The “Here We Are” campaign is an initiative designed to combat the rising tide of anti-trans rhetoric and legislation by fostering empathy and understanding through personal storytelling. The campaign features three individuals: Ashton, Nayda, and Gio, and highlights their experiences as transgender individuals and their supportive families. These stories aim to humanize transgender lives, illustrating their aspirations, challenges, and the support they received from their families.

The main goal of the “Here We Are” campaign is to create empathy. By sharing these personal narratives, the campaign seeks to dismantle stereotypes and counter misinformation that fuels discrimination and hate. This initiative has proven to be successful, with Ground Media’s research indicating that exposure to these stories significantly increases acceptance and belief in the authenticity of transgender identities.

Equality Foundation of Georgia, Georgia Equality’s C3 arm, ran a YouTube and Connected TV media buy in February 2025 that lasted for nearly five weeks, featuring the “Here We Are” videos. In total, the ads delivered over 1.6 million impressions and achieved a video completion rate (VCR) of 98.62%—meaning nearly everyone who started the video watched it to the end. The campaign also generated earned media coverage, including in CNN en Español and other publications.

What’s At Stake

Conservative super PACs have launched aggressive ad campaigns, which recently ran an anti-LGBTQ+ ad for several weeks in spring, spreading harmful narratives across broadcast TV, cable, and YouTube.

Competitive Conquesting

We will use competitive conquesting to target the very same folks who were exposed to the anti-LGBTQ+ ads. Our first step is extensive research to identify which households across Georgia have been targeted with this opposition messaging.  We will then use that information to serve our “Here We Are” campaign to those same folks, ensuring that those who were exposed to the harmful rhetoric are also given the chance to see authentic, humanizing stories from transgender people themselves.

Our goal is to raise $300,000 to support this program through a matching grant structure. We’re asking you to be part of the match by raising $150,000 toward our overall $300,000 goal. This money will then be given a matching grant, doubling the impact of your donation.

Donations to Equality Foundation of Georgia, an IRS designated 501c3 organization, are fully tax-deductible.

This program will go a long way in fighting anti-LGBTQ+ hate in Georgia. We can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to send you information about a potential partnership and look forward to working with you.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Policy Monitoring and Research

• Track federal and state-level HIV-related legislation and Medicaid policy changes.
• Provide policy digests using tools such as OpenStates, Kaiser Family Foundation, and NASTAD updates.
• Monitor developments related to pharmacist-prescribed PrEP (SB 195) implementation.
• Summarize Supreme Court decisions affecting HIV programs (e.g., Braidwood v. Becerra implications).

2. Stakeholder Engagement Support

• Attend virtual or in-person coalition meetings and workgroups.
• Take notes and produce brief summaries with action steps.
• Plan World AIDS Day event (12/01/25)
• Assist in organizing listening sessions or virtual feedback spaces with community partners.

3. Resource Development

• Update and maintain the internal HIV Policy Tracker (Excel/Google Sheets).
• Assist in creating educational toolkits and updating fact sheets.
• Draft social media posts or policy blurbs in collaboration with the communications team.

4. Internal Communication

• Provide bi-weekly email updates to the Deputy Director.
• Flag urgent developments that may require leadership attention.
• Maintain a shared folder with organized updates, agendas, and research links.

Learning Outcomes:

• Deepen understanding of Georgia’s HIV policy landscape and public health policy process.
• Develop skills in legislative analysis, stakeholder communication, and strategic documentation.
• Contribute to real-world advocacy that centers racial and health equity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Student or recent graduate, or related experience in public health, policy, or advocacy
• Strong writing, research, and organizational skills
• Knowledge of HIV-related issues, Medicaid, or health equity preferred
• Able to commit 15hrs a week
• Self-starter, comfortable managing multiple priorities in a hybrid/remote environment

Support & Transition: The intern will receive an onboarding packet, 1:1 orientation with the HIV Policy Manager before leave begins in October, and ongoing check-ins with the Deputy Director. A mid-internship and end-of-internship debrief will be scheduled to support learning and continuity. Curriculum requirements can be met.

To Apply: Email your resume and a brief statement of interest to email hidden; JavaScript is required  with subject line: HIV Policy Internship – Fall 2025.

Summary:
Georgia Equality is looking for a dynamic housing policy manager with a passion for advocating for the rights and interests of LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV. This position will require the organizer to work in collaboration with staff, and other community partners to center the needs of LGBTQ+ community members, people living with HIV, policymakers, and housing professionals in Georgia.

This is a statewide position that will require travel outside of the metro Atlanta area. Remote work is allowable, frequent travel to Atlanta is required.

Reports to:
Deputy Director

Responsibilities:
As a part of our Georgia Equality team, the housing policy organizer can be called upon to assist with duties beyond those enumerated below. However, the key responsibilities of the position are:

I. Serve as a liaison for Georgia Equality between the LGBTQ+ community, HIV communities & housing networks. This work includes:

• Coalition Building: Develop and maintain a relationship with housing agencies, and HIV groups and agencies.

• Education Outreach: Offer advocacy presentations to housing agencies and policymakers upon request.

II. Work with housing agencies and policymakers to support Georgia Equality’s advocacy, legislative, and electoral work, particularly with a focus on advocating against anti-LGBTQ legislation, ordinances and policies.

•   Base building: develop network of youth to help with legislative response, testimony and lobbying during legislative session. Prepare and coordinate regular meetings with housing agencies & HIV program providers (e.g., workshops, meetings, team building, political education, etc.)
•   Engage community to participate in outreach, text banking and phone bank during legislative session and elections season.

III. Work in collaboration with the HIV Policy Manager, Southern Field Organizer and Statewide Outreach Manager to curate events that centers and supports housing efforts for LGBTQ+ community members.

IV. Work with the Communications team to create housing social media outreach.

V. Participate in community events for housing and people living with HIV such panels, festivals and celebrations etc. throughout the state of Georgia

Prerequisites:
I. Community Familiarity: Experience working within the housing industry

II. Understanding of issues affecting LGBTQ+ community.  Particularly access to safe affirming housing for those living with HIV and for those who identify as transgender and gender-nonconforming.

III. Strong Communication skills: Strong overall written and oral presentation skills, and the ability to effectively communicate with people of various backgrounds and experiences.

IV.  Self-starter: This position is best suited for someone who works well independently, is well-organized and takes initiative. Ability to set and meet goals, prioritize, plan, manage, and complete satisfactory work on strict deadlines.

V. Diplomacy: Ability to engage in difficult conversations with enthusiasm and tact.

VI. Collaborative Spirit: Ability to work as an integral part of a team of hard-working, energetic professionals, taking input from a variety of assertive colleagues and community partners.

VII. Commitment to Social Justice: An understanding of and commitment to issues affecting LGBTQ+ people, as well as an understanding about the lives of people living with HIV.

Qualifications: 
I.  1-3 years of experience as a community organizer is desired. Experience  working within the housing field is required.

II.  Strong computer skills, particularly Knowledge of MS-Office systems.

III.  Strong public speaking and interpersonal skills are required.

IV. Extensive travel throughout the state of Georgia is required, and applicants must have their own vehicle for transportation.

Compensation:
$55,000 – $65,000

Compensation is equitable and based upon experience.

Competitive salary and excellent benefits including mileage reimbursement, generous time off and subsidized health insurance. Internet and phone stipend. Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer.

How to Apply:
To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to email hidden; JavaScript is required provided with “Housing Policy Manager” as the subject.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please no calls.

This is a rolling application process, and this job will be posted until it is filled.

Georgia Equality is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Deputy Director

Reports To: Executive Director

Allocation of Work: 

• Management: senior team, internal planning, budget and Organizational Development 20%
• Advocacy Program: understanding and support of broad LGBTQ issue advocacy, including local and state legislative activity; coordination and supervision of c3 Civic Engagement Work 20%
• Leadership and Organizational Development: supervision, support executive director, financial oversight and intensive organizational development work 25%
• Development: Grant application and report writing and coordination, cultivation and stewardship 15%        
• External Relations: spokesperson, relationship building 15%
• Operations: ops team, organizational policy 5%     

Position Purpose:

To support the Executive Director’s management and leadership; ensure that all Georgia Equality programs advance our strategic priorities, are professionally implemented, and are integrated with each other; and facilitate smooth organizational operations

Major Ongoing Objectives:

• Manage program team to successfully execute annual work plan
  • • Directly supervise Civic Engagement and HIV Policy Programs Staff
    • Partner with the Director of Education and Community Engagement to coordinate all program activities, including those executed by colleagues outside the program team.
• Contribute to Georgia Equality’s growth and success by helping shape organizational strategy and management practices.
  • • Serve as a trusted partner to the Executive Director in setting organizational strategy and oversight of financial systems
    • Serve as a member of the Senior Team and coordinate across departments with the Senior Team.
    • Partner with the Executive Director in advancing Georgia Equality’s own organization development in terms of planning, team culture, and professional development.
    • Support Executive Director and Development Director in managing the board and serve on the Governance Committee and Finance Committees.
    • Work closely with Business Manager to support facility management and oversight of financial systems.
• Increase visibility of Georgia Equality’s brand and leadership in the local, regional, and national movement space. 
  • • Serve as a spokesperson for the organization at conferences and in the media
    • Represent Georgia Equality at local and state coalition tables
    • Build and maintain a strong network of relationships with local and state movement leaders.
    • Build relationships in the progressive civic engagement space to position the organization in that work.
    • Foster cross-movement learning and collaboration
• Support the success of Georgia Equality programs.
  • • Advise and assist with program development, planning, and evaluation.
• Help secure funding through grants and major donors.
  • • Coordinate program team in drafting of grant application and report narratives or provision of necessary information to Development Director 
    • Maintain relationships with key foundations and individual donors in coordination with the Development Director.
• Serve as Acting Executive Director during the extended absence of the Executive Director and when urgent organizational decisions need to be made and the Executive Director is unreachable.

Compensation & Benefits:

• The beginning salary for this position is $95,000 –  $100,000 annually. 
• Excellent benefits including cell phone and mileage reimbursement, generous time off, subsidized health insurance, and 401k.
• This is an Atlanta-based position with the ability to work remotely.
• Equality Foundation of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

To Apply:

• Please submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to email hidden; JavaScript is required and include Deputy Director in the subject line.
• Applications for this position will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Incomplete applications or applications not submitted through the email address listed above will not be considered. No calls, please.

ELECTION UPDATE

We had a good night following yesterday’s primary and nonpartisan election. Nearly 75% of Georgia Equality’s endorsed candidates either won their races or are headed to a runoff election!

One exciting highlight from the election is that we may be welcoming a new openly LGBTQ state senator next year because GE endorsed candidate RaShaun Kemp will be advancing to the runoff for the Democratic nomination in Senate District 38! Help him start the next phase of his campaign strong with a donation today.

And there’s more: multiple openly LGBTQ incumbents won their races last night: Sen. Kim Jackson in SD 41, Rep. Park Cannon in HD 58, Rep. Karla Drenner in HD 85, Rep. Imani Barnes in HD 86, Rep. Marvin Lim in HD 98, Rep. Sam Park in HD 107, and two state court judges– Judge Mike Jacobs of DeKalb County State Court and Judge Jane Morrison of Fulton County State court.

Georgia Equality sends congratulations to all of our endorsed candidates who won on Tuesday, or are advancing to a runoff. The runoff election will be held on June 18, 2024.

Here’s the full list of Georgia Equality endorsees who were successful on Tuesday

Judicial Races

Judge, Superior Court, Fulton County: Rachel Krause (i) – WIN

Judge, Superior Court, Fulton County: Scott McAfee (i) – WIN

Judge, Superior Court, Gwinnett County: Regina Matthews – WIN

Judge, DeKalb County State Court: Mike Jacobs* (i) – WIN

Judge, Fulton County State Court: Jane Morrison* (i) – WIN

Democratic Primary:

Senate District 33: Michael Doc Rhett (i) – WIN

Senate District 36: Nan Orrock (i) – WIN

Senate District 38: Rashaun Kemp* – RUNOFF

Senate District 40: Sally Harrell (i) – WIN

Senate District 41: Kim Jackson* (i) – WIN

Senate District 44: Elena Parent (i) – WIN

House District 47: Debra Shigley – WIN

House District 56: Bryce Berry – WIN

House District 58: Park Cannon* (i) – WIN

House District 60: Sheila Jones (i) – WIN

House District 84: Mary Margaret Oliver (i) – WIN

House District 85: Karla Drenner* (i) – WIN

House District 86: Imani Barnes* (i) – WIN

House District 90: Saira Draper (i) – WIN

House District 98: Marvin Lim* (i) – WIN

House District 107: Sam Park* (i) – WIN

House District 145: Juawn Jackson – RUNOFF

Local Races

Augusta District Attorney: Jared Williams (i) – WIN 

Cobb County Commission Chair: Lisa Cupid (i) – WIN

Cobb County Commission District 4: Monique Sheffield – WIN

Fulton County Commission District 4: Mo Ivory – RUNOFF

Gwinnett County Commission Chair: Nicole Love Hendrickson (i) – WIN

Dekalb County Board of Education: Andrew Ziffer – WIN

Gwinnett County Board of Education: Tarece Johnson-Morgan – WIN