Making History With Five Words

Georgia State Legislature Representative Rashad Taylor, of House District 55, made history lat week by coming out as a gay. He is the first gay man in the Georgia State Legislature to do so.

"I am a gay man," said the representative at the press conference held today at Georgia Equality's office at the Phillip Rush Center. He was met with great applause and a proud mother in the audience. "For some days it may take two days, for some it takes two years or 20 years” commented Taylor on the sensitive issue of coming out. First elected in 2008 Taylor joins State Representatives Karla Drenner and Simone Bell to become the third openly LGBT person in the Legislature.

Not only is Rep. Taylor an outstanding citizen in the political scope, but he is also a active individual in his community. He has led various organizations including Atlanta Jobs with Justice, Youth Task Force etc.

With no state level recognition of same sex couples and no state wide anti-LGBT discrimination protection for employees or youth, Taylor faces a difficult political climate. “I serve in public office and try to retain some semblance of a private life” said Taylor. However this is how change occurs: from individual to individual, district to district, county to county.

As a youth looking to be involved in the political world I want to say that he has inspired me. We need more elected officials to be allies to the LGBT community and mostly we need to create a political culture that accepts diversity for the positive contribution it makes to our society.