Dear Friends:

How did Georgia Equality work to advance LGBT policy goals and improve the lives of LGBT Georgians and our families at the Georgia General Assembly during the 2007-2008 General Session?

Good question. 

We would like to invite you to download our 2007-2008 Georgia Equality Legislative Report which details at length our work to advance LGBT policy goals during the past General Session.

This report also explains more fully our vision for strategic and intensive work under the Gold Dome, within local jurisdictions, and in contested elections throughout the state to build a fair majority and improve the lives of LGBT Georgians.

Thank you for your visionary leadership and support for Georgia Equality and our Campaign for a Fair Majority.  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, suggestions or ideas you have to help move us forward on the path to a fair majority.
 
Sincerely,

LITHONIA, GA - Georgia Equality is proud to endorse a strong and outspoken advocate for fairness and equality, Dee Dawkins-Haigler in the House District 93 (southeast DeKalb and central Rockdale Counties in metro Atlanta) special election to be held May 13, 2008.

Dee Haigler is a graduate of South Carolina State University, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science.  She also earned a Masters in Public Administration and Personnel Management from Kentucky State University, a Master of Divinity in theology and ethics from Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary, holds a Doctorate in Ministry and is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at Clark Atlanta University.

Haigler is an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and an advocate for youth.  She is a former secretary, vice chair, and chair of the South Carolina Juvenile Parole Board, appointed by then-Governor Jim Hodges, and is currently serving a second term as the PTSA President at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Dekalb County.

Haigler is President and Owner of DDH & Associates, a political consulting, policy analysis and campaign management firm.  She began her career in politics in West Columbia, South Carolina, working on a variety of campaigns starting at the age of 12.  Haigler has run numerous successful political campaigns and in 2004 served as Field, and then Political Director for Howard Dean's presidential primary campaign in South Carolina.  She is a member of, and holds leadership positions in numerous other civic, religious, and community organizations.

Haigler resides in Lithonia, Georgia with her husband U.S. Army Captain David H. Haigler, Jr. and is the proud mother of four children, Christopher 16, Christyn 15, Hannah 8, and Joshua 6.

"Dee Haigler has dedicated her life to public service as a minister, college educator, community activist, political strategist and organizer," according to Georgia Equality Political Director Kyle Bailey.  "She is a powerful and outspoken advocate for fairness and equality, with the right background and experience to be an effective advocate for all the citizens of House District 93 and to restore the confidence and trust of those citizens in government and their elected officials."

For Haigler to capture 50% + 1 of the popular vote in the special election and win the seat without a run-off, she needs to raise an additional $10,000 in the next two and one-half weeks.  Your contribution of $500, $250, $100 or $50 - right now - is critically important to securing a victory for Haigler and building our fair majority in the General Assembly.  To contribute, please visit:

http://deeforgeorgia.com/contribute/index.cfm?Fuseaction=contribute

"Georgia Equality will be strategically mobilizing our limited resources to secure this seat in our fair majority of lawmakers," added Bailey.

Five candidates qualified for this special election to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Ron Sailor, who was forced to resign from office in disgrace after being caught laundering money and mortgaging the church where he served as pastor for personal profit.  Currently, WIN List has also endorsed Dee Haigler in the House District 93 special election. 

In 2006, Haigler ran for the open Senate District 43 seat now held by Senator Robert Ramsey.  Voters in the district are familiar with Dee Haigler, as Senate District 43 encompasses House District 93.

For more information about Dee Dawkins-Haigler, please visit:

http://www.deeforgeorgia.com/

GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE

DOWNLOAD THE FORM
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

http://www.georgiaequality.org/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=137&task=
view_category&catid=83&order=dmdate_published&ascdesc=DESC

On July 1, 2007 , a new Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care took effect, replacing the old Living Will and Durable Health Care Power of Attorney forms, merging them into one easier to understand document. This document allows us to give our domestic partners or close friends the authority to make medical decisions for us, and handle our funeral arrangements in case of death. Without this document, only our biological family members have authority to make these decisions for us.

Because of the work of Georgia Equality and our lobbyist, Cathy Woolard, we were able to successfully amend the law to specifically include the right to hospital visitation and ambulance ride along privileges for our partners.