Under ever-increasing pressure from corporations that do business in Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that he will veto a bill that would infringe upon the rights of the LGBT community. Deal said,
“…efforts to purge this bill of any possibility that it would allow or encourage discrimination illustrates how difficult it is to legislate something that is best left to the broad protections of the First Amendment.”
Not exactly a rousing defense of LGBTQ or human rights…
The bill –House Bill 757– would have given “faith-based” organizations in Georgia the option to deny services to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Supporters said the measure was meant to protect religious freedom, while opponents have described it as “anti-LGBT” and “appalling.”
The bill has been met with public threats from major players in the business, tech and entertainment industries.
As we reported, Marc Bennioff the CEO of Salesforce said the company “can’t have a program in Georgia” if Deal signs it into law. Disney said it would stop filming in the state, Unilever said it would “reconsider investment” and the NFL said the bill could cost Atlanta the opportunity to host the Super Bowl.
Also on Monday, according to CNN, a federal lawsuit was filed against the North Carolina governor and other state officials over a new law there that blocks transgender individuals from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity and stops cities from passing anti-discrimination ordinances to protect gay and transgender people.
No matter what side of the argument anyone is on, the bottom line is, as the old saying goes,
“Money talks and bullshit walks.“
(via CNN)
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