UPDATED: George Takei: Boycott Arizona if governor signs Gay Jim Crow law [View all]

[DonViejo]

Last edited Mon Feb 24, 2014, 10:37 AM - Edit history (2)

Source: Raw Story

By George Chidi
Saturday, February 22, 2014 17:02 EST

George Takei fired a virtual photon torpedo Friday at Arizona in a scathing letter addressing legislative passage of an anti LGBT law allowing for discrimination in services.

The “Razing Arizona” letter published on Takei’s blog calls for the LGBT community to boycott the state if it enacts the law, which passed the state House of Representatives on Thursday by a 33-27 vote, largely along party lines.

“This “turn away the gay” bill enshrines discrimination into the law,” Takei wrote. “Your taxi drivers can refuse to carry us. Your hotels can refuse to house us. And your restaurants can refuse to serve us. … You’re willing to ostracize and marginalize LGBT people to score political points with the extreme right of the Republican Party. You say this bill protects ‘religious freedom,’ but no one is fooled. When I was younger, people used ‘God’s Will’ as a reason to keep the races separate, too. Make no mistake, this is the new segregation, yours is a Jim Crow law, and you are about to make yourself ground zero.”

Takei notes in his letter that his husband Brad Altman and he have strong ties to Arizona. Altman was born in Phoenix, and the couple vacation in Show Low, Takei wrote.

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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/22/george-takei-boycott-arizona-if-governor-signs-gay-jim-crow-law/

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Update:

Jeff Flake, Arizona Senator, Calls On Governor Jan Brewer To Veto Anti-Gay Bill

Posted: 02/22/2014 8:33 pm EST Updated: 02/22/2014 8:59 pm EST

Jeff Flake, Republican senator from Arizona, joined a chorus of critics against a state bill that would let businesses deny service to gay customers based on religious beliefs.

Flake tweeted that he hopes Governor Jan Brewer vetoes the bill.

Jeff Flake ✔ @JeffFlake
Follow

I hope Governor Brewer vetoes SB 1062

5:37 PM - 22 Feb 2014

The Arizona senate passed SB 1062 on Wednesday; Governor Brewer has five days from when the bill arrives at her desk to decide whether to veto it. If she does nothing, the bill will become law. Arizona Central reported that, as of Friday afternoon, the bill had not yet been delivered to Brewer.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/22/jeff-flake-jan-brewer_n_4839600.html

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Ariz. Lawmaker Who Voted For Anti-Gay Discrimination Bill Now Wants It Vetoed

CATHERINE THOMPSON – FEBRUARY 24, 2014, 6:44 AM EST

The pressure is mounting on Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) to veto a disputed piece of legislation that would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT individuals on the basis of religious freedom.

State Sen. Steve Pierce (R), who voted for the bill, now says it was a bad idea and wants to see the bill vetoed. “I screwed up,” Pierce told Capitol Media Services on Sunday. “I’m trying to make it right.”

The Republican lawmaker told the Prescott Daily Courier that he doesn't like the attention the bill has brought to the state, although he believes the purpose of the legislation has been misconstrued.

"I don't like the negative picture of Arizona, and I'm on board asking the governor to veto the bill," Pierce said.

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/arizona_lawmaker_steve_pierce_veto_antigay_bill