Equality Federation

Georgia Passes Comprehensive Adoption Bill; Fight Far From Over

February 14, 2018

Last week lawmakers in Georgia passed positive reforms to the state’s adoption and foster care code. HB 159 updates the state’s antiquated child welfare laws and does not include any discriminatory language. This “clean” bill, expected to be signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal, will not only impact LGBTQ Georgians, but the over 12,000 children the state’s adoption and foster care system.

Equality Federation applauds Georgia Equality and their partners for prioritizing child welfare and advocating for LGBTQ people all across the Peach State!

Unfortunately, there is still work to do.

Extremist Georgia lawmakers have now set their eyes on passing what is nothing less than a license to discriminate. HB 375, would allow taxpayer-funded adoption agencies the right to refuse to work with same-sex couples and LGBTQ youth. This hateful bill is not only incredibly harmful to the LGBTQ community in Georgia, but it could also have a huge economic impact on the state. Atlanta has been named a finalist for Amazon’s HQ2, but state sanctioned discrimination could all but end the state’s bid.

Equality Federation stands with Georgia Equality and the coalition of folks on the ground who are advocating against HB 375. We must protect vulnerable, LGBTQ youth at all costs.

More You might like

Black & LGBTQ+ Organizations Mobilize in High-Stakes Supreme Court Battle

We joined The Center for HIV Law and Policy (CHLP), PrEP in Black America (PIBA), Afiya Center (Dallas), Women with a Vision (New Orleans), SisterLove (Atlanta), and BlaqOut (Kansas City, Missouri) in filing an amicus, or “friend of the court,” brief in the Braidwood v Kennedy case on appeal in the Supreme Court in order to take a stand defending access to preventative health care nationally and to protect the Black and brown lives that will be lost should this access be overturned.

Equality Federation

March 19, 2025

Leading Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely

Last month, we hosted our New Executive Director Intensive, one of our longest-running leadership programs. For over a decade, this program has brought together Executive Directors who are new in their role to foster healthy, sustainable organizations and leadership practices. Here are inspiring takeaways we got out of this year’s intensive!

Mel and Jay

March 19, 2025

Spotlight Interview featuring Ronnie, Advocacy, Policy, & Partnerships Director at FreeState Justice

In recognition of HIV is Not a Crime Day and Maryland's recent groundbreaking progress toward HIV law reform, we sat down for a conversation with Ronnie at FreeState Justice, one of our state partners. We discuss Maryland’s historic progress, its significance in the current landscape of HIV criminalization across the United States, and the importance of Black LGBTQ+ leadership in shaping HIV justice.

Equality Federation

March 19, 2025

Browse more

A young man smiling straight at the camera

Confident young woman standing with crossed arms.

Want To Make A Difference? Support Our Work

With your support, we'll be able to continue our work to build the leaders of today and tomorrow, strengthen state-based LGBTQ+ organizations, and make critical progress on the issues that matter most—like protecting transgender people, ending HIV criminalization and ensuring access to care, and banning conversion therapy across the country.

Donate