The first thing I heard this morning when the radio alarm went off was the story that Maine had rejected marriage equality. Ugh!
But I do have some good news. We may elect the first openly gay African American state legislator in Atlanta Ga. My friend Simone Bell is in a run off with another candidate for Georgia House seat 58.
If elected, Simone will join Rep. Karla Drenner as an out lesbian in the Georgia General Assembly. Karla made history with a plucky campaign 9 years ago. Both are Democrats.
Simone is a veteran community organizer, having worked on community outreach most recently for Lambda Legal and the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative. She is a graduate of Agnes Scott College and has also worked in health care administration. Simone and her partner Val live in intown Atlanta, where they have nurtured several young family members and just sent one off to college.
This legislative district encompasses a portion of the east side of the city of Atlanta, as well as a part of an adjoining county. It includes intown neighborhoods where gay people have been among the "urban pioneers" remodeling older homes and creating community organizations to make neighborhoods more secure. Simone and her partner live in Reynoldstown, where a community development organization has spurred affordable housing development.
Learn more about Simone's campaign