About Malik

Malik Brown is an award-winning global LGBTQ advocate and political strategist, a first-generation American, and a lifelong Georgian. He has been profiled in prestigious outlets like "CNN", "NBC News", and "The Hill". His writings have been showcased in national publications like "Cosmopolitan", "them.", and "Out Magazine." Malik has been a keynote speaker for global brands like Meta, Home Depot, and Mercedes-Benz. Recently, he was named on the Atlanta Business Chronicle's Power 100 list of Atlanta's most influential.

Appointed as the City of Atlanta's Director of LGBTQ Affairs by former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Brown is the first full-time official in the Southeastern United States to focus on better connecting the LGBTQ community with municipal government. In this role, he drives systemic change and advances equity by advising Mayor Andre Dickens on policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the LGBTQ community. Brown is a founding member of the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. As one of City Hall's key advisors on Human Rights, Brown co-led the development of Atlanta's Human Rights Stakeholder report, which accompanied Atlanta's successful bid to be a host city for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.

During the 2020 Presidential Race, Malik was appointed to the Biden campaign's Out for Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council, a national advisory coalition of LGBTQ+ leaders committed to electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. During the 2021 Georgia runoff election, Brown was recruited by the historic U.S. Senate campaign of Reverend Raphael Warnock to serve as the Special Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement. In this role, Brown helped the campaign reach, mobilize, and energize LGBTQ+ voters in Georgia.

A proud Executive Committee member of the Human Rights Campaign's National Board of Governors, Brown brings a unique combination of political strategy, LGBTQ advocacy, and DEI leadership to his work. Additionally, Brown is a member of Rainbow Railroad's Board of Directors, Emory University's Board of Visitors, Morehouse School of Medicine's HIV Health Equity Task Force, and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation Young Executives Board. Always eager to continue learning, Brown is an alum of LEAD Atlanta, Regional Leadership Institute, and the New Bridge Program Fellowship. Brown has had the honor of throwing the Ceremonial Opening Pitch for the 2022 MLB World Series Champions, the Atlanta Braves, hitting the Golden Spike for Atlanta United, and receiving the Forever 404 award from the Atlanta Hawks.

Leadership

Director, Mayor's Division of LGBTQ Affairs
City of Atlanta

​Former Special Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement, Reverend Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate 
​​
National Board of Governors, Human Rights Campaign 
(Former Executive Committee Member)

Board of Visitors, Emory University 

Board of Directors, Rainbow Railroad 

Young Executives Board,  Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation

Out For Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council (2020)

2022-2023 Leadership Team, LEAD Atlanta 

Steering Committee Member, Smart City Expo Atlanta (2019)

Board of Directors, Out Georgia Business Alliance (2020-2022)
​
Board of Directors, Out Front Theatre Company (2018-2022)

Inauguration Planning Committee Member
  • The Inauguration of ​Mayor ​Andre Dickens (2022)
  • The Inauguration of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (2018)

Fellowships, Leadership Development Programs, and Notable Appearances 

70th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (Cannes, France) 
Strange Bedfellows: How Officials & Grindr Made Monkeypox Education “Viral”

Advertising Week New York
​Going Viral: How Leaders, Citizens and Grindr Used Communication To Stop MPOX

Class of 2022, LEAD Atlanta

Class of 2022, Regional Leadership Institute 
​
New Bridge Fellowship Program, Atlantik-Brücke (2022)
​Fellowship in Washington D.C., Brussels, and Berlin 

Pride Mission Fellow, A Wider Bridge (2023) 
Mission Trip to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv 

2019 Atlanta Cohort, New Leaders Council ​

Accolades

Atlanta Business Chronicle ​
Atlanta Hawks 
  • Forever 404 Award, 2023 

National Diversity Council
  • Georgia LGBTQ+ Leadership Award, 2022

The Advocate Magazine 
  • Champions of Pride, 2021 
​
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend 
  • LGBTQ Advocate Award, 2022 
  • Activism Award, 2021

Atlanta City Council
  • LGBTQ Atlanta "Game Changers" (Proclamation), 2019

Human Rights Campaign 
  • National Community Events Program of the Year
    2023, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016
  • National Membership Outreach Leader of the Year, 2018
  • National Rookie of the Year, 2015

Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
  • Rising Star, 2019

Peach Atlanta Magazine
  • Community Hero, 2018

A Selection of Photos