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Evening For Equality 2012 - Save the Date!
Now in its eighth year, Evening for Equality is expected to draw some 300 of Georgia’s most important community leaders to Twelve Hotel at Atlantic Station on Friday, June 22nd for the presentation of Georgia Equality’s Equality Awards. Guests will gather for a dinner reception to recognize and celebrate the contributions of several leaders in the movement to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for Georgia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied communities.
Details:
Twelve Hotel at Atlantic Station, Atlanta, GA
VIP Reception 6PM - 7PM
General Program 7PM - 9:30PM
Business Attire
This year's Awardees are:
- Congressman John Lewis
- Larry Lehman, CEO of AID Gwinnett / Ric Crawford Clinic
- Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO (Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials)
- Craig Washington and Darlene Hudson, founders and organizers of the annual Bayard Rustin/Audre Lorde Breakfast.
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS $75
ON SALE JUNE 01.
SPONSOR & HOST PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE
If you are interested in joining the Host Committee or becoming a Sponsor of Evening for Equality, please click here for information and sponsor registration. For questions please send an email to geinfo@georgiaequality.org or call 404-523-3070 (ext. 1).
We hope you will plan on joining us!
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NON-PROFIT PARTNER  
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NON-PROFIT ALLY  |
MEDIA SPONSOR  
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Transgender Breakthrough!
By Chris Geidner
Published by Metro Weekly on April 23, 2012
An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person's
gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to an opinion issued on April 20 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The opinion, experts say, could dramatically alter the legal landscape for transgender workers across the nation.
The opinion came in a decision delivered on Monday, April 23, to lawyers for Mia Macy, a transgender woman who claims she was denied employment with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after the agency learned of her transition. It also comes on the heels of a growing number of federal appellate and trial courts deciding that gender-identity discrimination constitutes sex discrimination, whether based on Title VII or the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws.
The EEOC decision, issued without objection by the five-member, bipartisan commission, will apply to all EEOC enforcement and litigation activities at the commission and in its 53 field offices throughout the country. It also will be binding on all federal agencies and departments.
In the decision, the EEOC states, ''[T]he Commission hereby clarifies that claims of discrimination based on transgender status, also referred to as claims of discrimination based on gender identity, are cognizable under Title VII's sex discrimination prohibition ....''
Click here to read the full article including the history of the ruling.
Status of House Bill 630 - Fair Employment Practices Act
CURRENT STATUS: HB 630 is currently assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. We have had two subcommittee hearings. The next step is to pass the bill out of committee.
WHAT IS HB 630?
March 30, 2011 Representative Karla Drenner (D-86) introduced the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Bill. House Bill 630 is cosponsored by a total of 70 members of the House of Representatives, including 57 Democrats, 12 Republicans and 1 Independent. This legislation would amend state labor laws to add safeguards from discrimination in public employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. All 174,000 employees working for the State of Georgia would be protected from discriminatory hiring and firing practices. If the legislation passes, Georgia would join twenty-one states that protect public employees based on sexual orientation and twelve states that protect based on gender identity.
“Georgia state law currently provides no protections for LGBT people, resulting in unfair treatment and many costly lawsuits. The victorious case of transgender woman Vandy Beth Glenn who was wrongfully fired from her job at the Capitol is one example for the need for legislation to prevent these cases from coming up in the first place,” stated Georgia Equality executive director, Jeff Graham. Graham added, “While this legislation does not address private employment in Georgia, it would provide clear instructions to agencies, supervisors and employees to prevent discrimination in public employment and set the tone for the rest of the state’s business sector.”
What can you do to help? CLICK HERE to find out!
Is Your Family Protected? Download These Important Documents
Same-sex couples can’t marry in Georgia….yet, but until then there are ways to protect your 
family. In 2007 Georgia Equality led the campaign which resulted in the passage of the Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare (click link to download form), a state law securing the right of same-sex partners to ride in ambulances and have hospital visitation, among other protections. These documents are simple, short and easy to understand. Protect your family by downloading and signing them today!
Here’s what the document does:
PART ONE—Health Care Agent. This part allows you to choose someone to make health care decisions for you when you cannot (or do not want to) make health care decisions for yourself.
PART TWO—Treatment Preferences. This part allows you to state your treatment preferences if you have a terminal condition or if you are in a state of permanent unconsciousness. You should talk to your family and others close to you about your treatment preferences.
PART THREE—Guardianship. This part allows you to nominate a person to be your guardian should one ever be needed.
