District Attorney Fani T. Willis has a history of demonstrating her commitment to protecting Fulton County's LGBTQ population from harm since her early days as a prosecutor. With the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program Grant funding, her office will focus on supporting the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that hate crimes are not tolerated or forgotten. The grant also supports a committee that ensures LGBTQ+ cases are adequately handled. Unfortunately, hate crimes are often underreported due to victims' lack of confidence in law enforcement. Charging decisions in such cases can significantly impact the subsequent course of action, affecting bail, plea deals, and sentencing. Although Georgia's new hate crimes law doesn't provide for standalone hate crime charges, the grant aims to work with the LGBTQ+ community to improve criminal justice administrators' understanding and recommend training. The DA's staff actively seeks cases that may involve hate crimes while making reporting pathways more accessible and advocating for justice.