Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp plans to sign a bill protecting unborn babies from abortion. After his legal team vets the legislation, Kemp plans to sign the measure to ban abortions when an unborn baby’s heartbeat begins — despite a threat by members of the Hollywood elite to boycott the state if he does.
Kemp, a pro-life Republican, responded to the criticisms by saying he will sign the law as he promised voters and not be swayed by Hollywood.
“We value life in our state,” Governor Kemp told WSB’s Scott Slade on “Atlanta’s Morning News.”
The governor said he is not concerned about talk of an economic boycott, if he signs the measure. “I don’t believe there will be dire consequences for supporting life in our state,” Kemp told WSB.
As for when he may sign it, Governor Kemp said, “We really haven’t set a date for any of the bills to sign yet.” He told AMN, “We’ve got a thorough review process that we go through on every bill just to make sure there’s nothing in there that we missed.”
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This is the second time Governor Kemp has said he’s unconcerned with Hollywood’s threats.
Earlier, pro-abortion actress Alyssa Milano delivered a letter to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s office, signed by dozens of prominent Hollywood actors, that describes the bill as “dangerous” and “evil” because it protects unborn babies from abortion once their heartbeats are detectable.
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Milano told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Hollywood will continue fighting to keep abortions legal in Georgia. Many TV and movie productions are filmed in the state, and liberal actors are threatening to boycott if Kemp signs the law.
“We are going to do everything in our power to move our industry to a safer state for women if HB 481 becomes law,” Milano said.
But Kemp said he will sign the law as he promised voters and not be swayed by Hollywood.
“I can’t govern because I’m worried about what someone in Hollywood thinks about me,” Kemp told the newspaper. “I ran the last two years on these issues, and I got elected with the largest number of votes in the history of the state of Georgia, and I’m doing what I told people I would do.”
“I do not think it will hurt the film industry in Georgia or any other business whatsoever,” Kemp told WTOC News 11 last week. “Us sticking up for our Georgia values and protecting life is not going to protect a bad business environment in Georgia, I can promise you.”
In the past weeks, celebrities including Alec Baldwin, Amy Schumer, Rosie O’Donnell, Sean Penn, Mia Farrow and Ben Stiller have joined Milano in their condemnation of the pro-life bill. They are threatening to boycott the state, where Hollywood films many television shows and movies.
(House Bill 481) would ban abortions on an unborn baby after their heartbeat is detectable, around six weeks. It would allow exceptions for rape, incest and threats to the mother’s life. In addition, the bill would allow parents to claim unborn babies as dependents on their taxes and include the unborn baby in census data. It also would allow mothers to collect child support for pregnancy and delivery costs from the father prior to the baby’s birth.
Meanwhile, pro-life actress Ashley Bratcher, who stars in the new film “Unplanned,” has been defending her home state of Georgia for trying to protect the unborn.
“I’m incredibly proud of my home state for taking a stand in the fight for life amidst backlash and dubious threats,” Bratcher said.
The young actress said she has admired Milano for standing up for women’s rights, but asked why she refuses to also speak up for the rights of women in the womb: “If feminism is all about equal rights, then where are her rights?”
Earlier this week, Stephen Baldwin also called out his brother Alec Baldwin publicly for promoting a “spirit of hate” by advocating for abortion.
