ATLANTA — Georgia’s term-limited Gov. Nathan Deal took a stand against his own party and averted threatened boycotts by major corporations Monday by announcing his veto of a “religious freedom” bill.
“I do not think that we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia,” the Republican governor said.
Religious conservatives had campaigned hard for Deal’s signature, but the industries he has recruited to Georgia also applied pressure.
The NFL warned that Atlanta’s bid for the 2019 or 2020 Super Bowl could be in jeopardy. Technology firms, led by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, asked for Deal’s veto. The Walt Disney Co., Marvel Studios and dozens of Hollywood figures vowed to take projects elsewhere, despite Georgia’s generous tax credits for the film industry. Multimillion-dollar events and investments were threatened.
Lawmakers around the nation are advancing “religious freedom” measures, which have passed at least one chamber in 10 states: Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. But Deal said only the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution can protect people of faith — along with everybody else.
“If indeed our religious liberty is conferred by God and not by man-made government, we should heed the ‘hands-off’ admonition of the First Amendment to our Constitution,” Deal said. “When legislative bodies attempt to do otherwise, the inclusions and omissions in their statutes can lead to discrimination, even though it may be unintentional. That is too great a risk to take.”
Deal’s veto stands in sharp contrast to North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s signature last week on a law that prohibits local anti-discrimination ordinances and obligates transgender people to use restrooms matching their birth certificates.
The Georgia measure included language modeled on the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. People claiming their religious freedoms are burdened could force state and local governments to prove a “compelling” interest in enforcing laws that conflict with their beliefs.
It would have protected clergy who decline to perform same-sex marriages, businesses that turn away customers for religious reasons, and churches and affiliated religious groups that cite faith as a reason for refusing to serve or hire someone.
Georgia’s business community formed a coalition of more than 500 companies, including Cola-Cola, Delta Air Lines and other top employers, to counter the measure. Many have large operations in Atlanta.
House Speaker David Ralston said he respects Deal’s “thoughtful consideration” but doesn’t believe the bill permits discrimination.
