Earlier today, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed Senate Bill 41 (SB 41), also known as the ‘regligious freedom’ bill. Opponents of this legislation feel it would have allowed for broad anti-LGBT discrimination throughout Virginia.
In a statement, Gov. McAuliffe said that SB 41 is “nothing more than an attempt to stigmatize.”
“This legislation is also bad for business and creates roadblocks as we try to build the new Virginia economy,” he said. “Businesses and job creators do not want to locate or do business in states that appear more concerned with demonizing people than with creating a strong business climate. “Legislation that immunizes the discriminatory actions of certain people and institutions at the expense of same-sex couples would damage Virginia’s reputation for commonsense, pro-business government,” added McAuliffe. We need only look at the damage these types of laws are doing in other states to understand the harm this bill could bring to our Commonwealth and its economy.”
To read the Governor’s full statement and veto, click here.
