ATLANTA (AP) Georgia lawmakers have sent a contentious bill protecting same-sex marriage opponents to Gov. Nathan Deal over the objections of gay-rights advocates and concerns from major companies in the state.
Republican leaders hoped to resolve years of heated debate about the legal rights of religious citizens and concerns that various bills would encourage or excuse discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender people. But gay-rights advocates immediately blasted the measure and said it still allows discrimination.
The changes unveiled and approved within hours Wednesday prevent government burden of religious belief and also prevent government penalty against faith-based organizations that refuse to hire or serve someone because of religious beliefs, even if they receive state funding. It also protects religious officials who decline to perform gay marriages.
The issue of religious protection has simmered all year after the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision effectively legalizing gay marriage, and some religious organizations and conservative GOP groups pushed hard this year for bills creating legal exemptions for opponents of the unions.
``Georgia leads the nation in dealing with the definition of marriage,'' said Sen. Greg Kirk, R- Americus. ``When the Supreme Court changed the definition of marriage, the dynamics changed. There was a need for a law this law.''
Republicans called the bill a balanced response to a difficult issue. Rep. Jay Powell, R-Camilla, said the bill wouldn't make everyone happy but is ``the best we're going to get.''
``We need to deal with it today,'' Powell said. ``We need to pass it. We need to be done with it. We need to show our faith-based community that we're listening to them; we need to show our business community that we're listening to them; we need to show our gay citizens that we're listening to them.''
House Speaker David Ralston called the bill ``a fair measure'' but acknowledged that it doesn't address all of opponents' concerns, including the survival of local nondiscrimination laws, such as the city of Atlanta's.
``That was something we felt like we couldn't completely predict or provide a path to,'' Ralston said. ``I think, as with any other measures that we pass as cases arise under the law, courts will filter that out.''
Ralston, a Republican, initially hoped that a bill shielding clergy who refuse to perform wedding ceremonies that violate their faith could become a compromise, and it passed the House unanimously in February.
The state Senate overhauled the bill, adding a separate proposal preventing any government penalty for individuals or organizations that refuse service to couples based on a religious belief about marriage.
The state's business community, including a coalition of more than 300 companies formed this year to oppose any legislation that could damage the state's brand, warned that millions of dollars were at stake if that version passed. Members of the Georgia Prospers coalition include top employers AT&T, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot and UPS, all wary of the type of economic backlash Indiana experienced after 2015 passage of a broader ``religious freedom'' law.
Officials with the Metro Atlanta Chamber continued to oppose the bill approved Wednesday and said it ``would harm our ability to create and keep jobs that Georgia families depend upon.''
Deal's spokeswoman Jen Talaber said in a statement: ``The governor has been clear as to his position on this issue and will assess the legislation in April during bill review.'' Deal, a Republican, has said he would reject any bill condoning discrimination.
Democrats arguing against the measure said it won't fix that issue. Rep. Stacey Abrams, an Atlanta Democrat who leads the caucus, said a portion of the bill stating it will not permit discrimination is preceded by ``seven pages that say what we will allow you to discriminate based on.''
Rep. Karla Drenner, the first openly gay state lawmaker in Georgia, said LGBT residents won't consider the bill to be balanced.
``What it says to me is that there's something wrong with you, Karla,'' Drenner, a Democrat from Avondale Estates, said. ``There's something wrong with your family. There's something wrong with your faith.''
National and Georgia-based gay-rights advocates warned that it would draw boycott threats against some of the state's top companies or prompt companies to leave the state.
``Corporate leaders in Georgia and across the country have already spoken out against this bill because the First Amendment already protects religious freedom,'' Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said. ``Anything other than a swift veto is only courting an Indiana-style backlash.''
Tuesday
May 7th, 2024
1:59AM
