Events › Archives Opening Celebration: The Craig Washington Papers

AARL is pleased to open the Craig Washington papers for research. The collection contains information on the various LGBTQ organizations (such as AID Atlanta and Second Sunday), events (such as the annual Bayard Rustin/Audre Lorde Breakfast) and publications (including Southern Voice and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) that Craig Washington was involved in and interacted with since arriving to Atlanta.

Craig Washington was born to Anna and Leon Washington in Queens, New York. He relocated to Atlanta, GA. in 1992. He began freelance writing for the Southern Voice and volunteering with AID Atlanta as a member of the volunteer African American outreach team. He later secured the position of African American Outreach Coordinator charged with delivering prevention and awareness services to black communities. In 1993, Craig began attending Second Sunday, a small discussion group for black gay men. In 1996, he was elected as Co-Chair of Second Sunday. In 1997, at AID Atlanta, he created the Deeper Love project, a HIV risk reduction program that featured a workshop series and a monthly forum known as Black Coffee.

Craig has had essays, editorials, interviews and reviews published in Washington Blade, Southern Voice, Atlanta Voice, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Arise, Clikque, Venus Magazine, and The City Sun. His essay “A Revolutionary Act”, a reflection of his walk with HIV, was published in the anthology, “Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community” edited by Gil Robertson.

Craig is a licensed social worker specializing in individual and group counseling. Throughout his career he has served a diverse range of people including young gay men, LGBTQIA people, Black men and women, elders, non-binary individuals, individuals in addiction/recovery, and people living with HIV/AIDS.⁩