Living Out Loud with Darian

It’s that time of year again! Labor day weekend is quickly approaching and whether you’re local or live as far away as California, Atlanta is definitely the place to be. Over 75,000 people are expected to arrive in the city to participate in the 12th Annual Atlanta Black Gay Pride festivities. In a year that has seen numerous black gay pride events cancelled from Seattle to Los Angeles, and the explosive last minute cancellation of New York’s Pride In The City, Atlanta attendees can breath a collective sigh of relief that the largest black gay pride event in the country will not face the same demise.

This year’s theme is “A Time To Act” and pride organizers are urging attendees who flock to the long list of parties offered during the weekend to exert the same energy and focus into one of the most important elections of our time as well as into issues that directly affect the LGBT community.

The list of scheduled events officially kicks off on Wednesday, August 27th with a candlelight vigil sponsored by pride organizers In The Life Atlanta at Tabernacle Baptist Church followed by the opening ceremony to be held on Friday, August 29th at the W Hotel in Midtown

Events at the hotel include a community luncheon, a kick-off town hall meeting, various workshops, and the popular Pride Marketplace that hosts more than 70 vendors from across the country.

For a complete list of scheduled events click here.

Below are a few events that I’m looking forward to attending and that I think you should consider too. Most of them lean towards the political or artistic aspect of Pride since I’m not into the club scene, however a performance by the ladies of Danity Kane may prompt my very first visit to Traxx Nightclub.



Saturday, August 30

The Second Annual State of Black Gay America Summit



The State of Black Gay America (SBGA) is slated for Saturday, August 30, at the Renaissance Hotel-Downtown, 590 W. Peachtree Street, Downtown Atlanta. The ticketed luncheon starts at 11:00 a.m. followed by the panel discussion (free to the public) at 1:00 p.m. The luncheon speaker is Actress / Community Activist Sheryl Lee Ralph.


Living In Our Pride Workshop Series
Cost: $ 5 day pass or $10 for weekend pass
Workshop series that explores the issues that face the Black LGBT community. Presenters from around the nation will present information on spirituality, financial wealth, building families, eroticism, personal growth, and politics for open dialogue. Each workshop session lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes and are held in intimate settings for eye-opening one-on-one discussion.


See Us In The Life Film Festival

SEE US IN THE LIFE FILM FESTIVAL is Atlanta’s premier festival for filmmakers, animators and artists whose work explores topics relevant to black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities.
Doors Open at 4pm.

Bobby Blake Book Signing


Adult film star Bobby Blake signs copies of his memoir “My Life In Porn” at Outwrite Bookstore at 8 PM



Traxx Pride Party featuring Danity Kane
Traxx Atlanta
1287 Columbia Drive, Decatur
10 PM-6 am


Sunday, August 31


Sunday Morning Worship Service
Vision Church of Atlanta
9AM-11AM
1240 Euclid Avenue, Atlanta

See Us In The Life Film Festival
First screening begins at 3 PM

For the Bible Tells Me So by Daniel Karslake [Documentary]- Presented by HRC, a discussion will follow.



Friends & Lovers by Maurice Jamal 
The sequel to Jamal’s hilarious debut film Ski Trip. Presented by Boi Nation & ITLA, this event takes place at Artistry, 942 Peachtree St. Doors Open at 5pm. Screening Starts at 6pm.For more info, visit: www.boi-nation.com. (Maurice Jamal and the cast will be present including American Idol finalist Anwar Robinson who makes his big screen debut in the film.)

In Case You Missed It:

Stand Up and Represent:Atlanta Black Gay Pride 2007
Pride 2007 Video (over 46,000 views on YouTube!)
Atlanta Black Gay Pride 2006
State Of Black Gay America Summit 2007 Video