 Georgia’s Black and Latino Georgians already experienced poorer health and lagging economic opportunities, even before the onset of COVID-19. The data is clear that the pandemic has only worsened these dynamics.
While Georgians of color work to protect their health and take care of their families during this difficult time, Governor Kemp put forward a plan that would deepen their troubles. Health officials are asking for public input about the Governor’s plan from all Georgians so we are asking you to speak up today! The deadline is January 9th! The Governor’s plan would reconstruct Georgia’s health insurance marketplace in two ways. The second part of the plan would lead to many more uninsured or underinsured Georgians, many of whom would be Black and brown Georgians: Part 1. Reinsurance—which helps lower premiums for health plans sold on through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace (healthcare.gov); and Part 2. The Georgia Access model—which would cause thousands of Georgians to become uninsured by eliminating HealthCare.gov as a one-stop-shop for Georgians to compare all plans and apply for coverage. Heard enough? Take action now to protect Georgians of color by telling health officials that this plan doesn’t work for Georgia. Black, & brown communities would be left behind by the Governor’s plan The second part of the Governor Kemp’s plan endangers Georgia’s communities of color in three big ways: 1. Many Georgians would end up uninsured. The Governor’s plan removes Georgians from an unbiased enrollment system that consumers know & trust. Instead, the plan forces them to use a disconnected system that puts insurance companies in charge. Eight out of 10 Georgians who buy their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll. Many of these consumers will get lost in the shuffle from HealthCare.gov to the Governor’s more limited and confusing system. For Black & brown Georgians who are more likely to live in areas with limited internet access, the Governor’s fragmented system would mean navigating many more websites and spending more time over a slow internet connection to shop and enroll in health insurance. These difficulties could lead to as many as 46,000 more uninsured Georgians in the first year of the program. 2. The new system closes a door to Medicaid. In 2019, 38,000 Georgians enrolled in Medicaid through HealthCare.gov, but the Governor’s plan would close off that enrollment pathway. The insurance companies and agents who would be empowered by the Governor’s plan rarely help Georgians navigate the Medicaid enrollment process. The change would mean many Georgians of color who qualify for Medicaid never have the chance to enroll and benefit from the coverage. 3. Georgians would end up with gaps in coverage & expensive health care bills. The Governor’s plan would force Georgians to shop for health insurance in a system run by profit-driven health insurers and web-brokers who are known to steer consumers towards profitable substandard plans. Many substandard plans do not cover the health services that Georgians need (especially during a pandemic!), like prescription drugs, mental health, or substance use services. Because Georgians of color experience a higher burden of chronic disease, it is imperative that their insurance coverage be complete and without these kinds of dangerous gaps. Instead, the Governor’s plan could limit access to care even further and expose Georgians to unaffordable medical bills. Take action now and tell health officials that this plan does not work for Georgians! Speak up to protect Georgia’s communities of color today! The deadline for comments is January 9th. |
Election Update
We’ve got great news from yesterday’s runoff election! 80% of Georgia Equality’s endorsed candidates won their races in the City of Atlanta. We continue to elect pro-LGBTQ candidates because of you!
Want another highlight? How about this– Two openly LGBTQ endorsees won their races (Keisha Waites for Atlanta City Council Post 3, at-large and Liliana Bakhtiari for Atlanta City Council District 5), which means the total number of LGBTQ people on the Atlanta City Council will be THREE in January!
Together, we helped elect FOUR openly LGBTQ challengers to office this cycle, including Alex Wan and Brett Reichert who won their races on Nov 2.
Georgia Equality sends congratulations to Keisha and Liliana, and all of our endorsed candidates who won on Tuesday, as well as to Khalid Kamau on becoming South Fulton’s first openly LGBTQ Mayor. We also want to thank all of our supporters and volunteers who called, donated, wrote, knocked and more on behalf of our endorsed candidates — these campaigns couldn’t have done it without you!
Here’ the fill list of endorsee who won their races:
Atlanta City Council President: Doug Shipman – WIN
Atlanta City Council Post 3, at-large: Keisha Waites – WIN
Atlanta City Council District 4: Jason Dozier – WIN
Atlanta City Council District 5: Liliana Bakhtiari – WIN
Wes Sanders Han-Burgess
Development and Communications Director
Georgia Equality | Equality Foundation of Georgia
Together We Made History
From Augusta to Atlanta, this month was BIG.
Hopefully you saw the news out of Augusta on November 16th — our state’s second largest city passed a comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinance that explicitly protects LGBTQ people and other historically marginalized groups! BUT. You may not know about a historic hearing held at the state capitol on the need to make those protections STATEWIDE.
We made huge gains this month, and if we keep it up, we WILL achieve statewide protections for every LGBTQ Georgian. Help us make that a reality with a contribution today!
Ending the Epidemic: “Equitable Access, Every One’s Voice”
In commemoration of World AIDS Day 2021, Georgia Equality, in partnership with other local and statewide organizations, hosted multiple events, bringing attention to the HIV epidemic, working to increase awareness and knowledge around HIV, and to call for an increased response to move toward ending the HIV epidemic.
VIRTUAL
On Wednesday, December 1st, Georgia Equality’s Youth HIV Policy Advisor cohort along with our Ending the Epidemic Fellows, conducted a Virtual Youth HIV Policy Summit, focusing on equitable access in rural, non-metropolitan areas of Georgia on The discussion was centered around how you, your fellow elected officials, and other civic leaders can help end the epidemic in this state.
Georgia Equality endorses Waites and Dozier for Atlanta City Council
The Board of Directors of Georgia Equality, the 
state’s largest political advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Georgians and our allies, is proud to announce two additional endorsements in the upcoming runoff elections for Atlanta City Council — Keisha Waites for Post 3, at-large and Jason Dozier for District 4.
Key Election Dates:
Early voting happening now until November 24, 2021.
Runoff Election Day: November 30, 2021
City of Atlanta
City Council, Post 3, at-large
Keisha Waites
I am the only candidate in the race that has successfully served 3-terms in a legislative capacity. It is my belief given the challenges we are facing are facing citywide, we must have a representative that has the experience and relationship to navigate the current volatile political current. Secondly, given the adversarial role between the state of Georgia and the City of Atlanta, I have the capacity to serve as an olive branch and conduit to improving relations.
To volunteer or donate, please visit Keisha’s website at https://www.keishawaites.com
City Council, District 4
Jason Dozier
I believe that District 4 should be welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, class, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual identity. Same sex marriage was recognized as a legal right just six short years ago, and many across the country celebrated the recognition of that right. But I also believe our work is not yet done. Our LGBTQ community members are victimized by discrimination and violence every single day and I will work to ensure that Atlanta strives to foster a community that uplifts our LGBTQ community members
Our nation becomes stronger in the midst of great challenges, and many of these challenges continue to exist in our neighborhoods today. Atlanta must continue its commitment towards addressing the needs of our LGBTQ citizens, and I am personally committed to ensuring that that happens. I stand ready to serve as an ally and advocate in the march towards equality and justice for all Atlantans.
To volunteer or donate, please visit Jason’s website at https://votedozier.com
In a period in which many people seeking elected office are supportive of the LGBTQ community, the Georgia Equality Board of Directors will issue an endorsement for a candidate who we feel is best placed to advance our policy agenda. The lack of an endorsement should not necessarily be viewed as a negative reflection of a particular candidate’s views on LGBTQ issues in general.