Hollywood producers, actors, and other film and television industry executives are making noise in the state of Georgia. Entertainment industry leaders are up-in-arms with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and law H.B. 757, which Deal supports and is expected to sign off on. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, sent a letter to the governor on behalf of dozens of petitioners who will stop production in the state if Deal signs the “anti-LGBT” H.B. 757 into law. Georgia is a major hub for the film industry. Over 248 film and television projects were filmed in Georgia in 2015, which resulted in the state earning in over $1.7 billion in spending. If the law is passed, this state will suffer financially and see a decrease in companies expanding their business in Georgia. The danger of the H.B. 757 law is that it is blatant discrimination. HRC says that the law could weaken local non-discrimination protections and allow businesses to discriminate and deny service to LGBT people, in addition to explicitly allowing discrimination by taxpayer-funded religious organizations. Other industries are speaking out against the Georgia bill as well. Apple, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Dell, the Dow Chemical Company, Live Nation Entertainment, Marriott, MailChimp, Microsoft, NFL, Paypal, Turner, Twitter, Virgin, Yelp, and many others are oppose to H.B. 757. According to the HRC, the list of petitioners are still growing. Here is the official letter sent to Governor Deal and the list of signatures received so far: “Dear Governor Deal, As leaders in the entertainment industry, we have deep concerns about H.B. 757, which would sanction discrimination against LGBT people and others in Georgia. As you know, Atlanta is often referred to as the Hollywood of the South. During the last fiscal year, at least 248 films and television productions were shot in Georgia, adding at least $1.7 billion in direct spending to the state’s economy. Additionally, the entertainment industry helped to bring more than 100 businesses to Georgia through relocation or expansion in the past fiscal year. Only two states — California and New York — have a larger entertainment industry footprint and both have statewide non-discrimination protections on the books. Unfortunately, Georgia not only lacks such protections, but could soon move from a bad situation to worse with H.B. 757. We pride ourselves on running inclusive companies, and while we have enjoyed a positive partnership on productions in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere if any legislation sanctioning discrimination is signed into state law. We urge you to veto H.B. 757 and send a strong message that Georgia will not tolerate discrimination against citizens, employees and visitors to the state. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this urgent issue.” Ali Adler, Writer and Producer Greg Berlanti, Writer and Producer Matt Bomer, Actor & Simon Halls, Publicist Dustin Lance Black, Screenwriter and Filmmaker Bradley Bredeweg, Executive Producer and Showrunner Kristin Chenoweth, Actress and Singer Diablo Cody, Writer, Producer and Director Bruce Cohen, Producer Lee Daniels, Producer and Director Dana Fox, Writer and Producer John Goldwyn, Producer James Gunn, Writer and Director Anne Hathaway, Actress Alan Hergott, Entertainment Attorney Nina Jacobson, Producer Dan Jinks, Producer Kathy Kennedy, Producer Zoe Kravitz, Actress Bryan Lourd, Talent Agent Seth MacFarlane, Producer and Filmmaker Laurence Mark, Producer Frank Marshall, Producer and Director Neil Meron, Producer Julianne Moore, Actress Ryan Murphy, Producer Peter Paige, Executive Producer and Showrunner Rob Reiner, Actor, Director and Producer Sarah Schechter, Producer Adam Shankman, Director and Producer Aaron Sorkin, Screenwriter and Producer Marisa Tomei, Actress Gus Van Sant, Producer and Director Harvey Weinstein, Producer and Film Studio Executive Craig Zadan, Producer and Director
