Georgia Republicans Making Another Run At Anti-LGBTQ 'Religious Freedom' Law

Georgia state Sen. Marty Harbin introduced legislation to legalize LGBTQ discrimination

State Sen. Marty Harbin of Georgia has introduced SB 221, a Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would legalize discrimination against LGBTQ people in the Peach state.

Nine state senators (seven of whom are committee chairman) have signed on as cosponsors ahead of the March 7 procedural deadline.

According to Georgia Equality, SB 221 would “allow businesses to refuse service to LGBT customers, among others, and would grant taxpayer-funded agencies a broad license to discriminate against LGBT youth, families, and other Georgians.”

In 2016, a similar bill was passed but former Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed the legislation as economic backlash prompted the Metro Atlanta Chamber to predict financial losses in excess of $600 million in regard to sporting events, convention business and major movie location shoots.

Newly-elected Gov. Brian Kemp, however, has signaled he will sign a RFRA bill if it lands on his desk.

During his campaign last year, Kemp told his followers he would support legislation that mirrors the language in a federal religious freedom law that was passed in 1993.

His opponent in the 2018 gubernatorial race, Stacey Abrams, says she opposes the legislation.

Discrimination has no place in GA. Our LGBTQ community, film industry, and state would suffer if #RFRA is signed into law. Some folks at the Capitol want to take us back to ‘93. There’s no RFRA lite. I stand w/ LGBTQ Georgians & the 500+ GA employers who want to move us forward. https://t.co/EOnhyaNNf3

— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) March 1, 2019

That legislation, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, was found to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1997. SCOTUS ruled that the law could only apply to federal government.

As a result, 21 individual states have passed their own state RFRAs.

SB 221 includes the same language as the federal RFRA, but also adds provisions for recovering legal costs in religious lawsuits and gives judges the power to change local laws that might be deemed as infringing on religious beliefs.

Georgia political pundits say the bill will probably pass in the senate, but the legislation’s chances in the state House are unclear.

This isn't the only anti-LGBTQ legislation working its way through the Georgia legislature.

Last week, the state senate passed SB 375 (by a vote of 35-19) that would allow adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples based on their religious beliefs.

That bill is now headed to the state House for consideration.

Watch the report from local NBC affiliate 11Alive below.

WTF @GaRepublicans don't you realize how disastrous this would be for #Georgia? #antiglbtq #RFRA Bad for:
Business @GAChamber
Tourism @ExploreGeorgia
Education @BORUSG
Relocations @garealtors
Meetings @GWCC_ATL
Economic Development @gdecd
Takes state backwards @GovKemp

— Progressive Paul (@pauljgibler) March 1, 2019

#RFRA is back! Use the link below to email your State Senator and ask them to reject discrimination now! Reject SB 221! https://t.co/E3icjCBQ4I

— Georgia Equality (@GAEquality) February 28, 2019

Georgia Could Lose Super Bowl Due To Anti-LGBT 'Religious Freedom' Bill

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

As Georgia's newly passed House Bill 757 - the so-called 'Religious Freedom' legislation - heads to Gov. Nathan Deal's desk for signature or veto, big businesses are weighing in and they don't like what they see.

While pretending to protect religious freedoms, what HB757 actually does is legalize discrimination against LGBTs.

Now, the NFL has sent a non-too-subtle message to Gov. Deal - veto the hate or lose the Super Bowl.

From Outsports:

"NFL policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard. Whether the laws and regulations of a state and local community are consistent with these policies would be one of many factors NFL owners may use to evaluate potential Super Bowl host sites."

Atlanta is one of the four finalists to host the Super Bowl in 2019 and 2020. The Atlanta Falcons have been embroiled in a controversy of their own this month after reports of coaches asking prospective players if they are gay.

Meanwhile, Falcons owner Arthur Blank has publicly opposed the bill:

"One of my bedrock values is ‘Include Everyone' and it's a principle we embrace and strive to live each and every day with my family and our associates, a vast majority of which live and work in Georgia. I strongly believe a diverse, inclusive and welcoming Georgia is critical to our citizens and the millions of visitors coming to enjoy all that our great state has to offer. House Bill 757 undermines these principles and would have long-lasting negative impact on our state and the people of Georgia."

It wouldn't be the first time the NFL moved a Super Bowl over perceived discrimination. In 1992, the League moved the Super Bowl from Arizona to Los Angeles when the state refused to recognize Martin Luther King Day.

Louisiana: Gov. Bobby Jindal Plans Executive Order On "Religious Freedom"

Earlier today, the Louisiana state House failed to advance Gov. Bobby Jindal's HB 707 on a vote of 10-2. The bill is similar to other states' "Religious Freedoms" legislation that has become synonymous with anti-gay animus.

In a statement this afternoon, Jindal says he will issue an executive order that will do what his failed bill might have done:

"We are disappointed by the committee’s action to return the Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act to the calendar.

"We will be issuing an Executive Order shortly that will accomplish the intent of HB 707 to prevent the state from discriminating against persons or entities with deeply held religious beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman.

"This Executive Order will prohibit the state from denying or revoking a tax exemption, tax deduction, contract, cooperative agreement, loan, professional license, certification, accreditation, or employment on the basis the person acts in accordance with a religious belief that marriage is between one man and one woman."

Jindal plans to announce a 2016 run for the GOP presidential nomination on June 11th.

Dining With Thieves

Bill Maher Takes On The RFRA Law War On Gays

In his editorial New Rule, Bill Maher addresses Indiana’s new “religious freedom” law and calls on moderates of all religions to come out against fundamentalism.

Rihanna Denounces Indiana RFRA Laws During NCAA Performance

Pop superstar Rihanna threw down on Indiana's RFRA law during her performance at the NCAA March Madness Music Fest in Indianapolis this weekend.

Just as she was about to launch into "Live Your Life," the singer shared her opinion of the anti-gay legislation.

Rihanna also used her headlining performance to slam Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Although the bill was amended to make it less discriminatory toward the LGBT community, Rihanna still unloaded on the RFRA in an expletive-laden tirade prior to performing “Live Your Life.”

"Who’s feeling these new bullshit laws that they’re trying to pass over here? I say fuck that shit," Rihanna told the crowd, inciting chants of "Fuck that shit." "We’re just living our motherfucking lives. Indiana!" Although Rihanna’s March Madness performance was live-streamed, her Indiana comments were heavily censored upon broadcast.

rih on the religious freedom bill pic.twitter.com/cOhGZ9TMKq
— Mikela (@innerwildflower) April 5, 2015

Nevada: RFRA Legislation Declared 'Dead'

News from my home state Nevada!

In the aftermath of Indiana and Arkansas seeing public outrage over so-called "religious freedom" legislation, Nevada lawmakers have wisely decided to step away from similar legislation.

And it wasn't just the last week's news that helped kill the Nevada bill.

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

“The Governor believes that this bill is not necessary because the interests of all Nevadans are protected under current law,” Mari St. Martin, spokeswoman for Gov. Brian Sandoval said Thursday night.

Even the bill sponsors are backing away from it.

“After careful reflection and consultation with legislative counsel, I have determined that Nevada’s Constitution already contains adequate safeguards and protections for the civil liberties of Nevada’s citizens, and further legislative emphasis of these rights would be unnecessary,” freshman legislator and Assembly Judiciary Committee Vice Chairman Erven Nelson, R-Las Vegas, said Thursday.

The reaction to Indiana’s legislation was a factor in deciding to withdraw the bill, Nelson said.

“We obviously do not want to have happen in Nevada what’s been threatened to happen in Indiana as far as a boycott and things like that.”

Running down the list, that's Indiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Nevada all turning back the hate.

Forward.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Expresses Concern And Fury Over Anti-Gay Religious Freedom Laws

In a Washington Post op-ed published Friday morning, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) expressed his fury towards his fellow Republicans over anti-gay religious freedom laws such as the one recently passed in Indiana.

"As an American, I’m incredibly concerned about what happened in Indiana this week and the threat of similar laws being passed in other states. As a Republican, I’m furious."

"Distracting, divisive laws like the one Indiana passed aren’t just bad for the country, they’re also bad for our party."

Regarding corporations like Walmart that took a stand against the divisive legislation: "Those businesses are doing the right thing, but they have also done the math. As a party, we need to take a similarly realistic look," he said.

Mike Huckabee: Gays "Won't Stop Until There Are No More Churches"

Mike Huckabee appeared on anti-gay Tony Perkins "Washington Watch" radio show yesterday wherein he described a bizarro world things mean "the opposite of what they are."

“It is a classic example of — really a page out of ‘1984,’ when what things mean are the opposite of what they really are. And that’s what I’m seeing here is that in the name of tolerance, there’s intolerance. In the name of diversity, there’s uniformity. In the name of acceptance, there’s true discrimination.”

Kinda like conservatives in Indiana and Arkansas repeating over and over that their "religious freedom" laws had NOTHING to do with the gays.

At the end of the clip Huckabee threatens that the gays "won't stop until there are no more churches."

Seriously? And the LGBT community is the one inciting riot?

Folks like Huckabee and Perkins use the same tactic over and over again. Repeat, repeat, repeat, and hope uninformed people pick up the hateful chant.

Listen below via Right Wing Watch:

Georgia Ends Legislative Session Without Passing RFRA

The Georgia lawmakers closed their legislative session without passing a controversial "religious freedom" bill. Similar legislation has held the nation's attention this past week thanks to bills in Indiana and Arkansas.

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Gov. Nathan Deal, who has repeatedly said he would support legislation that mirrored the 1993 law, signaled the debate has become too toxic. He said in an interview that supporters ensure that anti-discrimination language is in the measure next year if they want to earn his signature.

“That’s the most important thing. And that is a delicate thing to do,” he said. “There’s been so much hyperbole. It’s hard to identify what can you say without saying too much, what can you say without saying too little, and what will people read into either version that you like.”

A version of the legislation was swiftly approved by Senate lawmakers, but it was tabled in the House after three Republicans joined with Democrats to add an anti-discrimination amendment. And the uproar over similar bills in Arkansas and Indiana, along with growing pushback from iconic Georgia businesses, seemed to seal its fate.

Georgia: Christian Florist Would Deny Service To Gays But Not Adulterers Because "It's A Different Kind Of Sin"

CNN’s Gary Tuchman interviewed several florists in rural Georgia and asked if they would provide certain services to gay people.

All five said "no" based on their deeply held religious beliefs. Clearly, they follow every word of the Bible, right?

Well, maybe not all of them.

It turns out being an adulterer doesn't disqualify you from being served by Melissa Jeffcoat.

Check out this excerpt from the segment:

Tuchman: … In the Ten Commandments, it says you can’t commit adultery…

Jeffcoat: Right.

Tuchman: It says you need to honor your father and mother.

Jeffcoat: Mhmm.

Tuchman: If someone didn’t honor their parents or committed adultery, would you serve them?

Jeffcoat: Yes.

Tuchman: Well, why would you serve them but not serve someone who is gay?

Jeffcoat: It’s just a different kind of sin to me and I just don’t believe in it.

So, when the conservative nuts tell you it has nothing to do with the gays and just their "deeply held religious beliefs," remember that some sins are just "different." #Hypocrisy

(source)

Arkansas Governor Signs Newly Tweaked "Religious Freedom" Bill Into Law

After just a few short days, Arkansas lawmakers have tweaked their "religious freedom" law to more closely mirror the federal version, and today Gov. Asa Hutchinson has signed the legislation into law.

In the wake of intense backlash against a similar law in Indiana, first-term Republican governor had rejected the first version Arkansas lawmakers had sent to his desk, instead asking for two tweaks so there would be no daylight between his state's law and the one President Bill Clinton signed in 1993.

"I think it's sending the right signal, the way this has been resolved, to the world and the country that Arkansas understands the diversity of our culture and workforce but also the importance of balancing that with our sincerely held religious convictions," Hutchinson said Thursday afternoon.

Hutchinson has also announced he is considering issuing an executive order that would ban discrimination against state employees.

We shall see.

Sen. Tom Cotton: Hey Gays, At Least We Aren't Hanging You Like In Iran

Sen. Tom Cotton really needs some media training.

Speaking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer yesterday, Cotton said that critics of Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, like the one his governor just declined to sign, should get some global “perspective” on gay rights.

Because, hey, it could be worse!

“I think it’s important we have a sense of perspective about our priorities,” Cotton said. “In Iran they hang you for the crime of being gay. They’re currently imprisoning an American preacher for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ in Iran. We should focus on the most important priorities that our country faces right now.”

Yeah. That makes me feel much better. You?

Indiana Governor Approves "Fix" To Religious Freedom Law

Indiana lawmakers have announced changes to the state's current RFRA bill that specifies the new religious freedom law cannot be used as a legal defense to discriminate against patrons based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Indianapolis Star reports:

Indiana Republicans said Thursday morning that they are presenting an addition to the controversial RFRA legislation that will make it clear no one will "be able to discriminate against anyone at any time." Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, and House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis said at a press conference at the Statehouse that leaders will present the proposal to lawmakers at 9:30 a.m. after speaking with corporate and civic leadership this week. "Hoosier hospitality had to be restored," Bosma said.

The leaders referenced the intense backlash that rained down on Indiana after Gov. Mike Pence signed the bill last week. "It was never intended to discriminate against anyone," Long said. "That perception led to the national protests we've seen."

A legislative report says the RFRA will be amended to say the law "does not authorize a provider to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing to any member or members of the general public on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or United States military service."

UPDATE:

By a vote of 66-30 in the House, and 34-16 in the Senate, Indiana lawmakers have approved changes to the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act to allay fears that it would allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

The revised law explicitly bars a business from denying services to someone on the basis of categories that include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Gov. Mike Pence signed the legislation this afternoon.

Sponsor Of Arkansas "Religious Freedom" Bill Serves Up Double-Talk On CNN

CNN’s Jake Tapper interviewed state Sen. Bart Hester, the sponsor of Arkansas’ religious freedom bill, and asked him multiple times if it allows for discrimination or not.

Tapper expressed his confusion multiple times given all the conflicting messaging from supporters of the bill on the matter.

Bless little Bart Hester's heart. He was so proud of himself repeating the same word salad over and over.

Clearly the one talking point supporters of these "religious freedom" bills have is "whatever they ask, don't use the word discriminate."

Arkansas: Huge Rally For Changes To "Religious Freedom Restoration Act"

Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign

From the Associated Press:

Hundreds gathered on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol urging lawmakers to make changes to a religious-objection measure that has faced national backlash from businesses and gay-rights groups.

Seth Hutchinson, Son Of Arkansas Governor, "Proud To Have Made A Small Contribution"

Seth Hutchinson, son of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, sent an email to Business Insider today after he was referenced in his dad's press conference where the governor announced he was sending the recently passed "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" back to lawmakers to mirror the federal version of the law.

The liberal 31 year old union activist, based in Austin, Texas, had this to say about today's events in Arkansas:

"I am happy that my Dad is now calling on legislators to rework HB 1228.

"I had communicated with him my opposition to the bill, along with thousands of other Arkansans and concerned citizens around the country.

"I'm proud to have made a small contribution to the overall effort to stop discrimination against the LGBT community in Arkansas, the state that I love (Go hogs!).

"I love and respect my father very much, but sometimes we have political disagreements, just as many families do. We must build a mass movement of Americans fighting for economic, environmental, and social justice if we want to see real progress."

Tweet Of The Day: Honey Maid

We believe love is always welcome. #Indiana #ThisIsWholesome pic.twitter.com/R99HduZy7U

— Honey Maid (@HoneyMaidSnacks) April 1, 2015

Hillary Clinton Weighs In On Arkansas RFRA: "I Urge Governor To Veto"

(via Twitter)

Indiana Pizzeria: We Would Turn Away Gay Wedding Customers

Crystal O'Connor of Memories Pizza

A Indiana pizzeria has gone on record as saying they would turn away gay or lesbian couples who would order pizza for their wedding reception.

(Who serves pizza at a wedding reception?)

The family-owned Memories Pizza, located in Walkerton, told a local news team Tuesday night that they would refuse service to a same-sex wedding.

“If a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no,” owner Crystal O’Connor told ABC 57. “We are a Christian establishment.”

She had been asked about the Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed by Governor Mike Pence (R) last week, which critics say would legitimize discrimination of the exact sort O’Connor described.

The family emphasized that they would not refuse service to gay couples who came into the pizzeria to eat, but would not cater same-sex weddings. “We’re not discriminating against anyone,” O’Connor said, “that’s just our belief, and anyone has the right to believe in anything.”

Her father added that the homosexual lifestyle was a “choice,” as he chose to be heterosexual. “Why should I be beat over the head to go along with something they choose?” he asked.

Conservative proponents of the current RFRA have repeatedly said not one business in Indiana has said they would turn gays away.

Well, now there is.

The restaurant apparently has a One-Star rating on Yelp.