The Black Gay Pride festivities in Atlanta, GA are in full swing. On September 5th Atlanta’s Piedmont Park will mark the 9th Pure Heat Community Festival. Hosted by Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen III, Rashad Burgess, Melissa “DJ M” Scott and Julius "JuJu" James, the festival will be a day of unity.
The annual organization strives to fight prejudices and stigmas against minorities and queer people alike. Rather it encourages the black LGBTQ community to live in peace, harmony and openly. Previous festival honorees Sevyn Streeter, K. Michelle and Angelica Ross have all been long-time allies of the black LGBTQ community. This year’s festival will honor two more members of the community, Da Brat and her fiancé Jessica “Judy” Dupart aka BB Judy.
Grammy award-nominee Da Brat will walk away with a Legacy Award, while the multi-millionaire CEO of Kaleidoscope of Hair Products will take home the Trailblazer Award.
Brat and Dupart are one of the most successful LGBTQ black couples in Hollywood. In the words of Beyoncé, the couple are on their “Demon Time.” Similar to Atlanta’s Pure Heat Community Festival’s mission, the HipHop couple live their lives out and proud.
Judy Dupart shared her excitement about being awarded at this year’s festival.
“I’m super excited about being honored by the Atlanta Black Gay Pride and the Pure Heat Community Festival, especially alongside my baby. It’s like the perfect embrace to my recent full relocation here. Can’t wait to celebrate this with everyone. Thanks for sprinkling a dose of glitter on my life Atlanta,” she said in a statement.
Further to sharing their love with the world, the couple even started their own reality show Brat Loves Judy that aired on WE tv August 5th of this year. The reality show gives an inside look into the everyday lives of the HipHop couple. More importantly, Da Brat and Jessca “Judy” Dupart bring more representation to the black LGBTQ community, an instance that’s rarely televised.
Earlier this month, the couple talked with ESSENCE Magazine via phone call about the importance of their new reality series.
“They can expect to see two beautiful boss b—hes in love and the things that we go through. Just like regular people,” Da Brat says.
Fans can expect loads of laughs, maybe a few tears here and there. More importantly, they’ll see an authentic black LGBTQ couple detailing the highs and lows of their relationship.
Though, Da Brat and Judy Dupart weren’t always as open about their relationship as they are today. The couple didn’t make their relationship known to the world until 2019 when Da Brat decided to hold her girlfriend’s hand at the ESSENCE Festival. Additionally, the rap star had shared a loving kiss with Dupart at the event, making their relationship known. Prior to 2020, Da Brat and Dupart avoided showing displays of affection out in public.
For several years, they kept their relationship private. In talks with ESSENCE Magazine, Da Brat revealed that the past stigma’s from the 90’s and the backlash they’d face for “coming out” led them to hide their relationship from the media. They couldn’t even go to the movies together.
Fortunately, the 2019 ESSENCE Festival changed everything for the couple. They officially went exclusive with their relationship in March 2020, parading around their love, living freely and openly. It’s no wonder the Pure Heat Community Festival has chosen them as honorees.
Other honorees expected to attend this year’s festival include Zeus Network’s founder Lemuel Plummer, Atlanta’s LGBTQ Affairs Coordinator, Malik Brown and Beauty Pageant alumni Raquell Lord.
Not only will attendees see appearances by celebrities and performers but can also participate in other activities. This Labor Day weekend, fans can check out various market and food vendors, educational forums, and even enter themselves into amazing giveaways. Due to popular demand, the annual hair battle, j-sette competition, gospel choir, house-music DJ and fashion show will all return to this year’s festival. All in all, attendees can have fun all while coming together in the spirit of community, pride, and vision.
“The Pure Heat Community Festival is honored that the city of Atlanta welcomes us back for a 9th year. It is our goal to create a safe, fun, family environment for all,” said The Vision Community Foundation executive director, Bishop OC Allen, III in a statement in the press release.
The festival will also participate in charitable work and give back to the community. In partnership with The Vision Community Foundation, the proceeds from the event’s festivities will be used to help homeless LGBTQ+ youth and those impacted from HIV/AIDS.
Be sure to stay up to date on the latest from the festival on social media by using the handle: @PureHeatCommunityFestival. Also, check out more information on the Pure Heat Community Festival by visiting pureheatcommunityfestival.com and Atlanta’s Black Gay Pride weekend on ATLGayPride.com.
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