PRESSRELEASE

by Danielle Quesenberry

Georgia Equality Files Amicus Brief in Employment Discrimination Case

Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia is Scheduled to be Argued Before the U.S. Supreme Court this Fall

ATLANTA (July 8, 2019) – Georgia Equality has filed an amicus brief in the case Gerald Lynn Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, along with two related cases. These combined cases will be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court this fall and will examine whether employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity are covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Georgia Equality filed the independent brief to highlight the importance of protecting Georgia’s LGBTQ community against discrimination under federal law. Continue reading →

by Danielle Quesenberry

Georgia Equality Applauds the Passing of the Equality Act

Georgia Equality Applauds the U.S. House of Representatives Passing the Equality Act

The Bipartisan Bill Now Heads to the Senate

ATLANTA (May 17, 2019) – Today in a vote of 236-173, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act – bipartisan legislation that will provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Americans across key areas of life: employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. Thank you to the following Georgia representatives who voted to pass the Equality Act:
Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr.
Rep. David Scott
Rep. Hank Johnson
Rep. John Lewis
Rep. Lucy McBath

Currently, our nation’s civil rights laws protect people on the basis of race, color, national origin, and in most cases, sex, disability, and religion – but federal law does not provide consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Equality Act will provide these basic legal protections for LGBTQ Americans, including the estimated 360,600 Georgians who identify as LGBTQ and lack statewide non-discrimination protections.

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by Danielle Quesenberry

Georgia Equality’s Statement on Morehouse College

The Nation’s Only All-Male Historically Black College Will Admit Transgender Men Starting Next Year

ATLANTA (April 15, 2019) – Over the weekend, Morehouse College, the nation’s only all-male historically black college, announced that it will update its admissions policy to include transgender men. This comes on the heels of neighboring women’s institution and historically black college, Spelman College, adopting an admission policy inclusive of transgender women in 2017.

The policy, which is set to go into effect in 2020, marks a major shift in the school’s 152-year history, and comes at a time when colleges across the country are evaluating more inclusive policies for LGBTQ and gender non-conforming students.

“This is a great first step for Morehouse that should be celebrated, especially as trans rights are federally under attack,” said Georgia Equality Deputy Director and Morehouse Alumnus, Eric Paulk. “However, it’s important to be mindful of the work that has to happen between now and the implementation of the new policy to ensure an atmosphere of equity and safety for trans students and LGBTQ+ students on campus. This means ensuring that these voices lead and are centered in every step of the process.”

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by Danielle Quesenberry

PRESS RELEASE: Once Again, Georgia Lawmakers Recklessly Pursue Anti-LGBT Legislation

ATLANTA — Yesterday Senator Marty Harbin (R-16) filed SB 221, so-called “religious liberty” legislation that is poised to bring economic backlash to Georgia for the sixth consecutive year. SB 221 would allow businesses to refuse service to LGBT customers, among others, and would grant taxpayer-funded agencies a broad license to discriminate against LGBT youth, families, and other Georgians. The language mirrors federal language that was recently used by a government-funded foster care agency in South Carolina to justify discriminating against Catholic and Jewish couples looking to serve as foster parents.

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