Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff to Georgia governor: If you don't veto that bill, we will 'reduce investments' in the state
The next question is whether Gov. Nathan Deal will sign it into law.
Thanks to the widespread attention on this bill, he isn't expected to sign or veto it immediately. He will have until May 3 to decide, Greg Bluestein at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
But first Deal will have to reckon with the displeasure of some 400 businesses that have joined Georgia Prospers, an organization urging the state to drop all antigay legislation and make Georgia "welcoming for all people."
Businesses leaders openly opposing the bill include Dell's Michael Dell, Virgin Group's Richard Branson, and Microsoft's Brad Smith.
The bill would permit faith-based organizations to deny social, educational, and charitable services based on a "sincerely held religious belief" relating to marriage. Faith-based organizations would also be able 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.
One of the bill's most vocal opponents has been Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
When word came that the bill passed the legislature on Wednesday, Benioff voiced his displeasure by tweeting, "One again Georgia is trying to pass laws that make it legal to discriminate. When will this insanity end?"
The company has since issued a statement that says in no uncertain terms, if Georgia passed the bill into law, Salesforce will "reduce investments" in the state, including moving one of its big tech conferences from Atlanta to another location.
A spokesperson sent us this statement (emphasis ours)
Salesforce is calling on Governor Deal to veto HB 757 because the legislation creates an environment of discrimination and makes the state of Georgia seem unwelcoming to same-sex couples and the LGBTQ community.
We were encouraged by Governor Deal's recent comments that he would veto any bill that allows the perception of discrimination and we are now calling on him to stand by his comments and move quickly to veto HB 757.
If HB 757 is not vetoed and instead becomes law, Salesforce will have to reduce investments in Georgia, including moving the Salesforce Connections conference to a state that provides a more welcoming environment for the LGBTQ community."
Benioff has been on a warpath over the bill since late February. That's when he initially threatened that if Georgia passes the bill, Salesforce will take business out of the state. He told analysts during Salesforce's quarterly earnings call: