Today, Georgia businesses, faith leaders, mayors, police chiefs, sheriffs and others were included as signatories in friend-of-the court briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the freedom to marry. Georgia Equality and Freedom to Marry played lead roles in enlisting signers from Georgia.

jeff-graham-photo-matt-hennie“We are thrilled but not surprised at the prominent names representing Georgia today in friend-of-the-court briefs in support of marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality (pictured left, photo by Matt Hennie of Project Q). “Support for the freedom to marry in Georgia now outweighs opposition, and Georgia leaders know that their constituents value fairness and equality. We hope the Supreme Court does the right thing and brings marriage for same-sex couples to Georgia, as well as the rest of the country, as soon as possible.

Most notably, 65 signers on a friend-of-the-court brief filed by faith leaders come from Georgia. Significant names include Rev. Dr. Francys Johnson, pastor and president of Georgia’s NAACP; Rev Dr. CT Vivian, civil rights leader and founder of the CT Vivian Leadership Institute; Bishop Keith Whitmore of Atlanta; David Key, Director of Baptist Studies at Emory University’s Candler School; and David Gushee, Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University.

“The stunning breadth and depth of the friend-of-the-court briefs submitted today, with signers from many of America’s leading businesses, clergy, mayors, and others, attest to the sweeping cross-section of the American majority in favor of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples,” said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry. “The sheer numbers, diversity, and eminence of the various signers show that the freedom to marry is a truly American value, not confined by political affiliation or geography. America is ready for the Supreme Court to affirm the freedom to marry nationwide, leaving no state and no family behind.”

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Major Georgia-based business signers include the Coca Cola Company and Delta Airlines. In addition, Mayor Kasim Reed of Atlanta (above); Mayor Jannquell Peters of East Point; Mayor James Thomas Jr. of Hinesville; and Mayor Edward Terry of Clarkson all signed onto a mayors’ brief in support of marriage.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in marriage cases on April 28.

The briefs can be found here: freedomtomarry.org/supremecourtbriefs