As a wave of anti-transgender legislation targeting children sweeps across the country, Georgia Equality has been hard at work trying to stop Trans Sports Bans at the Capitol. Our volunteers have shown up in force, making phone calls, sending text, and testifying at committee hearings. We asked several of our supporters to share what these bills mean to them and why they are fighting so hard for the rights of Trans kids. 

Heidi Miracle, Parent of Trans Child

As a mother to a transgender daughter and a cisgender daughter, I can confidently say that people’s fears that Trans girls take away anything from cisgender girls are unfounded. There is simply no proof.  While I understand where this fear comes from, the fear is not based in reality. We need to focus on the FACTS. Transgender athletes have been competing for decades and it has not harmed women’s sports or cisgender athletic opportunities.

What is the goal of SB 266? Is it to make the playing field more even? If that is the case, why not focus on proven ways to make things more fair? Transgender youth need to fit in, to be accepted. To force them to be on a team with a gender identity that does not match their own and against their will would be devastating for them.  If the bill’s goal is to take care of women and youth in sports, it must include Trans women because Trans girls ARE GIRLS. 

Kendall S., Rugby Player

I have always played against athletes who are bigger and stronger than I am; bodies are incredibly diverse between and across genders, and competitive advantages take many forms, from access to private coaching to Michael-Phelps-flipper-feet. This is not a zero-sum game. In fact, it is cultures of inclusion that hold the most promise for the growth and well-being of young athletes.

As a relatively small cisgender women’s rugby player who has played with trans players in competitive full-contact play, I am saying, “Not In My Name.”  Please, do not use me in your fight to prevent Trans students from participating on teams that align with their gender.

Nica Clark, Softball Player

Playing softball and rugby for several years during secondary school and college enriched my adolescence and young adulthood immeasurably.  Because of my love of sports and natural physique, I am regularly mistaken for a man while out in public. While this no longer phases me, as a pre-teen, teen, and young adult, I would have been incredibly and irreparably damaged if I were required to produce my birth certificate to prove I was assigned female at birth to defeat a challenge by a girl who felt she had been deprived of an opportunity because I, a cis-girl who existed outside of socially adopted gender norms, dared to occupy a space in this world.

Because Black female athletes tend to have more muscular definition than the accepted notion of what a female has, they would especially be affected by this bill. SB 266 should not pass because if made law, its application could cause psychological, emotional, and physical harm to the very people the bill intends to protect. 

Dawn Hardy, PFLAG Parent

These laws would harm the children of this community because the invasion of their privacy, humiliation, and fear would discourage not only Trans kids but any child wishing to just be a kid and play ball. Children’s sports should be about inclusion and community, not stigma and discrimination.  If our legislators truly care about women in sports, they should increase funding for girl’s athletics and require school districts to publicly report Title IX compliance metrics.

Politicians should get out of our bedrooms and children’s panties and start doing the hard work to return our country to its leadership role by creating jobs, ending racial and social disparity, and saving our planet. 

 

We’re in a time of change, both nationally and here in the state Georgia. Our country has welcomed a new president while our state legislature is convening, and considering the priorities that will set the tone of our state for the coming year. It’s a time fraught with uncertainty but also opportunity.

There is a growing progressive movement in Georgia. Discussions are being had around inequality and inequity, around race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. There is an increase in the number of cities across the state adopting broad policies that protect LGBTQ people, promote diversity in city contracting and purchasing, and that create citywide campaigns for equity. Currently, 11 cities in Georgia have passed some form of a non-discrimination policy, including the city of Columbus. The counties of Augusta-Richmond, Macon-Bibb, and Athens-Clarke are in discussion and considering passing their own non-discrimination ordinance.

State governments across the nation, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, are hearing the demand for equal protections. In response, many local governments are creating programs and enforcing laws that would positively impact many underserved communities. These actions are encouraging, but the journey has just begun. Local LGBT communities across Georgia are preparing to push legislative agendas, and Pride events are expected to slowly make their way back in this Covid landscape.

Columbus

LGBT Advocates out of Columbus are excited to kick off 2021 with a bang. “With a vaccine in almost every hand, or arm rather, we are now officially going back to Broadway starting March 2021 for our Diversity Saturdays,” stated Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director of Colgay Pride, Columbus, GA.

Colgay Pride has announced that Pride festivities will be hosted on June 4th and 5th on Broadway in downtown Columbus. Hobbs stated that Covid-19 safety measures will be in full effect. Colgay Pride acquired multiple Street permits to ensure ample social distancing for vendors and crowds. They are excited to get back to work doing what we love promoting quality and building a better diverse Columbus that serves all.

Diversity Saturdays will take place the first Saturday of every month, and will be held alongside the city’s Saturday Market Day from 9:00 a.m. to noon. There will also be LGBT block parties held from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Broadway in downtown Columbus.

Also, leaders of Colgay Pride have taken steps, weekly, to promote Mental Health resources for those who are part of the LGBT community. There is a LGBT Zoom support group every Tuesday night. It is made available for anyone that wants to be a part of it. Members of the support group want to note that there is a maximum of 100 people that can be involved, so please plan accordingly. For more information, please be sure to visit Colgay Pride’s Facebook page.

 

Macon, GA

Last November, Macon-Bibb County’s former Mayor, Robert Reichert, vetoed the County Commission’s narrowly approved, broad new nondiscrimination policy that would further protect the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ advocates and allies in Macon have stated that they, “do not give up so easily”, and are looking to push towards an non-discrimination ordinance in the coming year.

Currently, those advocates are channeling their hopes and energy into educating their community about comprehensive civil rights protections. To address any concerned citizen, the Macon-Bibb CCR Committee is planning a countywide discussion on April 22nd and 23^rd, 2021. This two-day discussion will be made up of four virtual panels highlighting how non-discrimination ordinances reference and affect local law, businesses, Religious Freedoms, and People of Color. Please follow the “Comprehensive Civil Rights Ordinance Macon” Facebook page for further updates.

Like many Pride and Equality festivals across the Gerorgia, The Macon Pride Board Committee is discussing the planning of an in-person Pride festival. Scott Mitchell, a lead coordinator of Macon Pride stated, “With the uncertain path of Covid relief, there are concerns about hosting large in-person Pride events in June”. Mitchell did note that the Macon Pride board is considering moving Macon Pride festivities to the Fall months allowing for more planning of safety measures. For more information, visit the Macon Pride Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

DeMarcus Beckham

Southern Field Organizer

He, Him, His

Georgia Equality | Equality Foundation of Georgia

 

Georgia Equality joined a coalition of more than 150 state, local and national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) organizations in calling on Congress to swiftly pass the Equality Act. And now we need you to do the same!

HR 5, the bipartisan Equality Act, has 217 co-sponsors including 6 members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation Reps. David Scott, Hank Johnson, Sanford Bishop, Lucy McBath and both of Georgia’s newest House members; Rep. Nikema Williams and Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux.   

The re-introduction of the Equality Act is a clear example of real progress toward full LGBTQ equality in Georgia. When this bill was introduced in the previous Congress, it had the support of 5 Representatives from Georgia, and now that number is 6 Representatives and 2 Senators. This law would be a significant step forward for the LGBTQ community, and we are committed to mobilizing our communities in Georgia to make sure our lawmakers know this is about people, not politics.

This landmark nondiscrimination and civil rights bill would update existing federal laws to protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. It has broad and deep support across lines of political party, demographics, and geography. with a majority of people in favor of the bill in every state in the country.

The passage of this bill will be the culmination of years of work to register and turn out the pro-equality vote, and of numerous meetings with congressional offices. The fact that now half of Georgia’s congressional delegation supports the Equality Act is a credit to all of us who have been instrumental in shifting the ground to make passage of this bill possible.

And now we are in a position to pass a law that would ensure that all LGBTQ Americans can live, work, and access public spaces free from discrimination, no matter what state they call home. So send your message to Congress right now!

Today, half of LGBTQ people in the US live in the 29 states that still lack comprehensive statewide laws — including Georgians. From our work around the state, we know firsthand that this patchwork of protections is unsustainable and leaves too many people behind.

As we commemorate Black History Month, Georgia Equality honors the contributions of Black Americans to the LGBTQ+ and civil rights movement. We also uplift the names of Black LGBTQ+ pioneers that have contributed to our nation’s greatness.

We are grateful and in debt to those who have come before us, those who have  torn down down barriers, creating the space for us to do this work today. In honoring our heroes from the past, Georgia Equality stands hand in hand with activist and the black community as whole, today, ready and prepared for the work ahead.

Georgia Equality is committed to advancing fairness, safety, and opportunity for Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, and our Black allies throughout the state.

This month, and every month of the year, Georgia Equality celebrates Black voices, and Black achievement, standing allied in the fight against racism and the systemic structures that negatively impact the well-being and livelihood of the Black community.

To celebrate Black lives, progression, and excellence, Georgia Equality will be hosting a series of virtual events sure to be engaging, informative, and thought provoking. Please follow us on all social media platforms, @georgiaequality, and subscribe to our email list to stay informed on Legislative updates, Action Alerts, Breaking news, Event invitations, Opportunities to get involved.

 

 

DeMarcus Beckham, Southern Field Organizer

Georgia Equality | Equality Foundation of Georgia

 

 

Georgia has some of the harshest HIV criminalization in the US – and Georgia Equality wants to address that head on by introducing our new fellowship program, Ending the Epidemic Policy Fellowship, funded by the Elton John Aids Foundation. 

The former President’s plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 is built around four pillars: Diagnose, Treat, Protect, and Respond. The fourth pillar, focuses on establishing an HIV health force with “boots on the ground” health professionals. While this is an important element, equally as important is the need to develop HIV policy advocates and leaders who are equipped to identify emergent issues and bring them to the attention of policymakers, create policy solutions that help remedy structural issues that drive the epidemic in marginalized communities, and to find political allies and policy making windows that make it possible to advance public health. 

For the “boots on the ground”, Georgia Equality is looking to hire three recent graduates for its Ending the Epidemic Policy Fellowship. The fellowship places recent graduates with backgrounds in public health, public administration, public policy, and/or other related fields at Georgia Equality for a 12-month immersion into the policy-making process. Fellows apply their academic training, critical thinking, and analytical skills to support evidence-informed, decision-making that addresses HIV policy challenges on a local and statewide level. Fellows should have an understanding of the systemic structures that create barriers for marginalized communities and warp our response to the HIV epidemic, especially along lines of race, gender, and sexual orientation. 

Georgia Equality’s Ending the Epidemic Policy Fellowship Program provides comprehensive policy training at the intersections of LGBTQ health, race, policy and geography to early-career professionals with an interest in working in the HIV policy space. The project will specifically prioritize individuals living with and vulnerable to HIV from minority and underrepresented communities who are committed to acquiring the skills, knowledge and experiences to participate in the policy process at the state and local level and use their training to improve health, health care, and health policy towards ending the epidemic by 2030. 

 

For more information or to apply, please visit our employment page, here:

https://georgiaequality.org/about/employment-internships/