Legislators pushing discriminatory legislation are increasingly being confronted by groups like Georgia Prospers, Tennessee Thrives, and Texas Competes; business coalitions formed to argue forcefully for the economic benefits of inclusion. As “so-called” religious freedom bills proliferate across the United States, business is increasingly speaking out on the detrimental impact discriminatory environments can have on their bottom lines.
In just Georgia, Tennessee and Texas, over 2000 companies, from small local businesses to major multinational corporations like Microsoft and Arconic, have joined forces in an effort to contest discrimination. While business is not completely aligned on the topic, a number of businesses signed a letter thanking the Pat McCrory for signing North Carolina’s, the vast majority of companies that have spoken out on such legislation have arguing strongly for inclusion.