Netflix, Time Warner and Sony join companies to boycott Georgia over anti-LGBT bill
(AMC)
Several more production companies have vowed to boycott Georgia over HB 757, which would legalise discrimination against LGBT people.
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.
Earlier this week Marvel and Disney suggested a boycott would be on the cards if the bill was signed by Deal.
But many more companies have suggested they would move their productions away from Georgia, should the bill be signed.
This includes wildly popular ‘The Walkind Dead’, which is filmed by AMC Networks in the state.
Viacom, 21st Century Fox, Lionsgate, CBS, Starz, Netflix, Time Warner, CBS, The Weinstein Company, Sony, Comcast/NBCUniversal, MGM, STX Entertainment, and Open Road Films have all said they would boycott the state if the bill is signed.
While many simply strongly urged deal to use his veto on the bill, Netflix said in a statement: “We recently completed two films and a series in Georgia and had planned on filming two series there in the coming months. Should any legislation allowing discriminatory practice be signed into state law, we will move our productions elsewhere.”
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.”
