Georgia Voice, in partnership with Atlanta Pride, asked readers to submit questions concerning LGBTQ+ issues for the 15 candidates seeking to be the state’s next governor.
Of those 15 candidates, only four of the seven Democratic candidates responded to the questionnaire we emailed to each campaign. None of the Republican candidates responded to or acknowledged receiving the questionnaire.
The field of candidates will be narrowed after the May 19 primary, which is likely to end in a runoff for both parties. The runoff election is set for June 16. The top Democrat and Republican candidates will square off in the midterm election set for Nov. 3.
Early voting for the primary ends on May 15. You can find early voting locations here. Find out more about the election here.
Below, you will find the unedited responses from the candidates to the five questions we selected from readers.
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Keisha Lance Bottoms, 55, is the former mayor of Atlanta (2018–2022) and previously served on the Atlanta City Council after beginning her career as a judge. She later worked in the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement before launching her 2026 gubernatorial bid. Her campaign website is keishaforgovernor.com.
Both the Trump and Kemp administrations have rolled back protections and resources for LGBTQ+ Georgians. As Georgia’s next governor, what specific actions would you take to restore and strengthen those protections?
Every Georgian deserves to feel safe and respected at school, at work, and in their communities. As governor, I will protect the rights and dignity of every Georgian — including LGBTQ+ Georgians.
As a judge, I ensured fairness and dignity in my courtroom. As a member of the Atlanta City Council, I supported pro-LGBTQ legislation. As Mayor of Atlanta, I appointed the first-ever director of LGBTQ affairs in the Southeastern United States, a position that led cities like Chicago and Boston to seek our counsel as they followed suit. I also formed Atlanta’s first Mayor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, a broad and diverse group created to ensure that LGBTQ+ residents had a true seat at the table and could help inform both our policies and our actions. As Senior Advisor to President Biden, I was proud to stand with the administration as we advanced historic federal protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.
As Mayor, my administration made the first ever direct city spending on HIV and AIDS prevention and appointed the city’s first Chief Health Officer and an executive fellow to devise a strategy to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic ravaging our region. When I am leading the state, I will support Medicaid expansion, which would close critical healthcare gaps for LGBTQ+ Georgians, including improved access to HIV prevention, treatment, and PrEP services that save lives and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
As governor, I will take critical actions to support LGBTQ+ Georgians, including:
● Forming a statewide LGBTQ+ Advisory Council to ensure that Georgians from every corner of the state can help shape the policies that affect their lives.
● Appointing a Senior Leader within my administration whose policy portfolio includes protecting and advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ Georgians.
● Use the governor’s appointment power to ensure that our boards and commissions reflect the people they serve, including LGBTQ+ voices.
● Ensure that our law enforcement agencies track and report hate crimes data so that we are responding to the problem with facts, not silence.
● Work to protect LGBTQ+ youth from bullying in Georgia schools by supporting enumerated anti-bullying policies. Every young person in this state deserves to feel safe at school.
● Remove barriers that prevent qualified LGBTQ+ Georgians from adopting and fostering children, because what matters is whether a child has a safe and loving home — not the identity of the parent.
● Pursue a ban on the discredited and harmful practice of conversion therapy for minors, consistent with the consensus of every major medical organization in the country.
● Support state hate crime laws that also cover bias based on gender identity to stop the horrific crimes against the Transgender community.
Additionally, our campaign is building the Out for Bottoms coalition — a statewide network of leaders who will continue to highlight the priorities of LGBTQ+ Georgians and advise our administration.
My mayoral administration partnered with the Human Rights Campaign to convene the first-ever gathering of municipal LGBTQ+ liaisons in America. Much like I did as Mayor of Atlanta, as Governor, I will partner with like-minded states across the country. I will work to build a coalition of pro-equality states so we can learn from each other, build momentum, and strengthen protections together – such as fighting back against the Supreme Court’s attempts to undermine states’ ability to ban harmful conversion therapy.
LGBTQ+ Georgians don’t have to wonder whether they can count on me as an ally, because in every public office I’ve ever held, I’ve done the work.
Georgia has no statewide law explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, or public accommodations. What policies would you champion supporting the LGBTQ+ community (e.g., a statewide nondiscrimination law)?
I believe every Georgian should be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect, no matter who they are, who they love, or where they live. As governor, I would support efforts to strengthen nondiscrimination protections in Georgia, including protections related to sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Atlanta passed the first nondiscrimination ordinance in the state in 2000, and for two decades it remained the only city in Georgia with those protections. In recent years, similar ordinances have passed across the metro region, but Georgians should not have to depend on their zip code to know whether they are protected from discrimination. As governor, I will take action on statewide protections for all Georgians.
State policy must also be paired with meaningful enforcement, education, and accountability. That includes ensuring there is a clear process for Georgians to report discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, and that complaints are reviewed fairly and consistently. It also means offering professional development and training across state departments, agencies, and partners so that all Georgians are served with respect and competence.
The landmark Bostock v. Clayton County decision — a case that originated right here in Georgia — affirmed that federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ+ workers from employment discrimination. As governor, I would work to ensure that Georgia’s state policies reflect that principle and that Georgians understand the rights and protections they already have under federal law.
The transgender community is experiencing unprecedented legal attacks at all levels of government. Do you support access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender adults and minors? What limits, if any, would you support?
I trust Georgia’s families and their doctors to make the decisions that are right for them.
Every major medical body in the United States has affirmed that gender-affirming health care is life-saving health care. The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Endocrine Society all agree.
I do not believe the government should weigh in on medical decisions made by Georgians and their physicians. These are deeply personal medical decisions, and they should be guided by evidence, made with care, and supported by qualified professionals — not dictated by politicians looking to score political points.
Beyond healthcare, transgender Georgians face attacks on their ability to update identity documents, use public facilities, and participate in school life. What will you do to protect the rights, dignity, and access to care for transgender adults and children in Georgia?
This work is personal to me, because I’ve seen what leadership can do.
During my time as Mayor, I issued an Administrative Order creating over 100 single-stall, all-gender restrooms across the City of Atlanta — including dozens in the world’s busiest airport — because we knew that far too often, trans people face harassment, violence, and anxiety simply for using a restroom.
We also directed city funding to trans-led nonprofits to strengthen their on-the-ground services. Additionally, we launched Atlanta’s first partnership to help trans residents access free legal representation and cover associated costs for name changes and other identity documents. And we illuminated the canopies at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in the colors of the trans flag for Transgender Day of Visibility, as we remembered those taken by anti-trans violence.
As governor, I will work to make the state government more respectful, accessible, and responsive to the needs of all Georgians. That includes supporting expanded access to single-stall, all-gender restrooms in state facilities, working with internal and external partners to address barriers that too often keep trans Georgians from accessing stable employment and housing, and promoting policies within Georgia’s correctional system that help ensure transgender people are housed appropriately, treated with dignity, and protected from abuse.
Many of the policies I’ve already described — the state’s first LGBTQ+ liaison, an Advisory Council, and a commission on human rights — will serve as critical infrastructure for protecting trans Georgians specifically.
And most importantly, I will listen. I’ve often said, you don’t know what you don’t know. This work cannot be done alone, and it cannot be done in silos. Georgia has incredible trans leaders and nonprofits, and they will work alongside us to shape policy. Their voices will not be an afterthought — they will be part of the process from day one.
As other states attempt to roll back marriage equality, what is your stance on same-sex marriage, and will you pledge to preserve it?
Yes.
As Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden, I was proud to stand with him in 2022 as he signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, surrounded by thousands of hard-working LGBTQ+ advocates who had fought for that moment.
As governor, I will go further: I will work to codify marriage equality in Georgia law so that same-sex couples’ families and legal rights remain protected regardless of shifting federal courts. No family in this state should have to wonder whether their marriage is safe.
My stance on same-sex marriage is what it’s always been: the same values my parents instilled in me at a young age. Love is love. Period.
In every office I’ve held, LGBTQ+ people have served as crucial advisors and collaborators — leaders whose counsel I sought and trusted.
Shortly after I was elected Mayor, Georgia Voice ran a headline that said: “Mayor Bottoms has our back!”
It was true then. It is true now. And it will be true as the next governor of Georgia.
Amanda Duffy
Amanda Duffy is an accountant and political newcomer seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026. Unlike many of her rivals, Duffy has not previously held elected office, instead running as an outsider candidate. Her campaign website is duffyforgeorgia.com.
Both the Trump and Kemp administrations have rolled back protections and resources for LGBTQ+ Georgians. As Georgia’s next governor, what specific actions would you take to restore and strengthen those protections?
Georgia is one of only 3 states nationally that has no statewide nondiscrimination legislation protecting LGBTQ+ Georgians specifically with housing, private employment, and public accommodations. I will seek bipartisan support to introduce and pass this legislation. I firmly believe that we should learn lessons from our history, and no one should ever be afraid of the differences between people regardless of how “different” looks in this century. Fear of change due to lack of understanding is never a reason to not pass legislation, subsequently making fellow citizens feel unsafe in their own state. Introducing legislation and seeking to pass that legislation working with Senators and House Representatives, that undergirds every Georgian’s right to nondiscrimination will be a priority of my governorship. I am hopeful that I will be able to include nondiscrimination legislation for neurodivergent peoples as well with this endeavor.
With regards to education, I plan to push forward with mandating tailored protections for LGBTQ+ students and neurodivergent students in regards to rules prohibiting bullying in our schools. Requiring these be specified will help undergird my seriousness with the preventative bullying reforms I have in mind to help the children of Georgia. It is imperative that this is addressed.
Additionally, I would like to figure out how as Governor I can help restore or lessen the damage done with the 2025 anti-LGBTQ+ legislation restricting gender-affirming care, however I believe this will require further research in specifically how I can assist in my role Governor, working with Senators and House Representatives. Protecting children’s rights becomes tricky when parents feel like they have sole control over all their children’s decisions simply because they are the legal guardian/s. Bodily autonomy is of paramount importance for every individual regardless of age, gender or any other possibly discriminating difference. By pushing for understanding of this simplified concept, I am hopeful that we can collaboratively make great strides in restoring and strengthening protections for our LGBTQ+ community.
Georgia has no statewide law explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, or public accommodations. What policies would you champion supporting the LGBTQ+ community (e.g., a statewide nondiscrimination law)?
I plan to support a statewide nondiscrimination law and championing mandating specifying tailored protections for LGBTQ+ students and neurodivergent students in regards to bullying prohibitions in our public schools. Additionally, I plan to work with state legislators to make strides in restoring and strengthening protections for LGBTQ+ through focusing on bodily autonomy for every individual including children.
The transgender community is experiencing unprecedented legal attacks at all levels of government. Do you support access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender adults and minors? What limits, if any, would you support?
Yes, I support access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender adults and minors, however, I believe limits for minors must unfortunately be put into place to prevent possible parental abuse and possible detrimental decision-making made on behalf of minors by their legal guardians, and taking into account that developmentally-speaking a child’s brain does not fully develop until age 25 anyway. Since our state has swung so far in the anti-LGBTQ+ direction, it feels necessary to take small deliberate steps towards some semblance of the proverbial “middle.” With this line of thinking, focusing on compromising between developmental autonomy at age 25 and the legal age of 18 being so appropriate for so many other coming-of-age choices, in addition to health insurances covering young adults under their parents’ insurance for a time beyond 18 years of age, 18 years old would be the age at which I feel we can realistically limit up until, simultaneously allowing the state to protect children from their parents, and a reasonable compromise I believe we can realistically get supported by the anti-LGBTQ+ community.
Beyond healthcare, transgender Georgians face attacks on their ability to update identity documents, use public facilities, and participate in school life. What will you do to protect the rights, dignity, and access to care for transgender adults and children in Georgia?
Regarding updating identity documents, I plan to propose an amendment to Georgia’s name change law (Georgia Code § 19-12-1) to allow for an LGBTQ+ protection that will allow for an exemption to the mandatory name change publication requirement citing preventing potential discrimination against the individual. The law is to prohibit fraud, avoiding law enforcement, etc. for all citizens, but this added amendment could help alleviate the safety issues with publication.
Regarding usage of public facilities, and participation in school life, I plan to support statewide nondiscrimination legislation to protect LGBTQ+ people in regards to public accommodations. For children in schools, however this will have to be handled with grace and tactfulness. I personally believe we should protect our transgender students’ rights to privacy with restrooms and with locker rooms, however funding to make anything separate seems unrealistic at this time and gets too close to discrimination for my taste. I will strive to push for bipartisan legislation to support children’s use of facilities based not on their sex at birth but on their chosen gender citing nondiscrimination of any sort against any individual in Georgia for any reason. Supporting a child’s growth including their gender, however any aspect of that may change is of the utmost importance because mental health of all our children matters more than inconvenience or lack of understanding of that child’s community. We must seek to understand differences, not fear them; to approach all differences with curiosity is a value I plan to embody and lead with as Governor.
As other states attempt to roll back marriage equality, what is your stance on same-sex marriage, and will you pledge to preserve it?
I support and pledge to preserve same-sex marriage in Georgia.
Geoff Duncan
Geoff Duncan, 51, is a former lieutenant governor of Georgia who served from 2019 to 2023 and previously represented the 26th District in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017. Originally elected as a Republican, Duncan switched parties in 2025 and is now running as a Democrat in the 2026 governor’s race. His campaign website is duncanforgeorgia.com.
Both the Trump and Kemp administrations have rolled back protections and resources for LGBTQ+ Georgians. As Georgia’s next governor, what specific actions would you take to restore and strengthen those protections?
For me, this is personal. I came to realize that, for too long, being a Republican meant loving your neighbor, with asterisks. If my neighbor didn’t look like me, love like me, or vote like me, they were somehow seen as less deserving. That’s not the kind of leadership I believe in, and it’s not the kind of Georgia I want to build.
I became a Democrat because I believe everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and a seat at the table. I often say I didn’t lose my mind—I found my heart. And that means showing up for all Georgians.
Every Georgian deserves to live with dignity, safety, and equal protection under the law, regardless of who they are or who they love. As governor, I will work to ensure that LGBTQ+ Georgians are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and public life. My administration will oppose efforts that target or marginalize LGBTQ+ individuals and will support policies that promote fairness, respect, and opportunity for all people.
My administration will be the most pro-equality of any in the state’s history. As governor, my administration will reflect the diversity of our great state and will have LGBTQ+ people serving in the highest levels of government to advise on policies and opportunities that ultimately helps make our state the most welcoming for everyone.
Georgia has no statewide law explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, or public accommodations. What policies would you champion supporting the LGBTQ+ community (e.g., a statewide nondiscrimination law)?
My support of the LGBTQ+ community is longstanding and personal to me. Throughout my career and especially as Lieutenant Governor, I cultivated a welcoming and inclusive environment in my office while also hiring an incredibly diverse team that included members of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, as part of the bipartisan Hate Crimes Legislation that I helped pass in 2020, we worked hard to ensure that legislation included protections for LGBTQ+ people. As governor, I’ll do even more to uplift, protect and further the rights of all Georgians, including for LGBTQ+ individuals. I’ll work to enact legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and use the full weight of the courts to enforce it.
The transgender community is experiencing unprecedented legal attacks at all levels of government. Do you support access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender adults and minors? What limits, if any, would you support?
Under my administration, I’ll work to ensure that all Georgians are protected, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. There is no place for discrimination or hatred in Georgia.
Beyond healthcare, transgender Georgians face attacks on their ability to update identity documents, use public facilities, and participate in school life. What will you do to protect the rights, dignity, and access to care for transgender adults and children in Georgia?
There is no place for intolerance, hatred or discrimination in Georgia. As governor, I’ll ensure that all LGBTQ Georgians have every protection under the law to live their lives authentically and with pride.
As other states attempt to roll back marriage equality, what is your stance on same-sex marriage, and will you pledge to preserve it?
I believe in marriage equality and will fight to preserve it here in Georgia. All of our LGBTQ citizens deserve the right to marry who they love.
Jason Esteves
Jason Esteves, 42, is an attorney and former Georgia state senator who represented District 35 from 2023 to 2025. Before his time in the legislature, he served on the Atlanta Board of Education, including a term as board chair. Esteves resigned his Senate seat to focus on his gubernatorial campaign, positioning himself as a policy-focused Democrat. His campaign website is jasonesteves.com.
Both the Trump and Kemp administrations have rolled back protections and resources for LGBTQ+ Georgians. As Georgia’s next governor, what specific actions would you take to restore and strengthen those protections?
As governor, I will make it clear that Georgia is not a place where LGBTQ+ people are used as political targets. That starts with stopping discriminatory legislation and fighting the kinds of rollbacks of protections we’ve seen in recent years. It also means using the full authority of the office to appoint leaders to state agencies and boards who are committed to fairness and directing agencies to enforce nondiscrimination policies. I will create a statewide LGBTQ+ taskforce to identify ways Georgia can be more welcoming and safe for LGTBQ+ Georgians. I’ve already advanced these principles in my career, standing up for LGBTQ+ students and families on the Atlanta School Board and fighting extremist legislation in the State Senate. As governor, I’ll build on that record and make sure Georgia is moving forward, not backward, on civil rights for all.
Georgia has no statewide law explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, or public accommodations. What policies would you champion supporting the LGBTQ+ community (e.g., a statewide nondiscrimination law)?
I support passing a comprehensive state civil rights law that clearly protects people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, and education. As a state senator, I supported legislation to set that standard. I also advocated against laws, like the religious freedom bill, that would allow for discrimination. No one should lose a job, be denied housing, or be turned away from a business because of who they are. I’ll work with lawmakers, business leaders, and advocates to build support for a law that reflects fairness and also recognizes that inclusive states are stronger economically and more competitive.
The transgender community is experiencing unprecedented legal attacks at all levels of government. Do you support access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender adults and minors? What limits, if any, would you support?
I support access to gender-affirming medical care, and I believe that these decisions are best made by patients, parents, and qualified medical professionals — not the government. Government overreach in this area causes real harm, and as governor, I will oppose it.
Beyond healthcare, transgender Georgians face attacks on their ability to update identity documents, use public facilities, and participate in school life. What will you do to protect the rights, dignity, and access to care for transgender adults and children in Georgia?
As governor, my top responsibility will be to keep Georgians safe. I’ve met with trans Georgians and their families, and I understand the fear that they feel, for their safety and for their ability to live their full, authentic lives. As governor, I will support policies that ensure trans Georgians are safe and feel welcomed in their communities. I will oppose policies that target transgender students. I support legislation to ban discrimination based on gender identity, and I will make this a priority, beginning with updating the nondiscrimination policies of state agencies.
As other states attempt to roll back marriage equality, what is your stance on same-sex marriage, and will you pledge to preserve it?
I fully support marriage equality and will protect it as governor, including supporting a referendum to amend Georgia’s constitution to protect same-sex marriage.
