Politics
Politics

Statewide civil rights law proposed by Georgia Democrats

In this June 26, 2015 file photo, a man holds a U.S. and a rainbow flag outside the Supreme Court in Washington after the court legalized gay marriage nationwide. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
In this June 26, 2015 file photo, a man holds a U.S. and a rainbow flag outside the Supreme Court in Washington after the court legalized gay marriage nationwide. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
By Kristina Torres
Feb 2, 2017

A new proposal would protect gays, Latinos and Muslims – among others – from discrimination as part of a first-of-its-kind statewide civil rights law in Georgia.

Senate Bill 119, sponsored by state Sen. Lester Jackson, D-Savannah, will be introduced in the Legislature next week.

It would make Georgia law mirror federal statutes to protect Georgians against discrimination in hotels, restaurants, theaters and other public accommodations based on race, color, religion, natural origin or sex — plus sexual orientation and gender identity. It would also explicitly bar discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in transactions such as when buying a house or seeking a job.

A similar effort last year by a bipartisan group in the state House failed to gain traction. The Senate effort is likely to also meet strong resistance from the chamber's GOP majority, which has backed efforts to prevent discrimination against faith-based organizations including those opposed to same-sex marriage.

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