A former GOP state lawmaker who was appointed to the DeKalb bench after he helped spike a "religious liberty" measure has come out as bisexual.
DeKalb State Court Judge Mike Jacobs made his sexual orientation public at a Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia meeting last month with his wife Evan, Project Q Atlanta reported. He also confirmed the news in a message to the AJC and in a social media post.
"Evan and I have made this decision for the benefit of the DeKalb County citizens I serve, for our kids, and for others like me," Jacobs said on Twitter. "Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported this choice to come out."
First elected as a Democrat in 2004, Jacobs represented a Brookhaven-based district that was one of the most competitive in the state. He flipped to the GOP three years later, and soundly defeated opponents from both sides of the aisle to retain the seat.
Though he was best known locally for drafting legislation creating the city of Brookhaven, he also staked out a reputation statewide as an advocate for LGBT rights.
He sponsored legislation forcing the state to develop an anti-bullying policy after the suicide of an 11-year-old who was attacked by homophobic slurs. And in 2015 he halted a "religious liberty" measure by adding an amendment that said it could not be used to discriminate against same-sex couples or others.
Gov. Nathan Deal, who would veto a similar measure the next year, tapped Jacobs to the DeKalb bench about six weeks later. Former Georgia Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett, a Democrat, won the seat in a special election; he was defeated in 2016 by Republican Meagan Hanson.
In a lengthy statement to Project Q, Jacobs wrote that he was proud to be the first trial judge in DeKalb who openly identifies as LGBT. From his statement to Project Q:
Of course, my identity has no effect on my work as a judge. It is my solemn and absolute duty to deliver fair and impartial justice for every citizen. However, this decision to come out does help show the broader community the diversity of our bench.
More importantly, Evan and I are the parents of three wonderful children who are growing up quickly. We are happy they are growing up in a world in which young people can be who they are as soon as they recognize who they are. We want that world to be a reality for them. The most meaningful contribution I can make to that world is to be authentic myself.
I am hopeful the decision Evan and I have made will help others. Coming out, or at least knowing there are others like us, is just as affirming and significant for bi people as it is for other members of the LGBTQ community. I have chosen to be a positive role model in this regard.
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