Our families are under attack. From the White House to state legislatures across the nation, right-wing politicians are trying to prevent justice and equality under the guise of protecting religious freedom.
Equality Feveration is tracking over 100 anti-LGBTQ bills across the nation, and legislation that would provide for a license to discriminate are among the most prevalent. Religious freedom is a cherished value, but these attacks are really about allowing discrimination and rolling back progress.
In a scathing new report, Human Rights Watch called the wave of religious exemption bills in the United States a “thinly veiled assault against the rights of LGBT people.” Equality Federation and Equality Michigan provided on-the-ground insight to the authors of the report.
In the current legislative session, Colorado (HB 1206) and Oklahoma (SB 1250) introduced extraordinarily broad license to discriminate bills, which would give many types of businesses or services a pass to say “we don’t serve your kind here.” Several states have introduced more narrow license to discriminate bills, that focus upon specific services. For example:
- GA SB 375, would allow taxpayer-funded child-placing agencies to turn away same-sex couples and refuse services to youth who identify as LGBTQ.
- In OK, two bills in the house (HB 1507 and HB 3486) and SB 1140 would permit private child-placing agencies to refuse to place a child in a foster care or adoption setting.
- Similarly, in KS, HB 2687 and SB 401 would permit child-placing agencies (private or taxpayer-funded) to refuse to place a child in a foster care or adoption setting.
- OK SB 197 would permit individuals to discriminate in the provision of any services, goods, or accommodations used in a marriage ceremony or in endorsing or advocating any “specific marriage, lifestyle or behavior.”
- KY HB 372 would permit religious organizations to discriminate in the “sale, rental, occupancy of, or terms and conditions of occupying a dwelling or other housing under its control.”
Both GA SB 375 and OK SB 1140 passed through their respective Senate committees already and full Senate hearings are expected soon for each.
At the Supreme Court, we’re watching the Masterpiece Cakeshop case.
As a nation, we decided a long time ago that when a business opens its doors to the public, it should be open to everyone, on the same terms.
But a case now before the Supreme Court wants to take us back to the days when businesses could tell people, “We don’t serve your kind here.” Masterpiece Cakeshop is arguing that it should have a constitutional right to discriminate against customers simply because of who they are.
That’s why we all need to get involved. This case paves the way to eroding the federal Civil Rights Act and dismantling state and federal laws intended to protect people of color, women, religious minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT people and others from discrimination.
space
Mark Snyder
