Black Gay Pride marks decade of growth Attendees cite personal, political reasons for Labor Day celebration

Southern Voice - September 8, 2006
http://www.sovo.com/2006/9-8/news/localnews/2006bgp.cfm

"This is like a huge turning point in my life. It's just now time to be very visible and let others know who I am and that I'm not going to be closeted for anybody."

The loud beat of an African drum and high-energy tribal dancing helped "make way for revolution" Sept. 1 at the opening ceremony of Atlanta's annual Black Gay Pride celebration.

In the Life Atlanta, official organizer of Black Gay Pride, chose the revolutionary theme to celebrate its 10th anniversary of hosting political, educational and cultural events during the Labor Day weekend tradition, which began as a series of house parties more than two decades ago.

Nightlife festivities for this year's Black Gay Pride got underway as early as Aug. 30, but the Friday night opening ceremony at the Sheraton Midtown Colony Square, ITLA's host hotel, marked the start of official events.

"Last year we had a really good show and this year it's even better," said Derrick Baugh, an ITLA board member. "We brought back a lot of the favorite acts, and added some new ones."

The ceremony was a no-holds-barred celebration and call to action for black gay people to accept their sexual orientation and denounce those who discriminate against them.

The crowd was entertained with acts that got many on their feet. Kandi Burruss, formerly of the R&B group Xscape, treated the crowd to a free concert.

In between acts, organizers played a video chronicling Black Gay Pride's 10-year history. What begin as a string of separately organized parties over Labor Day weekend has grown into a series of events spread over four days.

"You can see how we've evolved since then," Baugh said.

Michael Slaughter, co-chair of In the Life Atlanta, said he considers reaching the 10-year mark a monumental achievement concerning how hard organizers had to work in the early years.

"You know for a Black Gay Pride to make it for 10 years, that's really something to be proud of," Slaughter said.

Maurice Cook, a former In the Life Atlanta board member, remembered those early days.

"It started just at a round table at a club where people were talking about how to do something for the many people who were coming to town," Cook said. "It was the first time brothers and sisters got together and started doing something.

Cook said he's proud of how big Atlanta Black Gay Pride has grown. "It's been fantastic to look over the years and see what we have done," Cook said.

More than just parties
Black Gay Pride events continued throughout Labor Day weekend, from a packed schedule of special events hosted by local nightclubs and party promoters, to ITLA's roster of activities that included a candlelight vigil, health seminar, market place, brunch, poetry readings, films and plays.

For the past three years, lesbian couple Sandra Smart and Andrea-Shari Wryte has made the long journey from London to attend Atlanta's Black Gay Pride. They love the atmosphere, which they said is more than just parties, but seminars and conferences on issues affecting black gay people.

"It's not like that in the U.K.," Wryte said during an interview at the opening ceremony. "There you just have raves."

Smart and Wryte said the organizers of Black Gay Pride have always made them feel welcome throughout the years. "It's like a family," Smart said. "We wouldn't keep coming back if we didn't like it. I just like to see our brothers and sisters coming together and being informed in a safe environment."

Atlanta resident Marco Sanders said the diverse schedule of Black Gay Pride events gave him the chance to see old friends who have outgrown the party scene and prefer more laid-back functions such as the Jazz Brunch and educational seminars.

Sanders said he's been attending Black Gay Pride "off and on" for the past 17 years.

"For me, it's a chance to see people I don't normally get to see [anymore]," he said.

Sanders, who said he's "proud everyday," said he's impressed with how much the celebration has grown throughout the years.

"It's good to see us get organized," he said.

'Stand up and represent'
Official Black Gay Pride events culminated with Labor Day's "Stand Up and Represent" march as a small but determined cadre of activists and volunteers wound its way through the muggy streets of downtown from Ebenezer Baptist Church to the steps of the state capitol.

"Each year, whether it's 10 of us or 2,000, we can shut down the streets," Anthony McWilliams, an In the Life Atlanta volunteer, told the crowd.

Marchers frequently compared the struggle for gay rights to the civil rights movement. The struggle then was different, and yet, the same, they said.

"Homophobia is as morally wrong as racism," one sign said, quoting the late Coretta Scott King.

"Gay is the new black," read one T-shirt.

Like their predecessors in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, marchers said that gay people also face issues internal to their communities.

"Our greatness is not determined by our waist size, or our dick size, or our breast size. We are a mighty people. Let us never forget that. That's what this weekend is all about," said Craig Washington, a parade organizer.

With little of the fanfare or onlookers of the Atlanta Pride parade in June, the Stand Up march was as much about affirming the identities of its marchers as it was about espousing their political notions.

"Like all of you, I'm tired of the status quo. I'm here today because I'm tired of seeing the same heterosexism and homophobic oppression holding us back under the guise of traditional morals and values," said march organizer Shane Johnson.

A small group of police officers, including Atlanta Police Department gay liaison Officer Darlene Harris, escorted the band of about 40 marchers down to the capitol building.

After about 10 minutes of rallying under the shade of the capitol building, marchers were informed by capitol police officers that their permits allowed them to demonstrate in front of the Gold Dome, but not in the building's entrance way. The group moved back, but some marchers made sure to assert their displeasure with the order.

"I paid taxes for them steps. And I paid for the police too. I'm talking city taxes, state and federal," one woman shouted.

For some marchers like Dionne Bates, the event allowed a rare chance to actually stand up and represent themselves.

"This is like a huge turning point in my life. It's just now time to be very visible and let others know who I am and that I'm not going to be closeted for anybody," she said.