LGBT rights in Georgia | |
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Georgia (US) |
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Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Legal since 1998 (Powell v. Georgia) |
Gender identity/expression | - |
Family rights | |
Recognition of relationships |
None |
Restrictions:
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Georgia Constitutional Amendment 1 (2004) limits marriage to man/woman, places restrictions on non-marriage types of same-sex unions |
Adoption | - |
Few precedents for rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered residents exist in the U.S. state of Georgia at the state level.
Contents |
Laws against homosexuality
Homosexual acts are legal in Georgia, previously criminalized until the state's sodomy laws (which applied to both homosexuals and heterosexuals) were struck down in 1998 by Powell v. Georgia (years before the 2003 federal-level strikedown by Lawrence vs. Texas).
Recognition of same-sex relationships
There is no state-level legal recognition of same-sex marriages, such having been prohibited by Georgia Constitutional Amendment 1 in 2004. A few municipal entities, such as Atlanta, maintain a domestic partnerships registry for city employees who are in both same-sex and opposite sex cohabiting couples.[1]
Discrimination protection
Georgia law does not protect against employee discrimination based on sexual orientation.[2] The state of Georgia does not protect employees from discrimination based on gender identity. However, Clarke County and the cities of Decatur and Pine Lake protect government employees, and the city of Atlanta protects all employees against discrimination based on gender identity.[3]
Hate crimes law
Gender reassignment
Georgia permits post-operative transgender people to amend their sex on their birth certificates.[4]
References
- ^ Shirley Franklin and Cathy Woolard (June 3, 2003). "MAYOR FRANKLIN WEIGHS IN ON BEHALF OF DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS FOR FULTON COUNTY EMPLOYEES". City of Atlanta. http://www.atlantaga.gov/media/domesticpartners_060403.aspx.
- ^ State Bar of Georgia. "What Georgia Employers Need To Know". Georgia Secretary of State. http://www.sos.ga.gov/firststop/georgia_employers.htm. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
- ^ "Non-Discrimination Laws That Include Gender Identity and Expression". http://www.transgenderlaw.org/ndlaws/index.htm. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
- ^ Human Rights Campaign: Georgia Birth Certificate Law: Gender Identity Issues, accessed July 6, 2011
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