ATLANTA – A new Williams Institute report has found that anti-LGBT discrimination and inequities is costing Georgia’s economy. The report, released today, highlighted Georgia’s weak civil rights protections and the associated stigmas and stresses that vulnerable legal standing creates for LGBT people. The report estimates that reducing those stresses by even just a quarter among Georgia’s LGBT workforce would gain the state’s economy upwards of $147 million in revenue. Another red flag raised in the study: Georgia’s weak – and sometimes hostile – laws, making the state less attractive to young, talented workers. In fact, the report estimates the state loses more than $9,000 for each employee that changes jobs or leaves the state. Continue reading
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Welcome New Board Members and Interns!
Each year, Georgia Equality welcomes new members to the Board of Directors and new student interns to our offices. They each bring their own unique sets of skills and talents to our organization and our community, and we are happy to have them. Read more about our newest additions below, and if you see them around, say hello! Continue reading
AIDS Watch in Georgia: HIV Advocacy Under the Gold Dome
HIV advocates from across Georgia will gather under the Gold Dome on Thursday, February 16, 2017 to educate state lawmakers about HIV’s impact on our diverse communities. At AIDSWatch in Georgia 2017, advocates will connect one-on-one with elected officials at the Capitol to share personal stories and provide education on key policy areas like HIV criminalization, healthcare access, sex education, housing, LGBT discrimination, reproductive justice and needle exchange. Last year’s event drew hundreds of advocates and Georgia Equality organizers expect even more robust attendance in this year’s challenging political environment. Continue reading
New Report Highlights Urgent Need for Comprehensive and LGBT-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Protections for Georgia Residents
Georgia’s current civil rights protections are among the weakest in the nation
ATLANTA – Civil rights and religious leaders from across Georgia gathered at the Capitol today to release a new report detailing the growing need to update and strengthen Georgia’s existing non-discrimination protections. The report, Liberty and Justice in Georgia: Protecting Our Heritage and Growing Our Competitive Future, was commissioned by Georgia Unites Against Discrimination and includes an executive summary authored by former Bush and Reagan administration official Joe Whitley. The report details the legal need and economic imperative to ensure all Georgians are uniformly and explicitly protected from discrimination. Continue reading
Georgia Equality lends World AIDS Day exhibit to 16th annual Rustin-Lorde Breakfast
Selected works from Georgia Equality’s Living With art 
exhibit will be on display at the annual Bayard Rustin/Audre Lorde Breakfast on Monday January 16, 2017 at the Loudermilk Center. The Living With exhibit, which debuted on World AIDS Day (December 1), uses multi-sensory art installations to tell the stories of young people living with HIV in Metro Atlanta. “We are thrilled at this chance to share the artists’ work with Rustin/Lorde Breakfast attendees and truly honored to work with the organizers to center the voices of people living with HIV during the program,” says exhibit organizer Emily Brown. Continue reading