1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

Georgia's Senate Bill 36 threatens to undermine legal protections and promote discrimination against minorities and vulnerable groups under the guise of religious freedom. This legislation could allow individuals and businesses to cite religious beliefs as justification for denying housing, healthcare, equal employment opportunities, and other services to Black residents, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and interracial couples. Similar laws have repeatedly been used across the country to target the LGBTQ+ community specifically. SB 36 jeopardizes the rights enshrined in existing state policies and opens the door for costly lawsuits against Georgia. It revives a debate that was settled when a previous governor vetoed an identical bill in 2016 due to opposition from the business community concerned about the economic impact of legalized discrimination. While protecting religious freedom is important, SB 36 goes too far and enables discrimination that runs counter to our values of equality and inclusion for all Georgians. I urge you to reject this harmful legislation and uphold laws that safeguard the civil liberties of every resident, regardless of their background or beliefs. True religious liberty should not come at the expense of others' basic rights.