Atlanta-based MailChimp, the fast-growing email marketing company with more than 10 million customers nationwide, has now joined with national businesses lining up against a controversial "religious liberty" bill because they fear it would legalize discrimination in Georgia.
The company issued a statement Friday calling on Gov. Nathan Deal to veto House Bill 757, which passed the Georgia Legislature in a matter of hours Wednesday after GOP lawmakers came to a compromise over the bill’s language.
“We strongly oppose the discriminatory legislation that recently passed in Georgia, and we join the voices in our community calling for equality,” the company said. “We appreciate Gov. Deal’s leadership on this issue, and we agree with him that our state should be open and inclusive to all. We respectfully ask him to veto House Bill 757.”
Deal has been unclear whether he will sign the bill, and has until May 3 to make up his mind.
Religious conservatives have cheered the bill’s passage and are urging 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 sanctions discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by faith-based organizations. Leaders of major corporations including Intel, Yelp and PayPal have in the last 48 hours 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.
To more of our coverage about the bill's passage, click here. To see what pressure Deal is under as he deliberates, click here.
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