During the week of March 13,  Georgia’s legislature passed a bill, HB 757, which states: “faith-based organizations shall not be required to hire or retain certain persons as employees.”

The bill allows people to legally refuse to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. Many have argued that HB 757 allows businesses to discriminate against gay people under legal circumstances. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has until May 3 to decide whether or not he will sign the bill.

Many major companies have threatened to boycott Georgia by refusing to provide their services if HB 757 passes. Some companies that have agreed to boycott are Disney, Marvel, NFL, and AMC. Coca-Cola and Delta, two companies based in Atlanta, along with about 300 other companies, have signed a pledge against the bill as well.

Peddie,from Georgia said they believe the bill is trying to make discrimination against gay people legal.

“Personally, I see this as a great indicator as the process that needs to be made. We have made so much process, and this is a giant step backwards for social justice laws. This law serves as an indicator as to the social experience for the LGBT+ community in the south, and while I would like nothing more than to walk down to Georgia and protest myself, this is legislative proof that discrimination and homophobia still exists in southern government, and something should be done about it,” said  Robin Okunowo’17 of Fayetteville, Ga.

Tessema Haskins’18 agrees with Okunowo: “My first instinct is to deny the bill because any type of discrimination is terrible!” he said.

However, some in the Georgia legislature argue that this bill is attempting to protect the rights of citizens, and not discriminate. Many other states have attempted to draft similar bills in light of the Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage throughout the entire country.