The bill would allow faith-based organizations to deny services to anyone if serving him or her violates their “sincerely held religious beliefs”. If it becomes law, the proposed legislation would have the effect of beefing up legal safeguards for opponents of same-sex marriage.
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Many shows and movies are shot in the state, as the warm and financially-friendly environment can double as a lot of other places, but studios, producers, writers, and actors are coming out to say that if the bill passes, they too will be passing on Georgia, and boycotting any production that involves the state.
As of Thursday afternoon, studios who have released statements either condemning the bill or threatening to boycott the state of Georgia include Disney, Viacom, CBS, Comcast NBC Universal (good lord, what a name), AMC, Discovery, Time Warner, Lions Gate, The Weinstein Company, Starz, and Sony.
The Walt Disney Company and Marvel Studios are the latest companies to come out in opposition of the anti-gay measure – now waiting to be signed or vetoed by Gov. Nathan Deal – which would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT people.
Between 2008-when Georgia began offering a 20 percent tax credit to productions with a budget of $500,000 or more-and 2014, annual spending in Georgia by production companies increased by more than 500 percent, reaching $1.3 billion. “757 and send a strong message that Georgia will not tolerate discrimination against citizens, employees and visitors to the state”, the letter concludes.
“You’re not making ‘Gone with the Wind, ‘” he said.
“It is unfortunate that the Georgia legislature caved to pressure from big business and special interests to water down their weakened bill even further”.
Deal could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for the department said it does not comment on pending legislation.
“Netflix is an inclusive company”, said a spokesperson for the streaming platform.
“It is a very hard piece of legislation, and one that I’m looking at very, very carefully”, said Deal.
AMC Networks – the NY owner of several cable channels, including AMC, and IFC Films – called on Deal to veto the Free Exercise Protection Act.
Human Rights Campaign has compiled tweets from a number of corporations and their leaders here.
“All these things being done – fear mongering and demagoguing this particular legislation – it’s gotten where any time anybody says anything about First Amendment rights, particularly religious freedom, it seems that people are trying to attach a narrative of discrimination to [the bill]”, he continued.
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{“Infobox Text”/}Economic impact generated by film and TV projects in Georgia in fiscal 2015.
