AMC Network urges Georgia governor to reject anti-LGBT bill
AMC has joined a chorus of entertainment companies in opposing a controversial piece of Georgia legislation currently awaiting approval by Gov. Nathan Deal.
The bill in question -- the Free Exercise Protection Act -- would allow faith-based organizations to refuse employment to people whose beliefs they deem in conflict with their own and allow pastors and churches to refuse services for same-sex couples.
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“As a company, AMC Networks believes that discrimination of any kind is reprehensible," the network, which films its hit The Walking Dead in the state, said in a statement. "We applaud Governor Deal’s leadership in resisting a previous version of this divisive legislation and urge him to reject the current version as well.”
The network's statement stopped short of saying they would cease production in the state should the bill go into effect May 3, as it is scheduled to do should it not be vetoed by Gov. Deal. The same is not true of Disney and Marvel, who on Wednesday said they would "take our business elsewhere" if the bill goes through.
Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War have both filmed in Georgia in recent years and the state is currently home to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 production.
To be sure, the film industry is no small piece of pie for the state. Just last year, Georgia claimed film and television productions generated an economic impact of more than $6 billion during fiscal year 2015 -- though, some estimates have that figure closer to $3 billion.
Growth in Georgia's popularity among entertainment companies began roughly in 2008, when in the state began offering 20 percent tax credits to productions who met a minimum budget.
But other states -- and countries, for that matter -- have picked up their efforts to lure lucrative film and TV industry projects. Even the Los Angeles is trying to bring everyone back.
A law similar to the one in question here went into effect last year in Indiana -- but not without loud backlash.
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Topics The Walking Dead
Sandra Gonzalez was a Senior Television Reporter at Mashable. A Texas native, she spent almost four years in New York City before leaving the land of superstorms for Los Angeles, where she was introduced to these terrifying things called "rolling earthquakes."Previously, she was with Entertainment Weekly, where she wrote about every show that could fit into her perfectly crafted TV schedule and anything ever touched by Shonda Rhimes.You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @theSandraG
