Oklahoma anti-gay religious freedom bill being redrafted amid Arizona firestorm [View all]
Source: Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma bill that would allow business owners with strongly held religious beliefs to refuse service to gays will be rewritten and likely won’t be considered in its current form this legislative session, the measure’s House author said Tuesday.
The bill (HB 2873), which is similar to one that has set off a political firestorm in Arizona and some being considered in other states, would have provided legal immunity to anyone who refuses services to gays and lesbians based on the person’s “sincerely held religious belief.”
“We’re still in favor of running a bill like that, but we’re just trying to get the language tightened up to prevent there from being any fiascos like there have been elsewhere,” said Rep. Tom Newell, R-Seminole.
Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer is facing intensifying pressure from CEOs, politicians in Washington, D.C., and state lawmakers in her own party to veto a similar bill in that state. Critics denounce the measure as blatantly discriminatory and embarrassing to Arizona.
Read more: http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/02/oklahoma-anti-gay-religious-freedom-bill-being-redrafted-amid-arizona-firestorm/
We will likely see many more of these in the coming weeks.
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