Georgia General Assembly · Full text

SR 879: Hayward, David; condolences; enduring contributions to the advancement and preservation of LGBTQ+ history and rights in the State of Georgia; recognize

Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 3, 2026 · Introduced

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Senate Resolution 879

By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Wicks of the 34th, James of the 28th, Mangham of the 55th, Jackson of the 41st and others

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and legacy of David Hayward and recognizing his enduring contributions to the advancement and preservation of LGBTQ+ history and rights in the State of Georgia; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the members of this body join family, friends, and communities throughout Georgia in mourning the passing of David "Dave" Hayward at the age of 76, an activist, historian, and witness to much of Atlanta's early LGBTQ+ rights movement; and

WHEREAS, born in New Hampshire, Mr. Hayward made Atlanta his home in 1971, arriving during the nascent stage of the city's modern gay rights movement and dedicating more than five decades to the pursuit of equality, justice, and historical preservation; and

WHEREAS, he was an early member of the Georgia Gay Liberation Front and a co-founder of the Atlanta chapter of ACT UP, the political advocacy organization formed in the late 1980s to demand action to end the AIDS pandemic and to confront injustice with courage and urgency; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hayward participated in Atlanta's first sanctioned Pride march in 1972 and remained a visible and vocal presence at protests, commemorations, and community events, steadfast in his belief that equality is achieved not only through policy but through remembrance and collective action; and

WHEREAS, as co-founder of Touching Up Our Roots, he helped create an innovative LGBTQ+ story project and self-guided audio tour documenting significant sites, ensuring that the people, places, and movements that shaped the city's LGBTQ+ community would not be lost to time; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hayward understood the profound responsibility of being a witness to history, especially to the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic, once stating that while we cannot bring loved ones back, we can "call them forth in the present moment to honor and remember them as you educate the future"; and

WHEREAS, through his activism, scholarship, and public witness, David Hayward strengthened the moral fabric of the State of Georgia and enriched the history of the City of Atlanta, leaving an indelible mark on generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body honor the life and legacy of David Hayward and recognize his extraordinary contributions to the advancement of civil rights, the preservation of LGBTQ+ history, and the betterment of the State of Georgia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the family of David Hayward.