diff --git a/api/gitlab_classes.py b/api/gitlab_classes.py
index a82d3ee1830004007515e25bb644083ab09ef06c..628d5ef9b05bc3702ccfd9cf29691793fa1456fe 100644
--- a/api/gitlab_classes.py
+++ b/api/gitlab_classes.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from datetime import datetime, date
+from deprecated import deprecated
 from functools import reduce
 from typing import ClassVar, Dict, Iterable, List, Optional, Set, Union
 
@@ -110,12 +111,25 @@ class GitlabIssue:
         """
         return self.git_issue.description
 
-    def get_state(self) -> str:     # TODO, deprecate and replace with is_opened & is_closed
+    @deprecated
+    def get_state(self) -> str:     # TODO, delete after we're sure there are no uses
         """
         :return: opened or closed
         """
         return self.git_issue.state
 
+    def is_open(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        :return: True if the issue is open; False if the issue is closed
+        """
+        return self.git_issue.state == 'opened'
+
+    def is_closed(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        :return: True if the issue is closed; False if the issue is open
+        """
+        return self.git_issue.state == 'closed'
+
     def get_created_at(self) -> datetime:
         """
         :return: an "aware" datetime object representing the creation date/time