Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have allowed business owners to cite their religious beliefs in refusing service to gays and lesbians.
The bill, which already had passed the state legislature, drew scrutiny from across the country, and NFL officials were among those monitoring its progress.
Super Bowl XLIX is set to be played Feb. 1, 2015 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Explaining her decision to not let the proposal become law, Brewer said it didn't deal with one of Arizona's biggest needs, fixing its child protection system, nor did it address a pressing concern about religious liberty.
"I have not heard one example in Arizona where a business owner's religious liberty has been violated," she said. "The bill is broadly worded and could result in unintended and negative consequences."
Could the Super Bowl have moved if the bill became law? The Super Bowl had been relocated away from Arizona before.
Super Bowl XXVII was slated to be contested in Tempe but was moved to Pasadena, Calif., because the state had failed to create a holiday commemorating civil rights activist Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Arizona decided to recognize the holiday in late 1992.
"Religious liberty is a core American and Arizona value -- so is nondiscrimination," Brewer said. "Going forward, let's turn the ugliness of the debate over Senate Bill 1062 into a renewed search for greater respect and understand among all Arizonans and Americans."
