FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2018
Contact: Wes Sanders
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ATLANTA, GA – Today Georgia Equality responded to Sunday’s New York Times report, detailing the Trump Administration’s plans to adopt a new legal definition for the term “sex” that could eviscerate federal protections for transgender Americans. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering a proposal that would define sex as “a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth.” This definition means that the federal government would cease to recognize the basic humanity of transgender and intersex Americans.

Chanel Haley, Gender Inclusion Organizer at Georgia Equality, released the following statement:

“At a moment when transgender people are already experiencing increased levels of discrimination, harassment, and violence, this mean-spirited memo attempts to shatter any hope a transgender person like myself has of living life freely like every other American. Transgender Georgians have a hard enough time trying to survive in a state that does not provide any state-level protections.  Bullying in schools, being denied access to emergency shelters, and refusal of service by medical doctors are just some of the everyday experiences of transgender people in Georgia.

47 states currently allow and have a process in place for a person to change their gender on their birth certificate.  A stern law that would allow for “genetic testing” to determine a person’s gender is overly invasive and stands in stark contrast to every American’s right to privacy.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Now more than ever we need a fully comprehensive state civil rights law that protects all Georgians from discrimination, including transgender people. Transgender people are your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members.”

Georgia Equality will continue to lead efforts that ensure nondiscrimination legislation and policies in the broad areas of employment, housing, public accommodation, safe schools, access to health care, education and voter registration access are inclusive of transgender and gender variant individuals and communities. We will continue to build relationships with Elected Officials and policymakers locally and statewide and encourage LGBTQ Georgians and our allies to vote for candidates who are sympathetic to the needs of the transgender community.

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Founded in 1995, Georgia Equality is the state’s largest advocacy organization working to advance fairness, safety, and opportunity for Georgia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied communities.

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