Members of the Georgia State Senate voted 34 to 22 this afternoon to pass SB 435, a measure intended to exclude trans students from playing school sports in the gender they live every day. The NCAA, the International Olympic Committee, the Women’s Sports Foundation, and more all support the inclusion of transgender people in sports. Proponents of this bill are wasting time and taxpayer dollars trying to interfere in kids’ sports when experts are already making sure that all students are treated fairly.
The Latest
Georgia Equality Responds to Filing of Bill to Exclude Trans Students from Sports
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Georgia Equality Responds to Filing of Bill
to Exclude Trans Students from Sport
February 2, 2022 (Atlanta, GA) — Georgia Equality, the state’s largest organization working to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for LGBTQ communities and allies in Georgia, responded to yesterday’s filing of anti-transgender legislation Senate Bill (SB) 435 and specifically its call for the exclusion of trans students from full inclusion in school sports.
SB 435 would force an already vulnerable group of young people in Georgia onto the sidelines. For transgender youth, many of whom experience high rates of depression and suicidality, access to sport can be lifesaving. Sports teach invaluable, lifelong lessons about teamwork, discipline and hard work, and every young person deserves equal access and opportunity.
Georgia Equality responds to homophobic events in Athens elementary school
Athens, GA (January 27, 2022) – Georgia Equality, ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Southeast, and SOJOURN were troubled to learn of reports from parents of students at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School in Athens, GA this week indicating that a piece of student artwork containing the phrase “Gay is OK” was removed from a classroom display after a school administrator likened it to displaying a Nazi flag.
Let us say plainly, we condemn any connection between a Pride flag and a swastika – one symbolizes love and connection; the other symbolizes hate and genocide. They should never be treated with any kind of equal standing and it is egregious and unacceptable for any educator to make such a statement. Continue reading
Report: Expanding Medicaid in Georgia Could Free Up $53 Million for HIV Treatment and Care
ATLANTA (January 20, 2022) — Today, Georgia Equality released the results of a commissioned budget review investigating the impact Medicaid expansion could have on the availability of HIV treatment and care dollars in Georgia. The report, prepared by Alan Essig, shows that expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act would result in serving more Georgians with HIV/AIDS diagnoses –to the tune of $53 million– without spending additional state dollars.
The Governor’s recommendation to increase funding for Georgia’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) by $9.9 million in both the midyear budget and the budget for the next state fiscal year is desperately needed to ensure that we can avoid the establishment of a waiting list for these lifesaving medications. While we applaud the Governor’s support of ADAP, unfortunately, such increases on an annual basis may not be sustainable over time. Therefore, Georgia Equality’s educational arm, Equality Foundation of Georgia, contracted with noted budget analyst Alan Essig to study the implications of expanding Georgia’s Medicaid program to cover people living with HIV. Continue reading
Our Pledge to Support Equality and Fairness for All Americans
Today, Georgia Equality joined the Equality and Fairness for All Americans Coalition (EQFFAA) as a founding member to advance federal protections for LGBTQ Americans in employment, housing, credit, education, jury service, and public accommodations. The nationwide coalition is composed of bipartisan and diverse stakeholders from the LGBTQ, faith and business communities.
The Coalition aims to end the partisan gridlock that has stalled equality efforts in Congress. The Coalition’s goal is to gain bipartisan support for federal legislation that can unite all Americans around our nation’s core values of freedom, fairness, and opportunity to make lasting and impactful change.