Atlanta Black Pride Weekend (ABPW) returns to the city over Labor Day weekend for its 26th year, but this time with a historic twist: APBW will be partnering with Global Black Pride (GBP) to be the first American host city of the international celebration.
Founded in the middle of the pandemic, GBP was created by Nigerian American Micheal Ighodaro to build up the infrastructure needed for Black Pride organizations around the world. The first event, which was held virtually in 2020, attracted 11 million people from across the globe.
This year marks the second in-person GBP celebration after being held in Toronto, Canada, in 2022.
“We are just so thrilled to be in Atlanta,” Ighodaro told Georgia Voice. “There’s nothing like Atlanta, you can’t compare it to anything. We have an experience we’ve created, and we’ve work so hard to showcase what Atlanta is and what American is to others but also to bring people together from around the world who normally would never have experienced Pride before.”
Atlantans can expect a new and expanded Black Pride weekend this year; instead of kicking off on Thursday, the festivities begin on Tuesday with the Human Rights and Health Conference, which will bring “activists from around the world… policymakers, and advocacy organizations [together] to engage and learn but also share their perspectives,” according to Ighodaro. Another new addition will be the Global Black Village, which will bring non-profits and businesses together to create a space affirming of Black LGBTQ people, and a political roundtable, representing the significance of the election year to both ABPW and GBP.
“This year is a significant year in the U.S. given the election, and so for us, bringing Global Black Pride to Atlanta was not just about Atlanta but also about making sure folks from around the world can share their perspective with Americans so they know how important it is and how the elections affect [non-Americans’] daily lives as well,” Ighodaro said. “We want to make sure people know that and take it into consideration when they make their decision about who they’re going to vote for.”
“I have to boldly and outwardly say it’s very important that we elect our Democratic Representative, and that’s Kamala Harris,” Melissa Scott, managing partner of ABPW, told Georgia Voice. “That’s very, very important, I don’t even want to sit on the fence on that.”
The Pure Heat Community Festival, a long-time favorite of Black Pride-goers, will also serve as an opportunity for organizing and community-building around activism for the Black queer community. The festival, which has also been expanded into two days, will include an LGBTQ youth festival providing youth-specific resources and a safe space for queer and allied young people, as well as opportunities for people to get connected with other resources they need.
“You can come to that park needing shelter, needing food, needing education, and you can walk away with all of it — or at least the outlet to get access to those things,” Scott said.
Amidst the community outreach and political education, the weekend will still be a party. The entertainment stage will be headlined on Saturday by award-winning singer and actor Billy Porter and Nigerian singer and songwriter Yemi Alade (who makes history as the first African act to headline a Pride celebration). Singer Jessica Betts will be granted the Trailblazer Award by her wife, Niecy Nash, on Sunday after performing at the Powerher Woman’s Empowerment Brunch (another new addition this year) on Saturday.
Other performers taking the festival stage on Saturday include Omawumi, Jus Jahlisa, Parrisse Price, Chanie Xile, Damez, Sevndeep, Steezo TM, and Mista Strange. Other award honorees will include Rashad Burgess, Lisa Cunningham, Funky Dineva, Judge Pierce Hand Seitz, Derek Ford, Devin Barrington, Adrienne Gates, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and Earl D. Fowlkes.
Global Black Pride Atlanta will be held from August 27 – September 2. To find a full calendar of events, head to pages 12 and 13 or visit atlantaprideweekend.com.