Four openly gay lawmakers serve in the Georgia Legislature.

Georgia's General Assembly in January will seat the most openly gay lawmakers in the South, just as advocates expect to battle legislation they fear could legalize discrimination against the gay community.

Both they and advocates say their presence is important in a conservative Southern state, even as the increased numbers are still a tiny minority at the Republican-led Capitol.

"It's not a time for fear," said state Rep.-elect Sam Park, D-Lawrenceville, who surprised some last month by upsetting a three-term Republican incumbent in the heart of suburban Gwinnett County.

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Kristina Torres

U.S. attorney says more indictments of government officials coming

Georgia state Rep. Sharon Henderson was charged Monday with fraud related to government assistance. Theodore Hertzberg says the investigations are not politically motivated.

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Voters to decide special elections to state House in Cherokee and Athens area

Those wishing to cast a ballot in the pair of special elections for Georgia state House seats have until polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

State lawmaker charged with unemployment fraud

Authorities say State Rep. Sharon Henderson, while a candidate for the Georgia House in 2020, applied for federal pandemic unemployment benefits under false pretenses.

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