Equality News

by Danielle Quesenberry

2019 Legislative Preview

 

It’s always a challenge to predict what will happen in any upcoming legislative session, but the 2019 session is already shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in decades. While Republicans still have large majorities in both the House and the Senate, Democrats flipped a total of eleven seats in the House and two in the Senate. Perhaps more importantly, there are an additional sixteen seats in the House and six in the Senate that could be competitive in the 2020 election. That fact alone could make for some interesting politics. However, beyond the simple partisan math, due to incumbents who either retired or lost seats in the primary or general elections, there will be some 30 new members of the legislature. While roughly half of them we know to be pro-equality, we don’t know much about the others and how they will vote on issues of concern to Georgia Equality’s members and the LGBTQ community.

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by Wes Sanders

Help me go out with a bang!

It is bittersweet that I’m sharing with you that tomorrow is my  last day as Deputy Director at Georgia Equality. I want to go out with a bang, but I’ll need your help! Today, I’m asking you to donate to continue the work I’ve been lucky to be apart of.

From numerous victories against anti-LGBTQ legislation to developing and expanding strategic programming for LGBTQ people throughout the state, Georgia Equality works incredibly hard to ensure we are treated with dignity and respect. I’m thankful having the opportunity to work, learn, and grow in this space. I’m also honored to have worked with such an amazing crew of brilliant minds and tremendously inspiring thought leaders – Jeff Graham, Wes Sanders, Eric Paulk, Percy Brown, Chanel Haley, and Shannon Clawson. They are rock stars in their work and wonderful friends to have in my extended family.

As I transition from staff member to donor, I know the fight for equality in Georgia doesn’t end when I leave these doors. It is why I’m asking you join me in funding the important and necessary work Georgia Equality does for LGBTQ people and our familes.

And to you – Georgia Equaliy members, volunteers and donors – thank you for lifting me up, joining our calls to action, and giving your support by volunteering your time or funding the movement. Will you join me in supporting Georgia Equality again today? 
 

With much appreciation and gratitude-

Amanda Hill-Attkisson, Deputy Director

by Wes Sanders

Georgia Equality invested in me

Dear Friend,

I’m DeMarcus Beckham, a member of Georgia Equality’s Board of Directors from Macon. My connection to Georgia Equality began as an intern for the organization almost two years ago, and I’m asking you to join me in donating to the organization that has given so much to me and other LGBTQ Georgians.

Being an advocate for my communities has always been my passion and my calling. Through the years, Georgia Equality fed my passion and provided resources for my success. I gained a voice that many others have fought for me to have, and now use that voice as a leader in Georgia’s movement for LGBTQ equality.

For the last five years, Georgia Equality has fought against RFRA and other anti-LGBTQ legislation, built programs to develop the next generation of transgender leaders, and led the path to make Georgia safer for LGBTQ people and our allies.

From my days as an intern to currently sitting on the board, I’m proud to be part of the Georgia Equality family and its amazing work across the state. This holiday season, I encourage you to invest in Georgia Equality the way the organization has invested in me. Please support Georgia Equality by making a donation to continue our work across the state.

 

Sincerely,

DeMarcus Beckham, Board of Directors

by Danielle Quesenberry

Georgia Equality Commemorates World AIDS Day with a Week of Events

Georgia Equality marked the 30th World AIDS Day with a week of events to engage the community. United by the “Know Your Status” theme, we joined our community partners in commemorating World AIDS Day 2018 with events that included a screening of the film Boy Meets Girl followed by a panel conversation led by Georgia Equality’s Gender Inclusion Organizer, Chanel Haley focused on HIV and dating in the trans community. Our partners at Sisterlove led us in a conversation around Black women and HIV. We also partnered with Thrive SS for an evening of spoken word, led by artists living with HIV.

To round out the week, we united with Actor’s Express for a staged reading of the play, Before it Hits Home by Cheryl L. West, directed by True Colors Theatre Company’s incoming Artistic Director, Jamil Jude. The play explored the dynamics of an African-American family dealing with the HIV during the late 1980s. The reading was followed by a panel discussion.

We closed the week with our annual World AIDS Day Policy & Action Luncheon hosted by our Youth HIV Policy Advisors (YHPA). The YHPA cohort is a group of future leaders trained to guide policy around HIV and AIDS, and serve as unofficial policy advisors to elected officials. The event included remarks from Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Other elected officials from all levels of state and local government also attended and heard from program participants about the specific needs and challenges that come with being a young person living with HIV in the metro-Atlanta area.

Georgia Equality would like to thank our community partners, YHPA, and elected leaders who attended our week of programs this year. While much has changed over the past 30 years – HIV is no longer a death sentence but a treatable and manageable chronic disease – we recognize that we still have a long way to go.

by Danielle Quesenberry

We Drove Thousands of Miles This Year!

From Shannon Clawson, Statewide Outreach Organizer

2018 has been a busy year for our Super Voter team who crisscrossed the state to register voters and get Georgians to the polls in support of pro-equality candidates. From Augusta to Albany, Georgia Equality was at every Pride festival in the state this year, and we need your help to keep the momentum going. This year, our Super Voters also:

  • registered 3,175 Georgians to vote in 16 counties
  • called 19,500 Georgians to get them to the polls
  • collected 1,152 Pledge to Vote cards
  • sent GOTV texts to 133,392 Georgians
  • partnered with 15 organizations including 4 universities, 3 hospitals, and various community non-profits to setup voter registration drives and tabling

A huge thank you to our volunteers! We have never seen such enthusiasm, and we are proud to see LGBTQ Georgians and our allies stand up and demand a better future. Your support has made all of this possible.

In 2019, we will continue to fight for LGBTQ people and our vote across the state. Please support Georgia Equality by making a donation to continue our GOTV work across the state.