Kentucky House Bill 279, which would allow residents to ignore anti-discrimination laws if they conflicted with their religious beliefs, has passed out of the State Senate Judiciary Committee without a hitch, and is heading for a full vote by the State Senate today.
Sponsored by Rep. Bob Damron (D-Nicholasville), H.B. 279 already cleared the Kentucky House and—with passage expected in the Senate—could land on Governor Steve Beshear’s desk for signature or veto this week.
If it becomes law, it would have a profound effect on the rights of LGBT Kentuckians, not to mention single parents, women using birth control, divorced couples and religious minorities.
Damron and his supporters say the bill actually protects religious minorities, though—they claim it would have helped a group of Amish men recently jailed for refusing to put orange safety triangles on their buggies.
How about we take this to the next level?
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We’re not buying it, and neither are civil-rights groups: “This law is nothing more than a poor recitation of the First Amendment, and is a thinly veiled move by the legislature showing their lack of respect or tolerance for the LGBTI community,” said Jillian Hall of the Kentucky Equality Federation.
Darn, makes us wish Kentucky actually had seceded.
h/t: Queerty reader Craig
Chad Hunt
As I said in the other thread regarding this matter, even if it passes it is surely to be struck down in the courts. A shame, though, to think that religious nonsense like this would pass.
1EqualityUSA
It sets legal precedent, but it seems the cost of all of these legal law suits are intended to drain our community of our finances. It’s getting old.
Cam
This is what the GOP has come down to. They have nothing to offer the country with regard to fiscal issues, remember, the last time the GOP controlled all three houses we went from a surplus to a deficit in One years and under the last GOP president the economy collapsed and we were losing 800,000 jobs per month.
All the GOP has left is whipping up bigotry and hatred to try to get a few more years of votes.
If they don’t change they will go the way of the Dixicrats, the Whigs, or the Bullmoose Party.
1EqualityUSA
Let’s hope they continue on with their 19th century bigotry, Cam.
gppm1103
In 1976 Reagan couldn’t beat Ford…he was too conservative and right wing. After Carter’s time in office went badly – (not his fault), It opened the door for Reagan and he brought the fundamentalists in with him.
The Republicans did not used to be this way. Maybe we are seeing finally after 30+ years the GOP slowly starting to realize their shift so far to the right (along with the bigotry) is not working. I truly believe Romney losing the election has made a lot of the moderates (or the ones that WERE moderate) realize they are doomed if they don’t change. That and the country becoming less white and more diverse.
GOPride has a place. They have an American right to push for what they believe in…and they are not bigoted.
I am a liberal Democrat so I will won’t vote Republican again. (Voted for Ford in ’76). But, the gay republicans and the party in general have a lot of work to do if they want to still be around in a few years.
Chico
I’m no fan of the GOP but a democrat is the one pushing this…