House Reps W/O Reply: 11/18 - 11/20 (Email)

From 11/18/08 to 11/20/08, I sent the standard email to 32 State House Representatives. Only 6 Reps have replied, and the six are Rep Kathy Ashe, Rep Stepanie Benfield, Rep Roger Bruce, Rep Clay Cox, Rep Tom Dickson, and Rep Terry England. (You may find their comments in previous entries of this blog.)

State House Reps W/O Reply
Roberta Abdul-Salaam, HD-74
Stacey Abrams, HD-84
Amos Amerson, HD-9
Timothy Bearden, HD-68
Tommy Benton, HD-31
Bob Bryant, HD-160
Debbie Buckner, HD-130
Mark Burkhalter, HD-50
Jon Burns, HD-157
Mark Butler, HD-18
Charlice Byrd, HD-20
Amy Carter, HD-175
Buddy Carter, HD-159
David Casas, HD-103
Mickey Channell, HD-116
Jim Cole, HD-125
Doug Collins, HD-27
Rick Crawford, HD-16
Hardie Davis, HD-122
Steve Davis, HD-109
Dee Dawkins-Haigler, HD-93
Katie Dempsey, HD-13
Matt Dollar, HD-45
Earl Ehrhart, HD-36
Carl Epps, HD-128
Hugh Floyd, HD-99

I will send a letter (via snail mail) to the Reps who did not reply to the email.

House Reps Who Didn't Respond: 11/20/08 Letter

On November 20, 2008, I mailed the standard letter to 13 State House Representatives. Sadly, only 1 Rep has replied-- Rep Melvin Everson.

State House Reps W/O Reply
Terry Barnard, HD-166
Sharon Beasley-Teague, HD-65
Ellis Black, HD-174
Tyrone Brooks, HD-63
Jill Chambers, HD-81
Mike Cheokas, HD-134
Mike Coan, HD-101
Brooks Coleman, HD-97
Sharon Cooper, HD-41
Burke Day, HD-163
Winfred Dukes, HD-150
Barry Flemming, HD-117

Stamps

Contact me if you are interested in donating a book of stamps for the cause. I still have State Representatives and Senators who've yet to receive the first standard letter, and I already have a long list of State Representatives who need a "Why haven't you responded?" follow-up.

If you donate, I'll give you a thanks in the blog and list the names of the elected officials your stamps enabled me to contact.

Reporting on Dickson (HD-6), Ashe (HD-56), & Gardner (HD-57)

Representative Tom Dickson, District 6, wrote:

Depending on wording of the bill it is possible I would support such a bill.

I responded, Can you elaborate as to what wording would persuade you to vote for such legislation? I have yet to hear from Rep Dickson; therefore, I will follow-up with a letter. Contact Rep Dickson at tom.dickson@house.ga.gov; let him know how you feel about discrimination.



Representative Kathy Ashe, District 56, wrote:

You can be certain that my vote would be NO! Thanks for alerting me that it is rumored to be coming. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open. Please keep me informed as you hear more.

Rep Ashe has always proven herself as an ally LGBT community, so her response is not a surprise. Please send her a thank you at kathyashe56@mindspring.com.





Representative Pat Gardner, District 57, wrote:

Thank you for contacting me about the potential of a ban on gay adoptions. You can count on me to find ways to make sure such legislation doesn’t pass but I am only one vote. Who is your Senator and Rep? Be sure they hear from you.

This message also came as no surprise since Rep Gardner has always been an ally to the LGBT community. In addition, Rep Gardner followed up to find out how her peers are responding. Take a moment to thank Rep Gardner at pat@patgardner.org.

Reporting on England (HD-108), Bruce (HD-64), Levitas (HD-82), & Fludd (HD-66)

Representative Terry England, District 108, wrote:

Having not seen the legislation yet, I am hesitant to comment. At first blush, I would be in favor of the bill, however I would like to see the bill and have time to think about it in depth before making my final decision.

It seems we need to convince Rep England that he should stand against discrimination instead of standing for it. Please send him an email at englandhomeport2@alltel.net.



Representative Roger Bruce, District 64, did not want to discuss the matter via email, so I called him. During our conversation Rep Bruce stated he didn't feel a ban would be an issue. He feels if one is introduced and passes that it will be struck down by the courts as unconstitutional. Rep Bruce never directly said that he would oppose a ban against LGBT Georgians. I got the vibe that Rep Bruce doesn't want to go on the books as being "gay friendly." Contact Rep Bruce at rbruce5347@aol.com; let's see if he asks you to call him.





Representative Kevin Levitas, District 82, wrote:

I am opposed to such a ban.

Rep Levitas was short, sweet, to the point, and on our side. Send him a thank you at kevinlevitas@bellsouth.net.





Representative Virgil Fludd, District 66, wrote:

It is hard for me to take a position on legislation that I have not seen. However, I do not believe that we should ban adoptions for LGBT Georgians.

Send a thanks to Rep Fludd at vfludd@mindspring.com.

Reporting on Kaiser (HD-59), Lindsey (HD-54), & Frazier (HD-123)

Representative Margaret Kaiser, District 59, writes:

I've heard this rumor, as well. The Director of Georgia Equality, also, addressed this issue before the Atlanta-Fulton delegation of legislators last week. I would, absolutely, oppose this.couples that my husband I are very close friends with are gay, have been together a decade longer than we have, and both have adopted children. It boggles my mind to see the mean-spirited, close minded nature of many pieces of legislation I've seen introduced.

Please take a moment to send Rep Kaiser a thank you at margaret.kaiser@house.ga.gov.



Representative Edward Lindsey, District 54, writes:

It is difficult to judge legislation before reading it. However, I have generally opposed similar total bans in the past.

Feel free to send Representative Lindsey an email at edward.lindsey@house.ga.gov to let him know you'd like to keep to his "generally oppos[ing] ... total bans."




Representative Gloria Frazier, District 123, writes:

Thank you for your concern on how I would vote on this rumor mill adoption legislation. Unfortunately, I do not vote personally on these issues. It is the decision of my constituency that guides my vote. I have no knowledge of this rumor and since it is just that rumor mill, I have no opinion. Until there is actual legislation in the 2009-2010 session, I will then get the consensus of my people in my district and vote accordingly.

Well, I need help finding people in House District 123 to email Rep Frazier(frazier26@comcast.net) to let her know such legislation shouldn't be supported if introduced.

Reporting on Benfield (HD-85), Cox (HD-102), & Everson (HD-106)

As I mentioned in the first entry of this blog, I have created a form letter to send to each State Senator and House Representative. I am happy to start sharing the replies I have received.

Representative Stephanie Benfield, District 85, a long time ally to LGBT Georgians, wrote:

You have my 100% commitment that I will always oppose a bill banning adoption by LGBT Georgians.

If you have a moment, send Representative Benfield a thank you at stuckey@mindspring.com.





Representative Clay Cox, District 102, wrote:

While I appreciate your email regarding rumored legislation, I cannot comment on a bill until it is actually written and I have read it. I have heard no such rumor.

I sent a response letting him know I understand where he is coming from, & I made sure to note that a number of his peers have had no issues with expressing their views on the topic. I ended with: Let me ask this--Do you have any interest in sponsoring a bill to ban LGBT Georgians from being able to adopt? I'm waiting for his next email.




I mailed Representative Melvin Everson, District 106, a letter on 11/20/08, and here is an excerpt from his reply written on 11/22/08:

I have not heard of any legislation pertaining to this and if some is drafted addressing this issue, I would vote against it.

Representative Everson should be commended for such a swift snail mail reply and for pledging to take a stand against discrimination if needed. If you have a moment, send Representative Everson a thank you note at Melvin Everson, Representative- District 106, 1725 Winding Creek Circle, Snellville, GA 30078.

How It Works

Election Day '08 was bittersweet. The sweet part being the historical election of Senator Obama as the first African-American President of the US, and the bitter part: the discrimination that prevailed in California, Florida, Arizona, and Arkansas. The ballot measures passed in each state make me think about what in Georgia is left to rally the right-wing troops, and it hit me-- placing a ban on adoption by LGBT people. With this haunting thought I did the only thing I knew to do -- start writing elected officials. Thus, NOT IN MY GEORGIA was born. I am writing via email and snail mail each member of the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate with the following initial message:

Dear Representative.....

According to the political rumor mill, a State Senator will sponsor a bill to ban adoption by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) Georgians. What is your opinion on a bill that would ban adoption for LGBT Georgians? If such a bill is sponsored, no matter by whom, how will you cast your vote?

I look forward to your timely response.

Cordially,
Dustin Brookshire

I will share all developments from the correspondences in this blog. I hope you'll stay tuned.