary grand marshals for Atlanta Pride

The Georgia Voice Editors
Atlanta
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https://thegavoice.com/images/stories/5-13-11/bencohen-body-5-12-11.jpg

Today the Atlanta Pride Committee announced two honorary grand marshals for its Oct. 14 parade and both star power with them.

Ben Cohen, the hunky retired rugby star from across the pond who founded his StandUp Foundation in Atlanta to combat anti-gay bullying and homophobia in sports will ride in this year's parade as an honorary grand marshal.

And Stuart Milk, the nephew of Harvey Milk, one of the world's most renowned gay activists who was assassinated 1978, also brings his message of equality to Atlanta Pride.

Best of Atlanta: People

The Georgia Voice Editors
Features
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Blondie

Local Icon
Blondie

Hands down a favorite of GA Voice readers, Blondie easily soared to the top as the city’s Local Icon. A longtime stripper at the Clermont Lounge who is famous for crushing cans between her breasts, she is also a poet and the subject of the documentary “AKA Blondie,” (www.akablondiefilm.com), which tells the story of a complex figure. She is also no stranger to LGBT issues — she was once married to a gay man and dates women as well as men. Placing second is favorite politician and straight ally U.S. Rep. John Lewis. Cathy Woolard, the first gay person elected to office in Georgia, placed third.

StandUp Foundation aims to be next ‘Livestrong’

The Georgia Voice Editors
Culture
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Patrick Davis, head of Atlanta-based StandUp Foundation's board of directors, penned a column in The Huffington Post today, saying his organization has the potential to become a social-commercial campaign, much like Lance Armstrong's Livestrong or the (RED) AIDS in Africa campaign.

Davis says that the LGBT equality movement is a part of mainstream culture and thinks the time is right to expand the message:

"I am thrilled by the leadership and support of brands sponsoring Pride celebrations. But I wonder if they know that marketing existing brands to LGBT people is far from building brands expressly for the benefit our community and causes. We are ready for a social-commercial brand to drive additional mainstream awareness, support and dollars.

Big events on tap as Stonewall Month winds down in Ga.

The Georgia Voice Editors
Georgia
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2012 East Point Possums show

As cities around the nation celebrate LGBT Pride the last weekend in June, Atlanta’s Stonewall Month winds down with several Pride-themed events. From sports to festivals and even a “Sugarbutch” blogger, there is plenty to do before the month wraps up.

Pride festivals are traditionally held the last weekend in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots, when patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, fought back against police harassment in what is widely seen as a turning point for gay rights.

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 a record drought booted all large festivals from the park. After an unpopular July 4 festival in 2009, Atlanta Pride organizers announced future festivals would be held in Piedmont Park to coincide with National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11.