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 The measure, which states that no pastor can be forced to perform
a same-sex wedding, was recently passed by the Republican-controlled
legislature.
Under the bill, faith-based groups could not be forced to hire or
retain an employee whose beliefs run counter to the organization's,
while churches and religious schools would have the right to reject
holding events for people or groups to whom they object.
Deal, a Republican, said he could not support the legislation, which
had drawn wide criticism from corporations and had triggered threats
of a state boycott by the entertainment industry.
Deal said he was not bullied into his decision but felt a law was
not necessary.
"I do not think that we have to discriminate against anyone to
protect the faith-based community in Georgia," Deal said at news
conference on the legislation, noting his religious faith.
 Similar bills in states such as Indiana and Arkansas sparked storms
of criticism last year, forcing many lawmakers to retreat, and North
Carolina is currently seeing protest over a new law that bars
transgender people from choosing bathrooms consistent with their
gender identity.
Deal's decision was immediately celebrated by gay rights advocates,
including the national Human Rights Campaign.
“Our message to Governor Nathan Deal was loud and clear: this
deplorable legislation was bad for his constituents, bad for
business, and bad for Georgia’s future,” HRC President Chad Griffin
said in a statement. He added that Deal had "set an example for
other elected officials to follow."
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Mike Griffin, spokesman for the Georgia Baptist Convention, which
lobbied for the bill, said his group's 1.3 million members will
continue fighting for it.
"All we wanted was protection from government overreach,” he said,
noting his disappointment in Deal, a two-term governor. “We feel
that he’s let down the people of faith and all of Georgia by not
signing the bill.”
Critics of the legislation included marquee Hollywood stars, such as
Anne Hathaway and Julianne Moore, as well as movie and TV studios
21st Century Fox, NBC Universal, Time Warner, Walt Disney, AMC,
Viacom and Marvel Entertainment.
More than 300 large corporations and small businesses, including
Delta Airlines and Coca Cola also came out against it.
"Georgia is a welcoming state," Deal said.
(Reporting by Letitia Stein; Editing by Dan Grebler and Steve
Orlofsky)
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