Atlanta Gay Pride parade

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | November 1, 2009 at 06:05 pm

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The annual Atlanta Pride Parade moved through Atlanta today taking its customary route through the city beginning at the Civic Center, proceeding to 10th Street, then back into the Charles Allen entrance to Piedmont Park, led by Grand Marshals Pastor Chris Glaser and Atlanta Police LGBT liaisonDani Lee Harris.

Harris, it is reported, made the decision to wear her uniform in the parade this morning, after some controversy surrounding the police raid of the Atlanta Eagle, and the ensuing backlash from the LGBT community in the area.

Honorary grand marshals include Eagle owners Richard Ramey and Robby Kelley, who spoke about the Sept. 10 raid on their bar onstage at the park on Saturday. Also speaking Saturday were Officer Harris and Glaser.

Other honorary grand marshals are Samantha Claar, who is named a "pioneer" in the LGBT movement.

She began volunteering for Pride in 1989, and was able to witness the festival’s exponential growth over the next few years - jumping from an estimated 5,000 attendees in 1990 to 60,000 in 1992.

“It was the most awesome thing,” Claar recalled. “It always made me feel like crying because I was so happy. It felt like, yes, we are doing it. We are getting the message out and dealing with people’s fears, and it was a really invigorating time to be involved.”