Nevertheless, the Georgia State Assembly has passed HB 757, and called it the "Free Exercise Protection Act." The bill is intended "to protect property owners which are faith based organizations against infringement of religious freedom."
The phrase, "faith based" appears in the bill text twenty-three times.
The bill doesn't attempt to shield private property owners against infringement of religious freedom. The word, "private" does not appear in the bill text. Neither does the word, "corporate," except to refer to a "public corporate body created by or under authority of state law."
This law isn't meant to protect a baker from being compelled to prepare a lesbian wedding cake. Would that it did!
That hasn't prevented a moral panic and demands for Georgia's governor not to sign it. ESPN Radio's Kate Fagan said she was alarmed that a baker could refuse to sell a muffin to someone they didn't like. Then her and Sarah Spain giggled like Beavis and Butthead at her clever double entendre. Muffin, uh huh huh huh huh.
Fagan then said that she was proud that the NFL was threatening to punish Georgia by not awarding Atlanta a Super Bowl in 2019. "The NFL has the moral high ground" on this issue, she said.
To Fagan, the moral high ground is occupied by those who endorse marriage between homosexuals. It's frustrating that sincere, principled opposition to homosexual marriage is labelled as superstitious bigotry.
The NFL isn't the only private entity that is threatening Georgia legislators, who have enough votes to override a veto, with loss of commerce.
Disney has vowed to boycott the state. Disney receives generous tax incentives to produce media in the state, and is currently producing Guardians of the Galaxy 2 at Pinewood Studios.
"Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies," a Disney spokesperson said. "We will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law."
Is it "inclusive" to force a Christian minister to perform a lesbian wedding?
The loss of business is an effective wedge being employed to force rapid social change. It cuts both ways, though. The NFL enjoys an exemption from U.S. antitrust laws. When challenged in court, the NFL is often found to act conspiratorially to restrain trade and prevent competition. The last time, in 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 against the league.
Revoking the NFL's antitrust exemption wouldn't solve Georgia's HB 757 problem, which is that Americans are Constitutionally illiterate. But it would be a good start.
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