In a move that nods to both history and progression, Mayor Andre Dickens has tapped Dewayne R. Queen to become the City of Atlanta's Director of LGBTQ Affairs. This office, nestled within the Mayor's Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, is set to be a bastion for advocacy and leadership, gearing up to address some of the most ingrained challenges faced by Atlanta's diverse LGBTQ community. The significance of the announcement is underscored by its coincidence with the tenth anniversary of the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, a date that’s etched into the annals for granting marriage equality nationwide.
Queen, whose résumé boasts a hefty tenure at Delta Air Lines, has long been active in fighting to find, and to keep, open channels of communication and equitable practices within corporate structures. “As a city dedicated to creating opportunities for all, we welcome Dewayne Queen to our team in a role that will continue our Administration’s work to create innovative programming and opportunities for the LGBTQ community,” Mayor Dickens said in a statement obtained by the City of Atlanta’s official news page. The mayor extolled Queen's aptitude for inter-community liaison work, and for driving initiatives aimed at marginalized groups, including LGBTQ youth, veterans, seniors and communities of color.
Queen’s leadership at Delta included heading up EQUAL, the airline's LGBTQ Business Resource Group, where he championed diversity and fostered a culture of inclusion. Beyond the corporate sphere, he’s also made substantial contributions through volunteering and board positions with non-profits like Atlanta Black Pride and Atlanta Pride, solidifying his hands-on experience with community engagement. “My intention is to lead with hope—hope that builds bridges, empowers voices, and ensures every LGBTQIA+ person feels seen, valued, and protected in the city we call home,” Queen told the City of Atlanta’s official news page.
Dewayne R. Queen's responsibilities will include serving as the principal liaison for the Mayor's LGBTQ Advisory Board and various City departments. He will be to push forward policies and programming focused on dismantling systematic barriers and enhancing Atlanta’s reputation as the LGBTQ capital of the Southeast. Queen is set to assume the role officially on June 30, embodying Mayor Dickens’s vision to not just address, but also to celebrate the lived experiences of Atlanta's LGBTQ population through strategic endeavors like affordable housing, economic mobility, and health equity.
