Nine Fannin Businesses Join Georgia Prospers

Nine Fannin businesses signed the Georgia Prospers pledge which states, “We believe that in order for Georgia Businesses to compete for top talent, we must have workplaces that are diverse and welcoming for all people, no matter one’s race, sex. Color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”  Georgia Prospers is a group of over 400 Georgia businesses which have come together to publicly lobby against a series of bills in the Georgia Legislature which would allow businesses and non-profits to deny services to customers and employees if the business owners or non-profit boards felt like the service conflicts with the their religious beliefs.  These are House Bills 756 and 757, which are sponsored by Rep. Kevin Tanner, R-Dawsonville and Senate Bill 284, sponsored by Sen. Greg Kirk, R-Americus.

Taken together, the group of nine Fannin businesses represent the largest concentration of pledge signers from rural Georgia.  Each of the Fannin businesses interviewed joined Georgia Prospers on their own, through advice from friends or professional newsletters.  Each stated that they joined because discrimination is just plain wrong.

Joshua Durst says that his company, Blue Ridge Cotton Company, is a place of kindness and welcome.  His customers are local, tourists from every state, most countries in Europe and from around the world and he appreciates every customer who walks through his door.  Durst, who in his words is a very devout Christian, does not associate the set of bills with religious liberty.  He believes very strongly that the bills are about discrimination, not religious liberty and that religious liberty is just the buzz-word.

Tommy Vannoy, owner of Blue Ridge Swim and Tennis, sees his business as a community center for all of Fannin to come to swim and play.  He views the bills as an avenue to discriminate against anyone. And, Vannoy states ,”I am not  anti-anybody or anything.”  He heard about Georgia Prospers in early January and decided to join before knew that Georgia Prospers would be used in lobbying efforts against the set of bills.  He still stands by his decision to join because his business doesn’t discriminate against anyone.  Vannoy is also on the Board of the Fannin Chamber of Commerce.  When asked if he would bring Georgia Prospers in front of the Chamber of Commerce, he said that his decision was his individual choice and did not reflect his position as a Chamber of Commerce member.

Steve Martin of Blue Ridge Design says that he is delighted that others in the Blue Ridge business community are taking a stand.  He said, “Blue Ridge is a great place.  It’s nice to know there are hearts behind the name.”  He signed the Georgia Prospers pledge because he saw the group of bills as being bad legislation that would legislate bigotry and “that is just wrong.”

Jim McKnight of Grumpy Old Men Brewing joined Georgia Prospers because Georgia should be a place that is open and welcoming to all people.  He said, “Anybody and everybody is welcome.  I don’t discriminate and won’t ever.” Asked if he has had any backlash from signing the Georgia Prospers’ pledge, he said that 90% of his business comes from the area surrounding Blue Ridge and he hasn’t received any negative comments about signing the Georgia Prospers’ pledge.

All owners said that they want local customers and future visitors know that their businesses welcome everyone. This seems to be the sentiment of House Speaker David Ralston, who represents Fannin County.  Last week Speaker Ralston issued a statement supporting Gov. Deal’s hesitancy towards the religious liberty bills.  According to Ralston’s spokesman Kaleb McMichen “Speaker Ralston appreciates and shares Governor Deal’s sincere commitment to protecting religious liberties while ensuring that Georgia continues to welcome everyone with genuine Southern hospitality.”