Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender voters hear mayoral hopefuls

Atlanta’s major mayoral candidates were all in the same room for the first time Thursday, each making his or her case as the best person to run the city to a room full of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents.

The candidates gathered for a forum of about 150 people held at the Amsterdam Cafe in Midtown. Mayor Shirley Franklin, a two-term incumbent, is prohibited from running for a third consecutive term.

Several candidates stressed their past achievements and support for the city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. One out of every seven Atlantans is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, community advocates say. The community has become an influential force in city politics, particularly in neighborhoods near downtown.

City Council President Lisa Borders noted that she was involved in getting the Atlanta Pride Festival back in Piedmont Park this fall.

Kasim Reed noted his vote as a state senator against efforts to ban gay marriage in Georgia, as well as his fight for hate crimes legislation.

“I was there,” Reed said. “I am not new to this community in any way.”

Councilwoman Mary Norwood and attorney Jesse Spikes focused their remarks on issues they said concern all city residents, such as crime and Atlanta’s budget crisis.

“I intend to represent everyone in this city,” Spikes said. “There’s no community to be left out.”

The audience questioned the candidates on how they would improve zoning and city finances. Borders, who noted she’s spent more time than any candidate at City Hall, said she’d rewrite Atlanta’s zoning code.

Reed, in response to a question about protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender children from hate crimes, said he’d push for anti-bullying legislation.

Asked for a one-word answer to the question of whether they support marriage equality, Borders and Spikes said yes. Reed said he supported civil unions.

Community leaders say they hope the next mayor does more to help what they say is a disproportionate number of homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths on Atlanta’s streets.

“I’d like to see funding that’s tied to suicide prevention and homelessness and empowering these kids,” said Old Fourth Ward resident Kyle Bailey, 26, founder of Atlanta Stonewall Democrats.

Bailey said he also wants assurances that Franklin’s successor will not exclude gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people from his or her staff.

“It matters to have a seat at the table and be a part of the conversation,” he said.

Norwood and another candidate, Glenn Thomas, left before the question-and-answer session, saying they had prior speaking engagements.