Doubly Proud

This weekend the US celebrates its 232nd birthday and the (Atlanta) GLBT community celebrates its 37th (ish) annual pride. That means I'm double proud this weekend. Much like the beginnings of our country, the gay rights movement started with a few, dedicated activists who wouldn't tolerate unfair treatment from those in charge. For our founding fathers, the tyrant was the United Kingdon; for the early gay and lesbain movement it was the United States (the very country founded on the belief that "all men are created equal."). July 4th and Pride are both a time for us to reflect on the past and just how far we have come. It is also a time to look to the future and see just how far we have to go - both as a country and an individual minority within that country. This weekend as you watch the rainbow colors explode in the sky, spend a minute thinking about how proud you are to be an American, and much more pride you will feel when all her citizens are equal.

Stepping off my soapbox.

Let's party! This weekend will provide you with numerous options from parades, to artsts, celebrations, music and, of course, festival food! Check back tomorrow for Hot Gay Joe's Pride Picks - my list of the must-do events this weekend.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

2,000 years in the making

Last night I got a sneak peek at The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army. It will open at the High Museum in November 2009, but it is never too early to start planning and getting your tickets. In 1974 a Chinese farmer was digging a well when he pulled up a terracotta soldier's head. That was the beginning of a discovery that would eventually uncover more than 1,000 soldiers (with an estimated 7,000 total).
The soldiers will settle in Atlanta from November 16, 2008 – April 19, 2009. They will also include artifacts from the era, gold and jade pieces and some interesting architectural elements.