‘Religious Freedom’ Bill Advances To Senate

29 Republican Senators have signed on as sponsors of the bill.

They say the legislation is needed to ensure government can’t infringe on someone’s religious rights without a good reason. But opponents say it could allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

On Monday, a Senate committee made changes to the bill. Supporters say it’s now closer to a federal act that passed Congress in 1993 and was signed by President Bill Clinton. Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, is sponsoring the bill.

“I’m very pleased we were able to come to an agreement that protects the religious liberty for each and every Georgian,” says Mckoon, “while sending a clear message that none of us are trying to use this as a vehicle to be a license to discriminate.”

Supporters say the new bill makes it clear it doesn’t apply to private companies but only to government. Gay rights activists say the legislation is better than what was originally proposed, but they’re still concerned.

“This language is still not something that we’re going to be able to support,” Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, says. “We do feel that it still opens the door for action, for individuals and companies to continue to discriminate against people.”

The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee quickly Monday.

The legislation wasn’t on the agenda and committee members took it up while Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, was in the bathroom. Fort has been a vocal opponent of the bill and says he would have voted against the measure.

“It seems to me the right thing would have been to delay the vote until all the members who had appeared at the committee were in the room,” Fort says.

Once the bill reaches the Senate, it’s a shoe-in for approval as long as its 29 co-signers agree with changes to the bill. That’s because 29 is just above the minimum number of votes needed for any legislation to pass the Senate.

The bill is one of two “religious liberty” measures state lawmakers are considering this year. The other is sponsored by Rep. Sam Teasley, R-Marietta.