Georgia Equality’s staff and volunteers have been 
around the state
in the last couple months participating in festivals in local communities. We’re working to get LGBT Georgian’s registered to vote, and making folks aware of the importance of the upcoming elections and the state legislative session that begins in January of 2017.
South Georgia Pride – Valdosta, GA
Georgia Equality participated in South Georgia Pride’s 7th Annual
festival events in Valdosta. The first event was the SGP VIP Comedy & Queens Kick-Off on Friday, September 16th at Valdosta’s Holiday Inn Conference Center. During the pre-event mixer GE’s Rob Woods conversed with numerous attendees and SGP board members about issues and concerns important to the South Georgia / North Florida region’s LGBT community. The evening was topped off with hilarious comedy performances by Trae “The Liberal Redneck” Crowder and GE’s speakers’ bureau member Kia “Comedy” McCall-Barnes.
The South Georgia Pride Festival was held on Saturday, September 17th Saunders Park in Valdosta. The family-friendly event featured food, live entertainment and vendors. GE’s interacted with hundreds of festival attendees with a petition drive and voter registration. GE’s Board Chair Glen Paul Freedman and Kia “Comedy” McCall-Barnes helped with booth coverage, and enjoyed festivities.
Other SGP’s weeklong celebration activities included a Miss South Georgia Pride Pageant, a “What Is Transgender?” symposium, an Interfaith Pride Service, and a South Georgia Pride Unity Cookout.
Grant Park Summer Shade Festival – Atlanta, GA
Georgia Equality presence was felt at the family friendly 2016 Grant Park’s Summer Shade Festival on August 27th & 28th. During the two days of the outdoor arts & crafts and music fest which bid adieu to summer in Atlanta’s oldest public park GE’s staff and volunteers engaged in meaningful conversations and public education, conducted voter registration and petition signing, and made new friends. GE would like to thank our volunteers for staying cool on both hot days and showing GE’s community support and civic engagement.