The Hypocrisy of Big Business Attacking Georgia’s Religious Liberty Bill,
by Ryan T. Anderson / @ryantand / February 25, 2016
Last
Friday, the Georgia Senate passed a good bill that
protects religious freedom
in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage. And already
special interest groups and big businesses are trying to pressure the governor into refusing to sign the bill unless
it is significantly watered down in the House.
This
is yet another example of cultural cronyism. Businesses in Georgia were always free
to embrace gay marriage—to bake wedding cakes for gay marriages and make floral
arrangements for same-sex nuptials—and many do, but now they want the
government to force everyone
in Georgia to do the same.
And
they’re threatening boycotts, travel bans, and relocations of businesses if the
government doesn’t do as they wish. It’s Indiana all over again.
Big
business, as represented by “individual corporate giants including Hilton Worldwide, Marriott
and InterContinental Hotels Group”; the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; and
the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association, have all spoken out against the
religious freedom bill as opening the door to widespread discrimination.
But
if every Hilton, Marriott, and InterContinental hotel in Georgia already hosts
receptions for newlywed same-sex couples—why can’t Georgia protect the
mom-and-pop bed-and-breakfast or local Knights of Columbus hall that has a
different set of beliefs about marriage? This law doesn’t harm minority rights;
it protects them in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s redefinition of
marriage.
The
hypocrisy of big business lobbying against the law is astounding. They want to
be free to operate in Georgia according to their values, but they don’t want
small-business competitors to be free to operate according to theirs. If all of
the major corporations are already in favor of gay marriage, then this
religious freedom law poses no threat. It merely protects the rights of those
who disagree.
And
protecting minority rights after major social change is a hallmark of American
tolerance and pluralism. Georgia should stand strong and defend these rights.
In
June 2015, the Supreme Court redefined marriage throughout America by mandating
that governmental entities treat same-sex relationships as marriages. The
Supreme Court, however, did not say that private schools, charities, businesses,
or individuals must abandon their beliefs if they disagree.
Indeed,
there is no justification for the government to force these entities to violate
beliefs about marriage that, as Justice Kennedy noted, are held “in good faith
by reasonable and sincere people here and throughout the world.” Americans who
believe that marriage is the union of husband and wife should continue to be
free to live and work according to their convictions.
Georgia’s H.B. 757 is a good first step to protecting
freedom after the Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage. It is a measured,
reasonable, commonsense policy. It would ensure that no state agency
discriminates against individuals or institutions for following their
convictions about marriage as a man-woman union by revoking, for example, their
nonprofit tax-exempt status or denying them government grants, contracts,
accreditation, or licenses. The bill protects freedom and pluralism in the wake
of social change—embodying the best of American values.
Other
states have penalized bakers, florists, photographers, farmers, and adoption
agencies simply for acting on their belief that marriage unites a man and a
woman. Georgia wants to avoid following this bad precedent. Georgia wants to
promote tolerance—and is being attacked because of it.
Unfortunately,
H.B. 757 isn’t as clear as it should be with respect to protections for bakers,
florists, and photographers, or even for the bed-and-breakfast owner. Rather
than water down the bill, legislators should consider making these protections
explicit.
America
is in a time of transition. The court has redefined marriage, and beliefs about
human sexuality are changing. During this time, it is critical to protect the
right to disagree and the civil liberties of those who speak and act in accord
with what Americans had always believed about marriage—that it is the union of
husband and wife.
Good
public policy is needed at the local, state, and federal levels to protect
cherished American values.
At
the federal level, the First Amendment Defense Act would help achieve civil
peace amid disagreement and protect pluralism and the rights of all Americans,
regardless of what faith they may practice. At the state level, Georgia’s First Amendment Defense Act is a good start. It shouldn’t be
watered down.
Comments
Pastors
should be able to refuse to marry any couples without being subject to law
suits.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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