Equality News

by abryant

Georgia Equality’s Eric Paulk Says, “Farewell”, as he moves onto a new chapter in life

“After almost five years with Georgia Equality, I’ve decided the time has come for me to start a new chapter. I am extremely proud of all that GE staff, board, and statewide partners have accomplished during my tenure and hold dear to my heart the relationships I’ve built during my time as Deputy Director.   

As I look back, I am most proud of our work to build strategies for centering equity in every aspect of our work. I am also proud to have witnessed young queer people and young people living with HIV  shift from being targets of harassment to self-advocates and effective organizers and leaders in the work. 

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by abryant

What’s at Stake on November 8th

Because of Georgia’s new role as a swing-state which has created a never-ending stream of tv commercials, it’s hard not to know that we have yet another round of elections.  For those of you who have requested a mail-in ballot, you should start receiving those in the mail in the next week.  For those of you who have not already requested a mail-in ballot, I would recommend that you make your plan to vote early in-person starting October 17.

You can find out more information about voting options by visiting the Georgia Voter Guide.

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by abryant

Voting and its New Day

The passing of SB202 could be seen as evidence of our country’s historical relationship with voter representation. For centuries, we have discussed voting as an accessible process that allows citizens to participate in the means of choosing who represents their community, while some of those chosen representatives have operated in self-interest or outside the general will of the people. On March 25, 2021, when Senate Bill 202 passed in the Georgia State Legislature, a concern around election and voter fraud was cited,  leading the legislative body to focus largely on making voter participation a “more secure” and “thorough” process. Questions have been raised around the changes that SB 202 made to the voting process, and whether those changes have created more barriers for eligible community members to fairly access their right to vote.  As we enter into the general election cycle, it is important for all eligible voters to understand, and recognize, what changes have been made, and how those changes affect their ability to cast their ballot in the 2022 November elections.

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by abryant

Release: Georgia Equality Releases Endorsements for 2022 General Elections

The Board of Directors of Georgia Equality, the state’s largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Georgians and allies, is proud to announce its endorsements in the upcoming General Election in November.

“Recent developments from United States Supreme Court show how important it is to have elected leaders at every level of government that understand the lives of LGBTQ people. It is imperative that LGBTQ Georgians and our allies support and elect officials who are guided by a fundamental belief in equality” said Jeff Graham, executive director at Georgia Equality.

At this time, when many people seeking elected office are supportive of the LGBTQ community, the Georgia Equality Board of Directors will issue an endorsement for a candidate who we feel is best placed to advance our policy agenda.  The lack of an endorsement should not necessarily be viewed as a negative reflection of a particular candidate’s views on LGBTQ issues in general. Continue reading →