It’s crunch time for state Sen. Josh McKoon’s (R-Columbus) so-called “religious freedom” bill and opponents of the bill are calling on like-minded individuals to descend on the Capitol for a rally on St. Patrick’s Day.
Georgia Unites Against Discrimination, a bipartisan LGBT rights coalition, sent the word out Wednesday about the rally, which will take place Tuesday, March 17 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Liberty Plaza at the Georgia State Capitol.
“The consequences are huge: If we don’t stop this bill, any person or business could ignore any law—including nondiscrimination laws against LGBT Georgians—under the guise of religious freedom,” reads the notice, signed by Georgia Equality executive director Jeff Graham.
McKoon and Rep. Sam Teasley’s “religious freedom” bills failed to pass in last year’s legislative session, but McKoon’s bill has moved swiftly through the process since being introduced in mid-February. McKoon’s bill passed in the Senate on March 5 and is now being taken up in the House. Teasley dropped his House version of the bill and has pledged to do all he can to see that SB 129 gets passed.