“I am here to offer some clarity and context to the piece of legislation up for consideration. I want to dispel any notion that a Non-discrimination Ordinance(NDO) offers any special rights to any specific group. What this ordinance does is take a good look at existing laws that protect people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. It strengthens laws that protect our brave men and women who serve in our military, residents whose origins are outside of the United States, women, and those who are differently-abled.

An NDO offers an inexpensive, less time-consuming, local remedy to address the patchwork of federal statutes that only protects some people. An NDO speaks to the lack of state recourse and overall strength of our civil rights protections by addressing valid cases of discrimination.

When it comes to erroneous and fear tactics to mischaracterize a non-discrimination ordinance, I have heard it all! Many who speak against a non-discrimination ordinance when asked if they have even read the piece of legislation. They say they have not. 

We understand that their concerns are real, but many who oppose are trying to validate their points with “What Ifs”. And it is taking the focus away from the large number of people who these types of laws are meant to protect. (People of color, residents whose Origins are outside of the United States, our brave men and women who serve in our military, women, and those who are differently-abled)

Here are the most asked questions and concerns when talking about a non-discrimination ordinance.

This nondiscrimination ordinance does not change how churches or private entities that have memberships are run. It only speaks to those entities if they have a rental or commercial space. * Federal accommodation laws already cover many recognized groups. The non-discrimination ordinance just extends these rights to people of color and people who are part of the LGBT community.

This nondiscrimination ordinance does not affect school sports. In cities that have passed a non-discrimination ordinance, no one has used it to challenge School sports. That is a matter that is left up to the local school board, not the city Commission.

Just as today, it is against the law to intentionally main or harm anyone in a public space or bathroom, after a non-discrimination ordinance is passed it will still be illegal. The 21 states that have NDO protection have not experienced an increase in public safety incidents. It is important to understand that mischaracterizing and demonizing a subset of the community is shameful and is a centuries-old tactic to discriminate. 

Many of you on the commission grow up experiencing segregation. These are similar mischaracterizing and demonizing tactics that created institutionalized school segregation and forced my grandparents to use water fountains and bathrooms that said for coloreds only.

 Finally, small businesses do not have to change their business structure to accommodate. 

What a non-discrimination ordinance can offer your community

Georgia is one out of three states Without workplace protections. We’re one out of five states without any public accommodation laws. This NDO would also help expand protections to combat our state’s weak housing protection laws. Again, understand that these are not special rights. 21 states and over 300 cities Across the Nation have these protections. 12 of those cities are Georgia cities. These laws aim to protect our small businesses, employees, and patrons. 

Most cities that have passed a non-discrimination ordinance have only experienced, a handful of cases per year. With little too limited stress on the local hearing officer. * Business owners and Institutions after the passage of an NDO just agree that outward discrimination, in any form, is bad. 

Non-discrimination ordinance has also made cities more attractive to large business industries and event opportunities. Savannah is referencing their passage of their non-discrimination in their hospitality campaigns. Atlanta was able to secure their Super Bowl bid because of their non-discrimination ordinance and they are currently referencing their non-discrimination ordinance for their FIFA World Cup bid.

In Closing

This is not a nonpartisan issue, conservatives and liberals have agreed that this is a basic way to deter discrimination at a local level.

I hope each of you commissioners understands that there is no compromise and being comprehensive. This about civil rights and all of our individual civil liberties.

Macon doesn’t have a duty to be like any other city that has passed a non-discrimination ordinance, but you do have a duty to all of your citizens of Macon.”

-DeMarcus Beckham, Southern Field Organizer

He, Him, His

Georgia Equality | Equality Foundation of Georgia

Kheyanna Suarez

From the beautiful island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Kheyanna Suarez has spent much of her upbringing in sunny, South Florida. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University in the summer of 2017 where she obtained a degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion.  In May of 2017 she started as a Community Health Educator for Planned Parenthood serving the Broward County area and then later transitioned into a new role as the Youth Organizer for the Treasure Coast, Palm Beach, and Palm Beach Youth Council. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at Emory University with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. Additionally, she is completing her certificate in Maternal and Child Health with a goal of working in policy and communications in the field of reproductive and sexual health. For the last two years, she has been working with the Gilead COMPASS Initiative at the Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center as a Graduate Research Assistant. Kheyanna has also been recently selected as one of the Ending the Epidemic Fellows at Georgia Equality.

Taylor Brown

Taylor Brown (he/him) is a young public health professional and recent graduate of Kennesaw State University with a degree in Public Health Education. His foundation is in infectious disease; primarily through his Ending the HIV Epidemic work with the Georgia Department of Public Health, and COVID-19 Response work with the Fulton County Board of Health. Taylor is passionate about Social Epidemiology, sex education, nutrition, and mental and behavioral health. Taylor is happy to call Georgia and Atlanta home. His mission is in helping make his home a healthy and equitable place for all.

Will Ramirez

Will Ramirez is a graduate student at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Public Policy Studies pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in the intersection of the built environment and public health and its impact on communities of color and other marginalized groups. Will also holds a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies from American Military University.

Will is passionate about policy and people power. Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Will has seen the HIV/AIDS epidemic hit close to home and is committed to applying skills acquired throughout his life to make a difference here in Georgia. As a veteran and as an educator, Will has a long history of service to community which forms the foundation for his strong advocacy and commitment to progress for marginalized communities.

Will lives in Atlanta with his wife, daughter, and dog.