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Aug 30 2018

RELEASE: Georgia Business Leaders Call Out Brian Kemp for Supporting RFRA

Kemp Would Sign Discriminatory, Job-Killing Legislation if Elected Governor

ATLANTA – Today, Georgia business and political leaders convened a press conference call to condemn Brian Kemp’s support for RFRA. This legislation, which Kemp would sign into law if he were elected governor, would hurt Georgia’s economy and kill Georgia jobs.

Colton Griffin, CEO of Flourish Software, talked about the LGBTQ Georgians he has met as Democratic Party of Georgia LGBTQ Caucus Chair. These Georgians,” said Griffin “made a choice to stay in our great state because they feel welcomed and at home here. But if Brian Kemp were to become governor, he would sign RFRA into law, and lifelong LGBTQ Georgians would no longer feel welcome.” He also noted that many Georgians “grew up in another part of the county but decided to make Georgia their home. They came to Georgia because we are a welcoming state of opportunity, and because we have a lot of good places for LGBTQ people to work. But if Brian Kemp were to become governor, he would sign RFRA into law, and Georgia would no longer be a welcoming place to LGBTQ Americans – many of them the best and brightest in their respective fields – and who would want to live here.”

Other states like Indiana and North Carolina, which have enacted discriminatory legislation, have seen disastrous economic consequences. Georgia Representative Miriam Paris, a member of the Economic Development & Tourism Committee, spoke about her work with job creators across Georgia and the impact RFRA might have. “The fact of the matter is: RFRA could be dead in its tracks tomorrow if Brian Kemp would simply pledge to veto it in any form. Our job creators could breathe a sigh of relief. But this is not in Mr. Kemp’s lexicon. He will not do what’s right for Georgia.”

“Brian Kemp has decided to threaten Georgia’s economy and appeal to a very small group of people who oppose equality for LGBTQ Georgians,” added Paris. “Under Stacey Abrams’ administration, RFRA will never see the light of day, Georgia companies will attract the best and the brightest, and Georgia will thrive.”

“For my catering business to thrive, I need all of Georgia’s economy to thrive.” said Kushina Catering owner Yohana Solomon. “If the film industry takes its business elsewhere, my business suffers. If conventions and visitors go to other states instead of Georgia, my business suffers. If jobs and people leave our state, my business suffers. We are one Georgia family. If Brian Kemp becomes governor and signs RFRA into law, we all lose.”

According to the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce, Georgia stands to lose more than $1 billion in revenue if RFRA is enacted.

Said Solomon, “I don’t want to lay off my employees. I want to create jobs and hire even more Georgians, and I want my current employees to know that they have a workplace and a state that supports them, even if Brian Kemp does not. As a business owner, the issue of RFRA is important to me and a big reason why I am supporting Stacey Abrams for Governor.”

Andrew Feiler, President of Metro Developers, spoke about his experience as an employer and a developper of office and living space for Georgians. “I can tell you first-hand that RFRA is terrible for business. You don’t have to take just my word for it; More than 400 major companies headquartered here in Georgia who have come out against this awful legislation.”

More than 400 companies headquartered in Georgia oppose RFRA because it would be bad for the state’s economy and send the wrong message about Georgia.

Feiler also took issue with Brian Kemp’s latest comments on RFRA. “Let’s be clear: Georgia’s business community opposes any kind of RFRA in Georgia, including the version that Kemp says he wants to sign. It doesn’t matter what Brian Kemp says. It matters what Georgia employers believe. It matters what the film industry believes. It matters that these 400+ Georgia businesses oppose RFRA in any form.”

“We cannot have Brian Kemp as our next governor. We need to elect Leader Abrams,” he said.

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Written by PNM Admin · Categorized: Press Releases · Tagged: Brian Kemp, GAGOP, LGBTQ Georgians, RFRA

Aug 28 2018

Oops! Brian Kemp Touts New Headquarters That Likely Would Not Exist if He Were Governor

Atlanta-Based Arby’s Restaurant Group Opposed Discriminatory Legislation Supported by Kemp

ATLANTA – Today on Twitter, Brian Kemp celebrated the announcement of a new Sandy Springs headquarters for Inspire Brands, the new restaurant company that grew out of Atlanta-based Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. and includes Buffalo Wild Wings and R Taco.


There’s just one problem with Kemp’s “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” tweet: Arby’s was among the Georgia companies at the forefront of the campaign against RFRA, legislation vetoed by Governor Nathan Deal, which would have enacted a license to discriminate against Georgia’s LGBTQ community.

Brian Kemp strongly supports RFRA, which has been a disaster for other states. In fact, states like Indiana and North Carolina that have enacted discriminatory legislation have seen major companies declining to create jobs within those states as a direct result of the new discriminatory laws.

Suffice it to say: If Kemp were governor, he would have signed RFRA into law, and Inspire Brands would probably have taken its headquarters elsewhere.

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Written by PNM Admin · Categorized: Press Releases · Tagged: Brian Kemp, Ga GOP, GaGOV, Nathan Deal, RFRA

Feb 23 2018

GA Senate Republicans Pass Bill to Deny Adoption Rights to LGBTQ Parents

Release:  Friday, February 23, 2018          

Atlanta, GA – Today, Georgia Senate Republicans passed Senate Bill 375, allowing adoption agencies to deny LGBTQ parents under the guise of religious freedom.

“Thousands of kids in Georgia are waiting to become a part of loving families, and the GOP’s solution to this problem is to create new problems. When will Republicans stop targeting Georgia’s LGBTQ community out of political spite? Love is love, and when children need a home, they should be placed in the safe care of the Georgians willing to open their doors and grow their family. Period.” – Michael Smith, Communications Director

AJC – Georgia Senate passes bill for adoption agencies to reject gay couples

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Written by PNM Admin · Categorized: Georgia Democrats, Georgia Republicans, Press Releases · Tagged: Adoption, Georgia Senate Republicans, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Georgians, RFRA, Senate Bill 375

Mar 28 2016

DPG Statement on Gov. Deal’s Veto of HB 757

Release:  Monday, March 28, 2016                                                                                     

 

DPG Statement on Gov. Deal’s Veto of HB 757

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Communications Director Michael Smith issued the following statement on today’s announcement by Gov. Nathan Deal that he will veto HB 757.

 

“We commend Gov. Deal on his decision to reject this discriminatory legislation. Leaders from both sides of the aisle and the business community, as well as the countless Georgians who spoke against the politics of exclusion, also deserve a great deal of thanks for standing firm in the belief that our state is better off when we all have full and equal protection under the law.

 

“For Georgia to move forward, no one can be left behind. The full promise of tomorrow belongs to all of us, and it is up to all of us to ensure that this promise is within every Georgian’s reach.”

 

Written by PNM Admin · Categorized: Georgia Democrats, Press Releases · Tagged: FADA, HB 757, RFRA

Mar 16 2016

GA Republican Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Discrimination

Release:  Wednesday, March 16, 2016                                                                                            

Georgia Republican Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Discrimination

  

Atlanta, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Communications Director Michael Smith issued the following statement on the passage of House Bill 757.

 

“Republican lawmakers should be ashamed of this small-minded piece of legislation. If this bill is signed into law, today will be looked back upon as one of our state’s most disgraceful moments in modern history. Georgia has been down the road of discrimination before, and it did not end well.

 

“The business community has been consistently clear with their aversion of this legislation. If the GOP’s goal was to draft an economic stimulus for attorneys, then mission accomplished. The resulting litigation from this move will clog our courts, paralyze our economy, and drain our business community dry. HB 757 is a short-sighted move by Republicans that will have consequences for years to come.

 

“Discrimination and exclusion are not Georgia values, and history has shown that hope and progress always win.”

 

Written by PNM Admin · Categorized: Georgia Democrats, Georgia Republicans, Press Releases · Tagged: FADA, GAGOP, RFRA

Mar 05 2015

DPG Chair Issues Statement on Passage of SB 129

Release:  Thursday, March 5, 2015                                                                                     

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Issues Statement on Passage of SB 129

 

 

Dublin, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement in response to the passage of SB 129—a license to discriminate against certain Georgians disguised as religious liberty legislation.

 

“Today’s actions by Senate Republicans are truly disappointing. We are living in the year 2015 and so much progress has been made across the nation, yet a few politicians in Georgia want to turn back the clock on civil rights in the name of religious freedom. Religious beliefs and equal rights for all Georgians can exist in symmetry without government intrusion. This bill is unnecessary and I urge members of the State House to reject such a dangerous piece of legislation that will set Georgia back for decades.”

 

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Written by PNM Admin · Categorized: Georgia Democrats, Press Releases · Tagged: DuBose Porter, Georgia Democrats, RFRA

Feb 20 2015

DPG Chair Issues Statement on SB 129

Release:  Friday, February 20, 2015          

                                                                                     

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Issues Statement on SB 129

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement in response to the Senate Judiciary Committee tabling SB 129, one of two alleged religious freedom bills.

 

“The Constitution—a 200 year old document that has withstood the test of time—is clear and provides the strongest protections guaranteeing all Americans religious freedom.

 

“It’s interesting that all these ‘strict constructionists’ and ‘small government’ Republicans love to create unfounded controversy to put more legislation on the books. These legislators have 40 days where they can come together and do things that have a positive impact on the lives of Georgians. And most folks I talk to are more concerned with different moral tenets that are shared by the major religions—being good stewards of the planet, feeding the hungry, and providing health care for the sick.

 

“Hopefully, this move by the Senate Judiciary Committee is the death knell for legislation that is essentially a license to discriminate. Georgia Democrats are fine by adhering to the Great Commandment—love thy neighbor.”

 

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Written by PNM Admin · Categorized: Georgia Democrats, Press Releases · Tagged: Democratic Party of Georgia, DuBose Porter, Georgia Democrats, RFRA

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