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Hollywood studios praise Georgia governor rejecting ‘anti-gay’ bill

Studios set to continue filming in Atlanta after governor rejects controversial bill seen as discriminatory to LGBT community.

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A campaign from Hollywood studios including Disney, Netflix and AMC has resulted in Georgia Governor Nathan Deal vetoing a bill that would have curtailed the rights of Georgia’s LGBT community.

Hollywood studios, stars and power brokers joined with businesses corporations in criticising the House Bill 757 which would have given faith-based organisations in Georgia the option to deny services and jobs to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Studios threatened to pull productions from Atlanta, “the Hollywood of the South” which generates $1.7B in local investment.

But Governor Deal today said he didn’t think the bill was necessary.

“I do not think we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia, of which I and my family have been a part of for all of our lives,” he said.

He said he was not reacting to pressure from the faith-based community or responding to the business community, which warned Georgia could lose jobs if he signed the bill.

“Our people work side by side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to,” he said.

“We are working to make life better for our families and our communities. That is the character of Georgia.

“I intend to do my part to keep it that way. For that reason, I will veto HB 757.”

In a statement Disney said, “We applaud Governor Deal for making the right decision on this piece of legislation and look forward to continuing our film production in Georgia.”

The move comes as controversy swirls over a swiftly passed law in North Carolina that members of the LGBT community view as anti-gay.

Source: CNN

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