UPDATE: Late Friday afternoon, Georgia's House passed (92-78) the "heartbeat bill" with changes from the Senate-passed version, sending it to Gov. Kemp, who is expected to sign it, Atlanta station WXIA reports.
More than 70 entertainment celebrities are threatening to “do everything in our power” to deprive Georgia of “billions of dollars in revenue to support Georgia’s schools, parks, and communities” if a pro-life “heartbeat bill” becomes law.
In an open letter to Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp (R) and House Speaker David Ralston (R), the celebrities warn that entertainment-related revenue for public services will suffer if H.B. 481, which would protect unborn children with detectable heartbeats from abortion, is signed:
“We’ve been glad to bring billions of dollars in revenue to support Georgia’s schools, parks, and communities.
“But, we cannot in good conscience continue to recommend our industry remain in Georgia if H.B. 481 becomes law.”
...
“We will do everything in our power to move our industry to a safer state for women if H.B. 481 becomes law.”
“This is the precipice on which you stand,” they caution.
The celebrities also threaten to use their influence to brand the governor and speaker with a new slogan for supporting the “evil” pro-life bill:
“We can’t imagine being elected officials who had to say to their constituents ‘I enacted a law so evil, it chased billions of dollars out of our state’s economy.’ It’s not the most effective campaign slogan, but rest assured we’ll make it yours should it come to pass.”
The full letter and list of celebrity signers, as posted on Twitter Friday morning by actress/activist/signee Alyssa Milano, are presented below.
Signees:
- Uzo Aduba
- Christina Applegate
- Tom Arnold
- David Arquette
- Essence Atkins
- Alec Baldwin
- Billy Baldwin
- Maria Bello
- Michael Ian Black
- Yvette Nicole Brown
- Rachel Bloom
- Sophia Bush
- Don Cheadle
- Holly Marie Combs
- Rob Corddry
- Laverne Cox
- James Cromwell
- David Cross
- Jon Cryer
- Felicia Day
- Minnie Driver
- Mia Farrow
- Frances Fisher
- Joely Fisher
- Joanna Going
- Adam Goldberg
- Chris Gorham
- Seth Green
- Greg Grunberg
- Pamela Guest
- Mark Hamill
- Colin Hanks
- Tim Heidecker
- Ashley Judd
- Michael Kelly
- Jaime King
- Aimee Mann
- Daniel Danger Marin
- Heather Matarazzo
- Debra Messing
- Alyssa Milano
- Mandy Moore
- Javier Munoz
- Rosie O’Donnell
- Patton Oswalt
- Kelly Oxford
- Sean Penn
- Piper Perabo
- Rosie Perez
- Martha Plimpton
- Bill Prady
- Dallas Roberts
- Emma Roberts
- Kendrick Sampson
- Johnathan Schaech
- Kristen Scheal
- Amy Schumer
- Alia Shawkat
- Michael Sheen
- Sarah Silverman
- Ben Stiller
- Tara Strong
- Amber Tamblyn
- Nick Thune
- Elizabeth Tolloch
- Gabrielle Union
- David Wain
- Lisa Ann Walter
- Michael Watkins
- Wil Wheaton
- Bradley Whitford
- Olivia Wilde
Text of Open Letter to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Speaker of the House David Ralston:
“As actors, our work often brings us to Georgia. We’ve always found your state to be populated with friendly and caring people. We’ve found the hotels in which we stay and restaurants in which we dine while filming there to be comfortable and of a high quality. We’ve been glad to bring billions of dollars in revenue to support Georgia’s schools, parks, and communities.
“But, we cannot in good conscience continue to recommend our industry remain in Georgia if H.B. 481 becomes law.
“This dangerous and deeply-flawed bill mimics many others which have already been deemed unconstitutional. As men who identify as small-government conservatives, we remind you that government is never bigger than when it is inside a woman’s body or in her doctor’s office. This bill would remove the possibility of women receiving reproductive healthcare before most even know they are pregnant and force many women to undergo unregulated, hidden procedures at great risk to their health.
“We can’t imagine being elected officials who had to say to their constituents ‘I enacted a law so evil, it chased billions of dollars out of our state’s economy.’ It’s not the most effective campaign slogan, but rest assured we’ll make it yours should it come to pass.
“This is the precipice on which you stand.
“We want to stay in Georgia. We want to continue to support the wonderful people, businesses, and communities we have come to love in the Peach State. But we will not do so silently, and we will do everything in our power to move our industry to a safer state for women if H.B. 481 becomes law.
“You have a choice, gentlemen. We pray you make the right one.
“With love for the people of Georgia and in Solidarity with Women”