Ga. Rep. Simone Bell (D-Atlanta) will be honored this week by the White House as one of 10 openly gay elected or appointed officials named as "Harvey Milk Champions of Change."
The event takes place Wednesday, May 22, at 3 p.m. ET. Watch it live at this link: www.whitehouse.gov/live.
The ceremony takes place on Harvey Milk's birthday and honors the LGBT officials for "their commitment to equality and public service."
State Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Atlanta) appealed to patriotism, faith and "liberty and justice for all" during a hearing this morning asking lawmakers to protect state workers from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Drenner, the first openly gay member of the General Assembly, wants the bill to at least see a full committee vote before the legislature adjourns its annual session later this month.
A bill to prohibit state tax dollars from going to private schools that discriminate against students, including LGBT students, has been introduced in the Georgia House by lesbian state Reps. Simone Bell (D-Atlanta) and Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur).
House Bill 456 was introduced Feb. 22. State Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens) was an original co-sponsor of the bill with Rep. Bell. He said while he is no longer a co-sponsor he still supports the bill "100 percent."
"I was assigned another bill by House leadership but that doesn't mean in any way I don't fully support the bill," Frye said.