Southerners on New Ground will host the second of a two-part town hall forum today to educate and urge LGBT activists to join the fight against anti-immigration laws being considered by the Georgia legislature.

The meeting takes place today (March 9) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Phillip Rush Center, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307.

LGBT immigration advocates to plan ways to veto Arizona copycat legislation

Today’s forum will be about discussing strategies and ways people can be involved in a campaign to veto HB 87, which was passed by legislators last week. HB 87, known as the “Show Me Your Papers” legislation, authorizes state and local police to check the immigration status of people they suspect of not being U.S. citizens.

At the first town hall meeting on March 3, activists discussed reasons why it was important for the LGBT community to participate in the anti-immigration campaign.

“The people behind these bills are the same as those with homophobic agendas all over the country,” said Paulina Hernandez, co-director of SONG.

“This is a growing trend, of ‘white nativism.’ They are using us against each other. If we want Latinos and immigrants to stand with us against homophobia we also need to be standing with them.”