The massive Atlanta Pride festival takes over Midtown each June, and is just one of the many reasons gay people should be thankful to call Atlanta home. (Photo by Sher Pruitt)
Counting our blessings 200 things to be thankful for in gay Atlanta
For more information on these groups, check out the calendars in Southern Voice, pick up our print issue each Friday, or search our website at www.sovo.com.
As
you
sit
around
the
Thanksgiving
table
counting
your
blessings,
don't
forget
to
put
the
best
of
life
in
gay
Atlanta
on
your
list.
Sure,
we
live
in
a
blue
oasis
in
an
increasingly
red
state.
Sure,
we're
still
fighting
to
pass
a
gay-inclusive
hate
crimes
law.
Sure,
the
bars
close
earlier
now
than
they
once
did.
But
just
like
the
relative
who
everyone
always
complains
about
but
still
fiercely
loves
and
can’t
wait
to
see
during
the
holidays,
we
can’t
imagine
our
lives
without
this
city.
Here
are
some
of
the
people,
places
and
things
that
add
up
to
make
Atlanta
the
undisputed
gay
mecca
of
the
South:
1
of
the
gayest
intersections
anywhere:
It
may
not
be
the
Castro,
but
the
Midtown
intersection
of
10th
and
Piedmont
rivals
any
in
the
country
for
the
sheer
volume
of
gay
people
and
gay
and
gay-friendly
businesses
that
pass
through
every
day.
Want
to
imagine
what
life
would
be
like
if
we
were
the
majority?
Spend
some
time
hanging
out
here
for
a
taste.
33
gay
bars,
including
a
few
that
target
lesbians
all
or
some
nights
of
the
week:
Like
big
DJs?
Country
music?
Leather?
Hip-hop?
Drag?
Bears?
Sports?
Or,
dare
we
say
it
in
the
male-heavy
bar
scene,
women
who
like
women?
Whatever
your
gay
nightlife
niche,
there’s
a
bar
for
you
in
Atlanta.
Or
several.
7
great
nights
of
partying
each
week:
Atlanta
may
not
quite
live
up
to
its
reputation
as
“the
city
too
busy
too
hate,”
but
it’s
definitely
a
city
too
busy
to
sleep.
From
the
long
list
of
gay
bars
to
gay
nights
at
mainstream
venues,
there’s
something
cool
to
do
all
week
in
gay
Atlanta
—
even
on
“school
nights”!
The
options
only
increase
any
time
there’s
a
holiday
that
gives
us
an
extra
day
off
to
recover
from
our
revelry;
just
check
the
nightlife
column
on
page
30
of
this
issue
for
special
events
on
Thanksgiving
Eve.
Who
knew
that
was
a
gay
holiday?
10
out
elected
officials:
November's
vote
brought
the
tally
of
out
gay
and
lesbian
officials
in
Georgia
to
nine;
add
in
Riverdale
City
Councilmember
Michele
Bruce,
one
of
the
country's
few
openly
transgender
office
holders,
and
GLBT
people
are
finally
taking
our
place
at
the
political
table.
Bruce
faces
a
Dec.
4
runoff
election
in
her
bid
for
a
second
term;
check
out
Georgia
Equality's
website
(www.georgiaequality.org)
if
you
want
to
support
her
campaign
or
learn
other
ways
you
can
help
“build
a
fair-minded
majority”
in
Georgia.
3
LGBT
political
groups:
Whether
your
political
tastes
favor
the
gay
Atlanta
Stonewall
Democrats,
Log
Cabin
Republicans
or
bipartisan
Georgia
Equality,
Atlanta
has
thriving
organizations
to
help
tap
the
strength
of
the
gay
vote.
Following
politics
not
really
your
thing?
At
least
check
in
with
these
groups
near
Election
Day
to
make
sure
you
cast
your
ballot
for
candidates
who
support
your
equality.
3
legal
groups
fighting
for
your
rights:
When
it
comes
time
to
fight
for
domestic
partner
benefits,
strike
down
an
anti-gay
law,
defend
gay-straight
alliances
in
state
schools,
or
protect
a
lesbian
mom's
right
to
adopt,
we
know
Lambda
Legal’s
Southern
Regional
Office,
the
ACLU
of
Georgia,
and
the
attorneys
who
make
up
the
Stonewall
Bar
Association
have
our
backs.
8
local
governments
that
offer
domestic
partner
benefits
to
their
employees:
The
list
definitely
needs
to
grow,
but
we’re
thankful
for
the
strong
statement
on
fairness
made
by
these
local
governments
who
allow
gay
employees
to
include
their
life
partners
on
their
insurance:
Atlanta,
Athens-Clarke
County,
Decatur,
DeKalb
County,
Doraville,
East
Point,
Fulton
County
and
Pine
Lake.
1
awesome
inner
city
park:
Piedmont
Park
is
the
unofficial
backyard
of
gay
Atlanta,
and
we’re
thankful
for
it
during
big
events
like
Pride
and
the
AIDS
Walk,
and
just
when
we
want
an
accepting
place
to
feast
on
eye
candy
while
we
jog,
walk
our
dogs
or
sunbathe.
2
great
Pride
Festivals:
Atlanta
Pride,
the
city’s
annual
huge
gay
party,
er,
commemoration
of
the
Stonewall
Riots,
packs
Piedmont
Park
for
three
days
at
the
end
of
June
and
ranks
among
the
biggest
Pride
festivals
in
the
country.
Black
Gay
Pride
hits
on
Labor
Day
Weekend,
drawing
tens
of
thousands
for
fun
and
fellowship
in
what
may
be
the
nation’s
biggest
celebration
of
its
kind.
6
more
big
gay
weekends/weeks:
Atlanta
Pride
and
Black
Gay
Pride
aren’t
the
...
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