Equality News

by abryant

Historic outreach efforts led by Georgia Equality to LGBTQ and Pro-Equality Voters in Georgia Make the Difference

Atlanta (1/6/20)– With several days until every last vote is counted and the election of Georgia’s US Senators is certified, one thing is certain– historic levels of turnout appear to be what made the difference, including an unprecedented level of engagement from Georgia’s LGBTQ community. 

Over the past 8 weeks Georgia Equality has deployed a Get Out The Vote campaign the likes of which the organization has never executed before. Twenty, (majority people of color and under 30 years old), election staffers and 450 volunteers completed over 110,000 volunteer hours. We called over 25,000 people and had over 6,600 phone conversations with voters. We sent hundreds of thousands of text messages and completed over 450,000 total voter contacts. The volunteer program was bolstered by a state-wide paid phone program in the final week of the election that reached 135,000 voters, a direct mail campaign that reached 600,000 households,  a targeted digital effort that resulted in 14 million total impressions, generated over 12K total website clicks and had over 3.3 million video completions, and pro-equality radio spots in Savannah.

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by Wes Sanders

change is happening

Friend,

I’ll be honest, I’m looking forward to waking up tomorrow in a new year. 2020 has been like no other, and while it’s easy to name all the bad this year brought, I’d like to use my last email of the year focusing on what we’ve been able to accomplish together. In spite of all of it, we have so much to be proud of, and I hope you’ll chip in right now to make sure this work continues next year.

In January, we helped make Brookhaven the seventh municipality in Georgia to pass a non-discrimination ordinance specifically prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people in housing, employment, and public spaces.

We spent February ensuring that no anti-LGBTQ legislation passed in Georgia, for the seventh year in a row.

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by abryant

Update on Our Plan to Mobilize 650,000 Equality Voters in Georgia

I don’t believe in wasting your time, so I’ll get right to the update: 

  • Since the General Election, Georgia Equality volunteers have made over 52,000 calls and sent more than 206,000 text messages, with phonebanks continuing six nights each week.
  • We’ve launched our direct mail and digital advertising campaigns targeting 650,000 equality voters across Georgia through election day.

We are firing on all cylinders, but to fully deploy our plan we need your support RIGHT NOW to help us reach our $1.2 million goal today!

 

 

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by abryant

Volunteer with Georgia Equality

 

Since the General Election, the rest of the country has turned their attention to Turkeys and Holiday lights, and maybe checking in on the political theater in Georgia every day or so. And while watching Rudy Giulliani’s antics during a 7-Hour Elections Hearing at the State Capitol yesterday was… interesting, it doesn’t reflect the reality of what’s really been going on here. Because what’s really going on is that Georgian volunteers are digging deep and showing up – AGAIN. We put it all on the line on November 3rd, and the hectic days afterward. Working at the polls, observing a fair count, calling voters that had a problem with the ballot – all of that and more helped us make history.

But now we need to do it again. Since the General Election, Georgia Equality volunteers have made 11,548 calls, sent 157,332 texts, and helped 5,651 voters. While everyone is asking “How Did Georgia Turn BLUE?!” here at home we know the answer. We made history with good old-fashioned, person-to-person organizing. We talked to our friends, family, and neighbors. We partnered with PFLAG chapters and LGBT-friendly churches. We worked in OUR communities to create the change we are looking for.

If you want to be a part of the change, I encourage you to join us for one of our volunteer actions. It’s easy, fun, and helps you connect to a passionate and talented community of LGBT activists. Sign up at www.georgiaequality.org/volunteer to receive weekly opportunities. Together, we can make a difference. Come join the fight.

 

–Shannon Clawson

State Outreach Manager

Georgia Equality | Equality Foundation of Georgia
by abryant

Mayor of Macon Veto’s County-Wide Nondiscrimination Legislation

In early November the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved broad new non-discrimination protections with a narrow 5 to 4 votes. The ordinance will ban discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, or military status. Under the ordinance, businesses cannot discriminate by withholding any goods, services, or accommodations.

“To go through the federal process is very time consuming, it’s very expensive and basically for many if not most, it’s a complete turnoff. This is to provide a local mechanism to handle these situations,” said one of the ordinance’s sponsors, Commissioner Larry Schlesinger.

Schlesinger noted a Bibb County case where a former Lowe’s employee is suing the home improvement giant for allegedly discriminating against him because of his sexual orientation.

Before the vote on this historic decision, Mayor Robert Reichert opened the Macon-Bibb Co. Government Building Chamber to a limited number of county citizens for public comment on the ordinance. Faith leaders, business owners, local lawyers, and others made their arguments for and against the ordinance during a virtual public hearing that included several transphobic comments.

Commissioner Mallory Jones was one of the opposition Commissioners. Jones says he isn’t against the entire ordinance but just one part, gender identity.

A week after the Commissioners passed the ordinance Mayor Robert Reichert sent out a statement vetoing the legislation. In his veto, he wrote that emotions are running high in this case, but he ultimately vetoed it after considering what would be the best outcome for the community as a whole.

If signed by the Mayor the ordinance, Macon-Bibb County must review initial complaints of alleged violations, then refer cases to an independent mediator for non-binding and voluntary mediation. A complaint must include a $75 filing fee and come within 60 days of the alleged act of discrimination.

If mediation fails to resolve the complaint, the case goes to an independent hearing officer. Fines against any violation by person or business go up to $500.

The non-prevailing party in the complaint pays the mediator and hearing officer fees.

The ordinance carves out exceptions, including non-profit private clubs not open to the public and religious organizations operating non-commercial facilities. The ordinance does not address hate crimes, as some measures passed in other cities do.

 

–  DeMarcus Beckham

Southern Field Organizer

Georgia Equality | Equality Foundation of Georgia