ATLANTA — In the heart of a city where joy meets justice, Atlanta Black Pride Weekend is a vibrant testament to celebration and advocacy. Since its inception in 1996, the event has burgeoned into a national gathering, attracting thousands yearly.
"We fight for justice, but we also need an opportunity to celebrate each other, celebrate our lives, and celebrate community," Bishop Oliver Allen, a part of Atlanta's Commissioner Mayors LGBTQ Advisory Board, said.
The essence of Atlanta Black Pride Weekend extends far beyond festivities, and the driving force behind the event emphasizes its dual purpose.
"It’s great vibes," Allen said. "And also, at the end of the day, a really big opportunity for unity, and that’s the thing we need. That’s the thing that Atlanta always represents."
Rooted in advocacy, the weekend amplifies the voices of Black LGBTQIA+ individuals. From entertainment to education, the event showcases a diverse range of activities.
This year, a mobile clinic was brought to the festivities to bring awareness about health and wellness. Atlanta Black Pride Weekend aims to provide a vibrant party atmosphere and a platform for purposeful engagement.
"This whole Atlanta pride event is to increase visibility, awareness, self-esteem, and bring dignity so we can all come together," Lakeisha Coach, a team member at A Vision 4 Hope, said.
Throughout the event held in August, the mobile clinic sat in front of Best Friends Restaurant and Bar. The proceeds from the restaurant contribute to A Vision 4 Hope's work in the Black community, creating a powerful synergy of support.
The event celebrates partnership and "thriving -- in the midst of so much," Rashad Burgess, vice president at Gilead Sciences, explained.
This celebration of identity and unity creates memorable moments of a lifetime, celebrating the intersectionality between Blackness and LGBTQIA+ identities.
"We are divine, we are spiritual, we matter -- and for us to get it clear that we don’t have to ask anybody for permission to exist," Daniel Black, author and professor of African-American studies at Clark Atlanta University, said.