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 oper-
ation at the Atlanta Public Library, continuing a pattern 
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•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 Geor-
gians 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, pro-
viding 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 ap-
pointed Charlie St. John as the city’s first LGBTQ+ li-
aison 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 or-
ganization 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 
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•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 car-
ried on by Georgia Equality, with a mission to ‘‘advance 
fairness, safety, and opportunities for LGBTQ+ commu-
nities’’ 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+ individ-
uals into Atlanta in search of acceptance, understanding, 
diversity, and equality; 
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•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 At-
lanta City Council; 
Whereas, in 1998, the Georgia Supreme Court struck down 
State law prohibiting same-sex relations as unconstitu-
tional; 
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 vic-
tory 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 imple-
menting antidiscrimination laws based on sexual orienta-
tion; and 
Whereas there are currently no Georgia State laws to protect 
against LGBTQ+ discrimination in family services, hous-
ing, banking, public accommodations, health care, and 
education: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) honors the struggle, sacrifice, and triumph 
of LGBTQ+ individuals in Georgia; 
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•HRES 508 IH 
(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+ in-
dividuals both in Georgia and the United States. 
Æ 
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