Disney and Marvel threaten to boycott Georgia over ‘religious freedom’ bill
LGBT+ fans want Elsa to be given a girlfriend. (Disney)
Disney and Marvel are the latest companies to say they will boycott the state of Georgia if a bill restricting the rights of LGBT people is signed into law.
HB 757, previously known as the ‘pastor protection act’ has passed in the House and Senate, and has headed to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk to be signed.
Similar to the widely condemned ‘religious freedom’ bill passed in Indiana last year, HB 757 would even allow hospitals to refuse treatment to LGBT people.
Disney and Marvel on Wednesday said they would “take their business elsewhere” if the bill was passed into law.
“Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law,” a Disney spokesman said on Wednesday.
The two companies are the latest to express concern at the passing of HB 757.
On Friday the NFL said Georgia could lose out on hosting the Superbowl if the bill passes, and various business leaders have already started moving their companies out of the state.
The CEO of one of the largest tech marketing firms in America, Marc Benioff of Salesforce, also gave the Governor of Georgia an ultimatum – reject the bill or lose out on a 15,000 strong business convention.
HB 757 has been widely condemned, but last month passed unanimously in the House of Representatives 161-0.
Originally described as a measure to protect pastors who refuse to perform same-sex weddings,the bill has now passed in the House again by 104-65, after extra “protections” were added, meaning businesses and employees could discriminate against LGBT people.
It has been pointed out by human rights groups, that the bill would even allow hospitals to refuse necessary treatment to people based on their race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Governor earlier this month suggested he was against signing the bill. Nathan Deal used bible verse to make his point, saying: “We do not have a belief, in my way of looking at religion, that says that we have to discriminate against anybody.”
Deal used bible verse to make his point, saying: “We do not have a belief, in my way of looking at religion, that says that we have to discriminate against anybody.”
“I think what the New Testament teaches us,” he continued “is that Jesus reached out to those who were considered outcasts.”
