Written by Don Byrd
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has vetoed legislation that sought to protect religious objectors from any government penalty for actions taken in accordance with their beliefs regarding same-sex marriage. The bill passed earlier this month, but not by margins that would override the veto.
The Washington Post reports on the Governor’s reasoning:
“It’s unconstitutional, it is discriminatory,” he said on WTOP. “It demonizes folks. It brings fear and persecution. We can’t tolerate that.”
In North Carolina businesses are pushing back against the law, and McAuliffe said the Virginia bill would have hurt his efforts to grow the economy.
The veto in Virginia comes the same week Georgia’s Governor announced he would veto controversial religious freedom legislation in that state.
