The Latest: Georgia governor vetoes religious exemption bill

ATLANTA – The Latest on the governor's veto of the religious exemptions bill (all times local):

11:50 a.m.

Gov. Nathan Deal called the bill that would have allowed clergy to refuse performing gay marriage and protecting people who refuse to attend the ceremonies "a bill that has generated many feelings, many of them very intense."

Deal said its supporters say the measure attempted to "enumerate actions people of faith shall not be required to take or perform."

But he said he was not aware of what he called "a single instance of any of those things occurring in the state of Georgia" that the bill sought to prevent.

He said he could have supported the bill if it had passed in its original form, but said he had concerns about other versions of the bill.

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10:20 a.m.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has vetoed legislation allowing clergy to refuse performing gay marriage and protecting people who refuse to attend the ceremonies.

The Republican rejected the bill on Monday.

Republican majorities passed the bill to broadly protect people acting on their religion. It also would have protected clergy who won't perform gay marriages and people who won't attend a wedding for religious reasons.

Churches and affiliated religious groups also could have declined to serve or hire someone based on their faith.

The bill's opponents said it excused discrimination and could trample local ordinances protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

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.