Atlanta Pride names 120 grand marshals to mark 40 years

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by Staff

October 01, 2010 00:00

The Atlanta Pride Committee is putting a march inside a parade by naming 120 grand marshals for this year’s Pride. Instead of the typical two grand marshals, there are 40 people named in each of three categories — Legislative, Community Builders and Education.

“As much as this is an opportunity to honor selected individuals, it is also an opportunity to provide our patrons a visual of how expansive our movement really is, and to see that there are a vast number of people working on their behalf,” said JP Sheffield, Atlanta Pride executive director, in a press release.

“Compiling a list of 120 grand marshals was no small task, but we feel like the people selected are a great representation of our city and state.”

2010 also marks the first year that straight allies will carry the title “grand marshal,” which has traditionally gone to members of the LGBTQ community. Straight allies were previously “honorary marshals.”

Legislative 40

Atlanta City Council member Alex Wan, first out gay man on Atlanta council
State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan
Doraville City Council member Brian Bates, state’s first out gay GOP elected official
Former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, state’s first openly gay elected official
Ed Stansell, gay rights activist who worked with Lambda Legal and ACLU
Gil Robinson, a founder of one of Atlanta’s first gay political groups
Jamie Ensley, president of Georgia Log Cabin Republicans
Jamie Roberts, public defender and trans activist
Jeff Cleghorn, attorney and activist for repeal of DADT
Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of GALEO
Fulton Commissioner-elect Joan Garner, first out gay Fulton commissioner
Julianna Illari, Democratic activist
State Rep. Karla Drenner, first gay Georgia state legislator
Kathleen Womack, attorney and former GE chair
State Rep. Kathy Ashe
Ken Britt, co-chair of national HRC board of directors
Kyle Williams, attorney and former GE chair
Lance Rhodes, gay East Point Council member
Larry Pellegrini, executive director of the Georgia Rural Urban Summit
Lawrie Demorest, attorney and on national HRC board of directors
Linda Lowe
State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver
State Rep. Mike Jacobs
Monica Helms, co-founder of Transgender American Veterans Association
State Sen. Nan Orrock
State Rep. Pat Gardner
State Rep. Pedro Marin
State Rep. Simone Bell, first black lesbian state legislator in the U.S.
Tim Cairl, Democratic activist
State Sen. Vincent Fort
Elizabeth Johnston
Harry Knox, director, HRC Religion and Faith Program
Judy Colbs, Atlanta PFLAG leader
Kathie deNobriga, gay Pine Lake city council member
State Rep. Tyrone Brooks
Michelle Bruce, former Riverdale city council member and first known transgender elected official in Georgia
Paul Horning, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
State Rep. Stephanie Benfield
Susan Saleska Hamilton, lobbyist for GE and other causes

Posthumous

Kay Young, attorney and lobbyist

Community 40

Danny Ingram, national president of American Veterans for Equal Rights
Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality
Linda Ellis, executive director of Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative
Craig Washington, AID Atlanta
Laura Douglas-Brown, editor and co-founder of the Georgia Voice
Al Pellenberg, Atlanta Pride Committee
Kiki Carr, founder of queer fest MondoHomo
Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim
Pat Hussain, activist, organizer of Olympics Out of Cobb
Jon Weaver, activist, organizer of Olympics Out of Cobb
Bubba D. Licious, former Armorette, NAMES Project, PALS
Linda Bryant, founder of Charis Books & More
Mary Ann Adams, ZAMI founder and community activist
Pamm Burdett, director of the Lloyd Russell Foundation
Tracee McDaniel, founder of Juxtaposed Center for Transformation
Freddie Styles of The Jolly 12
Paul Plate, executive director of Positive Impact
Melissa Carter, lesbian co-host of Q-100’s The Bert Show
Darlene Hudson, former In The Life Atlanta board member and organizer of State of Black Gay America Summit
Michael Brewer of Georgia Equality, Deeper Love, and Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition
Pastor Bradley Schmeling of St. John’s Lutheran Church
Kathy Kelly, executive director of MEGA Family Project
The East Point Possums (Rick Westbrook, Chesley Thurman, John Jeffrey)
Aida Rentas, activist and with Grassroots Institute
Renee Dubose of Our Hope MCC, first openly gay clergy to serve on board of the UGA Campus Ministry Association
Isaac Kelly, Augusta Pride board president
Ebonee Bradford of ITLA and national HRC board
Raymond Duke, executive director of ITLA
Betty Couvertier, host and producer of Alternative Perspectives, an LGBT radio show on WRFG
Deepali Gokhale, Queer Progressive Agenda
Lynn Cothren, activist and special assistant to Coretta Scott King
Philip Rafshoon, owner of Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse
Wesley Chenault, Atlanta historian, author

Posthumous

Robert Eads, Southern Comfort attendee who died after being refused medical treatment because he was transgender
Greg Barrett, Atlanta Pride Committee
Billy Jones, 1960s Atlanta drag queen
Charlie St. John, journalist, organized first Pride March
Lloyd E. Russell, activist and founder of community endowment
Thelma Natalie Troia, founder of the Armorettes
Michael Hardwick of the Bowers V. Hardwick case