by abryant

Georgia Equality and Athlete Ally Respond to Anti-Trans Bill HB 276

February 4, 2021 (Atlanta, GA) — Georgia Equality, the state’s largest organization working to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for LGBTQ communities and allies in Georgia, and Athlete Ally, a national nonprofit working to dismantle the systems of oppression in sport that isolate, exclude and endanger LGBTQI+ people, responded to today’s proposed anti-transgender legislation House Bill (HB) 276.

HB 276 would force an already vulnerable group of young people in Georgia onto the sidelines. For transgender youth, many of whom experience high rates of depression and suicidality, access to sport can be lifesaving. Sports teach invaluable, lifelong lessons about teamwork, discipline and hard work, and every young person deserves equal access and opportunity.

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by abryant

New Year, New Session, New Opportunities for Equality

While many of us were celebrating the results of the January 5 runoff election and inauguration of President Biden, the Georgia General Assembly began the start of their two-year legislative session.  The month of January was spent primarily on organizing committees, finalizing leadership positions and hearing testimony on the state budget.  Here at Georgia Equality we held the first of a series of advocacy trainings and began to firm up our plans regarding the legislation we would support and meet with coalition partners to discuss how to fight against bills we oppose.

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by Wes Sanders

ACTION ALERT: Urge support for increased funding for ADAP NOW!!

Members of the State Senate are beginning conversations TODAY on the potential for increased funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, and they need to hear from us RIGHT NOW! Click here to send your message.

A $15.4 million increase for the Georgia AIDS Drug Assistance Program has been proposed by House Public Health Subcommittee of Appropriations Chair Butch Parrish– this is our chance to make sure that the more than 12,000 Georgians living with HIV who cannot otherwise afford it, will not go without access to life saving medication.

In addition to saving the lives of the individuals enrolled in ADAP, access to treatment for HIV works to prevent the spread of the virus as well– treatment is prevention. Georgia is poised to make dramatic inroads to contain the spread of HIV in our communities and reverse a mortality rate from AIDS that remains one of the worst in the country, but only if the Department of Public Health and county health departments throughout Georgia have the funding they need to provide these services. Send your message now!

by abryant

Nomination of Rachel Levine for HHS Secretary a Game Changer in Georgia

Atlanta (Jan 27, 2021)– Last week, President Joe Biden announced his nomination of Rachel Levine, MD, to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Pending Senate confirmation, Dr. Levine will become the first openly transgender official confirmed by the US Senate.

“Dr. Levine’s nomination is important for many reasons, but what rises to the top for me is the importance of having a trans person testifying in front of the US Senate not about her gender. This is the kind of progress that works to end so many myths about trans people,” said Georgia Equality’s Gender Policy Manager, Chanel Haley. Continue reading →

by abryant

We Thank You!

 

Like many of you, I’ve spent the last few days fairly speechless. If you’ve ever volunteered with Georgia Equality, you know that is saying something. I’m rarely at a loss for words. I was raised in a civically engaged home. I’ve eagerly followed elections since I was a child and we often said in our home that politics were our favorite sport. I’ve always had a passion for history and governance. But nothing in my short 35 years on this earth could prepare me for this week. 

The events on Wednesday were horrific and deeply painful for those that fight so hard for equality and justice. Important discussions about white supremacy, authoritarianism, and sedition are continuing. This country’s moment of reckoning is far from over. 

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