Equality News
Ask your Congressperson to Co-Sponsor the Every Child Deserves a Family Act
Georgia Equality Applauds the Passing of the Equality Act
Georgia Equality Applauds the U.S. House of Representatives Passing the Equality Act
The Bipartisan Bill Now Heads to the Senate
ATLANTA (May 17, 2019) – Today in a vote of 236-173, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act – bipartisan legislation that will provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Americans across key areas of life: employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. Thank you to the following Georgia representatives who voted to pass the Equality Act:
Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr.
Rep. David Scott
Rep. Hank Johnson
Rep. John Lewis
Rep. Lucy McBath
Currently, our nation’s civil rights laws protect people on the basis of race, color, national origin, and in most cases, sex, disability, and religion – but federal law does not provide consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Equality Act will provide these basic legal protections for LGBTQ Americans, including the estimated 360,600 Georgians who identify as LGBTQ and lack statewide non-discrimination protections.
Georgia Equality Meets with U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath
This month, Georgia Equality met with U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (GA-06) to discuss the need for nationwide non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. Board Chair, Michael Shutt, Reverend Caroline Magee, Archdeacon Carole Maddux, trans activist Monica Helms, and Faith in Public Life advocate Graham Younger shared their stories with Rep. McBath and thanked her for her position of support. Monica Helms, the creator of the trans flag, discussed the harm of the trans military ban and presented Rep. McBath with an autographed trans flag. Reverend Magee of St. Bede’s and Archdeacon Maddux of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta shared their stories as faith leaders that supported LGBTQ equality. Michael Shutt, Senior Director for Community at Emory University, shared the difficulties many LGBTQ centers have faced at institutions of higher learning in Georgia.
Georgia Equality Responds to SCOTUS Decision to Hear LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination Cases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wes Sanders
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Atlanta, GA; April 22, 2019 – Today, the United States Supreme Court granted cert. in three cases that deal with whether or not Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends workplace protections to the LGBTQ community. Title VII prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion.
One of the three cases originates from Clayton County, and involves Gerald Lynn Bostock who was fired from his county job in child welfare after his superiors became aware that he is gay. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta rejected Bostock’s claim, ruling that Title VII does protect gays and lesbians. The decision of the 11th Circuit is at odds with the other two cases that were granted cert. today. Originating from Michigan and New York, both cases were resolved in favor of the terminated employee as the 2nd Circuit and 6th Circuit appeals courts ruled that Title VII does indeed extend protections to LGBTQ people. Continue reading