Friend,

In the flurry of COVID-19 headlines, it is easy to forget that this is not Georgia’s first brush with a global pandemic. In honor of World AIDS Day, we should all take time to reflect on why after more than three decades, our state ranks number one among all states in new HIV infections.

The answer is inequality, and it will take all of us continuing to fight to end HIV in Georgia. Join me in supporting Georgia Equality for World AIDS Day 2020 and #GivingTuesday by making a contribution in support of this vitally important work.

For too long, our state’s leaders have put politics before human dignity and denied healthcare access to hundreds of thousands of Georgians, leaving them vulnerable to the effects of untreated chronic illnesses and infectious diseases like HIV and COVID-19. We know that HIV, and most pandemics, thrive in places where inequality goes unchecked- where access to healthcare is marked by stark racial and gender disparities, and where leaders fail to promote health equity. To create lasting health equity, we must provide healthcare coverage for all Georgians, and we must start by expanding Medicaid.

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What can we say except that 2020 has been one for the history books. This year has brought unprecendented challenges for all of us, but because of your continued support, and our amazing staff and volunteers, our organization has seen unprecedented successes in our 25th year!

Since March, when we transitioned our work entirely online, we’ve seen engagement skyrocket with our 60 online programs exceeding 43,000 total views! As a result, we’ve been able to accomplish some pretty amazing things together–

• For the seventh year in a row, we ensured that no anti-LGBTQ legislation passed in Georgia.
• We worked closely with the Anti-Defamation League and Georgia NAACP to get an LGBTQ-inclusive Hate Crime law passed by both houses, and signed by the governor.
• Just this month, Hapeville became the 12th municipality in Georgia to pass a non-discrimination ordinance specifically prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people in housing, employment, and public spaces.
• We contacted over 400,000 voters in communities across the state to turn out the pro-equality vote.
• You showed up at the polls in support of our endorsed, pro-equality candidates. As a result, the number of open LGBTQ legislators has grown to 7 with the election of Marvin Lim (HD 99) and Georgia’s first openly LGBTQ State Senator, Rev. Kim Jackson (SD 41). Overall 70% of endorsees won their races!
• We’re helping turn out the pro-equality vote AGAIN in the upcoming US Senate runoffs– running phone banks 6 nights a week and have the most ambitions GOTV plan in our organization’s history, to reach between 400,000 – 650,000 pro-equality voters.
• During the legislative session, we managed to pass a much needed reform of our HIV criminalization law through the House of Representatives with the bipartisan support of 124 House members, setting the stage for passage in the next legislative session.
• The TransActionGA Leadership Academy is now in it’s third cohort, training current and future transgender and non-binary leaders with the tools to lead positive conversations and action in their communities.

In 2021, we will continue to fight for LGBTQ people across the state – that means ensuring no one has to be afraid of losing their job, their home, or their access to education simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Your support has made all of this possible, and inspires me for our future together.

Sincerely,

Jeff Graham,

Executive Director

 

PS On a very personal note, I want to express my gratitude to the staff, board and those in the community who have extended their support to me as I faced the sudden loss of my husband and partner of 32 years.

With final votes are  still being tabulated around the state, we know one thing for sure– well, SEVEN!

When the Georgia General Assembly convenes in January, it will do so with a record seven openly LGBTQ legislators, more than any other southern state, and the most in our state’s history. What’s even more is that the State Senate has its first openly lesbian member in Senator-elect Kim Jackson. Kim joins Representative-elect Marvin Lim as the two freshmen members of the LGBTQ caucus at the state legislature with previously elected Representatives Karla Drenner, Park Cannon, Renitta Shannon, Sam Park, and Matthew Wilson. Continue reading →