Exclusive | Entertainment News
It’s that time of the year again Gayes! Atlanta Black Pride is here and it’s the perfect way to close out the summer.
Atlanta Black Pride and Global Black Pride continue their historic partnership by hosting the first Global Black Pride in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. The near week-long celebration of Pride will begin August 26th and continue through to September 2nd, boasting a number of individual events.
On Sunday, September 1, the 12th annual Pure Heat Community Festival, also known as a free "day of unity", will be held at Piedmont Park. The festival will feature various vendors, entertainment, live celebrity and local performances, educational forums, and prizes and giveaways. The event is fashioned to cultivate a spirit of community, a sense of belonging, a celebration of pride, and a vision for the future.
Several celebrities are expected to be in attendance including rising Electric/Acoustic Rock Soul singer/songwriter Jessica Betts. Jessica will be receiving this year's Trailblazer Award which will be presented to her by her wife, Niecy Nash-Betts.
Jessica Betts is a professional musician who has worked with numerous artists and has even been on tour with singer K. Michelle. The couple sent the media into a frenzy when they announced their relationship in 2020 and then their marriage shortly after.
Headliner Tamar Braxton will even be receiving the 2024 Ultimate Icon Award. Tamar Braxton has been no stranger to the LGBTQ+ community. She has shown her allyship through various performances at Pride events, engaging with her queer audience and even being a guest judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race”.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee will also be honored and is set to receive the 2024 Champion of Change Award. Congresswoman Barbara Lee has been known to champion for equality and the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Most recently she spoke out against Project 2025 and its propositions to allow employers to discriminate against persons who identify as LGBTQ+ and eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion, and access programs, stating that “equity is not an add-on. It’s an imperative.”
The organizers in conjunction with the Atlanta Police Department and the Mayor's Office have worked diligently to provide extra precautions to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all of the participants throughout the celebration.
Global Black Pride has curated a series of events designed to capture the exuberance and diversity of the Black LGBTQIA+ community. It promises to have something for everyone along the spectrum of sexual orientation, identity, and gender presentation.
Some of the events will include a R&B Brunch, Black LGBTGIA+ Political Leaders Summit, Empowerment Brunches, Global Black LGBTQIA+ Human Rights and Health Conference, Global Black Pride Village, Gala & Influencer Dinner, and Global Black Pride March in addition to nightly and some daytime parties. Most notable among the events is the two-day music festival at Piedmont Park which will take place from Saturday, August 31st to Sunday, September 1st.
Global Black Pride Atlanta is presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Bavarian-Nordic, Eli Lilly, Human Rights Campaign, Viiv Healthcare, Gilead, AID ATLANTA M.E.N.
Global Black Pride Atlanta will most definitely be a celebration for the books, with a little bit of something for everyone. Be sure to grab your friends and allies and end the summer with a bang. See you this Labor Day weekend at Global Black Pride, Gayes!
Visit GlobalBlackPride.org, AtlantaPrideWeekend.com and AtlantaBlackPrideLDR.com to learn more about Global Black Pride Weekend's event lineup.