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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDisney, Marvel Studios Threaten to Abandon Productions in Georgia If Governor Signs Anti-LGBT Bill
Good! What will be more important to the governor...bigotry or money?Today, HRC praised Disney and Marvel Studios for answering a call to action from HRC President Chad Griffin, who urged Hollywood to abandon future productions in Georgia if Governor Deal signs an anti-LGBT bill, H.B. 757, into law. The appalling legislation could weaken local non-discrimination protections and allow businesses to discriminate and deny service to LGBT people, in addition to explicitly allowing discrimination by taxpayer-funded religious organizations.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, a Disney spokesperson today made the following statement: Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law.
We applaud Disney and Marvel for standing up for fairness and equality by sending a strong warning to Governor Deal, said HRC President Chad Griffin. Its appalling that anti-LGBT activists in Georgia are trying to pass legislation creating an explicit right to discriminate against LGBT Americans. We urge other studios, major corporations, and fair-minded Georgians to continue speaking out and urging Gov. Deal to veto this heinous piece of legislation sitting on his desk.
This past Saturday night at the Los Angeles HRC Gala, HRC President Chad Griffin addressed nearly 1,000 supporters and leaders in the entertainment industry and called on Hollywood to stop productions in Georgia if Gov. Nathan Deal doesnt veto the new Indiana-style "license to discriminate" bill passed by the state legislature last week. According to the State of Georgia, which offers major tax incentives for entertainment companies to film in the state, at least 248 film and television productions were shot in Georgia during the states 2015 fiscal year. This resulted in at least $1.7 billion in direct spending as well as more than 100 new businesses relocating to or expanding in Georgia to support these activities.
More: http://www.hrc.org/blog/disney-marvel-studios-threaten-to-abandon-productions-in-georgia
lpbk2713
(42,750 posts)BWAHAHAHA
villager
(26,001 posts)....Boss Hawg may gamble on having his hateful cake, and eating it too...
blogslut
(37,992 posts)"As a company, AMC Networks believes that discrimination of any kind is reprehensible," the company said in a statement. "We applaud Governor Deal's leadership in resisting a previous version of this divisive legislation and urge him to reject the current version as well."
villager
(26,001 posts)Let's hope -- like Rick & co. -- they mean what they say.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)It's maddening he won't do the right thing because it's the right thing. But you can better bet he's going to knock this down because of the dollars.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)hitting them in the wallet is the only thing they understand.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Too soon?
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Initech
(100,054 posts)libdem4life
(13,877 posts)Bigotry is not only offensive, but becoming expensive.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)NV Whino
(20,886 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,724 posts)a few years ago.
Maybe an impersonator?
klook
(12,153 posts)Not sure how long he plans to stick around if this garbage bill is signed into law.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)Zorro
(15,730 posts)This may be how future social progress will be made, instead of relying on legislation.
I think this is an interesting development.
redruddyred
(1,615 posts)let's face it, lgbt right woulda never happened unless some very powerful ppl also happened to be in the closet
Ilsa
(61,691 posts)in Ga right now. That's a lot of hotel, restaurant, tourism money to say goodbye to.
Contrary1
(12,629 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)They think Hollywood is evil and Satanic, anyway.
REP
(21,691 posts)I've been noticing that many of my favorite shows (with a very liberal streak) have the "made in Georgia" card at the end. I'm sure there's notable pockets of backwards knuckle dragging bigots, but the money is in the cities, where shit like this won't play. I'm hoping this is just political kabuki to look like they're trying to do something to appease the morons.