Q Politics

from Q ATLus Magazine | October 28, 2021

by Q ATLus Magazine

Q Stage

Big BACKING

Georgia Equality endorses some, not all LGBTQ candidates

By Patrick Saunders

GEORGIA EQUALITY WEIGHED IN WITH

endorsements in several municipal races as early voting continues and Election Day approaches on Nov. 2. The endorsements also steered clear of several races — including the one for Atlanta mayor — at least until some likely runoffs narrow the field.

In an announcement earlier this month, Georgia Equality endorsed seven LGBTQ candidates across races in Tucker, Hapeville and Atlanta. “During municipal elections, voters may tend to be less engaged than during higher profile years, but these races couldn’t be any more important to our work,” GE executive director Jeff Graham said in a press release. “Right now, 13 Georgia cities and counties protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, and this year’s endorsed candidates will help grow that number when they are elected,” he added. Among those getting Georgia Equality’s support for Atlanta City Council were Liliana Bakhtiari in District 5, Alex Wan in District 6 (over another LGBTQ candidate — Courtney DeDi) and Devin Barrington Ward in District 9. 

Among Georgia Equality’s LGBTQ endorsements are Atlanta City Council candidates (from top left) Liliana Bakhtiari, Devin Barrington Ward and Alex Wan.

Georgia Equality endorsed LGBTQ Tucker candidates for mayor, Robin Biro, and city council, Imani Barnes.

The group also made a dual endorsement in the Atlanta Board of Education At-Large Seat 7 race. GE backed both gay educator and advocate Stephen Spring and progressive LGBTQ ally Royce Mann. Georgia Equality also endorsed gay educator Brett Reichert for a seat on the Hapeville City Council and made two LGBTQ picks in Tucker: Robin Biro for mayor and Imani Barnes for City Council District 2, Post 1. All three would make history as the first openly LGBTQ people to hold those positions.

Runoffs loom large Georgia Equality opted not to endorse a candidate in the Atlanta mayoral race and some Atlanta City Council races, citing the large number of candidates. Instead, the group’s board rated some LGBTQ candidates and their opponents as “satisfactory” based on their responses to a survey. The board plans to “reassess that decision ahead of the inevitable runoff election,” which takes place on Nov. 30.

Georgia Equality rated six LGBTQ Atlanta candidates as “satisfactory” without an outright endorsement, including Antonio Brown for mayor. The others are Atlanta City Council candidates Kelly-Jeanne Lee in District 1, Larry Carter in District 4, Brandon Goldberg and Jereme Sharpe for Post 1 At-Large and Keisha Waites for Post 3 At-Large.

Candidates not listed as “satisfactory” either didn’t submit a survey, or the group found the candidate’s survey responses “insufficient.” Georgia Equality did not differentiate those two categories. The only two LGBTQ council candidates that Georgia Equality did not list, satisfactory or otherwise, were Mike Russell for Atlanta City Council president and Jason Hudgins for Atlanta City Council District 10. Early voting runs through Oct. 29. Election Day is Nov. 2.

“During municipal elections, voters may tend to be less engaged than during higher profile years, but these races couldn’t be any more important to our work.”

— Jeff Graham, Georgia Equality Executive Director

Read the full list of Georgia Equality municipal election endorsements at theQatl.com.