Opinion: Georgia legislators have an unhealthy obsession with trans people’s health

Read the full op-ed as published by the AJC

By Joanna Schwartz  |  February 25, 2026

It’s that time of year in Georgia again! Red wing blackbirds are everywhere, the Peach State’s celebrity groundhog Gen. Beauregard Lee saw his shadow predicting another six weeks of winter, March Madness is fast approaching and our State Legislature is crafting more legislation to discriminate against transgender Georgians.

Last year, Senate Bill 39, a bill to deny health coverage for Georgia’s state employees and their families, didn’t make it into law. But this is an election year, so the legislature has cued up its performative moral outrage to try again. Continue reading


Apply Now: Gender Policy Manager

Summary:
The Gender Policy Manager is responsible for advancing transgender-inclusive public policy, education, and community engagement initiatives across Georgia. This role provides strategic leadership in policy advocacy, training development, coalition building, media engagement, and program supervision. The Gender Policy Manager works collaboratively across departments and with external partners to further Georgia Equality’s mission of promoting fairness, safety, and opportunity for LGBTQ+ individuals and all people living with HIV/AIDS.

Georgia Equality is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Reports To: Deputy Director
Employment Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary Range: $55,000–$65,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

I. Policy Advocacy and Strategic Leadership:

  • Lead and support efforts to promote nondiscrimination legislation and policies inclusive of transgender and gender-diverse individuals in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and access to health care.
  • Monitor policy developments and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to advance shared advocacy goals.
  • Participate in coalition efforts and represent Georgia Equality in relevant policy forums and meetings.

II. Training, Education, and Institutional Engagement:

  • Develop, launch, and manage the Georgia Equality Training Institute.
  • Design and maintain training curricula focused on transgender inclusion, LGBTQ+ cultural competency, and related policy issues.
  • Coordinate and respond to requests for training, workshops, and presentations related to transgender and LGBTQ+ communities.
  • Collaborate with the Communications team to ensure messaging is accurate, inclusive, and aligned with organizational values.

III. Community Engagement and Program Management:

  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, educational institutions, faith communities, businesses, and allied partners statewide.
  • Conduct community education and advocacy training and support the development of a statewide network of advocates, particularly during legislative sessions.
  • Develop, oversee, and facilitate LGBTQ+ training programs statewide.
  • Provide programmatic support to the State Outreach Manager, including volunteer recruitment, screening, training, and engagement.
  • Collaborate with faith leaders, GE’s Southern Regional Organizer, Youth Organizer, & HIV Policy Manager including providing guidance, performance feedback, and support.
  • Develop and manage volunteer programs, including the Georgia Equality Trans Speakers Bureau.

IV. Media and Public Communications:

  • Serve as a designated organizational spokesperson on transgender-related issues, as appropriate.
  • Participate in media interviews, public panels, and educational forums in coordination with leadership and communications staff.

Required Qualifications:

  • Must be able to travel to rural areas alone.
  • Demonstrated experience in policy advocacy, community organizing, nonprofit program
    management, or related field.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation experience.
  • Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community members, organizational partners, and institutional leaders.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
  • Proficiency with basic computer applications and digital communication tools.
  • Must have reliable transportation and be able to lift 40lbs.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience working on LGBTQ+ issues, with specific knowledge of transgender policy and advocacy.
  • Experience developing and delivering training or educational programs.
  • Supervisory or team leadership experience.
  • Familiarity with legislative advocacy, coalition work, or nonprofit development strategies.

Core Competencies:

  • Commitment to equity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination
  • Cultural humility and ability to work effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities
  • Professional judgment and discretion
  • Collaborative and solutions-oriented approach

Compensation:

  • Monthly Benefit Supplement: $950 per month available for employee benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, with additional access to voluntary benefits such as life insurance, AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, legal plans, and a 401(k).
  • Phone and Internet Stipend: $200 per month.
  • Additional Benefits: All benefits, including vacation accrual rates, are provided in accordance with the EFG Employee Handbook.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their interest in working at Georgia Equality to email hidden; JavaScript is required . Please include “Gender Policy Manager” in the subject line of your email. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please no calls.

 

Georgia Equality is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.


Equality Foundation of Georgia aims to launch $300,000 effort to combat anti-trans wave

The “Here We Are” campaign is an initiative designed to combat the rising tide of anti-trans rhetoric and legislation by fostering empathy and understanding through personal storytelling. The campaign features three individuals: Ashton, Nayda, and Gio, and highlights their experiences as transgender individuals and their supportive families. These stories aim to humanize transgender lives, illustrating their aspirations, challenges, and the support they received from their families.

The main goal of the “Here We Are” campaign is to create empathy. By sharing these personal narratives, the campaign seeks to dismantle stereotypes and counter misinformation that fuels discrimination and hate. This initiative has proven to be successful, with Ground Media’s research indicating that exposure to these stories significantly increases acceptance and belief in the authenticity of transgender identities.

Equality Foundation of Georgia, Georgia Equality’s C3 arm, ran a YouTube and Connected TV media buy in February 2025 that lasted for nearly five weeks, featuring the “Here We Are” videos. In total, the ads delivered over 1.6 million impressions and achieved a video completion rate (VCR) of 98.62%—meaning nearly everyone who started the video watched it to the end. The campaign also generated earned media coverage, including in CNN en Español and other publications.

What’s At Stake

Conservative super PACs have launched aggressive ad campaigns, which recently ran an anti-LGBTQ+ ad for several weeks in spring, spreading harmful narratives across broadcast TV, cable, and YouTube.

Competitive Conquesting

We will use competitive conquesting to target the very same folks who were exposed to the anti-LGBTQ+ ads. Our first step is extensive research to identify which households across Georgia have been targeted with this opposition messaging.  We will then use that information to serve our “Here We Are” campaign to those same folks, ensuring that those who were exposed to the harmful rhetoric are also given the chance to see authentic, humanizing stories from transgender people themselves.

Our goal is to raise $300,000 to support this program through a matching grant structure. We’re asking you to be part of the match by raising $150,000 toward our overall $300,000 goal. This money will then be given a matching grant, doubling the impact of your donation.

Donations to Equality Foundation of Georgia, an IRS designated 501c3 organization, are fully tax-deductible.

This program will go a long way in fighting anti-LGBTQ+ hate in Georgia. We can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to send you information about a potential partnership and look forward to working with you.



Apply Now: Development & Communications Organizer

Development & Communications Organizer

Reports To: Development & Communications Director

Compensation & Benefits: $52,000. Excellent benefits including cell phone and mileage reimbursement, generous time off, subsidized health insurance, and 401k.

Location: This is an Atlanta-based position with the ability to work remotely. Occasional in-person work in and around Georgia will be required.

Duties: 

  • Develop social media marketing materials to drive issue awareness on all platforms
  • Manage and grow the Georgia Equality Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky accounts
  • Brainstorm, film, and edit compelling video content for issue awareness and advocacy
  • Write and copy edit creative materials, social media posts, blog posts, graphics, etc
  • Design creative materials using graphic design software to engage followers and drive community-building via social media
  • Provide in-person event support, and representing agency at events
  • Conduct website management/maintenance (calendar, minor edits, updating blog posts, etc.)
  • Work with Georgia Equality staff to create seasonal messaging and educational campaigns for awareness days, legislative targets, organizational programming and priorities.
  • Lead first-time and entry level donor recruitment campaigns

Skill Requirements:

  • Have a strong passion for social justice and pro-LGBTQ equality
  • Have a basic knowledge of Georgia and national LGBTQ politics
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Mastery of social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok) and content creation
  • Experience with video production and digital content creation
  • Experience with graphic design programs (Canva, CapCut, Adobe Creative Suite)
  • Experience with appealing to and engaging with young and diverse audiences
  • Experience with WordPress and web design a plus
  • Strong basic computer skills and knowledge of desktop PC based systems and mobile devices
  • Be creative, organized, and detail-oriented
  • Self-motivated with examples of initiative
  • Strong ability to learn quickly and be flexible in a fast-paced, high-change environment

To Apply:

  • Please submit a cover letter and resume to email hidden; JavaScript is required and include ‘Dev/Comms Organizer Application’ as the subject line. Please also include the following in your email:
    • Any examples of any writing or graphic design work
    • Any social media work or otherwise you have created (any social media account, videos, blog, marketing campaigns you have worked on, etc.)
  • Applications for this position will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Incomplete applications or applications not submitted through the email address listed above will not be considered. No calls, please.

Equality Foundation of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.