Congressman Dr. Everton Blair Jr., who represents Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, will be the Honorary Grand Marshal of the 2026 Atlanta Pride Festival, taking place Oct. 10-11 in Piedmont Park.
Blair was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 1, following a runoff election in August to replace the late Rep. David Scott. His historic victory makes him the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress from Georgia.
“Congressman Blair’s leadership and commitment to public service have deep roots right here in Georgia, and we are proud to recognize him as our 2026 Honorary Grand Marshal,” Chris McCain, Executive Director of Atlanta Pride, said in a statement. “His historic service as Georgia’s first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress is a powerful reflection of the progress our community has made and the importance of LGBTQ+ people being visible at every level of leadership. We are honored to celebrate him and welcome him to Atlanta Pride this October.”
Born and raised in Gwinnett County, Blair is an educator, lifelong resident of Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, and the son of Jamaican immigrants. Before entering Congress, he served on the Gwinnett County Board of Education, where he became its first Black and youngest-ever member and later served as board chair.
Prior to his service on the Board of Education, Blair taught high school mathematics in Atlanta Public Schools and worked with President Barack Obama’s White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, training school leaders across the country. He holds a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and a Doctor of Education Leadership from Harvard University, as well as a master’s degree in Policy, Organization, and Leadership from Stanford University.
The Honorary Grand Marshal distinction recognizes an individual whose leadership, visibility, and service hold particular significance for Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community, Pride officials said.
To learn more about Atlanta Pride, visit atlantapride.org.
