Georgia

States Facing Constitutional Amendments Banning Same-sex Marriage UU Involvement • California • Florida • Georgia • Maryland • Massachusetts • New York • Oregon • Virginia • Washington • Complete Freedom to Marry Coverage Creating a Hate-Free Zone. Marti Keller wraps up a discrimination-free zone. Picture by W. Lorraine Walker The UU Fellowship of Athens is a discrimination-free zone.

UU congregations oppose state ballot initiative; declare congregations "discrimination-free zones"

Background: With the possibility of passage of a state ballot amendment on marriage discrimination looming large (SR 595, also known as Amendment 1), Georgia Unitarian Universalists have organized congregations to publicly declare themselves against discrimination in their congregations and communities. Beginning on October 10, 2004 and continuing until after the November 2 election, Unitarian Universalist congregations across the state will sport wrappings of rainbow ribbon and signs declaring them “Discrimination-Free Zones.” The project was organized by Georgians Against Discrimination and coordinated by the Rev. Don Southworth, Minister of the Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta. The effort, which required nearly four miles of rainbow ribbon, also received the support of the UUA President's Freedom to Marry Fund.

In the greater Atlanta area, several UU congregations scheduled "ribbon wrapping parties" on October 10th. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta wrapped its facility on October 7, and other UU facilities around the state were decorated (including Dahlonega, Athens, Valdosta, and Augusta) during the weekend of October 8-10th.

The rainbow ribbons wrapping the UU congregations symbolize Unitarian Universalists' opposition to the proposed Georgia constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. They are also part of the October 10 “Sabbath Against Discrimination” organized by Georgians Against Discrimination to mobilize people of faith as advocates against the attempt to use a constitutional amendment to deny gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Americans a basic civil right -- the right to marry.

Commenting on the ribbon-wrapping action, Rev. Don Southworth said, "How can we call Georgia a democracy if our GLBT citizens are denied the protections and responsibilities enjoyed by everyone else? If this amendment is passed, discrimination against an important segment of Georgia society will become even more firmly entrenched because it will have the weight of our state's constitution behind it.”

Southworth continued, “This is not a religious issue, but a civil rights issue. UUs believe no religious organization should be forced to perform or recognize same-sex marriage. But we also believe strongly no religious organization who wishes to do so should be prohibited.”

The Rev. Greg Ward, minister of Unitarian Universalists Metro Atlanta North (Roswell) said, "We are fortunate to live in a society based on rights and freedoms for all.  But we would be shortsighted if we did not recognize that there are still those whose rights and freedoms are denied, who are persecuted and need a symbol to follow to safety.  For this, we are using the emblem of the gay and lesbian community to create a line of demarcation - a 'no hate zone. It is the church's mission to help the society in which it exists - to be places of transformation moving people away from hate and discrimination to love and compassion.  Our church believes that everything worthwhile happens with small steps.  By becoming a 'no hate zone,' we believe our step will help construct a more civil, loving society."

UU actions have continued through the month of October, and on October 23 in Marietta (a part of Cobb County), a rally was held in Marietta Square to publicize opposition to Amendment 1. Cobb County, which gave initial support to the proposed Anti-Gay Resolution, has been a focal point for state demonstrations both in support of, and against, the proposed Amendment. The UU Congregation of Marietta and Emerson Unitarian Universalist congregation, also in Marietta, were instrumental in mobilizing attendance at this rally.

After the state legislature approved SR 595, the measure was placed on the November 2004 state ballot. In September a motion was filed (in Superior Court, Fulton County) by Lamda Legal, the ACLU of Georgia and the law firm of Alston and Bird LLP, arguing that the required process for amending the Georgia Constitution was not followed, and asking that the proposed amendment be taken off the state ballot. The suit's plaintiffs further alleged that the ballot language is affirmatively deceptive and unconstitutional. A ruling has not been made on this motion.

Read more about the state ballot initiative in Georgia.

Media coverage :

• 10/22/04 - southernvoice.com: "Religious groups divided over ban: Christian Coalition leads supporters, but other churches oppose ban" by Ryan Lee
• 10/20/04 - Atlanta Journal Constitution: "Objection, your honors: The state's high court must find the legal grounds and the courage to halt the vote on gay marriage."

For further information:

• Text of Georgia SR 595 (aka Amendment 1)
• Op-Ed Piece for the Atlanta Journal Constitution
• Information on Amendment 1 from Lamda Legal
• Information on laws pertaining to freedom to marry and l/g/b/t discrimination in Georgia
• Information on Georgia laws from the Human Rights Campaign

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Additional Resources:

• "For Richer, For Poorer: Same-Sex Couples and the Freedom to Marry as a Civil Right" by Evan Wolfson. Drum Major Institute, June, 2003
• Marriage Equality Kit for Same-Sex Couples , from GLAAD
• "Why gay marriages just don't want to go away" By Frank Rich - The New York Times (published 3/1/04 in the Oakland Tribune)

Archival Coverage from the UUA:

• Comprehensive UUA.ORG Coverage of Freedom to Marry, for all People
• UUA President Opposes Call for Constitutional Amendment (2/22/04)
• Listing of UU ministers who will not sign marriage licenses until same sex couples are allowed to marry

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