Out cops Celebrate Atlanta Pride
Cops with canines, rainbow bracelets and plenty of smiles walked, drove and dished out some swag in the Atlanta Pride parade on Sunday.
The contingent of gay officers from Atlanta police and MARTA, along with at least one Atlanta firefighter, came armed with a float too, like they did for the first time last year. The group included the two LGBT liaisons for Atlanta police – Brian Sharp (top photo) and Eric King, who was appointed in early August.
The 44th year for Atlanta Pride offers a lot of tradition.
"We just come out with family and friends to celebrate what we do every single day that's not supported by every body," explained McKenzine Ellis.
This year, the support is a little greater.
"Overwhelmed, emotional. I was an emotional mess last night after we found out," recalled Jason Winkler.
He's reacting to a decision made in his home state of North Carolina late Friday. It became the latest state to strike down a ban on same sex marriage. As a result, Winkler and his boyfriend Darryl Rogers are getting married. However this wasn't a quick engagement.
"We've been together twenty-one years so it just makes it legal and the same protections and the same rights. It's love," Rogers said.
With North Carolina's ruling, states that offer the freedom to marry same sex partners outnumber states banning it. Georgia is among those with the ban, but some believe that will change.
"Georgia is so close. We're getting there. I want to marry a girl here where I was born and raised. I would love to be able to get married to a girl here. I think that will absolutely happen," said Kayla Ellis.
That hope is something that makes the crowd at Atlanta Pride feel even prouder.
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