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.