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With qualifying now complete, the July 20 primary includes several gay and lesbian
candidates. Some are political novices hoping to find success in their first
campaigns; another is a political veteran seeking higher office. Gay issues are
also certain to figure prominently in some campaigns without gay candidates.
Southern Voice previews a handful of the highest-profile races for gay and lesbian
voters. (Reporting by Ryan Lee; graphic by Joey L. Carolino)
This Democratic-leaning district includes the cities of Avondale Estates, Decatur,
Chamblee, Clarkston, Pine Lake and Stone Mountain, as well as a small portion
of Atlanta. The office holder is traditionally gay friendly.
Age: 51
Political history: The only Republican to qualify for the race, Davis made
an unsuccessful bid for a state House seat in 2000. In the opening paragraph
of her campaign Web site, Davis notes: “That half of America wants to
redefine family or marriage in the name of tolerance is a fiction at best.”
Age: 68
Political history: A former CEO of DeKalb County and county commissioner, Levetan
most recently represented the area as a state senator. Levetan has been a consistent
supporter of gay rights, including speaking out earlier this year against the
proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, which she called “codification
of discrimination.”
Age: 49
Political history: McKinney served four years in the state House before being
elected to Congress in 1993. In the 2002 Democratic primary, McKinney lost
a heated battle for re-election to Denise Majette. During her tenure in Congress,
McKinney was an outspoken gay rights ally, garnering a 100 percent approval
rating from the Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign.
Age: 51
Political history: A state senator since 1993, Thomas emerged as one of the
most outspoken opponents of the anti-gay marriage amendment during Senate debate.
Thomas, a registered nurse, has also been a longtime champion of increasing
funding for Georgia’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
Age: 25
Political history: Information not available.
Age: 46
Political history: Woolard became Georgia’s first openly gay elected
official in 1997, winning a seat on the Atlanta City Council. In 2001, she
won election to City Council president, the city’s second-highest elected
post. Prior to her years in city government, Woolard worked on federal issues
for HRC. Woolard’s list of gay political achievements is extensive and
includes sponsoring a successful measure creating the city’s anti-bias
ordinance and its Human Relations Commission.
Age: 50
Political history: Stokes has served as a state senator from DeKalb County
since 1994, including serving as Senate floor leader for former Gov. Roy Barnes.
Although not as high-profile as some gay-friendly members of the General Assembly,
Stokes “has been supportive of us on every issue I can think of,” said
Larry Pellegrini, a veteran gay lobbyist.
The race for this seat, an intown district that includes Morningside, Ansley
Park and Virginia Highlands, pits a gay-friendly incumbent versus an openly
gay challenger. The July 20 Democratic primary will determine the winner of
this race.
Age: 64
Political History: Gardner is a two-term state legislator who has been a frequent
supporter of gay rights causes.
Age: 36
Political history: A political novice, Wan is hoping to become the first openly
gay male, and the first Asian-American, to serve in the General Assembly.
As some of the battle for gay rights unfolds in courtrooms, gay-friendly judges
can make an impact. Republicans hope they can use the incumbent’s support
of gay issues against her in what’s billed as a non-partisan July 20
election.
Age: 48
Political history: Sears has served on the state Supreme Court since 1992.
She sided with the 6-1 majority that threw out the state’s sodomy law
in 1998, and wrote a stinging dissent two years earlier when the court upheld
the law in the case of a gay man arrested for allegedly soliciting sodomy at
a rest area.
Age: 63
Political history: Brantley served three terms as a Republican judge in Cobb
County, and has close ties to former Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers,
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Catherine Davis (R)
Cynthia McKinney (D)
Nadine Thomas (D)
Cathy Woolard (D)Name: Cathy Woolard (D)
Connie Stokes (D)
Pat Gardner (D)
Alex Wan (D)
Leah Ward Sears
Grant Brantley
