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Category Archives: religious freedom

Progressives Delighted with Gov. Deal’s Veto of Troubling “Religious Freedom” Bill

March 29, 2016 GLORIA TATUM One comment

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale (APN) ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal announced on Monday, March 28, 2016, that he will veto HB 757, the so-called “Religious Freedom Bill” passed by the Legislature earlier this year. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/757 Many progressive advocates, faith leaders, and elected officials have responded with delight. “As a Rabbi, I’m relieved and […]

APN Legislative Wrap-Up: Georgia General Assembly 2015

April 9, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 2 comments

With additional reporting by Anna Simonton and Matthew Charles Cardinale. Photograph by Steve Eberhardt. (APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up the 2015 legislative session on Thursday, April 02, 2015. There were a few progressive highlights in the majority-Republican Legislature, including a solar power lease agreement bill; a limited medical cannabis bill; and more flexibility for MARTA […]

Four Women Jailed in Georgia over Religious Freedom Bill Protest (UPDATE 2)

March 28, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 7 comments

Photograph by Steve Eberhardt. (APN) ATLANTA — Four women were arrested when they visited the office of State Sen. Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) to talk with him and deliver a message about SB 129, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) bill, that he introduced. McKoon refused to meet with the women. They planned to stay until he agreed […]

Georgia House Committee Amends Religious Freedom Bill

March 27, 2015 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Yesterday, Thursday, March 26, 2015, the House Judiciary Civil Committee voted to amend SB 129, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) bill, to expressly state that eradicating discrimination is a compelling government interest, thus prohibiting religious freedom being used as a justification for discrimination. LGBTQI equality advocates celebrated the amendment, introduced by State Rep. Mike Jacobs […]

Hundreds Rally Against Georgia’s Religious Freedom Bill

March 18, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 2 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, hundreds came to Liberty Plaza, across from the State Capitol, to oppose, SB 129, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) bill. People from as far away as Columbus and Macon joined with folks from the Atlanta area to express their concerns to legislators that SB 129 could be a license to discriminate […]

ANALYSIS: Religious Freedom Wasn’t about Discrimination; It is Now

March 10, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — When HB 29 and SB 129 were introduced in the Georgia House and Senate this year, respectively, advocates of LGBTQI equality immediately waxed hyperbolic, calling it the Hate the Gays bill. Atlanta Progressive News ran a lengthy analysis in early January 2015 explaining that the bill was more broadly encompassing and more substantively complex than its […]

State Senate Passes Religious Freedom; State School Takeovers

March 8, 2015 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale (APN) ATLANTA — On Thursday, March 05, 2015, the full State Senate voted to engross SB 129, the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Bill, in a vote of 38 yeas to 17 nays. The bill passed the Senate in a vote of 37 to 15. Engrossment means that the bill cannot be changed; […]

Sen. McKoon Rushes Religious Freedom Bill without Notice, Transparency

March 5, 2015 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Monday, March 02, 2015, the Senate Judiciary Civil Committee passed an amended version of SB 129, the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The amended version states in the legislative findings but not in the operative text of the bill that courts “have consistently held that government has a fundamental, overriding interest in eradicating discrimination.” […]

State Senate Committee Tables Religious Freedom Bill

February 21, 2015 GLORIA TATUM One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — SB 129, the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was on a fast track until, on Thursday, February 19, 2015, the Senate Judiciary Committee tabled the bill with a 5 to 3 vote. State Sen. Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) is the author of SB 129 and was also the author of last year’s SB 377 that did not […]

Some Georgia Faith Leaders Oppose Religious Freedom Bill

January 14, 2015 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Tuesday, January 13, 2015, several faith leaders held a press conference at the State Capitol to deliver a letter from over sixty faith leaders of diverse traditions, who oppose HB 29, the so-called “Religious Freedom Bill.” Here is a link to their letter: http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Georgia-Faith-Leaders-Unite-Against-Discrimination.pdf The speakers were Rev. James Lamkin, Pastor, Northside Drive Baptist […]

Georgia’s Religious Freedom Bill: A Legal Primer for Progressives

January 3, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES 4 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — State Rep. Sam Teasley (R-Marietta) has pre-filed HB 29, the Preventing Government Overreach on Religious Expression Act, for the 2015-2016 Georgia Legislative Session. The bill–which would seek to change the court standard for cases involving claims for religious freedom–is likely to spark controversy, uproar, and impassioned lobbying both for and against the legislation. Last year, […]

2014 Georgia Legislative Session Wrap-up (UPDATE 1)

April 7, 2014 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Once again, it was not exactly a banner year for progressive legislation down at the Georgia General Assembly. Atlanta Progressive News followed the General Assembly in depth this year, including coverage of several bills. Previously, APN published our wrap-up of Crossover Day, which was on March 03, 2014: http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/interspire/news/2014/03/06/georgia-legislature-crossover-day-overview.html The Crossover Day wrap-up article contains […]