Group Proposes Atlanta LGBTQ Hall of Fame

The Georgia Rainbow History Project seeks to honor LGBTQ contributors in Atlanta and across Georgia with new halls of fame.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in LGBTQ+

Brick civic building with tall arched windows and a bronze entry canopy, set among oak trees on an Atlanta street in warm afternoon light. — The Georgia Rainbow History Project has proposed an Atlanta LGBTQ Hall of Fame and a statewide Georgia LGBTQ Hall of Fame to honor local contributors. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Georgia Rainbow History Project has proposed establishing an Atlanta LGBTQ Hall of Fame and a Georgia LGBTQ Hall of Fame to recognize people, organizations, and collectives that have made significant contributions. The Atlanta hall would honor contributions centered in Atlanta and its metropolitan communities.

Why it matters

The proposal would create a formal public record of LGBTQ history in Atlanta, a city with a long-running Pride tradition, and extend recognition to contributors across the state. Its nomination process is designed to include overlooked histories and rural participation.

The provisional 2027 funding target is $15,000, with $8,000 allocated to the Atlanta pilot, $4,000 to Georgia planning, and $3,000 to shared work. The inaugural Atlanta class is targeted at 8 to 12 honorees, though the 2028 Georgia class remains subject to a board vote.

The players

Georgia Rainbow History Project (GRHP)

The Georgia Rainbow History Project is the organization proposing the Atlanta and Georgia LGBTQ Halls of Fame and documenting the state's LGBTQ history.

The details

Public nominations would be free and accepted online, by email, or on paper, including for people, organizations, and collectives, posthumously if needed. Proposed fields include advocacy, public service, HIV/AIDS and health, arts, media, business, faith, nightlife, sports, and education.

Statewide research and regional outreach would begin in 2027.
The targeted inaugural Atlanta class would be inducted in October 2027, timed to coincide with Atlanta Pride.
A separate inaugural Georgia class is targeted for 2028, subject to a GRHP board vote.

Culture Shift

The proposal extends the annual Atlanta Pride celebration into a permanent honors institution, moving LGBTQ recognition from a yearly festival toward lasting public memorial. It follows a broader pattern of communities formalizing queer history through archives and halls of fame.

Residents can nominate people, organizations, or collectives online, by email, or on paper at no cost, including posthumous nominations. The process invites participation from rural areas and overlooked communities across Georgia.

The takeaway

Anyone who wants to recognize an LGBTQ contributor can submit a nomination for the proposed halls of fame, which accept submissions free of charge by online form, email, or paper.

What happens next

Statewide research and regional outreach begin in 2027, with the targeted Atlanta class inducted in October 2027 and a separate Georgia class targeted for 2028 pending a board vote.