BREAKING (STAY TUNED FOR MORE): Equality Federation extends our deepest thanks to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal for vetoing the discriminatory, anti-LGBT religious exemption bill (HB 757) that had passed through the legislature.

In a press statement Governor Deal said,  “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.” The governor also noted several times that the freedom of religion is already strongly protected by the First Amendment. “We do not have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia.”

Equality Federation has been a proud supporter of our member Georgia Equality and the Georgia Unites coalition as they built unprecedented corporate and community support to stand up against this discriminatory bill.

“We thank Governor Deal for doing the right thing and rejecting this dangerous bill which would have caused irreparable harm to Georgia’s economy, and to the hundreds of thousands of hardworking LGBT people who call Georgia home,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality. “On more than one occasion, the governor thoughtfully explained his opposition to discriminatory bills like this – bills which do nothing to advance religious freedom, but do stand to do real harm to our state’s economy and reputation.”

Governor Deal’s veto is a welcome contrast to North Carolina Governor McCrory’s recent signing of the worst anti-LGBT bill in the country. Today, Equality Federation member Equality North Carolina, ACLU and Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit against the state challenging the law.

Send your thank you note to Governor Deal here.

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