Tag: RFRA

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Georgia Ends Legislative Session Without Passing RFRA

The Georgia lawmakers closed their legislative session without passing a controversial “religious freedom” bill. Similar legislation has held the nation’s attention this past week thanks to bills in Indiana and Arkansas.

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Gov. Nathan Deal, who has repeatedly said he would support legislation that mirrored the 1993 law, signaled the debate has become too toxic. He said in an interview that supporters ensure that anti-discrimination language is in the measure next year if they want to earn his signature.

“That’s the most important thing. And that is a delicate thing to do,” he said. “There’s been so much hyperbole. It’s hard to identify what can you say without saying too much, what can you say without saying too little, and what will people read into either version that you like.”

A version of the legislation was swiftly approved by Senate lawmakers, but it was tabled in the House after three Republicans joined with Democrats to add an anti-discrimination amendment. And the uproar over similar bills in Arkansas and Indiana, along with growing pushback from iconic Georgia businesses, seemed to seal its fate.

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Georgia: Christian Florist Would Deny Service To Gays But Not Adulterers Because “It’s A Different Kind Of Sin”

CNN’s Gary Tuchman interviewed several florists in rural Georgia and asked if they would provide certain services to gay people.

All five said “no” based on their deeply held religious beliefs. Clearly, they follow every word of the Bible, right?

Well, maybe not all of them.

It turns out being an adulterer doesn’t disqualify you from being served by Melissa Jeffcoat.

Check out this excerpt from the segment:

Tuchman: … In the Ten Commandments, it says you can’t commit adultery…

Jeffcoat: Right.

Tuchman: It says you need to honor your father and mother.

Jeffcoat: Mhmm.

Tuchman: If someone didn’t honor their parents or committed adultery, would you serve them?

Jeffcoat: Yes.

Tuchman: Well, why would you serve them but not serve someone who is gay?

Jeffcoat: It’s just a different kind of sin to me and I just don’t believe in it.

So, when the conservative nuts tell you it has nothing to do with the gays and just their “deeply held religious beliefs,” remember that some sins are just “different.” #Hypocrisy

(source)

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Arkansas Governor Signs Newly Tweaked “Religious Freedom” Bill Into Law

After just a few short days, Arkansas lawmakers have tweaked their “religious freedom” law to more closely mirror the federal version, and today Gov. Asa Hutchinson has signed the legislation into law.

In the wake of intense backlash against a similar law in Indiana, first-term Republican governor had rejected the first version Arkansas lawmakers had sent to his desk, instead asking for two tweaks so there would be no daylight between his state’s law and the one President Bill Clinton signed in 1993.

“I think it’s sending the right signal, the way this has been resolved, to the world and the country that Arkansas understands the diversity of our culture and workforce but also the importance of balancing that with our sincerely held religious convictions,” Hutchinson said Thursday afternoon.

Hutchinson has also announced he is considering issuing an executive order that would ban discrimination against state employees.

We shall see.

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Sen. Tom Cotton: Hey Gays, At Least We Aren’t Hanging You Like In Iran

Sen. Tom Cotton really needs some media training.

Speaking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer yesterday, Cotton said that critics of Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, like the one his governor just declined to sign, should get some global “perspective” on gay rights.

Because, hey, it could be worse!

“I think it’s important we have a sense of perspective about our priorities,” Cotton said. “In Iran they hang you for the crime of being gay. They’re currently imprisoning an American preacher for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ in Iran. We should focus on the most important priorities that our country faces right now.”

Yeah. That makes me feel much better. You?

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Indiana Governor Approves “Fix” To Religious Freedom Law

Indiana lawmakers have announced changes to the state’s current RFRA bill that specifies the new religious freedom law cannot be used as a legal defense to discriminate against patrons based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Indianapolis Star reports:

Indiana Republicans said Thursday morning that they are presenting an addition to the controversial RFRA legislation that will make it clear no one will “be able to discriminate against anyone at any time.” Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, and House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis said at a press conference at the Statehouse that leaders will present the proposal to lawmakers at 9:30 a.m. after speaking with corporate and civic leadership this week. “Hoosier hospitality had to be restored,” Bosma said.

The leaders referenced the intense backlash that rained down on Indiana after Gov. Mike Pence signed the bill last week. “It was never intended to discriminate against anyone,” Long said. “That perception led to the national protests we’ve seen.”

A legislative report says the RFRA will be amended to say the law “does not authorize a provider to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing to any member or members of the general public on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or United States military service.”

UPDATE:

By a vote of 66-30 in the House, and 34-16 in the Senate, Indiana lawmakers have approved changes to the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act to allay fears that it would allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

The revised law explicitly bars a business from denying services to someone on the basis of categories that include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Gov. Mike Pence signed the legislation this afternoon.

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Sponsor Of Arkansas “Religious Freedom” Bill Serves Up Double-Talk On CNN

CNN’s Jake Tapper interviewed state Sen. Bart Hester, the sponsor of Arkansas’ religious freedom bill, and asked him multiple times if it allows for discrimination or not.

Tapper expressed his confusion multiple times given all the conflicting messaging from supporters of the bill on the matter.

Bless little Bart Hester’s heart. He was so proud of himself repeating the same word salad over and over.

Clearly the one talking point supporters of these “religious freedom” bills have is “whatever they ask, don’t use the word discriminate.”

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Seth Hutchinson, Son Of Arkansas Governor, “Proud To Have Made A Small Contribution”

Seth Hutchinson, son of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, sent an email to Business Insider today after he was referenced in his dad’s press conference where the governor announced he was sending the recently passed “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” back to lawmakers to mirror the federal version of the law.

The liberal 31 year old union activist, based in Austin, Texas, had this to say about today’s events in Arkansas:

“I am happy that my Dad is now calling on legislators to rework HB 1228.

“I had communicated with him my opposition to the bill, along with thousands of other Arkansans and concerned citizens around the country.

“I’m proud to have made a small contribution to the overall effort to stop discrimination against the LGBT community in Arkansas, the state that I love (Go hogs!).

“I love and respect my father very much, but sometimes we have political disagreements, just as many families do. We must build a mass movement of Americans fighting for economic, environmental, and social justice if we want to see real progress.”