Time Warner opposes anti-gay bill in Georgia

Time Warner Inc. joined a growing chorus of media and tech companies urging Republican Georgia governor Nathan Deal to veto a bill that critics say legalizes discrimination, particularly of gay people.

“We strongly oppose the discriminatory language and intent of Georgia’s pending religious liberty bill, which clearly violates the values and principles of inclusion and the ability of all people to live and work free from discrimination,” Time Warner said in a statement Thursday.

All of Time Warner’s divisions — HBO, Warner Bros. and Turner — have business interests in Georgia, the company said. Turner Broadcasting has offices in Atlanta and owns the cable networks CNN, TBS and TNT, and participates in the Georgia Prospers campaign, a coalition of business leaders “committed to a Georgia that welcomes all people,” the company said.

The legislation would allow business owners in the state to invoke their religious beliefs to deny employment, education and charitable services, essentially giving legal protection to people who object to same-sex marriage.

The bill “is in contradiction to this campaign, to the values we hold dear, and to the type of workplace we guarantee to our employees,” Time Warner said.

Walt Disney Co., which filmed Captain America: Civil War in the state, said Wednesday it will stop making movies in Georgia if the governor signs the bill into law. AMC Networks, which films the The Walking Dead there, and Viacom, the parent company of Paramount, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, VH1, Spike and MTV, also called on Georgia’s governor to reject the legislation Wednesday. Viacom’s Being Mary Jane was filmed in Georgia.

Beyond the film industry, other large companies including Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., Yelp Inc., and Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. and Delta Air Lines Inc. have urged the state to abandon the bill.