The Latest

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.

by Danielle Quesenberry

Deputy Director Amanda Hill-Attkisson Announces Departure

Dear Georgia Equality Family-

It is bittersweet that I am sharing with you that I will be leaving Georgia Equality at the end of December for a new adventure. I have so much love and appreciation for the amazing staff and board who work incredibly hard for true equality in Georgia. I am thankful having the opportunity to work, learn and grow from such an amazing crew of brilliant minds, creative movers and shakers, and tremendously inspiring thought leaders.

I am excited to accept a position as Program Innovation Director for an international women’s nonprofit – Women Who Code, but also sad to be leaving this family that continues to gain momentum year after year.

I have been honored to work with the brilliant Jeff Graham, a thought leader whose stewardship of this organization has led to numerous victories and continues to strategically expand programming throughout the state. The entire team – Wes Sanders, Eric Paulk, Percy Brown, Chanel Haley, and Shannon Clawson are rock stars in their work and wonderful friends to have in my extended family.

And to you – Georgia Equality members, volunteers and donors – thank you for lifting me up in my role at Georgia Equality – for joining the calls to action, for giving your support by volunteering in the field and of course, for funding the movement!

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this powerful organization and incredible team.

With much appreciation and gratitude –
Amanda

by Danielle Quesenberry

Meet our Youth HIV Policy Advisors…

World AIDS Day is an opportunity to remember those we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS and recommit ourselves to fighting to end the epidemic. Georgia Equality is proud to mark World AIDS Day by highlighting the work of our Youth HIV Policy Advisors (YHPA).

These future leaders were trained to guide policy around HIV and AIDS, and served as unofficial policy advisors to elected officials. This year, our fourth YHPA cohort:

  • Participated in registering people to vote and other GOTV efforts
  • Led trainings on HIV basics for their peers and other youth programs
  • Created a policy brief for elected officials on HIV criminalization
  • Trained to become HIV testers and counselors

Several members of the cohort have become leaders on community advisory boards, including the Youth Advisory Board for Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition and the Youth Community Advisory Board for Grady IDP. We’re proud of the work of our YHPA leaders. Spend a few minutes today listening to the voices of this year’s YHPA cohort discuss HIV criminalization.

 

by Wes Sanders

A big night for Georgia Equality’s Endorsees

After a long night of watching election returns come in we still don’t know what will happen in the Gubernatorial race but one thing is certain: it was a great night for pro-equality candidates around the state — and we have you to thank for it! Over the past many months GE staff and volunteers have registered over 3,000 people to vote and engaged in over 100,000 voter contacts and it really made the difference.

Here are some of the highlights:
– Matthew Wilson won his race in HD 80 and will become the 5th openly LGBTQ member of the state legislature Continue reading →