Atlanta is a very progressive city with the largest gay and lesbian community in the Southeast. We are very fortunate that the gay and lesbian community has spread itself out over the entire metro area helping to increase the awareness of the gay and lesbian community.

The gay and lesbian community has helped lead the way on revitalizing the Kirkwood, Grant Park, East Point, Decatur and College Park areas. Most gay and lesbians feel very comfortable living in all parts of the city.

Contributed by Mike Kondalski



Why does Ray Charles have Georgia on his mind? This vibrant, progressive, southern state affords its residents abundant opportunities as you will soon see.

Atlanta is the famed hub of southern commerce today. The Georgia Dome is home to the Braves and the Falcons during their seasons. It boasts being the largest cable-supported domed stadium in the world. Combined with the Centennial Olympic Part and World Congress Center, it is one of the largest sports, entertainment and convention complexes in the world. But the visual arts should not be overlooked either. Some of the most noted are: the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, the International Museum of Art and Design, the Photography Group Gallery, Clark University's Art Galleries, The VSA Arts of Georgia, the Woodruff Arts Center, the Michael C. Carlos Museum, the Ogelthorpe University Museum of Art, and the Hammond House Galleries and Resource Center to name but a few. The High Museum of Art displays Picasso, Monet and even Norman Rockwell. To focus on only one of these, The Woodruff Arts Center, which is the largest arts organization in the Southeast, is home the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Other performing arts prevail also. National touring companies place Atlanta on their schedule. The Alliance Theater and the 14th Street Playhouse attract many. Smaller troups like the innovative Dad's Garage Theatre, offering improv comedy and intimately staged modern works, are popular among locals. The New American Shakespeare Tavern, Alliance Theatre, Fox Theatre, and Atlantic Civic Theatre also have a large following. In all there are 65 active performing groups! So a plethora of music, dining, and dance opportunities await you.

Do not forget about underground Atlanta, taking a CNN Studio Tour, Six Flags, or Stone Mountain Park. Each offers entertainment for the young and old alike.

Other opportunities for the historically inclined present themselves with Atlanta's History Center commemorating the Civil War's 1864 Atlanta Campaign, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and Stone Mountain Park which are not far away either. Both the civil war and civil rights find recognition in Atlanta. Tour the Sweet Auburn district where the life of Martin Luther King is commemorated. Live in Macon with its numerous historic mansions and antiquing opportunities galore. The African American heritage Tour attracts many to Macon.

Elsewhere, Lookout Mountain cultivates the Rock City Gardens with over 400 varieties of wildflowers, plants, and shrubs. On the Atlantic coast, move to the first city established in Georgia - way back in 1733. Savannah's charm delights many as a vibrant seaport known as the "Jewel of the East Coast." Its rich colonial heritage is evident everywhere. General Sherman gave the city to President Lincoln as a Christmas present after having taken it in the Civil war. The Atlantic beaches are legendary, as are Sea Island and Jekyll Island. Play golf, tennis, camp, shop, or even take a leisurely nature walk. Throughout the state there are over 77,500 acres of natural beauty offering an exceptional variety of scenery. The Smokey Mountains beckon many with outdoor interests for camping, hiking, and wandering.

Now, is it any wonder as to why Ray Charles has Georgia on his mind?