Candidates battle for Ga.’s gayest congressional seat

[Shana A]

Candidates battle for Ga.'s gayest congressional seat
'Key ally' Lewis faces opponents who pledge stronger support

By MATT SCHAFER
JUL. 11, 2008

http://www.southernvoice.com/2008/7-11/news/localnews/8844.cfm

The Democratic primary for Georgia's District 5 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is a rare race where two challengers promise to be stronger gay advocates than a long-standing ally.

State Rep. "Able" Mable Thomas (D-Atlanta) and Rev. Markel Hutchins both say they can be stronger voices on gay issues than U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Atlanta). But the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay political group, calls Lewis a "key ally."

The 5th Congressional District contains the largest concentration of gay voters in Georgia, including every traditional gay neighborhood in the Atlanta metro area.