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 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 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 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; 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 That the House of Representatives— (1) honors the struggle, sacrifice, and triumph of LGBTQ+ individuals in Georgia; (2) recognizes the historical significance that Georgia has played in the LGBTQ+ movement; and (3) recognizes that further work is necessary to guarantee equality and liberty for all LGBTQ+ individuals both in Georgia and the United States.

Summary: This resolution honors the struggle, sacrifice, and triumph of LGBTQ+ individuals in Georgia.