East Point, GA Approves Anti-Bias Protections for LGBT Employees

Very good news to report from East Point, Georgia, an overwhelmingly black suburb adjacent to southwestern Atlanta. The city of approximately 40,000 joins only "a handful" of other Georgia municipalities to adopt protections for gay and transgender employees. The ordinance was supported by East Point's mayor pro tem, an influential black minister who once opposed gay rights, reports the Journal Constitution.

The local law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is almost an afterthought in a city that has offered same-sex domestic partner benefits for employees since 2005. The city charter also includes a Bill of Rights section that says the city will not adopt any laws that intentionally discriminate against gays and lesbians. In recent years, the city has gained a reputation as gay-friendly, which has led to some conflicts in and out of City Hall. The domestic partner benefit, for instance, won on a 4-3 vote. Councilman Greg Fann was among those who cast dissenting votes in 2005 on the domestic partner benefit. This week, one of his last votes on the council was to approve the nondiscrimination policy. Fann, a minister at Liberty International Church, said he supported the latest measure out of a sense of fairness. "My religious values do not afford me to agree with an alternative lifestyle, but that does not mean you can discriminate against someone for that lifestyle," Fann said. "I do not believe in discrimination, period."

The ordinance was introduced by openly gay councilman Lance Rhodes. The unanimous vote comres only a month after two openly gay candidates posted strong showings in City Council elections, though not enough to win office. One of the candidates, Eric Morrow, would have become the first black openly gay elected official in Georgia. That distinction went to Simone Bell, who, on the same day,  became the first openly lesbian black state legislator in U.S. history.

Only last month, Chamblee joined Atlanta, Clarkston, Decatur and Doraville in prohibiting discrimination against gay employees. In addition to East Point, only Atlanta, Decatur and Doraville extend protections to transgender workers.

Congratulations to East Point and  Rev. Gregory Fann for choosing equality.

Comments

[Georgia Peach]

Wow. That is good news and I'[m embarassed to say I'm in Atlanta and wasn't even aware of that.

East Point is part hood and part gentrified gay. There have been some problems but I'm very glad to see the council and Rev. Fann are pushing back against discrimination.

[ATL Kid]

East Point and the SWATS are the hood lol

I'm very impressed!

Go ATL! Go East Point!

[kayman]

Hood or not, they have shown more willpower to be on the progressive end of the pendeleum than more gentrified areas, so it is irrelevant.

[Da' Realist One]

Its a small step, but to me it seems that the only reason why this even came to be is because someone realize that the gay voting bloc was a rather large and influential one, thus meaning that in the future this is an area where the gay vote would be crucial in future elections.

However, this is an example of the power of the vote!
When we show that we're a force and to be reckond with, we get action AND results!

[Taylor Siluwé]

Good news. Even better that a black clergy member sees that discrimination has nothing to do with his personal religious beliefs or values, its just discrimination.