The Atlanta Pride Committee held a VIP party at the Georgia Aquarium on Friday, Oct. 12, to honor and recognize sponsors and supporters of the annual festival. Grand marshals of the Atlanta Pride parade were honored and honorary grand marshals Stuart Milk, the gay nephew of the gay icon Harvey Milk, and Ben Cohen, founder of the anti-bullying StandUp Foundation, thanked everyone for their support. U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon who has been a stalwart supporter of LGBT equality, also gave a rousing speech. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed was also on hand to welcome people to Atlanta.

To view more photos from the Pride VIP party, click here.

The aquarium party was then opened up to some 3,000 people who danced to the beats of DJ Corey Craig in the atrium and DJ Vicki Powell in the Oceans Ballroom Lounge while also touring the facility and viewed the exhibits including dolphins and Beluga whales. PETA also promised to protest the party claiming the wildlife in the aquarium were harmed by the loud music, but only eight protesters were seen.

To view more photos from the Pride Kickoff party, click here.

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.