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