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Elizabeth Birch Addresses
Atlanta Pride, Invokes Stonewall

Progress: Atlanta's City Council President is an Out Lesbian

Human Rights Campaigner Sees 'Just How Far We've Come'

By Elizabeth Birch
Executive Director,
Human Rights Campaign

Welcome to Atlanta Pride! It has been 33 years since the historic day in front of the Stonewall Inn when brave gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists stood up proudly for their rights and launched a movement. Looking back, it's easy to see how far we've come.

Thirty years ago, it would have been nearly impossible to dream that Atlanta would have an out lesbian as its City Council president, offer domestic partner benefits and protect its public employees from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity.

HRC's Elizabeth Birch: By coming out to others you can free yourself - and turn ignorance into greater understanding and political support

It would have been hard to imagine that hit music acts could be led by out and proud artists. It would have been difficult to believe that the majority of Americans support equality in the workplace for gay and lesbian Americans.

But that's just how far we've come. When Cathy Woolard, former field director at the Human Rights Campaign, took her seat as president of the Atlanta City Council in January, she proved that being out would not stop her from attaining her goals.

Cathy has worked many years for civil rights initiatives and continues to do so in her leadership position. Every day, she shows that being out and visible cannot hold her back.

Alongside other rockers, the Atlanta-based Indigo Girls have lent their names to a new poster for the HRC Foundation's National Coming Out Project that features the theme "Being Out Rocks." The two show that being open and honest is no hindrance to fulfilling your dreams. And they have inspired many to take their own steps out of the closet.

The power of being out and proud also translates to political power. According to a 2001 poll for HRC by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, people who knew someone gay were significantly more likely to support equal rights for gay people.

An overwhelming 90 percent who knew someone gay or lesbian thought that Americans deserved equal rights in employment regardless of sexual orientation. Although still a high majority, the number dropped to 77 percent among those who didn't know someone gay or lesbian.

The lesson: By coming out to others you can free yourself - and turn ignorance into greater understanding and political support.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Lonely Hunters: An Oral History of Lesbian and Gay Southern Life

Rebels, Rubyfruit & Rhinestones: Queering Space in the Stonewall South

The Legend of the Stonewall Inn: What Does It Mean?

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When we take stock of how far we've come, it's easy to be proud. But we still have far to go. For example, it is legal in 38 states to fire people solely because of their sexual orientation.

Only two states, Minnesota and Rhode Island, have laws that prohibit discrimination against transgender citizens. Hate crimes laws in 23 states cover sexual orientation, but only four states cover gender identity. And same-sex couples cannot get legally married in any state in the nation.

According to the 2000 census, same-sex couples live in 99.3 of all counties in the nation, but we are still treated unequally under the law. That must change - and it will.

The power of pride is to remember how far we've come as a community - and then do more. I invite you to get involved today by joining the Human Rights Campaign if you are not already a member and celebrate National Coming Out Day on October 11.

I also encourage you to work with your state GLBT groups, visit your local GLBT community center and continue to be proud and out. If you do, just imagine what we can accomplish 33 years from today.