Atlanta Pride turns away HRC sponsorship over trans fight
Festival says national gay rights group not 'inclusive' enough
By MATT SCHAFER, Southern Voice | May 8, 11:11 AM
http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=18178The Atlanta Pride Committee decided last week to decline a sponsorship from the Human Rights Campaign over the national gay political group's support for a version of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act that did not include "gender identity" as a protected category.
Atlanta Pride Executive Director Donna Narducci said $5,000 from HRC was not worth jeopardizing the festival's outreach to transgender people. (File photo)
Atlanta Pride Executive Director Donna Narducci said the Pride Committee felt they had to turn down the $5,000 sponsorship in order to make Georgia's transgender community feel welcome at the three-day Pride festival, slated for the Atlanta Civic Center over the July 4 weekend. HRC will still be allowed to participate in the festival's market and parade.