“It always rains during Pride,” came the voices of weather-weary gay men and lesbians in the weeks leading up to the 37th annual Atlanta Pride festival and parade, held June 22-24.

The city’s Pride events were interrupted, delayed or canceled altogether due to inclement weather in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Last year was the worst for weather woes; the Atlanta Pride Committee had to completely close down the festival because of downpours on two of its three days.

But not this year.

As June 21 weather forecasts shifted from a 10 percent chance of precipitation to the correct June 22 predictions of a hot, and completely dry, Pride weekend, a positive buzz about the festival seemed to heat up around Midtown. And crowds started rolling in. 

“I’m just glad I’m not trying to keep my kids dry this year. We’ve all got sunscreen on, so we’re dealing with the heat and sun. So let it stay dry,” said Tara Micheals-Wilcox, a 37-year-old lesbian and mother of three children.

Atlanta Pride Committee Executive Director Donna Narducci estimated record numbers passed through the lines of food vendors, merchants and non-profit agencies who set up booths inside Piedmont Park.

“The parade on Sunday broke records and went over the 100,000 mark. And the conservative weekend estimate in the park went over 350,000,” Narducci said.

“It was hot, but great. Everything was perfect,” said Gilberto Romo, 38, originally from Mexico and now living in Atlanta. And Romo said he was able to enjoy the “perfect” Pride after coming to grips with being gay.

“Now I know myself and I enjoy being who I am,” he said. “I respect myself so much.”

ANTI-GAYS IN FORCE

This year’s Atlanta Pride festival was not without some minor incidents, however.

Atlanta Police Department LGBT Liaison Officer Darlene Harris confirmed two arrests at Piedmont Park during the festival June 23. One man was apprehended after being spotted streaking through the crowds. Another man apparently engaged in an altercation with an anti-gay protester in the park.

During the Sunday parade, police officers detained participants in scuffles between anti-gay protesters and parade watchers, though Harris could not confirm any arrests.

Kenneth “Dusty” DiLoach, who came to the festival from Kentucky, said he was held in jail for 32 hours after trying to break up a scuffle between protesters and parade watchers.

Anti-gay protesters, seemingly in larger numbers than in previous years, were out in force during the weekend. On Saturday, protesters with signs, speakers and bullhorns covered the corners of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue. Protesters were also spotted in and around Piedmont Park during the festival.

But Chavon Patterson, 20, from Atlanta, didn’t pay attention to the anti-gay protesters and instead enjoyed being around other gay people.

“I came to Pride this year because I wanted to be around people that were like me,” she said. “Here, I feel normal when other times I always feel alienated. Plus, I wanted to have fun.”

LOTS TO SEE, DO

Roaming the marketplace Friday evening, Alex Conway of Atlanta said she always likes to get an early start at the festival.

The 29-year-old has visited Atlanta Pride for about six years now, and says this year’s offering of free merchandise isn’t as exciting as ones in previous years.

“Delta used to give out thousands of Skymiles on their wheel, but now they want you to throw a ball at a map and win a water bottle,” Conway said.

Walking across the bridge in Piedmont Park during Pride allowed visitors to see a Human Rights exhibit portraying and explaining Gay Pride events from across the world. From the Pride struggles and violence in Moscow to those in Asia, passersby stopped to read how various countries, as well as Atlanta, celebrate the annual event.

Bob Fitzgerald, 56, of North Georgia, was glancing at the various displays exhibiting posters from Atlanta Prides of the past.

“I’ve been to most of these Prides,” he said. “It’s important for everyone to see how it struggled, how it grew up.”

The 2007 Pride grew up into an expensive celebration. Narducci said it takes about $700,000 annually to produce the festival. During the three-day event, Pride volunteers and community organizations ask Pride patrons to donate money into buckets staffed by volunteers from Atlanta non-profit organizations.

At press time, Narducci reported about $32,000 counted so far in money raised during the bucket brigade, with more left to be counted. Bucket brigade money is split 50-50 with organizations who circulate Piedmont Park during Pride weekend.

According to Narducci, both the Pride market in Piedmont Park, and the Pride parade on Sunday ...

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