Two More States Introduce 'Right to Discriminate' Bills | The Bilerico Project

Remember earlier this month when legislators in Arizona advanced a bill that would create a special "right" for individuals and businesses to refuse to serve LGBT people, as long as they claimed Jesus told them to? Well, similar bills could become law in two more states, if Republican legislators have their way. In Kansas, House Bill 2453 would allow both people and private businesses to deny a long list of services to LGBT couples, just as long as the person or business is "operating consistently with its sincerely held religious beliefs." (Funny, I wasn't aware that businesses had religious beliefs...)

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The bill has a decent chance of passage, since the Republican Party controls both houses of the Kansas Legislature and notorious homophobe Sam Brownback sits in the governor's mansion.

Sounds bad, right? That's because it is. But believe it or not, South Dakota's bill could be even worse.

The relevant portion of South Dakota's "right to discriminate" bill, Senate Bill 67, reads as follows:

No person or any personal business may be required to provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the solemnization, formation, or celebration of any marriage, or treat any marriage as valid for any purpose if such action would cause any such person or personal business to violate the person's sincerely held religious beliefs.

Two More States Introduce 'Right to Discriminate' Bills | The Bilerico Project