The Light of Hope After a Dark Year
2023 is coming to a close. As we have worked on this issue, reviewing the impact the year has had on the LGBTQ community, we have done so with heavy hearts. As you will see throughout this issue, 2023 was an extraordinarily difficult and dangerous year for LGBTQ people. States across the country introduced bills targeting trans healthcare, drag performers, and LGBTQ youth, making this year a record year for anti-LGBTQ legislation. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of those who wish to exclude and discriminate against us. Corporations crumbled in the face of homophobes and transphobes who opposed their Pride Month merchandise. At least 30 trans and non-binary people were murdered – 87 percent of whom were people of color, including Atlantans Tortuguita, Ashley Burton, and Koko Da Doll.
While we still celebrated some wins throughout the year, it’s easy to feel more terrified than hopeful about what the future holds for us. It’s easy to see the downward trajectory queer rights have taken over the past couple of years and fear the potential new lows we may reach. But in the face of adversity, it is hope that is our greatest weapon. It is hope that sends us to the polls, to the picket lines, to the protests, and to the organizations working tirelessly to make this world safe and loving. It is hope that pushes us into 2024 anew, ready to keep fighting. Without hope, we are nothing.
It is with hopeful hearts that we announce our 2024 editorial calendar. With new issue themes and returning favorites, we at the Georgia Voice look forward to the new year and the potential for change.
Next year, we’ve got a couple fun new issues coming your way. In February, we’ll have an issue dedicated to family and parenting – a celebration of all the various forms family comes in. Then, expect an issue for the elder LGBTQ community in June, celebrate Bisexual Awareness Month with us in September with an entire issue dedicated to the often left behind sect of our community, and explore the role tech and social media have on queer people in November. Of course, the upcoming election is a huge beacon of hope as the opportunity for us to usher in new officials who will advocate for us. We’ll publish our election issue at the end of October, with coverage of the presidential election as well as crucial local races.
We’re also bringing back some of our favorite issues, including our seasonal travel and arts issues, our mental health issue in May, our pets issue in July, coverage of the annual Out On Film festival in September, our annual holiday gift guide, and so much more.
While things may seem bleak now, there is a future we can look forward to if we continue to fight against those who want to take that future away from us. We are so grateful to have another year of publishing stories that serve as celebrations of our humanity, touchstones for building community, and opportunities for education and advocacy. In 2024, we will continue to fight for a future where we are all free to be ourselves by cultivating and documenting a community that fights adversity with love.