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Apple CEO Tim Cook Joins in Chorus Against Religious Protection Bill

2 min read

Arkansas is starting to hear from civil rights leaders and the CEOs of prominent tech firms about HB1228, a religious protection bill that was approved in the state Senate this afternoon and now heads back to the House.

The Human Rights Campaign, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights group, held a news conference condemning the bill at the Capitol yesterday, not long after Gov. Asa Hutchinson fielded questions about the bill during a news conference to announce Mike Preston of Florida as the state’s new Arkansas Economic Development Commission leader.

Supporters say the bill is aimed at preventing the government from infringing upon someone’s religious beliefs, but critics say the legislation amounts to a license for businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Hutchinson said Thursday that he’d sign HB1228 in its current form. “I think it’s a bill that puts a high priority on religious freedom and recognizes that as a part of the balance,” Hutchinson told reporters.

Critics wasted little time firing back. Civil rights leader Julian Bond issued a statement yesterday:

H.B. 1228 in Arkansas opens the door to a hateful past that some had thought this country had left behind. This legislation cloaks discrimination in the guise of religion–and it will mark people of color, LGBT Arkansans, religious minorities and women as second class citizens. Governor Hutchinson has a duty and a moral obligation to veto this legislation or the ghosts of the past will haunt his legacy.

That was followed today by this from Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, who said he’d make it point to expand his company only in places that don’t have “laws allowing for discrimination on the books.”

… it is unconscionable to imagine that Yelp would create, maintain, or expand a significant business presence in any state that encouraged discrimination by businesses against our employees, or consumers at large. I encourage states that are considering passing laws like the one rejected by Arizona or adopted by Indiana to reconsider and abandon these discriminatory actions. (We’re looking at you, Arkansas.)

And just this afternoon, this from Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook:


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