Brief encounter
May. 29 — I’m keeping today’s Crosswalk intro brief as we work to get the June issue of Georgia Voice to the printer. We’ll have a roundup of Pride festivals happening across the state next month, plus more news and features you won’t want to miss.
As this newsletter is hitting your inbox, HIV prevention advocates are holding a town hall to discuss the ramifications of 17 workers being laid off from the Fulton County Board of Health. There are serious concerns about access to services like testing and drugs. Check the website tomorrow for an update.
As always, thanks for reading!
Collin
35th annual Pride Run ATL is Sunday
🏃🏽 Front Runners Atlanta will be kicking off Pride Month with the 35th annual Pride Run ATL on Sunday, June 1.
Founded in 1991, Front Runners Atlanta created the first LGBTQ+ run in the Southeast to raise money for and awareness around HIV. Since its foundation, participants of the run have raised over $370,000 for HIV/AIDS services in Atlanta, with proceeds going to local HIV organizations like AID Atlanta, Bridge of Light, Lost ‘n’ Found Youth, and Inclusive Recovery.
The charity 5K walk and run will start at the Charles Allen Gate of Piedmont Park on June 1 at 8:30 a.m.
➡ Find out more about the run here.
DeKalb LGBTQ+ Caucus prepares for Pride, local elections
🏳️🌈 The DeKalb LGBTQ+ Caucus is preparing to engage voters and provide critical resources during the Atlanta Pride festival this fall.
The caucus is an organization within the DeKalb Democratic Party dedicated to working toward “the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well-being of all,” Steve Parker, the President of the LGBTQ+ Caucus, told Georgia Voice.
The organization will be meeting on June 27 for those interested in finding out how to get involved.
➡ Find out more about the DeKalb LGBTQ+ Caucus.
Mythic creatures meet modern art!
SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM
✨ Step into a world where mythology and art collide! Spirit Guides: Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles brings vibrant, hybrid animal sculptures to life in Fernbank’s WildWoods.
These whimsical sculptures blend Zapotec culture and contemporary art, each representing spirit guides tied to personality and destiny. Designed by renowned Oaxacan artists, this exhibit offers a soulful journey through indigenous culture, identity, and the natural world.
➡ Open now through August 3, with special after-hours viewings on select nights. Don’t miss this magical experience!
Atlanta Fringe Festival kicks off today
🎭 The Atlanta Fringe Festival returns for its 13th year with two weeks of weird, hilarious, and uncensored performances across 10 different local venues.
This year’s festival features a whopping 361 performances from today, May 28, to June 8. The lineup includes 31 Georgia-based performers, who previewed their acts on May 20 at the Supermarket.
The shows span subject matter and medium, from magic and clownery to puppetry and storytelling.
➡ Find out more about the Fringe Festival.
Bookish Best Bets
🌍 Georgia Center for the Book at the Decatur Library welcomes Tochi Onyebuchi in conversation with Olivia Johnson for a discussion of “Harmattan Season,”a gripping fantasy noir that is both dryly funny and unforgettably evocative.
🤝🏽 Charis Books & More in Decatur welcomes Sarah Schulman in conversation with Dr. Moon Charania for a discussion of “The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity.” The in-person event is May 30 at 7:30 p.m.
⚖️ Martin Padgett will discuss his new book, “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS,” with Philip Rafshoon on Tuesday, June 3, at 7 p.m. at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Midtown. A Cappella Books is hosting the talk and book signing event.
Social Follow of the Week
📸 With Pride month fast approaching, here’s a little love for our sisters: The Lesbian Herstory Archives on Instagram. Founded in 1973, the archive preserves knowledge about lesbian history and to bring more visibility to queer women.
