美國佐治亞州州長否決反同法案

Georgia’s governor has vetoed a contentious religious freedom bill viewed as anti-gay following pressure from US companies, including a host of Hollywood’s biggest names.

在遭遇包括一系列好萊塢大牌公司在內的多家美國企業的壓力後，美國佐治亞州州長內森•迪爾(Nathan Deal)否決了一項有爭議的宗教自由法案。該法案被視爲一部反同性戀法案。

“I do not think that we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia,” Nathan Deal said at a news conference on Monday.

週一，迪爾在一個新聞發佈會上表示：“我不認爲爲了保護佐治亞州以宗教信仰爲基礎的社羣就非得歧視什麼人。”

He added that his decision was “not just about protecting the faith-based community or providing a business-friendly climate for job growth in Georgia. I believe it is about the character of our state and the character of our people. Georgia is a welcoming state.”

他補充說，他的決定“不止是出於保護以宗教信仰爲基礎的社羣、或爲了佐治亞州的就業增長而提供一個對商業友好的氛圍。我認爲，這麼做還關乎我們這個州的品質以及我們人民的品質。佐治亞州是個好客的州。”

The bill, passed by the US state’s legislature earlier in March, would have allowed faith-based organisations to deny their services and employment to people who violate their beliefs, such as perform same-sex marriages. Supporters argued it provided important protections for religious freedoms, but opponents equated it to discrimination.

本月早些時候，佐治亞州議會通過了該法案。該法案允許以宗教信仰爲基礎的組織拒絕向違反其信仰（比如實行同性婚姻）的人提供服務和就業。該法案的支持者辯稱，它爲宗教自由提供了重要保障，而反對者則將之與歧視相提並論。

The Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights lobby group, welcomed Mr Deal’s veto as a “victory”.

同性戀權利遊說組織“人權運動”(Human Rights Campaign)對迪爾的決定表示歡迎，稱此事是一次“勝利”。

Companies including Coca-Cola, Apple, Delta Air Lines, Unilever and Salesforce condemned the bill. The National Football League warned the measure could affect Atlanta’s bid to host a Super Bowl.

包括可口可樂(Coca-Cola)、蘋果(Apple)、達美航空(Delta Air Lines)、聯合利華(Unilever)和Salesforce在內的企業對該法案予以了譴責。美國國家橄欖球聯盟(National Football League)警告稱，這項舉措或對亞特蘭大申辦超級碗(Super Bowl)賽事產生影響。

Media groups including Walt Disney and The Weinstein Company warned they would consider moving productions out of Georgia if the bill became law.

包括華特迪士尼(Walt Disney)和溫斯坦公司(Weinstein Company)在內的媒體集團警告稱，如果該法案被批准爲法律，它們會考慮將製作活動遷出佐治亞州。

Time Warner — whose Turner division is based in Atlanta — 21st Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Viacom, Comcast, CBS, MGM, AMC, Discovery, Lionsgate and Starz also urged Mr Deal to veto the bill. HRC circulated a letter to the governor signed by well-known figures in the entertainment industry, including writer Aaron Sorkin, director Rob Reiner and actor Julianne Moore.

時代華納(Time Warner)、21世紀福克斯(21st Century Fox)、索尼影視(Sony Pictures)、維亞康姆(Viacom)、康卡斯特(Comcast)、哥倫比亞廣播公司(CBS)、米高梅(MGM)、AMC、探索通信(Discovery Communications)、獅門娛樂(Lionsgate)和Starz也敦促迪爾否決該法案。時代華納子公司特納(Turner)就位於亞特蘭大。“人權運動”還向這位州長傳遞了一封有多位娛樂業知名人物簽名的信，其中包括作家阿倫•索爾金(Aaron Sorkin)、導演羅布•賴納(Rob Reiner)和演員朱麗安•摩爾(Julianne Moore)。