The Atlanta Pride Committee today announced a VIP program for festival-goers to this year's upcoming Pride Oct. 12-13. Tickets start at $175 when purchased in advance but jump to $200 if purchased the weekend of the festival.
This is the first year in recent memory that Atlanta Pride has offered this level of VIP experience, organizers said.
Included in the VIP pass is access to a private seating area in Piedmont Park's meadow, private restroom facilities and other goodies.
Buck Cooke, Executive Director of the Atlanta Pride Committee, hyped the new passes in a statement released today.
MondoHomo, Atlanta's Memorial Day Weekend queer arts festival, is canceled, according to event co-founder Kiki Carr. The decision came earlier this year when organizers felt it was time to move on.
"I think it will reinvent itself," Carr said today about the future of the festival.
"Basically the core group of folks that started it are tired and want to move on other projects," she continued. "We've been slowly coming to that conclusion for a while, but probably came to an agreement in the last two months."
Organizers behind Atlanta's annual LGBT film festival announced today this year's festival, held Oct. 4-11, was the largest in the event's 25 year history.
Festival Director Jim Farmer praised the Atlanta community and sponsors for a successful festival.
“‘More’ was the word for 2012 – more screenings, more visiting filmmakers, more days, more patrons,” Farmer said. “From the sold-out opening night screening of ‘Gayby’ to the packed house for ‘BearCity 2’ closing night, attendance was tremendous. Our attendance on Super Saturday – Oct. 6 – was a record, with crowds beginning at 11 a.m. in the morning through our late night screening of ‘I Want Your Love.’ Our VIP lounge next day at Apres Diem was also extremely popular. We thank Atlanta for that, as well as our sponsors for making it happen.”
Bria and Chrissy have returned from Atlanta Pride with a new video to offer encouraging words to LGBT youth. The duo, known for their satirical musical online videos, takes a more serious and inspirational approach this time, featuring Pride attendees sharing stories and words of wisdom.
From the video's description:
We went to Atlanta Pride 2012 this year and interviewed dozens of people to get their words of inspiration for LGBT youth who are afraid to come out. Hope you enjoy and find this encouraging, we loved making it. Share with someone you think this could help. Enjoy and much love. Bria and Chrissy