About Malik

Malik Brown is an award-winning LGBTQ advocate and political strategist, a first-generation American, and a lifelong Georgian. He has been featured 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 experience, 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 reigning World Series Champions, the Atlanta Braves, 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 
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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)

LEAD Atlanta, 2022-2023 Leadership Team

Steering Committee Member, Smart City Expo Atlanta (2019)

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

Inauguration Planning Committee Member

• ​Mayor ​Andre Dickens (2022)
• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (2018)

Fellowships & Leadership Development Programs 

Alumni, LEAD Atlanta, Class of 2022

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

2019 Atlanta Cohort, New Leaders Council ​

Accolades

Atlanta Business Chronicle
Power 100: Atlanta's Most Influential Leaders, 2022
40 Under 40, 2022
​
Atlanta Hawks 
Forever 404 Award, 2023 

Georgia 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
  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