Georgia takes legislative step to address anti-Hindu bias

In a landmark move, Georgia has become the first U.S. state to formally introduce a bill to recognize and address Hinduphobia. If passed, the legislation would amend the state’s penal code to define Hinduphobia explicitly and direct law enforcement agencies to account for it when addressing hate crimes and discrimination against Hindus.

The bipartisan measure—Senate Bill 375—is co-sponsored by Republican Senators Shawn Still and Clint Dixon, alongside Democratic Senators Jason Esteves and Emanuel D. Jones. The bill defines Hinduphobia as a “set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Hinduism” and calls for the integration of this definition into Georgia’s existing anti-discrimination framework.

Coalition of Hindus of North America welcomes the bill

“This is a historic moment,” said the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) in a public statement. “Georgia becomes the first state to introduce such a bill, and if passed, will make history once again.”

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CoHNA added, “We are proud to work closely with Senator Shawn Still on this important bill and thank him along with Senator Emanuel Jones, Senator Jason Esteves, and Senator Clint Dixon for supporting the needs of the Hindu community in Georgia and the United States.”

Builds on previous resolution against Hinduphobia

This bill follows Georgia’s April 2023 resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. That resolution acknowledged Hinduism as one of the world’s oldest and most practiced religions, with over 1.2 billion followers in more than 100 countries. It also recognized the contributions of the Hindu-American community to U.S. society and condemned hate speech and acts of violence targeting Hindus.

The 2023 resolution was led by Republican Representatives Lauren McDonald and Todd Jones of Forsyth County, a region known for its large Hindu and Indian-American population.

Hindu-American community continues to grow

According to the Pew Research Center’s 2023-2024 Religious Landscape Study, there are approximately 2.5 million Hindus in the United States, making up about 0.9% of the national population. In Georgia alone, over 40,000 Hindus reside—primarily in and around the Atlanta metropolitan area.

The new legislation aims to set a precedent for other U.S. states to follow, with advocates hoping it will lead to greater legal protection and awareness for Hindu communities across the country.