+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

Georgia lawmakers just passed a religious freedom bill that could allow anti-gay discrimination

Mar 17, 2016, 07:45 IST

A crowd waves rainbow flags during the Heritage Pride March in New York, Sunday, June 28, 2015. Large turnouts were expected for gay pride parades across the U.S. following the landmark Supreme Court ruling that said gay couples can marry anywhere in the country.AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Georgia lawmakers passed a contentious "religious liberty" bill Wednesday that critics maintain will open the door to anti-gay discrimination.

Advertisement

The bill, which underwent months of debate and revisions, permits faith-based organizations to deny social, educational and charitable services based on a "sincerely held religious belief" relating to marriage.

It also permits them to cite religious beliefs when making employment decisions. The bill defines faith-based organizations as churches, religious schools and mission groups, but critics fear the broad language of the bill could cover businesses, hospitals, adoption centers and homeless shelters as well.

The Republican-backed legislation was passed by the Georgia House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon, and quickly passed through the Senate just hours later. Both votes fell along party lines.

Advertisement

The bill now goes to Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal for approval. Deal stated earlier this month he would veto a bill that sanctions discrimination, leading many to believe the House would not act on the bill before its legislative session expires March 24.

Following the bill's passage by the House, his office released a statement saying Deal "has been clear on the issue and will review the legislation in April during bill review," according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Republican State Sen. Greg Kirk, one of the architects of the bill, cited last year's Supreme Court decision to grant same-sex couples the right to marriage as the motivation for the bill.

"When the Supreme Court changed the definition of marriage, there was a need for this law," Kirk said on the Senate floor. "And it took Georgia to lead the way for the rest of the country to put this law together."

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.Getty/Davis Turner

However, a number of Democratic lawmakers urged the Senate to reconsider.

Advertisement

"The Supreme Court has decided that marriage is a fundamental right, and we're debating infringing on that fundamental right," Democratic State Sen. Harold Jones said. "We're not debating about your point of view or my point of view. We're having a debate about what the Supreme Court of this country has said is a fundamental right."

Business leaders across the state have warned the legislature of the potential financial impact the bill could have, with some studies pinning losses as high as $2 billion. A number of high-profile businesses, including Google, Twitter and Microsoft, have joined the Georgia Prospers coalition to oppose the bill.

"The calls for a boycott and economic damages are just beginning," Atlanta gay-rights activist Robbie Medwed told Business Insider in a statement. "Over 480 Georgia businesses oppose this bill, but its supporters are so dead-set on keeping LGBT people second-class they're willing to damage Georgia's economy and reputation."

"I am ashamed to be from Georgia tonight. I am ashamed that my legislature is so against LGBT equality they had to enact special legislation to fight it."

Read the full bill below:

Advertisement

n

NOW WATCH: 'You're the basket case' - here is the moment things spiraled out of control at the GOP debate

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article