GEORGIA CERTAINLY ISN’T New York, as the tactics in our respective governor’s races showed this week. But if our governor wants us to believe that he harbors gay Georgians no ill will (just the state’s “radical homosexual lobby”), there are a few basic issues that belong on the “Sonny do” list that his television ads tout.

1. 1. Sonny, do not engage in any further gay-baiting in this campaign. It demonizes your fellow citizens, and it’s not like you need it to win.
2. In your second term, Sonny, do not allow GOP lawmakers to bluster about banning gay adoption. As a foster parent yourself, you know that debating whether children are better off with opposite-sex or same-sex parents is irrelevant until there are enough adoptive parents for all of the kids languishing in state care.
3. If you truly mean what you say about gay Georgians being free to “work and live our lives,” Sonny, do prove it. It’s currently completely legal in Georgia to fire someone for being gay, so issue an executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation for state employees, and push the legislature to pass a law covering the private sector.
4. If that is more than you can stomach, Sonny, do start by allowing us to live our lives by backing a hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation. After our first hate crimes law was struck down for being too vague, Georgia is now one of 21 states with no gay-inclusive statute.
5. And if you don’t do any of those things, Sonny, at least do not attempt to pacify us with any more comments about how you don’t hate us while you attack our relationships for political gain.

Sonny, do recognize that our families have value, too.

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