The fight concerning the so-called "religious liberty" bills in the Legislature has exposed a somewhat surprising phenomenon: Several north metro Republican lawmakers broke ranks with the herd and voted against the effort.

Do the votes indicate a softening in suburbia? Is there a growing Gay Belt that starts with the new Atlanta Braves stadium and stretches east to Gwinnett?

Cobb County, of course, is the place that formally condemned the "gay lifestyle" just a few years back. But that was then.

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Known as a dogged investigator, Ashleigh Merchant made a name for herself in Cobb County’s tight-knit legal community by taking big swings. (Natrice Miller/AJC)