Business blogs and LinkedIn are places for business discussion, and I respect that. So without comment on the merits of HB 322 (Alabama’s version of the “Don’t Say Gay Bill”), which was recently signed into law by Governor Ivey, I ask:
1. How are innovative businesses in a war for talent supposed to recruit individuals who are not heterosexual to move to Alabama with this type of legislation?
2. How is Alabama going to recruit large businesses (such as Apple) who seek to affirm people of different sexual orientations and gender identities?
3. Does the business community, as a matter of economic development, need to be more proactive in preventing this type of legislation?
Yes, these questions are rhetorical: you cannot legislate hate and promote innovation at the same time.
For context on question 3, please see the following list of Alabama state representatives and senators who received money from the Business Council of Alabama/ Progress PAC and voted yes on HB 322:
HOUSE:
Rep. Wes Allen, $10,000 in 2018
Rep. Alan Baker, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Russell Bedsole, $10,000 in 2020 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Chris Blackshear, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Chip Brown, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. K.L. “Koven” Brown, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Jim Carns, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Steve Clouse, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Danny Crawford, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Will Dismukes, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Dickie Drake, $23,100 in 2018 and $3,500 in 2022
Rep. Brett Easterbrook, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Corley Ellis, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Tracy Estes, $2,500 in 2022
Rep. David Faulkner, $10,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Joe Faust Sr., $10,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Victor Gaston, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Lynn Greer, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Corey Harbison, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Jim Hill, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Mike Holmes, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Stephen “Steven” W. Hurst, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Reed Ingram, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Gil F. Isbell, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Mike Jones Jr., $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Jamie Kiel, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Wes Kitchens, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Paul Lee, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Craig Lipscomb, $17,500 in 2018 and $3,500 in 2022
Rep. Joe Lovvorn, $7,500 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Rhett Marques, $10,600 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Charlotte Meadows, $7,500 in 2022
Rep. Arnold Mooney, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Parker Duncan Moore, $8,100 in 2018
Rep. Ed Oliver, $12,500 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Phillip Pettus, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Chris Pringle, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Rex Reynolds, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Kerry Rich, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Ben Robbins, $5,000 in 2021
Rep. Proncey Robertson, $5,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Rep. Howard Sanderford, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Chris Sells, $12,500 in 2018 and $3,500 in 2022
Rep. Ginny Shaver, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Randall Shedd, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Harry Shiver, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Matt Simpson, $7,500 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Ivan “Van” Smith, $10,000 in 2019
Rep. Jeff Sorrells, $600 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Kyle South, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Scott Stadthagen, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. David Standridge, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Shane Stringer, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Rodney Sullivan, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Andy Whitt, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Margie Wilcox, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
Rep. Rich Wingo, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Debbie Hamby Wood, $5,000 in 2018
Rep. Randy Wood, $5,000 in 2018 and $2,500 in 2022
SENATE:
Sen. Greg Albritton, $15,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Gerald Allen, $10,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Will Barfoot, $10,000 in 2018
Sen. Tom Butler, $13,100 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Clyde Chambliss Jr., $10,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Donnie Chesteen, $10,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Chris Elliott, $60,600 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Garlan Gudger, $45,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Jimmy W. Holley, $10,000 in 2018
Sen. Steve Livingston, $10,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Tim Melson, $25,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Arthur Orr, $10,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Randy Price, $62,500 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Greg Reed, $10,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Dan Roberts, $10,000 in 2018
Sen. Clay Scofield, $10,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. David Sessions, $12,500 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Shay Shelnutt, $15,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. Larry Stutts, $12,000 in 2018 and $10,000 in 2022
Sen. J. T. “Jabo” Waggoner, $10,000 in 2018 and $5,000 in 2022
Sen. April C. Weaver, $5,600 in 2018
Sen. Thomas M. Whatley, $25,000 in 2018 and $17,500 in 2022
Sen. Jack W. Williams, $10,000 in 2018 and $7,500 in 2022