; Whereas, in 1997, Cathy Woolard became the first openly gay individual elected in Georgia, as a member of the Atlanta City Council; Whereas, in 1998, the Georgia Supreme Court struck down State law prohibiting same-sex relations as unconstitutional; Whereas, in 2003, Fulton County became the first county in the State to recognize domestic benefits for residents in same-sex unions; Whereas, in 2015, the Supreme Court decided in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage should be legal and recognized across the country, representing a massive victory for LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide; Whereas Georgia is home to an estimated 425,000 individuals identifying as members of the LGBTQ+ community; Whereas public opinion polls find that a majority of Georgia residents support same-sex marriage and support implementing antidiscrimination laws based on sexual orientation; and Whereas there are currently no Georgia State laws to protect against LGBTQ+ discrimination in family services, housing, banking, public accommodations, health care, and education: Now, therefore, be it