Thursday at midnight. That’s when the Georgia General Assembly adjourns, and that’s when we’ll know for certain if we’ve stopped RFRA this year.

Thanks to supporters like you, we’re pulling out all the stops to deliver a loud and clear message to lawmakers: that the people of Georgia will not stand for an Indiana-style “license to discriminate.”

That’s why just today, more than 200 activists, faith leaders, civil rights leaders and allies joined me in Atlanta for a historic march to the State Capitol to rally against RFRA.

We made a statement today, that’s for sure. But it can’t end there. Until Thursday at midnight, our lawmakers need to know that Georgians oppose this bill—so make sure yours hears from you right now.

Click here to rush an email to your Representative to vote NO on a “license to discriminate” in Georgia.

If today’s rally proved anything it’s that there’s a groundswell of grassroots opposition to RFRA—and this against a bill so many political insiders thought would soar through the General Assembly.

Now RFRA is on its last legs, and we have largely our supporters like you, to thank for it.

Turn on the news and you’ll see the embarrassment and shame Indiana’s RFRA bill has brought to the Hoosier State. But here in Georgia, we can work together to avoid a similar fate. We can’t let up until the Georgia General Assembly adjourns this Thursday at midnight.

Click here to urge your Representative to oppose RFRA now—and let’s make sure this shameful bill dies this week.

We have two days left. Let’s keep it up.

In the wake of the severe negative backlash occurring in response to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) signing into law by Governor Pence on March 26, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed spoke out against similar legislation being considered in Georgia.

Negative response to the Indiana bill comprises of organizations and major corporations including Angie’s List, the NCAA, the NBA, NASCAR, Yelp, Salesforce, Marriott and Apple speaking out against the bill. Because of this opposition, Indiana is projected to lose millions of dollars and thousands of jobs. Although Governor Pence held a press conference today to attempt to “clarify” the bill, he came up short, and proposed nothing new regarding the bill.

Mayor Reed said that the he is not worried about Georgia: “I think that Georgia’s going to come out on the right side of that issue, which is to oppose that bill, but I don’t believe it’s going to pass.”

If passed, Georgia’s RFRA bill could undermine Atlanta’s non-discrimination laws, alloing individuals and private businesses to discriminate against gay and transgender Georgians under the guise of religion.

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau has already spoken out against the proposed RFRA, saying that it stands “together with Atlanta’s hospitality and business community in opposition to the implementation of any legislation which could be used to potentially discriminate and will continue to work to ensure that every visitor to our city continues to be welcomed warmly and in accordance with our standards for excellent customer service.”

The Atlanta hospitality industry generates over $13 billion in revenues each year and employs over 230,000 workers. Losing the support of such a lucrative industry could cause irreparable damage to Georgia’s economy.

Georgia’s RFRA bill is currently making its way through the General Assembly. A hearing previously scheduled for Monday, March 30 was cancelled this past weekend in response to the uproar in Indiana. A vote must be held before the Georgia General Assembly adjourns at midnight on Thursday, April 2.

We need to make sure that Georgia does not become the next Indiana. Reach out to your legislators and let them know that you oppose this destructive RFRA bill.

Arne M. Sorenson, the CEO of Marriott International, spoke out forcefully against Indiana’s RFRA law, as well as the many other RFRA bills, like Georgia’s, now making their way through state legislatures across the country.

Referring to RFRA bills as “pure idiocy” Arne Sorenson joins the ranks of other CEOs to speak out against these “license to discriminate” bill including Tim Cook of Apple and Marc Benioff of Salesforce.

In a speech, Sorenson said:

“The notion that you can tell businesses somehow that they are free to discriminate against people because of who they are is madness.”

Sorenson called on the state of Indiana to fix RFRA so the state can put this madness behind them.

Indiana serves as a harrowing example of what Georgia stands to lose should our state’s General Assembly follow suit and pass RFRA into law.

Last week, supporters of Georgia’s RFRA tabled their bill after an amendment was added clarifying that the law could not be used as a “license to discriminate.” Now chances look good that Georgian’s can defeat RFRA once and for all, but until the General Assembly adjourns for the year on Thursday at midnight, supporters could slip RFRA into an unrelated bill and try to sneak this discriminatory law past the people of Georgia. Stay tuned as this bill unfolds by following Georgia Unites Against Discrimination on Facebook.

For the past four years, the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) has held their nation championship at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue in Gainsville, GA from the 1996 Atlanta Games. The event has drawn in over 1500 athletes from 63 universities, bringing in $2 million in economic activity in just the past two years.

ACRA has enjoyed the welcoming and supportive community of Gainsville for their annual championship, but due to recently proposed RFRA legislation that would create a “license to discriminate” in Georgia, ACRA has been forced to rethink their relationship with the state over concerns that such a law could lead to discrimination against their student athletes, coaching staff and fans.

In a statement ACRA wrote:

“Over the past two years, our sport has provided $2 million of economic impact to the region, and we look forward to continuing that mutually beneficial relationship.

However, we are deeply concerned with legislation being considered by the Georgia General Assembly (Senate Bill 129) that could negatively impact our athletic community, coaching staff, and fans. In particular, we are cognizant of the impact such legislation could have on the LGBT coaches, athletes and family members who attend the regatta annually. ACRA does not stand for discrimination in any form, and we will continue to monitor the issue in Georgia should this legislation be signed into law.”

With every hour, more and more businesses and organizations are coming out forcefully against Georgia’s “license to discriminate” RFRA. Which begs the question, what are our elected leaders thinking putting Georgia’s pro-business reputation at stake when millions of dollars and thousands of jobs are on the line?

This is the week.

We have exactly four days until Georgia lawmakers adjourn for the session—and exactly four days to stop the “license to discriminate” RFRA bill from becoming law.

And with the backlash we’re seeing in Indiana, our legislators are seeing firsthand just how much damage RFRA would inflict on Georgia. Just today, supporters of this harmful bill postponed a scheduled vote to re-insert discriminatory language in Georgia’s RFRA bill.

But it isn’t over until it’s over. And if supporters of RFRA have shown us anything so far, it’s that they won’t hesitate to play political football with the lives of LGBT Georgians.

So tomorrow at noon, hundreds are gathering in Atlanta for an emergency rally to stop RFRA once and for all. Click here to say you’ll be there for this historic event.

For months we’ve been arguing that if Georgia passes this “license to discriminate” bill, the fallout would be huge—with major Fortune 500 companies pulling out of our state, and taking their investment and jobs with them.

Now we can simply look no further than Indiana to prove that our worst fears will come true if we don’t stop RFRA now.

We must ask our elected leaders, is it really worth it? Is it really worth the loss of millions in investment and thousands of jobs—as well as the permanent irreparable damage to our international business standing—just to legalize state-sanctioned discrimination against gay and transgender Georgians? The answer is and has always been NO.

With just days to go before the Georgia Legislature adjourns, it’s time to stick the nail in RFRA’s coffin.

Join us tomorrow at noon in Atlanta as we demonstrate to our elected leaders that we won’t become the next Indiana. Click here to rally with us, and help defeat RFRA once and for all.

Let’s kill this bill.

MailChimp, a Georgia-based company with 250 employees, made a formal statement against the proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which would allow individuals and businesses to claim their religious beliefs as a means of discriminating against gay and transgender Georgians.

The statement reads: “As a privately held company, we don’t normally comment on public policy. However: We do not support SB 129 or any other discriminatory legislation.”

The statement continues with a call to action: “We ask Georgia’s lawmakers to join the voices in their community that are saying no to discrimination and intolerance. We’re extremely concerned that this legislation would be harmful to people, cities, and businesses in our state. It also opposes many of our own company’s values: inclusiveness, diversity, equality, and respect.”

MailChimp’s opposition comes after a major wave of backlash in Indiana after a similar RFRA bill was signed into law by Governor Pence late last week.

Organizations and major corporations including Angie’s List, the NCAA, the NBA, Yelp, Salesforce and Apple have all publicly opposed the legislation, and Indiana is already anticipated lose millions of dollars and thousands of jobs from the fallout.

Governor Pence has since responded, announcing that he would introduce a solution to try to “clarify” the bill, but has yet to propose legislation that would ensure this bill would not give a “license to discriminate” against LGBT Hoosiers. If RFRA passes into law in Georgia, there’s no doubt a similar backlash will ensue.

MailChimp and other Georgia companies are speaking out because they know our economy can’t endure the same negative repercussions including a tarnished business reputation as a result of passing RFRA.

So where does the bill stand as of now? A House Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill to re-insert discriminatory language was postponed following the negative backlash in Indiana. With just four days until the Georgia General Assembly adjourns, we must speak out now to defeat RFRA once and for all.

Big update:

Proponents of RFRA just announced that tomorrow’s crucial House Judiciary Committee vote on the “license to discriminate” bill is postponed.

This turn of events shows that what we’re doing is working. For months, supporters like you have told lawmakers that RFRA is a harmful bill that will have devastating consequences for Georgia—and now, they’re listening.

But make no mistake: RFRA is NOT dead—not yet anyway. Lawmakers are still in session untilthis Thursday at midnight, and supporters of this shameful bill won’t leave a stone unturned as they work to legalize state-sanctioned discrimination against gay and transgender Georgians.

At any moment between now and Thursday, RFRA could be brought up for a vote. We must remain vigilant; otherwise this harmful bill could still be signed into law.

So on Tuesday at noon, hundreds will rally together in Atlanta to show that the people of Georgia oppose RFRA. Click here for all the details—and let us know you’ll be there to help make history.

We can do this. We can stop RFRA in Georgia.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Turn on the news today and there’s no doubt you’ll see the headlines: A national boycott of Indiana in the wake of Governor Mike Pence signing the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) into law.

Major companies—from Apple to Yelp—have spoken out. The NBA and NCAA issued statements strongly condemning the law. Major tech companies have pulled their investments in Indiana. And yesterday, thousands of people rallied at the Indiana Statehouse in strong opposition.

Tomorrow morning at 10am, the House Judiciary Committee will decide if this same, harmful bill will become law in Georgia.

Tell members of the House Judiciary Committee: Don’t make Georgia the next Indiana! Click here to send a message and help stop RFRA before it’s too late for our state.

RFRA is about discrimination—there’s no denying it. Don’t forget: When Georgia lawmakers amended RFRA last week to clarify that it cannot be used to undermine local non-discrimination ordinances, supporters of the bill said they couldn’t even support it.

Even Indiana’s Governor Mike Pence—who signed RFRA into law 72 hours ago—said today that he would push legislation “clarifying” the intent of RFRA, after the national outcry made it clear that Indiana’s law is nothing more than a “license to discriminate.” The state’s largest newspaper said RFRA has been the “greatest crisis of his political career.”

National boycotts? Millions of dollars of revenue down the drain? A political crisis?

We can’t let our state go down this dangerous road. But unless we act soon, Georgia may very well become the next Indiana.

Help defeat RFRA before tomorrow’s committee vote at 10am. Click here to send a message urging members of the House to reject discrimination against LGBT Georgians.

Let’s stop this bill.

On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee will discuss RFRA—with the sole purpose of removing existing amendments clarifying that the bill cannot be used to discriminate against LGBT Georgians.

Instead, RFRA supporters will offer a trojan horse amendment that will offer absolutely no protections—and will enable individuals and businesses to completely ignore laws like Atlanta’s LGBT non-discrimination law.

Let’s be clear: If this version of RFRA passes, it will mean state-sanctioned, legalized discrimination against gay and transgender Georgians.

Tell your lawmakers: Reject any and all legislation that allows for discrimination against LGBT Georgians. Click here to send an urgent message now.

The amendment that will be offered on Monday is incomprehensible. It says that RFRA cannot be used to discriminate against anyone protected under state law.

But here’s the thing, Cameron: Georgia has NO statewide civil rights law. Statewide law includes no protected classes. This amendment would do NOTHING to prevent discrimination—NOTHING.

Our opponents have one motive: Legalize discrimination against gay and transgender Georgians. This amendment would allow for exactly that. And now, we only have until Monday at 10am to stop it.

We have to stop this amendment now before it’s too late. Click here to urge your lawmaker to oppose any and all attempts to legalize discrimination against LGBT Georgians.

I told you yesterday that RFRA’s supporters haven’t given up—and this proves it.

We have to stop this bill.

On March 27, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau sent a resolution in opposition to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to key leaders such as Governor Nathan Deal, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Speaker of the House David Ralston.

The resolution begins clearly indicating the importance of the Bureau in correspondence to the Atlanta hospitality industry, which “generates more than $13 billion of economic benefit annually and employs a diverse workforce of more than 230,000.”

Because of the considered RFRA bill, which “has the potential to be unwelcoming and inconsistent with the experience our 45 million conventioneers and tourists have in Atlanta every year,” the industry community is worried that “negative perceptions associated with this legislation could tarnish Atlanta’s reputation as one of the world’s most welcoming cities.”

The negative effects from RFRA on the Georgia economy could be devastating, turning away business and potential employees, affecting not only the hospitality businesses and their employees but also all consumers in Georgia.  The resolution states that: “Therefore, be it resolved that Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau stands together with Atlanta’s hospitality and business community in opposition to the implementation of any legislation which could be used to potentially discriminate and will continue to work to ensure that every visitor to our city continues to be welcomed warmly and in accordance with our standards for excellent customer service.”

This resolution comes in the wake of Indiana’s Governor signing a similar RFRA bill yesterday. In response, the NCAA has made a statement strongly condemning the bill and major companies—including Apple, Salesforce, and Yelp—have slammed this “license to discriminate” law.

If implemented, RFRA could allow individuals and private businesses to ignore any laws that they claim conflict with their religious beliefs including nondiscrimination laws. It’s not too late to urge lawmakers to stop this harmful bill from passing, so make your voice heard!

We have some incredible news: Georgia lawmakers just tabled the “license to discriminate” RFRA bill.

This huge development came after the House Judiciary Committee passed an amendment ensuring that RFRA could not be used to undermine local, state or federal civil rights protections.

But with this commonsense amendment, proponents of RFRA—who claim this isn’t about discrimination—immediately moved to table the bill. This move highlights what we’ve said all along: RFRA isn’t about religious freedom. It’s about legalized discrimination.

The legislation is on hold, but the bill’s sponsors are trying every trick in the book to still get it passed. We can’t let them get away with it. Click here to urge your Representative to oppose this “license to discriminate” RFRA bill before it’s too late.

After months and months of RFRA proponents claiming this bill was just about protecting religious freedom—we’ve caught them red handed. There simply is no reason to oppose a bipartisan amendment protecting Georgians against discrimination unless that was clearly the original intent all along.

We are so grateful to the legislators—including several Republicans—in the House Judiciary Committee who voted for this bipartisan amendment to protect LGBT Georgians from discrimination.

Now that even proponents of RFRA have turned against this bill because of a sensible amendment to protect fellow Georgians, this marks our best opportunity yet to stop this discriminatory legislation to date.

But we aren’t in the clear just yet. And the bill’s sponsors aren’t above using dirty tricks to push through this discriminatory bill. We have to let them know we will hold them accountable. Click here to urge your Representative to vote NO on RFRA.

We won’t if we’ve stopped this bill until session is over until midnight on April 2nd. Click here to tell your Representative to oppose a “license to discriminate” in Georgia.

Dragon Con, one of the most popular multi-media and pop culture conventions in the nation located annually in Atlanta, made a statement on March 26 strongly opposing the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

The statement reads: “Dragon Con is proud of its long history of accepting all fans, no matter who they are today or who they want to be during the convention. […] We are working through the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, which are actively lobbying against this discriminatory bill, to make our opinion known to Georgia legislators.”

Dragon Con has been located in Atlanta since its founding 29 years ago, and has enjoyed growing and developing roots in the metropolitan area. “We have great faith that our state’s leaders and legislators will, eventually, do the right thing for all Georgians. Legislation that hurts one of us hurts us all.”

Even if the “license to discriminate” legislation passes, Dragon Con will continue to ensure nondiscrimination practices in all of its business endeavors.

“Should this bill become law, we will seek written assurances from all of our business partners that they will not participate in any discriminatory behavior on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other point of identification. We have no intention now or in the future of supporting a business partner that discriminates.”

Dragon Con joins other Georgia conventions based in Georgia that have spoken out against RFRA, including American Academy of Religion, American Historical Association, German Studies Association, History of Science Society, Philosophy of Science Association, Society for Biblical Literature and Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts.

In a letter to Republican lawmakers, the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus warned that, “as of now we know of at least $15 million in convention business that has stated that they will cancel their conventions should this bill pass.” The convention bureau estimates the long-term negative economic impact will amount to “hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue.”

Similarly, Indiana’s Governor signed an analogous RFRA bill today. The overwhelming negative reaction includes the NCAA making a statement of disapproval of RFRA and considering holding the Final Four elsewhere other than Indianapolis in the future, and Salesforce, Gen Con, and Disciples of Christ all condemning the bill.

Stand with us and the quickly growing corporate opposition in fighting this harmful legislation so that the Georgia economy can continue to grow and attract the best and brightest to the state.

Shameful.

Last night, supporters of the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) showed their true colors when they refused to add any of the amendments that would have improved the bill by explicitly preventing discrimination against LGBT Georgians.

Now more than ever, their true motives are clear: They want to legalize discrimination against gay and transgender people.

Now RFRA has advanced to the full House Judiciary Committee, which will likely vote on this dangerous “license to discriminate” bill in a matter of hours.

Click here to email members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to vote NO on a “license to discriminate” in Georgia today.

I’m going to be blunt: SB129 is one of the most out-of-touch and anti-gay bills in the country—and there’s no guarantee we’re going to be able to defeat it.

For months, proponents of RFRA have insisted that the bill has nothing to do with discrimination. But in rejecting commonsense amendments yesterday clarifying that SB129 cannot be used to roll back existing civil rights protections—like Atlanta’s LGBT non-discrimination law—our opponents can no longer hide behind their lies.

In just a few short hours, members of the House Judiciary Committee will decide if Georgia moves one step closer to legalizing discrimination against hardworking gay and transgender people who call our state home.

They need to hear from you now—before it’s too late. Click here to urge members of the House Judiciary Committee to vote NO on RFRA today.

We’re not going down without a fight.

The severe economic consequences, should the Georgia legislature go forward with the proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Act, are already beginning to play out.

Over the weekend, the American Studies Association (ASA) announced it is suspending its bid to hold their 2018 annual meeting in Atlanta over concerns that the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) will lead to discrimination against marginalized groups on the basis of religious beliefs. Should the bill pass, the ASA will remove their bid entirely.

As the largest association devoted to the interdisciplinary study of US culture and history in a global context, the ASA boasts a membership of more than 5 thousand worldwide. Their annual convention is expected to bring in $1.4 million to the Georgia economy, through airfare, hotels, food, and other services provided to the attendees during the meeting. But if the ASA goes through with their announcement to not host their meeting in Georgia should the state legislature pass RFRA, this would stand to be a huge loss of revenue to the state.

In a statement, the ASA highlights just some of the concerning pieces of RFRA which has caused the non-profit to re-think holding their annual convention in Atlanta.

“Georgia’s SB 129 would allow individuals and corporations to discriminate against marginalized groups on the basis of religious beliefs.  In the name of religious freedom, this legislation would justify the refusal of services to Muslim and LGBT communities and their members. As critics have pointed out, this legislation could also be mobilized to defend those who inflict violence and abuse upon family members or community members by suggesting these actions reflect their deeply held religious beliefs.”  

Refusing to hold their conference in the state of Georgia is in line with the organization’s stated goals of fostering an open and welcoming place for debate.

“The ASA has evolved into one of the leading scholarly organizations known for taking action in the worlds of politics and policy to create and defend conditions for open debate and the pursuit of meaningful, engaged scholarship and teaching. Given the ASA’s commitment to social justice, the Executive Committee of the ASA strongly condemns the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SB 129).”

The ASA is not alone. In Indiana, which passed a similar RFRA bill earlier this week, the state stands to lose upwards of $50 million after Gen-Con—the largest annual convention in Indianapolis—announced that they would not host their convention in the state if Indiana Governor Pence does not veto the bill.

Given these recent developments, it’s concerning that our elected leaders are continuing to push for this same “license to discriminate” law which will harm the economic well-being of our state.