BY ROBBY BAILEY
One of the first things that some of my gay friends from out of state asked me when I told them that I was going to pride last weekend was, “You have Pride in October?”
Yes, Atlanta Pride is late in the year, but the history of Atlanta Pride started with the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which was the beginning point for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning (LGBTQ) rights in our country.
In recent years, however, the date has been changed to coincide with National Coming Out Day. This is why it is at the end of the year.
Pride is a lot easier to experience than it is to describe.
Thousands of LGBTQ people, as well as allies from all over the world, come to Atlanta to celebrate everything that makes us who we are.
The festival lasts from Friday to Sunday and the majority of events take place in Piedmont Park.
This year, the musical guests were Steve Grand, Bonnie McKee and Taylor Dane, among others.
There is also a parade, and this year it grew to the point of being the largest in the history of the festival.
Additionally, there are marketplaces where you can buy all kinds of Pride gear and learn about organizations in the state as well as around the world.
Pride is a special time of year for me. It is the anniversary of my finally coming to terms with my own sexuality.
Pride is not only a place that you can go to see all of the people that you care about, but it is also a place where you can just look around you and see a diverse and beautiful group of people, and you realize you are a part of this tribe.
You are not alone, and that is a beautiful thing.