There is another path. Business worked successfully with governors like Georgia's Nathan Deal, who was willing to hear our economic, legal and moral concerns with a bill in that state as concerning as HB2. Kudos to Gov. Deal for stepping up to veto this legislation, saying it did not reflect Georgia's welcoming image as a state where "our people work side by side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to." We agree with his observation that state law need not discriminate against one group to protect another.

In Virginia, Governor Terry McAuliffe followed Georgia's example by vetoing a misguided "religious liberty" bill, emphasizing that state law and the Constitution already protect these freedoms. He added that the bill "creates roadblocks as we try to build the new Virginia economy."



As a global hospitality leader and multistate employer, these legislative skirmishes can be frustrating and costly. We still see a patchwork of gaps in state and local nondiscrimination laws that add complications and uncertainty for our people and local managers. It dismays many of us that, in 29 states, people are still at risk of losing their job just for being gay or transgender.

