It's not just Indiana and Arkansas. 85 bills in 28 States to discriminate against LGBT

[marym625]

Whatever you can do to stay out of these States and not use any business based in these States, please do.

I wish it were just Indiana and Arkansas but, unfortunately, it's not. The backlash by the moral morons due marriage equality has hit 28 States with 85 bills in various stages. The fact that any have actually been signed into law is mind boggling.

The HRC and GLSEN are fighting to maintain, restore, and in some cases, give for the first time, equal rights for LGBT people across the country.

The HRC has put out this map to show the States with discriminatory laws

The diversity of the legislation is unprecedented and a record number of bills have been introduced.

Together, these bills undermine, and even cripple, fundamental protections and basic dignity for LGBT Americans and other minority groups.

Even in states with long traditions of support for equality, anti-equality lawmakers are introducing anti-LGBT bills.  Massachusetts, for example, is the latest state with a bill that would criminalize transgender people for using appropriate restrooms.  Anti-transgender "bathroom surveillance" bills have are now pending in Florida, Texas and a handful of other states.

More at links

http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/anti-lgbt-bills-introduced-in-28-states
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/wave-of-anti-lgbt-bills-in-2015-state-legislative-sessions

These bills can change adoption proceedings and even foster care.

And how sad is this? How sad is it that in this day and age a kid has to worry, at school, about being outed!



HRC is partnering with LGBT groups and other civil and human rights groups across the country to fight the discrimination, in law and practice.

Some companies have come out against these discriminatory laws as well.

Tweet from CEO Tim Cook when Pence signed the bill into law:

Tim Cook        ✔ @tim_cook

Around the world, we strive to treat every customer the same — regardless of where they come from, how they worship or who they love.

12:58 PM - 27 Mar 2015

4,003 RETWEETS 4,853 FAVORITE

Salesforce.com, YELP CEO and C founder of PayPal, Starbucks, NAACP, some athletic associations have come out against, and in some cases already changed conferences, etc, in opposition to the discriminatory laws in Arkansas and Indiana. More are added to that list as the day goes by

GLSEN article

http://glsen.org/article/glsen-statement-indiana-religious-freedom-restoration-act

Please do what you can to fight these awful, outright unconstitutional, laws.

[Fred Sanders]

1. The Koch's and the Adelson's have unleashed the hounds and the gatekeeper media are in shock and awe

...if not holding the gate open.

[marym625]

3. That was perfect

Absolutely perfect analogy. I haven't researched it yet but there's no doubt in my mind that these bills have all been written by ALEC.

[Fred Sanders]

11. No need to research, you can hear a pack of hounds' barking long before they tear at your throat.

[marym625]

19. Another good one. TThank you! eom.

[RKP5637]

5. Well said! n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Ah, Nevada, where the religions that forbid gambling and alcohol profit greatly from both.....

The very picture of the venality, corruption and transient principles of the religious conservatives. Additionally, only 30% of Nevadans bother to attend religious services regularly. So, they don't go to church much, run gambling halls and bars as their major enterprise but they can't stand to serve gay people. Liberace wept.

[marym625]

6. Nothing like good old fashioned hypocrisy!

My cousin and his husband live in Vegas. They're not at all political. I think that's just so they can ignore as much as possible and pretend things are just honky dorry. (Dorey? However it's spelled)

Thanks for your input

[Zorra]

8. Great observation, illustrating how those who claim these bills are not hate legislation

specifically targeting LGBT are deliberate and conscienceless liars.

These bills are totally only about hating LGBT, and everyone knows it.

[marym625]

23. BINGO!

[Fumesucker]

25. Not quite, they hate atheists, pagans and Muslims too among others..

[RKP5637]

4. Sadly, I think a good many Americans love discrimination and hatred. We see it all of the time.

It is pathetic that the US does this, but US history is filled with discrimination and hatred against all types of people. I find it amazing, for example, there is still so much discrimination, hatred and abuse toward women.

Some days I wonder just what the US is about, far from all of the endless equality I was preached in school. Sure, the US is certainly not the worse place on earth, but the US could be a hell of a lot better.

That all said, I am constantly amazed marriage equality has gone so far, and I'm still amazed voters elected Obama twice. So, we certainly are not all that bad.

[marym625]

13. There are definitely good signs

But it's all about, and always about, the money.

I truly believe these laws are aimed at distracting people from other horrors our government is putting upon us as it is, not so slowly anymore, turned into a corpocracy.

I also think it's another way to raise money. So many of the Republicans had pretty much given up their fight against LGBT just before the DOMA decision. Now, they're back at it. Why?

Thank you, RKP5637. I understand exactly what you are feeling. I don't know that I believe we have done as well as you think we have. But maybe we're just going backward since President Obama was first elected. And the fight against LGBT people by Republicans has certainly taken an upswing since June 26, 2013.

[riderinthestorm]

7. +10 million!!!! Nt

[marym625]

14. Wow! Thank you!

[NightWatcher]

9. What if it were religious freedom to not serve black people?

I don't want to hear that one is a choice and one is not. This is about discriminating against people one group does not like.

I say we discriminate against religious bigots.

[marym625]

16. I honestly would not be surprised if that was in the works.

Trying to find a way to discriminate against black people legally. They did it in Arizona against brown people.

Yeah, the religious fanatics here are as bad as the Taliban. And yes, I mean that. Look at what they're doing in Ohio against women. That antichoice bill would jail doctors. Same in Arizona. And there is a woman in jail in Florida for having a midterm miscarriage. The jury didn't believe it wasn't an abortion and now she's in jail.

[RKP5637]

20. I actually think they are similar to ISIS! They are just currently held in line better, currently,

the US. I wonder what the boundary conditions are for religious freedom/discrimination. It looks like it can be contrived to be for just about anything. Those sitting back and thinking, oh, that's just for LGBT had best think twice. Discrimination and legalized bigotry is dangerous to any society. It tears the fabric of a society and weakens to destruction. And, it enables the lunatic fringe of society to say hey, this is OK, and they will take it another step further with open season on whomever is being discrimination against.

Yes, I think it's part of a master plan being rolled out for deflection from the real issues facing this country.

[marym625]

21. +1000

Distract and control.

Don't ever think this can't happen to you. Next could be laws discriminating against catholics, then Mormons, etc etc

Thank you!

[CatholicEdHead]

10. The MN Bill is for Transgender students in sports

Pushed by our local republicans, it will not go anywhere with a DFL state Senate and governor.

[City Lights]

15. Thanks for the information.

I was surprised to see MN on the map and wondered what was going on.

[marym625]

17. I'm believe you are right

But the fact it even got out of committee, never mind was written, IA disgusting and frightening.

Thanks for the information

[marym625]

22. Don't be so sure

Look at this one. 50-50. And frankly, the legal attacks that are specifically against transgender people go further than the bill aimed at LGBT.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141051769

Though I really hope you are correct. Obviously.

Thanks again

[world wide wally]

12. Thou shalt not lie?

Then how can they just use this sorry ass excuse to discriminate?
What if "their religion" tells them, or they honestly believe, they are not allowed to own private property and they are welcome to take anything they need?
This may be a new height in bullshit.

This Supreme Court is America's greatest enemy

[marym625]

18. I doubt (hope strongly) that these will withstand SCOTS

But with this court, I will hold my breath when it gets to them. Holding my breath in fear

[jwirr]

24. Minnesota is a very blue state and this gop law is not very likely to pass ever. Boycotting is a

little drastic in this case. A gop idiot presented a bill which failed and I think he has tried to revive it but that failed also. There is not a state in the US that forbids someone from proposing a bill. The good states reject the bad bills. We did.

[marym625]

26. I hope you are right

Yes, it's the fact that the bills are even being considered and many make it out of committee and to a vote.

Minnesota just defeated a discriminatory bill against LGBT but the vote was 50-50. The new bill is against transgender people. Those pass more easily. I know that the governor would never sign it but it could pass.

It's horrendous that this backlash is going on. The good thing that is happening is most legislatures are smart enough to see what is happening to Indiana because of their bill and won't want that to happen to their own state.

Thank you for your thoughts. Always a pleasure to see you

[fizzgig]

27. don't boycott colorado, those bills were killed by the leg

i knew about the right to refuse one, but had to google about the anti-trans bill (it was a locker room one). and both were killed in committee as far as i can remember.

what also isn't being said about colorado is that the leg is working on some pro-lgbt legislation, including banning conversion therapy for minors and making it easier and less intrusive for trans individuals to get the sex changed on their birth certificates.

i agree that we need to make people aware of these atrocious laws, but let's make sure they also know what is proposed and what is law.

colorado has come a long way since amendment 2.

[marym625]

30. They have come a long way

It's difficult to believe that these bills are so prevalent. it's unbelievable to me that women are fighting for the basic right to control their bodies,transgender people are fighting for the basic right to use the bathroom, LGBT are fighting for the right to work and be served.

It really sucks.

Glad Colorado is improving in these areas

Thanks for your reply

[Gothmog]

28. There is one pending before the Texas Legislature

Houston was promised a superbowl and we can kiss that goodbye if this bill is adopted

[marym625]

31. Hopefully

The legislatures will figure that out before the vote. Though it sucks that money is the incentive instead of just common decency.

Thanks for the info. I don't follow football and had no idea where the next super bowl will be

[napkinz]

29. Here’s What Georgia Businesses Think About The State’s ‘Religious Liberty’ Bill

by Zack Ford
March 28, 2015

Despite initial optimism that Georgia’s discriminatory “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” (RFRA) had been sufficiently halted in committee on Thursday, activists worry that it could still be revived during the last week of the legislative session. The House Judicial Committee could restore SB 129 to its pre-amended form and advance it, or the RFRA could be tacked onto another pending bill.

Georgia’s businesses have been oddly silent on the bill, despite mounting pressure from an organized Stop SB 129 social media campaign and a fomenting backlash against Indiana’s similar law. With its proponents now on record testifying that circumventing nondiscrimination laws is essential to the bill, however, a few more businesses are speaking out.

The Home Depot, which is based in Georgia and had long been futilely boycotted for the American Family Association for it’s LGBT support, responded directly to a ThinkProgress inquiry about SB 129. Stephen Holmes, Director of Corporate Communications for the home improvement company, said, “We’ve been clear on several occasions that we don’t support anything that discriminates.”

Garin Norain, Vice President of Public Relations for the Atlanta Hawks, Georgia’s professional basketball team, told ThinkProgress that the team does not comment on any pending active legislation. But, he said, “We would not support any legislation that discriminates,” noting that the team opposes all forms of discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation.

read more: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/03/28/3640249/no-the-georgia-rfra-is-not-dead-yet/

[marym625]

32. That's encouraging news!

Thank you.

But, as I just replied to someone else, it's despicable that it's money that stops these religious zealots from voting for these discriminatory bills and not just common decency.

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate it

[99Forever]

33. Correct again Mary.

Just as a point of interest. It's widely thought here in Minnesota, that the push by the hateful religious wackos to put in a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages, backfired so badly on the cretins, it actually helped Dems in the next election and sped up marriage equality becoming the law here.

To all of you "good Christian" bigots out there, consider yourself put on notice:


THE PUSHBACK COMETH

[marym625]

34. Thank you, 99Forever

I love it when their horrible crap backfires on them. The outrageous proposition being put forth in California to actually kill LGBT people, and by religious folks, should cause all citizens of the country to be ashamed of any level of discrimination. But no. They just don't see that it is just a step further than not allowing service.

Just wish that money wasn't the reason people backed off discriminatory practices and just decency would prevail for decency's sake.

Thank you again, my friend!