Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, a
Republican, on Monday vetoed a controversial “religious freedom”
bill that critics said would have allowed businesses to discriminate
against the LGBT community.
“I do not think we have to
discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in
Georgia, of which I and my family have been a part of all of our
lives,” Deal
told reporters at a press conference at the state Capitol.
“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 House Bill 757,” Deal
added.
Social conservatives in the state have
been pushing for such a measure for three legislative sessions.
Deal was under increasing pressure from
major corporations and the entertainment industry to reject the bill.
San Francisco-based Salesforce
threatened to reduce its investment in Georgia if the bill become
law, while the National Football League (NFL) said that the bill
could knock out Georgia from consideration as a Super Bowl host.
Hollywood stars and studios also condemned the bill, with studios
threatening to boycott the state.
(Related: Hollywood stars, studios join
campaign calling on Georgia governor to veto anti-gay law.)
Chad Griffin, president of the Human
Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT advocate, applauded
the move.
“The message to Governor Nathan Deal
was loud and clear: this deplorable legislation was bad for his
constituents, bad for businesses, and bad for Georgia's future,” he
said. “Discrimination and intolerance have no place in the 21st
century, and any town, city or state that enshrines it into law will
not be judged kindly by history or by the American public.”