Members of the Senate Black Caucus held a press conference today to formally announce the introduction of Senate Bill 119, known as the Georgia Civil Rights Act.

SB 119 is civil rights legislation that would secure non-discrimination protections for Georgians in several areas including housing, employment, and public places like parks, malls and restaurants. The legislation offers protections on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

The bill is being sponsored by Senator Lester Jackson and five colleagues, Senators Vincent Fort, Horacena Tate, Valencia Seay, Steve Henson and Michael ‘Doc’ Rhett.

Georgia Senate Press conference this morning on SB119, comprehensive – Georgia Civil Rights Act protections for LGBT #gapol pic.twitter.com/EFexoVZomm

— Georgia Equality (@GAEquality) February 9, 2017

Sen. @Lester_Jackson introducing SB 119, the Georgia Civil Rights Act, during this morning's press conf #gapol #gasenate pic.twitter.com/C6R1GvM736

— Senate Press Office (@GASenatePress) February 9, 2017

SB 119 is the first-ever comprehensive and inclusive civil rights bill to be introduced in Georgia.

Georgia Unites would like to applaud the bill’s sponsors and co-sponsors for their leadership. These protections are long overdue—and according to a new report we released in January, more critical now than ever.

Georgia is one of only a handful of states that have no statewide civil rights laws prohibiting racial or religious discrimination. And because there are no state or federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people, they are the most vulnerable—so much so that nearly half of LGBT Georgians say they have been discriminated against at work.

Georgia Unites is urging other lawmakers to follow Sen. Jackson’s and his colleagues’ lead and support this legislation without delay.