Atlanta Black Pride kicks off with a major historic bang!
This party-with-a-purpose welcomed over 700 business leaders, influencers, and constituents to celebrate the intersection of Black and LGBTQ+ identities while raising funds for the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program.
Highlights of the evening included the presentation of contribution to Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program, honoring Nicco Annan, who stars as Uncle Clifford on the hit show P-Valley, with the Cultural Impact Award in partnership with GLAAD, and Roshell Darlene Hudson, distinguished Atlanta activist, with the Community Impact Award.
The moment you walked into City Hall, the energy was high and full of life. Patrons were dressed in their best stylish outfits enjoying house music, refreshments, and great conversation. Before the event began, dancers came out to open the night. Choreographed by Lyrik London, the dancers performed to songs like Alter Ego by Doechii featuring JT, a slew of Beyoncé songs such as Spirit (from the Lion King Soundtrack, 2019) Energy, Black Parade, and more.
Dickens emphasized Atlanta’s role as a beacon of diversity and equity, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community.
Dickens said Atlanta is a special city where dreams “take root and dreamers can thrive.”
“When I heard Global Black Pride chose Atlanta as its’ first-ever host city, I was not surprised, but I was excited because Black Pride has been a beloved tradition in Atlanta for decades, and now we get to showcase our culture and hospitality on a global stage,” Dickens said.
He also said he has had the privilege of seeing the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community first-hand, from activists on the front lines to everyday Atlantans living their truth and contributing to the “fabric of Atlanta.”
“Seeing Afro-futurism is spot on as we look to the future, and I am now more than ever committed to ensuring that Atlanta stays a beacon of hope and is a city where diversity isn’t just accepted but it stays,” he said. “I want you all to know that I stand with you and will always bring the full force of the Mayor’s Office with me as we continue advancing equity opportunity and justice for Atlanta’s LGBTQ community, let’s have a Happy Pride.”
Additionally, the importance of voting in the upcoming presidential election was also stressed, with a call to action to vote as if one’s life depends on it.
“We have a little more than nine weeks left before the presidential election, this election matters, so please do not sit this one out, please. Senator Raphael Warnock says our vote is a prayer for the world we want for ourselves, our future, and our children, so vote like your life depends on it,” he said.
As for the guest of honor, Annan reflected on the cultural impact of his role on P-Valley and its docuseries, “Down in the Valley,” emphasizing the importance of representation and diversity in media. Annan also expressed gratitude for the audience’s embrace of Uncle Clifford and acknowledged the hard work and long-term effort behind the show’s success.
“You don’t have to wait for somebody to tell you it is okay to be who you are, playing this role of Uncle Clifford and you all really embracing the docuseries, I’m so grateful for that because I know this opportunity doesn’t happen all the time,” Annan said.
He also teased the new season of P-Valley, which will be released soon by saying, “The cast, the crew, the designers, they’re coming for you. We are coming for you, your kitchen ain’t gonna be ready.”
Additionally, he highlighted the broader cultural influence of TV shows like “Madam Secretary” and “House of Cards” in shaping societal beliefs, particularly about gender and leadership in the upcoming election.
“When you look at P-Valley, when you look at Down in the Valley, and when you look at everything this brother right here has done, see the possibility,” he said. “Understand that you are not a one trick pony, and I encourage all of you to continue being a cultural impact because you affect change daily. Stay black and stay true to yourself.”
Also, during the event, a health clinic, in collaboration with the Fulton County Board of Health and Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, offered free MPOX vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, and Doxy PEP to guests.
Rashad Burgess, vice president of advancing health and black equity at Gilead Sciences, discussed the importance of emphasizing HIV is not a crime and encouraged people to get tested and continue to stay aware.
“We must not forget black communities from around the diaspora are impacted by HIV disproportionately from Johannesburg to Rio de Janeiro to right here in Atlanta, and we ideally understand these inequities because of our legacy of innovation and HIV and dismantling inequities is at the core of what we do, because it is woven into the entire fabric of Gilead Sciences,” he said.
During the event, Burgess announced the organization is working to advance health equity by enabling access to care, delivering scientific innovation, and igniting social impact.
The need for social impact, he said, is important now more than ever because despite the transformative therapies that are available, there are 34 states that have laws which criminalize HIV, people living with HIV, and 64 countries that have laws which criminalize homosexuality and some even have a penalty of death.
“We know these laws discourage members of our community from learning their HIV status and legitimizes stigma towards people living with HIV, which creates additional barriers to care,” he said.
Burgess further announced Gilead Sciences are partnering with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation to launch a campaign called ‘HIV Is Not a Crime, which advocates for the modernization or repeal of HIV criminalization laws.
Furthermore, in honor of Global Black Pride, the canopies at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were illuminated in the colors of the pride flag from Tuesday, Aug. 27, through Friday, Aug. 30, as a welcome to international visitors and symbol of the Dickens’ Administration’s solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
For more information about Global Black Pride, visit https://globalblackpride.org. For more information about Atlanta Black Pride events, visit https://www.atlantaprideweekend.com.
