News

Log Cabin Republicans Call for Equality in Atlanta City Contracts

Gay Group Recommends Small Business Assistance Program to Replace Minority Set-Asides in Atlanta

August 5, 1999

Bill Campbell

(ATLANTA, GA) – Log Cabin Republicans of Georgia call on the city of Atlanta to champion the cause of equal opportunity and non-discrimination through its management practices. Affirmative action programs are intended to address and correct patterns of institutionalized discrimination and are not intended as permanent set-aside programs for minority-owned businesses. Log Cabin proposes the city establish a small business assistance program that gives all small businesses equal opportunity to obtain city contracts, not just those owned by a favored gender or race.

The City of Atlanta is duty-bound to offer all businesses an equal opportunity to compete for contracts. The city's set-aside program has been in existence for nearly 25 years with no examination of whether discrimination against minority-owned businesses still exists in the award of city contracts. Atlanta's set-aside program favors a small group of businesses at the expense of all others on the basis of race and gender where there is no demonstrated need to do so.

Atlanta City Council Members
Robb L. Pitts	Vern McCarty	Debi Starnes	Michael Julian Bond
Cleta Winslow	Sherry Dorsey	Cathy Woolard	Lee Morris
Clair Muller	Felicia Moore	Clarence T. (CT) Martin	Jim Maddox
Derrick Boazman	'Able' Mable Thomas	Julia Emmons	Doug Alexander
Play Atlanta City Council Concentration

"If an anti-minority bias in awarding city business contracts still exists in a city where the Mayor's office is held by a black man, and where the city council is dominated by women and African-Americans, then the city government has only itself to blame for continued discrimination – if it still exists," says Georgia Log Cabin Republicans. "The city should reconsider its program of work set-asides for minority and women-owned businesses."

Atlanta's Mayor Bill Campbell has spoken of the small businesses this program has benefited and who might be damaged by its cessation. The city's efforts are undoubtedly well meaning. However, the set-aside policies are also in violation of the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution, and unless shown to be necessary to correct discriminatory patterns in awarding city business, in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and various state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

The Republican Party stands for equal opportunity and non-discrimination. As Republicans, Georgia Log Cabin calls upon the City of Atlanta to dismantle its set-aside program for minority and women-owned businesses until such time as empirical research demonstrates a pattern of institutionalized discrimination against minority and women-owned businesses in the award of city contracts.