Washington, DC, March 28, 2016—Today, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal vetoed an anti-LGBTQ bill (HB 757) that would have resulted in unprecedented discrimination against LGBTQ people in Georgia. The bill, under the guise of religious liberty, would have also allowed state-funded institutions to deny services to LGBTQ people and others.
“Georgia Governor Deal is standing on the right side of history by vetoing this anti-LGBTQ discriminatory bill that would have opened up the flood gates to discrimination. We thank the tireless LGBTQ advocates, civil rights leaders, business leaders, and faith leaders who have been working around the clock to defeat discriminatory legislation in Georgia. True religious freedom does not embrace discrimination, but instead condemns hate and defeats inequality. That is why we must continue pushing for strong legislation that explicitly protects LGBTQ people against unfairness and injustice,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.
The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund has been working with faith leaders all across the country, including Georgia, to help create more welcoming churches and places of worship for LGBTQ people. Last year, the Task Force brought together over 200 faith leaders and LGBTQ people of faith to Salt Lake City, Utah for a Faith and Family Power Summit. Most recently, the organization held a day and a half long training for 40 clergy members and faith leaders in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC with an additional training of similar size in the Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia with the goal of creating a church that welcomes and affirms LGBTQ congregants. The organization will also be hosting a dozen daylong trainings for faith leaders and people of faith in the coming months.
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CONTACT:
Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
213-842-7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org