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    The Best Responses To Anti-LGBT "Religious Exemption" Laws

    North Carolina. Mississippi. Tennesee. The list of states that can legally discriminate against LGBT people keeps growing. Here are the companies and executives who are standing up for equality in their states and making their values known.

    North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory recently signed a bill that will restrict the rights of thousands of LGBT people within his state

    Ordinance defied common sense, allowing men to use women’s bathroom/locker room for instance. That’s why I signed bipartisan bill to stop it

    The law allows public institutions to manage access to sex-segregated bathrooms but it doesn't only effect LGBT people.

    HB2 also restricts cities in North Carolina from raising the minimum wage and limits anyone's ability to pursue claims of discrimination because of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, color, national origin, biological sex or handicap in state courts.

    Shortly after, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant followed North Carolina's lead and signed an even more severe bill into law

    I have signed House Bill 1523. Full statement:

    The bill includes clauses that allow service providers to choose not to provide medical treatment to LGBT people, allows employers to refuse to recognize same-sex marriage, and allows public institutions to mandate "sex-specific" clothing standards for men and women.

    And dont forget Tennessee!

    What the media needs to know about Tennessee’s new anti-LGBT "religious freedom" bill: https://t.co/EY9sB6wT9L

    The bill was amended to declare that no psychological counselor would be required to serve a client whose gender identity or sexual orientation conflicts with their religious beliefs.

    Business leaders and corporations within these states haven't been too happy...

    PayPal Withdraws Plan for Charlotte Expansion: https://t.co/s345K2iLhR

    PayPal was the first to withdraw their support from the state

    #DeutscheBank is proud to stand in support of #LGBT equality #HB2 https://t.co/409l9ZPX0I

    Our partners at Deutsche Bank froze their plans to expand jobs in North Carolina

    Committed to nondiscrimination & freedom of gender expression, Intel stands in strong support of the LGBTQ community https://t.co/zJaGqRVXUD

    Our partners at Intel, Northrop Grumman, Levi Strauss & co. and more signed onto a open letter urging the governor of Mississippi to repeal its anti-LGBT bill.

    Not only business leaders but actors, musicians, and entertainers have begun to take their business elsewhere.

    Statement from Bruce @springsteen on canceling North Carolina show as law backlash grows

    My thoughts on Mississippi. https://t.co/zpxX5Swwh2

    We will not be shooting in Mississippi. #ChooseLoveNotFear #SharonStone @Principle_Film https://t.co/RyJc4CWgqw

    When companies and executives stood up for LGBT rights in Georgia earlier this year...

    Should Salesforce move https://t.co/rlf9D7UkcF if @JoshMcKoon's anti gay bill 757 passes the Georgia legislator?

    Disney may have just doomed Georgia’s anti-gay bill with this statement. https://t.co/Sf9yk7hXfY

    ...Governor Nathan Deal decided it was better to veto his state's discriminatory bill

    (1/2) Georgians deserve a leader who will make sound judgments based on solid reasons that are not inflamed by emotion. #gapol

    (2/2) That is what I intend to do. To that end, I will veto HB 757. Full transcript here—> https://t.co/kWHQooLx4X #gapol

    Fortunately, the economic backlash in states like North Carolina and Mississippi has prompted other states to sign pre-emptive laws that prevent LGBT discrimination

    'This is the right thing for us to do': Wolf signs LGBT anti-discrimination protections → https://t.co/NjQ2GPDNfT

    Gov. Edwards: We are fortunate enough to live in a state that is rich with diversity. https://t.co/Usa9Liwtlw #lagov

    And our partners are loving it!

    Thank you @GovernorTomWolf for protecting LGBT residents in PA https://t.co/0QCZGPQH76

    We commend @LouisianaGov Edwards for promoting #diversity & #inclusion, values that matter deeply to IBMers! #lagov https://t.co/SUiBsuxahj

    33 STATES HAVE INTRODUCED ANTI-LGBT BILLS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR

    Since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, there has been a huge surge in bills introduced that allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT people.

    South Carolina, Massachusetts, Missouri & several other states all have bills similar to those in North Carolina and Mississippi that are slated to be signed later this year

    States are already starting to see the economic effect of their discriminatory laws

    Discrimination doesn’t pay. It's time for North Carolina policymakers to catch up and move #EqualityForward #HB2

    If we've learned one thing in our 20 years of advocating for workplace equality, its this:

    DISCRIMINATION IS BAD FOR BUSINESS

    Join Out & Equal in the fight for global LGBT workplace inclusion.

    Become a member of one of our 32 regional affiliates across the country, bring one of our certified trainers to your workplace, or join us at this year's Workplace Summit in Orlando, Florida.

    Learn more at www.outandequal.org