Atlanta welcomes you!
Since the mid-1980s, Atlanta has seen a tremendous amount of growth. As the city has grown, so has the city's lesbian and gay community, becoming more visible and politically active.

In November 2001, Atlanta citizens elected Cathy Woolard president of the Atlanta City Council. Elected just four years earlier to the City Council, she was the first openly gay person in Georgia to serve in public office. Today, other lesbians and gay men are serving as elected leaders in the state, including a lesbian member of the Georgia House representing a metro Atlanta district.

Gays have led gentrification efforts in several of the city's neighborhoods for the past 30 years by opening distinctive businesses and refurbishing historic homes. These neighborhoods, each possessing their own personality, distinguish Atlanta from other similarly-sized cities. Most notable are the gay-friendly in-town areas inside the I-285 highway that rings the city, often referred to locally as "the Perimeter."

Our city prides itself on its diversity and is led by Mayor Shirley Franklin who has demonstrated her commitment to inclusion. Our uniquely Southern lesbian and gay community of more than 400,000 is ready to welcome all who come to visit or make Atlanta home.