The upcoming Nov. 4 general election is going to be huge for the future of Georgia’s LGBT community, and Georgia Equality, the statewide LGBT advocacy organization, is providing their roadmap by releasing their official endorsements.
The list includes Jason Carter (who came out in support of marriage equality last month) for governor, Connie Stokes for lieutenant governor, Doreen Carter for secretary of state and Greg Hecht (who supports marriage equality and vows to drop the state’s defense of the same-sex marriage ban if elected) for attorney general. It also includes gay candidates Timothy Swiney and Bob Gibeling, among others.
However, the absence of one name—Michelle Nunn, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate—led to so many questions that the group’s executive director Jeff Graham issued a statement to their email list to clarify that they do not endorse in federal elections.
“A number of supporters have reached out to me today regarding our endorsements that were announced this morning, so I want to clarify why there is no mention of federal elections,” Graham wrote. “Georgia Equality has never issued endorsements in federal races because we are not registered to be able to do so. We hope that those of you who are interested in endorsements in federal elections will look to HRC for that insight.”
The Human Rights Campaign was an early endorser of Nunn. However she has faced criticism for her position on marriage equality and her silence on other LGBT issues. She has stated that same-sex couples should have the right to marry, but that the decision should be left up to the states.
Charlie Stadtlander, a gay law school student and activist, recently repurposed a Facebook group he started to encourage Mayor Kasim Reed to evolve on marriage equality (which he later did) and set its sights on Nunn.
Here’s the full list of Georgia Equality’s endorsements, and to make sure you’re registered to vote and to check your polling location, click here. All you need is your first initial, last name, county and date of birth.
GOVERNOR
Jason Carter
LT. GOVERNOR
Connie Stokes
SECRETARY OF STATE
Doreen Carter
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Greg Hecht
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Liz Johnson
STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
Valarie Wilson
LABOR COMMISSIONER
Robbin Shipp
STATE SENATE
District 9 – Tim Swiney
District 38 – Horacena Tate
District 39 – Vincent Fort
STATE HOUSE
District 39 – Erica Thomas
District 40 – Erick Allen
District 54 – Bob Gibeling
District 95 – Amreeta Regmi
District 110 – Kaye Shipley
FULTON COUNTY COMMISSION
Chair – John Eaves