Controversy over gay marriage: Hollywood threatens Georgia with boycott – Tagesspiegel

Many major film studios including Disney, Time Warner, 20th Century Fox and the Weinstein Company and 38 Filmmakers threaten the US state of Georgia with a boycott if there is a homophobic in their view, the law enters into force. The law H.B. 757 provides for the protection of religious organizations and private companies that refuse to marry homosexuals or sell them services for the wedding. Thus, according to the law, church representatives should be able to reject same-sex marriages if it contradicts their religious beliefs, as can caterer, cake baker or florists refuse their services – always with reference to their own faith.

The bill is the Republican Southern Governor Nathan Deal prior to signature. Until May 3, he must decide. The signatories of the open letter to him, including the actresses Anne Hathaway, Julianne Moore and Marisa Tomei, the directors Rob Reiner, Lee Daniels. Seth MacFarlane and Gus Van Sant, and producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, called Deal on the veto.

The case is complicated. The protesters fear that the law of discrimination against homosexuals and gay marriage floodgates opened – after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June 2015 that the US Constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriages. Individual US states may not prohibit gay marriage accordingly. Same time, the freedom of religion is a valuable asset, especially in the USA: No one may be forced to act against his beliefs. therefore advocates the draft “Free Exercise Protection Act” also speak of the protection of religious freedom. In the case of government employees, the law should nevertheless be higher. A registrar – as happened in Kentucky – may refuse to marry two men or two women hardly. But as it is in the case of priests, cake bakers or florists?

The boycott threat has so or so much weight, because according to “New York Post” is Georgia, also known as the “Hollywood of the South”, the third most important film production country in the USA. About 250 films were to be realized here per year – equivalent to a turnover of six billion dollars. Only 38 projects are there currently in progress. According to “Vanity Fair” including the series “The Walking Dead” and “Guardians of the Galaxy 2″ from Marvel Studios. Tst (with AP)