House passes religious freedom bill some call 'license to discriminate'

[mahatmakanejeeves]

House passes religious freedom bill some call 'license to discriminate'

Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 1:15 pm

BY GRAHAM MOOMAW Richmond Times-Dispatch
[e-mail]
[phone]
Twitter: @gmoomaw

The Virginia House of Delegates voted 56-41 Tuesday to grant broad protections to private entities that discriminate against gay and transgender people as well as those who have sex outside marriage, a controversial bill that supporters said would prevent government persecution of people of faith and critics said would allow some Virginians to be treated as "second-class citizens."

Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to block the legislation, but the floor vote offered a test of the Republican-controlled chamber’s appetite to take on a red-hot social issue. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the bill. Three Republicans did not vote.

The bill’s patron - Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah – said the measure would prevent government agencies from taking punitive action against religious people, businesses and groups as part what he described as an activist push to drive religion from public life.

"They are not satisfied with equality,” said Gilbert. “And they will not be satisfied until people of faith are driven out of discourse. Are made to cower. Are made to live in fear of speaking their minds."

[Qutzupalotl]

1. When will people learn

YOUR religion applies to YOU. MY religion applies to ME. Speak your mind all you want, but don't be surprised when other people speak back. If you legislate morality, you will no longer have morality but obedience — and there is a huge difference. As Steiner put it, "a virtue practiced under constraint is futile."

People should be able to think, speak and act however they want, provided they are not hurting anyone else — which is exactly what this bill would do. Glad McCauliffe is likely to veto.

[phylny]

2. Sometimes I'm just sick that we live here.

I love the lake and I love the beauty, but I'm sure my "delagate" Kathy Byron voted for this piece of trash.

[napi21]

3. It sounds like the major problem with this Bill is WHO it applies to.

I may be all wrong, but if it only applied to Churches of all denominations and businesses associated with churches, like schools, it would be understood. But to apply it to "religious people" is insane. I'm not gay but if I were, I wouldn't WANT to be associate with, employed by, or have any relationship with a group that HATED ME! But to name all RELIGIOUS PEOPLE negates the current discrimination law.