ATLANTA — Yesterday Senator Marty Harbin (R-16) filed SB 221, so-called “religious liberty” legislation that is poised to bring economic backlash to Georgia for the sixth consecutive year. SB 221 would allow businesses to refuse service to LGBT customers, among others, and would grant taxpayer-funded agencies a broad license to discriminate against LGBT youth, families, and other Georgians. The language mirrors federal language that was recently used by a government-funded foster care agency in South Carolina to justify discriminating against Catholic and Jewish couples looking to serve as foster parents.
SB 221 is similar to Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) legislation vetoed by Republican Governor Nathan Deal in 2016. The 2016 RFRA sparked massive economic backlash, prompting the Metro Atlanta Chamber to predict a five-year loss of $600 million in convention and sporting events business, and three major movie studios to announce that they would move all future shoots out of state.
“Here we go again: extremist lawmakers seem prepared to put us in a negative national spotlight yet again, risking Georgia’s economic reputation and putting LGBT people in harm’s way,” said Jeff Graham, Executive Director of Georgia Equality. “The freedom for religion is important to all of us, including LGBT people. The idea that treating people fairly and equally under the law somehow erodes religious freedom is, frankly, false. This legislation would send our state in the wrong direction and will spark a painfully divisive debate just by its introduction. Rather than spend yet another year gridlocking over discriminatory measures that would harm our state, they could finally advance a comprehensive civil rights law that protects Georgians from all walks of life.”
Georgia lawmakers’ anti-LGBT bills have taken a toll on the state’s brand, imperiling not just Georgia’s ability to attract job-creating giants like Amazon, but also threatening the state’s tourism industry – which brings in about $50 billion annually and is responsible for about 400,000 jobs. Georgia bid to host the 2026 World Cup could also be thwarted by passage of RFRA legislation. In 2017, FIFA adopted a landmark Human Rights Policy that will require bidding nations (and host cities) to disclose their human rights risks and a plan of action for addressing them. Atlanta’s competition for the 10 US city spots includes New York, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, and Los Angeles. All are in states with LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination laws.
“It is shameful that some Georgia lawmakers continue to target LGBT people, recklessly ignoring the economic consequences,” added Graham. “At a moment when states are struggling to maintain a competitive edge, Georgia lawmakers should be doing everything in their power to send the message that Georgia is truly open for business to all. It’s time to pass a statewide civil rights law that protects all Georgians from discrimination – including people of faith and LGBT people. It is imperative that Georgia lawmakers reject discriminatory legislation and embrace fully inclusive nondiscrimination protections that ensure liberty and justice for all.”
“As a rabbi, I believe freedom of religion is essential,” said Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple. “That’s why it’s protected in the first amendment. But year after year, we have seen divisive, dangerous bills that increase the risk that religious freedom will be used to justify harm and discrimination. It’s wrong, and it’s time to move on. Our legislators must come together and pass a comprehensive civil rights bill that protects all Georgians, including people of faith.”
Georgia is one of just five states that lacks state-level civil rights laws of any kind. A 2017 report from the Williams Institute found that the stresses and stigmas of vulnerable legal standing impacts the productivity and well-being of LGBT Georgians in the workplace. According to that study, reducing those stresses by even just a quarter among Georgia’s LGBT workforce would gain the state’s economy upwards of $147 million in revenue.