Equality News

by Wes Sanders

Open to all? SCOTUS decides Masterpiece

 

In a vote of 7 to 2, SCOTUS has decided that in this particular instance the Colorado Civil Right Commission’s actions were “inconsistent with the First Amendment’s guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion.” The court went on to say in the future, “these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.” We’re working with our legal partners to understand exactly how this decision will impact LGBTQ people in Georgia. Continue reading →

by Wes Sanders

Georgia Equality Honors Macon Community Advocates

In April, Georgia’s Equality’s Board of Directors and members of the staff traveled to Macon, GA for their annual board retreat. While in middle Georgia, GE hosted a community reception to honor the work of two local advocates and one community organization pushing hard to advance LGBTQ equality in their county. Bentley Hudgins, Demarcus Beckham, and Georgia Women (And Those Who Stand With Us) were all instrumental in the passage of Macon/Bibb’s municipal employment nondiscrimination ordinance last year, and GE was delighted to get to celebrate with them and the middle Georgia community in Macon.

The event was hosted at the Travis Jean Emporium in downtown Macon  by the store’s gracious owners, Bill and Scott. About 50 people turned out to celebrate the work of these local advocates and to hear whats coming next in the fight for equality around our state. Georgia Equality’s Board and staff are excited about continuing work in Macon and middle Georgia and look forward to getting back to Macon very soon!

View photos from the event taken by local photographer, Jessica Whitley, on her website by clicking here. 

by Wes Sanders

adopt GA

We want you! 

You may be familiar with hearing about the roughly 14,000 kids in Georgia foster care, and you’ve likely heard about the attempts in the legislature to make it harder for our LGBT community to adopt.  But you’re less likely to know that people from all walks of life are already adoptive or foster parents in Georgia. Continue reading →

by Wes Sanders

Early Voting Happening Now Across Georgia!

ELECTION UPDATE

Early Voting has begun across the state for the upcoming May 22nd primary election. CLICK HERE to find your early voting location and take your pride to the polls!! #Pride2Polls

Whether you are LGBTQ or an ally, the stakes in Georgia are too high to sit this one out! Join the growing number of voices voting for equality in our state!

Important Dates for this election:

Early voting: April 30 – May 18, 2018,
Mandatory Saturday voting: May 12, 2018.
Absentee voting: May 10 – 18.
For more information on early and early/absentee voting visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

After you’ve voted, post a selfie on your social media accounts using #Pride2Polls so everyone knows you’ve voted, and they should too!

Click here to view Georgia Equality’s endorsed candidates.

by Wes Sanders

Out of Darkness: Two Remain performed by The Atlanta Opera

Join The Atlanta Opera for the world premiere of Out of Darkness: Two Remain. Composer Jake Heggie‘s and librettist Gene Scheer‘s moving two-act opera centers on Holocaust survivors visited by ghosts of their past. In Act I, Krystyna shares her gripping story of survival with a journalist, and is helped by the ghosts of Auschwitz inspired by her written lyrics. In Act II, Gad Beck is visited by his first true love, the poet Manfred Lewin, who perished in Auschwitz. As Manfred implores Gad to remember and celebrate their love, the painful truth of their stories and fates emerges. Based in part on the true stories of two Holocaust survivors: the Polish dissident Krystyna Zywulska (1914-1993) and the gay German Jew, Gad Beck (1923-2012).

Georgia Equality members can get $10 off the regular ticket price of $50 by using promo code EQUAL. Be sure to enter the promo code BEFORE selecting dates and seats. Valid for all performances of Out of Darkness: Two Remain.