Christian leaders and politicians are criticising Republican Georgia Governor Nathan Deal after his surprising decision to veto a proposed legislation that would have protected pastors and other Christians who refuse to perform acts contrary to their religious beliefs.
Timothy Head, executive director of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, said Deal basically ignored his constituents when he decided to side with homosexuals.
"The governor's veto subverts the will of the people of Georgia," Head said, as quoted by Fox News.
Another religious leader, Robert White, who serves as the executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, lamented how the governor just gave in to the interests of corporations and homosexuals to the detriment of Christians who just want to practice their faith.
"The governor and others have knuckled under to the threats of big business and the LGBT lobby group," White said.
Sen. Josh McKoon, the author of the 2014 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, described Deal's decision as "very chilling" and "a slap in the face to conservatives, to evangelicals and to the broader faith community."
"The message being sent is we are not going to even extend protection to the houses of worship, to religious schools," McKoon told Fox News. "It's very, very disturbing and disappointing that the governor would veto the bill."
Deal, for his part, stood by his decision, saying he does "not respond well to insults or threats."
"Our actions on House Bill 757 are not just about protecting the faith-based community or providing a business-friendly climate for job growth in Georgia," he said. "This is about the character of our state and the character of its people."
As expected, gay rights groups such as the Human Rights Campaign also defended the Georgia governor's veto of the bill, saying doing so will protect homosexuals against discrimination.
"Discrimination and intolerance have no place in the 21st century, and any town, city or state that enshrines it into law will not be judged kindly by history or by the American public," Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said in a statement.
