It Took Just One Day for These 8 Top Companies to Denounce Mississippi Gov. Bryant’s Anti-LGBT Law

‘We Strongly Urge You to Repeal This Bill’ – ‘Religious Freedom’ Law Slammed by Executives From Top Name-Brand Multi-National Corporations That Do Business in Mississippi

On Tuesday Governor Phil Bryant signed HB 1523 into law. A “religious freedom” bill, the legislation had been deemed the most anti-LGBT in the nation. Despite warnings that it is unconstitutional, an uproar from equality advocates, and news that very same day out of North Carolina that major corporations would move jobs out of state, the Mississippi Republican put pen to paper and wrote bigotry and discrimination into law.

On Wednesday, executives from eight major corporation that do business in Mississippi joined together in signing a letter to Gov. Bryant and two other top elected officials responsible, Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and House Speaker Phil Gunn. The group was organized by the Human Rights Campaign and the letter bears the HRC logo.

The signatories represent brands that are household names: GE, Dow Chemical, PepsiCo, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Hyatt Hotels, Choice Hotels, Levi Strauss & Co., and Whole Foods.

Calling HB 1523 “discriminatory legislation” and “not a bill that reflects the values of our companies,” the executives note the new law “would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Mississippians in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at schools, in their family life and more.”

RELATED: WATCH: Ellen Condemns Mississippi Anti-LGBT ‘Religious Freedom’ Law in Humorous, Heartfelt Monologue

They express concern that Gov. Bryant’s new law “will make it far more challenging for businesses across the state to recruit and retain the nation’s best and brightest workers and attract the most talented students from across the country,” and will “diminish the state’s draw as a destination for tourism, new businesses, and economic activity.”

“The business community, by and large, has consistently communicated to lawmakers at every level that such laws are bad for our employees and bad for business. This is not a direction in which states move when they are seeking to provide successful, thriving hubs for business and economic development,” the executives state.

“Discrimination is wrong, and we believe it has no place in Mississippi or anywhere in our country. As companies that pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming to all, we strongly urge you to repeal this bill,” they conclude.

HRC notes these eight are not the only ones speaking out.

“In addition to the major corporations signing onto this letter calling for repeal, some of the state’s largest employers, including Nissan Group of North America, Tyson Food Inc, MGM Resorts International, and Toyota, publicly voiced their opposition to the appalling legislation — joining national corporations such as AT&T, IBM, Levi Strauss & Co, MassMutual, General Electric, and Hyatt,” the LGBT civil rights group says.

“Gov. Bryant also ignored the call of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) to veto the discriminatory measure. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has joined an effort to get more CEOs to speak publicly against the law, and top executives from Microsoft and IBM have asserted that the law is bad for business.”

 

EARLIER:

WATCH: Funny or Die’s Hysterical ‘Mississippi Anti-Gay Tourism Video’

Few Thank Governor For Signing Hate-Based ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill

Breaking: New York Bans All Non-Essential State Travel to Mississippi Over New Anti-LGBT Law

 

Image via Wikimedia
Hat tip: Talking Points Memo