Legislative Speech to College Students

I truly take pride in being able to address this body of students today, not only have you all taken the leap into gaining a college education from a great educational institution like UGA but you have also decided to find time between your rigorous students to advocate for democratic values through participating in groups like the Young Democrats. In addition you have made the decision to align yourself with students who advocate for alliances for freedom of expression and protecting individual liberties through your school’s Gay Straight Alliance. It is not by chance that I am addressing this body of students because your city, state and country need your leadership, guidance and involvement in ensuring we stay on path that is inclusive of all people, a country where governments work for all people and a democratic party that looks to its young people as the future.
I have the distinct opportunity to serve as a member of Georgia’s State House Representatives representing the 60th district of Georgia, which comprises Fulton County, Clayton County, the City of Atlanta, Forest Park, College Park, East Point and Hapeville. While I am proud to serve this great district many of the areas in my district are suffering for issues of high unemployment, record foreclosures, code enforcement violations and unfortunately a quality of life that residents are not pleased with. That is why I believe I was elected because the voters see my passion for working hard to protect their interest, improve the quality of life and be change maker. This is the same reason why I stand before you today because our society is calling on you to be the protectors of our communities, deliver innovative solutions to our country’s many problems and work to see a better life for every American. The call has been made, will you answer?
I firmly believe that, that call has already been answered based on the actions of those joined with me today. Here at UGA the two student group represented today work tirelessly ensure that the democratic party platform is delivered to all of those that need to hear and that we are preaching messages of tolerance, peace, love and understanding for people who many not look like us, love like us and think like us. But I strongly encourage you all to go beyond your schools borders; there is state and country that need more people registered and knowledgeable concerning the bedrock of our democracy which is the ability to participate in free and un-bought elections. The only way to keep our electorally process this way is by making sure that we are maximizing voter participation, many people are registered to vote but still have yet to ulitilize their full voting power. There are some of my colleagues who do not see you as an important part of their constituency, who voted against increasing financial aid for college students, vote against allowing you to use your college student ID at the voting booth, reducing benefits to the hope scholarship and even proposed legislation that would deny you the ability of freedom of speech to hold government accountable with legislation like HB469 that would eliminate mass picketing and protest. I voted against that bill, because I believe that sometimes in order to get the results we need, we must agitate, agitate, agitate! I was so humbled two weeks ago when I participated in the rally and protest for justice for Travyon Martin, organized by Student Government Associations from metro Atlanta colleges. Thousands upon thousands of students from Morehouse, Spelman, Clark, Georgia State, Georgia Tech and yes even UGA join people from across the state, across age groups and racial backgrounds to unite for justice for a young man they did not even know. A month before that I saw an unofficial Gay Straight Alliance formed by everyday citizens lead by young people who host a rally of communities united for safety rally to ensure that the beating of young gay man on film did not go ignored, this rally even garnered the attention of Congressman John Lewis who join the crowd on a cold February morning to rally for peace.
You see the commonality with the two events I just mention were that young people were in the driver’s seat, charting a course for where we should go as a society. I understand my role as an elected official is to support you all and all I ask is that you support those who support you. Invest your time, energy, votes, money and resources into those that invest in you. It is hard fight for what is right but it is fight that I am willing to be a part of. While you all continue to strategize be sure to allow conflicting opinions, be tolerant of those who do not share your same school of thought. Create safe spaces where people can be themselves and express themselves freely, when those spaces are created then ideas can follow freely, because people are allowed to share the experiences, inner thoughts, fears and hopes for the future, without the concern of others passing judgment. I believe that through these safe spaces victories for the LGBT community like the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell can be won, along with the countless states who have recently allowed civil unions or gay marriage. We have to be able to allow our straight allies and even those who are not yet allies to share their thoughts, opinions, fears and anxieties concerning LGBT rights. When we allow this to happen, people become more educated about us and slowly but surely their ill conceived notions and opinions change, but this can only happen with safe and judgment free spaces for all people gay and straight alike. It is my hope to see more spaces like this in the State of Georgia, so that legislation like HB630 that would have outlawed sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination against all state employees will be passed. I worked tirelessly lobbying my fellow legislators, many of which are extremely conservative on this piece of legislation because I know the wide implication the passage of a bill like this would have on Georgia LGBT community. But even in that lobbying effort I met backlash from those where it was expected and from some where it was not, yet I even as a legislator created safe space for my colleagues to share their opinions, whether they were right or wrong. Educating others and teaching tolerance unfortunately takes time, but it is time well spent. Even more important safe spaces can even do much more than any piece of legislation that I as a government leader can pass or vote down. Safe space work towards eliminating stigma which is something you cannot legislate. While DOMA has been officially over turned that still does not bring comfort to my former partner who high ranking member of the armed services. I remember the anxiety in her heart about the tough balance of being her duties to her country and the duty to herself as a lesbian woman, and this was before the repeal of DOMA. But even to this day with this historic decision now being the law of the land, she still has decided to not live in her truth during her military career because while legislators made a decision to overturn this law, it will take a much longer time to overturn the stigma, hatred and ill conceived notions still in the heart of some of our fellow men and women. Safe spaces work to overturn stigma.
Furthermore, while the Gay/Straight allied community can look to many successes we still have much more work to do. In the U.S. the State of Georgia is number one in the nation for the highest waiting list for AIDS Drug Assistance Program, a program that provides life saving drugs to those who are living with AIDS/HIV. This is very troubling to me, having lost my brother at the ripe age of 34 to the deadly AIDS virus. Not only are many of the people on the waiting list, are without the drugs they need to survive, they are also with the love, care and support they need to live happy, healthy and productive lives. I remember when my brother was on his death bed how my family was not as supportive as they could have been. I remember the shame my dying brother experienced seeing his own family were protective mask over their face when they came to see him. And when he finally passed even in death there was no justice, having a protective covering placed over his casket due to concerns that he could still infect someone. I need your help in lobbying and advocating for more funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, along with ensuring that we are funding HIV/AIDS prevention measures. However what I need your help with even more is the fight against stigma, because stigma is something I cannot legislate. While I can fight tirelessly to ensure that no one else in Georgia dies from this deadly virus, what would even protect them memory of my brother and countless others whose souls have been lost to this deadly virus is to create a safe space where ever you are to make sure we can share, learn and grow together.
In closing I would like to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address your organizations today. Your involvement is vital to the success of this state, country and arguably our world. When I look at legislation down at the Gold Dome, I not only think about how it will directly affect my constituency today, but the implication it will have for them in the future and the implications it will have for your futures. Know that I am fighting daily to make sure that you all have an opportunity to leave your mark, so that the next generation can do the same. We are not just fighting to make our impression but fighting so that someone else can have a chance to make their impression too.

Thank you