Paul Schappaugh, an Atlanta LGBT activist, has taken the helm of the newly formed GetEQUAL GA chapter. His first day as state coordinator was Jan. 1.
"We have our work cut out for us here in Georgia," Schappaugh said.
"We have a thriving diverse LGBTQ community here in Atlanta and my mission and that of GetEQual is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to take bold action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way — and not just here in Atlanta but throughout the state and the South," he added.
Georgia AIDS activists will hold a press conference and rally at the State Capitol on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, to bring awareness to the state's growing number of people being put on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program waiting list.
The activists also plan to deliver Gov.-elect Nathan Deal postcards asking to increase funding for ADAP to eliminate the waiting list for life-saving medications.
Currently, nearly 700 people are on the Georgia ADAP waiting list since it was started on July 1. It is estimated the waiting list will grow to some 1,300 people within the next several months. The program is now serving approximately 5,500 people in Georgia, according to the campaign.
Georgia Equality, the state’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, tried to put a positive spin on what is mostly a depressing post-Election Day for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender voters in the state.
With Nathan Deal, who ran the most anti-gay primary campaign known in the state’s history, headed to the governor’s mansion, there’s not much to be happy about.
But Georgia Equality wants to stress there was some good news and good fair-minded candidates that they endorsed who either were elected or re-elected to their seats.
"To God be the glory," Republican Nathan Deal declared as he took the stage at about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday night to claim victory as Georgia's next governor.
Gay-friendly Democrat and political newcomer Elena Parent knocked off incumbent Jill Chambers in a close battle for District 81 in the Georgia State House. The margin of difference was less than 300 votes.
With 99 percent of the precincts reporting this morning in District 81, Parent held on to victory with 3,315 votes, or 52 percent, to Chambers' 3,039 votes, or 48 percent, according to unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State.
Parent gave a victory speech at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference center at about 11 p.m. Tuesday, although some news outlets at the time were calling the race too close to call. The results this morning show Parent held on for the victory.
With 58 percent of precincts reporting, Democrat Roy Barnes is trailing in his bid for a comeback as Georgia governor.
Georgia Equality announced today some of its endorsements in the Nov. 2 election, saying it would make more endorsements in the near future.
“The endorsed candidates below have demonstrated their support of the LGBT community and they need your support now,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, in a press release about the endorsements.
Dani Lee Harris, who was once the Atlanta Police Department’s LGBT liaison but has been on medical and administrative leave since April, filed a complaint with the Atlanta Citizens Review Board alleging sexual discrimination and harassment from a civilian employee of the APD.
The alleged beating of a gay man in Savannah by two Marines is no longer being considered a hate crime, according to a spokesperson for the Chatham County District Attorney.