Washington, D.C. — Today, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) announced that he would veto Georgia H.B. 757, a so-called religious liberty bill that could sanction discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Georgians. Winnie Stachelberg, Executive Vice President for External Affairs at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement in response:
Gov. Deal’s rejection of Georgia H.B. 757 provides an important reminder that religious liberty and equal protection under the law are complementary values. Religious freedom is already among the rights enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution. Maintaining a balanced approach to religious liberty is vital for fostering economic growth and reflecting the vibrant diversity of our communities and country.
Unfortunately, in most of Georgia and a majority of states, many Americans remain unprotected from discrimination due to who they love, how they express their gender, their reproductive health care decisions, and more. Guarding against the use of religion to discriminate not only requires resisting overly broad religious exemptions laws but also requires passing comprehensive nondiscrimination protections at the local, state, and federal levels that ensure our communities remain welcoming for all Americans.
Related resources:
- Restoring the Balance: A Progressive Vision of Religious Liberty Preserves the Rights and Freedoms of All Americans by Carolyn Davis, Laura E. Durso, and Carmel Martin, with Donna Barry, Billy Corriher, Sharita Gruberg, Jeff Krehely, Sarah McBride, Ian Millhiser, Anisha Singh, and Sally Steenland
- We the People: Why Congress and U.S. States Must Pass Comprehensive LGBT Nondiscrimination Protections by Sarah McBride, Laura E. Durso, Hannah Hussey, Sharita Gruberg, and Bishop Gene Robinson
- The Economic Cost of Overly Broad RFRAs by Sarah McBride
- Fired for Being Who I Am: The Fight for LGBT Equality Continues by Kulsum Ebrahim, Sarah McBride, and Claire Markham
For more information or to speak to an expert, contact Chelsea Kiene at [email protected] or 202.478.5328.
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