Savannah LGBT activists are forming the group “Act Out Savannah” in response to recent attacks and alleged attacks on gay residents, according to a press release issued today.

“In response to the vile and vicious attacks on fellow members of the GLBT community of Savannah, and in response to the City and Police Department’s failure to maintain a safe and healthy environment for our community, the fiercest of Savannah’s activists have joined together to bring the fight for equal protection, equal rights and equal justice to the streets,” states the release.

Members of the group are those who organized a rally on June 20 in response to the recent alleged attack by two U.S. Marines on Kieran Daly, a 26-year-old gay man. According to a police report, the Marines became upset when Daly supposedly winked at one of them.

The founding members of the organization are:

Cody Patterson, executive director; Antonio Rodriguez, director of operations; Kevin Clark, director of community affairs; and Spencer Wulwick, director of information.

The mission statement of the new group is, “ACT OUT SAVANNAH!! will fight with fierce activism for equal rights and justice in all issues facing the GLBT community on a local, state and national level.”

The group’s website is www.actoutsavannah.org.

View photos of the June 20 rally in Savannah.