Georgia's newest member of Congress is adding a new title to his resume just weeks after being sworn in. U.S. Rep. Everton Blair Jr. has been named Honorary Grand Marshal of the 2026 Atlanta Pride Festival, organizers announced, putting the state's first openly LGBTQ+ congressional representative at the front of one of the Southeast's largest annual gatherings.
Blair won a special runoff election on August 25 to fill the remaining months of the late U.S. Rep. David Scott's term in Georgia's 13th Congressional District, according to CBS News. Scott died in April 2026 at age 80, and Blair defeated Scott's daughter, Marcye Scott, to win the seat. As reported by Atlanta News First, Blair is the first-ever openly LGBTQ+ member of Georgia's congressional delegation.
Atlanta Pride CEO Chris McCann welcomed Blair into the festival's Grand Marshal tradition, saying his historic service reflects community progress and the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility in leadership, per the same station's report. The honor places Blair alongside eight local Grand Marshals named for 2026, including legal advocate Carl Charles and the Black lesbian advocacy organization ZAMI NOBLA, according to Atlanta Pride.
A Brief but Historic Washington Tenure
Blair's time in Congress is limited by design. State Rep. Jasmine Clark won the Democratic nomination for the full two-year term beginning in 2027 back in May, after Blair placed third in that primary, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. That means Blair's seat in Washington will only run through January 2027, filling out the remainder of the term left vacant by Scott's death.
Scott had held the 13th District seat for more than 23 years, first elected in 2002, and became the House Agriculture Committee's first Black chairman, according to Courthouse News. Before heading to Congress, Blair served as chair of the Gwinnett County School Board, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's report.
Following a ceremonial swearing-in by House Speaker Mike Johnson on September 1, Blair officially took his seat in Congress, as noted by Advocate.com.
Festival Set for Piedmont Park in October
The 2026 Atlanta Pride Festival takes place October 10 and 11 in Piedmont Park, with organizers building the celebration around the theme “Louder & Prouder” to spotlight community authenticity and advocacy, according to Atlanta Pride. The festival draws more than 350,000 visitors annually, per Discover Atlanta, while Atlanta Pride describes it as the nation's largest free Pride event. It is managed by Georgia's oldest LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization.
The weekend schedule includes dedicated marches for the Trans, Bi+ Pan, and Dyke communities on October 10, leading into the Starlight Cabaret, billed as the nation's largest outdoor drag show, according to GayTravel4u. The main parade follows on Sunday, October 11. Atlanta Pride names official Grand Marshals for its parade.
This year's honor for Blair arrives as his brief but historic congressional tenure continues to draw national attention.
