Tuesday, Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Resolution 932, which was introduced this year in the Georgia General Assembly, designating the tattoo as the official fashion statement of Georgia. For several years, the Fashion Institute of Georgia has lobbied the Gold Dome to introduce a resolution that would highlight the fashion and cultural trends that make Georgia unique. This year, the General Assembly made good on that request.
The resolution, which passed overwhelmingly in both the House and the Senate, recognizes the tattoo’s growing acceptance in Georgia. “Once almost solely reserved for bikers, soldiers and sailors, musicians, and convicts, tattoos are now a part of everyday life in the state of Georgia,” said Gov. Kemp in Tuesday’s signing ceremony in his office. “Teenagers have them. So do soccer moms, law enforcement officers, teachers, executives, and even ministers. Tattoos are here to stay and it’s time that we recognize tattoos as a part of our culture and a unique art form in itself.”
“We feel this recognition is long overdue. We couldn’t be happier that the General Assembly has named an official fashion statement in Georgia. We commend Gov. Kemp for signing this piece of legislation that will further encapsulate the tattoo into the very fabric of Georgia culture,” says Mari Branson, chair for the Fashion Institute of Georgia.
“Tattoos allow people to express themselves in unique and permanent ways. It’s about time that something was done to make tattoos the respectable art form they are,” says Dominic Talverde, president of the Georgia Tattoo Council.
As Gov. Kemp signed the resolution, he commented that he was proud to take the final step in removing a negative stigma from the tattoo. “What better way to show what’s important to you than getting an anchor, an infinity symbol, tribal art, ‘carpe diem,’ ‘not all who wander are lost,’ Bible verse, area code, or a lion permanently inked on your body? In Georgia, we believe in freedom of expression, even if that expression lasts forever, is ill-advised, and fades into unrecognizable shapes later in life. This is a landmark moment for the state of Georgia,” he said.
Next year, the Piercing Foundation plans to introduce a resolution that would normalize tunnels, gauges, and plugs.