On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, Georgia passed it’s
watered down Religious Freedom bill. Many national and international
corporations are putting pressure on Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, a Republican to
veto the bill. Some business
leaders are warning that the state may become better known for a controversial
bill that would allow discrimination against gay people.
The bill, which has passed Georgia's House and Senate, would
prohibit "any adverse action” against organizations or people with "a
sincerely held religious believe regarding lawful marriage between ... a man
and a woman.” The rise of legislation
that permits business owners to refuse service based on their religious beliefs
stems from a national push for gay and transgender rights, including the Supreme
Court’s ruling last year that legalized same-sex marriage.
The bill would do little to actually further religions
liberty rights in Georgia. If a new or existing law creating special legal
privileges based on sexual orientation and gender identity conflicts with a
sincere religions belief, the Georgia religious freedom bill may provide no
protection--not even the standard balancing test that is the hallmark of
religious freedom restoration acts. So in an area where we most need religious
liberty protection, the new Georgia law goes out of its way to disclaim it.
Corporations
are putting pressure on Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to veto a watered-down
religious freedom bill. Despite the weak protections, a business coalition
called "Georgia Prospers" is mounting an aggressive campaign to
defeat the bill.
Large corporations ranging from Microsoft to
Atlanta-based Coca-Cola are urging the state to abandon the bill. The
corporations Disney and Marvel have also said they will boycott the bill if
passed. The NFL in particular has made headlines over its
opposition. The league is warning the measure could hurt Georgia's chances to
host an upcoming Super Bowl.
There's
evidence to back up opponents' claims that such legislation can harm a state's
business climate. Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act resulted in a
loss of as many as a dozen conventions and as much as $60 million in lost
revenue.
Georgia isn't the only state where lawmakers are currently
mulling laws that would allow businesses to refuse service to gay customers.
Kentucky's Senate this week approved a similar bill that would allow
business owners to refuse service to gay customers based on their religious
beliefs. Last year, more than 100 anti-LGBT bills were filed in 29 states,
according to the Human Rights Campaign.
It is unclear what will happen with the Georgia bill. Deal has until May 3rd
to sign or veto the bill.
