Section Branding
Header Content
Georgia House Democrats Speak Out Against ‘Religious Liberty’ Bill
Primary Content
Five members of the state House Democratic Caucus, including Georgia's three openly gay legislators, called on Gov. Nathan Deal Monday to veto HB 757.
The bill, which currently awaits his signature, would allow faith-based organizations to deny services to same-sex couples.
Rep. Park Cannon (D - Atlanta), Rep. Karla Drenner (D - Avondale Estates) and Rep. Keisha Waites (D - Atlanta) were joined by Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D - Lithonia) and Rep. Taylor Bennett (D - Brookhaven) to speak out against the bill.
“Perhaps we are no longer a fortress of Jim Crow institutionalism, but we continue to regress by passing sweeping discriminatory measures like HB 757,” Cannon told reporters. “I am sure that the state of Georgia is better than this.”
Their statements came after days of reactions to the bill, which opponents argue would allow for discrimination against members of the LGBT community.
Some members of the Georgia business community, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, and even Georgia’s senior U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson have spoken out against the state measure.
The bill has also received criticism from groups who say it doesn’t go far enough to protect members of religious groups from discrimination.
A column from the Family Research Council called the bill “a tattered fig leaf now that House Speaker David Ralston has gutted the real protections for Georgia's men and women of faith.”
A letter from the National Organization for Marriage called the bill “modest” and said it would leave members of religious groups open to being sued for expressing their beliefs.
So far, Gov. Deal has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.
Secondary Content
Bottom Content
