Atlanta Pride - Give Out Day 2021

In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City. Fed up with the abuse and harassment, the patrons on the bar fought back and a series of riots and demonstrations ensued that lasted for days. These demonstrations, known as the Stonewall Riots or Stonewall Rebellion, gave birth to what many consider to be the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement in the US and around the globe. In June 1970, a group of Atlantans gathered in Piedmont Park to distribute literature about the treatment of LGBTQ people in our city and that grew into a march planned for June 1971. From these roots, Atlanta Pride was born, both as an organization (which grew out of the Georgia Gay Liberation Front) and a festival. 

In 1991, the Atlanta Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee was formed. In 1995, the name was changed to Atlanta Pride Committee (APC). APC currently exists as a 501c3 nonprofit organization registered in the State of Georgia. In the past, our programmatic offerings were solely centered around the annual Atlanta Pride Festival, which grew from a parade to a small festival and then to the largest parade in the City of Atlanta and one of the largest Pride festivals in the United States. While the festival is still our best-known event, APC has expanded our scope and outreach to include year-round programming and to connect with the community in a variety of ways that compliment the mission of the organization and the reach of our signature event, the Festival and Parade. 

Fast forward to 2020 and Atlanta Pride is celebrating its 50th Anniversary.  Due to COVID-19, our in person celebrations and advocacy  campaigns were cancelled, but we have engaged more than 140,000 people through our move to digital and online programming this year. In addition to entertainment, we've focused on elevating small businesses and connecting people with resources they need to make it through this challenging and unprecedented year. 

The Atlanta Pride Committee is Georgia's oldest non-profit agency serving the LGBTQ community and serves as an advocate of, and resource to, gender and sexually diverse communities in Atlanta and the Southeastern United States. Our operations include the annual Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade in October as well as 60 other educational, social, and historical programs each year, as well as community reinvestment initiatives.

Our Mission:  The mission of the Atlanta Pride Committee is to advance unity, visibility, and wellness among persons with widely diverse gender and sexual identities through cultural, social, political, and educational programs and activities.

Our Vision: We envision a world where persons with widely diverse gender and sexual identities are united, visible, and equal.

Our Purpose: The main purpose of the Atlanta Pride Committee, a 501(c)(3) organization, is to advance unity, visibility and self-esteem among lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender and queer persons and to promote a positive image in the Atlanta area and throughout the Southeastern United States through community activities and services.

Our Values: We value social justice, culture, self-esteem, history, health and wellness.