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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKansas’ Anti-Gay Segregation Bill Is an Abomination
By Mark Joseph SternOn Tuesday, the Kansas House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a measure designed to bring anti-gay segregationunder the guise of religious libertyto the already deep-red state. The bill, written out of fear that the state may soon face an Oklahoma-style gay marriage ruling, will now easily pass the Republican Senate and be signed into law by the Republican governor. The result will mark Kansas as the first state, though certainly not the last, to legalize segregation of gay and straight people in virtually every arena of life.
If that sounds overblown, consider the bill itself. When passed, the new law will allow any individual, group, or private business to refuse to serve gay couples if it would be contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs. Private employers can continue to fire gay employees on account of their sexuality. Stores may deny gay couples goods and services because they are gay. Hotels can eject gay couples or deny them entry in the first place. Businesses that provide public accommodationsmovie theaters, restaurantscan turn away gay couples at the door. And if a gay couple sues for discrimination, they wont just lose; theyll be forced to pay their opponents attorneys fees. As Ive noted before, anti-gay businesses might as well put out signs alerting gay people that their business isnt welcome.
But thats just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to barring all anti-discrimination lawsuits against private employers, the new law permits government employees to deny service to gays in the name of religious liberty. This is nothing new, but the sweep of Kansas statute is breathtaking. Any government employee is given explicit permission to discriminate against gay couplesnot just county clerks and DMV employees, but literally anyone who works for the state of Kansas. If a gay couple calls the police, an officer may refuse to help them if interacting with a gay couple violates his religious principles. State hospitals can turn away gay couples at the door and deny them treatment with impunity. Gay couples can be banned from public parks, public pools, anything that operates under the aegis of the Kansas state government.
It gets worse. The laws advocates claim that it applies only to gay couplesbut theres no clear limiting principle in the text of the bill that would keep it from applying to gay individuals as well. A catch-all clause allows businesses and bureaucrats to discriminate against gay people so long as this discrimination is somehow related to, or related to the celebration of, any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement. (Emphases mine.) This subtle loophole is really just a blank check to discriminate: As long as an individual believes that his service is somehow linked to a gay union of any form, he can legally refuse his services. And since anyone who denies gays service is completely shielded from any charges, no one will ever have to prove that their particular form of discrimination fell within the four corners of the law.
more
http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2014/02/13/kansas_anti_gay_segregation_bill_is_an_abomination.html?
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)gaspee
(3,231 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,833 posts)They can't stand we are getting so close to being treated as equals. They have their own supporters who bash gays for standing up against this type of shit, no matter where it is!
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)and invite it to leave the union in the name of our religious liberty to not be amongst backwards bigots.
Maybe Putin would take them.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Even if it's a drive-through. Not only could you be refused any services, but what if you got sick or had an accident? If you're planning to travel, best to plot a route around the state. Be safe.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)But, yes that's solid advice. I would expand it to say that the entire state should be boycotted in addition to the safety measures you proposed.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)If you're gay, traveling through Kansas could literally be dangerous. Something more LGBTs should consider when making travel plans. There are other states proposing similar legislation so it's hard to keep current, but the scope of Kansas' law is jaw-dropping.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)DonViejo
(60,536 posts)Yep, there sure are:
In November, Oregonians will vote on (and probably pass) a constitutional amendment allowing gay marriage in the state. Just down the ballot, another initiative will likely appear, giving business owners a right of conscience to refuse gay people service. As worded, the referendum will present itself as a modest caveat to the gay marriage law, extending a few basic safeguards for religious freedom. In reality, this ugly, mean-spirited initiative will herald nothing less than a new era of anti-gay segregation in Oregonand, potentially, all across America.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2014/02/04/oregon_anti_gay_referendum_the_initiative_is_homophobic_segregation.html
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)I don't think many folks realize just how insidious and far-reaching these exemptions for "religious liberty" can be.
okaawhatever
(9,453 posts)theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Next time you travel or make vacation plans, show those states that support equality that an inclusive society is good for business!
okaawhatever
(9,453 posts)any small business owners or good corporations on the list. FWIW
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)I feel so sorry for the intelligent minority there.
okaawhatever
(9,453 posts)Kansas were appropriately pissed, and embarassed. Maybe it was more of a liberal paper, but it was very eye-opening and pleasant.
Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)okaawhatever
(9,453 posts)Koch Brothers Products:
Angel Soft, Quilted Northern, and Soft n' Gentle are toilet paper and facial tissue brands.
Brawny, Dixie, Insulair, Mardi Gras, PerfecTouch, Sparkle, Ultra, and Vanity Fair are tableware, paper towel and napkin brands.
Advantage, Image Plus, and Spectrum are office paper brands.
Tony's Pizza: Salina, Kansas Frozen pizza plus pizza for cafeterias and restaurants
Daisy Co. Hummingbird Feeders, sold by Wal-Mart. Made at Ferguson Production in KS. Made 10 million feeders last year.
Pioneer Balloon Co., Wichita, is the nation's largest manufacturer of latex and Microfoil balloons
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2011/07/17/1936745/things-kansas-makes.html#storylink=cpy
Seaboard Foods: HQ in Shawnee Mission, KS
Pork Products: Prairie Fresh Premium Pork
High Plains Farm Seasoned Pork, Sold at Sam's Club
Daily's Meat Products
67th St. BBQ
Sprint Nextel: Hq in Overland Park, KS
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)is that the hospitals, if they want to continue collecting any kind of federal funding, won't refuse to treat gay people.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)And vote against their own self interest The State has turned into a Tea Party rightwing nutjob kkk land.