Disney & Marvel threaten filming boycott in Georgia

[Thanas]

Seriously? You can't see how America's second largest media conglomerate can protest a law? Here's one for free: make the next Disney Princess bisexual or a lesbian. You're welcome, Disney.

How will that mean anything with regards to getting this law overturned? Last time I checked producing rap songs did nothing to fix racial discrimination in the courts.

[U.P. Cinnabar]

Seriously? You can't see how America's second largest media conglomerate can protest a law? Here's one for free: make the next Disney Princess bisexual or a lesbian. You're welcome, Disney.

Yes, so these same bigoted morons can rant and rave about "liberal media political correctness," and the "gay mafia" ruining everything, while, as Thanas stated, utterly and completely failing to change the minds of a prejudiced minority who have the power to draft bad laws.

[Ralin]

Screwed those quotes up a tad

[Civil War Man]

Anyone who supports the anti-gay bill but does not support Disney (and possibly a lot of other production companies) choosing to take their business elsewhere if it becomes law is a hypocrite. As Napoleon said, any studios that choose to stop filming there as a result of this legislation are merely exercising the right that the bill is claiming to protect. Namely, the right of businesses to choose to not do business with anyone they disagree with on political "religious" grounds.

[Elheru Aran]

It's not as if the Christian Reich-wing isn't full of hypocrites anyway. A decade or so ago there was a big flap about Disney having 'Pride Days' or whatever, where gay couples could come in for free or something, and the Baptists were having their big convention in Orlando. They told everybody to go to Busch Gardens instead. You know, the place owned by a *beer company*. Seems you *can* pick and choose which sins are okay...

[Lord Revan]

It's no big secret that the part of USA citizens pushing these laws are bunch of hypocrites who will throw a tantrum like some 2 year old when the laws they meant to allow them to discriminate against people they don't like is used against them.

EDIT:It's also no big secret that these people are all about greed and self-intrest, to them it's not sin if they do it, but if anyone who they don't like does something they deem "sinful" the nutjobs will scream that the "sinner" will burn in hell with no chance for redemption (which is kind of ironic as I seem to remember that being merciful to sinners was a core tennent on christianity, but what would I know I only live in country that has 99% of the population being christian of some domination or other).

[Lord Revan]

It's no big secret that the part of USA citizens pushing these laws are bunch of hypocrites who will throw a tantrum like some 2 year old when the laws they meant to allow them to discriminate against people they don't like is used against them.

EDIT:It's also no big secret that these people are all about greed and self-intrest, to them it's not sin if they do it, but if anyone who they don't like does something they deem "sinful" the nutjobs will scream that the "sinner" will burn in hell with no chance for redemption (which is kind of ironic as I seem to remember that being merciful to sinners was a core tennent on christianity, but what would I know I only live in country that has 99% of the population being christian of some domination or other).

ghetto edit: it seems if Wikipedia is to belived that my numbers aren't quite correct with church membership having dropped to about 77% or so.

[Broomstick]

Just heard through the radio and e-mail that the Georgia governor veto'd the bill, no further details at the moment.

[Napoleon the Clown]

Slate article

On Monday morning, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced that he will veto HB757, an explicitly anti-gay “religious liberty” bill vehemently opposed by Georgia’s business community. The measure would have allowed taxpayer-funded government agencies—including adoption agencies, homeless shelters, and drug counseling centers—to refuse service to gay individuals and same-sex couples. It also contained provisions undermining local LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances, allowing hospitals to refuse treatment to LGBT people, and legalizing anti-LGBT employment discrimination.

Deal’s veto arrives on the heels of a nationwide outcry against the bill. Businesses and corporations, from Apple and Delta to the NCAA and the NFL, had pressured the governor to reject the measure. At least one company already planned to leave the state on account of the legislation. But far-right Republicans in the Georgia legislature rammed the bill through nonetheless, alienating moderates and potential allies by openly acknowledging the bill’s discriminatory intent.

In his Monday address, Deal sent a very clear message to the legislature’s anti-LGBT agitators: Your prejudice does not belong in our state’s laws. “HB757 doesn't reflect the character of our state or the character of our people,” Deal declared, explaining that the law is also completely unnecessary: “We do not have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia.” Denouncing the hypocrisy of the bill’s advocates, Deal noted wryly, “I find it ironic that some in the religious community look to government to secure religious rights.” He also explained that “it’s difficult to legislate on something that’s best left to the First Amendment”—music to the ears of civil libertarians, who have long pointed out that the Free Exercise Clause already guarantees religious liberty for all.

“This is about the character of our state and our people,” Deal concluded. “Georgia is a welcoming state full of kind and generous people.” By vetoing HB757, Deal will help to maintain those values of tolerance.

Still, trouble looms ahead. The legislature passed HB757 by an overwhelming majority; unless some lawmakers switch sides, legislators may yet override Deal’s veto. Perhaps the outcry in response to North Carolina’s similarly anti-LGBT law will persuade some lawmakers to back off the measure; perhaps they will only dig in their heels. Either way, Monday was, at the very least, a huge symbolic victory for a community that desperately needed a win—and a reminder that not every red state is governed by outspoken opponents of basic equality.