A Guide to LGBTQ+ Rights and Communities
Georgia is a southern state known for its hospitality and natural crops like peaches. The state hosts many culturally diverse towns and cities. However, Georgia and other southern states have gained a reputation for anti-LGBT+ laws and populations. Is there any truth to these claims? Is it safe for a southern LGBTQ+ individual to enjoy life and health in Georgia? The answer depends on the existence of not just anti-discrimination laws but inclusion as well. Can the gay population seek employment, housing, and marriage safely? Is it easy to obtain a name or gender change? Are there healthcare providers who cater to the LGBTQ+ community’s unique needs?
Laws
Hate Crimes
Georgia has specific hate crime laws to protect LGBTQ+ people, including trans individuals, increasing the charges of harming someone specifically for being in the community. While this may not eliminate hate crimes, it can serve as a slight deterrent.
Discrimination
In Georgia, there are no anti-discrimination laws in place for the LGBTQ+ community in terms of housing, employment, lending, and public accommodations. This means that there are no specific charges against people who deny employment, housing, or loans based on someone’s LGBTQ+ status. However, there are no bans on cities and counties adopting anti-discrimination laws. Transgender people aren’t prohibited by law to use their preferred bathroom.
Legal Status
While LGBTQ+ individuals are allowed to live freely, the spread of HIV is considered illegal and may disproportionately affect HIV-positive LGBTQ+ people.
Gender and Name Changes
There is no way to feature a gender-neutral option on driver’s licenses or state identification cards, like ‘X.’ Changing a gender marker on a birth certificate or ID card may require a doctor’s note and proof of gender-affirming surgeries. Changing a name requires petitioning the court and filing a notice in the newspaper. These policies are slightly more complicated than those of other states, which only require a court petition or paperwork filing.
Healthcare
Private insurance companies are not required to provide LGBT-specific healthcare; no nondiscrimination laws exist. Further, no law prohibits health insurance companies from excluding transgender healthcare policies. However, state employees and state-issued Medicaid recipients have access to trans-inclusive healthcare. Unfortunately, trans or gender-nonconforming kids cannot receive best-practice medical care for trans-specific treatments. Conversion therapy is not banned.
Marriage and Domestic Partnership
In Georgia, LGBTQ+ people can legally get married or be in a domestic partnership. State and local officials must provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples. There are no religious exemption laws to exclude LGBTQ+ people from obtaining marriage services. Married couples have medical decision-making authority.
Adoption and Parenting
Married same-sex couples and stepparents can adopt legally. Second-parent adoptions for unmarried couples are not allowed, however. There is no confirmatory adoption, where a parent solidifies their connection to a child legally. There are also no adoption or foster care anti-discrimination laws in place, which can make adoption difficult on a case-by-case basis. Family leave laws may not be LGBT-inclusive in terminology.
Crime
According to the Department of Justice, 15.7% of hate crimes were for sexual orientation, and 3% were for gender identity. Some LGBTQ-focused events in Georgia have experienced violence or harassment, like Tbilisi Pride. Some LGBT+ individuals have attested that it isn’t a safe place to live.
Organizations
The state of Georgia hosts many LGBT+ organizations, including Savannah Pride Center, Georgia Equality, PFLAG Atlanta, and Atlanta Gay Center. These organizations help LGBTQ+ residents find healthcare, support, housing, legal help, and more. Their prevalence can make life easier for LGBTQ+ residents, especially children or those with lower incomes.
Events
There are many pride events throughout the state, many of which are hosted in October, like Savannah or Atlanta. Pride events help the LGBTQ+ community feel a sense of belonging and safety and provide an opportunity to celebrate and live freely. Smaller cities like Macon even have a thriving gay community.
Cost of Living
The average cost of living is $40,000 to $50,000. The cost of living will rise in more populated urban areas like Atlanta, but rural areas will typically cost less. Georgia is considered to have a lower cost of living than the national average and surrounding states like Florida.
Air Quality
Georgia’s air is generally considered to be moderate-quality. Rural areas may have better air quality, depending on industrial and forestry burning practices. Larger cities feature more vehicles, industrial waste, and factories, contributing to air pollution. Since 1990, air quality has steadily improved due to lower rates of air pollution and eco-friendly practices.
Water Quality
Like air quality, water quality depends on location and source. In rural areas, many residents rely on private wells, which require frequent contaminant testing. In larger cities like Atlanta or Savannah, tap water from the town is considered high quality. Like anywhere else, untreated water may contain microorganisms and bacteria that can be harmful. Over the years, there have been some cases of water contamination, including the formerly named Fort Benning water contamination lawsuits, where military practices led to groundwater toxins and contaminants. These contaminants increase the risk of permanent health conditions like cancer, immune diseases, and more. Since the LGBTQ+ community mostly lives near large urban areas, tap water is considered safer. However, water testing and filtering can eliminate risks associated with water pollution.
Conclusion
Safety and security as an LGBTQ+ person can be challenging, depending on location. While Georgia allows same-sex marriage, adoption, and healthcare, it may be challenging to secure these privileges due to the lack of anti-discrimination laws. The cost of living is relatively affordable compared to the national average. Pride events and LGBTQ+ organizations can make access to resources and living easier for the gay community.
Interlinking Opportunities
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