On Monday, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal announced he will veto House Bill 757, otherwise known as the “Religious Liberty” bill.
“I find it ironic that today some in the religious community feel it necessary to ask the government to confer upon them certain rights and protections.”
As first reported by our own jahn westbrook on Friday, the proposed law would have given faith based organizations the option to deny jobs and services to LGBT citizens in the state of Georgia. “I find it ironic that today some in the religious community feel it necessary to ask the government to confer upon them certain rights and protections.” Deal said in a statement with regards to the proposed law.
The veto comes on the heels of pressure from large entities such as Disney and Marvel who pledged to pull their business out of the state should the bill pass.
Governor Deal made the following final remarks regarding his intention to veto the proposed law:
As I’ve said before, I do not think we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia of which my family and I are a part of for all of our lives. Our actions on HB 757 are not just about protecting the faith-based community or providing a business-friendly climate for job growth in Georgia. This is about the character of our State and the character of its people. Georgia is a welcoming state filled with warm, friendly and loving people. Our cities and countryside are populated with people who worship God in a myriad of ways and in very diverse settings. Our people work side-by-side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to. We are working to make life better for our families and our communities. That is the character of Georgia. I intend to do my part to keep it that way.
For that reason, I will veto HB 757.
