While many of us were celebrating the results of the January 5 runoff election and inauguration of President Biden, the Georgia General Assembly began the start of their two-year legislative session. The month of January was spent primarily on organizing committees, finalizing leadership positions and hearing testimony on the state budget. Here at Georgia Equality we held the first of a series of advocacy trainings and began to firm up our plans regarding the legislation we would support and meet with coalition partners to discuss how to fight against bills we oppose.
There have been several bright spots to the start of the session. We witnessed the swearing in of Senator Kim Jackson (D-SD41) as our first out LGBTQ state senator and our newest out Representative Marvin Lim (D-HD99). The total number of our LGBTQ legislators is now at a record seven members. Several of those incumbents were also elected to important leadership positions. Rep. Karla Drenner (D-HD85) was re-elected as the chair of the DeKalb County delegation and Rep. Sam Park (D-HD101) was elected as the chair of the Gwinnett County delegation. Rep. Park Cannon (D-HD58) was elected as the Secretary of the House Minority Caucus.
Despite some Democratic gains in both the House and the Senate, Republicans are still solidly in control of both chambers and it will continue to be important for legislation to have bi-partisan support to pass and bi-partisan opposition to keep from heading to the Governor’s desk.
In terms of legislative action, we have been pleased that the House Appropriations Committee added $15.4 million to support the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). This program provides access to over 12,000 uninsured people living with HIV/AIDS in Georgia. We have been working on this funding issue throughout the fall to help prevent the implementation of a waiting list for this life-saving program. As of the time this is written, the Senate has yet to act on this funding.
As we head into February, we are hopeful that we will see bi-partisan support for our three priority legislative issues: a statewide nondiscrimination law, a conversion therapy ban and reforms to Georgia’s HIV criminalization law. We will also be working on funding for ADAP and continuing our advocacy to fully expand Georgia’s Medicaid system to meet the needs of the 500,000 uninsured Georgians who desperately need the health coverage this program provides.
Georgia Equality will also continue to focus on expanding the number of municipalities that have a comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinance. With the passage of seven ordinances in 2020, the total number of municipalities is now 13 including Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, East Point, Hapeville, Savannah, Smyrna and Statesboro. Macon also passed an ordinance, but it was vetoed by the Mayor. Macon now has a new mayor and new commission members and we hope that another ordinance will be passed and signed into law later this year. We will continue to work with commissioners in Augusta, Athens and Columbus, where discussions of ordinances are taking place and hope to work with community advocates to see legislation introduced in Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.
Georgia Equality will also continue our work to educate Georgia’s congressional delegation on the need for federal protections. With the election of Senators Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff and support of President Biden, the chances are stronger than they have been that we could see legislation such as the Equality Act, Do No Harm Act and Every Child Deserves a
Family Act. We also hope that we’ll see more support for the Ending the HIV Epidemic plan and strengthening of the Affordable Care Act.
This is a very full agenda for our staff of eight and that’s why we need the support of Georgia Equality members around the state. We need you to join us for our advocacy days, participate in congressional meetings and communicate with your elected officials at all levels of Government. Working together, we can make life better for LGBTQ Georgians around the state.
Jeff Graham, Executive Director
He, Him, His
Georgia Equality | Equality Foundation of Georgia