The Eventful Fight for LGBTQ Atlantans

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

HRC Atlanta hosts numerous fundraising events throughout the year to raise essential funds for the fight for equality. Peach spoke to Malik Brown, member of the Human Rights Campaign’s National Board of Governors, about the importance of these events – and the upcoming Sunday Funday for LGBTQ Equality at Out Front Theatre.

Tell us about the work the HRC Atlanta does for the community.

HRC is the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, working to protect and advance the lives of LGBTQ people. Locally, we work to get local pro-equality candidates elected, partner with local like-minded organizations and engage Atlantans in work that supports HRC’s mission of full equality for all LGBTQ Americans.

The Human Rights Campaign is an important national organization that works tirelessly to advance equal rights across the board. What does the Atlanta agency do to promote and participate in this important work?

In order for Atlanta to play an even more important role in advancing LGBTQ rights and protections, the community, our families, our friends, our employers, and our fearless allies must come together and keep focus on the end goal. The volunteers at HRC Atlanta work to provide various points of connections to the local community. Some events you’ve been to like the beloved HRC Pride Brunch, Bowling for Equality, Serving for Equality, our tennis event, and the upcoming HRC Atlanta Gala Dinner and Auction on May 4th, 2019, our largest local fundraiser.

On the political front, we gather the community to march for justice, lobby and support pro-equality elected candidates by canvass and phone banking for them. In the 2019 midterms, local HRC volunteers donated over 1,200 hours and contacted more than 30,000 pro-equality voters in GA contacted via text – a massive effort! HRC’s local support extends beyond the Georgia border. Some of our local volunteers worked to elect Senator Doug Jones in Alabama and Beto O’Rourke in Texas and have caravanned to fight the infamously discriminatory HB2 law in North Carolina. These are just a few examples of the broad work the local Atlanta Steering Committee volunteers organize.

On March 31 you are hosting a Sunday Funday event at Out Front Theatre. What made you choose to work with the theatre company?

We’re so blessed in Atlanta to have a robust LGBTQ arts community – it’s not like this in other places. We’re so grateful to the visionaries, talent, and audiences. While HRC has deep relationships through Atlanta’s arts community, Out Front Theatre is the only theatre in the Southeast dedicated to telling the stories of LGBTQ people. Out Front Theatre is among the many local arts and theatre organizations we work with and are looking forward to partner with them again on this Sunday Funday.

What is it about partying for a purpose that resonates so well with the Atlanta gay community?

Nobody likes partying for a purpose more than the LGBTQ community. There’s so much work left, protecting and advancing the lives of marginalized communities, why not have some fun while giving back to a great cause?

How can people get involved with the HRC and HRC Atlanta?

There are a number of ways to get involved locally and nationally. As a volunteer donor, sponsor and event attendees. HRC Atlanta is always looking for passionate people to join the fight for equality, so I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to plug in our volunteer opportunities! Please visit www.hrcatlanta.com, @hrcatl or our facebook page: HRC Atlanta to get involved in events, campaigning or leadership roles!

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Sunday Funday for LGBTQ Equality is on March 31 at Out Front Theatre Company between 2-5 pm. Buy your ticket ($30 that includes unlimited drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and annual membership or renewal) at hrc.im/sundayfunday.