Fulton County’s first openly LGBTQ commissioner, an advocate for LGBTQ rights, and a fighter in the movement to end HIV/AIDS; Joan Garner was it. As a leader in her community, Garner laid a path for younger activists, and a new level of civic engagement to come.
On August 30, 2021, the Ponce de Leon library in Atlanta, GA was renamed the Joan P. Garner Library, honoring the legacy of someone whose dedication to equality and civil rights led her community towards growth and tangible change.
Charles Stephens, founder and Executive Director of The Counter Narrative Project, a nonprofit working to “…shift narratives about Black gay men to change policy and improve lives.”, wanted the library and its renaming to “…serve as a space to commemorate the legacy of Joan Garner and also serve as a reminder of the example she set. An example of service. An example of leadership. An example of commitment. An example of grace. I also hope this library will serve as a love letter to the Black LGBTQ community…”.
As leader of the project, Stephens’ utilized his earliest memories of Garner as a community organizer to undergird his intentions in desiring to rename such a central meeting place, and an integral part of Atlanta culture, like the Ponce de Leon Library.
“I’ve known of Joan Garner for as long as I’ve been an activist. I remember being 18…from Adamsville, riding MARTA to my community organizing meetings, with my little backpack… I was determined, even then, to make my way, and to have my voice heard in this city. As a Black gay man, I felt compelled to both bear witness to, and confront injustice. To respond to suffering.
I also knew I needed models. I knew I needed a blueprint. I knew I needed a map to guide my journey to leadership and advocacy. I needed a North Star. Then I found one.” said Stephens, in his opening lines at the official library renaming ceremony.
“I remember hearing stories about Joan Garner. And I admired her from afar, for many years. And she became, I suppose, one of my models. She was someone I saw and I always enjoyed her presence immensely.” Said Stephens.
He goes on to share with the audience his first experience meeting Joan Garner, his take away being that the value of being gracious is “…very important in public service. To not only work hard. To not only be smart. But to have grace. And in these times, I think we need courage, certainly, but I also think we also need a little grace.”
Later in Stephens’ HIV advocacy work, he had the opportunity to meet Garner for a second time.
“I continued to be impressed and inspired by her example, how she could use her platform to advocate for the HIV movement.
These are the memories that I most carry with me today, as we honor the legacy of Joan Garner with the renaming of this library. And that is why, I advocated to have this library renamed. To not only have a building in this city named after a Black LGBTQ person, which was very important to me, but also to honor Joan Garner because she represented the best of us. We can only achieve a better world, and a better city, if we remain connected to the greatness in us.” said Stephens.
Joan Garner’s efforts to change the narrative for LGBTQ folx in Atlanta, not only motivated her community, but also acted as an example and a “blueprint” for a little black boy from Adamsville on how to rewrite the story, and how to improve the lives of others around him.
The official name of the library will be the Joan P. Garner library, its new name going into effect upon the branch’s reopening following renovations. The branch is located at 980 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306.
To learn more about The Counter Narrative Project and the work of Stephens, visit www.thecounternarrative.org.
Alexa Bryant
Development and Communications Coordinator
“She, Her, Hers”