Hollywood producers Harvey and Bob Weinstein are the latest to join the Georgia boycott. The issue is the controversial legislature which passed and set off a collision course with corporate leaders and gay rights advocates, as House Bill 757 would permit faith-based groups and organizations in the state to discriminate based on sexuality.
A broad range of corporations and organizations such as NFL, MPAA and the Human Rights Campaign Fund has already protested, and Disney was the first Hollywood studio to tell the Peach State it will take its business elsewhere if Governor Nathan Deal signs the bill now on his desk.
According to Deadline.com, “Guardians Of The Galaxy 2” is filming at Pinewood Studios just outside Atlanta right now. The Governor’s office did not respond to request for comment on Disney’s statement today, but Deal has until May 3 to sign or not sign the Free Exercise Protection Act. A Disney spokesman explained:
“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.”
Time Warner has also urged lawmakers to intercede as well, and now the powerful Weinstein brothers are threatening to take their business elsewhere, according to their company’s spokesman:
“The Weinstein Company will not stand behind sanctioning the discrimination of LGBT people or any American. We have plans in place to begin filming Lee Daniels’ new film in Georgia later this year, but will move the production if this unlawful bill is enacted. We hope Governor Deal will veto bill HB 757 and not allow sanctioned bigotry to become law in Georgia.”
Daniels is in preproduction on ”Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said”, which stars Mike Epps as Pryor, and also stars Oprah Winfrey, Kate Hudson and Eddie Murphy.
Featured image screengrab from Vimeo.
