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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cathy Cox’s political machine started to run out of steam when gay supporters demanded she return campaign contributions after she flip-flopped on the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
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HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: ERIC ERVIN
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 2006 was a year of highs and lows for Georgia’s gay population. At the beginning of the year, a committee of the state Senate approved a hate crimes bill that would have increased penalties for crimes committed against someone based solely on discrimination, including sexual orientation. However, it later died when the Senate Rules Committee refused to place the bill on the General Assembly’s vote calendar.
But where state legislators failed to pass gay-inclusive laws this year, Georgia’s county and city governments answered the call by voting to offer domestic partner insurance benefits as well as pension benefits. Other victories for gay Georgians came when the state’s only openly gay lawmaker was re-elected, and when a federal judge ruled school administrators unconstitutionally blocked the forming of a gay-straight alliance in White County.
Black church summit addresses homophobia. Rev. Al Sharpton urged participants at a two-day summit at First Iconium Baptist Church on homophobia in the black church to “turn up the heat” on anti-gay preachers.
Coretta Scott King dies. Legendary civil rights leader Coretta Scott King died Jan. 30 at 78. Many gay rights activists remembered King nationally as an opponent of bans on same-sex marriage and homophobia. Her funeral was protested by members of Westboro Baptist Church who carried signs proclaiming “No Fags in King’s Dream,” referring to the widow’s famous husband Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Frank Ski apologies. Atlanta radio personality Frank Ski apologized for comments he made on air that critics said advocated violence against gay people. Ski said while he was at a popular hip-hop club a gay man made sexual advances toward him. He said on the air that he should have rounded up some friends and assaulted the guy.
Lawsuit filed against White County schools. The ACLU of Georgia filed a federal lawsuit against the White County School District on behalf of students at White County High School alleging administrators violated the federal Equal Access Act by banning all non-curricular school clubs as a way to block formation of a gay-straight alliance. In July, U.S. District Judge William O’Kelley ruled the school system violated federal law. A settlement is currently pending.
Atlanta Pride accused of racism. Dwight Powell, publisher of national black gay magazine Clik, sent out a massive e-mail blast accusing the Atlanta Pride Committee of racism after its executive director, Donna Narducci, refused the publication’s offer to be a media sponsor of the festival. Narducci denied the allegations and apologized. In May, sparks flew at a panel discussion initiated by APC when gay activist Kevin Bynes called the meeting a “ruse” and accused Pride officials of avoiding the issue of racism.
Soldiers charged in beating. Five Fort Stewart soldiers were jailed after being charged with aggravated battery for allegedly beating David Bennett in front of a Savannah gay bar. According to a police report, one of the soldiers remarked “Yes, I beat that motherfucking faggot up, I was buying him drinks all night.” Charges were later dropped against the soldiers after Bennett, who was homeless and bisexual, was arrested for stealing one of the soldier’s wallets and declined to press charges.
Second gay-related attack in Savannah. Travis McLain of Savannah got help from state gay rights group Georgia Equality after he said he was beaten during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations by an assailant who called him a “faggot.” Georgia Equality held a press conference and alleged this was a hate crime. The assault case is still pending.
State Senate committee approves hate crimes bill. In an 8-3 vote, a bipartisan committee of the state Senate approved a hate crimes bill increasing penalties for crimes motivated by prejudices, including sexual orientation. The bill later died when the Georgia Senate Rules Committee refused to place it on the calendar for a vote.
Parental notification bill passes. The state Senate approved legislation mandating parents must be notified of all student clubs and given the option to forbid their children to join. The bill was viewed as an attempt to limit participation in gay-straight alliance clubs.
Atlanta passes D.P. pension benefits. The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to approve domestic partner pension benefits, which allows the registered domestic partner of county employees to be designated beneficiaries under the city’s three pension funds. Lesbian Atlanta City Councilmember Anne Fauver introduced the legislation.
Ga. Tech sued by conservatives. Georgia ...
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