Disney, Marvel warn of boycotting US state if ‘anti-gay’ bill is signed into law

Rappler.com

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Disney, Marvel warn of boycotting US state if ‘anti-gay’ bill is signed into law

Jay Maidment

Disney, with its subsidiary Marvel, threatens to stop filming in Georgia, USA, if a 'religious liberty' bill tagged as 'anti-gay' is signed into law

MANILA, Phillippines – Disney and its subsidiary, Marvel, spoke against a “religious liberty bill” in the US state of Georgia which would legalize discrimination. They threatened to pack up their film productions based in the state should the legislation be signed into law by its Republican governor, Nathan Deal.

Proponents labeled House Bill 757 as a “religious liberty law,” which would not sanction organizations or people if they refuse service to married same-sex couples on the basis of “a sincerely held religious believe regarding lawful marriage between […] a man and a woman.”

Opponents argue that the bill will effectively legalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Several US media outfits have also branded the law as “anti-gay.”

“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,” the media conglomerate said in a statement quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

Marvel (whose parent company is Disney) shot several of its films – including the latest, Captain America: Civil War, at a Pinewood Studios outpost just located outside the state capital of Atlanta. The media giant is also currently shooting Guardians of the Galaxy 2 there.

The US state has been known as a filmmaking hub because of its tax incentives. Critics of the legislation also claim that the state could suffer a backlash from the business community if the bill is signed into law.

Pinewood Studios, which is headquartered in England, said in a statement quoted by the Los Angeles Times that the company “actively promotes equal opportunities and diversity in the workplace.” However, it has not made any categorical statement to call on Deal to veto the bill.

 

Veto?

The bill has passed the the state legislature and is pending Governor Deal’s signature to make it law – or a veto.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC.com), however, Deal has made it clear in the past that he would reject any measure that “allows discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith.”

He called on his fellow Republicans to not feel threatened should he strike down the legislation, saying, “I hope that we can all just take a deep breath, recognize that the world is changing around us, and recognize that it is important that we protect fundamental religious beliefs.”

“But we don’t have to discriminate against other people in order to do that. And that’s the compromise that I’m looking for.”

Cable channel AMC also urged the governor to veto the law. AMC is responsible for hit shows such as Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Walking Dead, the last of which is shot in Georgia.

It said in a statement quoted by the Los Angeles Times, “As a company, AMC Networks believes that discrimination of any kind is reprehensible. We applaud Governor Deal’s leadership in resisting a previous version of this divisive legislation and urge him to reject the current version as well.”

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) also called on the governor to strike down the controversial measure.

“We are confident that Governor Deal will not allow a discriminatory bill to become law in Georgia,” said Vans Stevenson, the MPAA’s senior vice president of state government affairs, as quoted by Variety. – Rappler.com

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