AHF: Georgia Governor Deal shows ‘Principled Leadership’ Vetoing Religious Liberty Bill that Would Have Legalized Anti-LGBT Discrimination

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Despite intense pressure from the religious right, including many
members of the Georgia legislature and his own Republican Party, Georgia
Governor Nathan Deal today vetoed Georgia HB
757, a so-called religious liberty bill that would have fostered and
permitted anti-LGBT discrimination in the state. AIDS Healthcare
Foundation (AHF), which operates free AIDS
treatment clinics, HIV and STDs prevention programs and an AHF
Pharmacy in Georgia, commended and thanked Governor Deal for his
veto:

“We want acknowledge and genuinely thank Governor Nathan Deal for his
veto of HB 757 earlier today, an act of principled leadership that was
likely not an easy decision for him,” said Michael Weinstein, President
of AHF. “The growing number of such potentially
divisive bills around the country give both pause—and could also
give cover—to leaders like Governor Deal. We are grateful that Deal
chose the high road by vetoing this discriminatory legislation.”

Michael Kahane, Southern Bureau Chief for AIDS Healthcare
Foundation, added:

“The essence of what HB 757 would have mandated is destructive to the
very spirit of Georgia. We thank Governor Deal for vetoing this bill
that has discriminatory practices at its core, a bill that would have
continued to foster and perpetuate immense levels of stigma against
those within the LGBTQ community. Over the past weeks, AIDS Healthcare
Foundation joined numerous partners throughout Georgia in opposition to
this bill, and we are grateful that the governor stayed true to his
commitment to not sign into law any bill that has discrimination as its
foundation.”

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over
605,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn
more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org,
find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth
and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare
and Instagram: @aidshealthcare

Contacts

AHF Southern Bureau
Imara Canady, Regional Director,
Communications and Community Engagement
+1.404.870.7789 work
+1.954.952.0258
mobile
imara.canady@aidshealth.org
or
AHF
Ged
Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications
+1.323.308.1833 work
+1.323.791.5526
mobile
gedk@aidshealth.org