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The beating of Travis McLain led Georgia Equality to ask the city of Savannah to pass a resolution denouncing discrimination.
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HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: ZACK HUDSON
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In keeping with a 2006 agreement with Georgia’s largest gay rights organization, the Savannah City Council passed a resolution stating its commitment to fair treatment for gay men and lesbians, among other minority groups.
The legislation, titled “ A resolution to re-affirm Savannah’s commitment to be an inclusive community,” passed Jan. 4 by a unanimous vote of the Savannah City Council, which is comprised of eight aldermen and Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson.
The resolution condemns “individual and collective acts” of abuse and discrimination “directed toward any resident or visitor” based on race, religion, sexual orientation and other categories.
Georgia Equality requested the measure in April 2006 after then 20-year old Travis McLain, a gay man, was allegedly beaten in a public parking lot and called a “faggot” by his attacker.
Charles Thomas Prickett, 23, was later charged with a misdemeanor count of assault in the incident, but did not show up for a May 16 court appearance. Prickett’s case is still pending.
Additionally, GE asked the city to establish an official commission to investigate incidents of alleged anti-gay abuse and discrimination, as well as to appoint a special police liaison to gay residents.
The resolution does not enact any of the other GE demands, but does enroll the city of Savannah within the National League of Cities Inclusive Communities Partnership, a project which aims to educate municipal leaders about ways to establish equal access and end discrimination for diverse communities. The partnership does not specifically address sexual orientation among its guidelines.
Savannah does not currently offer domestic partner health insurance benefits to city employees. It does include sexual orientation within its official employment policy statement of non-discrimination.
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