IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 508 

Honoring the struggle, sacrifice, and triumph of the LGBTQ+ movement 

in Georgia. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 13, 2023 

Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mrs. 

MCBATH, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Ms. TLAIB, and Mr. BISHOP of 

Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the struggle, sacrifice, and triumph of the 

LGBTQ+ movement in Georgia. 

Whereas LGBTQ+ individuals in Georgia have historically 

encountered bigotry, discrimination, hatred, and violence, 

but have struggled tirelessly to obtain equal rights and 

protection of the law; 

Whereas, in 1833, the Georgia General Assembly codified a 

prohibition on same-sex relations, threatening LGBTQ+ 

individuals with harsh punishment for expressing their 

love; 

Whereas, in 1953, 20 gay men were arrested in a sting operation at the Atlanta Public Library, continuing a pattern 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HRES 508 IH 

of targeted action by members of law enforcement 

against the gay community; 

Whereas, in 1969, Atlanta police initiated a raid on a movie 

theater known to be frequented by gay individuals; 

Whereas such events inspired young generations of gay Georgians to rally in a public manner to promote their cause 

to end discrimination and guarantee equality; 

Whereas, in 1971, the inaugural Atlanta Gay Pride Parade 

was organized by the Georgia Gay Liberation Front, providing an outlet for the LGBTQ+ community to openly 

display their pride and embrace of gay culture; 

Whereas, in 1972, the first Metropolitan Community Church, 

an LGBTQ+-affirming Protestant denomination, opened 

in Atlanta; 

Whereas, in 1972, then-Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell appointed Charlie St. John as the city’s first LGBTQ+ liaison to the city government as part of the Community 

Relations Commission; 

Whereas, in 1974, activist Bill Smith founded the Atlanta 

Barb, Georgia’s first newspaper dedicated to covering the 

LGBTQ+ community; 

Whereas, in 1976, the Atlanta Gay Center, a community organization that provided direct support and resources to 

the LGBTQ+ community, was founded and opened; 

Whereas, in 1978, a bigoted, antigay rally in Georgia drew 

a crowd of 4,000 people; 

Whereas, in 1979, thousands of Georgians joined in the first 

national March on Washington for gay rights; 

Whereas, by 1981, the HIV/AIDS crisis had come to the 

forefront of national attention partly due to the work of 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HRES 508 IH 

the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta to study and 

treat the disease; 

Whereas, in 1983, AID Atlanta was formed as an educational 

and service organization to educate people on the realities 

of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and provide support for those 

suffering from the disease; 

Whereas, throughout the epidemic, gay individuals in Georgia 

faced large-scale discrimination and bigotry; 

Whereas, in 1983, the Atlanta Campaign for Human Rights 

was founded, the legacy of that organization is now carried on by Georgia Equality, with a mission to ‘‘advance 

fairness, safety, and opportunities for LGBTQ+ communities’’ across the State; 

Whereas, in 1984, the Atlanta city government declared the 

city’s first ‘‘Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Day’’; 

Whereas, in 1985, Congregation Bet Haverim opened as 

Georgia’s first LGBTQ+ welcoming synagogue, to serve 

the expansive interests of the State’s LGBTQ+ Jewish 

community; 

Whereas, in 1986, a challenge to Georgia’s repressive laws 

criminalizing same-sex relations in Bowers v. Hardwick 

reached the Supreme Court; 

Whereas, in 1988, Southern Voice, an LGBTQ+ newspaper 

dedicated to serving the community through breaking 

news and thoughtful analysis, was founded in Atlanta; 

Whereas, in 1988, then-Mayor Maynard Jackson became the 

first Atlanta mayor to attend an LGBTQ+ pride event; 

Whereas the 1990s saw a rapid influx of LGBTQ+ individuals into Atlanta in search of acceptance, understanding, 

diversity, and equality; 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HRES 508 IH 

Whereas, in 1997, a domestic terrorist injured five people by 

bombing the Otherside Lounge, a lesbian bar in Atlanta; 

Whereas, in 1997, Cathy Woolard became the first openly 

gay individual elected in Georgia, as a member of the Atlanta City Council; 

Whereas, in 1998, the Georgia Supreme Court struck down 

State law prohibiting same-sex relations as unconstitutional; 

Whereas, in 2003, Fulton County became the first county in 

the State to recognize domestic benefits for residents in 

same-sex unions; 

Whereas, in 2015, the Supreme Court decided in Obergefell 

v. Hodges that same-sex marriage should be legal and 

recognized across the country, representing a massive victory for LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide; 

Whereas Georgia is home to an estimated 425,000 individuals 

identifying as members of the LGBTQ+ community; 

Whereas public opinion polls find that a majority of Georgia 

residents support same-sex marriage and support implementing antidiscrimination laws based on sexual orientation; and 

Whereas there are currently no Georgia State laws to protect 

against LGBTQ+ discrimination in family services, housing, banking, public accommodations, health care, and 

education: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the struggle, sacrifice, and triumph 

3 of LGBTQ+ individuals in Georgia; 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•HRES 508 IH 

1 (2) recognizes the historical significance that 

2 Georgia has played in the LGBTQ+ movement; and 

3 (3) recognizes that further work is necessary to 

4 guarantee equality and liberty for all LGBTQ+ in5 dividuals both in Georgia and the United States. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB