The Park Atlanta Pride 1998 We arrived Saturday and rode MARTA to Midtown and Piedmont Park. As we approached, the crowds became more dense and music could be heard. Then, over the hill, we saw it. It was a neverending sea of people, all mingling and celebrating. A band was on the concert size stage. We enjoyed the festivities into the night before tearing ourselves away for dinner at Underground Atlanta. The parade would be the next day. The best was still yet to come.

The parade was immense. Imagine the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in a pair of pumps. There was Dykes on Bikes, Boys on Trucks, and men in nothing. My friend and I started the day finishing off a bunch of jello shooters. By the end of the day, the alcohol running through our veins and the 100 degree heat could have made for a bad experience. But it wasn't. It was Atlanta Pride.

We took the long drive home later that night. Later we we heard the stats. We were among the over 400,000 revelers there that weekend. To that point, it was one of the largest gay pride festivals ever.