Recent Trip - Atlanta's Black Gay Pride

My recent trip to Atlanta for the Black Gay Pride event turned out to be quite worthwhile. I had never attended Gay Pride events because I viewed them to be all about sex and partying. I’m an SGL person and I’m not all about sex and partying, and as it turns out, neither was this event.

On my first day there I attended a “Welcome to Atlanta Reception” that was hosted my J.L. King, author of (On the Down-Low). I and five other authors were introduced at the event and had an opportunity to talk about our books, writing, and publishing experiences. The entire weekend was well organized and professionally executed. There was something for everyone to do.

Celebrities who attended Atlanta’s Black Gay Pride included Jennifer Hudson, Eva Pigford and Jade Cole from (America’s Next Top Model), Amerie, Frenchie Davis, Aneese, Latoya Luckett, Christian Vincent and Rodney Chester from (Noah’s Arc) and Jonathan Plummer, who was promoting his new book Balancing Acts. There was something for everyone—from clubs to religious and community events.

A particularly interesting event was the religious summit called SBGA-State of Black Gay America. At this event a group of local religious leaders facilitated an information sharing session on issues specific to the Black LGBT community.

I got a lot more out of this weekend than I expected. I was very happy that every private SGL event that I attended started out with a prayer. I was able to spend some time with a couple of people with whom I have been friends for over 15 years. I was able to work out some important issues that could have damaged a friendship that is very important to me. I met new friends, and to my surprise, came across an old love interest.This encounter is making me re-think a few things in my life. Life is important, but something that is just as important to me is having someone to share my life with. As an SGL person I have placed my need for love and companionship on the back burner for a long time. Meeting my old flame has made me want to give love another try.

This week-end turned out to be an opportunity for me to realize how important friends are, how important it is to be happy and how the blessings in our life and who we are as positive, God loving SGL individuals, are worth the fight.