Georgia Lawmakers Send Contentious Anti-Gay ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill to Governor’s Desk

Legislation Designed to ‘Protect’ Religious People and Businesses From LGBT People

Georgia lawmakers in both chambers Wednesday night completed several votes on HB 757, now called the “Free Exercise Protection Act,” a bill two years in the making that will legalize discrimination against same-sex couples under the guise of protecting religious liberty.

Despite impassioned opposition by Democrats, the bill passed by huge margins, mostly on party lines. In the House the vote was 104-65, and in the Senate, 37-18.

HB 757, also called the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) is one of dozens of so-called “religious freedom” bills that incorrectly often claim to “mirror” the federal Religious Freedom Protection Act, that have been pushed in state legislatures across the nation. They are all direct responses to the legalization of same-sex marriage.

In addition to restating the First Amendment right that pastors and other religious clerics cannot be legally forced to solemnize any marriage which they oppose, HB 757, sponsored by GOP Senator Greg Kirk (photo), does much more.

It provides legal cover for “faith based organizations” to refuse services “that violate such faith based organization’s sincerely held religious belief.” It allows them to refuse to “rent, lease, or otherwise grant permission for property to be used by another person for an event which is objectionable to such faith based organization.”

One particularly dangerous section of the bill says “no faith based organization shall be required to hire or retain as an employee any person whose religious beliefs or practices or lack of either are not in accord with the faith based organization’s sincerely held religious belief as demonstrated by practice, expression, or clearly articulated tenet of faith.”

Wednesday’s votes came with little notice, yet another example of Republicans’ attempts to force the bill’s passage. Last month they refused to allow any amendments to the bill whatsoever.

The legislation is opposed by LGBT civil rights groups, including Georgia Unites and HRC, business groups including the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and a coalition of over 450 businesses, including Salesforce, Delta, Microsoft, Virgin, and 373K.

Georgia Democrats Wednesday night slammed GOP lawmakers, saying the “resulting litigation from this move will clog our courts, paralyze our economy, and drain our business community dry. HB 757 is a short-sighted move by Republicans that will have consequences for years to come.”

Republican Gov. Nathan Deal has said he would not sign any bill that supports discrimination, but has not voiced an opinion on the bill that was passed Wednesday night. 

It now awaits his signature or veto.