The Latest

by Danielle Quesenberry

Eric Paulk Named New Deputy Director

We’re excited to announce that after an extensive search for our Deputy Director, the decision has been made to promote our HIV Policy Organizer, Eric Paulk to the role.

As HIV Policy Organizer, Eric successfully led our HIV policy efforts including the Youth HIV Policy Advisors Program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Morehouse College and a Juris Doctor from Pace University.

Throughout the interview process, he developed a vibrant vision for bringing on new staff positions to better support the administrative functions of the organization and support the programmatic work of the staff. His proven leadership and understanding of working within coalitions will be an invaluable asset to the organization as we begin the process of developing our next strategic plan.

Please join our board and staff in congratulating Eric on his promotion!

by Wes Sanders

Update from under the Gold Dome

Friend–

The first 30 days of the 2019 legislative sessionGeorgia Equality legislative issues are behind us, are we’ve got a lot of bills to update you on! Thanks to you, our supporters, we have seen progress on a historic number of bills on our legislative priorities. TEN legislative days remain, so make a contribution now and help continue to push for these bills:

For the first time in the history of our state, the House of Representatives passed a bill that specifically protects the LGBTQ community. HB 426, the State Hate Crime Statute, passed the House after hundreds of Georgia Equality supporters contacted their legislators! It now heads to the Senate, and we’re going to need your help again! 

By contrast, because of the huge outpouring of opposition, SB 221, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act which would legalize discrimination under the guise of religious liberty did not receive a hearing in committee, which is another huge accomplishment for our community! We’ve got 10 days left to stop RFRA and  push for hate crime legislation donate now to help us finish the fight. 

Also advancing through the House of Representatives was a trio of HIV/AIDS related bills that Georgia Equality is proud to be supporting–

HB 158, which syncs the Medicaid and ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) formularies concerning access to antiretroviral drugs,

HB 217, which allows certain groups to distribute clean needles, and

HB 290 which establishes pilot PrEP distribution programs around the state.

The State Senate passed SB 106, the Patients First Act, which would allow the State Department of Community Health the apply for a waiver with the US Department of Health and Human Services for medicaid expansion.

Other bills that we are watching, that did not receive a vote in committee are:

HB 19, the State Civil Rights Bill which would protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in housing, employment and in public spaces,

HB 133, which would ensure medically accurate information is included in HIV/AIDS prevention education,

HB 580, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Wilson, would ban conversion therapy,

We have 10 legislative days left to finish the fight. Are you with us?

Jeff Graham
Executive Director

PS: Don’t forget to join us for LGBTQ Lobby Day on March 21. RSVP now!

by Wes Sanders

BREAKING NEWS: Georgia House passes Hate Crime Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2019

Georgia House of Representatives
Passes Hate Crime Bill

The first bill to ever specifically protect LGBTQ Georgians to pass either legislative chamber in Georgia.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Tonight, the Georgia State House of Representatives passed HB 426, the first time a hate crime bill that specifically includes protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Georgians to ever passed either legislative body in Georgia. In a vote of 96 to 64, the chamber signaled its support for the bill which passed out of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee last week.  Continue reading →

by Danielle Quesenberry

PRESS RELEASE: Once Again, Georgia Lawmakers Recklessly Pursue Anti-LGBT Legislation

ATLANTA — Yesterday Senator Marty Harbin (R-16) filed SB 221, so-called “religious liberty” legislation that is poised to bring economic backlash to Georgia for the sixth consecutive year. SB 221 would allow businesses to refuse service to LGBT customers, among others, and would grant taxpayer-funded agencies a broad license to discriminate against LGBT youth, families, and other Georgians. The language mirrors federal language that was recently used by a government-funded foster care agency in South Carolina to justify discriminating against Catholic and Jewish couples looking to serve as foster parents.

Continue reading →

by Wes Sanders

Atlanta City Council District 3: Special Election Runoff

Get to know the candidates!

In an effort to encourage our members participation in this race, and in lieu of making an endorsement, we posed the following questions to all of the candidates. All responses have been published exactly as they were received. Candidate responses are presented below in alphabetical order. The special election runoff for Atlanta City Council District 3 will be held on April 16, 2019.

Continue reading →