Author: Wes Sanders

by Wes Sanders

Georgia HIV/AIDS Advocates travel to Washington, DC to lobby Congress

Last month, almost 550 people living with HIV and their allies converged upon the offices of more than 200 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives as part of the 25th anniversary gathering of AIDS Watch, the largest constituent-based annual HIV advocacy event in the nation. Georgia was well represented, with over 40 individuals making the trek to the nation’s capital. Among those participating in this year’s AIDS Watch, were our Joan P. Garner Scholarship Fund Receipt, Jennifer Barnes and Thrive SS/Georgia Equality Fellow, Mahlon Randolph.

Special shout out to local Atlanta all-trans band, Exquisite Gender who  raised $1,700 to support the Joan P. Garner AIDS Watch Scholarship fund that is used to send a local young person living with HIV to Washington, DC to speak directly with members of Congress and their staffs about the needs of young people living with HIV in Georgia! To make a donation to the Joan P. Garner Scholarship Fund, click here. Continue reading →

by Wes Sanders

Our hard work is paying off and this is only the beginning. Join us.

Another legislative session is over in Georgia and because of supporters like you we were able to stop all attempts at passing discriminatory legislation for the 5th year in a row!

So, to you we say thank you! While we celebrate our success though, we’re not resting at Georgia Equality. We know that bills like this will be back next year and we’re already ramping-up our efforts to educate Georgians that we need comprehensive non-discrimination measures rather than limited legislation that creates a license to discriminate.
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by Wes Sanders

Interested in becoming Adoptive or Foster Parents? Georgia MENTOR can help!

Message from Aubrey Walsh of Georgia Mentor:

 

I am the foster parent recruiter for Georgia MENTOR. Our office is located in Warner Robins but we have offices also in Atlanta, Albany, Augusta, and Savannah.

Georgia MENTOR is a child placing agency that partners with The MENTOR Network, LLC and is contracted through The Department of Family and Children Services of Georgia. At The MENTOR Network, we believe that children belong in families and deserve to live in homes where they can feel safe, valued and loved. Continue reading →

by Wes Sanders

Pictures: Exquisite Gender raises $1700 to support Joan Garner AIDS Watch Scholarship

In their first public appearance, local Atlanta all-trans band, Exquisite Gender raised $1,700 to support the Joan P. Garner AIDS Watch Scholarship fund, sending a local young person living with HIV to Washington, DC to speak directly with members of Congress and their staffs about the needs of young people living with HIV in Georgia! Our greatest of thanks to all the musicians, singers, dancers, and others who were involved in making the show an absolute success! Read more about Exquisite Gender here. Continue reading →

by Wes Sanders

ICYMI: LGBTQ Advocates Descend on State Capitol for Lobbying and Rally!

Time to Rally!

Supporters of LGBTQ families and youth rallied against SB 375 this week, a bill that would allow taxpayer-funded adoption and child welfare agencies to refuse to work with same-sex couples, and would even allow agencies to deny services to LGBTQ youth. Georgians from all walks of life – including state and national advocacy groups, faith leaders, members of the business and entertainment communities, and LGBTQ families and allies turned out in large numbers to express their opposition to the discriminatory bill. Prior to the rally, 80 supporters met with lawmakers from across the state as part of Georgia Equality’s lobby day. A top priority of the lobby visits was to communicate to lawmakers the broad opposition to SB 375. Continue reading →