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applegrove

(118,462 posts) Fri Mar 18, 2016, 08:10 PM Mar 2016

Tech CEO threatens to pull 15,000 person convention out of Georgia if governor signs anti-LGBT law

Tech CEO threatens to pull 15,000 person convention out of Georgia if governor signs anti-LGBT law

by Tom Boggioni at the Raw Story

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/tech-ceo-threatens-to-pull-15000-person-convention-out-of-georgia-if-governor-signs-anti-lgbt-law/

"SNIP...........

he CEO of one America’s largest tech marketing firms gave the governor of Georgia an ultimatum on Thursday: sign an anti-LGBT bill sitting on your desk and I’ll pull my May convention in Atlanta and take it elsewhere, reports On Top magazine.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff had already expressed his displeasure with the impending passage of HB 757, which would allow groups to deny service to members of the LGBT community due to “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

The CEO of one America’s largest tech marketing firms gave the governor of Georgia an ultimatum on Thursday: sign an anti-LGBT bill sitting on your desk and I’ll pull my May convention in Atlanta and take it elsewhere, reports On Top magazine.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff had already expressed his displeasure with the impending passage of HB 757, which would allow groups to deny service to members of the LGBT community due to “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

.............SNIP"

16 replies

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Tech CEO threatens to pull 15,000 person convention out of Georgia if governor signs anti-LGBT law (Original Post) applegrove Mar 2016 OP

Well, pressure matters, but no one wants to go to Atlanta in May. HuckleB Mar 2016 #1

Delta Air Lines, one of the largest employers in the state, is against it, too. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2016 #2

Salesforce is crushing it in the market. Good on 'em. KeepItReal Mar 2016 #3

The white wing legislators and Gubnor in Georgia better wise up quickly. Hoyt Mar 2016 #4

Money talks thanks Salesforce Person 2713 Mar 2016 #5

The NFL has subtly threatened to not allow Atlanta Ilsa Mar 2016 #6

It's wasn't so subtle in my opinion. iandhr Mar 2016 #9

Hope they stick to it. Gubnor Deal is going to have to do the right thing or Hoyt Mar 2016 #13

He'll do it because of the money not because it's right... Phentex Mar 2016 #15

That's true. At least some people with money are forcing him to do it. Hoyt Mar 2016 #16

The NFL is threatening to withhold future Superbowls as well. Change has come Mar 2016 #7

Sometimes in "corporations" vs. "government" you have to pick the other side. (n/t) thesquanderer Mar 2016 #8

This is the right thing to do. iandhr Mar 2016 #10

The stupid is dense in these states. There are a lot of progressive people libdem4life Mar 2016 #11

yes it is rockfordfile Mar 2016 #12

Reps for Home Depot, the Braves & the Falcons have spoken out against it... Phentex Mar 2016 #14

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

1. Well, pressure matters, but no one wants to go to Atlanta in May.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 08:14 PM

Mar 2016

Did the CEO just figure that out?

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,580 posts)

2. Delta Air Lines, one of the largest employers in the state, is against it, too.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 08:15 PM

Mar 2016

http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2014/02/26/delta-comes-out-against-georgia-religious-freedom-bills/

KeepItReal

(7,769 posts)

3. Salesforce is crushing it in the market. Good on 'em.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 08:33 PM

Mar 2016

They are building a huge new HQ in San Francisco and are taking over the MetLife tower in NYC.

Georgia better do the right thing. Else, Salesforce is also gonna divest from the state, if the governor signs that bill.

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)

4. The white wing legislators and Gubnor in Georgia better wise up quickly.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 09:05 PM

Mar 2016

Person 2713

(3,263 posts)

5. Money talks thanks Salesforce

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 09:22 PM

Mar 2016

One way to get action boycott

Ilsa

(61,690 posts)

6. The NFL has subtly threatened to not allow Atlanta

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 10:31 PM

Mar 2016

to host a Superbowl if Deal signs this bill. I bet the head of conventions and tourism agency is very nervous about cancellations if it becomes law.

iandhr

(6,852 posts)

9. It's wasn't so subtle in my opinion.

Reply to Ilsa (Reply #6)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 10:56 PM

Mar 2016

When I saw the statement I was like wow the NFL finally did something right.

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)

13. Hope they stick to it. Gubnor Deal is going to have to do the right thing or

Reply to iandhr (Reply #9)

Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:56 AM

Mar 2016

join Lester Maddox, George Wallace, etc., as Southern bigoted Hicks.

Phentex

(16,330 posts)

15. He'll do it because of the money not because it's right...

Reply to Hoyt (Reply #13)

Sat Mar 19, 2016, 08:02 AM

Mar 2016

just like he always caves regarding immigration.

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)

16. That's true. At least some people with money are forcing him to do it.

Reply to Phentex (Reply #15)

Sat Mar 19, 2016, 08:51 AM

Mar 2016

Change has come

(2,372 posts)

7. The NFL is threatening to withhold future Superbowls as well.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 10:39 PM

Mar 2016

http://www.joemygod.com/2016/03/18/nfl-to-georgia-no-super-bowl-for-you-unless-governor-vetoes-anti-lgbt-rfra-bill/

thesquanderer

(11,971 posts)

8. Sometimes in "corporations" vs. "government" you have to pick the other side. (n/t)

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 10:54 PM

Mar 2016

iandhr

(6,852 posts)

10. This is the right thing to do.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 11:01 PM

Mar 2016

Last edited Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:54 PM - Edit history (1)

It would constitute millions lost to the local economy.

These "sincerely held religious beliefs" usually fall by the wayside when money is involved.

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)

11. The stupid is dense in these states. There are a lot of progressive people

Reply to iandhr (Reply #10)

Fri Mar 18, 2016, 11:12 PM

Mar 2016

living there, but the knuckle draggers seem to still rule the proverbial political roost. It will be interesting to see who blinks first...I wouldn't put it past them to "stand their ground". Those with "sincerely held religious beliefs" are seldom the ones to bear the brunt of the outcome in any case.

Oh, and no Super Bowls in Atlanta? Now that might smart a bit. Hope they hold to that, as well. It may bring the KKKers out of their closet.

rockfordfile

(8,695 posts)

12. yes it is

Reply to iandhr (Reply #10)

Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:06 AM

Mar 2016

Phentex

(16,330 posts)

14. Reps for Home Depot, the Braves & the Falcons have spoken out against it...

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Sat Mar 19, 2016, 08:01 AM

Mar 2016

but I want to hear from Coca Cola.

The movie industry is huge here as well and this would have an impact. There is NO WAY the governor will go for this. He only ever cares about money.

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