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{{short description |American politician from Georgia}}
{{Short description|American politician (born 1979)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Renitta Shannon
|name = Renitta Shannon
⚫
|caption = Renitta Shanbay Shannon
|image = RenittaShannon.jpg
|image = RenittaShannon.jpg
|state_house = Georgia
|state_house = Georgia
|district = 84th
|term_start = January 2017
|district = 84th
|term_start = January 9, 2017
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Rahn Mayo]]
|term_end = January 9, 2023
|predecessor = [[Rahn Mayo]]
|successor =
|successor = [[Omari Crawford]]
⚫
|birth_name = Renitta Shanbay Shannon
|birth_name = Renitta Shanbay Shannon
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|December 29, 1979}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|12|29}}
|birth_place = [[Florida]], U.S.
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse =
⚫
|education = [[University of Florida]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
|children =
⚫
|website = {{URL|renittashannon.com|Campaign website}}
|residence =
⚫
|alma_mater = [[University of Florida]]
|occupation = Politician
|profession = Business development consultant
|religion =
⚫
|website = https://renittashannon.com
}}
}}
⚫
'''Renitta Shanbay Shannon''' (born December 29, 1979)<ref>[http://www.house.ga.gov/representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=4897&Session=27/ "Renitta Shannon"]. ''[[Georgia House of Representatives]]'', June 11, 2019.</ref> is an American politician who served as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[Georgia House of Representatives]]. In 2016, Shannon defeated a four-term Democratic incumbent. In January 2017, she was sworn into the Georgia State House of Representatives to represent the 84th district.


In 2017, she came out as bisexual,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-12|title=Georgia lawmaker publicly comes out as LGBTQ|url=https://www.projectq.us/georgia-lawmaker-publicly-comes-out-at-lgbtq/|access-date=|website=Project Q Atlanta|language=en-US}}</ref> making her the first bisexual legislator to serve in the [[Georgia General Assembly]].
⚫
'''Renitta Shanbay Shannon''' (born December 29, 1979)<ref>[http://www.house.ga.gov/representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=4897&Session=27/ "Renitta Shannon"]. ''[[Georgia House of Representatives]]'', June 11, 2019.</ref> is an [[United States|American]] politician who currently serves as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[Georgia House of Representatives]].

Shannon is a community activist, former executive vice president of the state chapter of the National Organization for Women, and co-founder of a Georgia nonprofit called [https://www.herterm.org Her Term]. Shannon is the first bisexual legislator from Georgia.


==Early life==
==Early life==
⚫
Shannon was born in [[Florida]]. After college, she worked in business development for a variety of sectors including mental health and financial services.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Dallas |last=Duncan |date=2018-02-01|title=Georgia state Rep. Renitta Shannon on coming out, amplifying bisexual voices|url=https://thegavoice.com/news/georgia/georgia-state-rep-renitta-shannon-coming-amplifying-bisexual-voices/|access-date=|website=Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta News|language=en-US}}</ref> In a 2019 interview, she said that she spent most of her free time as an activist on racial justice, economic justice, criminal justice, and equality issues, including as an organizer for various [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] grassroots organizations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Speak|first=Polly C.|date=2019-05-22|title=A Q&A With Georgia Representative Renitta Shannon - The Lighthouse{{!}}Black Girl Projects|url=https://loveblackgirls.org/2019/05/22/a-qa-with-georgia-representative-renitta-shannon/|access-date=2021-09-27|language=en-US}}</ref>
Shannon was born in Virginia and grew up in [[Central Florida]] with her sister in a religious household. Her father was a [[pastor]]<ref name=abortion>[https://www.elitedaily.com/p/rep-renitta-shannon-on-her-abortion-what-politicians-are-doing-to-protect-rights-8922476/ "Rep. Renitta Shannon On Her Abortion & What Politicians Are Doing To Protect Rights"]. ''Elite Daily'', May 10, 2018.</ref>. During college, Shannon worked as a restaurant server, earned scholarships, took out student loans, and with the help of her parents, she graduated from the [[University of Florida]] with a bachelor's degree in sociology.<ref>[http://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/Biographies/shannonRenitta.pdf/ "Renitta Shannon's Biography"]. ''[[Georgia House of Representatives]]'', June 11, 2019.</ref>

⚫
After college, she worked in the mental health, financial services, and technical recruiting sectors where she focused on business development<ref>{{Cite web|last=February 1|first=Dallas Duncan AtlantaGeorgiaNewsPolitics|last2=2018|date=2018-02-01|title=Georgia state Rep. Renitta Shannon on coming out, amplifying bisexual voices|url=https://thegavoice.com/news/georgia/georgia-state-rep-renitta-shannon-coming-amplifying-bisexual-voices/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta News|language=en-US}}</ref>. She spent most of her free time as an activist on racial justice, economic justice, criminal justice, and equality issues, including as an organizer for the Georgia chapter of 9to5.


==Career==
==Career==
She defeated incumbent representative [[Rahn Mayo]] in the Democratic primaries in 2016,<ref>[http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2016/05/30/renitta-shannons-big-primary-victory-lopez-to-be-first-latina-in-state-house/ "Renitta Shannon’s Big Primary Victory; Lopez to be First Latina in State House"]. ''Atlanta Progressive News'', May 30, 2016.</ref> and won the seat unopposed in the [[Georgia state elections, 2016|2016 election]].
She defeated incumbent representative [[Rahn Mayo]] in the Democratic primaries in 2016,<ref>[http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2016/05/30/renitta-shannons-big-primary-victory-lopez-to-be-first-latina-in-state-house/ "Renitta Shannon’s Big Primary Victory; Lopez to be First Latina in State House"]. ''Atlanta Progressive News'', May 30, 2016.</ref> and went on to win the seat unopposed in the [[Georgia state elections, 2016|2016 general election]].


Shannon decided to run for office "to fight for policies that truly support women, working people, and people of color<ref>{{Cite web|title=I’m A Black Woman & An Elected Official, & I Had An Abortion. I’m Here To Tell My Story|url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/rep-renitta-shannon-on-her-abortion-what-politicians-are-doing-to-protect-rights-8922476|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Elite Daily|language=en}}</ref>". She has been recognized for her work combating systemic injustices against black and brown voters, the LGBTQ community and women.
According to Shannon, she ran for office "to fight for policies that truly support women, working people, and people of color"<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 10, 2018|title=I'm A Black Woman & An Elected Official, & I Had An Abortion. I'm Here To Tell My Story|url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/rep-renitta-shannon-on-her-abortion-what-politicians-are-doing-to-protect-rights-8922476|access-date=|website=Elite Daily|language=en}}</ref> and has written about improving representation and of electing queer black women into public office.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Renitta|last=Shannon|date=2018-06-14|title=Pride Month: Why It Matters to Elect Queer Black Women to Public Office|url=https://www.thebgguide.com/post/2018/06/13/pride-month-why-it-matters-to-elect-queer-black-women-to-public-office|access-date=|website=The BGG to Politics|language=en}}</ref>


⚫
In her 2019–2020 term, she was appointed the Chair of the House Democratic Criminal Justice Reform Committee and is a member of the Governmental Affairs, Small Business Development, and Insurance committees<ref>{{Cite web|title=Renitta Shannon|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Renitta_Shannon|access-date=|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref> positions she continued in for her 2021–2022 term, with the addition of the State Planning and Community Affairs Committee.
'''Fighting for marginalized communities'''


She ran for [[Lieutenant Governor of Georgia]] in the [[2022 Georgia lieutenant gubernatorial election|2022 election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Democratic state Rep. Renitta Shannon enters race for Georgia's lieutenant governor |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/democratic-state-rep-renitta-shannon-enters-race-for-georgias-lieutenant-governor/KZDGYPK4LJB2DHFVA7MXXHE5XE/ |access-date=28 September 2021 |work=ajc |language=English}}</ref>
Shannon is a known advocate and ally for underserved communities in Georgia. She is the recipient of "Champion of Immigrant Rights Award" by the Asian Americans Advancing Justice for her work with immigrant communities. She also advocates for workers rights, having participated in rallies to hold companies accountable for paying poverty wages.

'''Women's rights'''

In her first year as a legislator, Shannon was awarded "Most Valuable Legislator"<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nichols|first=John|date=2017-12-20|title=The 2017 Progressive Honor Roll|language=en-US|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/the-2017-progressive-honor-roll/|access-date=2021-08-31|issn=0027-8378}}</ref> for her work on sexual assault policy. She has co-written about the need to turn the #MeToo movement into real policy<ref>{{Cite web|title=These 7 Lawmakers Want to Turn #MeToo Into Real Policy|url=https://time.com/5004185/state-legislators-fight-sexual-harassment/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Time|language=en}}</ref> and used her identity as a black bisexual woman to advocate for politics that protect gender nonconforming girls in the criminal justice system<ref>{{Cite web|last=State|first=Honorable Renitta Shannon-Georgia|date=2018-06-14|title=Pride Month: Why It Matters to Elect Queer Black Women to Public Office|url=https://www.thebgguide.com/post/2018/06/13/pride-month-why-it-matters-to-elect-queer-black-women-to-public-office|access-date=2021-08-31|website=The BGG to Politics|language=en}}</ref> and reproductive rights.

Shannon has also been vocally advocating for women's rights in the workplace. She supports the Affirmative Action plans and policies that would help women and minorities pursue equal opportunities<ref>{{Citation|title=Press Conference State of the Supreme Court 2018 - Rep Renitta Shannon|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onag1wfW_nU|language=en|access-date=2021-08-31}}</ref>.

'''Reproductive rights'''

Shannon has been an active advocate for women's reproductive rights that encompasses healthcare, economic justice and equality. She has been outspoken about advancing reproductive freedom<ref>{{Citation|title=Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council: Rep. Renitta Shannon|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mQ1s3gstR0|language=en|access-date=2021-08-31}}</ref>, is a member of the [https://sixrepro.org/ Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nelson|first=Rebecca|date=2018-01-11|title=How State Legislators Across the Country Are Joining Forces to Fight for Reproductive Rights|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a15060139/reproductive-rights-council-state-innovation-exchange/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Cosmopolitan|language=en-US}}</ref>, and serves on the board of Spark Reproductive Justice.

In 2019, Shannon was physically removed from the Georgia General Assembly's House floor by security during her dissent against [[Georgia House Bill 481]], a bill that outlaws abortion<ref>{{Citation|title=Rep Renitta Shannon's Dissent HB481 Abortion|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHiHfnpyBrU|language=en|access-date=2021-08-31}}</ref>. "I was not going to just let them pass this like some tax bill that nobody cares about<ref>{{Citation|title=Rep Renitta Shannon Abortion Dissent Ad|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EZyoaeOYUU|language=en|access-date=2021-08-31}}</ref>", says Shannon.

'''Leadership roles'''

⚫
For her 2019–2020 term, Shannon is the Chair of the House Democratic Criminal Justice Reform Committee and is a member of the Governmental Affairs, Small Business Development, and Insurance committees.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Shannon is also the co-founder at Her Term<ref>{{Cite web|title=Her Term-Leadership|url=https://www.herterm.org/leadership|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Her Term|language=en-US}}</ref>, a political nonprofit that recruits and supports progressive women to run for office. She serves as senior advisor and mentor to many progressive women candidates in Georgia.

==Personal life==
Shannon had an [[abortion]] her senior year of college, a decision which she has written about.<ref name=abortion/> In 2017, Shannon came out as [[bisexual]].<ref>[https://thegavoice.com/news/georgia-state-representative-comes-bisexual/ "Georgia state representative comes out as bisexual"]. ''[[The Georgia Voice]]'', October 11, 2017.</ref> Of this, she says "as a black, queer woman I live at the intersection of these identities, and I know that those of us who exist in these spaces fall through the gaps. We need to have more folks at the convergence of identities to ensure that the legislation we write serves the range of these perspectives. I ran to allow voices to the communities that are often denied representation in the legislation<ref>{{Cite book|last=Her Term|title=Reaching the Tipping Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Women in Georgia Politics|publisher=Her Term|year=2020|isbn=978-0-578-78628-5|location=Georgia|pages=21}}</ref>.”


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{official|https://renittashannon.com/}}
*{{official website|https://renittashannon.com/}}
*[http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=4897 Legislative homepage]
*[http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=4897 Legislative homepage]


{{Georgia House of Representatives}}
{{Georgia House of Representatives}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, Renitta}}
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[[Category:1979 births]]
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[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women politicians]]
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[[Category:African-American state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Bisexual women politicians]]
[[Category:African-American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Georgia House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) Democrats]]
[[Category:People from Decatur, Georgia]]
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[[Category:LGBT state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:American bisexual women]]
[[Category:Bisexual politicians]]
[[Category:American bisexual politicians]]
[[Category:Bisexual women]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly]]
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[[Category:LGBT African Americans]]
[[Category:People from Decatur, Georgia]]
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[[Category:1979 births]]

Latest revision as of 10:21, 30 November 2024

Renitta Shannon
Renitta Shanbay Shannon
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the 84th district
In office
January 9, 2017 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byRahn Mayo
Succeeded byOmari Crawford
Personal details
Born
Renitta Shanbay Shannon

(1979-12-29) December 29, 1979 (age 45)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Florida (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Renitta Shanbay Shannon (born December 29, 1979)[1] is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives. In 2016, Shannon defeated a four-term Democratic incumbent. In January 2017, she was sworn into the Georgia State House of Representatives to represent the 84th district.

In 2017, she came out as bisexual,[2] making her the first bisexual legislator to serve in the Georgia General Assembly.

Early life

[edit]

Shannon was born in Florida. After college, she worked in business development for a variety of sectors including mental health and financial services.[3] In a 2019 interview, she said that she spent most of her free time as an activist on racial justice, economic justice, criminal justice, and equality issues, including as an organizer for various progressive grassroots organizations.[4]

Career

[edit]

She defeated incumbent representative Rahn Mayo in the Democratic primaries in 2016,[5] and went on to win the seat unopposed in the 2016 general election.

According to Shannon, she ran for office "to fight for policies that truly support women, working people, and people of color"[6] and has written about improving representation and of electing queer black women into public office.[7]

In her 2019–2020 term, she was appointed the Chair of the House Democratic Criminal Justice Reform Committee and is a member of the Governmental Affairs, Small Business Development, and Insurance committees[8] positions she continued in for her 2021–2022 term, with the addition of the State Planning and Community Affairs Committee.

She ran for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia in the 2022 election.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Renitta Shannon". Georgia House of Representatives, June 11, 2019.
  2. ^ "Georgia lawmaker publicly comes out as LGBTQ". Project Q Atlanta. 2017-10-12.
  3. ^ Duncan, Dallas (2018-02-01). "Georgia state Rep. Renitta Shannon on coming out, amplifying bisexual voices". Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta News.
  4. ^ Speak, Polly C. (2019-05-22). "A Q&A With Georgia Representative Renitta Shannon - The Lighthouse|Black Girl Projects". Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  5. ^ "Renitta Shannon’s Big Primary Victory; Lopez to be First Latina in State House". Atlanta Progressive News, May 30, 2016.
  6. ^ "I'm A Black Woman & An Elected Official, & I Had An Abortion. I'm Here To Tell My Story". Elite Daily. May 10, 2018.
  7. ^ Shannon, Renitta (2018-06-14). "Pride Month: Why It Matters to Elect Queer Black Women to Public Office". The BGG to Politics.
  8. ^ "Renitta Shannon". Ballotpedia.
  9. ^ "Democratic state Rep. Renitta Shannon enters race for Georgia's lieutenant governor". ajc. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
[edit]
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