Annual event draws tens of thousands to Midtown

Atlanta’s Pride festival wouldn’t be complete without the annual parade, which kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14. Each year, the parade draws tens of thousands along the traditional route down Peachtree Street to 10th Street and Piedmont Park.

Organizers say more than 200 entrants have signed on this year, ranging from local nonprofit organizations to politicians, gay-friendly businesses and multi-national corporations.

The grand marshals for the 2012 parade are trans activist Vandy Beth Glenn; Rev. Joshua Noblitt, minister of social justice at Saint Mark United Methodist Church; Jeff Graham, Georgia Equality executive director; Danny Ingram, American Veterans for Equal Rights executive director; Dr. Julie Kubala, senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies for the Women’s Studies Institute at Georgia State University; Anita Rae Strange, “AKA Clermont Blondie”; the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Omega Phi Fraternity, Inc. and drag fundraising troupe The Armorettes.

Grand marshals will be scattered in the first rows of parade participants, organizers said.

Traditional hotspots along the route include just outside the Georgian Terrace Hotel on Peachtree Street and the corner of 10th and Piedmont. As always, organizers expect anti-gay protesters along the route.

If crowds aren’t your thing, local network 11 Alive (WXIA) will broadcast the parade live on its website, www.11alive.com/pride.

Top photo: Tens of thousands line the streets of Midtown for Sunday’s Atlanta Pride Parade. (Photo by Bo Shell)