Atlanta is Even Gayer

[simms3_redux]

Ha, I'm pulling a jerk move and creating an Atlanta Pride thread while there is a Houston Pride thread up. Reasons?

1) I never posted last year (it was in early October).
2) Atlanta's Pride is truly one of the oldest and most noteworthy Prides in America, having been running for over 40 years.
3) Atlanta's Pride is what a Pride should be...a way to get the word out on community acceptance and organizations and to make everyone feel included. It's not a Pride that particularly goes for deviance or controversy.
4) It's 106 out with a purple ozone air quality alert. 20 minutes outside = pack of cigarettes!
5) I did happen to capture some eye candy!!

NOTE: This Pride is heavily sponsored, regulated and corporate. Some may have a problem with that, but I think it's great that Atlanta's companies are so tuned in, and really you absolutely cannot do business in this city unless you are a friend of the gays.


Section 1: Saturday in Piedmont Park


1.


Entrance to Piedmont by city_simmons, on Flickr


2.


Gay Pride and Skyline 1 003 by city_simmons, on Flickr


3.


Drop it Low by city_simmons, on Flickr


4.


Gay Pride and Skyline 1 010 by city_simmons, on Flickr


5. DEMIZES (who's horrible). Other performers included Alexis Jordan, Wynter Gordon, Deborah Cox, Kim Sozzi and Ari Gold.


Demizes by city_simmons, on Flickr


6. My hood. I live in a building in this photo.


Midtown at Night by city_simmons, on Flickr


Section 2: Pride Parade Route and Environment – Peachtree St to 10th St into Piedmont Park


7.


pride! 004 by city_simmons, on Flickr


8.


pride! 009 by city_simmons, on Flickr


9.


pride! 006 by city_simmons, on Flickr


Section 3: General Photos


10.


pride! 031 by city_simmons, on Flickr


11.


pride! 066 by city_simmons, on Flickr


12. AKA Baton Bob…familiar Midtown resident


pride! 068 by city_simmons, on Flickr


13.


pride! 080 by city_simmons, on Flickr


14.


pride! 082 by city_simmons, on Flickr


15.


pride! 086 by city_simmons, on Flickr


16. I love this photo


pride! 103 by city_simmons, on Flickr


17.


pride! 113 by city_simmons, on Flickr


18.


pride! 116 by city_simmons, on Flickr


19.


pride! 149 by city_simmons, on Flickr


20.


pride! 151 by city_simmons, on Flickr


21.


pride! 166 by city_simmons, on Flickr


22.


pride! 167 by city_simmons, on Flickr


23.


pride! 169 by city_simmons, on Flickr


Section 4: Good Looking People


24.


pride! 126 by city_simmons, on Flickr


25.


pride! 121 by city_simmons, on Flickr


26.


pride! 087 by city_simmons, on Flickr


27.


pride! 088 by city_simmons, on Flickr


28. Love the way this one turned out, too.


pride! 058 by city_simmons, on Flickr


29.


pride! 038 by city_simmons, on Flickr


30.


pride! 127 by city_simmons, on Flickr


31.


pride! 128 by city_simmons, on Flickr


32.


pride! 130 by city_simmons, on Flickr


33. Purrty Lady


pride! 140 by city_simmons, on Flickr


34.


pride! 141 by city_simmons, on Flickr


35.


pride! 142 by city_simmons, on Flickr


36.


pride! 144 by city_simmons, on Flickr


37.


pride! 146 by city_simmons, on Flickr


38. Nerdy Asians campaigning for re-election of Alex Wan, one of Atlanta’s gay councilmen


pride! 023 by city_simmons, on Flickr


Section 5: A Corporate Pride


39. Coca-Cola


Coca Cola Sponsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


40. Delta – run by gays, employs gays (flight attendants, pilots)


Delta Sponsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


41. Home Depot


Home Depot Sponsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


42. Newell Rubbermaid - ugly float


Newell Rubbermaid Sponsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


43. SunTrust


SunTrust Bank Sponsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


44. Whole Foods (not HQ’d in Atlanta)


Whole Foods Sponsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


45. Rick Case himself (GA, FL, OH auto group)


Rick Case Auto Group Sponsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


46. Intercontinental Hotels Group (HQ’d in Atlanta)


Intercontinental Hotels Group Sonsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


47. All the car dealers, of course…including Bentley??


Bentley Atlanta Sponsor by city_simmons, on Flickr


Section 6: Organizations


48. It was moving to see all the armed forces.


pride! 015 by city_simmons, on Flickr


49. Atlanta’s police force is very very gay.


pride! 026 by city_simmons, on Flickr


50.


pride! 027 by city_simmons, on Flickr


51.


pride! 053 by city_simmons, on Flickr


52.


pride! 070 by city_simmons, on Flickr


53.


pride! 073 by city_simmons, on Flickr


54.


pride! 143 by city_simmons, on Flickr


55.


pride! 090 by city_simmons, on Flickr


56.


pride! 093 by city_simmons, on Flickr


57.


pride! 122 by city_simmons, on Flickr


58.


pride! 124 by city_simmons, on Flickr


59.


pride! 125 by city_simmons, on Flickr


60.


pride! 153 by city_simmons, on Flickr


61.


pride! 155 by city_simmons, on Flickr


62.


pride! 156 by city_simmons, on Flickr


63.


pride! 157 by city_simmons, on Flickr


64.


pride! 159 by city_simmons, on Flickr


65.


pride! 160 by city_simmons, on Flickr


Section 7: Gay Magazines…well some of them – Southern Voice not pictured


66.


pride! 134 by city_simmons, on Flickr


67.


pride! 045 by city_simmons, on Flickr


68.


pride! 051 by city_simmons, on Flickr


69.


pride! 049 by city_simmons, on Flickr


Section 8: Religious Tolerance in the City…dozens of churches represented


70.


pride! 095 by city_simmons, on Flickr


71.


pride! 096 by city_simmons, on Flickr


72.


pride! 097 by city_simmons, on Flickr


73.


pride! 101 by city_simmons, on Flickr


74.


pride! 102 by city_simmons, on Flickr


75. My church.


pride! 107 by city_simmons, on Flickr


76.


pride! 108 by city_simmons, on Flickr


77.


pride! 112 by city_simmons, on Flickr


Hope you enjoyed. We’ll see you out this year!

[hauntedheadnc]

Our pride festival is in October too. It always made more sense to me to hold big to-do's after the most miserable part of the year has passed.

[Expat]

Excellent Pride coverage. You gave a good representation of many types of groups. You know I was pleased to see the Episcopalians!

[photoLith]

Im sorry, after seeing this thread Id still have to with Houston being gayer I mean, we have a lesbian mayor after all.

[IWant2BeInSTL]

I'm still pissed that Baton Bob left Saint Louis for Atlanta. I used to see him all the time in the Central West End on my way to work. Always made me smile.

[Expat]

Originally Posted by IWant2BeInSTL

I'm still pissed that Baton Bob left Saint Louis for Atlanta. I used to see him all the time in the Central West End on my way to work. Always made me smile.

I wasn't going to say anything. But, yeah, I am still pissed, too.

[IWant2BeInSTL]

Originally Posted by Expat

I wasn't going to say anything. But, yeah, I am still pissed, too.

I don't know all the particulars, but the rumor was that STL police harassed him one too many times... very sad. In any case: STL's loss, ATL's gain.

[tdawg]

I've always loved Atlantas Pride. It was my first. If I'm not mistaken, Atlanta is right behind San Fran in the percentage of same sex couples.

[STLgasm]

Great photos. I miss Baton Bob too... I have a lot of photos of him prancing around St. Louis.

[bobdreamz]

Very comprehensive thread although I was surprised to see the Atlanta police partake in the parade.

[whatsthepoint13]

As a homosexual, I definitely approve! It's nice to see such a huge, well-celebrated pride, even if it's heavily corporate. For this to exist in the south is fantastic! Thanks.

[NYbyWAYofGA]

Very nice pics, Simms. I love the colors and the trees with the urban backdrop.

[LSyd]

good stuff, thanks for the pics

-

[Shasta]

This parade looks better than Boston's. Boston's is lame.