Fight Over Ga.’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill Far From Over
The fight over Georgia’s version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA, did not end when the measure stalled in the state legislature last month.
Debate over the RFRA measure continued last weekend at the Republican State Convention in Athens.
Convention delegates agreed on a resolution that urged GOP lawmakers to pass the bill without an amendment that would prevent discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Columbus Sen. Josh McKoon introduced the bill and said it was needed to ensure the free expression of religious beliefs without government interference. He said the bill closely mirrors the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that Congress passed in 1993.
But opponents said the measure would allow businesses to discriminate against the LGBT community and other minorities.
A similar RFRA bill in Indiana provoked a national backlash when it was signed into law without any protections for minorities. State lawmakers then amended the bill to protect against discrimination.
After delegates at the Georgia GOP convention last weekend passed the “religious freedom” resolution without debate, Gov. Nathan Deal backed down from his support for anti-discrimination language in the measure.
“I’m not sure whether it was just a tactical evasion,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution political columnist Jim Galloway said during an interview on “A Closer Look.”
“I think we’ll know more after the [U.S.] Supreme Court issues its ruling on gay marriage and when we get into the fall as preparations start for next year’s legislative session.”
WABE’s Rose Scott and Denis O’Hayer contributed to this story.
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