Disney, Marvel will pull production from Georgia if anti-gay bill is passed

Georgia’s Free Exercise Protection Act, is causing some major waves before Gov. Nathan Deal decides to sign or veto the bill before May 3.

If passed, the bill would offer “protections” to any faith-based business that feels providing services to same-sex couples would violate their ardent religious faith. So, yet another anti-gay bill cloaked with religion.

But, unlike any other states trying to pass these laws, Georgia has gained a very powerful foe that would cost the state a whole heap of money. We are talking about Disney, who released the following statement:

Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law.

Georgia is “one of the fastest growing production hubs in the country,” reports The Los Angeles Times. Why? Georgia offers major tax incentives that allow film companies to better wrangle salaries for actors and crew, cutting down on costs all around.

In 2015 alone, $1.7 billion was spent on 247 movie and television projects.

No other companies have taken the stand that Disney and Marvel have. But, it could catch traction and Georgia could be out of a lot of money, just to keep us gays down.

Chad Griffin,  president of the LGBT-focused civil rights organization Human Rights Campaign, weighed in on the issue…

It’s appalling that anti-LGBT activists in Georgia are trying to pass legislation creating an explicit right to discriminate against LGBT Americans,” he said. “We urge other studios, major corporations, and fair-minded Georgians to continue speaking out and urging Gov. Deal to veto this heinous piece of legislation sitting on his desk.