October Meeting

'All politics is local'

By Jason Cecil

On Thursday, October 16, AEN's speaker will be Georgia Equality Executive Director Allen Thornell.

Georgia Equality is the political and advocacy voice of Georgia's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender citizens and their allies. Founded in Atlanta in 1995, it has grown into a true statewide advocacy organization and is known nationally as one of the leaders among state and local LGBT advocacy groups.

Georgia Equality's influence is growing, resulting in a number of success stories, including:

• Passage of the Georgia Anti-Domestic Terrorism Act of 2000 (hate crimes law)
  
  
• Full funding of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program by the Georgia General Assembly and former Gov. Roy Barnes from 2001-2002
  
  
• Domestic partnership benefits for the employees of four large Georgia-based companies: Coca-Cola, Atlanta Gas Light, BellSouth and Delta Air Lines
  
  
• Helped elect Cathy Woolard, the first openly gay and first woman to Atlanta City Council president and doubled gay representation on Atlanta City Council in the 2001 elections
  
  
• Secured the first hearing in history for a state bill that would protect LGBT people from discrimination in the workplace
  
  
• Worked with the Fulton Alliance of County Employees for LGBT employees to secure domestic partner benefits for Fulton County's gay and lesbian employees.

After a summer where the Canadian government agreed to provide marriage rights to same-sex couples, the Episcopal church elected its first openly gay bishop, and the U.S. Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws nationwide, the backlash against LGBT equality has begun. Thornell will share some insights and plans for continuing progress toward full equality of LGBT citizens in the 2004 elections.

Join us to learn more about Georgia Equality's activities and plans for the future.

Previously announced speaker Rep. Denise Majette will be rescheduled.

Mark your social calendar

AEN Fall Social
Balance Restaurant
980 Piedmont Avenue
Tuesday, October 21
5 - 7:30 p.m.
$10 wine tasting

Hosted by AEN and the Atlanta Lesbian Cancer Initiative

CommUnity Expo

Featuring products and services special to the LGBT community
Sunday, November 9
Noon to 5 p.m.
Sheraton Hotel at Colony Square

Admission: $5 and includes a benefit raffle ticket

Presented by Delta Air Lines
Supported by AEN, AGLCC and Southern Voice

• Click here for more details on the event
• Click here for a special offer for AEN members for a display table

Building Bridges

Citizenship and LGBT unions
Sunday, November 9
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
AEN Headquarters
1447 Peachtree Street at Pershing Point

Fair game

By Drew Barton

With the latest legal action taken against schools that permit bias to play a role on the court and field, the issue of fairness on in sports has become a pivotal piece in the struggle for equality.

AEN's September meeting featured Helen Carroll, the project coordinator for the San Francisco-based Homophobia in Sports Project. The mission of the organization is to provide for the development of research, community outreach and educational programs addressing the issue of homophobia and other barriers to participation in sports.

With an endowment founded by Martina Navratilova, Carroll's project has taken a leading role with a bias suit at the University of Florida. In addition, the group is in the process of creating an educational kit for mass distribution to thousands of the nation's schools on equitable treatment for LGBT individuals.

Carroll said she receives a number of calls from coaches throughout the nation on how to deal with LGBT individuals on the playing field. In addition to phone support, Carroll and a team of educators will perform a one-hour workshop at the University of Florida for their athletic teams.

The group has a goal of raising half a million dollars toward their advocacy, education, support, and the media outreach to eliminate homophobia in sports.

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Upcoming speakers


November 13
Evan Wolfson
Executive Director
Freedom to Marry
Co-sponsored with Lambda Legal and HRC's Federal Club

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