On August 12, 2025, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners celebrated Pride with an annual proclamation honoring the movement for LGBTQ+ rights, celebrating the beauty of LGBTQ+ culture, recognizing the community’s global impact, and reaffirming a commitment to equality and justice for all.

In celebration, Commissioner Ted Terry (D-Super District 6) introduced a resolution “Requesting The Administration Implement A DeKalb County Police Department LGBTQ+ Police Liaison Position, Require Hate Crimes Identification Training For Law Enforcement, And For Other Purposes.” Both actions outlined in the title of the resolution were recommendations in a DeKalb County Equality Progress Report conducted in 2023 by Georgia Equality.

LGBTQ+ Police Liaisons are established in several municipalities across the country, including in the City of Chamblee and the City of Atlanta, with the goal of building trust between the police department and the LGBTQ+ community. The resolution references a 2024 study conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) titled “Policing Progress: Findings from a National Survey of LGBTQ+ People’s Experiences with Law Enforcement,” that found “LGBTQ+ people are less likely to report their victimization to the police, despite higher rates of victimization.”

“It is critical that the LGBTQ+ Community is heard, feels safe, and are supported, especially at a time when their community is facing both physical violence and harmful legislation that rolls back hard-won rights,” said Commissioner Ted Terry. “We must confront the reality that LGBTQ+ individuals are often less likely to report when they’ve been victimized. Implementing an LGBTQ+ police liaison is a meaningful step toward building trust and advancing a more just and equitable DeKalb.”