The new 'license to discriminate' bill in Texas may be the most extreme anti-LGBT proposal yet

[DonViejo]

Here’s the real reason why state legislators keep pushing increasingly dangerous laws targeting the LGBT community

NICO LANG

Everything is bigger in Texas, even the homophobia. Last week, Lone Star lawmakers filed Senate Bill 651, which critics warn is one of the most dangerous and extreme of the so-called “religious liberty” bills debated by state legislatures in recent years.

The legislation, which was co-sponsored by Republicans Charles Perry, Brian Birdwell and Bryan Hughes, would allow private individuals employed in more than 65 licensed occupations to deny services to people based on their “sincerely held religious belief.” Were a therapist, for instance, to refuse to see a gay client because of his sexual orientation, SB 651 would prevent the state from taking action against the practice. The bill, which its authors note would apply to “one-third of the members of the House of Representatives” and “one-half of the members of the Senate,” would permit broad discrimination against members of the LGBT community.

Jennifer Pizer, the Law and Policy Director for Lambda Legal, claimed that the bill is “breathtaking” in its virtually unlimited scope.

“If the medical standard of care would require a particular treatment and the licensed health professional — the doctor, the nursing staff or other health professionals — had a religious objection to the required standard of care, they could withhold the care the patient needs,” Pizer said. “The obvious example is a doctor who has a religious objection to blood transfusion. But the bill could include everything from medical and legal professionals to people who provide certain types of financial advice and accounting services.”

Under SB 651, teachers wouldn’t have to intervene in cases of bullying or discrimination if they see an LGBT student being harassed in school, as Pizer explained. A realtor could refuse to help a lesbian couple look for a home for their family. An EMT could deny life-saving care to a transgender person dying on the side of the road.

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http://www.salon.com/2017/02/15/the-new-license-to-discriminate-bill-in-texas-may-be-the-most-extreme-anti-lgbt-proposal-yet/

[Bayard]

1. Whoa

Doctors have a "duty of care", that I don't think it is limited by states. I would think an EMT would have to follow the same general principle, and how are they going to know a person is transgender unless they've already stopped? That fact doesn't go out on 911 calls. Teachers? That would be a huge lawsuit if one of their students is killed in front of them and they do nothing.

As far as realtors, if they don't find out a person is transgender until they are closing a deal, I seriously doubt they will refuse to accept the commission.