According to GRHP director Tom Dibble Dempsey, the Atlanta Hall of Fame would honor people, organizations, and collectives whose contributions are centered in the city and its surrounding communities. The Georgia Hall of Fame would recognize historically significant contributions from across the state.

The proposal targets an inaugural Atlanta class of 8 to 12 honorees in October 2027, timed to coincide with the annual Atlanta Pride celebration. Statewide research and regional outreach would begin in 2027, with a separate Georgia inaugural class targeted for 2028, subject to a vote by the GRHP board. Dempsey said the statewide program would seek inaugural hosts outside metro Atlanta.

Under the proposed process, public nominations would be free and available online, by email, or on paper. Individuals, organizations, and collectives could be nominated, including posthumously.

Proposed fields of contribution include advocacy, public service, HIV/AIDS and health, arts, media, business, faith, nightlife, sports, and education. Regional outreach would seek rural participation and overlooked histories, including Black LGBTQ organizers, transgender pioneers, faith communities, and people who carried the AIDS response.

The provisional 2027 funding target is $15,000: $8,000 for the Atlanta pilot, $4,000 for Georgia planning, and $3,000 for shared work. Dempsey said GRHP would seek funding for the Hall of Fame through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

The proposal arrives as Georgia's LGBTQ community continues to gain visibility in state politics and civic life, and as advocates push to document histories that have often been marginalized or left out of official commemorations. Organizers behind the halls of fame say the effort is intended to preserve those stories and ensure recognition reaches beyond Atlanta's urban core.