In 2010, the Atlanta Pride Committee announced it would hold future festivals on the weekend closest to National Coming Out Day, which is Oct. 11. For 2011, that means Oct. 8-9.
But the Atlanta Pride Committee still wants to honor the anniversary of the riots — hence, Stonewall Week.
“We definitely recognize the Stonewall Riots that people see as the pivotal point that made the gay rights movement what it is today,” says Atlanta Pride Executive Director James Sheffield. “This is an opportunity for us to harken back to that.”
Compared to the massive celebration that Atlanta Pride has become, Stonewall Week “is more grassroots and educational and more in line with what the feelings behind Stonewall really were,” he added.