Georgia Equality endorses Keisha Lance Bottoms

Georgia Equality has endorsed Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor of Georgia. This is the first endorsement from the LGBTQ+ advocacy group for the upcoming November election.

Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, won the Democratic primary on May 19, beating the five other candidates with 56.2% of the vote. She will face either Burt Jones or Rick Jackson, the Republican candidates who are going to a runoff in June, in November’s gubernatorial election.

As mayor of Atlanta, Bottoms formed the city’s first LGBTQ+ Advisory Board in 2018, which helped shape the City’s policies and engagements with Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ communities and served as a bridge between City Hall and LGBTQ+ residents.

“I ask for the support of Georgia’s LGBTQ+ and allied voters because I have shown, time and again, that my support is not conditional, convenient, or performative,” Bottoms said in a statement. “I have stood with this community in moments of celebration, in moments of crisis, and in the everyday work of governing. I have always worked to make sure LGBTQ+ Georgians are seen, respected, protected, and included. My record reflects that, but just as importantly, so do my values. I believe every Georgian deserves dignity, safety, freedom, and a government that treats them like they matter.”

Georgia Equality backed 55 candidates in the primary election, 29 of whom won or went to a runoff. The organization initially endorsed Jason Esteves during the Democratic primary on May 19, but Bottoms defeated him and the other candidates to win outright.

Related story: Georgia Equality-backed LGBTQ+ candidates and allies see mixed results in primary election

The voter registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 5, and Election Day is Nov. 3. Voting information can be found on the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.