History was made last night in Georgia as Simone Bell won a runoff election in Atlanta area State House District 58 to become the first openly lesbian African-American state legislator in the United States.Bell becomes the second openly LGBT member of the Georgia State House, joining another Atlanta area member in Rep. Karla Drenner.
Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund said in GayPolitics.com,“This is a tremendous victory for LGBT Georgians. Simone is a longtime leader in her community, and she will be a huge asset in the Georgia State House,”
Simone has worked as an activist and advocate in Atlanta and across the south for more than 20 years. She’s tackled a broad range of issues including workplace equality, access to affordable health care, fighting HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination, safe schools for all children, youth empowerment and women’s issues.
Congrats Representative-Elect Bell on your historic victory and may you have a long and distinguished tenure in the Georgia State House.