Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

riversedge

(69,722 posts)
Tue Mar 31, 2015, 11:07 AM Mar 2015

Arkansas Poised to Enact 'License to #Discriminate'

Republican vile is spreading


#Arkansas Poised to Enact 'License to #Discriminate' http://www.advocate.com/politics/2015/03/30/arkansas-poised-enact-license-discriminate#.VRq0TPSBdao.twitter#Discrimination #1u #LGBT #p2 #BoycottArkansas


http://www.advocate.com/politics/2015/03/30/arkansas-poised-enact-license-discriminate


Arkansas Poised to Enact 'License to Discriminate'

The revived bill just needs a House vote and the governor's promised signature to become law.
BY Trudy Ring
March 30 2015 5:47 PM ET


Gov. Asa Hutchinson

Arkansas is getting closer to passing a revived “religious freedom” bill that opponents say would make it legal to discriminate against LGBT people.

House Bill 1228, which was blocked by a Senate committee in February, passed out of that committee last week after a member changed his vote, then passed the full Senate Friday. The House, which had OK’d a previous version of the legislation, now needs to approve amendments made by the Senate. The House Judiciary Committee approved those this morning, moving the measure to a vote by the full House, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he will sign the bill into law.

The legislation would forbid the state to “substantially burden” a person’s religious practices unless there is a compelling government interest in doing so. Its definition of person also includes businesses and organizations, meaning it would allow them to turn away customers who somehow offend the proprietor’s religious beliefs — for instance, same-sex couples seeking wedding-related goods or services, or people who practice a different faith. It is similar to laws enacted recently in Indiana and last year in Mississippi.

Opponents of the measure held an emergency meeting Sunday night in Little Rock and protested at the state capitol there today. These opponents include major corporations that operate in the state, such as Apple and Walmart. Apple CEO Tim Cook, for instance, wrote a guest column that ran in The Washington Post over the weekend opposing this and similar bills. He also sent out a tweet denouncing the Indiana legislation and urging Gov. Hutchinson to veto the Arkansas bill.................




Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Arkansas Poised to Enact ...