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Speaking Out: Readers react to LGBT jobs bill

The Georgia Voice Editors
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Editor’s note: These comments on Georgia Voice articles were submitted via our website and Facebook page. Want to weigh in? Follow us there or submit comments on our website.

Gay public sex gives bigots ammo to use against us

Re: “Lesbians having sex in Columbus State library are arrested” (April 8, 2011)

"A library is likely the emptiest place anyone could go to get it on short of a hotel room."

"Why is this the type of story that always comes out of Columbus? How many stories of LGBT interest will WRBL actually run that don’t reinforce negative stereotypes held by many in my conservative hometown?"

Immigration activists to Deal: ‘R.I.P. Tourism, conventions and southern hospitality’

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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Georgia immigration protesters

Activists protesting an Arizona-style immigration law becoming a reality in Georgia will hand-deliver petitions with some 10,000 signatures to Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday, April 11.

Protesters are planning to meet at the Gold Dome (facing Washington Street) at 9:30 a.m. to hold a mock funeral for “all that Georgia would lose” should Deal sign into law immigration legislation. According to organizers, the mock funeral will feature tombstones with messages such as “R.I.P. Tourism,” “R.I.P. Conventions,” and “R.I.P Southern Hospitality.” They will then deliver the petitions to Gov. Deal, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston.

Yesterday, we reported on early calls from national gay groups planning to boycott the state if the legislation is signed into law. The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Southerners on New Ground and the National Day Laborers Organizing Network have announced plans to boycott the state.

Bill introduced to ban job bias against LGBT state employees in Ga.

The Georgia Voice Editors
Georgia
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Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham

A bill to protect LGBT employees of the state of Georgia from job discrimination was introduced March 30 in the Georgia House of Representatives.

The Georgia Fair Employment Practices Bill, HB 630, is sponsored by state Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), who is Georgia's first openly gay state lawmaker and one of two lesbians currently serving in the state House.

“We have actually been working on the development of this bill since last fall and we did approach Rep. Drenner to seek her support as the lead sponsor,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, the state’s largest LGBT political group.

LGBT Georgians join rally against immigration bills

The Georgia Voice Editors
Community
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Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls at the Rally for Truth

State Rep. Simone Bell (D-Atlanta), the second openly gay person elected to the Georgia legislature, spoke at today's "Rally for Truth" at the state Capitol and urged lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to join the fight against immigration bills HB 87 and SB 40.

"I am one of two out lesbians who serve in the state House. I stand here today in total solidarity with you," Bell said to a crowd of thousands who oppose the immigration bills because activists say they encourage racial profiling and divide families.

"If the state of Georgia can do this to our Latino brothers and sisters you know they will do the same thing to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," Bell added. "I had the opportunity to vote no on HB 87. I really feel like immigration is an issue that is important to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. I think every law that takes place under the Gold Dome is important to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and I hope my community will come out and support us," said Bell, who is also the first out African-American lesbian elected to any state legislature in the country.

LGBT activists fight immigration bills

The Georgia Voice Editors
Community
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Paulina Hernandez, founder of Southerners on New GroundAs the close of the Georgia legislative session nears, immigration bills that some LGBT activists call discriminatory are advancing in the House and Senate.

On Monday, March 14, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 40, sponsored by state Sen. Jack Murphy (R-Cumming), which is designed to “enhance the use of the federal E-Verify system and to allow local and state law enforcement officers to help federal authorities identify illegal immigrants in Georgia,” according to a press release from Murphy.

On March 3, lawmakers passed House Bill 87, named the “Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011” but called by opponents the “Show Me Your Papers” law. HB 87 is sponsored by state Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City).

State Rep. Bobby Franklin refuses to apologize for anti-gay remarks

The Georgia Voice Editors
Georgia
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Atlanta's Queer Justice League

State Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta) said this week he “can not and will not” apologize for comparing gay people to criminals after LGBT activists hand delivered a letter demanding an apology to his office on March 8.

In February, Franklin told the Marietta Daily Journal he denounced the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“The Bible says [homosexuality is] a capital offense,” Franklin said in a Feb. 7 article. “You want someone with unrepentant criminal behavior? And it’s not just that, neither should adulterers, neither should thieves, neither should a lot of things. The church is full of sinners, but we’re told in 1st Corinthians it rattled off the homosexual, the adulterer, the thief, the liar, and such were some of you, but you’ve been washed, you’ve been justified and so forth. It’s not what you were. You’re not punishing a thought. But do you want an unrepentant drug dealer in the military? Same thing.”

Activists plan to confront state Rep. Bobby Franklin

The Georgia Voice Editors
Atlanta
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Members of the Queer Justice League who attended a community forum and meeting at My Sisters Room said they are planning a direct action on March 8. A group plans to deliver a letter to state Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta) at the Capitol asking for his apology for remarks he has made publicly against gay people, as well as against women's reproductive rights and against other marginalized communities.

Franklin has compared gays and lesbians to unrepentant drug dealers. He also called for a bill that would investigate miscarriages as possible murders or abuse against "fetal citizens, and wants to reclassify those who say they have experienced rape or abuse as "accusers" rather than "victims."

QJL and GetEqual GA are working to collaborate with PFLAG Marietta, whose members are constituents of Franklin, to deliver a letter demanding an apology while the legislature is in session, said Art Izzard of QJL.

Ga. legislator says gays are like drug dealers

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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Ga. Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-43)

The Marietta Daily Journal interviewed outspoken (and some would say bat-shit crazy) State Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta), who makes no secret of his distaste for his gay constituents.

In the current session, Franklin has brought forth legislation that would do away with drivers’ licenses, HB 7, and a bill requiring the state make financial transactions in gold or silver coinage, HB 3 … yeah, seriously.

Even in the age of political correctness, Franklin bucks the trend by periodically offering (or supporting) anti-gay legislation in the General Assembly. Luckily, his attempts to redefine Georgia's obscenity laws to outlaw gay pornography have been miserable failures under the Gold Dome.