Happy Pride!
Oct. 8 — Atlanta Pride is this weekend with a full slate of events and activities across the city. We’ve got a complete roundup below, plus you can check out our Pride Guide in the October issue of Georgia Voice. Please stop by our booth in Piedmont Park this weekend to say hello or wave to us in the Sunday parade!
And now a few headlines:
⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in Chiles v. Salazar, a case that could determine whether states can ban conversion therapy on minors.
📺 Bari Weiss – the self-described “Zionist fanatic” and “Jewish lesbian from Pittsburgh,” who is also anti-trans – has been named editor-in-chief of CBS News.
🗳️ Atlanta City Council candidates answered questions about LGBTQ+ issues at a forum last week hosted by Georgia Equality and Human Rights Campaign Georgia.
🏡 I had an opportunity to tour the newly landmarked Randolph-Lucas-Jones House, a century-old dwelling in Ansley Park, saved from demolition by a preservation-minded gay couple.
👑 Dolly Parton’s sister scared everyone yesterday with calls for prayers for the icon, but it turns out she’s suffering from kidney stones. We absolutely cannot lose another queen at this time.
😘 Happy International Lesbian Day to all those who celebrate!
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
Collin
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2025 Atlanta Pride Guide
🏳️🌈 The LGBTQ+ community and its allies will mark Atlanta Pride with a weekend of events, parties, and Sunday’s Pride Parade.
“From the start, Atlanta Pride has been more than a festival: it is a declaration that our community’s roots run deep and our resolve endures,” Pride Executive Director Chris McCain said about the 55th anniversary of the celebration.
➡ Check out our full guide to all the official Pride events happening Oct. 10-12.
MORE ABOUT PRIDE
🎉 Meet the grand marshals of the 2025 Atlanta Pride Parade.
💵 Check out the Pride Giving Guide for local nonprofits that need your support.
Italian Ruins to DIVE for!
SPONSORED BY FERNBANK MUSEUM
🌊 Journey beneath the waves with Sunken Treasures, Ancient Seas at Fernbank Museum.
You won’t want to miss this immersive journey beneath the Mediterranean Sea to uncover ancient shipwrecks, artifacts, and lost worlds. Featuring real relics found off the coast of Italy, HD video explorations, and more, this exhibition reveals how underwater archaeologists bring the past to light.
➞ This exhibit is open daily, or you can swing by for after-hours during select special events! On view now until Jan. 11, 2026.
Celebrating 25 years of ‘Sordid Lives’
🍿 Out on Film and Out Front Theatre have teamed up for a 25th anniversary screening of gay cult classic “Sordid Lives” on Thursday, Oct. 8. Its creator, Del Shores, will be on hand for the event.
Originally conceived as a play, the film was a flop upon its initial release, but has since become an iconic piece of queer cinema, thanks in large part to the irrepressible (and much-missed) Leslie Jordan.
➡ Check out our interview with Shores and get tickets.
MORE LGBTQ+ CINEMA
❤️ Contributor Jim Farmer interviewed “Plainclothes” director Carmen Emmi and its stars Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey about the romantic thriller.
IGNYTE conference mobilizes LGBTQ+ youth leaders
🗣️ The National Center for Civil and Human Rights LGBTQ+ Institute will host the 2025 IGNYTE conference Oct. 9-12, a four-day experience uniting emerging youth leaders, experience advocates, and business trailblazers to reimagine equity across generations.
The conference, which coincides with the Institute’s 10th anniversary, will offer attendees access to workshops, conversations, and keynote speakers driving impact across the South and beyond.
➡ Find out more about the speakers and register here.
Best Bets
Bang, Bang
🎤 Wussy and City Winery at Ponce City Market are hosting the Ariana Grande Drag Brunch on Jan. 18 at noon featuring performances by Brigitte Bidet, Christina Leon, Cici Nicole, Drew Friday, and Eros Étoile. Get tickets here.
🥂 Midtown Neighbors is hosting a Pride Meetup at Campagnolo tonight, Oct. 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. with music, drinks, and lite bites.
🛼 Cascade Skating Rink is hosting the Pride Glide on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 8 p.m. to midnight.
🌈 Golden Isles Pride will be held in Brunswick, GA, on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 4 to 9 p.m. on Newcastle Street. The block party will feature dancing, live music, vendors, food, activities, and more.
📲 Be sure to visit our Instagram account @thegeorgiavoice for even more events happening during busy Pride Weekend.
Check out the new edition of Destination Gay Atlanta, an LGBTQ+ travel guide created by Georgia Voice in partnership with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. You can read the guide online or pick up a copy this weekend at the Voice booth at Piedmont Park.