Malik K. Brown
Consultant | LGBTQ+ Advocate | Emerging Writer
About Malik
Malik Brown is an award-winning LGBTQ advocate, political strategist, and emerging writer, developing original work across essays, novels, and screenplays. 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." A sought-after speaker, Malik has delivered addresses on stages at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Ad Week New York, and Revolt World. He has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Power 100 list of Atlanta’s most influential leaders.
Brown is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Harbor & Haven Consulting, a Black-owned and LGBTQ-owned boutique firm dedicated to advancing organizational opportunity, belonging, and inclusion goals through strategic, tailored solutions. He also serves as the Project Director for the Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study at the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority, where he oversees the day-to-day efforts to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of a pioneering, next-generation LGBTQ+ Community Center in Atlanta.
Previously appointed as the City of Atlanta's Director of LGBTQ Affairs by former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Brown served as the first full-time official in the Southeastern United States to focus on better connecting the LGBTQ community with municipal government. In his seven years of service, he drove systemic change and advanced equity by advising Mayor Bottoms and Mayor Andre Dickens on policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the LGBTQ community.
During the 2020 Presidential Race, Malik was appointed to the Biden campaign's Out for Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council. 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 led campaign efforts to mobilize and energize LGBTQ+ voters in Georgia.
Malik is a proud alumnus of the Human Rights Campaign's National Board of Governors, and an Executive Committee member of Rainbow Railroad's Board of Directors. Always eager to continue learning, Brown is an alum of the American-German Institute, LEAD Atlanta, and the Regional Leadership Institute. Brown has had the honor of throwing the Ceremonial Opening Pitch for the former World Series Champions, the Atlanta Braves, hitting the Golden Spike for the former MLS Cup winners, the Atlanta United, and receiving the Forever 404 award from the Atlanta Hawks.
Brown is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Harbor & Haven Consulting, a Black-owned and LGBTQ-owned boutique firm dedicated to advancing organizational opportunity, belonging, and inclusion goals through strategic, tailored solutions. He also serves as the Project Director for the Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study at the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority, where he oversees the day-to-day efforts to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of a pioneering, next-generation LGBTQ+ Community Center in Atlanta.
Previously appointed as the City of Atlanta's Director of LGBTQ Affairs by former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Brown served as the first full-time official in the Southeastern United States to focus on better connecting the LGBTQ community with municipal government. In his seven years of service, he drove systemic change and advanced equity by advising Mayor Bottoms and Mayor Andre Dickens on policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the LGBTQ community.
During the 2020 Presidential Race, Malik was appointed to the Biden campaign's Out for Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council. 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 led campaign efforts to mobilize and energize LGBTQ+ voters in Georgia.
Malik is a proud alumnus of the Human Rights Campaign's National Board of Governors, and an Executive Committee member of Rainbow Railroad's Board of Directors. Always eager to continue learning, Brown is an alum of the American-German Institute, LEAD Atlanta, and the Regional Leadership Institute. Brown has had the honor of throwing the Ceremonial Opening Pitch for the former World Series Champions, the Atlanta Braves, hitting the Golden Spike for the former MLS Cup winners, the Atlanta United, and receiving the Forever 404 award from the Atlanta Hawks.
Leadership
A Selection of Full-Time Roles and Volunteer Positions
Currently:
Previously:
Inauguration Planning Committee Member
- Founder + Principal Consultant
Harbor & Haven Consulting - Managing Director, LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study
Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA)
- Secretary, Board of Directors, Rainbow Railroad
Previously:
- Founding Director, Mayor's Division of LGBTQ Affairs
City of Atlanta (2017 - 2024) - Special Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement
Reverend Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate (2021 Runoff Election) - Executive Committee Member, National Board of Governors
Human Rights Campaign (2014 - 2024)
- Board of Visitors
Emory University (2022 - 2025) - Young Executives Board
Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation (2022 - 2024)
- Out For Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council (2020)
- Leadership Team
LEAD Atlanta (2022 - 2023) - 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
Creativity Is Inclusive Panel
Revolt World
2026 Fellow, Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing
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 The Middle East
Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States (2023 - 2024)
Fellowship In Cologne, Germany, and Orlando & Miami, Florida
2019 Atlanta Cohort, New Leaders Council
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
Creativity Is Inclusive Panel
Revolt World
2026 Fellow, Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing
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 The Middle East
Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States (2023 - 2024)
Fellowship In Cologne, Germany, and Orlando & Miami, Florida
2019 Atlanta Cohort, New Leaders Council
Accolades
Del Shores Foundation 2025 Writer’s Search
Georgia Trend
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Atlanta Hawks
National Diversity Council
The Advocate Magazine
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend
Atlanta City Council
Human Rights Campaign
Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Peach Atlanta Magazine
- Semifinalist for feature screenplay Undecided
Georgia Trend
- 40 Under 40, 2025
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
Professional Assessments
Enneagram Type Eight:
The Challenger
"Masters of Their Fate"
Energetic | Powerful Instincts | Strong-Willed | Decisive
ENFJ
Protagonist | Outgoing | Gifted Storyteller | Optimistic | High-Spirited
Gallup CliftonStrengths® Assessment Top Five:
Relator | Adaptability | Communication | Strategic Futuristic
The Challenger
"Masters of Their Fate"
Energetic | Powerful Instincts | Strong-Willed | Decisive
ENFJ
Protagonist | Outgoing | Gifted Storyteller | Optimistic | High-Spirited
Gallup CliftonStrengths® Assessment Top Five:
Relator | Adaptability | Communication | Strategic Futuristic
