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Disney to boycott filming in Georgia if new anti-gay bill is passed

Disney have previously filmed blockbusters such as Ant-Man and the upcoming Captain America: Civi...
Newstalk
Newstalk

18.19 23 Mar 2016


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Disney to boycott filming in G...

Disney to boycott filming in Georgia if new anti-gay bill is passed

Newstalk
Newstalk

18.19 23 Mar 2016


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Disney have previously filmed blockbusters such as Ant-Man and the upcoming Captain America: Civil War and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 in the state of Georgia, but a controversial bill that may be passed could lead to the company completely boycotting any and all future productions there.

The Free Exercise Protection Act is the newly presented bill, one that says no minister can be forced to perform a same-sex marriage and no individual can be forced to attend one, continuing by saying that no faith-based organization “shall be required to provide social, educational or charitable services that violate such faith-based organizations sincerely held religious belief” and that such organizations can’t be forced to “hire or retain as an employee any person whose religious beliefs or practices or lack of either are not in accord with the faith-based organizations sincerely held religious belief.”

The Human Rights Campaign fears that the bill will opena the door to discrimination in social services and employment against a wide range of Georgians, and that taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies, homeless shelters and drug counseling centers would be free to discriminate against LGBT individuals and couples.

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A company spokesperson for Disney told The Hollywood Reporter: "Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law."

Gov. Nathan Deal has until May 3 to decide whether or not to sign the bill into law, and just last month he attended Georgia Film Day, at which it was reported and celebrated that during fiscal year 2015 film and TV productions spent more than $1.7 billion directly in the state, which generated a record $6 billion in economic impact.

Disney, which coupled with their own in-house film productions, are also the overseers for all Pixar, Marvel and LucasArts productions.


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