Whereas LGBTQ+ individuals in Georgia have historically encountered bigotry, discrimination, hatred, and violence, but have struggled tirelessly to obtain equal rights and protection of the law; Whereas, in 1833, the Georgia General Assembly codified a prohibition on same-sex relations, threatening LGBTQ+ individuals with harsh punishment for expressing their love; Whereas, in 1953, 20 gay men were arrested in a sting operation at the Atlanta Public Library, continuing a pattern of targeted action by members of law enforcement against the gay community; Whereas, in 1969, Atlanta police initiated a raid on a movie theater known to be frequented by gay individuals; Whereas such events inspired young generations of gay Georgians to rally in a public manner to promote their cause to end discrimination and guarantee equality; Whereas, in 1971, the inaugural Atlanta Gay Pride Parade was organized by the Georgia Gay Liberation Front, providing an outlet for the LGBTQ+ community to openly display their pride and embrace of gay culture; Whereas, in 1972, the first Metropolitan Community Church, an LGBTQ+-affirming Protestant denomination, opened in Atlanta; Whereas, in 1972, then-Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell appointed Charlie St. John as the city’s first LGBTQ+ liaison to the city government as part of the Community Relations Commission; Whereas, in 1974, activist Bill Smith founded the Atlanta Barb, Georgia’s first newspaper dedicated to covering the LGBTQ+ community; Whereas, in 1976, the Atlanta Gay Center, a community organization that provided direct support and resources to the LGBTQ+ community, was founded and opened; Whereas, in 1978, a bigoted, antigay rally in Georgia drew a crowd of 4,000 people; Whereas, in 1979, thousands of Georgians joined in the first national March on Washington for gay rights; Whereas, by 1981, the HIV/AIDS crisis had come to the forefront of national attention partly due to the work of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta to study and treat the disease