The only three openly gay members of the Georgia Legislature appealed Monday for Gov. Nathan Deal to veto a controversial "religious liberty" bill, saying they believe the state has already lost face over concerns the legislation would legalize discrimination statewide.
"Freedom of religion is an American value, it allows all of us to believe as we see fit," said state Rep. Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates, who gave an emotional floor speech last week against House Bill 757, which she said would make her a second-class citizen. But, she added, "it does not allow us to use religion to harm or take away from others."
Drenner was joined by state Reps. Keisha Waites, D-Atlanta, and Park Cannon, D-Atlanta, — the Legislature's two other openly gay lawmakers — as well as state Rep. Taylor Bennett, D-Brookhaven, whose mother is gay, and state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, D-Lithonia, chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus.
“I ask myself, what would Jesus do?” said Dawkins-Haigler, who is a minister. “Whatever we do unto the least of these, we do unto him. What is right is to not discriminate because of someone’s sexual orientation.”
Deal has been unclear whether he will sign the bill and has until May 3 to make up his mind.
Conservative groups such as the Faith and Freedom Coalition and the 1.3 million-member Georgia Baptist Mission Board have urged supporters to ask Deal to sign the bill, saying it would protect religious viewpoints that marriage should be between a man and a woman and prevent discrimination against religious groups.
Opponents, however, say the bill would sanction discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by faith-based organizations. Leaders of major corporations including Intel, PayPal and Yelp have called on Deal to veto the measure, and more than 400 businesses, including Google, Hilton Worldwide and Synovus, opposed the bill as it moved through the Legislature.
On Friday, the National Football League suggested HB 757 could jeopardize Atlanta's Super Bowl bid.
Click here to see how local lawmakers voted on the bill.
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