Fetal heartbeat abortion bans are being discussed in states across the nation, and Georgia is no exception; the Georgia state legislature passed the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act on Friday, sending it to the governor’s desk.
Governor Brian Kemp is a supporter of pro-life legislation and is expected to sign the bill. “Georgia values life,” he commented after Friday’s vote:
Georgia values life. We stand up for the innocent and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. The legislature’s bold action reaffirms our priorities and who we are as a state. I thank these lawmakers for their leadership and applaud their undeniable courage. #gapol
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) March 29, 2019
The LIFE Act is slated to go into effect on January 1, 2020. Limiting the time an abortion can be performed is one of the bill’s highlights. Other highlights are the designation of unborn children as natural persons and the consideration of unborn children in certain population measures.
Hollywood was one of the loudest opponents of the LIFE Act’s passage because Georgia is a state where many television shows and movies are filmed. The most notable letter from the Hollywood protest was spearheaded by actress Alyssa Milano and signed by 49 other actors.
The threatening letter, sent to Georgia lawmakers and posted on Twitter, stated:
We can’t imagine being elected officials who had to say to their constituents, ‘I enacted a law that was 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.
While Milano and several other Hollywood stars dubbed the protection of unborn children as evil, others in the acting community were quick to disagree. “Unplanned” actress Ashley Bratcher, a Georgian, gave a fiery response:
In Georgia, we care just as much about being pro-life as being pro-film. We don’t believe in putting a price tag on the value of a human life. Our brave leaders have stepped up to say enough is enough, we will no longer sit idly by as innocent lives are taken by the thousands each day.
Hollywood may be disappointed in Georgia, but pro-lifers certainly have cause to celebrate.
Photo credit: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
