Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal vetoes House Bill 757

— -- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday vetoed the state's controversial "religious liberty" bill, helping Atlanta's bid to host the Super Bowl in either 2019 or 2020 at the Falcons' new $1.4 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium, set to open next summer.

The legislation would have allowed clergy to refuse to perform gay marriages and would have protected people who refuse to attend the ceremonies. Churches and affiliated religious groups also could have declined to serve or hire someone based on their faith.

Deal, a Republican, rejected House Bill 757 on Monday, saying: "I have examined the protections that this bill proposes to provide to the faith-based community, and I can find no examples of any of those circumstances occurring in our state.''

Deal added, "I do not think that we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia.''

Republican majorities passed the bill to broadly protect people acting on their religion. The bill's opponents said it excused discrimination and could trample local ordinances protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement on March 18 that the law could have jeopardized Atlanta's ability to host a future Super Bowl.

"NFL policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard. Whether the laws and regulations of a state and local community are consistent with these policies would be one of many factors NFL owners may use to evaluate potential Super Bowl host sites," the statement said. 

Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank also had spoken out against the bill in a statement released March 18.

"One of my bedrock values is 'Include Everyone' and it's a principle we embrace and strive to live each and every day with my family and our associates, a vast majority of which live and work in Georgia," he said. "I strongly believe a diverse, inclusive and welcoming Georgia is critical to our citizens and the millions of visitors coming to enjoy all that our great state has to offer. House Bill 757 undermines these principles and would have long-lasting negative impact on our state and the people of Georgia."

Blank made clear his intentions of hosting Super Bowl LIII, the next available open date for a host city. Tampa, Miami, New Orleans and Los Angeles also are in contention to bid for Super Bowls LIII and LIV.

The winning bids will be announced at the spring league meeting, to be held in Charlotte on May 23-25.

Coca-Cola and other big-name Georgia companies joined the NFL, prominent Hollywood figures and film studios urging Deal to reject the proposal. Some threatened to boycott the state if Deal didn't veto it.

Deal said he would have signed the bill had it passed in its original form, but he said other versions caused him concern.

He said his decision to reject the bill was "about the character of our state and the character of our people. Georgia is a welcoming state; it is full of loving, kind and generous people.''

ESPN's Vaughn McClure and The Associated Press contributed to this report.