Top stories of the week

[Video] President Barack Obama stops by — kind of — the LGBT Creating Change conference in Atlanta

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A pretty important person stopped by — well, kind of — the Creating Change conference in downtown Atlanta on Friday to give more than 3,000 LGBT activists and allies words of encouragement as well as a thank them for their work to ensure equality for all.

That man was President Barack Obama, who sent a videotaped message to conference attendees — the first time a sitting president has addressed Creating Change, the largest LGBT conference in the country. He also congratulated The Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which hosts the conference, on its 40th anniversary.

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[Photos] Krog Street Tunnel gay marriage proposal uniquely sweet

Krog Street Tunnel

Inman Park’s Krog Street Tunnel is one of Atlanta’s premiere street art venues. The walls lining the tunnel and interior columns have been tagged and re-tagged with various symbols, graffiti and posters. But until quite recently, no one had used the tunnel’s walls for a marriage proposal.

That’s exactly how Sean Lanoue proposed to his now fiance Neon Douglass on Jan. 26.

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Anti-gay politicos may flock to race to replace U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss

U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss admitted an anti-gay blog comment originated from his Atlanta office

The race to replace U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) could turn into a battle over who is the most anti-gay. Most of the popular candidates indentified in recent survey of voters have records of opposing LGBT equality, including frontrunners Sonny Perdue and Karen Handel.

Chambliss announced late last week his intention to retire at the end of his current term in Washington, D.C., which ends in 2014.

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LGBT Campus Pride ED says Chick-fil-A tax forms show no donations to ‘most divisive’ anti-gay groups

Chick-fil-A protest

Atlanta-based fast food chain Chick-fil-A found itself in a world of controversy last year after reports surfaced that the company was funding anti-gay groups like Exodus International and Focus on the Family through the company’s WinShape Foundation.

The controversy was only heightened when the company’s President and COO Dan Cathy said Chick-fil-A was “guilty as charged” in opposing same-sex marriage rights. Cathy’s comments sparked protests, counterprotests and a series of boycotts by LGBT activists.

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[Video] Rea Carey’s LGBT ‘State of the Movement’ speech from Creating Change Conference

Rae Carey

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, addressed attendees of the 2013 Creating Change Conference in Atlanta on Friday, Jan. 25.

Carey’s “State of the Movement” address highlighted recent victories in the equality movement while looking forward to the continuing battles in the fight for marriage, employment protections and immigration rights.

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