Georgia's conservative governor is blasting a bill that protects the right to discriminate against gays
Usually referred to as the First Amendment Defense Act, the bill would allow religious organizations such as schools, hospitals and adoption centers to deny services by citing "a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction" against same-sex marriage.
The Republican-backed legislation was approved by the Georgia Senate in a vote that fell along party lines last month, and now awaits action from the Georgia House of Representatives.
But Deal, amidst a wave of pressure from businesses and LGBT advocates, warned lawmakers on Thursday he would reject the measure if Congress sent it to him.
"I don't think we have to have anything that allows discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith," Deal said at the state capitol in Atlanta, according to WSB-TV.
"I do not feel threatened by the fact that people who might choose same-sex marriages pursue that route," he said.
Deal, a Southern Baptist, said the Bible taught him not to "discriminate unduly against anyone on the basis of our own religious beliefs."
"I think he was speaking the language of a section of Georgia voters that very much base their policy opinions in a biblical context," Georgia Democratic State Senator Nan Orrock told Business Insider. "He was speaking to the very sector of people that want this bill."
"So I applaud the governor. It takes that kind of message from top leaders to turn something back like this."
Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican, said he agreed with Deal, leading observers to speculate the House would not act on the bill before the legislative session ends March 24.
Critics of the bill include local business leaders who fear its passage could cost the state billions of dollars of lost revenue.
At least one company - telecommunications startup 373K - has already bailed on Georgia, announcing on Twitter it was moving to Nevada.