After epic 39-hour filibuster, Missouri Senate passes bill criticized as anti-gay
Source: Washington Post
It was a record for the state: For 39 hours, seven Democrats in the Missouri Senate kept up a filibuster aimed at drawing attention to, and ultimately killing, a religious freedom bill that critics called anti-gay.
On Wednesday morning, they were finally cut short. The chambers Republican majority voted to end the filibuster and voted in favor of the bill, which if enacted would permit religious organizations and certain others to refrain from activities viewed as condoning or participating in same-sex marriage.
It is the latest and perhaps most dramatic example of the extraordinary opposition being garnered by religious liberties bills, which have proliferated in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision last year legalizing same-sex marriage nationally. Social conservatives say the bills are necessary to protect faith-based organizations and faith-driven businesses from being forced to condone a practice that clashes with their religion.
But such measures have been met with fierce opposition by gay rights supporters and others, including prominent businesses that warn it could harm commerce by painting the state as bigoted. They point to the example of Indiana, which took a hit to its reputation and commerce last year after the legislature passed its own religious protection law.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/03/09/after-epic-39-hour-filibuster-missouri-senate-passes-bill-criticized-as-anti-gay/
asiliveandbreathe
(8,203 posts)so be it...our beautiful country must end this hate and bigotry - in the name of religion?? - I am not sure what religion the bigots are protecting..
freebrew
(1,917 posts)You know...the TV kind.
davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)Time to start taxing these "religions". Long past time. Every "faith based organization" and, "religious organization" should be subject to the same laws as the rest of us. If they are going to play politics, then they can do their part in paying the bills.
Religious liberty my ass. The individual should be judged based on their actions, on their words, on who they are, not on their race, gender, sexual orientation, or anything else. It is beyond despicable to discriminate against people who have done nothing wrong, who's only "crime" is in not being what you think everyone should be - because an old book says so (actually, that old book really doesn't say so... but I digress).
Treat others as you would like to be treated. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Judge not, lest you be judged. Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. Are those not religious concepts? Are those not very religious ideas and principles? The assholes seem to ignore the best parts of their religion, while praising and promoting old testament fire and brimstone, ignorance and hate for their fellow human beings.
No, you don't have the right to treat someone poorly just because they aren't a lily white, heterosexual conservative. No, it's not only WASPS who are entitled to have their rights as human beings respected... but ALL human beings who are entitled to have those respected - and enforced, if need be, under the law.
This God they speak of, these "religions" which such people practice... don't seem to have anything at all to do with the ones I've studied. They are simply using their religion and "faith" as excuse for ignorance, bigotry and hatred. It should not be tolerated by any of us.
progree
(10,908 posts)It is a religious discrimination bill (discriminating against others based on one's own bigoted religious beliefs), not a religious freedom bill.
Uggh, they use the term "religious liberties bills" too
lark
(23,105 posts)They sooo deserve to lose convention business after this hate filled move.
freebrew
(1,917 posts)for these R assholes.
I live here(MO), the Rs are taking money from the schools and highways.
They have limited wage legislation to only what the state government allows(St Louis passed a min wage increase-since denied).
They are trying to make 'right to work' law.
They have passed 'paycheck protection'.
MO congress lives in its own world, somehow insulated from the rest of the state, funded by Koch-like goons.
Too bad the capitol isn't still in St. Charles.