Georgia governor: Threats from NFL, Disney didn't prompt veto

Claiming the bill would “give rise to state-sanctioned discrimination,” Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal today vetoed a law that would have provided legal protection for pastors, faith-based organizations, and business owners who, in good conscience, refused to service gay weddings. The veto leaves Georgians with no statewide religious liberty protection and vulnerable to lawsuits over belief in the biblical definition of marriage.

Deal cited no evidence showing the bill would have institutionalized discrimination but instead dismissed as irrelevant the plight of business owners in other states who have lost their livelihoods because they declined to provide services for same-sex unions. He excused those situations as different states operating under different laws. But in doing so, he ignored a lawsuit pending in his own capital and the fears of Georgia business owners who may face a similar plight over their beliefs about marriage.

“HB 757 enumerates certain actions that religious leaders, faith-based organizations, and people of faith shall not be required to take or perform,” Deal said in announcing his veto intentions. “While most people would agree that government should not force such actions, there has not been a single instance of such taking place in Georgia.”

But in 2015, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed fired then-Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran for a brief mention of sexual morality in a Bible study he authored. Reed said Cochran did not represent Atlanta’s values. The former fire chief sued the city for violating his constitutionally protected freedom of speech and religion. The case is pending in a Georgia federal court.

“This idea that this isn’t happening in Georgia … It is,” said Matt Sharp, a lawyer with Alliance Defending Freedom, the Christian legal organization representing Cochran.

Sharp also said he has heard from business owners in Georgia’s creative industry who “live in fear,” worrying they will be sued for refusing to provide their skills for a same-sex wedding.

In his statement, Deal said he had no objection to the original iteration of HB 757, the so-called Pastor Protection Act, which would have given legal standing for clergy who refuse to officiate same-sex weddings. But amendments added by the state Senate made the bill untenable and “illustrates how difficult it is to legislate on something that is best left to the broad protections of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

“In light of our history, I find it ironic that today some in the religious community feel it necessary to ask government to confer upon them certain rights and protections,” the governor said.

Big money interests in and out of state warned of severe economic sanctions should Georgia pass a law that appeared discriminatory toward the LGBT community. Deal claimed his veto was not a response to those threats.

But Bryant Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, said he doubts the governor was unswayed by the economic pressure.

“The history of the business of Atlanta has been business,” Wright said.

Going back to the Civil Rights movement, even with segregation laws still in force, Wright said Atlanta government officials kept an open dialogue with the business community and leadership within the African- American churches. A generation later, the result is a thriving business sector—a great source of pride for Atlanta business owners.

“Since the LGBT lobby has so shrewdly postured their movement in the Civil Rights vein, it has everyone on the defensive,” Wright said.

Last week, Georgia state Rep. Kevin Tanner, one of the sponsors of HB 757, said the bill would have “set boundaries” allowing people on both sides of the issue to act in accordance with their consciences. With Deal’s veto, the state lost the opportunity to put the issue to rest, he said.

“This issue is not going away,” Tanner insisted, noting potential gubernatorial challengers for the 2018 election already are testing the waters.