Marc Cherry, the writer and producer of Golden Girls and creator of Desperate Housewives, spoke out against the proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) currently sitting in the General Assembly, and said this misguided legislation would cause him to relocate his work outside of Georgia.

In regards to the “license to discriminate” RFRA bill, Cherry said that although he is a Republican, he is not proud of legislation supported by some fringe members of his party. “This bill is cynical, mean-spirited, and deceptive. I say this as someone raised in a devout Southern Baptist home. Sadly, this proposed legislation takes a cherished First Amendment principle and twists it into something ugly.”

“I currently have a television show shooting in Atlanta. I was thrilled to work there, given the region’s reputation for hospitality. But if Georgia enacts this horrifying legislation, I can assure you this will be my last time producing television in the state.”

Cherry referenced the similar RFRA bill in Indiana that was signed into law by Governor Mike Pence on March 26, and how the governor had a difficult time explaining how the bill “was anything other than a license to discriminate against gay and transgender people.”

“Governor Pence couldn’t give a clear answer, and we all know why. These bills are nothing more than one last attempt to codify discrimination against people who are already vulnerable under the law.”

Repercussions in Indiana since the signing of the bill include organizations and companies including Salesforce, the NCAA, the NBA, Nike, Yelp, and Marriott among many others speaking out against the bill.

The Georgia RFRA bill is currently sitting in the General Assembly, which adjourns at midnight on Thursday, April 2. There’s still time to urge your legislators to oppose this horrific bill, but time is running out!