Pride Across Georgia: Festivals, parades, and solidarity to mark National Pride Month

While Atlanta doesn t host its official Pride festival and parade until October queer Atlantans don t have to wait to celebrate Pride organizations across Georgia are celebrating this month with festivals parades parties and more Facing challenges like a lack of funding and harassment smaller Pride organizations are fighting to provide safe and celebratory spaces for vulnerable LGBTQ Southerners and supporting them is more significant than ever Courtesy ColGay PrideColumbus Pride ColGay Pride will host their th annual Pride festival at Woodruff Riverfront Park on June and The festivities kick off with the Mr Miss Mx Columbus Georgia Pride Pageant on June from to p m before a full day of festivities on June Despite facing more challenges than in years past this year s Pride celebration will be bigger than ever before with a bigger venue a brand-new entertainment stage three different drag shows throughout the day and the first-ever bi-city Pride parade with Phenix City AL With federally funded sponsors pulling their advocacy due to anti-LGBTQ pressures from the Trump administration ColGay Pride has been struggling The lack of federal funds has really put us in a bind especially with a new venue Jeremy Hobbs the founder and executive director of ColGay Pride reported Georgia Voice We re still struggling right now trying to get vendors and sponsors together but we re getting there This has already been a rough year for our folks out here especially our transgender brothers and sisters They need something They need this day more than anything else and I m going to make sure that we have it for them Along with financial issues the Trump administration has brought with it an increase in harassment towards the rural Pride organization Hobbs explained This year has also been one of the roughest years as far as harassment online harassment he noted The day he was elected it was like droves coming onto our website and attacking us But we still love what we re doing and we re going to continue working hard for this group You can learn more about and donate to ColGay Pride at colgaypride org Courtesy Athens Pride Photo is by Joshua L Jones Athens Pride Athens Pride and Queer Collective will host PrideFest From Athens With Pride in Downtown on June from to p m The festivities will include a vendor domain local queer and affirming materials food trucks a kids zone entertainment and a parade at p m Our area is under attack which is evident by the anti-LGBTQIA bills discussed this legislative session in Georgia and by the introduced across the country with a majority targeting trans individuals Becky Loccisano President of Athens Pride and Queer Collective explained Georgia Voice Folx are anxious and society has never been more central PrideFest is a celebration of queer happiness and a proclamation that we are here we are resilient and we re stronger together When attending this event we hope people feel energized knowing that they are not alone and that they are surrounded by love and endorsement in Athens Registration to be a vendor sponsor and parade participant is now open Find out more at athenspride org Courtesy Rome PrideRome PrideRome Pride will take place at Ridge Ferry Park on June but the weekend starts with a kick-off party on June before Saturday s festivities which start at a m with the March for Rights at City Hall The festival will include vendors food trucks a KidZone and Physical condition Village and entertainment including headliner Hormona Lisa from RuPaul s Drag Race The weekend closes out with a Pride Sunday Church Amenity at Rome First UMC Church at a m Rome Pride is the largest rural LGBTQ Pride event in Northwest Georgia attracting attendees last year Registration is open for sponsors and vendors until June at romegapride org Southern Fried Queer PrideWant to celebrate Pride without leaving Atlanta The Southern Fried Queer Pride Festival will be held on June through in Little Five Points and will include an array of events specifically tailored toward queer Black and brown Southerners This year s schedule will include the largest artist sector in its -year history a trans cabaret a Black sexual liberation and body positivity workshop a pop-up thrift shop the Peach Pit Pageant a queer film night and more Find the full schedule at southernfriedqueerpride com Courtesy Augusta PrideAugusta PrideAugust Pride will meet at the Augusta Common for Pride on June and but the weekend kicks off early with the August Pride President s Soiree on June at p m at Sacred Heart Cultural Center The theme is Friends of Dorothy tying into the red theme of Beats on Broad Augusta s hottest outdoor dance party on June at p m at the Common The Pride festival kicks off with the parade at a m on June before a day full of vendors and entertainment including headliners Akeria C Davenport from RuPaul s Drag Race and Eric Who from The Voice Find out more and donate to Augusta Pride at prideaugusta org Savannah PrideSavannah Pride Center will host a Stonewall Block Party at Starland Yard on June from to p m The all-day event will include a vendor field drag queen story hour the So You Think You Can Drag local drag competition live DJS and a Stonewall Vogue Ball an open-to-all homage to the queer ballroom scene This vibrant celebration honors the historic Stonewall Riots of a pivotal moment that propelled the LGBTQIA rights movement forward Michael Bell the Executive Director of Savannah Pride Center narrated Georgia Voice In these challenging times as the world faces heightened uncertainty and adversity the need for visible sponsorship and solidarity with the LGBTQIA area is critical This annual benefit plays a vital role in supporting the Savannah Pride Center helping to provide crucial services and safe affirming spaces for the LGBTQIA area in the Deep South Applications for vendors are open until June More details are available at savannahpridecenter org Smyrna PrideSmyrna is Fabulous will close out Pride month with their Pride festival on June from noon to p m at Smyrna Realm Village The family-friendly event will include vendors live entertainment sessions and more Learn more at smyrnapride org The post Pride Across Georgia Festivals parades and solidarity to mark National Pride Month appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta